#which also means lwj can see how much he cares about wwx

[yunmeng-jiang]

I'm imagining Jiang Cheng being the first one to try and draw Suibian after WWX's death. Obviously he can take it out of the sheath so he's like Ooh you sneaky little bastard you're still out there I'm gonna find you and hug you so hard make you answer for your crimes... But then he's like Guys look it didn't seal itself he's still alive! and everyone else tries to draw it and fails and are like wtf are you crazy? So he draws it & they're like Omg he's possessed by the Yiling Patriarch!! And they do all the tests and rituals and everything but there's no WWX so eventually they're just like Maybe he's haunting you idk and Jiang Cheng goes What Is Going On I Have To Figure This Out

[wangxianficrecs]

Rewind 2023 - Follower Recs

WangxianFicRecs - Rewind 2023

For our Rewind 2023, our dear followers were also able to submit Follower Recs of their favourite stories published in 2023 for you to enjoy! Thank you to everyone who shared their recs and make sure to give the authors some love!

~*~

Lovely fic, the worldbuilding really got me hook, it is background but absolutely fascinating. -Anon

The Lines of your Soul

by athena_crikey

M, 24k, Wangxian & Nielan

Summary: At this point he just wants to get Lan Zhan horizontal so he can sleep off the drugs that are making him make little confused snuffling noises and ask questions like “How soft is purple?” and “Where did the moon go?” and “Why does Wei Ying smile all the time?” Lan Zhan under the influence is cute, and it makes Wei Wuxian genuinely angry because he cannot appreciate it. This is not something Lan Zhan chose, this is not even an accident, this is an intentional violation and none of the sounds or questions or wide-eyed glances Lan Zhan is giving him are his choice.

~*~

Not an easy read, there is a lot of hurt there, but how lwj and wwx behaved in such an awful situation really got to me. -Anon

swallowing rocks, swallowing peach skins

by AvoOwO

M, 24k, Wangxian

Summary: There is an indescribable rage boiling within Lan Wangji's chest. Lan Wangji has often heard stories of unsuspecting travelers being taken from their camp within the night, held against their wills only to be somehow found weeks later, dead and in the most horrid of states. Stories are hard enough to read about. It is worse, he thinks, when it is Wei Ying he is here with, gagged and bound in the same way. They walk, and walk, and walk, and they do not stop.

~*~

Lwj and wwx are just. such disasters. and I loved their jobs, especially lwj. it was a very enjoyable read. -Anon

To See You (Again)

by FrameofMind (@frameofmind6), Jo Lasalle (Jo_Lasalle)

E, 84k, Wangxian

Part of Bottomji Big Bang 2023

Summary: A new job brings Wei Ying to London, and back into Lan Zhan's life. Many things have changed since their time in boarding school (Lan Zhan is out of the closet, arranges charcuterie boards, stocks a fine bar…), but their friendship slots right back into place like no time has passed. Wei Ying is a little perplexed by the fact that Lan Zhan apparently doesn't have any interest in dating anyone despite being an obvious catch—but hey, at least that means he doesn't have to fight anyone for Lan Zhan's time and attention. And besides, it's not like Wei Ying is in any big rush to find himself a girlfriend either. It’s all working out great!

~*~

This story is a ton of fun and such a different and interesting concept. @danegen

Pairfire

by PaidSubscription

E, 65k, Wangxian

Part of Bottomji Big Bang 2023

Summary: Welcome, young cultivators, to the most important event of your lives: your Coming of Age Symposium. At dawn tomorrow, you will be assigned to your pairmate. You will then complete the following courses together. Week 1: Love Languages (core course) Week 2: Conflict Resolution (core course) Week 3: Guided Gender Selection (core course, ongoing) Week 4: Caring for Your Pairmate in Distress (elective) Week 5: Heat Week (elective) On your final day you will choose which permanent A/B/O gender is right for you. We will provide guidance as you try each of them in the coming weeks. Good luck. OR: WangXian are unexpectedly paired for a relationship course. Shenanigans, pining, gender feels and horniness ensues. With art by Beanie.

~*~

This series was so much fun, especially watching Lan Wangji's lust for Wei Wuxian from Su She's POV. And I'm grateful the author included a second part so we can see all the bits we missed and how wangxian got together. Also lwj's competency kink for wwx's brilliance was gold. @gentil-minou

💙 The epic college romance between Wei Ying and Lan Zhan

by KizuKatana (@kizukatana)

E, WIP, Series, 57k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary part one: The (bitter) third party pov of the epic college romance between Wei Ying and Lan Zhan, as told from the pettiest NPC to ever exist. - - - - - A new student transferred into the university in their second year, and Su She was gleeful to see how much Lan Zhan was irritated by him from the very first day that the student (Wei something) showed up late for class with a ratty hoodie pulled up over his head and proceeded to sleep through lecture. Finally, someone else would be the butt of everyone’s jokes as they watched Wei Ying constantly try and fail to get Lan Zhan’s attention. When midterm grades came out, Su She was expecting the guy to be humiliated. That was… not what happened. Worse still, Lan Zhan was now actually turning his head to look at the guy when he spoke. And... wait, was Lan Zhan… putting his hand on the guy’s ass?! No. Su She does not accept this.

~*~

I love historical aus and Greaser!WWX with GoldenBoy!LWJ is one we know well, butI love this fic for all the heart it has and the way it covers setting-typical homophobia. Wangxian get a happy ending and then the epilogue at the end really just made me feel all kinds of feelings about being queer. @gentil-minou

Mad about the Boy

by TriviasFolly (@triviasfolly)

M, 62k, Wangxian

Summary: It's 1954, and Lan Zhan's life would be going well if it wasn't for the charming Wei Ying. Did he say charming? He meant annyoing. If it wasn't for that smile Lan Zhan could accept the future planned for him, the job as Cheif Surgeon who returned home to a demure wife who'd cook him dinner and asking him about his day. Instead, he finds himself dreaming about something more. So when Wei Ying offers him a deal, one that would get him out of Lan Zhan's life he took it. When the evening goes wrong, Lan Zhan expects his life to be over. Instead, he finds it's just the start of a new chapter.

~*~

The way this author made the story of the Scarlet Pumpenel fit in mdzs is, in my opinion, masterful. The arranged marriage is built on devastating misunderstanding after devastating misunderstanding, but the identity shenanigans are so fun! Other highlights include Jiang sect love and wangxian adopting not only A-Yuan but MXY as well. So much fun and an epic adventure! @gentil-minou

The Scarlet Lotus

by rainbowninja167 (@rainbowtitania)

M, 137k, Wangxian

Summary: In the years following the Sunshot Campaign, the mysterious, masked cultivator who’d defeated Wen Ruohan took on many identities: the Yiling Patriarch, leader of the Wen rebels, enemy of the Jin Sect, practitioner of wicked tricks. His true name was shrouded in mystery. He always wore a mask. He carried no sword; wore no clan colors or insignia. Clouds of resentful energy clung to him as he walked. But there was one thing that absolutely everyone agreed on: the Yiling Patriarch could not possibly be from the Jiang Sect. Or: a Scarlet Pimpernel-inspired fix-it featuring Wei Wuxian in disguise, Lan Wangji determined to bring the nefarious Yiling Patriarch to justice, and the hijinks that ensue when you accidentally marry your greatest enemy/love of your life.

~*~

Another fun and sexy fic built on misunderstandings but I love the tone of this one! There's a lot of heart in this fic along with some real world issues along with just lots of wwx love, which makes this fic something i reread again and again! @gentil-minou

With No Particular Affection

by Chrononautical (@chrononautintraining)

E, 92k, Wangxian

Summary: A prominent physicist and professor, Wei Ying has built a life for himself in Chicago. He's safe, he's happy, and he has plans for his future. Unfortunately, those plans are derailed the moment he finds out his brother is in trouble. To save the family business, it will have to be Wei Ying's life on the line. He has to marry his old high school crush, Lan Zhan.

~*~

wangxian exploring their sexuality while getting to act their age in cloud recesses is such a wonderful premise, and I love the way this fic lets them not being good at it. Also the little excerpts from the book throughout were such fun and always made me giggle! @gentil-minou

Fentao-laoshi's Guide to Cut-Sleeve Pleasures

by occultings (microcomets) (@microcomets)

E, 31k, Wangxian

Part of the good place server exchange 2023

Summary: Lan Wangji says, “I am also looking to . . . gain practical experience. It seemed mutually advantageous.” “Mutually advantageous,” Wei Wuxian echoes. “Wait. Do you mean I’d get to . . . ?” Lan Wangji stares at him. “Practice — on you?” Wei Wuxian finishes, his eyes round with disbelief. — During a shared summer studying in the Cloud Recesses, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian diligently pursue an informed sexual education. What could possibly be the harm in some mutual learning?

~*~

the most heartbreaking, angsty, canon setting arranged marriage au i've read so far, in the best way. We get to see things from LWJ's pov and while his actions make sense, it's still so devastating as we watch WWX be affected by it all. The happy ending makes the hurt all the better too! @gentil-minou

💙 Concord

by Deastar (@youhideastar)

T, 41k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: Lan Wangji hopes, somewhat frivolously, that his betrothed might find him an acceptable companion. Neither he nor Wei Wuxian are able to bear children, so there will be no need to share a marital bed; that should make it easier for the two of them to reach a natural, comfortable equilibrium. Two strings played in harmony: this is Lan Wangji’s quiet hope, as he arranges the Jingshi to accommodate a second inhabitant. Perhaps, he thinks, they might even become friends.

~*~

MothXian and WitchJi!!!!! The art for this au is always so lovely, and this fic fits it perfectly! The author has this gorgeous, dreamy prose that really enhances the setting and the sweetness of wangxian in this is so beautiful. @gentil-minou

light a lantern (and guide me home)

by xuanxuanwo (ostentatiouslyrealistic) (@xuanxuanwo)

T, 63k, Wangxian

Summary: At first, he thinks he’s caught a bird; it’s the size of one of his palms and wrapped fully in damp feathers. As he shuffles toward the beam of light that streams through the open window, he wonders how it managed to fly into his lantern, shut the door, and latch it against the wild gales of the wind. Then, he takes a closer look, thumbing across its feathers, and realizes that they’re not feathers at all. They’re leaves. Startled, Lan Zhan shifts as gently as possible and, using the tip of his finger, parts them to reveal a body, complete with tiny limbs and a small face, all of it wrapped in the dress made from peony petals. “Oh,” Lan Zhan breathes softly, heart clenching. “Oh, what are you?” -- A thunderstorm brings tea master and herbalist Lan Zhan a companion he never knew he needed. A tale of love, loss, and letting go.

~*~

Rockstar!WWX and Bookseller!LWJ and they are just the cutest. Notting Hill is a classic romcom and this fic fits the romcom vibe perfectly. @gentil-minou

When the Lights Come Up

by brooklinegirl

E, 50k, Wangxian

Summary: Lan Zhan's brother draws to a halt next to him, staring at the man on the other side of the counter. "Oh, it is you, isn't it?" The man, still propped against the counter on his elbow, gives Lan Huan a grin, then directs it at Lan Zhan again. "I don't know," he says. "Is it? Am I?" "You are." Lan Huan is hurrying around to the other side of the counter, a wide smile on his face, while Lan Zhan looks on, feeling more and more perplexed, like he's stepped into some alternate universe where absolutely nobody is making any sense at all. "Wei Wuxian! Lan Zhan, do you know who this is? It's Wei Wuxian!" Lan Huan is reaching for the man's hand, and he pushes himself lazily to standing, shaking Lan Huan's hand warmly. "In the flesh," he says. "You caught me." "My goodness." Lan Huan is staring at him like he's never seen a human being before in his life. "What on earth are you doing here, of all places?

