#peach blossom pavilion book

[ihearttseliot]

It ain’t special, but it’s something. White rice, dumplings, saltfish, okra, tomatoes, and onion.

[baoshan-sanren]

Chapter 23

of the wwx emperor au I’m thinking of calling Lan QiRen’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 Part 1 | Chapter 8 Part 2 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 Part 1 | Chapter 15 Part 2 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 Part 1 | Chapter 22 Part 2

The Peach Blossom Pavilion is heavily guarded. 

However, the guards are clearly focused on the outside threats trying to find their way in, not the Emperor attempting to sneak out. Wei WuXian’s hand is warm in WangJi’s, squeezing lightly to signal when they must be still, pulling him along when it is time to move. In the darkness, every stretch of cobblestones looks identical to the next. They cross two courtyards, both pitch black, nothing to distinguish them from one another except the faint scent of chrysanthemums. It is not long before no guards can been seen or heard, but Wei WuXian’s hand is still wrapped around his own, his thumb a hot brand on WangJi’s knuckles.

WangJi remembers that same hand coated in blood. Pressing against the arrow wound. Gracefully extended, so someone else’s fingers may rest lightly on its wrist.  

Somewhere in the Immortal Mountain City, there is boy lying wounded, because he had been willing to give his life up for the Emperor. And for a few moments, WangJi had forgotten that he even exists.

“Nie HuaiSang,” he says softly.

“Recovering. He lost a great deal of blood, but there will be no lasting damage. The assassin has not been caught yet,” Wei WuXian’s voice hardens, “but he will be.”

WangJi is relieved to hear it, but this is not the only reason he had said the Royal Companion’s name. Sneaking past the guards, depending on the pressure of Wei WuXian’s fingers to lead him, he could pretend that such contact was necessary. Now, he feels an imposter, holding on to something that does not belong to him.

Gently, WangJi attempts to disentangle their fingers. Wei WuXian’s grip tightens.

“A-Sang is my brother,” Wei WuXian says, “The rumors you hear, they have their advantage. But there has never been any truth to them.”

“Gossip is forbidden,” WangJi says, his face heating.

He can feel his heart beating in his chest, and his steps suddenly feel lighter, as if some pressing weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Wei WuXian laughs softly,

“If I were to forbid gossip, the next person to try and assassinate me probably would be A-Sang.”

WangJi is not sure how to respond to such a statement, and Wei WuXian does not give him a chance to try.

He tugs WangJi to a small door, its shape almost indistinguishable from the wall in which it is set. The door appears to be very old, but its hinges do not creak, soundlessly allowing them over a small stone threshold and into a courtyard. Although the plaque above the door had faded with age, it is still legible.

The outside of the Six Fans Pavilion looks forlorn.

The window holes are covered, the courtyard swept clean but depressingly bare. A long time ago, someone had tended its gardens with care. WangJi thinks that the wide planters out front must have once overflown with flowers in full bloom. Now, star jasmine has grown wild and sprawling, smothering every other sign of life.

He expects that the inside of the pavilion has not fared much better. Everything about the peeling paint and fading colors tells a tale of a place that is dusty and forgotten. Instead, the entry is bleak, but clean. The floors seem recently swept. There are no curtains or rugs, no decorations on the walls, no cushions on the seats. Each room looks stripped to its bones, the elaborately carved shelves gaping empty, tables bare, beds nothing but stark skeleton frames.

Wei WuXian leads him through, looking neither left nor right, until they reach a room that shows some signs of use. A few books are piled in the small cubbies behind an old desk. The desk surface is polished but rough, as if it had served more than one owner. The seats have cushions, although they seem old and threadbare. An old bronze brazier sits in center of the small space. Wei WuXian lights a fire with quickness that would suggest he has done this often.

“The Iron Palm Palace can be suffocating sometimes,” he says, and does not elaborate.

He does not need to; WangJi thinks he understands. It is a refuge, this place. WangJi has his own, at Cloud Recesses. He can appreciate the need for a space where one can just breathe in solitude and silence.

“How much do you know about Lan ZhongYi?” Wei WuXian asks, settling on the floor next to the brazier.

WangJi has always had a reflexive reaction to that name. Anger, distaste, guilt, shame.

He lowers himself not too far away, wishing he was properly dressed. Somehow, speaking of Lan ZhongYi would be easier, if he could hide behind the traditional trappings of Sect and clan.

“Lan ZhongYi was a Lan Sect member. Son of my father’s uncle. He was banished from the Sect for improper conduct. Less than a year after his banishment, he assassinated the Empress and the Emperor Consort.”

The words come out stiff and unnatural, a recitation of something memorized long ago.

“I know this is all that the Lan Sect teaches about him,” Wei WuXian says, “but have you never searched for more? Have you never wondered what this improper conduct was? Why he did what he did?”

“No,” WangJi says.

He cannot see what difference it would make.

“Did you know he had married at seventeen?” Wei WuXian says.

The question lands heavily between them.

WangJi did not know. He does not want to know. Why does it matter?

But Wei WuXian goes on unprompted,

“He married a rogue cultivator from the ShangWu Temple. Her name was Xu XiaoYun. This was some years before my mother took the throne, and the Empire had already begun descending into chaos. Most of the great temples were destroyed in the years that followed, never to be rebuilt. The ShangWu Temple was one of them. Xu XiaoYun’s brothers, sisters, teachers, not one of them survived. For years, I have searched for some information about her, hoping for anything, even a word of mouth. But I think her entire life burned in that temple, and there was only Lan ZhongYi left.”

The firelight is playing across Wei WuXian’s face, shifting his expressions from moment to moment. WangJi cannot guess what he is thinking. He cannot guess why this is the story that Wei WuXian thinks WangJi should need to know.

“She was pregnant when YanLing DaoRen killed her,” Wei WuXian says calmly, “on a day he had not even set out to kill anyone at all. It appears to have been a spur of the moment slaughter. There are no records showing what might have set him off in the middle of a peaceful trip through one of the MoLing’s marketplaces. But Xu XiaoYun had been nighthunting in the area.”

Silence falls between them, thick and unyielding. WangJi feels as if he had been given something he did not want, and cannot give back.

He thinks he knows why Wei WuXian has told him this story. Perhaps to the young Emperor who had lost his parents, it is important that Lan ZhongYi be a human being, with purpose, and feelings, and grievances. But WangJi has never wanted to feel pity for this man, whose actions had doomed all the generations of Lan to come.

Lan ZhongYi’s motivations do not excuse his crime.  

“The Empress did not kill her,” he says finally.

“And you did not kill the Empress,” Wei WuXian counters, his voice gentle.

He is right, but he is also wrong. WangJi is too agitated to address how both can be true at the same time.

“The Wen are not hostages here,” Wei WuXian says, slicing the agitation neatly in half.

Before WangJi can adjust to the fact that the previous subject is being abandoned, Wei WuXian is already explaining in a rush, as if afraid that WangJi will refuse to listen.

“After the rebellion, the Sects demanded that Wen RuoHan pay for the lives that were lost. They wanted this payment in blood. Wen RuoHan was to deliver one of his sons for execution, or the Sects were going to burn the Nightless City down, and slaughter every Wen in the Empire. Looking back, compared to the damage YanLing DaoRen had done, and the lives he had destroyed, the Wen rebellion was fairly insignificant. I have often wondered where this viciousness had come from. The Sects will say that their grief over my mother’s death gave it birth, but they seemed to hold little interest in offering support to her son. Perhaps this viciousness was left over from YanLing DaoRen’s reign, just waiting for a more vulnerable target.”

Wei WuXian waves his hand, his eyes locked on the flickering flames,

“It does not matter. Wen RuoHan did not deliver his son. Instead, he delivered fifty-six members of a small subdivision of the Qishan Wen Sect. An entire clan, led by his own thirteen-year old niece, to be slaughtered in exchange.”

WangJi’s stomach turns, propelling bile to his throat.

“My uncle,” Wei WuXian grins humorlessly, “had made a reputation for himself as a holder of no strong opinions, a man who may sway slightly whichever way the wind blew. This reputation helped delay the decision. In the meantime, I placed the Wen in the dungeons, to await their fate.”

“You-- you were going to--“

No other words will come. WangJi cannot ask the question.

He thinks a wrong answer might shatter something he had not yet given name to, something he still does not fully understand, but desperately wants to keep.  

“No,” Wei WuXian says, “I was young, and angry, and more than a little stupid, but I was not going to execute fifty-six people because the Sects demanded it. But I did put them out of my mind. I was twelve years old, sitting on a precarious throne, all of my power just a pretty illusion. There was a list of issues that had to be addressed, and somehow, the Wen would always move to the bottom of that list. This was another one of my uncle’s tactics, although I did not know it for such back then. Delay, delay, delay, and hope they forget. I almost did forget. Many times.”

Wei WuXian flashes him a bitter smile, and WangJi feels his chest tighten. Not so long ago, WangJi had thought his own burden too heavy to carry. He cannot imagine how Wei WeXian must have felt. He cannot imagine how heavy the weight of the Empire must feel to a twelve year old boy.

“They were willing to let me forget,” Wei WuXian says, the bitterness from his smile coloring his voice, “My uncle, the Council, my advisors, not one of them ever bothered to mention that an entire clan cannot forever live in the dungeons, that some decision must be made. If it were not for shijie, they might have lived and died below the palace floors, forgotten by all. She took me to the dungeons. She went among them as if they were family, passing out medicine and food, speaking to Wen Qing as if they had been sisters their entire lives. And then she put A-Yuan in my arms.”

Wei WuXian’s voice falters for the first time.

He shifts slightly, and clears his throat.

“His mother had been among the fifty-six. She had died in childbirth. In the dungeon. While the Emperor sat on his gilded throne, nodding at everything the Council said. I had been the Divine Ruler for a single season, and I had already created an orphan.”

WangJi’s chest squeezes tighter. He wants to reach out, but he had never learned how to offer comfort. Everything he can think to say is woefully inadequate. Every gesture he wishes to offer seems clumsy and awkward.

“And so they became hostages,” Wei WuXian says, fingers now nervously tapping against his knees, “the Sects were told that the fifty-six Wen who can be slaughtered at the slightest provocation were infinitely more valuable than one dead descendent of Wen RuoHan. They were not happy. For some months after, I was certain that another rebellion would take place, and that this one would end the Dynasty for good. Once it became clear that the Sects would do nothing worse than send assassins through my windows and stuff scorpions into my bed, I started to work on their resentment. I did not want the Wen to always carry the stain of that rebellion. I had already grown attached to Wen Qing and her brother, to Granny, to Uncle Four and A-Yuan. I wanted to protect them.”

