The Most Complicated Danmei: Ballad of Sword and Wine EXPLAINED! QJJ

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Today Stitch told me the entire political and romantic plot of QJJ, ballad of sword and wine!
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[@Gingafan2008]

Stitch literally said ya'll need to eat all your vegetables first before getting into the dessert😂

[@roselindadevalentine5994]

This is hilarious timing. A sibling’s friend offered to sell me a copy of this book (they accidentally purchased 2) and I said to wait so I can look into it and jokingly told the sibling to wait until my favourite couple covers the book. That was 1 hour ago and look what was posted XD BLESS YOU TWO

[@Amy_the_Lizard]

Now that's what we call impressive timing!

[@KriNaturo]

58:10 One of my favorite moments in book 1 is early after the timeskip is when Xiao C is leaving on his horse, Shen Z looks him up and down and goes something like "I thought The Imperial Army was a dead end job. He's certainly kept up with his physique." Which to me read extremely "Eww. Why's he hot?"

[@AerrowPiper1]

Just like the lyrics in Mo dao Zushi XD "Good and Evil cannot coexist but Love and Hate are hard to tell apart..."

[@RinHanyouChan]

I call it “ENEMIES WITH BENEFITS” “Politics and Chill” 41:15

[@ShinigamiMischief15]

Currently only 5 minutes in but Shen Wei is giving off "My main goal is to blow up, and then act like I don't know nobody"

[@cricketjuices]

PLEASE this comment took me tf out lmao

[@KnotApps]

Qjj makes so much more sense if peeps know a little about the mongolian tribes and the chinese history. Genghis Khan apparently had the tactic of breeching a city, rounding up the civilians like a herd of goats and use them as meat shields against their own town's army/security. The troops often had to cut down their own people to even get to the mongolian cavalry, often leaving towns completely desolate with no people in it. They were also very fast because they never had to keep supply wagons, living off the land and then raided the granaries inside the towns. I think this kind of gives an idea of how the initial chashi sinkhole event could have come to be.

[@jeanpeverell865]

Omg a one and a half hour video on Qiang Jin Jiu? My plants have been watered and my skin is clear

[@roslynatlas]

Just when you think you’ve escaped confusion from Thousand Autumn’s history, here comes QJJ with its politics. Also, I think Kictor’s face at 1:17:55 speaks for all of us who have read BAB.

[@qixie-r8c]

I am a reader in China. To be honest, the history of this book is really a little better than thousand autumn If you don't look at history, you will miss a lot of interesting things. The book is more about building a new world view. There aren't that many historical figures. If you have the chance, you should have a look at the history of the Ming Dynasty.

[@umichandesu]

I purchased the novel last week and read it all in two days that's how much I loved it. I know some people don't enjoy intricate political plots, but I am really enjoying myself when a romance is the core of a story, but not all there is to the story. It makes the characters feel more realistic in a sense when they don't just deal with the romance alone. Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan are both really well written characters and their interactions are always so enjoyable to read. And I love the way they start by hating each other, but slowly come to realize not only their mutual attraction, but also how much they actually have in common. Both of them just want to be free to live their lives on their own terms. Thank you Stitch for the comprehensive breakdown of the intricate political backdrop of the novel. This was probably one of my favourite novel summaries/ reviews on this channel.

[@gbfriend420]

I love this novel, I read it a while back when it was online, the writer can write well and this story hooks you as it's perfect amount of romance and court drama

[@Arimi1992]

I loved this one. Two kindred spirits trapped in similar predicaments finding comfort in each others company. ❤ Exactly what I didn't know I wanted!

[@ankitasurve5781]

Stitch makes it so easy to understand plots like I commend her for making all the chart flow maps and what not !! The feelings you feel when stitch is telling you a story you get that!!

[@KnotApps]

Also about the elephants, I don't know the details for sure, but historically elephants were used for ceremonial parades, construction (to carry and drag very heavy stones etc) and probably during sieges of walled cities. Elephants were hella useful, the Indian royalties also had elephant departments and they were used heavily in temple building.

[@breezy3392]

I ordered this book immediately after seeing their short going through the pictures because I wanted to know how it got from kicking him to death to boning. I'm only a few chapters into it, and glad that Stitch made this presentation

[@qixie-r8c]

It's going to be a very long book.

