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* FaceDeathWithDignity: Two are shown to do this, as part of the same event, and Tai wonders, afterwards, if [[spoiler: Prince Shinzu]] knew it would come to that, with the rumor he started on the road, leaving the capital.
** [[spoiler:Wen Jian]] due to the belief that, by playing politics, [[spoiler:she caused the civil war by playing her cousin Wen Zhou and 'adopted son' An Li against each other. She]] puts on a favored outfit, and after a suggestion, is allowed to [[spoiler:dance one last time]]. The knife was used so no particular soldier would be a marked man for firing an arrow.
** [[spoiler:Shen Liu]]; he realizes he's a marked man, since he was [[Wen Zhou]]'s right-hand man. After using the knife, he "volunteers" to be next, presents himself, and manages to make it look like it was his choice by giving the order to fire.
** [[spoiler:Wen Jian]] due to the belief that, by playing politics, [[spoiler:she caused the civil war by playing her cousin Wen Zhou and 'adopted son' An Li against each other. She]] puts on a favored outfit, and after a suggestion, is allowed to [[spoiler:dance one last time]]. The knife was used so no particular soldier would be a marked man for firing an arrow.
** [[spoiler:Shen Liu]]; he realizes he's a marked man, since he was [[Wen Zhou]]'s right-hand man. After using the knife, he "volunteers" to be next, presents himself, and manages to make it look like it was his choice by giving the order to fire.
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Changed line(s) 79 (click to see context) from:
* ShrineToTheDead: Tai gets to eventually visit his father's grave, on the family property. Included is a gravestone, with lines from a poem as an epitaph, picked by youngest son Chao. [[Spoiler:The words are by Sima Zian.]]
to:
* ShrineToTheDead: ShrineToTheFallen: Kuala Nor is an unofficial shrine, due to Shen Tai spending two years burying soldiers as part of his mourning period, after his father's death. Later, Tai gets to eventually visit his father's grave, on the family property. Included is a gravestone, grave marker (which are usually placed after a year has passed, as mentioned for [[spoiler:Liu]]'s new grave), with lines from a poem as an epitaph, picked by youngest son Chao. [[Spoiler:The words are The poem seems to espouse some of Shen Gao's late-in-life views on war. [[spoiler:The actual poem is by Sima Zian.]]
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Changed line(s) 58 (click to see context) from:
* LibationForTheDead: "[Tai] set down his cup and knelt. He bowed his head to touch the green grass by the grave. He did this three times. He stould, reclaiming the cup, and he poured the libation on the ground, for his father."
to:
* LibationForTheDead: "[Tai] set down his cup and knelt. He bowed his head to touch the green grass by the grave. He did this three times. He stould, stood, reclaiming the cup, and he poured the libation on the ground, for his father."
** And Li-Mei eventually does this for her brother Liu.
-->"She still hasn't poured a libation for her oldest brother. She isn't sure if she ever will.\\
"Many years later she does do that -- pour an offering for Shen Liu -- but only after the immediate past has become the distant past. How we remember changes how we have lived."
** And Li-Mei eventually does this for her brother Liu.
-->"She still hasn't poured a libation for her oldest brother. She isn't sure if she ever will.\\
"Many years later she does do that -- pour an offering for Shen Liu -- but only after the immediate past has become the distant past. How we remember changes how we have lived."
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----
to:
-->"Time runs both ways. We make stories of our lives."
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Changed line(s) 58 (click to see context) from:
* LibationsForTheDead: "[Tai] set down his cup and knelt. He bowed his head to touch the green grass by the grave. He did this three times. He stould, reclaiming the cup, and he poured the libation on the ground, for his father."
to:
* LibationsForTheDead: LibationForTheDead: "[Tai] set down his cup and knelt. He bowed his head to touch the green grass by the grave. He did this three times. He stould, reclaiming the cup, and he poured the libation on the ground, for his father."
