#while i don’t think jiang cheng and wei wuxian understand this about each other at all

[micamicster]

I just am obsessed with any story that’s about people who love each other but cannot do justice to that love because they have a duty to something else first. That there is something else fundamental and demanding that they must choose over love every time. To be forced to choose one irreplaceable thing over another etc etc

#For Jiang Cheng that’s his responsibility to his sect and to their people #and the burnt and fragile remains of their home #who are all counting on him—an orphaned teenager—to protect and lead them #And as much as he might want to throw that all away to be by his brother’s side #or as much as he might want to help wen qing and wen ning #they can never come first. because first he has to keep his people safe. he can’t put them at risk #no matter how much he loves his brother #he’s not powerful enough yet for taking a stand to do anything other than get his sect burned to the ground a second time #and that turns into him standing in the burial mounds near tears as he tells his brother ‘I can’t protect you anymore’ #Which is its own bitter irony because you know wwx is thinking that it’s not his little brother’s job to protect him) #(with no idea how much he already has) #meanwhile for wei wuxian his primary duty is to help the wens #because he protected his brother at an unspeakable cost and his brother protected the sect and they’re going to be fine without him #(who only endangers them more by being around them) #which means now Wei Wuxian’s first and most important duty #is to protect this group of people who have absolutely no one else in the world who will stand with them #So even though it breaks his heart to leave his home and family he has to do what is right #It’s why I liked wen qing so much too. she and jiang cheng understood this about each other #while i don’t think jiang cheng and wei wuxian understand this about each other at all #because jc is standing there like when did i and my sister and our clan stop being your most important #and wwx is like I have already given everything I can give to you and I can only make things worse for you. but these people?I can help them #so i have to help them #as you guys can see. im not doing well #anyway watch black sails #the untamed

[thatswhatsushesaid]

i think it is extremely weird that parts of this fandom have just definitively decided that the principle antagonist is an irredeemably evil monster because he has his minion burn down a brothel (where said antagonist was born and abused and watched his mother suffer and die) with people still inside it, then hires a bunch of sex workers to rape his rapist dad (who raped so many women that he lost track of who his victims were, and ended up approving of a marriage between said antagonist and his own half-sister as a result) to death

when the protagonist’s chosen means of killing the people who razed the only home he’s ever known and murdered his foster parents involves 1) choking a woman to death by forcing a table leg down her throat, 2) forcing that dead woman to bite off a man’s genitals, and 3) forcing that man to eat his own legs. this plus the protagonist’s multiple day-long murder-torture bender where he kills and tortures a bunch of other wen sect disciples in front of each other, and owns doing this because it was fun and would have been too boring to kill then quickly. like jiang cheng and lan wangji find wwx by following the trail of bodies he leaves in his wake ok, that’s pretty awful

if wei wuxian can do these things and and still be considered good, then that only makes it harder for me to understand why jin guangyao is denied goodness

fun fact: when i describe both of these characters to people who are totally canon-blind and know nothing about mdzs, cql, or any of the other adaptations, the initial response from most people isn’t “hmmm but what was the protagonist’s interiority while he was making that woman’s corpse eat that man’s junk? was he very sad about it? that will surely tell me whether his corpse desecration and autocannibalism is morally defensible or not.” most of the time what they say is “ray what the fuck are you reading, both of those guys sound like evil people, i don’t care what their motivations are! also get help”

it just seems weird!! that certain corners of this fandom have decided that goodness is not only a quality that wwx intrinsically possesses (something i don’t necessarily disagree with fwiw), but that he gets to be defined by this goodness above all else. wwx gets situated at the centre of all subsequent discourse as the moral lighthouse of the whole novel—even though he has done objectively heinous shit entirely to satisfy his own desire for vengeance. doing all of those things does not detract from his fundamental goodness, in their estimation. or if it does, it doesn’t detract enough to significantly impact his role for them as the goodness barometer in the novel.

and that’s fine with me actually! if this is where the bar for what it means to be good in this novel is set, then it should logically follow that jin guangyao’s heinous actions can similarly be ‘offset’ by paying the appropriate ‘goodness tax’ through his other canon actions (e.g., loving and remaining filial to his mother, saving and protecting lan xichen, saving nie mingjue, funding the rebuilding of the cloud recesses, caring for his orphaned nephew, etc). he has done yuckydisgusting things, yes, but so has wwx! and as we all know, wwx is not evil! so jgy isn’t evil either!

…but this isn’t what happens in these conversations, because jgy seems to begin all fandom discourse at a goodness deficit that is depressingly reflective of the goodness deficit he experiences in the novel post-canon. (or, honestly, at the beginning of his life as meng yao.) and unlike wwx whose character gets to be defined principally by his goodness in spite of his genuinely horrendous acts of violence, jin guangyao’s whole character becomes defined by his horrendous acts of violence in spite of his goodness, even though the text demonstrates clearly that their capacity for both good and evil is evenly matched.

tl;dr it would be nice if the goodness goalposts would stop moving around so much in these discussions. maybe we should just get rid of them entirely.

#mdzs meta #salty peak sect 🧂 #jin guangyao #he did crimes??? good for him 😌 #i’m tired

[robininthelabyrinth]

Could you do Accidental sworn brothers NHS, JC, WWX?

ao3

“So,” Jiang Cheng said.

It was a very ominous sort of ‘so’.

“Hi, Jiang-xiong,” Nie Huaisang said. “Have you eaten? I trust you been well. I’ve been all right, myself. Things are pretty quiet. The weather’s been pretty nice, though I don’t think it’s ever as nice in Qinghe as it is in Yunmeng. Has it been raining much?”

Jiang Cheng was giving him a death glare.

“…lots of rain, huh?”

“I don’t care about the vast majority of what you did to get revenge on Jin Guangyao,” Jiang Cheng said flatly. “But you put Jin Ling in danger.”

“Not…much danger.” At Jiang Cheng’s incredulous look, Nie Huaisang shrugged. “He kept him alive this long, didn’t he? I figured Jin Ling was pretty safe, as these things went. It was only at the very last moment that he actually threatened him directly – and Jin Ling wasn’t even supposed to be there.”

Judging from Jiang Cheng’s expression, he wasn’t buying Nie Huaisang’s argument.

“All right, fine,” Nie Huaisang said. “Still, you came to visit me, which means that you’re not just here to yell and tell me that our friendship is over, you could do that by letter. You want something from me?”

Jiang Cheng struggled for a moment, then grimaced. “Yeah, I want something.”

He was so predictable sometimes.

“Tell me what you need me to do to get your friendship back, and I’ll do it.” Nie Huaisang thought about it for a moment. “Within reason.”

“I want you to help me fix my relationship with Wei Wuxian.”

“…I said within reason, Jiang-xiong,” Nie Huaisang said, horrified. “Do you want me to bring the moon down and give it to you while I’m at it?”

“It’s not that bad!” Jiang Cheng protested, except, no, really, it was exactly that bad. Years and years of deception and betrayal and bad feelings on both sides, an incredibly knotty tangle of emotions with no one completely right and no one completely wrong and debts and anger and – it was bad, okay? “Anyway, you managed to fix Jin Guangyao, didn’t you, even though he was Chief Cultivator and you had basically no evidence? Fix this, too.”

“It’s in no way comparable!”

“Listen, you said you wanted to know what you needed to do to get us to be all right with each other again, right? This is it. Do it.”

Nie Huaisang opened his mouth in protest.

“I won’t accept anything else,” Jiang Cheng said, and crossed his arms in a way that suggested finality. “You’re the mastermind, aren’t you? So mastermind!”

-

Nie Huaisang really didn’t want to lose Jiang Cheng’s friendship, now that he knew there was a possibility of keeping it, but he also had no idea how to even start going about fixing the unfixable. He flattered himself to think that he knew Jiang Cheng pretty well after all these years, but based on everything that had happened, he didn’t understand Wei Wuxian well enough to know where to start.

Clearly, he needed help. No, more than help – he needed expertise.

Currently, Nie Huaisang was sitting in one of the rooms in the Cloud Recesses the Lan sect used to host guests waiting to see the sect leader on business. Of course, with Lan Xichen in seclusion at the moment, the actual person taking petitions was the person Nie Huaisang come to see: Lan Wangji.

He didn’t expect to be seen to quickly, the way he might have when he’d been on familiar terms with Lan Xichen – he was a Great Sect leader, yes, and an allied one, and so ought to be accorded first priority, but Lan Wangji was also a petty little brat sometimes. Lan Qiren had come by in an unofficial capacity, looking long-suffering, and they’d had an unexpectedly enjoyable conversation on the subject of the rules relating to filial piety and revenge, which Nie Huaisang interpreted as possibly the first time Lan Qiren had ever voluntarily given him a good grade on anything.

(He was weirdly moved by it, but mostly still traumatized. He’d hated school.)

After the old teacher left, Nie Huaisang sat around waiting and drinking tea, amusing himself by thinking of all the ways this forthcoming conversation could go wrong, and just when he’d gotten to the end of the fourth scenario, Wei Wuxian himself came strolling in.

“Oh, hi, Wei-xiong!” Nie Huaisang said brightly, not allowing considerations like shame to apply. “How’ve you been?”

“I’m good, I’m good,” Wei Wuxian said. “And you?”

“Well, I’m –”

“It works out quite well that you’re here, actually,” Wei Wuxian said, barreling onwards without waiting for the answer. “There was something I was hoping you might help me with.”

Nie Huaisang hid his face behind a fan. “Who, me…? I mean, I’m always glad to help, if it’s within my power – and, I mean, I’m glad you asked! And here I was worried that Wei-xiong didn’t like me anymore.”

Wei Wuxian waved a dismissive hand and sat down.

“I’m sure it’s something you can help with,” he said, smiling in a way Nie Huaisang didn’t like. “After all, you led the entire cultivation world around by the nose to catch Jin Guangyao, didn’t you?”

“I wouldn’t say that…”

“Well, I would. This should be no problem in comparison!”

Which meant, of course, that it was going to be a problem, because anything was easy in comparison.

“Oh, Wei-xiong, I really don’t know…”

“Don’t give me that! At least listen to it, okay?”

Nie Huaisang was always willing to listen. He nodded.

“I need you to use your mastermind skills to help me fix my relationship with Jiang Cheng.”

Nie Huaisang blinked once, long and slow. “With…Jiang Cheng?”

“That’s right!”

“But…why me…”

“Everything is just a complete mess between us,” Wei Wuxian said plainly. “It’s probably mostly my fault, and I’ve probably wronged him in ways I don’t even remember, but – I’d like to fix it. I’ve tried to fix it. I even tried leaving it alone to see if that would help, and it definitely didn’t. Everything I’ve done only makes it worse! So I need someone else to manage it.”

“And you picked…me?”

“Don’t put yourself down, Nie-xiong. You’ll manage!”

“I haven’t even agreed yet!”

“You need something from Lan Zhan, don’t you?” Wei Wuxian said, grinning at him. “You’ll agree.”

“Of course I’ll agree,” Nie Huaisang said with a huff, tossing his head. “You’re a dear friend, Wei-xiong! Why wouldn’t I agree?”

Anyway, he had to do the work for Jiang Cheng anyway. Might as well score some points flattering Wei Wuxian while he was at it.

“You’re so kind,” Wei Wuxian said, rolling his eyes at him. “Thanks, Nie-xiong. I look forward to hearing what our next move is. Have fun having tea with Lan Zhan!”

-

“You did this to yourself,” Lan Wangji said solemnly.

“I know,” Nie Huaisang said. He was lying on the floor, arms and legs splayed to the sides as he stared up at the roof in an effort to express the depths of his desolation. “I’m well aware.”

“Mm.”

“I’m having a crisis over it, even.”

“Mm. Could you have the crisis elsewhere?”

“Don’t be mean, Lan Zhan. Of course not. I need your help!”

“Denied,” Lan Wangji said, as if Nie Huaisang really were just one of the random petitioners he had to deal with these days.

“If you don’t help me, I’ll fix up their relationship so good that you’ll have to deal with Jiang Cheng all the time,” Nie Huaisang said threateningly, and noted with amusement the way Lan Wangji’s brow twitched at the thought of having to share either space, time, or Wei Wuxian with Jiang Cheng. “Listen, no matter what the others think, I’m not really a schemer or a mastermind! I just ran with the course of events and tried to change them when they looked like they weren’t going my way, that’s all.”

“I wish you luck,” Lan Wangji said, immoveable as an iceberg.

“If I try to solve this, I’m only going to make it worse,” Nie Huaisang said. “That’s not even a threat. It’s just a fact.”

“I look forward to seeing the end results,” Lan Wangji said.

Cruel, indifferent man.

“I don’t even have a good model on how to solve this,” Nie Huaisang complained. “I mean, I don’t think I know of any relationships that splintered and then were actually repaired? The only thing that comes even close is what er-ge was up to with da-ge and san-ge all that time ago, when he was trying to get them to like each other again – of course, san-ge ruined that by committing murder, but I think we can probably avoid that here! I mean, I think we can. And it’s not workable, anyway, because…”

He frowned. Nothing was coming to mind.

Nothing at all.

Well then.

“Actually…”

Lan Wangji actually put down his brush. He looked mildly alarmed. “Nie Huaisang,” he said. “What are you thinking of doing?”

“Nothing, nothing…nothing at all…”

-

“How did this happen?” Jiang Cheng wondered.

“No idea,” Wei Wuxian said. “But at least we’re friends again, right?”

“Not just friends,” Jiang Cheng said. “Isn’t that right, da-ge?”

Wei Wuxian puffed himself up like a peacock. “You bet, er-di!”

“The sacrifices I make for my friends amaze even me,” Nie Huaisang said to a stunned-looking Lan Wangji. “I’m really all heart, aren’t I?”

“Nie Huaisang,” Lan Wangji said solemnly. “I am going to kill you.”

Nie Huaisang cackled. “No, you’re not,” he said cheerfully. “Or else my da-ge and er-ge might have something to say about how you’re treating their san-di…and I, at least, promise not to kill either of them!”

#mdzs #jiang cheng #nie huaisang #wei wuxian #lan wangji #my fic #my fics #I'm finally going to start posting again #even though I'm mortally terrified I'm going to repost an old one #which is at least 65% of why I have been so quiet #but I will do it anyway #anyway showing up WAY late with your prompt fill sorry #my nhs&lwj childhood friends agenda strikes again #also my 'what is the funniest way this could happen' agenda

[least-carpet]

Fic snippet: "Wen Ning Gets a Life"

I've decided that there's not enough ningcheng on this site (or, like, in existence). So, while I work on organizing my ningcheng thoughts, have a snippet of the fanfic I'm writing, in which Wen Ning attempts to escape fierce corpsehood by means of dual cultivation (as directed by his alive sister), has his hopes and dreams (sex with Wei Wuxian) dashed (because the sex is bad), and stumbles head first into banging Jiang Cheng. I'm calling it "Wen Ning Gets a Life."

Below the cut: discussion of sex (for fun and cultivation), mildly sadistic fantasies, offscreen necrophilia but the fierce corpse consents. Ningcheng with background ningxian, wangning, established wangxian, and eventual ambient chengxian vibes because Wei Wuxian is not very normal about Jiang Cheng and wouldn't know a boundary if one bit him on the face.

The next day, Wen Qing, Wei Wuxian, and Lan Wangji were sitting inside the Jiang's sect's pharmacy when Wen Ning showed up to organize the new delivery of herbs. He had just taken down a set of clean jars, lured into a false sense of complacency, when the interrogation began.

“So,” said Wen Qing. “I hear that Jiang-zongzhu is also helping with your treatment. This should all go much faster.”

Facing the counter, back to his sister, Wen Ning froze. He should have known! He should have known they hadn't gotten away with it!

“N-no,” said Wen Ning. He looked down at the herbs he was sorting.

“Hmm,” said Wen Qing.

“But Wen Ning, I heard you two—you know, you weren’t being quiet—” said Wei Wuxian.

Lan Wangji didn’t say anything. Wen Ning wondered why he had bothered to come.

“He’s not helping,” said Wen Ning quietly. Perhaps some herbs should be moved to bigger jars?

“So,” said Wen Qing as Wei Wuxian sputtered in the background. “If Jiang-zongzhu isn't helping, then what did Wei Wuxian hear?”

Wen Ning took a deep and calming breath which he did not, strictly speaking, need. Yet. Thus far. “We were… having sex.”

“Isn’t that helping?” said Wei Wuxian.

“Not like that,” said Wen Ning. He’s not allowed to put it—no, he couldn’t say that. He would die again. Some more? “Recreationally. We were having sex recreationally.”

There was silence behind him. Wen Ning gave up on fixing up the herbs. He would never be able to find them later if he attended to them in his current circumstances.

“Because you like him?” asked Wei Wuxian.

Wen Ning wasn’t really sure what to say. Did they like each other? Wen Ning wouldn’t have said so originally. But Wen Ning had to admit that he didn’t—he felt that he understood Jiang Cheng better, now. He felt that Jiang Cheng understood him.

He reluctantly admitted to himself that he felt Jiang Cheng saw him with a clarity that that his beloved sister and best friend lacked. He had finally found a person he couldn’t ruin with his anger—because there was no one angrier than Jiang Cheng—and so there was nothing for Wen Ning to hide from him.

It occurred to Wen Ning that he had never before had a person with whom he could be totally honest. Growing up in the Wen sect with his sister had made them close, and he would die—again!—for her. But he couldn’t admit his feelings to Wen Qing. They had simply never talked to each other about things like that.

“It’s complicated,” said Wen Ning. He thought for a minute. “But I think we like each other.”

Everyone was silent again behind him.

“Also,” said Wen Ning impulsively, “the sex is very good.”

He regretted it immediately. Wei Wuxian was off like a shot.

“What do you mean the sex is good? Isn’t our sex good? Don’t I make gentle—Hey—”

Wen Ning couldn't take it. He turned around and looked Wei Wuxian in the face. “Wei-gongzi, do you really want to make gentle love?”

Wei Wuxian stopped, mouth open.

“That’s what I thought,” said Wen Ning. Perhaps consider that I don’t want to either, he thought but didn’t say.

He addressed Wen Qing: “Jiejie, there’s no reason to be concerned. This will only help, if incidentally. I understand that I must not—I must not—” —why did he have to say this—“release any, uh, energy during these pursuits. We’re being cautious and will follow all medical directives. We can be reasonable.”

Apart from the choice to have sex with someone who he’d made cry and even qi deviate, if the Jiang healer was to be believed about the very long night at the temple. Well. He wouldn’t do that anymore! This was a much more positive way to direct those impulses!

He briefly considered the merits of making Jiang Cheng cry… recreationally instead, and then instantly felt like dirt because of how much he liked the thought. He wondered if Jiang Cheng would like it. He wondered if he could blush again yet.

“Well, see that you don’t,” said Wen Qing.

Wen Ning nodded. Wei Wuxian nodded. They all stood there, trying not to look at each other.

“Excuse me, I think I’ll go see what the juniors are up to,” said Wen Ning, and then he made his escape as quickly as he could.

