# X: The Incredible Obtuseness of Those Who Had Opposed the Virtuous Kai Lung explained — Kai Lung’s Golden Hours

> Chapter companion for Kai Lung’s Golden Hours by Ernest Bramah.

## What happens

Kai Lung and Hwa-mei meet secretly at the shutter, where they exchange vows of devotion and plan a final gambit against Ming-shu and Shan Tien, who have reconciled and plan a feast at which Kai Lung will be humiliated and executed. Kai Lung learns of the feast and begins to orchestrate a counter-scheme involving the Censor K'o-yih. The chapter also includes the embedded story of Hien and Thang-li, illustrating themes of love, cunning, and fate.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Devotion

Kai Lung and Hwa-mei's secret meeting and vows of devotion underscore the theme of love transcending danger.

### Wisdom and Cunning

Kai Lung's strategic planning and the embedded story of Hien illustrate the use of wit to overcome adversity.

### Fate and Destiny

Kai Lung speaks of a 'hidden gap' in the wall of destiny, and the chapter builds toward a decisive turning point.

## Character check-ins

### Kai Lung

Meets Hwa-mei at the shutter, plans a final gambit against Ming-shu and Shan Tien.

### Hwa - mei

Visits Kai Lung at the shutter, confesses devotion, and agrees to help with his plan.

### Ming - shu

Reconciles with Shan Tien and plots the feast where Kai Lung will be humiliated.

### Shan Tien

Reconciles with Ming-shu and plans the feast; expresses doubt about Kai Lung's stories.

### Li - Loe

Secured by Hwa-mei with a flask of wine to allow the meeting at the shutter.

### Thang - li

Appears in the embedded story as the Chief Examiner, offering wisdom about suitors.

### Fa Fei

Appears in the embedded story, consulting Thang-li about suitors and later meeting Hien.

### Hien Nan

Appears in the embedded story as a virtuous youth in love with Fa Fei.

## Key lines

> Beneficence, replied Kai Lung, with courteous ease, despite the pinions that restrained him, herein it is one thing to demand and another to comply, for among the Platitudes is the admission made: 'No needle has two sharp points.'

Kai Lung politely explains that the conditions set by Ming-shu are invalid because they contradict the basic truth that a story cannot have two contradictory outcomes.

_Kai Lung defends his story's ending by invoking a proverb about impossibility._

> Let the bitterness of this one's message be that which is first spoken, so that the later and more enduring words of our remembrance may be devoid of sting.

Hwa-mei asks to deliver the bad news first so that their final memories together can be sweet.

_Hwa-mei prepares Kai Lung for the grim news of the feast and execution._

> In the high wall of destiny that bounds our lives there is ever a hidden gap to which the Pure Ones may guide our unconscious steps perchance, if they see fit to intervene.

Kai Lung suggests that there is always a hidden opportunity in fate, if the gods choose to reveal it.

_Kai Lung hints at a possible escape or reversal of fortune._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kai_lung_s_golden_hours_se/chapters/x-the-incredible-obtuseness-of-those-who-had-opposed-the-virtuous-kai-lung
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kai_lung_s_golden_hours_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kai_lung_s_golden_hours_se/chapters