r/QiangJinJiu

Hi everyone! I’m currently re-reading Qiang Jin Jiu because it’s finally being published in my native language (Hungarian).

It’s been ages since I first read it, and back then I only had access to a very rough translation, so some details are a bit hazy for me now. I seem to recall a Xiang-Yun subplot involving a past romance, but my memory is failing me, what was the deal with XC’s relationship with her? I’m really curious about when exactly that revelation happens in the chapters.

Huge apologies if I’m mixing this up with another story, though! I’m a commuter, so I read way too many novels, and sometimes they all start blurring together in my brain. 😄

Anyway, thanks in advance for any help, I’d really appreciate it!

Hey y'all, I'm relatively new to the danmei scene - began reading last August. As a lover of period pieces and politics, QJJ was extremely high on my list (one of my three "finalists") after finishing my first set of novels and two donghua but I pumped the brakes due to the rigidity of my schedule at the time. The volume count felt a bit daunting, all things considered.

But last year is not this year and I intend to begin QJJ in the fall. When I say as much to the handful of people within my irl danmei circle, I can all but feel their shudders.

"It's really dense/made my brain hurt/I couldn't finish it!"

"Too political."

"No, no, we know court intrigue and political intrigue are right up your alley but we're not lying! QJJ is really -"

"But the donkey..." (If this is the only thing I get spoiled on, I can live with it)

And my personal favorite, "Think of it as Game of Thrones on steroids. Now, isn't that off-putting?" (Meanwhile, all I'm thinking the only way that such a comparison could ever be 'off-putting' is if the entire series reads like GOT S8).

I say all that to say I really hope it IS very complicated!! I've never been one averse to thinking hard about the media I engage with; not only is theorizing and hypothesizing fun — it's to be expected.

But people are out here behaving like t97 dabbled in rocket science. Density isn't a problem. I don't mind simplicity every now and then but are there a lot of characters, locations, courtesy names, sobriquets, etc. to remember that're also a driving factor in the wails I'm hearing?