2/2/25 I'm sad this was MTL'd and messy, otherwise I'd definitely put it on my "books to rec" list. I clearly really enjoy a smitten, scheming ML, with an initially indifferent FL. Especially in ancient China where women too often were at such a disadvantage. I loved that FL was so unconcerned with unimportant things - and to her, basically everything was unimportant, other than medicine, her grandfather, and her personal maidservant. LOL ML had everything go too easy for him, so it was nice to see him at a loss and uncertain. (Even his grandfather enjoyed it.) The emperor was good other than the idiocy with Xi Wang, ML's dad. Like - oh a 10 yo tripped and that killed your daughter? You didn't bother investigating at all or listening to it. Poor guy. I mean, I guess becoming emperor was consolation " " but ... ML could've and would've pulled it off anyway. And already did. So that was really unsatisfying. I did actually like "P12" - lol and apparently I like mess too - cuz I really wish he'd tried more on FL - give us an extra where they're maybe together! LOL and I knew it was ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE - but in my head? MENAGE! [Though I guess it'd be potentially creepy for uncle/nephew sharing a girl, even though the two are only a decade or less apart?] LOL I've veered off into left field. ANYWAY. FL definitely had a hard life - and I'm glad the book didn't harp on it too much - no pointless suffering, mentioning it is enough. And it was nice she didn't let shit get to her because at the beginning people were definitely super shitty. I also thought she ROCKED for bringing up divorce. (LOL at least twice?) And the face slapping when Xi wang looks at Xi wangfei like "oh see? this DIL you didn't want? Doesn't want your precious favored son.") I wish we'd seen more of him. I liked him a lot. I can see myself re-reading this book.
Solid B, Maybe B+ ~*~*~*~*~ Rich and Powerful Family's Bride
1 FL is Xu YunQi and she was bestowed 😒 marriage to Pei MuHang who is the emperor’s grandson? (Book calls him the third prince but 🤷🏻♀️) he’s now 20 and apparently some prodigy. Oop was the top scholar at 18 … word salad. How is the eldest Xun daughter the 2nd daughter? Though I guess that’s PMH’s “white moonlight” (Xun YunLing) 💪💯 I’m glad our girl is very whatever. Fuck this man and his stupid rules. Asshead.
😒 2 I might skip or at least skim all this poor little white moonlight shit. (ALSO?! If they grew up like siblings that’s creepy as shit for a romance). (FIL - Pei MuHang; not sure if it’s translator error? Seems at least clear headed though) Wow. PMH even wiped the part of his teacup she touched when trying to pour for him. He better crawl over glass shards
3 🙄😒 shit MTL translates the MIL (Princess) as “empress dowager” 😐 😱😱😱 FL isn’t a Xu biological daughter?!? 💪💯 “Xu Yunqi's eyes sparkled. "Why rely on others to cherish me when I can cherish myself?"” Ugggh so the O.o guy she likes died when she was 4?!? And ugh her placating her shit half sister was overheard by PMH, fucker. Whatever
4 Yay FL learned medicine from her maternal gpa for a decade or so 💯. TBH with her chill I wonder if she’s a transmigrator. I also think she’d PMH’s actual “white moonlight” (if he liked that other girl you’d think he’d have made arrangements). I’ll be mad if he’s hers though. Well, at least he’s smart & perceptive enough to know FL was lying & has no interest in him.
5 ugh I hate she’s looking for her grandfather & can only rely on that shady guy Hu AND is going to give him the acupuncture manual?!? No!!!!
6 ah (error of the guard to call FL lady Liu?) but now confirmed for me she’s that “missing” imperial physician’s granddaughter
… interesting so it seems PMH’s dad is the actual son of the emperor … so it means PMH’s mom’s cunt behavior is even worse. Like I get being a disappointed mom but bitch get over yourself. Esp since you’re not even an actual member of the imperial family. Fucker.