[@emmijay3833]

Qi zhuyin and Hua xiangyi definitely have little something something (no spoilers), there is some really pretty official art of the two of them together too!!

[@xianlecore321]

It fills me with so much joy to see Qjj finally being recognized by more people. As stitch said it's a literary masterpiece!✨ Thank you so much for making such a detailed presentation explaining the plot and the characters.❤ I think why many people are afraid to start Qjj is cause they don't understand much by reading just the first chapter. Getting a overall view of the situation of the political condition in the book thus really helps new readers to warm up to it. This was an excellent video! Can't wait to see more Qjj related video from you💗

[@larum3793]

This book is mixed with the systems of different dynasties in ancient China, so it is complicated to read, and it is also difficult for Chinese people to read the Chinese version, but it is indeed a very good work, and every character in it is well portrayed, and they have different ideals and are working hard for it. Cezhou's love is super sweet and I hope everyone has a good reading experience.❤❤

[@waew4237]

I love the animated map explaining the premises of this novel. This is so good! I've finished reading this novel last year and still got a vague understanding of the the political plot in this 😅 but now this help me understand it more. Hope you continue to make this as more Eng vol. comes out!

[@jamiesilver7401]

I've been reading Danmei for about seven years at this point, and there are so many that I love, but this is by far my favorite. I'm probably in the minority in this, but I adore plot heavy books when they are done well, so this book was right up my alley. But aside from the very well done plot, this is easily the best enemies to lovers book I have ever read. Mostly because, as Stitch said, there aren't many real enemies to lovers books out there, and the ones that are, normally end in an extremely toxic relationship. Not this book! They start as enemies and evolve into such truly devoted lovers, and a genuinely health relationship. Another thing about this book I love is that they actually flesh out the side characters really well. So many minor characters in the first volume go onto play such big rolls later on.

[@icecreamdiet7141]

I CANNOT stress enough how AMAZING this novel is. Great job as always, Stitch! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@niko910s]

I will never hate the empress dowager. sexism and patriarchy are also big factors in the book that should not be overlooked. the empress dowager is ambitious and ruthless but so are most of the characters. the real villain of the story is the political system of the eight clans itself not any individual.

[@ari.annngel]

Tysm for doing an entire hour and a half video on QJJ Stitch! I started reading the book recently but had such a headache figuring out the politics that I had to put the book down. The way you explained everything was so easy to understand. Loved the little animation at the start there it really helped show the scale of the situation and the flow charts are all very nicely organized. I'll go read it again now that I have a better grasp on the political context. Can't wait for the video on vol 2!

[@evoraartemisia]

8:59 Uhhhh jsyk when stitch says ji lei the captions say… “And that adopted brother is gay and gay is the one interrogating him”

[@Amy_the_Lizard]

Look, the captions clearly made the executive decision to just assume everyone it can't figure out how to spell the name of is gay, and just refer to them as such... 😂

[@BTS-bm7yv]

I just finished reading it, was completely lost so decided to watch this review. It helped understand it so much better. Thank you guys so much for this.

[@wsuchuan]

Embroidery guards was secret police directly reported to emperors. It started in Ming dynasty- very powerful organization

[@Liliquan]

Except in this story they have been neutered and have no power and little connection to the emperor.

[@brinleyknowles]

Love it when a danmei starts with a character being the most hated

[@ellianaemerson6157]

I can’t tell you how long I’ve been waiting for this video. Stitch’s presentations are always so incredible! ❤

[@iiXioria]

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR KICTOR TO KNOW ABOUT QJJ AND INDEED MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED LETS GO!!

[@PopsterPop]

Not Ji Lei becoming “Gay” in the subtitles at 9:47 💀

[@noodle1393]

😂😅😂

[@mimikuroken1885]

I don’t have the mental capacity to read this one so thank you so much for recounting it 🥰 I enjoy your summarizations and PowerPoints so much! Thank you for all ur hard work Stitch!

