Focus on Zhao Yunlan sends a smoke messenger to the Regent, ep 6

[china_shop]

Ep 6, 34:45 to 35:37

Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing have just searched Shen Wei's flat and found a file on the SID. Zhao Yunlan has a photo of the file folder but was interrupted before he could check the contents.


Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing on the couch in their flat, looking at the photo of the SID file on Zhao Yunlan's phone. Zhao Yunlan looks pensive; Da Qing is watching Zhao Yunlan's reaction.
( More scene summary. )

( Why I chose this scene, and why Zhao Yunlan escalates his investigation of Shen Wei now )

Thoughts and questions
Feel free to respond to as many or as few as you like.

• What does it mean to Zhao Yunlan that Shen Wei seems to be investigating the SID? How does he feel about it?


• There's different incense for summoning the Envoy and sending a message to the Regent, which suggests the SID has working relationships with both of them. But if the SID routinely turns to the Regent for information, why does Zhao Yunlan summon the Envoy to ask about the Hallows in episode 2, rather than sending a query to the Regent?


• Are Zhao Yunlan and the Regent penpals?! Is that why the Regent comes to the SID for help in ep 15?!


• What is the nature of the smoke messenger? It's deferential, and Zhao Yunlan seems to cloak himself in the importance of his role when he summons it, standing up and speaking seriously rather than slouching on the couch. And he has Da Qing light the incense rather than lighting it himself. Is the messenger an automated service, a Dixing person or something else? Does it convey the tenor as well as the content of a message?


• We see this smoke messenger, or one like it, talking to Shen Wei in his office in a later episode. It seems to be the standard mode of communication between the realms. Why does the Regent reply to Zhao Yunlan via letter? Is it the after-hours equivalent of voicemail?


• What do you think the Regent's reaction might have been to receiving the query about Shen Wei? Why does he take so long to respond?


• How differently would things have gone if Zhao Yunlan had received the Regent's reply?


• Lin Jing helps with the search of Shen Wei's flat by tracking the professor's movements, and later (off-screen) Da Qing gets Lin Jing to test Shen Wei with the dark energy detector (referenced in ep 8). How much is the investigation into Shen Wei an official, "on the books" thing? As far as Zhao Yunlan's concerned, is there a difference between the personal and the professional?

So come and discuss this scene with me. :) Links to meta, picspams, and related fanworks, new or old, are very much appreciated. Basically, this is the place for anything you want to say or link to about this scene.