#shen huai

[asianwhumpgalore]

My Merman Brother (我的鲛人弟弟) | Cdrama | Whump List

Genre: Historical, Mystery, Romance, Fantasy

Synopsis: Lin Weixu, the State Preceptor of the Qin Empire gained her authoritarian power after conquering Nanzhao Empire. One day, she ran into Fu Su, a merman captive who was tortured by the Supreme Court. Out of sympathy, she rescued the merman, and he became clingy to her. Thus unfolded a therapeutic and sweet journey.

Length: 24 eps

Whump meter: ▲▲◭△△ 

✨ Simple and cute. Merman ML ftw ✨

⚠️Trigger Content: Usual historical content warnings. ⚠️⚠️Some SPOILERS might be found, proceed with caution ⚠️⚠️

Whumpee: Fu Su played by Shen Huai

00:00 | Running barefoot across the street, scratches and bruises on his body, crashes into someone and falls to the ground, net cast over him, struggling to free himself, kicked back onto the ground when he sits up, beaten, saved.

02:00 | Shoved onto the floor, grabbed by the face and forced to look up.

06:05 | (comedic) Fought, pinned to the ground, choked, (normal) cowers into corner, hugs self.

08:40 | Bites lip until it bleeds.

14:45 | Whipped, scolded.

17:35 | Locked in a cell, chained by the wrists to the wall, hugs self, mocked.

20:15 | Shoved onto the ground, accused of killing someone, kicked out.

22:05 | Leaning against a wall for support, collapses against the wall, panting, sweating, hugs self, stumbles away | Crashes into furniture, collapses against table, clutching chest, hunched over, concern for him, falls on the floor, labored breathing, helped to stand.

46:32 | Cuts palm of hand with a knife, bleeding.

50:55 | Imprisoned, hugs self.

55:55 | Bleeding lip.

56:35 | Punched.

01:01:45 | Head covered with a cloth, abducted (off screen) | Chained by the wrist to a cross, head covered with cloth.

01:03:35 | Chained once again by the wrists, arm cut, made to bleed onto a bowl, cut again, in pain.

01:10:44 | Still chained, found by lover, bloody, cuts on his body, coughing.

[kdram-chjh]

Cdrama: My Merman Brother (2023)

my shark brother

Watch this video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Cgq4eTEvAcs

[kangturu07]

I'm just thinking they will be a good bro with each other . Look, they even have their own fanfiction with their partner

Meanwhile , the said (horknee) partner :

[malewifingonside]

When i see reviews on nu saying 'mc is too dumb like thinking their death would solve everything just bc they transmigrate d into a villain' and i had to disagree cause 1) if the protagonist is fucked up crazy op bastard i too would rather die and second 2) I fuckin love seeing them wrong. Go on babygirl kill yourself after you made such an integral change to the story that it couldn't live without u <3

[bellaroles]

What the heck are Xie Yun's motives? Which side is he on? Why are there so many male characters that seem to have such ambiguous histories with him? The heck happened to Shan Chao and him 2 years ago? Why does San Chao suffer a partial memory loss?

I have so many questions!

[mejomonster]

Shen Yexi so far is the closest a priest protagonist has come to me (that ive read and not counting whatever he does later sjdjjf) dude works too hard, comes back to work still not totally healed, hears some heartbreaking stuff occured, starts speedwalking and crashed into someone with coffee, immediately apologizes

And ohhhh i think (im making wild guesses here) we have just landed on perhaps... the love interest? A major character either way. This is a *youth* profusely apologizing for running into Him, more worried about if coffee got on Shen Yexi, and not concerned as much that it got on himself. Wearing dark clothes, dark brown hair with curls, black rimmed glasses "newly transferred admin."

Look. Im hoping for a guo changcheng kind of mold. Maybe less of a goody two shoes (given the title of this being the way of evil and all that) but more guo changcheng than fei du maybe?

On the other hand. Im hoping the love interest is an actual killer and stuff because if theres gonna be a cat and mouse mutual chase i want it to be like Light and L or Hannibal and Will. I loved Guardian's mutual investigating chase with weilan but in the end they were on the same side, the tension dropped. Same with luo wenzhou and fei du, ypu realize either 1/3 or 2/3 into it that even with Fei Dus secrets 1 hes never really gonna have evil intentions, at worst just unhinged fucking decisions that might break law. And 2 luo wenzhou is so Loyal to people he chooses to care about that he'll love fei do Regardless now forever, worst case he might just have to arrest fei du himself or else look the other way. Reading modu i thought a potentially fun alternative to explore would be if fei du really had decided to cross a line (in his head sure he thouggt he had, and it was manipulative and fucked up, but at the same time he wasnt the monster he feared he was... and not the one the bad guy expected, and just as good as luo wenzhou felt he was). Had like been the bad guy himself. Now, that doesnt fit his character. But in another novel... maybe this one? I can hope.

Maybe this new admin isnt even an important character ToT maybe hes the killer of the case of the moment or some lil corrupt cop leading to a more important character. Im jumping ahead lol.