~*~

magical wangxian who adopt mo xuanyu in a setting that's written so vividly, the whole place comes alive! it's part of a larger series but it can be read alone, but most importantly the characters are so patient and kind with such great moments between them all @gentil-minou

quiet, blooming hours

by Sanguis (@bel-ennui)

T, 13k, Wangxian

Summary: Fingers push through the earth, and a long lost boy takes the first gasping breath of his second life. The house of buried things has a new surprise for Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji.

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for these hard-working authors if you like – or think others might like – these stories.)

[layzeal]

Dr. Lace, as a practicing Lan Wangjiologist, why do you think Lan Wangji waited until the end of the novel to tell Wei Wuxian about A-Yuan surviving? Like, in universe, because while I think the real answer is that the twist plays out better at the end of the story, it’s more fun to guess why Lan Wangji kept quiet.

"Dr. Lace" and "Lan Wangjiologist" made me laugh for like two days straight. well done anon. well done sjdhfkjsdhlfkdsjf

but you've actually caught me on something that i don't know if i have a true answer!! i mean, as you said there is the obvious reason of it just working a lot better from a storytelling point of view.

us readers don't really learn about a-yuan existence until wwx mentions it the first time as they're hanging out in yiling before climbing the burial mounds, then there's a flashback where we met the wen remnants, they die, wwx is killed, and immediately after we return, we get the blood poll scene, which also immediately reveals to us that the little boy we met is actually now the BIG boy we've fallen in love with a long time ago! we care about lan sizhui long before we even know that he was relevant in wangxian's life before that. "what happened to a-yuan" isn't a looming question that follows us or the characters throughout the story, because a-yuan only comes up quite late in the plot. mxtx wasn't going for a shocking plot twist with that reveal, but merely using him as another piece in the story's theme. we love lan sizhui before we even know he's a-yuan, and knowing that he's now only alive BECAUSE wwx sacrificied all he did to save the wen remnants, even if he "failed" shows us the human side of how worth it was.

but of course that doesn't come without its foreshadowing. note that i don't subscribe to the "wangxian are a-yuan's parents" or "lan sizhui secretly calls lwj 'baba/fuqin'" headcanon (although u can always argue that 一日为师，终身为父 but that's for another day lmao), i find their relationship has a lot more nuance and honestly more depth than that of a nuclear family. we see how he and lan wangji seem to be much closer compared to other juniors (ie hgj personally teaches him the qin language, gives him books that other lan disciples seem to not have access to, etc) and while that is curious, it's not out of place for lwj to have a particular student he wants to train more closely. lan sizhui clearly deserves it! however, once it is revealed just how much sizhui means to lwj, as well as how he gave him both his new "birth" name and his courtesy name, as well as why he'd want sizhui to be under his protection and teaching, it all clicks!

but again, it's simply not a major focus within the plot.

ok cool lace, that still doesn't answer why lan wangji doesn't bring that up in-universe. and you're right! i'm quite fond of tangents

but seriously, i do think that's part of it as well. just like how the question of "what happened to a-yuan" doesn't follow us around the story, that's the same for our main characters. wei wuxian has long been convinced that a-yuan died alongside the wen remnants, so he doesn't ask because he's allergic to reminiscing anything about the past. for lan wangji, lan sizhui is safe (and still amnesiac), and wei ying is back to life, there are a thousand other things they need to focus on before bringing all of that up. and lan wangji is nothing if not focused on fixing the most important tasks at hand, matters of the past can be talked about later unless relevant (it's no wonder that all of lwj's backstroy is revealed to us by the narrator or a different character, after all).

but most of all, i think lan wangji didn't bring it up because he simply did not know how to tackle the subject of the first siege, wwx's death, or the wen remnants with him. it's understandably a very sensitive subject, and lan wangji did not wish to overstep his boundaries by bringing it up when wwx wasn't ready to. again, he's a man of priorities, and he wouldn't risk breaking the scab off the wound unless it was necessary, or wwx did it first.

from those lens, it's no question why he only seemed to consider revealing a-yuan's identity after the second siege, not only because wwx has finally had closure on the death of the wens, but because lan sizhui himself is starting to piece things together, though it is also not something that should be forced. however, after the second siege, things really begin speeding up again, and between wwx watching the wens fade away and having a fight with jiang cheng, he's is clearly both physically and emotionally drained all the way until they get freaky in the bathtub, where things get even WORSE, and then guanyin temple happens which just... yeah. there was enough telenovela drama for one night.

so, once all of that is finally over, and lwj sees sizhui analyze chenqing with a clear sense of reminiscing, lwj finally settles it that he will reveal it. they're not in a hurry, wwx is finally doing okay, closure has been achieved in multiple things, and there are no other priorities at hand.

except that! he doesn't even need to. because sizhui catches up does it for him. and isn't that even more fitting?

but really, since i received this ask i have been thinking to myself "at what other time would lan wangji have revealed a-yuan's identity? and why?" and i just... keep hitting a wall. because revealing extremely charged emotional subjects to a beloved person who has never brought it up to you, about another person who doesn't even know or remember it, it's simply not lan wangji's character. wei ying is alive and safe, a-yuan is alive and safe, tearful revelations can come later, but right now lan wangji needs to ensure that they'll continue that way.

[ninjakk]

The song within WWX's heart

Hearing LWJ softly singing Wangxian for the first time, back when they were trapped in the Xuanwu of Slaughter's cave, left a profound impression on WWX. Even if he was slipping in and out of consciousness at the time, it still affected him deeply. On a subconscious level, this melody means so much to WWX and the way MXTX weaves this delicately throughout the plot is just perfection.

The first time we see WWX play Wangxian he is using a hastily improvised bamboo flute, while on Dafan Mountain. This is prior to WWX or indeed the reader (on a first read) being aware of its name or the significance it holds.

To stifle it, Wei WuXian calmed his feelings and assuredly played another melody. The melody had drifted over his mind naturally. It was relaxed and tranquil, contrasting with the bizarre and ear-piercing one from before

Chapter 10 ExR translations

WWX calms his emotions and tires to relax. Trying to think of something happy, something soothing, that will quell WNs killing intent. Which is when this tune naturally comes to his mind. Hearing the song instantly pacifies WN and he begins to follow WWX.

Just prior to this, WWXs emotions were incredibly high and very raw. Only a few days ago, he was forcefully resurrected into a stranger's body. He's had an altercation with JC and inadvertently upset his beloved late shijie's son. Then he bumps into the man he's been subconsciously pining for since they were teenagers. With his mind stirring up painful memories from his past life, it's so poignant that this is the song that resurfaces in his subconscious. As something that makes him feel safe and secure.

After the above, it's not* until the Xuanwu of Slaughter cave arc that we are finally unofficially introduced to Wangxian. In this chapter LWJ showcases his beautiful singing voice to a very drowsy WWX, who is slipping in and out of consciousness. We later find out that this is the aptly named Wangxian, a love song that LWJ has composed especially for WWX.

It had originally been an offhand remark. He was chatting with Lan WangJi to pass the time and didn’t at all expect him to agree. Yet, after a few moments of silence, a low yet mild voice echoed softly through the hollow cave. Lan WangJi really did begin to sing. Wei WuXian closed his eyes, turned around, and spread out his limbs, “It sounds nice.” He asked, “What’s it called?” Lan WangJi seemed to murmur something. Wei WuXian opened his eyes, “What was it called again?”

Chapter 55

MXTX doesn't give us much in terms of a description of the melody at this point, probably in an attempt to keep most of the readers guessing a little longer with regards to how LWJ knew it was WWX back on Dafan Mountain. But we can see WWX appreciates the tune and seems quite content with everything at that very moment. Over the past few days, since beating the legendary beast, WWX has been running a fever. LWJ has been diligently looking after him, passing him spiritual energy and keeping a fire lit in order to keep him warm - which WWX obviously appreciates. There is also a very sweet moment where he questions if LWJ had been allowing him to lie on his lap while he was drowsy. It's a very tender scene and marks a definite turning point in their relationship - especially on LWJ's behalf.

The next time we see WWX play Wangxian, is back in his second life - where he's very much starting to accept his feelings for LWJ. The feelings he's had since they were young are flooding to the surface and he's blissfully content just being around the other. They are on their way to the very place he died years ago, but he's so drunk on the way he is feeling about LWJ, he doesn't care at all. He feels incredibly safe and happy with him - which is when he inadvertently plays their love song once more.

He even had the spirit to enjoy the fields under the moonlight, pulling out the bamboo flute at his waist. As natural as ever, he played a tune. The flute had a limpid timbre. Lan WangJi’s footsteps hesitated slightly as Wei WuXian felt something inside of him suddenly light up.

Chapter 66

Just prior to the above scene, WWX is feeling loved, cared for and so happy his heart won't stop fluttering! He's remembering his parents, the love they had for each other and for him. All of these lovely images filling his head and beautiful feelings flooding his heart. Just as he is so happy and content, a melody comes drifting in his mind and he plays it on the flute under the moonlight once again.

It comes so naturally to him, because this is how he felt when he heard it originally. He felt happy, even though he was stuck in a cave and suffering from a fever - which is quite telling about how he must feel at LP at times! He felt cared for. He felt quite content rolling around on someone's LWJ's lap, while his head was tenderly stroked. He was lulled back to an unconscious state, hearing LWJ sing this melody to him as he felt all of these sweet emotions. He felt these so strongly, that the tune imprinted on his heart, and in turn his memory for all these years. A song can be a powerful thing, especially when associated with strong emotions.

WWX finally remembers where he has heard the tune before and is absolutely ecstatic to learn that LWJ not only composed the melody, but he is the only one to have heard it.

To me, there is definitely a strong chance that WWX also plays Wangxian during the Phoenix Mountain arc. This is probably more apparent on a re-read, once you are more familiar with the description of Wangxian later in the novel.

He held up Chenqing and blew into it, fingers shifting. The clear sound of the flute rushed into the sky as though it was a bird, lingering as it echoed through the mountain.

Chapter 69

WWX has just been flirting with LWJ, throwing flowers at him and trying to attract his attention. So it's safe to assume LWJ is on his mind, even if he is currently participating in a competition. Taking up a comfy spot on a low hanging branch of a tree, he basks in the sunlight feeling relaxed and comfortable. He is about to calm the fierce corpses and ghosts, summoning them to surrender in the Jiang sect's name. As such, he plays a soothing song on Chenqing that is clear, melodious and soared like birds in the sky. To me, at least on a re-read, it is quite obvious WWX is playing Wangxian here. As we are given more descriptions of the tune later in the novel, it all pieces together quite nicely.

WWX playing Wangxian at this moment in time also adds to why LWJ simply lost control and kissed him not long after he played on his flute. WWX had inadvertently played their love song! The very song LWJ had composed just for him! Not to mention the teasing and flirting WWX subject him to earlier on as well. Of course I'm not condoning LWJ's actions, but considering his character, it's no wonder he lost control and forcibly kissed WWX after all of this. Especially if he heard the almost teasing tune of his love song being played on a flute in the distance.

The last time we see Wangxian being played is of course at the end of the novel, when we finally learn what the melody is called.

Swaying left and right atop the donkey, Wei WuXian took the flute from his waist and placed it by his lips. The limpid notes flew across the sky like birds. Lan WangJi halted and listened quietly. It was the song he sang for Wei WuXian when they were stuck in the Xuanwu cave. It was also the song that Wei WuXian just so happened to have played at Dafan Mountain, the song that enabled Lan WangJi to confirm his identity.

