#THEY ARE OFFICIALLY THE BADDEST OF ASSES EVERYONE BOW DOWN | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

orsuliya · 3 years

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I love everything about this. Not only do they hold hands to walk twenty meters or so, all dignity be damned, it’s also clear that this is no planned and carefully rehearsed action. If if was, we’d see a perfectly regal entrance and then a tense stand-off, brother or no brother. But no, let’s have a family reunion! And you know what? This should make every single noble in the capital even more afraid. Calculated grandstanding is not that difficult to deal with: there are clear lines to be had, it’s a great starting point for negotiations and - although not in every case - it may mean there’s some weakness hidden under all that posturing.

This relaxed approach with no intimidating perfectly synchronized troops snapping to attention? Where smiles and hugs are perfectly permissible and there’s no need for a rehearsed entrance? This means all cards are on the table, no bluffing necessary. Very in style for Xiao Qi, who emanates the same kind of complete yet quiet confidence in everything he does. It also means that Xiao Qi may not care about his image and pride all that much, ergo, he will be hellishly difficult to provoke. Okay, everybody should already know that, but we’ve established that all those nobles don’t know him at all.

Turnip Wang is pretty apologetic for what’s about to happen. Because, you know, he has a brain (or rather a direct uplink to Daddy Wang), so he knows this particular imperial edict is a Very Bad Idea. Also, I think he must be feeling pretty grateful that Awu is right there; even so he still feels the need to stress that he’s not doing this out of his own will. Is he expecting his supremely self-controlled brother-in-law to go Sephiroth-on-Nibelheim on his ass? He’s not completely excluding that possibility, let’s say that.

But Xiao Qi is not the type to go Sephiroth-on-Nibelheim willy-nilly and he’s no longer holding back on psychological warfare, so...

Now, all this kneeling and bowing matters. For all that most nobles do it purely out of habit, it really does mean something even for them and it means everything when it comes to common people. You might think that the Emperor is the biggest cunt under the sun, you bow; you may be planning to tear him down in about five minutes, you bow; you haven’t seen him in your life and wouldn’t spit on him if he was on fire, you kowtow. The very act of bowing means admitting that no matter what, he IS the Emperor, rightfully anointed, crowned, enthroned - so better, higher-situated, worthy of respect by the very fact of his existence. Bowing before an imperial edict? The exact same thing. Most people will never see an Emperor in their lives; such an edict is an extension of his will and thus is automatically due the same respect.

That Awu goes to her knees is perfectly natural. She’s been raised at court, she’s been bowing five times a day starting from the time she could barely walk. At this point it’s not something she even needs to think about. You know, I don’t think Xiao Qi was expecting her to immediately go to her knees, otherwise he would have caught her earlier (as he will once Zitan enters the scene). But then what would he know about ingrained habits of Cheng aristocracy?

Note who does not move a muscle. There’s no ingrained reaction in Ningshuo soldiers, but still, there should be something to see. For an average peasant the very fact of being in presence of an imperial edict would be enough; sheer fear and awe would do the trick. I don’t even think they’re taking cues from Xiao Qi? I believe that any respect for the throne those guys might have had is gone. And not just because of the Hunt of Doom and it’s repercussions. Those soldiers just spent six months fighting their way across the country, seeing all kinds of misfortune and horror. Where was the Emperor then? They were the ones to bring peace and order; they take hard-earned pride and honor in themselves (and Xiao Qi), humble peasants no more. If they acted on imperial orders, there might have been a chance to save the existing hierarchy, but now that they’ve been empowered? No kneeling, n way, no how. Not for anybody who has not earn their respect and especially not for an Emperor who is pretty much a joke.

Xiao Qi did not order them to stay on their feet. If he knelt himself, they might have done too, but I bet it would have been nowhere near instantaneous. Oh my, I think we have our new social order! Because this stand-off? It’s going to be the hottest piece of news all over the country. And everyone who hears about it will start thinking if they themselves would go to their knees. Hmm, I wonder what the common consensus will be?

Anyway, Turnip Wang has just seen a ghost of his noble privilege swoosh by. He certainly looks like he did. Poor thing, he’s got no idea what to do. And then his scary brother-in-law calmly saunters closer...

...and plucks the sacred edict out of Turnip’s hands. My favourite part?

Ningshuo soldiers immediately perk up. They’re ready and even eager for the show! And a show they will get. Pang Gui the Inept Ninja acts more shell-shocked than eager, but he also didn’t go to his knees. Hey, do you think he might have gotten some lessons in those six months? I sure do hope so!

Xiao Qi reads the edict out pretty matter-of-factly, no obvious gloating or additional commentary needed. It’s so bad and idiotic it speaks for itself. Xiao Qi, the man with the Biggest Baddest Army in town, is graciously allowed to enter the capital and to live in his own house. But he gets none of his titles back, no official post, no nothing. In fact he’s still technically a criminal until Zitan says otherwise. Which he might. Or might not. Xiao Qi has no way to influence the outcome either way. That’s it for the theory.

It’s basically a very unfunny joke. One that would have ended very badly if Xiao Qi was an actual traitor. Or if he had any less authority among his soldiers.

Yup, they are not happy. This is Zitan spitting in all of their faces. Xiao Qi shows anything more that quiet irritation and they may just decide to stuff that spit back down Zitan’s throat. Xiao Qi, being who he is, remains utterly reasonable, showing open anger only when remembering his dead soldiers. Other that that? He lays down the law: he needs the truth. That’s it. Give him that, give him justice, he’ll go away.

He’s all about the truth; what’s more, he has a pretty good guess who is guilty - he’s not shy about it either - and every second the investigation is stalled confirms his suspicions further. Nobody is very surprised, not Awu, not Turnip and not Ningshuo men. This insulting edict may have as well read: WE HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE. SIGNED: EMPEROR ZITAN.

#the rebel princess #monarch industry #episode 61

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