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dangermousie · 4 years

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Monarch Industry ep 1

It’s pretty cool to see all the themes of the drama in ep 1. This is some good writing.

The aristocracy having fits at Xiao Qi being made a prince. How ironic - this thread of “he’s an unworthy outsider, not one of us” informs so many of their actions in this drama. They need him but their prejudice runs so strong they can’t see it. And it’s a lesson that they never learn.

Even in ep 1, Minister Xie (who along with Daddy Wang is one of the only two men at court with a brain) asks Daddy Wang’s general brother, who says a peasant Prince is an insult to everyone of blue blood, what would happen if Xiao Qi fails against Hulan and Hulan gets to the capital, will he, General Wang, be able to defend the capital? And even in ep 1, Wang Xu has no answer to that because he knows he can’t. They all know only Xiao Qi can defend them from Hulan, they have no other options. And this doesn’t change 60+ eps in (in fact it becomes worse since so many of their other generals are dead by then) but there is a disconnect in the aristocratic brains - they all do realize he’s their only bulwark against the enemy but they simply cannot accept that this means they must treat him better than his dirty blood warrants. They all think being made a general is already way above what he deserves and even survival of the country is not as important as keeping the old order (or at least I don’t think they consciously think so, they somehow think they can kill XQ and keep their country through magic thinking.)

Old Emperor tells Awu in ep 1(!) that the court is not as concerned with saving the country, they are only concerned about their court positions and that doesn’t change ever the entirety of the drama. That is why Potato who listens to his mother and court is doomed and Zitan who just let the court do whatever because he doesn’t care is doomed. Honestly, Zilu may have been a tyrant but not listening to the court was damn smart. The irony is even the smartest ones like the old emperor, Minister Xie, Daddy Wang still put their power above country. They, unlike the rest, realize the country needs Xiao Qi, but if push comes to shove between their personal hold on power and country’s needs, forget it, they will kill him and worry about invasion and civil war later.

Also, even in ep 1, Awu shows she is not as classist as the rest. She tells the Emperor that of course he should make XQ a prince and whoever doesn’t like it, send them to guard Ningshuo. She says that the reason they never had a non-royal Prince is because they never had such a genius general before (fact.) She also astutely points out that general or prince, he’s just a pawn for the Emperor (so by extension, Emperor should do whatever he wants and not listen to the nobles.) In that one scene, she demonstrates more political astuteness than Potato and Zitan have in the entirety of the drama put together.

There was also this:

His generals are all excited about the royal order making him a Prince but Hu Yao points something fascinating - that the Emperor’s promise to make whoever killed the King of Hulan a prince was made to nobility. I wonder if other more noble generals tried and failed to killed the old king but also it says so much about the rigid class division that his own loyal soldiers are “this is so far out of the norm, this can’t be what was intended!” And General Hu, the most loyal one of them all, asks “why can nobility get that title but common people can’t?” Indeed. But so freaking loyal.

And then there was this, which is even more of a foreshadowing to me:

Xiao Qi orders Song Huaien to get 500 soldiers to take with him to the capital for conferment. And SHE points out, correctly, that they cannot move soldiers without an imperial edict (which they do not have - I mean they have the edict conferring him, but it doesn’t say anything about troop movement.) And Xiao Qi, even in ep 1, when he’s indubitably loyal to the empire and emperor, smiles and gently asks “And who do you serve?” And his soldiers, SHE included, snap to and say they obey. And next thing we know, Xiao Qi rides in with the 500 soldiers.

This SO significant and shows why the nobles were right to fear XQ - even in ep 1, his army is loyal to him above the emperor. Loyal enough than when asked point blank who do they listen to - the emperor (!) or Xiao Qi, they unhesitatingly go Xiao Qi, and commit what emperor could justifiably view as an act of treason. Moving troops without imperial command, even such a small contingent, is a huge no-no! These are the same men who blow up the imperial envoy in 11 without hesitation, fight the imperial troops for him in 50, who open the Ningshuo gates to a wanted regicide, who refuse to bow to the emperor when XQ won’t in 60+. The start of it is all right here - it has always been like this, in fact.

And also - even this early on, when he doesn’t think of rebelling any more than he would fly, XQ only obeys the orders and norms he thinks are worth following, not just because they are norms. When he kneels back in ep 3, he means it. It’s not a formality. Which is why he can’t do it in 61 and so on - because it is NOT a formality to him, it is genuine sign of respect and obedience (or asking for a favor) and so he cannot do it if he does not respect or obey (or have a favor to ask.) And in his quiet way - he is very mellow here, he doesn’t raise his voice - he will not brook disobedience, and he will do what HE wants, whatever the rules say, and he does not see the emperor as automatically sacred. If what emperor wants (or the law says the emperor is entitled to) and he wants (or thinks is a good idea or he’s entitled to) disagree, he will always go for the latter. This is a man who has a possibility of rebellion because he’s an independent thinker, not bound by norms, and that makes him very dangerous. He is loyal unto death but that loyalty has to be earned.

#cdrama #monarch industry #rebel princess #ep 1

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gizkasparadise · 3 years

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minister dude #1: well SOMEONE needs to stop yuzhang and his army

minister dude #2: not it

minister dude #3: not it

minister dude #4: not it

song huaien, probably eating a sandwich in another room or something: oh god damn it

#the rebel princess #monarch industry #cdrama

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tomorrowsdrama · 3 years

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Ok like Song Huaien is trash and looks haggard as hell after crossing over to the dark side but damn if I don’t love Liu Duan Duan’s husky voice

#monarch industry #the rebel princess #liu duan duan #cdrama

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oh-yebaiyi-you-sassy-bitch · 3 years

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This look is such a mood. Like why couldn't we have had this version of huaien throughout the entire show?

How come we only got this look from him again when he was killing his friends???????!!

And oh my god those eye are just

#Liu Duan Duan #song huaien they did you dirty #damn those dirty edits #cutie pie #this man is a killer #he could kill me #look me legit dead in the eyes #and i would thank him for killing me #and apologise for getting in the way of his sword #song huaien #the rebel princess

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orsuliya · 4 years

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I think I might know what the greatest difference between pre-beard and post-beard Xiao Qi is! No, it is not the Daddy-type hotness, get your minds out of the gutter! And it is not his new-found viciousness either nor even his utter lack of fucks to give.

Xiao Qi has decided to unleash his full arsenal, the Cheng Convention of Noble Rights be damned. No more being shy or moderate about using his most dangerous weapon! What is this weapon? Glad you’ve asked. PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE.

