GUARDIAN REWATCH – Episode 39

[china_shop]

Beginning of episode: Shen Wei takes a hit of dark energy meant for Zhao Yunlan, and falls to the ground.
Ending of episode: Zhao Yunlan injects himself with the serum.

Important scenes/developments:

• Shen Wei takes the dark energy hit and falls to the ground. Zhao Yunlan is horrified.
• Ye Zun stabs Shen Wei with an icicle and eats him, because killing him once is not enough.
• Shen Wei and Lin Jing meet in Ye Zun's stomach.
• In Dragon City, Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi come to join the fight against the invaders.
• Ye Zun projects his torture of Zhao Yunlan into the Haixing sky for all to see.
• Zhao Xinci and the Yashou elders make a plan to fight the invaders.
• Zhao Xinci and Zhang Shi talk about cooperation and remember Zhao Yunlan's childhood dream of peace and harmony for all people.
• Over drinks, Ye Zun tries to persuade Zhao Yunlan to join him, but Zhao Yunlan just wants him dead. No, really.
• Zhao Yunlan escapes, using the Regent as a hostage.
• Zhu Hong arrives in Dragon City; Chu Shuzhi is worried about Xiao Guo.
• Zhao Xinci and the Yashou elders defend Haixing at the Locust Tree gate.
• Shen Wei instructs Lin Jing in how to kill him for real, when the time is right.
• More fighting in Dragon City; Da Qing and Da Ji are attacked, and Da Ji is choked to death.
• Zhao Xinci sees Zhu Hong, Chu Shuzhi and Da Qing off to Dixing; he gives Da Qing a syringe of the serum.
• Zhao Yunlan goes to the Dixing bar and gets the Lantern; Ye Zun shows up in Envoy cosplay.
• Zhao Yunlan broadcasts Ye Zun's villain monologue to all of Dixing.
• At the palace, Ye Zun activates the booby-trapped Lantern, which explodes, injuring Ye Zun and knocking An Bai to his senses; Ye Zun eats An Bai and the Regent.
• Chu Shuzhi, Da Qing and Zhu Hong arrive in Dixing and hear that Shen Wei has been eaten.
• Ye Zun thinks he's won now he has the Hallows; he still doesn't have the wick, but he knows he can use Guo Changcheng.
• The bartender gives a rousing speech to the people of Dixing.
• Guo Changcheng remembers Lao Chu and his time at the SID, and snaps himself out of the compulsion to defy Ye Zun.
• Chu Shuzhi, Zhu Hong and Da Qing arrive at the palace and fight Ye Zun.
• Da Qing decides to use the serum, but Zhao Yunlan grabs it and injects himself.

Thoughts

Opening: Episode 39 starts with a re-enactment of Zhao Yunlan's childhood trauma, with Shen Wei playing the part of both parents, and like last time, there's zero Zhao Yunlan can do to stop it. (Instead of being held back by an adult, he's tied up.) The person he loves most in all the world, who has fought to protect him, is killed before his eyes.

The show backtracks a little, but doesn't add any new information, so I think that's just for maximum impact and horror. Shen Wei takes the dark-energy hit, then slides/falls to the ground (with his pendant hanging down, very visible). Zhao Yunlan is horrified. (The poignant "Shen Wei" theme Kunlun theme (thank you, velithya!) starts to play.) Ye Zun, outraged by this selflessness, shoves Shen Wei down with his foot, and Shen Wei says Ye Zun doesn't deserve the Guardian Lantern, incensing Ye Zun even further so he decides to kill him then and there.



I found it striking that most of the shots here are of Ye Zun's actions and Zhao Yunlan's distress. He's so devastated. He really didn't think it would come to this, and I think it hurts him more than it does Shen Wei, who has more or less planned this. After the stabbing, Ye Zun seems shocked by what he's done -- he cowers back like he did in the Rebel camp 10k years ago. But then Shen Wei looks at Zhao Yunlan and smiles, and Ye Zun recovers his composure and eats Shen Wei for good measure. Zhao Yunlan screams -- the torture didn't get to him at all, but this. (Later in the episode, he talks Ye Zun out of killing the bartender, but here he's too undone to even try.)

