Scene discussion: Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing in a Dixing bedroom

[trobadora]

Location of scene: episode 23, 5:26 - 6:42 and 7:48 - 9:15

Context: Shen Wei has used the Sundial to heal Zhao Yunlan's eyes. The Master of the Merit Brush has sent a threatening letter, and Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei are going to Dixing to research the Merit Brush. Da Qing, having just had some flashbacks about Ye Zun, is not about to let Zhao Yunlan go anywhere with Shen Wei alone. (Who says cats can't be protective? :D)

In Dixing, our heroes discover the archive is closed until the new Dijun takes the throne, and they decide to stay in Dixing for the night. Somewhere in the middle of this, the designated successor to the Dijun is replaced when An Bai offers to sacrifice himself to save his friends and thereby draws the Dijun's attention. (But that's a discussion for another day ...)



On to our scene:

Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing are led into a room by the Deacon. (We don't see Shen Wei leaving them, but it must have happened between the previous scene in the palace and this.) We see a single bed, a wardrobe, a desk and chair, an old-fashioned radio, several other items of antiquated-looking furniture, and some candles. I really like the aesthetic!



(Back in the early days of the fandom, this bed was a crucial piece of evidence for the important question of whether Dixingren sleep. Today, I think we still have some mileage we can get out of the radio and what it means for Dixing infrastructure. *g*)

Zhao Yunlan, sucking on a lollipop, complains about the light: 这儿光线也太暗了吧？
Isn't the light too dim in here?

(Brief aside: I really love how, even when it's meant to be very dark in a scene, this drama lights everything properly so the viewer can actually see what's on screen! I'm very happy to see more than the characters. *g*)

The Deacon explains: 地星的光力资源有限。值此盛会灯火都被集中抽调进了地君殿。令主要没别的事的话属下就先告辞了。
Dixing's light resources are limited. For this grand occasion, they've all been diverted to the Dijun Palace. If the Lord Guardian has no other issues, I will take my leave.



From Zhao Yunlan's reaction, I take it that even after his previous visit to Dixing, Dixing's darkness and lack of resources still hasn't quite sunk in for him yet. I can't imagine that would endear him to anyone, even if the Deacon wasn't who he is.

Also, from the Deacon saying resources have been diverted to the palace, I wonder if that's just a figure of speech and he means the official hall we usually see, or whether this bedroom isn't in fact in the palace proper ... (Where else could it be? Why?)

Once alone with Da Qing, Zhao Yunlan lets out a big sigh and complains about the light some more: 这刚恢复了光明啊，这又得做一个睁眼瞎呀。
I just regained the light, and now I have to be a blind man again.

He flops into the single visible chair, and Da Qing (sitting down on the desk) half mocks, half chides him: 我的赵大公子啊，你就下了一次地星，怎么感觉处处树敌呢？这家伙明显和你不对付。
My Master Zhao, you just came down to Dixing once, why does it feel like you make enemies everywhere? This guy obviously doesn't like you.

(I would really like to know the connotations of Da Qing's use of 大公子 ...)

Zhao Yunlan is fine with that: 他跟我不对付？我还跟他不对付呢。
He doesn't like me? I don't like him either.

(Good instincts! But then, that guy isn't exactly being subtle.)



Next, Zhao Yunlan asks, because he's noticed Da Qing's weird behaviour towards Shen Wei: 行了，说说吧， 你之前对沈巍那样到底是想干什么呀？这敌意不像是能装出来的。
Never mind. Tell me, the way you treated Shen Wei earlier, what was that about? That hostility didn't seem feigned.

Da Qing hesitates. 说出来恐怕你不信。我找回了当年的记忆，不过就一点点。
If I tell you, I'm afraid you won't believe it. I've recovered my old memories, but only just a little bit.

You can practically see the gears turning in Zhao Yunlan's brain when Da Qing says he's recovered his memories!



[Our scene is briefly interrupted for a look at Chu Shuzhi and Lin Jing at the Ministry.]

Zhao Yunlan asks: 那你到底想说明什么呀？
So what exactly do you want to tell me?

Da Qing makes himself clear - he's agitated and very intense: 说明什么？说明沈巍这家伙靠不住啊！
Tell you? I'm telling you this Shen Wei guy is unreliable!

Zhao Yunlan closes his eyes briefly, turns his head aside. (What exactly is this reaction? It looks to me like some degree of "Yeah, duh?" mixed with "oh, come on, it's Shen Wei" ... *g*)



Da Qing continues: 这个愚蠢的地星人一定还有什么事情瞒着我们。他知道昆仑的存在！
This stupid Dixingren must still be hiding something from us. He knows about Kunlun's existence!

Zhao Yunlan, managing to sound like he's rolling his eyes even though he isn't: 我知道。
I know.

(If you're like me and can't quite remember when Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing actually shared their knowledge of Kunlun before, I looked it up, and it happened in episode 21 at the hospital, while Zhao Yunlan was blind.)

Zhao Yunlan digs out the audio player from an inside pocket and holds it up: 他之前给我还这个的时候啊，就已经坏了。如果换做是别人想毁掉这里边的录音，很简单啊，直接删掉。可他这个人偏偏对电子产品是一窍不通，所以只能把整个录音笔都毁掉啊。他是不想让我过问昆仑的事啊。
When he returned this to me, it was already broken. If it was any other person wanting to destroy this recording, it would be simple - just delete it. But him, unfortunately he doesn't understand a thing about electronics. So, he could only destroy the whole recorder. He doesn't want to let me take an interest in Kunlun.

(He sounds very pensive with the last sentence!)



Da Qing thinks there's a very obvious conclusion to this, and somehow Zhao Yunlan isn't making it: 那你还和他靠那么近？
Then why are still you so close to him?

Zhao Yunlan explains his philosophy regarding Shen Wei's secrets: 我只是想赌一把，赌他心里有苦衷。他这个人呀，个性太深沉，喜欢哑巴吃黄连。所以我之能等了，等到他苦到心头，苦到他自己说出来为止。
I just want to make a gamble. I'm betting he has his own difficulties. He's too reserved; he likes to suffer in silence. So I can only wait - wait until he suffers so much he tells me about it himself.

Previously, in the earlier parts of the show, Zhao Yunlan took every opportunity to poke at Shen Wei's secrets and was unable/unwilling to let things go even when Shen Wei clearly didn't want to talk about it. Now, he's decided to back off. Of course now he knows Shen Wei much better now and knows he can trust him; they've grown close, and unlike Da Qing who is currently mixing up Shen Wei with memories of Ye Zun, he has no real reason to doubt Shen Wei's intentions, and he knows that even in his role as the Black-Cloaked Envoy, Shen Wei is very much on the same page as he is when it comes to their fundamental principles.

And I really love the respect in this decision to wait Shen Wei out. Zhao Yunlan still wants to know everything as much as ever, and he's determined to eventually have his answers, but he recognises he can't demand answers, both because that's not going to work on Shen Wei and because he doesn't have the right ...



