#heavenly emperor xie lian

[aerscribbles]

I'm not getting to writing out the story for this WIP this year or probably the next (too much other stuff going on) so I want to put this out there somehow.

My mental nickname for it is 'TGCF Vertical Reversal AU'.

Instead of the more 'traditional roleswaps' (God/Calamity) it switches the places of Xianle and Wuyong on the timeline.

Jun Wu, thrice ascended as a martial god, god of disasters and misfortune, god of broken things. Generally way more hissy and spiteful than Xie Lian in canon. Also not very good at hiding the fact that he is constantly five seconds away from losing it.

Mei Nianqing the ~mysterious~ ghost king, infamous for his cartomancy, knowledge of the future and ability to manipulate dreams and fate.

The three unnamed vassals as gods who ascended after breaking up with Jun Wu.

Xie Lian as the Heavenly Emperor, as kind as he is strong, and oh so fucking tired. Constantly trying to parent all the other gods. also he gets to have pet tigers because I said so.

Hua Cheng as the gambling-addict State Preceptor of Wuyong. Responsible for Jun Wu's first encounter with the possibility of death. Currently trying to avert Xie Lian's rube goldberg suicide attempt.

Fengqing as powerful weather spirits in the territory of Mount Taicang. Mu Qing, a snow spirit known as Greed and Feng Xin, a wind spirit known as Ignorance (Hua Cheng is Anger). The names are referring to the three sources of mental suffering, as counter to the sources of physical suffering- Birth, Death, Sickness and Old Age (MNQ + the three mountain spirits). Hua Cheng is the old man shouting at clouds.

Mount Taicang and Mount Tonglu also switch narrative roles.

Mount Tonglu as a spiritually significant place for the kingdom of Wuyong, and also the place where the royal tomb is- 'in the fire we were born, to the fire we return'.

Mount Taicang as the ghost king trial location, though it isn't a volcano- think more Shinsenkyo from Hell's Paradise, a forested mountain overgrown with flowers, swarming with deadly insects and strange beasts- vaguely inspired by the wording of 'Body in Abyss, Heart in Paradise', a place of overwhelming beauty seemingly designed to harm you in every possible way.

The actual plot of this is less 'Xie Lian trying to force Jun Wu to become his successor by putting him through the Horrors and revealing Heaven's corruption' and more 'Xie Lian trying to ensure there is someone reliable in place to take over when he finally gets to kill himself, and cleaning house as a side benefit'.

But here's the thing. The deal with Mount Taicang is that it's the place where Xie Lian has imprisoned all of the Worst Things Ever, and the wards will fail if he dies. His power is the only thing keeping the Heavens afloat and a dozen other things functioning. The world is falling apart at the seams and is being held together with Xie Lian's lifeforce as duct tape.

Xie Lian is so, so tired.

And well, it isn't like anyone would really care if he died.

Care about the real him.

So, he plans to pass on the duties of maintaining the functional state of the world and finally find his rest.

Then his favorite child comes in and starts trying to beat some self-worth and appreciation for life into him.

Then everyone else shows up, including his old friends and the one who his heart betrayed him for.

And in the end, one person is enough.

I am 100% down to talk about this stuff if anyone shows any interest!

[habizuh-studios]

I WAS SLEEPING HOWEVER THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT. GUYS. WHAT IF AFTER THE EVENTS OF TGCF (IF THEY DON'T CHOOSE TO HAVE A DEMOCRACY OR WHATEVER I FORGOT) LANG QIANQIU BECOMES THE HEAVENLY EMPEROR. WHAT THEN. Xie Lian would be a top candidate, however...

He will not be in heaven for that long. he would rather be in ghost city, and therefore wouldn't spend that much time there

He would get assassinated within three seconds. i love you, xie lian, i would be your hua cheng if you wanted me too, but you are not good at politics.

Ling Wen could, but...

She is a civil god in charge of literally everything

making her the emperor would mean she has the power to just. not do that anymore. which no one wants

she wouldn't like it- she already has enough bullshit to deal with, politics just. would be a lot

Lang Qianqiu, on the other hand...