I'm going to take a leaf out of trobadora's book and separate the rest of this by location.

Ye Zun's stomach: when Shen Wei starts to arrive, Lin Jing says, "Again?" So Ye Zun has been eating other people since Lin Jing, I guess, but there's no sign of them. Maybe named cast are less digestible? Anyway, he and Shen Wei meet. Lin Jing wants to know what's going on, but Shen Wei just says Zhao Yunlan will be glad to know Lin Jing's alive. He tells Lin Jing to push the icicle in when the time is right. Lin Jing reluctantly agrees. (I think this is partly here to reinforce that Shen Wei really does plan to die; there's not going to be some tricksy last-minute escape.)

Later on, the Regent and An Bai arrive in the stomach, and An Bai apologises to Shen Wei, then he and the Regent bicker until Shen Wei says, "Enough!" and adds, "Both of you already died once. It's time to bring all your past hostility to an end." 你们都已经死过一次了你们之间的恩怨就到此了结了吧 -- which gives us a clue about the ending he hopes for with Ye Zun.

Yashou and Zhao Xinci: The Yashou leaders and Zhao Xinci see Ye Zun's torture projection, and for a long moment Zhao Xinci can't speak. But he stays on task, directing the defence of Haixing at the Old Locust Tree gate. The Yashou depart to carry out the plan, and he and Zhang Shi talk about their relationship. (Zhang Shi: "You've been getting more and more stubborn these past years and I've become bossier." 这几年你越来越固执了我也越来越啰嗦) We get a flashback of bb!Zhao Yunlan establishing his philosophy. (As I said in the scene discussion about this flashback, bb!Yunlan is obviously not as much “I am a weapon” as young Shen Wei, but he did grow up determined to dedicate himself to peace. His saying “with my tolerance, my brain, and my life” suggests he was always prepared to put himself on the line for the greater good.)

Also in the flashback: Zhao Xinci says, "There's no absolute right or wrong in this world." 这个世界上没有绝对的对与错 (though he immediately follows it with a "but"). He references this at the start of ep 31, when Zhao Yunlan has just found out about Zhang Shi -- so at least he's consistent? Not that that stance makes him any less opinionated or bigoted.

In present day, Zhang Shi reaches out without looking and ?snaps the neck of? an attacking Dixingren, possibly dislocating Zhao Xinci's shoulder in the process. They affirm their partnership. I think they get on much better when they're fighting crime -- once Zhao Xinci had an office job, I expect he stopped finding Zhang Shi useful and thought of him more as a burden/intruder.

Later, at the Old Locust Tree, the Yashou elders and Zhao Xinci fight invaders. (It looks like Zhang Shi's energy is golden like his eyes - huh.)



ZXC: You're Yashou. You don't have the responsibility to contribute so much in our war against the Dixingren. Find an opportunity to retreat. 你们都是亚兽族人没有义务为我们和地星人的战争付出那么多逃个时机撤吧
4thU: Don't be silly. I now understand. Ye Zun obviously wants to kill all the living creatures on Haixing. If we don't help you out now, who's going to help us in the future? 说什么呢我算是想明白了这夜尊摆明了是要把整个海星生物一网打尽现在不给你们搭把手将来谁会帮我们
YC: Old Snake, you finally said something right. 老长虫 你总算是说了句像样的话嘛
YQ: I must personally end the mistake that I've made. 我造成的错误就一定要由我亲手终结

*hearts them all*

Hua Yuzhu comes through the portal, I think purely so we can have a flashback to explain how Sha Ya's guitar ended up in Ye Zun's stomach? Iirc, we don't see her again. (The self-sacrifice is great and everything, but is it really better for Ye Zun to acquire Sha Ya's power than Hua Yuzhu's? Maybe plants would have calmed him down. ;-p) I'm left wondering how Hua Yuzhu and Ya Qing know each other.

