(just remembered I forgot to post these two posts here, so... here they are)
i know a lot of peeps are going YZY x CSSR because of the Changmian + WWX/JC parallels- but have you considered YZY x Mdm Jin? they're actual besties, and love each other so much that they decided to have their kids marry each other since they can't
also: kinda a pity Mdm Jin never got an actual name so uh my placeholder name for her: 花如燕 / Hua Ruyan- [Flower, Like Sparrow] to contrast with YZY's Purple Kite (bird)- also her nickname: 花蝴蝶 (Flower Butterfly) haha to match the Violet Spider
+
when you're trying your best to date your best friend but she's married to her job [YZY x Mdm Jin, the single moms side of the single dads AU lol]
Exactly.
To whom it may concern,
Nie Mingjue’s blind spot
That part where Nie Mingjue asks Jin Guangyao something on the lines of ‘are you different than them/ what makes you different’ and then claiming that he himself would never use his privilege for his own benefit is so funny…
Like babe, you are great and have your own trauma to deal with, but you know… you managed to openly attack and injure your sworn brother with zero consequences because you are the privileged legitimate sect-leader, and he is the whoreson grudgingly recognised.
Talk about privilege blindness of the elite… really!!!
Night meeting sketch
Xie Lian's second ascension is hilarious when you think of how it looks like for the other gods. Disgraced formerly banished crown prince marches up to heaven, kick people's asses, stabs Jun Wu, gets banished again, then...doesn't take his anger out on mortals or target any of their shrines.
Sure no one can control ascension, it just kinda happens, it's up to fate whether you succeed or not- but it really looks like Xie Lian purposely ascended solely to beat them up and run the Heavenly Emperor through with a sword. And now that's done, he's as at peace as a buddha and settles into a humble life of busking and scrap collecting, no resentment at all in his heart now that he had fulfilled his heart's wish: beat up the gods in heaven and stab the heavenly emperor.
In the outsider's point of view, it's like Xie Lian went 'I know I was banished but fuck you fate I will march up there, deliver my justice, and only then will I accept my lot as a banished god. fuck you and also fuck you all'
I think this whole "Wei Wuxian has low self-worth" take comes from viewing his heroism through a purely modern Western lens, when in reality, it's actually written as a classic example of traditional Chinese heroism, where selflessness, honor, and sacrifice are seen as strengths.
In a lot of modern Western interpretations, people often analyze characters through a psychological lens, connecting their actions to trauma or emotional baggage. While there's no problem with this approach (bc MDZS does actually explore some elements of modern psychological complexity), relying on that alone can miss the bigger cultural picture.
In Wei Wuxian’s case here, his selflessness, which is tied to traditional heroism and a strong moral compass, gets misunderstood as low self-esteem or a reaction to trauma. This misreading reduces his heroic sacrifices to emotional damage, instead of seeing them as intentional, principled choices driven by a strong sense of moral responsibility.
Wei Wuxian’s choices—like protecting the weak, sacrificing his golden core, and standing up for what’s right even at a huge cost etc— are grounded in this type of traditional heroism and NOT simply a byproduct of trauma. In MDZS, sacrifice and selflessness isn’t about self-doubt or a lack of self-worth; it’s about courage and staying true to one’s principles.
a peaceful day
Since MXTX said HuaLian live until the modern times, have some random headcanons:
Hua Cheng keeps being an interior decorating king so of course his and Xie Lian's home is tastefully decorated for every season and holiday. However, that doesn't stop Xie Lian from occasionally adding the fugliest item ever because he got emotionally attached to it in the store. "It was all by itself, San Lang, nobody wanted it... i know what that feels like better than anyone..." and now they're both sniffling holding an ugly styrofoam pumpkin in the middle of the fall decor isle of Ikea.
The stray animals food budget is off the charts but it's nobody's fault all strays are immediately drawn to Xie Lian and he has to feed them cause he "knows what it's like to be hungry". This does not just include cats and dogs but also rats, raccoons, several bird species and at least one coyote.