He moves to face WangJi, his hands now curled tightly in his lap, something in his eyes hinting at desperation.

“I thought I knew resentment. Mine had always been a fleeting thing, so I believed everyone else to be the same. No one had bothered to tell me that removing one target would only exaggerate the other. I spent years trying to shift their perception of the Wen, but never understood the simple fact that your uncle had grasped in a single season of drought. The river must flow somewhere. And all the resentment, no longer flowing to the Wen, had simply shifted to the Lan Sect instead.”    

If not for Wei WuXian’s pained expressions, WangJi would have immediately declared his words to be utter nonsense. WangJi’s burden does not exist because Wei WuXian had placed it on his shoulders. The Lan Sect would have never relinquished its responsibility for the wrongs one of their own had committed, regardless of whether the Emperor had shown them favor or neglect. Even if everyone else in the world were to forget the sin he carries, WangJi would have never been allowed to do the same.

A part of him does wonder if the Emperor’s favor had gone to the Lan Sect instead of the Wen, how many of their circumstances might have been changed for the better? Would it have created a world in which his uncle is still allowed to teach?  A world in which the Lan Sect disciples are allowed into the Immortal Mountain City, to mix among the others? A world in which his brother smiled more often?

But even if this was the case, if he were to take Wei WuXian’s words as absolute truth, and the river of resentment truly must flow somewhere, then better circumstances for the Lan Sect would have meant worse circumstances for the Wen. WangJi would never demand his burden be made less; not even if the cost was a single life of an absolute stranger, not to mention an entire clan of people who had done nothing wrong.

“By the time I realized why the rancor toward the Lan Sect kept growing, even as the resentment against the Wen dwindled, it was too late to turn the tide,” Wei WuXian says miserably, “Trying to stem the flow only seemed to make things worse. Your uncle-- each time I tried to extend a hand, he would slap it out of the way. He does not want my help or favor. He does not trust me to do right by the Lan Sect. And considering that someone has already tried to kill you, and frame the Lan Sect for another assassination, I would not be surprised if he blames me for all of it.”

WangJi struggles for a few moments, trying to find the right words. It does not help that Wei WuXian is much closer now, his face flushed from the brazier, their knees nearly brushing.

“The Lan Sect would not wish to relinquish its burden of responsibility at the cost of others,” WangJi finally says, “and uncle would not blame you for the assassination attempts. He would consider it just another burden that the Lan Sect must carry, one that must be borne with courage and dignity. Uncle is-- proud, and stubborn. He perceives your favor as charity, and each time you imply that he may need this charity, he will only resent you more. There is no need to keep trying.”

“You are saying that there is nothing I can do,” Wei WuXian says, frustration coloring each word.

“You can do whatever you wish,” WangJi says, “You are the Emperor.”

“But he is going to hate me no matter what I do.”

“You are the Emperor,” WangJi says again, “I am sure my uncle is not the only one who hates you.”

Wei WuXian gapes at him, then seems to choke on nothing but air. He bends over, coughing heavily, and struggles for so long that WangJi wonders if he should perhaps try and find him something to drink. Only when he looks back up does WangJi realize that the cough was actually stifled laughter.

“You are something else, Lan Zhan,” he says, “I really like spending time with you.”

WangJi’s heart trips twice, painfully, as if Wei WuXian had reached through his chest and pushed it off course.  

He does not make a conscious decision to stand up, but suddenly, he is on his feet, trembling with a thousand emotions he does not want to acknowledge. Wei WuXian scrambles up as well, his expression startled.

“I must go back,” WangJi says, cursing his voice for wavering.

“Oh,” Wei WuXian says, “Of course. Let me put out the fire, and I will take you back.”

“No need,” WangJi says quickly.

He needs to be alone. He needs to think. Wei WuXian had given him a great deal of information that requires careful examination. 

I really like spending time with you, his mind offers unhelpfully. WangJi feels as if he had pressed his entire face directly to the brazier.

Wei WuXian’s expression seems hesitant now. WangJi desperately wants to see him smile one more time before he leaves.

“Use the door tomorrow,” he says.

“I-- what?”

“Tomorrow,” WangJi says firmly, his heart now beating in his throat, “Do not lounge on the rooftop, or hide in the dark. Come to the door.”

The slow smile that spreads across Wei WuXian’s face is devastating.

WangJi says nothing else. 

He runs.  

[besanii]

shifting ground

WangXian ; 1127 words

[previous parts linked at the end]

He arrives at bottom of the stairs leading up to the throne room just as everyone is disbanding; they trickle out of the building in groups of twos and threes, heads bent close together and mouths too preoccupied with gossip to pay attention to his hurried ascent. Snatches of their conversations enter his ear—words like “trial” and “ascension” and “purify” has his heart skipping a beat and his feet flying over the stairs two at a time as he races past them.

The world comes to a shuddering halt when Wei Wuxian appears at the top of the stairs.

He’s not sure how to quantify the time since they last saw each other. Where does he begin counting? From the moment Wei Wuxian had been taken away in chains and locked into the Demon Tower, or on the execution platform as he faded into dust in Lan Wangji’s arms with Bichen buried in his chest? Or does he start from the moment Wei Ying had turned his back and surrendered his life into Lan Wangji’s hands for the second time?

If the whole purpose of my life is to die here today, then that is what I’ll do.

He can still feel the sigh of those words against his lips, the press of a thumb against his cheek, the hitch in his voice. Every last detail of those final moments in the mortal realm is burned into his mind with excruciating clarity, seared into his bones, branded on his soul. He has been in existence for over a hundred thousand years, long enough to see past the trappings of mortality, past attachment, past death—and yet.

There is little trace of the young vermilion bird spirit in the Wei Wuxian who stands before him now, dressed in robes of black and red that ripple and fall about him like feathers. His grey eyes, once soft like clouds during a gentle autumn drizzle, are as dark as smoke and as hard as steel. They falter as they catch sight of him, still only halfway up the stairs, before shuttering closed, wary and uncertain.

His newly-restored heart beats feebly against his ribcage at the sight.

“Wei Ying.” He catches the spiritual energy radiating from him and stops, his heart in his throat. “You’re—”

Wei Wuxian smiles without humour, sliding his gaze away from Lan Wangji.

“I guess the trial you designed for me was more effective than intended,” he says.

He should be relieved, overjoyed that their plan had worked, that the sliver of the Demon God’s seal had been successfully purged from Wei Wuxian—that Wei Wuxian had ascended three ranks to become a High God, on par with Lan Wangji himself. But he finds he cannot muster even a tiny shred of happiness now, not when Wei Wuxian does not smile, and refuses to meet his eyes.

“Wei Ying,” he says, making his way up the stairs. “Wei Ying, I—”

Wei Wuxian flinches almost imperceptibly at the sound of the name, his hands curling into fists, lips pressing into a thin line. It is enough to freeze Lan Wangji in mid-step, the rest of his sentence teetering at the tip of his tongue.

“Begging your pardon, Hanguang-jun,” Wei Wuxian says. “I have only just returned from my trial and find myself in need of rest. Please excuse me.”

He crosses his hands, left over right, and presses his palms to his chest with a low bow—a formal bow, too formal for him to offer a fellow High God, even one with as much seniority over him as Lan Wangji—and moves past him, down the stairs. Lan Wangji’s hand shoots out instinctively to catch hold of his elbow as their shoulders brush, preventing him from leaving.

“I’ll have someone fix up your old rooms,” he tells him quietly, thinking of the cosy little annex in Fuyun Pavilion, still in the same condition as before his departure.

Wei Wuxian pries his arm out of Lan Wangji’s grip.

“Hanguang-jun is too generous,” he says, staring straight ahead, not sparing him a glance. “But I will be returning to the peach forest.”

There is little Lan Wangji can do to argue against this decision. It is only logical for Wei Wuxian to return to the peach forest, his childhood home. What right does Lan Wangji have to keep him here in the Nine Heavens with him?

“Let me accompany you.” He does not care if he sounds close to pleading as he turns his body towards Wei Wuxian, not when Wei Wuxian’s breath hitches as this moves him into his space. “Please.”

“Hanguang-jun—”

“Lan Zhan,” he corrects him. Wei Wuxian shakes his head.

“Hanguang-jun,” he repeats firmly. “It would not be appropriate.”

Lan Wangji exhales.

“There was a time, not too long ago, when you would scoff at propriety,” he says. “And it would not be inappropriate for me to escort my intended back to his home.”

Wei Wuxian turns his head sharply to face Lan Wangji, grey eyes wide with shock; Lan Wangji looks back at him intently, his expression never once wavering.

“Words spoken in a previous life should stay in the past.” Wei Wuxian’s voice is small and brittle and hurt; he draws himself close, holds himself tighter within his body as he tears his eyes away again. “Hanguang-jun should not feel beholden to me.”

This time, when Lan Wangji takes another step towards him, he takes two steps back. Lan Wangji tries not to let his own hurt show.

“I am a man of my word,” he tells him. “It does not matter in which life the promise was made, only to whom. I made you a promise, Wei Ying, I vowed myself to you. So I am yours.”

He watches as Wei Wuxian’s eyes flutter closed as a shudder runs through his body. But when he raises his hand to brush a stray wisp of hair from his cheek, Wei Wuxian avoids his touch and steps back even further.

“Lan Zhan,” he whispers, pained. “Don’t.”

Lan Wangji breathes an inward sigh of relief at the sound of his name from Wei Wuxian’s lips at long last.

“Wei Ying,” he says. “Please. Can we talk?”

Wei Wuxian shakes his head and turns away.

“I need time,” he tells him. “Give me some time.”

Then, without waiting for Lan Wangji’s response, he raises his arms and shifts into his original form, leaping into the sky and vanishing in a burst of flame.

Lan Wangji watches him go without a word.

If it’s time he needs, then Lan Wangji will give it to him. He has waited over a hundred thousand years for Wei Wuxian, what is a few hundred more in comparison?

--

Notes:

Follows on from Love and Destiny AU ficlet below, where LWJ has to kill a mortal WWX to help him reascend as an immortal:

https://besanii.tumblr.com/post/620336237706969088/he-watches-as-wei-ying-backs-away-from-him-the [copy/paste link]

And set some time before the other Love and Destiny AU ficlet where WWX carves out his heart to save LWJ and loses his memories in the process:

https://besanii.tumblr.com/post/621699777307033600/you-dont-love-me-anymore-for-wangxian-from-the [copy/paste link]

So technically...part two?

