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

[douqi]

Ning Yuan (宁远) started serlalising her much-anticipated (especially by me) historical cyberpunk novel To Embers We Return (焚情, pinyin: fen qing, formerly known as Burning Passions but that sounded too much like the kind of historical romance that has a clinch cover with the leads' hair blowing dramatically in the wind) today. Since I know at least one other comm member is reading it as it serialises, I thought I would set up this read-along post.

Here's the updated summary for the novel (I posted about the original summary here):

When Shen Ni returned home covered in glory, the emperor granted her the position of an official of the first rank, as well as the hand in marriage of the woman she had been in love with ever since her youth, Bian Jin.

Bian Jin had once been the empire's sharpest blade — a weapon in human form whose very name filled their enemies' hearts with terror. But after a string of serious battlefield injuries, she could only stand upright with the aid of a mechanical spine.

After their wedding, unresolved conflicts between the two meant that their marriage remained unconsummated, and they continued to address each other as 'shijie' and 'shimei'. Shen Ni kept a record of every single change in the sensitivity readings of every part of Bian Jin's new cybernetic body.

Each time she made adjustments to Bian Jin's body, Shen Ni would wear gloves. She knew her shijie had an obsession with cleanliness, and hated being touched.

Bian Jin: It's just a prosthetic. There's no need for all this fuss.
Shen Ni: The proprieties must be observed.
Bian Jin: Last night, I kept asking you stop, but you didn't. I didn't see you observing the proprieties then.

As Shen Ni was fine-tuning Bian Jin's body, a small mishap resulted in Bian Jin's skin developing a heightened level of sensitivity that only Shen Ni was able to trigger. The temperature in their bridal chamber rose instantly from 'cool' to 'scorching'.

Bian Jin: Are we going to test my body again tonight? Every time my sensitivity readings go up, I'll reward you.

***

Shen Ni straightened her official's hat, and met the 'gaze' of the spybeast hovering in the air. The monster who wanted to destroy the world had finally shown its cold, poisoned claws.

Her human genes summoned her to the aid of the ancient and noble civilisation that had birthed her. She would defend it to her last breath, even if it meant having her guts smeared across the landscape.

Random passerby: Hey, I think the monster who wants to destroy the world might be your wife.
Shen Ni: (nonplussed silence)
Shen Ni: What's there to love about this greedy, corrupt world? Let it be destroyed!

The fall of a degenerate society was close at hand. The land ran red with blood.

Bian Jin, her body now in peak condition thanks to Shen Ni's efforts, placed the point of her sword against Shen Ni's heart. 'Don't you understand?' she said. 'I was just using you.'

Shen Ni, completely drenched in blood, took a step forward. 'And after you're done using me, will you reward me?'

Bian Jin: ...what.

Here is the link to the novel on JJWXC. I'll write a summary of each chapter in separate comments. Please feel free to join in, even if you're not reading the novel but are have questions/reactions. Obviously, there will be spoilers in the comments!

Comments

Re: Chapter 3

[douqi]

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.

Re: Chapter 3

[kwirkee76]

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

Re: Chapter 3

[douqi]

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

Re: Chapter 3

[neuxue]

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

Re: Chapter 3

[neuxue]

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!

Re: Chapter 3

[douqi]

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.