Lie Zhanying

Lie Zhanying is a character from the novel The Langya List (introduced chapter 49 of the webnovel), the show Nirvana in Fire and the manhua.

Show
He appears for the first time in episode 2 of the show. He is a speaking character in episodes 2, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 28, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 45, 46, 49 and 52.

His rank is Lieutenant-General ( 副将, fùjiāng ) instead of 中郎将 ( zhōng láng jiāng ).

In episode 2, Lie Zhanying and Qi Meng stand behind Prince Jing while they wait to enter the Imperial Palace. When Qi Meng complains that they have been waiting for over an hour, Lie Zhanying tells the other that the last time they returned home before coming to the palace, Prince Jing was punished to kneel in front of the imperial tombs for three months.

In episode 9, Lie Zhanying introduces himself to the Censorate Office as Prince Jing ordered him to escort the plaintiffs of the Duke of Qing case to the Jing manor. When Sir Su visits the Jing manor, Prince Jing introduces Sir Su to his personnel having a meeting and afterwards tells Lie Zhanying to chair the rest of it.

In episode 10, after Prince Jing's meeting with Sir Su, Lie Zhanying accompanies them both to the drilling field where Feiliu is. Along the way, Sir Su enquires about the military issue Lie Zhanying was handling, which turns out to be the strange beast from Lantai County that the capital magistrate wanted help in capturing. When Qi Meng embarrasses Prince Jing due to his impulsive spar with Feiliu, Lie Zhanying pleads with Prince Jing to not be angry. He is ordered to supervise Qi Meng's punishment.

In episode 15, Lie Zhanying escorts Minister Shen Zhui home after the latter visits Prince Jing at the Jing manor for the new year.

In episode 16, Lie Zhanying interrupts the first attempted assassination of Minister Shen by Zhuo Dingfeng and Zhuo Qingyao, right after Zhuo Dingfeng accidentally stabs Xiao Jingrui in the shoulder. Later, he teams up with Zhen Ping to ambush the second attempted assassination of Minister Shen at the Shen Manor. Zhuo Qingyao is wounded by a crossbow after this encounter.

In episode 17, Lie Zhanying receives Sir Su at the Illegal Fireworks Factory explosion site. Commandery Princess Nihuang arrives a moment later and orders him to distribute the supplies she had brought along. Afterwards, he and Qi Meng approach Prince Jing to ask if they should report that they used army supplies for relief aid to the Ministry of War.

In episodes 18 and 19, Lie Zhanying accompanies Grand Commander Meng Zhi to see a bow in Prince Jing's private study quarters, where Meng Zhi inadvertently ‘discovers’ the secret passage.

In episode 28, Lie Zhanying opens the secret tunnel door for Prince Jing to visit Sir Su, who decides not to bring the travelogue with him. Later, Lie Zhanying reports to Prince Jing that the Tianzi Battalion has reorganised their ranks, and queries if they should report it to the Ministry of War. Seeing that Prince Jing is still studying the travelogue, Lie Zhanying asks Prince Jing what is so special about the book. He also comments that Consort Jing sending them two sets of pastries seems to be the standard now when they get a delivery. Eventually, Prince Jing gives Lie Zhanying the travelogue to return it to Grand Commander Meng's place. As Lie Zhanying is about to leave, he scolds a hurried Jing personnel for rushing in, who reports that Eunuch Gao Zhan has come to deliver the edict promoting Prince Jing to Noble Prince ( 亲王, qīnwáng ). When Prince Jing finishes a late meeting with his trusted men, Lie Zhanying stays back to chat with the prince. Prince Jing mentions Lie Zhanying was the first to know the prince was vying for the throne, and questions if Lie Zhanying thought he was crazy to have this ambition. Lie Zhanying says that did feel it was impossible in the beginning, but he will follow Prince Jing's lead nonetheless. Prince Jing replies that is why he only told Lie Zhanying about it. Prince Jing announces that he thinks it is time to tell the rest of his men of his ambition, and Lie Zhanying affirms their loyalty. They are interrupted when Minister Shen visits Prince Jing to beg him to handle the disaster relief effort instead of leaving it to Prince Yu.

