Nirvana in Fire 2, eps 17-20

[extrapenguin]

Everything happens so much.

Northern Yan: Chonghua got to be relevant to the plot – by using Pingjing's sword as a tool to assassinate Prince Hui. That ... is not quite what I wished for, show. I loved the martial arts dorks Feizhan and Tuoba Yu being all excite at getting to trade some moves. The spinning in the Chonghua-Pingjing duel was borderline ridiculous, but all three duels – Feizhan-Tuoba Yu, Chonghua-Pingjing, and Pingjing-Tuoba Yu – were aesthetically pleasing. The way that Pingjing and Pingzhang just decided to demonstrate to Tuoba Yu exactly what happened was excellently played. Also, Pingzhang's a total drama addict, with the catching the sword-bit on the hilt. Convincing Tuoba Yu to take up Prince Hui's cause and unite Yan was touching, as was Pingzhang's continuous denfense of Pingjing and Pingjing's future.

Yuanqi took Mozi's advice and looked into Puyang Ying's operation. Well done, even if Puyang caught him. Too bad Puyang is very, very good at manipulating people's grief and fear. Just like the Empress. On the one hand, she really should've said no. On the other, she's essentially isolated, with her fate depending on her son, and this guy came to exploit her. I expect that with Puyang running out of town, she might be deposed, unless her brother burns some serious karma to keep her involvement unknown. (Though honestly, Puyang gives the air of a used car salesman. How on Earth did anyone end up trusting him?)

Remember Lu Yuan, the eldest of the three kids Mei Changsu nabbed from the Servants' Prison? Apparently he's Pingzhang's biodad. He conspired with Prince Laiyang, then had a change of heart and told Tingsheng what he'd done and committed suicide. Tingsheng brought Pingzhang to Lu Yuan's unmarked grave for a good cry and also the sweetest father-son conversation ever. I honestly cannot with Changlin Manor.

Mu Qing (Old Prince Mu) died a month before ep 18. RIP. Uncle Tai, the guy taking care of Yuanqi, is being very good and caring – if only Yuanqi were less involved in plotting and actually let him fuss a bit. We also know it's 9 years from Jingyan's death, so a lot of the young'uns remember him at least somewhat – Pingjing is now 21, so he was about 12 when it happened. Pingzhang older – so wait, Jingyan knew that Tingsheng adopted him, but does the current Emperor know Pingzhang is adopted?

I suspect the Nether Fire thing is a skill of Puyang's sect. The poisoned blade given to the Empress's chief maid is alarming. It probably won't be used against Yuanshi or the Empress, since they have positive views on Puyang, but the Emperor... (Unless he wants to eliminate the Empress as well?) Disciple is foreshadowed to kick the bucket in some self-sacrificing way. Bye, Disciple. Let's hope you end up on the side of the good guys for your deed.

The plague is ominous and threatening, and an interesting enemy. I loved Lin Xi's resoluteness and the way she just went and did her duty despite Pingjing wanting her to go be safe. She even recruited Pingjing as a messenger and thus prevented some of the more dreadful outcomes! The scenes where the doctors and assorted staff are taking care of the patients in Jinling is heartwarming. And Pingjing helps because of course he does.

Minister Xun seems to be getting better. He's recovered his backbone by first voicing his objections to Puyang,
then the scenes where he first finds out Governor Li and rages at the Empress, and those scenes at the end, where he and the Cabinet and Pingzhang seal the city... <3 Damn. I love responsibility.

Comments

[schneefink]

I was shocked when Pingzhang just... took Pingjing out of the prison for the demonstration to Tuoba Yu, and once again I was reminded that Grand Secretary(/Minister? I'm confused) Xun is not actually wrong when he is concerned about the power of house Chang Lin. That does not seem like a thing Pingzhang would technically be allowed to do. And Pingzhang is usually more careful with not using the power he has, it was Pingjing who used his father's seal to get into the palace when it burned. It worked out in the end, and it makes sense that Pingzhang takes risks for his brother, but still.

I cheered when Grand Secretary Xun asked Pingzhang for help with dealing with the epidemic and Pingzhang agreed. They both want what's best for the country! They just disagree on what that is. I was also glad that Grand Secretary Xun told the Empress she's being stupid, though I'm pretty sure the Empress won't change from "anything for my son, even mass murder and ruin to the country." I wonder what will happen to her. I'm a bit disappointed we haven't seen any other Imperial consorts yet, I enjoyed that in the first season.

I'm glad Lin Xi gets to be a doctor! I hope she'll have more active stuff to do. DD said the woman who got the poisoned blade was Sister Yung(?), who works with Lin Xi - I was suspicious of her at the start, but later thought I might be wrong. Or maybe it wasn't her, guess I'll find out.

I'm so curious what Yuanqui will do. He's smart, and he has principles. I was amused that Puyang basically told him "it's Lu Yuan's fault your dad died because otherwise his treachery would never be discovered and he would still be alive," which doesn't seem like a line of argumentation Yuanqui would be open to, because he already agreed that his father should have been punished, he was just unhappy with the severity. My guess is that he'll play along, because he's also smart enough to know that Puyang won't hesitate to eliminate him if he considers him an obstacle.