Has experience being a king

Has strong morals

Is not evil/learning to forgive

Is well-respected/well liked within the heavenly court

Will not get murdered by Ling Wen or Xie Lian

Do you see me?! Do you hear what I'm saying right now?!?! I'll edit later since I'm supposed to be sleeping but DO YOU GUYS HEAR ME

[shadowgale96]

XL: Today my psych professor said, "You'll never truly know someone well enough to marry until you've seen them struggle financially, grieve a lost one, or witness them while they're sick." and that just hit really deep.

JW: First date ideas: freeze their assets, kill one of there loved ones, poison their fucking dinner.

[biboomerangboi]

Been thinking about the homoerotic potential of Xianle Quartet again and I think I’ve figured out the best/funniest way for the post canon dynamic to play out: Xie Lian gets his offical harem.

And no I don’t mean Xie Lian just gets to hold hands with everyone. I think Hua Cheng who wants Gege to be happy and give him everything he wants but also genuinely believes he’s better than Feng Xin and Mu Qing starts acting like the Wife and Feng Xin and Mu Qing are Xie Lians concubines.

I think it would start with Hua Cheng giving them strictly solicited times to be with Xie Lian and then later when Xie Lian admits he feels something more about the two of them he would get real into it.

He makes it extremely clear he’s the first and most important wife in this game and they play by his rules. They deal with his times and get to see him give Xie Lian really extravagant gifts to wear when he spend time with them as well as giving him lots of love bites not to mention lots of little digs and because Fengqing are Fengqing they instantly match the energy.

The Harem games begin.

There’s so much side comments and subterfuge and of course fights to see who is the favourite while also convinced that it won’t be them because they start to notice all the beautiful things about their competitors in a really homoerotic way.

They would all start to act nice with each other when they are with of Xie Lian because they notice that he likes that and they have points to win. So there are lots of group spars and meals with a general play nice vibe to them. Until they reluctantly start to like playing nice but are also be thinking fuck these guys. These two guys are the worst people in the world.

Then of course Xie Lian goes away for a few days on a mission and they all lose it . They will literally have no one to perform for and yet they are all still being so petty and in each others business, then each others faces, and then suddenly they are all in each others bed.

Xie Lian naturally comes back to this and is delighted by this development.

[yeonslayjun]

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

WHAT?!?!??! HUH?!?!?! HOW ?!?!?!?!?!? WHEN ?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!? WHY!??!?!?!?!?!?!OH MY GOD?!?!?!?!?!?

TAMI WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?!?!?!??!?!?!??!?!!?!?!?!??!!!?!!!!!??!?!?!??!?!?!??!?!??!?

Nothing shocked as much as this LIKE I DID NOT EXPECT THIS WTF

[epherema]

I wonder what would happen if jun wu tried incorruptible chasity meatballs

[ddanmeissu]

posting a wip of angel!xl now so that i'll guilt myself into actually finishing it later lmao

EDIT: YEAH NO IM NEVER GONNA FINISH THIS.

[tgcf-fic]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 天官赐福 - 墨香铜臭 | Tiān Guān Cì Fú - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Ghost City Residents & Xie Lian (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Péi Míng & Xiè Lián (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Fēng Xìn & Mù Qíng & Xiè Lián (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Líng Wén & Xiè Lián (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Huā Chéng/Xiè Lián (Tiān Guān Cì Fú) Characters: Xiè Lián (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Huā Chéng (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Ghost City Residents (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Péi Míng (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Líng Wén (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Mù Qíng (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Fēng Xìn (Tiān Guān Cì Fú) Additional Tags: Heavenly Emperor Xiè Lián (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Post-Canon, POV Xiè Lián (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Established Relationship, Supportive Huā Chéng (Tiān Guān Cì Fú) Summary:

The three realms are clamoring for a god to sit on the Heavenly Throne. The one they have chosen sets out on a journey... to avoid it.