We’ve seen the palest shades of it before. The greatest example might have been when he asked the courtiers who would take responsibility if the Hulan treaty gets broken at any point. But even then he clearly held himself back. Now, though? Now he’s going to be dealing mental hits left and right. Commander Liu is just the first of his many victims; the list will later include Song Huaien, Turnip Wang, the entire noble class of Cheng and of course the Master of Mope himself.

Oh, and he’s managed to weaponize bows to an unholy degree. Not shooty-bows bows. The bend-your-back kind.

So Commander Liu is brought before Xiao Qi bound and under guard, swords at his neck and all. It’s pretty obvious from his general demeanor that he’s already composed his last will. There is simply no way that any lord, much less a whole-ass warlord, would ever forgive being left to die before the gates. And calling him a (filthy) traitor? Oooof! Even if Commander Liu might still have his uses, no Prince would ever suffer such a slight to his honour, right?

WRONG. Xiao Qi has him freed...

...and APOLOGIZES for the mutiny. And forces the mutineers to apologize as well! This is so out of the left field that Commander Liu’s brain collapses under an avalanche of ERROR! messages...

...only to reboot with new software already in place. He’s 100% Xiao Qi’s man from now on.

#the rebel princess #monarch industry #episode 60 #I am living for master of psychological warfare XQ #pity you can't shame SHE into loyalty this way #but then the Gutless Wonder has no shame left

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orsuliya · 3 years

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Ok, that thing you said about XQ putting SHE on his knees. Like... Could you please continue? Purely for scientific reasons *coughs*

I think we should be less concerned about Xiao Qi putting Song Huaien on his knees and more about him abstaining from doing so, even when he absolutely should have insisted. For Song Huaien's own good and for that of all of Cheng! Much evil might have been avoided, had Song Huaien been put down properly in episode 38. Alas!

See, Ningshuo soldiers are no courtiers. When they kneel, they mean it, and only ever do so in very specific circumstances. In fact, there are only two reasons why a Ningshuo soldier might kneel: following Xiao Qi's example and asking for absolution. Ah, no, sorry, there's a third one. Officer Grandpa doesn't shy from using any tool at his disposal when begging Commander Liu to open the gates. And even then kneeling is his second-to-last solution, the last being open mutiny.

In episode 3. the troops may go to their knees before Daddy Emperor, but only after they see their Prince doing so. And not even immediately after; there is quite a considerable interval during which nobody moves. It's not that obvious at first, unless you pay attention to the soldiers holding Mojiao's reins, but it's there alright, serving as a pointed reminder that Ningshuo Army bends only to its commander's will. Same thing with episode 62. - those six soldiers dressed in mourning whites start to move only once Xiao Qi's knee hits the ground. And as we know rather well, if Xiao Qi doesn't deem it necessary to kneel, everybody stays perfectly upright, showing absolutely no kneeling reflex no matter what illustrious person (or edict) they might be facing.

It is also doubtful that kneeling is an acceptable form of greeting among Ningshuo men. Xiao Qi goes "Aw, shucks!" the moment Song Huaien goes down instead of saying hello like a normal person during his long-awaited visit to Yuzhang Manor in episode 65., but more importantly, we don't see anybody but the officers kneel when faced with their miraculously resurrected Dawang in episode 60. And those officers have a very specific purpose on their minds; they're asking Xiao Qi to forgive them for their inaction or, precisely, for being too slow with their mutiny. This is also the reason why Song Huaien kneels once left alone with Xiao Qi in episode 65. He's openly begging for punishment and subsequent absolution. Whether he's sincere - and he may very well be! - makes no real difference; it's clear that this is the way it works in Ningshuo: you do something wrong, you kneel and wait for judgement. Only Xiao Qi isn't playing ball this time, rather coldly telling Huaien to get up and even bodily turning away (!) from him. Sorry, Huaien, no absolution for you, you've made your choice and now you have to live with it.

But what about the first wedding? Song Huaien and his soldiers go to their knees, the latter following their commander's example, even though there is no Xiao Qi in vicinity and neither have they commited any great sin they'd need to ask forgiveness for. Or have they...? According to Awu they absolutely have and she exerts so much mental pressure on poor Huaien that he can't help but agree with her assessment.

It's fascinating to see his gradual journey closer and closer to the floor as she rips into him, no holds barred. He goes from polite bowing to scraping and bowing while on his knees, feeling more and more guilty for Awu's predicament, if only due to male solidarity.

Clearly Huaien can be made to kneel for Xiao Qi's sins, he's all too eager to kneel for his own imaginary ones, the problem is he's never made to kneel for his very real crimes related to the corruption scandal. At this point I'm pretty sure he was lying to Xiao Qi's face in episode 38., at least about that one chest of birthday gifts. He's acting way too hasty when he proposes to go and deal with those nasty independent servants right in that very minute and way, way too pleased once Xiao Qi changes the subject to Yuxiu. I don't believe for a second that he'd smile with such obvious relief had he not done something truly untoward and then gotten away with it. There's also a suspicious amount of nervous gulping going on during that conversation and even his emotional reactions over that blasted chest of goodies read as "Damn, that was close and for what!".

The problem with Xiao Qi letting Song Huaien go isn't that it's a clear obstruction of justice. Nobody cares about that, certainly not Potato, who is kinda the highest authority around (and isn't that a hoot!). No, the problem is that Song Huaien gets away with a crime without ever being forced to acknowledge - even to himself! - that he's done something wrong. That kneel-and-wait-for-forgiveness routine is good for one thing: it forces a person to admit to their culpability. The lack of any such thing opens a wholly different can of worms.

If the most that Song Huaien gets for corruption and lies is a warning and even that warning sounds more like an expression of concern than any real admonishment, then what else might be fine in Xiao Qi's eyes? Lusting after his wife certainly seems to be! That Xiao Qi does not approve of Huaien's little weaknesses and only his affection for him stays his hand, making him give his little brother a chance to improve himself - just as he did with Huaien's crush on Awu - is neither here nor there. With either of Hu siblings or Tang Jing it would have been fine, since they don't need any external help to keep their hearts in the right place nor their consciences clear. Song Huaien, on the other hand, is a bloody conformist. The moment Xiao Qi stops keeping him on the straight and narrow, it's all over. That one moment of Xiao Qi's weakness borne of affection and old habits - if I'm right and Huaien had really started out as an aide-de-camp - destroyed any chance of Su Yi Bo holding onto any kind of moral standard patterned after Xiao Qi's own after the latter is supposedly dead, thus making him into an an easy target for further corruption and Wang brainwashing.