Chapter 113

We can see the melody is described as limpid (or clear) in tone and the song evokes images of birds flying in the sky. This description is very similar to the quotes referenced above, which I think is very much intentional. If WWX did play Wangxian to calm the entities down on Phoenix Mountain, as he did with WN at the beginning of the novel, how sweet is it that he uses this song to soothe the poor souls that are in turmoil and full of resentment.

I think there is quite a lot of subtext hinting that WWX playing Wangxian at the beginning of the novel is far from a happy accident. That it is in fact something he has done since hearing the tune all those years ago. It even states in the novel, he plays the tune "as natural as ever", which could be interpreted as he's played this tune many, many times in the past - during both of his lives.

*Honourable mention:

Another scene that could possibly include WWX playing Wangxian once again, is during the chapter when we first meet DrunkJi.

Stopping at a desolated area, Wei WuXian took out his flute by his waist, placed it by his lips, and played a melody. After this, he waited silently.

Chapter 30

Obviously we don't have enough of a description here to tell if WWX just played Wangxian to summon WN. But it would add to the reason why an inebriated LWJ reacts in such a jealous way towards WN when he appears on the scene. Especially as he seems particularly annoyed at WWX playing his flute for WN. Granted, it might just be because he drunkenly stumbled upon WWX and WN together when he woke up from his intoxicated catnap. With LWJ still feeling the sting from WWX unwittingly playing their exclusive love song to another man back on Dafan Mountain. Awkward...

But it could also be LWJ being roused from his drunken slumber to the tantalising sound of a flute playing their song.

I totally headcanon WWX humming the melody throughout his first life. Soothing an upset A-Yuan with this lovely tune. Harvesting radishes while he sings to himself quietly. Tinkering with his inventions in the cave, while whistling the melody and hearing it reverberate all around him. The Wen remnants and the crazy Yiling Laozu cultists camping out at the base of the mountain with their little banner, would even swear they could hear a calming song softly echo around the burial mounds in the middle of the night at times.

There's just no way he didn't hum or play Wangxian after her heard it drifting in and out of consciousness. Especially as he can remember it so clearly in his second life, whenever he's really happy or needs to calm down.

In fact, I really wouldn't be surprised if LWJ hummed Wangxian to WWX while passing him spiritual energy when they were hiding in a cave after escaping Nightless City.

It also makes me wonder if WWX used this melody to calm the entities in the Burial Mounds back when he was trapped there. Every time we have seen WWX use a tune to calm corpses, it's (possibly) been this tune. It's not too much of a jump to assume he used it in the Burial Mounds to suppress the resentful energy at the time. It was probably very much fresh in his memory still at this point - only a month or so since he first heard the tune.

How beautiful would it be if the song that LWJ composed out of love for WWX is what essentially helped calm the resentful entities and save his soulmate's life while he was trapped in a literal hell on earth.

[accio-victuuri]

yuguyao content is truly the gift that keeps on giving. this fandom is keeping us busy with updates from both sides, but that doesn’t mean we will forget the sweets!

this is part four. enjoy ^^

An incident that got lots of attention with cpfs, because XZ mentioned CQL in the interview. and that was because it was asked how may times he had filmed in hengdian and so he mentioned all the projects. which included cql. I must admit that it was nice hearing it from him again. 💕 not exactly proof of whatever cause we know he loves cql and wwx. It would be out of character if he leaves it out.

but of course some entertainment accounts will twist this cause apparently, we’re not the only ones “not over” CQL and their association. It’s all BS. We all know WYB’s change in Weibo has nothing to do with “contempt” for CQL.

Let me just enjoy the parallels i see popping out and the continued Shiying x LWJ examples 😌

My absolute favorite tho and what people have been interpreting is this “mindset” that he has which is similar to WYB. You may think that this applies to both life in general or romance. The answer he gave to the question in the tencent video ruxi interview in particular. How it compares to his 2019 answer about a similar question. He is still the same stubborn XZ!

2019: "For what he thinks is right, and for the people he loves, he can work hard regardless of everything" "This is also the person I want to be."

2021: (Knowing the established destiny, will I still choose the same)" I'd love to say I will. " " But it's going to be hard work, but I'm still doing it."

So the connection people are getting at is, in the story of YGY, he knows that Zhu Yan will be the one that kills him but he still goes and falls for her. That’s just the kind of person that he is irl too isn’t it? Not saying that WYB is his Zhu Yan but the same theme as loving someone ( everyone says ) you shouldn’t. If you believe in SZD, you have to admit that ZZ can have anyone he wants. He can choose the easy route and just let go of WYB but he didn’t. They are both committed to each other and continue to stay in love despite all the noise. Same goes with WYB, how he said, “ love is like this. you can’t help it” . It’s like they don’t care what people say their “fate” will be, loving each other is a conscious choice.

They are both logical people when it comes to life and their career but when it comes to love — they really follow their heart.

The same persistence even when things get tough is a trait they both have. This is why they still continue to be relevant years after CQL.

I found this comment on one of the posts and I wanna scream cause it’s true. I’m sure that if asked, ZZ will say yes. Didn’t he say that if can re-shoot CQL, he will do all the scenes again? 😌

I’m also cackling at this part cause he now knows what it feels like to play that cold character like LWJ.

One of my feelings at the time was that you must not play him as a face, because the truth is that I really don’t want to play this kind of cold character. Most of them don’t have too many expressions. What is conveyed in front of the camera will make the audience feel like a person with facial paralysis. The audience won't believe it.

Which is the exact same fear WYB had to the point that he panics in some scenes cause what can he do when he can’t show much expressions. I’m here clowning about them talking about ZZ should play Shiying, probably WYB giving him tips. Do you think ZZ rewatched CQL and watched his Lan Zhan? LOL. I imagine WYB will get jealous 😂😂😂😂

Shi ying’s animal form also has a mole under it’s lip and yes it has always been ZZ’s “thing” even before WYB met him. However i think that WYB was the one who really put emphasis on it and add the heart with a mole onto that. Especially the “.” that XZ even started adding to his art signature.

for reference: part 1 / part 2 / part 3 / part 3.5

END.

[fincalinde]

qi rong! i kid, i kid. how about jc.

I will ignore your cruel taunting and focus on my viniferous darling.

a song that reminds me of them

I don't think I have a personal anthem for him, but En Fortapt Bror (A Prodigal Brother) by Rotvelt would probably go on the playlist if I made one, just for this bit alone:

Kan ikke ta det tilbake Kan ikke få du gjort Jeg vil ikke ha tilgivelse Det vil ikke vaske det bort

Can't take it back Can't get you done I don't want forgiveness It won't wash it away

what they smell like

If we're getting poetic, like lotus fragrance and ozone.

an otp

No one in the cast is right for JC but I do think he wants and deserves a suitable wife so I like the idea of reading something where he's in a relationship. His problem is that he needs just, so much therapy before he can make an effective life partner for anyone. He features in this postcanon AU I wrote and that's a reasonable depiction of how I think things could shake out for him after many years have passed if he's worked on himself. Basically, I know his extracanonical list of qualities he requires in a wife is meant to be humorous, but I tried to incorporate them into an OC while also making her a match for him.

I dabbled in reading Sangcheng because I am a slave to @starwife and like, in theory, many many many many many years postcanon who knows what might happen? And mightn't that be interesting? Sadly I have come to the conclusion that it's too much of a stretch and isn't my cup of tea. Pls forgive

a notp

I was racking my brain to think of a JC pairing I kneejerk hate beyond the general 'well, he isn't really compatible with any of the characters we meet' stance and then I realised I had forgotten Xicheng exists. Pause for audience laughter.

What can I even add here? It's based on nothing and it's not even like there's the intelligence of a thoughtful resistant read behind it. The laziest possible pair the spares approach taken by people whose reading comprehension is so poor they think JGY is an irredeemable cackling villain and WWX is a noble woobie. Thankfully it's easy for me to avoid and therefore ironically ends up irritating me less than bad Xiyao in practice.

favorite platonic/familial relationships

I love his relationship with his mother. She's just horrendous to him and I don't think he ever has any concrete evidence she loves him until their final moments together, but what I find most interesting and realistic is that he seems to understand her. He can see why she is who she is, which doesn't in any way mitigate the damage she does but is an important part of their dynamic because it's an element of why he defends her and it contributes to how he internalises her criticisms.

My favourite JC and YZY moment is this:

Jiang Cheng was stuck between his father and his mother. After a moment of hesitation, he moved to his mother’s side. Holding his shoulders, Madam Yu pushed him forward for Jiang FengMian to see, “Sect Leader Jiang, it seems that some things I have to say. Look carefully—this, is your own son, the future head of Lotus Pier. Even if you frown upon him just because I was the one who bore him, his surname is still Jiang! … I don’t believe for one second that you haven’t heard of how the outside people gossips, that Sect Leader Jiang has still not moved on from a certain Sanren though so many years have passed, regarding the son of his old friend as a son of his own; they’re speculating if Wei Ying is your…”

YZY emotionally, verbally and sometimes physically abuses her son. She is failing him as a mother and as a mentor. But she is not failing him as badly as JFM is failing him, and everything she says here is completely correct. And when JC and WWX talk about it afterwards, JC is also correct. WWX and LWJ kill the Xuanwu of Slaughter and no one cares or gives JC credit for his less glamorous contributions. His own father prefers WWX and doesn't even like him, and that is appalling.

WWX means well by trying to gloss over it, but it's an open secret and pretending it's not true is harmful. YZY is also going about it all wrong, but she's the only person who calls JFM out directly for failing his son. Pot, kettle, but there's a reason why when JC is stuck between his parents he ends up going over to his mother's side.

a headcanon that is popular in the fandom but that i disagree with

I'm going to go radical here and say I don't personally enjoy or want to read any postcanon Twin Heroes reconciliation. The novel is pretty final about how things end up for them, and it's my belief that they are both far better off not being in each other's lives any more. It's sad because they were close as brothers and love each other so deeply, but ultimately it's for the best. They both appear to be in agreement about this.

the position they sleep in

Probably looks all super cool and handsome when he sleeps, but unfortunately not quite as super cool and handsome as WWX.

a crossover au i’d love to see them in

Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Can you imagine.

my favorite outfit they’ve ever worn

We all know I'm MDZS first in almost everything, but I'm not a huge fan of JC's hair in the official art. Besides, it cracks me up that JC is far and away the most stylish member of the cast in CQL, and yet there's no indication that it's actually an interest of his. CQL NHS wearing his same basic bitch grey and white yet again while CQL JC swaggers past in his shoulder pads owning the entire world—amazing. How could I pick a favourite? I do like his official photo look though, because the gold looks great with the purple.

