Focus on the Envoy's first appearance, episode 1

[china_shop]

Ep 1, 38:16 to 42:19 (here on Youtube)
Apologies in advance for the truly self-indulgent number of screencaps! Click for bigger versions.

The Envoy's first appearance summary

Note: English subs are a lightly edited blend of original subs and Viki subs; Chinese subs are from Viki.

Running from the Shadow Man, Professor Shen leads Li Qian by the wrist onto the rooftop. The Shadow Man follows.

Shen Wei and Li Qian stop to face him. Shen Wei is looking fierce and implacable, and Li Qian is cowering behind him, clutching his right arm.



The Shadow Man flexes his claws threateningly. (In the background, there's a cityscape, including moving vehicles. This is happening right in the centre of human habitation/activity.) Shen Wei stares him down, calculating exactly what he'll have to do to defeat him.



When the Shadow Man runs towards them, he vanishes briefly and rematerialises closer. (I'm not sure what that's about. Maybe just the way he seems to dissolve when he's moving too fast?)

Shen Wei is just about to summon his glaive, I think? when he hears the SID approaching and makes a split second decision.



He shoves Li Qian back, dodges a few of the Shadow Man's swipes towards his face, then lets himself be knocked from the rooftop. He goes flying. Li Qian runs to the parapet and screams, "Professor Shen!" (沈教授). When she looks down, there's no sign of him among the trees and bushes.



But there's no time for her to react to that, because the Shadow Man attacks. He hooks the Sundial from around her neck as she backs away.

Just then, Chu Shuzhi arrives and heroically stops the Shadow Man with his puppet strings. Chu Shuzhi rolls and uses the momentum to slam the Shadow Man into a structure, stunning him. Li Qian is terrified but unhurt.





Li Qian looks up at her saviour Chu Shuzhi, then slowly stands. She's obviously traumatised and out of it.

The rest of the SID arrive -- Zhao Yunlan, Da Qing, Guo Changcheng and Lin Jing. Lin Jing films the Shadow Man (and later, more discreetly, the Envoy) with his phone.

Zhao Yunlan picks up the Sundial pendant and goes to sit casually on a pipe, in full smartarse mode even before the Envoy arrives.



Zhao Yunlan: (to the Shadow Man) Friend, if you're done having fun up here, it's time to go back.
朋友玩够了也该回去了吧
You're not thinking of making me refund your travel expenses, are you? That's taking it too far.
你不会是想回去的路费，也找我报销吧, 过分啊

(to Li Qian, holding out the Sundial) It's yours.
你的



Li Qian rushes forward and snatches the Sundial, then clutches it to her.

The Shadow Man starts to get up, and Zhao Yunlan stands, his casual manner falling away. The rest of the SID look nervous, too, except for Chu Shuzhi, who's on alert.



Then the sky goes dark, wind whips embers or wisps of dark energy through the air, lightning and thunder crack and growl, and time seems to stop.

Zhao Yunlan figures out what's happening, ducks his head and scratches the back of his neck, and thinks, "Ugh, how is this my life? Don't I have enough to deal with?"



The Envoy arrives like a curved bolt of lightning, blade already in hand. He slams the butt of his glaive on the roof, and it sends ice to encase the Shadow Man before he can cause more trouble. (Interestingly, the Shadow Man doesn't really react to the Envoy's arrival. Maybe he's got a concussion.) Cue lots of very dramatic Envoy shots.

Chu Shuzhi pushes Guo Changcheng into a deep bow, at once displaying his respect for the Envoy by proxy and putting the kid in his place. (I love that!) Lin Jing and Da Qing keep their eyes lowered, nervously respectful.



Zhao Yunlan starts talking before the Shadow Man's ice has even set, as if he wants to undercut the theatrics. The Envoy still has his back to him.



Zhao Yunlan: Black-Cloaked Envoy, this is the first time you've come to give me guidance since I became chief.
我接任处长之后，这还是黑袍使首次莅临指导

Slouching there with his thumbs in his front pockets. Oh, Zhao Yunlan!



Did you find it difficult to travel here? Or maybe you forgot the way?
黑袍使来的时候路不好找吧？还是忘了路怎么走?





The Envoy dematerialises his glaive.

The Envoy: Dixingren escaping to the surface and wreaking havoc is my fault.
地星人偷上地面作乱，是本使疏忽

I think his taking responsibility is a concession, an attempt to meet Zhao Yunlan halfway. Alas, Zhao Yunlan only responds with more snark, his voice hard. The Envoy is still facing away, and Zhao Yunlan is side-on, looking to his team and then to the Envoy's back.

Zhao Yunlan: Not at all. You're just giving us an opportunity to increase our knowledge. After all, on the surface, how many Dixingren can we meet?
哪里话? 您这是想让我们几个长长见识，毕竟在这个世上能见到几个地星人啊?

