#yuanlu passing on the amulet badge pouch like hub…sure you’re not metaphorically passing the baton of death on

[astarlightmonbebe]

things that stand out:

1) qian zhao calling yuanlu didi, acknowledging that he considers yuanlu his true brother as much as yuanlu does him - no titles, just didi and dage. conversely, he calls yuanlu didi when he never had the chance to call chai ming as such (he was going to acknowledge chai ming when he turned twenty, yuanlu isn’t supposed to live past twenty, etc…)

2) self fulfilling prophecy. qian zhao embarked on the journey/mission already planning to kill the emperor from the beginning. when he puts his amulet badge in the bag with the rest of the dead, he already plans on dying in battle.

3) both brothers died protecting an arrogant emperor who caused the bloodshed of the people. both died for an emperor they hated more than they loved. both were considered the ultimate loyal soldiers, and so they ultimately die not for the emperor, but for what he represents: the people of wu.