Dragon City: Chu Shuzhi arrives back in the city to smoking ruins (including a burned-out car, wtf?) to find Ye Huo, Cong Bo and Cheng Xinyan. Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi show up to help, yay! Ye Zun's torture projection is sobering for everyone.

Zheng Yi uses her power, and she and Tan Xiao report to Ye Huo that they've repelled the invaders. Zhu Hong arrives. Chu Shuzhi is worried about Changcheng, because he wasn't in the torture projection, and Chu Shuzhi has lost contact with the puppet. Zhu Hong says it's no time for worrying. "I know there are people important to us who are in Dixing right now, but there're also thousands and millions of comrades right behind us!" 是啊 没错 地星那边是有我们很重要的人可现在在我们的背后是千千万万的同胞啊

Ye Huo says, "Finally, it has ended. Compared to here, I'm more worried about Dixing." 终于告一段落了相比于这里我现在更担心地星
Zhu Hong says they have to go via the Yashou passage. (Ooh, imagine if Ye Huo had gone too! Not that it would have made any difference in the end...)

And then there's more carnage. Team Ye Huo and co. get out of their very ordinary car, and Cong Bo says, "As per data analysis, it's this area." 按数据显示就是这片区城了 (which makes me ???). They spread out. How are these invaders getting through? There really must be another gate!

Da Qing's attacker recognises him as SID and taunts him. Meanwhile, Da Ji is being choked, which mortally wounds her (given choking is her weapon of choice, this might be karma?). Da Qing manages to scare off both attackers, but it's too late. "Just Cared Too Much" plays, and Da Qing is once more bereaved. THIS POOR CAT!!!! :-((((



Da Ji: From now on, you'll be the only remaining Cat Tribe member again. 以后猫族又只剩下你一个人了

In the park at night, Cong Bo and Zhu Hong rendezvous with Zhao Xinci, who says they've only won an interim victory. "Therefore, from now on, let's start Plan B: Dixing Salvation." 所以 从现在开始执行B计划地星救援 Apparently this involves sending the remaining SID member to Dixing to help, because next thing we know, Zhao Xinci is seeing off Zhu Hong, Chu Shuzhi and Da Qing at the Yashou gate. He's so nice to them! So respectful! Man, I wish Zhao Yunlan had got to see (or even hear about) this! *cries*

ZXC: It's Yunlan's great honor to have team members like you. It's everyone's great honor that warriors like you exist here in Haixing. 云澜有你们这些队友是他的荣幸海星有你们这些勇士是所有人的荣幸
DQ: (to ZXC) The Yashou and humans are in your care now. 亚兽和人类都交给你了



I love Da Qing in this scene, being all Deputy Chief and slyly calling Zhao Xinci a cunning fella. Zhao Xinci gives him a syringe of the serum, improved by Li Qian. "It's effect will be much stronger. For a limited time, it can multiply your power by a hundred. Of course the side-effect is significant too, so unless you have no choice..." 所以药效比之前来得猛烈能在有限的时间内透支百倍的力量当然 副作用也很强所以不到万不得已

They leave. (Has the gate been open the whole time?)

Dixing: After Shen Wei has been eaten before Zhao Yunlan's eyes, Zhao Yunlan hoarsely shouts, "Kill me!" He's mad with grief, everything else forgotten. (I love that the show is willing to go this far! They are so obviously and completely fixated on each other.) (Also, I think by "Kill me!" he means "Take me, too!" right? He doesn't want Ye Zun to just snap his neck -- he wants to follow Shen Wei wherever he's gone, even if it's into oblivion.)

Ye Zun whispers that he has an idea to break Zhao Yunlan's defences, and I'm like, uh, you kinda already broke him? But Ye Zun thinks broadcasting Zhao Yunlan's subjugation will somehow make Zhao Yunlan hand over the Lantern. He actually says, "If you still don't tell me the location of the Guardian Lantern, I promise I'll make you wish you were dead!" 你再不告诉我镇魂灯的下落我会让你生不如死的 (I think he must be reeling from having killed Shen Wei, because this makes no sense as a threat when Zhao Yunlan has just demanded to die.)