Dammit, Xiao Qi, you really should have made him kneel!

#ask and answer #the rebel princess #this got unexpectedly serious #where's the crack and all the filthy allusions?!#I am shooketh

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orsuliya · 4 years

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Your (and dangermousie) meta posts are amazing! You all make the watching more enjoyable :) I read that many think that Awu should have been more invested in what happened to XQ and his soldiers. In my opinion they are two very different characters that deal with things in different ways: I think that Awu priority right now is his safety and not revenge (I can understand why people are pissed but is coherent with her character), this don't mean that she stopped loving him.

There is something really suspicious going around in our little pond. The number of times our thoughts seem to perfectly synchronise is much too high to be coincidental. And thank you for your kind words, dear Nonnie!

As I wrote to the lovely @dangermousie an hour or so ago, I don’t think some people properly appreciate just how invested into Xiao Qi’s soldiers Awu really is. And has been for a long, long time, since Huizhou at least; and even as a young maiden her outlook differed greatly from, for example, Wanru’s. I dare you to find any noble in Cheng that cares about soldiers half as much as Awu does. Why, if you combined half of all those nobles, you’d still come up short!

Princess Shangyang, the most royal princess to ever royal, has absolutely no qualms about bowing before memorial tablets of lowborn soldiers, humbly acknowledging the sacrifice they made. She does it when she first discovers the place and then repeats it at the same time the imperial mourning ritual is taking place. I also have my suspicions about what she might be saying over Hu Guanglie’s grave, but I won’t trouble you with my primitive understanding for now.

That second instance of Awu bowing to the tablets is a powerful one indeed! She had no need to do that for any reason other than to express her gratitude and respect. There’s no audience there, no one to judge and she doesn’t do it out of support for Xiao Qi either - this is just between her and those soldiers. Now tell me she does not care!

And that’s not all. Tell me what other noble wife would be so understanding once it came out that her husband (who already has a strike against him due to his birth) is almost completely broke because of his need to support the families of his dead comrades? Not of his retainers - that would have been somewhat understandable - but of people who he doesn’t really owe such duty to as far as this society is concerned. The only thing she is angry about is that he didn’t tell her! She treats it as a matter of course that he should have used her dowry for this purpose. True, partially because she doesn’t expect any man to respect her financial independence this much, but also because she sees it as good and right that those people should be given support. And then she comes up with a viable plan to do just that.

There’s also the manner in which she recounts the story Mrs. Dou told her. 100% of pure unadulterated understanding right there. And the look on her face when that City Watch Officer dies, but holds the gate to let her escape from the capital... Believe me, she fully understands the value of such sacrifice! If somebody tells me she does not care, I will laugh in their face. I will.

The disparity between hers and Xiao Qi’s reactions to the death of the brave few hundred is only natural. And it’s not that her reaction comes short of the mark, it’s just that his reaction is particularly acute! For him it’s personal in a way that it can never ever be for her. Or for anybody who did not bleed on that battlefield! Even Song Huaien doesn’t make much of an effort, kneeling before Zitan more because of the fact that he knows what Xiao Qi and six Ningshuo soldiers with swords can do to a hall full of useless dignitaries than because of his own personal feelings (though I am not saying he does not have those!).

We’ve been told time after time that Xiao Qi has no family. This is not entirely true, at least not emotionally. I daresay that Ningshuo soldiers are the closest thing he has to a family. Which brings his responsibility towards their dependents into a different light; and it is no different for his reaction to that horrific betrayal.

Wait a moment. A deliberate flouting of tradition, form and even reason, strongly flavoured with a ride-or-die vibe and done in the name of one’s family? I knew it seemed familiar somehow! Isn’t this just what Awu does when she goes and dances for Helan Zhen in order to save Miss Screecher? That Miss Screecher is - unlike those soldiers - absolutely unworthy of Awu’s efforts is neither here nor there.

Oh. So men are allowed to be all ride-or-die for their families to the exclusion of their spouses’ interests, but women should be immediately carted off to the stake for the very same thing? Why am I not even surprised. Damn you, double standards!

#the rebel princess #monarch industry #rebel princess meta #ask and answer #I love all my nonnies for making me THINK #she cares so much and I am getting all teary eyed now thanks

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orsuliya · 4 years

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Dear General, just talk to your wife!

Let it be said: any male hero who interferes in his partner’s reproductive ability without her permission and/or knowledge is usually immediately cancelled in my eyes. That is certainly the case for any piece of media set in modern times. Fantasy/historical heroes get a bit of leeway depending on the cultural context, although not always. But the thing is, just as there are no blanket excuses, there are also no blanket condemnations. And you know what?

I do have to give Xiao Qi a get-out-of-immediate-cancellation card in this case! But not before examining his motivations and all mitigating circumstances. To be clear, I’m up to episode 37 at the moment.

So prepare yourself for Five Reasons Xiao Qi Is Very Much Not Cancelled (But He Certainly Deserves A Very Stern Talking To And Then Maybe A Hug).

To recap: Xiao Qi was told that Awu’s health is fragile and while she is able to get pregnant, any pregnancy is very risky and a considerable danger to her life. Upon hearing this he is visibly moved; three months later, when Awu comes back from the temple, there is a re-do wedding at the Yuzhang Manor, during which Xiao Qi announces that Wang Xuan is going to be the only woman in his life. At some point – either at the temple or after the wedding – Awu starts taking medicine prescribed by the Imperial Physician. The medicine, as Auntie Xu later discovers, is actually a tonic, which can be used to prevent conception. Eventually, though, after a year or two of continuous use, it will render a woman infertile for life. As of episode 37 (41 if I choose to trust the raws) Awu does not know what is going on.

And now onto the list!

1. The man is probably the most panicked he has ever been in his life and his mental state is not that great at the moment.

The first thing to remember is that this whole ‘let’s make Awu infertile’ decision is not taken in a void. It is not a case of an isolated event; the choice comes at an end of a veritable Trauma Conga Line. The exact timeline is very muddled, but in the last few months (up to a year) Awu has been: kidnapped, rescued, attacked by assasins, forced to deal with a rebelling city and then a siege, sent straight into a murderous conspiracy and then recruited to deal with a coup… and only then she was put in the very centre of a second coup courtesy of Daddy Wang. Which caused her to lose her child and her mother on the same day. And let’s not forget all the broken illusions about her family and her first love. That’s a lot to deal with and she is pure steel with a spine of titanium, there is no doubt as to that. But she is not the only one who’s had a really hard year.