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* DueToTheDead: Shen Tai picked his task of burying soldiers as his form of respect for his father, who had died (before the start of the book). Later on, when [[spoiler:the first minister]] is killed, certain soldiers are relieved that he'll be buried, but without full honors. The burial (versus random unmarked grave) is considered important, to avoid a vengeful ghost.
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* LibationsForTheDead: "[Tai] set down his cup and knelt. He bowed his head to touch the green grass by the grave. He did this three times. He stould, reclaiming the cup, and he poured the libation on the ground, for his father."
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* ShrineToTheDead: Tai gets to eventually visit his father's grave, on the family property. Included is a gravestone, with lines from a poem as an epitaph, picked by youngest son Chao. [[Spoiler:The words are by Sima Zian.]]
-->''When choosing a bow choose a strong one,''\\
''If you shot an arrow shoot a long one,''\\
''To capture the enemy capture their leader,''\\
''But carry within you the knowledge''\\
''That war is brought to bring peace.''
-->''When choosing a bow choose a strong one,''\\
''If you shot an arrow shoot a long one,''\\
''To capture the enemy capture their leader,''\\
''But carry within you the knowledge''\\
''That war is brought to bring peace.''
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* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: When the narration discusses the importance of the timing of a certain pair of events (along with the movements of a different character being deemed "not part of any pattern that signified"), "Only a tale-spinner, not a true scholar -- someone shaping a story for palace or marketplace -- would note these conjunctions and judge them worth the telling, [[SelfDeprecation and storytellers were not important either]]. On this, [[AppealToAuthority the history-mandarins]] could agree."
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Changed line(s) 14,15 (click to see context) from:
* AlchemyIsMagic: Believed to various levels, especially the Emperor: he imbibs a drink each day, provided by an alchemist, in attempt to [[ImmortalitySeeker extend his lifespan]]. Also, certain tribes in the north have shamans, and some of their actions are viewed as alchemy-based magic by the citizens of Kitai (eg. Shen Tai's sister) that hear stories.
* AltarDiplomacy: Tai's sister is made royalty, and sent north to marry a "barbarian" tribal leader, as a method of pacification; Lei thinks it's just politics, and Tai (when he finds out about it) thinks their father would have disapproved.
* AltarDiplomacy: Tai's sister is made royalty, and sent north to marry a "barbarian" tribal leader, as a method of pacification; Lei thinks it's just politics, and Tai (when he finds out about it) thinks their father would have disapproved.
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* AlchemyIsMagic: Believed to various levels, especially the Emperor: he imbibs a drink each day, provided by an alchemist, in attempt to [[ImmortalitySeeker extend his lifespan]]. Also, certain tribes in the north have shamans, and some of their actions are viewed as comparable to alchemy-based magic by the citizens of Kitai (eg. Shen Tai's sister) that hear stories.
* AltarDiplomacy: Tai's sister is made royalty, and sent north to marry a "barbarian" tribal leader, as a method of pacification; Lei thinks it's justpolitics, politics that happens to benefit the family, and Tai (when he finds out about it) thinks their father would have disapproved.
* AltarDiplomacy: Tai's sister is made royalty, and sent north to marry a "barbarian" tribal leader, as a method of pacification; Lei thinks it's just
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* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: When Tai announces, near the end of the book, that "[h]e was going home; the Kanlins would take the horses to the emperor," Wen Song ends up yelling at him. "She'd just called him by his name, which she never did."
-->"I am touched that a Kanlin Warrior would care so much about her employer's choices," he said, trying for a lighter tone.\\
[[PrecisionFStrike She swore]]. She never did that, either. Lu Chen looked startled.
-->"I am touched that a Kanlin Warrior would care so much about her employer's choices," he said, trying for a lighter tone.\\
[[PrecisionFStrike She swore]]. She never did that, either. Lu Chen looked startled.
