Hello! What are your thoughts on lxc accepting alcohol from wwx and jin zixun?
oh those scenes! I loved both scenes, but especially when Wei Wuxian snatches away Lan Wangji’s cup and downs it?
m e g a 《琅琊榜》/ Nirvana in Fire vibes, but like, in reverse. presented without context because if y’know... you know...
okay sorry, you were asking about Lan Xichen. Honestly, I feel like these moments are excellent character moments for Lan Xichen, especially in contrast with Lan Wangji. Almost across the board, our interactions with the Lan Sect in CQL give us this stereotype of a sect that is aloof, cultured, emotionally repressed, holier-than-thou, rule-following rule-abiding rule-conforming to a fault. And through these small moments, Lan Xichen shows us that the sons and daughters of Gusu Lan are more than that -- he can be playful, he can bend the rules, he is capable of compromise.
(I firmly believe that the reason why Lan Jingyi can have as much of a personality as he does is because both Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji carved out the space in Cloud Recesses for him -- Lan Xichen with his indulgence, Lan Wangji for seeing the echoes of another spunky, sassy loudmouth who didn’t know when to shut up)
When Wei Wuxian suggests they drink together, Lan Xichen laughs quietly and looks down and away, clearly shaking his head fondly at the fact that the incorrigible youth who sneaked alcohol into Cloud Recesses still lives on in this post-Sunshot Wei Wuxian. He accepts, and we get this incredibly iconic sequence (but like, iconic in a subtle way, y’know, like Lan Xichen himself):
you see that face? that is the face of a man who is about to prank his future brother-in-law and knows it
They toast each other, down the wine, and before Wei Wuxian has even set his cup down on the table, Lan Xichen is already reaching for the jar and pouring himself a second cup. Wei Wuxian is completely floored by this, torn equally between surprise and joyful delight that Lan Xichen, Zewu-jun, First Jade of Lan and Lan Wangji’s big bro, can be such a rebel
you’re right, Lan Xichen; this little stunt is worth it just to see the LOOK on Wei Wuxian’s FACE
But Lan Xichen is still a son of Gusu Lan, and immediately comes clean with the reveal -- that he can use his golden core to burn away the effects of the alcohol, so it doesn’t count
(side note: doesn’t count as drinking, or doesn’t count as breaking the rules? because I’m pretty sure that the rule forbidding alcohol is one focused on keeping alcohol out of Cloud Recesses, and not one forbidding the action of drinking, if you catch my drift. Either way, Wei Wuxian is impressed by Lan Xichen’s careful finagling of the rules)
But what this does establish is that the Lan brothers can drink alcohol without 1) breaking (a certain interpretation of) the Gusu Lan precepts, or 2) becoming immediately drop-dead drunk, which is what makes the drink Jin Zixun offers that much weightier in significance:
side note: I find it hilarious that the reason Jin Guangyao offers to deflect the drink is “he has to fly his sword home,” like some ancient ahistorical fantasy China version of drunk driving
When Jin Zixun very rudely offers the Twin Jades a drink and frames it in the context of “we’re all family here, don’t try to refuse me like an outsider,” this action very much situates this in a context of respect and political alliance. Jin Zixun forces a level of political symbolism on the exchange, essentially demanding are you with the Lanling Jin Sect, or against it?
Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji trade half a conversation in a glance in this moment, but crucially, it’s only half of one, because Lan Xichen breaks eye contact and rises (a decision that I can’t help but is partially spurred by his concern for Jin Guangyao, who’s running interference for him/risking his own influence in the Jin court to defend Lan Xichen. Just watch this scene and track Jin Guangshan’s cooly assessing gaze in the chaos. Jin Guangyao realizes this, too; after Lan Xichen takes the drink, Jin Guangyao looks absolutely devastated that his sworn brother had to breach his principles on Jin Guangyao’s watch).
Lan Xichen drinks -- a compromise. A quick drink -- he’ll burn it away immediately with his golden core, it won’t have any lasting effects. A small compromise of his values for the sake of social harmony -- this is worth it, right?
(this prefigures the conflict that unfolds in the Jin court not much later -- a compromise, not standing up for the Wen refugees or for Wei Wuxian, for the sake of social harmony. This is worth it, right?)
Lan Wangji, cut off in the middle of his silent conversation with his brother, quietly judges Lan Xichen.
I remember seeing another fascinating post about what might have happened if Lan Xichen had refused the drink, if the Twin Jades of Lan had offered a united front against Jin Zixun, because by folding, Lan Xichen then passes the pressure onto his younger brother, but you know me, chronically unable to find posts.
I wrote about 问心无愧 wenxinwukui yesterday -- this is, to me, the biggest difference between the Twin Jades. Lan Wangji is driven by this central tenet, the ability to ask his heart and know he has no regrets. Would he regret this drink? Absolutely -- it would be a display of submission to this loud-mouthed, arrogant lordling of Lanling Jin, and Lan Wangji has no interest in that. Lan Wangji doesn’t care what the consequences are -- he will not compromise his values.