If shen yexi crushes on a younger man tho... thatll be yet another age gap relationship in a priest novel. (In modu's defence, cause im not actually fond of the trope unless like there is some useful reason in story or exploration? Well in modu their age differences do so Much to inform so much of how they act: luo wenzhou the savior, the guardian, forgiving things u forgive a child for but not a stranger - also thar way with all he sees as family like tao ran - but simply that fei du being youbg when they met made luo wenzhou want to Take Care and see a stranger as family, the way fei du wants to be yelled at, wants guidance even though he finds it hypocritical and useless, that he uses lup wenzhou in many ways to work out his own issues with his father and seek out an alternative to his utterly fucked upbringing - he also uses Tao Ran for this probably likewise cause tao ran was also older and pushed bu luo wenzhou to sorta Adopt fei du emotionally, the way all 3 of them are in this web of using each other as pedastals for their morals and proof of their own inner guilt and surrogates for family/friends/mentors/victims/saviors they want or feel they lost or are afraid to get. A LOT of fei du and luo wenzhous unique dynamic wouldnt exist without their like 10+ age gap.) So back to this novel like. 28 and new admin is like 21 to 28... its like. Guo changcheng x zhao yunlan. Its... fine? Its not really that much its just. Me lol judging a little if so, cause dating a subordinate is Not professional and Such a mess and well. I get coffeeshop aus and office aus in theory but in reality the idea of dating a coworker boss or subordinate is something i avoid. Djdjjr oh romance fiction and ur tropes. (I say this while shipping coworkers in guardian galore so yes i know djjjdjd)

[theoncomingchaos]

Episode 11 vs. the Original Novel

The time line has gotten a little jumbled here, but key dialogue and moments are mostly the same.

Biggest Differences:

Huai'en gets the flower from Yuzhan's base first WITHOUT saving Xiao Yu. She is very clever in the book, so she puts a knot on the box that Xiaobao recognizes as hers. So, when Huai'en asks what he has to do for forgiveness, Xiaobao tells him to rescue Xiao Yu.

This also means that Xiaobao is healed BEFORE Xiao Yu is saved.

In the book, Huai'en breaks his mother's pendant in half so they each have a piece.

The battle was MUCH more brutal in the books. Huai'en faces off against all his old teachers (that crew following Yuzhan around) They are all masters and have this crazy formation they can do and they nearly kill him. Even when Prince Shen and others arrive, as he is escaping he still gets shot in the back with arrows, but he continues to cover Xiao Yu so she doesn't get hurt. Their horse also goes down. (They get another one). But it really showed just how far Huai'en was willing to go to try and earn Xiaobao's forgiveness.

Homophobia: The book doesn't have homophobia really. In fact, Xiaobao explains that a few years ago it was a big fad for people to have male lovers. Xiaobao wasn't really into it at the time, but he did try it because his friends kept pushing. He never fell for a man until Huai'en. So, while the homophobic comment is weird, Su Yin, DOES think that getting married and having children (which is what his best friend had always wanted) is still the best way for him to live a happy life. He still sees Huai'en as someone who can't be trusted and will just hurt Xiaobao again, so he is doing all of this to protect him.

In the book they make it very clear early on that Master and Madame Jin, as well as Xiao Yu herself, want Xiaobao to marry Xiao Yu. Xiaobao is NOT interested and only sees her as a sister. Su Yin, being close with the family and knowing how much they love each other, thinks this is a better future for him than being with Huai'en.

Xiao Yu does NOT forgive her adopted parents right away, but there is a feeling of one day she'll try to reconnect with them. So, having some note from the mother for her and having her wanting to go home to them is pretty different.

Si Ming & Jin Bao have no past together in the book, so this was MUCH better. I'm also really happy they included my favorite line about not touching other people before touching Si Ming.

Overall, I think not having Xiaobao ask Huai'en to rescue her makes it seem more like he is being caring and selfless on his own which is better character growth.

As for Su Yin, I stand with my cancelled wife.

We REALLY missed out on the banter between Huai'en and Xiao Yu. It is so good (unhinged):

With the wind whistling past her ears, Xiaoyu shouted, "If you can't hold on until I see my brother again, you're worthless."

Gritting his teeth, Huai En replied, "If I don't see him, you'll never see him again in your life."

"If my brother knew you killed me, even if you died, he wouldn't forgive you."

"I won't give him the chance to know if I kill you. He'll never find out."

[stardust-falling]

Fleeting Second Chances

requested by @gaywarcriminals on ko-fi

Fandom: SVSSS Pairing: Yue Qingyuan & Shen Jiu Summary: Shen Qingqiu suffers a qi deviation and reverts to his younger self. Yue Qingyuan, naturally, must be the one to take care of him until he recovers. Words: 1.6k

The Qing Jing Peak Lord had suffered a serious qi deviation, and would be spending some time away from his peak while recovering.

The news spread throughout Cang Qiong Mountain like wildfire— this sort of gossip always did, especially when it revolved around Shen Qingqiu. It wasn’t the first time he’d pushed himself too far and slipped up, and it probably wouldn’t be the last either, but these incidents were rarely substantial enough to actually take him away from Qing Jing Peak.

His disciples were relieved, though they would never actually admit that to anyone. Even if it was only temporary, they now had some reprieve from their shizun’s thorny tongue and icy glares— and also from his unnecessarily harsh discipline.

His peers secretly felt sorry for Mu Qingfang and his disciples, sparing them sympathetic glances whenever their paths crossed. Any time Shen Qingqiu experienced a setback, he was much, much less pleasant to be around. He was especially sensitive about his cultivation— what kind of hell must Qian Cao Peak have become with him staying as a patient like this?

Little did they know, however, that Shen Qingqiu wasn’t on Qian Cao Peak at all.

……

Yue Qingyuan was a very busy man.

As the leader of the cultivation world’s foremost righteous sect, there was no end to the matters that required his attention. From teaching his own disciples to coordinating the next Immortal Alliance Conference, he rarely had a moment to be idle.

