Chapter 129: Heart Like a Fierce Tiger, Softly Sniffing Roses

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**A Book Recommendation**Press the right arrow key to quickly navigate between chapters.

**Heart Like a Tiger, Sniffing a Rose (Parts 3 & 4) by Feiyue***A Collection of Book Reviews by Feiyue*Feiyue's Thoughts: Heart Like a Tiger, Sniffing a Rose – On the Audacity and Concealment of a King (Part 3)

...Continued from the previous article.

**2. Why Is the Protagonist Willing to Be a Live-in Son-in-Law? Will This Plotline Ever End?**

Regarding the author Banana's creative direction, Feiyue has no right to ask and no desire to know when specific plot points will be resolved; that’s for Banana to agonize over daily. However, after reading through *Hidden Kill* and observing the dramatic shifts in the female characters’ relationships with Gu Jiaming in the seventh volume, the tears of Shasha and Lingjing in the eighth, and the desperate struggle of Xun, I formed two definitions of Banana as a writer. These definitions still hold true today:

1. Banana consistently excels at conveying emotion, effectively shaping plot progression and character portrayal. The inherent reasonableness of Banana's creative approach is rarely a concern. He consistently maintains a unique arrangement and interpretation of the world he creates.2. However, all the aforementioned strengths of Banana are built upon an almost psychologically masochistic level of self-demand. According to reliable rumors, it took Banana nearly three hours to write a mere 600-character piece describing Nie Yunzhu's mixed feelings before her stage performance. This is in addition to the infamous period at the end of *Hidden Kill* when readers were left waiting endlessly.

(Phew, I seem to have gotten a little carried away. Thankfully, I only read *Hidden Kill* after it was completed, so Feiyue's foresight truly paid off. Here, I’ll even put in a small plug for Banana: *Hidden Kill* is a wonderfully charming novel that is now complete. New readers who appreciate captivating stories are welcome to check it out and also enjoy Banana’s delightful moments in *Hidden Kill*. Given the book's considerable length, veteran readers who subscribe might even find themselves spending two required monthly fees for it... Oh dear, I'm drifting off topic. Let's return to discussing Ning Yi.)

Let’s now explore why the protagonist willingly chose to be a live-in son-in-law, or rather, what discernible intentions the author had in this arrangement.

Before we delve into conclusions about Ning Yi, Feiyue wants readers to understand a basic concept: the typical limitations and unfair treatment faced by a live-in son-in-law in an ancient Martial Dynasty (similar to the Song Dynasty).

First, Chinese culture emphasizes filial piety, with the lack of male heirs being the most serious offense. A live-in son-in-law had no right to use his own surname when naming his future children, effectively signifying the eradication of his own family lineage. In a Chinese society deeply influenced by Confucian teachings for thousands of years—principles like the hierarchy of heaven and earth, and the husband as the guide for the wife—this was the most intolerable act of disrespect, often simply called "unfilial." Few men with any sense of dignity would readily agree to such an arrangement.

Second, the status of a live-in son-in-law within the household was half-master, half-servant. While he was nominally a master to the household staff, to his wife's family, he was akin to a bought servant. He had no right to interfere in the primary affairs of the female family and was expected to comply with their arrangements. For the traditional ancient mindset that "a good man’s ambition is in the four directions, and under his knees lies ten thousand taels of gold," this represented a complete obliteration of male dignity and the greatest insult.

Third, due to the first two primary reasons, his social status would naturally be quite low. The imperial court demanded absolute formal lineage, so it was strictly stipulated that a live-in son-in-law could never hold an official position, lest he disgrace the nation. All the learning he acquired, the classics he studied, his years of arduous study, and his aspirations for official fame would all turn to smoke once he became a live-in son-in-law; there was no longer any need to even dream of them. For ordinary commoners, it was even worse: a man who abandoned his paternal surname and willingly became a live-in son-in-law simply to survive or achieve a better standard of living, disregarding the proper order of heaven and earth, would never be regarded favorably.

(Of course, situations similar to the protagonist's, where a child engagement was forced by the decline of the main family’s prestige, were common in history and usually met with understanding. However, people’s true inner thoughts were well known. Moreover, men who entered such arrangements, often being penniless and lacking powerful family support, were rarely respected by either outsiders or internal members of the wife’s clan. If they weren’t subjected to verbal abuse or petty sabotage, it was considered a kindness. A family like the Su household, willing to uphold a previous agreement, would even be praised by the neighbors. But such good reputation had nothing to do with the live-in son-in-law; everyone treated him as if he were invisible. This was tradition, and there was nothing to be done.)

