Nirvana in Fire Rewatch Episode Seven
Events:
Mu Qing brings MCS to a meeting with Nihuang on the pretext of house-hunting.
Nihuang brings MCS to the old Lin Manor. He refuses to enter.
Xie Bi tells Jingrui that their father is working for the CP.
Xia Dong visits MCS to give him the shovel talk.
We meet Shisan-xiansheng and Gong Yu.
MCS takes JIngrui and Yujin to the house he's just built. They find a dry well with skeletons in it.
The Emperor gives Jingyan the job is overseeing the Duke Qing case.
Having discovered MCS helped Prince YU take credit for Nihuang's rescue, the CP and Xie Yu decide MCS must die.
Names and titles
Mu Qing protests being called Mu-xiao-wangye by Liyang, believing he’s old enough not to be xiao.
Nihuang refers to Jingyan as Xiao Jingyan to MCS.
Jingrui calls his brother er-di while comforting him.
Xia Dong refers to ‘Nihuang’ to MCS.
Yujin calls Jingrui Xiao-xiong while sucking up to him.
Xie Yu calls Master Zhuo Zhuo-xiong.
Characters
Did Yujin and Jingrui actually kill all those guys in the forest?
Xia Dong swears – she says ‘ma de’, which is a form of ‘ta ma de’, which is something to do with mothers.
Now is as good a time as any to state that I hate Gong Yu's crush
Time
Xie Bi has been working for Prince Yu for 2 years.
Place
The house MCS buys is called Orchid Court.
Misc
No one asks MCS what his house budget is or is surprised he can afford to buy a manor in the capital.
Lin Manor was confiscated but the Emperor hasn’t given it to anyone else.
There are a lot of flowers around for winter.
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Nirvana in Fire Character Reference Sheet Roughly in the Order Those Characters Are Introduced
For @howdydowdy, as promised, and for anyone else who, like me, is terrible at names and needs some kind of “Who?? Ohhh right. That guy.” reminder.
Basically, my Nirvana in Fire Journey started with me watching half the first episode, being wildly confused, realizing I was in over my head re: names and thus deciding to go back to the beginning and watch it again But Taking Notes This Time. I watched the whole show with a notebook and pen at my side. I figured I may as well spare you all the labour by typing it up.
As more information was revealed, I often added it to a character’s initial note, but by and large I’m leaving those extra notes out so you can experience the joy and confusion and anguish of New Information yourself. The exception to this is generally a person’s name, title, and position. E.g. Duke Qing’s name, Bai Ye, isn’t mentioned until a number of episodes after he’s first mentioned, if I recall correctly, but knowing that the person named “Bai Ye” is the same person called “Duke Qing” is exactly why I took these notes for myself in the first place.
Basically this isn’t intended to be a character guide that lays out exactly who a person is, their relationships to the other characters, and their place in the story, but rather something you can look at whenever someone mentions a name that jogs your memory just enough for you to be able to place to person. Which is why the notes tend to be either the context in which the person was introduced or the relationship through which they’re introduced.
Some names and notes are inherently spoilers, but hopefully by virtue of the fact that this is broadly in the order a character is first mentioned/introduced, you can avoid spoilers simply by not scrolling down too far. For those persons where their name or an alter ego comes in significantly after their initial introduction and is a spoiler, they are listed a second time starting with the “new information” and with the note in italics indicating their original entry (there aren’t a lot of these, don’t worry).
I will readily admit that some of my handwritten notes are just a name and then a blank space because apparently I just never actually added a note for them. I haven’t bothered adding those people here. Yes it’s because I’ve forgotten entirely who they are, but I’m pretty sure that means you’ll be okay if you immediately forget who they are too. (That being said, I get the sense there are actually relevant people missing from this list. As the show carried on and introductions became less frequent, remembering them became less difficult.)
The List
Lin Xie –> Commander of the Chiyan Army
Lin Shu –> “Xiao-Shu” –> Lin Xie’s son –> Mei Changsu --> Chief of the Jiangzuo Alliance --> Su Zhe
Lin Chen –> Young Master of Langya Hall –> NOTE: The “Lin” of Lin Chen and the “Lin” of Lin Xie & Lin Shu are both written and pronounced differently. These people are not related.