From the kidnapping onwards Xiao Qi has been with Awu on this road; more often that not away from her physically, true, but from the moment he declared her his wife who will share his life and death…? He’s been in 100%. And being the strong, dependable, ride or die guy has taken its toll, one way or another.

It is quite noticeable that with every Big Damn Heroes moment he pulls off he gets more and more affected. The bridge rescue and its aftermath? Cool as a cucumber; the guilt and responsibility is certainly there, no fear though. Breaking of Huizhou siege? He’s proud as hell of her accomplishments, but he really came at the very last moment – she was getting ready to be killed rather than taken hostage. And there is this noticeable undertone of relief there. The Red Wedding? By then he is panicking. Hard. Which he readily admits, so it’s not pure conjecture. This man, who has never been afraid of attacking armies and not really afraid of death either, is scared as f***. Mind you, it’s not like he’s ever had anyone to be really scared for before; his soldiers are a different case altogether. And this time he was late, which makes for a really fertile soil for various ‘what-ifs’ during those two days when Awu is unconscious. He was late despite basically pulling off a miracle and risking entering the capital with only 10 000 troops.

And then and only then Daddy Wang pulls out all the stops. Two days of watching his unconscious wife is nothing compared to what happens then. First she runs into the middle of opposing forces, completely disregarding any danger to herself. For him (and her father, but that is beside the point)! I am sure that Song Huaien relayed her words to Xiao Qi once the dust settled. Then... Princess Jinmin dies and Awu starts bleeding.

After… After he claims responsibility for Princess Jinmin’s death. There is no doubt he is feeling doubly, triply responsible for the miscarriage. He can’t really help his wife. And he is grieving for their child. Not only for Awu’s sake, but for his own too.

It all culminates with the Imperial Physician telling Xiao Qi that there is another battle to be fought, one which Awu will probably enter with minimal hesitation and in which he is not going to be able to pull a Big Damn Heroes rescue. So in that moment he clutches at his heart… And – at least I think that’s the moment - takes a split-second decision: NOT AGAIN. Everything after that? He’s only holding to a chosen course.

2. He is feeling guilty as all hell and is overcompensating hard.

Xiao Qi is the epitome of a hyper-responsible hero. And not in the ‘Woe is me, everything is my fault!’ way that brooding heroes tend to veer to. No empty anguish or dramatic self-flagellation there! He is very matter of fact about both his responsibility and perceived guilt. Soldiers die under his command? He will honour their memory and take care of their families. Awu gets kidnapped by his personal enemy? He will admit his guilt without any excuses and offer recompense. Princess Jinmin becomes a victim of a stand-off that he did not even provoke? He will take the blame and then redeem himself by swearing an oath that he will not fail to protect Awu. And he takes his oaths very, very seriously, otherwise the Ma family would have a Really Big Problem.

All that responsibility comes from both his own character and the force of habit. Nobody ever worries about me, he says. To his soldiers he is the strong, infallible one and so he keeps this facade intact despite knowing it’s a load of bull.

So this hyper-responsible man has unwittingly sent his wife into danger, into battle (!) three times already (kidnapping, rebellion in Huizhou, Zilu’s coup) and was part of the reason she entered the fourth one. And while she has acquitted herself brilliantly every time, she paid a very steep price for saving him/the Empire. In his mind, he owes it to her and to Princess Jinmin for it to never ever happen again. And so he is not going to send her into the battle of childbirth for anything under the sun! The thing is, Awu is brave as hell and would enter it willingly in a blink of an eye. So he is arranging things so that she can never do that in the first place.

3. Xiao Qi is trying to spare Awu from mental and emotional anguish. It’s a pattern and one wildly spiraling out of control.

It’s really, really starting to show that Xiao Qi is used to being regarded as the infallible one, the one who must always find a solution and save as many people as he can. And while it is not a problem in Ningshuo, when he needs to tell Awu the truth about her father (and still he hesitates!), it tends to come through quite strongly in moments of stress and/or danger. Which is understandable, I think. In Ningshuo the stakes are not as high, everybody is safe and they are in the middle of Xiao Qi’s fortress, the very centre of his power. If there is any place he feels safe and at home, it’s right there. The capital is a wholly different kettle of fish; even on his first visit Xiao Qi is – quite reasonably – wary and on guard. For him the capital is behind enemy lines. So he reverts to his Infallible General mindset more and more: he keeps telling Awu things, but not all of them (money) and not always immediately (Hulans asking for a bride). Which is really stupid of him since Awu is in many areas just as smart - if not smarter - than him.

It’s not only the Infallible General mindset, though. In fact, that is the least of the problems there. By this point the panic is really setting in and so is the guilt. There is one more thing, though. Xiao Qi has this tendency towards self-deprecation. He does not wallow in it, but the undercurrent of his perceived social inferiority emerges from time to time, moreso in the capital. And it does factor in his behaviour; I sense that he has this need to keep deserving her. Coupled with devotion, it pushes him into a very touching, but also potentially dangerous single-mindedness.

Saving Daddy Wang by kneeling all night long clearly shows that Xiao Qi will stop at nothing to spare Awu’s heart, life and health. Personal pride? Enmity towards Daddy Wang? Political expedience? Disregarded completely. So what’s a year or two of lying if it means Awu lives? He’s set himself a Goal: protect Awu, just as he promised before Princess Jinmin’s grave. And it’s really been blinding him since.

Notice that he did not tell her about saving Daddy Wang either. She had to find out from His Imperial Spudness! True, it all worked out fine then, but whatever his reasons, he still did not tell her. And yes, I get that his reasons were really noble, but! But it is still a pattern, one that I hope she will break him out of rather sooner than later.

4. He is making a great sacrifice too; hear me out! And he does not leave himself an out.

This is the kind of argument that launches a flaming discussion, so please, be gentle. Anyway, we are not going to speak of whether any man has the right to make unilateral decisions about his wife’s body, that’s neither here nor there in this case, since it does not really enter into consideration in the drama itself.