(Love the similarity between similar Zhao Yunlan's and Da Qing's body language, with the pointing at each other!)

Da Qing makes a face: 你真是个老滑头。
You're a real slippery fellow.

Zhao Yunlan laughs. Da Qing continues: 还有你这么相信别人的时候！可是你越是这样，我越要帮你把着关。
That you'd ever trust someone that much! But the more you're like this, the more I want to look out for you.

Zhao Yunlan has a reaction to this! Look at his widened eyes and half-pout!



(I really love protective Da Qing. People don't tend to make much of the age difference between these two, but Da Qing seems to actually have lived through all those 10,000 years, so Zhao Yunlan - even if he was probably already 17 or 18 when they met, given that Da Qing's memory loss occurred about ten years ago - must have seemed very young indeed to Da Qing. And Shen Wei would be the first to agree Zhao Yunlan needs someone to look out for him. *g*)

Zhao Yunlan asks: 你想干什么呀？
What do you want to do?

Da Qing explains: 老本行，跟踪。我先去探探沈巍的路子，看他现在在做什么。
The usual job, tracking. First I'll scout Shen Wei out and see what he's up to right now.

(Did Shen Wei absent himself without explaining where he was going or why? Da Qing probably wouldn't have believed him if he had explained, but still!)

Da Qing kicks Zhao Yunlan's foot, which he's propped up on a knee. 你就说准不准吧。
Just tell me if you'll allow it.

Zhao Yunlan (with a gesture that says "of course") agrees to Da Qing's suggestion - for all his trust in Shen Wei, he's not opposed to a little spying: 去啊。
Go then.

Da Qing immediately gets off the desk and leaves.



(Can I just say I love the way you can see the lollipop inside Zhao Yunlan's mouth in the last cap? :D)


Questions:

• What do you think Shen Wei said when he left Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing? Why did he decide to leave them on their own in Dixing? Given that in the next scene we see Shen Wei talking to Ye Zun, he may just have wanted to keep them away from that, because you know (and Shen Wei knows, too) that Zhao Yunlan would have insisted on coming along. *g* But did he really expect them to stay in their room and not get up to anything?


• Most surprisingly, while Da Qing gets around and ends up confronting Shen Wei (the pinky promise scene! :D), Zhao Yunlan does in fact seem to have stayed out of trouble that night! Why? (Has anyone written a missing scene about that? If not, why not? :p)


• In this Dixing bedroom, there is only one bed! Do you think a) that means people assume things about Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing from the way they have no boundaries with each other, b) it's meant as a slight against the visitors from Haixing, or c) they understand that Da Qing, being a cat, doesn't need a separate bed?


• What do you think is on Dixing radio? (And does the barkeep eventually end up running a pirate station?)


• Do you think Da Qing explained anything about his Ye Zun flashback in between the two halves of the scene, or is what we see everything that happened?


• What does Zhao Yunlan think about Da Qing's suddenly recovered memories making him suspicious about Shen Wei? And given that Da Qing was worried Zhao Yunlan wouldn't believe him, how do you think Zhao Yunlan would have reacted if Da Qing had told him about it straight away?


• When did Zhao Yunlan arrive at this philosophy about Shen Wei's secrets? Some time after he was nearly climbing the walls trying to get Shen Wei to admit to being the Black-Cloaked Envoy, clearly, but apart from that?


• Within less than an episode of this, Zhao Yunlan discovers Shen Wei in the kitchen with a knife and realises Shen Wei hurt himself healing Zhao Yunlan's eyes. That cuts short the "I'll just wait until he says something himself" by making it clear to Zhao Yunlan that Shen Wei will never "suffer so much he tells [him] about it himself" (he might tell for other reasons, but not because he's sharing his pain!), and leads to Shen Wei promising that Zhao Yunlan will eventually know the truth, achieving a new/different equilibrium. If not for this, how long do you think Zhao Yunlan would have managed to be patient?


• How delightful is protective!Da Qing? ❤❤❤

Come talk about this delightful scene! And if you have fic or art recs related to them, that would be fantastic! :D

Comments

[awanderingcoyote]

WHat an awesome write-up about an awesome scene!! :D :D

(Back in the early days of the fandom, this bed was a crucial piece of evidence for the important question of whether Dixingren sleep. Today, I think we still have some mileage we can get out of the radio and what it means for Dixing infrastructure. *g*)
- GASP! I have never even thought about that until now!!!!! That would be super interesting to explore in fanfic :D

Zhao Yunlan closes his eyes briefly, turns his head aside. (What exactly is this reaction? It looks to me like some degree of "Yeah, duh?" mixed with "oh, come on, it's Shen Wei" ... *g*) - I had to go and watch the scene to get the whole context and it reads as some kind of exasperated to me here from ZYL. Maybe exasperated in that he's heard this 'song and dance' before? IE: When everyone (even ZYL!!) wasn't quite trusting Shen Wei in the beginning. But now that it's all been settled why must they re-hash this old argument?

(I really love protective Da Qing. People don't tend to make much of the age difference between these two, but Da Qing seems to actually have lived through all those 10,000 years, so Zhao Yunlan - even if he was probably already 17 or 18 when they met, given that Da Qing's memory loss occurred about ten years ago - must have seemed very young indeed to Da Qing. And Shen Wei would be the first to agree Zhao Yunlan needs someone to look out for him. *g*) - Yes! I love this so much!! I think it's easy to sometimes forget how old Da Qing really is because he's a playful, snarky, sarcastic cat that can sometimes come off as young XD XD XD

What do you think Shen Wei said when he left Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing? Why did he decide to leave them on their own in Dixing? Given that in the next scene we see Shen Wei talking to Ye Zun, he may just have wanted to keep them away from that, because you know (and Shen Wei knows, too) that Zhao Yunlan would have insisted on coming along. *g* But did he really expect them to stay in their room and not get up to anything? - This is a hard one to ponder over! Because ZYL would totally want to stick to him like glue to see what's going on. Perhaps he used something like episode 16 where ZYL was kicked out because 'outsiders' weren't allowed to go everywhere.

In this Dixing bedroom, there is only one bed! Do you think a) that means people assume things about Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing from the way they have no boundaries with each other, b) it's meant as a slight against the visitors from Haixing, or c) they understand that Da Qing, being a cat, doesn't need a separate bed? - I always assumed C XD XD XD XD

What do you think is on Dixing radio? (And does the barkeep eventually end up running a pirate station?) - What an awesome question to ponder over! Perhaps the radio started as just a way to get emergent news out to the citizens of Dixing, but then it evolved into something more. I could definitely see pirate stations for people wanting to use the sekret ways to get in and out of Dixing to Haixing above :D All in sekret code. Also yes, barkeep totally has a pirate station! But also too, it'd be interesting to ponder Dixing taking a page from Haixing and possibly doing other forms of radio stations. Maybe music, or radio plays, or even passing along the history of Dixing, etc :D So many fun possibilities.

