zhu and ouyang truly have the dynamic of all time. their fates are inextricably entwined. they're the same and yet they're opposites in many ways. they're the only ones who can truly understand each other and yet they're usually at odds with each other. they're extremely powerful together and yet they spend much of the story on opposite sides. she kills 10,000 of his men. he cuts off her hand. he lets her see him at his most vulnerable. she cares for him even after he betrays her. they have weird bdsm scenes that are technically nonsexual but still manage to be intensely erotic. they pretend to be married once. they're besties they're worsties they're queer solidarity and queer hostility they're enemies with benefits they're fucked-up soulmates. they're not romantic or platonic or a secret third thing but an even more secret fourth thing. who's doing it like them
