HSDS: Emei at ZSF's Birthday

[Zhuge Liang]

The various tv series show MJ in attendance at ZSF's 100th birthday, in the novel she is not present and her sect's attendance is headed by Jing Xuan and although their intentions are the same as all the other sects (aside Shaolin who really did go to sort out crap and not soley for the Dragon Sabre).

Why is MJ not present in the novel when clearly her presence there would be better in terms of securing information if any instead of relying on her disciple? Was this just another layer of dressing (in addition to the better gifts) of preserving their clans relationship despite it being quite obvious what their intentions were anyway?

Was it just MJ's personality to perform this "oneupsmanship" to show the other clans, that even if they were all after the same thing and they were likely to be seen through, she could dress it up more?

If there was an all out brawl for info, would Emei not have been sorely disadvantaged without MJ's presence?

[Linda]

I thought she didn't go because she didn't want to follow the crowd, although she wanted the dragon sabra but she didn't want to ruin the two sects relationship and didn't want to go agaisnt the wulin world.

Had she been there, if there was an all our brawl, she would have to choose a side, and neither side would do much good for the Emei name.

I never liked the fact that she was there in the series.

[kyss of the sword]

with her sects relationship with wudang, she did not want to risk having ZSF as an enemy. she sent her dicisples to show respect with a good gift and would wait for the proper meeting time. it gives her more time to plan as well.