This is a great post, and I think you're spot on about Shen Wei's attitude towards Zhao Xinci.
So I'm reading this as limited trust in Zhao Xinci's professionalism, but some trust. Collegial but chilly.
Yes, that's how I see it, too. Despite Zhao Xinci's unpleasant attitude towards Dixingren he can't have behaved too badly in front of the Envoy; Shen Wei has reason to expect professional behaviour from him, and also to believe that Zhao Xinci cares about his son. (Which he does! Even if he shows it in the worst possible ways, LOL.)
Also, Shen Wei seems surprised at Zhao Yunlan's reaction when the Minister brings up his father, and he asks after it later. That says to me that he had no idea their relationship was this bad - he must have known they weren't close, and that they had disagreements - there's a lot of talk about how different the SID is under Zhao Yunlan, after all - but that Zhao Yunlan felt this strongly is new to Shen Wei. And even so, I agree - he still doesn't get realise just how deeply it cuts, not until that rooftop scene.
When he brings up the fact that many of his people resent him for his apparent betrayal of Dixing's interests, not understanding that he's just trying to keep the peace, he's also talking about Zhao Xinci.
Huh, that's not something that ever occurred to me. I'll have to keep that in mind for my next rewatch!
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So I'm reading this as limited trust in Zhao Xinci's professionalism, but some trust. Collegial but chilly.
Yes, that's how I see it, too. Despite Zhao Xinci's unpleasant attitude towards Dixingren he can't have behaved too badly in front of the Envoy; Shen Wei has reason to expect professional behaviour from him, and also to believe that Zhao Xinci cares about his son. (Which he does! Even if he shows it in the worst possible ways, LOL.)
Also, Shen Wei seems surprised at Zhao Yunlan's reaction when the Minister brings up his father, and he asks after it later. That says to me that he had no idea their relationship was this bad - he must have known they weren't close, and that they had disagreements - there's a lot of talk about how different the SID is under Zhao Yunlan, after all - but that Zhao Yunlan felt this strongly is new to Shen Wei. And even so, I agree - he still doesn't get realise just how deeply it cuts, not until that rooftop scene.
When he brings up the fact that many of his people resent him for his apparent betrayal of Dixing's interests, not understanding that he's just trying to keep the peace, he's also talking about Zhao Xinci.
Huh, that's not something that ever occurred to me. I'll have to keep that in mind for my next rewatch!