In episode 31, Lie Zhanying receives Consort Jing's handmaiden, xiao-Xin, who had escaped the palace to inform him that Consort Jing is in trouble, having been confined to her quarters by the Empress. He tells Qi Meng to go with xiao-Xin to report this to the Emperor and Grand Commander Meng at the imperial tombs. Lie Zhanying goes to the Su Residence to ask for help, but is turned away by Zhen Ping who says he should simply wait given that Consort Jing will only suffer some difficulties and will be saved anyway when the Emperor receives the news.

In episode 32, Lie Zhanying visits the Xuanjing Bureau to ask Officer Xia Qiu about the commotion at the capital West gates where a failed rescue mission to save a convict had occurred. Xia Qiu tells him that the Chiyan Lieutenant-General Wei Zheng is the convict in question. Later, he scolds Qi Meng for going missing the past few days when the latter finally returns to the Jing Manor after being knocked unconscious by Prince Yu's man. He leaves hastily to the Su Residence to ask for help in saving Wei Zheng, but is turned away again after being told Sir Su is still sick. On the day Prince Jing is due to return to the capital, he heads to the North gate to wait for the other. But before he can tell Prince Jing about Wei Zheng, Prince Yu intercepts to accompany Prince Jing to the palace.

In episode 33, Lie Zhanying waits for Prince Jing at the palace gates and finally gets to tell him about Wei Zheng. Lie Zhanying relates that he had tried to approach the Su Residence for help, but everyone in the Su Residence were behaving strangely. Still, he encourages Prince Jing to try to ask Sir Su for help. They return to Prince Jing's study quarters where Lie Zhanying tells the Prince Jing more about Wei Zheng's predicament. When Sir Su rings the bell from the secret tunnel for Prince Jing, Prince Jing ignores it until Lie Zhanying suggests he should answer it. Prince Jing is cold towards Sir Su when they meet, so Lie Zhanying tells Sir Su about Wei Zheng and asks for help to save him. Sir Su insists they cannot do so without implicating Prince Jing, to which Lie Zhanying summarises that Sir Su will not help to save Wei Zheng. As Prince Jing turns to leave, he takes Lie Zhanying's sword to cut off the bell of the secret tunnel. Prince Jing orders Lie Zhanying to leave with him and they lock the secret tunnel door behind them.

Back at the Jing manor, Lie Zhanying tries to console Prince Jing about Sir Su. He says that they cannot save Wei Zheng without Sir Su's help and that the other did have a valid point to decline. He further comments that Sir Su may have refused because the other does not understand their loyalty to Wei Zheng, and therefore they should still try to discuss it with Sir Su.

When Sir Su visits Prince Jing via the front entrance of the Jing manor, Lie Zhanying tells him that Prince Jing is busy and that he should return home. He asks again if Sir Su really meant that he won't help save Wei Zheng, to which Sir Su says that he will explain it directly to Prince Jing. An hour later, just as Grand Commander Meng almost barges in to get Prince Jing, Prince Jing finally comes out with Lie Zhanying following behind. After Prince Jing tells Sir Su that he understands there is no advantage to saving Wei Zheng, but yet insists that Wei Zheng must be saved no matter what, he turns to leave. Lie Zhanying, along with Zhen Ping and Grand Commander Meng, watches Sir Su yell at Prince Jing for having loyalty but no brains. When indoors, Lie Zhanying and Zhen Ping stand as Sir Su, Prince Jing and Grand Commander Meng sit to discuss how to save Wei Zheng. Lie Zhanying reveals he was friends with Wei Zheng and asks Sir Su to use him as he sees fit, but Sir Su shoots down the idea as his connection to Prince Jing will implicate Prince Jing in the rescue mission.

In episode 34, Lie Zhanying is next to Prince Jing as they receive the imperial edict promoting Prince Jing to a seven pearl Prince.

In episode 35, Lie Zhanying reports to Prince Jing that they have finished their preparations for Wei Zheng's rescue mission.

In episode 36, Qi Meng tells Lie Zhanying that he's been keeping watch on the Xuanjing Bureau but nothing has happened yet, and Lie Zhanying tells him to get their men ready. After the rescue mission, Lie Zhanying enters Sir Su's study quarters with Li Gang to report to Sir Su and Prince Jing that they have succeeded in saving Wei Zheng. He praises Sir Su for his excellent planning. When Prince Jing says it is now his time to enter his battlefield, Lie Zhanying asks what he is talking about. Lie Zhanying and Li Gang kneel behind Prince Jing as Sir Su explains the situation. Lie Zhanying asks if the Emperor would deal with the case rashly and harshly upon hearing Xia Jiang's accusations, to which Sir Su reminds Prince Jing that he has to keep his cool and vehemently deny that he has nothing to do with it.