#ningcheng #chengning #wen ning #jiang cheng #my fanfic #let wen ning top!! let wen ning be forced to interrogate and experience his own desires!! #self-recognition through the other (derogatory) to self-recognition through the other (accepting and intimate) #editing this is going to be such a shitshow #mdzs +

[cactusjuiceisquenchy]

Just finished the MDZS novel it was amazing and I loved it but I kinda wanted to pitch in with my thoughts on jiang cheng since he seems really widely contested in fandom. Spoilers for the whole story btw.

Now while reading I kept being struck with a sense of familiarity in regards to the Wei/jiang relationship. Now I was in deep a few years back in the She-RA fandom. And the more I thought about it the more I think a lot of the analysis behind catradora can apply here.

Now catra and jiang cheng are very different characters in a multitude of ways but where I think they are really similar is some of their characterization and especially in their values.

Both are very prickly, sarcastic type characters who have difficulty expressing their emotions and making friends but also carry a deep loyalty to those few they do hold dear. Both are also unfortunately saddled to self-sacrificing hero types who would do anything for the greater good.

This leads them to become incredibly divisive because once they feel betrayed by that person they considered their ride or die—they react strongly, harshly, and often in ways borderline unforgivable. Catra almost destroys the fabric of reality and jiang cheng like, murders Wei wuxian and the wen clan and also every trace of both for the next 13 or so years.

But even then, even with the horrible things they do to our protagonists, they are often the most relatable characters. And I think the reason for this is their values. In the end, catra and JC will always always put themselves and those they care about before everyone else.

Catra and JC start each of their series relying on adora and WW as their main pillar of support and friendship. They are such unfriendly unlikable people they don’t really have any other peers with whom they have a good relationship.

At the beginning of the series, Catra literally only has Adora and would put her before everyone else. She holds onto the promise adora made to her to always be by her side like a lifeline. This is paralleled by WW and JC. Jiang cheng puts his clan above everything else and considers WW his basically brother (ie family ie above outsiders). He also takes WW’s promise to always be his right hand man INCREDIBLY seriously considering it a symbol of WW’s loyalty to both himself and his clan. As such, neither can really understand it when adora and WW choose to leave them. To people like adora and WW, they would help literally anyone who needed it, regardless of personal cost. Where catra and JC save their acts of goodness for those they love, adora and WW offer their kindness freely and without discrimination, often very much at their own expense.

Caring so much for these self-sacrificing idiots becomes painful in and of itself. Throughout MDZS, every time Wei wuxian puts himself in danger in their youth—it’s jiang cheng who becomes the most upset. I’d have to reread for more examples but notable are after the wen chao cave debacle and of course when Wei wuxian decides to turn his back on the whole cultivation world and align himself with the the wen clan survivors.

It’s stated that JC blames WW’s saving lan Zhan in the cave on the death of his parents. And I want to explore that almost unreasonable leap of logic a little more. Because it really is illogical. Sure maybe WW caught the attention of the wen higher ups a little early but it was clear they were coming for lotus pier sooner or later. And when they are older and JC confronts WW about it he asks, why would you save HIM. Why would you put Lan Wangji over your safety and by extension the entire jiang clan. He’s doesn’t blame WW for his parents deaths (mostly), he is mostly hung up on how WW could possibly value LW, a boy he barely knows, enough to nearly die and also put the jiang clan at greater risk. He doesn’t understand WW’s intrinsic urge to help whoever he can as much as he can and in fact, feels that this cheapens WW’s loyalty to himself and the rest of his family. If he really prioritized the jiang clan he would never get into such a situation that puts the jiangs in a more vulnerable position. No matter who needs saving, it can’t possibly be more important than self preservation and personal loyalty.

And this is a sentimentJC is never really allowed to express. He’s constantly told the opposite, in fact. He is constantly bombarded by others telling him Wei wuxian perfectly embodies the clan’s founding ideology. He’s free spirited, he is simply attempting the impossible. WW is constantly touted as the ideal jiang, when jiang cheng is the one who would never fail to put the jiangs first. But even so, I don’t think that’s really why he became so resentful. He clearly cares about WW so much— spent countless sleepless nights to save him from the cave, stood up for him against his mother, got captured by the wen clan and had his core destroyed to save him— but still constantly has to live with the fact that WW has a hero complex the size of the titanic. And while everyone always emphasizes his jealousy, I think that this—WW’s disregard for his own well-being in face of perceived injustice is what angered JC more. All he wanted was for WW to focus on his family first and disregard others as less important. But at least back then, he was there. If WW wouldn’t value himself and the family then JC could be his constant reminder. He would become the sect leader and WW would be his number two and maybe then, in such a vital position would WW start putting the jiang clan first.

So when WW gives up everything and goes to burial mound and leaves the jiang cheng for who are also ostensibly strangers, it is a deep betrayal. He would even prioritize the fallen wen clan, the enemy, over his personal ties, the jiang clan. He promised to stay by his side. Throughout everything, even though it hurt when he’d help others without a second thought, at least he had some reassurance that WW would always consider them first. That he’d be his right hand forever. The jiang clan’s twin prides to match the Lan’s twin jades. But, for a few disadvantaged people, WW was willing to give all that up. Once again Wei wuxian put others over himself and even cuts ties with the jiang clan, like JC was probably terrified would happen all along. So even though he knows WW is cutting ties to save the jiang clan face, and at this point still deeply cares about him (brings Yanli to visit, let’s him name Jin ling, etc) he still resents it, and by proxy resents WW. As soon as everything goes to shit and WW is gone—he can’t help but feel anything besides that anger and hurt and spends 13 years extremely cranky and volatile. Without Wei wuxian around to speak for himself jiang cheng begins to look back with an increasingly distorted and narrow, firmly rooted in his own head version of events. Obviously WW never cared about me or my clan and if he valued us over lan wangji my parents wouldn’t be dead, if he valued us over the wens he would never have defected and my sister wouldn’t have had to die protecting him. And his promise, the one thing JC held onto as proof of WW’s loyalty— was broken just like that. There was a time JC believed WW would always be by his side. Forever his right hand man, his twin hero. Why is jiang cheng so mad at WW? Why does all that hurt and resentment build and build and build? Well it’s for the same reason catra loses her shit when Adora leaves her for the rebellion. The same reason reason she cannot fathom how adora can care about some people she just met and barely knows enough to abandon her.

To catra, the rest of the world could burn so long as she and adora were okay. To Jiang cheng, so long as his sect is okay the rest of the cultivation world could fuck off. But adora and Wei wuxian constantly break that bubble. They are loyal, yes, but that loyalty isn’t exclusive. They just can’t let the world burn, if someone else is in danger or needs help, they can’t help but do what they can to provide it. It’s a character pairing practically oozing with conflict and the promise of hurt feelings.

In the end, these relationships are so juicy because each of these characters are exactly what their counterparts need. The selfish to balance the selfless. The self preservation where there is next to none. They are duos stronger together than apart and so their almost inevitable separation hurts so much more.

#mdzs meta #mdzs wei wuxian #mdzs jiang cheng #she ra spop #catradora #meta #catra meta #jiang cheng analysis #character analysis #mxtx novels #mxtx meta #mxtx analysis #mdzs analysis #shera analysis

[marquisguyun]

mdzs/cql ask meme: 1, 2, 6, 12, 25 :)))

1. which adaptations have you seen/watched? which one do you like best and why?

I’ve watched both the donghua and CQL (and read the book and some of the manhua). I’m not sure if I have a definitive answer to which visual adaptation is better? The donghua is gorgeous, especially all the demonic cultivation in the third season (plus it was my first mdzs adaptation, my first danmei of any kind actually). I do really enjoy CQL tho, and there are things I like and dislike about both adaptations. That answer is a total cop out but it’s also the truth 😂

2. top 5 favorite characters? what specifically do you like about each one?

Okay so I thought I had this, no problem, and then I counted again and realized I had six characters lmao... I’m not doing this in order bc that’s too many decisions to deal with

1. Wei Wuxian - What can I say, I love a tragic hero! I am intrigued by how smart he is (inventing demonic cultivation, lure flags, etc) but also how he makes mistakes and does some really fucked up stuff even tho he has good intentions. A great complex character!

2. Lan Wangji - I mean who doesn't like Hanguang-jun? He's a badass and a romantic, plus he's stubborn as shit. I really appreciate his relationships with the juniors. I also think his whole teenage angst about liking wwx is fantastic, and also him being super horny and dominant... I am a fan of novel dynamics for wangxian's sex life lol

3. Xue Yang & Xiao Xingchen - I am a slut for a good tragedy and for messed up characters! Plus I love identity porn. Yi City and XueXiao were basically tailored to my personal taste.

4. Lan Sizhui - He's just a good boy! And I like the added complexity of his identity.

5. Jiang Cheng - Honestly it took me a little while to latch onto him as hard, but he grew on me steadily. I originally mostly thought about him in relation to WWX, but damn he's been through a lot! Raising his nephew and running his sect on his own after he's lost everything? Really fucking sad and angry about it? That's good shit!

Also want to note that I like all of these characters in all adaptations, but their actors all did a fantastic job in cql and really added to my love for the characters, especially Wang Haoxuan as Xue Yang and Wang Zuocheng as Jiang Cheng!

6. unpopular opinions?

1. I don’t hate Jiang Cheng or Lan Qiren? those can be pretty unpopular opinions

2. I’m a white American and my reading of danmei is definitely colored by my different experiences/worldview... I try to be aware of that as much as I can be and to read meta by Chinese disaspora (EDIT: I wrote this like a year ago and idk where I was going with this, but I think I was trying to say something about how I try to make sure my opinions aren't culturally insensitive? Bc some of the takes you see definitely are)

12. do you like any other of mxtx's works? is mdzs your first of hers or did you watch/read the others first?

It’s less obvious on tumblr bc there’s less content I come across compared to twt but your girl is a Scum Villain main lmao (EDIT: That was written a year ago when I started answering this ask. One of the advantages to twt's whole mess is that there's more scum villain content on tumblr now!!)

That said, I have read all three MXTX novels, watched all three donghuas, watched CQL, and read at least part of all three manhuas (rip sv manhua)

my order of watching/reading (with some overlap) was something like: watched mdzs donghua s1-2 >>> read mdzs novel >>> watched cql >>> started scumbag system >>> started heaven official’s blessing donghua >>> read scum villain >>> read what little there is of the sv manhua >>> waited several months?? and then read tgcf >>> dabbled with mdzs and tgcf manhuas >>> watched mdzs donghua s3

25. queer headcanons? 

- I definitely see Wei Wuxian as bi, altho I can understand reading him as a gay man who isn’t actually attracted at all to the women he flirts with - On the other hand, 90% of the time I see Lan Wangji as gay. The other 10% is me going “but what if Wei Ying was a girl tho”

I don’t think I have a lot of definitive non canon queer headcanons for mdzs honestly? There are definitely ones I enjoy and ones I don’t really see, but a lot of times I’m just happy to be taken along for the ride of other people’s headcanons for a fic or meta. Here are a few I’ve enjoyed:

- Asexual Jiang Cheng - Bisexual Jiang Fengmian (in love with Wei Changze) - Trans headcanons/AUs for various characters

#mdzs+ #mdzs #cql #clearing out the old drafts #besides the notes i added really the only thing that still needed done was why i liked the characters #apparently i was too lazy to finish that a year ago

[rosethornewrites]

Wednesday & Thursday NR, E, & M reading

The usual

Finished

Not Rated:

Come Lay Your Head Down Beside Me, by Preludian_Staves (8 chapters)

“Enough of that now.” Shufu surprises him by squeezing his shoulder gently to quickly distract his spiraling thoughts. “You have been plenty useful, a-Ying. Now you must rest and let us do the work with your condition as it is. Trust that your husband and your family will take care of you, boy. We are here and we will not let you go.”

Cloak, Whip and Dagger, by Yen (3 chapters)

Jiang Cheng shows up at the Guanyin Temple, looking for Jin Ling.

This fixes everything.

Explicit:

sweetly restrained, by orro

“This looks so much easier in the picture,” Wei Wuxian mutters as he tries to reach for the end of the rope at his hips. His fingertips can barely touch it. He starts to fall and curses again as he lands on the floor.

Wei Wuxian rolls over onto his back and blows the strands of hair out of his face. He might have to wait here till Lan Wangji returns. But he wants to surprise him and this is just going to be a disappointment.

让我留在你身边 // let me stay by your side, by howodd5ever

In the aftermath of what they witnessed at Yi City, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian continue to skirt the truth of their feelings for each other.

Censer Driven, by tailor31415

Wei WuXian just can’t stop thinking about a moment from the incense burner dream and he finally works up the courage to ask Lan WangJi for an extended demonstration.

cartographist, by fruitys

“Ah, Lan Zhan.” Wei Ying is trying to smile, but the line of his mouth is all wrong. “I know I was — different, before. You can say it.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Lan Wangji says. This is the only kind of lie he will tell to Wei Ying. He does know — Wei Ying thinks the way he looked before was better, preferable, more handsome, more desirable. “I like your body.”

“Then prove it to me,” Wei Ying says. He raises his chin, like a challenge. “Hanguang-jun, show me just how much you like this body of mine.”

Mature:

Dinner Etiquette, by diamondbruise

They were both adults, were they not? Lan Wangji did not know much about one-night stand etiquette, but he certainly knew what it meant when someone gave him a fake number. He would not push his company on Wei Ying, as it was unwanted. They could pretend, for this one dinner, to be perfectly normal adults with no sexual history, and that would be that.

or, lwj meets his one-night stand at an unexpected place

为温暖 // for warmth, by howodd5ever

“You were unconscious for three days. Someone had to check.” There’s a desperation in it, like Lan Zhan is begging him to please understand. Wei Wuxian shakes his head. “I did not tell anyone, but. Wei Ying. I had to check.”

Wei Wuxian wakes up after the final battle of the Sunshot Campaign.

Sizing him up…, by Liebing

This was it. He had finally pushed Lan Zhan too far. He had always wondered what would be the straw that broke the camel's back, would it be the piles of dirty dishes? The sketches carelessly thrown all over their shared living space? Never in his wildest dreams had he ever imagined the cause of his death would be bragging about the size of Lan Zhan’s dick to Su She of all people. Well at least he would die exactly the way he had lived…in the most ridiculous manner possible.

Unfinished

Not Rated:

In Which Soup is NOT the Solution, by such_stuff_as_dreams_are_made_on

Jin Zixuan reacts differently when it is revealed Jiang Yanli was making him soup. Somehow this leads to him bonding with Wei Wuxian.

Explicit:

Beautiful; The Flower that Blooms in Diversity, by Writer_AvenRose

Its been 13 years since Wei wuxian has gone missing. Presumed dead and in his place his followers erected the Yiling unorthodox sect. While the sect was the topic of much heated debate for the first five years, the unknown leader of the sect had quickly washed away any suspicion of ill will. Sending out advocates with gifts of peace and swiftly coming to aid of any sect that required it. Its good will had come to be known to be similar to the likes of the gusu lan clan.

As the yiling sect has finally agreed to participate in this year's sunshot tournament, relationships are tested. Dark memories and wounds are ripped open. Though in shallows of unsaid words yearning seems to be more an enemy then the old aching pain. When the final duel comes to an end where will wangji side. With his heart, or with the duty to his family ?

A tale of old wounds and new scarred opportunities; Of life past the bloody haze of death. A quest to mend festering misunderstandings. The true beauty of a love that blooms in the shadow of adversity along the bloodied mountain side.

Mature:

The Stages of Grief with Wei Wuxian, by Anonymous

Gusu Lan is renowned for helping the most troubled of spirits pass on. Wei Ying, however, would rather die than...well...die.

Butterflies In Love With Flowers, by inawritingfrenzy

Jiang Cheng brings back Wei Wuxian to Lotus Pier along with the Wen Remnants. The cultivation world is now on its toes. New alliances are formed and treacheries are revealed. In this time of crisis, they find love, second chances and much more.

(Un)Hidden truth, by Sarah_R

After watching his husband; his son; nephew; brother and little radishes dying in front of him one by one because of a source of resentful energy; Wei WuXian dies too as he destroys it.

But instead of darkness; he finds himself back in the past when he had just gotten kicked out of the cloud recess and everything looks so peaceful he can’t stand it. No…no no no he really can’t go through this hell again. Not again. Not after everything was supposed to be over.

Not knowing that Lan WangJi has been thrown back in time as well; he tries; and fails at taking his own life by slitting his throat open in the middle of lotus pier and so; he decides to show everyone the future.

If he’s going to live this hell again; he’s going to change it and if these people are suddenly so determined to keep him alive; then he’s not going to let them die either.

It doesn’t matter if they end up hating him just as much as he hates himself.

(Or; another time travel fix-it which happens to be a watching the show fic as well! With our favorite baby boy and his husband; all their ducklings and their very much alive family and friends from the past.)

#the untamed #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #cql #chen qing ling #untamed fanfiction

[shanastoryteller]

Do you think madame Yu would have treated Wei Wuxian better if he was a she?

if wei wuxian had been a girl, she would have been engaged to jiang cheng

she’s the daughter of cangse sanren. she’s skilled enough to be the first disciple as a teenager, which means she already had to have been impressive as a dirty street orphan. it’s obvious. it’s easy. what else would they do with her? have her marry someone else, and have children with some random, lesser cultivator? of course not. she will be married to the heir to lotus pier and her children will be heir to lotus pier and she will take madame yu’s place as the wife to the sect leader

(i don’t think that endears her to madame yu in the slightest. i think wei wuxian looks a little too much like her mother. but it makes it impossible for her to insist that wei wuxian is just another cultivator, that she’s an usurper or competitor. who does she have to compete against? she’s to be the wife of the sect leader of lotus pier. besides, with her engagement to jiang cheng announced almost as soon as she arrives, it makes it impossible for people to gossip about wei wuxian being jiang fengmian’s child. because if that was the case, then of course he wouldn’t have arranged for her and jiang cheng to marry. so it tempers madame yu’s actions, but not her distaste)

she shares a room with jiang yanli when she arrives and jiang yanli loves her instantly, easily, and it’s not complicated for her. wei wuxian is to be her future sister in law, after all. she’s also to inherit the home that jiang yanli is going to be forced to leave, but she can’t hold a grudge about that, not when wei wuxian is so scared and uncertain and loves her so easily

jiang cheng sort of understands that this new girl is going to be his wife one day. but. if it looks like a sister and acts like a sister and pushes him into the pond like a sister and kicks his ass in training then gloats about it like a sister – well, that’s a sister. they argue and fight and are best friends and everyone coos about what a perfect match they are but they just. don’t. they kiss when they’re fourteen and it’s terrible. “maybe we’ll like it better when we’re older,” wei wuxian says, scrubbing at her mouth.

