“If you continue to throw useless things at me and dirty my clothes, I’m going to kill you,” Maoqiu threatens, shaking his sleeve and patting his robe.plor20:
Of all the lines to make me feel nostalgic. ^^
Out from the shadows of the main building emerged the young man from the gambling den, his hands clasped behind his back. He looked nothing like the Fang Feng Bei he remembered; however, he was incredibly beautiful, with big round innocent eyes, sauntering flirtatiously towards Maoqiu. His hair was neatly in a bun, with a silver butterfly perched on the side of it, its wings fluttering. He wasn't very tall but smiled mischievously, exuding an aura of regality.
The description of a handsome, arrogant, audacious, mischievous and flirtatious man with butterfly accessories is making me think of a certain K-drama protagonist.
I'm picturing someone a bit like Park Jae-eon as the face of Huayu's male form. ^^
“I have no qualms with you, but your existence is a danger to my plans,” he said, tilting his head, his eyes examining Maoqiu. “It's a pity I must kill you because, if I'm not mistaken, I am quite smitten with you already! Tsk..tsk.” He shook his head. “Such a waste of beauty!”
And this is making me think of The Princess Bride.
Is Huayu Xiao Yao's daughter? All the references to butterflies seem to indicate it. If so, how could she be a demon? Hmm.liddi:
If one's father was 100% demon and one's mother was born half deity, half something unknown but then was altered, later in life, by blood transfusions that gave her certain demon traits, would one mathematically be more demon than not demon? It's a little early to hope too much, but perhaps Huayu's father was a white-haired demon who, unbeknownst to Maoqiu, survived or was resurrected somehow?
This is a familiar line. Too bad Maoqiu did not have anyone beside him to say, "I have told you many times that the hearts of men are devious. It should stick in your mind this time round."
More bittersweet nostalgia </3
That is such an achingly beautiful song - thank you for sharing! I never properly watched TTEOTM so I have no context - based on the lyrics, the reference to 玄鸟 seems metaphorical, or was there actually a 玄鸟 in the drama as well?
There was a flock of birds (black with red-tipped wings) in the drama.
But I gather that the reference is alluding more to the concept of migration, which would make sense. The drama includes migration between times, lives, and worlds.
And for the full line ("玄鸟归是谁" / "The xuan bird returns, who is it?")... each time there is a migration and the characters meet again in new circumstances, there are changes to their identities or memories (or they pretend that there were). So the singer asking "who is this xuan bird / person who has returned (from migration)?" would make sense in that context.
The lyric video version that I linked included these notes:
Hi, here are some references and elaborations :)
00:00 玄鸟 (Xuan Niao) is a divine bird in ancient Chinese myths and legends. From 《山海经》The Classic of Mountains and Seas, a classic text on geography and mythic beings. The initial image of Xuan Niao resembles a swallow and may be used as another name for swallows in literature.
00:45 樊笼 refers to a cage for animals and may also be used as a metaphor for a situation in which someone loses their freedom.
02:33 玄鸟归 refers to the swallows returning to the south. According to the traditional Chinese calendar, there are 24 solar terms a year (due to there being four seasons, three months per season and two solar terms per month) one of which is called 白露 White Dew, which starts when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 165° on September 7-8 on the Gregorian calendar, and ends around September 23 when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 180°.
白露 is divided into three parts, one of which is 玄鸟归. The other two are 鸿雁来 the wild geese come (referring to southward migration), and 群鸟养羞 birds stockpile food for winter.
-----
This page from the Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau elaborates on the concept:
中国古代将白露分为三候：
一候鸿鴈来，二候元鸟归，三候羣鸟养羞。
一候鸿鴈来，《月令七十二候集解》：“鸿大鴈小，自北而来南也，不谓南乡，非其居耳，详见雨水节下。” 鸿为大，雁为小，是不同的两种。鸿雁二月北飞，八月南飞。
二候元鸟归，《月令七十二候集解》：“元鸟，解见春分（春分初候，元鸟至；燕来也），此时自北而往南迁也，燕乃南方之鸟，故曰归。”玄鸟就是燕子，燕子是春分而来，秋分而去，它是北方之鸟，南飞带来生机。如今北飞为归，红花半落燕归去，秋风萧瑟，要白露满山叶飞坠了。
三候羣鸟养羞，《月令七十二候集解》：“叁人以上为众，叁兽以上为羣，羣，众也。《礼记》注曰：羞者，所羹之食。养羞者，藏之以备冬月之养也。”这个 “羞” 同 “馐”，是美食。“玄武藏木荫，丹鸟还养羞”，养羞是指诸鸟感知到肃杀之气，纷纷储食以备冬，如藏珍馔。
-----
In ancient China, Bailu was divided into three parts:
First, the migratory geese come. Second, the migratory Yuan birds (pheasants) return. Third, the migratory flocks of birds show self-consciousness.