In episode 37, Lie Zhanying updates Prince Jing that Sir Su was taken to the Xuanjing Bureau with no one from the residence interfering, and thus they must have been prepared for it. Prince Jing realises Sir Su had already predicted this in their earlier conversation. Lie Zhanying asks if Sir Su can handle the interrogation, to which Prince Jing worries and declares that he needs to go to the Xuanjing Bureau. However, Lie Zhanying halts Prince Jing and insists that he cannot go as Prince Jing is confined to his quarters by the Emperor and is not allowed to step out without an edict. He reminds Prince Jing that they should trust Sir Su to carry out his plan. Prince Jing says that is not worried about Sir Su's intelligence, but his health.

In episode 39, Lie Zhanying tells Prince Jing, who is still confined in his quarters, that everything has been settled; Sir Su has returned to the Su Residence. Lie Zhanying also assures that he will send someone over tonight to ask about Sir Su's condition when Prince Jing asks about Sir Su was faring. Lie Zhanying praises Sir Su as a brilliant strategist and Prince Jing agrees. Lie Zhanying mentions Xia Jiang has been sent to prison and comments on how easy it was for even Xia Jiang to lose the Emperor's favour so quickly with just one incident. Prince Jing replies that Xia Jiang's case is nothing in comparison to how favoured Prince Qi and the Lin family were in the past, and yet how quickly they fell.

In episode 41, Lie Zhanying rides beside Prince Jing and they meet Commandery Prince Mu Qing who had just left the Su Residence. After Prince Jing's conversation with Mu Qing, Lie Zhanying asks Prince Jing what he wanted to ask Mu Qing as the other looks dissatisfied. Prince Jing shares that he wanted to ask if Wei Zheng is being hidden in the Mu Manor, but Mu Qing deliberately changed topics quickly. As they continue on their route, Prince Jing directs Lie Zhanying to have people invite Ministers Cai Quan and Shen Zhui to the Su Residence for an academic discussion.

In episode 42, Lie Zhanying arrives with Prince Jing and Grand Commander Meng through the secret tunnel to the Su Residence to meet Wei Zheng. When Sir Su and Grand Commander Meng try to convince Prince Jing that he cannot bring up the Chiyan Army case at this time, Lie Zhanying protests, asking if they should just bear with the injustice. He leaves with Grand Commander Meng and Prince Jing after the latter says he will take his leave as his emotions are unsettled. During the Spring Hunt, Prince Jing orders Lie Zhanying that Sir Su's tent has to be pitched in a certain formation for his comfort and health. Lie Zhanying reports that it has been done as described and that Sir Su can take his rest now. As the calvary leaves for the hunt, Lie Zhanying stands with Yan Yujin, Sir Su, Tingsheng and Feiliu at the side, because Prince Jing told him to stay and protect Sir Su. Sir Su tells him nothing will happen as there are so many people around. Lie Zhanying goes to join the hunt after Sir Su assures he will be fine and to go. Later, Lie Zhanying approaches Prince Jing while Prince Jing is resting with Prince Ning and Prince Huai to let him know that Consort Jing is requesting him to bring Sir Su to meet her.

In episode 43, Lie Zhanyning gets volunteered by Sir Su to have Prince Jing take him along when they call for reinforcements from the Ji City army to tackle Prince Yu's rebellion, so that Prince Jing can rush back with the calvary while Lie Zhanying can lead the foot soldiers following behind.

In episode 44, Lie Zhanying follows Prince Jing up to the Hunting Palace when they arrive after Prince Jing captures Prince Yu.