Lan Xichen, in contrast, will compromise and sacrifice whenever he feels it necessary (unfortunately, he feels it’s necessary pretty often, and I can’t help but think that part of this is because he’s the first son, the sect leader, the one bound by responsibility and position in a way Lan Wangji isn’t).
I just wanted an excuse to share this screenshot of Lan Xichen, because look at that expression -- textbook-perfect dead eyes smile lips. Of course, I’ll drink with you, says the smile. You are dead to me, say his eyes.
Bonus Nie Mingjue! Throughout this exchange; he hesitates to intervene on Lan Xichen’s behalf, but to me this makes a lot of sense because they’re supposed to be equals in station; it wouldn’t do for Qinghe Nie to intervene. Gusu Lan can fight its own battles. And so Nie Mingjue decides against defending Lan Xichen, because 1) he trusts Lan Xichen to take care of himself, 2) he doesn’t want to make this even more of a kerfuffle than it already is, and 3) he doesn’t want to make Lan Xichen (and by extension, the Gusu Lan Sect) look weak in front of the Jin Sect.
What is fascinating here is that this particular screenshot is taken from when Jin Zixun pressures Lan Wangji to drink -- Nie Mingjue almost intervenes, because hey, a younger brother of his sworn brother is also his baby brother, and he could defend Lan Wangji without making the same political statements that he’d make in defending Lan Xichen. Here, he seems to be looking at Lan Xichen -- should I intervene for Wangji, or you? he asks. I could. I would. Just give me the sign.
At which point Wei Wuxian swoops in, takes the drink, and downs it. In doing so, Wei Wuxian takes the weighty political significance of the moment, the subtle power struggle between Lanling Jin and Gusu Lan, and smashes it to pieces. So this demonstration of alliance with Lanling Jin? his actions say. Sure, I’ll demonstrate my respect for you -- in the rudest and most subversive manner possible. He crashes sideways into Jin Zixun’s power play, grinds the pieces into powder, tips an empty cup over in the air and dares Jin Zixun challenge him.
I’m so intrigued by Lan Xichen’s line here; Lan Wangji is speechless at Wei Wuxian’s extremely sexy act, but Lan Xichen speaks up. What would he have said, if Jin Guangyao hadn’t swooped in to try and diffuse the situation? Lan Xichen looks nothing but concerned here, and I’m dying to know what about. How much of his worries about Wei Wuxian’s health has Lan Wangji shared with his brother? Is Lan Xichen also invested in Wei Wuxian’s increasingly fraying emotional control? Is Lan Xichen attempting to extricate Wei Wuxian from the moment, before Wei Wuxian drags Yunmeng Jiang into this mess?
Jin Guangyao tries to salvage the moment by showing Wei Wuxian to his seat, re-settling the combatants in this power struggle safely on opposite sides of the room, but Wei Wuxian will have none of it. The ensuing confrontation unfolds directly in front of the Gusu Lan table. Not in front of the Yunmeng Jiang table. The Gusu Lan table. The sect that Jin Guangshan considers the greatest threat to its complete hegemony.
After Wei Wuxian leaves, Jin Guangyao and Lan Xichen speak, briefly. This Wei-gongzi is much too impulsive, Jin Guangyao says. Agree with me, he hints, and Jin Guangshan will see you as an ally against the greater threat of Wei Wuxian.
Lan Wangji will have none of that. He emerges from behind Lan Xichen, moving forward to more directly confront Jin Guangyao.
What he said, Lan Wangji says. Was it not correct?
Jin Guangyao deflects with slippery words, and Lan Xichen does what he does best -- he compromises.
He doesn’t look at Jin Guangyao or Lan Wangji, merely says the Wei-gongzi of today truly has greatly changed in temperament. He mollifies Jin Guangyao -- in a way, agreeing with Jin Guangyao’s assessment of Wei Wuxian as too impulsive, too rash. Simultaneously, he reminds Lan Wangji -- Wei Wuxian is not himself. Crucially, Lan Xichen uses the word 心性 xinxing / temperament, which you may recall from the confrontation in episode 20; Lan Wangji, in that Yiling Supervisory Office, warns Wei Wuxian 此道损身，更损心性 / this path damages the body, and damages the temperament even more.
Lan Wangji picks up on the hint immediately; he bows to Lan Xichen, who says go, do all you can within your power. At that moment, no one knows what Lan Xichen is talking about, what mission or responsibility he’s given his younger brother, but Lan Wangji knows -- the Twin Jades of Lan are back on the same wavelength.
Go to him, Lan Xichen says, with his permission, with his blessing. Save him. Before it’s too late.
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