The tag is now shifting ground fic

--

Title is from the idiom 翻云覆雨 (fanyunfuyu, to produce clouds with the turn of one hand, and rain with the other), meaning to shift one’s ground or to be contradictory

One day I will stop writing AUs of the Three Lives Three Worlds dramas, but today is not this day. Also, I’ve decided that Love and Destiny > Peach Blossoms  > Pillow Book in my heart.

--

master post and ko-fi link on my sidebar!

[valdsforest]

“The Wife is First” Novel Chapters Outline Book 1

SPOILERS BELOW!

Incomplete / Work in Progress

[Back to Main Page]

Book 1 (Chapter 1- 39)

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Arcs:

Jing Shao's Reincarnation

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1: Despair and Rebirth 

Jing Shao escaped prison with an injured Mu Han Zhang/Jun Qing on horseback and fleeing from the pursuers.

On a edge of a cliff JS asks JQ, if JQ has ever resent JS for everything that happen to him.

JQ answers back with, how could he have not, everything that. However JQ never could blame JS for it.

JQ dies in JS arms and JS vows that if there is an afterlife, he will spend his entire life to make it up for JQ.

JS jumps down the cliff with JQ in his arms before JS waking up in bed with a bruised JQ laying next to him with half-covered torn red robes.

Note: Some lore about the Social Structure of the Royal family.

2: Reparations

JS look at his journey to confirm if he reborned/time has turned back to his 19yo self.

JS helps JQ to bath and JS treated JQ’s wounds/bruises.

JS decides to take the outside of the bed and both went to sleep.

3: Well Matched (in Marriage)

Empress Wu ploted the marriage of JS because no Crown Prince was yet selected and to exclude JS from that possible selection.

JQ followed the traditions of the wife to gift the servants of JS.

JS ordered to his servant Dou Fu to select JQ a personal servant and imperial guard (meaning JQ can leave the estate at will).

JS puts on JQ’s hair ornament (tradition wife -> husband).

On the sedan, while JS messaging JQ’s lower back, JS advise JQ how to act in front of the empress.

4: Entering the Imperial Palace 

JS and JQ greets the emperor and empress with all the traditions of offering tea as well as gifts.

Emperor and empress noticed JQ being pale and dismissed them both.

JQ fainted for a brief moment as stepping out of the imperial palace before being carried by JS into the sedan.

JS called the imperial physician Jiang to examine JQ’s fever.

JS comfort and explain his action in the imperial palaces to JQ.

5: Fever

JQ meant a divorce if JS gets the position of Crown Prince, both end up arguing with each other.

JS feeds JQ the medicine as well as candies.

JQ suggests JS some ideas to gain/win some followers.

The second prince and his consort visits JS’s palace and JS greets his elder brother Jing Chen.

6: The Concubines Residing in the Inner Court

JC visits JQ in his bed chambers meanwhile JC’s consort drinking tea/conversing with JS’s consort (2nd wife). 

JQ’s got inform by the consort action by Lan Ting(JQ’s servant).

Song Ling Xin the second wife/consort of JS as well as 2 concubines (Yan and Li) paying JQ a visit.

7: Visting Parents

JQ gifts consort and concubines with hairpins (dowry). JS comes into the room with consort SLX next to him.

JS hugs JQ so that both could read the both together. JS explains to JQ what his relationships with his consorts is. JS kisses JQ’s hand and JQ flees into the bedroom.

JS and JQ on the way to visit JQ’s parents. JQ warns JS about not agreeing with any of his parents demands.

8: The Marquis’ Residence

JS tells JQ always to remind him of things or tell him important decisions. JS cuddles JQ before resting his head on JQ’s lap.

JQ’s parents and cousins greets them with kowtows and JS comforts/reinsures JQ with a firm hand grip.

JQ visits his father’s wifes and gifts them a box of teas. (JQ’s birth mother was missing which he goes to visit in her room.

JS talking with North Marquis about martial arts/swords.

9: Gifts of Thanks

JQ comforts his mother that he is being treated very well in the Princes manor.

On the way back to the Prince Manor, JQ was still thinking about his mother and JS pouts because of it. 

While JQ was trying to cheer him up before losing balance and JS catches him to cushion the fall.

JS tells JQ to not call him by his title but rather call him by his name. JQ calls him ‘Shao’ and JS feeling happy feels asleep clinging to JQ.

Yun Zhu introduces himself to JQ (his personal servant). JQ questions YZ about reading and YZ tells JQ about the study room.

JS wakes up late and JQ thanks him for the study room before JQ rans away.

10: Peach Blossom Wine

JS took JQ to the highest place of the pavilion and both drunk peach blossom wine.

JS asks JQ why he never learned martial arts and JQ answered that he fell into the pond during winter.

JS hugs and questions who pushed him before kissing JQ and vows to revenge him.

JS orders Jing Hao to investigate JQ’s pond incident.

Steward Yun reports to JS that Official Li Yanqing came looking for him.

11: Villa

JS already hears about the rumors which led to his death in his previous life.

YZ advices JQ to not give in on SLX demands as well as keeping the households account books and JQ calls for SLX to discuss about it.

SLX gives the arrangements of JS’s bedtime dates to JQ.

JS arrives at the Villa (summer residence) and asks for the commander Ren Feng to spar with him.

JQ noticed that JS left some military strategy book written by JS in the study room.

12: Serving at the Bedside

YZ reports to JQ about the SLX’s distribution of JS’s bedtime days, with new dates 15 days for JQ, 9 days for SLX and 3 days for each concubines.

Back home, JS get the reports from Steward Yun about the visitor Li Daren.

After dinner, JQ massages JS and notices that his shoulder was bruised from practice martial arts and ended up treating the bruises.

JQ discuss about letting SLX doing the households for a few more months. JS started to pout and flee to bed before explaining his opinion on the household matter.

JQ agrees to JS’s opinion then getting kissed by him before both falling asleep.

13: Salt Trade Certification

JS and JQ are waking up and JQ is telling JS (who didn’t wanted to get up) that he has an appointment with Li Daren today.

Concubines came to greet both and Concubine Rose felt unwell and felt almost into JQ’s laps (she was caught by JS).

JS doubted her and was thinking of past life’s occurrences. 

JQ asked Concubine SLX for the account books.

The three concubines discussed about JQ and JS’s divorce talking. 

JQ and JS talked about the JQ’s father salt certifications and went on a date at Immortal Assembly restaurant, plus both heard about the JS-rumours.

14: Green Plums

JQ spoke his worries about the rumors. JS impressed by JQ and hugged him.

Both visited the wine store of Maiden Mei.

Both took a walk at JS’s brother private peach blossom garden and continue the talk about JS’s rumors.

JQ injured his hand on the bamboo cup, JS put JQ’s finger in his mouth and JS kissed JQ with tongue.

JQ startled pushed JS away and JS felt on his butt.

15: Crazy

JS were prepared to take a bath and JS gave JQ the choice to bath with him or apply medicine on his wound.

JQ applied medicine after JS’s bath while both blushing.

Dou Fu brought the account books to JQ and JQ explained his servant YZ, why he want to check them.

After JS came back with talking to his brother with his eyes red, went to see JS and took him to the training camp.

At the arrival, JS fought with RF before leaving the platform from JQ’s instructions.

JS collapsed in JQ’s arms while whispering that JS’s brother told him the truth about his mother’s death.

16: Shortage of Money

JS worried about JQ’s health, and JQ tried to downplay it but ended up making JS only mad.

JS told his youths situation and JQ conformed JS by hugging.

JS dreamed about his mother and her miscarried.

JS kissed JQ after waking up.plus as punishment for JQ calling JS at his title, JQ decided then calling him ‘little spoon/xiao shao’.

Steward Yun reported to JS about JQ’s falling into the pond matter.

JQ’s brother Mu Lingbao pushed JQ into the pond and JQ ended up sick for half a year.

JS ordered Steward Yun to investigate MLB and to spread rumors about 4th Prince Jing Yu eating raw meat.

JQ got reported that Grandma Zhou’s son broke a leg and she wanting to borrow money from JQ for a doctor. JQ asked JS for the money.

17: Rumors

JS gave the money to JQ.

JQ reminded JS of the arrangements of the flower book(the days JS spends with the other concubines), but JS stayed with JQ.

When JS was out (at court), JQ visited the city with YZ and eat at ‘Hui Wei’ restaurant.

Owner of Hui Wei restaurant, the male wife of the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Xiao Yuan.

18: The small Assistant Minister

JS returned back to working at court, and thinking how to cooperate with the assistant minister of the ministry of revenue, while discussing about the 4th prince rumors.

The 4th prince is at charge of regarding the tribute from foreign lands.

After Court, JS went to Hui Wei restaurant and made acquaintance with the boss Zhou Jin.

JS asked discretely XY, how to avoid making his male wife afraid in bed and XY gave him some advise. JS thanked XY and asked that ZJ to take care of JQ.

JS returned home and heared JQ and SLX arguing about the flower book dates.

19: A contemptible Self-Actor

JS silenced SLX and asked JQ what is the matter, JQ asked if he could let his wet nurse recuperate at the main residence for a time.

SLX get slapped by JS for being lout and disrespecting JQ and JS retracted her control of the household as well as confined for a month.

JQ thanking JS by laying his head against his shoulder, while JS asked for a kiss, which he didn’t get.

JS working at the Ministry of War, declining the petition for the rebels (from his knowledge of the past life) which was recommended by Song An(father of SLX).

20: Misunderstanding

JS refused again to sleep at the concubines court side.

At court, the south barbarian issue is talked about with the emperor and the Ministry of War.

Before the court discussion, JS’s brother took initiative to warn JS about Minister Song An’s intent.

JS went to Hui Wei restaurant to eat breakfast and exchanged more infos about ‘husband-and-wife-life’.

JQ woke up alone and not able to concentrate on work due to last night event until his wet nurse family arrived at the palace.

RF urgently called for JS and JS just arrived home for dinner.

21: Opportunity

JS and JQ eat dinner and JS informed JQ about the hiring of a hero in the Jianghu ‘the ghost of nine blades’.

After dinner, JQ felt ill and recognized it as an aphrodisiac, JS ordered DF to investigated how it happened.

