#mu qing in no way cared about the youth part

[jiangwanyinscatmom]

@easysmoothie (I don't like notes for long discussions or points and this is long so another post)

I'll be blunt here, nothing here denotes care for the deaths of youths from Mu Qing or the idea that Hua Cheng could be killed on battle, it's a rational of "don't waste our time".

慕情把花城赶出军营时到底说了什么？

墨香铜臭：慕情讲话不就那个样子嘛。你这种小鬼对太子殿下根本没用，只会拖他的后腿，军队里不需要你这种废物，你不要以为你真的有天赋！之类的。而且因为在军队里这样的少年死亡率的确很高，所以慕情觉得自己赶他出去也有一点没错。

What did Mu Qing say when he drove Hua Cheng out of the barracks?

MXTX : Mu Qing's speech mannerisms are always negative. *A kid like you is useless to His Royal Highness, you will only drag him down. The army doesn't need such waste like you. Don't think you're actually talented or something like that!* And the mortality rate of youths who join the army is indeed very high, Mu Qing feels that he is right to drive him out.

*what Mu Qing says in way to dismiss Hua Cheng's own want because he doesn't find a kid worth investing in that he has already continuously dismissed before*

The last part you are focusing on is cold fact as Mu Qing, in context with the rest he doesn't want to or see a need to give Hua Cheng the time of day to be "useful". And furthermore leans into his very own biases and assumptions of those of a lower position and expectations he himself holds in them. Irony considering how he was able to get to where he had due to Xie Lian's investment and wanting to be friends, yet he does not let Xie Lian do that for similar circumstance.

By all means he is not evil, but he also doesn't care for anything other than what he considers practicality for himself and his efforts or understand the investment Xie Lian may have for others is anything more than a means to propel his own goals.

(Add-on reference: Fan translation) I will also thank @mxtxfanatic for further context for this that he did not care about Hua Cheng and the fact he was a child. Once more he uses useless, wasteful, trash and calls Hua Cheng disgusting and had thought as such at the time when he threw him out.

[plan-d-to-i]

Great to see another person who isn't a JC stan! And the thing is, I like the idea of him being protective uncle and would love to see a reconciliation. But would I want one as JC currently is across all iterations? Nope. Maybe WWX continues to visit his home, but it's definitely not for JC's sake. He has a new life now and shouldn't be expected to be tethered to someone who clearly wanted him dead for years, tortured innocents, and was a terrible uncle.

The donghua makes him look even more pathetic imo, but by doing so, it also gives us a beautiful scene with WWX wanting to leave the past behind. JC going into seclusion is the least he could do (and personally, I was never comfortable with LXC going into one—though the man absolutely deserves to rest—so this kinda balances it out lol). Not every character is going to get their happy ending and that's okay.

Honestly, if WWX deserves to have a reunion with any of his siblings, it's Yanli. And no doubt she'd be disappointed in the person JC has become.

hahah hello other person who isn't a jc stan. ヾ(・ω・*)

I think it's great that mdzs doesn't have a reconciliation. MXTX did reconciliation between the mc and his friend in tgcf: Xie Lian & Mu Qing- but to make the reconciliation happen MXTX made Mu Qing quite different from jiang cheng. I never got the sense that it was overlooked or lacking in mdzs, but only that it's very deliberately not done. It's very true to life. There are some things there's no coming back from. jiang cheng ultimately led a siege against Wei Wuxian and killed people Wei Wuxian had spent years around, who he respected and had become familiar with and most likely loved. Wei Wuxian may not actively keep grudges, or hate in his heart, but neither is he a pushover. Honestly even if so much had not happened between them, they never had anything in common since young, their world views are completely different. They would have always drifted apart. Wei Wuxian was interested in helping others and jiang cheng cared only about helping himself. Wei Wuxian's home is no longer Lotus Pier it's the Cloud Recesses. He's accepted into the Lan Clan as Lan Wangji's partner.

The part of the story where Wei Wuxian takes Lan Wangji around Lotus Pier is really symbolic of him sharing his youth with Lan Wangji but also putting that chapter of his life to rest. Wei Wuxian sees his old living quarters have been torn down:

“Lan WangJi asked, “What is wrong?”

Wei WuXian shook his head, “Nothing. The place I lived in used to be here. Now it’s gone. It really was torn down. All of these are new.”

The atmosphere is on longer as warm and welcoming around Lotus Pier as he remembers it. Since the very first time in his new life that jc wants to kidnap him and take him to Lotus Pier (to torture/kill) WWX is aware that it won't match what he remembers. He doesn't want to go back to the tattered Lotus Pier of the present and now he sees it first hand:

“There aren’t many vendors left. Back then, no matter how late it was, this place was crammed with vendors, selling all kinds of food, because many people in Lotus Pier came out for late night snacks. There were also many boats, maybe even more than your Caiyi Town.” He continued, “It’s much fewer now. Lan Zhan, you came here too late. You weren’t here when it was at it was at its liveliest.”