What is clearly very important in the drama is the idea of family lines. The Wang and Xie families are all about this idea of legacy and bloodlines. Bloodlines are Important: propagating the bloodline is Wang Su’s main duty and both families fight over whose blood will sit on the throne. This clan mentality is clearly a Very Serious Business. Admittedly, Xiao Qi is an outsider to the clan-based society of upper classes. But even though his primary social group consists of his brothers-in-arms, he is very acutely attuned to the idea of family being the most important thing. It shows in many aspects of his life: in the care he gives to his soldiers’ families, in the consideration he gives Awu when she encounters another heartbreaking truth about her relatives and in the way he seems to take for granted that she will not stop caring for Daddy Wang no matter what. Also, he clearly likes kids, the mysterious shadow child gave us this much.

So it is not out of the realm of possibility that he would really like to have a child of his own. And why wouldn’t he? Awu may have trouble bearing him children, but there is nothing stopping him from taking a concubine or a dozen for this very purpose. Any other man in this drama would have (maybe except Zilu…?). And the society would not judge him, especially if the truth about Awu’s condition came out. It really is not a monogamistic society. Moreover, since Daddy Wang is not in the picture any more, nobody can even try to force Xiao Qi to keep to one bed (or poison his concubine…), not with his current position and power.

And what is the very first thing he does after Awu comes home? He declares – in public and with great pomp! - that Awu will be his only woman, thus staking his honor and reputation on all his children being hers. Which with the tonic in play means that there will be no children. It is a decision he takes very deliberately and in direct response to the previous events and the Wangs’ fall from grace. In fact, I wager this whole monogamy clause is a way not only to quell the rumours and stop any scheming families in their tracks, but also to keep things fair as much as it is even possible. Awu will not have children, well, neither will he.

5. He is setting himself up and preemptively hogging all the guilt and blame.

The short yet very poignant exchange with Pang Gui in episode 37 makes it clear that Xiao Qi knows quite well he is going to be found out sooner or later. Sure, he would rather that Pang Gui kept mum about everything, but in reality he leaves it wholly up to his judgment. Which tells me that Xiao Qi is not willing to ‘kill’ for this secret. In fact, it might suit his plans if it were to come out… though not at the moment. Maybe after the requisite year or two, once Awu is no longer in any danger. Relying on what we know about his character, I think he is wholly prepared for the truth to eventually come out and then to take all the blame. And I mean ALL the blame. As in: Awu will have no reason to blame herself for her fragile health and thus inability to bear children, if it’s actually Xiao Qi’s fault. He will have gotten her infertile, so her actual ability to give birth safely will be immaterial. She will put all her anger on him and not on herself, and anger he can take, it’s her getting quiet that he can’t cope with. And to hell with what it does to their marriage, she will be alive. Is it stupid, stupid thinking? Sure. But quite probable when you’re dealing with a man this hyper-responsible and clearly unused to family dynamics.

And that’s that. Do I think he is being a single-minded fool? Sure. The man is not perfect after all! Does he need to talk to Awu? Of course, but I get where his unwillingness to do just that comes from. Is it going to bite him in the ass really, really hard? Oooooh, is it! But Xiao Qi is not cancelled and if Awu forgives him, then so should we all.

#this rant may be long and unneeded #but so very satisfying #XIAO QI IS VERY MUCH NOT CANCELLED #why? because I say so #feel free to disagree #the rebel princess #monarch industry #rebel princess meta

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orsuliya · 3 years

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Awu dreamt of XQ when she was napping in Huizhou, what does it mean ? Does she simply misses him or there’re other meanings ?

How lucky that one of my lovely Nonnies provided us with this lovely interpretation:

And as for my own... I have long held an opinion that there was something peculiar about Xiao Qi's Big Damn Heroes moments, some shared feature - beyond the identities of the recuer and the rescuee - that makes them inherently similar to each other. And guess what, I finally know what this commonality might be. See, it seems like Awu is really fond of getting in trouble in liminal spaces and Xiao Qi may be just as fond of making spectacular entrances at those, thus executing some symbolic passages. Oh. So he's really just passing through, damn, I really need some better jokes. Freefalls, bridges, gates, gallows, stairs, it's liminality galore! But wait, you'll ask. What about that assassin attack in episode 2? That seems to be something of an outlier! Well, actually... Lantern Festival marks the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations. In fact, that's when they switch the zodiac sign. You literally cannot get any more 'standing at the threshold', 'rite of passage' and 'transformation' when it comes to festivals.

But it's not all about literal liminal spaces or events, that would be too easy. I propose that the whole siege of Huizhou is Awu's ritual of passage, a period of standing at the threshold between her previous identity of Princess Shangyang and her new, fully realized self as Princess Yuzhang. As the siege starts she's no longer the first one, but not yet entirely the second one, leading to a period of fluidity and perhaps even uncertainity, further marked by various tests. And oh boy, does she get tested a lot. Zitan alone tempts her twice to take a step back and choose him, he and Yuxiu take one stab at Awu's faith in Xiao Qi's arrival apiece, even Song Huaien tries to provide Awu with an escape. And yet she sticks it out, covering any kind of doubt with an unwavering show of hope and confidence, although that doesn't always succeed, see: her violent reaction to Yuxiu's words.

As Awu tries to lead herself through this time of war - which is a liminal event in its own right - she latches onto Xiao Qi's possible arrival with surprising force for someone who, when you think about it, doesn't really know her husband all that well yet and has been betrayed and abandoned by her loved ones not that long ago. Why, Song Huaien shows less confidence than her! What is up with that? Is it truly just a front? Or has she learned to blindly trust in Xiao Qi during those scant few weeks spent in Ningshuo? Well, I propose that this shining, immovable faith is something born during the siege. Awu's previous foundations - such as her bond with Zitan - are dissolved and this malleable, fluid situation in which the normal order of the world is suddenly reversed serves as a foundry for a new set of beliefs; it's a symbolic death-and-rebirth rite, if you will, in which her faith in Xiao Qi acts as a tether or a guiding line.

Okay, but what this strange rambling has to do with the dream itself? Well.

Don't know about you all, but to me it sure looks like this empty, nebulous space represents the limbo associated with liminality. And look at what exactly dream!Xiao Qi does! Initially he stands with his back to Awu, then turns to her, looks into her eyes, turns back, as if beckoning her to follow him and then moves towards the light, which is probably meant to mark an exit. Just follow the light! Cliché, I know, but if you look closer, it really does seem to form something not unlike a gate. It really is as if dream!Xiao Qi acts as a psychopomp, guiding Awu to the end of her journey through limbo, thus allowing her to complete the rite of passage. As he later will in reality by ending the siege at the gate. Just you wait for her to come sprinting!