JS helped JQ release the tension before JQ offered to return the favor.

After both calmed down, DFreported that it was Concubine Li.

22: Farce

Concubine Li claimed that it was SLX’s idea but was punished by sending her to the nunnery.

JS angrily stated that he will asked for a royal degree to demote SLX to a 3rd rank concubine.

More discussing about who to send to the barbarian border, JS being punished/banned from court for a some days and eldest prince JR is send to the southern border.

23: Temple Fair

While dealing with the Concubine Li issue, JQ thinks of sending her as a gift to the 4th prince.

JQ motivated JS to finish his punishment fast so that they can spent some time in the alternate residence during the Temple Fair.

JQ wrote some of the punishment by copying JS’s writing style. JS recognizing it to be amazing and useful in the battlefield.

JS and JQ eat breakfast at Hui Wei restaurant, where JS felt jealous due to JQ and ZJ getting along like old scholar friends.

JS and JQ enjoying the Temple Fair until JS chased after a pink-clothed girl, leaving JQ alone, who encountered his cousins MuLB, MYW and MHFfeng.

JS punched and kicked JQ’s cousins

24: Ruo Yi

JQ wanting to ask JS about the girl but ended up asking for a piece of forest land which JS gladly exchanged a bit of his land to grant JQ’s wish.

JS thinking about the past life, Ge RouYi killing the southeast King and ending the barbarian war.

Birthday of the North Marquis, JQ’s painting and JS send more gifts. JQ tried to calm JS’s anger about the 4th prince.

GRY stopped the 4th prince carriage and asked for a petition. JS seeing that caught up and knocked her unconscious while explaining to 4th prince, he will send him a better woman next time.

JQ thinking about the girl and JS.

25: Eating Vinegar

GRY thanking JS for presenting the petition to the royal court.

JS went to the study room looking for JQ and found some paper balls on the ground and misunderstood that even JQ get annoyed at some point. 

JS became worried hearing that JQ didn’t had an appetite and went to the bedroom.

JS found JQ bathing in the spring pool and jumped in too. In the end JQ asked JS’s plans concerning Rouyi and JS explained her situation.

JS exclaimed to JQ that he will not take any more wife's or concubines and JQ concerned about JS’s heirs.

JS and JQ being intimiate.

26: The Gathering

JQ and ZJ went to the monthly male wives’ gathering in Mo Garden of Duke Mao’s household.

At the gathering JQ encountered an old classmate, Du Yinghao resp. nephew of North Marquess and male wife of the 3rd son of Duke Mao.

Right went JQ was about to leave the gathering JS came to pick him up .

JS was called to court by royal decree to get his advise on the southeast border war matter.

27: A Headache

An the way back home from the court, JS was deep in thoughts and his horse Xiao Hei just went on his own to JC’s house to eat the grass

JS gave excuses of wanting a drinking partner and invited JC to Hui Wei restaurant and used that to inform JC what happened in court.

MLB being beaten up and the heir of Duke Mao causing trouble in the restaurant.

JS and JC discussed about the potential problems could cause of JY and the daughter of North Marquis getting married, Mu Suzhi.

JS explained the current situation to GRY and JS offered her to teach her the art of assassination.

28: Foreshadowing

JS went back to court after and rewarded about his contribution of the vassal state war advices, which was given to JQ to re-gifted to his family.

The North Marchioness was questioning JQ about the JS’s concubines troubles and venting at JQ about not marrying his sister any more to JY

More court discussion about the southwest Tibet king sending tributes, plus asking the princes what they think.

JS and North Marquis went together back home while JQ visiting his mother and grandma and met his brothers.

29: Perfumed Ointment

JQ slapped MYW for not being respectful to him and JS, while JQ’s brothers wanting to fight back but were stopped since JS and North Marquis arriving at the scene.

JS was called by JC to talked about the emperor ordering JC to investigate the tribute robbering and ZJ visited JQ to talk about opening a shop to sell “perfumed ointment”.

Back home, JS found JQ with the ointments box and JS telling JQ that he will help him opening the shop and even bargain with old friends for the supplies.

30: Urgent Report from the Southwest

JQ opened the shop “Mo Lian Establishment”.

JS went everyday to court; eldest prince was could into/started a war and his states was unclear; JS advised the emperor to send tropes from the southwest king.

JS retold the situation on court to JQ and that he might need to leave for war.

JQ giving himself the fault for JS’s bad position in court made JS angry at him and JS hugged JQ quite forcefully while forbidding him to speak like that again.

JS noticing that he used to much force, started massaging JQ until JS asked JQ if they could consummate their marriage which JQ agreed to.

31: Frightening News

JS carried JQ into the bed and ... papapa.

JS thanked XY before entering court.

The empress looking for a wife for 4th Prince.

JS called by emperor to talked about the potential war and be informed that something might have happened to his brother.

32: Experimenting

JC was ambushed and JS asked to the emperor to go and help him.

JS greeted Eunuch An Xian, servant of the emperor.

At palace, Duchess Mao and North Marquess arguing about their sons fights.

At home, JS was informed that JQ still was not awake, JS climbed to bed while massaging JQ, both discussed who and why ambushed JC.

North Marquis happy that Mu Suzhi is chosen to be married to the 4th prince.

33: Position

The North Marchioness was angry about everyone knowing about the marriage of Mu Suzhi and JY, plus more discussion between the wife of other households.

JS and JQ talked about JC’s return and North Marquis requesting a visited to him.

JS visited the secret work on the barren forest side meanwhile JQ visited his father.

North Marquis realized that the empress abandoned his household from supporting the crown prince and rather help Duke Mao household. To improve his statutes he raises JQ’s concubine statutes to 2nd rank.

JS met up with JC at the entrance to the city, where he found JC injured inside the carriage.

34: Persian Silk Tree

JS gave a life-saving medicine to JC before returning home.

After dinner JS and JQ took a walk in the garden where JS owed to JQ his love and life.

JC reported the robbery and situation about the southwest king and North Marquis tried to persuade the emperor to send JS to rescue the eldest prince.

North Marchioness and MLB talked about the situation about rising JQ’s mother’s (Qiu Yiniang) concubine ranks and their statutes on court.

35: A Speculation

QYI send a letter to his son so that they can talked.

JC resting at home from the injuries but also trying to dissolve the rumors of JS sending assassins to kill him.

JQ gave JS some advise for the court and even motivated JS with JQ picking him up for lunch/dinner after work.

JQ made some small business at his shop before heading to pick JS up, who kind of ran away in the middle of a problem solving discussion.

36: Withdrawal of the Vassal States

JS and JQ had a nice lunch at ZJ’s restaurant before visiting JC and talked about the next steps about vassal states.

JC suggested to the emperor to withdraw the titles of the vassal states.

QYI got promoted to 2nd rank concubine and talked her concern about the princes fight to the throne, which JQ ensured her that JS doesn’t want to take part of.

37: Summons

The emperor send troups to withdrew the vassal states and the empress planning her plans for the 4th prince.

JS was practicing his sword then passed some time with JQ and reporting what happened at court.

JS reported that the emperor/empress wants to get him a second wife, daughter of the Count of Yongchang (JS feels sick about it).

The eunuch Dou Lu gave message to JS that the empress wants JQ to go to Feng Yi palace immediately (the empress’ imperial palace).

JS followed JQ to the southern part of the palace and ordered the guard Xiao Qian to let the maids report to him.

38: Punishment by Kneeling

JQ greeted the empress and followed her instructions, meanwhile JS went to the princes study room where he meet his younger siblings and talked with his father.

The empress got angry at JQ since JQ exclaimed that it is JS decision to have more wifes’ and JQ did not agree with the statement of the empress about inheriting titles or the throne; the empress punished JQ by kneeling at the Jade terrace.

The maid Miao Xi reported back to JS about the situation but was not expecting to see the emperor next to JS, both went to the empress palace.

When JQ heard that the emperor came with JS and the moment he saw JS, he fake fainted.  

39: Forgot to Say

The emperor ordered call for the royal physician.

JS filled with rage wanted to vent but was stopped by JQ.

The doctor reported to the emperor that JQ’s body is unusually weak for a man and ordered him some medicin to help him recuperate fully.

The emperor dismissed JS from court to take care of JQ, plus after both left the emperor punished the empress for 3 days.

JS treated JQ injuries and also told JQ that he will go a month earlier to the military camp.

JS felt that JQ was sad about it and comforted him with all kind of things like more papapa.

THE END OF BOOK 1

(last update 21th April 2021)

[woo-do-hwan]

Eternal Love of Dream: Episodes 16 & 17

Round 8 or 9??? Let’s go!!!

A couple of pointers that you may or may not know:

1. You DO NOT need to have seen Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms (Eternal Love) to watch this. 2. If you have seen Eternal Love, ignore what happens between these two. (They weren’t able to gain copyright access to this novel for Eternal Love, so their storyline was made up and put in as a filler) 3. This is based on a novel, you don’t need to read the novel but it is a great read if you’re interested. 4. I may refer to this as The Pillow Book or TPB. 5. Lastly, there will be some comparisons and I will relate to the novel at times.

Also spoilers, maybe? (If you haven’t seen these episodes yet)

Episode sixteen

Where would historical dramas be without their loving evil mothers? Ah... She doesn’t seem to be evil so that’s something to appreciate. Not the obnoxious type of evil... at least. 

Let’s have some appreciation for all the flowers in this drama.

Please... it hurts to see him on the screen every time...

Just. Lmao. 

The stone knows more about them than those two fools know about themselves.

dONGhUA??? Is THAT YOU??? (no just a lovesick song xuanren)

The way his thumb was just running over her fingers. *sigh* I’m lonely. 

If this is the fcking content we’re getting for a kiss scene imagine the steamier scenes. My God. My body is ready. *asdfghjk*

Cheng Yu checking up on her daug- *ahem* new bestie. 

Yes. More fake instrument playing. A highlight of The Untamed. 

Yooo, yeah, so. Remember when I said I was ready for the steamier scenes. NOT. THIS. FCKING. SOON.  

*proceeds to scream internally for the rest of this* 

GOD DAMN IT SONG XUANREN!!!!!!!!!!!

Episode seventeen

Honestly, this is the most book vibing scene I feel we’ve had so far. (Spoilers: Later in the novel, Fengjiu is drafting up a weapon and takes over Donghua’s study. He doesn’t mind and continues to do his usual all while keeping her company. Then he builds her a conservatory/pavilion for her so she can study outside and admire the scenery. If that’s not couple goals, I don’t know what is Also, Donghua just wanted his study back because it was becoming crowded, lmao. It is the thought that counts.)  

