YAY!

Jenni | 0904 ♡ ISFJ | Photoshop ❤ | Yoona | 🌴🍑 | OTPs | 🎨 | 昀牵孟绕 💜

[nexttimeisnotthesame]

♥

[scatter-brain-at-work]

Our hero's social skill is such an underrated skill among novel leads. He is not only proper in speech and bearing, but he knows when to advance and retreat and most importantly, he knows how to maintain relations. Yan Shisheng/ Yan Shang keeps pleasant face to other poor scholars, made up with the main guard who got punished because of him albeit indirectly, he keeps in good graces of liu wenji even though wenji is haughty towards him, he kept in touch with Princess's maids and guards over a year... All of these things are not easy and they take considerable effort and time.

One can say the characteristic is useful to him because he's a poor scholar, but even among the nobles, keeping relationships is extremely important and is something relagated to pragmatic heroines more often. It can be considered a somewhat feminine skill, needing to appear lowered when maintaining good face and communication, and even in this novel Yan Shang is somewhat feminised due to his heroine being a domineering princess. Perhaps the characteristic itself appears at odds with the popular masculine figure of being martial, proud, self sufficient at the least.

To require other's help, hell, to even realise you would need other's help and thus actively work at creating the networks, is somehow seen as admitting weakness so upfront. But to network without appearing as fawning is a thin tight rope to walk and has been the most valuable skill throughout history and regardless of class and gender and I hope I find more of it in other novels. Even in this one, I'm still relatively early in the novel and I hope this feature is continued throughout even when Yan Shang becomes more important.

[refinedstorage]

VIRTUA FIGHTER CROSSROADS // RGG Studio

[blurays]

Spider-Man doesn’t wear a cape.

[dangermousie]

Yan Shang pleasantly interrupted, “I am the Supreme Commander of the Army, the only third-rank high official here, responsible for all military affairs in Jiannan. Victory or defeat, I take full responsibility, you need not worry. If you truly have suggestions, officials above third rank may speak directly to me, those below third rank need not open their mouths.”

The generals were speechless.

Those ranking higher than Yan Shang’s current position were probably only the current Prime Minister and the Six Ministers, right? Who else would qualify to offer suggestions to Yan Shang?

Oh my God, there are no words for how much I love this man!

[nexttimeisnotthesame]

Yan Shang is just a badass!

[fake-married-my-dead-fiance]

there is a delicate political situation

Mu Wanyao: Send Yan Shang! He's so diplomatic and endlessly calm. He can smooth everything over!

Yan Shang: shoots a man between the eyes in broad daylight, cuts off his head, presents it to the insulted party, goes to prison for murder

Mu Wanyao: .... W. T. F.

Also Mu Wanyao: okay I see how this is a strategy for our mutual benefit but still, dude, what the fuck?

Prince Jin: Thank you for the head I guess? 🤢

The Emperor: Excellent theatre this year 🍿

and then Mu Wanyao gives Yan Shang a handjob in prison as punishment

This novel is the best.

[scatter-brain-at-work]

And in the next instant, the blade in the Deputy Minister’s hand was pressed against Yan Shang’s chest. Blood seeped out.

you know I WAS wondering, since they largely reconciled by ch 100, what was gonna happen in the rest. But I dig they went by ideological conflict rather than any stupid misunderstanding. And conflict that's been well set up and well earned. Mu Wanyao put power over him, rightfully so given her precarious situation. Yan Shang put the deaths of 72 villagers over her interests, interests that he wishes she wouldn't hold.

There's no misunderstanding. They both understand and deeply sympathize with each other. But they must do it. They must separate once more. And logically, it's clear that it's Wanyao who will compromise later; we as a reader know. But we also get that that journey will be vicious and such a promise of delicious conflict is gratifying.

Also. Very in brand for Yan Shang to do something this dramatic. He's like a sleeping volcano. Pretty while inactive, deadly once active.

[nexttimeisnotthesame]

Yan Shang testing the knife that he bought to use for his revenge 🔪꒷꒦

[thelvadams]

Sam Fisher and Solid Snake in RAINBOW SIX SIEGE: YEAR 11

[fake-married-my-dead-fiance]

Glancing toward one of the side rooms, Fang Tong asked, “Have you sent new clothes to Young Master Yan? Also, he came through the rain with his old wounds not yet healed, and after being drenched all day, it would be terrible if he caught a cold. You should send him some medicinal ointment, bandages, gauze, and ginger soup.”

Xia Rong’s eyes widened: “But Her Highness specifically said not to prepare these things. She said ‘Let him die of illness’ and ‘It’s none of my business.’ How could I disobey Her Highness?”