About the first part when the wild geese arrive, "The Collection of the Seventy-Two Hours of the Moon Order" says: "The wild geese are small and come from the north to the south. They are not called Nanxiang and do not live there. For details, please see the section below." The swans are big and the geese are small. They are two different species. The swans fly north in February and south in August.
About the second part when the migratory Yuan bird (pheasant) returns, "The Collection of the Seventy-Two Hours of the Moon Order" says: "For Yuan birds (pheasants), it is understood that at the spring equinox "at the beginning of the spring equinox, the Yuan bird (pheasant) arrives; the swallow also comes" - there is migration between north and south at this time. The swallow is a bird from the south, so the migration is called a return." The black bird is a swallow. The swallow comes at the spring equinox and leaves at the autumnal equinox. It is a bird from the north. It flies south to bring life. Now it is time to fly north, and the red flowers have half fallen and the swallows are returning. The autumn wind is bleak, and the mountains are about to be covered with white dew and the leaves are flying down.
About the third part when migratory flocks of birds show self-consciousness, "The Collection of the Seventy-Two Hours of the Moon Order" says: "Three or more people are called a crowd, and three or more beasts are called a flock, a group, a flock also." "Book of Rites" notes: "Those with no self-consciousness will eat their food. Those with self-consciousness will hide their food for nourishment in the winter months." This "羞 / xiū / self-consciousness" is the same as "馐 / xiū / delicacy", as in delicious food. "Xuanwu (the black tortoise / the black warrior of the north / the personification of winter and hibernation) hides in the shade of trees, and the vermillion bird (the vermillion bird of the south / the personification of summer) is still self-conscious." Being self-conscious means that birds sense the chilling atmosphere and store food for winter, just like hiding precious delicacies.
-----
Tbh, I don't really understand how both "燕乃南方之鸟" and "它是北方之鸟" can be true. Unless the idea that's being captured is that when the swallows are in the north, they have arrived from the south, and when the swallows are in the south, they have arrived from the north. But I'm assuming something has been lost in translation there.
Tatai Jin can talk to crows so maybe it has something to do with this? I've yet to finish this drama....haha...so close yet so far. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
That too!
“Madam, I am Master Yin. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Oh! A question answered.
“Who are you?” Maoqiu inquired.
“Who do you think I am?” The young man answered as he positioned her back on the bed, and neatly covered her.
I half expected her to say, "Who do you want me to be?"
“I found her abandoned,” he said, looking at the crescent moon, still holding his tea cup. “I was cultivating when I found her.”
“Why Fang Feng Bei’s son?” Maoqiu inquired, ignoring his cup of tea, attentively looking at Wuming.
“I need a way into the clan families,” he replied, still looking at the moon, as the vapor from his tea danced in midair.
“Why?”
So I take it that Fang Feng Wuming's "mother" is not actually "his" mother... and both Huayu and the old lady are aware of that? It's not a situation like XL pretending to be FFB and caring for FFB's dying mother?
The young man summoned a bee to fly to her nose, and with a buzzing kiss, the bee evaporated, and the old woman stopped coughing.
Yet, Fang Feng Wuming's mannerisms were all too familiar to him.
My curiosity remains piqued!
I'm picturing someone a bit like Park Jae-eon as the face of Huayu's male form. ^^AH :
Omy! Perfect. LOL. XD
And this is making me think of The Princess Bride.
One of absolute favorite movies. Beautiful and great dialogue.
There was a flock of birds (black with red-tipped wings) in the drama.
I wish the drama wasn't so plot driven, but it is evitable. Most "try to stop the end of the world" set up are always leaning this way. I do; however, loved thier chemistry.
I half expected her to say, "Who do you want me to be?"
TH's use of this line, in it repetition, was just so beautiful and of course delivered perfectly by the lovely and smexy JC.