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* OhCrap: When Wen Jian wishes to summon Shen Tai to ask about his gift (of horses), she sends a high ranking servent to 'summon' him.[[note]]He can't exactly refuse, since she's the emperor's current favorite consort.[[/note]] When informed that his own Sardian horse was moved without his permission, he gets increasingly angrier and frustrated, until he finds a way to make the servant panic: aim a poet at him. (Given that the poet is Sima Zian, the "Banished Immortal"...)
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** And Song is exasperated that it took so long for him to ask if sthe governor's daughter ''was'' one; she was waiting outside the door, and if he hadn't broken things up on his own... she would have. For his own safety, of course.
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Forgot the formatting needed for single-word tropes to link
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* Alchemy: Accepted as a part of daily life. The Emperor even has an alchemist as part of his staff.
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* Alchemy: {{Alchemy}}: Accepted as a part of daily life. The Emperor even has an alchemist as part of his staff.
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Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
** Also, at one point there's a scuffle, with one side being Tai, his Kanlin bodyguard Song, and Zian. Song is automatically presumed to be capable of defending herself, Tai has only a few worries about his own skills, and Zian... well Tai isn't thing about how much wine Zian's already had that night, he's thinking that Zian ''used'' to be a bandit....
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** Also, at one point there's a scuffle, with one side being Tai, his Kanlin bodyguard Song, and Zian. Song is automatically presumed to be capable of defending herself, Tai has only a few worries about his own skills, and Zian... well Tai isn't thing thinking about how much wine Zian's already had that night, he's thinking that Zian ''used'' to be a bandit....
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* RedBaron: Ang Li, also known as Roshan
* TheAtoner: Shen Tai; he believes that the ghosts of those that died in a previous war will only settle if someone makes amends -- by burying those slain in battle, he hopes to earn forgiveness for his family's involvement. (It just so happens there are two outposts of soldiers, one from each side, nearby; they end up indirectly competing against each other through who can honor Shen Tai the most through the supplies they bring him and helping with repairs in alternating trips, every two weeks; first one, then two weeks later the other, and so on. He suspects it's to give him more time on his self-assigned task.)
* TheAtoner: Shen Tai; he believes that the ghosts of those that died in a previous war will only settle if someone makes amends -- by burying those slain in battle, he hopes to earn forgiveness for his family's involvement. (It just so happens there are two outposts of soldiers, one from each side, nearby; they end up indirectly competing against each other through who can honor Shen Tai the most through the supplies they bring him and helping with repairs in alternating trips, every two weeks; first one, then two weeks later the other, and so on. He suspects it's to give him more time on his self-assigned task.)
to:
* RedBaron: Ang Li, also known as Roshan
Roshan.
* TheAtoner: Shen Tai; he believes that the ghosts of those that died in a previous war will only settle if someone makes amends -- by burying those slain in battle, he hopes to earn forgiveness for his family's involvement. (It just so happens there are two outposts of soldiers, one from each side, nearby; they end up indirectly competing against each other through who can honor Shen Tai the most through the supplies they bring him and helping withrepairs repairs, in alternating trips, trips every two weeks; first one, then two weeks later the other, and so on. He suspects it's to give leave him more free time to work on his self-assigned task.)
* TheAtoner: Shen Tai; he believes that the ghosts of those that died in a previous war will only settle if someone makes amends -- by burying those slain in battle, he hopes to earn forgiveness for his family's involvement. (It just so happens there are two outposts of soldiers, one from each side, nearby; they end up indirectly competing against each other through who can honor Shen Tai the most through the supplies they bring him and helping with
** Later he ends up asking Sima Zian for help in a conversation, and Sima engages in QuoteToQuoteCombat; meaning he ''has'' a poet to send....
