baihe_media | To Embers We Return (焚情) Read-Along: Chapters 1 to 10

Shen Ni, unable to stop her shijie Bian Jin from going to war to defend their country, secretly sneaks into the army to join her. On the battlefield, she's rescued from nearly certain death by Bian Jin. Bian Jin, as the de facto leader of their sect, punishes Shen Ni for violating her orders orders to stay behind by giving her ten merciless lashes of her whip.

Several years later, Shen Ni has become the empire's top machinist. The (presumed robot) soldiers she has constructed have won many military victories. The emperor has granted her the title of Duke of Jing'an. Bian Jin meanwhile is missing after the troops she was leading were decimated in battle. She's rumoured to have deserted, betrayed the empire and taken up with the (female) emperor of Xuanzhou, an enemy nation. Shen Ni rushes to the capital when she hears that Bian Jin has been captured. She finds Bian Jin covered in wounds: her cybernetic body battered, her mechanical spine broken.

Shen Ni tilted her chin up with warm fingers, letting Bian Jin look at her. "Come with me," she said.

It's interesting that all the Ning Yuan novels I've read (with the partial exception of Revolutionary Road) start out with the main pairing already in a pre-existing relationship (though not necessarily a romantic one). I think that's a usually smart decision: writing the development of a relationship between two strangers is such a tough and delicate job, and so susceptible to slip-ups, that I personally wouldn't do it unless that was the thing I really wanted to focus on.

This chapter covered a lot more space and time than I was expecting, but I'm pretty sure the gaps will be filled as we go along. Also enjoying the little hints of potentially intriguing subplots and secondary characters — I'm already anticipating the emperor of Xuanzhou's appearance!

Tech watch: the hovercraft (equipped with touchscreen capable of receiving digital messages — the system is still called 'messenger pigeon') that Shen Ni rides into the capital city (I initially assumed she was flying on a sword or with qinggong and/or that the flying was metaphorical); the (presumed) robot soldiers Shen Ni constructs; the explosive collar that Bian Jin wears as a prisoner (designed to explode if she leaves the Court of Judicature and Revision, where she's being held); Bian Jin's cybernetic body.

I actually quite like pre-existing relationships too, and I think starting a story with a pre-existing relationship sorta releases the author to explore the rest of the world-building and relationships (which tbh is what I usually go for).

I'm curious about the "presumed" part of the robot soldiers. Are they actual people? Or not constructed by Shen Ni? Or it's currently a mystery?

We don't have a lot of information on that at the moment — in this chapter, there's just a mention of 'At Yanluo, she [Shen Ni] personally constructed/crafted fifty thousand crack troops' (她在燕落亲自打造了五十万精兵).

Thank you for answering and providing the sentence!

From longtime Ning Yuan fan Chang Ge Qie Xing in the comments: Bian Jin's whip is made of bone? Didn't Shen Ni replace her spine with a mechanical one... what if the whip is made of the original spinal bones Shen Ni took out of her back... OMG IS SHE WHIPPING SHEN NI WITH HER OWN BONES??

Hot XD

Ning Yuan PLEASE make it so

Fingers crossed!

New Ning Yuan work! Can't believe I've read so little we've gotten to the point where this is my first work of hers. There's a lot going on in the chapter, with just a taste of Shen Ni and Bian Jin's relationship, and an overview of what's happened since Bian Jin was sent out. I shed a few tears while reading, so I'm quite excited for what the author has to bring to the table. She also leaned a lot harder into the cyberpunk than I was expecting, though I guess I was never quite sure what 'historical cyberpunk' should have entailed.

Excited for you to read your first Ning Yuan! And then to hoover up her back catalogue... (join me)

Yeah, I wasn't quite expecting a hovercraft straight out of the gate (literally). I'm excited for more details of the world-building to be revealed.

I peeked at

llonkrebboj's translation WIP (still private) and wow it just throws you into the plot huh? I will remember NONE OF THIS so ty for the summary.

The pace is absolutely breakneck though hopefully it's about to settle down slightly.

Ah so that's who the mystery translator is!

Shen Ni takes Bian Jin home (by promising that she knows how to get Bian Jin to talk, as the royal interrogators have been stymied so far), arranges for her to be bathed (she would do it herself, but she remembers 'that thing that happened' between them and she doesn't want Bian Jin to overthink things), and starts fixing her.

We get a few details about their past. Bian Jin, who is seven years older, found Shen Ni seemingly abandoned as a baby within the territory of their sect, and she half-raises Shen Ni from childhood. Bian Jin was the one who gave Shen Ni her name and also the nickname A-Yao (meaning 'rock', as in the movement, because Shen Ni as a child insisted on being held and rocked by Bian Jin all the time.

We meet Li Chu, aka Prince Wei, the emperor's despicable brother. He gleefully tells Shen Ni of his plans to ask the emperor to grant him Bian Jin (whom he's always envied and resented) as a concubine. I hate him already.

We learn that everyone in the empire (world?) is basically cybernetically enhanced to a greater or lesser degree.

We meet the emperor, Li Ruoyuan, who is of course female. There's some weirdness going on that I'm sure is going to be discussed later. Li Ruoyuan's voice and physique are described using quite girlish/childish terms, but refers to Li Chu as her younger brother — and he's 30 years old. Some sort of cybernetic body? Is Ning Yuan setting out to give us fair trade lolicon??

Shen Ni and Li Ruoyuan discuss Bian Jin's apparent memory loss: the only answer the royal interrogators got from her was 'I don't remember'.

Li Ruoyuan wonders if this could be the work of the very dangerous (digital) virus known as Black Box, which appears to be behind the enemy that Bian Jin was initially sent to fight. We learn that the virus appears to have been temporarily eliminated by Shen Ni, but the two of them are still very wary.

Shen Ni mentions Li Chu's plans to take Bian Jin as a concubine, which Li Ruoyuan shakes her head over. Then Shen Ni says, 'Your Majesty, your humble servant would seek a boon from you.'

One thing about these settings is that you cannot assume anyone's gender, and given that Chinese is a pro-drop language, it is entirely possible to go on for chapters without finding that out, especially for minor characters.

I look forward to finding out what the deal is with Li Ruoyuan, and whether Ning Yuan will give her a girlfriend. It's kind of interesting that she doesn't seem particularly incensed about Bian Jin's supposed betrayal?

Black Box is 黑魔方 in Chinese. If anyone can think of a better translation, let me know.

Tech watch: people have memory modules (Shen Ni's housekeeper, Auntie Wan, conscientiously saves the instructions for the care and possibly feeding of Bian Jin into hers); Li Ruoyuan's electronic cinnabar writing-brush, which she uses to approve petitions that she views via a digital screen; Li Chu's cybernetic eye (may someone rip it out of his head before the novel is over); the 'jade cores' people use to control their cybernetic implants; the Black Box virus.

Mm, memory modules. Opening the doors for manipulation there!

How does the Black Box virus function? Does it erase memories/rewrite them?

In Chapter 3, Shen Ni mentions the possibility that she could break into Bian Jin's memory module by force.

There's not a lot of detail yet about how the virus operates. We're only told that, in the less serious cases, the virus drives the infected person mad, while in the more serious cases, the infected person might mutate, and that one infected might 'devour' another and mutate further. I'm pretty confident that we'll get to see the virus in action in due course!

Excited to learn more about the virus~

seems like a good hurt/comfort setup too

As much as I would love to propose "Black Rubik's Cube" for silliness, it's not plausible due to its history. Or "Black Magic Cube" but a part of my brain tends to read it as "Black Magic / Cube" instead of "Black / Magic Cube" which I'm not really a fan of.

Li Ruoyuan feels like a case of trying to preserve 'youth' and it doesn't seem to be out of the question given the technology we've already been introduced to so far.

I, too, hate the brother, who despite being named and being the only named man, will continuously be referred to as "the emperor's despicable brother" in my books.

Yeah, I'm just curious how far she's gone with it because the descriptions here sound quite teenage and I think most people would prefer their 'eternal' age to be their twenties or thirties (the youth preservation tech in Ada Palmer's Too Like the Lightning 'fixes' people's appearance and energy levels around their late twenties to early thirties).

I hate the brother SO MUCH, I'm already looking forward to his no doubt gory end.

The summary is already FIRE. I love it!

I see what you did there with FIRE!

XD I couldn't help it!

Thanks for doing this! Feels like I'm reading it right along with you :-)

Are we to believe that Bian Jin, at 7 years old, was helping to take care of baby Shen Ni? Pretty mature little girl. Reminds me of my ex-gf having to rock her nephew all the time, too. To the point of having her arms almost fall off. lol

Is it just me or does it seem rather disturbing that this kind of nurturing relationship will develop into a romantic one? I don't know why I'm so hung up on this when I'm sure there's plenty of other interesting points I could be analyzing.

does it seem rather disturbing that this kind of nurturing relationship will develop into a romantic one?
IRL probably, in fiction I'd say it's a matter of personal preference. This kind of thing seems pretty popular with webnovel readers generally — look at all the shizun romances out there!

Shen Ni makes her request of Li Ruoyuan (gee, I wonder what she could have asked for), and Li Ruoyuan extracts a concession in return: she wants Shen Ni to take charge of the construction of the capital city's defensive fortifications. Li Ruoyuan also goes 'I know I promised you could retire but' and Shen Ni thinks to herself 'yeah that's what you promised Bian Jin too, before you sent her out on the battlefield again'. So things are not as harmonious as they might seem between the emperor and her star official.

The following day, Shen Ni rides out on horseback to the site where the fortifications are meant to be built. Just as I was thinking that a horse was a disappointingly mundane mode of transportation after the hovercraft, the text tells us that the horse goes dark when Shen Ni gets off it and lights up again when she climbs on it. So more tech weirdness.

The fortifications are a wall twenty zhang tall, located twenty li beyond the capital city and meant to run all around it. It is meant to operate as a firewall against the Black Box virus, with digital defences embedded into it. The space between this wall and the capital city's own actual wall functions as a buffer zone. Troops stationed there can guard against both enemies invading from outside (beyond the outer wall) and any sudden uprisings within the capital city. We learn that while the Black Box virus is dormant now (after Shen Ni defeated it), historical experience teaches everyone that it will inevitably be revived at some point.

A few geographic details: we're on a continent with three 'ancient empires' (presumably including the one our protagonists are subjects of) and some ten other smaller kingdoms, and all of them are constructing similar defensive fortifications against the Black Box virus. Shen Ni is able to get Zeng Qingluo, an outer disciple of her sect who has served as her eyes-and-ears in the capital for a while, appointed as her personal assistant on the project. The Minister of Works, who is delighted to palm off the entire fortifications project on Shen Ni, happily acquiesces in the appointment and is then sore to realise that Zeng Qingluo was previously on a 'no official appointments' blacklist for having offended important nobility.

