This is a fantastic post. Thank you! <3 Especially for this bit:

when Shen Wei goes along with Zhao Yunlan to visit his mother's grade, and Zhao Yunlan tenses up over seeing the flowers his father had brought, Shen Wei isn't talking at random. 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.

Because I always get snagged on the apparent non sequitur of that remark from Shen Wei, at that point in time. It makes me feel like I'm missing something. So I too will be watching for that next time.

But, just checking, do you mean he's talking about Zhao Xinci as someone who resents Shen Wei for his apparent betrayal of Dixing's interests, or do you mean he's making an analogy and suggesting Zhao Xinci judges Zhao Yunlan for his apparent betrayal of Haixing interests? I mean, would Zhao Xinci judge Shen Wei for (apparently) being on Haixing's side? I'd have thought he'd applaud that. /wry

As an aside, I also think Shen Wei's attitude toward Zhao Xinci during that interview reflects most strongly where he's situating himself, in this relationship. He's remarkably conciliatory, given his shock, disbelief, and anger in the lab, when he realizes what the Institute is doing with that 'serum experiment'. And I theorize that it's because he's not just speaking with the Director of the Bureau of Supervision--he's speaking to his beloved's father. He's speaking to prospective family in-law. He's trying to be proper about it.

*nodnod* Though I think he's also being a diplomat. He is the ambassador of Dixing, after all, and it's not like trying to throw his weight around will do Dixing any favours, you know? He doesn't have a whole lot of leverage, especially as someone who's trying to maintain peace.