Finally they make their way to the tree. The tree that WWX fell from when he was little on the night YanLi made him her soup for the first time, and he got along with jiang cheng for the first time- meaning the first night he probably felt some sense of belonging there:

“Wei WuXian, “But this one’s different! This was the first one I climbed after I came to Lotus Pier. I climbed it in the middle of the night. My shijie came out to search for me, holding a lantern. She was scared I’d fall down the tree, so she prepared to catch me on the ground. But what could she catch with her thin little arms? And so I still broke one of my legs.”

Only this time he leaps and falls into Lan Wangji's arms. Unlike YanLi LWJ catches him securely. Wei Wuxian entrusts himself fully into Lan Wangji's care, and Lan Wangji is strong enough to love and protect him wholly. They move on to their last stop in the Ancestral Hall so he can present LWJ to JFM and YZY, since he doesn't even have the ashes of his own parents, and as if things were not final enough jc busts in and effectively ends any (emotional) ties WWX might have still had to Lotus Pier.

“Lan WangJi, “How do you feel?!”

Wei WuXian didn’t answer the question, “Lan Zhan… Let’s go.” Go. Right now. Don’t ever come back again.

Lan WangJi, “Yes.”

That's pretty final. He reiterates that sentiment of leaving the past in the past in the Guanyin Temple, again while holding Lan Wangji's hand.

“Wei WuXian, “Uh, I think it’s best if you… also stop keeping it on your mind. I know you’ll definitely always keep it on your mind, but, how should I say it…” He clenched Lan WangJi’s hand, saying to Jiang Cheng, “Right now, I do really think… it’s all in the past. It’s been too long. There’s no need to struggle with it any longer.”

The donghua somehow, in spite of switching everything around, managed to captured the spirit of those two scenes very well and distilled it into one.

I too thought it did surprisingly well :)

[no-other-words]

on the study of eroticism

Synopsis: Xie Lian discovers that there are some parts of his body that invites certain sensations and he can’t quite figure out what to do with it. His husband helps. Rated M | 2500w | post-canon, domestic fluff, a little spicy [ Read on AO3 ]

A sudden heat comes from nowhere, slowly bubbling from the bottom of his stomach. The spot where Hua Cheng kissed is sending tingles down his spine. It’s…a weird feeling.

Then a mischievous tongue swipes at the same spot and—his body jerks.

“Ah—!”

Xie Lian quickly covers his mouth. Was that…him? Did that keen, airy sound, full of want and something else come out of his lips? He’s never heard himself like this before. So foreign to his own ears. So strange.

“I didn’t know Your Highness has so many…receptive spots.”

---

The first time it happens, Xie Lian is utterly mortified.

They’re lazing away the afternoon, sitting on a hill near Puqi Shrine. Xie Lian’s snug against Hua Cheng and entirely engrossed in a book he found in an old book store.

Hua Cheng is quiet the entire time. Xie Lian learns that he’s okay being the silent accompaniment as long as he gets to watch Xie Lian to his heart’s content. It’s also out of respect, ‘this one doesn’t wish to break gege’s concentration when he’s reading.’

The summer breeze brings a refreshing chill to the otherwise humid weather. Xie Lian swipes his hair to the side, getting some air to his neck. He should look into lighter clothing, now that the—

Xie Lian’s thoughts cut off.

He feels Hua Cheng’s lips against the back of his neck. Warm breaths tickle his skin that make goosebumps rise deliciously down his arms. Xie Lian’s about to make an off-hand comment when those same lips open and place a daring kiss.

A sudden heat comes from nowhere, slowly bubbling from the bottom of his stomach. The spot where Hua Cheng kissed is sending tingles down his spine. It’s…a weird feeling.

Then a mischievous tongue swipes at the same spot and—his body jerks.

“Ah—!”

Xie Lian quickly covers his mouth. Was that…him? Did that keen, airy sound, full of want and something else come out of his lips? He’s never heard himself like this before. So foreign to his own ears. So strange.

So…lewd.

Hua Cheng does it again and this time Xie Lian grabs the legs on either side of him in a panic. His shoulders shrink inwards, a weak attempt to both escape and invite for more (more more). Xie Lian’s whole body buzzes with this sudden onslaught of pleasure and he’s not sure how to process it.

Something pulls his legs together and he realizes it’s himself. Squeezing tightly to hide the embarrassment.

He’s hard. Full on aroused by just a kiss on his neck.

What is this?!

Xie Lian peers back to see Hua Cheng, his gaze loving as always in his carefree and youthful appearance.

“Yes gege?” His husband asks as if he has no idea just how much Xie Lian is affected by him. “Did I do something wrong?”

A voice tells Xie Lian that Hua Cheng knows exactly what, but the unassuming smile on Hua Cheng’s face pushes any suspicion away.

“N-no. It’s nothing.”

The rest of their afternoon go undisturbed. Hua Cheng doesn’t make any more advances and lets Xie Lian to his reading. At least he tries to.

