So I've been wondering about one particuar point on the "Jiang Cheng marriage recquirement" list and it's the one about low cultivation.
Now on its face, except for the "must be nice to jin ling" point, the whole thing just looks like the most standard list of "ideal wife characteristics under a patriarchal society." naturally beautiful, graceful and obedient, coming from a good family, voice not too loud, etc. This leads to either the interpretation that jiang cheng really wants that (doubt dot png) or just... put all the most stereotypical things on a list even though that's not what he really wants.
In that context "cultivation must not be too high" sounds like a typical "men are scared of women who are smarter/stronger" thing. you know, the dudes who feel 'intimidated' when their wife or girlfriend makes more money than them.
...Except wasn't Yanli openly mocked for her low cultivation? Like, wasn't one of the reasons Jin Zixuan was such an ass to her initially because he shallowly assumed her lower cultivation made her an unworthy marriage candidate? Jin Guangshan may hate women who can read but society overal doesn't give the impression that high cultivation in women is seen as something undesirable. I mean... a wife that never looks like she's over 20 even as she starts aging? yeah I have no problem believing a misogynistic society is okay with high cultivation.
So if it's not there just to fit the stereotypical standard of an ideal wife...
Jiang Cheng, are you just describing your sister?
LIke?? Every single point on this list applies to Yanli. All of them. I don't mean this in a freudian incest-y way but in a "jiang cheng are you so unaware of what you want in a partner you just took the only woman you've had an unambiguously good relationship with and hoped no one would notice???" way. Does he know the difference in what you should like about your sister and what you should like in a spouse? Is he even aware he's doing this? Jiang Cheng answer meeeee.
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Visenya and Ronnel Arryn is something so precious to me, but it often gets me thinking what she was thinking when she found Ronnel alone in the courtyard. Did she see just a little boy amazed by a stranger and her dragon? Did she see Aegon at that age? Did she imagine a son of hers in the future? Was it strategy or just maternal or big sister instincts kicking in? Because Visenya could have taken the Eyrie as a show of strength and reminded the world of fire and blood. Perhaps that was the plan. But she changed her mind. She chose kindness.
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guys cmon. be ffr please. akemi did Not love taigen. the only reason why she was desperate to search for him to the point of putting herself in danger is because she didn't want to get married to an abusive man (which she believed at the time that takayoshi was). when seki tried to dissuade her from running off, her reason was not "but i love taigen and wanna be with him 🥺" it was because she refused to be controlled and have her autonomy taken from her; she literally says "i won't be locked away in edo married to a stranger." and when seki still tries to argue that getting married to the heir of the shogun would be better than getting caught by brigands, she then says "that kind of man"—referring to takayoshi—"treats women like animals. they say he's a tyrant." and when seki chuckles and says "what man isn't?" her response is "you." she doesn't even talk about taigen. she is using him as much as he was using her. they both see—or, well, saw—each other as means to an end. for taigen he saw that marrying into the tokunobu clan would elevate his status and wealth. for akemi she wanted the right to choose who she married, and she wanted that person to be someone kind. that's it! neither of them loved each other. but since they were courting of course they acted sweet to each other, and they do still care for one another, especially due to their romantic history. but let's be real! akemi is a boss bitch who dropped taigen and forgot all about his ass as soon as she saw takayoshi was a nice guy. because duh? not only is takayoshi a better lover (it's implied their lovemaking lasted a long time) but he's also kinder towards her and presents her with an opportunity to claim power and freedom, which she would not have if she had married taigen, as she would have still been stuck under her father's thumb. so literally why should she settle for taigen's stupid ass! she may be a little naive at times but she's still incredibly intelligent. she would not do something stupid for the sake of "love." you know who would though? taigen.
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for all time/lovebrush chronicles boys responding to "kiss me for ten or the hottest girl ever for a thousand?"
word count: 648
summary: lovebrush boys responding to who they would kiss
Ai Yin / Ayn
"Ayn." You tug on his sleeve from the ground as he takes a break from practice.
"Hm?" He blinks down at you, fingers reaching for your hand as you speak up.
"Would you rather kiss me for ten dollars or the hottest girl in the world for a thousand?"
Ayn's heard this one from Tiktok, but he doesn't respond, opting to blink at you blankly again.
"Would you—"
"Does that mean I can kiss you for a thousand?"
You blink at him blankly, words registering in your head before the embarrassment explodes on your cheeks and you hide your face from him. "Ayn!"
"So can I?"
You don't give him an answer, opting to hide your face until you're sure the flush is gone.
Lu Chen / Alkaid
"Alkaid." You brush your fingers over his as the two of you sit in the park.
"Yes?"
"Would you rather kiss me for ten dollars or the hottest girl in the world for a thousand?" You tilt your head at him, curious.
Alkaid doesn't think, he just answers.
"You." Alkaid smiles gently and tilts his head, brushing his fingers over the back of your hand as he hums. "Why would I kiss someone else when I have you?"
You grow embarrassed, and he laughs, fingers running through your hair as you hide your face from him, ears on fire.
"I'll always pick you."
Something about his eyes tells you there's no room for arguement.
Luo Xia / Lars
"Kiss me for ten or the hottest girl in the world for a thousand?"
Lars reaches for your face, fingers stringing through your hair as he presses his lips to yours, eyes half-lidded as you tilt your head to give him better access— something he hums in thanks for. Your fingers scrunch the fabric of his shirt, and he pulls away, catching his breath as he stares into your eyes.
"Okay, I kissed you, so where's my thousand dollars?" He raises a brow in amusement.
"You don't lack that thousand!" You gasp in fake offense.
"Yeah, but that can be your pocket money." He hums, resting his chin on your head. "But lucky for you, you're the hottest girl ever to me."
You push him away in embarrassment, heart racing in your chest. He's too good at this.
Si Lan / Clarence
"Clarence," You sort through the files in the student council room, breaking the silence between the two of you. "Would you rather kiss me for ten dollars or the hottest girl in the world for a thousand?"
Clarence like pretends to think about it, tapping his cheek, and. you blink at him, waiting for his answer.
"Okay, who would you kiss if you could kiss any woman in the world?"
He laughs when you pout at him before rolling his eyes and telling you "You, obviously."
"Then me or the hottest woman in the world?"
"You, obviously." He stops with his papers, looking into your eyes with an insane amount of sincerity that makes you look away from embarrassment. "Now get back to work."
"Yes, sir!" You fight off the blush creeping up your skin for the rest of the time in the room.
Ye Xuan / Cael
"Cael." You mumble. "Would you rather kiss me for ten dollars or the hottest girl in the world for a thousand?"
Cael rests his finger on where he left off in his book, blinks at you, and senses this is some random question you've dragged from Tiktok with a right answer, but he still processes it, unsure as to how to answer.
"So? What's your answer?" You step closer to him on the couch, leaning forward to face him with your head tilted as he blinks at you again.
"I'm thinking about it."
"YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT?!" You gape, puffing your cheeks as you pout.
Then, Cael presses his hand to the back of your head, lips pressed to yours gently before releasing you and going back to his book.
"There's my answer" He hums.
You take two business days to recover from that.
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