Anyway, Ye Zun, who understands nothing, manages to accidentally give Zhao Yunlan renewed purpose by credibly threatening to make everyone else suffer. *facepalm* Cue more torture.

Cut to: Ye Zun has cleaned Zhao Yunlan up (or got someone else to?) and is pouring him a drink. This whole thing is very staged, with the low table, Xiao Guo stands by with a tray of more alcohol, and Ye Zun's archaic manners (holding his sleeve, covering his cup as he drinks -- reminiscent of his formal/deferential bowing when they first met in ep 20). Meanwhile, Zhao Yunlan is still overcome with grief. He sits with one knee up, ignores his cup and lets the alcohol run down his face as he drinks from the bottle directly.

Ye Zun tries flattery, calls Zhao Yunlan interesting, brave and unscrupulous, tries to pique his ambition, and concludes, "We are actually the same kind of person." 其实你跟我是同一类人 Zhao Yunlan rejects him. Ye Zun is doing a terrible job of reading the room here, which seems weird for him in some ways, but I guess he's caught up in impending triumph and trying for gege's attention by proxy. Now he's eaten Shen Wei, he needs someone else to transfer all his focus onto.

YZ: I don't believe that there's such a person in this world who is without desire! What's your desire? I can give you anything. 我不相信这个世界上真的有无欲无求的人你想要什么我都可以给你
ZYL: I want you to die. 想你死



Ye Zun's composure cracks a fraction. I wonder if he was actually expecting Zhao Yunlan to ask for Shen Wei back. (Maybe hoping for that? I mean, Shen Wei is the most important person in both their lives, even if Ye Zun's feelings for him are super twisted. And if Zhao Yunlan begged for his return, it would be an opportunity to rant about how awful he is...)

Ye Zun says he'll give Zhao Yunlan another chance, and Zhao Yunlan plays it up for all he's worth. Long pause, more drinking. Then, finally, quietly, "All right. I've decided. I still want you to die." 好吧我想好了我还是想你死 (My fav line of the episode, that.)



Ye Zun feels the hit, they both start laughing maniacally, and then Ye Zun swats the table aside and looms in to threaten humanity again. He heads off with Changcheng in attendance -- where? to do what? (Given certain speculations about Ye Zun's youth with the Rebels, I'm trying not to think about it. /o\)

Zhao Yunlan beckons the Regent, who asks if he's coming up with freak ideas again (maybe referencing disguising himself as An Bai to catch the Deacon? and also reminding us that Zhao Yunlan always has a trick up his sleeve). Zhao Yunlan responds by taking the Regent hostage and using him to escape. (The guards are conveniently useless.)

But Ye Zun still has three of the Hallows and, more importantly, Xiao Guo, so Zhao Yunlan can't just retreat to Haixing and regroup.

Meanwhile, An Bai continues working away as usual. The Regent is inappropriately envious of his trance. Then Ye Zun comes back in a cloud of dark energy. The Regent tries to flatter him, but Ye Zun is cranky. He wants to know where Zhao Yunlan is, and chokes the Regent with his power. So the Regent sells Zhao Yunlan out and says they can track him to find the Lantern. (This feels reminiscent of the Rebel Chief bullying Ye Zun, and Ye Zun offering strategies to placate him.) Ye Zun accepts this plan with a threat, and calls the Regent "you old goat."

Zhao Yunlan skulks around and goes to the bar. The entrance looks different from the first time, so it might be a side door? Ye Zun sees him go in. Inside, Zhao Yunlan signals to the bartender to kick everyone out. (The bartender is so great in this scene -- someone should buy him a drink.)

Once they're alone, the bartender brings Zhao Yunlan the Lantern. Immediately, Ye Zun strides in in Envoy cosplay, breaking Zhao Yunlan's heart all over again, but Zhao Yunlan is also strategising. I love that he's got a plan, and that you can see hints of cunning in his expression, even while he's trying not to give it away. He smiles and says "Hei-laoge" knowing it can't be him, but Ye Zun is uninterested in roleplay doesn't even bother to play along. He binds Zhao Yunlan's neck with dark energy and takes the Lantern.



