LINKDING

Summary: One year after the second battle of Meiling, a drunkard and an old soldier meet. ➜ short post-canon NiF fic ➜ ft Jingyan and Lin Chen drinking and talking about Mei Changsu ➜ I love the complexities of both their emotions as they grieve, and the dimensions of dislike towards each other they both have because of Mei Changsu ➜ and they're both so very themselves.... I LOVE THEMMMM ➜ 2k words in length

Summary: Lin Chen is exactly where he wants to be, thank you very much. ➜ pre-canon Nirvana in Fire fanfic ➜ outside pov about Lin Chen being his bestworst self at unsuspecting people ➜ it's so funny. I love Lin Chen. ➜ 2k words in length

<Summary: blockquote>Twelve years after the Chiyan massacre Jingyan, bitter and grieving, is urgently called back to the capital and presented by unexpected marching orders by his mother: he's to leave his military career and marry Mei Changsu, an eighteen-years-old maiden who claims to be a daughter of his mother's old friend, mysterious Mei Shinan. Jingyan is furious, but he's too filial a son to disobey his mother...</blockquote> ➤ NiF canon divergence fic where Jingyan is called back to the capital to an arranged marriage with a young maiden named Mei Changsu ➤ I love seeing what is and what is not different in the plans and in how the two of them relate to each other, in this changed context! ➤ some great cameos from other characters too ➤ what a fun and satisfying read! ➤ 10k words in length

Summary: <blockquote>As winter sets in, Shen Zhui and Cai Quan compare notes on the firework factory case.</blockquote> ➤ Nirvana in Fire fic about Cai Quan/Shen Zhui!!!!!! god I love these nerds ➤ Reading fic about their comfortable relationship with each other as they argue and work and engage in endless bureaucracy just filled me with enormous fondness for them both ➤ they should be a thriving ship in the fandom and it's a tragedy there's not more fic about them, but this one is GREAT. ➤ 3k words in length

<blockquote>Xiao Jingyan volunteers (behind Mei Changsu's back) to be Lin Chen's guinea pig for a science experiment that will benefit Mei Changsu. He doesn't know it's to produce the Bingxu Pill. Mei Changsu is not happy about any of this when he finds out, especially not when Xiao Jingyan accidentally tramples on his complex feelings about his disability.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Mei Changsu approaches sex toy acquisition the same way he does corporate espionage, public relations scandals, identity theft, and meal planning before grocery runs. (or, Mei Changsu wants to fuck Jingyan until he screams.)</blockquote>

<blockquote>“The seventh prince of Da Liang has arrived at Mount Langya.” Mei Changsu sat very still, his eyes wide in the face he had worn for only a few months now, since Meiling. Then he set down the ink brush and straightened his back. “Get rid of him.”</blockquote>

<blockquote>An experimental medicine of Lin Chen's makes Mei Changsu dream his way back into the past. Dream, of course, of Lin Shu.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Jingyan was leaning in, one fist clenched on the table, and Mei Changsu searched for something to say that could ease the terrible solitude that Jingyan carried like a weight, and was also true, and would not compromise the deception necessary to achieve their goal.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Five times Mei Changsu denied being a qilin and one time he didn't.<blockquote>

<blockquote>The poem, Prince Qi later told Lin Shu, was a better lesson for Jingyan on how the quarry conflict had played out than any lesson he himself had tried to impart. “Normal lectures hit his thick skull and decide to march around rather than chance the passage between his ears,” Prince Qi said. "Who knew the solution was to get our Xiaoshu drunk and improvise verse?" His compliment lit up Lin Shu like a sky lantern – in one tipsy, inspired flight of improvisation, he had made his friend blush so gorgeously and pleased the Crown Prince. But Lin Xie had not been so delighted.</blockquote> ➤ mutual pining in their young days, and why it's a bad idea

<blockquote>Prince Yu challenges Jingyan to an unconventional drinking game.</blockquote>