For the past several days, however, he had taken leave and requested not to be disturbed for anything short of a genuine emergency.

Each morning, just after the sun had risen, he went down to Yin Huai Village with a basket hanging from his arm. A short while later, he would return with that basket filled to the brim with all manner of sweet treats and goodies— and then, he would disappear inside his house until the time came for his next daily excursion.

This odd change of behavior brought about all sorts of theories. Regardless, anyone who saw with the sect leader these days could agree on one thing— he seemed, for some reason, far happier now than they’d ever seen him before.

……

It was late spring— a dreary, rainy day.

Yue Qingyuan returned home with his basket as usual, carefully stepping inside. He called out “I’m back!” and set the basket down on the table. Then, he went into the side room, where a small bed had been set up, filled with a generous mountain of soft pillows and blankets.

In the center of that bed was a small, miserable lump.

Yue Qingyuan paused next to the bed for a moment, then carefully reached out to place his hand on top of the lump.

There was a flurry of movement beneath the blankets, which were hurriedly tossed aside by a little ball of rage and startled vitriol— and before he could pull away, Yue Qingyuan felt a sharp pain in his hand.

“Ah— Xiao-Jiu, it’s just me!”

Latched on tightly to his hand with teeth that were really far sharper than they ought to be was a small child, with a thin face and messy black hair, who was looking up at Yue Qingyuan with a frightened glare in his wide eyes.

“Qi-ge’s sorry for startling you,” Yue Qingyuan added, with a wince and an apologetic smile.

A little more than a week ago now, he’d stopped by Qing Jing Peak to deliver a message. It was a simple task he could have easily left to one of his disciples, but how could he pass up an opportunity to go check in on Xiao-Jiu? When he arrived at the bamboo house, though, instead of being greeted by the sight of Shen Qingqiu’s unhappy glare, he instead saw a quiet house, with a little mound of turquoise and white clothes in a pile on the ground, as though the person inside of them had vanished into thin air.

Seeing Shen Qingqiu’s clothes like this, Yue Qingyuan had of course been a little worried and gone to pick them up— and as soon as he’d lifted a corner of the silk robe, the same thing had happened as just now.

He recognized the person biting him instantly, and had rushed the tiny Shen Qingqiu over to Qian Cao Peak to find Mu Qingfang. While Yue Qingyuan wrapped up his now-bleeding hand in a strip of bandage, Mu Qingfang had struggled to diagnose this particularly difficult patient, who refused to cooperate even a little and seemed to think that the physician was out to get him. Eventually, a conclusion was reached— Shen Qingqiu had suffered a qi deviation, which caused him to revert to his younger self. His memories past that point also seemed to be missing, along with his cultivation— but other than that, his condition wasn’t too bad. He would probably return to normal on his own with time.

Yue Qingyuan was relieved that it wasn’t too serious, and that he wasn’t in any danger.

But that didn’t mean there weren’t some… other problems to deal with.

Xiao-Jiu— because it didn’t feel right to call this tiny version of him “Shen Qingqiu”— was now the exact same as he had been all those years ago when he’d first been purchased by the trafficking ring. From his point of view, he’d only met Yue Qi recently. They had already gotten fairly close, but there was no way he would believe that the tall, regally-clothed sect leader was, in fact, his Qi-ge all grown up.

When Yue Qingyuan had tried to explain the situation, he had just been met with a suspicious glare. He wondered whether he should have brought it up at all.

Yue Qingyuan knew that Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t want the details of his past to become widely known, so as soon as he was allowed to, he swept his tiny shidi off and tucked him away inside Qiong Ding Peak’s Sky House. He would take care of Xiao-Jiu himself until he had gone back to normal and gotten his memories back. Even though Shen Qingqiu would probably hate him even more for this later… well, it would still be better than the alternative.

At least this way, anything that happened would stay just between the two of them. Like so many things were.

And now, Yue Qi could spoil Xiao-Jiu to his heart’s content.

Once several days had passed, he realized it would be a lot more difficult than he hoped. Xiao-Jiu was hardly the sort to be won over by a few sweets and some blankets, and Yue Qingyuan kept forgetting himself and going in to hug him, or pat his head, or pinch his cheeks… Xiao-Jiu was really just too cute when he was small, it was simply unbearable.

Almost every time he reached out, his hand was bitten. The few times he avoided being bitten, he was punched or kicked. Yue Qingyuan didn’t really mind these reactions— but there were a few heartbreaking times when Xiao-Jiu just flinched away from him in fear. Once, early on, he’d slipped away from Yue Qingyuan’s grasp and curled up underneath the bed. He stayed under there for hours, peering out with big, suspicious eyes, refusing to come out despite all of Yue Qingyuan’s coaxing.

In the end, he’d left a warm steamed bun just past the edge of the bed and gone out the room. It took awhile, but Xiao-Jiu eventually crawled back out and took the peace offering, though he remained wary for the rest of the day.

Luckily, he’d warmed up to Yue Qingyuan by now.

That didn’t mean the biting had stopped.

Of course… he’d bitten Yue Qi a lot back when they were kids too. He probably just liked it.

“Xiao-Jiu… I brought you some things,” Yue Qingyuan said, gingerly trying to remove his hand from between Xiao-Jiu’s teeth. “Please let go now, you can bite down on the sweets instead of me.”

Xiao-Jiu just glared at him, refusing to offer the slightest bit of mercy.

Yue Qingyuan sighed— what was it this time? Xiao-Jiu had been getting more temperamental lately. He wasn’t afraid anymore, so it had to be something else.