The intensity from Hua Cheng’s stare weighs heavy on his back.

---

It festers in his mind for the next passing days.

What had happened seems so trivial yet profoundly curious. Xie Lian has experienced pleasures before (oh has he, with Hua Cheng’s relentlessness and skill in bed). But never has he imagined that a single touch to that specific spot can incite such a reaction.

From his voice. The sharp pitch, with just a touch of breathlessness, almost choking from the sudden amount of pure want. He doesn’t think himself capable of producing such a sound. Ought to be dying from embarrassment.

Not even the heat from the kitchen fire can match the fever running through his head. He should concentrate on the task at hand. Concentrate!

He’s making radish soup tonight, specifically requested by his husband. Despite having an army of servants at their disposal, Xie Lian prefers to do the cooking. Especially for dinner. It reminds him of slow days at Puqi Shrine, when Hua Cheng was San Lang who made sure to keep his distance and didn’t dare to step over the line. And now?

Now he sneaks to Xie Lian’s side with every chance he gets, pretending to move with innocent intent when they both know Hua Cheng is itching to cop a feel. Xie Lian lets him. There is comfort in close proximity.

Xie Lian pauses at cutting the radishes and touches the back of his neck.

Huh. Nothing.

Curious indeed.

“And then?” Hua Cheng breaks him out of his reverie.

“Hmm?”

“Gege was telling me how those idiots got into a brawl again.”

Xie Lian straightens himself up and says, “ah yes. It was the usual misunderstanding between them. Mu Qing said something about Jian Lan and Feng Xin took it the wrong way. You know how he can be.”

“Foolishly so.”

Xie Lian sends him a not-so-stern look that Hua Cheng shrugs at. Is he wrong? He supposes not. Hua Cheng is rarely wrong in many things. He boasts when time calls for it, rightfully so. It’s one of his traits that Xie Lian finds so charming.

Xie Lian finishes up chopping up the green onions before dumping them into the pot. The aroma smells right this time. No sourness hidden in the air. Last time, Hua Cheng had suggested to maybe leave the vinegar out. Good call on that.

“San Lang, come have a taste.”

Hua Cheng obediently saunters over, stopping behind Xie Lian. He towers over him, both hands resting Xie Lian’s waist and the latter naturally leans back. Xie Lian scoops up a small amount of soup and blows at it.

“Careful, it’s hot.”

Bending forward, Hua Cheng joins in and blows at the steaming spoon of soup. He shifts slightly and suddenly Xie Lian feels a soft stream of air tickling his ear.

A gasp escapes his lips before he could stop. His hand jerks, spilling soup over the pot.

There it is again. That tingling. The heat, travelling from the tip of his ear to the pool of his stomach and down to the place where he’s really trying not to think of right now. That blow of air to his ear had awaken something within his body, brought back memories of feverish nights and mind-blowing pleasure.

Xie Lian quietly swallows and wills his body to settle. It’s unseemly, getting this a strong of a reaction from such a meaningless act. It’s the same as when Hua Cheng had kissed the back of his neck. His body freezes then heats up in want, in need, in desire and—and what is it? There must be something wrong.

Hua Cheng, oblivious to all the turmoil battling inside Xie Lian, continues to blow at the soup. Or whatever’s left of it. Xie Lian should scoop another batch up. That’s right. Hua Cheng needs a taste. Why is his hand shaking?

Another steady stream of cool breath caresses his ear from behind and—

“San Lang!”

His cry comes out more as a desperate whimper, indecently so. Xie Lian’s other hand grips the edge of the counter so tightly that he can see veins lining out. He presses forward, willing his arousal away.

“It’s hot right? This one’s only taking measures to cool it down a bit,” says Hua Cheng coyly. “Can’t risk our tongues burning.”

Something else is already burning in Xie Lian and it’s definitely not his tongue.

Hua Cheng takes the arm holding the spoon and brings it towards to them. He takes a quick sip of the soup, waits, then gives Xie Lian an approving smile. Eyes bright and full of delight and…playful?

“Gege makes the best soup! It warms me up all nice inside.”

Xie Lian’s eyebrows twitch.

He watches Hua Cheng proceed to set the table in an easy-going manner. He wears a small grin that Xie Lian usually overlooks as contentment but now it seems to be carrying something more. Satisfaction. Amusement. Pride.

Is Hua Cheng catching on?

---

The ghost king is up to something. By now Xie Lian is sure of it.

Hua Cheng is an affectionate being, giving gentle brushes of their hands here and a soft nuzzle there. His husband is surprisingly rather tactile and he is all for it.

But lately, there has been a lot more sneak attacks. Ones that ruffle Xie Lian’s feathers, tickle his nerves, invoke those same strange and embarrassing sounds that Xie Lian is failing miserably at preventing. Some touches result in no reaction, just a weird look from Xie Lian. Others…oh how they make him shiver with unforeseen bliss.