Shen Ni stops by a confectioner's to buy sugar paste. The confectioner (a woman) flirts with her, sneaking a slip of paper with her WeChat ID, I mean her Messenger Pigeon QR code, in with Shen Ni's purchases. She is coolly rebuffed by Shen Ni. Shen Ni overhears lots of passersby gossiping about Li Chu's plans to take Bian Jin as his concubine.

Bian Jin regains consciousness, and Shen Ni feeds her a nutrient broth (Huel for the ancient Chinese cyberpunk universe I guess) sweetened with the aforementioned sugar paste. Bian Jin would much prefer to feed herself, but is too weak even to lift her arms. Bian Jin realises that someone has cleaned her up, treated her wounds and put fresh clothes on her. Shen Ni realises she's realising this and lightly conveys the message that it was Auntie Wan (not Shen Ni herself) who did this.

We learn that every single part of Bian Jin's body (both the organic and cybernetic elements) including her jade core was deliberately and cruelly damaged by whoever had captured her before she came into the Court of Judicature and Revision's custody. She seems to have no memory of who this was.

Bian Jin accuses Shen Ni of working for the emperor, claiming that Shen Ni is trying to 'lure her in' in order to try and extract the secrets that the royal interrogators failed to get out of her. Shen Ni scoffs at this. We learn something about Bian Jin's extreme obsession with cleanliness; in the past, she often wore a face mask to block out smells from the people and things around her. She has a strong reaction even to Shen Ni's very mild and objectively pleasant scent: it causes her shortness of breath, makes her dizzy, she involuntarily bites her lip and lets out something between a moan and a gulp.

At one point in their stand-off, Shen Ni grips Bian Jin's wrist hard, leaving finger-marks behind, and she wonders if Bian Jin's skin was always this delicate. Bian Jin, for her part, realises that Shen Ni is wearing gloves (for her sake, to cater to her obsession with cleanliness), and takes this to mean that Shen Ni stills cares about her and doesn't believe the rumours about her betraying the empire.

Some details about Shen Ni and Bian Jin's relationship are starting to emerge. Shen Ni is in love with Bian Jin (she basically confesses this in Chapter 1) but doesn't think Bian Jin reciprocates it. She believes Bian Jin to be completely consumed by a greater purpose (saving the world, saving humanity). The glimpses we get from Bian Jin's POV show that Shen Ni is wrong. Bian Jin does care deeply for her, but is repressing it for some reason which will no doubt become clear in due time.

As Shen Ni reached the doorway, she said suddenly, 'If you felt nothing for me, shijie, how could I possibly "lure you in"?'

Tech watch: Shen Ni's horse; the 'firewall'; nutrient broth.
Named men: 1
Reverse Bechdel test passes: 0

Edited 2024-06-14 19:31 (UTC)

I'm reading this alongside Ada Palmer's Too Like the Lightning, which is set in a futuristic quasi-utopia but told in mock-Restoration-style prose. So far, it's quite a trip. Who needs mind-altering substances when you can do this to your brain with just a judicious combination of books.

The story is progressing at an absolutely breakneck pace, I feel? I do like, when reading a historical, to kind of linger and wallow around in the world-building details and character interactions, so this is feeling just slightly off. Though The Creator's Grace also took about 10 chapters or so to settle down, so I'm not too worried.

She has a strong reaction even to Shen Ni's very mild and objectively pleasant scent: it causes her shortness of breath, makes her dizzy, she involuntarily bites her lip and lets out something between a moan and a gulp.
Bian Jin, I really do not think you're repulsed by your shimei's scent.

I was just going to comment on this particular point as it really stood out to me. The way you described Bian Jin's olfactory reaction to Shen Ni was really very sexy. Very sexy, indeed. I also do not believe she's repulsed by her scent. Seems like she can't distinguish between being turned on or turned off. ha ha

Haha maybe this will be part of the 'fine-tuning' Shen Ni has to do. 'Shijie, this is not disgust, it's arousal.'

Turn It Off, Then Turn It Back On Again is a critical part of technical repairs, after all ;)

Oh man, Terra Ignota is an Experience for sure (Ada Palmer certainly commits to her chosen bit, and also, speaking of prose registers--), and I admire your mental fortitude for reading that alongside, honestly, anything. Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks! It's a reread, so not as much of a shock to the system as the first time round. I finally managed to get hold of the fourth book in the series (this is all due to the fact that I foolishly bought the first one in the US trade paperback edition and then of course had to go to great lengths to make sure the rest of the set matched), but because I've forgotten the details of what happened, I have to reread the first three books to be able to read the fourth one.

Really fun chapter!! I guess I'm curious about how exactly the fortifications would work digitally and how much work/effort is put into that since it's not exactly clear to met, and we're still early into the story, with the Black Box probably not making an invasion just yet. And what do the troops do? At this point, I can't imagine them being typical of any sort, so are they technicians/engineers of sorts? LOL

The Messenger Pigeon QR Code part was really funny, and I'm personally hoping we get Bian Jin witnessing her shimei being hit on via this in the future.

Yeah, the war stuff feels kind of abstract at the moment, though I have no doubt we'll be seeing it in action soon.

I feel like a mutual jealousy scene would be funny (and probably move the relationship forward, as they're currently in the Not Speaking About It phase at the moment).

Ohh, mech horses. It feels like a very interesting setting as more details are revealed. I'm really, really curious how the Black Box virus works.

Love the feeding, the finger marks! and also lol at Bian Jin's reaction Shen Ni's smell

Hopefully the mistaken assumption (that Bian Jin doesn't reciprocate) won't take too long to resolve!

Hopefully the mistaken assumption (that Bian Jin doesn't reciprocate) won't take too long to resolve!
I feel like there's going to be some major backstory behind this. If it's anything like The Creator's Grace, where that was indeed the case, we're in for a lot of very delicious angst.

Oh, highlight from Chang Ge Qie Xing's long comment on JJWXC: Why does Shen Ni tie the horse up outside the shop if it's a mech of some sort? It's been depowered, it won't run off!

And Ning Yuan actually replied (she usually does reply to the long comments): It's a matter of the look of the thing! It's a horse! You need to do the ritual of tying it up!

Li Ruoyuan also goes 'I know I promised you could retire but' and Shen Ni thinks to herself 'yeah that's what you promised Bian Jin too, before you sent her out on the battlefield again'.
I loved this part, hitting my beloved exhaustion/endurance tropes already! And it's an element of weaponisation that I enjoy as well, when a character just exists to be used and used and used, and any promises made to a tool or a weapon are ultimately meaningless because what is it for except to serve its purpose? (Until there is nothing else at which to aim them and then like the weapon they are, they are discarded). I'm very much looking forward to seeing where this goes for both Shen Ni and Bian Jin.

a slip of paper with her WeChat ID, I mean her Messenger Pigeon QR code
There is a 放鸽子 pun in here somewhere I know it, but I can't quite get it to work. Oh well, plenty of time.

every single part of Bian Jin's body (both the organic and cybernetic elements) including her jade core was deliberately and cruelly damaged by whoever had captured her before she came into the Court of Judicature and Revision's custody
I'm new to Ning Yuan but apparently she has the cheat codes to my id, so, okay, here we are. This, and the part where Shen Ni is carrying Bian Jin and thinking about her pain tolerance, is excellent for us whump lovers. Can't wait to get more detail on what exactly happened to put Bian Jin in that state.

Bian Jin begins what's basically physical therapy, learning how to walk with Auntie Wan's support. Shen Ni notes that her progress is a lot faster than would normally be expected: the average person would be languishing in bed for at least another month. She also takes note of the fact that the tips of Bian Jin's ears are flushing red from the effort.

A couple of days later, Zeng Qingluo comes to visit them, her arms full of gifts. Bian Jin smiles at her; Shen Ni notes darkly that (1) her shijie's smile is as lovely as ever and (2) she, Shen Ni, never gets this treatment.

We get a bit of Zeng Qingluo's backstory: her father died young, and her mother also died some years later, and that's how she ended up at Shuangji Hall (Bian Jin and Shen Ni's sect). She followed Shen Ni into battle three years ago, but was seriously injured after two years, so returned to the capital (which is now confirmed to be called Chang'an) and stayed there. She tells Bian Jin that Shen Ni has been looking after her very well. Bian Jin is a little surprised by this because in her head, Shen Ni is still the stubborn, rebellious child she used to be.

Zeng Qingluo then asks Bian Jin why Bian Jin's relationship with Shen Ni has deteriorated so much, since they used to be so close. Shen Ni returns with Bian Jin's nutrient broth just in time to hear this. She lurks outside the room to hear Bian Jin's response. When Bian Jin replies, 'I was too strict with her,' Shen Ni is surprised by this.

Bian Jin changes the subject, asking Zeng Qingluo is she knows how one might go about renting a house in the capital, because she'd like to move out of Shen Ni's house. Zeng Qingluo tries to talk her out of it, adding that this is a good opportunity for Bian Jin and Shen Ni to mend their relationship, and that 'xiao shijie isn't the vengeful type!'

Shen Ni, still lurking and eavesdropping, thinks to herself oh I am. Bian Jin tells Zeng Qingluo that's inadvisable for her and Shen Ni to see too much of each other. Shen Ni hears this as well, and has Feelings about it.

Not for long though, because a frantic servant rushes in to report that Li Chu and his henchmen have forced their way into the house and are demanding to take Bian Jin away with them as Li Chu's concubine. Bian Jian calmly pulls out a concealed dagger — to be clear, this is Zeng Qingluo's dagger, which she has hidden away very well on her person — and tells Zeng Qingluo to wait for her there.

Zeng Qingluo: Dashijie, you're not going to... (makes throat-slitting gesture) are you?
Bian Jin: Don't worry, I'll drag him off the premises before killing him.

Auntie Wan, as housekeeper, rushes around searching for Shen Ni, only to find her standing under a tree staring at the container of nutrient broth in her hand. She's added osmanthus paste to sweeten it, because Bian Jin likes osmanthus blossoms. It's not that Bian Jin has ever said it expressly, but there have been two incidents over the course of their relationship that Bian Jin expressed partiality for it. Shen Ni remembers those, just as she remembers all the times Bian Jin was good to her, using her organic memory — she has hyperthymesia — and not her memory module.

Shen Ni goes over to the box containing all the gifts and rewards the emperor has showered on her, pulls off the piece of red paper stuck on top of it (on which the word 'Reward' (implying imperial favour) is written, and begins writing on it as she heads towards the main hall of the house. When Auntie Wan asks her what she's writing, she replies simply, 'An invitation.'

Out in the main hall, Bian Jin is facing off against Li Chu. It transpires that she was the one who took out his eye when he tried (and obviously failed) to annex her sect many years ago. She asks if he's come to have her take out the other eye. Li Chu, enraged, orders his henchmen to take Bian Jin away. She goes along with this, because she intends to kill him outside Shen Ni's house so Shen Ni won't get dragged into it.

Of course, Shen Ni bursts in at this moment, literally kicks over Li Chu and all of his men — they're left wailing on the floor — catches hold of Bian Jin round the waist and pulls her behind her. Bian Jin notes that Shen Ni's scent is fainter than before, and before she can have a reaction to it, Shen Ni has already let go of her.