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* WorthyOpponent: Tai becomes close friend with one of the commanders of the last enemies Kitai fought; enough that he's willing to outright lend him his own 'heavenly horse', give him advice that Tai accepts, and offers to write a letter that should help him keep the horses sequestered until Tai is ready to accept them. (The commander ends up promoted and in charge of a different post because he now appears to "have the ear of royalty"- this coincidentally means he's now in charge of the post ''his own father'' serves at.) It helps that Tai spent two years burying soldiers of ''both'' sides. The commanding officer even openly chews out one of his subordinates (that recently joined the outpost) that accuses Shen Tai of disrespecting some of the corpses (and later calls him a hot-headed idiot looking for battle glory.)
to:
* WorthyOpponent: Tai becomes close friend with one of the commanders of the last enemies Kitai fought; enough that he's willing to outright lend him his own 'heavenly horse', give him advice that Tai accepts, and offers to write a letter that should help him keep the horses sequestered until Tai is ready to accept them. (The commander ends up promoted and in charge of a different post because he now appears to "have the ear of royalty"- this coincidentally means he's now in charge of the post ''his own father'' serves at.) It helps that Tai spent two years burying soldiers of ''both'' sides. The commanding officer even openly chews out one of his subordinates (that recently joined the outpost) that accuses Shen Tai of disrespecting some of the corpses (and later calls him a hot-headed idiot [[HonorBeforeReason looking for battle glory.glory]].)
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* BigBrotherInstinct: When Tai (finally) finds out about his sister's arranged marriage, he switches almost completely from wanting revenge for a friend's death to wanting to kill his older brother, who set up the marriage as part of a political maneuver. He also seems ready to try to chase after her to bring her back home.
Changed line(s) 36 (click to see context) from:
** Also, at one point there's a scuffle, with one side being Tai, a Kanlin bodyguard, and Zian. The Kanlin is automatically presumed to be capable of defending herself, Tai worries about his own skills, and Zian... well Tai isn't thing about how much wine he's already had, he's thinking that Zian used to be a bandit....
to:
** Also, at one point there's a scuffle, with one side being Tai, a his Kanlin bodyguard, bodyguard Song, and Zian. The Kanlin Song is automatically presumed to be capable of defending herself, Tai has only a few worries about his own skills, and Zian... well Tai isn't thing about how much wine he's Zian's already had, had that night, he's thinking that Zian used ''used'' to be a bandit....
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* MayDecemberRomance: The elderly Emperor Taizu and the nubile Wen Jian.
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* MayDecemberRomance: The elderly Emperor Taizu and the nubile Wen Jian.Jian (who's about 23...).
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* BlackComedy: After Tai spends nearly two years burying corpses left on a battlefield of a Kitai/Tagur war, a Taguran considers him enough of a WorthyOpponent that he's even willing to lend him a horse. One of his recently assigned subordinates, however, accuse Tai of disrespecting the Taguaran dead. Shen Tai's response is to ask him to point them out, so he could get started with the disrespect.
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* WorthyOpponent: Tai becomes close friend with one of the commanders of the last enemies Kitai fought; enough that he's willing to outright lend him his own 'heavenly horse'. It helps that Tai spent two years burying soldiers of ''both'' sides. The commanding officer even openly chews out one of his subordinates (that recently joined the outpost) that accuses Shen Tai of disrespecting some of the corpses.
to:
* WorthyOpponent: Tai becomes close friend with one of the commanders of the last enemies Kitai fought; enough that he's willing to outright lend him his own 'heavenly horse'. horse', give him advice that Tai accepts, and offers to write a letter that should help him keep the horses sequestered until Tai is ready to accept them. (The commander ends up promoted and in charge of a different post because he now appears to "have the ear of royalty"- this coincidentally means he's now in charge of the post ''his own father'' serves at.) It helps that Tai spent two years burying soldiers of ''both'' sides. The commanding officer even openly chews out one of his subordinates (that recently joined the outpost) that accuses Shen Tai of disrespecting some of the corpses.corpses (and later calls him a hot-headed idiot looking for battle glory.)