11 … wait a fucking minute. The candied hawthorns - is FL’s bio dad Xun YunHe that former first place scholar, now the emperor’s trusted minister?! WHY DID HE IGNORE/FORGET HIS DAUGHTER
14 honestly Pei MuShan might be 5% pig teammate but she IS a teammate and incredibly loyal ❤️❤️❤️
15 oh he wants her to help him with his clothes? And he’s investigating the servant who wanted to splash her with boiling water? Heh guy is def intrigued Ugh nm does he really just want to consummate the marriage cuz his maternal grandmother asked about kids? Ugh
16 Whoooaaa FL(‘s family) had already exchanged betrothal gifts with the Jiang family and then were hit with the imperial edict?! … did Jiang YuHe really like her or was he more going along with his mom? … I wonder what machine says this “As an experienced translator of Chinese and English novels, I am currently engaged in rendering an ancient Chinese palace intrigue romance novel, rich with the elements of imperial court life. Here's an elegant and contextual translation of the passage you've provided, assuming there was a passage to translate. If you could provide the actual text, I would be more than happy to offer the translation.” Oof what a chapter. Starts with them… having passionate yet detached sex? And then the next night when she’s asleep… The whole Jiang family thing then their ride - why is she disappointed when she sees him after catching the snake?
Whoa Pei Muheng, has been bestowed the title Zhāo Míng wang Damn bro - schemed against both CP & Qin wang - but won’t the 12th prince be the next most likely, not his dad? … ok maybe FL isn’t a transmigrator if she’s making cosmetics with cinnabar
18 oh 🙊😻 he wants to live together now! (And LOL to him eating the medicinal cake FL made for the emperor)
19 ❤️❤️ ok I love that Pei MuShan, loving the rouge, upon learning FL made it doesn’t demand more, but to learn how to make it herself (Also ugh most boring vague description of energetic sex) Whut bio dad thinks FL died from plague?
(22?)Pei Muheng's courtesy name = Qingyu. The Xun family women are cunts. Esp that Xun YunLing. Bitch. PMH doesn’t want you Def22 … wait now bio dad thinks FL burned to death?!
23 … is Pei Xun, the 12th Prince, PMH’s uncle… attracted to FL?! OOP FL MEETING BIO DAD?!
24 wow so FL recognized bio dad but thinks he abandoned them. And current lady Xun tried to murder young FL
25 I’m glad they actually communicate (And F the Xun women)
26 wow will Yan ShaoLing saving Pei MuShan finally make her like him? Also that bitch that attacked PMS better be punished
27 FL saves a life & her husband & in-laws (well MIL) criticize her. I’m glad she says “let’s part ways” 💪💯 absolute queen
28 goddamn our girl is decisive. Though I’m pissed the Xun cunts get to slander her
29 lol I love the Jiang & Yan families are rushing to marry FL ❤️💪💯
30 well well well "To me, marriage is a commitment, a vow to never leave or forsake." - and he’s there to bring her ~home
31 lol that he won’t let go ❤️ “"Since marrying you, I've never thought of being apart. Even if there have been moments of neglect, I never intended to abandon you for my own selfish gains. Yunqi, I don't want to hear the words 'divorce' again in the future." Unbeknownst to me, the term of address shifted from "Madam" to "Yunqi."”
32 awww guy, if she doesn’t like you, WIN HER OVER “He hadn't reached the point of lowering his pride for her sake.” - lol let this be foreshadowing! She’s 19 - only a year younger than him (ah turning 19 in a month) lol Pei MuShan is now team FL over her brother
😹☠️☠️ “Pei Musheng looked utterly perplexed. "What do you mean?" Why were they all lecturing him today? Recalling Xu Yunqi's deft handling of the needle that day, Prince Xi recalled with sympathy, patting his son's shoulder. "Your father is afraid that if she gets upset, she might poke holes in you in the middle of the night."”
35 o.O what was up with FL & her maid’s creepy singing?
38 😹☠️💯 “Not demanding a divorce was already a significant step forward, he consoled himself.” I am starting to be appeased by how much more entangled he is than she is. And go girl bringing down the evil Xun wife, I guess Ye whatever?
