#i guess you could argue that fx's words sound worse because of mq's upbringing

[taihua]

Responding to these two replies from my other FX post!

@delilahhatesyou: Tbh what triggers below the belt comment for me was him reminding to never forget where he came from or his place. Again, I remember it’s only after mq being rude to xl so it’s understandable but also still leaving me some kind of way? Correct me if I’m wrong of course.

(Took me a while to find the right chapter for the line about MQ knowing his place, but there's nothing about where he came from in this section--if you have the quote, I'd love to know which one it is!)

& @vimai I think the main reason why people think FX has classist beliefs is his constant reminders towards MQ to know his place and “dont forget who the FUCK you are” moment in book 2. Plus, his belief that because XL was once a prince and has a "body of gold" they couldn’t possibly do things like busking, and MQ was silly for suggesting so. I think the view that FX holds classist beliefs is fair tbh.

So here's the problem with the "know your place" comment--Feng Xin isn't talking about Mu Qing's social class or background. What he says is this:

“...You’re nothing but a deputy general; without His Highness’ appointment who knows where you’d be, so why do you always act like you’re smarter, sharper, and stronger than him? If you’re really that amazing, why did His Highness ascend and not you? .... Don’t you be pointing fingers and forget who the fuck you are!”

Feng Xin isn't talking about Mu Qing's family or social class here. The context of the argument is purely about Mu Qing's role as a deputy official of heaven, a role that he has because of Xie Lian--and yet he's perfectly happy insulting Xie Lian to his face and implying he's a failure of a god. Mu Qing calls him annoying, difficult to even look at, "Your worshippers must've collected bloody misfortune for eight lifetimes!"

It's a shitty thing to say, so why is Feng Xin blamed for snapping at him? The only reason Mu Qing is in a position to criticize Xie Lian's work as a god is because Xie Lian asked him to help him as his deputy. No, he doesn't owe Xie Lian, but being a dick to him isn't the move either. Feng Xin's just saying "if you're so great, you do it."

Also, uh, the context? Mu Qing is advocating for slaughtering innocent refugees and blaming Xie Lian for being unwilling to take that step. Feng Xin should have been meaner actually because what the fuck