That’s roughly the situation... That was the established status of our Ning Yi... Rather stifling, isn't it? Banana is quite boring, you think? Don't rush to judgment; there’s more to come.

(Feiyue wants to add here: So, that Old Man Su was truly no good. Is that how you treat the descendant of a good brother? You even hurt your granddaughter's heart, simply to protect the family business above all else, casting everything else aside. Shameless is shameless.)

Feiyue wants to remind all readers that many people here misunderstand Banana's good intentions in designing this plot. There's a serious logical fallacy at play:

Is Ning Yi an ancient person? The answer is, of course, no. So, what would he think? What would he do? Would he be heartbroken and sad? Positively speaking, the answer is still no.

This is what Feiyue means: a good author's ability to portray and shape characters requires a tailored approach, fitting the character’s actual circumstances, with logical progression. This is often the most difficult aspect.

Who is Ning Yi? He is a commercial genius from a later era. Who is Ning Yi? He is someone fully baptized by the information-explosive age a thousand years later, someone who lives by the motto: "Smiling to your face, a knife at your back; in my heart, only money matters." He is an ultimate pragmatist. Who is Ning Yi? He is someone who, at the peak of his life, was betrayed by his closest friend and forced to commit suicide.

How high would such a person’s vision be? How broad would his mind be? Or rather, how deep would his cunning be, how clear his insights? Would he still care about such a small grievance? If you say yes, Feiyue simply cannot believe it.

One must understand that anyone who reaches the pinnacle in the world, especially in business, has extremely strong self-control over their emotions. True joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are never easily displayed before others. Often, what they show is a leader's demeanor of detachment, as if nothing troubles them, and everything is as light as the wind. Hmm… Do you notice how similar this is to Ning Yi?

Readers, don't you suddenly think Banana is really cool? Isn’t he? Isn’t he? How can he be so talented?

This issue is about the clash and transformation of old and new concepts.

To put it bluntly, for Ning Yi, this identity simply never bothered him.

Can't pass on the family line? Sorry, in the era I came from, many kids had painless abortions long ago. The world had become a global village; whether two people loved each other was no longer important. LGBTQ+, fan fiction, S&M—these concepts had long surpassed the fixed notions of this era. Besides, my original surname isn't even Ning. Whether the family line continues isn't something I should care about.

No power or status in the household? No fixed identity? I live in a grand house, wear fine clothes, eat delicious food, and sleep with a wife. Outside, I have a carriage, and when I walk, I have shoes. In a guesthouse, I even have a maid to warm my bed and fold my quilt. For someone like me, who had such a tragic end in my previous life, what is there to be dissatisfied with such a life? My heart is calm, my mind is clear, everything aligns with my will, everything is as I wish. It’s perfectly fine.

Can't take imperial exams to become an official? Ah, thank goodness, that’s for the best! I was just wondering how to get rid of this troublesome "dog-skin plaster." For modern people, how much true national classical knowledge is there? Wouldn't that be seeking death, abuse, and discomfort?

Being pointed at and talked about? What a joke. How does that cause me a single cent of loss? I am still Ning Li Huan. With a skill in hand, the world is mine. If you say I'm good, am I truly good? If you say I'm bad, will I not be good? How much are other people's words worth? Merchants always pursue profit. We shouldn’t be arrogant and impractical; let’s talk more about what’s real. Uh... the author hasn't let me exert my full power yet, why are you all so eager?

Did you notice the points mentioned earlier? The harm of being a live-in son-in-law is mostly the psychological burden imposed on the man by traditional beliefs, rather than physical suffering. Our Ning Yi, however, precisely lacks such understanding and burden, so he lives freely, contentedly, at ease, and hidden.

*Roaming between heaven and earth, I find joy in myself.*I am a live-in son-in-law, my name is Ning Yi, also Ning Li Huan.

The following is rambling, feel free to skip it. For those who continue, please bear with me.

...Whew, I've finished writing. This is the third part.

Thus, this series titled "Heart Like a Tiger, Sniffing a Rose" is half-complete. The "sniffing a rose" part represents Ning Yi's hidden side. Next, I will delve into the protagonist's "heart like a tiger," which is the overt side of his personality.