Shen Ni hands Li Chu the red paper and tells him that he has come in vain. She adds that it's an invitation to her and Bian Jin's wedding. Li Chu sneers, saying something so flagrantly, disgustingly misogynistic that I hope this world has resurrection technology so that Bian Jin can murder, resurrect and murder him again. All the servants and neighbours who are obviously spying and eavesdropping on this wonder why Shen Ni is so bold as to offend the emperor's own brother.

Then they hear the voice of one of the emperor's personal attendants (unclear at this point if they have an imperial eunuch system going on) outside, proclaiming that there's an imperial decree. Obviously everyone kneels to hear it, including Li Chu (who does so grudgingly).

Shen Ni pulls on a fresh pair of gloves, goes up to Bian Jin, and says in a voice only the two of them can hear, 'I'm afraid you'll have to bear with some unpleasantness in the next little while.' Bian Jin lifts an enquiring eyebrow.

'Let us receive the imperial decree together,' said Shen Ni, entwining her fingers through Bian Jin's, 'my lady wife.'

Tech watch: tissues (Bian Jin gives them to Zeng Qingluo to wipe her tears with)
Named men: 1
Reverse Bechdel passes: 0

Edited 2024-06-15 09:37 (UTC)

I increasingly feel that Shen Ni must be a tricky character to write because everything with her is so repressed and internal (e.g. when she hears Bian Jin telling Zeng Qingluo that they shouldn't see too much of each other, the text doesn't tell us how she feels, just that she keeps running a finger down the wall over and over), and I think the author is doing an excellent job so far.

Bian Jian calmly pulls out a concealed dagger — to be clear, this is Zeng Qingluo's dagger, which she has hidden away very well on her person — and tells Zeng Qingluo to wait for her there.
OMG BIAN JIN JIEJIE SO COOL AAAAAAAAAAA

using her organic memory — she has hyperthymesia — and not her memory module
I wonder if this will become Significant in the future, especially given what we know of the Black Box virus. Also, if I was the sort of person to care about 'rep', I guess this book would be 'double neurodiversity rep', between Shen Ni's hyperthymesia and Bian Jin's OCD/cleanliness fixation.

Of course, Shen Ni bursts in at this moment, literally kicks over Li Chu and all of his men — they're left wailing on the floor — catches hold of Bian Jin round the waist and pulls her behind her.
CLASSIC romantic clinch moment. Ning Yuan knows how to give us what we want.

Shen Ni pulls on a fresh pair of gloves
I love this, I love the little unobtrusive acts of care that the text presents to us but doesn't necessarily draw our attention to. Chi Yu/Ran Jin in The Creator's Grace are written very much like this as well.

OMG BIAN JIN JIEJIE SO COOL AAAAAAAAAAA

Not pictured: me, grinning and kicking my feet back and forth like a schoolgirl as I read this part of the chapter.

That and the subsequent If they had crossed swords, Bian Jin’s blade would no doubt have already pierced [Zeng Qingluo’s] heart is an excellent serving of hypercompetence.

Such an absolutely STELLAR moment.

Bian Jian calmly pulls out a concealed dagger — to be clear, this is Zeng Qingluo's dagger, which she has hidden away very well on her person — and tells Zeng Qingluo to wait for her there.

Nice!

catches hold of Bian Jin round the waist and pulls her behind her.

Very nice <3

I think Bian Jin should take the other eye. Li Chu sounds very unpleasant.

I think Bian Jin should take the other eye. Li Chu sounds very unpleasant.
I'm already looking forward to him meeting a spectacularly messy end.

It's here it's here it's here!!! I have been so excited for this ever since you first mentioned it in this community, and the intro/summary has been living rent-free in my brain. Time to feast!

YESSSSSSSS JOIN US!!!

Okay hi hello I have actually read the chapters now, and I need there to be more!!

My main impression so far is that I am, predictably, obsessed with Bian Jin.

I mean, her first appearance is ruthlessly wielding a whip made of bone against her own shimei (but don’t look too closely at how her hand trembles) and her second appearance is as a presumed traitor tortured/beaten to what seems like well beyond ordinary human endurance, and these are my two favourite states for a character to be in, so.

(The fact that her next appearance is casually confident in her ability to do a royal murder, having just plucked a dagger from where it was hidden on someone else's body, only adds to the whole situation).

Also there’s the whole weaponisation aspect, which is a trope I love dearly, and I’m really enjoying what we’ve been given of it so far. The way Bian Jin is the ‘blade of the empire’, with exceptional combat skills and a largely cybernetic body, promised retirement and instead repaired and sent back to war, broken but mending faster than any normal human would, and brushing off any concern for her injuries… and yet also there are so many moments that focus specifically on (Shen Ni perceiving) her flesh-and-blood humanity. The way Shen Ni can tell how much pain she must be in from the quiet whimpers of pain she can’t quite suppress as she’s being carried. The way Shen Ni’s fingerprints linger on her skin and Shen Ni wonders if her skin always marked so easily. The strands of hair clinging to her skin and the way she flushes with exertion as she relearns how to walk. Obviously some of it is just Shen Ni being very physically Aware of her ~~wife~~ shijie, but especially given the setting it feels like something that could be used as a way to play in that deliciously angsty space of weapon-or-human.

Shen Ni is intriguing to me as well, especially in terms of making me curious about what happened in the six or so years between The Whipping Scene and now: how she defeated the virus and earned her reputation as the top mechanist, her relationship with the emperor, and how she went from the somewhat rash and undisciplined girl Bian Jin remembers to the seemingly controlled (though not without a flair for the dramatic, it seems) and charismatic woman she is now. She is clearly also obsessed with Bian Jin, and I’m definitely here to watch how exactly that plays out, beyond just what the preview/intro has given us.

Beyond the two leads, I’m very intrigued by the worldbuilding of course, and what flavour of cyberpunk we end up going for. I’m also interested to see more of both of the lady emperors introduced so far (enemies-to-lovers sideplot? Probably not but a girl can dream). I want to know more about Zeng Qingluo, and who she offended to get herself blacklisted from government office (I love a competent second-in-command who turns out to be easily as unhinged as whoever they’re serving, just quieter about it; too early to say if that’s where we’re going with her but I feel like there’s potential).

Can't wait for more!

Edited (typo) 2024-06-15 15:49 (UTC)

I’m also interested to see more of both of the lady emperors introduced so far (enemies-to-lovers sideplot? Probably not but a girl can dream).
Ning Yuan has form for multiple f/f couples — I've read four novels by her so far and each has at least one secondary f/f couple. So I'm hopeful for at least one more couple!

I rarely recommend books to people unless specifically asked, but I would strongly recommend Ning Yuan's The Creator's Grace to you. The love interest in that book, Ran Jin, has similar vibes to Bian Jin — she's strong, she suffers a lot (more mentally/emotionally, but also quite a lot physically), she's deeply in love with the protagonist but must repress it for Reasons. It also has transhumanist themes, and an exploration of, well, not quite weapon/human, but object-created-for-use/human.

That is a very compelling pitch for The Creator's Grace, not going to lie! (Honestly, you had me at 'she's strong, she suffers a lot', but the weapon-or-otherwise-object-created-for-use in particular is catnip to me). Also for some reason I had assumed this was one of the super long ones, and it's not, so it is now sitting on my ereader waiting for me to finish some of the other books I'm in the middle of. Looking forward to it!

(I do not at all mind unsolicited recommendations btw; I'm not always good about getting to them in a timely fashion because the state of my to-read list is best not mentioned, but if in doubt please do not hesitate).

To the surprise of absolutely no one reading the book and the complete jaw-dropping surprise of every non-Shen Ni, non-Bian Jin character in the world of the book, the emperor has decreed that our two main characters should marry. Li Chu in particular is extremely shocked and dismayed by this.

People immediately start gossiping about why the emperor has chosen to do this. One speculation is that it's a tactic to extract information from Bian Jin that the Court of Judicature and Revision failed to do. Another, very popular one is that it's a means to reduce Shen Ni's power and standing at court, by marrying her to someone who is being investigated for high treason, rather than a princess or other noblewoman. Absolutely no one suggests that it might be because they're secretly in love.

There's also much gossip within the Shuangji Hall's own chat group, which we see through Zeng Qingluo's eyes. She's about to remind her fellow disciples to exercise some self-restraint, when her sixth shixiong (an obstreperous character who was constantly being disciplined by Bian Jin) fans the flames with a long comment about how strict and cold-hearted Bian Jin is, and predicting that Shen Ni is going to have a terrible married life.

At this juncture, someone with '.' as a username and a fairly anonymous profile picture of a snow-covered mountain at night replies, telling him not to worry about her married life and advising him to worry more about what will happen if his document forgeries come to light. Realising that this can only be Shen Ni herself, everyone in the chat group immediately falls silent and begins frantically deleting their messages.

The day of the wedding arrives. Shen Ni takes note of the fact that many senior officials and ministers aren't in attendance, and have only sent gifts. She reflects that this at least saves trouble, since she's just swapped out Bian Jin's spine for a new one, and Bian Jin shouldn't stay too long on her feet welcoming guests.

Once Shen Ni gets dressed in her bridal robes, she heads over to Bian Jin's room, where Bian Jin is also getting dressed. She takes out a special face mask, which she has made for Bian Jin to wear to block out the smells of the crowd. It's adjustable for both opacity (ranging from full transparency to fully opaque) and colour. Bian Jin notes that Shen Ni is calling her 'shijie' again, after addressing her as 'my lady wife' in the previous chapter.

Shen Ni slips the mask onto Bian Jin's face, and it's a perfect fit. Bian Jin wonders how, because it's not as if Shen Ni had the chance to take measurements, then she remembers that Shen Ni has hyperthymesia. Does that means she remembers every single detail about me, Bian Jin wonders.

At the wedding ceremony, as the couple make their final bows to each other, Bian Jin reflects that Shen Ni has now bound her own life to Bian Jin's, and feels somewhat undeserving. She thinks about how it was the xiaoshimei she'd let down who ultimately came to her defence.

Shape of the wedding ceremony because I'm always interested in how same-sex traditional marriage ceremonies are presented: they both wear the femme version of the bridal robes and also both do the bridegroom's role in the festivities following the ceremony (i.e. they both stay out at the scene of the festivities playing host to the guests, rather than retreating into the bridal chamber right after the ceremony).

Eventually all the guests leave, except for two female officials from the Lijing Bureau (the original text has this as 丽景门, and 门 can mean 'sect', but these two are very specifically referred to as female officials, so I'm taking 门 to mean 门 as in 六扇门 (basically, the police) rather than 门 as in jianghu sect), who have been tasked with standing guard over Bian Jin. Auntie Wan tries to stop them from following Shen Ni and Bian Jin into their bridal chamber, but the two officials coldly declare that, as Shen Ni and Bian Jin are married at the emperor's command, it's their job to make sure the marriage is duly consummated.