[@crumpetcat1554]

Amazing video, this was so clearly explained, im trying to get a friend to read this series and I needed some help remembering what happened and why haha, but to all new readers this story gets easier to understand the further you read it. The first volume introduces alot at once but its so worth it to keep going. The payoff in this story is so so good, and the crazy politics is the best part lmao

[@line6149]

Let's gooooo!! have been waiting for this video for months. Literally my fav danmei of all time. Thanks Stitch and Kictor❤❤

[@peachesbloom]

Thank you for doing this Stitch! QJJ was so hard for me to understand, so many characters! I had to do a lot of outside research, so a video like this helps a lot

[@ginnhale1228]

Thank you so much for all the thought and work that went into this. I adore these book reviews because they’re really so much more than just a synopsis and rating. Going through the books with Stitch & Kictor feels almost like joining a fun lively book club. Where all of us who have read and appreciated these stories on our own can share how much joy the stories have brought us & know that we aren’t alone.

[@135do]

Loved the video, Stich does an amazing job at explaining the story in an understandable way, i wish her all the luck for the future parts where it gets even more complicated lol. This is my favorite danmei book, I just love these type of stories - especially with the addition of gay people and a beautiful scheeming man (Shen Lanzou has me on my knees begging for one chance). The characters are amazing, the relationship development is great, and theres so many emotional moments! Cant wait to see more of it from you :)

[@X13LI4N]

I just wanted to say thank you soso much for making this! As a person who is reading qjj currently this is really helpful! Especially the diagram at the start of the video 😻😻 THANK YOU SO MUCH 😖😖🙏🙏🙏

[@blacktigers98]

Please please tell me Stitch is gonna cover volume 2 now that it’s out 😭😂

[@EnHub]

I am so thankful for this video. I am interested with the book, read it and then left with questioning myself “Should I read it again to understand it?” It was written in a way that is so intertwined like a puzzle that reader have to go back and re read when coming across something that will explain a situation but not sure which part of the book to go back to. So big HALLELUJAH to your hard work.

[@j.d.moeckli]

I read one Chapter every night and love it. My English is not good enough to understand the hole Story, but it's so interesting to read. I'm from Switzerland, and learn English in School and through KZbin Videos. 😅

[@Thebighairytoe]

Good luck 😅😅

[@annmary6472]

This has to be one of my favourite danmei of all time.. I've been waiting for this video ever since Kictor commented that Stitch finished her notes for it... I'm so happy...❤ PS: I have to say, I was mildly disappointed when the official translation used 'deprived' for Xiao Chiye in place of the 'sex deprived' in the fan translation ...

[@BookWonder]

This was such a helpful video. Thank you, Stitch, for making all the charts.

[@balladofme]

I read a chapter and then come here to understand it better 😂 Thank you for such a remarkable summary!!

[@leikomoon6897]

I literally finished the first volume...(like right now, after having started it 2 days ago)...You both made me discover this masterpiece and what to say...This book has a LOT of lore to consume, (and a LOT of names...You don't want to ask me how many times I jumpedfrom my chapter to the glossary XD) but DAMN was it worth it!!! Thanks again for your review and recommendation! Thanks to you, my bookshelves is filled with at least a dozens of danmei discovered thanks to this channel ^^ Thanks again!!

[@user-ym8qy7ow6s]

an add to this wonderful video is that qi zhuyin and hua xiangyi are confirmed to have a relationship in subtext by the author. and SPOILERS- . qi zhuyin doesnt let hua xiangyi remarry after her father’s inevitable demise. (hxy weds qzy’s father in middle of the novel for political reasons)

[@KnotApps]

She managed to put lipstick onto a girl who touched nothing but swords, ya'll have to use your imagination to guess how she did it.

[@mariaflores6442]

AS SOON AS I SAW THE TITLE OF THE VIDEO I IMMEDIATELY ENTER THE VIDEO THANK YOU FOR THIS MAP GUIDE VIDEO❤❤❤, AND PLEASE GIVE THIS NOVEL A CHANCE TO READ IT BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST ENEMY LOVERS THEMED DANMEI NOVEL ❤❤❤❤

[@hsbr2434]

Stitch did such an amazing job for this one, while i havent read the book, ive been wanting to, putting it in my list. Now i know exactly what i will probably get into. Also, the new ending song for TGCF audio drama with its new MV has dropped and it's soooo good I hope to see ur reactions to it some time~

[@DiDiavoloCreations]

I just finished the book and on alot I was so confused, so having Stitch explain the whole thing is so helpfull. Hopefully this will help me understand the next few volumes

[@espurrlady3397]

Stitch, you did a really good job explaining everything!! Those flowcharts were amazing and super helpful!!