This sounds like there have been few, if any cases involving Dixingren in the last three years. (What has the SID been doing with itself all that time? Kicking its heels?) And Zhao Yunlan sounds like he's met almost no Dixingren aside from Chu Shuzhi.



The Envoy: (turning to face Zhao Yunlan) I was delayed by other matters and inadvertently arrived late. I hope Zhao-xiong will understand.
本使冗务缠身，不慎来迟一步，还望赵兄见谅

Xiong is a formal/respectful term for brother/friend, perhaps an invitation for Zhao Yunlan to reciprocate with a similar address? But Zhao Yunlan stubbornly sticks to the Envoy's full title, Hei Pao Shi (黑袍使). (Note: all my observations on address terms and etiquette are based on what I've gleaned in passing -- please feel free to correct me!)

Zhao Yunlan: It's no problem. You're afraid we're too bored and lazy these days, aren't you?
没事黑袍使也是怕我们几个太闲了，对吧

Their eyes meet for the first time (as far as Zhao Yunlan knows, anyway), and they stare at each other for nearly 10 seconds.



The Envoy looks stern, probably to hide his disappointment, and Zhao Yunlan answers that with silence defiance. Finally the Envoy gestures to the Shadow Man.

The Envoy: If I may?
不介意吧

Zhao Yunlan: Go ahead.
请便



He's already turning away as he says it, rudely dismissing the Envoy. The Envoy turns away too, but before he can leave, Guo Changcheng kind of quacks a question. Lin Jing and Da Qing eye him with dismay. The Envoy turns back.

Zhao Yunlan looks over his shoulder, sees what's happening, and immediately switches into damage-control mode.





The Envoy: Young man, you have something to say?
小朋友你有意见吗

He probably sees all his most hapless students when he looks at xiao-Guo, but the others aren't to know that.



Guo Changcheng grabs Chu Shuzhi like a lifeline. I'm so proud of him for speaking out, though. (You could read it as thinking Haixing should get to put its enemies on trial itself, but I always interpret it as concern about the Shadow Man getting the benefit of due process.)



Zhao Yunlan steps between the Envoy and the SID and waves Guo Changcheng away (or waves to the others to shut Guo Changcheng up?) before this turns into a diplomatic incident. He looks none too happy about doing it, but he uses all his flirty wiles. His voice softens, he leans forward and smiles slightly, and he switches from Hei Pao Shi to Hei-laoge (often translated as "Old Brother Black", a more informal/familiar term than the Envoy's "xiong").





Zhao Yunlan: Hei-laoge, this kid just transferred to our office. He doesn't have much sense or experience.
黑老哥这小孩是我们处刚调来的，也不懂事，也没什么见识
For my sake, please don't be offended.
看在兄弟的份上，别见怪
(He refers to himself as "xiongdi" here (mirroring the Envoy's earlier Zhao-xiong?). According to wiktionary, xiongdi is (figuratively) brothers; close friends; good friends.)





The Envoy, who is standing side on, turns only his head and takes this opportunity to give Zhao Yunlan some advice from on high, basically telling him to get his house in order.

The Envoy: Zhao-xiong, you are the current chief of the Special Investigation Department. You have a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders. You should be more strict with them.
赵兄, 你是这一任特调处的处长，肩上干系重大, 御下不妨再严一些

By the end of that, he's looking away again. Maybe to hide his disappointment, or maybe just out of formality.



Zhao Yunlan: Good idea. I'll go back and educate them.
好说, 我这就回去，好好的教育他们



The Envoy: The weather is changing.
要变天了



Hilariously, Zhao Yunlan looks up at the sky, as if taking this literally.

The Envoy: (cont.) If my suspicion is correct, we will be seeing each other again soon.
若本使猜的没错的话 我们很快还会见面的

Crisis averted (and perhaps with the criticism giving him some indigestion), Zhao Yunlan's tone goes brittle again, and he reverts to insincere collegiality.



Zhao Yunlan: We have a good relationship.
那感情好啊



Zhao Yunlan: (cont.) Next time you should come earlier, and I'll prepare a pot of good tea for you.
下一次黑袍使来早一点，我一定给你准备一壶上好的茶 (Back to Hei Pao Shi here, and ending with a cool kind of schmoozing. In other words, not a very warm welcome, despite the offer.)

Guo Changcheng is hyperventilating, but manages to stay quiet. Zhao Yunlan is practically holding his breath. The Envoy turns to go without another word.





Zhao Yunlan lets out a breath and thanks his stars that they didn't all just get smited.

Chu Shuzhi offers a subtle bow, and the Envoy takes the frozen Shadow Man and departs through a really quite unnecessarily high-up portal.