“maybe,” jiang cheng says dubiously, resisting the urge to copy wei wuxian’s motions even though he’s not a child.

but it doesn’t really matter. because they’re great partners, they fight well together and lead well together and all of lotus pier has no problem accepting that jiang cheng and wei wuxian will one day get married and lead them. it makes so much sense. jiang cheng with his terrible temper and wei wuxian with her infinite patience, the way she can endure and diffuse the worst of jiang cheng’s tantrums with a grin. of course, that’s only when she feels like it, and most of the time she and jiang cheng are doing their best to drive the other insane until jiang yanli breaks it up with some freshly made soup and a stern glance promising something a lot less nice than soup if they don’t knock it off.

and jiang cheng and wei wuxian know it too. the whole marriage part isn’t something they’re particularly excited about, but they talk, sometimes, about what it’ll be like when they’re running the clan together. it also gives wei wuxian a sense of ownership and security in the clan. she’s not there on sufferance. she’s not charity. she’s the future wife to their next clan head. this is as much her clan as jiang cheng’s and no one ever thinks otherwise.

then they go to cloud recesses. jiang cheng and wei wuxian don’t at all act like respectable betrothed except when they’re busy being snooty in front of jin zixuan – like, see, this is how good fiances treat each other, you jerk. jiang yanli has given up trying to get them to stop and the rest of the clan thinks it’s hilarious how wei wuxian will go from having jiang cheng in a headlock while he curses her out and tries to stomp on her feet to them walking arm in arm, noses in the air, as jiang cheng opens doors for her and pulls out her seat and they defer to each other is warm, polite tones that they only use when trying to convey to jin zixuan how much of an asshole he is.

then they actually get to cloud recesses which contains two very important, devastating things

wen qing and lan wangji

neither of them have ever had this problem before. unfortunately, the person they would normally go to with these new, weird feelings would be each other, and that doesn’t seem right. jiang yanli is the next option, but like, that’s not fair, especially when jin zixuan is being such a huge jerk.

so they eventually confess to each other and are mutually relieved that the other isn’t mad at them, but also. that doesn’t solve their problems over wen qing and lan wangji being beautiful and also assholes.

“do we have a type?” wei wuxian asks. “wen qing is pretty cute.”

jiang cheng pulls a face. “lan wangji looks like he wants to kill me all the time, so no, i don’t really see the appeal there.”

of course it takes these two lovable idiots a while to figure out the reason that lan wangji hates jiang cheng is because of his stupid, massive crush on wei wuxian. they can’t decide if that’s a win or not. wei wuxian eventually pries out of wen ning that wen qing does think jiang cheng is kind of cute, which is definitely a win.

“it’s, like, not cheating if we’re not married yet, right?” wei wuxian asks, her head in jiang cheng’s lap as he braids her hair into something that isn’t an embarrassment. which, whatever, she can still wipe the floor with him when her hair’s in a ponytail.

“right,” he says decisively.

now they just have to convince wen qing and lan wangji of that.

#asks #anon #untamed #fandom ficcery #i have prompts to finish before tuesday!! #and chapters to write!!! #but this ask gripped me by the throat #i hope you're proud of yourself #jfm is 100% like well i couldn't marry cssr #but my son can marry her daughter

[ghooostbaby]

deeeep dive into why and how wei wuxian and lan wangji love each other, complete each other, are the inverse reflection of each other’s deeply hidden internal selves mirrored through the other’s external self, lan wangji’s inner wildness that he has to conceal and protect recognizing and loving wei wuxian’s outer wildness, wei wuxian’s deep, fuddy-duddy morality and values that he conceals with an elaborate subterfuge of jokes, mischief, and bravado, seeing and loving in lan wangji the ability to say no that it was never safe for him to express directly, “between you and me there is no need for thank you and sorry”

oh and a slight diversion midway through into a manifesto on WEI WUXIAN IS NOT INSECURE the whole story is about a society where being liked is ESSENTIAL for survival and it is actually completely perilous not to be liked, and his “people pleasing” is a skill and tool for his survival especially as an orphan and proven to be a necessary one when he stops doing it and STOPS SURVIVING

after the cut discussing the very interesting dynamics of consent in general in the novel, but not going into the consensual non-consent kink stuff till the last paragraph if you need to avoid for any reason.

I've been thinking about how Lan WangJi sees in Wei WuXian the exterior, unfettered expression of the wildness Lan WangJi holds in him and protects with rigid codes of conduct, propriety and outward dignity.

I have had this sense that these two are mirrors, either one reflecting the hidden, interior (and unallowed) self of the other. but it seemed more clear from Lan WangJi's side, especially knowing about his history with his mother and the spicy side that emerges when he drinks and in the extras.

I also - just... the way this whole story shows how romantic love is truly this longing for your self, to become yourself, to become the thing you're not allowed to be, seeing in that person the expression of whatever it is you can't become and longing for it, protecting it, joining with it as closely as you can without ever being able to let it live inside your own body.

On the surface it seems a lot more difficult for Wei WuXian to find a piece of his soul in Lan Wangji. I think its a bit too simplistic to see whatever draws Wei WuXian to Lan Wangji as a reverse-psychology sort of craving of acceptance from the only one who won't give it, pushing and pushing against this impenetrable boundary that he needs to break to feel assurance that no matter what he can make anyone accept him.

And he is SO drawn - in a mind boggling way, in the teenage flashbacks Lan WangJi rudely and aggressively throws him off over and over and Wei WuXian cannot keep away! Even when he talks about how boring Lan WangJi is, he never stops trying to be around him and talk to him.

I've seen discussions of the way Wei WuXian has always relied on the goodwill of others to survive, and that his placating of others to survive is a character flaw. Although that seems only halfway true. 

As a young child he didn't have anyone's goodwill for a while and he survived, and it seems like he can always find a way to survive from whatever means and sometimes very limited resources he has at his disposal. Doing what he has to do to become powerful enough to survive losing his core and being thrown into the burial mounds slowly costs him the goodwill of everyone around him - and what happens to him as a result shows how much placation was a truly necessary for someone without the protection of biological/hereditary family bonds.

(Don’t get me started on how his loss of his golden core and his development of demonic cultivation to give himself power by ‘unnatural methods’ through the use of a musical instrument is a metaphor for disability and the way ableist society sees the use of accessibility devices and tools. Actually please DO get my started haha.)

Wei WuXian is so charismatic and seems very used to getting what he wants and needs on the strength of that. He pushes a lot of boundaries and seems pretty confident and flexibly prepared to handle the consequences, whether beatings or harsh words. But he does work so hard to make others feel good, good with him, good with themselves.

When he is in the cave with Lan WangJi, Wei WuXian is described as "like one who forgets all past pain as soon as the wound heals". He can't resist coming up beside Lan WangJi and talking to him again and again after every time Lan WangJi pushes him off, only finally staying away when Lan WangJi bites him (and he still keeps trying to talk to him after a little bit!) and then calls him an awful person (!!! Bad Wangji! :(((( ). In the end, when Lan WangJi (very minimally) discloses what happened to his sect and his father, and even cries, because of all the defences/assaults Lan WangJi has put up Wei WuXian can't do anything or say anything to help and feels miserable.

Lan WangJi just absolutely refuses to allow Wei WuXian to take care of him - and I began to wonder maybe that’s what Wei WuXian actually really likes about him? Why he is unable to resist coming up to Lan WangJi again and again? Maybe because Lan WangJi refuses to let Wei WuXian appease him. He’s not trying to crack Lan WangJi to get to this impenetrable place of approval and acceptance. In a way he can’t quite understand, Lan WangJi is a respite for Wei WuXian from the constant work to be the one who pleases.

And  how different this is to how Wei WuXian is (or has to be) with Jiang Cheng when he wakes up in Lotus Pier after the cave. Jiang Cheng gets so down and really really needs Wei WuXian to do what he does so well (and wasn’t allowed to do with Lan WangJi) - chasing Jiang Cheng down while being injured and reassuring him about all his insecurities about his father's acceptance and becoming a sect leader and Wei WuXian's own abilities excelling his - and at first Jiang Cheng is pushing him away, but he really does need Wei WuXian to do all this to feel better.

Wei WuXian is described as not wanting to be lonely, and not wanting to see other people unhappy, and he keeps trying to push and pull with whatever he has to not be lonely and lift the mood for those around him. I don't think it's a kind of codependency or insecurity. It’s not that Wei WuXian is afraid to say no, in fact I would say he doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do, but he must always do it creatively, with humour. Similarly to Nie Huaisang, he uses a persona of foolishness to give himself a covert agency.

I also think I'm writing this because I don't like seeing this discussed as a sad bean character flaw for him to always need to be liked - its a strategy, its a tool, its how he survives and excels. Doesn’t the whole story prove how essential being liked is to a human’s survival? And he is so so good at being liked, in making others happy, even when he is refusing to do what others want from him that he doesn't want to do, he does it in a way that deflects criticism, with a smiling bravado that never says what it truly means and has people writing him off as shameless or foolish or just endearing himself toward them despite themselves.

He is always at work really, with jokes and flattery or mischief and teasing, to get the resources he wants and needs. Case and point, when he makes a big coquettish show for mianmian, definitely not being "people pleasing" for her, but the group of girls around them all find it funny and cute and in the end she gives him a perfume sachet which ends up being a valuable resource for later. Or the time he outright tells Jiang Cheng that if you give the girls some lotus seeds they'll remember you and return the favour in the future. (Also notice how his interactions with girls seen as flirtatious are actually strategic resource-gathering acts.) These are the skills he has developed to meet his own needs. (THIS IS NOT A CHARACTER FLAW. I REPEAT.) He takes what he needs and steals from the Lotus Pier markets knowing it'll be paid for, he lives like he never know when his next windfall will come from so he'll take what he can when he can find it. Like Jiang Fengmian said, if there is no guarantee of a meal in the future then today's meal should still be enjoyed. It’s how Wei WuXian said to Nie Huaisang at Cloud Recesses, you have to find ways to make your own fun out of whatever you have. So he gets kicked out of class, goes fishing, gets alcohol, he pursues his own pleasure. He actually is quite insistent of his own agency and right to choose, he just can never directly say no.

And that little detail that Wei WuXian always tucks coins into his clothes just in case, that makes him able to buy food when he and Jiang Cheng are on the run... breaks my heart and reveals so much about the way Wei WuXian is constantly at work on ensuring his own survival and never takes for granted whether he is safe (he knows he never is). 

I've seen some people talking about Wei WuXian sacrificing so much for his brother and sister out of a need to be accepted out of a chronic sense of insecurity. But isn’t this just true? Doesn't he live in a world where being accepted is absolutely essential for survival? Doesn’t this whole story show the cruelty of a social system based on networks of hereditary/biological family that closes out and scapegoats any outsiders, and that without biological family connections that can enclose around you, you can never truly be safe if not constantly working to earn acceptance? (And then beautifully ends with the way a gay romantic relationship that queers marriage/family/etc disrupts all this and creates safety and inclusion for Wei WuXian without needing a normative family.) (AKA romantic love does not resolve some internal personal problem in Wei WuXian but disrupts and refuses and rebels against the problem of SOCIETY.) (*breathes heavily*)

And that’s why Lan WangJi is magnetizing to Wei WuXian. Lan WangJi is always saying no. Although what Lan WangJi sees in Wei WuXian is an exterior wildness, Wei WuXian is not really out of control so much as he is playing and caring and supplicating and showing off and pleasing people to get the resources and the acceptance he needs to live his life. He has firm values and desires that he can never outwardly state, only creatively spinning plates to distract and deflect while he refuses what goes against his values, protects who he cares for, or takes what he needs to in order to survive/thrive. Lan WangJi embodies an exterior of resoluteness and direct agency that Wei WuXian doesn't have the luxury of. And he's so drawn to him for his ability to repeatedly say no, to refuse to get along, or make others laugh, make other people happy, but just simply follow what he thinks is right.

Wei WuXian’s outward wild movement protects an inward stillness. He is an exterior of people-pleasing around an interior of refusal. He is an exterior of youthful rebellion around an interior of unflinching morality. He sees in Lan WangJi the outward expression of his stillness, his morality, his resistance that he can't express, that he's had to protect.

FYI after the cut gets more into the dynamics of consent in the story, and the last paragraph directly talks about consensual non-consent kink play in wangxian’s relationship.

When Wei WuXian is with Lan WangJi, there is no work to be done. Lan WangJi cannot be swayed by him, and so there's no point vying for resources or favors. Lan WangJi will either give him everything or refuse him everything based on who he is, it does not matter what Wei WuXian does and he can't do anything that will change Lan WangJi’s mind. Someone he literally can't win over. After the resurrection, they are often in an adorable tug of war, where Wei WuXian tries to take care of Lan WangJi, while Lan WangJi won't allow him to but demands to care of Wei WuXian right back. Actually, Lan WangJi insists that Wei WuXian take everything he wants or needs from him and is even angry when he doesn't take or when Wei WuXian tries to offer a gesture in return, even something as simple as a thank you Lan WangJi won't accept. It’s kind of adorable how frustrated Wei WuXian is in doing this thing he's learned that he needs to do, and just... so confused by Lan WangJi, and has to find a way to please this person who aggressively refuses to be pleased and is ONLY pleased by Wei WuXian being pleased.

(Not to mention the way Wei WuXian delights in finding that Lan WangJi can’t say what he wants, and they have sort of these chaotic cohesive both-being-so-pleased-by-working-hard-to-please each-other moments where Wei WuXian is letting Lan WangJi please him by finding out what pleases Lan WangJi and giving it to him.)

The wildness Lan WangJi had always hidden within himself is something he sees as just as dangerous as Wei WuXian thinks of his desire to refuse. He saw his mother be socially alienated, shunned, and eventually die because of her wildness. His ability to survive in the world, aka to be accepted by his family, is contingent on him being able to control this inner wildness. From a young age (re: Phoenix Mountain kiss) he could only understand his sexual desires for Wei WuXian as something repulsive or dangerous that had to be repressed and controlled, and that the only way he could imagine his desires as possible was as non-consensual. His secret gay desires were never available to him as anything but something monstrous.

Importantly, it’s not like everyone else other than Lan WangJi are all vampires cruelly demanding Wei WuXian’s constant sacrifice. Wei WuXian is always vibrantly, charismatically offering so much, before anyone has asked. It’s Wei WuXian who creates this kind of relationship for himself again and again. It’s Lan WangJi who simply refuses - he refuses to charmed, to be cared for. And so in the end Lan WangJi becomes the one person who Wei WuXian feels doesn't need anything from him. When he says he's eating the corpse's fruit to save Lan WangJi money and Lan WangJi says that will never be necessary. Or when Wei WuXian asks what toy he should win for Lan WangJi at the market game, and Lan WangJi says anything Wei WuXian gets will be the one he wants. (XD stahhhhp it’s too sweet !!!) He really just wants Wei WuXian to be, to exist, to spend his life discovering his own desires and allow Lan WangJi to help satisfy them, he doesn't want anything from Wei WuXian other than him living - happy and safe.

It takes someone like Lan WangJi to refuse Wei WuXian’s aggressive generosity, it’s definitely not an easy thing to say no to Wei WuXian, dazzling or annoying people so chaotically before they even realize there’s something to say no to. The sacrifice he gives to Jiang Cheng, he never even offers a choice - and perhaps it would have been too much for Jiang Cheng to accept if he had the chance.

Lan WangJi’s statement "Between us there is no need for thank you and sorry" seems like one of the most important sentences in the novel, and you can’t help but noticed the way “sorry” and “thank you” is littered meaningfully through the book. What is owed, what the characters owe to each other, the give and take, touches every part of the story (down to wangxian's erotic explorations!).

When Jiang Cheng talks to Wei WuXian at the Guanyin temple he makes a lot of contradictory statements about what Wei WuXian owes, what he was given, what he took, what he (Wei WuXian still) is owed in return. Wei WuXian, according to Jiang Cheng, took everything from the Jiang clan, and paid them back with their deaths. The Jiang clan give him his life when they took him in, and he owed Jiang Cheng service for the rest of his life as the right hand to the sect leader, that’s what Wei WuXian had promised anyway. At the same time, Wei WuXian sacrificed everything (his golden core) to Jiang Cheng, by giving everything he was taking one more thing - Jiang Cheng’s right to even be angry at him. Jiang Cheng had taken everything from Wei WuXian. Everything that happened around Wei WuXian after could be said to be because of the loss of his golden core, which Jiang Cheng might be said to be responsible for. But he never asked for it, maybe he never would have wanted it. He wishes Wei WuXian told him, but Jiang Cheng never told Wei WuXian his golden core was melted while he was sacrificing himself to save Wei WuXian. He wants Wei wuxian to say sorry, but that makes him feel pathetic. And Jiang Cheng says sorry too. It’s a mess of paradoxes, and in the end somehow it seems like the scales are balanced in the most hollow, dismal way.

What is owed, what is given, what is taken ... Wei WuXian has never been part of a family. He has always had to say thank you and sorry for everything he's taken. Wei WuXian himself admits that he used "thank you" as a way to enforce distance between himself and Lan WangJi. Lan WangJi's point i think is that they belong to each other, Wei WuXian is his, and he is Wei WuXian's, unconditionally. The way that Jiang Cheng speaks of him in the Guanyin temple (admittedly I read a fan translation and this is very nuanced, related to slight variations of grammar), even when Jiang Cheng clearly is so broken by the loss of Wei WuXian from his life, he talks about Wei WuXian as an outsider. It is what MY family gave to YOU, never what you took from our family. But at one point Wei WuXian was part of their family - but he takes too much, and becomes an ex-disciple, not a brother. Wei WuXian’s inclusion as a Jiang was always conditional. 

Even when Wen Qing and Wen Ning leave him to go take the blame for qiongqing path they tell him "thank you and sorry", drawing a line between them and him, so he doesn’t even belong to these people who he sacrificed everything for. The way Wei WuXian acted when he was younger, he was always keenly aware of this - he always knew that he didn’t belong to anyone, no one is going to protect him unconditionally. And after first escaping the Burial Mounds, he is done pretending. When Lan WangJi warns him about what a demonic cultivation path will do to his heart, Wei WuXian replies: “After all, on the topic of how my heart is, what could other people know about it? Why should other people care about it?” He is done pleasing. Nothing has changed really, he still belongs to no one and is alone, but now he is angry about it, and instead of saying thank you and sorry he is going to become too powerful to be at anyone's mercy. And then we see in the story afterward what happens to people who don't say thank you and sorry.

The whole point I think is the impossibility of choice, the impossibility of consent in this society. If he didn't forgo the behaviour his social acceptance was conditional on, he wouldn't have survived the burial mounds. But once he becomes powerful enough to survive and get revenge on the Wens, he is socially outcast. Except he was already outcast from the beginning.

And so how do Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi find a way through all that to a life together where all their desires are possible, where Wei WuXian can say no while also being pleasing (safe) to others, and Lan WangJi can indulge in his wild desires while still being good? The answer is kinky sex!

It is kind of miraculous and beautiful how Wei WuXian finds a way to say no, while simultaneously pleasing Lan WangJi, giving pleasure, while taking it, saying no, and knowing his refusal is not just tolerated, but gives Lan WangJi pleasure, knowing Lan wangji and knowing the painful belief Lan WangJi holds within that his desires are unacceptable and unspeakable, and that Wei WuXian can take care of Lan Wangji in a secret little way and please him and give everything to him by craving this wildness in Lan WangJi while at the same time he gets to say no again and again , and it won't push Lan WangJi away, he can refuse everything while at the same time be totally pleasing and thus safe, and also for Lan WangJi, Wei WuXian's pleasure at saying "no" while still being held onto, that he genuinely wants to be fucked even while begging Lan WangJi to stop (and the many ways he does give his consent for this throughout, especially their first time), allows Lan WangJi the ecstatic feeling that this idea that his sexual desires are only possible through force are not just something his lover forgives him for but something his lover is SO turned on by, and that he has consent for his fantasies of non-consent, Wei WuXian has the same fantasies from the other side, he is doing what he is supposed to while doing what he shouldn't, and actually these monstrous feelings in him allow him to take care of Wei WuXian in a way that he needs - that they both need - and all these impulses that are so wrong with Wei WuXian become very right and a way to do good. And they are just both so perfect and perfect for each other and I love them and I am so happy for them to have a long kinky life together.