Oh…

Was it that…?

“Ah. Qi-ge is sorry for leaving you.”

Once those words had left his lips, Xiao-Jiu gave him one final glare before finally letting go.

So it really was that after all.

A soft chuckle escaped Yue Qingyuan’s lips as he dabbed at the blood now welling up on his hand. It wasn’t a new injury, but rather the same one from before, re-opened. Somehow, Xiao-Jiu always managed to bite the exact same place, and his bites had only gotten harder and more painful as he recovered and grew stronger.

Xiao-Jiu reached out with one of his tiny, tiny hands and grabbed hold of Yue Qingyuan’s sleeve, tugging on it several times. Yue Qingyuan responded by gently patting him on the head, careful not to move too quickly and startle him.

“I’ll tell you next time I go out, alright?” he suggested, his voice soft.

Xiao-Jiu shook his head and glared again.

“Then… I’ll… stay here?”

A nod.

Then, Xiao-Jiu burrowed himself into Yue Qingyuan’s chest, clinging tightly to the fabric of his robes as he pressed his face into them.

A grin burst across Yue Qingyuan’s face. Ah— his Xiao-Jiu was simply the cutest thing ever! He carefully put his arms around Xiao-Jiu’s tiny shoulders, gently hugging him, rocking back and forth as he reached up to stroke his hair.

“Alright… alright. Qi-ge won’t go away anymore. Qi-ge will stay here with you.”

He closed his eyes, breathing a long, heavy sigh.

Eventually, Xiao-Jiu would grow up again and remember everything. But for now…

For now, it wouldn’t hurt to give him a little bit of the care, security, and happiness that he’d never been able to have before.

[unforth]

This is gonna seem so random but I think we’re all looking for a little escapism today. I see you’ve read Golden Stage! As someone very new to danmei…any recs for similar stories? I guess I mostly mean danmei but with a solid plot outside of the romance. Sadly I’ve already read all MXTX’s stuff.

*waves* HELLO ANON. YES. I am happy to discuss this topic or literally ANYTHING that isn't *gestures vaguely*.

I've read a fair amount of danmei, and I really liked Golden Stage. What I personally loved about Golden Stage was the politicking, which is something I enjoy tons in most books, and that plus the romance really made the book for me. If you're similar - which it sounds like you are! - here are some titles I've read that spring to mind:

Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi (officially licensed, all volumes out): a wuxia novel about an evil sect leader, Yan Wushi, and the fallen leader of a noble, upright daoist sect, Shen Qiao. The politicking is complex and excellent, and it's most definitely romance-lite. Yan Wushi is a horribly wonderful little gremlin of a man, and Shen Qiao is in my top three fave danmei characters with Chu Wanning and Xie Lian, for an idea of the kind of person he is. Highly recommend.

The Fourteenth Year of Chenghua by Meng Xi Shi (unlicensed; I read the Chichi translation, tho there are some issues with it). Intensely political historical fiction about a low-level but capable administrator during the Ming Dynasty, facing up against the corrupt court of the Emperor and the Emperor's favorite concubine, with the help of a morally upright military officer. It's also romance-lite. Heavy politics/romance-lite is kinda Meng Xi Shi's...thing. The show "The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty is loosely based on this book.

Those Years in Quest of Honor Mine by Man Man He Qi Duo (unlicensed; the fantranslation has unfortunately been deleted, though at least some of it is still on the Wayback machine): a historical-esque (but not set in a specific time period) story about a disgraced former top-exam-scorer who returns to the capital out of necessity to help his charges, and his encounters with his former...crush? ...captor? ...it's complicated... who is now the most feared right-arm of the Emperor. I'd say, of all the titles on this list, this is the one most similar to Golden Stage in terms of the balance between the politics and the romance.

The Imperial Uncle by Da Feng Gua Guo (officially licensed, only one volume long): the uncle of the Emperor has a reputation for scheming that he, himself, thinks is entirely unwarranted. This book is first person, and Prince Huai is a delightfully unreliable narrator. The romance includes some misdirection (I'd consider who he ends up with to be a spoiler) but I really enjoyed this historical-esque political drama.

So...those are the ones that spring to mind from what I've personally read. :D Others may be able to toss some other recs into a reblog or the comments. I hope you find a book you love, anon!

ETA ACK I FORGOT ONE I WANTED TO INCLUDE!

Copper Coins by Mu Su Li (recently licensed by 7s! will start coming out late next year): wuxia historical/fantasy China setting, about a celestial dragon who was gravely injured and is now trying to get healthy again and also figure out who hurt him, and the stolid monk who very begrudgingly starts helping him. This one is less political but has a similar mystery vibe, and the main ship are a lot of fun; their dynamic is similar to Wangxian.

[blueberry-cheese-pizza]

The Double 墨雨云间 book scene- ML's first step into the 'play'

This scene is too long, so I can't post the Chinese version for this part even though it's written beautifully. The setting: Jiang Li and her uncle face unexpected danger in the woods behind Tong Xiang after rescuing her father's (Xue Huai Yuan) loyal staff from the mines. Ambushed by two groups of assassins, one sent by Princess Yong Ning and the other by Jiang Li's stepmother, Madam Ji, they become separated. Jiang Li finds herself confronting Madam Ji's deadly assassins alone in the dark forest. Guess who appears?

“Second Miss, there’s no need to look around for another way out,” the leader said with a peculiar malevolence. “Madam ordered us to use every method to torture you before killing you. But you’re so pure and lovely, wise and brave, we wouldn’t want to use any terrible methods on you. How about something more... comfortable?”