Northern Yan’s 6th Prince –> Now Northern Yan’s Crown Prince
Minister Xu –> Da Liang’s envoy to Northern Yan
Prince Yu –> Xiao Jinghuan –> 5th Prince of Da Liang
Xiao Xuan –> Emperor of Da Liang
Empress Yan --> Prince Yu’s adoptive mother
Consort Yue --> Crown Prince’s mother
Grand Empress (Dowager) --> Emperor’s grandmother
Xiao Jingxuan --> Crown Prince of Da Liang --> metonym is “Eastern Palace”
Zhuo Dingfeng --> Master of Tianquan Manor
Zhuo Qingyao --> Eldest son of Zhuo Dingfeng --> guy on the horse and later the guy helping the old couple on the boat and later also the guy who calls Xie Yu “father-in-law” (I am telling you this specifically because I am not bad at faces but this guy added so much confusion to my life that was cleared up the moment I realized these people were the same person. And also because my mother is terrible at faces and for like 15 episodes every time he showed up in another random place I would say “that’s horse and boat guy” and she would say “wait what? really???” So I’m assuming at least one other person will share in this struggle)
Xie Yu --> Marquis of Ning
Qin Banruo --> Prince Yu’s strategist
Duke Qing --> Prime Minister --> Bai Ye
Ji Ying --> member of Double Sword Sect
Li Gang --> member of Jiangzuo Alliance
Fei Liu --> Mei Changsu’s bodyguard
Yan Yujin --> Son of Empress Yan’s brother
Xiao Jingrui --> Eldest son of Xie Yu
Mu Nihuang --> Commander of the army in Yunnan --> Princess of Yunnan’s House of Mu
Xie Bi --> Second son of Xie Yu & Xiao Jingrui’s younger brother
Mu Qing --> Mu Nihuang’s younger brother
Xia Dong --> An officer of the Xuanjing Bureau
Nie Feng --> Xia Dong’s late husband --> Vanguard General of the Chiyan Army under Lin Xie
Meng Zhi --> Commander of the Imperial Guards
Xuan Bu --> From Da Yu --> stronger than Meng Zhi
Gao Zhan --> Emperor’s chief eunuch
Fei Changshi --> Prince Yu’s guy out looking for Mei Changsu
Prince Jing --> Xiao Jingyan --> 7th Prince of Da Liang
Concubine Jing --> Mother of Prince Jing
“Xiao-Xin” --> Attendant to Concubine Jing
Grand Princess Liyang --> Xie Yu’s wife & Emperor’s sister
Eunuch Zheng --> Eunuch who is mean to Tingsheng
Prince Qi --> late Crown Prince of Da Liang --> Xiao Jingyu
Tingsheng --> servant boy caught reading
“Lao-Wei” --> Mu Qing’s subordinate of some kind
Wei Zheng --> member of Chiyan Army at Battle of Meiling (and survived)
Sima Lei --> member of Royal Guard --> Consort Yue’s preferred suitor for Mu Nihuang
Liao Tingjie --> Son of the Marquis of Zhongsu --> Empress Yan’s preferred suitor Mu Nihuang
Baili Qi --> Mu Nihuang suitor from Northern Yan --> A favourite of the 4th Prince of Northern Yan
Lady/Madam Zhuo --> Zhuo Dingfeng’s wife
Xie Qi --> Zhuo Qingyao’s wife & Xie Yu’s daughter & Jingrui’s sister
Consort Hui --> bullied by the Empress
Young Lady Zhen (I think is what my handwriting says) --> servant being sneaky at late dowager empress’s palace
“Wu-momo” --> older servant with the Bad Wine
Consort Chen --> now dead --> son was a rebel
3rd Prince of Da Liang --> Xiao Jingting --> Prince Ning --> disabled
6th Prince of Da Liang --> no ambition
9th Prince of Da Liang --> too young to fight for throne
Former Crown Princess --> late Prince Qi’s late wife
“Qi-momo” --> Grand Princess Liyang’s senior attendant
Gong Yu --> window lady who works with Mr. Shisan --> a musician
Mr. Shisan --> member of Jiangzuo Alliance --> connection to Lin family
Minister Lou --> Lou Zhijing --> Minister of Trade/Finance/Revenue/other words that mean “money” --> Knows about the corpse well --> Crown Prince’s faction
Zhang Jing --> Owner of corpse well house (Lan Mansion) at the time the corpses ended up in the well
Shi Jun --> Servant at corpse well house at relevant time --> has record book
Magistrate Gao --> Gao Sheng --> The Capital Magistrate
Princess Xuanji --> ruler of a previous dynasty --> founded the “Hong Court”
Minister Qi --> Qi Min--> Minister of Justice --> Prince Yu’s faction
Minister He --> He Jingzhong --> Minister of Personnel --> Prince Yu’s faction
Minister of Public Works --> Prince Yu’s faction