#wangxian #mdzs #mdzs meta #holds wei wuxian close and murmurs into his hair 'no one knows you like i know you baby'

[fannish-karmiya]

Wei Wuxian’s Position in the Jiang Household

Fandom tends to mischaracterise Wei Wuxian’s position in the Jiang family greatly. A lot of people project more modern ideas about adoption onto his relationship with the Jiang siblings, and write as if he really is their sibling and only Yu Ziyuan’s abusive nature gets in the way of their bond.

This strikes me as a bit misguided. While adoption was practised in ancient China, it was mainly for the purpose of obtaining a male heir in the absence of one, or obtaining more daughters to marry off for alliances. Jiang Fengmian had no reason to adopt Wei Wuxian into the main family, and he didn’t. Wei Wuxian’s position in the household is far more nebulous than that, and honestly it’s hard to find an exact corollary, in Chinese history or in any culture, precisely because it was so messy and ill-defined.

A Companion to Upper Class Children

Wei Wuxian is the son of a servant of Yunmeng Jiang; it’s notable that Wei Changze is always referred to this way, rather than as a disciple. Wei Changze wound up leaving the sect in order to marry Cangse Sanren, and Jiang Fengmian considered them dear enough friends that when he heard they passed away, he spent years searching for their orphaned son. He wound up finding Wei Wuxian on the streets of Yiling and brought him home as his ward.

Wei WuXian was taken home by Jiang FengMian when he was nine.

Most memories from back then were already blurred. Yet, Jin Ling’s mother, Jiang YanLi, remembered all of them, and even told him quite a few.

She said that, after his father heard of the news that his parents both died in battle, he had always dedicated himself to finding the child that these past friends had left behind. After searching for a while, he finally found the child in Yiling.

(Chapter 24, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s clear from the start that beyond this sense of obligation to his old friends, Jiang Fengmian also had a role set out for Wei Wuxian: he wanted him to be a companion to his children, and Jiang Cheng in particular.

He encourages a friendship between them, insisting on a sleepover between the two a week into Wei Wuxian’s stay.

On the second day, Jiang Cheng’s puppies were given to someone else.

This angered Jiang Cheng so much that he threw a big tantrum. No matter how much Jiang FengMian comforted him gently, telling him that they should ‘be good friends’, he refused to talk to Wei WuXian. Quite a few days later, Jiang Cheng’s attitude softened. Jiang FengMian wanted to strike while the iron was still hot, so he told Wei WuXian to sleep in the same room as him, hoping that they’d grow fonder of each other.

[...]

That night, Jiang Cheng locked Wei WuXian outside his room, refusing to let him in.

[...]

Wei WuXian waited outside for a long time. When the door opened, before the joy could spread onto his face, he was bombarded with a pile of things being thrown out. The door banged shut again.

Jiang Cheng told him from inside, “Go sleep somewhere else! This is my room! You’re even gonna steal my room?!”

[...]

Standing outside, as Wei WuXian heard that dogs would come bite him, fear immediately bubbled within him. Twisting his fingers, he hurried, “I’ll go, I’ll go. Don’t call the dogs!”

Dragging behind him the sheets and blanket that were thrown outside, he ran out the hall. Having only arrived at Lotus Pier for a short period of time, he didn’t dare jump around yet. Every day, he obediently holed up in the places that Jiang FengMian told him to stay at. He didn’t even know where his room was, much less have the courage to knock on other people’s doors, scared that it’d disturb someone’s dreams.

(Chapter 71, Exiled Rebels translation)

After Jiang Cheng is worried about getting in trouble, he goes to Jiang Yanli for help, and she searches for Wei Wuxian.

But this was the first pair of shoes that Jiang FengMian bought him. Wei WuXian was too embarrassed to make him go out of his way to buy another pair, and so he said that they weren’t too big. Jiang YanLi helped him into his shoe and pressed the hollow tip, “It is a bit big. I’ll fix it for you when we get back.”

Hearing this, Wei WuXian felt somewhat uneasy, as if he did something wrong again.

Living in other people’s homes, the worst that could happen was to make trouble for the hosts.

Jiang YanLi put him onto her back and began to walk back, wobbling in her steps as she spoke, “A-Ying, no matter what A-Cheng said to you, don’t bother about him. He doesn’t have a good temper, so he’s always home playing with himself. Those puppies were his favorites. Dad sent them away, and so he’s feeling upset. He’s actually really happy that somebody’s here to be with him.”

(Chapter 71, Exiled Rebels translation)

Later, Wei Wuxian offers to cover for him, saying simply that he ran outside by himself because he was scared. In this one case it feels like a genuine instance of children showing solidarity and covering for each other’s little misbehaviours. But it also follows a pattern of Wei Wuxian doing this and making excuses, time and time again, for Jiang Cheng. I wonder if on some level, he already knew that his role in the household was in part to be a companion-servant to Jiang Cheng.

Wei Wuxian normally never puts up with people treating him poorly or being arrogant; he constantly bites his tongue when Jiang Cheng does so around him. While they study at Cloud Recesses, Jiang Cheng frequently insults Wei Wuxian, who always just smiles and laughs it off.

Jiang Cheng humphed, “Him? He wakes at nine in the morning and sleeps at one during the night. When he wakes up, he doesn’t practice his sword or meditate; he goes boating, swims around, picks lotus seedpods, and hunts for pheasants.”

Wei WuXian replied, “No matter how much pheasants I hunt, I’m still number one.”

(Chapter 13, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jiang Cheng scolded with a darkened expression, “What are you proud of?! What is there to be proud of with this?! Do you think that it’s a glorious thing to be told by someone to get lost? You bring so much shame upon our sect!”

(Chapter 16, Exiled Rebels translation)

We never see Wei Wuxian excusing this sort of behaviour from any other character; he has no problem scolding Jin Ling for his arrogant attitude and telling him that he shouldn’t be imitating his uncle, after all! It’s only where Jiang Cheng is concerned that he does this, and honestly, even then he seems to be quite aware that Jiang Cheng’s behaviour is wrong; he simply accepts on some level that it’s his role in the household to put up with it.

He actually does, very gently, try to guide Jiang Cheng at times. In Lotus Seed Pods, for example, he tries to give Jiang Cheng advice on how to flirt with some of the maidens in Yunmeng and make friends:

Wei WuXian threw the seed pods toward the shore. It was a far distance, but they landed lightly in the women’s hands. He grabbed a few more and stuffed them into Jiang Cheng’s arms, shoving, “What are you doing, just standing there? Hurry up.”

After a few shoves, Jiang Cheng could only accept them, “Hurry up and do what?”

Wei WuXian, “You ate the watermelon too, so you also have to return the gift, don’t you? Here, here, don’t be embarrassed. Start throwing, start throwing.”

Jiang Cheng snorted again, “You must be joking. What’s there to be embarrassed about?” Whatever he said, however, even after all of the shidi began to throw seed pods, he still didn’t start to move. Wei WuXian urged, “Then throw some! If you throw some this time, next time you can ask them if the seed pods tasted good, and you’ll be able to make conversation again!”

[...]

Jiang Cheng was just about to throw one when he realized how shameless it was the moment he heard it. He peeled a seed pod and ate it by himself.

[...]

After a while of laughter, he turned around and looked at Jiang Cheng, who was sitting at the front of the boat eating seed pods with a long face. His smile gradually disappeared as he sighed, “Well, what an unteachable child.”

Jiang Cheng fumed, “So what if I want to eat alone?”

Wei WuXian, “Look at you, Jiang Cheng. Nevermind. You’re hopeless. Just wait to eat alone your whole life!”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

He even sighs rather disappointedly when Jiang Cheng refuses to take the hint; he knows that Jiang Cheng’s sullen behaviour is going to make him miserable down the line, but all of his gentle efforts to nudge him in a better direction have failed.

He also speaks with great awareness of Jiang Cheng’s flaws after the fight in the ancestral hall:

Wei WuXian reached out with one hand and massaged his chest, as if trying to break up the pent-up feeling inside his heart. A moment later, he blurted, “I knew Jiang Cheng wouldn’t have let us go so easily. That brat… How could this be?!”

[...]

Wei WuXian’s eyelids throbbed, “Every one of them. The brat’s been like this ever since he was young.He’ll say anything when he’s angry, no matter how bad it is. He gives up on all grace and discipline whatsoever. As long as it’d annoy whomever he’s against, he’d say it no matter what terrible insults he uses. After all these years, he hasn’t gotten better at all. Please don’t take it to heart.”

(Chapter 90, Exiled Rebels translation)

This is so interesting to me, because it really makes it clear that Wei Wuxian has always been aware of these flaws of Jiang Cheng’s. He hasn’t been viewing him through rose-coloured lenses or making excuses for him because he’s ‘family’. He puts up with Jiang Cheng’s behaviour because being his companion is one of his duties in the Jiang household. It may never have been directly stated, but there seems to be some unspoken understanding to this effect.

I honestly don’t know if there is any official role in history (in any culture, not just China) which perfectly correlates to this. In China a lady’s maid was expected to also be a close friend and companion to her mistress (in canon, see Bicao to Qin-furen and Yinzhu and Jinzhu to Yu-furen). In Europe an upper class woman would hire a lady’s companion, a woman from the lower fringes of the gentry who would serve as her companion in exchange for financial support.

I don’t know of any version of this role which involves two men. In general, this sort of role existed because upper class women were confined to the household by and large, and had very limited social spheres. Men, meanwhile, had much greater ability to meet with their peers and make friends. I almost feel like Wei Wuxian wound up being shoved into this role simply because even as a child Jiang Cheng was so unsociable that Jiang Fengmian didn’t know what else to do!

Wei Wuxian also at least once steps in and starts a fight in place of Jiang Cheng (essentially taking the fall for him). He does this when Jin Zixuan speaks disparagingly of Jiang Yanli at Cloud Recesses:

Jin ZiXuan asked in reply, “Why don’t you ask me how on Earth can I be satisfied with her?”

Jiang Cheng instantly stood up.

Pushing him to the side, Wei WuXian walked in front of him and sneered, “You sure think that you’re pretty satisfying, don’t you? Where did you get the guts to be all choosy here?”

[...]

Wei WuXian sighed, “… It’d be nice if shijie came. It’s fortunate that you didn’t hit him.”

Jiang Cheng, “I was going to. If you didn’t push me, the other side of Jin ZiXuan’s face would also be ruined.”

(Chapter 18, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s also very notable that Wei Wuxian is never shown having friends outside of Jiang Cheng’s social circle, despite what an outgoing and friendly person he is. Any time he expresses interest in someone for himself, as with Lan Wangji, Jiang Cheng tries to nip it in the bud. Being unable to deter Wei Wuxian from Lan Wangji directly, Jiang Cheng instead tries to drive a wedge between them, constantly telling Wei Wuxian that Lan Wangji hates him.

“Yeah,” Nie HuaiSang spoke, “It looks like he really hates you, Wei-xiong. Lan WangJi usually… No, he never does something so impolite.”

Wei WuXian, “He hates me already? I wanted to apologize to him.”

Jiang Cheng sneered, “Apologizing now? Too late! Like his uncle, he surely thinks that you are evil and unruly to the core, and didn’t bother to pay you any attention.”

(Chapter 14, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jiang Cheng pulled him even closer, “It’s not as if you’re familiar with him! Don’t you see how much he hates you? You’re going to carry him? He probably doesn’t even want you a step closer to him.”

(Chapter 52, Exiled Rebels translation)

He even directly orders Wei Wuxian not to invite Lan Wangji to come visit him at Lotus Pier during the Lotus Seed Pod extra.

Wei WuXian, “Why are you so upset? My watermelon almost flew away! I was just being polite. Of course he wouldn’t come. Have you ever heard of him go anywhere by himself to have fun?”

Jiang Cheng had on a stern expression, “Let’s make this clear. I don’t want him to come, anyhow. Don’t invite him.”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s not only Lan Wangji he tries to steer Wei Wuxian away from; he also interrupts his conversation with Wen Ning at the archery competition:

Wen QiongLin was probably one of Wen Clan’s disciples furthest in bloodline. His status was neither high nor low, yet his personality was timid. He didn’t dare do anything and even his speech stuttered. Through much practice, he had finally conjured up the courage to enter the competition, but he blew it because he was too nervous. If he didn’t receive the right guidance, perhaps the boy would hide his true self more and more from now on and never dare to perform in front of other people again. Wei WuXian encouraged him a couple of times and touched on a few areas of growth, correcting some miniscule problems that he had when he was shooting in the garden. Wen QiongLin listened so attentively that he didn’t even turn his eyes away, nodding uncontrollably.

Jiang Cheng, “Where did you find so much nonsense? The competition is starting soon. Get into the arena right now!”

Wei WuXian spoke to Wen QiongLin in a serious tone, “I’ll be off to the competition now. Later, you can see how I shoot when I’m in the arena…”

Jiang Cheng dragged him away, short of patience. He spat as he dragged, “See how you shoot? Do you think that you’re a model or something?!”

(Chapter 59, Exiled Rebels translation)

Even when it comes to Wei Wuxian’s friendly flirtation with Mianmian, Jiang Cheng has something to say and tries to deter him from her:

Jiang Cheng, “The one that MianMian gave you? I didn’t.”

Wei WuXian exclaimed his regret, “I’ll find her for another one later.”

Jiang Cheng frowned, “You’re at it again. You don’t really like her, do you? The girl does look fine, but it’s obvious that she doesn’t have much background. Maybe she isn’t even a disciple. She seems like the daughter of a servant.”

Wei WuXian, “What’s wrong with servants? I’m also the son of a servant, aren’t I?”

Jiang Cheng, “How can you compare to her? Whose servant is like you, having your master peel lotus seeds for you and boil you soup. I didn’t even get to have some!”

(Chapter 56, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jiang Cheng really does seem to view Wei Wuxian in a very proprietary light; he’s not allowed to have any friendships which don’t exist under Jiang Cheng’s direct control.

The idea that Wei Wuxian was meant to be Jiang Cheng’s servant-friend is reinforced at its darkest when Lotus Pier falls: both Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian’s last words to Wei Wuxian are an instruction to protect Jiang Cheng.

One hand holding him, Madam Yu grabbed Wei WuXian’s lapels with her other hand as though to strangle him to death. She spoke through clenched teeth, “… You damn little brat! I hate you! I hate you more than anything else! Look at what our sect has gone through for your sake!”

[...]

Madam Yu, “Don’t make such a fuss. It’ll loosen up when you’re somewhere safe. If anyone attacks you on the journey, it’ll protect you as well. Don’t come back. Go to Meishan straight away and find your sister!”

After she finished, she turned to Wei WuXian and pointed at him, “Wei Ying! Listen to me! Protect Jiang Cheng, protect him even if you die, do you understand?!”

[...]

Jiang FengMian stared into his eyes. Suddenly, he reached out. Only after pausing in the air did he finally touch Jiang Cheng’s head, slowly, “A-Cheng, be well.”

Wei WuXian, “Uncle Jiang, if anything happens to you, he won’t be well.”

Jiang FengMian turned his eyes to him, “A-Ying, A-Cheng… you must look after him.”

(Chapter 58, Exiled Rebels translation)

Even Jiang Fengmian, who supposedly favoured Wei Wuxian, only gives him instructions as pertains to his own son; he doesn’t spare a single last word for Wei Wuxian himself.

A Lower Status Family Member

It wasn’t uncommon throughout human history, across many cultures, for wealthy families to take in relatives who were orphaned or had otherwise fallen on hard times. They tended to have a lower status than the main family; they lived with them and were still a part of their social sphere, but were not quite equal, either. The English term for this is ‘poor relation’.

Obviously, Wei Wuxian isn’t actually a blood relative at all. But his position in the Jiang household definitely has some similarities. He lives in the main house, eats meals with the family, attends school with the son... He is even on some conditional levels accepted into the gentry of cultivation society. But he isn’t a full equal member of the family, either.

The fact that he’s Jiang Fengmian’s ward, not a blood relative or adopted into the main family, puts him at even more of a disadvantage. It seems that Jiang Fengmian paid for all of Wei Wuxian’s expenses:

Wei WuXian took a bite, “Back then, I didn’t even have to pay when I ate at the dock. I grabbed whatever I wanted, ate whatever I wanted; ran after I grabbed, walked as I ate. A month later, the vendor would get the reimbursement from Uncle Jiang.”

(Chapter 86, Exiled Rebels translation)

While this is a bit of conjecture, I gather that he was given access to family money as if he was part of the clan, and could just charge Yunmeng Jiang whenever he shopped in Lotus Pier. Which is great so long as Wei Wuxian is accepted in Yunmeng Jiang...but as we see during the Burial Mounds settlement period, the moment that acceptance fades, Wei Wuxian is left out in the cold without a single coin. And because he isn’t a member of the family, it’s a far easier matter for him to be thrown aside, as he was when Jiang Cheng grew angry with him over his decision to protect the Wens.

Of course, Chinese families traditionally did share their wealth, and still do nowadays. Ideally, in a loving family, this is a positive and means they all support each other; but when that isn’t the case, it leaves the victims of abuse vulnerable.

In Wei Wuxian’s case, he has some of the benefits of being a member of the Jiang clan, without ever actually being a member. He can be cast aside at any time, and he is never afforded the same respect by wider cultivation society which an inner clan member would have.

I don’t believe the novel ever directly addresses Wei Wuxian’s acceptance into the guest lectures at Cloud Recesses in this light, but the donghua actually has a very interesting little exchange about it which takes place between Nie Huaisang and a relative of his:

“Wei-xiong is just a disciple from Yunmeng. Why could he come to Gusu to study?”

“Wei-xiong is the son of Jiang-zongzhu’s old friend. He has been treated as their own son.”

“Oh, I see. That explains why they don’t look like master and servant, they seem like brothers.”

(MDZS Donghua, Episode 3, Guodong Subs)

Wei Wuxian was only allowed to attend these lectures, which seem to mainly be for sect heirs and inner clan members, on the grace of being Jiang Fengmian’s ward (and probably to accompany Jiang Cheng). While this exchange is not from the book, we never do see or hear about any of the other students being outer disciples rather than members of the main clan. Here’s what the novel had to say about it:

In that year, aside from the YunmengJiang Sect, there were also the young masters from other clans, sent to study here from parents who heard of the reputation. The young masters were all around fifteen or sixteen. Because the sects all knew the others, although they weren’t close, they had seen others’ faces before. It was widely known that, although Wei WuXian’s surname was not Jiang, he was the leading disciple of the sect leader of the YunmengJiang Sect—Jiang FengMian, and also the son of his friend who had passed away. In fact, the sect leader regarded him as his own child. This, along with how youths were not as concerned with status and ancestry as elders, they were soon friends. Only a few sentences passed, and everyone started to call others older brothers or younger brothers.