The surrounding men laughed sickeningly in agreement. Jiang Li didn’t need to guess what despicable ideas were running through their minds.

For an instant, she felt as if she were back in the Shen family’s courtyard, the same feelings of humiliation and rage that had consumed her in those months of near-death. These men were dredging up her most vile memories.

Her eyes darkened, and she sneered, “Do you think you’ve already won? Do you really believe I have no other way out?”

The leader laughed again. “I know you’re trying to buy time, but Master Ye is already injured, held up by Feng Yutang’s men. And your horse moved too quickly for him to follow. He doesn’t know this forest, and he won’t find you. Right now, it’s just us and you.”

His arrogance was blatant. Jiang Li had led three assassins into the swamp because she knew the terrain, but even if Ye Mingyu escaped the assassins, he wouldn’t know where to find her—Tong Xiang was entirely unfamiliar to him.

But Jiang Li merely smiled, “Who said I was waiting for Master Ye?”

The man was stunned.

Her voice, clear and laced with amusement, echoed through the forest.

"Lord Duke, after watching the performance for so long, how about coming out to meet us?"

Her clear voice echoed through the forest at night. The moon hung low, almost reclining on the treetops, illuminating Jiang Li's delicate face. Her eyes were bright and clear, devoid of the panic one might expect in a dire situation. Instead, she appeared relaxed and clear-minded, as if she had everything under control.

The men in black observed her, and their leader chuckled, "Second Miss, why the pretense..." Before he could finish his sentence, a soft laugh emerged from the depths of the forest.

A crimson figure gradually stepped out of the darkness. Under the moonlight, the darker it got, the more magnificent his red attire appeared.

The moonlight shone on the black-gold butterflies embroidered on the hem of his robe, making them seem ready to take flight, their beauty almost sinister in its extreme. Ji Heng walked out of the night at an unhurried pace, holding a gold-threaded folding fan, a smile playing on his lips. "Nothing escapes you, does it?"

Ji Heng’s appearance immediately drew the attention of the assassins hired by Ji Shuran. Several of them pointed their swords at Ji Heng. Jiang Li’s earlier call of “Lord Duke” had not escaped the assassins’ notice.

Ji Heng's appearance was overwhelmingly striking, almost unnaturally so. His sudden presence in the dark dense forest made him seem like a bewitching forest spirit, exuding a dangerous allure. Perhaps it was their assassin's intuition about danger that made the leader in black ask Ji Heng, “Who might Your Excellency be?”

Ji Heng, however, didn't acknowledge them. Smiling, he looked at Jiang Li and said, “Second Miss, your acting skills have become more impressive.”

“If the show isn't captivating, how could it attract your attention?” Jiang Li glanced at the leader in black, her smile widening. “My lord, they are pointing their swords at you.”

Ji Heng was the kind of person who wore a perpetual smile, yet beneath that facade lay a ruthless and cold-hearted nature. His arrogance made the act of pointing a sword at him an outright insult. The leader of the black-clad men caught a glimpse of Ji Heng's gaze and felt an inexplicable urge to step back. His fingers involuntarily tightened around his sword, sensing that something was terribly amiss. Ji Heng paid them no mind, continuing to smile at Jiang Li.

"Second Miss, why attempt to divert trouble towards me? I have told you, I am not a part of the play."

"After watching so many of my performances, would you simply let this one go? If I were to die here today, would you not regret never seeing another of my plays?" she asked, looking up at him.

Her face was fair, her eyes bright and lively, filled with endless appeal. When she spoke in a soft, pitiful tone, even a deity might be moved.

However, Ji Heng was no deity; he was a demon crueler, more callous than any deity. He merely watched Jiang Li with an amused expression and said, "It’s a pity, but I will not be a part of the play."

The look of pleading in Jiang Li's eyes vanished instantly. It was hard to believe that the captivating demeanor she had displayed could be withdrawn so quickly.

Jiang Li felt a twinge of annoyance. In her past life as Xue Fangfei, she had a face that could launch a thousand ships. While she didn't think much of it, her beautiful appearance often smoothed her way through conflicts. People would often relent upon seeing her face, not pursuing matters further. A beauty only needed to pout a little, and everything would fall into place. Though she disliked using such tactics, Xue Zhao often chided her for wasting her looks, saying she could have easily gained a reputation as a femme fatale.

Now, she found herself forced to play the part of the pitiable and lovable, but it seemed that her charms were lost on Ji Heng. His response was as clear and unaffected as ever, leaving her deflated. Ji Heng continued to smile at her, speaking lightly as if he saw nothing wrong in his decision to let her fend for herself. His long, narrow phoenix eyes, beneath which a crimson mole added even an air of seduction, glimmered invitingly in the night.

The leader of the assassins seemed to come to his senses at this moment. He addressed Ji Heng first, "Since Your Excellency has no conflict with us, this will be simple."

He then turned to Jiang Li, saying, "Second Miss, it seems your reinforcements aren’t planning to help you. Let’s not waste any more time, shall we?" With that, perhaps fearing Ji Heng’s presence might lead to unforeseen complications, he lunged at Jiang Li.

The silver tip of his sword gleamed with deadly intent, stirring the leaves into a flurry as they fell.