Such a big a** mood. 

Bless these few scenes we get of them together. I need my man Ye Qingti to do a modern drama, I bet he looks good with short hair too. 

What a power couple. 

When evil schemes are in the plot I prefer it being shown in a subtle way before the big reveal. The Untamed did that extremely well and I mean fcking extremely well. I love it when we build up to revealing the crimes all in one blow. 

Is she really gone for good this time though??? (I suppose she is because she isn’t brought up after Ji Heng and Min Su part ways in the novel) Well... she seems like a wonderful actress. Best of luck in the future! I may see you in another drama someday and hopefully, you won’t be killed off. 

See you next time! Any questions and I will try my best to answer them!

episodes 14 & 15 

episodes 18 & 19

[phantom-at-the-library]

Okay, after the the Peach Blossom Pavilion which I felt like dragged on I’ve decided to hit on something more popular.

Ladies, gentlemen, and whatever you identify as, my next read will be none other then….

The first Percy Jackson And The Olympians - The lightening Thief. I was exposed to the movies before the book a few years ago and when I heard that the books was undeservedly adapted my curiosity and passion for mythology kept hollering. For some reason, I stupidly jumped to the third book a few years ago but now I finally have the first one and it’s about time I read this the right way.

Rick Riordan is a author I will always read from. I am reading his Magnus Chase series and all I can say is that they are amazing to me. The mythology, representation, and humour are what had be interested and also because my best friend won't leave me br in peace until I try it. I'm not complaining though.

[otakudreamer]

Peach Blossom Pavilion - Chapter 3

"-and I knew immediately that people didn't have to die to go to hell. It was right on earth."

I was starting to think this book was all sound effects and no words to my liking until I come up to this one.

[anachef]

What’s New in Epcot: More Construction Updates, New Merch, and AWESOME GUMMY CANDIES!

Greetings from Epcot!! We took a stroll around the park and found some awesome new merchandise, adorable new jelly candies, and of course, construction updates!

Spaceship Earth

Take a lap around Epcot with us while we show you what’s new!

What’s New in Epcot’s Future World

We are so excited about the  Guardians of the Galaxy ride opening in 2021, so we snagged a few new pictures of the construction.

Guardians of the Galaxy Construction

The attraction will live in a newly constructed building, with the queue in the now-extinct Ellen’s Energy Adventure building.

Guardians of the Galaxy Construction

Guardians of the Galaxy Construction

The attraction will feature state of the art ride vehicles and is projected to open in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Guardians of the Galaxy Construction

Also coming to Future World is a new space-themed restaurant between Test Track and Mission Space. 

Space Restaurant Construction Progress

The Space Restaurant promises to be like nothing we’ve ever seen before! You can read more details here. 

Mission Space + Construction Crane

We spotted the construction crane behind Mission Space on our last walk! The Space Restaurant is scheduled to blast-off in 2020.

Further along in Future World, we noticed something unusual at the Garden Grill Restaurant.

Foliage Outside Garden Grill

They’ve put a bunch of potted plants outside the entrance! Don’t worry — dining and characters will continue as normal.

We believe these are just up to cover some routine maintenance and “facelifts.”

Foliage Outside Garden Grill

What’s New in Epcot’s World Showcase

First up, in the shops of Norway we found the cutest jelly candies!

Swedish Jelly Horses

They are shaped in the traditional Swedish Dala Horses! Too cute, right?!

Swedish Jelly Horses

As we ventured into China, we noticed Lotus Blossom Cafe has already removed the Foo Beer Cocktail from the main menu, but you can see it on signage near the register.

Foo Beer Cocktail

Previously, the drink was listed with tequila, but now you can choose between tequila, peach schnapps, dark rum, triple sec, or amaretto. Which would you choose?

Nearby at Pizza al Taglio in Italy, they’ve added registers outside where you order, and then pick up at the window.

Pizza al Taglio

This is a pretty popular spot (as it should be — the pizza is delightful) so this makes sense to help with the crowds.

In the American Adventure Pavilion, there are still construction walls up.

America Pavilion Construction

Looks like they are continuing on some new brick work, with some stones being laid since we were last here.

America Pavilion Construction

America Pavilion Construction

We headed to Japan to check on the construction there as well. A new Signature Restaurant is opening, but as of now, we don’t have any opening dates yet. But you know we will share them as soon as we get more details!

Japan Signature Restaurant Construction

Japan Signature Restaurant Construction

More details on the new restaurant can be found here!

In France, we spotted our second adorable bag of gummy snacks — these gummy kicks!

Gummy Kicks

We also found this touching tribute drawn on the chalkboard in Les Vins de France. <3

Notre Dame Chalkboard

In the United Kingdom, we noticed a name change on the Chicken and Mushroom Pie.

Chicken and Mushroom Pastry

The Cast Members let us know the Yorkshire Fish Shop dish hasn’t changed — except it’s now called the Chicken and Mushroom Pasty. Check out our review here!

International Gateway has changed as well! The main entrance is now blocked off, and Guests are being directed towards a temporary entrance.

International Gateway Construction

Security checks take place under the overhang by the ticketing windows.

International Gateway Construction

And temporary touchpoints have been set up for park entry.

International Gateway Construction

International Gateway Construction

What’s New in Epcot’s Shops and Stores — New Merchandise!

“Hippity hoppity Easter’s on its way!” And you can celebrate with these adorable flags spotted at a Flower and Garden Kiosk in Germany.

Easter Flags

Gear up for another very important holiday around the corner with this adorable “Mom” Alex & Ani Bracelet! We spotted it at MouseGear.

Alex and Ani “Mom” Bracelet

And speaking of jewelry, a Rebecca Hook Jewelry Trunk Show will be happening at MouseGear, April 19-20.

Rebecca Hook Jewelry

Rebecca and her team will be there to help you pick out the perfect piece! The event lasts from 9am to 10pm both days.

Rebecca Hook Jewelry

We also found these new-to-us wicked patches featuring our favorite villains!

Villain Patches

Well, that’s all folks! What changes are you most excited about in the parks? Let us know in the comments below.

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Related posts:

What’s New in Epcot: Festival Booths, Topiaries, Construction, Mickey Pretzels, and more!

What’s New in Epcot: Menu Changes, Construction Updates, New Merchandise, Paper Straws, and Flower and Garden Fest Prep!

What’s New in Epcot: Construction Progress, New Food Merch, Updated Menus, and More

from the disney food blog http://bit.ly/2Dkq7fB via http://bit.ly/LNvO3e

[guileheroine]

blossoming

a sugary dose of Korrasami for the dialogue prompt, ‘close your eyes and hold out your hands’, for anon 💚 / ao3

Asami brushed a fallen leaf or two out of the lap of her dress and scooched forward. Ikki shuffled closer, too, and laid her book on the grass between them.

“…So what does that part do?” She stabbed a finger into the first character of her equation, pushing her lips into an intense pout that indicated an admirable amount of concentration (for her, at least.)

Asami examined the page again. “So that is the number that multiplies your variables. You times this by that part -” She pointed fingers of her own, checking Ikki’s eyes to see that she followed. “…So to get back here -” another stab, “we need to divide by it. Make sense?”

Ikki breathed out through her nostrils, peering down with her palms on either side of the book. Save for that, she was still. Asami waited, and began to lose hope - until all of sudden, Ikki’s head shot up again; pout transformed.

“Totally! Thanks, Asami!” She clapped her hands together before using both to drag the book a few inches back towards her person.

Asami smiled. “No problem.” Ikki would accost her again in about two minutes. Hopefully not with the very same question again - but Asami didn’t really mind, to be honest. She was patient and she was free. Enjoying a beautiful day on Air Temple Island, like she didn’t often get to; reveling in the incomparable pleasure of wearing a plain linen dress and nothing more serious, feeling like she’d uncluttered her head, or lifted it off altogether. Floaty, lightweight, breathable - that wasn’t just her outfit. The breeze helped. She blinked slowly against the sun. It beat down hard on this island, little shade aside from the few smatterings of trees; but they were parked under one such wooded copse this afternoon. Korra was playing with Naga, Rohan was playing with his brand new lop-eared rabbit, Jinora and Kai were… playing with each other, potentially, or whatever else they had wandered into the thicket to do. Asami had put her book down a while ago, content to simply rest.

At the sound of feet on the brush behind her, Asami made to turn. She was stopped a pair of hands over her eyes before she could. She tensed momentarily before unclenching with a smile.

“Close your eyes and hold out your hands,” Korra said by her ear.

“You’re already covering them,” Asami dismissed her innocently, suppressing the laugh that was bubbling up in her throat. She could practically see Korra roll her eyes.

“Close your eyes,” Korra repeated with a playful force in her voice, doing a commendable job of preventing any exasperation from seeping into it.

Asami obliged. “Okay.” She lifted her hand, palm up, speculating about what was about to drop into it. A snack would be nice, a peach or some berries.

Korra took her by the wrist and pushed her flattened, upturned palm back into a loose fist with her fingers. “Oh, don’t get your hopes up,” she laughed. Asami heard Ikki giggle in the vicinity, too. She joined them, but now she wondered what it could be.

She felt a cool, feathery touch around her wrist and held her tongue. Korra fiddled at her arm for a moment, before giving her fingers a squeeze and releasing them. She signaled “alright” with a little sound, and Asami opened her eyes onto a delicate chain around her wrist wreathed out of starlet daisies.

She let that laugh bubble up.

The thin, creamy petals pointed out like little sparks. The stems, which she would have thought were too short for tying, were linked in tiny, neat knots. Asami lifted her hand to her face and breathed them in. “Ah, Korra.” She grinned. “What’s this for?”

Korra had sat down in front of her. She placed her hands over her bare feet and leaned forward on them playfully, a gesture that betrayed the hint of embarrassment. “They go with your dress… Uh, it’s our anniversary, you know.”

She was charming. In the active sense.

But Asami felt her own smile loosen in confusion. “Our…” She racked her brain in a rush, because it wasn’t like her to forget anything that could be labelled that at all; but the truth that she ultimately returned to was that she and Korra didn’t exactly have an anniversary. Maybe they should decide on one before the season was up. It was just that hey had simply… ended up this way, not quite at any placeable point in time.