[llycaons]

ep50 (1/4): endings, partings and reunions

ough we made it. okay first of all it is my professional (ha) opinion that this series has better impact if watched within a span of ~2 months and not 7-8 months. really allows the emotional payoff to be that much fresher in the mind. next time I rewatch, I'm going to have to set aside solid chunks of time and then really commit to not liveblogging. last time I only liveblogged text reactions, which did cut down on time. but it might be impossible to refrain. it's just more fun this way!

oh man the look of utter betrayal here. jgy always, always trusted lxc. he's in disbelief - how did this happen?

oh I love this little monologue. so juicy

another parallel!!! see: wwx saying 'lan wangji, oh lan wangji' on the steps of carp tower. there is was wwx ruefully accepting lwj's support, here it's jgy bitterly commiserating what's left of his relationship with lxc in the wake of a shock of betrayal

I actually believe that he means that. it's not true, because he harmed lxc's close friend using the techniques lxc himself taught him, but I think he believes it nonetheless. he never would have physically attacked lxc

...or maybe he's lying again! this guy is just so hard to read

bro you murdered his friend...

well jgy drags them both back to release nmj's spirit so what was that, jgy?

wwx stopping lwj from doing dangerous shit is actually a pretty solid part of their dynamic now. wish more authors incorporated it into their characterizations

okay so I think it's a test. will lxc actually strike the killing blow?

and...he doesn't. he can't. he's unable to strike jgy down and free himself. and jgy sees this, and I think that last gesture of humanity, of love even, is what he wanted.

so off he sends lxc, to live without him

god he is so fucking dramatic.

actually based on that look...maybe he was a little in love with him after all. maybe this was the last and kindest thing he did for him

very true to form that it consisted of 'put his life in danger, demand proof that he loves you, then send him to safety. from danger you put him in' this guy is such a piece of work

jc here looks GUTTED bc of jl's pain. goddamn

ohhh look how they're crammed into the corner with the rest of the shot all desolate

zhijis, baby. but it took wwx and lwj years to get there NOT counting the years wwx was dead which would be unfair because they couldn't work on their relationship!!!

oh god this shot too. he looks so alone

lqr is so funny. 'no running!' I saw you hustling up here old man. you love your nephews you hypocrite

ah, of course everyone gets flocked by loved ones. jc by his disciples, lwj by his uncle, wwx by...is that fucking. oyzz? he's a sweet kid but that's a little random

ohhh boy tense brotherly staring

I love jin ling so much I really do. I think the reason he's so much more compelling to me than lsz is that he has really bad habits, and he can't control his emotional reactions. he screams, he runs away, he cries really loudly, he threatens. but despite his anger and his fear, despite going through a horribly traumatic night, he sends his dog away because wwx is afraid of her. he puts someone else's need before his own, and he acts against his own impulses because he cares about someone else and wants them to be okay. and I appreciate the effort that takes, and the love that shines through even a prickly and touchy exterior

ohhh wwx watching jc leave. very weighted look. this is the last time he sees jc in canon. he smiles a bit, but doesn't talk. what's there to say? I can only hope the temple events sink in after a while and they awkwardly resume at least talking

well, there's always lwj to stare soulfully at

I've noticed this episode that wwx breaks out the 🥺 a lot more with lwj than I'd expect, compared to the smiles. I like that - wwx enjoys fun, but with lwj he also gets gravitas and sincerity, which i think he needs in his life bouncing around and pretending like things just shake off him

aw man, meng shi!! she was cast perfectly with this young meng yao. she deserved better than the destruction of her burial site, as it's implied nhs does in the novel

AWW YEAH BLOOD ON THE HANDS. and UNSCRIPTED BABY

I feel like this is going to be the cql version of 'aragorn broke three toes when kicking the orc's helmet'

and this dead-eyed look when walking away...well if you dedicate a decade to revenge and then you do it, now what?

I never particularly cared about the answer. there's nothing preventing nhs from living in luxury and power for the rest of his life, making new friends and indulging every one of his interests. sure, it's sad his only family is dead, but I really think he'll be okay. nhs's emotional fulfillment rank a little lower on my priority list than 'wen ning being able to live in a community' or 'lxc being able to e=leave seclusion' or 'lsz rediscovering his heritage' or 'xxc and a-qing's souls' or I'll say it even 'wwx and lwj's freedom to have mindblowing gay sex'

[millionsofbooks]

i do not have the time or energy to write this but. on the off-chance someone will pick this up. asoiaf/mdzs crossover pls pls pls it would be so good and there are 0 on ao3 rn!!!

just. ok so ik crossovers have kind of gone out of style recently but they're so much fun! they're also just. a really fun way of exploring differences/similarities in how different medias explore certain themes (eg both asoiaf and mdzs have a lot to say on the feudal system, privilege, morality, honour, fucked up family dynamics, redemption, etc but they also focus on different aspects of these themes) and exploring characters via parallels.

putting a bunch of fun character meet-ups below the cut ❤️

like. ok so one thing i think mdzs does that asoiaf doesn't so much is looking at how a character's concept of honour is shaped by privilege. by which i mean - i want to lock jgy and/or xue yang in a room with ned and/or stannis and see what happens.

or speaking of honour - both properties explore the fact that things aren't just black-and-white. God. thirteen-year-time-skip era lwj talking to ned 🥺🥺🥺. or post-canon lwj talking to stannis if u want something less heartbreaking - altho you would have to put in plot reasons for lwj to not just leave.

or if we want to think more parallels - hi wwx and dany!!!! oh my god!!!!! and also when it comes to parallels it doesn't actually need to be those particular characters interacting - eg dany would immediately remind lwj and jc of wwx.

like. concept - for plot reasons, post-canon lwj and jc end up in planetos and have to grudgingly cooperate to get home. they turn up in slavers' bay (either where the portal dumped them or on their way to asshai to find a way home) either in the middle of dany's conquest or soon after she's decided to stay in meereen. then - oh god massive fight over whether to stay or not that very quickly turns into a fight over the resentment they have for each other over the whole wwx-wens debacle. i mean the parallels are obvious - dany = wwx, slaves = wens, dragons = yin tiger seal, etc.

lwj: we should stay to help. this girl is doing the right thing and we should help her.

jc: um, no??? we need to get home and not just abandon the people we love for some strangers. going against orthodoxy never works, she can't win this fight permanently. everyone will turn against her, she'll lose everything, and so will the people who care about her.

lwj: if the people who care about her stand with her then maybe she will win this fight. and even if she doesn't, if they really care about her then they'd prefer to die with her rather than profit from abandoning her.

jc: well maybe they have other people they care about as well and standing with her would put those other people in danger and if she really cared about them then she would stop this madness and come home

dany: im getting the feeling this isnt about me.

anyway they end up staying - there are slaves from all over the world here, maybe someone has useful info; these are very old cities, maybe there's useful info to be found here; waiting for the dragons to grow and then flying to asshai is def safer and might even be quicker; idk the important part is that they stay and want to help. and then maybe it all goes a bit better bc jc actually has experience in ruling and like. rebuilt lotus pier from basically nothing. + lwj to help with doubts and uncertainty. just. i want good things for dany 🥺🥺🥺. also they're used to wwx so their opinions on crucifying the masters would probably be along the lines of like. wow so restrained.

anyway i havent even gotten into like. jgy + jon snow or tyrion which. well i think jgy's main response to jon would be 'oh you think you had it bad???' but he might be more sympathetic to tyrion. or actually it might be more like 'youre just like me (derogatory)'. ugh what an idiot so pathetic he thinks he can get his father to love him ://. unless they meet post-tywin's death. someone: wow can't believe you killed your own father. jgy: well maybe his father was a dick.

also would love a meet-up between jaime and jgy or wwx. the whole - wow ok im evil for doing these things but its fine for you to profit from them?? un fucking believable. why are you mad at me for killing this guy everyone wanted to kill him. wwx could fix jaime, jgy could make him worse.

anyway this got very long but pls other people add on to this 🥺🥺

[mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess]

I posted 6,222 times in 2022

That's 276 more posts than 2021!

570 posts created (9%)

5,652 posts reblogged (91%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

chemical-abscess

mdzsquoteoftheday

wangxian-on-repeat

jiaoji

twenty-orange-balloons

I tagged 1,184 of my posts in 2022

#mdzs - 562 posts

#mo dao zu shi - 532 posts

#original thots - 412 posts

#wangxian - 201 posts

#writing attempts - 106 posts

#wwx - 63 posts

#incorrect mdzs quotes - 36 posts

#mdzs incorrect quotes - 36 posts

#lwj - 14 posts

#same - 13 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#i honestly see lxc as an example of how lack of information/lack of depth of information and excessive trustworthiness can misguide someone

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Wei Ying has his fear of dogs, Lan Zhan deals with it the best he can by shooing the dogs away and he gets kisses in return plenty

But my personal headcanon is that both the fearsome Yiling Patriarch and his illustrous Hanguang-Jun have a shared fear/disgust of spiders

Fierce corpses, ghosts, ancient beasts? Fair game.

Spiders?

Nah, they don't fuck with that.

"Lan Zhan, you saw it first, you deal with it."

"No."

"What do you mean no?! Aren't you my husband? You're supposed to protect me!"

"Mn. But you are also my husband, so, likewise."

"This is ridiculous. You're Hanguang-Jun, the Second Jade of Lan. That's just a stupid spider!"

"You are also the Yiling Patriarch, the grandmaster of demonic cultivation."

"Lan Zhan, come on, we can't stay up on this table forever. Just kill it!"

"Killing is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses."

"A whole lot of things we do are forbidden in the Cloud Recesses but that never stopped you before!"

"Mn."

"No 'mn'!! You have to do something about it and quickly, unless it..."

"Wei Ying?"

"The...the spider...I don't know where it is, it's gone!!"

"Gone?!"

(Sizhui comes to visit and finds his two most respected parental figures in battle stances, Chenqing is out, talismans float about and the two very graciously stand on their spiritual swords safely away from the floor.

Sizhui kills the spider.)

985 notes - Posted May 20, 2022

#4

"Ask me now, see if I would deny you anything." is the most romantic, erotic, emotional, heart-wrenching, devotion-filled, loving sentence I have ever read and I will never recover from it

1,030 notes - Posted March 11, 2022

#3

AITA for getting punched in the face?

So I (16, M) am betrothed to a girl (16, F) I don't really like but my mom and her mom made the arrangement before we were born and neither of our dads (or us) get much say in this because our moms are scary.

Anyway, I really don't like this girl. She's just average and the only reason we're supposed to marry is because our moms are sworn sisters and we're from powerful, noble families. Not to brag, but I'm exceptionally good-looking and highly skilled, and I don't think a girl so meek and ordinary would be fit for me at all.

I don't see the point of hiding my disdain for her. Anyone with a good pair of eyes can see how different I am from her and there is no point in me pretending I feel any different about her.

To preface, I don't think I'm the asshole and I want to prove I'm not the only one who thinks that.

Onto the story:

Some friends were talking about pretty girls and such, and since I don't necessarily care for those discussions, I kept silent. One of them then mentioned I am not saying anything because I am already in love with my forced fiancee and see no other girls as interesting.

I simply responded like I did above: that I find her unappealing and she's not at all my type. Which prompted her almost-brother (long story, but the guy isn't even adopted in the family, just hangs out around them and somehow ended up as head disciple) to punch me in the face. Hard.

I am not weak at all but the hit took me by surprise and led to me walking around with a swollen face for several days. The guy got punished but not without him and my fiancee's actual brother both calling me an asshole.

Could you all convince them I am NTA once and for all?

Edit 1: To update you all, I actually did marry my fiancee (not resulting from the arranged marriage, it was annuled and then we ended up falling in love on our own) and she's an amazing, kind and beautiful person with whom I am going to have a son in a few months.

I was an arrogant, annoying, entitled, incel-esque piece of shit two years ago but thankfully, I got better and am on the way of becoming a decent person and hopefully a good father!!

I love my wife very much and I regret I didn't treat her right from the start, but I now have the rest of my life to make it up to her although I know she has already forgiven me anyway.

Growth is a wonderful thing and I think everyone should embrace it. I used to really hate my life and resent my parents for the environment they have raised me in as an arranged marriage couple that was never really happy. I thought the same would happen to me and I projected all of that onto my wife for no reason - but now I am happily married and feel so loved and appreciated that I can't help but model after my wife's kindness and good character.

Edit 2: My son just came into the world a few days ago. He is happy and healthy and I am fighting with my wife about who gets to hold him more!! I can't wait for his one month celebration, I'll try to make up with my wife's brothers and make sure my son has all his uncles in his life! I'll update you all with pictures after the event!

