"Nirvana in Fire"/"Lang Ya Bang" Group Read: Discussion Post for Chapters 54 - 57

[x_los]

Week 14 of the "Lang Ya Bang" book club, chapters 54 - 57. This discussion will draw to a close, and the next session will open, on August 8th.

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 54

[x_los]

‘Although it is the rank of imperial consort’ This sentence doesn’t make sense to me.

‘I must trouble Mister’ Weird phrasing.

‘More and more like a devil’ Because he has knowledge that seems almost preternatural?

What’s the difference between predictable and conventional and circular and grounded martial arts? 

By 'two dynasties', does the translator mean two reigns? The Emperor (violently) succeeded his own father, which preserved dynasty continuity, right?

Re: Chapter 54

[dragonyphoenix]

‘Although it is the rank of imperial consort’ She's saying she would not cause trouble if Prince Yu brought Banrou into his house as an imperial consort. I agree that the way it's worded is confusing.

“You are so good to me, I wish I could be smarter and more capable, and could share more of your burdens…” Fuck, the Princess Consort is so gaslit.

‘More and more like a devil’ Because he has knowledge that seems almost preternatural? That's my best guess, especially with MCS comparing himself to a ghost immediately afterwards.

Chapter 55

[x_los]

I mean, no one asked you to do this, Lin Shu.

Why does Fei Liu breathe on the ink stick?

I forgot this Ministry of Rites plot. I quite like how it relies on court etiquette that everyone has access to, but which has been allowed to slide in practice. That feels like how real life organisations work.

Chapter 56

[x_los]

Huh, I guess Prince Yu actually does have some credibility with the scholars; that’s not entirely just some bullshit he made up to court Changsu. (Though I’m dead sure he’s not deeply invested in these matters.)

Translation needs to quit it with 'Ng' and 'En'L neither makes sense in English. Just say 'Mm' or ‘a sound of acquiescence’ or something.

Re ‘old’, reverend has the same function in English and can be directly used without much friction.

What does it mean to ‘bow gently’?

I feel the translator could take a stab at this cicada question. If Superborb can Baidu poem meanings, then they can too? There may well also be an extant poem translation, which should surely be a common port of call/established working practice, given how often these characters quote things.

‘Perhaps the two of you would have made a formidable pair’ Where’s the angst fic where, due to some ported-in xianxia fuckery, Changsu and Jingyan have to hang out with Lin Shu?

Is this reference to Lin Shu an entirely idle remark, or is Zhou Xuanqing feeling out the possibilities?

Re: Chapter 56

[dragonyphoenix]

Is this reference to Lin Shu an entirely idle remark, or is Zhou Xuanqing feeling out the possibilities. I was recently involved in a discussion of this in relation to the drama. Feeling out possibilities was a popular opinion, even to the extent that the scholar recognized they could be the same person. In the novel, I'm not sure it's as clearly that because the scholar turns away, grief-stricken after saying that young man will never return.

Chapter 57

[x_los]

So this tutor got pushed out and then died mad after the Chiyan affair, which is another thing for Changsu to feel guilty about/think needs avenged.

It’s interesting and good that Changsu never thinks, 'the problem is the people who misled the Emperor!' They played their parts, and he deals with them accordingly. But he rightly suggests that the issue is how willing the Emperor was to listen to shit that played into his own fears or desires: that’s ultimately where blame lies, here.

‘His little girl’ Please, you’re not her dad, you're what, two years her senior?

Interesting and awkward that this whole conversation revolves around Nihuang and: her new boyfriend.