What was it? She directed a inquisitive frown at Korra, though her eyes still smiled. Their first kiss, that morning on the pavilion? The first time Korra had said girlfriend, and not friend, when the woman on the dock had asked where she had gotten that coat? When Asami had thrown her her second set of spare keys from the desk drawer, and told her to keep them?

She shook her head, coming up empty. “What anniversary?” She laughed again, dumbfounded, clasping a hard hand on Korra’s knee. “Korra!”

Korra threw a subtle, stealthy glance at Ikki, who was still quite engrossed in her book, before leaning forward. She set a hand on Asami’s shoulder and whispered in her ear. Asami’s eyes widened briefly - then she rolled them in amusement and comprehension, shoving Korra off; because it was then that Asami realised she was playing her. Korra would not be of the mind to bother to remember which particular day the first time they did that was. She giggled deliciously as she fell back from the shove - Asami laughed loud and shook her head.

“Oh, sure,” she ribbed. “Sure it is.” She certainly had the upper hand now, and she was not about to let this girl off. She raised an eyebrow and held her wrist up again, fingering the chain with her other hand. “No ulterior motives?” Then she pulled Korra forward again and pressed a kiss to her mouth before she could reply.

“None,” Korra said unconvincingly when she drew back, undeterred despite her obvious embarrassment. She seemed quite at ease with being red in the face around Asami, even if she had probably expected this outcome all along, which was oddly romantic. “Honestly, seriously,” she said beside her cheek, as Asami clasped her hands behind her back to hold her in place, rocking her forward gently. “Really, I just thought it matched your dress.” She gave her lower cheek a lingering kiss, and as she threw her head back, Asami noted with amusement how pink Ikki’s face was behind her book.

She regarded Korra with mischief, and kissed her twice before saying, “Yeah? It’s a nice dress.”

“You’re telling me,” Korra said with feeling, finding the space where her cheek met her ear again, “you look good enough to eat.” She froze for a fraction of a second, teasing, “Not like that! Asami!” Admonishingly and very deliberately, though not fast enough for Asami not to splutter again.

Her cheeks hurt. She took Korra’s face between her hands, and kissed her again, light to complement the lightness of the moment. And again, and again. Goodness, she was all warmth and fluid affection today, glowing in the sunlight. “Korra,” Asami murmured like she was admitting an indulgence, settling on her name over anything hypothetically sweeter; this time truly for her ears only. They kissed long for the first time, until finally a high voice drew them apart. “Hey. Hey, you guys!”

Ikki coughed pointedly and squeaked, “I need your help.”

[bridgingtranslation]

01/02/2017 Bridging Translation

【编者按】春节是中国最盛大、最热闹的一个古老、最传统节日。说到这，那些中国传统词汇你会翻译吗？

元宵节  Lantern Festival

刺绣  Embroidery

重阳节  Double-Ninth Festival

清明节  Tomb sweeping day

剪纸  Paper Cutting

书法  Calligraphy

对联  （Spring Festival） Couplets

象形文字  Pictograms/Pictographic Characters

雄黄酒  Realgar wine

四合院  Siheyuan/Quadrangle

战国  Warring States

风水  Fengshui/Geomantic Omen

昆曲  Kunqu Opera

长城  The Great Wall

集体舞  Group Dance

黄土高原  Loess Plateau

红白喜事  Weddings and Funerals

中秋节  Mid-Autumn Day

花鼓戏  Flower Drum Song

儒家文化  Confucian Culture

中国结  Chinese knotting

古装片  Costume Drama

武打片  Chinese Swordplay Movie

元宵  Tangyuan/Sweet Rice Dumpling 

越剧  Yue Opera

火锅  Hot Pot

江南  South Regions of the Yangtze River

谜语  Riddle

《诗经》  The Book of Songs

《史记》  Historical Records/Records of the Grand Historian

《红楼梦》  A Dream of Red Mansions

《西游记》  The Journey to the West

除夕  Chinese New Year’s Eve/Eve of the Spring Festival

针灸  Acupuncture

唐三彩  Tri-color Pottery of the Tang

Dynasty/ The Tang Tri-colored pottery

孔子  Confucius

偏旁  Radical

孟子  Mencius

亭/阁  Pavilion/ Attic

黄梅戏   Huangmei opera

火药  Gunpowder

农历  Lunar Calendar

印/玺  Seal/Stamp

腊八节  The laba Rice Porridge Festival

京剧  Beijing Opera/Peking Opera

秦腔  Crying of Qin People/Qin Opera

太极拳  TaiChi

《本草纲目》  Compendium of Materia Medica

天坛  Altar of Heaven in Beijing

小吃摊  Snack Bar/Snack Stand

红双喜  Double Happiness

文房四宝(笔墨纸砚）  The Four Treasure of the Study（Brush,Inkstick,Paper,and Inkstone）

春卷  Spring Roll(s)

莲藕  Lotus Root

罗盘  Luopan/compass

故宫博物院  The Palace Museum

相声  Cross-talk/Comic Dialogue

五行  Five Phases

北京烤鸭  Beijing Roast Duck

《桃花扇》  The Peach Blossom Fan

木偶戏  Puppet Show

敦煌莫高窟  Mogao Caves

电视小品  TV Sketch/TV Skit

甲骨文  Oracle Bone Inscriptions

古筝  Chinese Zither

杂技  acrobatics

门当户对  Perfect Match/Exact Match

《水浒》 Water Margin/Outlaws of the Marsh

除夕  Chinese New Year's Eve

国子监  Imperial Academy

兵马俑  Cotta Warriors/ Terracotta Army

旗袍  Cheongsam

中国古代四大发明 the four great inventions of ancient China

火药 gunpowder

印刷术 printing

造纸术 paper-making

指南针 the compass

泼水节 Water-Splashing Day

馄饨  Wonton

花卷  Steamed twisted rolls

羊肉泡馍  Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup

冰糖葫芦  A stick of sugar-coated haws (or apples,etc.)

八宝饭  Eight-treasure rice pudding

粉丝  Glass Noodles

豆腐脑  Jellied bean curd

小品  Witty Skits

孝顺  To show filial obedience

武术  Wushu(Chinese Martial Arts)

宣纸  Rice Paper

陶器  pottery/earthenware

佛教  Buddhism

中庸  The way of medium(Golden Means)

爆竹  firecracker

东坡肉  Dongpo Pork

中山陵  The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

秦淮河  Qinhuai River

玄武湖  Xuanwu Lake

夫子庙  The Confucian Temple

鸭血粉丝  Duck blood fans

盐水鸭  Yanshuiya, or salted and baked duck

大煮干丝  Gansi

小笼包  Steamed buns

明孝陵  Ming Tomb

云锦  Nanjing brocade

来源：人民日报

http://ift.tt/2kfwGFm

[paintingarta]

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[baoshan-sanren]

Chapter 25

of the wwx emperor au I’m thinking of calling Lan QiRen’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 Part 1 | Chapter 8 Part 2 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 Part 1 | Chapter 15 Part 2 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 Part 1 | Chapter 22 Part 2 | Chapter 23 | Chapter 24

WangJi spends six hours kneeling in the courtyard, reflecting on his mistakes.

He should not have left the Peach Blossom Pavilion without permission.

His actions were foolish, and irresponsible. The bitter disappointment he had faced that morning, from both uncle and XiChen, is no more than what he deserves. Uncle is angry again. XiChen is hurt. After he had so throughly argued in WangJi’s favor the last time, his brother has every right to be upset.

WangJi does not have an excuse for his behavior. He was wrong. He accepts that he was wrong.

I really like spending time with you.

He should not have left the Peach Blossom Pavilion dressed in nothing but his night robes and a coat.

Wei WuXian is the Emperor. He can disregard rules of propriety as often as he chooses without suffering the consequences. WangJi cannot. Lan WangJi is the Second Young Master of a disgraced Sect, and his misconduct is never just his own. Leaving in the middle of the night, to spend two hours alone with the Emperor, dressed only in his sleep robes, is nothing less than scandalous.

WangJi does not have an excuse for this either. He was wrong. He accepts that he was wrong.

I really like spending time with you.

He had placed himself at risk. He had placed the Emperor at risk. Had the Emperor been grievously injured by those who wish him harm, while alone with WangJi, no amount of Imperial favor would have spared the Lan Sect from the inevitable backlash. The Emperor is free to place himself in danger as often as he chooses, but Lan WangJi can never be the one to place the Emperor at risk.

He was wrong. He accepts that he was wrong.

I really like spending time with you.

It is nearly midday when XiChen comes to fetch him, and by then, WangJi can no longer feel his legs below the knees. Instead of getting to his feet, he only readjusts his position to sit, and is not surprised to find XiChen settling across from him.

There is something slightly hesitant in his brother’s demeanor, and WangJi hates to see it directed at himself. There has never been a need for a vast number of words between them; perhaps they were simply built that way, or perhaps it was the result of uncle’s unwillingness to speak any more than he must, but XiChen and WangJi have always been able to read each other in silence.  

WangJi knows it is not only the disappointment and hurt that has shaken his brother’s equilibrium. For the first time, XiChen cannot comprehend WangJi’s reasoning. It must be akin to opening a familiar book, only to find it written in an obscure language.

This may require a great many words, but even then, WangJi is not certain that he can explain himself fully.

He was wrong. He accepts that he was wrong. However, six hours of reflection have not resulted in some grand enlightenment, or some groundbreaking recognition of his misdeeds. He had known, the moment he had accepted Wei WuXian’s hand, that his behavior will be seen as unacceptable. He had recognized all the ways in which it had violated the Lan Sect’s rules, and his family’s trust. The decision might have been made in a moment, but it had not been made lightly.

And if he were to find himself in the dark courtyard again tonight, Wei WuXian across from him, extending a hand, he would take it all over again.

“I should not have left without telling you,” WangJi says.

“No,” XiChen agrees, “You should not have.”

“Lan ZhongYi,” WangJi says, “I understand why uncle does not wish to speak of him. But he was wrong to conceal the truth. Understanding Lan ZhongYi’s motivations does not equal excusing his actions.”

“Mhm,” XiChen says, “I believe you are correct, although many of the Elders would disagree with you.”

“The Wen Sect has been spared the censure we face, not by the virtue of having committed a lesser crime, but through a thoughtless decision of an Emperor who did not know there would be adverse consequences to his actions,” WangJi says, “But we should not begrudge the Wen their good fortune, nor resent the Emperor for actions committed in ignorance. In the end, our circumstances will remain unchanged.”