Do you think Da Qing explained anything about his Ye Zun flashback in between the two halves of the scene, or is what we see everything that happened? - It doesn't seem like it to me, but I'd have to watch proceeding episodes to make sure, but my brain supplied 'no' when I read your question XD

What does Zhao Yunlan think about Da Qing's suddenly recovered memories making him suspicious about Shen Wei? And given that Da Qing was worried Zhao Yunlan wouldn't believe him, how do you think Zhao Yunlan would have reacted if Da Qing had told him about it straight away? - Another awesome question. Hm hm hm. With everything that ZYL and SW have gone through up until this point, I think ZYL would still give SW the benefit of the doubt, but I think it would also prick at ZYL for all the sekrets that SW hasn't told him, and has also withheld from him, but I do think that ZYL would still support SW unless something major turned up as irrefutable proof that SW was evil. Now that doesn't mean there wouldn't be tension between the two because SEKRETS, but IMO at this point ZYL has placed almost all his trust and faith into SW. (They can just argue about it later when they all survive :sob: :D)

When did Zhao Yunlan arrive at this philosophy about Shen Wei's secrets? Some time after he was nearly climbing the walls trying to get Shen Wei to admit to being the Black-Cloaked Envoy, clearly, but apart from that? - Oo ooo I love this question! Okay. Here's my take on it :D :D :D :D I think the change definitely started in episode 12 and 13, when ZYL was definitely like: PLS I know you're HPS. Just admit it. Put us (ZYL) out of our misery! But I think where it cemented itself was in episode 15 when Cong Bo tried to blackmail ZYL about SW/HPS identity. In the scene where Cong Bo gives him three days, ZYL's expression in the scene can definitely be read as carefully blank/neutral, but my brain also reads it as a very hidden 'aw I f'd this up' sort of and also 'I have to fix it' as he furiously ponders just how to fix the situation with Cong Bo. Then fast forward to the two parts where SW and ZYL both apologize and then chat about SW's one power, I think that's when it solidifies for ZYL.

Within less than an episode of this, Zhao Yunlan discovers Shen Wei in the kitchen with a knife and realises Shen Wei hurt himself healing Zhao Yunlan's eyes. That cuts short the "I'll just wait until he says something himself" by making it clear to Zhao Yunlan that Shen Wei will never "suffer so much he tells [him] about it himself" (he might tell for other reasons, but not because he's sharing his pain!), and leads to Shen Wei promising that Zhao Yunlan will eventually know the truth, achieving a new/different equilibrium. If not for this, how long do you think Zhao Yunlan would have managed to be patient? - I think it would definitely depend on circumstances. If the boat hadn't been rocked (by SW being injured) I think he could have waited for more than one episode XD But I think after a while he'd probably try to throw in some teasing 'remarks' to try and get SW to open up to him more, but once injury came into play I think ZYL would have reacted very much like the kitchen episode :sob: :D The 'whole' you cannot just go throwing your life away for me!

How delightful is protective!Da Qing? ❤❤❤ - Cat tribe best tribe :D :D

[trobadora]

GASP! I have never even thought about that until now!!!!! That would be super interesting to explore in fanfic :D

RIGHT???? Keeping this in mind for guardian_wishlist! :D

it reads as some kind of exasperated to me here from ZYL. Maybe exasperated in that he's heard this 'song and dance' before? IE: When everyone (even ZYL!!) wasn't quite trusting Shen Wei in the beginning. But now that it's all been settled why must they re-hash this old argument?

Yeah, that makes sense! He's been through the whole "Shen Wei is suspicious but I want to trust him" thing and has resolved it to his satisfaction; Shen Wei's secrets are frustrating to him but not a reason to question his general trustworthiness again.

I think it's easy to sometimes forget how old Da Qing really is because he's a playful, snarky, sarcastic cat that can sometimes come off as young XD XD XD

Yeah, he's just such a CAT, he doesn't give off the same vibes a 10,000 year old human would. *g*

Because ZYL would totally want to stick to him like glue to see what's going on. Perhaps he used something like episode 16 where ZYL was kicked out because 'outsiders' weren't allowed to go everywhere.

Right? ZYL absolutely would! But that's an excellent point, he could easily have claimed he was going somewhere outsiders weren't allowed. And it might even have been true; a lot more time must have passed than we saw on screen, so who knows what else Shen Wei may have done during that time?

c) they understand that Da Qing, being a cat, doesn't need a separate bed? - I always assumed C XD XD XD XD

Hee! :D

Perhaps the radio started as just a way to get emergent news out to the citizens of Dixing, but then it evolved into something more. I could definitely see pirate stations for people wanting to use the sekret ways to get in and out of Dixing to Haixing above :D All in sekret code. Also yes, barkeep totally has a pirate station! But also too, it'd be interesting to ponder Dixing taking a page from Haixing and possibly doing other forms of radio stations. Maybe music, or radio plays, or even passing along the history of Dixing, etc :D So many fun possibilities.

I love all your thoughts! Yeah, there are so many different things that could be done with radio, and no reason for people not to do them once they have the technology. News and art and secret communication and all!

With everything that ZYL and SW have gone through up until this point, I think ZYL would still give SW the benefit of the doubt

Yeah, agreed. He'd need a lot more than that to believe Shen Wei was actually evil. But I wonder if Da Qing had told him about his vision of a silver-haired evil "Shen Wei", whether Zhao Yunlan would have connected that with the energy projection of Ye Zun that he met in the park before he lost his eyesight. Blue energy projection Ye Zun has the silver hair and the "looks like Hei Pao Shi" mask, so Zhao Yunlan might have realised their villain was in fact someone who looked exactly like Shen Wei and was also around 10,000 years ago - which means he might have arrived at "twins" much sooner ...

Now that doesn't mean there wouldn't be tension between the two because SEKRETS, but IMO at this point ZYL has placed almost all his trust and faith into SW.

100% agreed!

But I think where it cemented itself was in episode 15 when Cong Bo tried to blackmail ZYL about SW/HPS identity.

That makes a lot of sense! The Cong Bo almost-fiasco is a direct result of Zhao Yunlan prodding at Shen Wei's secrets, even if it may have originally been justified because Shen Wei was a suspect. That definitely has to lead to some rethinking on ZYL's part about how dangerous it can be to expose Shen Wei's secrets ...

If the boat hadn't been rocked (by SW being injured) I think he could have waited for more than one episode XD But I think after a while he'd probably try to throw in some teasing 'remarks' to try and get SW to open up to him more, but once injury came into play I think ZYL would have reacted very much like the kitchen episode :sob:

Yeah, agreed. The thing is, ZYL talks about Shen Wei suffering in silence here, but I don't think he's thinking of it as ACTUAL suffering here, and once that comes into play, all bets are off.

Thank you for your lovely comment! ❤❤❤

[china_shop]

The thing is, ZYL talks about Shen Wei suffering in silence here, but I don't think he's thinking of it as ACTUAL suffering here, and once that comes into play, all bets are off.

Yeah, I think he was definitely thinking in terms of the metaphorical weight of secrets.

