#spoilers ballad of sword and wine

[spamime]

Ballad of Sword and Wine book one read. I haven’t read an enemies to lovers that made me this giddy in a while.

And aside from the incredible build up for the romance, the fight scenes and politics are actually kinda sick? And the characters obviously are sad and traumatized but i am really into how they handle it.

Immediately going into book two bc why would the leave it like that huh

[talk-danmei-to-me]

Qjj Interior Illustrations vol 3

[xiao-erlang]

I think what makes Qiang Jin Jiu so great as a historical court politics danmei is that it’s not just about the power struggles in the Imperial Court, it portrays real issues that are still prevalent even in modern times such as corruption, poverty, misogyny, female oppression, etc.

The working class suffers due to increasing wealth inequality and corrupt officials who are too busy deepening their own pockets. People die of starvation and the government simply chooses to close its eyes. Women are still discriminated against in the workplace and their achievements are often questioned and undervalued. Majority of rape cases are not even investigated, the perpetrators get away scot-free while the victims are shamed instead. It’s very easy to compare the fictional story with the real life predicaments in today’s news.

Additionally, even the corrupt clans and the Biansha tribes are not portrayed in a black-or-white manner—they are not just two-dimensional evil characters; there are multiple characters from the eight great clans who are still good at heart and struggled to do the right thing such as Hua Xiangyi and Pan Lin, and through Hasen and Duo’erlan we were shown that the Biansha tribes are also human beings—they have families, and they are struggling to survive in the desert. The war is a brutality that causes casualties in both sides, but there are parties that benefit from it just as other parties suffer deeply from it.

Qiang Jin Jiu is a multifaceted story—it has excellent romance, but it’s not just mainly about the romance. The author went through great lengths to establish such a complex world-building then executes the plot and climax beautifully, in a way that’s consistent with every character’s personality, background, motivations, and relationships. This not only makes the story development compelling and believable, but also allows the author to bring forth complex issues that can become food for thought for the readers who empathized with the characters. This is why Qiang Jin Jiu is such a masterpiece.

[haitang-blossoms]

On Differential Methods, Politics, & Intimacy for Early Novel!Cezhou (haitang-blossoms' Qiang Jin Jiu meta)

Note: This analysis goes up to Chapter 42 which is where I had read up to before Lianyin's fantranslation was taken down due to official English licensing by Seven Seas. This is also the source of my quoted screenshots of the novel.

The way both Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye weaponise perceived incompetence (through fabricated images of "grateful helplessness" and "devil-may-care hedonism" respectively) is so compelling and really serves to flesh out the realities of the environment they are forced to navigate.

It is a recurring narrative motif that both Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye are "beasts" trapped and restrained by the political system of Qudu. However, the difference in social position and status between them is key to why they choose the masks that they do.

Shen Zechuan, both as a by-proxy-traitor to the nation and as the son of a dancer, has always had to keep his head down and not act beyond his station. Thus, it is perfectly natural that he operates within this expected framework: both to survive in the hostile political landscape as well as to conceal his own intentions and moves within the shadows.

Xiao Chiye, on the other hand, was born into relative power. While the Xiao Clan of Libei was never in the favour of the Empress Dowager, they are nonetheless a reputable cavalry with a hereditary title. Xiao Chiye, as the second son, has both less direct political influence as well as responsibility than his father (the prince) or his elder brother (the next-in-line). This is how he is so easily made a "bargaining chip" and assigned to what seems to be a hopelessly dead-end job in order to keep a metaphorical "leash" on any rebellious intent that Libei may harbour. Given his wealth and inevitable position of being constantly in the public eye, the easiest way to cover up the target on Xiao Chiye's back is to present himself as a frivolous hedonist who is too busy chasing after liquor and bed-partners to pose a real threat to the established power dynamics of the capital.