XiChen nods.

“I am sorry I disappointed you,” WangJi says.

XiChen sighs, “You know neither I, nor uncle, could have forbidden you to go, regardless of danger. Not if the Emperor insisted. I only asked that you do not keep it from me.”

“Mhm.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“He offered to share a confidence,” WangJi says, “If I had delayed in accepting, I do not think that he would have offered again.”

XiChen looks thoughtful.

WangJi wants to tell him about a hand extended in the darkness, an odd urgency in Wei WuXian’s tone, the expression on his face when he said please.

He cannot.

Although he has always used words sparingly, he has only recently found that some emotions cannot be conveyed through speech, because the vocabulary necessary to illustrate the exact meaning of them simply does not exist.

“You think he would have perceived your hesitation as refusal,” XiChen says.

“Mhm.”

“It is important to you, that he choose to share this confidence,” XiChen says.

It is not a question, but WangJi nods anyway.

“You do like him,” XiChen says, his lips quirking.

WangJi does not dignify that with a response. He can feel his ears growing hot, and resolutely ignores the fact that XiChen can see it as well. Ordinarily, his response to XiChen’s rare bouts of teasing humor is to simply walk away. This time, he must bear it. There are things he cannot put into words, not even for XiChen’s sake, but he never wants his brother to think that WangJi no longer trusts him.

“I have asked that next time, he comes to the door,” he offers.

“I am not sure uncle will see that as an improvement,” XiChen grins.

No, he probably will not. In fact, WangJi is certain that uncle will hate it as much as he hates the idea of the Emperor lounging on their rooftop in the middle of the night.

“Come inside,” XiChen says, rising to his feet, “I believe uncle must be ready for tea by now.”

[besanii]

Hi. I'm pretty new to cdramas but I loved the untamed from the bottom of my heart and I was wondering if you had any cdrama recommendations to give?

Hi nonny!

I answered a previous ask with cdrama recs HERE :)

Note that I almost exclusively watch historical/period and wuxia/xianxia dramas though, so all of my recs are in that genre. I don’t really watch modern cdramas, or wartime cdramas (e.g. dramas set during the Sino-Japanese war), so you won’t find many of them here. Actually, the only one I’ve successfully managed to watch from beginning to end was The Disguiser and even then I only watched it for Jin Dong lmao the storyline towards the end was a mess.

(This doesn’t include HK dramas, of course. I grew up watching a lot of HK dramas both modern and period, but I don’t know if you’d be interested?)

I also...don’t watch cdramas with subtitles, so I can’t attest to the quality of subs. As a general rule, I don’t ever turn on subs for YouTube, but I heard Viki has reliable subs when you can find them?

Anyway, here are four more recs to go on top of the ones from the previous post (I’d still check out those ones too, they’re mostly newer mainland cdramas).

Aside from Heavy Sweetness, Ash Like Frost, I don’t actually know if any of the dramas below come with English subs, sorry!

The Flame’s Daughter (烈火如歌) 

Wuxia drama, starring Dilraba Dilmurat, Zhang Binbin, Liu Ruilin and Lai Yi (all from Peach Blossoms and Pillow Book), as well as Vic Chou of F4 fame. Lie Ruge (Dilraba) is the daughter of the leader of the Liehuo Pavilion Sect, the strongest and leader of the sects in the martial world, and Yin Xue (Vic Chou) is an immortal from the mysterious Piao Miao Sect. There’s a LOT of inter-and-intra-sect politics, conflict over inheritance and succession and birthrights/bloodlines, a lot of knives (god the knives!!) and some seriously kickass female characters.

Heavy Sweetness, Ash Like Frost (Ashes of Love, 香蜜沉沉烬如霜）

This one is also available on Netflix! I’ll admit to not really liking it at first because Yang Zi’s character (Jin Mi) gets on my nerves like nothing else, but the two male leads Deng Lun and Luo Yunxi are *chef’s kiss*, plus the story picks up a lot in the second half. It’s a xianxia drama about Jin Mi, a small-time grape fairy who unwittingly saves the phoenix Xufeng, the Crown Prince of the Nine Heavens, and badgers him into bringing her out of the Floral Realm, which has been sealed off from the rest of the realms since the death of the Floral Goddess. This triggers a series of events that leads to the uncovering of much intrigue, plotting and manipulations for the throne of the Heavenly Emperor, as well as the truth behind the death of the Floral Goddess and Jin Mi’s true birthright.

You know what, I’ll rec a couple of older HK dramas lmao, but there won’t be any subs I’m afraid.

Lethal Weapons of Love and Passion (覆雨翻雲)

Based (loosely) on the novel of the same name by Huang Yi, it’s a wuxia drama set right at the beginning of the Ming dynasty (the end of the Mongolian Yuan dynasty), and stars Bosco Wang, Raymond Lam and Charmaine Sheh. It deals with racial tensions between Mongolian and Han Chinese and an attempt by a Mongolian cult/sect to overthrow the Ming Emperor and install their surviving prince on the throne. I say it’s loosely based because it changes a lot of things from the novel (relationships and some storylines), but it’s still a pretty good story on its own.

The Duke of Mount Deer 2000 (小寶與康熙)

Another wuxia drama adapted/loosely based on the novel The Deer and the Cauldron (鹿鼎記) by Louis Cha. It stars Dicky Cheung, Patrick Tam and Ruby Lin (to name a few) and is a HK-Taiwan collaboration. The story is set in the early Qing dynasty (in the early reign of the Kangxi Emperor), and follows a street urchin’s journey as he stumbles his way into a close friendship with the Kangxi Emperor, while also becoming involved in the anti-Qing rebellion that seeks to assassinate Kangxi and rebuild the fallen Ming Dynasty.

[eyeontw]

Photo captured from the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market’s Website

The Eye on Taiwan news staff

Some 60 Taiwan-based audiovisual representatives and post-production companies will take part in the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), one of the world’s leading entertainment marketplaces, to promote Taiwan-made quality films and dramas.

The Taiwanese firms will join 850 exhibitors from 37 countries and regions to promote their products in the four-day FILMART, which will kick off in Hong Kong on Monday.

The trade fair is one of the nine events under the Expo Hong Kong, which will open on the same day with a kick-off ceremony, according to the organizer, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Taiwan’s Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development under the Culture Ministry said the participation in the fair will not only help promote Taiwan productions in the global market but also exhibit Taiwan’s prowess in digital production and special effects.

Photo taken from High Flash’s Facebook

Photo taken from Sen Sen’s Facebook

Photo taken from Father to Son’s Facebook

Bureau Director Hsu Yu-chun was quoted in a press statement by the ministry as saying that Taiwan has selected three films —  Explosion (引爆點) by Chuang Ching-shen (莊景燊), Sen Sen (生生) by An Bon (安邦), and Father to Son (范保德) by Hsiao Ya-chuan (蕭雅全) — for display and viewing during the trade fair to highlight the dynamics of the local movies.

To present the creativity, culture, and landscapes of Taiwan, the television series chosen include Iron Ladies (姊的時代), Angel Wei Wei (天使薇薇), and the Taiwan-Japan joint venture Fusulina of Remember (紡綞蟲的記憶)”  that explores life, love, cyberculture, and the relations between Taiwan and Japan, according to the press release.

Photo taken from Set Drama’s Facebook

Photo taken from Videoland Angel Vivi’s Facebook

The bureau has also set up two Taiwan pavilions at the trade fair for audiovisual operators to promote their works and business. A Taiwan-themed promotional event will also be held on March 19 to seek collaborative opportunities with professionals and companies from all over the world, it said.

Several visual effects companies from Taiwan, including Bulky Animation Studio (大腕影像股份有限公司), Jnana Studio (本覺創意有限公司), Taipei Postproduction (台北影業股份有限公司), Cheer Digiart (砌禾數位動畫股份有限公司), and Motion M VFX (米德媒體有限公司) will participate in the trade fair as well, according to the press statement.

Hong Kong–Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), a platform for Asian filmmakers with new film projects seeking financing and meetups with potential partners, will also be held in conjunction with FILMART, it noted.

This year, director Arvin Chen’s (陳駿霖) upcoming film project Naive Melody (買一送一) and director Huang Xi’s (黃熙) Common People (普通情事) were selected by HAF. They will be meeting with film financiers, producers, distributors, and buyers during the three-day forum to seek opportunities for advancing their projects to the next stage, the statement said.

Photo taken from Xiao Mei’s Facebook

Following FILMART, two Taiwanese films – Omotenashi (盛情款待) by emerging director Jay Chern (陳鈺杰) and Xiao Mei (小美) by Maren Hwang (黃榮昇) – will open the 2018 Hong Kong International Film Festival on March 19. Another five Taiwanese films will also be screened at the festival this year, according to the press statement.

Fusulina of Remember (紡綞蟲的記憶), a drama series jointly produced by Taiwan and Japan, was released on Taiwan’s first streaming application “i・active APP” on Feb. 14, according to the Culture Ministry.

Subsidized by the ministry and the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development’s Broadband TV Production project, the drama is a collaborative project targeting the Pan-Asian market.

Filmed in Japan, the drama opens a new page for cultural exchanges and commercial partnerships. It stars both Taiwanese and Japanese actors and actresses to boost cultural interactions and understanding between the two nations. The drama will also be aired in Japan for Japanese audiences to watch quality drama produced with Taiwanese characteristics, the ministry said.

Photo taken from Fusulina of Remember’s Facebook

Fusulina of Remember discusses topics on vegetation and land and explores the relationship between Taiwan and Japan over the centuries. It seeks to create a heart-warming story that integrates the cultures, societies, and aesthetics of Taiwan and Japan, it said.

7 Taiwan’s films screened during 2018 Hong Kong International Film Festival

March 19, 7:30 pm — Omotenashi (盛情款待)” by emerging director Jay Chern (陳鈺杰) discusses how cultural differences between a Taiwanese and Japanese family and emotions change the lives of those involved.

March 19, 9:45 pm — Xiao Mei (小美) by director Maren Hwang (黃榮昇) draws viewers’ curiosity and concerns about the missing titular character through a series of interviews with her friends, family, and acquaintances. The film was nominated for the GWFF Best First Feature Award in Berlin International Film Festival in January.

