iaria

Book 5

+ Hua Cheng wasn't wrong that what the maybe state preceptor said could be about Xie Lian but could also be about the Crown Prince of Wuyong. But after reading back over that scene while Xie Lian thinks it's about him I actually think it's about the Wuyong Crown Prince. It's mentioned that he's come but that "he's beyond saving" and I just have such a hard time applying this to Xie Lian. Them saying "He hasn't fully awakened yet" and "what he'll do this time." also inclines me more towards Wuyong. I wonder if he is the Kiln? Did something go wrong in his attempts to save/punish his people and he became a part of the disaster destroying them?

+ Xie Lian get distracted with thoughts about how he might have to kiss Hua Cheng and maybe more, and then getting all worked up over it, was great. All for that.

+ Xie Lian going on and on about Mu Xing's flaws to "his" face in a manner acting in his defence was such a well-played bit of passive-aggressiveness, and I was impressed.

+ I honestly do love how when it comes to Hua Cheng Xie Lian will casually turn violent on a dime to protect him.

+ I love Xie Lian immediately abandoning all the craziness around him in order to rush to Hua Cheng's side when he thought he was in trouble.

+ Amendum to my previous theory - Xie Lian isn't simply revealing corrupt Heavenly Officials but is in fact ushering in a new Heavenly Dynasty

+ This book confirms that Qi Rong is definitely the most palatable as a comic relief, who gets everything spoiled for him and also maybe smacked around a bit. Also I'm starting to think that he's actually growing a little attached to Guzi.

+ Xie Lian's joy in little Hua Cheng and how openly affectionate he was willing to be makes me a little surprised Hua Cheng didn't love it more.

+ The Puppet Master role play gave a couple really great moments of possessiveness between the two of them. Xie Lian smilingly claiming that he "belong to him" and Hua Cheng's "No one but me can touch the things I love" and "Do you think I would so easily allow you lot to touch my heart's dearest treasure?"

+ Xie Lian continuing to casually talk about the horrifying things that have happened to him - corpse poisoning at least eight hundred times, so used to starvation and exhaustion he can power through it. :(

+ It was nice to learn more about Yin Yu (and Quan Yizhen) and I feel really bad for both but also the placement and way we got the flashbacks/backstory was a little weird and didn't feel like the best place for that info dump.

+ I love the moving mountains.

+ I loved that little moment of Ruoye curled around Xie Lian's arm as he scratched it as if it were a cat. We get an ominous hint about Ruoye's creation and now I really want to know more.

+ Poor Eming. But also poor Hua Cheng and his self-loathing because he may be lashing out at Eming but I'm pretty sure all that disgust and vitriol are all aimed at himself. (I was getting a lot of Mrs. Coulter and her golden monkey.) We also got a little of Hua Cheng's self-loathing earlier in the book when he was so emphatic about hating being in a childish body.

+ I like how Xie Lian is so into fighting that he will express his awe/pleasure/approval even towards an enemy.

+ I loved the reveal that Lord Rain Master is a woman.

+ I do enjoy the continuing joke about how awful Xie Lian's cooking is and him ignoring all the chaos it causes is hilarious.

+ Another repeating motif I'm enjoying - Xie Lian and Hua Cheng getting distracted with each other and being lovey-dovey, while those around them are alternately disgusted/annoyed/queasy.

+ I found myself back to sympathising with Ling Wen when we met Jing Wen. He was a piece of work. Good for her choosing violence.