(Chapter 13, Exiled Rebels translation)

And Wei Wuxian isn’t treated as an equal at school, either; when he and his friends get up to mischief, he’s frequently the only one punished. Nie Huaisang even notes that Lan Qiren seems to be far harder on him than the other students:

Nie HuaiSang spoke, “Why does it seem like old man Lan is especially strict towards you? He always directs his scoldings at you.”

(Chapter 14, Exiled Rebels translation)

And we see Wei Wuxian being the sole one punished out of a group taken for granted by his friends multiple times:

As a result of cheating notes flying everywhere in the air, Lan WangJi suddenly attacked during the test, and caught a few initiators of the commotion. Lan QiRen exploded with anger, writing letters to the prominent clans to tell on them. He loathed Wei WuXian—in the beginning, although these disciples could hardly sit still, at least nobody started anything, and their buttocks were able to stick to their legs. However, now that Wei Ying came, the originally spineless brats were influenced by his encouragement, venturing out at night and drinking alcohol however they pleased. The unhealthy practices grew greater and greater. As he had expected, Wei Ying was one of the biggest threats to humanity!

Jiang FengMian replied, “Ying has always been like this. Please take care to discipline him, Mr. Lan.”

And so, Wei WuXian was punished again.

(Chapter 14, Exiled Rebels translation)

The boys were all cheating, but Wei Wuxian is the one punished most severely. This happens when he's caught sneaking alcohol, too (though to be fair to Lan Wangji, he probably was only punishing him, and himself alongside him, for being outside after curfew when he threw them off the wall).

Of course, Jiang Cheng didn’t dare to say that Wei WuXian was at fault. Thinking back, it was them who urged Wei WuXian to buy liquor. Each and every one of them should have been punished. He could only speak in a vague way, “It’s fine, it’s fine; it’s not that serious! He can walk. Wei WuXian, why are you still up there?!”

(Chapter 18, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s not entirely unreasonable for the one who gets caught to take the punishment (what’s he going to do, rat his friends out?) but their ready acceptance of this does fit into a pattern.

Jiang Cheng’s top was tied at his waist. Hearing his mother’s chastise, he hastily put it over his head. Madam Yu scolded again, “And you boys! Can’t you see that A-Li’s here? Who taught you brats to dress like this in front of a girl!?”

Of course, it was needless to think who led the group. Thus, Madam Yu’s next sentence, as usual, was “Wei Ying! Do you want to die!?”

[...]

He could still feel some pain in his back, so he tossed the paddles to someone else, sat down, and felt the stinging piece of flesh, “How unfair. Nobody else was wearing anything, but why was I the only one who got scolded and beaten up?”

Jiang Cheng, “Because you hurt the eye the most with no clothes on, for sure.”

[...]

Everyone nodded. Wei WuXian, “Thanks for the praise, you guys. I’m even starting to feel some goose bumps.”

The shidi, “You’re welcome, Da-Shixiong. You protect us every single time. You deserve even more!”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

While we know that Yu Ziyuan is an abusive person in general, she abuses Wei Wuxian far more harshly than anyone else, even the outer disciples. It’s made clear to us in Lotus Seed Pods that she whips him regularly over minor infractions:

Madam Yu was even angrier, “How dare you run! Come back right now and kneel!” As she spoke, she let loose her whip with a flip of her wrist. Wei WuXian felt a searing pain slash across his back. He loudly exclaimed, “Ow!” And almost tripped on the ground.

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

And that his back is heavily scarred from it:

He felt his back, covered in scars both old and new, and still couldn’t hold back the question he’d be thinking about, “How awfully unfair. Why is it that I’m the only one who gets beaten up, whenever something happens?”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

Rumours about this even made it outside of Lotus Pier; during their visit to the ancestral hall years later, Lan Wangji even states that he heard about some of it:

Lan WangJi had on an expression of understanding, “Kneeling as punishment?”

Wei WuXian mused, “How did you know? That’s right. Madam Yu punished me almost every day.”

Lan WangJi nodded, “I have heard of a few things.”

Wei WuXian, “It’s so famous that even people outside Yunmeng, even you Gusu people know—how could it be ‘a few things’? But, to be honest, in all these years, I’ve never seen a second woman whose temper was as bad as Madam Yu’s. She told me to go to the ancestral hall and kneel no matter how small the matter was. Hahaha…”

(Chapter 87, Exiled Rebels translation)

Wei Wuxian’s lower social standing is definitely a part of why Yu Ziyuan is able to abuse him so terribly and receive little to no censure for it. Everyone at Lotus Pier simply takes it for granted, with the exception of Jiang Yanli who at least does try to deflect her mother when she is angry with Wei Wuxian:

Yet, all of a sudden, someone’s quiet voice drifted by Madam Yu’s ear, “Mom, do you want to eat some watermelon…”

[...]

Jiang YanLi almost cried from her mother’s pinching, mumbling, “Mom, A-Xian and the others were hiding here to relieve the heat and I came here on my own. Don’t blame them… Do… Do you want some watermelon… I don’t know who gave them to us, but it’s really sweet. Eating watermelon in the summer is great for cooling down and quenching thirst. I’ll cut them for you…”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

She both tries to deflect her mother from her anger, and also outright states that Wei Wuxian and the other boys weren’t at fault. Jiang Yanli seems to be the only one at Lotus Pier who ever does this.

After the war, Wei Wuxian attends social events at Jiang Cheng’s side but is never quite treated as an equal, either. See how at the Flower Banquet, Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue greet Jiang Cheng but not him:

Suddenly, a voice spoke, “Sect Leader Nie, Sect Leader Lan.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Wei WuXian’s heart jumped. Nie MingJue turned around again. Jiang Cheng came over, dressed in purple, hand on his sword.

And the person standing beside Jiang Cheng was none other than Wei WuXian himself.

He saw himself walk with hands behind his back, wearing all black. A flute in the shade of ink stuck to his waist, hanging down with crimson colored tassels. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Jiang Cheng, he nodded in this direction to show respect. Attitude slightly arrogant, he took on a profound, disdainful appearance. As Wei WuXian saw the stance of his younger self, the root of his teeth even cringed in soreness. He felt that he really was pretentious, and itched to just beat the hell out of himself.

Lan WangJi also saw Wei WuXian, who stood beside Jiang Cheng. The tip of his brows twitched ever so slightly. Soon afterward, his light-colored eyes returned to where they were, still looking forward in that composed way. Jiang Cheng and Nie MingJue nodded at each other with grave faces. Neither had anything unnecessary to say. After a hasty greeting, the two walked their separate ways. Wei WuXian saw his black-clothed self glance around as he finally saw Lan WangJi. He looked as if he was about to speak before Jiang Cheng came over and stood to his side.

(Chapter 49, Exiled Rebels translation)

They then proceed to talk about him and his lack of a sword behind his back, never having said a word to Wei Wuxian himself:

Nie MingJue’s gaze turned over again, “Why does Wei Ying not carry his sword?”

Carrying one’s sword was like wearing formal attire. In such gatherings, it was a non-negligible indication of etiquette. Those from prominent sects saw it as especially important. Lan WangJi responded in a lukewarm tone, “He had probably forgotten.”

Ning MingJue raised a brow, “He can even forget something like this?”

(Chapter 49, Exiled Rebels translation)

At Phoenix Mountain it also seems that Wei Wuxian is conditionally a member of the gentry, but not treated like an equal. Sometimes there are these more cheerful interactions:

Holding the flower, Lan WangJi seemed to be quite cold. His tone seemed cold as well, “Was it you?”

Wei WuXian immediately denied it, “No, it wasn’t.”

The maidens beside him spoke at once, “Don’t believe him. It was him!”

Wei WuXian, “How could you treat a good person like this? I’m getting angry!”

Giggling, the maidens pulled their reins and went to the formations of their own sects. Lan WangJi lowered the hand that he held the flower with and shook his head. Jiang Cheng spoke, “ZeWu-Jun, HanGuang-Jun, apologies. Don’t pay attention to him.”

Lan XiChen smiled, “That is fine. I will thank Young Master Wei’s kindness behind the flower in place of WangJi.”

(Chapter 69, Exiled Rebels translation)

But then he will be publicly disparaged and it is readily accepted by others. Jin Zixun first starts an argument with him by criticising Wei Wuxian for fighting Jin Zixuan, then turns the topic to Wei Wuxian’s having taken a third of the prey in the hunt.

Jin ZiXun, “Wei, just what what do you mean by going against ZiXuan so many times?”

[...]

Jin ZiXun sneered, “How is it presumptuous? How is any part of you not presumptuous? Today, in such an important hunt involving all of the sects, you really showed off your abilities, didn’t you? One third of the prey have been taken by you. You sure feel pleased, don’t you?”

[...]

He mocked, “But it’s only natural that you don’t think you’re in the wrong. It’s not the first time that Young Master Wei has disregarded the rules. You didn’t wear your sword in both last time’s flower banquet and this time’s hunt. It’s such a grand event, and you care nothing for courtesy. In what regard to you hold us, the people who are present with you?”

[...]

No disciple had ever dared say such lofty words in front of so many people. A moment later, as Jin ZiXun finally regained his composure, he yelled, “Wei WuXian! You’re only the son of a servant—how dare you be so bold!!!”

(Chapters 69-70, Exiled Rebels translation)

Naturally, Jin Zixun is able to weasel out of giving an apology, even though Jiang Yanli demands one. And guess who also takes a third of the prey, but this time without any censure?

Jin GuangYao, “In reality, not only did Young Master Wei keep a third of the prey to himself, our eldest brother has eliminated over half of the fays and the monsters as well.”

Hearing this, Lan XiChen laughed, “That is how Brother is like, after all.”

(Chapter 70, Exiled Rebels translation)

Never a Brother

As I’ve already mentioned, Wei Wuxian was never adopted by Jiang Fengmian, or adopted into the clan in general in even a distant way. And this nebulous ‘we’re letting you live with the main family as a charity, but you aren’t really one of us’ attitude also reflects in his relationship with Jiang Yanli.

I’ve already discussed how Wei Wuxian was more like a companion servant to Jiang Cheng than a brother. It’s also worth noting quickly that neither of them ever refers to the other as a brother. Wei Wuxian refers to Jiang Cheng as his shidi a few times, and Jiang Cheng never even refers to him as his shixiong (because Jiang Cheng views him as his servant, not as even a martial brother, I’d argue).

Only one member of the Jiang family ever does use familial terms to refer to Wei Wuxian: his shijie, Jiang Yanli. At Phoenix Mountain, when Wei Wuxian is being insulted by Jin Zixun, Jiang Yanli stands up and defends him, and states clearly that she considers Wei Wuxian a little brother:

The people who gathered around Jin ZiXun had on the same dark faces as he did. Yet, taking into consideration Jiang YanLi’s background, they didn’t dare talk back to her directly.

Jiang YanLi added, “Besides, hunting is hunting, so why bring the matter of discipline to the table? A-Xian is a disciple of the YunmengJiang Sect. He grew up with my brother and I, and so he’s as close as a brother is to me. Calling him the ‘son of a servant’—I’m sorry, but I won’t accept this. And thus…”

She straightened her back and raised her voice, “I hope that Young Master Jin ZiXun would apologize to Wei WuXian of the YunmengJiang Sect!”

(Chapter 70, Exiled Rebels translation)

It doesn’t come through in the Exiled Rebels translation, but she actually refers to Wei Wuxian as her didi in this scene, not her shidi. She’s trying to draw a line and state that Wei Wuxian is a part of the family. However, no one takes her seriously, and shortly afterwards we see Jin-furen insisting that Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian shouldn’t be walking alone together because it would be inappropriate.

Jiang YanLi whispered, “That’s not necessary. I’d like to have a few words with A-Xian. He can walk me back.”

Madam Jin raised her brows, looking Wei WuXian up and down. Her gaze was somewhat cautious, as if she was feeling displeased, “A young man and a young woman—you two can’t stick together all the time if nobody else is present.”

Jiang YanLi, “A-Xian is my younger brother.”

[...]

Wei WuXian lowered his head, “Excuse my absence, Madam Jin.”

He and Jiang YanLi bowed at the same time. As they turned around to leave, Madam Jin grabbed Jiang YanLi’s hand and refused to let her leave.

(Chapter 70, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jin Zixuan also never treats Wei Wuxian the way one might a brother who is still angered with him over his past dismissive treatment of his sister. For example, see their argument at the Flower Banquet:

Before he could see how Lan WangJi reacted, a series of clamor suddenly came from the other end of the base. Wei WuXian heard his own raging shout, “Jin ZiXuan! Don’t you forget about what things you said and what things you did? What do you mean by this, now?!”

Wei WuXian remembered. So it was this time!

On the other side, Jin ZiXuan also fumed, “I was asking Sect Leader Jiang, not you! The one I was asking about was also Maiden Jiang. How is that related to you?!”

[...]

Jin ZiXuan, “Sect Leader Jiang—this is our sect’s flower banquet, and this is your sect’s person! Are you going to look after him or not?!”

[...]

...Jiang Cheng’s voice came, “Wei WuXian, you can just shut your mouth. Young Master Jin, I’m sorry. My sister is doing quite well. Thank you for your concern. We can talk about this next time.”

Wei WuXian laughed coldly, “Next time? There is no next time! Whether or not she’s doing well isn’t any of his business, either! Who does he think he is?”

He turned around and started to leave. Jiang Cheng shouted, “Get back here! Where are you going?”

Wei WuXian waved his hands, “Anywhere is fine! Just don’t let me see that face of his. I never wanted to come, anyway. You can deal with whatever’s here yourself.”

Having been abandoned by Wei WuXian, Jiang Cheng’s face immediately clouded over.

[...]

Jiang Cheng stowed away the clouds on his face, “Don’t mind him. Look at how impolite he is. He’s used to such rude behavior at home.”

He then began to converse with Jin ZiXuan.

(Chapter 49, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jiang Cheng also quietly dismisses the notion of Wei Wuxian as a brother in relation to Jiang Yanli; when they visit to show him her wedding dress and she asks for a courtesy name, Jiang Cheng specifically says:

Jiang Cheng, “The courtesy name of my unborn nephew.”

(Chapter 75, Exiled Rebels translation)

Not our nephew, mine.

Even the disastrous invitation to Jin Ling’s one month celebration is framed as a favour to an old shidi, not a family member:

Jin ZiXun, “Since you’ve heard it from him already, you should know that I can’t wait. Don’t tell me that you’ll disregard your brother’s life for the sake of Sister-in-Law’s shidi?!”

Jin ZiXuan, “You clearly know that I’m not that kind of person! He might not necessarily be the one who cursed you with Hundred Holes either. Why are you so rash? I was the one who invited Wei WuXian to A-Ling’s full-month celebration anyways. If this is the way you do things, where does that leave me? Where does it leave my wife?”

Jin ZiXun raised his voice, “It’s best if he doesn’t attend! What does Wei WuXian think he is—does he deserve to attend our sect’s banquet? Whoever touches him gets nothing but a splash of black! ZiXuan, when you invited him, weren’t you worried that you, Sister-in-Law and A-Ling would receive an irremovable stain for the rest of your lives?!”

(Chapter 76, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s clear that not only does wider society not consider Wei Wuxian and the Jiangs siblings...they themselves don’t, either. Wei Wuxian, after all, readily accepts that his relationship with them is over after he leaves the sect:

Before they parted, Jiang Cheng spoke, “We won’t see you off. It wouldn’t be good if someone saw us.”

Wei WuXian nodded. He understood that it wasn’t easy for the Jiang siblings to have come out here. If someone else saw them, all those things they did for the public to believe would be wasted. He spoke, “We’ll go first.”

[...]

He turned around, knowing that it’d be a long time before he’d get to see the people he was familiar with again.

But… right now, wasn’t he on his way to seeing people he was familiar with as well?

(Chapter 75, Exiled Rebels translation)

Cast Aside

The way cultivation society treats Wei Wuxian when he is not with the Jiangs is also very revealing. Any level of respect he is given is contingent on his position in the Jiang household, and when they aren’t around that minimal respect fades away. Look at how disrespectfully he is treated when he approaches Jin Zixun to ask for Wen Ning’s location.

Wei WuXian didn’t make small talk either, getting straight to the point, “No thanks. I don’t.” He nodded slightly at Jin ZiXun, “Young Master Jin, could I please have a word with you?”

Jin ZiXun, “If you have anything to say, come after our banquet is over.”

In reality, he didn’t want to talk to Wei WuXian at all. Wei WuXian could see this as well, “How long do I have to wait?”

Jin ZiXun, “Probably around six to eight hours. Or maybe ten to twelve. Or until tomorrow.”

Wei WuXian, “I’m afraid I can’t wait for that long.”

Jin ZiXun’s voice was arrogant, “You’ll have to wait even if you can’t.”

Jin GuangYao, “Young Master Wei, what do you need ZiXun for? Is it a pressing matter?”

Wei WuXian, “Pressing indeed. It allows for no delay.”

[...]

Jin ZiXun, “Wei WuXian, what do you mean? You came for him? You aren’t standing up for a Wen-dog, are you?”

Wei WuXian wore a broad grin, “Since when is it your business whether I’d like to stand up for him or cut his head off? Just give him to me!”

At the last sentence, the grin on his face vanished. His tone turned cold as well. It was clear that he had lost his patience. Many of the people within Glamor Hal shivered in fear. Jin ZiXun felt his scalp tingle as well. Yet, his anger soon soared. He shouted, “Wei WuXian, you are too bold! Did the LanlingJin Sect invite you today? And you dare run wild here. Do you really think that you’re invincible, that nobody has the courage to confront you? Do you want to overturn the Heavens?”

Wei WuXian smiled, “You’re comparing yourself to the Heavens? Excuse my language, but your face is a little too thick, isn’t it?”

[...]

Just as he was about to rebut, sitting on the foremost seat, Jin GuangShan spoke up.

His voice seemed kind, “It’s not anything too important anyways. You youngsters, why lose your tempers over such a thing? However, Young Master Wei, let me be fair here. Barging in when the LanlingJin Sect is holding a private banquet is indeed inappropriate.”

To say that Jin GuangShan didn’t mind what happened at Phoenix Mountain would be impossible. This was also why he only smiled when Jin ZiXun bickered with Wei WuXian but didn’t stop them, and only spoke up when Jin ZiXun was at the disadvantage.

Wei WuXian nodded, “Sect Leader Jin, it was never my intention to disturb your private banquet. My apologies. However, the whereabouts of the people whom Young Master Jin took are still unclear. Just a moment of delay, and it might be too late. One of the group had once saved me before. I will definitely not sit back and watch. Please do not feel pressured. I will make amends for this at a later date.”

[...]

After a few laughs, he continued, “Sect Leader Jin, let me ask you something else. Do you think that, because the QishanWen Sect is gone, the LanlingJin Sect has all right to replace it?”

All was silent within Glamor Hall.

Wei WuXian added, “Everything has to be given to you? Everyone has to listen to you? Looking at how the LanlingJin Sect does things, I almost thought that it was the QishanWen Sect’s empire all over again.”

[...]