Last updated: 15 years ago

1,304 notes - Posted July 31, 2022

#2

Wangxian is like

WWX, perfectly capable of defending himself: Lan Zhaaan save me!!

LWJ, perfectly aware that WWX can defend himself: *saves him with no hesitation*

And then they kiss

1,652 notes - Posted September 3, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Wei Ying is a trophy wife icon

Does not have a job

Husband pays for everything

Spends time with the kids all day

Gets dicked down silly every day

Can focus on his hobbies and interests without needing to work

Is insanely pretty

1,914 notes - Posted July 28, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[faery-snow]

Wow. There's parts of this I'm like, "oh yeah, totally," but what gets me are the basic differences in how I understand WWX.

I don't see WWX as an extroverted butterfly. Like, he likes people, but he also seems to like alone-time and the space to work his mind without interruption. I perceive his overexuberance as a technique he employs - not necessarily consciously - in order to cope with the specific social environment in which he grew up. He's spent his whole life straddling a duality where he is either lowered or raised according to others' whims. Held up as a standard, or compared as a warning; praised for overcoming his lessened birth, or considered incapable of greatness because of the same; expected to be less than the house's heirs and expected to protect them; etc. Much of it is pretty standard stuff for the culture, except that as an orphan, he had no support, no backing as he navigated it. Nobody saying, "who you are is good enough for those around you." As an adult, I often take it for granted that people will hold that conviction themselves, forgetting that we first learn it from the people who taught us to speak and reason and understand.

Furthermore, while Yu Ziyuan criticizing JC could be emblematic of a caring parent, she did it to excess, spurred by the behavior of JFM, and WWX was regularly drawn into the drama of their family dynamics - but again without solid support to fall back against. There was never anyone solidly in his corner, and how others perceived him, approached him, and talked about him was largely out of his control, including among his most intimate relationships; and how he viewed himself had to be entirely self-constructed.

I see his behavior as a way to wrest some power back in social situations. He forced others to acknowledge him even if they didn't want to, which also meant that when people acknowledged him negatively, it could be passed off as resulting from his pretense of arrogance* and not from his actually being worth less as a person. The best way to hide insecurity is arrogance. While I don't think WWX had low self-esteem, I think he felt insecure in his relationships - low others-esteem, if you will.

*Not all his arrogance is pretense, obviously. He acknowledges that himself later. And even when it wasn't, affecting arrogance as a pretense is itself an arrogant act.

There are a lot of layers. Basically, I see him as a good study in the self-protection a teenager can develop who is raised in constant uncertainty. I don't see him as a true extrovert, but as someone who plays an act in order to pre-defend himself and have some measure of control over his life.

I mean, like I said, I still agree with some of OP's interpretation. 😅 It's just funny the differences in why. Like, I think he's a creative genius who is going to have issues staying in a rigid sect long-term, plus he's married to a probably-autistic person who thrives on, requires, a high degree of regularity. That's not insurmountable, but it is something they'll have to work out in their relationship. And while the mental and philosophical rigidity of the Lan sect is going to be rough on WWX, I think the fact that they have comparatively less jockeying for position in the social hierarchy - that's going to be really nice for him. That stability could help him learn how to uncoil and live securely, where the social ground isn't constantly shifting under your feet. And LWJ himself is a very steady person too, including a steady friend and lover. (I like to think it's one of the benefits of having a relationship with us autistics. 😊 Our "over"-honesty and our rigidity tend to make us consistent.)

I like stories that end with more to come in the characters' lives, and that's how I feel about MDZS. It's clear Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji both have development and learning and change ahead of them. I kind of like that. That their happy ending is the blooming of a space where they can heal and grow beyond their old selves. Maybe because that's the sort of life-chapter-close I always want for myself: one journey's end leaving you ready to start on the next path.

It would've been nice to see that next chapter hinted more strongly, instead of just left open: the absence of indication where WWX and JC's relationship is heading is frustrating to me. Do they seriously never talk again? Like, sure, there's a buildup of many years of trauma, but they could at least acknowledge each other's pain. It feels awkwardly self-indulgent on both their parts.

I do like that we get hints of WangXian's future at least, seeing them living in places besides YSBZC; it seems the hc that they spend part of their time in YSBZC and part of their time traveling and living elsewhere is accurate, and probably for the best lol. I don't know if WWX would ever learn to stop masking completely in social situations and just be his [somewhere between introverted and extroverted?] self, but I can hope.

I think Wei Wuxian going from arrogant, shunning his place in society, chatty as fuck but never says anything real -> basically the same but with LWJ on his side this time is not a good story actually. we were doing so well with the gradual buildup of past revelations and parallels between the senior trio (Lan Xichen-Jin Guangyao-Nie Mingjue) and the succeeding one (LWJ-WWX-JC) but then it all fell apart. there’s a difference between confronting your current self and developing from it vs. ignoring the past and living an idyllic dream.

[reileinaxiu]

MDZS Fanon Pet Peeve: the Jiang heir

Warning: Some cursing and expletive language.

I just noticed/realized is that there are fics out there with JWY, the bane of all matchmakers and decent women in all the land, would actually make his head disciple or any other person who wasn't Jiang blood into his heir.

Yes the classist, bigoted, JWY, naming some cultivator he recruited in the war to inherit his position as Sect leader.

I'm sad to know that there are actually fics out there that portray JWY as someone who could care less about the background of their heir and choose them for competency. Or worse. Choose them because they were apparently surviving Jiang disciples that WWX had trained because apparently sentimentality (which JWY never had).

I think worst of them all is when they think JWY would actually appoint WWX as the Jiang heir especially post canon.😱

See where I'm going here? That just goes to show how those writers understood him. Which is to say not at all.🧐

That's why I'm always struck by some fics that show JWY as dying a bitter single unlikeable person that he truly is at the end of the book. Those were particularly good 😊. I found more realistic compared to the drivel that I cannot unread.

I sometimes wish my brain can do selective amnesia so I can unread all the OOC JWY fics I've read in my dark history. 😓

Let's take a look at why he would never allow someone who was at least not his own child or blood relative to become an heir of YunmengJiang and why he shall remain a bachelor for the rest of his lonely angry lifespan.

First of all, I don't think it was really mentioned, but I doubt JWY is the last Jiang besides JL.

He might be the last main line Jiang there is within immediate succession. Maybe he had relatives who married out to come back to bolster the ranks or there were non-clan Jiang disciples who were not prevented from nighthunting were out on a hunt and escaped the massacre to rejoin the sect.

How many besides the main clan are actual gentry? Not a lot unless they married in or they were civilian gentry that joined (I'm calling it civilian gentry cause there was the Mo Family who were a non-cultivation family ruling their village)

I'm guessing not a lot in the Jiang Clan too. The Sect more or less survived the war but the Jiang Clan was probably down to JFM, JYL, and JWY. With JYL marrying out and JFM and YZY dying, the Jiang Clan was unfortunately left with JWY to continue the bloodline. Sucks for them.

YZY would probably roll in her grave, claw her way out of hell, and become a fierce corspe just to make sure that no one other than her children or her grandchildren were to inherit the throne of sect leader. And I believe JWY would think the same as her or seek approval from his parents even after death. Nor would he grant the Jiang name to anyone that wasn't his blood related family. Plus I think he'd rather slit his own throat than adopt some child.

Another thing is the tag Adopted WWX that gets me annoyed sometimes. In the novel he was never adopted he was just taken in as a ward and treated like nuisance. So it confounds me that people actually write how WWX was always in the clan registry or that JWY had the option of naming WWX as Jiang Heir.

If in the novel JFM couldn't deign to give WWX at least legal familial support through adoption why would JWY?

JWY who blamed WWX for a lot of things he never did and still blames him. Who couldn't even look at WWX's relationship with LWJ without sneering in disgust. Would actually give him a position of power that means the most to his egotistical life. Yeah nuh uh. 😑

As for a Jiang heir, he also would never appoint any of his disciples that position. Much less if they were rogue cultivators or backgroundless civilians that he recruited during the war. Much lesser if they were trained by WWX of all people.

He treats all of his disciples like subordinates where his command was unquestioned. What WWX was not are the qualities he looks for in his disciples. JWY would prefer all of his disciples to stay far away from any behavior WWX had. His disciples didn't blink an eye to when WWX was being dragged into an inn to most likely be tortured to death.

As long as JWY lives and breathes and has the final say so he would never appoint, WWX or any of his disciples Jiang heir. Only by some miracle he actually gets married and has a child will the Jiang Clan have an heir because he is mostly like to die single. Also YunmengJiang sect would probably be fine under temporary leadership of someone who is not the Jiang Clan heir.

So why would he forever remain a single fermented grape?

JC stans are probably the only ones that would marry him and those don't exist in the MDZS universe.

One. He was blacklisted by all the matchmakers in Yunmeng.

I would say it takes skill to become rejected by an entire region of eligible families and their daughters. But no he is just an ***hole who can't keep his opinions to himself and aims to be as rude and derisive as possible towards perfectly fine ladies. In the audio drama he insulted a lady's choice of colors and perfume for smelling like, and I quote, "noxious poison". I mean wtf?! If that's how he treats all the females then it's no wonder he's not married yet. Plus three more off screen blind dates that went horrible.

Two. He will never marry because he has standards.

Standards he will probably not budge on. Those were: naturally beautiful, graceful and obedient, hard-working and thrifty, coming from a respected family, cultivation level not too high, personality not too strong, not too talkative, voice not too loud and must treat Jin Ling nicely.

The last one is the only relatively reasonable standard he has set. The rest is just him being picky he might as well get a doll dress it in red and marry it.

Three. No one in their sane state of mind would marry someone with the reputation of a rabid dog.

JWY, has gone on to torture people of inconsequential backgrounds, to death, for years. I say inconsequential because I doubt he would target people who had societal backing. People like Xue Yang who was under the Jins and proven to be a homicidal demonic cultivator with a record of massacring entire clans who he did not pursue because he is a coward.

The slightest suspicion not always with verified proof a person gets dragged to Lotus Pier to be flayed to death with a lightning whip. He barely even proves any of his victims to be demonic cultivators before whipping them or interrogating them further. Lots of firm connotations and even secondhand accounts of people being violently whipped on the the docks of Lotus pier.

WWX as MXY was already allegedly proven to not be possessed but JWY still insists on dragging him to Lotus Pier.

WWX dodged a bullet when LWJ was there to protect him.

Someone tell me if I'm not too far off and this is a viable argument that JWY will remain heirless or at least single for the rest of his f***ed up natural life? And would never name a Jiang heir that doesn't meet his requirements. Maybe even add to this discussion. Much appreciated 😌.

References:

https://modao-zushi.fandom.com/wiki/Jiang_Cheng

Jiang Cheng | Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation Wiki - Fandom

[ninjakk]

WWX uses both male and female flirting styles on LWJ

WWX had such a major (subconscious) crush on LWJ from the very beginning, that he literally flirted any way he could. He comes at him from all angels! He flirts both 'like a boy' and 'like a girl' - because he likes him THAT much. WWX teases and pulls his metaphorical pigtails (forehead ribbon!) AND talks sweetly to him, giving him gifts. Quite simply, if WWX doesn't get LWJs attention one way, he'll try to get it another way!

If you look at the way WWX flirts with LWJ, he very much takes on the persona of a silly school girl with a crush. He flatters him, he lets him know how good looking he is, he's just very sweet about it all. Wanting nothing more than LWJs attention and his gaze upon him. He mimics what he's seen girls doing when they flirt with boys.