Seeing that the situation was beyond repair and her supposed ally remained detached, Jiang Li gathered her resolve and shouted, "Lord Duke, I know why you are associating with the Prime Minister and Prince Cheng! The court is divided into three factions. Though the Emperor may appear weak, but he is no fool. To gain his sole trust, you must support Prince Cheng. With threats on all sides, the Emperor will rely on you heavily. This entire tripartite standoff is your creation!"

Jiang Li's rapid and urgent words left the black-clad assassins dumbfounded. What Prince Cheng? What Prime Minister? What was she talking about?

The smile on Ji Heng's lips froze.

end of part 1~

part 2

[frogonamelon]

Wow, familial love really ended up being a theme here huh?

Some Atlas (by the incredible @sodaspons) warmups for your consideration.

We have entered the unknowable for me in terms of 2k12 canon as I still have yet to see what isn't on Netflix and know next to nothing about the show moving forward.

I love Karai and Venus' dynamic so much! Adorable! I love that they get to talk about the whole guardian thing and share memories of Shen <3

Since I included HC Rise! Miwa:

'Jitsu for Justice' (Lou's second to last film and the last one before he proposes to BM) had a lone wolf and cub storyline in which Lou meets a young deaf & mute girl and takes her on as an apprentice. She would reappear in ‘Hot Soup Forever’, Lou’s last film.

This young girl is Huay Lian (meaning Blossom and Lotus respectively) played by child actress Miwa (undecided last name). This is also why Splinter knows some sign language to teach to his kids.

Lian is played by either Oroku Miwa (the descendant of Saki’s son/ Karai’s brother Hiroto) or Miwa Smith (with Jennika’s last name). Her and Yoshi's dynamic is very sweet and kind of parental/ fun uncle and precocious niece.

Inspirations: Mara Wilson & Danny DeVito (Matilda) in behind the scenes and Harley Keener in Iron Man 3 & Endgame and Jesper & Margu's dynamic from Klaus in JfJ and HSF.

The drawing itself is Miwa and Yoshi/ Lou on the red carpet. Yes, his suit is bright blue and sparkly in my head.

[kdram-chjh]

Full Version | Fall in love with a merman and flirt with him all the var...

Cdrama: My Merman Brother (2023)

Watch this video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCmyX0AV1KI

[hughungrybear]

Honestly, this is a plot twist I have not seen coming. Maybe Prince Shen is simply paranoid android, but his accusations against Li Gongxiang is not that far-fetched if we consider this statement:

Because from the looks of it, Huai En is the rightful heir apparent. If this is the case, then it makes sense that Li Gongxiang's loyalty is with Huai En whether the latter knows /wants it or not.

Shaoyu can suck dirt, for all I care 😄

[springsheep]

Meet You At The Blossom Notes Ep. 1 - 2

Ep 1 -> Jin Xiaobao's first appearance: asking Mr. Sun to write a book (praising him) cuz he wants to find a wife ah.

Huaien's first appearance, wearing a veil and riding horse. Surrounded by assassins.

Oh my god Jin Xiaobao this is just the first episode how can you be so cute omg.

Jin Xiaobao proposed to three girls... and got rejected ofc.

He saw Huaien: Fairy!! A fairy has descended!!!

Xiaobao tells his men to save the "fairy". JXB: that's your Young Madam ah!

Xiaobao talks to Huai en.

Jin Xiaobao: 金小宝

Zheng Huai'En: 郑怀恩

Jin Xiaobao: Guniang~~

Huai'en: ???

Zhaocai = 招财

Jinbao = 进宝

JXB: just now there was a huge mosquito looking at you, it kept staring at you!

Huai'en: ...(i think that mosquito is you ah)

Jin Xiaobao goes home (meets his family). Zheng Huai'en decides to use Xiaobao etc.

Huai'en wearing a dress, Xiaobao is like wowwww.

Jin Xiaobao: This old pervert (Prince Shen), how dare he look at my wife!!!

Huai'en confrontation with Prince Shen (his uncle?): What does the people of the world have to do with me? What do I care about right or wrong?

Jin Xiaobao rushes to save his "wife": I don't care who she is, since she's my wife (baby you're not married yet ok...), then I have to protect her!

I know this is just the first ep but we need a modern au of this... Jin Xiaobao the innocent son of a CEO and Huai'en the mafia boss... tsk tsk

OH my goddd i love this wth...

Jin Xiaobao rush to save his "wife" holding a sword.

Jin Xiaobao: Don't you dare hurt my wife!!

Asassins: What wife lol

Huai'en: fuck, where's my dignity.

Jin Xiaobao poisoned the assassins: Did you think it'd be that easy to get gold from my Jin family?! Hmph!!

Assassins: Before we die, we must advance the plot! *throws aphrodisiac darts*

Huai'en: *shields Xiaobao*

Jin Xiaobao: My Wife!!

Assassins: Come on, consummate your marriage! (the viewers are perverts and want to see you guys do it, we're just providing fanservice hahaha).

Awww Huai'en faints in Xiaobao's arms tsk tsk.

Ep 2 -> *cough cough* you know...

Xiaobao wakes up (he was out for two days wow). He's upset obviously. Huai'en sends people to tell the Jin family he's okay.

Zhao cai: We couldn't find you, we only found some clothes....

Xiaobao: ...

Jinbao: Oh, your brother? He's in my bed!

Xiaobao: Don't keep hitting Jinbao's head, he's stupid enough...

Jinbao: Exactly.

Jin Xiaobao sees Huai En in other girl's face lol

The trio: What you can't get... Is the thing you want the most...

Su Yin appears. Childhood friend...?

Su Yin chats with Xiaobao.