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Changed line(s) 73 (click to see context) from:
* WhatMeasureIsAMook: When Shenn Tai borrows a horse to head back to to capital, he also gets a soldier from the nearby post assigned to help take care of its needs every day. At one point he realizes he's forgotten the man's name, and asks... shortly before he's killed in an overnight scuffle based on a misunderstanding.
to:
* WhatMeasureIsAMook: When Shenn Shen Tai borrows a horse to head back to to the capital, he also gets a soldier from the nearby army post assigned to help take care of its needs every day. At one point he realizes he's forgotten the man's name, and asks... shortly before he's killed in an overnight scuffle based on a misunderstanding.
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** Also, at one point there's a scuffle, with one side being Tai, a Kanlin bodyguard, and Zian. The Kanlin is automatically presumed to be capable of defending herself, Tai worries about his own skills, and Zian... well Tai isn't thing about how much wine he's already had, he's thinking that Zian used to be a bandit....
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Changed line(s) 68 (click to see context) from:
* TheyShouldHaveSentAPoet: Occasionally, Shen Tai would consider what was happening around him in the context of poems already written (occasionally by people he personally knew.) He ''had'' been studying to be in the civil service before being required to 'mourn' his father's death for two years, and poetry would have been a part of the final exams he missed.
to:
* TheyShouldHaveSentAPoet: Occasionally, Shen Tai would consider what was happening around him in the context of poems already written (occasionally by people he personally knew.) knew). He ''had'' been studying to be in the civil service before being required to 'mourn' his father's death for two years, and poetry would have been a part of the final exams he missed.
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* ArmorPiercingQuestion: When Shen Tai attempts to prevent [[spoiler:the execution of Wen Jian, for her indirect part in casing the civil war, and playing her cousin Wen Zhou against An Li, by a ''dui'' commander and some of his men]] by claiming "She is only a woman. A dancer.", the ''dui'' commander responds "And women have never shaped power in Kitai?"
--> Tai opened his mouth and closed it. He stared at the man below.
--> Tai opened his mouth and closed it. He stared at the man below.
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Changed line(s) 52 (click to see context) from:
* MonoNoAware: Shen Tai spends most of the novel being reminded that, while he was performing his service in the west, life still went on for everyone else, even friends and family. Also, when his sister spends time at Stone Drum Mountain, one of the Kanlin leaders attempts to point out (while attempting to explain why she, like her brother is unsuited by personality to stay there) "Who chooses their fate? Who asks to be born into the times that are theirs?" (She responds with a quote from her father: "Well, who accepts the world only as it comes to them? The Kanlin at first think the line is "from a disciple of the Cho Master".) Finally, Sima Zian quotes part of one of his own poems, written "during the last Taguran war. Tai's father's war.":
to:
* MonoNoAware: Shen Tai spends most of the novel being reminded that, while he was performing his service in the west, life still went on for everyone else, even friends and family. Also, when his sister spends time at Stone Drum Mountain, one of the Kanlin leaders attempts to point out (while attempting to explain why she, like her brother is unsuited by personality to stay there) "Who chooses their fate? Who asks to be born into the times that are theirs?" (She responds with a quote from her father: "Well, who accepts the world only as it comes to them? them?" The Kanlin at first think the line is "from a disciple of the Cho Master".) Finally, Sima Zian quotes part of one of his own poems, written "during the last Taguran war. Tai's father's war.":
Changed line(s) 55 (click to see context) from:
Later, moon's disk on the water.
to:
Later, moon's disk on the water.\\
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Changed line(s) 52,55 (click to see context) from:
* MonoNoAware: Shen Tai becomes ''very'' aware that -- regardless of what ''he'' does -- life will go on, and time passes as it will. As the page quote for the trope goes (which would be in the style of Sima, if nothing else):
-->"Summer grasses—\\
the only remains\\
of warriors' dreams."