In episode 45, Prince Jing notices Lie Zhanying still guarding his quarters at the Hunting Palace despite it being so late at night. Prince Jing asks if everyone has settled and where Sir Su is placed, to which Lie Zhanying answers that Sir Su is in the west wing. Prince Jing orders Zhanying to get men to keep an eye out for Prince Yu's accomplice, Huiyao, who is still missing, and to report to him immediately when found. The next day, Lie Zhanying reports to Prince Jing that Huiyao has been captured, with Commandery Princess Nihuang and Sir Su present. Qi Meng excitedly comes in to declare that they've finally caught the strange beast, and Sir Su and Commandery Princess Nihuang follow him outside to go see it. Lie Zhanying and Prince Jing comes out to check what is happening when they hear the guards yelling out in alarm for Sir Su not to go too close to the beast in the cage. Lie Zhanying, Commandery Princess Nihuang and Prince Jing rush forward to pull Sir Su back when Qi Meng shouts that the strange beast's eyes are turning red and that he needs to step away. When Sir Su takes the the beast away, Prince Jing looks at Lie Zhanying in a silent order to follow them. Lie Zhanying afterwards reports that Sir Su has been taking care of the "furry man" and that Sir Su gave some of his blood for the man to drink. When Qi Meng happily comes in to tell them that the furry man's fur is actually white after taking a bath, Lie Zhanying scolds him saying that these are not the things that Prince Jing wants to know, to which Qi Meng leaves in a huff.

In episode 46, Commandery Princess Nihuang comes in a rush to ask Consort Jing about Sir Su's condition because Lie Zhanying mentioned Sir Su had an episode last night to her. When Prince Jing is with Consort Jing after confronting her about Sir Su's father's name, Lie Zhanying comes to report to him that Grand Commander Meng's messenger has arrived, who brings a letter announcing that Grand Commander Meng has taken back control of the capital and that Xia Jiang has escaped from prison. During a break on the way back to the capital, Lie Zhanying comes to check on Sir Su as Prince Jing has asked him to. Lie Zhanying mentions that the Emperor has been angry about Prince Yu the entire journey. In return, Sir Su shares that the Emperor has faced rebellion twice now; the first time was when the Emperor was the one fighting for the throne.

In episode 49, Lie Zhanying reports to Prince Jing in the Eastern Palace that Consort Jing has passed a message warning that Sir Su cannot enter the palace following the Emperor's summon. Prince Jing tells him to do so, even if he has to stop Sir Su outside the palace gates. However, Lie Zhanying is too late when he arrives at the Su Residence, where Lin Chen tells him to hurry after Sir Su. When Lie Zhanying reaches the palace gates, he is told by the guard that Sir Su has entered already. He rushes back to Prince Jing to tell him that Sir Su was taken in by the imperial guards once the other had entered, and no news has been heard after Sir Su stepped in to Yangju Hall. Aligned with a plan to storm the palace if Sir Su and Prince Jing do not leave the palace by noon, Lie Zhanying and Qi Meng walk down the steps of the Eastern Palace carrying their helmets. Lie Zhanying orders a guard to report to him the number of Eastern Palace guards and capitol patrol personnel, before Qi Meng leaves.

In episode 50, Lie Zhanying supervises the arrest of Marquis Qian in the purge of the Hua spies.

In episode 52, as Lie Zhanying is patrolling the corridors of the Eastern Palace, he sees Tingsheng practising archery outside Prince Jing's quarters because Tingsheng had heard Sir Su is there and he wanted to catch Sir Su after his conversation with Prince Jing. Lie Zhanying asks Tingsheng to shoot an arrow for him before stepping forward to teach him. Sir Su and Prince Jing watch Lie Zhanying demonstrate to Tingsheng from a distance, while Prince Jing suggests to adopt Tingsheng as his own son to raise Tingsheng's status.

In episode 54, Lie Zhanying follows behind Prince Jing when the other visits the newly established Lin family ancestral shrine, taking a red cloth to cover Lin Shu's memorial tablet. They meet Sir Su, Commandery Princess Nihuang and Commander Meng on their way out. Lie Zhanying stands at the doorway behind everyone else as Sir Su pays his respects to his family. When there are reports about simultaneous attacks from their neighbouring countries, Lie Zhanying stands beside Prince Jing while the other discusses the situation with the ministers, military officials, Commander Meng, and Commandery Princess Nihuang. In the aftermath, Lie Zhanying stands beside the now ascended Emperor Jingyan when he names the new Changlin Army, though only Lie Zhanying's armour is shown in the final cut of the scene.

Manhua
He appears for the first time in chapter 79 of the manhua.