So I take it that Fang Feng Wuming's "mother" is not actually "his" mother... and both Huayu and the old lady are aware of that? It's not a situation like XL pretending to be FFB and caring for FFB's dying mother?
I wanted to draw a not so perfect parallel and make it believable for the clan to accept her.
One of absolute favorite movies. Beautiful and great dialogue.
It's always such a nostalgic watch.
I wish the drama wasn't so plot driven, but it is evitable. Most "try to stop the end of the world" set up are always leaning this way. I do; however, loved thier chemistry.
Great chemistry. Although I wish they'd had the opportunity to tap into that chemistry in a few more happy moments than what we got. And I say that as a fan of angst.
TH's use of this line, in it repetition, was just so beautiful and of course delivered perfectly by the lovely and smexy JC.
A beautiful and poignant way to dodge the question.
I wanted to draw a not so perfect parallel and make it believable for the clan to accept her.
That makes sense. The fact that she's aware that Huayu is not her son / daughter is quite interesting though. It makes me want to know more about this elderly lady!
Tbh, I don't really understand how both "燕乃南方之鸟" and "它是北方之鸟" can be true. Unless the idea that's being captured is that when the swallows are in the north, they have arrived from the south, and when the swallows are in the south, they have arrived from the north. But I'm assuming something has been lost in translation there.
My interpretation is this:
燕乃南方之鸟 means that the swallows are birds of the south. Hence when they fly south in Spring, they are actually flying home.
它是北方之鸟 indicate that the swallows fly from the north, headed towards the south, bringing life with them.
It does sound rather confusing. I read other Chinese government articles, and they just state that the swallows are birds of the south, and that their migration to the south in Spring is considered to be returning home, which I think covers the gist of what it actually means.
And for the full line ("玄鸟归是谁" / "The xuan bird returns, who is it?")... each time there is a migration and the characters meet again in new circumstances, there are changes to their identities or memories (or they pretend that there were). So the singer asking "who is this xuan bird / person who has returned (from migration)?" would make sense in that context.
Thank you for the context. I totally missed the link you shared until you mentioned it - certainly, great minds think alike seeing both you and @nathsketch shared the same song! The use of 玄鸟归 would allude to the homecoming of the one who had left, and the interpretation based on the context you described does make poignant sense, especially if it refers to a person one has been longing for, but may no longer be the same person who came back. Am not sure if I'm reading too much into it since I don't really know TTEOTM well at all.
Most definitely, ya'll ladies are very inspiring. I am so glad to have found each and one of you. I have been very shy about my writing, and have hit an artist block, so I had no creative outlet. And this has been a godsend.
You're writing a novel too? What is it about? Please don't feel shy about sharing your work - it's beautifully written and takes us down a different path, seeing it's Maoqiu-centric. Thank you very much!
Tatai Jin can talk to crows so maybe it has something to do with this? I've yet to finish this drama....haha...so close yet so far. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Ahh... crows. Not exactly swallows or xuan birds, but the colour does match!
I did watch one or two episodes of TTEOTM, after which I never continued. My daughter was telling me about what she read from the translated novel, and to be honest, it sounds like Tantai Jin was far more abusive than Xiang Liu ever was. Wonder whether there was outrage over that character too, seeing Xiang Liu got so much grief and disapproval.
About XL's soul surviving in my fic, I'm open to your thoughts. My thinking, for the purposes of the fic, was that XL's spirit would have survived similarly to how Chi You's soul survived.
So when XY died on the island where XL had died, why shouldn't her body slowly vanish and then turn into pink light that joined the spirit-manifestation-clam-shell in the ocean just off the shore of the island? And then why shouldn't XY's granddaughter see XY's spirit and XL's spirit in human form as they had been millennia earlier before XL's body died (along with the spirit-manifestation-clam-shell) on the surface of the ocean? And why shouldn't those two spirits finally get a chance to embrace before slowly disappearing together, along with the spirit-manifestation-clam-shell?
Now you got me choked up all over again with the manifestation of the sea shell as a resting place for his fragmented soul, while he waited alone for her for so many years. What would he have done if she never found out the secret of the laughing doll? Would he have waited for an eternity? Unlike Chi Chen and A Heng, those hundreds of years were spent apart, for a sliver of hope that one day, she would come. A Heng felt Chi Chen's presence with her, but he... had nothing.