WWX wants LWJs attention so badly, he just goes for it, all guns blazing! In fact, in most instances WWX uses the cute, sweet 'girly style' of flirting first and then when he is ignored or seemingly rebuffed, he uses the more indirect 'boyish style' of teasing and being playful to get LWJs attention instead.

Chapter 15

Lan WangJi originally thought that it was going to be a mess of lame phrases again, but after a coincidental glimpse, he was surprised to find the drawing of a person, sitting upright and reading by the window, with a vividly realistic expression on his face. It was himself. Seeing that he didn’t avert his gaze at once, Wei WuXian curled his lips, and raised his eyebrow with a wink. No words were needed, since the meaning was plain to see — Does it look like you? Is it good?

As I've mentioned in other posts, this is an incredibly sweet thing to do. The portrait shows LWJ how WWX thinks of him, but through the safety net of it being 'just a drawing'. As it's a 'vividly realistic' drawing, so we can safely assume he looks very beautiful. This could also be considered a very effeminate way of flirting. It's another way of complementing him, showing LWJ how attractive he thinks he is. Interestingly enough, LWJ doesn't scrunch the drawing up, like he had with all of the other pieces of paper.

“I forgot. I need to add something else.” After his words, he picked up the paper and his brush, and added a few strokes. He glanced at the drawing, then, the actual person, and fell toward the ground in laughter. Lan WangJi put down the book, and saw that Wei WuXian added a flower onto the drawing, where the side of his head was. The corners of his lip seemed to have twitched. Wei WuXian crawled up and spoke before him, “‘Pathetic’, right? I just know that you’re gonna say pathetic. Can’t you switch to something else? Or add another word to it?” Lan WangJi replied coldly, “Extremely pathetic.”

Because he didn't get the reaction he wanted, he resorted to the more 'boyish' teasing by drawing the flower on the portrait. Yes, he used LWJ's momentary distraction from the teasing to switch LWJ's book with the pornographic book instead. But this is just WWX teasing him even further, trying to provoke a reaction. He still drew the portrait with a lot of care and effort. WWX even blows on the ink to make sure it doesn't smudge, which is rather telling. It shows us he's proud of it and wants it to be perfect for LWJ. It truly was intended as a gift for him, otherwise he wouldn't have put effort into it. If he'd simply wanted to attract his attention, he could have done this another way.

Lan WangJi tried again and again to put up with him, but he couldn’t do it anymore. He thundered, “Get lost!” Wei WuXian spoke, “Well, well, look at you, Lan Zhan. Everyone says that you’re a gentleman of excellence, a bright pearl in the world, carrying yourself with incomparable courtesy, so it seems that this is all there is. Didn’t you know that causing noise is prohibited in the Cloud Recesses? And, you actually told me to “get lost.” Is this the first time that you used this phrase on somebody…” Lan WangJi drew his sword and went at him. Wei WuXian hurriedly hopped onto the windowsill, “Get lost it is, then. Getting lost is my best skill. It’s not necessary for you to see me out!”

WWX finally gets LWJ angry and he is positively delighted! We later find out that WWX seems to get a bit of a sexual kick out of LWJ showing such strong emotions. He finally admits to a drunk LWJ that he 'loves it when he gets angry' before they have a passionate fumble! Granted, he might not fully feel that way in the above scene, but on a subconscious level he clearly gets something out of it - as we can see from the below.

Satisfaction was plastered all over Wei WuXian’s face, “Good thing that I helped him achieve this ‘first’. You all saw it, didn’t you? The self-restraint and etiquette that Second Young Master Lan was praised so strongly for were all weak and useless against me.”

In the next scene, WWX has just charmed a woman selling loquats into giving him one for free. He's showing off in front of LWJ and in turn showing him how attractive he is to others. It's a way of reminding someone that you are desirable, that you are a catch. It's also another feminine way to attract the attention of the object of your desire - by making them see how they might have competition if they don't act soon.

Chapter 17

Wei WuXian smugly tossed the loquat in his hand, and suddenly pointed at him, “Sisters, do you think that he looks handsome?” Lan WangJi didn’t expect Wei WuXian to suddenly talk about him at all. Just as he was unsure of how to respond, the women on the river spoke in harmony, “Even more handsome!” Amid this, there seemed to be the laughter of a few men. Wei WuXian spoke, “Then, does anyone want to give him one? If you only give me and not him, I’m afraid he might be jealous when we go back!” Chirp-like laughter echoed through the whole river. Another woman came from in front of them, standing on her boat, “Okay, okay, you get two. Heads up, young beau, catch!” After the second one also landed in his hand, Wei WuXian shouted, “Sister, you’re not only pretty, but you’re nice as well. The next time I come here, I’m gonna buy a whole basket!” The woman’s voice was vibrant, and she was more daring than the other. She pointed at Lan WangJi, “Get him to come as well. You all can come here and get them!” Wei WuXian held the loquat in front of Lan WangJi’s eyes. Lan WangJi didn’t move his gaze, “Move.” And, so, Wei WuXian moved it away, “I knew that you definitely wouldn’t accept it, so I never intended to give it to you. Jiang Cheng, catch!”

In the above, WWX draws attention to how handsome LWJ is. This is another indirect way of telling LWJ he thinks he's very good looking. It's a tactic usually attributed to females when they flirt. WWX then goes on to gift him the loquat, which is another flirting tactic he learnt from girls. We see more of this during the Lotus Seed Pod extra. LWJ rejects his gift, so WWX reverts to the 'boyish' teasing style, stating he wasn't going to give him it anyway. He then goes on to tease him further, for good measure.

“Lan Zhan, you’re from Gusu, so you know how to speak in this dialect, right? Teach me. How do you swear in the Gusu dialect?” Lan WangJi threw a “pathetic” at him, and got on another boat. Wei WuXian didn’t expect him to really answer. He just wanted to tease him, after hearing the amusingly soft Gusu dialect and thinking that Lan WangJi undoubtedly also spoke this dialect when he was young.

The next scene is when they are at the cold spring. WWX has snuck up on LWJ while he is mediating in the spring. We don't know how long he's been there, but we won't go into that now.

Chapter 18

Wei WuXian spoke sincerely, “Lan Zhan, I admire you so much. You really did punish yourself as well, without treating yourself any better. I don’t have anything else to say.” Lan WangJi shut his eyes again, without any words. Wei WuXian spoke again, “Really, I’ve never seen someone as prim and proper as you. It’d be impossible for me to do something like this. You’re so cool."

Although being incredibly sincere with his compliments, this is also a form of flirting that 'girls' primarily use. It's stroking his ego, aiming to make him feel good about himself. WWX even goes on to admit he was complimenting him, so they can become 'friends'. Which I'm sure is what he wants, but subconsciously he wants more than that. He never seems to treat any of his other friends like this. It's all adorably sweet and actually rather innocent.

Have you been to Yunmeng? Yunmeng is really fun. Yunmeng’s food is also good. I don’t know if it’s Gusu’s or the Cloud Recess’s problem, but the food in your sect are so bad. If you come to Lotus Pier, you can eat lots of delicious food. I can take you to pick lotus seed pods and water chestnuts. Lan Zhan, do you wanna come?” Lan WangJi, “No.” Wei WuXian, “Don’t answer everything with negative words. You sound so uncaring; girls won’t like it. Let me tell you—the girls in Yunmeng look very pretty, different from the sort of pretty in Gusu.” He winked his left eye at Lan WangJi in a proud way, “You sure you don’t wanna come?” Lan WangJi hesitated, but still replied, “No…”

So WWX invites him to stay with him, which is one of the cutest things! He wants to show him where he's from and take him on a date to have some fun. Unfortunately LWJ rejects his invitation, so WWX is slightly hurt. As such, he projects his displeasure at LWJ constantly refusing his advances, on fictional girls who would be upset with the rejection instead. Deflecting his true feelings about LWJ and protecting himself from the rejection in the process.

WWX bragging about the girls where he is from and using it as a way to 'tempt' LWJ to come visit him, is actually another flirting tactic usually attributed to females. This is often used by women to see how the object of their affection reacts to the thought of other potential love interests. Subconsciously he's testing LWJ to see if he's interested in anyone else. You could even say he's testing how he reacts to the thought of women in general - again, on a subconscious level. My favourite part of this is when poor sweet teenage LWJ hesitates before responding after WWX mentions girls.

Wei WuXian, “Rejecting me without giving me any respect—aren’t you scared that I’d conveniently take away your clothes when I leave?” Lan WangJi, “Get lost!!!"

Again, WWX reverts back to his boyish teasing and cheekily insinuates he's going to leave LWJ there completely naked. Which is also another way to draw attention back to the fact they're both naked.

The next time they meet, after WWX is kicked out of the Cloud Recesses, is at the archery competition a year later. I have already extensively covered this scene in another post, so I won't go into it too much. But you can find the post here if you would like to read it.

Although, this interaction is quite interesting as WWX does not use his usual 'girly' softer flirting style first. This is because LWJ ignores him immediately and tries to leave before WWX can do anything further. As I have said in my analysis of this scene, he is very rejected by this and teases him instead. He makes LWJ brush up against him as he passes through an archway and teases him even further.

*But I have to say - because I've seen a rather negative comment about WWX acting this way.. LWJ CHOSE to brush up against him as well! If he was uncomfortable with doing so, he would have either turned to the side and edged through, without touching WWX, OR he would have asked him to move again. Anyway...

Not long after, WWX even pulls his forehead ribbon like a boy trying desperately to get the attention of a girl who keeps ignoring him. But, he doesn't seem to get any genuine laughter or joy out of it - because he feels rejected. It's the first time we don't see the bubbly, cheerful WWX and it's quite a poignant scene. I personally think that LWJ was acting colder than usual because he was jealous of WWX giving WN some very innocent attention just prior to this. I've also covered this in a post recently as well. Poor jealous LWJ - he's just adorable. I also think this interaction sets up the tone for their next encounter a year later at the Wen Indoctrination.

Their interactions during the indoctrination and the Xuanwu of Slaughter chapters are a little different to their usual interactions because of so many different factors. There are quite a lot of complex emotions and dramatic events happening during these chapters, so I'll leave this for a separate post I'm currently working on.

So, the next time the reader gets to see WWX flirt with LWJ is at Phoenix Mountain, sometime after the Sunshot Campaign has ended.

Chapter 69

However, Lan WangJi suddenly raised his hand, stopping a flower tossed over from behind him. He looked back. Over at the side of the YunmengJiang Sect’s riding formation, which hadn’t departed yet, Jiang Cheng clicked his tongue impatiently, seated at the front. However, the person beside him sat on a horse with black, gleaming hair. His elbow was at the head of the horse as he looked to the side as though nothing happened, talking and laughing with two slender-bodied maidens.Lan XiChen saw that Lan WangJi had drawn the reins and ceased to move forward, “WangJi, what happened?” Lan WangJi, “Wei Ying.” Wei WuXian finally turned around, face full of surprise, “What? HanGuang-Jun, did you call me? What’s up?” Holding the flower, Lan WangJi seemed to be quite cold. His tone seemed cold as well, “Was it you?” Wei WuXian immediately denied it, “No, it wasn’t.” The maidens beside him spoke at once, “Don’t believe him. It was him!” Wei WuXian, “How could you treat a good person like this?I’m getting angry!” Giggling, the maidens pulled their reins and went to the formations of their own sects. Lan WangJi lowered the hand that he held the flower with and shook his head.

