#neuxue watches lyb

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the way Xiao Jingyan gives precisely zero seconds’ thought to choosing diplomacy before punching his way through the guards at Zhaoren Palace.

Like on the one hand godspeed Mei Changsu you’ve got your work cut out for you. But on the other hand. It’s very satisfying.

Xiao Jingyan: I’m tired of being nice. I want to go apeshit. Mei Changsu: Jingyan it’s been 3 days.

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starting a collection called ‘Mei Changsu obscured unsubtly by some element of the set or the camera, set apart from others, as if to emphasise that he is like a ghost, that he is a memory, that he is no longer truly part of their world’

(episode 6)

(episode 7, yes okay there's no one in the shot with him to set him apart from, but you're seeing this from Mu Nihuang's point of view so it counts)

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"Were you always this insufferable or is that part of the Mei Changsu persona as well?"

--Mu Nihuang, probably almost certainly

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"He's an indoor cat, he would never hurt a songbird!" --Mei Changsu, probably

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Xiao Jingrui: ‘such a shame Su-xiong can’t find a just and admirable lord to serve…’ Yan Yujin: *trigonometry.meme*

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I love the very specific way Mei Changsu conducts himself when he is being deliberately and impeccably courteous to someone whose life he is about to ruin

Exhibit A, episode 1

Exhibit B, episode 3

No doubt plenty more to come!

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lyb episode 13, a summary:

Xiao Jingyan: I wish I could be completely honest with my new friends about my plans :(

Mei Changsu: I will continue telling blatant lies to my old friend’s face :)

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starting over with 琅琊榜 and I just have one question

how is he steering that boat

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《琅琊榜》/ Nirvana in Fire really just hitting me in my weak spot for Soundtracks That Did Not Need To Go This Hard

Obviously there’s the end credits song with its lyrics like knives even when you’re only partway in and don’t know the whole story, and the plaintive melodies that stitch together moments of nostalgia into a haunting image of what once was, but there’s a fun throughline in a few of these early episodes of:

The main theme with its grand crescendo playing over ‘Su Zhe’ entering the assembled court in ep3, and prostrating himself before the emperor for the first time (or at least, the first time in twelve years, the first time in this guise), as if marking the Beginning of a grand game that promises a grand ending...

And then, in ep4 as Mei Changsu, calm and inscrutable as ever but unyielding, his words falling with the same resonant gravity as the drumbeat that underscores them, says, “我想选你，靖王殿下” // “I intend to choose you, Prince Jing,” that same main theme begins to play, quickly approaching that grand crescendo, and you think that if ever there were a moment in the opening episodes that merits it, it would be this moment here when Mei Changsu makes this plan known, reveals his intentions, states his choice (to choose the one who stands before him, one who knew him mourns him and does not recognise him)... but instead of hitting that crescendo it shifts at the last minute, muted and then subverted, altered into an indistinct background harmony as Xiao Jingyan instead laughs, rueful and with even a hint of scorn...

And instead that crescendo comes in ep6, as Xiao Jingyan decides at last, warily, after declaring his uncrossable lines and speaking of his brother, and his best friend, and receiving Mei Changsu’s promise to do what is necessary but while doing everything in his power not to hurt them, to trust Mei Changsu. That’s when this main theme plays out in its full power and signals that a decisive moment has been struck.

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"[since they want to draw on jianghu powers, then I will let them know] who the master of the jianghu really is"

Or, 'they want to fuck around? Then I will ensure they Find Out'.

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Mu Nihuang: 你认识林殊吗？// Do you know Lin Shu? Mei Changsu: ……认识。// ...yes. Mu Nihuang: 他是真的战死了？// Did he really die in battle? Mei Changsu: 是。// Yes. Mu Nihuang: 战死的哪里？// Where did he die? Mei Changsu: 梅岭。// Meiling. Mu Nihuang: 尸骨葬于何处？// Where was he laid to rest? Mei Changsu: 七万英魂，天地为墓。// For seventy thousand valiant souls, the earth and sky are their grave. Mu Nihuang: 他的尸骨都没人收？一块遗骸也没有找到吗？// No one retrieved his body? Or any remains at all? Mei Changsu: 战事惨烈，堆尸如山。又有谁能认得谁是林殊呢？// In such a fierce and terrible battle, with bodies piled high as a mountain, who could recognise which was Lin Shu?

when you’re alive but you’re a ghost but the people who knew you look at you like you’re still alive but you’re a ghost: the Mei Changsu Experience™

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politicians hate him: area man chooses which governmental department to overthrow next by having his housekeeper pick a card any card

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Mei Changsu telling Prince Yu how ‘the Crown Prince’ used one man to topple two of Prince Yu’s bureaux and urging him to fight back is big Area Man Plays Chess Against Himself energy

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ah yes the infamous 悬镱司. The Ytterbium Suspension Division.

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Xiao Jingyan: 你一定要把自己做的事都说得如此狠绝吗？// Must you speak so ruthlessly of everything you do? Mei Changsu: 我本来就是一个狠绝之人。人素来只会被朋友出卖，敌人是永远没有出卖和背叛的机会的。// I am a ruthless person. One can only be sold out by a friend; an enemy will never have the opportunity to sell or betray you. Xiao Jingyan: 这个我信。但你可知，你若如此待人，人必如此待你。先生如此聪慧，这个道理不会不懂吧。// That, I believe. But you must know that if you treat people this way, that is how they will treat you. With your intelligence, surely you must understand this. Mei Changsu: 我明白……可是我不在乎。殿下尽可以用任何的手段来���探我、考验我，我都无所谓。因为我知道自己心里忠于的是什么。我从来都没有想过要背叛。// I understand… but I don’t care. Your Highness may use any method you like to test me, examine me; it doesn’t matter. Because I know where my own heart's loyalties lie. And I have never held thoughts of betrayal.

anyway let's just add this to the 'conversations that are going to fucking haunt Xiao Jingyan once he realises who he was having them with' list

(it's like the langya list but with more knives)

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I rest my case.