The difference between their methods can also be observed in the way that their preferences are perceived by others:

Xiao Chiye presents himself as genial: he loves to drink, he is sociable enough to go out with friends frequently etc. However, as seen in the quote above, Xiao Chiye's "friendliness" is actually quite distant in that even the people who think they know him well are unaware of his true preferences. Yet he conducts himself in such a manner that they would not even think to ponder such things. It is a very effective approach for gathering intel: make the other party assume you are giving away much more about yourself than you are, opening the door for them to carelessly overshare from a sense of fabricated comradery.

Shen Zechuan is the opposite: going along with how he is forced to constantly humble himself and downplay his abilities, his preferences have to be presented as equally accommodating to the will of others. There are many instances where he seemingly goes along with others, secretly gritting his teeth the whole way, in order to "soften" them up to be played into his hand later.

And this goes into my next point:

Even though Shen Zechuan has an image of seductiveness, his entire method revolves around NOT having openly expressed desires because that would only serve as a vulnerability. Xiao Chiye, by contrast, predicates his mask around devil-may-care hedonism.

In this way, desire is both much more familiar to Xiao Chiye as well as easier to integrate into his established reputation than for Shen Zechuan. 

This is key to why Xiao Chiye is the first to accept his feelings and why he is much more comfortable with unabashedly expressing them. Thus, I think the differences in how Cezhou present themselves and the contrasting methods they use to stay ahead in their environment have bearing not only on the political games of their world but also on their relationship and how they relate themselves to each other.

[save-the-earthworms]

⚠️ QJJ Vol 3 spoilers ⚠️

The moment Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye were released from their shackles.

[kittytheillustrator]

Practicing the male figure by drawing CeZhou in my outfits from this weekend lol

[web-novel-polls]

WN Criminal Upper Bracket

Jun Wu from Heaven Official’s Blessing (TGCF)

Submission: This is MAJOR SPOILERS for Heaven Official's Blessing- but as for his crimes, just like. All his actions as Bai Wuxiang were so iconic. Jun Wu was so single mindedly focused, he manipulated so many people and brought so much death, destruction, and despair to ruin Xie Lian's life and to turn him into a Calamity like himself. It's the dedication to the bit for me, he wiped everything from his disastrous past and became emperor of heaven. Jun Wu had all of the heavenly court fooled and under his thumb for centuries and played the part of the caring mentor/father figure to Xie Lian all while gladly placing the cursed shackles on him.

Wiki Link

Shen Zechuan from Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu

Submissions: Character of all time. He's done a lot of crimes, but I'll just mention that one time he put a guy in a cage, poured boiling water on him, and sliced off his skin piece by piece while he was still alive.

Additional Propaganda #1 from the Less Popular Danmei Character Tournament

Additional Propaganda #2 from the Less Popular Danmei Character Tournament

Wiki Link

[Please be kind and respectful in the notes. Anti-Propaganda is NOT allowed.]

[misplacedgamer]

QJJ got me so fucked up right now because what do you MEAN Shen Zechuan just helped frame Xiao Chiye for an assassination attempt????? Everything I’ve seen of vol 3 has then being so domestic and disgustingly cute together! HOW DO WE GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B?????

[luoxiandu]

some random Cezhou tension from chapter 23 of the manhua.

Just started extra 5 of Qiang Jin Jiu. If I don't procrastinate (probably will), it should be ready by next week. Even if I do, shouldn't be that much later.

Link to Google Doc:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hc4O86HpK7bB2q9k5P67KLw8xnqzkmiF?usp=drive_link

[izartn]

Read Golden Stage/Terrace and was left very meh. Not bad, not a subject of my devotion either. I prefer my stories either full on R Romantic or leaning towards the plot as in Qiang Jin Jiu, so although the story and charas were perfectly fine it was very much just an entertaining way to pass the time.

I was expecting... Less good behaviour from the protags honestly XD and not in terms of scheming; I liked how few fucks they gave towards a correct confucian behaviour lol. But it didn't felt like an enemies to lovers as it was sold, not even a rival to lovers. Lost opportunity to suddenly lovers fits. I liked that they almost had something as teens but Yan Xiaohan duty/role and Fu Shen relative immaturity at court games made that impossible. The Cui Yu incident as the memory Yan Xiaohan keeps to remind himself to not sink so low in the future was nice, as is the fact he is still pretty much amoral and doesn't have any loyalty to the emperor(s) except self-preservation.

