"Nirvana in Fire"/"Lang Ya Bang" Group Read: Discussion Post for Chapters 46 - 49

[x_los]

Week 12 of the "Lang Ya Bang" book club, chapters 46 - 49. This discussion will draw to a close, and the next session will open, on July 25th.

I'll be doing a weekly post with thoughts on this community. Feel free to join in/discuss. If you'd like to join the Discord, contact superborb for an invite.

Chinese text: https://sj.uukanshu.com/book.aspx?id=17338
English translation: https://merelhyn.tumblr.com/post/641747965727358976/the-langya-list-epubpdf

SPOILER POLICY: I personally don't give a fuck or even like to give unearned credence to the concept, so since I'm writing the post, anything's fair game.

(If anyone is interested in dankodes running further poetry content during or after NiF, please let me know what you'd be keen to discuss. I'm happy to work with you on that. I'll probably ask this again once NiF draws to a close.)

Comments

Chapter 46

[x_los]

Awh, hi Jingning.

Lolol at Xia Dong turning up like ‘what a dump, bye’.

Why ‘take advantage of the snow’? What's to take advantage of?

This is interesting because I don’t really know, from my position as a reader, whether Changsu is lying to Prince Yu about the emperor’s will being dominant in the land grab case, and inflexible.

Re: Chapter 46

[superborb]

The snow hides sound and covers tracks

Re: Chapter 46

[x_los]

But Prince Yu is coming in through the front door and making a point of saying goodbye to Changsu in the road and taking a palanquin, he's not exactly Covert.

Re: Chapter 46

[superborb]

Oh, I forgot the chapter we were discussing sdfklsjl I thought we were still on the assassination chapter.

I guess maybe other activities can't happen during the snow? Either MCS is going to be at home during that time, or Prince Yu has fewer obligations? Wildly guessing here.

Chapter 47

[x_los]

It is a little weird that they’re still talking about the choice of heir in this way, because surely the crown prince being the crown prince means that all other things being equal, the question is settled? This ‘first eight parts’ paragraph, though, and the one above it, seem to imply otherwise. Perhaps the term originally used for ‘crown prince’ doesn’t have that implication of settled inheritance in Chinese.

It’s weird and interesting that on one surface level (even though Changsu knows absolutely that Yu is full of shit, and Changsu has his own, very different projects to pursue), Changsu is a touch charmed by Prince Yu’s deliberate grace. Repulsed, too, but in a complex way.

This is a really cool way to actually shore up Prince Jing’s position by having Prince Yu act to make things easier for his half-brother. (Though these remarks about Yu's lack of military allies do make me wonder where he gets his evidently great access to troops from, later on.)

Re: Chapter 47

[superborb]

I guess in a way it proves MCS's point-- if push came to shove, Prince Yu /can/ muster troops, using the empress's authority, as long as there is a convenient excuse.

Chapter 48

[x_los]

‘Vomited a few times’ Do they mean to say ‘wretched’?

‘Playing with a poisonous snake’ Handling might have worked better, here. People really need to stop over-using 'playing' in English translation of Chinese, when it so often has weird connotations in English. This could almost work, but is inescapably masturbatory in its implications, in a childish and ham-fisted way.

Very short chapter!

Re: Chapter 48

[superborb]

It's breathes like he's going to vomit; I pointed it out in the chat as a translation mistake (doubt this time it's a version difference...)

Re: Chapter 48

[x_los]

Huh that's an interesting like--term English doesn't quite have.

Chapter 49

[x_los]

Who is Uncle Nie again? I’ve clean forgotten. 

It's interesting that the rest of the Chiyan army didn’t say ‘avenge me!!’ or anything, this is just how Changsu has decided to handle his trauma. Ultimately, if Lin Shu's friends wanted him to LIVE, he’s really not following through with their dying wishes to the best of his ability.

Oh, I thought Jingning was WAY younger than 17!

Prince Jing over here like, 'and obviously the infatuations you have at 17 are a curse and a blessing that can ruin you forever, so.'
Changsu: Awkward…

Prince Jing is pursuing this case very efficiently. Good job Prince Jing!

It’s pretty cool that Prince Jing makes a point here that these are his choices. He’s accepting things like 'looking as though he’s allied with Prince Yu' with his eyes open, rather than sulkily letting Changsu carry the responsibility for their shared goal (which at least nominally looks like it’s primarily for Prince Jing’s benefit).

What sense are we using ‘wingmen’ in?

Re: Chapter 49

[superborb]

Nie Feng's dad, Merelhyn said in the chat.

YEAH, I think the drama really made it seem more like MCS didn't have a choice in this path?