[china_shop]

I think the change definitely started in episode 12 and 13, when ZYL was definitely like: PLS I know you're HPS. Just admit it. Put us (ZYL) out of our misery! But I think where it cemented itself was in episode 15 when Cong Bo tried to blackmail ZYL about SW/HPS identity. In the scene where Cong Bo gives him three days, ZYL's expression in the scene can definitely be read as carefully blank/neutral, but my brain also reads it as a very hidden 'aw I f'd this up' sort of and also 'I have to fix it' as he furiously ponders just how to fix the situation with Cong Bo. Then fast forward to the two parts where SW and ZYL both apologize and then chat about SW's one power, I think that's when it solidifies for ZYL.

Oh, that's such a good point. Absolutely agree that's where the trust gets solidified, and it really comes home to him how much damage he could do by inadvertently bringing Shen Wei's secrets to light. Yes!! <3

[awanderingcoyote]

Oh, that's such a good point. Absolutely agree that's where the trust gets solidified, and it really comes home to him how much damage he could do by inadvertently bringing Shen Wei's secrets to light. Yes!! <3 - Yes, exactly like logically he understands what could happen if Shen Wei's sekret comes out, but now that he's invested so emotionally into Shen Wei it's even worse!!

[china_shop]

but now that he's invested so emotionally into Shen Wei it's even worse!!

Yesss! <333

[miss_ingno]

I just want to co-sign all of this! The whole Cong Bo fiasco is such a great answer to this question: it showed Zhao Yunlan the unforeseen consequences of his actions, and how they impacted both Shen Wei and the SID. (In that way, Cong Bo and his excessive 'need to know' is something of a foil for this part of Zhao Yunlan's character <.< except that Zhao Yunlan is usually content with knowing and only acts on it when necessary, while Cong Bo needs to tell others, whether because he truly believes everyone has a right to the knowledge or because he wants recognition/fame for how clever he was in finding it... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

[trobadora]

In that way, Cong Bo and his excessive 'need to know' is something of a foil for this part of Zhao Yunlan's character

!!!!!!!

I never thought of it this way, but yes, this! There is so much thematic mirroring and resonance going on in Guardian, and this is absolutely part of it. ♥

[miss_ingno]

There really is! :D

I hadn't thought it through to this point before either, but I always had fun seeing the parallels between their snoopy personalities, and how Cong Bo shows up just as ZYL found out. It felt thematically relevant! (Aside from being a mundane threat for once xD)

[china_shop]

In that way, Cong Bo and his excessive 'need to know' is something of a foil for this part of Zhao Yunlan's character

Adding to Trobadora's !!!!!!! here with my own !!!!!!!!! a;lskdfja;sdlkfjasdlkfja This is such a great observation, yessss!! (I kind of adore how bits of the show seem to exist partly/largely to nudge ZYL's personal growth. *g*)

(I never particularly warmed to Cong Bo, but fwiw, I do think his heart is in the right place. Otherwise ZYL wouldn't have risked recruiting him to help out.)

[miss_ingno]

I am glad that I can add to the library of observations! :D

(I kind of adore how bits of the show seem to exist partly/largely to nudge ZYL's personal growth. *g*)

It's fun indeed, and as a main character, he has that privilege xD

I like Cong Bo for what he's supposed to add to the cast. I mean, he's clearly the paparazzi stereotype who didn't think past the initial rush to the consequences/that other people are *people* (which is actually another good contrast to Zhao Yunlan, because Zhao Yunlan cares about individuals. It's one of the things that make his curiosity different from Cong Bo's hmmm)

[china_shop]

which is actually another good contrast to Zhao Yunlan, because Zhao Yunlan cares about individuals. It's one of the things that make his curiosity different from Cong Bo's hmmm

Yeah. I think Cong Bo cares about [the people] in the abstract but doesn't weigh individual personal costs at all.

[china_shop]

This is such a great post, and a really wonderful choice of scene!! *showers it and you with hearts and glee*

We see a single bed

A double or queen-sized bed, I think? There are two pillows. But just the one bed (which is probably what you meant, sorry, I'm being pedantic /o\).

Brief aside: I really love how, even when it's meant to be very dark in a scene, this drama lights everything properly so the viewer can actually see what's on screen! I'm very happy to see more than the characters. *g*

Yes!! 1000% agree!!

Dixing's light resources are limited. For this grand occasion, they've all been diverted to the Dijun Palace.

This zero-sum approach to light is so weird. I wonder if he means fuel for lighting, or lanterns, or if (as I always hear it) he's talking about limited photons?

from the Deacon saying resources have been diverted to the palace, I wonder if that's just a figure of speech and he means the official hall we usually see, or whether this bedroom isn't in fact in the palace proper ... (Where else could it be? Why?)

Yeah, I assume he means the throne room. It could be adjoining accommodate for foreign guests, though. Maybe they're not allowed to wander around the palace?

I love Da Qing noticing the Deacon's attitude and blaming ZYL for it -- of course he must have done something to make the guy his enemy! (And ZYL's completely not caring that he's offended a Dixing official! Oh, ZYL!) And Da Qing's awkward/hesitant expression when ZYL demands answers about his hostility to Shen Wei. I love their friendship so much!

"If I tell you, I'm afraid you won't believe it."

I think Da Qing feels like he's going up against Shen Wei, in ZYL's trust and affection, and he's honestly not sure how ZYL will react. Which is pretty big, considering how long they've been friends and how close they are. Aww!

You can practically see the gears turning in Zhao Yunlan's brain when Da Qing says he's recovered his memories!

Yes! It's like: Da Qing remembers the past! He's old! Shen Wei is old! What might Da Qing know?!?

Zhao Yunlan closes his eyes briefly, turns his head aside. (What exactly is this reaction? It looks to me like some degree of "Yeah, duh?" mixed with "oh, come on, it's Shen Wei" ... *g*)

I read it as ZYL is sure DQ is ridiculously wrong, but telling him that won't work and will make him feel unlistened to. Because, if you think about it, Da Qing and ZYL were investigating Shen Wei's suspicious secrets together, and then ZYL found out about the Envoy thing but (presumably) didn't tell Da Qing straight away, and all of ZYL and Shen Wei's intimate revelatory conversations have happened in complete private. So even though Da Qing now knows Shen Wei is the Envoy, he hasn't really seen behind the mask yet, so he's emotionally several steps behind in trusting him. He was going along with it up till now because Envoy! and because Da Qing trusts ZYL's instincts, but Da Qing wants ZYL to take this new info that he's remembered seriously. I think? And ZYL is trying to respect that while also trusting Shen Wei implicitly.

tl;dr, I think it's a "my BFF doesn't trust my BF" reaction, and I just want them to get along. ;-)

Zhao Yunlan, managing to sound like he's rolling his eyes even though he isn't: 我知道。I know.

I think his tone there, coupled with the directness of his look, is "I've already factored that in. This isn't new information that automatically makes him untrustworthy." You know? He's trying to talk Da Qing down from being so incensed.

