#ln12

If we consider how the second Western Capital arc and the Shi Clan arc mirror each other, this scene becomes very meaningful.

In the first arc, Maomao has just been rescued from being kidnapped, has lost her friend, and is falling asleep surrounded by what she believes are dead children and here comes Jinshi trying to kiss her.

In the second arc, Jinshi gives Maomao what she actually needs: safety and comfort. He still experiences the same carnal urges, but now he understands that it is not the time or place to act on them even though Maomao has made it clear that she accepts his feelings.

He went from being impulsive, selfish, and immature to a mature, empathetic, and selfless young man, capable of restraining himself.

This is why I think it’s important to acknowledge Jinshi’s wrongs instead of finding excuses for his earlier behavior. Doing so reduces his complexity and undermines his development as a character.

It’s also really silly when he gets criticized for his earlier actions and someone “defends” him by pointing out that he’s respectful ten volumes later, that change is the result of character development, not proof that his earlier actions were acceptable.

(I put some LN12 Chunks into Google Translate because I can't take more of Kevins butchering): Maomao is coming to understand her feelings. Chue's words...

...are an appeal for Maomao to follow her heart, even if she does not wish to be swept up by emotions.

The Reunion:

He tells her to shake him off then but she can't do it despite his hand not pinning her down. Miss Maomao when i getchu........

She does not know what to do with this degree of sacrifice and ambition - to marry her of all people? Why? (He should choose someone else, LN5. Why did that man choose a haggard husk of a woman with not much longer to live, and not one of the current reigning three princesses who deserves it?, LN2) She feels like, compared to him, beautiful cunning prince of a nation, she has little to give. She has nothing of this grandeur to sacrifice. There can be no tit for tat. She is nothing and no one. But in truth she knows what she wants, even if she cannot say it out loud just yet.

Also he kisses her forehead not her cheek. I'm getting my gun

Next up, on the Lookout:

She's a little nervous. She is not quite sure for how long she should hold his hand. She starts blurting things out <333

Don't worry Jinshi. She won't beat you at the game she's superior in this time. UNLESS YOU'D LIKE HER TO? (This reads as much more nervous to me than before. God.) It reads very: I'll do anything you order me to. anything. HAHA!

Otherwise, she would not have done it herself. This confused me so i checked a translation with furigana -

kidnapping #2. electric boogaloo. she doesn't want jinshi to have to eradicate the gyoku clan..........she doesn't want him to have even more work on his hands.........

(sidenote. huge parallels to ln4. maomao is kidnapped. there's a kid maomao takes in. xiaohong & cho'u. there's a betrayal by someone maomao thought was on her side and ends up being on her side. chue & shisui. there's a slightly one dimensional antagonist that needs to be bested and gets bested. shenmei & the dragon.

MISS CHUE, MISS CHUE????? OH - MY - GOD!

She IS.... and her true mentor is.... and HER MOTHER is.... AND HER SIBLINGS!!!! OH MY GOD!!!

Nothing had me prepared for this! And in this volume, the author remembered something that she's really good at: making us cry our eyes out!!!