[@jinnimint]

1:12:53 exactly, Tantai Hu helped me to break that thought and understand how they view and why view Shen Zeshuan like that

[@jingjingwang8255]

Omg finally the official English version of qjj!!! This one is so good!!!!! Especially the first volume how they turn from enemies to lovers

[@EveRosell]

Thank you for the review, loved your discussion! Hello to fellow initial fan translation reader! Started to read when 27 chapters were translated, and followed QJJ ever since. I really recommend trying out the audio drama if you didn't yet. It is amazing in quality, and follows the plot to a T. There are english subtitles up to season 2 out of 4, I believe. Also, you did not imagine it, Qi Zhuyin and Hua Xiangyi are absolutely the side CP!

[@PLAI-qu8tt]

Pls do moree I love your vids sm im looking fw vol2❤ i need help from your guides to understand more cuz im a bit lost lol

[@MAEELOBUYES-cd3ph]

i really love your summary. I know QJJ was a brutal novel but you review was really hilarious. Love this novel.

[@natmils522]

Ahh I was so excited when you guys teased you were going to cover this one I didn’t think the video would come out so fast!!!

[@crossandjewel3204]

In so glad you are going over this. I also read it back with the fan translation two years back and It was hard for me to grasp some things but I truly love this story so I always tell people to give it a shot. This is perfect for new readers ❤️

[@Kokokitsune]

when i first picked up v1, i thought of Stitch, and now after reading the first book it's chalking up to be one of my faves, next to TGCF lol edit: i love how xiao chiye is obsessed with SZC's nape 😭

[@jinnimint]

Reading this novel rn and I’M LOVING IT SM

[@rebeckagreen9996]

This video needs a LOT more likes the ballad of sword and wine is one of my favorite novels that's not one of mxtx novels ❤❤❤❤❤❤ Sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes

[@not_actually_a_jellybean]

yes!!! so glad stitch is validating my spending hours upon hours on making my own flow charts for qjj instead of doing other, more productive tasks lol

[@Yemery_21]

I literally ordered it yesterday and it should arrive today, timing is perfection

[@TessMurdac]

I NEEDED these flow charts. It was so hard to follow all the family trees and alliances until I watched this video. But SO worth it. Thank you for sparing my poor brain.

[@Ghostyteddybear]

im so excited to hear about qjj, just wanna say the presentation is just amazing like insanely well made *chef kiss (ill eat my dinner while watching this masterpiece of a book review

[@georgiana921]

Oh finally this book! I really really like Qiang Jin Jiu and Kictor and Stitch are reading it😭😭Lanzhou is so hot, clever, sexy and evil (in a good way) and I love him for that! Now the only book left that I really want you two to read but haven't is The Kaleidoscope of Death (and the drama, Spirealm)🙏🙏🙏It is so good believe me

[@chehakmarothi6389]

The queens are backkkkkk❤

[@shinth0103]

This is amazing! I hope more people get into the masterpiece that is QJJ after this. It's so goooddd

[@ken_gem]

Stitch you are a legend you are iconic you are the moment

[@lamaface]

Ohh I'm so happy you've done this, because I'm still waffling about whether I want to buy it. Shipping is expensive to my country, and I'm not sure I want it enough to pay that much shipping 😂

[@BookWyrm06]

You guys are amazing, thank you so much for making this Stitch!! It really helped me understand the politics a lot better so now I can enjoy the novel even more. ❤

[@channelxcaramelo]

Thank you so much for this video I enjoyed it a lot, I hope more people give it a chance cause its an absolute masterpiece!