I need another makjang drama after this.
Chapter 4: Fang Feng Wuming
Yay! A new chapter! Incidentally, what is the title of the fanfic?
In the moonlight, Maoqiu could tell she was once very beautiful, enough to catch the attention and pity of Fang Feng Bei. No wonder she often danced for him; it was probably the only time she didn't have to service any man in bed.
Interesting. So Fangfeng Bei never touched all the women he was associated with. But why her specifically, out of so many others?
“I found her abandoned,” he said, looking at the crescent moon, still holding his tea cup. “I was cultivating when I found her.”
Why did Huayu target her specifically? Was it out of convenience because her patron was known to be Fangfeng Bei? And why in the guise of a young man, even to the old dancer? Because men had more privileges and could move about more freely in their society, and could more easily lay claim to Fangfeng Bei's estate?
Maoqiu took a step back and realized with an eerie feeling that he had stepped into a powerful maze formation, one even Master Xiang Liu couldn't conjure, for the very first time. It was seamless, like an alternative reality.
So she is supposed to be more powerful than even Xiang Liu, but with Xiang Liu's mannerisms. Did a remnant of Xiang Liu's soul remain within her? Yet her power appears to revolve predominantly around nature, insects. Intriguing to say the least.
Thank you for sharing!
Incidentally, what is the title of the fanfic?
hahaha...I have not thought of title...it is simply saved in my storage as Maoqiu. XD
But why her specifically, out of so many others?
I've been thinking about this one even now. And the way I wrote the story with the beginning and ending first, a few middle chapters are still in progress...so the next chapter is still not finish and will probably not be posted until the end of next week.
Why did Huayu target her specifically? Was it out of convenience because her patron was known to be Fangfeng Bei? And why in the guise of a young man, even to the old dancer? Because men had more privileges and could move about more freely in their society, and could more easily lay claim to Fangfeng Bei's estate?
Most definitely out of convenience because of her ulterior motive. And yes, because men in DaHuang does have more privileges' even illegitimate sons as you can see the power difference and dynamics between FFB and FFYY.
So she is supposed to be more powerful than even Xiang Liu, but with Xiang Liu's mannerisms. Did a remnant of Xiang Liu's soul remain within her? Yet her power appears to revolve predominantly around nature, insects. Intriguing to say the least.
I finished the chapter that explains Huayu's existence and originally had it as a middle chapter, and the other day, I felt it would be more interesting as a epilogue.
You're writing a novel too? What is it about? Please don't feel shy about sharing your work - it's beautifully written and takes us down a different path, seeing it's Maoqui-centric. Thank you very much!
You're welcome. I am happy you are enjoying it. I am writing a novel that is mostly Hmong/Miao-centric with elements of our folklore and history, interweaving it with some elements I love from western fantasy and wuxia genres. I didn't think it was possible because my only writing experience has been writing animated shorts in grad school. So I have been tweaking my screenwriting skills (which leans heavily on descriptors of environment, characters, and actions) for a narrative that will help build a world as beautiful as DaHaung. The world I am building is called Pajhuam Tebchaws (The land of poetry). I am also using the Hmong language as an extinct language that can conjure up magic. So far the tentative title is called 'The General's Concubine.' The themes I am exploring will be around the institutions of patriarchy, marriage, friendship, and love (but mostly what men will do to lay claim to what they believe they are entitled to). Just recently, I have come to a realization about the structure after tackling it for almost half a year now, so I finally have an outline in my head of how to plot out the story. The chapters I have started mostly have been character-building, and I need to add some sort of plot soon.
My interpretation is this:
燕乃南方之鸟 means that the swallows are birds of the south. Hence when they fly south in Spring, they are actually flying home.
它是北方之鸟 indicate that the swallows fly from the north, headed towards the south, bringing life with them.
It does sound rather confusing. I read other Chinese government articles, and they just state that the swallows are birds of the south, and that their migration to the south in Spring is considered to be returning home, which I think covers the gist of what it actually means.
That makes sense.
Thank you for the context. I totally missed the link you shared until you mentioned it - certainly, great minds think alike seeing both you and @nathsketch shared the same song! The use of 玄鸟归 would allude to the homecoming of the one who had left, and the interpretation based on the context you described does make poignant sense, especially if it refers to a person one has been longing for, but may no longer be the same person who came back. Am not sure if I'm reading too much into it since I don't really know TTEOTM well at all.