Zhao Yunlan looks up at the portal without enthusiasm. Time starts up on campus again. (I'm guessing the localised time-freeze was to give Shen Wei an opportunity to have Professor Shen blink out of existence without his absence being noticed.)

Guo Changcheng goes over to Zhao Yunlan.

Guo Changcheng: Chief Zhao, he took the shadow. We're not going to do anything?
赵处，他把人带走了，我们不管吗



Zhao Yunlan: Not at all. Go concern yourself with it. I'll watch.
管！当然得管了！你去管管我看看？

Da Qing steps in and gives xiao-Guo and us some exposition.

Da Qing: Xiao-Guo, I'll tell you. Tens of thousands of years ago when Dixing lost the war, the Haixing and Dixing peoples signed a peace treaty.
小郭，我告诉你啊, 当年地星人战败, 海星人和地星人签订了和平条约
We can capture them, but we cannot oversee them. We have to hand them over "there" to be dealt with.
地星人我们可以抓，但是管不了, 该怎么办，还得交给那边来处理

While Da Qing's speaking, Zhao Yunlan walks off a couple of paces and tries to recover his inner cool. Then he waves Li Qian out of her daze. Throughout this whole scene, she's been standing in the background, mostly obscured by the Envoy.

Zhao Yunlan: (to Li Qian) Where's Professor Shen?
你们家沈教授呢



Li Qian: *gasps* Professor Shen!
沈教授

She and Zhao Yunlan run to the parapet and look down.

Observations

• This is the Envoy's first appearance since Zhao Yunlan became chief, but he recognises him instantly. Presumably a description of the Envoy is part of the briefing when a new chief takes over. And if Zhao Xinci provided the description, it may be more than a little caustic.
• Zhao Yunlan seems to accept the Envoy's dramatic entrance -- and the existence of the Shadow Man -- with frustration and maybe distaste, but no fear. I wonder how much his sangfroid is performance versus how much he's inured to seeing awesome powers. If he hasn't had a chance to get used to Dixingren and their abilities, maybe some of his hostility towards the Envoy is association with Dixingren generally, including his mother's murderer.
• Alternatively, if Zhao Yunlan's still clinging to his childhood ideals of "why can't we all just get along" and he sees the Envoy as an implacable enforcer of the treaty, that's another area of potential conflict.
• As discussed on the car singing scene post, the Envoy may have only ended his long absence because, as Professor Shen, he recognised Li Qian's necklace for what it is and was worried about the Hallows' reappearance.

Fanworks

Please link to any fanworks you know of that deal with Zhao Yunlan meeting the Envoy for the first time, either in this scene or in AUs! Also, any meta or analysis about this scene. Self-recs welcome and encouraged. *makes grabby hands at links*

Questions

1. On a scale of 1 to 1000, how rude was Zhao Yunlan to the Envoy?


2. On a scale of 1 to 1000, how disappointed is the Envoy in Zhao Yunlan?


3. The Shadow Man is shown in later episodes to be an okay kind of guy, and here he takes Li Qian's necklace without hurting her. Why did he kill Lu Ruomei? Was it an accident, or did Professor Shen's glaring here instill some restraint in him?


4. What do you think Chu Shuzhi is thinking/feeling throughout this exchange?

Come and discuss this scene! :-) 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.

Comments

[china_shop]

Related fics:

- Disguise -- a Shen Wei pov drabble by me, set during this scene.
- thousands of cities from home by ishipallthings -- an AU first meeting between ZYL and the Envoy

ETA: And some meta at the bottom of qikiqtarjuaq's episode 1 body language analysis.

[shadaras]

I laughed so hard at the first two questions. <333

(very rude! very disappointed! if I'm remembering/reading this right: both of them are upset and nobody's expectations are matched! ZYL is too distant and formal, even in his snarky antagonism; and the Envoy isn't distant and formal enough, even as he's performing precisely his duties.)

90% of my reaction to all this is "wow I need to watch the first episode(s) of Guardian again", because all the things you're saying mostly just make me aware of how little I understood of what was going on when I first watched it! :) I was too busy making sure I could tell all the people apart.

Though, yes, always fun to think about what CSZ is feeling when the Envoy's around! If this is the first time the Envoy's shown up around ZYL, then it's probably also the first time he's shown up while CSZ is on a SID case. So I bet there's some of that "oh shit all my bosses are looking!" need to make sure he's presenting himself at his best, which is like... no wonder he's so upset at GCC's fumbling lack of respect towards the Envoy.

(But seriously, good on GCC for his massive moral core! It can't be easy to have your first case go like this and yet still stand up for your beliefs and concerns in the face of someone who even your co-workers/boss—who normally don't act scared of anything—seem to defer to!)