YZ: You're so disappointing. 你真是让我太失望了
ZYL: (thinks: Yeah, I've been hearing that my whole life.)

The bartender accuses Ye Zun of being an imposter, but Ye Zun doesn't care -- until the bartender praises the real Envoy. Then Ye Zun loses his temper and throws the bartender across the room. He's such a child! But it's enough of a distraction that Zhao Yunlan's bindings vanish, and he can grab the microphone from the bar to capture Ye Zun's villain monologue. (I know the mic was in previous bar scenes, but I still think they must have set this up beforehand, maybe rewired it so it broadcasts outside into the streets instead of just inside the bar? Because it's not like Zhao Yunlan is unaware of Ye Zun's penchant for spouting supremacist bullshit; he did that at their first meeting, when he called humanity livestock. So this seems like something they could have planned for.)

Ye Zun's monologue starts with the info that the Envoy is already in his stomach, which hurts Zhao Yunlan, but he grimly continues to air Ye Zun's plan to destroy humans, Yashou, even "disobedient" Dixingren. Zhao Yunlan applauds, and Ye Zun asks what he's holding, not recognising the mic. Zhao Yunlan explains that he's broadcasting to all of Dixing. (Fourth broadcast of the show, after Zhao Yunlan's "Dixingren are people too", Changcheng's "your dead relatives ask that everyone please calm down!", and Ye Zun's TortureTV. Given Dixing's uncertain infrastructure, I wonder if this one was boosted with a dark energy power like Ye Zun's was...)

Then Zhao Yunlan talks Ye Zun out of killing the bartender (he's so good at people!) and says Ye Zun is out of his depth. "Boss Ye Zun, now your plan is known by all of Dixing. I believe that you don't have enough power to delude all the people here." 夜尊老板现在你的居心整个地星人都知道了我认为你根本就没有足够的能量来蛊惑整个地星的人

But Ye Zun has the complete set of Hallows now. He thinks that'll be enough.

Meanwhile, at the palace, Changcheng is struggling heroically against Ye Zun's compulsion. He tells the Regent to run, but the Regent is too surprised Changcheng can talk at all to take his advice.

Ye Zun comes back (in his white robes again) with Zhao Yunlan by the throat and drops him. (Zhao Yunlan lands like he did in YOHE, ow.) Ye Zun fondles and sweet-talks the Lantern. It rises into the air and starts to burn. (We get a flashback to Zhao Yunlan putting a bullet into the wick hole, answering the long-standing question of whether the energy gun takes physical bullets.)

The Lantern explodes, knocking everyone over. Ye Zun's mask is broken in two, and his forehead wounded. (It looks like his third eye has opened. ;-p) The Regent finally tries to run, but the blast has woken An Bai, who grabs him, seeking revenge for being coerced onto the throne.

Ye Zun's powers are all messed up by the explosion, and he needs a boost, so he eats An Bai and the Regent.

Elsewhere, Chu Shuzhi, Da Qing and Zhu Hong arrive at the dragon gate. They find the bartender playing a recording of Ye Zun's monologue through a megaphone, including the info that the Envoy has been eaten. They're all shocked. Chu Shuzhi looks like he's been smacked between the eyes. *cries* They join the bartender's growing mob.

In the palace, Ye Zun approaches Zhao Yunlan.

ZYL: Impressive. You can even recover from such a bad injury. 厉害啊都到了这个地步还能恢复过来
YZ: You're the more impressive one. I never thought I would just be hurt by a mortal! 厉害的人是你我从来没有想过我会被区区的一个人类弄得如此地狼狈

Ye Zun thinks he's won now he has the Hallows and Hei Pao Shi in his stomach. He says no one can stop him. Zhao Yunlan says he doesn't have the wick, but Ye Zun knows he can use Changcheng (and also fondles him inappropriately, eww, don't do that!).



Zhao Yunlan tries to snap Changcheng out of his trance by calling his name.

