#me holding a throwaway background part of a scene in my hands: You Contain Multitudes

[goldencorecrunches]

so, reading the novel, and I’ve been thinking about the scene where the Jiangs discuss the Wen Sect’s demand to send disciples to Qishan, and Jiang Yanli: Somehow from the show, I got the impression that the Wens demanded specifically Clan sons. But that’s not the case: 

Now! I’d expect there to follow a discussion of which of them should go (considering they’ve dismissed the possibility of refusing). Points I’d expect to be brought up include:

This seems a pretty obvious trap, and Jiang Cheng is the heir

Wen Chao has a history of creeping on women, so Jiang Yanli would be uncomfortable/in particular danger

However, maybe she could use that to her advantage, to get information

On the other hand: trap, and Jiang Cheng is the stronger cultivator and warrior

etc. etc: It seems like a pretty complex decision. INSTEAD what we get (after Jiang Cheng immediately volunteers, because when have either of the Yunmeng brothers given up a chance to sacrifice themselves) is:

(continued under the cut)

It never seemed a real consideration in Madam Yu’s mind that Yanli would go-- and nobody argues against her.  During this whole conversation (which, by the way, takes place when there are only the five main family members in the room), Jiang Yanli is not included. She is the whole time instead peeling lotus seeds to give to her two very upset brothers. 

pretty much the only thing that Jiang Yanli is allowed to do in this story is perform this small act of service, preparing food for someone else

and her mother here berates her for it

it’s worthy to mention that peeling lotus seeds is a somewhat involved affair-- Yanli is not simply dropping them into a bowl

This (aside from making me want to football punt a refrigerator) is a decent example of how Yanli and her efforts are treated throughout the series: she puts in a lot of work, and she doesn’t get appreciated or rewarded, even when those efforts do make a difference (in this scene, she comforts her brothers and ensures they’re getting enough food, which it’s mentioned they won’t necessarily get in Qishan. And they don’t). It makes me think of one of the other skills we’ve seen Jiang Yanli display, which is Conflict De-Escalation (and sometimes Resolution):

she can get her brothers to stop fighting, which is, famously and violently, impossible

she’s her mother’s, eldest and only, daughter. By which I mean: Madame Yu blames her family for her emotions, and makes discussions All About Her. I take a lot of how I interpret Jiang Yanli’s character  from what I know of adult children of narcissitic parents, and skill in effective-diplomacy-under-fire is a common thread, especially when the child in question is expected to take a caretaking role in the family*

(at least in the show) Jin Zixuan’s mother thinks her an excellent match for her son, which as the current Madame of the Sneaky Politics sect, is a pretty big deal

that whole “don’t call him a son of a servant” thing in the woods, which was civil, well-spoken, and firm

She really honestly thinks that she can convince murderous-rampage WWX to stop that shit, which-- I mean, she’s not thinking clearly at this point probably, but the fact that she’s so sure it’s possible stood out to me

This kind of personal and political acumen is often un-noticed or dismissed and yet is supremely valuable, and necessary for the functioning of any collaborative unit, small family size or huge sect size. I really, really would have liked to see how she and JGY and NHS got along while she was living in Koi Tower. I super extra incredibl-really would have liked to see her take this compassion and interpersonal skill set and grow them for use in the cultivation world.  *this might, in my particular society, be described shorthand as “Eldest Daughter Syndrome,” though once we get into gender shenanigans and differences both cultural and individual, it’s not entirely accurate. For example, even within the same text, I’d argue that Lan Xichen has one of the strongest cases of this syndrome I’ve ever read** **consider for your pleasure: trans Zewu-Jun