Shen Ni precedes Bian Jin into the bridal chamber and sits on the bed demurely half-hiding her face with her (round) fan (this must be a version of the ceremony where the faces are hidden by fans not veils, though I am not sure now whether this was an actual specific historical practice or whether I've just watched too many Douyin videos). Bian Jin comes in and immediately plonks her own fan down on the table, thereby destroying any trace of romance there might have been in the atmosphere.

Bian Jin points out that the officials from the Lijing Bureau have followed them all the way here. Shen Ni, seemingly starting to undress, tells Bian JIn that the officials are here to make sure they consummate their marriage. Bian Jin's eyes are drawn to Shen Ni's bare neck, and for no reason at all, her breathing starts feeling a bit laboured. On the subject of consummation, Bian Jin basically thinks to herself, fine, if I have to do it I'll do it.

Shen Ni, having put herself in a state of slight deshabille, opens the door to the Lijing Bureau officials, and asks them if they need to come in to observe the proceedings. The two officials, shocked by this, don't reply. Shen Ni closes the door again, walks over to Bian Jin, and starts slowly loosening Bian Jin's sash (or belt. Help. This is my perennial translation problem).

Shen Ni whispers to Bian Jin that the two officials won't come in now, and all Bian Jin has to do is make some of the right noises. And then she fully unties Bian Jin's sash.

Tech watch: The face mask
Named men: 1.5 (I'm very generously counting 'sixth shixiong' here)
Reverse Bechdel passes: 0

There's also much gossip within the Shuangji Hall's own chat group, which we see through Zeng Qingluo's eyes
It's not absolutely clear how Zeng Qingluo is accessing this chat group. A screen? Some built-into-the-eye/brain user-interface? Special lenses?

She thinks about how it was the xiaoshimei she'd let down who ultimately came to her defence.
Something BIGGER than the whipping must have happened, right?

as Shen Ni and Bian Jin are married at the emperor's command, it's their job to make sure the marriage is duly consummated.
Fuck or commit high treason, a variant on fuck or die.

Bian Jin's eyes are drawn to Shen Ni's bare neck, and for no reason at all, her breathing starts feeling a bit laboured
Bian Jin: FOR NO REASON AT ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Also, in general: AAAAAAAAAAAA

Seconding your AAAAAAAAAAAAA. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Wow, what a trip reading that summary was. (I'm having a particularly hard time typing with an incorrectly wrapped band aid on my finger ... who knew peelers could be so sharp!?!).

Did not imagine Shen Ni to be so audacious but alas, at the end, nothing salacious happened. Dang. hahah I want a lot more of these instances. Nothing like a slow buildup to get a nice explosion somewhere down the line. teehee Slowly then suddenly.

I was unclear about how they were viewing the chat, too. Sometimes, it's difficult to picture these futuresque settings.

Since I can't read the original myself, I'll have to continue wondering if your summaries are even better than the story itself. I would not be surprised if it was. Also, I'm embarrassed to admit I sometimes have to look up the definition of some of the words you use. HA HA he

Oh, the original is definitely much better than my very-hastily-typed-up, unproofed summaries.

Ouch, that's a sharp peeler! Hope it gets better soon.

Your summaries are the only things I know and I love them ;)
Truly, they’re so great.

Fuck or commit high treason, a variant on fuck or die.
True power couples fuck and commit high treason

The 'wait she's in this group chat?!?!' moment was a) hilarious and b) all too relatable. RIP.

Shen Ni thinking ah yes it's all for the best that not as many guests come; Bian Jin shouldn't be standing for too long with her replacement spine - got some other ideas of what she should be doing, Shen Ni? Hm?
(I also love the contrast between like
Shen Ni: shijie should not stand too long or exert herself too much and should drink the nutrient broth and you know what, probably best I just carry her everywhere
Bian Jin: *calmly plotting royal murder with a borrowed weapon as a first resort*
)

On the mask: 1) love that Shen Ni demonstrates the colour-changing capabilities by cycling through a literal rainbow. Love wins, etc. 2) I can't be the only one thinking of Other Uses for a material with adjustable opacity/transparency, right?? I just think they could get creative with it. Ahem. Anyway.

Bian Jin thinking 'wait does that mean every smallest detail about me is stored in her memory?' combined with Shen Ni's thoughts last chapter about how she remembers everything that has ever happened between them, even the things she might not want to, definitely pings my foreshadowing/there's-more-to-this-backstory radar. What do you not want her to remember about you, Bian Jin?

And then YES I am extremely with you on thinking there must be more to this than the whipping, to make Bian Jin think of herself as having 'let down' her shimei, and to think that she doesn't deserve such a show of trust from Shen Ni as bringing her out of the prison and tying their lives together. Especially given that what we know of their past so far is that Bian Jin came dramatically to her rescue on the battlefield before dragging her back for said whipping. So then...what did you do Bian Jin? Obviously she's suspected of treason, and while I doubt it's quite that simple I do wonder what exactly transpired during those years she was missing... (Is this just my obsession with betrayals of all kinds, looking for anything to latch onto? Maybe!)

Bian Jin absolutely killing the romance by tossing her fan aside was a delight, especially from Shen Ni's faintly aggrieved but practical POV. And then Shen Ni doing her shameless-but-outwardly-guileless play of asking the two Lijing officials if they need to come in and watch? I love that we seem to be seeing more of her scheming side, and I'm definitely here for more of that.

On sash vs belt: I don't think either would stand out to me as long as it was consistent throughout the scene; given they're in bridal robes here I think 'sash' works. But now I'm going to overthink this every time I come across a 腰带, so thanks for that XD

But now I'm going to overthink this every time I come across a 腰带
Ahaha this has been bothering me FOREVER. I was so happy when the protagonist in Purely by Accident's wedding outfit was described as specifically including a 玉带 which is clearly a belt.

I do wonder what exactly transpired during those years she was missing... (Is this just my obsession with betrayals of all kinds, looking for anything to latch onto? Maybe!)
I think you're on to something! I'm wondering vaguely whether it's a sort of 'must betray the empire for the greater good'/'the empire is the evil one' kind of deal.

I love that we seem to be seeing more of her scheming side
I love scheming Shen Ni so much!

I'm wondering vaguely whether it's a sort of 'must betray the empire for the greater good'/'the empire is the evil one' kind of deal.

Where exactly did that virus come from, I wonder. (This is my first encounter with Ning Yuan's work so I have no idea which direction she's likely to go on this kind of thing but I'm very excited to find out!)

We get more info in Chapter 7!

Perhaps to the reader's disappointment, Shen Ni and Bian Jin don't actually have to do much to satisfy their watchers. Shen Ni undoes Bian Jin's sash, but holds the skirt up so it doesn't fall. She carries Bian Jin over to the bed (she very thoughtfully tells Bian Jin to relax and to put her full weight on Shen Ni, so as not to injure her new spine), lies down next to her and lets out a very soft moan. This sets the two officials blushing, and they hurry away, clearly believing they've heard enough.

Shen Ni looks around the room, suddenly reminded very strongly that it's hers and Bian Jin's wedding night. Bian Jin has to coolly remind her that they can get up now. Shen Ni sits up, realising that her neck is still warm where Bian Jin put her arm around it. Then she notes that while Bian Jin seems otherwise perfectly calm, the tips of her ears have gone red. Bian Jin's hair is also in some disarray, a state Shen Ni rarely sees her in.

They drink the bridal wine, though separately, not together as a married couple would traditionally have done. Shen Ni screws up her eyes at how strong it is, but Bian Jin just looks as if she's drinking a cup of water.

Bian Jin notices a red-lacquered box on the table, and wonders what's inside. Shen Ni informs her it's better for her not to know. Bian Jin falls for this reverse psychology, and opens to box to reveal 'a collection of strangely-shaped objects'. Shen Ni has to tell her they are sex toys. Bian Jin flushes, and Shen Ni observes this with interest.

Shen Ni is sure that Bian Jin has never been in love or had a romantic interest before, even though she had rejected many admirers (including Shen Ni herself). Seeing her shijie's reaction to the sex toys makes Shen Ni certain that Bian Jin remains devoid of any romantic experience. She wonders what Bian Jin — who has such a strong aversion to other people's smells — would be like in the throes of passion.

Bian Jin, meanwhile, can't quite drive away the memory of the sex toys and also the 'strange thoughts and feelings' they had aroused. She decides that she shouldn't share a bed with Shen Ni, so picks up half of the pillows and bedclothes. She tells Shen Ni that she'll sleep on the floor, while Shen Ni can have the bed.

Shen Ni doesn't reply — just takes the bedclothes from her, lays them out on the floor, and lies down on top of them. She tells Bian Jin that given the cold weather and the state of her injuries, there's no way she's letting Bian Jin sleep on the floor. Just as Bian Jin is about to respond, Shen Ni begins undressing. Bian Jin looks away, thinking, she's as uninhibited as ever.

As Shen Ni undresses, she tells Bian Jin that the spine Bian Jin is currently using is a temporary one, suitable only for everyday tasks and activities. She's still working on Bian Jin's permanent spine, which will take about a month. She promises that, within two years, she'll be able to fully repair Bian Jin's jade core, and then she'll petition the emperor to dissolve their marriage, and the two of them can go their separate ways. Bian Jin agrees to this.

Shen Ni also tells Bian Jin that they'll have to play the part of the loving couple in public, but not in private. She also promises that she won't expect Bian Jin to consummate the marriage, nor will she overstep Bian Jin's boundaries when it comes to intimacy. Bian Jin agrees to this as well.

To seal the deal, Shen Ni informs Bian Jin that she has gotten over her crush on Bian Jin, and that she simply sees Bian Jin as her senior disciple now. She even claims that she's had several romantic relationships before. All this is a lie, of course, to set Bian Jin's mind at ease. Bian Jin is silent for longer than before, until she finally says, 'I understand.'

Tech watch: I'm not counting the sex toys, they've been around forever
Named men: 1.5
Reverse Bechdel passes: 0

This sets the two officials blushing, and they hurry away, clearly believing they've heard enough.
As people officially tasked with witnessing consummation go, this pair is pretty weak. Not a patch on the two court aunties in Traitor's End, who listened at the couple's door until the activity had died down, provided running commentary, and even at one point poked a hole in the window to see the action.

Of course there would be sex toys (though the title of 'baihe author whose girlfriend is a sex toy designer' belongs to a different author).

Bian Jin looks away, thinking, she's as uninhibited as ever.
Given that the word for 'uninhibited' could arguably also be translated as 'wanton', I really really want to know now what happened between these two.

This was a jam-packed summary, full of goodies. It feels like a lot got revealed between the two. Really enjoyed it!

Regarding Traitor’s End … is that the one you’re thinking of translating? *easily confused*

I feel like aunties getting asked to listen in on wedding night activities can handle it more ‘scientifically’ because they’re less likely to be affected, if you catch my drift. Hahaha

No, it's a different book I'm thinking of translating.