[china_shop]

I laughed so hard at the first two questions. <333

*wins* :-D

(very rude! very disappointed! if I'm remembering/reading this right: both of them are upset and nobody's expectations are matched! ZYL is too distant and formal, even in his snarky antagonism; and the Envoy isn't distant and formal enough, even as he's performing precisely his duties.)

Oh, this is so interesting! It hadn't occurred to me that Zhao Yunlan might be put off by the Envoy's not being distant enough, but you're quite right that he might be. Ha! The hypocrisy (given that that's Zhao Yunlan's standard M.O., I mean). ETA: Especially ironic given the Envoy's probably emulated Kunlun...

If this is the first time the Envoy's shown up around ZYL, then it's probably also the first time he's shown up while CSZ is on a SID case. So I bet there's some of that "oh shit all my bosses are looking!" need to make sure he's presenting himself at his best, which is like... no wonder he's so upset at GCC's fumbling lack of respect towards the Envoy.

Haha, yes, under the circumstances it's amazing he doesn't push xiao-Guo away or react more when xiao-Guo speaks out.

There is the possibility that, if there have been other, lesser Dixing-related cases in the last three years, Zhao Yunlan has sent Chu Shuzhi out to deal with them and Chu Shuzhi, having delivered the culprit to the Envoy, has returned and said, "Done." Maybe? So it might not be the first time the Envoy's shown up to Chu Shuzhi's work -- but otoh, maybe it is!

But seriously, good on GCC for his massive moral core! It can't be easy to have your first case go like this and yet still stand up for your beliefs and concerns in the face of someone who even your co-workers/boss—who normally don't act scared of anything—seem to defer to!

This x 1000! ♥ Xiao-Guo is so brave! (And in ep 2, as well, when he clings to the hospital attacker's leg, despite being shoved around, to the point where I think the hospital attacker is just perplexed and almost apologetic. GCC is hapless and wet behind the ears, but he never lets fear stop him.)

[trobadora]

both of them are upset and nobody's expectations are matched

Haha, right?

I think CSZ must have met with the Envoy, whether to hand over Dixing criminals or just to report in, but always only after the job was done. Here, he turns up and incapacitates the Shadow Man himself - does part of Lao-Chu wonder if the Envoy maybe thinks he can't handle him on his own?

(This is still my only CSZ icon ...)

[starandrea]

Guo Changcheng: Chief Zhao, he took the shadow. We're not going to do anything?
赵处，他把人带走了，我们不管吗

Zhao Yunlan: Not at all. Go concern yourself with it. I'll watch.
管！当然得管了！你去管管我看看？

I think this is even funnier in Chinese :D I greatly appreciate the awesome people subtitling all these episodes, and I would just offer one other possible way of rendering it in English.

Xiao Guo: Chief Zhao, he just took him, we're not going to intervene?
Zhao Yunlan: Intervene! Of course we're going to intervene! You go intervene and I'll watch.

(Also, if it's fun to know, the "xiongdi" Zhao Yunlan uses for himself is younger brother, specifically, and he may use it at this moment because he just called "Hei Lao Ge" older brother. "Big Brother Black, this kid just transferred to us, he doesn't have much knowledge or experience. For your little brother's sake, don't be offended.")

♥♥♥!

PS I love the scene analysis! And all the great pictures! And especially the dialogue, clearly, thank you so much for sharing it! ♥

[china_shop]

Xiao Guo: Chief Zhao, he just took him, we're not going to intervene?
Zhao Yunlan: Intervene! Of course we're going to intervene! You go intervene and I'll watch.

LOLOL! Thank you so much for this translation -- priceless! :D :D :D

Also, if it's fun to know, the "xiongdi" Zhao Yunlan uses for himself is younger brother, specifically, and he may use it at this moment because he just called "Hei Lao Ge" older brother. "Big Brother Black, this kid just transferred to us, he doesn't have much knowledge or experience. For your little brother's sake, don't be offended."

Ahh, that makes so much sense. Thank you! <3 <3 <3 (ETA: How weird must that be for Shen Wei, if Kunlun sometimes called him xiao-Wei!?)

[nnozomi]

Zhao Yunlan: Intervene! Of course we're going to intervene! You go intervene and I'll watch.
ooh, nice catch! It's definitely funnier in Chinese, especially with the rhyme--"you guan guan, I'm gonna kan kan." Zhao Yunlan and his way with words.

the "xiongdi" Zhao Yunlan uses for himself is younger brother, specifically,
You have more Chinese time than I do so I may be wrong, but I think most often it's just "brother" in general? kind of a casual "bro," "pal," etc. in a context like this? (same "xiong" as when the Envoy calls him "Zhao-xiong," older brother, plus "di" for "younger brother")

My personal favorite thing in the Chinese in this scene is the Envoy calling Xiao Guo 小朋友, the way you'd refer to an elementary school kid...