-->"Summer grasses—\\
the only remains\\
of warriors' dreams."
to:
* MonoNoAware: Shen Tai becomes ''very'' aware that -- regardless spends most of what ''he'' does -- life will go on, and time passes as it will. As the page quote for the trope goes (which would be novel being reminded that, while he was performing his service in the style west, life still went on for everyone else, even friends and family. Also, when his sister spends time at Stone Drum Mountain, one of Sima, if nothing else):
-->"Summer grasses—\\
the Kanlin leaders attempts to point out (while attempting to explain why she, like her brother is unsuited by personality to stay there) "Who chooses their fate? Who asks to be born into the times that are theirs?" (She responds with a quote from her father: "Well, who accepts the world only remains\\
as it comes to them? The Kanlin at first think the line is "from a disciple of warriors' dreams."the Cho Master".) Finally, Sima Zian quotes part of one of his own poems, written "during the last Taguran war. Tai's father's war.":
-->''Bitter wind blows battle smoke\\
Wild geese and cranes fly.\\
Later, moon's disk on the water.
Plum blossoms mirrored in the river\\
Until they fall.''
-->"Summer grasses—\\
-->''Bitter wind blows battle smoke\\
Wild geese and cranes fly.\\
Later, moon's disk on the water.
Plum blossoms mirrored in the river\\
Until they fall.''
Changed line(s) 62 (click to see context) from:
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: In a meeting involving Prime Minister Wen Zhou, his main advisor (Shen Liu), and Prince Shinzu, Shinzu eventually let's the two other men know that he thinks they're making ''several'' mistakes in how An Li is treated, to the point he thinks they have a firm grasp of the IdiotBall. (Wen Zhou's actions end up convincing An Li to leave the city- where he's separated from his armies- but the prince thinks he should be distracted with BreadAndCircuses, and award ceremonies, until he dies from diabetes.)
to:
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: In a meeting involving Prime Minister Wen Zhou, his main advisor (Shen Liu), and Prince Shinzu, Shinzu eventually let's lets the two other men know that he thinks they're making ''several'' mistakes in how An Li is treated, to the point he thinks they have a firm grasp of the IdiotBall. (Wen Zhou's actions end up convincing An Li to leave the city- where he's separated from his armies- but the prince thinks he should be distracted with BreadAndCircuses, and award ceremonies, until he dies from diabetes.)
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Changed line(s) 66 (click to see context) from:
* TitleDrop: Twice, as part of the narration.
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* TitleDrop: Twice, Several times, as part of the narration.
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* {{Kitsune}}: While kitsune, specifically, are largely a Japanese story/myth, the (Chinese-based) characters here do discuss ''daiji''- "fox women"- several times on the way back to the capital. Tai especially suspects that Wei Song appears to believe they exist, more than he does. In one case, he ends up asking a governor's daughter if she has a ''daiji'' within her, after an attempted seduction to convince him to assign his horses to her father. (She does acknowledge, "I am flattered you think me fair enough to be a ''daiji'' spirit, but it is an error.")
Changed line(s) 60 (click to see context) from:
* TheAtoner: Shen Tai; he believes that the ghosts of those that died in a previous war will only settle if someone makes amends -- by burying those slain in battle, he hopes to earn forgiveness for his family's involvement. (It just so happens there are two outposts of soldiers, one from each side, nearby; they end up indirectly competing against each other through who can honor Shen Tai the most through the supplies they bring him in alternating trips, every two weeks.)
to:
* TheAtoner: Shen Tai; he believes that the ghosts of those that died in a previous war will only settle if someone makes amends -- by burying those slain in battle, he hopes to earn forgiveness for his family's involvement. (It just so happens there are two outposts of soldiers, one from each side, nearby; they end up indirectly competing against each other through who can honor Shen Tai the most through the supplies they bring him and helping with repairs in alternating trips, every two weeks.weeks; first one, then two weeks later the other, and so on. He suspects it's to give him more time on his self-assigned task.)