To sum it up - Awu is unconsciously processing her own transformation, which at that point is still in progress. Her mind latches onto Xiao Qi as the one who can help her through this rite of passage, partially as an answer to her own hopes and desires and partially because her previous experiences have conditioned her to expect him to pull a Big Damn Heroes rescue in times of particular uncertainity.

Or it could be all about that cape, for all I know. What? I am sorry, but this dream is one of the best embodiments of the phrase 'walk walk fashion baby' that I've ever seen in my entire life!

#ask and answer #the rebel alliance #sue me I'm a nerd #at the end of the day it's all about the cape and you know it!

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orsuliya · 4 years

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Song Huaien is a good boy!

Book spoilers did me dirty. That’s a fact. Ever since I peeked at the last chapters of the novel, I’ve been convinced that Song Huaien was going to go rogue sooner or later. And so I looked upon him as one does upon a ticking bomb, watching him closely for any signs of rot and obvious mwahahahaing.

And that… might have been wrong of me. It’s not like The Rebel Princess ever treated any character’s novel journey as sacrosanct (see: Su Jin’er, Wanru, even Zitan). So what gives? Well, just look at the ever-precious Liu Duanduan. Wouldn’t you want to steel your heart in advance…?

And then the supremely astute @dangermousie came along and made me reconsider what could be done in the scant remaining number of episodes in order to deliver a satisfying ending. I trust The Rebel Princess, so it will be a satisfying ending, 12 cut episodes notwithstanding, and I’m choosing to ignore any contrary opinions! So what could be done? Well, getting rid of Song Huaien’s rebellion and conflict with Xiao Qi seems to be one of the most viable solutions, whether by design or by leaving it on the cutting-room floor. Okay, I’m sold, I thought at once, jumping without thinking as I’m wont to do. But does the drama itself support that?

Why, yes, I believe it does!

What are the actual visible signs of Song Huaien’s potential villainy? There’s the corruption/negligence thing, a pronounced liking for finer things in life and an unrequited love for Awu. That’s it.

The corruption scandal, if it can even be called such, what with Potato suppressing any further investigation attempts, is the biggest strike against Song Huaien. It’s clear that he’s somehow embroiled into unsavoury dealings, but the extent of his guilt is never shown. While I don’t fully believe his story about the birthday gifts being delivered during his absence and accepted without his express permission and/or knowledge, there is also nothing to suggest he’s been explicitly on Xie payroll, secret documents non-withstanding. The record book alone is no proof of guilt – why, the Xie might have simply noted that gifts of certain value had been given and received, not in exchange for a specific service, but rather as a start of a beautiful relationship. You get the drill. I believe if there was a solid proof of Song Huaien doing explicit harm to his own in exchange for Xie money, Xiao Qi’s reaction would have been much harsher.

As it stands, Song Huaien’s guilt is a matter of conjecture. There’s the birthday gift, which Xiao Qi cottons onto really quickly, which confirms that it may have been noted in the Xie secret books. There’s the fact that he may or may not have known about it and may or may not have chosen to keep it. I’d say he did know, if only after the fact, and that he originally meant to keep it. There’s also the damning fact that Song Huaien was the man taking care of logistics from the Ningshuo side. And he did his job really poorly, since multiple deliveries of substandard grain and clothing somehow made it through. But was it out of maliciousness? Was there ever a conscious decision on his part to let things slip? Not necessarily. It looks bad, sure. But let’s not forget that dealing with the capital sharks may be a first for Song Huaien, regardless of his previous experience as a procurement officer. Whatever his experience, it was either at the very end of the supply chain or it was mainly related to supplies coming from the area closest to Ningshuo. The former wouldn’t have prepared him for his present duties. And as for the latter, I think that the Ningshuo province has its own rules and ways, which are in no way comparable to the shark pond that the capital undoubtedly is. What’s more, Huaien really seems to buy into the illustrious capital life; it would not surprise me if he delegated a few things that should not be delegated simply because he was busy taking it all in!

So, intentional crime or crime of negligence? I’d be inclined to vote for negligence. It just fits what we know about Song Huaien up to that point, it fits his current circumstances and it makes Xiao Qi’s reaction quite reasonable.

The second strike against Huaien’s integrity is his love for the finer things in life. But then, is it really such a damning thing? Many of the Ningshuo soldiers must have experienced the same thing upon their arrival into the capital. Here they are, heroes and patriots all, having spent their whole life either on various battlefields or in decidedly non-luxurious circumstances. Why, they must be quite happy if they get enough to eat, which they do only because they have an honest general who cares about them very much. Other armies are not as lucky! And then they are shown all those useless noble scions, some of whom might nominally be officers despite barely knowing how to hold a sword (and even those swords would be ceremonial ones, so mostly useless). I don’t know about you, but I’d be bitter. Some of Xiao Qi’s closest clearly are, although he tends to shut that down very quickly. Also, covetousness is not a crime as long as Song Huaien is not actively taking bribes or jockeying for profit. And there is no proof of that. His manor and his title are both given to him without him ever asking for them. If he appreciates that… well, that is also not a crime and he doesn’t even gloat openly! As it later turns out, he took both as his due, believing that his talents were seen and duly appreciated outside the Ningshuo army.

Sooo… Nothing out of ordinary on that count. And seeing that at one point Song Huaien offers to use his savings to repair the ailing military budget – whether from guilt or from sense of duty – speaks to his advantage.

Now, let’s take a look at his unrequited love for Awu. I mean, is it any wonder he falls for her? I am half in love with her myself, so I totally get it! What matters is what he does with this love. Quite surprisingly, there is no attempt at coming between her and Xiao Qi. Why, Song Huaien actively tries to help their marriage by convincing Awu to return home from the temple. No hesitation there! And while he might realize he’s actually in love very late in the story (by this point it’s obvious to everybody), the realization itself changes very little. He gets very determined to go through with marrying Yuxiu, that’s it. Still no attempts to make a move on Awu. Even that flower he brought back from the Imperial Mausoleum was not an overly romantic gesture – she asked and he did as she asked in order to make her happy, nothing more. There’s also a genuine attempt to get over her. He goes to Yuxiu on their wedding night and despite the initial haziness on the matter, he seems to know quite well she’s not Awu and does his best. Although that bro slap in the morning… Let’s believe he did his best there too, the poor awkward thing. He gives her an actual hug when he comes back from Jiangnan! Progress!