Zhao Yunlan digs out the audio player from an inside pocket and holds it up

Ahh, how much do I love that ZYL is carrying around a broken recorder like a love token??? It's like Shen Wei carrying ZYL's lollipop wrapper. *g* (Okay, it's not quite like that. But still! *noogies him*)

I really love the respect in this decision to wait Shen Wei out.

Yessss, it's so good! And so necessary for their relationship to progress!

Zhao Yunlan has a reaction to this! Look at his widened eyes and half-pout!

Hee! I think that's at the idea of Da Qing (a lazy, perpetually look-after-me-ing cat) looking out for him, and not just that, but trying to protect him from the Envoy. *g* He even laughs a little as he says, "What do you want to do?"

People don't tend to make much of the age difference between these two, but Da Qing seems to actually have lived through all those 10,000 years, so Zhao Yunlan - even if he was probably already 17 or 18 when they met, given that Da Qing's memory loss occurred about ten years ago - must have seemed very young indeed to Da Qing.

It's such an interesting dynamic, especially since Da Qing calls ZYL "Lao Zhao", and ZYL calls Da Qing all kinds of insults. *g* I think being a cat makes Da Qing a kind of eternal youth. He expects to be looked after and fed, and although he puffs himself up as the king of the cats, he's never really leadership material, and he's not interested in leading at all. So although the balance between them might have started differently, I feel like it would pretty quickly have tilted into "You're responsible for me! Feed me!"

Zhao Yunlan (with a gesture that says "of course") agrees to Da Qing's suggestion - for all his trust in Shen Wei, he's not opposed to a little spying

Ha, yeah. Looking more closely at the scene, I'm wondering how much the trust thing is a work in progress and how much he's just allowing it to ease Da Qing's worries and keep things between them on a good footing. If he'd said no, Da Qing's worries and suspicions would have continued to fester. This is potentially giving Shen Wei an opportunity to prove himself and/or sort it out between SW and DQ.

(Can I just say I love the way you can see the lollipop inside Zhao Yunlan's mouth in the last cap? :D)

Yes. Yes yes yes you can! :D :D :D :D :D

But did he really expect them to stay in their room and not get up to anything?

Maybe he told them to rest? ZYL has only just got his eyesight back, after all. Or maybe he told ZYL he needed to go and talk to someone, and ZYL waved him off, "Go ahead, we'll be fine. The Deacon here will show us to our rooms." ETA: I think ZYL is curious about Dixing, but I also think a) he's prepared to give Shen Wei space, because he sometimes wants space too, and b) ZYL really wants to know what's up with Da Qing, and he wants to ask about it in private!

In this Dixing bedroom, there is only one bed! Do you think a) that means people assume things about Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing from the way they have no boundaries with each other, b) it's meant as a slight against the visitors from Haixing, or c) they understand that Da Qing, being a cat, doesn't need a separate bed?

I definitely don't read it as a). If b), it's pretty subtle for the audience. Maybe c)? Alternative interpretations: d) the Deacon asked, and ZYL said they only needed one room, e) sharing a bed in Dixing culture doesn't mean anything significant, f) the Deacon showed Da Qing to his room first, and rather than staying there, Da Qing just followed them on to ZYL's room next door, g) there's an adjoining room with another bed, but they didn't bother showing it to us? *g*

What do you think is on Dixing radio? (And does the barkeep eventually end up running a pirate station?)

LOL! I feel like it's just as likely to be an odd souvenir someone brought back from Haixing at some point. (It would have been fascinating to hear what happened if Da Qing had turned it on, but idk, I don't think I see Dixing as having broadcast media like that? Books, definitely, but not radio. I feel like the politics would be different if there was? But that's just my personal take.)

If this is an official lodging/guest house kind of thing, the radio might be part of the decor to make Haixingren feel at home? So might the bed, for that matter!

Do you think Da Qing explained anything about his Ye Zun flashback in between the two halves of the scene, or is what we see everything that happened?

I assume from ZYL's expression, after the break in the scene, that Da Qing explains what he remembers during the cut-away. Afterwards, in the original subs, ZYL says, "So what exactly are you trying to say?" which made me think he wanted Da Qing to explain his interpretation of the memory he'd just related. (I don't know how accurate that translation is, though.)

What does Zhao Yunlan think about Da Qing's suddenly recovered memories making him suspicious about Shen Wei?

I think he probably assumes there's a misunderstanding there, or something out of context. But although they spend the whole time talking about Shen Wei, I feel like this scene is just as much, or more, about ZYL's relationship with Da Qing. It's reaffirming their friendship, that the closeness we see between ZYL and SW hasn't pushed Da Qing to the side -- there's room in ZYL's life and his heart for both of them, and the two relationships are very different and both important. Here, ZYL demands honesty, Da Qing hesitantly shares his worries, ZYL agrees as far as he can (confirms that Shen Wei is keeping secrets) and doesn't make excuses for Shen Wei, and then gives his own opinion/philosophy on the matter. When Da Qing can't make that leap of faith, he lets Da Qing do whatever will reassure him.

Ohhh, now I'm wondering what happens when Da Qing returns to the room after the pinky swear. Does ZYL ask if he found out anything or does he wait to see if DQ volunteers info. And does DQ say anything about the pillar? Maybe they don't need to! Maybe Da Qing comes back and his fears are obviously allayed, and ZYL just accepts that?!

When did Zhao Yunlan arrive at this philosophy about Shen Wei's secrets?

I think it probably started during the first trip to Dixing, when he got a sense of how important and powerful the Envoy is, and solidified sometime during the blindness arc, when it was so obvious that Shen Wei cares about him so much and is prepared to do whatever he can to help him and look after him. I think that really solidifies their relationship... plus also, Energy Exchange!!

How delightful is protective!Da Qing? ❤❤❤

The absolute best!!! :D :D :D

[trobadora]

A double or queen-sized bed, I think? There are two pillows. But just the one bed (which is probably what you meant, sorry, I'm being pedantic /o\).

Yes, that's what I meant, there's just the one bed (meant for two people) rather than two separate beds (each meant for one person). It looks like a bed meant for a couple.

This zero-sum approach to light is so weird. I wonder if he means fuel for lighting, or lanterns, or if (as I always hear it) he's talking about limited photons?

Fuel would make some sense, but I love the idea of a limited photon supply, LOL!

It could be adjoining accommodate for foreign guests, though. Maybe they're not allowed to wander around the palace?

I don't think they have foreign guests often enough to have a dedicated space for them, but depending on how large Dixing itself is, they may well have guests visiting the palace and staying over night rather than going home to sleep. So some kind of space for guests, separate from the rest of the palace, would make sense!

I love Da Qing noticing the Deacon's attitude and blaming ZYL for it -- of course he must have done something to make the guy his enemy! (And ZYL's completely not caring that he's offended a Dixing official! Oh, ZYL!)

Hee! Yes! Both of those things! Da Qing is all "why are you like this" and ZYL is like, "you knew I was like this, you don't get to complain now!" Their friendship is such a delight, yeah. :D

I think Da Qing feels like he's going up against Shen Wei, in ZYL's trust and affection, and he's honestly not sure how ZYL will react. Which is pretty big, considering how long they've been friends and how close they are. Aww!

