The second volume picks up where the previous left, i.e. right after the bedroom scene. The
book description says the men part as enemies, but that’s not the case. Shen Zechuan
simply leaves as if nothing has happened. He’s not affected by what took place
between him and Xiao Chiye at all, which irks the latter greatly, prompting him
to tempt the first at every opportunity.
But things
have changed between them and the men find themselves scheming together. It doesn’t
show outward though, and Shen Zechuan even manages to manipulate matters so
that Xiao Chiye is suspected of a wrongdoing, with the full knowledge and
co-operation of the latter. Shen Zechuan even makes sure that Xiao Chiye doesn’t
come to a permanent harm.
There’s
abundant of court intrigue going on too. Someone is making several attempts at
the emperor’s life, and the heroics of Shen Zechuan in saving him help his
star to rise in the court. He can’t become complaisant though, and has to work
relentlessly to keep his scheming going.
Both men
are busy and it keeps them apart. Whenever they come together, heat begins to
build, leading to some of the most erotic non-sex scenes I’ve read in a while.
The indifference Shen Zechuan affects is only a show and Xiao Chiye can melt
him in moments. The two are brilliant together, in and out of bed, matching
each other in scheming and passion.
The story
is much more compact than in the first book, taking place during a couple of
months. A lot happens during it, and at the end, the men are better off than
after the first. And like the first book, this ends in a middle of what
promises to be a good bedroom scene. It’s as well written and logical with all the complicated court issues as the first, keeping me entertained throughout. I’ll definitely read more.
Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu is the latest Chinese boylove series translated
by Seven Seas. It’s set in a secondary world that resembles ancient China with
its culture, but with a completely different geography. The book even comes
with a helpful map.
A war has
almost ended in defeat when Prince Shen Wei shamefully fled before the enemy
before killing himself. All his family has died too, except the youngest,
illegitimate son, Shen Zechuan. He’s fourteen and hasn’t even met his father,
as he’s been raised by his shifu, Ji Gang. Nevertheless, he’s been brought to
the nation’s capital to face death for what his father has done. But political
machinations and the Dowager Empress intervene, and he’s confined to a house
arrest instead.
Xiao Chiye is
sixteen and a son of another warrior prince. His family had to step up to
defend the nation when Shen Wei fled. He’s a volatile young man and he hates
Shen Zechuan for what his father has done. But political machinations catch him
too, and the reward he’s granted to command the useless Imperial Army is in
fact a prison for him too, as he’s basically held hostage in the capital to
keep his family from revolting.
The main
story starts five years later. Tides turn again, and Shen Zechuan is released,
much to the dismay of the nation. Xiao Chiye’s hatred hasn’t eased at all, and
he makes it his business to make life difficult for Shen Zechuan. But the
emperor is dying and he doesn’t have children. People have started to take
sides, and Xiao Chiye has his own player in the game. And behind the scenes,
helped by his shifu and an old teacher of the former crown prince, Shen Zechuan
is working on his revenge.
When the
plot comes to a point, the two young men find themselves on the same side and
Shen Zechuan ends up saving Xiao Chiye’s life. Their lives become tangled, but
their animosity doesn’t ease. The problem for Xiao Chiye is, however, that he’s
finding himself attracted to the younger man. For his part, Shen Zechuan is
willing to make most of the attraction to get his revenge. It’s a game about
power and manipulation that slowly comes to a point.
This was a
great book. The two men were very similar in how they gave the world to understand
they are useless while hiding their true strength and intent. Shen Zechuan is a
dainty, beautiful man who seems to be plagued by an ill health. But he’s traumatized
by the war and almost sociopathic in his behaviour when he finally has the chance
for revenge. Xiao Chiye pretends to be a wastrel and drunkard, while he’s reorganising
and training the Imperial Army for a coup.
Court
intrigue dominates the plot, but the relationship between the two men is its
backbone. It’s in no way romantic in this first book. Both are using the other
for their own ends, and neither trusts the other. Xiao Chiye is open about his
lust, but determined to control it. Shen Zechuan doesn’t feel the same, but in
a fit of anger, he’s willing to push things to a point. The book ends with a bedroom
scene, quite literally with a climax. It’s a slightly odd choice, but kind of
works well with the tone of the book, and leaves the reader desperate for more.
The book is
well written and doesn’t suffer from the over-abundance of telling instead of
showing like so many of these Chinese BL series. Court machinations and
background stories are handled in the dialogue, there are no repetitions, and
the story advances in a fast pace. The opening chapters have some descriptions
of torture, and there’s a very disturbing scene of animal cruelty in chapter 18:
Donkey Roast, which you can easily skip, though it’s referred to later. All in all,
one of the best BL series translated so far. I’ll definitely continue with it.