39 lol serves the kinda shitty emperor right. “The woman he had casually chosen turned out to be Xun Yunhe's legitimate daughter. The emperor felt as if heaven had slapped him hard, and he chuckled wryly while holding the confession.” 😹☠️ “"Your wife planned to confront her father without consulting you?" Pei Muhang knelt straight, not deigning to respond to him. The Emperor, seldom seeing his grandson suffer a setback, found his gloomy mood from the entire day instantly lifted. He rose to pat the boy's shoulder affectionately, then left with a boisterous laugh.” Yikes. I almost think FL holds on to grudges too much, granted she only just learned her dad was tricked. And def at this point feels it doesn’t matter
40 😹☠️ she’s traumatized ML “Leaving this young lady alone in the estate for a month would truly unsettle him; she might cause another upheaval. It would be more secure to have her bound to his side.” Also ugh poor FIL Xi wang - ALSO though doesn’t FL’s gpa feel any guilt for implicating Xi wang?! He almost got killed!
41 😹☠️ I love that bio dad now looks down on his disciple. Hopefully he and FL can eventually establish some sort of relationship. Dad is trying! DYINNNGGG ML thought FL was going to give him a hand job but instead she jabbed his accupoints with needles BWAHAHA
44 oof “"An An, Father won't... Father won't marry again, nor will I have any more children. I've set aside an inheritance for Nianxi, and everything else will be left to you." "Even if I end up alone until the end of my days, I'll guard this house. No matter how far you wander, when you look back, there will always be a light shining for you, and a pair of eyes watching over you, longing for your return."”
45 PMH getting schooled by FIL subtly? I like her dad followed her home from the clinic
End 46-47 WAIT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY’VE KISSED (on the mouth)?!?? 🤦🏻♀️ he never wanted to before and she considers it unhygienic
48 huh this is the first time I think any cnovel I’ve read has even hinted at an STD
49 Oo the undercurrents between PMH & P12 (seriously does P12 like FL?) - and I hope her learning archery helps/comes into play
50 lol Xun YunHe is moving towards best dad status “At this point, Xun Yunhe would likely be the one delivering the knife if Xu Yunqi were to plot murder.” I wonder if her gpa is still alive
52 😬😅 Xun YunHe might be the most (obvs not romantic) yandere dad ever
54 WTF imperial Doctor Fan RuJi
55 ok I’m pretty sure P12 is turning 30 not 40… (56?)😒☹️ I don’t like PMH & P12 are growing ever more distant - and it’s all the emperor’s doing 😡
57 yay Pei MuShan & Yan ShaoLing are now married! But 😹😅☠️ they had bad sex?
59 lol officially crawling over broken glass “The three rules from their wedding night sharply stung Pei Muheng's mind, extinguishing the flames of his anger in an instant. His previous neglect and indifference toward her had now become a vast chasm in their marital relationship. The grace and tact she once displayed now seemed like an obstacle to understanding her heart. The rules were his own making, and she had followed them to the letter. Now, what grounds did he have to blame her? Pei Muheng finally tasted the bitter consequences of his actions, the pain of wanting something he couldn't have.”
62 word salad slightly diminished the effect, but glad PMH escaped P12’s scheme - and FL saved Grand Tutor Qi. And PMH is determined to make FL fall for him
63 lol excellent sex then he gets mad at her cuz it’s not the right time to get pregnant & he can’t stand her attitude. Then his 苦肉计 both to protect himself from the emperor & actually be sick so FL will care for him 😹☠️💯
64 lol she has a really good temper not getting mad delirious pawing PMH keeps asking if it’s her. I’d be like “😡 you better fucking tell me who the fuck else you think it might be” Aww ❤️ “ A man so brave, wise, and responsible was one in a million. Xu Yunqi didn't see any reason to retreat.”
65 🙊🙊🙊 uh oh pig teammate servants exposed PMH 😅☠️ LOL and she doesn’t believe it. (Whew?) ❤️ A+ self awareness “Apart from the pain caused by her troubled past, there was also his own fault. He hadn't done enough to make her feel at ease, to truly consider this place her home.” 🙊 sex or did he finger her to climax?! 😹☠️ DAMN YOU CENSORSHIP WE NEED DETAILS! Oooohhh it was the latter! “This time was different from any other. He was pleasing her, and only her.” 😈💯 😹☠️ I snort laughed “Pei Mucheng rose to bow respectfully, "Teacher, it was my fault that Xu Yunqi had to endure so much alone." If he had treated her better, she would have surely opened up to him sooner. Xun Yunhe shot back without any hesitation, "What else have you done wrong?"”