WWX has reverted back to the more feminine form of flirting. He's taking cues from the girls around him and decides to act impulsively upon his desire to show LWJ how good looking he is. It's also a way to draw LWJ's attention towards him, to get him to look at him - as he so often craves. He's chatting with two girls and is also drawing attention to this as well. As I have mentioned before, this is a subconscious flirting technique usually attributed to females. It's a way to show you are a catch and that the object of your affection should hurry up and act fast if they like you - otherwise you might be snapped up by someone else. I guess this flirting technique (along with the forehead ribbon teasing in a moment) worked quite well as it seemed to rile LWJ up enough to pin him down and steal a blindfolded kiss later on!

When the YunmengJiang Sect’s riding formation reached the target arena as well, Wei WuXian turned to the Two Jades of Lan, who were drawing their bows on their horses, “Lan Zhan, want to help me?” Lan WangJi glanced at him. He didn’t reply. JiangCheng asked, “What are you up to this time?” Lan WangJi, “What?” Wei WuXian, “Can I borrow your forehead ribbon?” Hearing this, Lan WangJi immediately tore his gaze away and didn’t look at him anymore.

Again, WWX didn't get the reaction he was possibly hoping for when he threw the flower. So he reverts to the 'boyish' style of teases LWJ once more. WWX knows LWJ won't give him his forehead ribbon, but he asks anyway. It's not only to get a reaction out of him, but to draw LWJ's attention once again back on him. Especially as WWX is about to show off, just as JZX did moments ago. And just as JZX wanted JYL's attention when he was aiming at the target, WWX wants LWJ's.

Of course, there is also the time in Yunmeng with the ghost girls and the Yiling date / Burial Mounds visit as well. And we can't forget the Lotus Seed Pod extra! But I think these deserve a separate post as there is a lot going on in all of them! So I'll save them for another time.

The most beautiful thing about all of this is that during WWXs second life, he also gets a second chance of flirting with LWJ. He seems to finally accept himself and slowly becomes comfortable with who he really is. He's not trying to mimic what the girls do or the more boyish style of flirting that he learnt from a young age. He's just flirting his own way, yes he still teases but it's mixed with his more effeminate side he's starting to truly embrace. It's a lovely journey that he takes, so I'm going to be analysing his flirting in his second life in another post because it's quite interesting as well!

[drwcn]

okay more emperor!jc au [1-8]

I never said this au was in-character, and I also never promised not to make an au largely inspired by the idea what if the essence of advisor!mcs possessed adhd!wwx and what if tsundere energy of petulant!jc possessed the social station of himbo!xjy

9. politics is to regent!wwx as demonic cultivation is to canon!wwx

WWX *wakes up from a fever and sees XXC*: 师叔，您怎么来了？夷陵出事了？！（Shishu...what are you doing here? Did something happen in Yiling?）

XXC *holding a bowl of foul medicine*: 傻小子，都病成这样了我能不来吗。是不是江晚吟那个不争气的小皇帝又气你了。夷陵那边好的很，有阿菁呢，乱不了。（Silly boy, how could I not come when you're so ill? Was it that useless little emperor Jiang Wanyin giving you grief again? All is well in Yiling. A-Qing is there, nothing will dare cause trouble.)

——

WWW *coughs coughs coughs* I'm fine, I have schemes to plan for A-Cheng. I'll have Jin Guangshan checkmated in no less than -

LWJ *spoon feeds him porridge and chicken from a jade bowl*: You're sleep deprived, malnourished, and dehydrated. Shut up.

10. Chenqing as eunuch-in-chief scares everyone

Raven hair and coal-black eyes, Chen-gongong is the most beautiful man in the entire palace - well, he would be, if that pale bloodless frozen face of his would stop being so deathlike. Chenqing is slim and tall and speaks in a hushed tenor tone that strikes the fear of the reaper into the heart of men and women alike.

Nobody knows when or how Chenqing became an eunuch, only that Lord Protector Wei Wuxian brought Chenqing in when he became Regent. Some say Chenqing was already an eunuch before, some say he willingly became one to continue serving Wei Wuxian within the palace.

Truth is: Chenqing was an orphan that Cangse took in when she was the master of Yiling. WWX grows up with Chenqing and knows Chenqing has suffered mutilations at the hands of human traffickers. It's not clear if Cangse taught Chenqing some forbidden pugilist knowledge.

Chenqing knows everything about everyone in the palace. That's why his sleeves are so wide, they're full of secrets.

Chenqing is no less deadly than Suibian when it comes to the art of killing, even though General Sui is the Commander of the Imperial Guards.

No eunuch, handmaid or guard dare whisper what they all suspect - Chen-gongong and Sui-tongling are lovers.

WWX is too busy to care that his right and left hand men are boning.

11. Lan Xichen is the Deputy Imperial Tutor, meaning he is in charge of Jiang Cheng's education growing up.

Recall JC is 8 years WWX's junior and 10 years JYL's junior. LXC is 5 years WWX's senior which makes him 13 years older than JC. When JC became emperor at age 12, LXC was already 25.

LXC's life is incredibly difficult. JFM handpicked him to teach young JC before he died.

It's hard to be the teacher of a boy who's technically in charge of you and the rest of the nation.

Imagine the parent-teacher interview nights with Regent!WWX and Imperial Tutor!LXC

JC's half-brothers (JFM had concubines): Huangxiong called me a bitch JC: *unrepentant* Motherfucker doesn't start with a B. WWX: ............ LXC: .............

12. Imperial Guard!He Ning (Wen Ning) is tall and quiet and an excellent fighter. His little brother (sister) He Qing (Wen Qing) is smol and angy, can't fight but will stab you with a needle if necessary

WWX: I think...you rather despise His Majesty

WN: I dare not, Lord Regent. But chen only has one little sister. She's my world. His Majesty can have any woman in the world, so why can't he spare He Qing? She would be much happier and freer without him.

WWX: .....Fine, fine, I'll find him an empress. The Dowager has been making noise for months now. I'll find him an empress.

Meanwhile

15 yro crossdressing!WQ who is very confused why a royal prince keeps bothering her at work. She's never met the young emperor in any official capacity.

JC lies about his identity and passes himself off as another one of his royal brothers.

WQ grinding herbs diligently while JC sits and stares at her with a blush.

JC thinks 'I might be gay' bc he doesn't know WQ is a girl.

13. After Qin Su and Meng Yao's secret comes to light, to preserve the dignity of the royal family, Empress Qin Su "volunteered" to leave the palace and spend the rest of her days praying for the soul of her deceased son and for the nation at an esteemed Buddhist temple.

[previously]

Her son, who died several hours after birth from congenital defects, was recorded as JC's first son, and first prince.

Dowager Empress Yu Ziyuan ordered Meng Yao be killed. Meng Yao was privately executed...except he wasn't. Wei Wuxian arranged for him to be brought to Yiling. He's living a good life now. Lan Xichen writes to him.

14. Wen Ruohan is very pleased with the son Jiang Yanli gave him.

After Jiang Fengmian married Jiang Yanli off to tribal warlord!Wen Ruohan, she made the best of her circumstances.

Though WRH has other concubines/slave girls, JYL is the only legal wife, in place of his first legal wife who died many years ago.

WRH is twenty five years JYL's senior, and already has two sons by his first wife. WC is the same age as JYL while WX is two years older. While WRH is alive, WX and WC have no choice but to respect their stepmother, bc their father absolutely does not tolerate insubordination.

WY is born within a year of the marriage and soon becomes WRH's favourite child.

——

WRH launches a campaign against country when JC is 21 years old and has only been officially emperor for about a year (WWX ended his regency when JC turned 20).

The war starts off bloody - JC doesn't sleep for days. WWX and LWJ are unreachable since they've gone off on an early retirement trip through the mountains. Somehow JC holds his own for months. Things take a turn for the better.

WY is 15 years old and leading a division by himself for the first time. WRH is very proud of him. WY is very talented, but WC and WX sabotage him and get him captured by JC's armies and stealing WY's victory for themselves.

WWX and LWJ are on their way back to the capital when they encounter the squadron that captured WY. WY: Kill me. I will not be your hostage against my father. WWX: Xiao-wangzi - little prince - you know the common tongue? WY: My a-niang was from the empire. WWX: ... a-niang? *sudden realization*

Half the court wants to use WY as a bargaining chip to negotiate a ceasefire against WRH and the other half wants to execute the little foreign prince to show WRH who's boss.

Suddenly, just as the Jiang empire seems to be turning tides, WRH dies. Stroke -rumour has it.

Now that there's no longer any reason to appease WRH, the court wants WY dead, regardless of who his mother is. Politics is brutal that way.

to be continued...

[shanastoryteller]

on one hand i’ve been wanting to talk about this for a while, and on the other hand i’ve been avoiding it for the massive potential it has to go from us having a conversation to devolving into the most annoying discourse possible

but i got another comment that just broke the camel’s back so i’m going to talk about it anyway

a lot of things i see people are saying are “wrong” in untamed fanfic are actually just translation preferences and just because someone chooses to translate something differently than you doesn’t make it wrong 

first, before we get into what i’m talking about, we have to talk about what translations are and the motivation behind them

translations are taking something from one language and making it understandable and consumable in a different language 

this can be as big as the differences between chinese and english or as small as the differences between british english and american english, which are considered different enough that books published in both places will have words and phrases translated to make them more digestible to the population it’s being marketed towards 

there are few different ways someone can translate something

there’s a direct translation, which is just finding the closest applicable word and plopping it in there like a smarter google translate 

there’s translating to preserve the intention and cultural significance behind a word/phrase as closely as can be replicated in the foreign language

there’s translating to convey the vibe/feeling as closely as can be replicated in the foreign language

there’s not translating at all, which doesn’t technically count, by definition, but is brought up often enough that we’ll talk about it

there’s an infinite number of ways this applies, but for simplicity’s sake, and because it’s the one people keep bringing up to me, we’re going to go with jiujiu / maternal uncle 

because i don’t speak chinese, my first job is to gain some level of understanding about what this word really means in the original language and the way it’s used. only once you understand that can you make a semi-educated choice on how to translate something (since most of us aren’t fluent in the language or culture, semi educated is about as good as it gets, but for smaller words like these i think it’s easy enough to get most of the needed context). so we need to start off with: maternal uncle, respectful, people don’t use names to differentiate between uncles like we do in english, using first names and/or birth names is either intimate or disrespectful depending on circumstance 

now, the simplest way to translate this is just as uncle. in english, referring to someone just as uncle is a little unusual, but common enough that this works as a good translation all around. if one wants to translate the maternal aspect of it, then “uncle lastname” works pretty well. the issue with that is that naming convention only ever happens in english maybe with grand uncles or “uncles” that fall more under shushu than jiujiu, so if i was translating it then that’s something i would avoid, because i wouldn’t want the readers to think that the characters have a less close relationship because o this, but it’s something that’s easy enough to do without distorting the original meaning so i think it also works 

if the character only has one uncle 

but we are, specifically, talking about jin ling here 

so if he’s talking about both jiang cheng and wei wuxian in the same scene, and referring to them both as uncle, how do we differentiate them? 

uncle wei and uncle jiang work here, because they’re both maternal uncles but they have different last names, which is really just us getting lucky in this situation. but it presents the problem we have earlier. 