In the street, the bartender gives a rousing speech, telling the citizens they have to rise up. Chu Shuzhi, Zhu Hong and Da Qing see a column of light coming from the palace and realise it's Xiao Guo. They set off running.

At the palace, Ye Zun says, "10,000 years have passed. I can finally wipe off my disgrace!" 一万年了终于可以一雪前耻了 He channels Changcheng's energy into the swirling Hallows.

Still flat on the floor, Zhao Yunlan is almost crying. He tries the strategy that worked on Zhu Hong and Da Qing after Nightmare Guy put them to sleep, saying, "Guo Changcheng, wake up! I'll discharge you if you don't wake up!" 郭长城 你给我醒一醒 你再不醒我就把你开除了 Ye Zun says he's wasting his time, but Zhao Yunlan says Xiao Guo is different. Actually crying now, he asks, "Have you really forgotten... forgotten Lao Chu? Forgotten everything that happened at the SID?" 你真的忘了我 忘了老楚 忘了特调处发生的一切了吗

And it works! His words reach Changcheng, who has a series of quick flashbacks: Zhao Yunlan on that first day (the voiceover is ZYL saying, "From now on, we are a family," but the visual shot is when he tells Changcheng, "You must be special, too, as you were chosen to join us."); training with Lao Chu; being officially confirmed in his role and welcomed; tied up in the Snake village, defending the SID to Fourth Uncle; telling Professor Shen in the hospital (ep 2) that he'll defend him and Li Qian; Lao Chu telling him to stop being so down on himself; talking back to gun-pointing Zhao Xinci (in the scene he's saying, "I have to say Chief Zhao might be right"); facing down Zhao Xinci in Zhao Yunlan's office; Lao Chu saying something (40:51 -- anyone know what ep that's from?).



Aside: I love how the staircases look like dragon wings! And what is that weird rock thing hanging from the ceiling?

The voiceover is a combination of his speech to Fourth Uncle ("We have spirit -- the spirit and confidence to sacrifice ourselves in order to protect the people around us," "If there's danger, he(?) will definitely come," and "Someone has to stand up in the front"), his plea to his own uncle to be allowed to keep working at the SID ("It's them who enabled me to discover my value."), and what he tells Lao Chu in the library when he's just started ("I won't drag them down"). AWWWWW!

Changcheng breaks free, crying, "Chu-ge!" He grabs Ye Zun's hand, and says, "I... will never be... become your weapon to hurt others..." 我 决不会做危害大家的凶器 And he breaks the connection.

Ye Zun is furious! The Hallows haven't quite fused. He was so close!! He gathers dark energy to smite... someone? Zhao Yunlan, I suspect? But just then the rest of the SID arrive. Fighty McFight.

Da Qing protects still-helpless-on-the-floor Zhao Yunlan, sees how the fight is going and decides he's lost enough people already. He's going to use the serum. But Zhao Yunlan grabs it out of his hands and injects himself.



Da Qing shouts, "Lao Zhao! You'll die!" 老赵你会死的 Zhao Yunlan says (I think to himself), "I, Zhao Yunlan, stayed single for over 20 years, maybe because I'm waiting for today." 我赵云澜光棍二十多年也许等的就是今天 Which I interpret as a reference to what he tells Zhu Hong in ep 31 about always expecting to die on the job, and a reproach to his father for absenting himself from Shen Xi and bb!Zhao Yunlan. Zhao Yunlan has avoided commitments and dependants; he hasn't allowed himself a family -- because he was always expecting to leave early. And this is it.

To which I can only repeat: POOR CAT!!!! :-(((((

So the episode starts with Zhao Yunlan's childhood trauma, makes a stop-off at his childhood plan to protect people with his life, and ends with him injecting himself with a serum that will give him superpowers but probably kill him. Meanwhile, in Ye Zun's stomach, Shen Wei has made Lin Jing promise to detonate the bomb that is himself (Shen Wei). Doom, doom, doom -- but also, everyone being smart and determined and strategic.

Discussion starters:

• What's your favourite scene in this episode? Favourite line of dialogue?