I am grateful for everyone's support for Feiyue's humble writings, but I also feel incredibly embarrassed. This short piece has turned out to be quite long... Originally, I promised Banana 4,000 characters, but now just half of it is already 8,000.

I consider myself a rather meticulous person, often immersing myself in books and putting a lot of my own thoughts into consideration. This is also how I approach writing reviews, which inevitably results in my posts often being very long. I didn't intend to write something this extensive.

However, day by day, the writing flowed quite smoothly. Ning Yi, in terms of personality, is a character archetype I admire and aspire to become. To be able to read this book by Banana at this moment truly fills me with gratitude.

Throughout my years on Qidian, I've found that Yue Guan's books fully absorb me, and I’ve joyfully written many reviews and engaged in discussions about them. I still place Yue Guan first in my heart, irreplaceable, because I still deeply remember that initial sense of wonder.

But now, fortunately, because of this little book, I see another brilliant facet in Banana, which also deeply attracts me. Both Banana and Yue Guan are individuals whom I consider both teachers and friends in my pursuit of literary expression. I am very happy.

Starting tomorrow, we will enter the second half. Feiyue will do her best to articulate Ning Yi's considerations when his personality erupts like a tiger leaving the forest, as I perceive it. We’ll meet again tomorrow.

Feiyue's Thoughts: Heart Like a Tiger, Sniffing a Rose – On the Audacity and Concealment of a King (Part 4)

...Continued from the previous article.

**3. Is It a Heart Like a Tiger, or a Failed Depiction? On the Controversy Surrounding the Protagonist's Actions.**

I remember when my maternal grandfather was alive, he often spoke to Feiyue about the achievements and failures of the figures from the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. He recounted the emergence and departure of heroes, their successes and mistakes, and the origins, conclusions, development, and progress of various events. As I recall, my grandfather’s tone was calm and natural, yet perfectly clear. He simply narrated the facts, never criticizing right or wrong, achievements or failures. This unconsciously made me fall in love with historical stories. From then on, I immersed myself in history, studied humanities, pondered life philosophy, and reflected on the actions of our predecessors to correct my own shortcomings, cultivate a balanced personality, and improve my conduct and conversation. I benefited immensely.

Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, once uttered a remarkably wise saying that I deeply admire: "By using bronze as a mirror, one can straighten one's clothes; by using people as a mirror, one can clarify gains and losses; by using history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of dynasties." Modern educators often echo this, stating that "formal schooling is only one part of character development; one’s family education and social education are even more critical, with a far deeper and more lasting influence."

The reason I bring up character development is that today, we come to the most crucial yet often misunderstood aspect of Ning Yi’s portrayal in this series, leading up to the "Heart Like a Tiger" chapter. Before this point, protagonist Ning Yi’s behavior could be described as unremarkable: seemingly indifferent to everything, approachable, and politely refined. Yet, he suddenly transforms, violently killing people and slaughtering entire families, which is perplexing. Furthermore, Banana even mentioned in a postscript that he had no choice but to write this section this way, preferring to sacrifice performance rather than compromise. This itself is an unusual occurrence that warrants careful consideration of the author’s creative intent.

(Perhaps you’re all saying, "Feiyue, you're overthinking this. Is it really necessary? Isn't it just Banana letting Ning Yi unleash some protagonist aura, sending away all the monsters and dispelling evil? What other creative intent could there be? Aren't you being too harsh?")

Uh, okay, I admit that I usually have a slightly masochistic and gloomy psychological bent when reading. After finishing this section, I was distressed to death and pondered it repeatedly. Compared to the rest of the text, it was like sweet tea versus bitter tea—the contrast was too stark. Feiyue felt that for Banana to say such a thing, there must be a reason, so my professional habit kicked in, and I read this section several times. I even vaguely dreamed of the events and woke up covered in cold sweat. Even now, as I type, just trying to figure out how to introduce this topic took me over a dozen attempts and two hours to write less than 400 characters, deleting and rewriting until I finally captured my own feeling...

I still hope (and it is just a hope) that through my words, all readers currently sitting in front of their computers, reading this short post, will understand why Banana chose to write it this way. This might lead to more understanding and less complaining when reading future updates, and even greater anticipation and enjoyment of the subsequent plot. Feiyue would be deeply honored.