It is almost as if Hua Cheng is looking for treasure chests hidden all over the map that is his body and the only way to uncover them is to blindly cop a feel or blow a kiss.

Today is no exception.

They’re having a stroll down the streets of Ghost City. Its civilians are delighted to see Hua Chengzhu out in public. A rare sighting. Of course, it is no surprise that beside their lord is his esteemed companion, the one with the bamboo hat and easygoing smile.

Xie Lian stops at a stall on the side, something catching his eyes. A display of old archives all crusty and tattered and really shouldn’t be up for sale. But Xie Lian is Xie Lian and knowledge is limitless so he curiously glances over the titles.

Chronicles of the Flesh-Eating Toad

A Thousand Nights in a Thousand Brothels

Great Conquests of Black Water Sinking Ships

“Anything catching our esteemed guest fancy?” The stall-owner asks. She’s a rather old woman, wrinkles marked deep into her leathery skin. One eye atrociously scarred and her attempt at a smile offers the opposite effect of warm and welcome.

Xie Lian hums in earnest, thinking seriously before answering. They quickly enter a conversation on forgotten literature and unwritten history. Hua Cheng, naturally, is already by Xie Lian’s side, a hand on his back.

That same hand, despite behaving at first, spread itself across the lower of his back, pressing just so. Xie Lian stops in his words then hitches a startled breath when he feels Hua Cheng’s hand slither upwards. It’s agonizingly slow, with fingers kneading ever so slightly against the bumps of his spine, inducing little humming shockwaves riding throughout his entire body.

The area below his stomach throbs, warming again to the same sensation. This time, Xie Lian keeps his voice in check and lets out only a choked breath.

“Gege?”

His ear tingles.

“Something on your mind?” Hua Cheng asks, leaning close. “Do you not feel well?”

His back. He’s thinking of his lower back and how it hums and makes him twist inside. He’s thinking of a kiss planted behind his neck and a sensual blow of breath to his ear tips. He thinks of cool skin and sweat, of long nights and vivid images, of a bed adorned in red and of highs he’s never ascended to before until Hua Cheng Hua Cheng San Lang—

Xie Lian staggers a little, alarming the stall-owner. She doesn’t want to offend Hua Chengzhu’s cherished person. But it is not her at all. It is the thumb now caressing lightly over the inside of his wrist and aaah, that’s another spot so sensitive to Hua Cheng’s touch. And he recognizes that this has all been done on purpose.

A whimper escapes his throat. Oh, how red his face must be.

“Gege doesn’t look too good. You’re warming up. Perhaps we should return for the night.” His voice is filled with worry but Xie Lian now knows the little game Hua Cheng is playing. He peers over and sure enough, that corner of Hua Cheng’s lips is gleefully curved.

“I didn’t know Your Highness has so many…receptive spots.”

---

His full assault comes when Xie Lian is at his weakest.

When the martial god is entangled in sheets, splayed across the bed in a state of helplessness. He writhes at every shock sent from below where ghost meets god, cries on each impact. Hua Cheng dominates from behind him, chest to back, and he takes full control of every nerve in Xie Lian’s body.

A hot tongue laps at the back of his neck and another wave of heat shoots straight to his arousal. This time, Xie Lian learns not to hold back and he moans keenly into the pillow.  When the same tongue moves to behind his ear, his voice shifts into an obscene-sounding whine.

“San Lang…San Lang—ah!”

He feels the incoming wave of pleasure, a tense ball forming inside just waiting to burst and he can’t wait. Oh the anticipation, oh the blissful release Xie Lian’s clumsily chasing right now. That Hua Cheng’s demanding.

“Gege is especially sensitive tonight,” Hua Cheng remarks, voice low and deceivingly calm. “He seems to be more vocal than usual.”

Xie Lian grinds desperately into the bed as Hua Cheng grinds into him. He always manages to hit that sweet spot that makes Xie Lian sing.

And he does. He sings brokenly into the night when Xie Lian finally comes wrecked and sweet. His whole body quivers, intoxicated in sheer delight.

But Hua Cheng doesn’t stop there. He mercifully gives Xie Lian a short moment before resuming his thrusts. The hand that had held Xie Lian’s moves to the base of his neck and slides sensually down his spine. Hot lips press against Xie Lian’s neck and begin to suckle at the skin.

It’s all too overwhelming. Xie Lian curves his back deliciously so, prying away from Hua Cheng’s touch yet yearning for more more more.

“S-San Lang..too much…”

His plead is in vain. Hua Cheng’s other hand wraps itself around Xie Lian’s wrist and the thumb languidly rubs over the erogenous area.

“What’s that, gege? Is this spot too much? This one doesn’t think so,” Hua Cheng murmurs as he blows softly at Xie Lian’s ear again. “Who knew gege had so many hidden treasures?”

Jolts of bliss come at every direction. His lower back, his neck, his ear, his wrist. Xie Lian can feel himself hard again and he can’t—he can’t again.