What finally buried the theory that Song Huaien might rebel in order to take Awu away from Xiao Qi was his convo with Wang Su in episode 55. I was so afraid (just as I was afraid on his wedding night) that he might do something stupid. Like asking for Awu’s hand or betraying his romantic intentions towards her. But no. While Song Huaien tells Wang Su that he wants/needs to find Awu, there’s no romantic intent there, only duty towards Xiao Qi’s wife and respect towards a woman who has earned it many times over. If there is anything else, I just can’t see it! Why, during this whole conversation Song Huaien is more broken up about Xiao Qi than about Awu!

Whether Song Huaien manages to get over his love or not, there is no sign he was ever going to do anything about it, not while Xiao Qi lived and perhaps not even now that he’s supposed to be dead. Moreover, he made every possible effort to suppress his emotions out of sheer guilt and feeling of brotherhood towards Xiao Qi. Marrying Yuxiu might have been a bad, bad choice (although I still hope for the best), but it was a choice made for the best of reasons.

So that’s it, right? Well, wrong. Even with all of the above there was still a possibility for him to go the villain route. Except… he actually seems to be redeeming himself in leaps and bounds. Once away from the capital, Song Huaien seems to throw off the capital’s thrall and becomes the best version of himself. Jumping into stormy waters in clear disregard of any danger? Working tirelessly towards a common goal and for the good of the people? That’s pure Ningshuo stock, no moral rot in sight! Now, why would the narrative have him getting back to his old self only to make him regress again?

There’s also no real reason for him to ever go against Xiao Qi. If that was going to happen, I’d have expected at least some signs of bitterness and jealousy to have shown up by now. And yet there’s nothing, at least not towards Xiao Qi. Who, might I add, really does his best to mitigate any potential bitterness in the bud. Just look at the way they resolve the corruption scandal! And I’m not talking about Xiao Qi burning (or not burning?) the incriminating page. What got my attention is what their conversations over the matter boil to. Which is: Listen, brother, I get that you’ve been having some issues, but get your shit together. And please, take care of yourself. I don’t want you to get in trouble, so please remember that there are people watching your every step. No overt accusations, no anger in sight, maybe the slightest bit of sternness, but heavily undercut with roughly expressed care. And it’s the same with their confrontation over Awu. I know what’s going on with you and my wife, but I 100% get it, mate, so take a moment and decide how to proceed from here. Even if Song Huaien was actively seeking a reason to hold a grudge, it would take a truly rotten seed to find one. And a rotten seed Song Huaien is not.

Now, let’s wrap it up by going over Wang Su’s suborning of Song Huaien in episode 55. It’s really something special, as well as the main reason I’m choosing to reject any possibility of SHE/XQ showdown.

Wang Su waylays Song Huaien on his way out of camp. Song Huaien is clearly very emotional at this moment and not really inclined to stop for anybody. Why, I think that he was fully prepared to go through Wang Su if needed. It is also quite probable that his decision to leave for the capital was made on the spot, once he heard about what happened to Xiao Qi, Awu and his comrades. Yet he stops and listens, if only because Wang Su – Awu’s brother and Xiao Qi’s brother-in-law - should be his natural ally in his quest to clear Xiao Qi’s name. As he proclaims to be by announcing his willingness to join Song Huaien on his journey to the capital.

Wang Su (or rather Daddy Wang possessing Wang Su’s body) takes full advantage of Song Huaien’s state. First he breaks out a prop, Awu’s favourite wine. It does not work as well as it could have and I’d say that at this point Song Huaien remains quite astute as to Wang Su’s weird behaviour. His first outburst shows he’s got little patience for games. Awu is your sister and Xiao Qi your brother in law, he reminds Wang Su, who seems very controlled for a man with much more obvious ties to this whole situation than Song Huaien. Wang Su skips around the issue by taking out his ace card, the Empress Dowager’s order. Predictably, it takes Song Huaien off-balance and incites a sense of debt, if not gratitude. An excellent opening from the shapeshifting Daddy Wang! Then Wang Su makes an attempt at aiming Song Huaien at the Empress Dowager… and it doesn’t work. Song Huaien doesn’t care about his own life half as much as he cares about Xiao Qi. Cue a mournful soliloquy! There is no way a man this broken about his brother’s death is going to try to kill said brother in the 13 episodes remaining (less, in fact, since they will not meet until 59 or 60 at the earliest). There would be no build-up! The only way I can see this happening is if Xiao Qi went against Song Huaien first and in a deeply personal way. Which we know he would never, so...

Wang Su makes a brave attempt at corralling Song Huaien’s grief and turning it to anger, for all that he may say that anger will not help anyone; it doesn’t work and self-blame enters the picture. If only I was with him leads to a startling realization: all those honors and the brand new posting were just a ploy. Now, this realization could lead to two different results. Song Huaien could plausibly become bitter towards Xiao Qi – because of whose very existence his own talents weren’t truly recognized and he himself became a pawn. But there’s nothing to suggest that’s true. It’s more likely for Song Huaien to turn his bitterness over his wounded pride towards the Empress Dowager in particular and scheming nobles in general. Which is what I think he does. There is also a possibility of guilt: he bought into this whole noble life fairytale… and this is what partially facilitated him being turned into a pawn. It may be just wishful thinking, but I expect that in the future Song Huaien will be more wary of unexpected meat pies falling from the sky, however tasty they may be.

Just a moment later Wang Su offers him a meat pie. He’s going to help him take revenge! And Song Huaien swallows it whole – at least for now. This is where a truly interesting thing happens. Song Huaien, a general in his own right, a true hero and a man who’s been acting as Wang Su’s equal while in Jiangnan… folds and takes to a subordinate position like a duck to the water. Tell me what to do, he seems to be screaming with his eyes. And when Wang Su starts to use the word we, there’s a palpable sense of relief in Song Huaien’s whole demeanor. What’s more, he’s not reacting to the idea that he still needs to jump through some hoops in order to become a Wang minion. I’m not sure you’re ready to become my ally, lies Wang Su, knowing very well Song Huaien’s is already in his palm. Where’s the ambition? Where’s the slightest sign that this man may be capable of going for the throne for his own sake and against his brother? I don’t see it!

The Wang family is used to needing to pay their allies in hard coin (or titles, or favours), that much is clear, because that’s what Wang Su tries next. The title of a count is too lowly, he says and then dangles a princely one in front of his victim. If Song Huaien was really as hungry for honours and wealth as some of us were expecting him to be, he’d be all over that. But he’s not. He gives it due consideration, but, if anything, this proposition seems to bring him back to reality. There are no free meat pies to be had and he’s just remembered that. But since this is the best – and likely the only – proposition/offer of help he’s going to get, he seals the deal anyway.