Speaking of budgets, the financial control authorities are lowkey on Hua Cheng's case because he is still stinking rich but nobody knows where the cash is coming from. They think Ghost City is the name of some shady mafia establishment and are trying to find dirt on Hua Cheng but there is literally nothing there and it eats the government alive.
Xie Lian occasionally dumpster dives in places where he knows they throw perfectly salvageable things. Hua Cheng cries every time it happens but he stands watch so the police doesn't arrest his husband for it.
In the same vein, Xie Lian insists on recycling literally everything. They have those different colored trash bins and everything, and every time Hua Cheng places an item in the wrong bin, Xie Lian gives him a disapproving look that has the ghost king crumble.
They have so many house plants. It's like a little jungle in their living room but the air is so crisp.
They keep several scrapbooks of paintings, pictures, letters etc from all the people they met to remember them even hundreds or thousands of years after those people have passed away. Even if they now have access to phones and other media for storage, they keep up the tradition of using scrapbooks and notebooks anyway.
Xie Lian is actually up to date with memes and internet slang but has embraced being a cringe Facebook grandpa and is now committed to the persona. Hua Cheng finds this hilarious (he runs a very well maintained beauty channel and a side channel on swords where Xie Lian features in every video and geeks out about their sword collection. They have a golden button and a very large following).
Hua Cheng has a 25 step skincare routine and only uses the fanciest brands of products for literally everything. Xie Lian still swears by 8 in 1 shampoo and somehow has clearer skin. Hua Cheng is both enamored and scandalized about it.
Hua Cheng is a very big fan of acryllics and lets Xie Lian pick the base color every time. Xie Lian takes this task very, very seriously and tries to coordinate it with any activities/events they have planned so Hua Cheng stays being stylish.
Hua Cheng has a portable Dyson Airwrap with him at all times because one time a kid said his hair looks like a wet dog.
Xie Lian is not allowed to get a job because every time he tried to along the decades he became a cautionary tale somehow.
Someone save me from the things they do to me
Crack plot
Jin Guangyao: If we want a bloodless solution to how the Yiling Patriarch should be handled, we should have a competition. Whichever sect wins will decide what happens to Wei Wuxian and the Wen Remnants.
Dumbass Yao: And what competition would we have?
Nie Huaisang: I don't really know, but what about whichever person can get Wei-gongzi to leave the Burial Mounds and Yiling willingly? I don't know, something like that
Jiang Cheng: Agreed. Once he's back in Lotus Pier, we can put all of this nonsense behind us, correct?
Jin Guangshan: Once there is a clear winner, their decision will be final. We can all move on to other things.
Jiang Cheng: Good. If that's all, I have a letter to draft.
Lan Xichen: Gentleman. If I may be so bold, I would like to make an attempt now, so there's no confusion about any success or failure that might come.
Jin Guangshan: Go ahead. What secret technique does the Lan clan have to summon demonic cultivators?
Lan Xichen: Just this. I'M SORRY WANGJI, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE! YOU'LL HAVE TO MARRY JIN ZIXUN!
Wei Wuxian, out of nowhere: I'll skewer the Jin pig!!! Lan Zhan doesn't have to marry anyone he doesn't want to! That pompous prick doesn't deserve Lan Zhan anyway!
Lan Xichen: I believe I've won
Mdzs as a d&d game.
Dm: You are dropped into the Burial Mounds
Wwx: Can I survive this?
Dm: Make a constitution roll
Wwx: Nat 20
Dm: Alright, you survive. Now tell me how
Jc: I try to prove that it's Wei Wuxian
Dm: Roll for perception and charisma
Jc: 15 and 3
Dm: While there is almost no doubt in your mind that Mo Xuanyu is actually Wei Wuxian, you have no real means to prove it. You have to let the group leave
Lwj: I drag Wei Ying to the inn
Wwx: Hey! How come he gets to know who I am without a perception check?
Dm: Because you practically told him
Lwj: I would like to seduce Wei Ying
Dm: Roll for charisma
Lwj: 18
Dm: Alright. You tell Wei Wuxian in as simple terms as your drunk self can manage, how much he means to you. Wei Wuxian, roll for perception
Wwx: My dice just rolled off the table and into the trash
Dm: Unfortunately, the love of your life is stupid