Yeah, it has to be pretty weird!

I read it as ZYL is sure DQ is ridiculously wrong, but telling him that won't work and will make him feel unlistened to. Because, if you think about it, Da Qing and ZYL were investigating Shen Wei's suspicious secrets together, and then ZYL found out about the Envoy thing but (presumably) didn't tell Da Qing straight away, and all of ZYL and Shen Wei's intimate revelatory conversations have happened in complete private. So even though Da Qing now knows Shen Wei is the Envoy, he hasn't really seen behind the mask yet, so he's emotionally several steps behind in trusting him. He was going along with it up till now because Envoy! and because Da Qing trusts ZYL's instincts, but Da Qing wants ZYL to take this new info that he's remembered seriously. I think? And ZYL is trying to respect that while also trusting Shen Wei implicitly.

I'm just quoting this in its entirety because yes! This! All of this is spot on and perfect and I love them! Especially the bit about Da Qing being emotionally a few steps behind. And then we get Da Qing making his own connection with Shen Wei and essentially catching up! ❤❤❤

I think his tone there, coupled with the directness of his look, is "I've already factored that in. This isn't new information that automatically makes him untrustworthy." You know? He's trying to talk Da Qing down from being so incensed.

Yeah, agreed. And also reassuring Da Qing that ZYL trusting Shen Wei hasn't somehow left Zhao Yunlan unable or unwilling to see where things don't add up.

Ahh, how much do I love that ZYL is carrying around a broken recorder like a love token??? It's like Shen Wei carrying ZYL's lollipop wrapper. *g* (Okay, it's not quite like that. But still! *noogies him*)

LOLOLOL! But yes, it is a bit like that. I mean, he doesn't carry it around for any actual purpose - any purpose it could serve as a prop could also be served simply by mentioning the thing. (Even though he is probably imagining waving it around in front of Shen Wei some day.) He just keeps it becasue Shen Wei. *g*

Hee! I think that's at the idea of Da Qing (a lazy, perpetually look-after-me-ing cat) looking out for him, and not just that, but trying to protect him from the Envoy. *g* He even laughs a little as he says, "What do you want to do?"

I don't think Da Qing looking out for him is that outlandish an idea to Zhao Yunlan, but probably protecting him from the Envoy is. *g* But I think the laughter is mostly at the vehement insistence on protecting him from someone he really doesn't need protecting from.

Ha, yeah. Looking more closely at the scene, I'm wondering how much the trust thing is a work in progress and how much he's just allowing it to ease Da Qing's worries and keep things between them on a good footing.

I think it's probably a bit of both - he's letting Da Qing reassure himself, and he's also indulging his own nosiness by proxy and with plausible deniability! He's totally not spying, so it doesn't count! Because he does want to know Shen Wei's secrets, badly, no matter how well he understands that constantly trying to poke them with a stick isn't going to help.

ZYL really wants to know what's up with Da Qing, and he wants to ask about it in private!

Oooh, duh, of course, that makes sense! You're right, Shen Wei probably just said he had to take care of something, and because ZYL really wanted to talk to Da Qing, he waved Shen Wei off without protesting.

I definitely don't read it as a).

I don't really either, but the bed just looks like it's meant for a couple to me, and I can't un-see that. But you're right, there are plenty more possible reasons!

LOL! I feel like it's just as likely to be an odd souvenir someone brought back from Haixing at some point. (It would have been fascinating to hear what happened if Da Qing had turned it on, but idk, I don't think I see Dixing as having broadcast media like that? Books, definitely, but not radio. I feel like the politics would be different if there was? But that's just my personal take.)

Huh, I don't think we see enough of Dixing at large to really tell, but there's nothing I could point to that would be incompatible with radio. And the sound system the barkeeper has means they should definitely have sufficient technology.

I mean, there's a lot we don't know about Dixing's infrastructure and politics and culture, but the only thing they IMO can't have is actually reliable journalism/news/media. *g*

If this is an official lodging/guest house kind of thing, the radio might be part of the decor to make Haixingren feel at home? So might the bed, for that matter!

LOL. Not that I can imagine they get visitors from Haixing often enough (or at all) to have a place specifically for them, but maybe they used to, once upon a time!

I assume from ZYL's expression, after the break in the scene, that Da Qing explains what he remembers during the cut-away. Afterwards, in the original subs, ZYL says, "So what exactly are you trying to say?" which made me think he wanted Da Qing to explain his interpretation of the memory he'd just related. (I don't know how accurate that translation is, though.)

As far as I can tell, the Chinese is ambiguous and could be about explain the memory Da Qing just related, or could be about explaining what he means by saying he's recovered some memories. But I'd have expected ZYL to have a bit more of a reaction if he'd just been told about evil silver-haired Shen Wei threatening Da Qing? Idk.

But although they spend the whole time talking about Shen Wei, I feel like this scene is just as much, or more, about ZYL's relationship with Da Qing. It's reaffirming their friendship, that the closeness we see between ZYL and SW hasn't pushed Da Qing to the side -- there's room in ZYL's life and his heart for both of them, and the two relationships are very different and both important.

Yes, that's very true! I love that aspect of it. :D

Does ZYL ask if he found out anything or does he wait to see if DQ volunteers info. And does DQ say anything about the pillar? Maybe they don't need to! Maybe Da Qing comes back and his fears are obviously allayed, and ZYL just accepts that?!

I could totally see that! And I could absolutely see Da Qing saying nothing. But ZYL would be so curious, even if he didn't ask. *g*

solidified sometime during the blindness arc, when it was so obvious that Shen Wei cares about him so much and is prepared to do whatever he can to help him and look after him. I think that really solidifies their relationship...

Yeah, agreed, the blindness arc does a lot on that front, both making it vey clear hwo much Shen Wei cares about ZYL and also bringing them in constant close physical proximity - I feel that by giving them an excuse for touch it breaks through a barrier between them. And the whole thing leaves them closer and more sure of each other than before.

[china_shop]

Yes, that's what I meant, there's just the one bed (meant for two people) rather than two separate beds (each meant for one person). It looks like a bed meant for a couple.

I feel like that's normal for guest rooms, especially fancy ones? I associate single/twin beds with children, or student dorms. (Anyway, maybe it's Shen Wei's room, too. Maybe all three of them are going to sleep there. Would Shen Wei leave ZYL alone all night in a potentially hostile situation like this? Wouldn't he want to stay close by?)

I don't think they have foreign guests often enough to have a dedicated space for them

I was thinking it could be a hold-over from a previous era when there was more diplomatic activity between Haixing and Dixing? Maybe this room never gets used, in the normal course of events. It's so different from the rest of what we see in the palace. (Now I'm wondering where the Regent and the Deacon live...)