In general I was very meh about Fu Shen and his fam, except his nephew and that throwaway line about how he remembers years later when he's in the throne that Yan Xiaohan once told him as a child that he only wanted FS and not the kingdom. I want to know more about that kid's life bc it sounds fascinating just from that smidge of info. He's assured as emperor despite the regency bc he knows that what his uncles want is each other more than the throne. Fascinating.

As I was saying; Yan Xiaohan on the other hand? Bastard son of an emperor with a concubine of that emp's father, raised in a temple for retired court women by a nun and a eunuch, who taught all he needed to make a life for himself and success on the court? Super interesting. And we don't know anything about their relationship except that his adoptive father made him swear to not marry a women and have children so as to not challenge any the ruling line (bc the emperor knew Xiaohan was his son). Like.

Of course I prefer Xiaohan XD

But anyways just a light read in comparison with other danmei and a dynamic that just isn't my kind of visceral romance, desire being very good for each other. Also the wonkers pseudo democracy too. That was weird XD good weird but like. Very much pfft at times. That Fu Shen is all on board bc he's just, so so tired of incompetent bosses, essentially, and also very much dislikes authority is funny too.

Anyways these are my thoughts. Worth giving it a read if you are interested by the premise (I usually despise forced marriage, except when done as in very all we here adults as in Golden Stage or full on going this is fucked up and not endgame so that's one thing it does well) but not my cup of tea.

SPOILERS QIANG JIN JIU

I'm still thinking of Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan. And there's no comparison with this novel sorry not sorry. Really liked Ce'an, bc he feels very... realistic as a warlord and also just fantasy enough for the story and romance to work? Both he and Shen Zechuan do. I really liked the way they're attracted to each other at the start despite the antagonism (genuine antagonism!!! their first time is genuine hate sex despite the attraction and burgeoning fondness) and the plotting bc they recognize on each other a yearning from freedom and to be themselves. Then they end the story chained in Qudu by their own volition and by love and mmm. Thematically tasty.

[aella081]

I've just started the ballad of sword and wine (qjj?) and oh my God is it off the a violent start. I have just finished the 1st chapter and we already have 2 confirmed deaths and poor shen Zechuan is being tortured within an inch of his life. This is in no way a complaint btw, just a rlly interesting start imo (I do rlly enjoy it so far!)

[talk-danmei-to-me]

It’s officially a pattern:

End of vol 1:

End of vol 2:

End of vol 3:

[xiao-erlang]

I understand why Xiao Chiye’s family, relatives, and aides were all worried about who he might fall in love with because wdym he got framed for a regicide attempt and he finds it HOT? He wants to KISS THE MAN WHO FRAMED HIM?? This was canonically the moment when he ACTUALLY FALLS IN LOVE with Shen Zechuan!?!

[liverbiver9]

The more I read danmei in my monthly book club that I otherwise wouldn’t have read or even known about, the more it becomes painfully clear that most of the mdzs fandom (and possibly the other 2 mxtx fandoms but I’m not as well versed with them) have not interacted with the genre at large beyond mxtx, and it shows in the meta analysis people make (especially westerners).

And I am not excluding myself here! So much of my initial assumptions and interpretations of mdzs has changed after reading other danmei authors, especifically the less western-internet-popular ones.

My point is this: when reading a book from a culture that is not your own and in an unfamiliar genre, it will be impossible to grasp all the intricacies and subtleties nestled within the narrative and characterization until you’ve become more familiar with the culture and genre itself.

Don’t limit yourself to mxtx. There are more and more danmei being translated into English by publishing houses and even more are fan translated.

If you’re looking for a place to start, I have some recommendations!