Fang Tong sighed. He enlightened her: “Sometimes you need to interpret Her Highness’s words in reverse. Why would she suddenly say ‘Let him die of illness’? It’s clear she’s worried about Young Master Yan but too embarrassed to show it or visit him personally. This is when you need to read Her Highness’s true intentions.”

Xia Rong had a sudden revelation and hurriedly expressed her thanks. As she was about to leave to attend to these matters, she couldn’t help but turn back to ask: “Guard Fang, you’ve been with Her Highness the longest and understand her best. Can you give me a straight answer – how should I treat Young Master Yan? Are Her Highness and Young Master Yan separated or not?”

Fang Tong answered vaguely: “Just treat him as you would a Prince Consort.”

Tigers Sniff the Rose

Poor servant girl trying to figure out Mu Wanyao from such confusing clues.

I do love how throughout the entire novel so far, Mu Wanyao's servants basically just let Yan Shang do whatever he wants in the princess's house because hey, he seems to calm her down, and they find him friendly. He's managed to charm the entire house into treating him like the princess's husband. Whenever he shows up, all the staff sigh in relief.

[fake-married-my-dead-fiance]

Zhao Lingfei stared at him blankly, lowering her voice anxiously: “Didn’t we agree you would go to Great Wei for help? How dare you…”

Wei Shu looked down at her and said: “I left, but I came back.

“As a Great Wei citizen, how could I watch my compatriots in trouble and escape alone? As a man, how could I watch a woman sacrifice her marriage to create an opportunity for me?

“Especially you… you fled thousands of li from an arranged marriage, was it to marry someone else?

“Let’s escape together. This place is eight thousand li from Chang’an, beyond Great Wei’s reach… Lingfei, we must rely on ourselves.”

Tigers Sniff the Rose

I love these two! Also, this plot is like a repeat for Mu Wanyao, like this times someone comes to save her from her horrible diplomatic marriage.

I want these two together so badly!

(I also want Yang Si and Yan Shang's sister but who knows if that will happen)

[kudriaken]

Speedpaing study of the garden.

[incidentalcomics]

A poetry comic for a rainy Saturday from my book THE SHAPE OF IDEAS 🌨

[nexttimeisnotthesame]

袁冰妍 | 端午安康🌿

[theinternetarchive]

System wallpapers from Windows XP's RTM, Build 2600; Microsoft Co., August 24, 2001.

[fake-married-my-dead-fiance]

She wasn’t stupid, usually one hint from him and she understood. She couldn’t help exclaiming: “What? Are you saying you moved out of Yongshou Temple to avoid Fifth Miss Zhao? You didn’t want to be my neighbor, didn’t want to help me, you were trying to avoid someone? From beginning to end, it was all for her?”

Yan Shang was also stunned. He said: “That’s correct… but Your Highness’s interpretation seems different from what I meant.”

Mu Wanyao: “In any case, it was for her.”

Tigers Sniff the Rose

Mu Wanyao is jealous of:

tiny female children

Yan Shang's biological sister

a woman he's actively trying to avoid

She's so ridiculous! (affectionate)

[fake-married-my-dead-fiance]

Mu Wanyao shouted: “Are you going to lecture me again? I don’t want to hear it, let me go. If you won’t act, I’ll kill Meng Zaishi myself!”

Yan Shang: “I will protect you!”

Mu Wanyao froze, no longer struggling. Held in his embrace, she turned slightly to look at him. He lowered his eyes: “As long as I live, I will protect you for life.”

He released his embrace and took two steps through the water to retrieve the bow and arrows he had previously left on the shore. Nocking an arrow to the bow, he placed it in Mu Wanyao’s hands. Resolute, the two stood in the pond as spray from the waterfall soaked them both. Yan Shang’s hands gripped Mu Wanyao’s, helping her hold the bow and arrow.

Word by word, he declared: “Throughout history, no one can take what belongs to a beautiful woman!”

He said: “I still oppose you killing the King of Wuman, but you must walk out of the past, walk out of the shadows—”

The next moment, he stood behind her, helping her draw the bow, aiming up at the battle above. Watching the fight silently, the wind blowing past, brushing her cheeks and his quiet eyes.

Tigers Sniff the Rose

Yan Shang: I would like it on record that I oppose this murder (helps with the attempted murder anyway)

Also, Sexy Archery to Murder Her Former Rapist is sexier than Sexy Archery Lessons. This is peak! I hope they keep this

[nexttimeisnotthesame]

It's insane and I'm all for killing that piece of shit! I also hope they keep this, BUT I suspect that they have changed it a bit. I think this scene that they filmed is in connection to this but Yan Shang prevented Yao Yao for shooting instead. So let's see what the context is.