“San Lang, San Lang!”

Xie Lian abruptly knocks Hua Cheng off and flip them over, pinning his husband down with his legs and hands. His chest burns from heavy breathing and he takes a moment to gain composure. Hua Cheng wears an arrogant smirk.

He wants to wipe it right off.

“I like it when gege gets a little rough.”

Xie Lian huffs. “San Lang is being a bully.”

Hua Cheng raises a doubtful eyebrow. “This one merely wants to make His Highness feel good.”

Not fair, not fair at all. Hua Cheng lies there all comfortably, basking gloriously in the fact that he’s made Xie Lian this euphoric and happy. Knowing he’s made him feel so loved and adored and deserving.

Leaning down, Xie Lian presses a long kiss to Hua Cheng’s lips before moving down his jawline. Soft, lingering pecks trail along his husband’s neck. He stops at the Adam’s apple and gives a lick before continue. Hua Cheng takes one deep breathe—good, he’s relaxed.

Xie Lian arrives at his collarbone, gives a good stare, then gently bites on the edge.

Hua Cheng jolts beneath him, his abdominal clenching on instinct. Xie Lian hears a choked grunt, cut midway as if it was stopped desperately. He looks up to see Hua Cheng scrunching his eyebrows in slight confusion. Arousal swims in his eyes.

Xie Lian grins.

“Found yours.”

---

a/n: erogenous zones fascinate me.

[chibimuiwritesstuff]

Ex-MMA Fighter Xie Lian AU

A super random AU I thought up in the shower (because that’s where all our best thoughts come from). Essentially borne from my amusement at how Xie Lian, in his youth, was super obsessed with really good fighters (a tidbit that I feel goes woefully unmentioned in fandom and even by the author later in the novel). Posting because I need to get the idea out of my head and possibly actually start writing it.

(Also I don’t actually know anything about the MMA world, especially competitively - I just dabbled in Judo/Karate in my late teens, but that’s about it).

So basically. Imagine, XL is a super sweet but clumsy department head at Heavenly Officials Ltd. (I have no idea what kind of company this actually is, ideas are welcome), whom his staff all adore but also kind of worry for cuz omg is he super air headed and clutzy and fucking hopeless. Just the other week he managed to spill coffee all over his laptop--his third one of the year and it’s only March! But he is literally so nice, and despite his clumsiness is actually super competent at his job and his department always gets stellar results (what department are they? I have no clue, I know nothing about the corporate world).

What none of his staff/coworkers know is that their ridiculously clumsy boss used to be a champion mixed martial arts fighter in his university days. Or that he would even be interested in something as brutal as MMA cage matches since XL is a known pacifist who will go out of his way to catch bugs and place them safely outside when he has the time. But then one of the IT guys - in the process of fixing his laptop and restoring his hard drive finds a folder filled with videos and pictures of MMA cage matches all featuring the same fighter... you guessed it, Hua Cheng (I know MMA is not wrestling, but let’s pretend stage names are a thing in the competitive MMA world as well so HC is his fighter name in the arena)! The gossip spreads like wildfire, but everyone just thinks XL is just a fan of this ridiculously attractive fighter and don’t really think beyond that (although they do think it’s kind of adorable that XL  seems to be such a huge fanboy of this gorgeous, gorgeous man).

And the thing is - the staff have heard vague snippets from XL himself about his husband, “San Lang” who they have yet to meet because apparently he is often busy in the evenings and is therefore unable to attend corporate events. But they don’t make the connection that the adorable San Lang who cooks and pampers their boss could be the incredibly brutal and violent HC (his staff all decided to review some videos just to see who has captured their bosses interest and most of them are erm... quite surprised).

Then of course, someone does find out that SL and HC are the same person and this is when shit really hits the fan because the thing is - the staff generally knew that XL and his partner could be quite *ahem* adventurous and coupled with XL’s inherent clumsiness they had gotten used to seeing random marks and bruises on their boss that they probably shouldn’t be witness too, but whom he always insists are ‘nothing’. But when they learn that his partner is a potentially super violent MMA fighter his staff get awfully protective and worried because... could their boss be in an abusive relationship that they aren’t aware of???? This opinion is not helped by the fact that when they try to discretely ask FX and MQ about HC they ofc give some pretty bad impressions (because both of them can’t stand HC--but the feelings are pretty mutual).

So of course, they must staff an intervention! And a perfect opportunity comes up--as part of some charity event their company is partnering with the local MMA organization to hold a friendly exhibition charity match and surprise-surprise, they’re bringing in their big gun, HC and he’s apparently going to fight some old veteran whose fighter name is “His Royal Highness”. (google reveals a fighter who constantly wore a mask to hide his identity). This is their chance to meet the bosses partner and maybe subtle-y threaten him enough to let him know that their boss is cared for and they will protect him at all costs if necessary.