1. Golden Terrace by Cang Wu Bin Bai.

Literally one of my favorite books I’ve ever read in my life, and I’m an English major. It is only 2 books and both are already published, so you won’t have to wait. The most tender, loving relationship I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about. The translation is phenomenal, and it feels very similar to Jane Austen in its diction, plot, and characterization. I literally cannot explain with words how much I love this book.

2. To Rule in a Turbulent World by Gu Xue Rou

This series is just being translated and published, so it may take a while for the other books (I think 3-4?) will be out, but don’t let that scare you away! Without too much spoilers, the vibes of this first book reminds me of Harvest Moon games. Also a very sweet and tender main couple. Plus, this book is written by a male author!! Pretty rare in danmei, at least to my knowledge.

3. Thousand Autumns by Qian Qiu

Pretty dense with lots of philosophy, poetry references, and a more traditional wuxia world. This series is finished with 5 books in total. I had a hard time reading the first book, mostly because I didn’t connect that much with the mc at first, but I loved the world building and all the information I learned. I did eventually start connecting with the mc and ended the series fully besotted! Not a quick or easy read, but a worthwhile one.

4. Ballad of Sword and Wine by Tang Jiu Qing

The first book is out for this series, with the second being published later this month. It’s going to be a long one like tcgf, so it is a commitment read—but absolutely worth it!! Lots of palace politics and more Taoist-focused martial arts (think Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon). It is both fast and slow burn (I know that doesn’t make sense now; trust me, it will later on) and the main character is SO FASCINATING!! I want to study him like a bug. The overall characterization is phenomenal. The cast can be… intimidating, as there are a LOT of named characters, but they’re mostly there for world building (and the world building is fantastic!). Also, the translation here is GORGEOUS. You can tell it was translated by a writer, or at least someone who’s read the whole text (you’d be surprised…)—everything is so vivid!

[asymphonicity]

List 01 of Chinese Books read as of 23/12/2024

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation

Scum Villain's Self Saving System

Re-read Heaven Official's Blessing

Read up until Volume 7 of The Husky & His White Cat Shizun

Started Reading Clear and Muddy Loss of Love but (spoilers) got disillusioned when the horse died. Will continue later after recovering as a My Little Pony Fan.

Remnants of Filth

Started Reading Ballad of Sword & Wine. The horse is still alive... for now. I don't trust this author with keeping it alive.

There are only dragons in The Husky & His White Cat Shizun and Remnants of Filth. I don't think the bone fish count in Heaven Official's Blessing. I did like the turtle... thing in Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, still not a dragon.

Very disappointed in the lack of dragons from everyone else. Zuzhi-Lang gets a honorable mention for being a snake-boi.

[zhaohuis-lost-walnut]

Zhou Gui & Kong Ling

[spoilers for up to ch 113 of Ballad and Sword of Wine]

I’ve been making good progress in my reading and boy oh boy have two characters been running around in my brain like mice. Zhou Gui and Kong Ling are so funny to me. I love how they’re good at their jobs but are so unequipped to handle Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan 😭

They don’t fully trust them but they need them so they put up with them but they’re also constantly confused and I wheeze every single time.

One of my favorite scenes of them forgetting all their other brain cells and just sharing one is in chapter 103 when the maidservant reveals that cezhou are clearly an item. And rather than reacting to the fact that Chiye is dating a guy, Zhou Gui asks Kong Ling didn’t tell him he swung that way before they sent a lady to Chiye’s room 😭😭😭 Of course Kong Ling is like ���how would I have known?!?!” and I just lose it every time I remember.

They’re such a fun duo, but I also enjoy when they get into serious business mode. Zhou Gui defending the gate to the city with his body went HARD!!! He genuinely cares for the people 🥺 He’s a lil uppity and Kong Ling definitely grounds him. Their shared glances as they’re both worried about the same thing without having to say anything. Good candidates for old man yaoi if you feel like getting goofy (they’re literally only 40 and 45…if I remember correctly. But some people think that’s old 💀).

I love these silly coworker best friends. A prefectural prefect and his advisor~