Especially the bit about Da Qing being emotionally a few steps behind. And then we get Da Qing making his own connection with Shen Wei and essentially catching up! ❤❤❤

Yesss! It's so good!! :D :D :D

And also reassuring Da Qing that ZYL trusting Shen Wei hasn't somehow left Zhao Yunlan unable or unwilling to see where things don't add up.

Oh, yes, good point. Definitely that.

Because he does want to know Shen Wei's secrets, badly, no matter how well he understands that constantly trying to poke them with a stick isn't going to help.

Yeah, though by now I think he wants Shen Wei to tell him, rather than to sneak around and find things out himself. Because if it's the latter, then he doesn't get the buzz of intimacy and sharedness, and he either has to pretend he doesn't know or admit to the sneaking.

Huh, I don't think we see enough of Dixing at large to really tell, but there's nothing I could point to that would be incompatible with radio. And the sound system the barkeeper has means they should definitely have sufficient technology.

You're right, of course. I guess, because we spend so much time at the palace with its fire trenches and long hair/robes and torture by whipping, that I usually think of Dixing as mostly pre-industrial, or even medieval. (What would "industrial" even look like with powers/dark energy? Why would it develop along the same lines as Haixing? Why would they have something like that radio, which is so recognisable?) The king's nook doesn't have any technology in it, either, not even for show/status, so if there are modern developments, for some reason the palace is eschewing them.

The bar is a weird exception that I can't explain, absent smuggling, so idk. I could go either way. But my first instinct is that it isn't supposed to be a modern society. Otoh, I'm very aware that my cultural expectations are affecting my instincts.

(I'm also curious about Sha Ya's electric guitar -- whether she had it in Dixing, or whether she stole or otherwise acquired it when she arrived on the surface, and discovered she had a talent for music.)

One possibility is that the tech we see was all brought back by Dixingren who escaped to Haixing and came back, and it was either confiscated by the Regent (eg, the radio, which turned out to be useless because no signal), or traded (eg, the microphone at the bar)?

I mean, there's a lot we don't know about Dixing's infrastructure and politics and culture, but the only thing they IMO can't have is actually reliable journalism/news/media. *g*

Absolutely! I'm completely going by feel.

Oh, alternative possibility for the accommodations: it's part of the Envoy's official quarters, and the radio is something he brought back? There must be a place where Shen Wei stays when he's in Dixing, right? Even if he doesn't use it often. And ZYL and DQ are his guests.

But I'd have expected ZYL to have a bit more of a reaction if he'd just been told about evil silver-haired Shen Wei threatening Da Qing? Idk.

Da Qing might not have been that specific? He could have said he saw Shen Wei, long ago, attacking him. Idk. (I'm not much use with memories, because I'm so non-visual I always see flashbacks in TV as narrative devices or metaphors, rather than "people actually see this stuff in detail in their brains". ;-p)

I feel that by giving them an excuse for touch it breaks through a barrier between them. And the whole thing leaves them closer and more sure of each other than before.

Yessss! That arc is such a gift, to us and them (uh, even though it's also super stressful for them)! *loves*

[trobadora]

I feel like that's normal for guest rooms, especially fancy ones? I associate single/twin beds with children, or student dorms.

Huh. Must be cultural differences!

Anyway, maybe it's Shen Wei's room, too.

Now that would be an interesting idea to explore! I want that fic now. :D

Maybe this room never gets used, in the normal course of events. It's so different from the rest of what we see in the palace. (Now I'm wondering where the Regent and the Deacon live...)

Ha, yeah, it's really difficult to say and you could go in many different ways because we never see how these people actually live ...

Yeah, though by now I think he wants Shen Wei to tell him, rather than to sneak around and find things out himself.

Yes, absolutely, that's an excellent point!

I guess, because we spend so much time at the palace with its fire trenches and long hair/robes and torture by whipping, that I usually think of Dixing as mostly pre-industrial, or even medieval.

Heh. I guess we can't always be on the same page about canon. *g*

Why would they have something like that radio, which is so recognisable?

I mean, why do all the Dixingren wear Haixing clothes? Why does the bar have a sound system?

(There are a lot of weird and seemingly inconsistent things about Dixing that are fun to explore! There are so many different things you can do with it, and that's fascinating. :D)

I'm also curious about Sha Ya's electric guitar -- whether she had it in Dixing, or whether she stole or otherwise acquired it when she arrived on the surface, and discovered she had a talent for music.

I'd guess she already played the guitar in Dixing and got an electric guitar in Haixing, but I'd buy a lot of different versions!

[china_shop]

Now that would be an interesting idea to explore! I want that fic now. :D

Me too! :-D

I'd guess she already played the guitar in Dixing and got an electric guitar in Haixing, but I'd buy a lot of different versions!

Yeah. I'd lean towards her playing a more traditional stringed instrument and discovering in Haixing that the skill is transferable (and that her electricity power gives her a particular affinity for the electric guitar *g*), but as you say, it's all open to interpretation. :-)

[nnozomi]

What a great post! I haven't thought about all these details ever, it's fun to examine them when described so clearly.
(And great screencaps. Top right Ye Zun, how does he even do that...

Zhao Yunlan lets out a big sigh and complains about the light some more: 这刚恢复了光明啊，这又得做一个睁眼瞎呀。I just regained the light, and now I have to be a blind man again.
I like to think that this is one reason Zhao Yunlan is so damn tactless here--he's still a little bit traumatized from having been blind, and wants to be sure he can see whenever his eyes are open, so the dimness is bothering him.

Zhao Yunlan closes his eyes briefly, turns his head aside. (What exactly is this reaction? It looks to me like some degree of "Yeah, duh?" mixed with "oh, come on, it's Shen Wei" ... *g*)
;) My take is something like "Now you tell me," crossed with "...how can I put what I know/feel about Shen Wei into words my cat will understand..."

喜欢哑巴吃黄连
This is a great line. Now I know 哑巴吃黄连 (哑巴 always makes me think of Xiaoge...), and also it's funny that Zhao Yunlan doesn't say something like 他总是会... but 喜欢..., he likes it.

And I really love the respect in this decision to wait Shen Wei out.
Yes! It's such a wonderful Zhao Yunlan attitude.

What do you think is on Dixing radio?
You know, it's not like I need MORE fic ideas right now...

When did Zhao Yunlan arrive at this philosophy about Shen Wei's secrets? Some time after he was nearly climbing the walls trying to get Shen Wei to admit to being the Black-Cloaked Envoy, clearly, but apart from that?
Maybe a) because that was such a mess, and nearly got both of them killed, he's willing to take it easier, and b) because he feels like Shen Wei is in some sense his partner now and trusts him to keep his own counsel as he didn't yet during the Envoy identity porn arc? (Which makes the kitchen scene that much worse...)

[trobadora]

I haven't thought about all these details ever, it's fun to examine them when described so clearly.

Right? I love looking at all these details!

I like to think that this is one reason Zhao Yunlan is so damn tactless here--he's still a little bit traumatized from having been blind, and wants to be sure he can see whenever his eyes are open, so the dimness is bothering him.

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense to me!

"...how can I put what I know/feel about Shen Wei into words my cat will understand..."