[trobadora]

Hee! Thanks for the alternate translation! :D

[marycrawford]

This is such a great translation, that gives me a much better idea of what's actually happening in that scene! It makes it much clearer that ZYL is being funny and sarcastic.

[sakana17]

I love this alternative translation, which is quite funny. And the information about Zhao Yunlan's "xiongdi."

[elenothar]

Is there even such a thing as too many caps? ;)

Hilariously, Zhao Yunlan looks up at the sky, as if taking this literally.
This cracks me up every single time, it's too adorable.

I absolutely didn't pick up on Zhao Yunlan being rude when I first watched the episode, but then I was busy trying to figure out what the hell was happening. In retrospect, it's a pretty unsatisfactory meeting for them both, I'd think, and the first time we get the conflict of the treaty stipulation that Dixingren should be returned and tried in Dixing, which Zhao Yunlan generally doesn't seem that keen on.

As for Shen Wei, he's probably already really stressed because he's juggling a lot of balls here to stop his identity from leaking - just imagine what a mess it would've been if this had been his first time seeing Zhao Yunlan, rather than the Romeo and Juliet window scene. Hei Pao Shi bluescreening wouldn't have made a great impression either. I do wonder whether he's maybe overcompensating here though, or at least very much caught in between modes of presenting himself in terms of official Envoy vs meeting with Zhao Yunlan who he desperately wants to get close to. He's really not looking at Zhao Yunlan much, which I read as a way to keep himself under control more easily.

[trobadora]

just imagine what a mess it would've been if this had been his first time seeing Zhao Yunlan, rather than the Romeo and Juliet window scene.

Oh god, that hurts. I'm so glad for Shen Wei that didn't happen and he got to meet ZYL in a different setting, not being passive-aggressive at the Envoy!

[china_shop]

and the first time we get the conflict of the treaty stipulation that Dixingren should be returned and tried in Dixing, which Zhao Yunlan generally doesn't seem that keen on.

Ha, yeah, though in some ways, I almost think Zhao Yunlan's more comfortable with it than Shen Wei is, you know, given Shen Wei immediately petitions the Regent on the Shadow Man's behalf, and lets Wang Yike go altogether. Whereas the stipulation affects Zhao Yunlan less -- especially given this is Zhao "arrest all the Dixingren and send them home" Yunlan, at this stage. :-/

As for Shen Wei, he's probably already really stressed because he's juggling a lot of balls here to stop his identity from leaking

*nodnod* And having Kunlun not recognise him and be such a brat is certainly A LOT. I agree with you and Trobadora, if this had been their first modern-day meeting -- ouch! *winces*

I do wonder whether he's maybe overcompensating here though, or at least very much caught in between modes of presenting himself in terms of official Envoy vs meeting with Zhao Yunlan who he desperately wants to get close to. He's really not looking at Zhao Yunlan much, which I read as a way to keep himself under control more easily.

I'm not sure about this? I tend to think of Shen Wei as very good (sometimes too good) at compartmentalising. I mean, I'm sure he's having a ton of feelings, but I don't know that he would have behaved much differently if he hadn't been? (I think not looking at people is pretty standard Envoy mode for him. He does it with lao-Chu too, iirc? And he's used to people being scared of the Envoy, and maybe not looking at them directly helps to defuse that? Plus I read somewhere that direct eye-contact can be read as disrespectful in some situations. Idk. But very much a YMMV thing, anyway. :-)

[nnozomi]

A wonderful look at this scene! I love getting dialogue, screenshots, and analysis all integrated.

Zhao Yunlan is in top form the whole way through, showing off his best nonchalance and casual fun with words. I wonder if this is his instinctive reaction to formality, as opposed to trying to match it with a similar style. Chu Shuzhi, though clearly grinding his teeth, does seem to know Zhao Yunlan well enough to recognize his deliberate working style and not call him out for rudeness to the Envoy (the way he gets Xiao Guo to bow).

I love "the weather is changing"--it's such a piece of understated drama, just in tune with the Envoy's style. (Although I'm pretty sure it's not intended that way, I also like reading it as a very early hint about the power of the Lantern, because he says 要变天了, and 天 can mean "sky" as well as "weather.")

Presumably a description of the Envoy is part of the briefing when a new chief takes over. And if Zhao Xinci provided the description, it may be more than a little caustic.
There's an amazing (and kind of disturbing) fic about Zhao Xinci and the Black-Cloaked Envoy pre-canon, here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28894383

I think the one (absolutely necessary) plot hole is that nobody goes to look for Professor Shen until the scene is over--he just fell off a ROOF, maybe get the poor guy some medical help immediately, and Li Qian in particular seems like she ought to be concerned with this. But fortunately for Shen Wei's disguise, everyone is completely distracted by the BCE...