Yeah, the aunties are another level haha.

the title of 'baihe author whose girlfriend is a sex toy designer' belongs to a different author
1) Might I ask who does hold this illustrious title?
2) The florist/tattoo artist fic trope needs to get on this level

That's Jiu Nuan Chun Shen, who wrote Miss Forensics! She was invited to JJWXC's last authors' conference and took her girlfriend with her, posting something about 'romantic getaway on the platform's dime'.

I wonder how long that particular career could realistically last? I mean, how many ways can you design a sex toy? I guess I'm pretty vanilla in that respect. haha hahaa

'I'll take you to the bed. Relax, you shouldn't strain your core, or it will stress your spine. Here, put all your weight on me
...I know I joked about this last chapter but now she's just saying it out loud.

Her voice was flat as she pointed this out to Shen Ni, detached as an accomplished monk, without desire or sentiment
Listen, Shen Ni, I'm ace; I know what 'without desire' looks like. Bian Jin ain't it.

Ning Yuan PLEASE give us some of the 'descriptions' provided for the 'pleasure aids', I'm begging. (Partly because I just think it would be funny, but also I'm genuinely curious if these are cyberpunk sex toys or the more traditional sort. These are important worldbuilding details!)

How exactly did Shen Ni verify that Bian Jin had never had any romantic experiences with or feelings for anyone? Maybe I'm overthinking this but the way it's phrased seems to leave little room for doubt, and I can't help wondering if something did in fact happen between these two beyond Shen Ni's 'one-sided confession'... I mean, on the one hand surely not, right? But on the other hand.

(I have to admit the 'cold and competent but sexually inexperienced and awkward about it' is not my personal favourite trope but oh well, we'll see where it goes.)

'I was young and inexperienced back then, and mistook reliance for love. But I had a few relationships before we reunited, and have long since forgotten my old crush' ...hey Shen Ni, quick question, exactly how far down your throat can you continue to shove your foot? Asking for science.

also I'm genuinely curious if these are cyberpunk sex toys or the more traditional sort. These are important worldbuilding details!)
Right?? How am I supposed to compile the 'tech watch' section of the summaries properly without details!

Maybe I'm overthinking this but the way it's phrased seems to leave little room for doubt
Yes, that's my read on it as well. Shen Ni seems very sure.

'cold and competent but sexually inexperienced and awkward about it'
FYI, I'm pretty certain this is the first time Ning Yuan has ever tagged a novel as 互攻 so I am WONDERING. Also, I'm hopeful for 'repressed bursting out into glorious conflagration' rather than 'awkward'.

She promises that, within two years, she'll be able to fully repair Bian Jin's jade core

I'm looking forward to the spine repair. I like h/c caretaker/taken-cared of type scenarios, and mechanist + person who needs something fixed is a very specific type of this that I really like.

also super curious about the sex toys XD

Thank you for the detailed summaries!

also super curious about the sex toys
I'm sure we all are haha.

Edited 2024-06-18 19:45 (UTC)

The next morning, Shen Ni and Bian Jin wake up at about the same time. They don't speak to each other. Shen Ni quickly leaves the room, puts on her official robes, and leaves for the palace without having breakfast but having instructed Auntie Wan as to what sort of medicinal tonics Bian Jin should be given.

Shen Ni takes the hovercraft to the palace, instead of riding. It's described as being about the same size as a motorcycle, and she puts on a scarf around her head, cloak and sunglasses as she gets on. She steers the hovercraft onto a pre-set route and the autopilot takes over. She turns on the control screen to find some messages from Yanluo, the territory she used to fight in, where she still has some trusted subordinates and retainers.

It seems Shen Ni has been secretly investigating exactly what happened to Bian Jin during the last three years when she went missing. She has inspected Bian Jin's memory module, which was pretty heavily damaged. Now that she's repaired it, Bian Jin should be able to remember something as serious as committing high treason, which would take up a large part of the memory module, yet she doesn't. Shen Ni also doesn't think Bian Jin is lying, as Bian Jin would find it beneath her.

Shen Ni recalls the popular version of the story: that Bian Jin was so enamoured of the emperor of Xuanzhou that she handed over the keys to two cities that she was supposed to protect, allowing Xuanzhou to conquer those cities effortlessly. The popular accounts also claim that Bian Jin and her royal lover spent their days in endless sexual debauchery, which Shen Ni has a very difficult time believing. She thinks to herself that Bian Jin is probably even less sexual than a horse hitching-pole. She recalls having seen the emperor of Xuanzhou once, from a distance. She couldn't see the other woman's face clearly, but her impression is that the emperor of Xuanzhou was deeply unhinged.

Since Bian Jin's memory module shows no signs of being infected by the Black Box virus, Shen Ni thinks that the only thing that could have happened is that someone hacked into it and either locked up her memories of those three years, or overwrote them. A hacker capable of doing this would be a match for Shen Ni's own technical abilities. What she's absolutely certain of is that Bian Jin would never betray the empire.

Shen Ni thinks to herself that, the last time Bian Jin left for war, she expected that the next time she saw Bian Jin again would be as a corpse — and she would recognise that corpse as Bian Jin, even if it was otherwise unmarked. Getting a heavily injured Bian Jin back, she thinks, is not the worst case scenario.

Shen Ni and various other officials (all on hovercraft or mecha horseback) arrive at the palace for the month's only morning court session. Some of them express surprise that she would be there so soon after her wedding.

And then we get a whole lot of world-building information. Apparently all the technological information to which we owe the cyberpunk element of this universe was discovered by the founder of the current dynasty (and Li Ruoyuan's ancestor), sealed up in a capsule from, quite literally, the future. Alongside the capsule was a letter from its senders, who claim that they're sending all this technology back in time to help their ancestors. The letter states that the senders aren't sure where (or when) the capsule will end up. This, the narrative tells us, has resulted in a society that venerates the future, to the point that the empire is named TangPro: Tang for the Tang Dynasty (described in the text as a 'future dynasty').

Li Ruoyuan makes her appearance, and we learn that she's been on the throne for more than three decades. Shen Ni reflects on the fact that, despite all the technological advancements they've had so far, they still haven't managed to invent time travel yet. She also wonders whether the supposed 'descendants from the future' really sent all this technology back solely out of the goodness of their hearts. There's an interesting suggestion here that she thinks of the empire as being so decadent and twisted that it's now on its last legs, a kind of last days of the Roman Empire vibe.

We get a lot of detail about Shen Ni's planned firewall defences, and Shen Ni asks Li Ruoyuan for clearance to to enter the Supreme Bureau of R&D, so that she can get her hands on the tech needed to perfect the firewall. Li Ruoyuan is reluctant to say yes, but Shen Ni is persistent, and says that she's happy to wait until Li Ruoyuan has had time to do make all the necessary arrangements. Meimei would never agree, thinks Li Ruoyuan. Shortly after Shen Ni leaves, Li Ruoyuan falls into a weary slumber. A person approaches, lifts her up by the chin and, we're told, carefully scrutinises every inch of her child-like face.

We then cut to Bian Jin back at the house, where she's testing out her physical capabilities: she's able to walk around the courtyard a few times, jump up onto a tree and jump down again, easily and nimbly. She contemplates trying to jump onto the roof, but then remembers what Shen Ni said about not straining her temporary spine, and doesn't. She doesn't want to make Shen Ni's job of repairing her more difficult than it is, after all.

The digital watch around her wrist (which Shen Ni gave her) buzzes with a message from the Messenger Pigeon app. Bian Jin reflects that people used to have secondary brains implanted into their bodies, but that provided the Black Box venue with an easy route to invasion, so people have now largely moved on to external devices.

The message Bian Jin has received is from the Ministry of Personnel, appointing her to a position which is basically an archivist. She muses that Li Ruoyuan has done this to keep her staying in Chang'an, the better to investigate the claim that she betrayed the empire. She to accesses her memory module, and notes that her main long-term memories of the past are intact, thanks to Shen Ni's repairs. However, when she tries to recall her memories of the lost last three years, she finds her access blocked. Only a very skilled machinist could have done this, Bian Jin thinks.

Auntie Wan comes in with Bian Jin's tonic, which is so bitter than even she, the terror of battlefields, makes a fact over the taste. She asks if there's anything sweet to go with it, and Auntie Wan grins and hands over a piece of osmanthus candy. She tells Bian Jin that Shen Ni specifically told her that this was Bian Jin's favourite, and that Bian Jin was sure to want it after she'd taken the tonic.

Bian Jin thinks about how, although Shen Ni is no longer in love with her, she's still taking full responsibility for Bian Jin's well-being within the scope of this loveless marriage. Perhaps, she thinks, no matter who becomes shimei's wife, shimei would be just as attentive to her.

Tech watch: facial recognition scanners used at court; time travel; digital watch; I'm not counting the sunglasses as they have also been around a perhaps surprisingly long time.
Named men: 1.5
Reverse Bechdel passes: 0

This was a CHONKY chapter.

She thinks to herself that Bian Jin is probably even less sexual than a horse hitching-pole
Calling this now: one day Bian Jin is going to make Shen Ni eat her words. Shen Ni probably won't mind though.

She couldn't see the other woman's face clearly, but her impression is that the emperor of Xuanzhou was deeply unhinged.
Super looking forward to meeting her.

Shen Ni thinks that the only thing that could have happened is that someone hacked into it and either locked up her memories of those three years, or overwrote them.
Wondering now if Bian Jin did that herself. She doesn't seem to have the necessary technical competency, but then again she might not need as high a skill level if she's doing that herself. Yes, I did read the second lesbian necromancers in space book and liked this particular plot feature.

And then we get a whole lot of world-building information.
And it was A LOT. Do we think time-travel is within bounds for a cyberpunk novel?

the empire is named TangPro
I absolutely howled with laughter at this. Also explains why the emperor is a Li; no one ever names anyone interesting Li unless they are (1) Gu Long; or (2) making a Tang Dynasty reference. I am allowed to say this as my own surname is a variant on Li. Also I stole the name of Gu Long's Li-protagonist for my own wuxia WIP Li-protagonist.

She also wonders whether the supposed 'descendants from the future' really sent all this technology back solely out of the goodness of their hearts.
Maybe the reverse time capsule was a reverse Pandora's box. Maybe the Black Box virus was the gift our descendants sent us all along.

Meimei would never agree, thinks Li Ruoyuan. Shortly after Shen Ni leaves, Li Ruoyuan falls into a weary slumber. A person approaches, lifts her up by the chin and, we're told, carefully scrutinises every inch of her child-like face.
OH HELLO.

The digital watch around her wrist (which Shen Ni gave her) buzzes with a message from the Messenger Pigeon app
I guess we also now know how Zeng Qingluo was reading her messages a couple of chapters ago.

Bian Jin thinks about how, although Shen Ni is no longer in love with her.
Oh COME ON Bian Jin, you actually believed her?