A guest cultivator on his right shouted, “Wei WuXian! Watch your words!”

Wei WuXian, “Did I say something wrong? Forcing living people to be bait and beating them up whenever they refused to obey—is this any different from what the QishanWen Sect does?”

Another guest cultivator stood up, “Of course it’s different. The Wen-dogs did all kinds of evil. To arrive at such an end is only karma for them. We only avenged a tooth for a tooth, letting them taste the fruit that they themselves had sown. What’s wrong with this?”

Wei WuXian, “Take revenge on the ones who bite you. Wen Ning’s branch doesn’t have much blood on their hands. Don’t tell me that you find them guilty by association?”

Another person spoke, “Young Master Wei, is it that they don’t have much blood on their hands just because you say so? These are only your one-sided words. Where’s the evidence?”

[...]

Jin GuangShan stood up as well, his face a mixture of shock, anger, fear, and hatred, “Wei WuXian! Just because… Sect Leader Jiang isn’t here doesn’t mean you can be so reckless!”

Wei WuXian’s voice was harsh, “Do you think that I wouldn’t be reckless if he were here? If I wanted to kill someone, who could stop me, and who would dare stop me?!”

[...]

“Young Master Wei really is too impulsive. How could he speak in such a way in front of so many sects?”

Lan WangJi spoke coldly, “Was he wrong?”

Jin GuangYao paused almost unnoticeably. He immediately laughed, “Haha. Yes, he’s right. But it’s because he’s right that he can’t say it in front of them, correct?”

Lan XiChen seemed as if he was deep in thought, “Young Master Wei’s heart really has changed.”

(Chapter 72, Exiled Rebels translation)

The only person at this banquet who speaks to Wei Wuxian respectfully is Jin Guangyao, a consummate manipulator who is also of a lower social status. Everyone else speaks to him dismissively, refusing to respect his request for Wen Ning’s location even though he states that Wen Ning helped him during the war. Wei Wuxian is extremely polite at the beginning of this conversation, and only slowly begins to lose his temper when Jin Zixun speaks rudely and Jin Guangshan decides to bring up the matter of the Yinhufu (Wei Wuxian is right in suspecting him of wanting to replace Qishan Wen, of course, and that it’s very bold of them to think they have the right to a spiritual tool of his just because...they’re rich?).

When the sects meet at Koi Tower to discuss the breakout at Qiongqi Path, no one considers Wei Wuxian as an independent agent who they might actually want to meet and negotiate with themselves. He is a wayward servant of Yunmeng Jiang who the sect leader has failed to keep in hand.

Jiang Cheng only spoke after a few moments, “What he did was indeed a bit too much. Sect Leader Jin, I apologize to you in place of him. If there’s any way at all to help the situation, please let me know. I’ll definitely compensate for things however I can.”

[...]

Jin GuangShan, “Sect Leader Jiang, Wei Ying is your right-hand man. You value him a lot. All of us know this. However, on the other hand, it’s hard to tell whether or not he actually respects you. In any case, I’ve been a sect leader for so many years and I’ve never seen the servant of any sect dare be so arrogant, so proud. Have you heard what they say outside? Things like how during the Sunshot Campaign the victories of the YunmengJiang Sect were all because of Wei WuXian alone—what nonsense!”

[...]

Lan WangJi sat with his back straight, speaking in a tone of absolute tranquility, “I did not hear Wei Ying say this. I did not hear him express the slightest disrespect towards Sect Leader Jiang either.”

[...]

The good thing was that, not long after he felt awkward, Jin GuangYao came to save the day, exclaiming, “Really? That day, Young Master Wei busted into Koi Tower with such force. He said too many things, one more shocking than the next. Perhaps he said a few things that were along those lines. I can’t remember them either.”

[...]

Jin GuangShan followed the transition, “That’s right. Anyhow, his attitude has always been arrogant.”

One of the sect leaders added, “To be honest, I’ve wanted to say this since a long time ago. Although Wei WuXian did a few things during the Sunshot Campaign, there are many guest cultivators who did more than him. I’ve never seen anyone as full of themselves as him. Excuse my bluntness, but he’s the son of a servant. How could the son of a servant be so arrogant?”

[...]

“In the beginning, Sect Leader Jin asked Wei Ying for the Tiger Seal with nothing but good intentions, worried that he wouldn’t be able to control it and lead to a disaster. He, however, used his own yardstick to measure another’s intents. Did he think that everyone is after his treasure? What a joke. In terms of treasures, is there any sect that doesn’t hold a few treasures?”

“I knew that something would eventually happen if he continued on the ghostly path—look! His killing intents are being revealed already. Killing indiscriminately those from our side just because of a few Wen-dogs…”

[...]

Jin GuangShan continued, “Sect Leader Jiang, you’re not like your father. It’s just been a couple of years since the reestablishment of the YunmengJiang Sect, precisely when you should be displaying your power. And he doesn’t even know to avoid suspicions. What would the Jiang Sect’s new disciples think if they saw him? Don’t tell me you’d let them see him as their role model and look down on you?”

He spoke one sentence after another, striking the iron while it was still hot. Jiang Cheng spoke slowly, “Sect Leader Jin, that’s enough. I’ll go to Burial Mound and deal with this.”

Jin GuangShan felt satisfied, speaking in a sincere tone, “That’s the spirit. Sect Leader Jiang, there are some things, some people that you shouldn’t put up with.”

(Chapter 73, Exiled Rebels translation)

This is very reminiscent of the way that Jin Zixuan would often turn around and say, ‘Why aren’t you controlling your servant?’ to Jiang Cheng whenever he had a dispute with Wei Wuxian over his treatment of Jiang Yanli.

When Jiang Cheng goes to the Burial Mounds and Wei Wuxian defects from Yunmeng Jiang in order to help the sect save face, Jiang Cheng treats this as a personal betrayal. He not only challenges Wei Wuxian to a duel but then announces that Wei Wuxian has betrayed Yunmeng Jiang and declared himself the enemy of cultivation society:

After the fight, Jiang Cheng told the outside that Wei WuXian defected from the sect and was an enemy to the entire cultivation world. The YunmengJiang Sect had already cast him out. From then on, no ties remained between them—a clear line was drawn. Henceforth, no matter what he did, they’d have nothing to do with the YunmengJiang Sect!

(Chapter 73, Exiled Rebels translation)

“Wei Wuxian has betrayed the sect, and publicly regards all cultivation sects as enemy! Yunmeng Jiang Sect hereby expels him, breaking all ties with him and drawing a clear line between us. Henceforth, no matter what this person does, it will have nothing to do with Yunmeng Jiang Sect!”

(Modao Zushi Radio Drama, Season 3 Episode 5, Suibian Subs)

Naturally, no one ever questions this or wants to hear Wei Wuxian’s side of the story. Jiang Cheng is a sect leader and Wei Wuxian his servant, and that is all cultivation society needs to know.

In Conclusion

Wei Wuxian was never really part of the Jiang family. The wider social view was that he was a servant who was lucky to be taken in by the family and allowed to live in the main house alongside the sect leader’s children. He’s accepted into cultivation society conditionally, but only as someone who remains a rank below everyone else.

This attitude isn’t just the wider social view which the family themselves disregard; they all play into it. Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Cheng both actively enforce it, Jiang Fengmian passively enforces it, and Jiang Yanli tries but fails to break through the social barriers between them.

#mdzs #mdzs meta #modao zushi

[canary3d-obsessed]

Restless Rewatch: The Untamed, Episode 28

(Masterpost) (Canary’s Pinboard) 

Warning: Spoilers for all 50 Episodes!

Yunmeng Jiang Debate Club

The episode starts with the big breakup between Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian. Jiang Cheng is understandably not ok with WWX’s “raise my friend from the dead” agenda, and less-understandably not ok with his “save these helpless people including that girl you like” agenda. There is some tense back and forth, including a brief guest appearance by Wen Qing,

Jiang Cheng's arguments, outlined:

Necromancy is not cool

The bonds of friendship end when there is a risk of trouble for our clan

We will be squashed like a bug by the other clans if we piss them off 

*Yaz kicks in on the soundtrack*

Nations stand against him, he's your brother Been a long time, been a long time now I'll get to you somehow, yeah

(Move out) Don't mess around (Move out) You bring me down (Move out!) How you get about it Don't make a sound, just move out!

Wei Wuxian's counter-arguments, outlined:

Necromancy is, actually, hella cool

The bonds of friendship transcend, like, everything

*cracks knuckles* *flexes shoulders* *spins flute*

(More after the cut!)

Wei Wuxian kind of naively thinks that if they just ignore everyone, everyone will chill and leave him and the Wens alone. Jiang Cheng speaks some truth to him about how the world works, which could be a good thing for WWX if it wasn't followed with the utterly terrible advice to just, you know, completely surrender to the Jins.

Jiang Cheng is the guy in the writing workshop who is great at clearly articulating the problems with your story, while always suggesting atrocious, unbearable ways to fix your story.

Great taste in accessories, though

Jiang Cheng explains that family extermination of anyone named Wen has been decided on, basically. This is pretty common in Xianxia and Wuxia stories; it’s why the hero of so many stories is a peasant who turns out to be the last survivor of the previous dynasty.  Jiang Cheng isn’t here to change the ways of his genre, so he wants Wei Wuxian and all the Jiangs to get the fuck out of the way and let it happen.

Jiang Cheng decides to settle things himself by finishing killing Wen Ning, but he discovers that Zidian can't get through Wei Wuxian's resentful rope work. That boy has a future in tying somebody up. 

Wei Wuxian’s turkey timer pops and he is officially done. He tells Jiang Cheng "abandon me" and says he’ll leave the Jiang Clan. This isn’t because he’s mad at Jiang Cheng, or disgusted by his choices, although he probably is; it’s because this is the only way he can see to protect the Jiang Clan and the Dafan Wens at the same time.  

And then he hits right at Jiang Cheng's heart, telling him that he would do all this for anybody, not just for the Wen sibs. It's not about debt, for him; it's about justice, and protecting the weak. This sentiment is as hurtful to Jiang Cheng as it would be thrilling to Lan Wangji. 

Jiang Cheng goes off, predictably, telling Wei Wuxian how much he sucks and that everything is his fault because he wants to be a hero. Heroism has no place in Jiang Cheng’s clan full of martial arts sword fighting dudes who run around with magic weapons hunting monsters for a living. 

Each brother hurts the other as a way to soothe their own pain, it seems. They decide to have a duel in the morning, to make it look like a real defection. Which...it is.

Empty Larder Days

That evening, Wen Qing gives her dinner to A-Yuan, who is understandably still hungry after his one piece of fruit. Wei Wuxian shows up with enough fruit for everyone, and makes a point of being super light-hearted with Wen Qing, whose heart is very obviously heavy.

Here I just want to point out that Wei Wuxian can't cook, but he CAN successfully forage in an extremely haunted orchard at night, so he has the important skills.

There are some nice little moments with the Yiling Wens that show us how kind they are to each other. Uh, that dude is massaging his companion, not punching her. 

They all talk about plans for planting food, and how things will be better later. A-Yuan gives Wei Wuxian his second piece of fruit to eat, while Wen Qing goes into the cave, getting ready to have A Talk with Wei Wuxian.

Wen Qing won't eat and is just generally super sad. She tells Wei Wuxian he should go back to Lotus Pier, and leave the Wens to die. She says that it's ok as long as she and Wen Ning are together. 

Wei Wuxian uses his power of deliberate obtuseness to reject her offer, pretending that she’s upset because he ate the last piece of fruit.

Stay Up All Night

Everyone spends a restless night.  Jiang Cheng has comb flashbacks; when he left the burial mounds earlier in the day, Wen Qing met him to return his comb of yearning and to tell him that he sucks. 

It's worth noting that this means she kept that dang thing with her through her time as a captive and while she was wandering around starving. 

It’s a tragic missed opportunity for both of them; Jiang Cheng’s fierceness and Wen Qing’s backbone, combined with both being super comfortable wielding physical violence, would make them a formidable pair. Unfortunately the one thing they really have in common is absolute devotion to their own people, which means they can never be devoted to each other.

Wen Qing goes to sit with Wen Ning while he bakes. He gets restless too, overwhelmed by pain, but Wei Wuxian settles him down by playing the Lan Clan's Song of Cleansing. This is the same song Lan Wangji played to heal him after he fought Wen Ruohan, and it’s the same song that Jin Guangyao will corrupt to kill Nie Mingjue. Lan Clan musical cultivation for the win...sometimes! 

The First Rule of Fight Club is Don’t Stab Me In The Liver

In the morning, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng fight.  Wei Wuxian looks like he’s playing and Jiang Cheng looks like he’s fighting his very hardest. At one point in his barrage of talismans, Wei Wuxian throws a paperman at Jiang Cheng. 

Cheeky bastard.  

This is our first time seeing Wei Wuxian put up a force shield with his flute against a sword-pointy attack. Note for those who care: the sword attacks in Xianxia are half physical, half spiritual energy, so when someone is pointing a sword at you, they are actually hitting you with spiritual energy. Or trying to, in the case of anyone vs. Yiling Flute Man.

The battle ends when Jiang Cheng stabs Wei Wuxian in the gut. Wei Wuxian says JC didn't need to be so ruthless, and JC doesn't answer him, just grips his own broken left arm. Jiang Cheng always hits harder than he needs to, maybe because when he fights Wei Wuxian, he’s always on the back foot. 

JC stomps back down the mountain to where his disciples are waiting, not a horse in sight. Are these like Zelda:BOTW horses, who run away if you don't register them at a stable? 

Jiang Cheng declares that Wei Wuxian is officially an asshole, and dramatically throws away his cape to make the point. Or maybe that was Wei Wuxian's cape and he's just returning it.

Ow

Later, Wei Wuxian will try to pretend he's not hideously injured while Wen Qing looks worried and takes away his potatoes.

Not Lotus Pier

Back at Jinlintai, Jiang Yanli is sleeping in the middle of the day, having a super on-the-nose dream about Wei Wuxian cheerfully sailing a boat right by the doc at Lotus Pier and Jiang Cheng looking dead-eyed after him, not trying to stop him.

Jiang Yanli comes out of her room to find that Jin Zixuan, the big dork, has planted a lotus pond for her in Jinlintai, even getting mud on himself in the process. They have a depressing love declaration scene, in which Jin Zixuan asks her to settle for him even though he can't make her happy, and she accepts. 

It's not as bad as it sounds because she genuinely loves him but she’s all out of joy, after so much trauma. Sometimes I need to be reminded that this show is really fucking sad, I guess. 

Just Passing Through

Fast forward...a couple of weeks, I guess? Lan Wangji is chilling in Yiling, listening to the teahouse storyteller and other patrons talk shit about the Yiling Patriarch. Lan Wangji is super grumpy listening to what they're saying even though the official storyteller is basically telling the truth, albeit dwelling on the gruesome parts. 

I should put a gif of the storyteller and the crowd here, but we’d all rather look at Lan Wangji drinking tea, right? Look, you can see his leg! 

The crowd gets all hepped up saying that Wei Wuxian should be killed, and Lan Wangji abandons his usual reserve and cuts loose with some expressive body language and his strongest murder glare. 

Then he leaves the teahouse to go have a series of memeable interactions.

First with the thirsty ladies of Yiling,

Then with future son A-Yuan,

Then with the advice dads of Yiling,

and finally with thirsty future co-dad Wei Wuxian.

So soon after Jiang Cheng refused to support Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, pillar of rule-following, is here to just...be kind to him for a little while. Lan Wangji is still struggling to reconcile everything he is trying to be, but in this moment he is entirely about Wei Wuxian. Both of them stand still for a few breaths while the world moves around them; Wei Wuxian’s smile keeps moving and changing, because that’s who he is, even in stillness. 

Although Wei Wuxian doesn't know it, Lan Wangji signals his new rulebreaking attitude to the audience by calmly lying when Wei Wuxian asks him why he's here.

Asking is Asking, Buying is Buying

Wei Wuxian bonds with A-Yuan about both being too poor to buy toys; Lan Wangji bonds with A-Yuan by being rich enough to buy him whatever he wants. 

He also theatrically catches Wei Wuxian's eye while doing it, which might be a reproach for tempting the kid with things he can't have, but might just be a sugar-daddy flex. 

His generosity is rewarded by A-Yuan’s devotion and by Wei Wuxian’s epic open-legged invitation sprawl.

It’s easy to see the first part of the toy interaction as Wei Wuxian being a little callous and a lot practical; his accidental Yiling Wei-Wen clan is super, super poor, and he is busting his ass to keep starvation away. But. Why does he tell A-Yuan to look at the toys? Why does he pick one up to play with it, instead of simply turning away? 

There’s a lesson here, and a parallel, I think. He is teaching A-Yuan to take joy in moments, in beauty, in playthings, whether he can keep them or not. Wei Wuxian enjoys every meal and every cup of wine to the utmost; loves every friend wholeheartedly, and lives joyfully even at death’s literal door. He doesn’t let the certainty of loss, separation, hunger, keep him from devouring every good thing that comes his way. 

In this moment, the gift he can’t afford to give himself is Lan Wangji. But he’s going to enjoy every second they have together today. 

And so is Lan Wangji.

Soundtrack: Situation by Yaz, Up All Night by Talking Heads, Consider Yourself from Oliver! The Musical

#the untamed #wangxian #the untamed gifs #wei wuxian #jiang cheng #lan wangji #restless rewatch the untamed #canary3d-original #my gifs #episode 28 #the untamed meta #wen qing #warning: sadness

[coquelicoq]

Reconsider Your Need For a Big Bad by Instead Giving Everybody Their Own Bespoke Bad in the Form of Problems That Have No Good Solutions

Okay, but what about plot? Advice about plot is very confusing. One person will say that plot ought to be planned out precisely down to every beat in every scene. The next will say it doesn’t exist at all. Isn’t it just things happening? I’m pretty sure it’s just things happening. It’s probably best if those things are happening for some reason. Many SFF stories are built around big, central reasons: empires to defeat, dark lords to overcome, worlds to save, societies to reform. All of which is fun and fine, sure, I like to lust over defeat a dark lord as much as anyone, but there is also value in thinking about how we can shape a story if we don’t have a singular goal sitting at the center.