<blockquote>There exists a rare herb, known for its ability to loosen the tongues of those who ingest it. Found only in Southern Chu, it would be highly prized as a tool for interrogation save for three things: 1) It’s extremely hard to find and harder to prepare, with even the slightest mistake transforming it from a truth serum into an exorbitantly expensive (but surprisingly tasty) cocktail; 2) The herb must be freshly picked and immediately treated in order to be effective, and is only stable for up to one month before spiralling out into unknown and unforeseen side-effects; 3) It keeps getting stolen from the interrogation chambers only to turn up in the food and/or drink of various consorts, concubines, and political figures, giving the court an Imperial Headache and leading to a Decree that it’s absolutely forbidden in court, yes even if you think that it’d be funny.</blockquote> ➤ series consists of: rarely pure and never simple three truths (no lies, because we've been dosed with truth serum) the adventures of Xiao Jingyan, amateur detective

<blockquote>The excavation of the tomb of Xiao Jingyan, Emperor Wu of Liang, reveals some ancient secrets on national television. The history nerds have their moment.</blockquote>

<blockquote>The Empress bowed apologetically. “Please, your majesty, it’s all my fault. Several weeks ago the Grand Empress Dowager met with a man who reminded her of Lin Shu somehow—something about his appearance, nothing he said—she thought he was Lin Shu. We should have tried more strenuously to correct her…” “Who was this man?” “Sir Su, Su Zhe, the scholar visiting Jinling.” The Emperor hmphed. “Well, that’s simple enough then, isn’t it? Have this Sir Su come visit her."</blockquote>

<blockquote>Jingyan knows what is happening to him. In the first hours, the sensation was familiar, the subtle burning under his skin distinct and memorable. He had asked his mother about the flower and the drug many years ago, omitting to mention that he had taken it himself. He had been a little alarmed by her description of the consequences if the pair who had taken it were unable to reunite — she had put it less euphemistically — but had decided to put it out of his mind. Whatever might happen over sixteen years, it couldn’t touch the bond between him and Xiao Shu. He hadn’t even been sure the drug had had much effect. The rest of that season had been filled with triumphs of strength and with heated, stolen nights, but who could say whether that was the drug or mere suggestion working on their youth and strength? They were already invincible. They were already in love.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Mei Changsu dies at the age of thirty-three on the fields of Meiling, as a military strategist for Commander General Meng Zhi of Da Liang who is leading the war against Da Yu. He wakes up on the fields of Meiling, wearing battle armor that's over a decade old and surrounded by men who have long since died, killed in an unjust battle for a crime they didn't commit.</blockquote> ➤ time loop doesn't stop looping, but it's still a satisfying ending

<blockquote>Prince Jing needs an heir but needs some help getting there... if only he had a trusted advisor to guide him, wink wink now with added Feelings (TM)</blockquote>

<blockquote>Mei Changsu was a pale, delicate-looking scholar with a gentle smile and a smooth, mellow voice, the kind that stirred the worst of Lin Shu’s scorn. (time travel AU)</blockquote> ➤ aaaahhhhh!!!!!!

<blockquote>A week before the Spring Hunt, Prince Yu pays a visit to the Su Residence. "I wondered if we might have an honest conversation."</blockquote>

<blockquote>Eleven years after Nihuang's fiance died at Meiling, the emperor arranges another marriage for her.</blockquote>

<blockquote>or, the famous strategist mei changsu plays xanatos speed chess against truth serum: the fic. </blockquote> ➤ yessss

<blockquote>“Jingyan, pour the tea,” ordered Lin Shu, stretched sweating on the scorched grass. “Pour it yourself,” said Jingyan. “I can’t, I’m dead. Nihuang has killed me. Murdered by his fiancée when he was still a beautiful young gentleman, that’s what they’ll say. A tragedy! Anyway you should do it, you’re the waterbender.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Jingyan tucked his hands into his sleeves and said with serene and infinite calm, “I am going to kill him.”</blockquote>

<blockquote>“Your father wishes to see you, Jingyan,” murmurs Consort Jing at the end of Jingyan’s visit. Jingyan freezes.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Nihuang with her heart pounding squeezed the Emperor’s hand. She had known before she submitted the report that it might not work. She had already thought of her last resort. She confessed, “I could not choose from the nine good men, your Majesty, because the one I wanted was not there.”</blockquote> ➤ Perhaps not the best idea to end up with a fic focused on questions of identity as your first fic in a fandom but it looked fun so here we are. And it turns out this one is totally readable even if you don't know the characters! Even if I'm sure I'm missing absolute boatloads of nuance. I was still right - it was fun.