Edited 2024-06-18 20:14 (UTC)

I read this after I commented on Twitter but your last point ... YES, I agree. Anybody with more than two brain cells could figure out that Shen Ni is still hung up on her. But I also understand why Bian Jin would trust her on her word when she says she isn't in love with her any longer. I mean, you'd have to be pretty up yourself if you go around thinking someone's still in love with you when they blatantly declare they're over you.

Sorry, I'm always going on and on about the Feelings part(s) of a chapter. I'm more into that than the technical, sci-fi, futuristic stuff.

Also, I don't get why you laughed about the TangPro stuff. I'm especially interested because Tang is my maternal grandmother's surname.

Aha, I guess I'm slightly comparing it to The Creator's Grace where Chi Yu just pushes away all of Ran Jin's attempts at being cold and withholding with 'Come ON, I know you love me, it's obvious!' Ran Jin doesn't hold out for long against this.

Wondering now if Bian Jin did that herself.
That indeed does not seem outside the realm of possibility (and I have also enjoyed similar plot points in other stories so would not be remotely disappointed if this were the case).

Do we think time-travel is within bounds for a cyberpunk novel?
I was definitely thrown by it! Which again could be because I tend to just have a weird blind spot around time travel in that it's not something I ever expect in a story unless it's explicitly stated as the whole premise, and it's also not something I typically seek out in speculative fiction. But it does feel like it's walking the edge of the genre definition - I think it'll depend somewhat on how it ends up being used and/or explained. There are ways I could see it being made to fit more comfortably under 'cyberpunk' (simulation, tech that can look/reach into parallel timelines without actually moving backwards and forwards in a single one, turning out to actually be a case of post-apocalyptic setting where there was a technology-level reset that makes the past seem futuristic, etc.) but I'm definitely raising my eyebrows a bit.

OH HELLO.
WHO ARE YOU WHAT IS GOING ON

Also, not super ready for public consumption yet but I made this for ease of even more Ning Yuan stanning.

LMFAO - it's cute to see you fangirling over someone. It's also hard for me to picture you being like this but I'm starting to see it. Ning Yuan is an extremely capable writer, it seems. As an added bonus, her stories are longgggg ... which I just lurveee. ;-)

I just saw that you're going to translate Ravenous. Super excited for it!!! I don't think I've read any of her stories so your translation of that will be the first for me. :)

Edited 2024-06-19 02:05 (UTC)

I'm excited to start translating it!

Apparently all the technological information to which we owe the cyberpunk element of this universe was discovered by the founder of the current dynasty (and Li Ruoyuan's ancestor), sealed up in a capsule from, quite literally, the future.

I wonder if we will get to know more about this detail... Future tech to the past, but why?

Bian Jin reflects that people used to have secondary brains implanted into their bodies, but that provided the Black Box venue with an easy route to invasion, so people have now largely moved on to external devices.

Trying to picture this is a little hard. On the body where? External devices where?

Shen Ni is no longer in love with her, she's still taking full responsibility for Bian Jin's well-being within the scope of this loveless marriage.

Hahaha, sureee (+1 to your comment on this)

I am looking forward to memory shenanigans. Possibility of erasure/rewrite (messing with memories is always a fun thing to read!)

This chapter was a wild ride, mostly because I never expect time travel so am always thrown whenever it shows up. And then before I could digest that, ‘TangPro’ comes flying in out of nowhere XD

(Shen Ni: ‘welcome to…’ *dramatically pulls off sunglasses as her official robes whip around in the wind* ‘…TangPro’)

Anyway I now have all kinds of increasingly implausible theories around the time travel and Black Box… Unintended consequences of breaking through the barriers in time/timelines? Deliberately planted for nefarious purposes? The solution to time travel but not understood or implemented correctly? The little description we have of it so far in terms of mutation/fluidity/the Rubiks cube imagery does feel like something that could happen as a result of or in relation to fucking with time or timelines in some way, but who knows! There’s also a small part of me wondering if the ‘time travel’ is in fact legit or if there are some shenanigans involved there as well.

And thinking about the virus has me thinking about Bian Jin’s missing time and, okay, baseless wild theory time: what if she and the army she was leading were all infected with it, and breaking all the cybernetic components of her body was the only way to ‘cure’ her by destroying anything the virus could latch onto (why her organic body would also have been broken by this I don’t know so that’s a snag in this theory admittedly but still). And then that’s why there are rumours of uncharacteristic behaviour, and she can’t access the memories, because doing so would like… release the virus again? Or something?

The sun rose behind Li Ruoyang, its golden rays casting a vast and lengthening shadow across the ground
This is just an innocent line of description with absolutely no further meaning I’m sure.

Shen Ni was well aware [of what Li Ruoyuan was doing by putting all the responsibility for the city’s defences on her], but the defences did have to be built. Otherwise, when the Black Box virus rose again and attacked the capital, the devastation would break Bian Jin’s heart
I know we got a hint of this already in the preview/intro but I am eyes.emoji at Shen Ni’s motivation here. (In a good way. I enjoy this flavour of unhinged).

(Shen Ni: ‘welcome to…’ *dramatically pulls off sunglasses as her official robes whip around in the wind* ‘…TangPro’)
If they ever make a drama based on this, this should definitely be in the trailer.

This is just an innocent line of description with absolutely no further meaning I’m sure.
I don't know if you were ever lured into reading the Song of Ice and Fire series as an innocent teen, but this reminded me of the line in Book One where Tyrion Lannister casts a long shadow across the floor and just for a moment 'he stood as tall as a king'.

Bian Jin’s missing time and, okay, baseless wild theory time
I have not done this much live speculation since my misspent years as a Lost watcher, and it's fun. Possible wild baseless twist: maybe the virus is benevolent or otherwise not-evil, and Bian Jin is working with it to overthrow the current form of 'civilisation' but needs to keep it very secret, hence the memory wipe?? (Ning Yuan has not done this level of reversal in the stuff I've read from her before, but the summary is kind of suggestive. That is, if she sticks to the summary)

I have not done this much live speculation since my misspent years as a Lost watcher, and it's fun.
Yeah I haven't followed a WIP of any kind in a while, but am very much enjoying this somewhat nostalgic return to wild speculation.

Speaking of which, chapter 10 gives us more to chew on (hehe) here and I am in full red-string-on-a-murder-board mode.

I am right at the murder board with you AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

On her way home, Shen Ni receives a message from the Ministry of Households inviting her and her new wife to sign up for a 'couples module'. This allows couples to share their emotions, senses, dreams, and seemingly even lets them control each other's bodies. Couples who have signed up for this either (1) stay together for the rest of their lives or (2) get divorced quickly. Shen Ni reflects that Bian Jin probably won't want to sign up for this with her.

Shen Ni arrives home to find Bian Jin talking to two attendants. She notes that Bian Jin no longer looks ill, but is still a little fragile, and that combined with the rays of the setting sun give her a gentler air that is at odds with her memory of her intimidating shijie.

Bian Jin is wearing the official robes for her new position, which Shen Ni thinks suits her. Bian Jin, meanwhile, is struck by the beauty of Shen Ni's lips, and when Shen Ni takes off her sunglasses, the beauty of Shen Ni's eyes. She doesn't quite know where to look, and muses on how quickly the little girl she used to look after has grown.

Bian Jin tells Shen Ni about her appointment to the new role (which Shen Ni requested the emperor to do), and Shen Ni has Feelings about how domestic it all is — her wife telling her about her day. As Shen Ni is about to leave, Bian Jin mentions that she also received a message about the couples module. She adds that, after carefully reading all the documentation for the couples module, it's best that they don't sign up for it.

Then Bian Jin feels nauseous, and reveals this only through a very very tiny frown. When Ni spots this, of course. She's holds out her hand to stop Bian Jin from leaving, then realises she's not wearing gloves, so pulls her hand back, and her little finger ends up just hooking through Bian Jin's. Bian Jin isn't wearing gloves either, and the brief contact goes through her like an electric shock.

Bian Jin explains that it's just that the food at the archive didn't suit her. Shen Ni recalls that she's always had a delicate stomach, and could only tolerate very light, non-greasy dishes, though she seemed to have gotten over that during the years she was at war. Bian Jin feels a little ill at ease about having revealed this, thinking she might come across as sajiao-ing at Shen Ni.

Shen Ni is in her workshop testing out a mechanical arm when Auntie Wan comes to tell her that dinner is ready. Shen Ni reflects that Bian Jin has only called her by her childhood nickname 'A-Yao' once since their reunion, and that was when she was barely conscious. She decides that Bian Jin probably still has some ill-feeling over what happened between them. I was the one who got flogged, and I haven't said anything, she adds mentally. So as not to undermine Bian Jin's appetite, she tells Auntie Wan that Bian Jin should eat first without waiting for her. Auntie Wan, as she leaves, muses on why two women who have already consummated their marriage should still address each other as shijie and shimei, and is it some sort of kink.

Bian Jin, sitting in the dining room, gets Auntie Wan's message, but doesn't eat, deciding to wait for Shen Ni instead. In keeping with her long-time habit of never wasting time, she tries to break through the block on her memory module. This is unsuccessful: fragments of memories simply stab into her mind, causing her pain. She decides that she can't try to rush things, in case she damages what Shen Ni had worked so hard to repair.

Bian Jin finally realises that Shen Ni won't actually come to dinner, so she starts eating by herself, letting the light fare soothe her stomach. Suddenly she recalls what Shen Ni told her before, that she'd had a few romantic relationships since overcoming her crush on Bian Jin. She wonders if Shen Ni had a lover at the time they were commanded to marry, and whether the marriage has affected Shen Ni's relationship with this hypothetical lover.

That night, the two of them sleep as before: Shen Ni on the floor, Bian Jin in bed. The following day, Shen Ni doesn't have to court, because Li Ruoyuan hasn't given her the sought-after clearance for the Supreme Bureau of R&D yet, so she decides to catch up on her lost sleep. Bian Jin, however, does have to rise early to go to the archive. When she gets out of bed, she sees that Shen Ni is cuddling a fat, yellow soft toy. She recalls that Shen Ni used to fall asleep holding her.

At lunchtime, Bian Jin doesn't follow her colleagues to the staff canteen (they have a fancier historical name, but it's basically a staff canteen) with its horrible greasy food. Instead, she uses her digital watch to log on to the dark web, through which she used to buy military equipment and special killing devices. She's searching for her bone whip, which used never to leave her side. It's now missing following her capture by the Lijing Bureau and her detention at the Court of Judicature and Revision. She's pretty sure that if it's been found by an outsider, they're likely to list it for sale on the dark web. However, there's no sign of it anywhere.

She logs out of the dark web and onto a standard shopping site instead, intending to buy herself a new whip for self-defence. She notes that prices have risen significantly: all the whips she's interested in cost about five hundred taels of silver. Luckily her (bank) accounts have been unfrozen, so she has tens of thousands of taels to use.

Just as she's about to make the purchase, she hears one of her colleagues complaining about their spouse, who's been spending too much of their money on horses. The colleague emphasises that now they're married, all their money is held jointly, so their spouse really should have told them.

