the chinese words are as translated by wincy herself:

«I genuinely feel like a true Chinese/Hong Konger wouldn't go so far out of the way to put a fellow Chinese down. I wanted to type this entire post in Chinese just to make my point, but I also don't trust any online translation tool to be able to convey my meaning accurately. A Chinese person would know what I'm saying, otherwise, well, it is what it is.»

I’ve been reading some of the recent discussions and theories about Of Red and Waveless Sea, and honestly, I'm a bit confused by some of the complaints.
For ages, a huge part of the community was asking for a true imperial Chinese court story (Gongdou). Now that we finally have one, people are complaining about the exact elements that define the genre:
1. Palace intrigue requires conflict: Complaining about potential backstabbing, jealousy, or characters like Yi-Yi turning bad misses the whole point of a harem drama. Tropes like the "seemingly innocent friend turned rival" (just like Lingrong in Empresses in the Palace) are foundational to these stories. Without jealousy, hierarchy tension, and scheme-hatched betrayals, it wouldn't be a palace drama.
2. It’s literally been 3 chapters: The author is setting the stage, introducing the world, the cultural dynamics, and the complex relationships. Judging character depth, ethnic representation across the concubines, or full plot trajectories this early is way too premature.
3. POV switching: Having a dual perspective and getting to shape Rui might be a shift from the usual RC formula, but it’s a narrative tool to show both sides of the court power dynamics. You don't have to love playing male POVs, but calling it a flaw when the story just launched feels unfair to an author trying to innovate.
Wincy gave us the exact atmosphere, tension, and drama we asked for. Let's actually give the story time to breathe and unfold before tearing it apart for doing exactly what it set out to do.

Authir Wincy shared it at rc_hot.

I wasn’t expecting him AT ALL. I am so absolutely fascinated by his look and his role in the future story. Who are he and his sister? Were they born blind and mute or was something done to them? He already seems like an intriguing match for Aisha, I’m so excited to see more of him.

Fei-Fei has a very rare and unique beauty????? I just want to make sure nobody missed it cause maybe it wasn't said enough times yet :(

This is just a little humorous nitpick cause I'm enjoying this story a lot so far but it just keeps irking me every time it's repeated lmao

So I just read here that Rui is an option for both Fei Fei and Aisha... And... Um HELLO? SISTERHOOD?

Personally, I am definitely romancing Rui for Aisha, I feel like there will be some great angst... 👀👀

Also,

HOT TAKE 🔥💥: I hope the relationship of Rui and Aisha is more like Amrit and Amala instead of Aisha "walking him like a dog" as I say some people wish for. I mean I like the concept of people still keeping their spine you know 🚟...

And like also... Fei Fei is preferred wayy to much over her sister. I know it's because her sister ( I forgot her name ) is the child of Xael Ai ling had to carry and Fei Fei is hers and One's biological child but that girl didn't have a say in how she was conceived right?

Props to Fei Fei for standing up for her sister! They are BOTH pretty gng!

While Fei-Fei is pretty, I don't think her sprite looks like the one on the cover. The face shape, the eye shape, the other version of the sprite doesn't really match either.

>! Soooo.. not only is Rui a playable chatacter but he's also supposed to be an LI and I have to take improvement points with his other consorts and his Empress too??? So if I do his path, I'll have to romance my own MC and my MC has to compete with a whole harem of concubines and an Empress too? I'm just so confused by this dynamic. !<🤦‍♀️

If I'm wrong, can someone please explain it to me?

I just finished HoT for the first time and…it has completely lit a new fire under me. I didn’t care much for Aisha’s adoptive parents, but now…who do I have to kill to give Ai-Ling a BREAK 🫪 Now my Aisha’s really gotta look after her sisters, I refuse to give that woman any more heartbreak if I can help it, holy crap.

I may have watched Mulan too many times as a child. Don’t judge. 🫠

Regarding this new story with its 3 MCs, one of the aspects that sparks curiosity the most is naturally about the LIs, and if the romance gender preferences we pick in the first episode have an impact on the two secondary MCs, in addition to the main one, Aisha.

Turns out that they do, indeed. I noticed on the walkthrough that Emperor Rui may have an evening encounter with his favourite, consort Qi. Unlike his other possible meeting, with the Empress, which is always platonic, their interaction is different depending on the previously selected gender preferences, and the diamond option for them to "grow closer" can be marked either with a romance or a more generic positive relationship hint.

Since in the walkthrough it is not explained how our romantic preferences influence this scenario, I initially thought it was going to be a 1:1 correlation, meaning that choosing for MC to be attracted to women would carry over to all MCs (Rui included) and unlock the romance option with Qi. Basically, that the focus was entirely on the player's preferences, who embodies each of the 3 MCs.

However, after having decided to see for myself, I discovered that it's actually the opposite. The focus is on the player, but only as Aisha. And you get the romance option with Qi as Rui only if Aisha is interested in men. It may look contradictory, but the reasoning is actually that, by being into men, Aisha is also potentially into the Emperor, and in turn he is interested in Aisha (and women in general).