Xiao Guo, honey.

[trobadora]

Although I'm pretty sure it's not intended that way, I also like reading it as a very early hint about the power of the Lantern, because he says 要变天了, and 天 can mean "sky" as well as "weather."

Ooooh! :D :D :D

I think Li Qian is just in total shock. She doesn't know anything about any of this, and suddenly that dramatic scene with the Envoy's appearance! And before that she got chased and nearly killed by a shadowy figure! And her friend got killed! And everything with her grandmother! I mean, she was already standing around zoning out right at the start of the episode, before anything Dixing-related happened (other than her own use of the Sundial) ...

[starandrea]

The Envoy: The weather is changing.
要变天了

This was a surprising translation choice to me! :) I might have gone with just, "Things are changing," because I completely agree with you that this is an early reference to the lantern and all the holy tools! I feel like that was deliberate! ♥ (I definitely didn't hear it as weather; totally with you on sky/god.)

This way of saying "things are changing" seems (to me, a non-native, non-fluent speaker) to imply that "things are changing because heaven wills it," right, like the gods are whimsical and thus things change, and to me that seems like a very defensible linguistic connection to the holy tools or "tools of heaven." :)

[china_shop]

Thanks, you! <3

I wonder if this is his instinctive reaction to formality, as opposed to trying to match it with a similar style.

Maybe, though he was already bantering at the Shadow Man before the Envoy showed up, so... it might just be his front when being faced with terrifying Dixing powers for the first time (in a long time)? Being the boss means keeping a cool head, and the way he keeps a cool head is being all ironic and smartarse?

Chu Shuzhi, though clearly grinding his teeth, does seem to know Zhao Yunlan well enough to recognize his deliberate working style and not call him out for rudeness to the Envoy (the way he gets Xiao Guo to bow).

Haha, poor lao-Chu. :-)

I love "the weather is changing"--it's such a piece of understated drama, just in tune with the Envoy's style. (Although I'm pretty sure it's not intended that way, I also like reading it as a very early hint about the power of the Lantern, because he says 要变天了, and 天 can mean "sky" as well as "weather.")

Oooh, that's so great! *hearts all your translatory insights* ETA: To me, it feels a lot like the portentous "Winter is coming" that you hear so often in films/tv, especially in high fantasy. (They actually use that line in episode 7: "I keep having this feeling that winter is coming to Dragon City" but there it's Professor Shen speaking, not the Envoy.)

It's also an interesting turn of phrase given the Envoy just arrived in a flurry of thunder and lightning!

Thanks for the link! <3

and Li Qian in particular seems like she ought to be concerned with this.

I was interested when writing up the start of the scene how much Li Qian totally just hid behind Shen Wei and trusted him to defend her -- or was using him as a shield, at least. I want her to be protective of him, but she just doesn't seem to have anything to give at that moment. But yeah, you'd think once the immediate danger had passed... Maybe she's still just freaking out about the existence of superpowers/magic/things that do not look like science!! *pets her*

[trobadora]

Hee! Excellent write-up. I love this scene, so much. Zhao Yunlan starts off all fake nonchalance and passive-aggression, and when the Envoy doesn't respond as coldly as he might, he just keeps going with it until Xiao-Guo steps in it, and then he turns to damage control mode, full out schmoozing an fake buddy-buddy attitude. And the Envoy lets him! I wonder what Zhao Yunlan thinks about all this once he has a moment to think things through ...

But it's clear here that ZYL really doesn't like having to deal with Dixing, and he really doesn't like the Envoy, even though he's never met him. Whatever he's heard about him from his father, he hasn't dismissed it out of hand. (Or maybe he would have, if the Envoy had turned up early on - but the Envoy not even bothering to meet the new SID chief probably looked like arrogance to ZYL. And the dramatics here don't help dispel that image. *g*)

Xiao-Guo is really brave, even if he picks the worst possible moment to speak up - there's nothing he can actually do, but he reacts on instinct and can't keep quiet. ♥

(It sounds to me as if no one bothered to explain anything to him about procedure regarding Dixing criminals, so he may not even have known the Envoy existed. So from his POV, there's this random guy suddenly popping up and taking the murderer they were chasing ... and everyone just lets him?!)

This sounds like there have been few, if any cases involving Dixingren in the last three years. (What has the SID been doing with itself all that time? Kicking its heels?) And Zhao Yunlan sounds like he's met almost no Dixingren aside from Chu Shuzhi.

Yeah, we're told there's been a lull, but I have no idea what the SID's been doing! Maybe all they've had is small fry, and Lao-Chu got them and delivered them straight to the Envoy without the rest of the SID having a chance to really interact with them?