It’s not obvious from the start, but there is no big villain to defeat or catastrophe to prevent in MDZS. Sure, there’s a ruthless dude who starts a war to seize power, and when he’s dispatched there’s a sleazy dude who fills the power vacuum, and there is least one unapologetic mass murderer just kinda hanging around doing his own thing, not to mention that the adaptations tend to fiddle with the villainy levels of several characters in different ways. But there is no one bad guy whose removal would solve all the problems. There’s no huge catastrophe to be averted, no doomsday to be stopped. What we do have, of course, is Wei Wuxian, who is known as a villain within the story (he’s resurrected because somebody wants a malevolent spirit to do some nasty shit), but that is very much not the same thing as being the actual villain. Again: what the characters in the story believe is a deliberate distortion of what’s actually going on. So instead of looking at the role each character plays in working toward or against a common goal, “Avengers Assemble!”-style, let’s step back down to some more fundamental character questions: What do they want as individuals? What’s stopping them from getting it? What happens if they don’t get it? What happens if they do? And—this part is key—what happens when these desires and obstacles are in conflict with each other? It’s really easy to do this with MDZS, which is why it’s such a great example to use for studying how a story arises from multi-layered character conflict. For example, Lan Wangji’s primary goal is to protect Wei Wuxian, which puts him into conflict with everybody who has ever so much as looked at Wei Wuxian funny (eg., enemies, teenagers, fluffy dogs), as well as with Wei Wuxian himself, who has the admirable self-preservation instincts of somebody who dies in the prologue of his own story. Both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng share the primary goal of wanting to protect the people important to them, but the way they go about it puts them into direct conflict—a conflict that is at its most painful when they are in fact trying to protect each other. Wen Qing also wants to protect her loved ones, only for her that means conflict with both those who are endangering them and those who are protecting them. Jin Guangyao wants respect and security in a world that doles out those things according to familial status, not individual ability. Lan Xichen wants to lead with kindness and understanding while surrounded by fellow leaders who really don’t care much for either. I could go on and on, all the way down the entire character list, but the point is this: when all of your characters are linked not by a single unifying goal, but instead by a tangled web of conflicting relationships and desires, you have endless opportunities to stick them in situations in which there is no easy way out. In which somebody is always going to get hurt. In which desperately trying to do the right thing can still end in tragedy. In which you get to cackle with evil glee while your readers agonizing over every new development, absorbed with all the doubts and dangers, so invested in the emotional fabric of the story that they have to see it through to the end.

That doesn’t mean you can’t still fight doomsdays and evil empires! Nor does it mean every story has to do this to the same extreme; Mo Xiang Tong Xiu very obviously set out to write a story about how trying to do the right thing can still end in unspeakable calamity (but also a story in which unspeakable calamity does not render one undeserving of love and happiness). The question of scale is entirely up to you. It’s the array of choices that matters—well, that and the heart-wrenching feeling you can create when none of those choices are easy.

Kali Wallace, From Now on I’m Taking All of My Storytelling Lessons From This Wild Epic About Love, Loyalty, and Necromancy, Tor.com, January 4, 2022

#okay also posting this part too #the untamed #mdzs #mdzs & sons #storytelling #characterization #villains #my posts

[robininthelabyrinth]

Prompt: what if jc was lxc's age (and jyl maybe 2 or 3 years older) and wwx was lwj's/nhs' age when he was brought to lotus pier? (Or anything that involves a much bigger age gap bw the jiang sibs and wwx - where wwx is babey)

Untamed

“You know what,” Jiang Cheng said to his sister, who looked at him. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m not marrying a woman.”

Jiang Yanli’s lips started twitching uncontrollably and she hid her smile behind her sleeve. “Oh?”

“Nope. I’m going to marry Chifeng-zun.”

“On the basis of…?”

“If you take two adult men in charge of two Great Sects,” Jiang Cheng said, doing his utmost best to keep a straight face, “with all the power we can generate between us, we might – maybe – have a chance at disciplining our baby brothers.”

Jiang Yanli burst out laughing.

“There, there. It’s all right,” he said, grinning, reaching out to pat her on the shoulder. “You can join us if you’d like. There’s enough room in Qinghe for two wives.”

“We are not both running away to Qinghe,” she said, giggling. “A-Cheng!”

“What? I think it’s a great idea. If our parents want us back, they can negotiate with Chifeng-zun for it – may they have more luck than they had with the whole medicinal herb debacle.”

“A-Cheng, I am officially tabling this idea,” Jiang Yanli said, still snorting. “Older sibling privilege.”

“I let you out of the womb first as a matter of courtesy,” Jiang Cheng sniffed. “And now you use it against me? A-Li, how could you?”

“Call me jiejie! It doesn’t matter how much older, a few shichen or a few years, older is still older.”

“You probably elbowed me with those sharp pointy things you have on your arms. Weapons of war.”

“Older is older!” she sang. “Now tell me, what did A-Xian do this time?”

“Would you like it in chronological order, or in order of severity? I can also group it by theme, if you prefer.”

“Oh no,” Jiang Yanli said, covering her eyes. “Oh no.”

“And the chief-most theme,” Jiang Cheng said, continuing anyway, “is still called Lan Wangji.”

“Oh no!”

“He has the worst crush,” Jiang Cheng said, shaking his head with endless amusement. “And he just – refuses to admit it. ‘Nooooo, shixiong, we’re just friends, he can’t even stand me most of the time, he’s always trying to get me in trouble, but sometimes he lets me sit next to him and spend time with him and he’s so handsome and I really just want to make him laugh –’”

“We have,” Jiang Yanli said thoughtfully, “raised an idiot.”

“He was fine when we got him,” Jiang Cheng disagreed. “We have spoiled an idiot.”

“This is true. Maybe we should go form a mutual complaining society with Chifeng-zun; isn’t his little brother also an idiot?”

“Oh, you have no idea,” Jiang Cheng said. “Worse: they’ve teamed up. Nie Huaisang buys Wei Wuxian porn now.”

“Oh no…”

“In return for help cheating on his tests!”

“Oh no!”

“So that’s why I’m going to marry Chifeng-zun,” Jiang Cheng concluded. “Our parents may be disappointed by my decision, but with our powers combined, we might be able to save the world from our respective younger idiots.”

“Maybe,” she said, and shook her head. “A-Cheng – about our parents…”

Jiang Cheng shook his head as well, echoing her action but more in denial. It wasn’t anyone’s fault that she took after their father and he took after their mother, that she was born a shichen prior to midnight and he a shichen after and their personalities completely different as a result; it was no one’s fault that their parents didn’t get along, with their mother disdaining what she perceived as Jiang Yanli’s passiveness and lack of passion and their father despising Jiang Cheng’ prickly temper and difficulty communicating his affection without scolding.

It certainly wasn’t Wei Wuxian’s fault for being younger and more brilliant, talented at everything he did and with just the sort of personality their father liked best – the combination of his former best friend and the girl he’d once thought of marrying – and that he’d always made that preference very clear to everyone, even to their mother who often worried that her husband would dispossess her children in favor of his foundling and who lashed out at everyone in response.

That had hurt – hurt a lot, even, and Jiang Cheng was soft and sensitive underneath all his defensive layers, but any time he got angry over it he would look at Wei Wuxian, their little A-Xian, baby Xianxian, who adored his older siblings more than anything and was adored in return, and he forced himself to get over it. He was old enough, by the time Wei Wuxian arrived, to know to whom the blame really belonged.

“I spoke with Nie Huaisang while I was at the Cloud Recesses,” Jiang Cheng said in an undertone, one reserved just for his sister. “He’s asked me to pass along a message to his brother, the next time I go night-hunting, about the whole debacle – he’s so terribly apologetic, you understand, he couldn’t wait for the post – if we get to Qinghe by tomorrow, Chifeng-zun will be able to get to Gusu in time to intervene before our father does something wretched like cancel your engagement and take A-Xian home early from his studies.”

“The engagement I wouldn’t mind,” she remarked. “If Jin Zixuan feels so strongly about it that he’d get into a fistfight with A-Xian, it’s better not to marry, no matter what our mother might think. But on no account is A-Xian to be sent home early! He needs his education!”

Unsaid was everything else he needed, things he could get better at the Cloud Recesses than anywhere else.

“Then we go?”

“We go,” she agreed. Between the two of them, Jiang Cheng had more talent at cultivation, but she was steadier, even in her overall mediocrity: when the two of them flew on a sword together, they could make it much further and faster than anyone expected.

Qinghe wasn’t really close enough for a quick jaunt – they flew all night without stopping – but Chifeng-zun was amendable to their scheme, jumping at once onto his saber and making his way straight to Gusu. A waste of spiritual energy all around, really, but far faster than their father would move, with his Sect Leader’s dignity and retinue, rushing to the Cloud Recesses to save his precious little Wei Wuxian from having any connections in life that weren’t to the Jiang sect, and the Jiang sect alone. 

And never mind how much he needed those connections: needed to have friends his own age, needed to have more time with that crush of his, needed independence and freedom and everything the Jiang sect supposedly stood for - needed for them to support him and act as the foundation beneath his feet, rather than the chains tying him down to earth.

Chifeng-zun – who was only a few years older than they were – was really a very understanding person, getting the problem at once and immediately agreeing with their view on things. Perhaps there really was something to be said about the difference in generations…

“Let me show you to rooms where you can rest,” Chifeng-zun’s aide said, a slender young man with a polite smile on his face as he saluted. “I’ll arrange for refreshments as well.”

“We hate to trouble you, but in all honesty you are a lifesaver,” Jiang Yanli said to him warmly, and he unexpectedly flushed red at the cheeks. “A-Cheng, let’s follow this handsome young man and rest a while before we return to the Lotus Pier.”

The young man was blushing.

“What’s your name?” Jiang Cheng asked, and the blush faded away at once as the man paled a little: it would be one he expected them to recognize, then, and not in a good way.

“This one is Meng Yao,” he said, and saluted again even though he’d already saluted once before, and Jiang Yanli’s eyes flickered to Jiang Cheng’s very briefly before she caught his arms and raised him up.

“I’ve heard of you. Smart and talented enough to get Chifeng-zun’s attention, even so far as becoming his personal deputy - you must be brilliant. Truly, you deserve a better father,” she told him, and he stared up at her, dumbstruck.

“Don’t mind her,” Jiang Cheng said. “She’s trying out this new thing in which she says everything she feels without thinking first.”

She elbowed him. “And isn’t it your fault?” she asked snappishly. “You’re the one who needs to speak your mind more; I’m just modeling good behavior!”

If she’d been older than him – really older, rather than just a few shichen – maybe she would have held her tongue more and played the role of the peacekeeper, trying to protect him from his father’s indifference the way she had tried to when they were both younger, just as he had tried to distract his mother from her with his hard-fought accomplishments. It wasn’t until they had little Wei Wuxian to spoil and care for, a joint task that required both of their attention, that they realized that splitting their forces like that was pointless and self-defeating: it wasn’t actually helping that Jiang Yanli suppressed so much of her spirit until she felt like little more than a reflective mirror with no content, nor that Jiang Cheng nearly worked himself to death trying to prove that he was worthy of his father’s love and respect that he would never receive, and it never would.

So they stopped.

They were trying very hard to stop, anyway.

“You’re very kind,” Meng Yao murmured, and led them to their rooms.

The moment he closed the door behind him, Jiang Yanli turned to Jiang Cheng and said, “I’ve changed my mind about your plan – we can run away to Qinghe. You marry Chifeng-zun, and I’ll marry that charming boy out there.”

There was an audible thudding sound from the corridor outside, as if someone had accidentally walked into a wall, and they both grinned at each other.

“Mother would kill you,” he warned her in an undertone.

“And being married to someone who disdains me enough to fight over my worthlessness in public wouldn’t?” she retorted, smiling even though her expression was tinged with pain: if she had one ambition in life, it was to never become their mother. “The marriage agreement might have been forged by our mothers, but the text of it says ‘the Jin sect leader’s son to the Jiang sect leader’s daughter’. Why can’t I marry him?”

“He hasn’t been acknowledged.”

“Only technically. Everyone knows he’s the real deal, or else his father wouldn’t have made such a fuss about it.”

“But –”

“Anyway, he must be a good man, or Chifeng-zun wouldn’t have promoted him.”

“I don’t know about that,” Jiang Cheng said. “Chifeng-zun doesn’t have the sense of self-preservation the heavens bestowed on a lemming.”

There was a vaguely audible snort from outside their door. It seemed Meng Yao, at least, had the good sense not to leave guests in his house unattended, and no discrimination against the very useful business of listening at doors.

He also had a sense of humor, which was good given Jiang Yanli’s newfound ambitions in his regard.

“Yes, well, I wasn’t saying I’d elope with him tomorrow or anything,” she sniffed, eyes dancing. “Give him some time to prove himself to me.”

Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but smile back. “That’s true,” he said, raising his voice a little. “At Chifeng-zun’s side, he’ll be able to make a name for himself until the whispers all say that his father was an idiot for keeping him away.”

“And if even that doesn’t work, I’ll marry him in and make him help me run the Jiang sect,” she said cheerfully. “Who needs Lanling Jin?”

“Wait, since when are you inheriting the Jiang sect?”

“I’m older! And anyway, aren’t you marrying Chifeng-zun? That means you’ll be away helping run his sect, and that leaves an opening at home for me.”

“…huh. Good point.”

“Maybe you can just swap places with Meng Yao,” she said, starting to giggle again. “And we can all see how long it takes anyone to notice…”

“Our parents might not,” Jiang Cheng said dryly. “But Chifeng-zun would. If only because I have my sights set on his bed, and I don’t think Meng Yao does.”

“You don’t know that; everyone wants Chifeng-zun. Maybe you have competition.”

“Better to have competition than be oblivious. Do you want to hear the whole story about A-Xian and Lan Wangji’s tragic mutual pining disaster? Xichen-xiong told me all the details he’s been leaving out of his letters.”

“Tell me everything!”

#mdzs #jiang cheng #jiang yanli #meng yao #nie mingjue #my fic #my fics #jiang sect twins #crazycat27 #mingcheng #meng yao/jiang yanli

[no--envies]

In my opinion, one of the reasons JC went crazy after WWX’s death and started venting his own anger and hatred on every demonic cultivator he met, regardless if they were guilty or innocent, is that he couldn’t stand the fact that he hadn’t managed to deal the killing blow to WWX. After all his effort in leading the siege and using the information he had on the Burial Mounds to plan the action and convince everyone else to follow him, he wasn’t even the one who actually killed WWX. WWX died because one of his cultivation techniques backfired and he was torn to pieces by his own ghost army.

I think JC couldn’t accept this. After everything he had done - and thinking he was justified in hating WWX for all the perceived wrongdoings he believed he was a victim of - WWX had managed to surpass him once again. Nobody was able to kill him, not even him.

We know JC’s reaction in the aftermath of the siege because JGY and XY directly comment on it in the extra focused on them:

Xue Yang, “What about his flute? Can you get me Chenqing?”

Jin GuangYao shrugged, “Not Chenqing. Jiang WanYin took it.”

Xue Yang, “Doesn’t he hate Wei WuXian the most? Why would he need Chenqing? Didn’t you also get that sword of Wei WuXian’s? Give him the sword in exchange for the flute. It’s long since Wei WuXian stopped using his sword, while Suibian sealed itself and nobody can pull it out. What’s the use of keeping a fucking piece of decoration?”

Jin GuangYao, “You really ask me to do the impossible, Young Master Xue. Do you think I haven’t tried? How could anything be that simple. That Jiang WanYin has already gone mad. He still thinks Wei WuXian hasn’t died. If Wei WuXian returned, he might not search for his sword, but he’d definitely come for Chenqing. And so, he would definitely not give up Chenqing. A few more words of mine, and he might blow up.”

Xue Yang sniggered, “A mad dog.”

(Chapter 118, ExR translation)

Whatever JC had tried to achieve by leading the siege, he wasn’t able to achieve it. If the only thing he had wanted was to punish WWX for his deeds, he would have been satisfied with his own role in WWX’s death. I don’t think killing WWX was the only thing he wanted, though. He was probably trying to prove something, to himself and everyone else. He wanted to prove that he could surpass WWX for once, and that WWX had been wrong all along in choosing to put himself at risk to help others instead of listening to him. He wanted WWX to admit it was all his fault.

After a while of silence, Jiang Cheng asked, “You’ll stay like this from now on? Got any plans?”

Wei WuXian, “Not at the moment. None of the group dares go down the mountain. People don’t dare do anything anything to me when I go down the mountain either. It’ll be fine as long as I don’t stir up trouble on my own.”

“On your own?” Jiang Cheng sneered, “Wei WuXian, do you believe that even if you don’t stir up trouble on your own, trouble won’t come and find you? It’s often impossible to save someone, but there are more than thousands of ways to harm someone.”

Wei WuXian replied as he ate, “A man with strength can defeat ten with skill. I don’t care if they have thousands of ways. I’ll kill whoever comes.”

Jiang Cheng spoke in a cool voice, “You never listen to any of my opinions. One day, you’ll come to understand that I’m the one who’s right.”

(Chapter 75, ExR translation)

JC had always tried to convince WWX to abandon his path. Since he couldn’t outshine WWX in any way, he wanted to at least prove he was right in the path he had chosen, that choosing to help others at the expense of oneself ultimately wasn’t worth it. But WWX wasn’t swayed in the least. He kept walking resolutely on his single-plank bridge in the dark, regardless of what anyone else thought.

WWX was aware of JC’s mentality: he knew JC wouldn’t willingly put his own reputation at risk to help him protect Wens if he could avoid it. This was one of the main things that divided them since they were teenagers: their values and outlooks were simply too different, it was only a matter of time before their choices made them take completely diverging paths. WWX was fine anyway, he could take care of himself - this mindset could be seen as too overconfident, but he wasn’t completely wrong. He knew he could protect the Wen remnants even without relying on anyone else, since he managed to do it for two years before everything crumbled at Qiongqi Path.

In the end, Jin Zixun ambushed WWX accusing him of something he hadn’t done, and everything spiraled down so quickly he couldn’t do anything to prevent it, until he lost control of his demonic cultivation and killed Jin Zixuan. The sects’ suspicion towards him turned into open hostility and everyone was immediately ready to consider him an actual threat to them all. After the bloodbath of Nightless City, WWX was labeled as the scourge of the cultivation world, an enemy that should be eliminated to guarantee everyone’s peace and safety.

At first glance, one could think JC was right and WWX was wrong. But if this was really what the novel is trying to tell us, why was JC unable to move on for thirteen years, while WWX was immediately ready to start a new life and leave everything in the past after he was brought back? Even when JC managed to capture WWX and confronted him, WWX didn’t have anything to say to him.

The cup was steaming. Before he had taken a single sip, Jiang Cheng suddenly hurled it at the floor. He lifted the corner of his lip slightly and spoke. “You—you don’t have anything to say to me?”

[...]

“I don’t know what to say to you,” Wei Wuxian replied sincerely.

“So you refuse to repent,” Jiang Cheng said in a low voice.

In their past conversations, they had frequently tried to sarcastically undermine each other. Wei Wuxian thus replied without thinking, “Similarly, you haven’t improved a single ounce either.”

Jiang Cheng’s answering smile was brimming with fury. “Fine. Then let’s see which of us truly hasn’t shown an ounce of improvement.”

(Chapter 24, Fanyiyi translation)

I think this exchange is very interesting: WWX and JC are no longer bickering or teasing each other as they so frequently did in the past. What had once been a complicated relationship with genuine affection beneath it all, now retained only the semblance of it. There’s no more warmth, no more anything worth trying to repair. While JC is still adamant about using WWX as a scapegoat to avoid reflecting on his own mistakes, WWX has long since moved on. He doesn’t even feel resentment towards JC, he just wants to live his new life freely.

JC is an interesting foil for WWX, their interactions show how fundamentally incompatible they are and both of their character arcs highlight one of the main themes of the novel: the importance of letting go of all the grudges and negative feelings and remembering the good things, since only then one can truly be free. This is something WWX knows perfectly well:

Wei WuXian propped his arm on Lil’ Apple’s head, spinning Chenqing in his hand, “My mom said you have to remember the things others do for you, not the things you do for others. Only when people don’t hold so much in their hearts would they finally feel free.”