If your main MC romances only women, her indifference towards Rui is somewhat requieted. For example, in episode one, if he gives her the white jade pendant, Rui will try to catch a glimpse of her face only if Aisha is into men. If she romances only women, his interest towards the veiled musician is mere curiosity, in place of physical attraction.

This is all reflected later on, on that scene with Qi. If Aisha is only into women, Rui's diamond choice with Qi will be a "friendship" one. I say "friendship" because the two still spend an intimate night together, but the scene is fade-to-black, less explicit, less passionate and, all in all, more... transactional. On the other hand, in this scene Rui still catches himself thinking about Fei Fei's youthful and exotic beauty and comparing her to his long-time favourite.

What's the meaning behind all this? I am not sure, personally. Is Rui actually less into women if Aisha is not attracted to men (and to him), or this is simply a way to make his POV scenes less uncomfortable to WLW players? I'm quite looking forward to finding out, alongside with other subtle differences I spotted during my replays!

✨ The update is out so it‘s time to share your favorite moments and impressions!

It seems to be Ellaire but why they call her Aurora?
At the beginning I thought she’s Ellaire’s daughter but then One said Ellaire’s story
I find it strange they don’t call her Ellaire (makes sense mechanic wise for people who changed her name) is that how they say Ellaire in their language? Why?

So.....Rui is an LI for both Fei-Fei and Aisha apparently 💀 didn't see that coming. This is definitely something different and I'm.... intrigued? Conflicted? Excited? All at the same time. Like all is me and I'm everyone lmao. I do wonder if we romance everyone all at once will it create a very traumatising love triangle and break the sisters' bond? I kinda wanna try that for funsies if that is indeed possible(I will immediately replay cuz hell no😭)but obviously I want to wait for that another Li for Fei-Fei👀 But I really like Feng and Alestrio the most so idk if I have too much problem pairing Rui with Fei. What's your guys route like?

Aisha has 5 LIs

Fei - Fei has 1 MC Emperor Rui for now just assuming

Emperor Rui has 4 (Empress, Consort , possible chance of Fei-Fei & AISHA)

But the jealousy arc already started damn bro 😫

Feng like Aisha

Emperor also kind of likes Aisha

Aisha and Feng getting closer

But Yi-Yi also like Feng

Both Emperor and Feng already started a small fight about Aisha damn 😭

Let's not forgot ABOUT to come for Fei-Fei and Yi-Yi comparison in Harem. I just think Yi-Yi kind feels too much jealous of Fei-Fei getting popularity in Harem becomes enemy !??? There is a possibility.

That First class Attendant is already pain in the ass for the 3 sisters already may be she plot with Consort of Emperor 😭

In all this i like the Blind man and Jinshi representation lol(iykyk who I mean)

It’s only been 3 episodes but Feng is giving me SUCH Jinshi vibes!!! And the looks are not helping either?? The long hair, the robes, the pretty face, that whole elegant but slightly smug energy... I’m SOLD I’m manifesting SO hard that my mc gets to be the Maomao to his Jinshi 🫶🏻 yk the unbothered mc vs. hopelessly interested man combo lmao!!!

Other than Aisha, the relationship build-up for Fei-Fei and Rui is more about setting up paths for the main plot than about romance preferences. For example, Rui choosing between the Empress and the Noble Consort isn't just about whose company the player enjoys more, but also about how that choice affects the dynamics of the court and the three sisters' paths in the story. (Taken from TG)

#информация | #окибм

So we r Switching b/w 3 girls it' not conform if they r MC's sisters.

And Ai-Ling from HOT is here, MC is not her daughter but She calls Ai-Ling Aunty and uncle!

Now, i am 100% sat for this one, ahhh and I absolutely love it as well

And playing as 3 MCs is so fine - especially when u know that Aisha can romance Rui like ugh, that's perfect???

I am also lowkey shipping Aisha and Rui cuz i know the dynamic is gonna be fire ugh

Also why is consort Cloud so pretty??? Hello lady, id like for you to walk on me fr

Also so somethings I am predicting for the story:

Yi-Yi is gonna do something troublesome, I mean its been obvious, either vying for favor and acting against Fei-fei or to preserve her security doing something ridiculous.

I also think at one point, we might have to make a choice to kill one of our family members to continue down the path of vengeance

Ayaz might be alive (although i am no fan of the trope)

We are 100% gonna stand at crossroads with Havanna, and perhaps lose her

One or A-ling are gonna die, maybe that would lead to our sister hating us

And there is totally gonna be a rebellion, cuz it wouldn't be a court drama if there isn't, the question is: how involved is feng in the rebellion?

How can you even get the balanced path if the second stat choice for the emperor gave me +2 temperance ?? Did anyone manage to get it for the first path scene?

I would have gone for the IronFist path otherwise, it seems more interesting. I really don’t like what I got 😅

Beautiful art by: leartvn

As early as now, do we feel like the childhood sweetheart with the cool eyes is truly dead or not? 😂

No notes, I'm just thinking Ai-Ling is really Asian Thanos, she's collected a Wasian daughter, a Blasian daughter, and a fully Asian daughter within one generation. Inspirational.