(side note: Feng Xin and Mu Qing don’t bother to correct anyone because a) they generally stay out of gossip surrounding XL because b) they respect Xie Lian’s privacy c) they hate talking about HC in any capacity and d) they have an on-going bet to see when ppl will learn their ‘adorable clumsy boss’ could theoretically take out an entire swat team without batting an eyelash if he really wanted to--he was nearly recruited to be a special ops agent, but anyway)

So. The day of the charity match arrives and XL is... nowhere to be found??? Perhaps he’s somewhere else, VIP seating with the CEO (Jun Wu) or something since HC is his partner after all. Anyway, they watch the fight and it’s... Wow. But also a bit different? HC doesn’t seem as wild or brutal as he seems from online videos, although there is still this energy that everyone can feel in the fight that they can’t really place. But wow is it a fight and in the end HC surprisingly loses????

Ref blows the whistle and the staff all clamber down hoping to get in a word with HC when they all stop short because “His Royal Highness” suddenly rips his mask off and flies into HC’s arm and... and is that THEIR BOSS???

Minds are blown. Jaws are dropped. The two of them are practically three seconds away from full-on making out on the cage floor before FX/MQ yell at them to “stop being fucking gross, you’re in public damn it” and then XL snaps out of it and remembers, oh right, his entire staff team from work is here and they all just scream at him and he’s just like ???? because... well...

He hadn’t been trying to keep this a secret at all?

But now that the cat is out of the bag he is super happy to introduce HC to everyone, and then hopefully drag his partner off to the nearest secluded space because half the reason XL retired was a) he was done uni and was offered a nice position by Jun Wu (CEO of HO Ltd) - who was also an ex-fighter and trained under the same master as XL so they know each other pretty well - so he had less time and b) he felt he had found his match with HC and so the thrill of fighting others wasn’t as big anymore and c) ...after getting together cage matches were just another form of foreplay and it made things rather... ah... difficult to say the least. So XL bowed out without any issue. HC stayed in the profession because he knows XL likes watching him fight :)

Also just because XL doesn’t compete anymore doesn’t mean they don’t still spar on the regular in private. There is just something about the atmosphere of competitive cage matches that just got their blood flowing more than just sparring on the side for fun (although that would often lead to sex afterwards too, but at least in that case there wasn’t an audience).

So. There you have it.

[lesbloggerables]

Nirvana in Fire Character Guide

First things first: Nirvana in Fire takes place in a fictional kingdom in about 6th century China. The kingdom in question is Da Liang (sometimes called Great Liang). As was the custom in the olden days, it exists in a state of near-constant warfare with neighbouring lands.

The capital city of Da Liang is called Jinling. That’s where most of the action takes place.

The country is ruled by the Emperor. This dude:

His name is Xiao Xuan, but hardly anyone ever uses it, so that’s not actually super relevant.

The emperor has lots of relatives: grandmother, siblings with their offspring, and children from his various wives. These people are relevant to the plot in different ways, so I’ll give a quick rundown, not in order of their importance. In fact, this whole character list is not in order of importance, since I expect the actual protagonist will only show up somewhere towards the middle ^^

Grand Empress: the emperor’s grandmother. Super old, forgetful, but still likes to be surrounded by young people and cares about all of her grandchildren, though she may not remember who any of them are. Likes giving them sweets and recommending marriage.

Dowager Empress: the emperor’s mother. She’s dead now and only appears in one scene, but that one scene is enough to conclude that she was a piece of work.

Grand Prince Ji: the emperor’s brother. Stays out of politics, prefers music, dancing and drinks. 

The Crown Prince, Xiao Jingxuan: the emperor’s eldest surviving son. Really keen to keep his place as Crown Prince and eventually inherit the throne. Engaged in a power struggle with his half-brother Prince Yu, and as such makes sure to recruit supporters to his side. Cultivates a number of ministers in a quid pro quo arrangement. Resides in the Eastern Palace, hence references to his plots as “plots by the Eastern palace.”

Noble Consort Yue: the Crown Prince’s mother, favoured by the emperor for many years, which is one of the main reasons why her son is this high in rank. Manipulative, ruthless and much smarter than her son.

Empress Yan: the emperor’s wife, high in status thanks to her official position but lacking the emperor’s favour. Comes from a very respected family. Has no children of her own and so adopted Prince Yu. Likes power.

Prince Yu, Xiao Jinghuan: the sixth prince and emperor’s other very prominent son, fighting tooth and nail to supplant the Crown Prince and get to the throne. People say he resembles the emperor the most.

Prince Yu’s wife: confusingly calls the empress her “mother,” but that’s just a polite form of address. Her hobbies involve loving Prince Yu and helping the empress plot with him. Her brother is the head of the Review Court, which forms some branch of the judiciary. He’s a useful connection for Prince Yu to have.

Marquis Yan, Yan Que: the empress’s brother. Used to be great friends with the emperor in his youth, still very influential in court when he bothers to make an appearance, which is rarely.