This was one of the only things he remembered about his parents.

(Chapter 113, ExR translation)

#mdzs #mdzs meta #jiang cheng #wei wuxian

[plan-d-to-i]

a lot of ppl think jzx could be wwx's friend without the jyl thing btw them but i for one don't think so, he's not as enlightened as the fandom make him be otherwise he would have stopped jins disciples at the ambush too

Hm there's obviously no way to say for sure but I always felt that they could have a chance for at least a more positive relationship if it were not for the engagement and their repeated clashes over JYL. If only because WWX is generally a lot more accepting of people's flaws and shortcomings when it doesn't concern/affect someone he cares about. Jin Zixuan also gains a bit of his reluctant admiration when he does not step aside the let Wen Chao's men grab Mianmian in the Xuanwu cave...

She tried to run away, but wherever she fled, the people dispersed around her. Just as Wei WuXian twitched, Jiang Cheng held him firmly down. MianMian suddenly noticed that two people remained still. She hid behind their backs at once, shivering.

The two were Jin ZiXuan and Lan WangJi.

As the Wen Sect’s servants that were about to tie MianMian up saw that the two didn’t intend on moving, they shouted, “Move to the side!”

Lan WangJi was silent with indifference.

Seeing that the situation wasn’t good, Wen Chao warned, “Why are you standing there? You can’t understand human speech? Or do you want to save the damsel in distress?”

Jin ZiXuan lifted his brows, “Is that enough? It wasn’t enough for people to be flesh shields for you, and now you want live humans to bleed for you to use as bait?!”

Wei WuXian found this somewhat surprising, So Jin ZiXuan really does have some nerve.

Wen Chao pointed at them, “Are you rebelling against me? Let me warn you, I’ve been tolerating you for a very long time. Right now, hang the brat up with your own hands! Or else none of the people from your sects can expect to return!”

Jin ZiXuan sneered and refused to budge. Lan WangJi also looked as though he had heard nothing, so motionless that he seemed to be meditating.

jiang cheng is such a special person...preventing WWX from helping, ready to let a woman get strung up as bait and their peers die in front of them... anyway Even the infamous sneaky soup clash was over the fact that Jin Zixuan though YanLi was trying to steal credit form someone less privileged:

“Don’t think that just because you come from a powerful sect that you can steal and trample other people’s feelings. Some people, even if they come from poor backgrounds, their character are much better than the former’s. Please watch your conduct.”

.. BUT then you've got moments like this where Jin Zixuan watches Zixun being an absolute ass and doesn't speak up:

As she finished, she bowed down again. It seemed to be quite a serious apology. Wei WuXian, “Shijie!”

Jiang YanLi didn’t rise yet. She looked at him and shook her head almost unnoticeably. Wei WuXian could only clench his fists and stay silent.

Jin ZiXuan gazed over from afar. His expression was quite complicated. Jin ZiXun and the rest, however, didn’t even try to conceal the triumph on their faces. They were more than satisfied with themselves.

and ofc taking Zixun's side at the Qiongqi Path ambush w his: why don't you just stop fighting WWX, while my cousin continues attempting to kill you and I imagine I have a modicum of control over this situation, then if you survive we can drag take you back to Koi tower where instead of attending my son's party you can stand an impromptu definitely totally not biased trial 🤗

Jin ZiXuan and Jin ZiXun were cousins who had known each other well ever since they were young. With almost twenty years between them, at this point, it was indeed difficult for him to defend an outsider. And, in truth, he didn’t like Wei WuXian as a person either.

Collecting himself, he spoke, “Tell Wen Ning to stop first. Don’t let him continue his rampage and make the situation worse than it already is.”

Wei WuXian’s voice was coarse, “… Why don’t you make them stop first?”

Relentless shouts and roars came from all around them. Jin ZiXuan raged, “Why are you still so stubborn at such a time? When everyone calms down, you can follow me back to Koi Tower to explain things and answer some questions. With everything clear, if you aren’t the one who did it, of course you’ll be fine!”

Wei WuXian, “Tell him to stop? As soon as I tell Wen Ning to stop right now, the arrows would fly straight at my heart and I wouldn’t even die a whole corpse! And you think I could explain things at Koi Tower?”

Jin ZiXuan, “They would not!”

Wei WuXian laughed, “They would not? How can you ensure it?

Jin Zixuan is not a bad guy. World view wise I'd say he has a lot more in common with Wei Wuxian than jiang cheng does. He just seems to suffer from the privilege of his class thinking that WWX will be treated fairly and that people haven't already cast their judgements against him because he's the son of a servant. He is in a way like YanLi- wandering into the battlefield at Nightless City asking Wei Wuxian to stop fighting first... not bad people but naive to a damaging degree. I do believe though that the engagement is at the root of his enmity with Wei Wuxian:

"Hearing the word “fiancee”, Jin ZiXuan’s lips seemed to twitch, showing a slight expression of displeasure. The disciple who asked was quite oblivious, continuing with a cheerful face, “Really? Which sect is she from? She must be extremely talented!”

Jian ZiXuan raised a brow, “Forget it.”

Wei WuXian suddenly spoke, “What do you mean by ‘forget it’?”

Everyone in the room looked at him with surprise. Usually, Wei WuXian was always grinning. He had never really been angered, even when he was scolded or punished. Yet, at the moment, there was an obvious streak of hostility on his face."

If they didn't have such a charged history, most likely Wei Wuxian would have been less tense around Jin Zixuan, and maybe Jin Zixuan would have been more understanding of the position Wei Wuxian found himself in being outmanned, and elaborately ambushed on the way to the party by the people hosting it, not being sure who he could trust. Jin Zixuan was not perfect, I don't think that they would have been BFFs but he's eons better than jiang cheng and WWX managed to get along w jc for all those years...

#mdzs #answers #jin zixuan #wei wuxian

[franniebanana]

CQL Rewatch - Ep 34

Note: I will be critical of Jiang Cheng in these posts. If you can’t handle that, please feel free to scroll on.

It actually really bothers me that they played his fear of dogs for laughs here. Aside from it being super over the top and ridiculous, it also is not in line with the tone they've used in the past to deal with Wei Wuxian's crippling fear of canines. If the writers/directors can't take it seriously in this episode, then why should we take it seriously every time it comes up? I honestly hate it. It's never dealt with in this same manner again, so this just feels really tone deaf to the rest of the show. Like, I can't believe that the episode that started with Wei Wuxian killing himself ended with him comically running away from Fairy. The comedy was not needed, CQL team. It was not.

Only good thing about this scene, guys. Sweet, sweet wangxian. I will accept wangxian togetherness under any circumstance, and 99.999% of the time, it improves the scene. I'll even look past the silly way that Lan Wangji flips in the air to get to Wei Wuxian.

I absolutely delight in how Wei Wuxian plays along with this guy and his talk about the man-eating bunker, only to mock him by saying that if no one made it out alive, how does anyone know any of it really happened? It's kind of Sherlock Holmes meets dad joke or something. I also find it interesting how much of the conversation is going on while the camera is focusing on Lan Wangji. We get to see him listening, observing, working through the problem as it unfolds before him. Wei Wuxian is the talker, he's good at getting information (as well as solving puzzles, of course), but Lan Wangji's skill is definitely in observation and character-reading. Also part of me thinks he's a bit impressed to see Wei Wuxian really stepping up and taking charge of this situation. Perhaps he thinks that Wei Wuxian has changed--grown up a little--since they last met.

Ahahahaha! That smirk! Lan Wangji, I don't think you're supposed to mock people! I'm sorry, but I forgot about this little look after Wei Wuxian mocks the man for really not knowing everything, even though he calls himself the "Know-It-All of Qinghe." It's a fantastic takedown, even though it's extremely unnecessary. This is the kind of comedy that I think is in line with the rest of the show and, I believe, more in tune with the source material. Part of what attracted me to Wei Wuxian, and indeed why he was my fave for quite a while, is his quick wit and his snarky remarks. This is the perfect example right here.

LWJ: Wei Ying, there are no dogs here.

Me: Then what was all that barking?!

Really, Lan Wangji is just secretly enjoying any time Wei Wuxian gets close to him, but he has to keep a bit of outward standoffishness to save face. He can't show his whole hand right now! But it's important to note that Lan Wangji doesn't tell him to let go (not yet, at least)!

I find it quite sweet that Lan Wangji is the one seeking information here. Wei Wuxian doesn't volunteer anything about his fear of dogs, perhaps because he finds it embarrassing or maybe because he's embarrassed to cling to Lan Wangji like that. I really like that Lan Wangji, who, when they first met, wouldn't have given two shits about Wei Wuxian's fears, is now actively seeking to understand him. It's really beautiful to see their relationship changing like this, both of them opening up and revealing bits of themselves in ways they never did before, despite how well they knew each other.

Allow me to gush some more. Lan Wangji doesn't push Wei Wuxian away. He only tries to reason with him, to cater to Wei Wuxian's more rational side, which doesn't work. Right now, Wei Wuxian is seeking comfort, specifically the comfort of someone bigger and stronger (canonically, Lan Wangji was taller and much stronger than Wei Wuxian, even if he doesn't look it in CQL). Wei Wuxian just wants to feel safe and the only person who can make him feel that way is Lan Wangji.

Really, I think the only reason that Lan Wangji asks Wei Wuxian to let go of him is because he can't protect them if Wei Wuxian is gripping his arms like that. It's one thing to hide behind him, but another to impair his ability to fight.

This is the first time I've noticed those stairs. This set is really cool. And the ambiance with the fog is perfect. A lot of the art and set design in CQL is really well done. I have no idea if it's the same as all the other C-dramas, because I don't watch them, but it looks really nice to me.

It's so refreshing to be back in wangxian land. I guess I didn't realize how nice it is to have them together on screen basically all the time. And in this episode, we get Wei Wuxian clinging to Lan Wangji a lot, Lan Wangji pretending to be annoyed at Wei Wuxian, and here we have Lan Wangji showing actual concern. I think even for him, some of their detective work so far has been a bit of a lark, but he definitely doesn't take Wei Wuxian's pain lightly. It's hard sometimes to even capture in a screenshot, because Wang Yibo's movements are so subtle that you usually need multiple frames to show the change. I still think it's a bit confusing because they don't ever say why Lan Wangji is unaffected by the spirits and the noise in the bunker. I think it's a callback to that time they were in the forest, dealing with Wen Chao's enchantment. Lan Wangji's mind is trained to block out the noise, while Wei Wuxian's isn't. I'm assuming the same is true now, only likely Wei Wuxian's (Mo Xuanyu's) lack of a golden core possibly contributes to that inability. I think not specifying what's going on makes it open to possibilities like Wei Wuxian is somehow able to channel spirits better than Lan Wangji or he's more susceptible to darker entities because of the practice of demonic cultivation in his former life. I know Lan Wangji is good and pure and could never fathom doing that dark stuff (only not because that would make him really uninteresting--he's my fave because he struggles with light and dark in a society that values piousness, etc.).

I'd be very uncomfortable walking around the Blade Shrine for the sole reason that I'd be worried those coffins were going to just fall from the ceiling. How old are those chains? How long have they been hanging there? What is the quality of their make? Seriously, that is the real danger.

I think Lan Wangji is walking a fine line between wanting to protect Wei Wuxian and not wanting Wei Wuxian to feel weak. I really like how he turns around here, sensing something is going on with Wei Wuxian, but once he realizes he's okay, he turns back to searching the coffins. It's beautiful the way he's grown, actually. He doesn't need to fawn over Wei Wuxian--it's okay to check on him, but he doesn't need to baby him. And I don't think it's fair to say he babied him before, but I do think Lan Wangji rushed to his side a lot when they were younger, and mostly what it achieved was Wei Wuxian blowing him off. 16 years later (or whatever, I can't remember), Lan Wangji has left breathing room between them. Part of it is the security of knowing that Wei Wuxian isn't leaving, though. Wei Wuxian has nowhere to go, especially for the time being. But another part is that Lan Wangji knows that Wei Wuxian can take care of himself, to a point, and does not want to be babied, and he's grown enough to allow him that without being asked.

I find this part so cool. The idea that music can allow someone to communicate with the dead is just so exquisitely macabre and beautiful. Music is already a universal language, enjoyed by everyone big and small, young and old, but to add another layer that it can span space and time--so cool. I know this is a concept that exists even in recent history with the Spiritualist movement--the idea that an instrument can be a vessel for spirits to communicate with the living--but there's something about the way it's done here, that there is a language that is spoken through the guqin strings. It's just very fascinating.

Despite that trust that I was speaking of earlier, we still see hesitation in Lan Wangji's eyes at the idea of splitting up. I think this has less to do with Lan Wangji not trusting Wei Wuxian to stick around and be careful, and more to do with the strange presence that he sensed from inside the bunker. Mo Xuanyu's spiritual power is low, which Lan Wangji knows. That means Wei Wuxian's main defense is his wit, which doesn't go well up against the blade of an enemy. Not to mention, he's weighed down by Jin Ling too. So even though Lan Wangji says he'll go chase that person, he still hesitates. And I think that's very human. It's easy to say you'll do it, but harder to follow through.

I also think Wei Wuxian's call of, "Lan Zhan! Take care!" is really sweet and actually important. I think it's easy to say that Lan Wangji is the one carrying the torch for Wei Wuxian and that it doesn't go the other way, but it does, whether Wei Wuxian knowingly admits to it or not. He worries about Lan Wangji too, even though he knows what a skilled cultivator Lan Wangji is. I think the focus on this line shouldn't be lost, because it's important to see Wei Wuxian making that conscious effort to show he does care, and that he isn't ordering Lan Wangji around needlessly just because he can. The decision to send Lan Wangji on the chase was not one made lightly--it was strategic. Lan Wangji is capable, while Wei Wuxian…isn't. He's got Jin Ling, he can't fight anyone off…it wouldn't make any sense for him to chase down the strange presence.

I think I've said before that Jin Ling is one of my favorite characters. His redemption arc, if you will, is perfectly written and compelling and quite beautiful, considering the terrible influence his uncle has on him. Having said that, CQL Jin Ling is my least favorite of all the iterations. I think the whole entitled, bratty attitude was too heavy-handed for a lot of it, and this is accentuated by the dubbing, which is sometimes grating on my ears. The acting is okay, but it's very exaggerated (which is maybe just a cultural thing that I can't quite embrace). Comparing it to the brattiness of Lan Jingyi, for example, I don't find him nearly as annoying. His attitude is charming and his facial expressions only enhance that. I'm not sure, maybe I'm biased against Jin Ling because he is one of my favorites, so I scrutinize him more. Not sure. Either way, I find myself thinking that it would be great to slap him on many occasions while watching this series.

Not that I'd call myself an expert in parenting--I've only been one for four years--but every time I get angry at my daughter when she does something unsafe, I always regret handling it that way. And I always apologize for raising my voice, and calmly explain why I was upset with her, so she understands. Now, Jiang Cheng is not a parent. He didn't raise Jin Ling from birth. Honestly, it's not clear where he spent most of his time, but it's likely he spent it in Lanling, while probably visiting Jiang Cheng often. I'm just imagining summers in Lotus Pier. But that was all to say that Jiang Cheng doesn't know how to be a parent because he never has had to be one. There's no doubt in my mind that he cares about Jin Ling's safety and that's why he's shouting at him here. The issue I see is that this is all he does--he shouts his feelings. I know this is fiction, but in terms of his fictional character, Jiang Cheng is not a good stand-in for a father, nor is he really even a good uncle. In my opinion, an uncle is who you go to to get away from your parents and have fun. Your uncle spoils you, dotes on you, lets you do all the fun stuff that mom and dad say no to. Now, obviously this situation is different--Jin Ling doesn't really have a mom and dad to run away from. But let me ask you, does Jiang Cheng seem like the kind of uncle you'd ever want to run away to? Seriously, he'd be the one I'd dread seeing at family gatherings.

The faces that Wei Wuxian makes in this scene are priceless. XD However, it melts my cold heart to see this soft smile on his face when he thinks about Lan Wangji chasing off Fairy, the "wonder dog." Do you have any idea how happy it makes me to see how enamored he is with Lan Wangji that just the offhand thought can put this expression on his face? <3

Omg Jiang Cheng's face is perfect here! It's just, "What. The. Fuck." Amazing. I love it.

Jiang Cheng looks so much like a villain here. You've got Wei Wuxian cowering in a corner, trapped by Fairy, and Jiang Cheng just glaring at his drink. I find it really creepy that he doesn't tie Wei Wuxian up or do anything to hold him there, because he can easily take advantage of Wei Wuxian's fear of dogs to keep him down. He's malicious and menacing without any prompting. Wei Wuxian has done nothing but try to protect Jin Ling and stay out of Jiang Cheng's way. When you think that Jin Ling would still be in that bunker now and Jiang Cheng would have no idea--isn't it interesting that Wei Wuxian doesn't even try and take credit for that rescue? He could easily use that as leverage to be set free.

Jiang Cheng can spout insults about Wei Wuxian all he wants, but the moment he says that Lan Wangji has ulterior motives in helping Wei Wuxian, we get this expression. Wei Wuxian is hurt, he's offended. He scolds Jiang Cheng for even saying such a thing. And reading the words again, it's like a two-fold insult: Lan Wangji is only protecting Wei Wuxian for some kind of self-gain, as well as the idea that Lan Wangji is dishonorable because he protects Wei Wuxian despite what Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning did to his own clan. And Wei Wuxian doesn't really mind bad things being said about himself, but he refuses to tolerate Jiang Cheng talking smack about Lan Wangji. In Wei Wuxian's eyes, Lan Wangji has always tried to do the right thing, to walk the right path that he's supposed to walk, and any time that he steered off the path to help Wei Wuxian was out of the kindness of his heart and the desire to help Wei Wuxian right his own path.

WWX: I want to go back to Lotus Pier, even in my dreams.

I know he says this, but I don't think it's meant to be taken literally as in he wants to go and visit Lotus Pier again. I think what he means here is that he wishes he could turn back time, go back to the Lotus Pier before its fall, when things were happy, and everyone was still alive. That's the Lotus Pier that Wei Wuxian misses and desires in this moment. He doesn't want to go to the Lotus Pier of today, because that Lotus Pier is no longer his. Unbeknownst to him, his room doesn't even exist anymore. It was torn down. His place has been removed completely. And that isn't the Lotus Pier that he has any desire to see.

I love this conversation between Wei Wuxian and Jin Ling. I love how comfortable they are with each other, without really knowing one another at all. This is really how an uncle should behave towards his nephew. He's trying to teach him, trying to be there for him. There's some push-back from Jin Ling, of course, but it isn't nasty or malicious. Also, "You will say them while crying someday." I love that. I love the repetition of "thank you" and "sorry", and how just putting your pride aside to say those two things is so important in any kind of relationship. It took Wei Wuxian a lifetime to learn that, and he's trying to get his nephew to understand that kind of humility and empathy before it's too late.

Other episodes: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | Or just check out the #CQL Rewatch hashtag

#cql #wangxian #wei wuxian #lan wangji #jin ling #jiang cheng #the untamed #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #cql rewatch #ep 34