[@iAstra]

I sadly only got a little short of halfway before the fan translations were taken down, but while this starting bit is so, so good, my favourite scene will probably be in volume 2. SPOILER During the flood where Xiao Chiye comes over and wraps the cold and wet Shen Zechuan in his coat and handing him a box of food before he turns to leave, only to turn back, kiss him and then leave again and Shen Zechuan just stands there before carefully touching his own lips. It was so precious to me. Though literally every interaction these two love birds have is precious or entertaining

[@salome_han]

Yeaaah I was waiting for you to review this one! 🎉

[@Skylar_sky1]

Thank you for explaining. I started reading it and I’m already half way done and so confused on the whole political dynamic of it all.

[@CallaSoreon]

I went into this book, knowing nothing at an absolutely addicted to it. I wish every historical danmei came with a map. I wish this one also had a series of family tree is there are too many people.

[@ashleighADDICT8029]

36:57 kictor, letting the loss and exhaustion slip for a moment, lmao. 😅😂

[@leaftheledgend5823]

I GOT THE BOOK! so exited to read it😚😚

[@runasal]

I literally don't have time for anything but you two make me spend every free second on danmei I firstly planned to skip (regret nothing though, love your videos, it's the best part of the week

[@wsuchuan]

Chapter 18 introduced new of the most important character Fun Quain. His background is deeper throughout the book.

[@brokenbreadmachine6728]

Thank you for this overview! I got like maybe 100 chapters in back when it was being fan translated and loved it but had to stop cuz I kept getting lost about what was going on with what side character.

[@kayladonohue5278]

Wow!! Incredible work!!! I'll keep this video saved for when I'm reading the book. The descriptions is awesome and I laughed a lot 😂 arg can't wait for it!

[@RinHanyouChan]

I’m so grateful for the map because the first time I was reading it before 7s, I was so lost. It took me a while to piece everything together. Going back and rereading volume one through seven seas, it helped me make sense of some things that I’ve missed when I first read it. Now that I know more about what is going to be revealed later, revisiting the events as told in the first volume makes things more clear! I’m so bad with political stories so it took me a while to get through this story but it’s so good! I’m obsessed!

[@evoraartemisia]

34:03 okay how long did stitch wait to crack that one. That was in the script right? She did not just ad lib that

[@megumim6795]

recently i finished to read the novel. I'M still totally obsessed with it!

[@seanweasley1731]

Thankyou so much for this I've been looking for explanations for so longggg Bless you 😭❤️

[@suchagod]

ITS 3 AM BUT I LOVE STITCH’S VOICE

[@wsuchuan]

Such 👍 good job summarizing this complicated story.

[@Selena-bu3ql]

The torture method used on jilei was probably the human stick method (aka og sqq's death), although speaking historically one would have their hands and feet chopped off, then they will have their eye gouged out and muted with poison and destroy their voice cord, finally they will be thrown to the toilet till their death. Edit: I think the ear are also gonna be destroyed too, maybe the nose too

[@shadowanime1]

Another great book review. Please keep making more.

[@rhiannon5313]

53:55 No hesitation Kictor, jesus wow😂😂😂

[@dominiquegolzio9621]

Me apareció como recomendación luego de haber terminado de leer "The dumb husky and his white cat shizun", le daré una oportunidad, muchas gracias por el video

[@rebekkaromanescu8869]

That animal abuse scene is TRULY TRULY TRULY one of the most horrific things I’ve ever heard. I skipped the vast majority of it. Sadly I wasn’t prepared fast enough. There are few things I’ve ever experienced in my life that are worse than that. Of course INSTAGRAM decided to one up that randomly the other day but still. So SKIP it. 😭

[@thedisreputabledog9139]

This was so fun! I can't wait to read the book ❤

[@wsuchuan]

My favorite book. The audio drama is out of this world…

[@m1sakil324]

Bro I need like a link to the slideshow for reference while I’m reading 😭😭

[@quynhao9283]

Stitch, well done explaining it and I love you guys reaction to the spicy parts 😂

[@Relestrada]

Hi I have finally finished and BOY OOF it was so greattttttt I'm so ready for this video omg

[@allisongreaves6967]

Watched this getting ready for work 😍

[@withlovepersephone8796]

* adds book to cart *

[@thedisreputabledog9139]

Thank you Stich🎉

[@yuuser]

Stitch is amazing. ❤

[@einmischenpodcast]

I bought the book after this summery!