:D :D :D

This is a great line. Now I know 哑巴吃黄连 (哑巴 always makes me think of Xiaoge...), and also it's funny that Zhao Yunlan doesn't say something like 他总是会... but 喜欢..., he likes it.

Yeah, isn't it great? The 喜欢 really makes it. :D

(Agreed about Xiaoge, too. Can't help it!)

You know, it's not like I need MORE fic ideas right now...

Hee! (I'm going to ask for Dixing radio for wishlist, definitely. :D)

Maybe a) because that was such a mess, and nearly got both of them killed, he's willing to take it easier, and b) because he feels like Shen Wei is in some sense his partner now and trusts him to keep his own counsel as he didn't yet during the Envoy identity porn arc? (Which makes the kitchen scene that much worse...)

Yeah, I'm sure all of that definitely plays into it. But he's so gleeful after he finally gets Shen Wei to stop stonewalling him, I think it takes something else to get him to actually consider stepping back. awanderingcoyote above suggests the Cong Bo spy camera near-disaster, and that makes a lot of sense to me as a turning point for how ZYL looks at the question of keeping secrets.

[nnozomi]

Hee! (I'm going to ask for Dixing radio for wishlist, definitely. :D)
yay!

[china_shop]

喜欢哑巴吃黄连
This is a great line. Now I know 哑巴吃黄连 (哑巴 always makes me think of Xiaoge...), and also it's funny that Zhao Yunlan doesn't say something like 他总是会... but 喜欢..., he likes it.

Is this about the suffering in silence bit? (Sorry!)

[nnozomi]

Is this about the suffering in silence bit?
Yes, sorry! The line in Chinese is an idiom I hadn't known which literally means something like "mutely eating bitter herbs," and it struck me that Zhao Yunlan says "he LIKES it," not something like "he always does it." Kind of rueful about Shen Wei's touch of drama ;)

[china_shop]

Hee! Thanks for explaining. <3

[miss_ingno]

This is such a great recap of this scene, thank you! I don't really have many thoughts myself right now, but I wanted to show my appreciation for your hard work <3 (and the amazing screencaps! I would've never noticed the radio omg for some reason it registered as a music box to me??)

But did he really expect them to stay in their room and not get up to anything?

Hope springs eternal, as they say xD I think Shen Wei knows them well enough to know better, but still hopes with everything going on he will get at least as long as it takes for them to be led there + five extra minutes to run his errands.

What do you think Shen Wei said when he left Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing?

Honestly, I think it probably something vague, along the lines of "there is something I need to do, please trust me". It would definitely be too little for Da Qing to be content, but an appeal to ZYL's trust might explain why he stays behind (aside from the awareness that things are shaky politically and he could make things worse). I like that idea because it flows well with his newly stated philosophy on Shen Wei's secrets. ...on the other hand, Zhao Yunlan snooping *near* his assigned quarters and trying to find Dixingren to chat up (guards, palace staff, other guests) and get a better feeling of the situation seems equally likely. As long as he stays in the area, he can pretend he got lost on his way to the bathroom lol.

In this Dixing bedroom, there is only one bed! Do you think a) that means people assume things about Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing from the way they have no boundaries with each other, b) it's meant as a slight against the visitors from Haixing, or c) they understand that Da Qing, being a cat, doesn't need a separate bed?

I never really thought about it because I'm on team c) lol. I guess Shen Wei could have mentioned, but that seems unlikely hm. Perhaps Zhao Yunlan said something when they tried to split them up? I can't see them wanting to be split up usually, nevermind in a tense political situation in potentially unfriendly territory. And Shen Wei will definitely rest easier knowing Da Qing is with Zhao Yunlan for protection. Actually, for that thought, I could see Shen Wei speaking up about this. Hmmm.

Although a) sounds like a hilarious rom-com set-up for a love triangle misunderstanding plot xD where everyone assumes the Lord Guardian is already taken and has Opinions (TM) about Heipao-daren trying to seduce him. I bet the Regent at the least has many thoughts on their closeness, and the idea of Da Qing as a romantic rival <.<

How delightful is protective!Da Qing? ❤❤❤

The Mostest ❤❤❤

[trobadora]

Aw, thank you for reading and commenting! ♥

I can take no credit for the radio - someone else mentioned that ages ago, and it was so long ago that I no longer remember who or where.

I think Shen Wei knows them well enough to know better, but still hopes with everything going on he will get at least as long as it takes for them to be led there + five extra minutes to run his errands.

Haha, that is a great way to put it, I completely agree! :D :D

It would definitely be too little for Da Qing to be content, but an appeal to ZYL's trust might explain why he stays behind (aside from the awareness that things are shaky politically and he could make things worse). I like that idea because it flows well with his newly stated philosophy on Shen Wei's secrets.

Yes, that's a good point! An appeal to ZYL's trust would be very likely to work at this point. I'm just not sure whether Shen Wei is at the point yet where he would make it. This is still pre-kitchen scene, after all, and I feel like the aftermath of that is their breakthrough on that issue. In the hospital, with the bomb, when Shen Wei tells ZYL he'll definitely know the truth one day, I feel like that's the first time he actually asks ZYL to just trust him, if you see what I mean ...

Zhao Yunlan snooping *near* his assigned quarters and trying to find Dixingren to chat up (guards, palace staff, other guests)

This is definitely what he would do and I would love to see a missing scene for that. :D

And Shen Wei will definitely rest easier knowing Da Qing is with Zhao Yunlan for protection. Actually, for that thought, I could see Shen Wei speaking up about this. Hmmm.

Yes, that's an excellent point! Agreed, that would make perfect sense.

a love triangle misunderstanding plot xD where everyone assumes the Lord Guardian is already taken and has Opinions (TM) about Heipao-daren trying to seduce him

Oh dear, LOL, yeah, what an image! *g*

[miss_ingno]

An appeal to ZYL's trust would be very likely to work at this point. I'm just not sure whether Shen Wei is at the point yet where he would make it. This is still pre-kitchen scene, after all, and I feel like the aftermath of that is their breakthrough on that issue. In the hospital, with the bomb, when Shen Wei tells ZYL he'll definitely know the truth one day, I feel like that's the first time he actually asks ZYL to just trust him, if you see what I mean ...

Ohhh, good point! Hm, maybe it's a similar indirect appeal? With Shen Wei not saying much (especially if he's hampered by their audience, the Regent and the Deacon), but a bit of more silent communication? I could see Shen Wei pausing, turning to Zhao Yunlan, allowing him to see the troubled expression where the rest of those present can't and starting with a somewhat hesitant "...Zhao Yunlan..." and ZYL picking up on what he wants/needs, waving him off and being cheekily dismissive with some joke, promising to behave with a wink? Something like that, maybe.

[trobadora]

Yeah, something more implied than actually spoken could work at this point, I like that! And Shen Wei has previously let Zhao Yunlan see when he was troubled, especially in a Dixing context, so there's even precedent, except that this time Zhao Yunlan has more context and isn't going to be as overconfident any more.