Su Yin "hugging" Xiaobao and then Huai En sees hahahhahaa

Huai En: I'm here to take my man back.

Su Yin: Jin Xiaobao, you won't even let go of men huh... (Jealous huh?)

Jin Xiaobao: I want to tame him hahaha (lol be careful of your own chrysanthemum baby boiii)

Jin Xiaobao: I've thought about it, true love doesn't care about gender, I won't love you less because you're a man.

Huai En avoids Xiaobao (tsk you'll regret it later) and thinks of his mom and Su Yin hugging Xiaobao.

We see the crown Prince.

[lansplaining]

I saw in the tags on the reading post you were finishing up Imperial Uncle and that you liked it. I was just considering reading it and wondered if you might elaborate on your thoughts!

absolutely!

it's only one volume, which is a nice change of pace, literally-- plot events actually, like. happen. i finished it in two days of not-frantic reading! also, despite being an imperial drama, it means there's actually a relatively contained cast of characters.

it's first person narration, which I don't generally like much, but I do think it works in this case because the plot is essentially "area man misunderstands his relationships to everyone he knows," so it helps to only have the protagonist's POV.

the writing style doesn't really have the liveliness of MXTX or Meatbun, and the romance is extremely staid. he kisses the red herring love interest more than he does the actual one, and they spend most of their time talking around each other while the protagonist doesn't realize they're flirting. it reminds me of fourteenth year of chenghua in that respect, and some of the style reminds me a bit of priest as well (but less annoying, to me).

protagonist Prince Huai/Jing Weiyi/Chengjun is a bisexual dumbass in his 30s who insists he accidentally turned himself gay because he was only pretending to be a cutsleeve to reassure his mistrustful royal relatives that he was harmless and had no imperial ambitions but then slept with men too much and now he actually likes them :( that's the only reason ok :( self awareness score of 0. beneath an incredibly thin veneer of cynicism is a romantic who just wants to do right by his nephew the emperor, have someone to spend his life with, and to have a sense of purpose. he also sleeps with a LOT of other people, including sex workers, which i know is something that some people dislike.

the two potential love interests are a morally upright courtier who he thinks would naturally never dare associate with someone with his bad reputation, and a dandyish son of one of the older courtiers who has tried to recruit Chengjun into his schemes to topple the emperor, and who is one of his best friends.

there are also a passel of very charming nephews/brothers to the emperor. there are... no women to speak of lol (except his wife at the very beginning, but. yeah. she goes away.)

the sample on peach flower house's website gives a pretty good sense of the writing style, but I will say that while I didn't like the writing style at first or really ever, it definitely grew on me and I got pretty invested in the characters and in wanting to know how the plot would turn out. it's definitely one you want to approach with your shen qingqiu "this narrator is a moron and nothing he says about himself or other people is very accurate" goggles on.

the only content warning that comes to mind besides some violence is fairly extensive depictions of sex work, several of which which clearly acknowledge that the sex workers are slaves and do not want to be doing this.

[linjunjian]

The Siege of Xuyi (451)

[Excerpt from WS074]

The barbarians launched an invasion into Xu and Yu. Tuoba Tao (408-452) led a mighty force of hundreds of thousands toward Pengcheng. Zang Zhi (400-454) was appointed General who Assists the State and Bearer of the Seal, with authority to appoint his deputies. Leading a contingent of ten thousand men, Zhi marched north to intercept the invaders. By the time he reached Xuyi, Tao had already crossed the Huai River. Hu Chongzhi, Chief Officer of the Palace Guards, was appointed marshal of Zhi’s headquarters. Mao Xizuo, the Crown Prince’s General of the Massed Crossbows and Chongzhi’s deputy, also received orders from Zhi. A high mountain stood east of Xuyi city, and fearing the barbarians would seize this strategic point, Zhi ordered Chongzhi and his forces to fortify the mountain while he established his own camp south of the city.

The barbarians soon launched an assault on Chongzhi and Chengzhi's camps. Despite their valiant resistance, Chongzhi and his men were overwhelmed, their forces scattered, and Chongzhi himself was killed. The barbarians then turned on Xizuo. Commanding elite troops from the northern quarters, Xizuo fought fiercely, while Banner Leader Li Guan rallied the soldiers, cutting down many enemies. Squad Leader Zhou Yinzhi and External Supervisor Yang Fangsheng led archers in a coordinated counterattack. As the enemy prepared to retreat, Xizuo was mortally wounded, causing his forces to fall into disarray. Zang Zhi, hesitant to engage in a rescue, allowed both camps to collapse, sealing the fate of his own forces.

[A short introduction of Chongzhi, Chengzhi and Xizuo.]

After the defeat of the three camps, Zhi's forces fled under the cover of night, abandoning their heavy equipment and armor. Only seven hundred men managed to retreat to Xuyi. Administrator Shen Pu had already fortified the city with three thousand well-prepared soldiers, a sight that greatly pleased Zhi, and together they mounted a defense. The barbarians, having marched south and now low on supplies, had been relying on local resources. After crossing the Huai River, they consumed the grain stored at the Pingyue and Shibie garrisons. However, both their men and horses were now starving and exhausted. Upon hearing that Xuyi had stored grain, they targeted the city as a critical supply point for their return north. Despite their victory over Chongzhi, their initial attack on the city failed due to its robust defenses. Frustrated, they moved further south.