A person's temperament determines the scope of their actions, just as a person's integrity influences their principles. Therefore, after such extensive preparation in the preceding text (approximately 130,000 characters), Banana finally wrote this plot, transforming Ning Yi from a rabbit into a tiger, slaughtering an entire family, leaving no survivors. And he didn't leave afterward but waited for Gu Yanzhen to appear, fiercely killing his master and servants before it was truly over. Of course, we cannot find all the answers solely from this description.

When we re-examine the event from the beginning, we will discover that behind this bloody massacre, Ning Yi was actually very passively implicated. The true aggressor was none other than Gu Yanzhen, the great scholar. Therefore, to find the answer to what triggered Ning Yi’s dominant side, we must analyze the psychology of the main perpetrator.

The character development mentioned at the beginning of this article is the real key. Since Banana depicted Gu Yanzhen as having planned everything with a specific target, there must be his reasons. What? I hear a reader saying, "Because of a femme fatale?" Ah, this is a thousand-year-old common problem! The inherent flaw of Chinese men: pushing all negative blame onto women. The fall of the Xia Dynasty because of Mei Xi, the extermination of the Shang clan because of Daji, the chaos of the Zhou Dynasty because of Bao Si. And now, student Gu’s perversion is due to Yunzhu's lack of deference. Feiyue shakes her head and shrugs. Is it ever that simple? I shout: "Women, rise up!"

Just as Ning Yi remains calm in all situations due to his experiences in his previous life, what about Gu Yanzhen's background? Let's review together:

Gu Hong, courtesy name Gu Yanzhen (I really dislike him; both courtesy names are so hard to type, truly "three lotus flowers in a green pond"...). He is well-mannered and dignified, in his twenties, at the prime of his life. In Jiangning, he shared scholarly fame with Li Pin and Cao Guan, even subtly surpassing them. He passed the imperial examinations and has now officially taken office. He has returned to his hometown to visit relatives and friends.

According to the text, this student Gu is wealthy (refer to the family backgrounds of Li Pin and Cao Guan), and even more so, he is famous, talented, and handsome (a handsome man like Song Yu). He speaks grandly, is gentle and polite. He has official status and scholarly fame. Now he returns home under the guise of visiting, but in reality, he is showing off his success. Well, he’s impressive; a little showing off is nothing. He is certainly a "deadly charmer" for women. In the Martial Dynasty, he was every woman's dream for a long-term provider, likely universally appealing. In short, both his soft and hard skills were formidable. (Shouldn't this be the prerequisite setting for a protagonist in a historical transmigration novel?)

More importantly, student Gu returned not just to meet friends, but for our Yunzhu. His affectionate words and sincere demeanor made him even more appealing, making all readers feel the immense threat and the strength of the opponent. This was the ideal scholar meeting the perfect lady, a match made in heaven! His image as a passionate, devoted, and deeply emotional man was fully displayed. There was no reason for him to fail!

Nie Yunzhu has always been pure-hearted and acted with great spirit, even possessing a sense of aloofness and detachment. Our student Gu Yanzhen was also like this; having lived such a smooth life, his heart was actually filled with arrogance and pride. (Readers can see this from his frequent arbitrary judgments of others' intentions based solely on his own subjective assumptions in the text.) As he saw it, besides this woman from three years ago, whose high learning, beauty, and refined manners distinguished her from ordinary courtesans and truly moved him, she could "reluctantly" become his first concubine, my secondary wife! Such a high opportunity, a chance for instant elevation, wasn't it easily within his grasp?

The result, as everyone knows, was that student Gu was destined for tragedy. Because of our protagonist’s two poems that had already made waves in Jiangning, plus their shared morning runs, and his later tireless efforts to establish her business, Sister Yunzhu’s emotional defenses had already crumbled, and she had begun to fall for him. At this moment, her heart was filled with blooming flowers, birds chirping on branches, and her senses were all dazed with happiness. She was beautiful. How could she accept a stranger with whom she had only a nodding acquaintance, and no real affection?

So, without any surprise (for Nie Yunzhu), yet full of surprise (for Gu Yanzhen), the woman firmly rejected the possibility of their relationship developing. Excellent and powerful; beautiful and dramatic! Readers congratulated each other, and Feiyue exhaled deeply, confirming Banana's cleverness!