Changed line(s) 67 (click to see context) from:
* WhatMeasureIsAMook: When Shenn Tai borrows a horse to head back to to capital, he also gets a soldier from the nearby post assigned to help take care of it's needs every day. At one point he realizes he's forgotten the man's name, and asks... shortly before he's killed in an overnight scuffle based on a misunderstanding.
to:
* WhatMeasureIsAMook: When Shenn Tai borrows a horse to head back to to capital, he also gets a soldier from the nearby post assigned to help take care of it's its needs every day. At one point he realizes he's forgotten the man's name, and asks... shortly before he's killed in an overnight scuffle based on a misunderstanding.
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Changed line(s) 62 (click to see context) from:
--> "''That'' is what you do, First Minister Wen, if you are thinking about the empire and not a private war between two men who hate and fear each other. [[{{Foreshadowing}} Private wars, Wen Zhou, can become more than that."
to:
--> "''That'' is what you do, First Minister Wen, if you are thinking about the empire and not a private war between two men who hate and fear each other. [[{{Foreshadowing}} Private wars, Wen Zhou, can become more than that.that]]."
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* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: In a meeting involving Prime Minister Wen Zhou, his main advisor (Shen Liu), and Prince Shinzu, Shinzu eventually let's the two other men know that he thinks they're making ''several'' mistakes in how An Li is treated, to the point he thinks they have a firm grasp of the IdiotBall. (Wen Zhou's actions end up convincing An Li to leave the city- where he's separated from his armies- but the prince thinks he should be distracted with BreadAndCircuses, and award ceremonies, until he dies from diabetes.)
--> "''That'' is what you do, First Minister Wen, if you are thinking about the empire and not a private war between two men who hate and fear each other. [[{{Foreshadowing}} Private wars, Wen Zhou, can become more than that."
--> "''That'' is what you do, First Minister Wen, if you are thinking about the empire and not a private war between two men who hate and fear each other. [[{{Foreshadowing}} Private wars, Wen Zhou, can become more than that."
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* ExactWords: While Shen Li-Mei is being "abducted" away from the bridal party heading north, Meshag informs her at one point, "There is Kitan garrison not far. We sleep now, ride tonight. See it in the morning." He then interrupts her complaining about how the garrison would just send her back, since she's part of an ''{{arranged|marriage}}'' marriage, with:
-->Do Kitan women all speak so much, not listen? I said we see garrison. Not go there. [...] We see walls and turn south. Kiran fortress is protection[.]"
-->Do Kitan women all speak so much, not listen? I said we see garrison. Not go there. [...] We see walls and turn south. Kiran fortress is protection[.]"
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Typos
Changed line(s) 63 (click to see context) from:
* WhatMeasureIsAMook: When Shenn Tai borrows a horse to head back to toe capital, he also gets a soldier from the nearby post assigned to help take care of itt needs every day. At one point he realizes he's forgotten the man's name, and asks... shortly before he's killed in an overnight scuffle based on a misunderstanding.
to:
* WhatMeasureIsAMook: When Shenn Tai borrows a horse to head back to toe to capital, he also gets a soldier from the nearby post assigned to help take care of itt it's needs every day. At one point he realizes he's forgotten the man's name, and asks... shortly before he's killed in an overnight scuffle based on a misunderstanding.
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* WhatMeasureIsAMook: When Shenn Tai borrows a horse to head back to toe capital, he also gets a soldier from the nearby post assigned to help take care of itt needs every day. At one point he realizes he's forgotten the man's name, and asks... shortly before he's killed in an overnight scuffle based on a misunderstanding.
--> [...]Tai said, "He is not nameless. His name was Wujen Ning. A soldier of the Second District army posted to Iron Gate Fortress, assigned by his commander to guard me and my horse, serving the emperor by obeying the orders of his officers, including myself."\\
He was trying, even as he spoke, to remember the man, his features, words.[...] Tai was relieved he'd remembered the name. Had been able to offer it to this courtyard assembly, to the gods.
--> [...]Tai said, "He is not nameless. His name was Wujen Ning. A soldier of the Second District army posted to Iron Gate Fortress, assigned by his commander to guard me and my horse, serving the emperor by obeying the orders of his officers, including myself."\\
He was trying, even as he spoke, to remember the man, his features, words.[...] Tai was relieved he'd remembered the name. Had been able to offer it to this courtyard assembly, to the gods.