I liked the story of Lu Yuan, and the talk between Tingsheng and Pingzhang was great. I was surprised at first that Tingsheng said Jingyan was very strict, but it makes sense that Jingyan would be especially harsh against traitors in the Changlin army, who he named in the memory of LS/MCS.
I also think that probably most people know that Pingzhang was adopted, at least other nobles/people of higher rank older than Pingjing who are used to keeping track of other influential families. It would have been impossible to hide, and the Emperor must know. That's probably why Pingzhang understood why the Emperor favored Pingjing. But if many know that Pingzhang's biological father was a traitor, it's probably just something people don't talk about because it would be impolite. I'm just surprised Qianxue doesn't know - she's younger as well, but it seems a bit relevant to her marriage, if only so nobody can use that knowledge against her. But we already know that Pingzhang has the unfortunate tendency to try to hide things from her to protect her.

My suspicion is that Pingjing will break the quarantine around the city to get the magical snakes needed to defeat the disease. Fingers crossed he at least gets permission/notifies the cabinet first. It's high time for him to grow up. Every time I get my hopes up he does something rash again.

[extrapenguin]

Xun Baishui is the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, but since the title/honorific/whatever is -daren ("big person"), which is the same as for Minister, he mostly gets called Minister. Or the Grand Secretary is also considered a Minister? IDK.

It's odd how Pingzhang is allowed to just check out Pingjing, I agree, especially given how earlier it was established that the prisons are essentially Xun territory (a guy died before he could confess, Feizhan was pissed). Perhaps it's one part influence, one part people trusting he's worth his word?

Yes, all of the plague arc is my fave, with people actually working together and doing stuff! Lin Xi's coworker is Sister Yun. The music for when she asked to come to Jinling was pretty ominous, yes.

This is more focused on war stuff and less on court politics, so less consorts. The Empress...well. She makes me want to headdesk.

I am slightly unclear as to just WTF Yuanqi's exact deal is. He definitely isn't a True Follower of Puyang's and is only allied with him for pragmatic purposes. He's bitter and jealous, and I think that's clouding his judgement? Based on a few offhand remarks later on, I think he knows he's doing something that's Wrong, but ~the human heart can only harden~. Part of the show would seem to be his moral downfall. Maybe.

It's later stated that the Emperor does know; he's mentioned as one of the few ones who does. Other people must've gathered that Pingzhang was adopted, but maybe not the birth father. (Where was Lu Yuan's wife in all this? Conveniently dead? Wishing for Tingsheng to take away her son so he wouldn't have to grow up as a traitor's son?) Pingzhang has definitely got a major tendency to hide things from everyone to protect them; Qianxue gets it the worst, but he also pulls it on Tingsheng.

My suspicion is that Pingjing will break the quarantine around the city to get the magical snakes needed to defeat the disease. Fingers crossed he at least gets permission/notifies the cabinet first. It's high time for him to grow up. Every time I get my hopes up he does something rash again.
He's already partway to growing up! Most of his rashest decisions (so far) should be behind him.

[schneefink]

You have seen more of his storyline than I have so far and I don't want spoilers, but at least so far I don't think Yuanqui will "fall." He seems to want power and a purpose much more than revenge. And sure, that purpose could be twisted, but he seems too smart to let himself be easily used, and either Puyang plays even more levels or he seems to underestimate him. My best guess is that Yuanqui will pretend to play along with Puyang for a bit, do some things that are definitely illegal and morally questionable at best, but ultimately isn't evil (and maybe leaves the city to join jianghu, idk.) Fingers crossed.

[extrapenguin]

FWIW, I suspect Yuanqi's arc is one where I'll need to see the whole thing play out to really form an informed opinion. It's probably the most subtle thing going on. He certainly isn't stupid. I take it you like him?

[schneefink]

I do like him, especially as a contrast to Pingjing. I hope we get a lot more scenes with the two of them.

[extrapenguin]

Interesting, I never thought to contrast him with Pingjing! I suppose that does work, though I find Pingzhang and Feizhan more appealing contrasts. Pingjing and Yuanqi should talk in the future as well.

(Random thought: I always thought Tingsheng using a different generation level character (ping vs yuan) was due to him being adopted and wanting to signify a sort-of break from the Imperial family, but I realized it's probably jsut because he adopted a kid who was already called Pingzhang.)

[schneefink]

Also interesting. I thought of Pingjing because they are the same age, and so far we have seen more of the two of them together than Yuanqui with anyone else (except his uncle.)

I didn't think of that, but that makes sense.

[extrapenguin]

I admit I didn't find Yuanqi all that interesting so never thought to contrast him with anyone.

[schneefink]

Fair enough ^^ Who were your favorites at this point?

[extrapenguin]

Definitely Feizhan as the absolute most favorite, but I also liked Lin Xi and Pingjing in this part (because Pingjing was being a bit more mature/less infuriating), as well as some fondness/interest in Minister Xun finally doing something decent, and Tingsheng. Puyang Ying was someone I loved to hate.

[schneefink]

Feizhan is great! I hope he gets more screentime later.