(I'm guessing the localised time-freeze was to give Shen Wei an opportunity to have Professor Shen blink out of existence without his absence being noticed.)

And also because this is happening right out in plain sight in the middle of the campus!

If he hasn't had a chance to get used to Dixingren and their abilities, maybe some of his hostility towards the Envoy is association with Dixingren generally, including his mother's murderer.

Yeah, I think it reflects partially his attitude towards Dixingren in general, and partially his reaction to someone who just swoops in at the end to take whoever they captured without seeming to respect the SID's work, if that makes sense. And also, as you say, the Envoy as an implacable enforcer who can't be reasoned with (not the least because he's not there to be reasoned with!).

Good question about the Shadow Man killing Lu Ruomei! I don't know either, but it's interesting to think about.

Poor Chu Shuzhi is probably hating every minute of this, having to wrangle the newbie and watch ZYL be all ... ZYL at the Envoy. And he knows the Envoy can be kind, so while ZYL seems really worried here for a moment that Xiao-Guo got them in serious trouble, Lao-Chu must know the Envoy isn't going to smite him on the spot. But he's still got to be a bit confused that the Envoy is being so conciliatory in response to ZYL's passive-aggressive behaviour.

Underrated detail you can only realise in retrospect: all through this scene, Shen Wei has the claw wounds on his shoulder from the Shadow Man that we later see him heal!

[china_shop]

and then he turns to damage control mode, full out schmoozing an fake buddy-buddy attitude. And the Envoy lets him!

Well, sort of lets him, but also tells him to school his team and, once Zhao Yunlan starts talking about making him tea next time, turns and leaves without another word. So... I don't know how much more openly disapproving the Envoy could have been without lowering himself to Zhao Yunlan's level and being extremely rude back, you know?

But it's clear here that ZYL really doesn't like having to deal with Dixing, and he really doesn't like the Envoy, even though he's never met him. Whatever he's heard about him from his father, he hasn't dismissed it out of hand. (Or maybe he would have, if the Envoy had turned up early on - but the Envoy not even bothering to meet the new SID chief probably looked like arrogance to ZYL. And the dramatics here don't help dispel that image. *g*)

Oh, now I'm wondering how much Zhao Yunlan's apparent initial distaste for the dramatics led to Shen Wei doing a lot of his late-canon Envoying in his Haixing clothes...

And yes, it's so interesting that Zhao Yunlan has taken whatever official Envoy intel there was on board as much as he seems to have, given its likely source. I wonder if/how much he holds the Envoy responsible for Lu Ruomei's murder. I imagine Zhao Xinci might have blamed the Dixing authorities for any incursions and incidents...

Xiao-Guo is really brave, even if he picks the worst possible moment to speak up - there's nothing he can actually do, but he reacts on instinct and can't keep quiet. ♥

*pets his cluelessness* He might think there's something Zhao Yunlan could do, or lao-Chu, though? And excellent point about his probably not having a clue who the Envoy is! All he really knows is that he's awe-inspiring and that lao-Chu made him bow to him. And it's not like Chief Zhao is being super-polite.

but I have no idea what the SID's been doing! Maybe all they've had is small fry, and Lao-Chu got them and delivered them straight to the Envoy without the rest of the SID having a chance to really interact with them?

I think that must be it -- theft, minor assaults and so on. I mean, from Haixing's POV, if you know there's the risk of superpowered attacks and that such things used to be relatively common, then keeping the department that deals with them seems inevitable even if there's a lull and the budget gets cut every year. (And I imagine that Zhao Xinci, the founder of the modern SID, argues in its defence during budget rounds.) I suspect they've all been quite bored (except for Lin Jing) and maybe even getting on each other's nerves a little.

And also because this is happening right out in plain sight in the middle of the campus!

Ha, good point. Yes.

and partially his reaction to someone who just swoops in at the end to take whoever they captured without seeming to respect the SID's work, if that makes sense.

I think... that does make sense from ZYL's pov, but it feels more like projection and his issues derived from his father's criticism than anything to do with the Envoy himself. You know? I mean, the Envoy shows up and apologises for being late and takes responsibility for the whole situation, and Zhao Yunlan's response is to say, "You're afraid we're too bored and lazy these days, aren't you?" Even though it's framed as a joke, it's ridiculously defensive.

Underrated detail you can only realise in retrospect: all through this scene, Shen Wei has the claw wounds on his shoulder from the Shadow Man that we later see him heal!

Oh! Yes! I can't believe I forgot that, given I chose this scene because I'm writing an AU of it, and THAT'S IN THE AU! *headdesk* Poor Shen Wei -- wounded, be-snarked by not!Kunlun, and having to go petition the terrible Regent on behalf of the murderer who threatened his favourite student before he can heal himself. *pets him*

[miss_ingno]

Underrated detail you can only realise in retrospect: all through this scene, Shen Wei has the claw wounds on his shoulder from the Shadow Man that we later see him heal!