Minister Chen --> Chen Yuanzhi --> Minister of Rites --> Crown Prince’s faction
Minister of Defence --> Li Lin --> Crown Prince’s faction
Bai Xun --> Duke Qing’s brother
Lie Zhanying --> Staff Officer under Prince Jing
Qi Meng --> One of Prince Jing’s men --> fights Fei Liu and commits Great Offence
“General Bian” --> One of Prince Jing’s men
Shen Zhui --> Acting Minister of Finance
Princess Qing He --> Shen Zhui’s mother
Cai Quan --> Works at Ministry of Justice --> Did well-received report on the Bing case
Han Zhiyi --> Works at Ministry of Justice --> worked on Bing case
Zhang Jianzhen --> Works at Ministry of Justice --> worked on Bing case
Wei Yuan --> Works at Ministry of Justice --> worked on Bing case
Yuan Shiying --> Works at Ministry of Justice --> worked on Bing case
Qin Yue --> Works at Ministry of Justice --> worked on Bing case
Tong Lu --> Vegetable cart guy --> brother of one of the corpse well girls
Qiu Zhe --> Son of Count (Duke?) Wen Yuan
He Wenxin --> Son of Minister He --> dislikes Qiu Zhe
Grand Prince Ji --> Emperor’s youngest brother --> Owns hot springs
Yang Liuxin --> A dancer
Hong Xinzhao --> Has “understanding girls”
Xinliu & Xinyang --> Brothel sisters --> their younger brother was murdered by Qiu Zhe
Princess Consort --> Lanjin --> Prince Yu’s wife
Zhou Xuanqing --> renowned scholar
Li Chong --> former Imperial Tutor --> former teacher to Lin Shu
“Brother Zhao” --> Canal transport guy --> Jiangzuo Alliance
Lin Xiangru --> famous literary envoy
Marquis Yan --> Yan Que --> Yan Yujin’s father & Empress Yan’s brother
Lin Yueyao --> Prince Qi’s mother --> Consort Chen
Zhen Ping --> Jiangzuo Alliance --> sword challenger
Xia Qiu --> An officer of the Xuanjing Bureau
Xia Chun --> The most senior of the officers of the Xuanjing Bureau
Prince Jingli --> Consort Hui’s son
Yuwen Xuan --> Prince Ling --> A prince of Southern Chu
Yuwen Nian --> “Niannian” --> A princess of Southern Chu --> student of Yue Xiuze
Yuwen Lin --> King of Southern Chu --> Yuwen Nian’s father
Ouyang Chi - Head of CApital Patrols
Xia Jiang --> Head of the Xuanjing Bureau
Li Chongxin --> Schoolteacher assassinated by Zhuo Dingfeng
Jun Niang --> former member of “Hong Court” under Princess Xuanji
“Miss Liu” --> Granddaughter of former Chief Secretariat Liu Cheng
Wei Qi --> The general at Jiaxing Pass --> was Xie Yu’s lieutenant for years
Su Tianshu --> Chief of Yaowang Valley --> 7th on the Langya Rich List
Su Xuan --> Su Tianshu’s adopted son --> Wei Zheng
Yun Piaomiao --> Su Xuan’s wife
Concubine Xiang --> Prince Yu’s birth mother
Zhu Yue --> Head of the Review Court --> Prince Yu’s brother-in-law
Cheng Zhiji --> Elder Master of Feng Hall --> 75 years old
Princess Linglong --> A princess of the Hua Kingdom --> Princess Xuanji’s sister --> Concubine Xiang
Grand Princess Jinyang --> Lin Shu’s mother & Lin Xie’s wife --> Emperor’s sister
Yao Zhu --> Official Fan’s servant who knows The Secret
Official Fan --> Harbouring Xia Jiang
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NIF liveblog part 25
no, really! Work started getting super busy and then the drama disappeared from viki with FOUR EPS LEFT TO GO and then I had to start all over again from the beginning (cough). So, it’s been a while, I can’t pretend I’m in exactly the same place as when I was doing the liveblog before, but: THIS DRAMA GUYS (ft: ep 51)
This episode starts out with Jingyan and MCS taking a solemn walk down to the underworld of the imperial prison, with cold light on the stone. This scene has a ritual feeling again, this time funereal: the excavation of the past, the prison cell waiting like a tomb, while Prince Yu the dead man watches with barely contained agitation; and Mei Changsu, who is both a dead man walking and a man about to die. It is an exhumation and a funeral in the same breath; it is great. No happy reunions for us, friends, this stretch of the show is alllll about reminding us that MCS is dying, and our goal is only to make justice run in its proper course before he goes.
Jingyan is truly the emperor-in-waiting now.