Next, student Gu, who had experienced no major setbacks in life, reacted with astonishment, then feigned magnanimity and understanding. In reality, he felt utterly disgusted, as if he had eaten excrement. How could this be? She was just a commoner, a "cheap" woman, who, no matter how noble her outward appearance, was merely a courtesan. She had first slapped him in the face and then struck his heart again? What a joke!

Initially, the matter was quite simple, but because student Gu’s emotional intelligence was lacking, the malice in his heart began to fester. Finally, when he discovered that he had not lost to a high-ranking official as he had envisioned, but merely to a merchant’s live-in son-in-law, the final poisonous ferment erupted, initiating a series of retaliations.

This is why Feiyue repeatedly emphasizes character development. In essence, student Gu was not an evil person (after all, he shares the same surname and lineage as Gu Jiaming; here’s another plug for *Hidden Kill*—new and old Banana fans should definitely check it out!). However, in many areas, due to his inherent arrogance, the personality traits he developed were extremely terrifying, such as:

1. In his subconscious, Gu Hong marrying Yunzhu was a trivial matter. His affection for her was genuine, but constrained by the era, his class-consciousness was very strong. No matter how good or beautiful Yunzhu was, she was merely a "broken good," a courtesan. She could not be his principal wife, nor even an equal wife. To take her as a concubine was, in itself, an absolute act of grace borne of deep affection. This was a matter of status at the time, and there was nothing inherently wrong with it.2. If she had rejected him for another scholar of similar standing, that would have been acceptable. But student Gu deeply believed in his own abilities, so he maliciously degraded Yunzhu's character, envisioning her as a mistress who would throw herself at an old official. This was a contempt born of his mindset; he couldn't bear to lose to peers like Cao Guan or Li Pin, whom he didn't even consider his equals. In that era, his reasoning couldn’t be considered wrong.3. Attacking Yunzhu’s business was, from his perspective as a potential husband, an act of disciplining a disobedient concubine. This was material control, to make her understand what is heaven and what is earth, what is hierarchy, what is respect, what is husband, what is wife, what are family rules, what is divine justice. The starting point was deep love, hence the severe correction. In the context of the era's progression, his actions were considered high-minded and correct.

So, we see that in student Gu’s logic, everything he did was normal and correct. Therefore, performing such actions and devising such strategies felt completely justified to him. He wore a calm and collected expression, entirely devoid of guilt. This was the most normal logic in that patriarchal, male-dominated era.

However, unfortunately, he met Nie Yunzhu. He met Ning Yi.

Ning Yi’s era was one of absolute human rights, an era of gender "equality," an era that respected individual will. For Yunzhu, who yearned for freedom and inner peace, her deep bond with Ning Yi became irreplaceable. She had been subtly influenced, and this invisible impact ultimately led to the subsequent massacre and all its tragic consequences.

In reality, Yunzhu's rejection, in terms of its actual impact on the conflict between Gu and Ning, was at most only a catalyst. More than that, it merely provided Gu Yanzhen with a convenient excuse for his shameless murderous plan, allowing his conscience to remain at peace: "It was all that woman... it wasn't me; I am a righteous little superhero, I am a truly sincere gentleman, I am... it's all of you, you unworthy commoners... go to hell after accepting my divine punishment," and so on.

Of course, this is thanks to Banana’s brilliant writing, intentionally highlighting the different character developments shaped by two distinct historical perspectives. It’s not a question of right or wrong; it’s an inevitable conflict that also provides a logical outlet for Ning Yi's psychological explosion.

All the bloodshed will begin here.

"I just want to live peacefully." —Ning Li Huan

I have finally finished the first part of "Heart Like a Tiger," primarily analyzing the external causes of the incident.

In fact, as you can see, I have tried my best to explain one thing: all of Gu Yanzhen's actions were, in that era, not wrong. He was a good person, just a bit arrogant. This is entirely similar to Yunzhu, except their statuses were different, leading to different interpretations and experiences.

Despite saying this, I still cannot accept that this justifies planning to kill someone. It is a disregard for human life. However, in that era, human lives were not considered of equal value at birth. A person's social rank, regardless of objective or subjective factors, consistently influenced the decisions and progression of entire events. This was a historical inevitability.

Therefore, we modern people should not use modern thinking to condemn the actions of people in ancient times. This is unfair and unreasonable. Just as we, the readers, often discuss plots and characters' actions with an "omniscient" or "God's" perspective when talking with the author, which is inappropriate.

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