Photo taken from IMDB.com

March 23, 8:00 pm — Cloud of Romance (我是ㄧ片雲) by actor-turned-director Chen Hung-lieh (陳鴻烈) is one of the 14 movies starring former Taiwanese actress Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia (林青霞) which will be screened during the festival as a tribute to the actress highly popular in Taiwan and Hong Kong. The movie — a digital restoration of its 1977 version — tells of bitter, triangular love which ends in a tragedy.

  Photo taken from YouTube

  March 24, 4:45 pm — Father (Orignal Title : Red Box) is a documentary which has taken  director Yang Li-chou (楊力州) 10 years to finish. It is about the strained relationship between puppet master Chen Hsi-huang (陳錫煌) and his father Li Tien-lu (李天祿), the renowned Taiwanese glove puppeteer. At the age of 79, Chen set up his own troupe, which soon earned recognition all over the world. Nevertheless, Chen finds no one to pass on his great skills.

Photo taken from On Happiness Road’s Facebook

March 25, 6:00 pm –The animation film On Happiness Road (幸福路上) by Sung Hsin-yin (宋欣穎) tells of how kids wish they could become celebrities in their adulthood, but after they grow up, they just desire to have an ordinary yet happy life.

Photo taken from The Deserted’s Facebook

March 31, 1:30 pm — The Deserted (家在蘭若寺) by iconoclastic art house director Tsai Ming-liang (蔡明亮)  involves a man recovering from an illness, who is unable to communicate properly with either his mother or the female ghost who lives next door. Instead, he communes with a fish. At 56 minutes, it is the longest-ever VR film best viewed with the Vive VR headset developed by HTC and Valve Corp. The headset uses room-scale tracking technology that the company says “allows the user to move in 3D space and use motion-tracked handheld controllers to interact with the environment,” according to Variety.com

April 2, 8:00 pm — Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, directed by Stan Lai (賴聲川), is another movie being shown as a tribute to Taiwanese actress Brigitte Lin (林青霞).  It combines two unrelated plays – a tragedy (Secret Love) and a comedy (The Peach Blossom Land) – on the same stage, mixing seriousness with banters.

Photo taken from YouTube

Brigitte Lin honored in both Hong Kong and Italy-based Udine film festivals 

To honor Lin, who holds a legendary status in Taiwan and Hong Kong cinema, the Hong Kong International Film Festival will screen 14 of her films and publish a retrospective book (Filmmaker in Focus: Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia. It will also hold a public seminar on March 31, in which the actress will discuss her film career.

In April, the Udine Far East Film Festival based in Italy will honor the 63-year-old former actress with its Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award.

Photo taken from IMDB.com showing Brigitte Lin in Cloud of Romance released in 1977.

Lin, who retired from her acting career in 1994, has starred in more than 100 films, appearing in “sentimental melodramas and wuxia titles, to thrillers and eccentric experimental projects,” which the festival will “distill” into a retrospective that will include the European premiere of “Cloud of Romance” (1977), which was recently restored by the Taiwan Film Institute, organizer of the Udine festival said in a press release. The 20th Far East Film Festival will be held April 20-28.

Seminar on March 31, 6:00 pm — Filmmaker in Focus: Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia 「雲外笑紅塵——林青霞」專題選映 (Venue: Grand Theatre at Hong Kong Cultural Center)

  Photo taken from Hong Kong International Film Festival’s Facebook showing the book “Filmaker in Focus: Brigitte Lin” published by the festival organizer 

  14 films by Brigitte Lin screened during the film festival:

 1.      Outside the Window (窗外) (1973)

2.      Ghost of the Mirror (古鏡幽魂) (1974) 3.      The Dream of the Red Chamber (金玉良緣紅樓夢) (1977) 4.      Cloud of Romance (我是一片雲) (1977) 5.      Love Massacre (愛殺) (1981) 6.      All the Wrong Spies (我愛夜來香) (1983) 7.      Peking Opera Blues (刀馬旦) (1986) 8.      Starry is the Night (今夜星光燦爛) (1988) 9.      Red Dust (滾滾紅塵) (1990) 10.   Swordsman II (笑傲江湖II東方不敗) (1992) 11.   Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land (暗戀桃花源) (1992) 12.   The Bride with White Hair (白髮魔女傳) (1993) 13.   Chungking Express (重慶森林) (1994) 14.   Ashes of Time (東邪西毒終極版) (1994/2008)

  Some 60 Taiwan-based audiovisual representatives and post-production companies will take part in the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), one of the world's leading entertainment marketplaces, to promote Taiwan-made quality films and dramas. The Eye on Taiwan news staff Some 60 Taiwan-based audiovisual representatives and post-production companies will take part in the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), one of the world's leading entertainment marketplaces, to promote Taiwan-made quality films and dramas.

[woo-do-hwan]

Eternal Love of Dream: Episodes 6 & 7

A journey into my thoughts which are utter nonsense but I try and form it into some sort of commentary/review. 

1. You DO NOT need to have seen Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms (Eternal Love) to watch this. 2. If you have seen Eternal Love, ignore what happens between these two. (They weren’t able to gain copyright access to this novel for Eternal Love, so their storyline was made up and put in as a filler) 3. This is based on a novel, you don’t need to read the novel but it is a great read if you’re interested. 4. I may refer to this as The Pillow Book or TPB. 5. Lastly, there will be some comparisons and I will relate to the novel at times.

Watch out for spoilers as always! 

Episode Six

No one looks happy about this upcoming wedding. I don’t blame them tbh...

That’s a long time to be lonely... o.o Also where’s this bachelor life Donghua led? I would like a peek at it or was this it? Taking no interest in anyone, lol. 

Oh that’s right! Cheng Yu was mentioned in the novel but she didn’t appear. She hates the gift if I remember correctly. 

I love how Donghua asks Fengjiu if she’ll go with him. To me, this really shows Donghua does care about the fox who has been accompanying him for the past few years. I mean he built a pavilion for her. But we also at the same time start the cycle of Fengjiu believing Dongua’s true feelings lie elsewhere (this is gonna go on for a while, a long long while). 

Fengjiu really trying her best to change Donghua’s opinion is so sweet. *sigh* If only she wasn’t a fox she could have stood up for herself later on. 

!!! She was so excited to show Donghua what she had done. My heart hurts now. 

My thoughts exactly!!! I don’t want to condone Fengjiu’s violence here, she was I feel a bit too harsh to go and bite Ji Heng. But also Ji Heng should have been straight up and said it wasn’t her that made those changes :/ Ah... the misunderstandings begin... 

I took a break whilst doing this to go watch Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim 2 and cried a whole load so let’s get back to some lighthearted stuff, shall we?

Hahaha. 

Then she finds out it’s for her and suddenly I’m confused. What is the relationship Lian Song and Cheng Yu? Pretty sure they like each other. I don’t remember Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms very well it’s been a minute since I’ve watched that. (Released in 2017, I haven’t watched it in 3 years. No wonder I don’t remember these things.) 

*sigh*

Nooooooooo. Don’t you dare lay your fingers, well paws, on that fox. I’ll come for you. Mark my words. 

Why did they play sad violin music over this? (I think it was a violin, don’t quote me on it) Donghua looks like he’s going out to war and Si Ming was his lover, lmao. I’m trying to escape sadness not keep it going through the night until it’s suddenly 2 AM and I’m listening to my feelings with sad ballads. 

This is so beautiful. There really is no other way to put it. Fengjiu pines over Donghua for so long, it’s just painful to watch her suffer in misery. 

OH please no. Don’t make me suffer even more.

Well, tonight is just full of pain. It was painful in the novel and it is just as heartbreaking in the show too. The last time we’ll see Fengjiu & Donghua together at Tai Chen Palace for a long while.

Episode Seven 

*sigh* I can’t say much without giving out spoilers, I do want to limit spoiling the later parts of the book. I wonder what his fate was before Fengjiu came along.

Yes honey, for now, we have to. Fengjiu suffers the most but she also gains what she desires in the end. 

#fengjiu’sprotectionsquad is back!

This is the content I signed up for!

My new favourite type of drunk is Cheng Yu. Hahaha. (please drink responsibly). The way she literally drags Lian Song with her lmaooo.

I like how when she decides to give up. It’s then Donghua who decides to go after her (e.g. in the moral realm which is a few eps away. Even though it is Donghua’s mortal reincarnation) (but the most significant is Aranya’s dream) who says they don’t have fate? Ha. 

We’re still on this train, are we? haha. I forgot she was around, to be honest, she doesn’t really play any significant role in the novel. She’ll crop up later but nothing comes from it. 

I forgot to mention the pavilion is really beautiful. Those trees <3 Just imagine that one scene in the trailer, Donghua’s leaning against the tree looking over the pavilion where Fengjiu is studying. But. Just imagine. Bai Gungun was with her and he was just taking in his family. Ugh. Now I’m a mess. That scene would be perfect bliss. 

Cheng Yu has her priorities set straight.

#fengjiu’sprotectionsquad minus Bai Zhen. Where is that guy? I miss him >.< 

Fengjiu’s protection squad really are living up to their name. damn. They’ve got some smooth moves. 

There he is! My heart is content. (someone send help I’m falling in love with this guy)

I would love to see Bai Zhen in a fight scene, he’s probably one powerful man.

If you’re wondering what Ye Hua and Bai Qian have been doing this whole time, I’ll let you know (They were literally making out the whole novel while A Li gets jealous of his mother being taken away by his father.) Also, A Li is a boy but he’s being played by a girl, I’m not entirely sure why. 

well that was a quick wedding, didn’t even last a minute. 

damn.

he looks as if he’s one step away from using all his cultivation to destroying everything in his wake. 

And we’re finished! Any questions, please just ask and I’ll try my best to answer them! See you next time!

Episodes 4 & 5 

Episodes 8 & 9

[phantom-at-the-library]

Peach Blossom Pavilion - Chapter 12

“‘A mama won’t injure any sister’s face or body, for that’s her investment. Or starve her, for no man wants skin wrapped bones. That’s why even though the soup failed to work, Mama didn’t punish Ah Ping, for she needs her to keep us looking nourished for the customers. The rule is: Hit the body but not the face. Or beat the cat but not the girl.”

Beat the cat is a punishment that was done to “disobeying” prostitues. They’d put a cat in her pants and beat that it goes literally wild in your pants. I looked it up but the only one source I could find mentions it in Singapore.

I kinda found that weird though cause, yeah the face was important for the first impression but after that, as a prostututie and how the book portrays the horny men, wouldn’t they care more about the body? She won’t starve them but would let a cat injure them?