Bian Jin pauses at this, and thinks to herself that, since she and Shen Ni and now married and hold their property in common, she should let Shen Ni know that she's planning to make such a big purchase. She sends a screenshot of the whip and Messenger Pigeons it to Shen Ni with the note 'I'd like to buy this.'

Shen Ni has just woken up, and is delighted that Bian Jin would send her a message, and even more delighted that Bian Jin would ask her for a present. She immediately replies, saying 'Buy it, I've transferred you five hundred taels.' This merely confuses Bian Jin.

Tech watch: couples module; dark web; shopping website.
Named men: 1.5
Reverse Bechdel passes: 0

Edited 2024-06-19 19:45 (UTC)

This allows couples to share their emotions, senses, dreams, and seemingly even lets them control each other's bodies.
We're all thinking about creative uses for this technology, right? Incidentally, the author of Divination set this up and never actually used it, to my eternal disappointment.

She adds that, after carefully reading all the documentation for the couples module
I like the unexpected character trait of Bian Jin being the kind of conscientious nerd who reads end-user licence agreements.

She decides that she can't try to rush things, in case she damages what Shen Ni had worked so hard to repair.
I like the emerging theme of Bian Jin starting to look after herself because she treasures all the hard work Shen Ni put into fixing her.

She wonders if Shen Ni had a lover at the time they were commanded to marry, and whether the marriage has affected Shen Ni's relationship with this hypothetical lover.
Bian Jin, what are you doing, why have you invented a whole imaginary girlfriend for Shen Ni.

When she gets out of bed, she sees that Shen Ni is cuddling a fat, yellow soft toy.
I somehow INTENSELY need this to be a Pikachu soft toy.

The colleague emphasises that now they're married, all their money is held jointly, so their spouse really should have told them.
Wow, what is this marital property regime? Community property PLUS? Community property RETROACTIVE?

since she and Shen Ni and now married and hold their property in common, she should let Shen Ni know that she's planning to make such a big purchase
Again, the nerdy conscientious side of Bian Jin poking her head out.

I'm kind of ready now to see more characters emerge. We haven't had a single new named character for a few chapters now. Also, keen to see Zeng Qingluo return to help Shen Ni with her scheming.

We're all thinking about creative uses for this technology, right?

absolutely XD

We're all thinking about creative uses for this technology, right?
;)

Wow, what is this marital property regime? Community property PLUS? Community property RETROACTIVE?
Community property PRO?

Community property PRO?
sjklgjljhlkjl

Shen Ni is so careful and caring for Bian Jin

Bian Jin pauses at this, and thinks to herself that, since she and Shen Ni and now married and hold their property in common, she should let Shen Ni know that she's planning to make such a big purchase. She sends a screenshot of the whip and Messenger Pigeons it to Shen Ni with the note 'I'd like to buy this.'

Shen Ni has just woken up, and is delighted that Bian Jin would send her a message, and even more delighted that Bian Jin would ask her for a present. She immediately replies, saying 'Buy it, I've transferred you five hundred taels.' This merely confuses Bian Jin.

I love this. Very cute chapter!

It was nice to have a slower chapter after that intense information-heavy one!

This chapter felt like a much-needed pause to catch my breath after that last chapter slightly broke my brain.

The list of functions the couples’ module can provide… 1) yikes 2) ;) 3) one of my favourite extremely-specific-tropes is hidden pain being revealed against the sufferer’s will via some form of sense-sharing so I am LOOKING.

NOOOO SHE LOST HER BONE-WHIP????
(…why exactly do you think the whip will help you recover your memories, Bian Jin? Is something stored in there, perhaps? Or is this just straightforward ‘feeling more like myself again will help me remember’?)

Shen Ni happily buying a whip for her wife is fun even without context but their shared history certainly adds another layer to it.

NOOOO SHE LOST HER BONE-WHIP????
Combining this with that early speculation about this being made out of her own bones... somewhere out there, some other woman is in possession of this whip made of Bian Jin's bones?? UNACCEPTABLE. Shen Ni is going to declare war.

Shen Ni gets another message, and she thinks it might be Bian Jin — but no, it's a standard message to all residents of Chang'an inviting them to the Shangyuan lantern festival, at which something called the Great Wheel of Fire will be unveiled alongside a host of the usual entertainments. Shen Ni checks her palace account, which only shows that Li Ruoyuan still hasn't given her the requested security clearance. Then she gets another message — which still isn't from Bian Jin, but from an old comrade during her Yanluo days, telling her that they're coming to Chang'an on official business and would like to take the opportunity to visit her and congratulate her on her wedding. Over the course of the day, Shen Ni receives message after message, but none from Bian Jin. She wonders if it's because Bian Jin is busy at the archive.

Bian Jin is indeed busy. She was about to try and explain to Shen Ni that Shen Ni had completely misunderstood her meaning, when the chief archivist Cheng Zhe tells her to help store away damaged cyborg bodies (it's one of the things the archive preserves). Cheng Zhe has a major grudge against Bian Jin, who refused his application for a promotion back when she was still in charge of the northern border, pointing out that someone like him — who had abandoned his first wife and their daughter in favour of marrying another woman who could help further his career — was sure to betray his responsibilities for his own ambitions. He had been looking forward to making her life hell once she was transferred to the archive; unfortunately for him, she's now married to Shen Ni, and he doesn't dare to touch Shen Ni's wife.

In the file room, Bian Jin finds today's duty officer, a young, petite woman named Meng Chu, struggling to maneuver the cart containing the heavy cyborg bodies. Bian Jin whisks the cart away silently and effortlessly; Meng Chu is surprised, and also struck by her beauty. Bian Jin demonstrates to Meng Chu has to efficiently use a giant mechanical arm to lift up the bodies and put them away. Meng Chu asks her name, is told it, and has a brief blue-screen-of-death moment as she recognises the name.

Back at home, Shen Ni decides to make lunch for Bian Jin — soup, steamed fish and a strawberry cheesecake. When she arrives at the archive, with said lunch packed away in an insulated lunchbox, she overhears a couple of men gossiping about Bian Jin. The thrust of the matter is that she still has a lot of former comrades and subordinates who remain loyal to her, and who petitioned the emperor to pardon her. One of them wonders how Shen Ni, who is known to hold a grudge against Bian Jin, tortures her behind closed doors. They also talk about how Cheng Zhe has been arranging for the staff canteen to add grease and salt to the food they prepare, and how he is right this minute treating all of the archive staff — with the conspicuous exception of Bian Jin — to tong sui.

Shen Ni marches into the archive, pausing to ask a female official where her wife is, and charming her completely in the process. In the main room, everyone is eating the tong sui which Cheng Zhe has bought, except Bian Jin. Bian Jin wouldn't have noticed that she was being deliberately left out if Cheng Zhe hadn't been staring at her, waiting for her to realise it. Then she hears a voice calling sweetly, 'my lady wife', and thinks the speaker must be addressing someone else — until Shen Ni bends over her and asks 'what's my wife so engrossed in?'

As far as Bian Jin's colleagues are concerned, Shen Ni's appearance, complete with lunchbox, puts paid to all the rumours about her harbouring a grudge against Bian Jin. Then Shen Ni exclaims in puzzled tones, 'Why are you the only one who didn't get any tong sui?' The text notes that she's always been like this since she was little: the wickeder she intends to be, the more innocent she seems. Cheng Zhe, of course, understands the meaning behind her words, and hastily hands over his own (as yet untouched) portion of tong sui, making excuses all the while. Shen Ni pushes it away, telling him that her wife rarely eats outside food.

Shen Ni then takes out the little box with the cheesecake in it, wipes her hands with an anti-bacterial wet wipe, scoops up a small piece of cheesecake with a spoon and brings it to Bian Jin's mouth. Bian Jin is about to tell her that she needn't go that far with the 'loving wives' act, when Shen Ni suddenly says, 'It's your favourite dessert, I made it for you especially.' On hearing that, Bian Jin's eyes soften.

Shen Ni leans closer to Bian Jin and says, in a whisper only the two of them can hear, 'Play along with me.' The text tells us that Bian Jin is used to being the one to give commands, and rarely receives them; on hearing Shen Ni's words, her eyes take on a certain glow. Meng Chu, staring at them from a corner, is so surprised at the sight of killing machine Bian Jin being so docile in front of her wife that she can barely blink.

Bian Jin compliantly removes her face mask (set to transparent) and slowly leans closer to the spoon in Shen Ni's hand. Her breath tickles Shen Ni's fingertips. The text tells us that Bian Jin has always been beyond Shen Ni's control; now that she's looking down at Bian Jin, and Bian Jin's looking up at her and doing as she says, Shen Ni is experiencing a sensation that she's never had before; a wicked electrical current seems to be running through her.

Perhaps because she's not used to being so close to another person, Bian Jin misjudges the distance and ends up pressing her lips against Shen Ni's fingertips.

Tech watch: mechanical arm thing; retina scanner (on the door to the file room); e-cigarettes (being smoked by the gossipers); anti-bacterial wet wipes.
Named men: 2.5
Reverse Bechdel passes: 0

JUST as I was talking about wanting the cast to expand, Ning Yuan gives us two new named characters. The only other time this has happened was when I was in the middle of reading a run-on sentence in Orlando and muttered 'Virginia, this sentence has gone on for entirely too long', and four words later, the text itself was saying something like 'But there, we have gone on too long'.

something called the Great Wheel of Fire will be unveiled
This looks like the Eye of Sauron in my head.

Shen Ni receives message after message, but none from Bian Jin
Shen Ni behaving like a high school girl with a crush is cute.

the wickeder she intends to be, the more innocent she seems
Ahahaha this is indeed rapidly becoming Shen Ni's brand.

The text tells us that Bian Jin is used to being the one to give commands, and rarely receives them; on hearing Shen Ni's words, her eyes take on a certain glow.
Bian Jin has always been beyond Shen Ni's control; now that she's looking down at Bian Jin, and Bian Jin's looking up at her and doing as she says, Shen Ni is experiencing a sensation that she's never had before; a wicked electrical current seems to be running through her.
I SEE I SEE.

Meng Chu, staring at them from a corner, is so surprised at the sight of killing machine Bian Jin being so docile in front of her wife that she can barely blink
Shipper on deck? Shipper on deck!

Edited 2024-06-20 19:35 (UTC)

I am loving Shen Ni’s smiling sweetly whilst ruining someone’s day routine.

Li Ruoyuan should have tasked Meng Chu with verifying the consummation given how avidly she’s staring at this little performance.

Bian Jin, that ice-cold weapon in human form
OH THIS IS WHAT I AM HERE FOR!!

Bian Jin if you don't want that portion of tong sui please can I have it?
(Is there a Hui Lau Shan PRO in this world?)

Meng Chu has a front-row seat to all the wifely affection!

(Is there a Hui Lau Shan PRO in this world?)
Now I'm wondering if there's a Haidilao PRO. Or a Ding Tai Fung PRO. Very off-piste but why is the only Hui Lau Shan in the UK in Nottingham of all places.

why is the only Hui Lau Shan in the UK in Nottingham of all places.
RIGHT?? What is it doing there?? I have so many questions.