O.O!!! omg I never noticed :O and ohhhh it's the shoulder he keeps turned away from the SID when he's standing sideways (which tbf also has the effect of keeping his back to Li Qian, who has the highest chance of recognizing him if she weren't so traumatized). I wonder if that was intentional or accidental <.

[maggie33]

This is a great post with wonderful screncaps (and no, I don't think there are too many of them :)).

Chu Shuzhi pushes Guo Changcheng into a deep bow, at once displaying his respect for the Envoy by proxy and putting the kid in his place. (I love that!)

I love that, too. It's one of my favorites scenes.

[china_shop]

Thank you! :D :D :D

I've seen that bowing-by-proxy thing done in a few Kdramas, too, and I always always love it. It says so much!

[trepkos]

Thank you - these recaps are really helping me get to grips with the series!

[china_shop]

Very glad it was helpful -- thanks for saying! <3

[miss_ingno]

Late to the party but I heard it's okay to comment on old stuff, so here we are <3 this is one of my fave scenes and I have Thoughts!

The Envoy looks stern, probably to hide his disappointment, and Zhao Yunlan answers that with silence defiance. Finally the Envoy gestures to the Shadow Man.

Considering how perceptive Zhao Yunlan is, I bet he sees the disappointment <.< I wonder what’s going on in response to that… with the Zhao Xinci baggage of being a constant disappointment, this authority figure who has refused to meet him for years now, being openly disappointed with him (and since ZYL doesn’t know about the time loop, he only has so many options to think what about his actions/words disappointed the Envoy, but clearly he’s not measuring up! Q.Q)

And I think it’s very poignant that *this* is the moment Shen Wei picks to move things along, to end the encounter (if it weren’t for GCC chiming in lol)

Zhao Yunlan looks over his shoulder, sees what's happening, and immediately switches into damage-control mode.

I love him so much *heart eyes* this moment might be when I fell irrevertibly

Guo Changcheng grabs Chu Shuzhi like a lifeline. I'm so proud of him for speaking out, though. (You could read it as thinking Haixing should get to put its enemies on trial itself, but I always interpret it as concern about the Shadow Man getting the benefit of due process.)

I agree! GCC is very hapless and a bit naive about hmmm not necessarily politics, but. He’s been told the SID is in charge of these cases, so leaving the perp to a stranger to take away rather than police would seem weird. They really haven’t taken the time to teach him a lot yet lol (which would be fine in the past, probably, where they didn’t have many Dixingren-related cases. Too bad GCC joined just as things ramped up xD)

also I love CSZ’s expression here because. Well, the newbie did make a faux-pas, but the way he’s half-turned towards GCC and hasn’t shaken him off is very telling I think. And his gaze is firmly in the direction of the Envoy/the Chief. I wonder if ZYL hadn’t stepped in, if CSZ would have <.<

He looks none too happy about doing it, but he uses all his flirty wiles. His voice softens, he leans forward and smiles slightly, and he switches from Hei Pao Shi to Hei-laoge

*clutches chest and swoons* easily one of my top 5 moments of the entire show, I’m absolutely taken by this choice :D using familiarity as a weapon, after how stand-off-ish his previous behaviour was, the switch, the protecting his team vibes, putting himself in a vulnerable position by doing so… yeah Zhao Yunlan won my heart pretty much immediately *g*

Next time you should come earlier

What always strikes me about this particular line is that it recalls ZYL’s earlier admonishment of HPS being late to the party and HPS taking responsibility for that. I wonder if ZYL is trying to pull them back on even ground by reminding HPS that he, too, isn’t infallible and had made mistakes in this encounter? A sort of “I hear your criticism, but don’t forget you’ve deserved some, too. We’re even.”

This entire scene has so much tension, a give-and-take that’s very calculated for effect. I figure if ZYL had reacted more casually, informally, Shen Wei as the Envoy would have unbent a little more too, though obviously still restrained while acting within his role. But yeah, ZYL was clearly frustrated (why NOW of all times). I do wonder if he took the Envoy’s warning about the brewing storm as more criticism in line of the Train Your Team, GDI variety.

[trobadora]

I wonder if ZYL hadn’t stepped in, if CSZ would have

Oh, that would have been so fascinating to see! (I'm always here for more Shen Wei-and-Chu Shuzhi. *g*)

I do wonder if he took the Envoy’s warning about the brewing storm as more criticism in line of the Train Your Team, GDI variety.

Oh! That never occurred to me, but now that you say it, that makes so much sense! And only gives ZYL more reason to feel defensive, oops ...