Those big stylish sleeves look exceedingly awkward on horseback, I give Xie Bi ten miles max before he puts on something more practical
Now everyone is lining up behind team Jingyan, like a bow being slowly drawn back. No wonder we needed Lin Chen: besides the sheer plot necessity of having his leet doctoring skillz on hand, there has to be someone around with a different agenda.
Oh, and this is why the show brings Jingrui back now: he is the closest thing the show has to a pure conscience. He reads Xie Yu’s confession and — without any personal tie to the unjustly accused — immediately says: this was wrong. This must be fixed. An underline that setting the Chiyan case right is at its core not about vengeance, or factions (an important reminder, given the sheer effrontery of our protagonists being willing to countenance rebellion last episode): it’s about justice.
the way MCS can’t stop staring at Lin Chen, when LC is contemplating the Bingxu grass — it is hard not to read this as hope against his better judgement. And then he immediately turns around and says to Jingyan, sorry, I can’t be by your side again. It’s the same dynamic we’ve seen again and again, when he suppresses a jump at the impulse to be friends with Jingyan again, and then immediately goes out of his way to emphasize how despicable his Su Zhe persona is (mind you he is the only one who thinks so) and why he can’t — only writ larger and more permanently this time. It’s hard to really agree with his logic here, and Jingyan refuses to.
The sheer weariness of Liyang’s face in the carriage is one of the most stunning shots in the entire series.
Okay, ha, Liyang is someone who thinks Su Zhe is not such a nice person. And Jingrui is uncomfortable too, which is painful to see.
This scene, the shifting four-way dynamics are full of so many character notes, I have nothing to say really except how good it is, and that Liyang breaks my heart.
The construction of this show still makes me want to throw things in outrage at how masterful it is. This episode, completely organically, lines up three cases of sons navigating the respect they owe to evil fathers: Xie Bi sets off on a long dangerous journey to retrieve Xie Yu’s body, Han Zhuo looks his father Xia Jiang straight in the face while his mother condemns his failings, and pledges to take care of the funeral rites; and Jingyan unveils his plan to force his father’s hand about Chiyan. The emperor is the last and greatest villain — and — we are not allowed to forget, this is not just court politics, this is a son taking on his own father, a father who has murdered sons.
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Nirvana in Fire (for the hopelessly confused)™.
Or, “How to survive the first few episodes.”
Nirvana in Fire takes in medias res to a new level, then throws in an ensemble cast in the middle of political machinations to top it all off. It may be one of the best shows you’ll ever watch, but only if you can survive the beginning.
Unless you've read the novel it’s based on, the Confusion is Real. Some viewers may be reliant on subtitles in their native language and have less time to commit faces to memory. The first episodes are central, but very hard to digest. Here’s something for folks who want to give the show a shot but also want to live.
(Nothing on these graphics or in the accompanying text includes info beyond the first two episodes and the beginning of the third.)
Lin Shu (A.K.A Mei Changsu, Su Zhe): Man on a mission. One-stop-shop for all your hurt/comfort needs. Prodigy, was once a skilled fighter. “Died” in Meiling at 19 years old. Has been plotting and dealing with an as-yet unspecified illness in the 12 years since the massacre of the Chiyan army. Goal: get justice, root out corruption in the court, put his friend ▼ on the throne. Method: get invited to capital by his pal Jingrui and get cracking.
Xiao Jingyan: Very hotheaded if you know which buttons to push. (Everyone knows which buttons to push.) Traits of note: Loyalty, rock-solid moral backbone, occasional leaps before looking, eviscerating snark and a give-no-f***s attitude. Still mourning Lin Shu (and many others). Won't show up until episode 2. (Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it...) Hates strategists, which is too bad for our main character ▲, but also good for him, because while Prince Jing is busy hating him—and MCS purposely makes it easy for Prince Jing to do just that—he won’t find it easy to question his strategist’s motives and uncover his true identity.
And now for a rousing round of...
On first watch, it’s really hard to parse allegiances. Too many shifty folks Doing Secret Stuff. Below are some simple charts to demystify the first two episodes.
The charts have simple information. Consult them if you just want a quick primer. If you need more in-depth information, see the bullet-pointed lists below.
Xie Yu, father of Jingrui and husband of the Emperor’s sister Liyang, plays at being neutral but is actually supporting the crown prince, all while knowing that his younger son by blood, Xie Bi, is supporting Prince Yu. Because of the custody arrangement due to Jingrui’s uncertain birth status, he is close friends with the Zhuo family, who are masters of a sect of martial arts outside the capital. He uses them regularly to do his dirty work.
The Zhuo family (above: father Dingfeng and son Qingyao) is a martial arts family. In this episode, they attempt to assassinate prince Yu while he is outside the capital. (Jingrui has no freaking idea any of this is going on. Completely clueless.)