[unseeliefaerie]

tgcf is really hitting the mark of the inherent homoeroticism between a minor deity and his most devoted worshipper

[cloud-hymn]

Imagine being some random god that ascended during Xie Lian’s second banishment and for years being told about how much this guy sucks and how much everyone hates him and then he ascends for the third time and everyone from the two martial gods that are always fighting, to the wind master, to the literal heavenly emperor are all staring at him with hearts in their eyes

[sillygoofyqueer]

I like to think about the white robed cultivators introducing their husbands (I know Shen Qingqiu wears green robes, but go with it). Xie Lian would be like, "this is my husband, he's a ghost king who searched for me for over eight hundred years and sacrificed himself three times for me, and all of heaven fears him" and there's Hua Cheng in the background, looking sexy and mysterious, probably sculpting a statue of Xie Lian because he's bored. Shen Qingqiu would then be like, "this is MY husband, he's half heavenly demon and emperor of the demon realm who almost ruled both realms but stopped because he only wanted me" and Luo Binghe is in the background, ominous and yet undeniably handsome as he cooks Shen Qingqiu some of the most delicious looking food ever. Then there's Lan Wangji. "Oh, this is my husband. He's a human cultivator who plays the flute so well that even the dead come back to listen to it" and it cuts to Wei Wuxian, who is clinging to a tree and screaming as a dog tries to bite his robes.

[cryingant]

I’ve seen so many people mess this up in fics/Tiktok’s and it’s getting annoying.

XIE LIAN IS THE STRONGEST!

Xie Lian is canonically stronger than Hua Cheng, he does not need Hua Cheng to fight for him.

XL beat Jun Wu, the Strongest Martial God, the Heavenly Emperor! All he needed was for his shackle to come off.

Xie Lian is not a weak, soft character that doesn’t know how to fight his own battles. He tries to talk things out instead of fighting due to his promise of never killing another man with his sword.

Thank you for coming to my ted talk

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

Most iconic Xie Lian moments according to me

Contains spoilers!!!

"Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry"

Keeping every memento of his worst time ever as a reminder of why being kind and forgiving is worth it

When he runs off after he gives Hua Cheng CPR that one time pretending he's looking for his hat

When he keeps roasting Xiao Ying's looks even as she's dying

When he was a prince and he was told his future looked dark and he said that can't be cause he only wears white

Eating food off the ground

Building his own temple, we love a girl boss

When he pet E'Ming like a little puppy after being explicitly told not to ever touch it under any circumstances

Putting Banyue in a pickle jar

When Wuming said he would follow Xie Lian to the death and Xie Lian went "youre already dead"

Breaking rocks on his chest for money

Being trampled to death as general Hua, doormat core

The whole Fangxin Guoshi arc, whew 🥵

Carrying around a big ass bag of scraps everywhere

When he became jealous of Hua Cheng's special someone not realizing the very obvious fact that he was Hua Cheng's special someone actually

Slapping tf out of Qi Rong for making fun of Hua Cheng being blind in one eye

Pretending he had no idea who Nan Feng and Fu Yao were

When Mu Qing and Feng Xin were freaking about how creepy the Ten Thousands Gods Cave was whilst he found it incredibly romantic

Being a bit too into pretending to be Hua Cheng's puppet on Mount Tonglu

Feeding into E'Ming's praise kink

When he disguised himself as a pregnant lady to be possessed by the evil fetus spirit and it worked

When he disguised himself as a woman so badly he looked hideous and needed help to not look like that

When he spent the entirety of the Xuan Ji capturing business in his wedding dress disguise, including meeting Pei Xiu like that

It hurts, it hurts, it hurts-

When his response to the sex pollen was to kill himself

"I do not worship god, i am god!"

Every single sweet and tender interaction with Hua Cheng's butterflies that everyone else is terrified of

When everyone ignored him in the communication array because he was cringe

Getting drunk on a tombstone with little ghost fire Hua Cueng after his life fell apart

Controversial but i think his calamity era was also iconic and very sexy

When Heaven's Eye said his lips are exuding evil energy and he turned bright red

And then later when Heaven's Eye said the evil energy is inside him and he immediately changed the subject

Recognizing literally everyone despite their disguises but keeping quiet about it not to embarrass them.