I'm not sure if my speculation about the lyrics is right based on that context, but I hope it is. Happy to provide it! ^^
The female lead travels from her present back in time 500 years and takes on a different identity. From the ML's perspective, he first meets her with that identity. Later in the story, she appears to die but actually returns to her present (like returning home from a migration) and her original identity. The ML lives through the 500 years separating them searching for her soul in the underworld. When he meets the FL again, she pretends to only be her original identity and not the woman he knew 500 years earlier, and he questions whether she really isn't the woman he knew. Later on, the ML becomes the devil god that the FL first encountered - who made her travel back 500 years to stop him.
While they are in the past, the ML and FL have a falling out, but then enter the lucid dreams of a dragon, where they live out the love story of two other people. When they emerge, they return to their previous identities, but retain the memories of the love story they shared.
It's all rather complicated, but I do think "especially if it refers to a person one has been longing for, but may no longer be the same person who came back" could apply to some of those circumstances.
Now you got me choked up all over again with the manifestation of the sea shell as a resting place for his fragmented soul, while he waited alone for her for so many years. What would he have done if she never found out the secret of the laughing doll? Would he have waited for an eternity? Unlike Chi Chen and A Heng, those hundreds of years were spent apart, for a sliver of hope that one day, she would come. A Heng felt Chi Chen's presence with her, but he... had nothing.
I need another makjang drama after this.
Sorry liddi!
My feeling is that XL's soul would have passed on when XY's soul passed on, even if she never found the laughing doll. So his soul would not have remained where it was for eternity.
You're right that his soul was not with XY the way Chi You's soul was with Ah Heng. Which is why I like to think that his soul waited long enough to see XY come to the island after his death, and then slept in the clam shell for 2,000 years instead of waiting for her awake all that time.
she still looked completely different from herself in the morning when she said goodbye to Cang Xuan. Her hair was down, only wore a hairpin. Her dress was wrinkled and dirty. If you look carefully, there were two leaves hanging on it that hadn't been noticed...ZYHLJ:
"Uh...It's okay, it's just I fell down before...today's dress is a bit long." She smiled awkwardly. She had always told Cang Xuan everything she knew, and she wasn't good at lying to him yet.
Xiao Yao watched Cang Xuan's eyes change several times in one breath, and suddenly had a bad feeling: Could it be that her brother had misunderstood her date with Fang Feng Bei?
Just when she was about to explain a few more words, Cang Xuan suddenly smiled and said as if he didn't notice anything: "Of course. But, why don't you wait until after dinner before moving?
Finally, when the clepsydra showed the Xu time was almost over, Cang Xuan ended the torture of her and let her go back with great mercy. When saying goodbye he said something weird like "You are a big girl now, and I can't restrict you too much, but you have to know it yourself", and also "Be careful to protect yourself, but you are a doctor yourself, so I don't need to worry too much", which made Xiao Yao keep thinking about how she could have answered just now all the way back to Tianyi Palace.
CX seems like he's being surprisingly cool about this, despite seemingly inferring that XY has secretly brought FFB back to her place for multiple days' worth of adult activities.
Xiang Liu didn't seem to be sure what she meant, and his two cute little heads tilted.
Xiang Liu, who was sleeping soundly in the box, straightened his heads. Then he slowly crawled out with a little confusion when waking up, and crawled to Xiao Yao's hand on the bed. He dexterously wrapped one of Xiao Yao's fingers with his tail, put her hand right, and then began to scribble on the back of her hand with the tip of his tail...
It took Xiao Yao a second to realize that Xiang Liu was actually writing, so she leaned down to see—
Xiang Liu used the tip of his tail to write the word "water" neatly on her hand.
Nine pairs of bright little eyes looked at her expectantly from different angles.
So cute! Loving all these descriptions of little snake XL and his nine little heads.
@plor20
This update made me start to like this character Fangfeng Wuming. Her character is indeed a bit like Xiang Liu, and she has a temperament of vicissitudes of life. I'm so interested in her relationship with Master Xiang Liu... Will she and Mao Qiu be a couple? The writing is very beautiful as always :-)
I am actually having fun writing FF Wuming. Thank you.
Thank you for your second chapter. Baby XL is so adorable and I much like how you have written XY. She is always so carefree when she's with XL.
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