Yan Yujin: the son of Marquis Yan, so the empress’s nephew. A wealthy youth with an amiable disposition and without a particular occupation, not bad at martial arts. Is into music and courtly gossip.

Concubine Jing: one of the emperor’s low-ranked concubines. Very mild and calm. Is a skilled doctor. Hobbies include making herbal concoctions and being more perceptive than people give her credit for. Mother of Prince Jing.

Prince Jing, Xiao Jingyan: a low-ranking prince, out of favour with his father the emperor. Has spent many years in functional exile on military campaigns. Known for his stubbornness and temper; unbending in his views on right and wrong. Dislikes scheming and strategists, because he blames the death of his childhood best friend, Lin Shu, and his beloved elder brother Prince Qi on a schemers’ plot.

Lin Shu, often referred to as xiao-Shu: Prince Jing’s childhood best friend and young marshal of the Chiyan army. One of the many people implicated in the rebellion case involving this army twelve years ago and sentenced to death for treason. Related to the imperial family through his mother, one of emperor’s sisters.

Grand Princess Jinyang: Lin Shu’s mother, the emperor’s sister. Committed suicide twelve years ago, once she learned her husband and son were executed for treason.

Lin Xie: Lin Shu’s father and Princess Jinyang’s husband. Commander of the Chiyan army, accused of rebellion and executed for treason.

Consort Chen, Lin Yueyao: Lin Xie’s sister. Married the emperor and was favoured by him. Best friends/all but sisters with Concubine Jing. Mother of Prince Qi. Committed suicide after his death.

Prince Qi, Xiao Jingyu: now-dead former Crown Prince. Implicated in the Chiyan rebellion case and forced to drink poison in his prison cell twelve years ago.

Consort Hui: yet another of the emperor’s many consorts and concubines. Timid and bullied by the empress. Prince Jingting’s mother.

Prince Ning, Xiao Jingting: a low-ranked prince. Due to unspecified health problems, is not fit to rule, so he’s out of the running for the throne. Not involved in politics.

For the record, the emperor has a few more wives and sons who are even less relevant to the plot and aren’t worth mentioning.

Grand Princess Liyang: the emperor’s sister, still alive. Lives fairly quietly and focuses mostly on her family. Thinks a lot more than she says. Married to Marquis Ning, has three children with him.

Marquis Ning, Xie Yu: prominent military man, commander of the Capital Patrols, which is basically an army responsible for order in the city. Trusted by the emperor. Has managed to maintain the appearance of impartiality in the power struggle between the Crown Prince and Prince Yu, but in actual fact he’s one of the main forces shoring up the Crown Prince’s side.

Xie Bi: the younger son of Xie Yu and Princess Liyang. Unwitting of his father’s allegiances, supports Prince Yu.

Xiao Jingrui: Xie Bi’s elder brother, the firstborn son of Xie Yu and Princess Liyang. Pretty great at martial arts, sensitive and loyal. Best friends with Yan Yujin.

His story involves complex not-quite-switched-at-birth shenanigans, so it’s unclear which family he’s related to by blood: the one of Xie Yu and Princess Liyang, or the Zhuos, a family of prominent martial arts experts. Since his birth name is unclear, the emperor gave him his own last name (Xiao). The emperor also decreed that both families should share him, which they amiably do. This has brought the families so close that now Jingrui’s younger sister from the Xie side, Xie Qi:

... is marrying Jingrui’s elder brother from the Zhuo side, Zhuo Qingyao:

Zhuo Dingfeng is Qingyao’s dad and Jingrui’s other father. He heads the very influential martial arts sect called the Tianquan Manor.

He and his family are part of the so-called pugilist world/jianghu, meaning the world of Chinese martial arts experts. This world operates outside normal society, but happenings in it are still known in the capital, since the martial experts are renowned for their badassery and useful to those who can strike an accord with them. The Tianquan Manor is one of the two powerful plot-relevant sects.

The other one is the Jiangzuo Alliance.

The head of the Jiangzuo Alliance is Mei Changsu, who is the actual protagonist of this story.

Despite his leadership of a powerful martial arts sect, he knows no martial arts himself and is physically frail. Also very clever. He engages in wearing lovely fur cloaks, ignoring his doctors’ orders and plotting from behind an impeccable poker face.

Fei Liu: Mei Changsu’s young and super loyal bodyguard. Exceptionally talented at martial arts. Is into protecting Mei Changsu, eating melons and arranging flowers.

Li Gang: Mei Changsu’s second-in-command, kind of. Runs his household and take care of a lot of things. Very loyal. Spends a lot of time worrying about Mei Changsu’s health.

Zhen Ping: a badass martial arts expert, part of the Jiangzuo Alliance.

Uncle Thirteen: a composer by day, a Jiangzuo Alliance spy master by night.  From an entertainment house in the capital called the Miao Yin Court, runs a web of information that feeds back to Mei Changsu, with no one being the wiser.