68 lol I mean it’s been apparent but ML is a total goner
69 Oh nooooooo who captured the gpa?!? 😭 and they crippled him [look I don’t remember who lives in QingHui garden, esp with this word salad book 😒] Confirmed, P12 likes FL. And the evil empress has been slightly exposed.
70 p12 didn’t realize he likes FL till now?
71 finally rescued. Forgot to note what c I realized gpa Zhang Hui was the apprentice of imperial doctor Liu. I hope he gets to see the emperor! And go FL! Badass boss bitch!
72 ah “p12” is actually Wen YinChang, duke Wen & empress Su’s child 🫠 … I’d say Su ZhiRong is pitiable but she was too evil. Poor Xi Wang.
73 😹☠️ this Zhang family is obsessed with divorce
74 awww yay! He sets her free but immediately proposes again - and promises no other women. ❤️💪💯
75 🫠☠️ browser translated the extras lol current emperor can’t wait for FL & ML to get married to dump the work on his son
76 yay married! LOLOL to her putting on a mask
77 yay pregnant! 😹☠️ to ML kicking back official duties to his dad. Lolol poor guy is crushed
78 yay a little girl! And… I forgot - when she’s 2?3? A son! lol & The girl is spoiled rotten. Gpa Xun YunHe is a baby snatcher 😅😹
79 Awww she’s 22, the mother of 2, and has finally let go, calling XYH “daddy”
80 huh XYH’s rebirth OOP her mom was rebirthed too 🫠
81 back to the capital - lol her dad bought the house next to Xi Wang Fu - wants to set her up with PMH
82 lol uh oh in this life 3 yo FL & 4 yo ML don’t like each other, but Xi wangfei likes FL from go
83 after a year her parents reconciled. And 😱😹☠️🙊 FL bit ML (😅 she walked in on her parents making out…)
84 Oh gpa is reborn and in 6 months reunited with his family (and FL has a younger brother now but he has no talent ☠️) ML is now 9 O.o FL returns home and doesn’t remember ML?! (Why didn’t she ever reply to his letters?)
85 Xi wang having them study martial arts together 😹💯☠️
86 lol he brings her into the palace to study and she collects admirers
87 another boy! The Xun kids are each 5 years apart, and FL is now 12. Little baby is already learning to write at 2!
88 oh she got her period. He wants to marry her & she agreed. I have trepidations of the Xi couple going to the emperor…
89 oof the timeline gets moved up, FL WI agreed to marry ML now rejects him cuz she doesn’t want to be trapped in the palace. Moves away, is now 17. Yunzheng was more than thirteen years old, and Yunyi was seven years old. 😱 ML went to find FL but the emperor who died a year ago had already bestowed a marriage to some Xiao(?) chick?!
90 oh man he went to find her
91 Awww he rejected the edict! “If he can't even get the woman he wants, how can he seek the welfare of the people of the world.” “Whether it's my fiancée, my crown princess, or the person who will stand by my side every day and every moment, it can only be that girl named Xun Nannan." (This after he let her brother stab him 😱😬)
92 ahhhhh “"I will not share a husband with any woman, can you do it?"
93 Pei Muheng's eyes were like the moon after the clouds were cleared, revealing a sharp light like snow, "I am a narrow-minded person, and I can only accommodate you. I have never thought of marrying someone else."” Awww “Another half an hour passed, and Yunqi's hands were sticky with sweat. This time she asked Pei Muheng with a bitter face,
"Third brother, can you let go now?"
Pei Muheng sneered and gritted his teeth, "You are dreaming, I will never let go in this life."”
Bleh 93?94? Whatever FL’s mom’s life (book goes back to timeline) shitty life, Xu dies, her parents reunite later [thought it was 94 but next c says 94 🤷🏻♀️]
94 🤦🏻♀️ omg Pei MuShan & Yan ShaoLing are idiots 🫠
95 lol ML takes FL out to play. And … YinXiang has a doctor suitor?!
96 hm glad P12 survived & eventually lives a good & simple life. (And saw FL again)
97 aww FL & ML’s kids. Emperor is 50. Daughter is now 9, FL’s parents just reconciled FIL abdicates at 55 ❤️❤️❤️ I love how he’s a wife man & loves her best. And he learned to make her candy haws. And feels no matter what they’d have ended up together ❤️❤️❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.