When that doesn’t work, Qingyao moves to help an elderly couple (pictured above), get to safety from some of Prince Yu’s supporters (ish) in big boats, who would really like to kill them. Mei Changsu slides in like a true drama queen, playing the flute, and the couple does, indeed, get to safety. This couple, as revealed at the end of the episode, has dirt on Duke Qing, an influential minister under Prince Yu’s control. Duke Qing and his people have been appropriating property and killing folks, among other things. It is to the Crown Prince’s advantage that Duke Qing is put on trial, so Xie Yu asks the Zhuos to ensure the couple’s safe passage.
Basically, this whole episode is about the two highest ranked princes (jerks, the both of them), trying to one-up, smear, and/or kill one another.
Turns out that, while Prince Yu went in person to Langya Hall to ask how to become Emperor, the Crown Prince sent some of his supporters to ask for the very same information. They both receive it in episode 1.
At the end of the first episode, you see Nihuang and the Emperor speak with Xia Dong, an investigative officer. The Emperor has successfully received the elderly couple’s report. He sends Xia Dong to investigate its veracity.
Xiao Jinghuan, Prince Yu: Xiao is his surname, and the name his father emperor and all his brothers share. The “Jing” in his given name is, you might notice, a bit of a theme. All the children of the emperor have this character in their names. (Xiao Jinghuan, Xiao Jingxuan, Xiao Jingyan.) Though Xiao Jingrui, son of the Xie and Zhuo families, has that whole imperial name thing going, he is not related to the emperor. The reason will be explained mid episode 3, actually!
Qin Banruo is very smart and has a network of spies she puts to use for Prince Yu’s benefit.
Duke Qing has been stealing land and murdering people. Things like this are not too terribly out of the usual for the supporters of the Crown Prince and Prince Yu, or the princes themselves.
Xie Bi wholeheartedly supports Prince Yu because he’s swallowed Prince Yu’s facade of wisdom and kindness hook, line, and sinker. Has absolutely no idea that his father, Xie Yu, is supporting the Crown Prince in order to play both sides. Xie Yu, however, is aware of his son’s allegiances.
We are now done with the primary princes and their supporters. Here are a lot of cool folks who show up in the first episodes and very short descriptions of their roles/relationships. None are affiliated with/supporting the Crown Prince/Prince Yu.
Commander General Meng Zhi: The only person Lin Shu/Mei Changsu informed of his plans before arriving in the capital. He was worried for Lin Shu and strongly advised him never to return. Knew Lin Shu when he was a boy, and once fought with the Chiyan Army. Now is in charge of the Imperial Guard. Will not act to harm the Emperor directly, but supports Mei Changsu’s bid for justice.
Li Gang shows up in the first episode giving a report to Mei Changsu/Lin Shu. Nice guy, member of Jiangzuo Alliance. Mother hen of MCS.
Xia Dong and Nihuang would have been close friends, but their respective positions in the massacre put them at odds. Xia Dong lost her husband, and believes the Lin family murdered him to keep him from reporting the “rebellion.” Mu Nihuang lost Lin Shu, to whom she was once engaged, and believes in the Lin family’s innocence. Xia Dong is about ready for Nihuang to marry so Nihuang’s connection to the Lins is no longer hanging between them. She hates Prince Jing because he has actively defended the Lin family in the past. The emperor mostly wants to tie Nihuang to a husband in order to control her.
Yan Yujin and Xiao Jingrui: Very close friends. Jingrui spent some time with his Other Dad outside the capital, exploring. He goes to pick up his friend Mei Changsu, since he has received news that Mei Changsu is suffering from a serious illness. He and Yujin go to invite MCS to the capital to recover at Jingrui’s family’s manor. (All according to Mei Changsu’s plan.)
Grand Princess Liyang: Soft-spoken. Unbreakable. Core of steel. Does not deserve to be married to Xie Yu, honestly. :(
Grand Empress: AKA that nice old lady who will make you cry in ep 2.
Mu Qing: Nihuang’s brother. Very, very invested in her suitor tournament and is angry that any of those fools would dare to seek his sister’s hand. Nosy, sweet, best intentions. Will fight everyone.
Tingsheng: I can’t spoil you, but keep an eye on him. Good fella, wants to learn how to read.
Lin Chen, friend of Mei Changsu and inveterate troll. Young master of Langya Hall. Exhausted doctor to Mei Changsu. 1000% done with everything. Also a troll. He gave both princes the exact same information when they came to ask after the throne: If they wanted to become Emperor, they’d need none other than Mei Changsu himself.
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