to an english ear, that creates distance between jin ling and jc/wwx. if i want to show them as being close to an english speaking audience, that’s not a translation i personally want to use 

the most obvious solution is to then have jin ling refer to them way most english speaking people would refer to their uncles (that’s not just straight up having him call them by the their names, which is what i actually think is most common. i only refer to my uncle as uncle when i’m talking ABOUT him to someone else) which is “uncle first name”

however first names also present a problem in untamed because of courtesy names and because courtesy names are used ahistorically and inconsistently in canon 

wei wuxian uses jiang cheng’s birth name but jc doesn’t use wwx’s. wwx is basically the same age and lower in rank than jc, so it would make sense for jc to call him wei ying in turn, but he just ... doesn’t. same for jiang yanli. she’s arguably the one wwx is closest to and has the most positive relationship with through out the show and she’s older than him. it would make a lot of sense for her to call him wei ying, or even a-ying to mirror the way she calls jc a-cheng rather than calling wwx a-xian. lan xichen calls lan wangji by his courtesy name rather than birth name, and i’m pretty sure lan qiren does the same to both his nephews, which doesn’t really make sense to me in world

i think the real purpose here was to give wwx and lwj names that they only call each other for special intimacy reasons rather than to create a consistent more in the untamed universe

however, going with that and jin ling obviously being so much younger and wanting to retain at least some of the respectfulness that would be inherent in the original language, i do think that uncle wuxian and uncle wanyin are good translations 

u n l e s s 

see the thing is that jin ling refers to wwx as “wei ying” before he knows him as a way to be disrespectful to him because he believes that he killed his parents. i personally like the symmetry in him shifting to calling him that in a positive manner to make up for him calling him that in a negative manner, which isn’t something that can really work in chinese, but can work in english 

as for jiang cheng, probably because the story is told from wwx’s pov even in the show, we’re used to seeing his birth name rather than his courtesy name, and honestly no one uses his courtesy name unless he’s being a bitch. because of this, the use of wanyin creates a cognitive sense of distance that the often used wuxian just doesn’t. so if someone uses his birth name for that reason, i think that makes sense too. so i think uncle ying and uncle cheng can also work 

there is, of course, just using jiujiu and trusting context to take care of the rest, but that’s less a translation choice than it is just choosing not to translate 

i’ve done different things in different works with different contexts. in rotten work specifically, i had jin ling refer to jc as just “uncle” because i imagine that’s what he’s been doing for 16 years with no other maternal uncle, and because he’s the uncle he’s closest too among all of them, and i wanted to reflect that. i have jl refer to wwx as “uncle ying” a little bit because of the reasons above, but also a way to stake a claim on him to everyone and to demonstrate that they have a close relationship before the really have one as a way to partially shield wwx and to goad those around him (plus a bonus plot reason that doesn’t get revealed until the final chapter)

my point here is that there’s a lot reasons why someone could choose to translate something one way versus another. i used this one thing as an example, but this same thought process applies to lots of things 

you do not have to agree with everyone’s translation choices, or like them, or think them appropriate. but translation is by its very nature imperfect and there’s a lot of different potential reasoning behind people’s choices and i really don’t think there’s one perfect way to translate something and that all other ways are wrong 

[llycaons]

ep33 (1/3): relitigating the suicide scene

so picking right up where we left off, I know wwx is extremely unpopular now but does this asshole have to bring up the massacre at LP??? that seems targeted towards wwx's specific and fairly private insecurities. but once someone is a villain, that means everything they've ever done is tainted. so as if this wasn't bad enough, now he has people on all sides turning on him with emotional attacks far more damaging than any physical wounds they could impart

oh yeah and people telling him directly to die. really heartbreaking to see this happen to a character so vigorously attached to life, someone who's been beaten down again and again and who refused to die. and wwx loves his life. loved. you can tell how devastating this is to push someone like him to this

this will always be the most meaningful way that he dies. his suicide is one of the most powerful and significant events in the story. having him torn apart just hits different

first you tell him to play, now you tell him to stop. it's a good thing he never listens to you. man, but lwj was useless this night

well, that's not true. he tried to save wwx. he reminded wwx, just for a moment, that someone still cared about him. and that mattered

ohh the single tear

AND the spitting up blood, which alarms lwj so much that someone gets a hit on him. qi deviation?

and it just goes to show, doesn't it. all the posturing about brave dead soldiers and the loss of innocent lives was just a smoke show to conceal their true purpose. the hypocrisy, the corruption, the greed. as soon as he stumbles they latch onto his source of power to steal it for themselves

this is so raw. they hardly ever let him get this messy. but that is actual snot on there

THE RITE OF SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!! IT SOUNDS SO GOOD HERE. also they've been at it for hours, I guess? it's dawn

check out that sick cgi hand being severed from its arm. they're all just fucking killing each other trying to get the STA now. gloves off. sect leader yao just slit a guy's throat

I've seen a post like 'lwj killed a bunch of guys in wwx's defense at nightless city, I guess they just politely don't mention it' but lbr, nightless was a bloodbath because of the sect members killing each other too. if they bring up what any one person did, they'll have to face what they all did. better to blame all deaths on wwx

oh, bad cgi hand stab. my beloved. grabbed my attention early on

and this, and this. he's at his limit. he's been holding it in, but now he's just openly sobbing. at this point I'm ready for him to go. better to come back later, more at peace, than stay here and suffer

DEVASTATING. we know wwx will come back, eventually, but for lwj? he's watching the love of his life kill himself and he's powerless to stop him

I don't think cql lwj ever could have taken wwx anywhere against his will. even now, he's begging rather than trying to physically stop him. he didn't fly down on his sword to grab him. he doesn't have it in him to impede wwx's autonomy like that. even now

and here's more tears. beautiful shot

classic shot

another classic shot. looking like he can hardly believe it. I like when they talk in fics abt him losing his mind and not remembering or understanding much that happened this night. I don't think he's quite lucid. he didn't even seem to see lwj earlier. but he smiles a little, when he sees him. good old lan zhan, trying to save a lost cause

I also really like the blood running down his chin. I think it adds to the look really well

no words for this one. fuck. he must be so tired

jc's emotional journey here is worth paying attention to. obviously it's not the black and white hero-vanquishing-evil scene we saw at the beginning of the show, but I've seen multiple readings that try to simplify it in other ways, that try to say 'this is a private moment between only two characters', between wwx and jc or between wwx and lwj, when I think it's very clearly a significant interaction with both of them. jc and lwj are the two characters with the most significant relationships with wwx, and neither of their respective roles in the story can be shoved aside for the other. at least, not in the flashback arc. postres it's a bit of a different story

anywa wwx is never going to have a simple relationship with jc. especially not here or now, not after what just happened.

I have seen people criticize jc really harshly for killing his brother, which is annoying because it doesn't offer any context as to who wwx is or why this is happening. anyone can kill their brother, it all depends on why. I'd rather criticize him for things in the context of the scene

and why is he smiling? well, like with lwj, maybe it's nice to see a familiar face at the very end.

wwx is already planning to die here. jc's actions don't make that more likely, but they probably hurt wwx on an emotional level. or maybe he finds it fitting, a just end after what he feels like is an unforgivable crime. I don't think that makes jc's actions here better, btw. I still think this was a horrible thing to do to someone who loved and sacrificed so much for his family and for innocent people, whatever his mistakes.

he looked resigned in the moment, but revisiting it, it looks like he's bracing for pain. oh god this all hurts so much. I don't care who 'really' killed him. the emotional scars matter far more. and this isn't something wwx is going to forget when he wakes up. he has his eyes closed so he can't see how scared and sad jc looks but like, does it matter? must he coddle jc even now, when jc's about to try to kill him?

yeah it's pretty unambiguous that he stabbed that rock on purpose in order to dislodge it. the camera pans back up to him, he looks determined and angry, and he twists his sword. I've seen so many arguments and speculations on it and um he doesn't look confused or anything just terribly terribly sad. there's part of him that's grieving wwx too even as he tries to kill him. damn, but he always gets in his own way

I do think it's significant that he doesn't outright stab wwx - after all, why change it from ep1? maybe to make clear that this was a suicide more than a murder, despite appearances

yeah wwx sees what's happening and twists out pretty clearly

and jc looks...stunned? shocked? horrified? a bit dumb with his hair like that. this is hardly a straightforward or easy emotional time for him. he probably went home and cried for week and refused to consider that he might have been crying for wwx just as much as jyl

that being said I have limited sympathy for him over grieving wwx. like he didn't even try. he wanted him dead, and he died. though characteristically, wwx succeeded where he failed in actually doing the deed

DYING WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE. HE KILLS ME I SAY

lwj obviously is devastated but jc here is shaking his head, as in disgust or disapproval. really, jc? he's dead, and you're still going to hold him in contempt?

this 'wei ying' got me way more than the first one did. soft, and broken, and full of regret.

[littlesmartart]

Who would you say is the biggest sucker in the family? The Twin Prides of Yunmeng? Total suckers. JGY always knows, but he likes to be the indulgent uncle. LXC is too restrained, but LWJ can sometimes be persuaded.

Yanli: naturally inclined towards being incredibly indulgent (see: how she raised WWX and JC) but when you've got six kids that's just... not really a sustainable parenting attitude, so she becomes an expert in Kind But Firm.

Zixuan: starts out being an absolute sucker because he's generally not great at handling conflict so would rather just give kids what they want, but as all parents do, he learns on the job, and he gets better at being firm. his confidence as a person increases in leaps and bounds once his dad's out of the picture, and that does show in his parenting.

the rest under the cut as it got long

Mingjue: feels very strongly about being firm and disciplined and not letting kids get away with bad behaviour, but... he probably won't follow through too strictly, and well... Huaisang still winds up getting pretty much everything he wants, so secretly Mingjue really is kind of a sucker (but don't tell anyone)

Xichen: surprisingly not a sucker - like Yanli his natural impulse is to be indulgent, but he is still a Lan, so he does have strong feelings about the importance of rules and discipline, and expects a certain standard of behaviour from kids in his care. though he does also feel very strongly about being more compassionate and understanding with the next generation, so he is more likely to use rewards and praise to get good behaviour than punishment.

JGY: will be as indulgent as he reasonably can for as long as he possibly can until that conflicts with something Important, like the child's safety or health. he grew up in poverty so now he's rich af he takes every opportunity to utterly spoil all of the kids around him - partly because gift-giving is very much a love-language for him, partly because the uncomplicated affection of little kids is so important to him. not really so much of a sucker though as he is good at putting his foot down when he needs to, and all kids know not to mess with him when he gives a warning.

Wangji: WAY more of a sucker than anyone expects, but pretty much exclusively with his kid - mostly because little A-Yuan is so quiet and well-behaved (and traumatised) that Wangji really just wants to give him everything he could ever want. he is surprisingly chill with other kids though, as after WWX died Wangji likes to keep his memory alive by letting the kids he likes break inconsequential rules - but if the kids are bratty and unpleasant and he doesn't like them, he has no mercy.

JC: absolute sucker. pretends to be cranky and grumpy about it but that's just how he shows he cares. in the happy AU he's even more of a sucker than in canon because he's purely an uncle, rather than a primary caregiver, so if the kids wind up annoying and ridiculously spoiled, well, that's someone else's problem.

WWX: naturally inclined to be a sucker, but when he comes back he is perturbed to realise that Lan Zhan is the indulgent parent, and refuses to budge from that position so... does that mean HE has the be the STRICT parent??? what the hell, Lan Zhan??? (he's not very good at it, and delights in being indulgent to most kids in a way that irritates other parents)

Huaisang: sucker and proud! giving kids whatever they want is fun, unless it's something that he doesn't want to do, or it's, like, gross. at which point he'll just hand the kid back to their parents.

Qin Su: generally a healthy balance of firm and indulgent, leaning more on the indulgent side - they way her parents were with her. she'd probably be more strict if she had her own kids, but with her niblings she does enjoy being a Cool Aunt. easily bribed with cuddles and kisses!

Xuanyu: I don't feel like it counts as being a sucker if he's pretty much the same age as the kids. when he gets older, his approach is to be Down With The Kids in order to persuade them to do what he wants. the day kids start referring to him as an adult, or old, is the day he has a major crisis.