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* ArrangedMarriage: Practiced by royalty. Shen Tai's gift came from one of the Emperor's daughters sent into one such marriage in the west, and his sister was made royalty so she could be part of another arrangement, with a Northern Tribe (and involving another of the Emperor's daughters).
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Changed line(s) 13 (click to see context) from:
* TheAlchemist: Provides "immortality elixirs" to the Emperor. [[spoiler:When the Emperor abdicates, he's informed he's no longer needed....]]
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* TheAlchemist: Provides "immortality elixirs" to the Emperor. [[spoiler:When the Alchemy: Accepted as a part of daily life. The Emperor abdicates, he's informed he's no longer needed....]]even has an alchemist as part of his staff.
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* AltarDiplomacy: Tai's sister is made 'royalty', and sent north to marry a "barbarian" tribal leader, as a method of pacification; Lei thinks it's just politics, and Tai (when he finds out about it) thinks their father would have disapproved.
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* TheAlchemist: Provides "immortality elixirs" to the Emperor. [[spoiler:When the Emperor abdicates, he's informed he's no longer needed....]]
* AlchemyIsMagic: Believed to various levels, especially the Emperor: he imbibs a drink each day, provided by an alchemist, in attempt to [[ImmortalitySeeker extend his lifespan]]. Also, certain tribes in the north have shamans, and some of their actions are viewed as alchemy-based magic by the citizens of Kitai (eg. Shen Tai's sister) that hear stories.
* AltarDiplomacy: Tai's sister is made'royalty', royalty, and sent north to marry a "barbarian" tribal leader, as a method of pacification; Lei thinks it's just politics, and Tai (when he finds out about it) thinks their father would have disapproved.
* AlchemyIsMagic: Believed to various levels, especially the Emperor: he imbibs a drink each day, provided by an alchemist, in attempt to [[ImmortalitySeeker extend his lifespan]]. Also, certain tribes in the north have shamans, and some of their actions are viewed as alchemy-based magic by the citizens of Kitai (eg. Shen Tai's sister) that hear stories.
* AltarDiplomacy: Tai's sister is made
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* CainAndAbel: Assassins are sent after Shen Tai, and he thinks his elder brother had either sent them or recommended their use, in order to preemptively prevent him from interfering with their sister's marriage. This turned out to be false, but there were some hard feelings involved. [[spoiler:The Prime Minister had hired them on his own initiative.]]
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* CainAndAbel: Assassins are sent after Shen Tai, and he thinks his elder brother had either sent them or recommended their use, in order to preemptively prevent him from interfering with their sister's marriage. This turned out to be false, but there were some hard feelings involved. [[spoiler:The Prime Minister had hired them on his own initiative.initiative due to having previous feelings for the Minister's newest concubine.]]
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* DecadentCourt: The reason for Ang Li's Rebellion -- he believes that 'the common people' are being ignored, and the court is doing what it can to stay in power.
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* DecadentCourt: The reason for Ang Li's Rebellion -- he believes that 'the common people' are being ignored, and the court is doing what it can only to stay in power.
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* TheAtoner: Shen Tai; he believes that the ghosts of those that died in a previous war will only settle if someone makes amends -- by burying those slain in battle, he hopes to earn forgiveness for his family's involvement. (It just so happens there are two outposts of soldiers, one from each side, nearby; they end up indirectly competing against each other through who can honor Shen Tai the most through the supplies they bring him in alternating months.)
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* TheAtoner: Shen Tai; he believes that the ghosts of those that died in a previous war will only settle if someone makes amends -- by burying those slain in battle, he hopes to earn forgiveness for his family's involvement. (It just so happens there are two outposts of soldiers, one from each side, nearby; they end up indirectly competing against each other through who can honor Shen Tai the most through the supplies they bring him in alternating months.trips, every two weeks.)
