I swear rereading it in my comfort language made me realize many things. And taking notes also helped me quite a lot. I just wanted to share my impressions so far because there is a lot to talk about already :')
Disclaimer, this is entirely based on a french translation of the book by Jacques GARNIER and checked by Dorotea MARCIAK. There's surely lot of meaning lost in translations, there even may be some interpretation that I may not be aware of, frenchified names that got me so confused at first (it's not as bad as it sounds i swear but still) and probably long speeches Jacques had the courtoisie to spare me of, the reader I think. lol
Oh and, Jacques gives the credit to Xu Zhonglin.
Let's start of small, I just like how everyone decides to graffiti the walls. It's a small thing but given the context of Zhouwang/King Zhou being a tyrant that doesn't let anyone disagree with him, it definitely takes part of the revolution tone the book tries to introduce. Ironic, given the first character that does graffiti is Zhouwang.
Su Hu giving away his daughter was well done. I mean, he didn't want to but there was so much at risk that he was basically pressured to give away Daji. For reminder, the guy was not okay with making Daji as a concubine for many reasons and he got humiliated by Feizhong. But Su Hu caused a revolt, basically dooming his people and family to a war, his son got captured, he chosed to close the city doors when seeing Chong Heihu out of panic, slowly exhausting the city's food, bro went crazy he considered killing his family then himself. He made so many mistakes he had to comply. He meant well but did wrong.
Back at Zhouwang, I find him interesting for always agreeing with everyone and yet making the most cruel and gory decisions on his own. Don't get me wrong, Daji is the one who suggested the Gril and Jiangshi's torture, but Zhouwang was the one who put to death sentences 11 persons in total so far ? (Su Hu and Ji Chang who got away, Yin Jiao and Yin Hong who got kidnapped before being decapitated, Duyuanju and E Chongyu who actually got decapitated, Meibo and Zhaoqi who got grilled -omfg he smirked for the latter- , Jiang Huanchu who got cut into small pieces -"haché menu", Jacques, you are evil for this :')-, Shangrong who decided he was too old for this and crushed his own skull by himself, and Jiangshi's who died of torture. No i am not forgetting Lady Yang's suicide, but its more of an indirect consequence than an actual death sentence) Zhouwang is cruel on his own alright, wether Daji is for something or not.
Oof- Daji- Mixed feelings so far. Everyone blames her and she doesn't do anything to help the allegations. Out of the four times Zhouwang asked for her opinion, she just answered with "let's torture them owo" twice. I see why everyone blames her. But there is one scene I found interesting about her : Jiangshi just reprimanded her for being a bad influence on the kind and gave actual advices, the scene later, Daji is alone with her servant and says, I quote : "Je ne peux ni ne veux le supporter !" ("I can't and won't bear it/him!")
French just gave a new kind of nuance by accident. I understand she just expresses frustration against Jiangshi and not Zhouwang, but this could be an interesting take that I am ready to dive in if given the green lit OvO
Is it just me or Feizhong also slept with Daji ? I mean, he is the one who suggested to bring her, and given how he feels threatened by Daji's call for help to bring down Jiangshi because of "sweet secrets shared in bed and outragious comments he said while drunk" ? I mean, wouldn't surprise me tho. On an unrelated note, they would be a great villain duo.
Ji Chang finding baby Leizhenzi - oof- I love how it plays in my head ;; the only fluff we get from this mess, i'm considering it a treat ;;
Youhun is such a nothing character, his name could be replace by "Feizhong" and nothing would have change. I'm waiting to be proven wrong.
That's it for now for my thoughts. I also got stupid doodles to share, I got :
Nuwa being pissed she can't kill Zhouwang herself bc of little children
Chong Houhu leaving his son to die (dw, he's okay :3)
ooo my fave so far, Chong Heihu's soul getting sucked in someguy's nostrils ???
Yunzhongzi : "It stinks of fox, give me my gun"
Shangrong : "I may be old but you're the senile one out of us, you stupid asshole ! I don't need you for me to die ! I can do it myself !"
"just a little ji chang chillin in prison while the world burns :) "
My overall experience so far :
seriously f*ck Fei Zhong, with a broom (the brushy end).
It’s not Daji fault (or Su Hu’s for that matter) if she does not appeal to the king, who is virtually forcing her to become his concubine against her and he family's wishes.
I mean by this point Diji’s actual soul have been sucked out by the Thousand Years Old Vixen, but they don’t know that.