In the early first month of the twenty-eighth year [of Yuanjia] (February 17 to March 17, 451), Tao launched a full-scale assault on Xuyi after returning north from Guangling. Tao demanded wine from Zhi, who sent him urine instead. Enraged, Tao ordered the construction of a siege wall overnight, opening an attack route towards the city's northeast. Using soil and stones from the eastern mountain, his forces filled in the path. Concerned that the defenders might escape via the waterways, the barbarians brought large ships and constructed a floating bridge at Mount Jun, effectively blocking the Huai River. In response, the defenders launched a counterattack from their ships, achieving a decisive victory. However, the following morning, the invaders returned, using square boats as rafts, each one protected by soldiers. Although the defenders attacked again, they were unable to stop the invaders from establishing the raft at Mount Jun, successfully cutting off both land and water routes.

Tao wrote to Zhi:

"The soldiers I’ve sent to fight are not from our own people. The northeast of the city is held by Dingling and Hu, while the south by the Di and Qiang from the Three Qin region. If the Dingling die, it will reduce the bandits in Changshan and Zhao Commandery; if the Hu die, it will reduce the bandits of Bing Province; and if the Di and Qiang die, it will reduce the bandits within the Passes. Should you kill the Dingling and Hu, it will only bring us advantage."

Zhi replied:

"I have read your letter and fully grasped your treacherous intentions. You rely on your four-legged beasts and have repeatedly trespassed the borders of the state. Your offenses are too numerous to recount in detail. Wang Xuanmo retreated east, and Liang Tan scattered to the west. Have you not heard the children's song that says: ‘The enemy's horses drink from the river, and Büri (Tao’s Xianbei name) will die in the year of Mao’? Though that time has not yet arrived, the two armies are already paving the way for your horses to reach the river. This is fate at work, beyond human control. I have received the mandate to annihilate you, and the time for your defeat is set at Baideng. My army has hardly begun its march, yet you are already rushing toward death. How could I possibly let you live to enjoy the spoils at the Sanggan River?

If you attack this city, even if I cannot kill you directly, you will die because of me. Should you be fortunate, you may fall at the hands of your own chaotic troops. Should you be unfortunate, you will be captured alive, bound to a donkey, and paraded to the marketplace. I have no desire for my own survival. If heaven and earth abandon their divine spirits, and I am ultimately overpowered by you, even being ground into powder, slaughtered, and torn apart would not suffice as repayment to my homeland.

Your intellect and strength cannot surpass Fu Jian! In recent years, you have rampaged because you have not yet drunk from the river, and the year of Mao has not yet come. When Hulan made his deep incursion into Pengcheng, it rained for a few days, and not a single horse returned—do you remember? Now the spring rains have begun, and the masses are gathering. Attack the city confidently and do not retreat. If you run short of food, inform me, and I will provide provisions from the granary to sustain you.

You have sent me a sword—do you intend for me to use it upon you? How bitter it is! Let everyone strive with all their might. There is no need for further words."

At that time, there was a children's song among the barbarians that says: "The chariot comes north like a pheasant shot through, unexpectedly the barbarians’ horses drink from the river. The barbarian lord returns north to die at Shiji, the barbarians seek to cross the river but heaven will not allow it." Zang Zhi responded, quoting this rhyme, which greatly angered Tao. In his fury, Tao had an iron bed made, fitted with iron spikes, and declared that when Zhi was captured, he would be made to sit on it.

Zhi also wrote to the barbarian troops: "To the various officials and commoners among the enemy: I have received a letter from Büri, which is attached separately. We are all citizens of the same calendar. Why should you bring such disaster upon yourselves? A true man should know how to turn misfortune into blessing. Now, I am writing to you in accordance with the court's regulations, as in the separate letter, for you to ponder." At that time, there was a reward offered for Tuoba Tao's head, promising the title of Marquis of the Open Country and a fief of ten thousand households, along with ten thousand bolts of cloth and silk.

The barbarians employed hook carts to tear down the city walls, but the defenders countered by securing the carts with ropes. Hundreds of soldiers pulled against them, preventing the carts from retreating. Under the cover of night, the defenders lowered men outside the city walls using wooden barrels to sever the hooks. The next day, the barbarians deployed battering rams against the walls. However, the city’s densely packed soil proved resilient, and each strike dislodged only a few liters of earth. The barbarians then resorted to scaling the walls, engaging in close combat. They took turns, climbing, falling, and then climbing again without retreat, leading to tens of thousands of casualties. The bodies of the fallen piled up to the height of the city walls. The Prince of Gaoliang (Tuoba Na) was shot and killed.

After thirty days of siege, over half of the invaders lay dead. Upon learning that Pengcheng had cut off their retreat and that the [Song] court had dispatched a navy into the Huai River—where many of his men were succumbing to disease—Tuoba Tao lifted the siege on the second day of the second month (March 19, 451) and fled.

In recognition of Zhi's achievements, the emperor honored him with several prestigious titles: Envoy with the Imperial Seal, Champion General, Commander of the Pacification of the Barbarians, Inspector of Yongzhou, and Marquis of the Open Country, overseeing military affairs in Yong, Liang, and the northern and southern Qin provinces. He was also granted five hundred households.

The next year, Emperor Taizu launched another northern campaign, ordering Zhi to lead his forces to Tong Pass. However, Zhi delayed, stationing his troops near the outskirts of the city and sending only Marshal Liu Yuanjing to garrison the border. His reluctance to advance on time stemmed from his longing for a favorite concubine. He abandoned the camp and returned to the city alone on horseback. Furthermore, he spent an enormous sum—six to seven million coins—from the treasury, yet the authorities chose not to hold him accountable.