Focus on: Shen Wei getting captured for the second time, episode 37

[trobadora]

Location of scene: episode 37, 37:57 - 39:28 & 41:42 - 43:08

(Yes, this is two scenes, strictly speaking, but they're so connected, it makes more sense to tackle them together.)

For context: Shen Wei, Zhao Yunlan and the remaining SID team (already minus Wang Zheng, Sang Zan, Lao-Li and Lin Jing by this point) have separated again - Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng staying in the city, Zhao Yunlan going for the Yashou passage with Zhu Hong and Da Qing, and Shen Wei going directly to Dixing to search for the Guardian Lantern's wick (opening the passage with a lot of effort and blood-spitting).



Zhao Yunlan: "When we come back here again afterwards, our team can't be short of anyone."

He and Shen Wei share a meaningful look. Shen Wei, of course, has his contingency plan (turning himself into a white energy bomb) firmly in place and knows he may not be returning. And Zhao Yunlan will have his own sacrifice plan once Zhang Shi explains to him about the Lantern ... (Two of a kind, these two! ♥)

( First scene: Shen Wei & Wu Xiaojun )

( Second scene: Shen Wei & the Regent & Wu Xiaojun )

Questions:

• Dixing worldbuilding #1: Everyone on the street is wearing standard Haixing clothes, but what's with all the baskets? A moment later, another guy walks past with a basket slung over his shoulder!


• Dixing worldbuilding #2: All the lamps look electric. Are they meant to be? The bartender's sound system means we do have a clear and unambiguous precedent for electric equipment in Dixing, but the lamps could be taken as simply taking shortcuts with props for filming. How do you approach that in fic?


• Given the way his capture goes at the end, it seems to me that at some point Shen Wei has clocked onto Wu Xiaojun being compromised, and has decided to let himself get captured. In that moment in the Dijun's office where he looks to the side, he's clearly aware something's coming. When do you think Shen Wei figures it out, and how?


• In the first scene, there's a moment after Wu Xiaojun tells him he'll help him, so as to avenge his father - Shen Wei looks down and clearly seems to be making a decision, then smiles. Is he just deciding whether to take Wu Xiaojun with him, or has he already realised Wu Xiaojun is compromised, and is deciding on whether to walk into a trap or try and get away?


• Of course, if that's the case, at that point he's already told Wu Xiaojun he's looking for something that may be in the storage rooms, so there's not much of a chance of getting in there unnoticed any more. Which brings me to the question of why he even told him to begin with. What do you think?


• Also, if he's trying to find the wick in storage, why is Shen Wei going to the Dijun's office? Does he need a key from there? But if so, why does he confront the Regent, rather than waiting until he's gone away again? I think that could be taken as supporting evidence for deliberately walking into a trap.


• On the other hand, might it be that Wu Xiaojun isn't actually working for Ye Zun yet until that moment in the Dijun's office? Might it be that what Shen Wei notices there is a dormant Dixing power taking Wu Xiaojun over? Do you think that's plausible at all? (I feel like the look on Wu Xiaojun's face when he follows Shen Wei at the end of the first scene speaks against this, and so does the Regent knowing about him, but it's not a definite thing.) When did Ye Zun get to Wu Xiaojun?


• Speaking of: from the Regent's reaction to Wu Xiaojun's actions against Shen Wei, he was clearly aware Wu Xiaojun was under Ye Zun's control. Why does he know? How did he find out? Was he aware of or even involved in a plan to trap the Envoy?


• Another question: when Shen Wei confronts the Regent, does he really not understand that government work needs to continue until the Regent says so? Or is he just irritated at the Regent (whose motive obviously isn't going to be duty)? Is he trying to determine whether the Regent himself has been subverted by Ye Zun?


• And finally - here's the question that interests me the most. I do think Shen Wei probably deliberately walks into a trap, but even if not, at the very least he does decide not to resist capture. What exactly is his goal? He does have his final fail-safe in place - if Ye Zun eats him, Ye Zun won't survive either. But is he planning to die here? Or is he hoping to still get through to his brother somehow? Or - this is my theory at the moment - is he trying to buy time? Since he knows Zhao Yunlan et al. are also planning to come to Dixing, has he decided to be the distraction and keep Ye Zun's attention on him, so the others can succeed?