Calling Yin Yu boring and forgettable looking to his face

Defending Hua Cheng, evil ghost king, in front of the whole entire Heavenly Emperor

When he was working in the rice field with Hua Cheng and he kept staring

Being poor

Having ridiculously bad luck

Ascending three times

Big daddy issues even with his dad still alive

When his life had just fallen apart and he didnt know how much a lantern could cost because he had been ridiculously rich all his life

Holding up a massive temple from falling apart???

Kissing Hua Cheng for spiritual energy in front of literally everyone more than once

When he could hear rats talking???

Adopting children

Not iconic Xie Lian behaviors

His abhorrent cooking

Trying to kill himself???

[yeonslayjun]

WAIT WAIT WAIT SO

tl;dr :

Xie Lian's theory suggests that one of the four elements is "Birth," likely referring to his Guoshi. The Crown Prince, possibly similar to Xie Lian, may have caused a village's downfall, leading to his Guoshi advising him. This Crown Prince, White No Face, turned ghost, possibly through a deal with the previous heavenly emperor, orchestrating the Tong'lu challenge to conceal his strength and using Xie Lian as a pawn. The shared face between them could be due to an unlucky star sign, with the goal of manipulating Xie Lian for their plans, leading to hostility when he descended.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

XIE LIAN's theory is right but kinda. One of the 4 thingies is Birth and that was probably his Guoshi and The 4 thingies (yes I forgot the name) were the generals/subordinates of the crown prince.

This Crown Prince probably did smth like Xie Lian and it might have caused the village to meet it'd end and hence he Guoshi advisinh him and like telling him it was all because of him

This Crown Prince is White No face who became a ghost OR MAYBE NOT he was filled wih resenment and shit and bc he had already ascended he couldn't die so he did smth probably made a deal with the prvious heavenly emperor and now jun wu too to hide the fact that he wasn't a ghost

now he wanted smth to cover up the fact that he as a "Ghost" could be that strong so he decided to make the Tong'lu challenge (i don't have a bettter name lol) He was the crown prince and he saw the demise of his ppl with his own eyes prolly made him go mad yk?

and so he decided that his deserted kingdom was the best way to use as a play ground for the challenge (lol) and thus helping some of the strongest ghost kings to emerge so that his existence is not suspisious.

now the fact that they have the same face was probably because they were born in the same star sign which was deemed unlucky (makes sense why Xie Lian's always unlucky (except for Hua Cheng)) and they some how discovered this and decided to teach Xie Lian and to help him become strong so that he could take over the heavens or smth and use him like a puppet yk?(which i suspect is what they're doing with junwu)

and when Xie Lian descended they were mad because their plans failed and they decided that he wasn't someone that could be reined in like how they had hoped. SO they decided it's better to kill him (BREAK HIM BEYOND REPAIR) than let him cause havoc and what better way than using the ppl of XianLe???

Now the trap laid by white no face and yang ling was to lure him out but white no face had other intension maybe like stripping/weakening Xie Lian's powers and taking his place bc the only person who saw is face was Xie Lian

and these ppl have discovered that the ppl born with that specific constellaion undergoes 2 awakenings or smth (with prev experience) so that might've been their aim but um ye that's it for now ig

I haven't figured out the details but this is the gist of it sort of lol

[redrandomposts]

trophy wife hua cheng

-xie lian brings him to the heavens sometimes during meetings. hua cheng puts on the form he wore on the ox cart, pretties himself up in silver and fine robes, and proudly sits on dianxia's lap.

-the form is for ease. xie lian rests his chin on san lang's shoulder, wraps his arms around his waist, and everyone else in the room feels like dying inside and outside. (besides pei ming, but, whatever)

-trophy wife brings calm; the meetings have less arguments between the gods whenever hua cheng comes along. perhaps its a moniker that the mortals give him, but its made clear he isnt a god—just the lover of the heavenly emperor.

-lmao statues of hua cheng is put in rooms of main halls where meetings frequently happen to inspire the same effect.

-somehow becomes a being of meetings? not a god, may i remind you, but also not known as a ghost. because of his drastically different form, he isnt connected as the ghost king hua cheng. perhaps the mortals believe xie lian has a harem.

-modern au hua cheng gets prayers from all over the world. prayers for a meeting to end, or get exciting, or be productive.

i have no idea how this derailed but im liking it