• Does Ye Zun really think he can flip Zhao Yunlan during the drinking scene? (I was wondering if his experience with the Wus, where he killed the father and then suborned the son, had reinforced his wrong-headed ideas about loyalty.)


• How potent is the drink Ye Zun serves? Do you think it affects Zhao Yunlan's (or Ye Zun's) choices?


• Why the Envoy cosplay in the bar? Is Ye Zun worried how other Dixingren might react to him, or is he just being cruel? Would he have played it differently if Zhao Yunlan had seemed more taken in?


• Why does An Bai apologise to Shen Wei?


• Why did Li Qian keep working on the serum, purifying it even after Professor Ouyang crossed the line?


• What do you think Ye Zun's "disgrace" was 10k years ago -- being enslaved, losing the war, failing to kill his brother, something else?

Let’s talk about episode 39!
Come and talk about this episode – anything from favourite scenes or lines of dialogue to notes/questions about continuity or translation, most gorgeous (or angsty) smile, or anything else that strikes your fancy! And share links to your own and/or others’ episode-related meta, picspams, and fanworks, new or old!

Comments

[autodach]

Ha. Sorry! *sends comfort kittens*

Thank you 🐈


Like, is that dust falling, when Lin Jing covers Shen Wei to protect him, or stomach juices?

Oh god, better not think about it XD


It's a tiny spark that I think is only extinguished when Lin Jing comes back and Shen Wei doesn't.

There is absolutely a spark going out when he realizes Shen Wei is truly gone. You can literally see the light leave his eyes.


He can't even grasp it, can he?

I had forgotten, but Ye Zun actually spells this out in the next episode: “In this world everyone [is] filled to the brim with cheating, betrayal, and abandonment”


He could have just collapsed on the table like Shen Wei in the mountains. (I wonder if Ye Zun has even drunk much in this era? It's not like he has anyone to drink with before this.)

Oh yeah, they are twins after all.
He hasn’t had a lot of opportunity for social drinking. He could always get wasted in private I guess?


Though I do wonder whether, if Zhao Yunlan had tearfully greeted him in a "thought you were dead" kind of way, Ye Zun might have played it differently.

He would totally play along and see how far he can take this. And then pull the rug out painfully.


Like, maybe part of that kind of abuse is making the victim feel they deserve it, you know?

I get what you mean! Have we seen signs of self-victim-blaming in Ye Zun, though? I can’t think of any. My interpretation was that he’s well aware he was a victim in this situation, and his resentment is focused on Shen Wei and the rebel chief.

[china_shop]

Oh god, better not think about it XD

Haha, right?

There is absolutely a spark going out when he realizes Shen Wei is truly gone. You can literally see the light leave his eyes.

*rewatches that scene for extra heartache*

...

*goes in search of comfort kittens*

I had forgotten, but Ye Zun actually spells this out in the next episode: “In this world everyone [is] filled to the brim with cheating, betrayal, and abandonment”

Despite all the evidence to the contrary... I mean, even Zhu Jiu was utterly loyal to him! ;-p

He hasn’t had a lot of opportunity for social drinking. He could always get wasted in private I guess?

True... though that would leave him potentially vulnerable (or just even more wildly dangerous than he usually is!!! /o\).

He would totally play along and see how far he can take this. And then pull the rug out painfully.

*cries*

I get what you mean! Have we seen signs of self-victim-blaming in Ye Zun, though? I can’t think of any. My interpretation was that he’s well aware he was a victim in this situation, and his resentment is focused on Shen Wei and the rebel chief.

That's true. He's very good at deflecting the blame -- which as defence mechanisms go, isn't necessarily bad. After all, the rebel chief is entirely responsible for what happened (and as far as Ye Zun knows, so is Shen Wei)... So yeah, you're right, it makes more sense if the disgrace is about losing the war. *nodnod*

[trobadora]

Despite all the evidence to the contrary... I mean, even Zhu Jiu was utterly loyal to him! ;-p

Yeah, he really can't see it at all, even when it's right there!