Gong Yu: a renowned music performer working with Uncle Thirteen, both on the music and on the spying. Is also part of the Jiangzuo Alliance.

Tong Lu: another person working for the Jiangzuo Alliance. Pretends to be a harmless vegetable vendor, is actually delivering lots of information to Uncle Thirteen.

Mei Changsu is also friends with Lin Chen, this dude:

He excels at knowing things, healing people and shit-stirring.

He is the head of Langya Hall, meaning a kind of ancient Google. The people who work there collect and store all possible information, to then dish out to requesters for a price. They also publish annual lists of the awesomest fighters, most beautiful ladies, greatest scholars, etc.

Mu Nihuang: everyone refers to her as a princess, but she’s not actually the emperor’s daughter. She comes from the influential House of Mu in the Yunnan province and commands an army of 100,000 men, all very loyal to her. Her army defends Da Liang from an enemy country to the south, Southern Chu. As a young girl, she was betrothed to Lin Shu, and technically still is, but only because nobody bothered to break the engagement after his death.

Mu Qing: Nihuang’s younger brother, whom she practically raised. Adores his sister.

Meng Zhi: the commander of the Imperial Guards (basically, in charge of protecting the emperor) and the best fighter in the kingdom. Served in the Chiyan army for a while, but was transferred out before the shit hit the fan.

Lie Zhanying: Prince Jing’s second-in-command. Accompanied him on many a military campaign.

Qin Banruo: Prince Yu’s strategist. Clever, beautiful and ruthless. Maintains a spy network through a pleasure house she runs. Inherited the spy network from her teacher. 

Duke Qing: an influential military dude and a major supporter of Prince Yu. At the very start of the show he’s already embroiled in a scandal over lands he has unlawfully appropriated, and the Crown Prince’s side is happily digging his grave so as to deprive Prince Yu of this powerful ally.

Xia Jiang: head of the Xuanjing Bureau, which is like the FBI? except if the FBI were loyal only and exclusively to the emperor. The bureau and its members pointedly take no part in the princes’ fight for the throne. The emperor places a huge amount of trust in Xia Jiang.

Xia Dong: an executive officer at the Xuanjing Bureau, a pupil of Xia Jiang. A badass investigator. Still loyal to the memory of her husband, Nie Feng, whose death via betrayal was one of the early acts in the Chiyan army rebellion case.

Xia Qiu and Xia Chun: two other major officers of the Xuanjing Bureau, also Xia Jiang’s disciples. Luckily, it’s not important to keep track of which is which.

Gao Sheng: the city magistrate who gets to investigate, like, crime in general:

Constable Zhang, the magistrate’s assistant:

Shen Zhui: a Ministry of Finance/Revenue official with a good head on his shoulders. It’s worth remembering him.

Cai Quan: a Justice Ministry official with a lot of feelings about justice. It’s worth remembering this one, also.

There’s also a whole bunch of ministers of whom we may as well keep track, though honestly it’s not always necessary:

Luo Zhijing, Minister of Finance/Revenue: supports the Crown Prince. 

Qi Min, Minister of Justice: supports Prince Yu.

He Jingzhong, Minister of Personnel: supports Prince Yu.

Chen Yuanzhi, Minister of Rites: supports the Crown Prince.

Li Len, Minister of Defence/Martial Affairs: supports the Crown Prince.

Minister of Public Works: supports Prince Yu. (Apparently does it discretely enough that I don’t recall seeing him on screen ^^)

Minister Liu Cheng from the Grand Secretariat: stays out of the princes’ fight for the throne.

His granddaughter, Miss Liu, becomes relevant at one point:

Then there are the foreign powers:

Da Yu: an enemy kingdom, historically the biggest enemy of Da Liang, though they haven’t been any trouble for the last 12 years. They suffered a crushing defeat all those years back and have been sitting in relative quiet. We don’t trust them tho.

Hua kingdom: it no longer exists, because it was defeated by and assimilated into Da Liang some time ago. Some members of the Hua tribe are still cross about this. Notable personalities from there include the two now-deceased princesses, Princess Linglong and especially Princess Xuanji, who plotted fiercely for the kingdom’s resurgence.

Northern Yan: an enemy kingdom. Their previously unexceptional Sixth Prince was recently named the Crown Prince to the surprise of everyone around. The assumption is that some very clever strategist helped him onto the throne.

This warrior, Baili Qi, is from there:

As is this dude whose name I don’t know. He’s an official/diplomatic representative from Northern Yan:

Southern Chu: yet another enemy kingdom. Some 20 years ago, the prince of this kingdom was held as a hostage in Da Liang. He went back since and became the ruler. There are constant wars/skirmishes on that border, and Nihuang’s troops in the province of Yunnan keep them in line.

Duke/Prince Ling, Wen Xian is from there.

As is Princess Nian Nian, the ruler’s daughter.

There are of course more characters, but their identities are less confusing/less important to the plot, and I had to draw the line somewhere ^^ Hopefully, this already helps!