You know what stood out to me? Strawberry cheesecake. Love cheesecake but not after eating steamed fish. lol *redacted*

I honestly don't know who'll feel the biggest tingle from the feeding incident: fingertips or lips?? Been on the fingertip end but not the lips, so if anyone can speak from experience, please stand up.

Edited (regrets … I’ve had a few) 2024-06-21 20:17 (UTC)

Ahaha you will be pleased to know the cheesecake was the first course.

Bian Jin's lips just graze Shen Ni's fingertip, and then she moves away and focuses on being fed cheesecake as if nothing's happened. Shen Ni glances at the faint pink mark Bian Jin's lips have left, then just as assiduously carried on feeding her cheesecake as if nothing's happened. Once she's done, she reminds Bian Jin to eat the rest of the lunch while it's still warm, and starts to leave. Bian Jin offers to walk her out, and she accepts. Meng Chu, collecting all the tong sui bowls, thinks how she didn't expect that iceberg jiejie to be so clingy with her wife.

At the entrance, Bian Jin thanks Shen Ni for going out of her way. Shen Ni, valiantly trying to repress the memory of the flushed tips of Bian Jin's ears from the lunch incident, tells her not to worry about it. They're married now, she adds, so they share a joint reputation (I'm translating v loosely here). Bian Jin then clarifies the situation regarding the whip, and how she wasn't, in fact, asking Shen Ni to buy it for her, but just to notify her that she's planning on spending what is now their joint money. Shen Ni thinks about how her shijie is so tractable and mild even to her, a wife-in-name-only, and wonders what Bian Jin would be like if she really falls in love. Shen Ni tells Bian Jin to keep the five hundred taels — after all, 'what's mine is also yours'.

When Bian Jin returns to the archive, Cheng Zhe comes over specially to tell Bian Jin she can take the next day off. It's part of his all too transparent ploy to placate Shen Ni. Bian Jin says there's no need, as she still has a lot of outstanding tasks. Cheng Zhe praises her work and work ethic to all their colleagues, as Bian Jin ignores him and starts packing up.

When she arrives home, Bian Jin thanks Auntie Wan for making lunch, and is told that Shen Ni herself did the cooking. Bian Jin can't quite believe this, and recalls how, when Shen Ni was much younger, her culinary skills was so conspicuously lacking that she if she set out to roast a sweet potato, it would turn into coal. During festivals, she would hang around the pot or wok where the cooking was happening and wait for Bian Jin to feed her.

Bian Jin takes a bath, and changes into an outfit made of comfortable silky fabric — part of a set Shen Ni crafted for them both, for their wedding. Bian Jin feels that the colours are a little too bright for her, but still puts it on. As she's dressing, she discovers a very small port (as in, the type you plug digital equipment into) on her pelvis, which wasn't there before, and she realises Shen Ni must have installed it there during the initial round of repairs. She then gets slightly blushy thinking about how Shen Ni has, in the process of doing repairs, examined in detail every single part of her body, even the parts she herself doesn't really think about.

Bian Jin puts on her cloak, and realises that it's the same style as the one Shen Ni wore to the archive earlier, with the same pattern of embroidery; only the colours are different. Anyone seeing them in their matching cloaks would know that they're a couple.

Shen Ni, once again, is absent from the dinner table, and when Bian Jin asks Auntie Wan where she is, Auntie Wan explains that Shen Ni is in her workshop, where no one is ever allowed to disturb her, even to bring her food. Auntie Wan adds that, when Shen Ni was repairing Bian Jin's body the first time round, she spent five whole days holed up in her workshop, and only ate three meals in all that time. Bian Jin has Feelings about this.

Then Auntie Wan asks mysteriously whether the 'items' in the 'box of delights' need replenishing. Bian Jin takes a while to realise that she's asking about the sex toys, and becomes deeply awkward about the whole thing. Seeing this, Auntie Wan asks if it's because she and Shen Ni haven't consummated their marriage. Bian Jin is forced to lie that they have, and tells Auntie Wan she doesn't need to add or change anything in the box. Auntie Wan counters that it's better to be ready with new toys in case the mood takes them, and asks Bian Jin whether she wants to put an order in for some new toys that are about to arrive at Qiqiao Hall (which I'm going to assume is Chang'an's premier purveyor of sex toys until told otherwise), which have been designed for use by two women together. Bian Jin basically mutters an 'okay' and then flees outside to cool down in the snow.

In her workshop, Shen Ni is at what is basically her computer (we get a reference to a big digital screen, a hologram projection, and a keyboard) ending a conversation with someone on the dark web. She too is trying to track down Bian Jin's bone whip. We learn that the bone whip is one of their sect's relics, which Bian Jin had inherited from their shizun (presumably as senior disciple) and used for ten years. There's a reference to Bian Jin (I think?) having used half of her worldly possessions to 'forge' (I assume upgrade?) this rare weapon. Shen Ni sends a message to her eyes-and-ears, asking them to look into the bone whip's last known location, and specifically to investigate whether it had ever turned up in Xuanzhou.

Shen Ni heads back to the bedroom that now belongs to her and Bian Jin, and opens the door to find Bian Jin in the middle of changing into her nightclothes. She sees a flash of shoulder as Bian Jin hurriedly pulls her nightgown around her. Shen Ni swiftly turns around and apologises. As Bian Jin climbs into bed, she puts her hands over the tips of her ears, thinking that Shen Ni probably hasn't discovered that they've turned as red as the wedding canopy over the bed.

They sleep, and Bian Jin has an interesting plot-relevant nightmare. As she teeters at the edge of a shallow sleep, and is about to sink into the abyss of full dreaming, an arm suddenly reaches up from her consciousness, and a woman's voice says again and again, 'My darling, my precious, how could you leave just like that? The demonseed and I both miss you very much. Every version of you loves me, you let me drink your blood, eat your flesh. How could this be just a dream? Promise me, even if it means being punished by a thousand blades, you'll leave me your right hand, won't you?' In the half-dream, Bian Jin struggles, but the arm transforms into countless arms. All of these hands wrap themselves around her throat and start dragging her into the abyss.

Shen Ni opens her eyes at the sound of Bian Jin's laboured breathing, and hurries to Bian Jin's bedside to see her looking distinctly unwell, and at risk of overloading. She tries to shake Bian Jin awake, but Bian Jin catches hold of her wrist and says, 'Don't touch me.' Shen Ni knows that she must be having a nightmare. Shen Ni allows Bian Jin to go on gripping her wrist, and soothes her over and over. Seeming to sense something, Bian Jin calls out her childhood nickname, 'A-Yao?' Shen Ni replies with, 'It's me, shijie. I'm right here.' Bian Jin's grip slackens slightly, her breathing slows, and her temperature goes down, reducing the risk of overload.

However, Bian Jin is still clutching Shen Ni's hand, clearly unwilling for Shen Ni to go. Shen Ni finally lies down and puts her arms around Bian Jin from behind. She sees that Bian Jin is biting her own lip, which is already bleeding, and reaches out to try and coax her into relaxing her mouth. But then Bian Jin bites down on Shen Ni's hand instead, and sort of gnaws away at it in a way that still draws blood from her own lips. Shen Ni, determined to stop Bian Jin from injuring her poor own poor lips further, gently slips a finger into her mouth and parts her teeth.

Still lost in her nightmare, Bian Jin senses that someone with a very familiar scent is embracing her from behind. It's something that's never happened to her before, and the sense of security makes the tension slowly leave her body. She doesn't know why she thinks it might be Shen Ni who's holding her. The calls from the abyss grow fainter as she retreats to safe ground. She realises that in her mouth is something soft and sweet-smelling, and whatever it is doesn't try to stop her from tearing at it with her teeth. Gradually, she finds that she can't bear to torment it any further, and starts licking it soothingly instead. Shen Ni holds her tighter, and Bian Jin finally drifts off to sleep.

Tech watch: Anti-slip mat (which the servants set out at the entrance to Shen Ni's home); digital screen and hologram (in Shen Ni's workshop).
Named men: 2.5
Reverse Bechdel passes: 0

Shen Ni thinks about how her shijie is so tractable and mild even to her, a wife-in-name-only, and wonders what Bian Jin would be like if she really falls in love.
This links up nicely with the bit at the end of Chapter 7 when Bian Jin thinks that perhaps whoever shimei married, she would be just as attentive.

Also, to paraphrase that memorable line from Milagro (X-Files, season six) that is burned into every shipper's memory: 'That's impossible. Bian Jin is already in love.'

Auntie Wan asks mysteriously whether the 'items' in the 'box of delights' need replenishing
I laughed so hard at this entire sequence. Also please can one of the extras be Auntie Wan telling us the details of the sex toys.

Bian Jin has an interesting plot-relevant nightmare
WHO IS SHE IS SHE THE UNHINGED EMPEROR DID THEY HAVE A DEMON (VIRUS??) BABY TOGETHER WHAT IS GOING ON

I spent the last section of this chapter going EEEEEEEEEEEEEE in increasingly high-pitched tones.

Sweet _before_ savory? Absolutely absurd! Those two are rebels. lol

Love reading the minutiae of their (obvious to us) attraction to each other.

1) Still no actual descriptions of the items in the 'box of delights'. How are we meant to work in these conditions.

2) Can't wait for Shen Ni and Bian Jin to inadvertently end up in a dark-web bidding war with one another, without either one realising who she's bidding against.

3) THE DREAM THE DREAM THE DREAM!!!! The 'every version of you' part is particularly interesting because the notion of time-fuckery plus the few descriptions we've had of the virus is again making me wonder how... literal... this all is. Are we doing some kind of merging-of-timelines? Is the virus a way of, like, terraforming the past so that the inhabitants of the future can occupy or use or connect with it? And then the ambiguity of just how active/willing a participant(/instigator? surely not but what if?) Bian Jin was in these activities (at least from the perspective of the mostly-disembodied dream-voice) that may or may not have led to her body being in the state in which Shen Ni found it has me imagining a whole range of possible scenarios, all of which are delicious.
(Also coming back to this after having read ch13 I am just eyes.emoji at the whole thing. AAAAAAA)

To Embers We Return (焚情) Read-Along: Chapters 1 to 10

Chapter 1

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Chapter 2

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Chapter 3

Re: Chapter 3

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Chapter 4

Re: Chapter 4

Re: Chapter 4

Re: Chapter 4

Re: Chapter 4

Re: Chapter 4

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no subject

no subject

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Chapter 5

Re: Chapter 5

Re: Chapter 5

Re: Chapter 5

Re: Chapter 5

Re: Chapter 5

Re: Chapter 5

Re: Chapter 5

Re: Chapter 5

Re: Chapter 5

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Chapter 7

Re: Chapter 7

Re: Chapter 7

Re: Chapter 7

Re: Chapter 7

Re: Chapter 7

Re: Chapter 7