There’s still some reluctance, though. Why, Song Huaien needs to rationalize this decision by reminding himself that Wang Su saved his life and that there’s revenge to be taken since he’s alive (as Xiao Qi is not). Not very eager to take part in a coup, is he? And then he actually makes getting justice for Xiao Qi a condition of this alliance! Finding Awu is the second one, but as I’ve already said, there seems to be no romantic intentions there.

And that’s it, the deal is done. So now, can anybody tell me how is this Song Huaien supposed to go against Xiao Qi? He’s more likely to go for a hug once he sees him alive!

There is no reasonable way to leave in Song Huaien’s conflict with Xiao Qi. There’s just no time and no real build-up to that! The only way to have him go rogue is to have a timeskip with Song Huaien doing a 180 in the meantime. And somehow I just can’t see it happening. But I guess we’ll have to see about that!

#SONG HUAIEN IS A GOOD BOY #it's not just because his hair looks nice I swear #I'm not that shallow or am I #the rebel princess #monarch industry #rebel princess meta #this is kinda long

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orsuliya · 3 years

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The way Xiao Qi beat those assasins in Ep. 2... Am I imagining things, or was he showing all his best moves? XQ has an inclination towards dramatic theatrics lol but that performance was clearly peacocking, even if done subconsciously. All that fighting and humble behaviour after just screamed "pick me!" lol

You are not imagining things, dear Nonnie. And while I’m not certain Xiao Qi actually uses all of his best moves, he certainly does seem to be playing with his food. How do I know that? Well, it’s not about what happens, but rather about what does not happen. And what does not happen is Song Huaien getting involved. Like, at all. He does have his sword out just in case, but he actually doesn’t make a move until those two surviving assassins try to run. And if anybody knows whether Xiao Qi needs help or if he can deal with four attackers while defending two potential victims, it’s that guy.

As to what actually happens... We know from autopsy that both dead assassins had their throats cut. Which is not the easiest killing blow you can deal in a swordfight nor one you would even try for unless you were pretty damn sure you could do it.

Well, as far as I am concerned the only thing Xiao Qi needs to do in order to be a better option than Zitan is breathe, but who would ever begrudge him those flashy, flashy moves? Not me, that’s for sure!

#ask and answer #the rebel princess #he could have killed all four easily #although I'm not sure what's more impressive #killing a ninja or scaring him badly enough to make him run #depends on the ninja I guess

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orsuliya · 4 years

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I am annoyed with the TRP writer, they made Awu such an alcoholic. I mean we are rooting for her to get pregnant and with her health issues, drinking doesn’t help and she always drinks when she gets upset ? Gosh! Being drunk doesn’t help anyone, even XQ in this matter, he should ban alcohol permanently in the house so she can’t drink at all

Ah, this issue is not something that the TRP writer came up with; it’s taken straight from the book. Indeed, in the book Awu’s weakness towards alcohol gets potentially triggering as early as in those three years between the wedding and Helan Zhen’s first appearance; later, admittedly, it is not as visible as in the drama, at least not in my humble opinion.

I may have a higher threshold of sensitivity to this particular issue than you, my dear Annoyed Nonnie, but even so there was one moment I felt really iffy about, so much so that I had to pause for a good minute or five. I am, of course, speaking of Yuxiu’s confession about her own drinking problem and its source. The fact that Awu was in position of authority and used this fact - although unwittingly and without malice - to pressure her social inferior into drinking, well, that was... not good.

Anyway, that was the only moment I got an unambiguously bad feeling about Awu’s drinking, maybe because she does seem to get better after her post-miscarriage bender. The need to numb herself after the sheer extent of experienced trauma I found somewhat understandable, even if the chosen method was... neither beneficial nor constructive, let’s put it like that. After that Awu seems to have it under control, barring her one adventure with buried wine and understanding snails. And she quite noticeably doesn’t get Yuxiu completely sloshed in order to pump her for information, which doesn’t deserve a commendation, but should be marked down all the same.

As for that potential ban on alcohol in the Yuzhang household... Well, for one, enforcing permanent bans on anything is not the way things are done between Awu and Xiao Qi. Expressing honest opinions and leaving the choice to the other party, sure; entering covenants, hell yes; making heartfelt promises, of course. But ordering each other about is never going to happen there.

All the same I am convinced that Words Were Had all the same. Until we get to see those infamous cut scenes, I will assume that it happened. And if it didn’t, well, then I’ll headcanon it in! Why? Well, Awu isn’t at all surprised that Xiao Qi warns her not to go wild when she decides to stay the night at the Fenchi Palace... and then she immediately digs the wine out once he is gone. Her excitement is childish, but could very well indicate that really serious drinking is a complete no go at home. True, it’s later (in episode 44?) made clear that Awu and Yuxiu still break out the wine and often, but it could very well be just a cup here and there. Xiao Qi’s good-natured reaction seems to indicate as much; remember that not that long before he had gotten rather exasperated at Awu drinking herself into unconsciousness, which tells us that it is probably not the case here. Also, Awu demurs immediately, saying that it’s too early to drink. Well, maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Or maybe it’s not about the time of day, but more about the fact that she thinks Xiao Qi ordered the wine to make her happy in spite of his own dislike of seeing her drink. Okay, I might be reaching here. Let me, please. It’s not that impossible, is it...?

Now, to be fair, I would really prefer Awu not to drink at all or at least not to the extent that we see onscreen. It doesn’t really add that much - if anything - to the character. But you know what? There is somebody with a much worse drinking problem in this drama and he’s been slipping under our radar. Is it because he’s male? Could be, could be... Whatever we say about Awu, Zitan is ten times worse. Only one of them has no problem with appearing drunk in public and only one of them neglects their duty due to alcohol consumption. Okay, both of them pass out in random places, that much is true. I think Song Huaien is another habitual drinker or at least becomes one after getting Wang-ed.

Damn, now I got myself wondering - seeing that Awu’s drinking is non-violent and largely non-disruptive - but still Very Much Not Good, don’t mistake me! - would I mind it this much in a male main character? I don’t know, you see, and that bothers me a lot.

#ask and answer #excessive drinking is BAD so don't do it kids #I feel like I should disapprove of Awu's drinking more #but that possible double standard won't let me #the rebel princess

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