English title: Rebirth of the Treacherous Official's Madam
I didn't realize from the title, but this turned out to be a double rebirth historical novel which was a pleasant surprise. It's been a while since my last double rebirth novel, so I really enjoyed it.
The FL is Yu Lingxin, who was married in her previous life to the ML, the Wen'an Marquis Xun Che. Unfortunately the ML was heavily poisoned at the time of their marriage, so he lived only a few years past their marriage. Plus due to his sick body, they were never able to consummate their marriage, and most of their 3 years together passed together in companionship and with the FL acting more as a caregiver to him rather than a wife. After his death, she lived for another 12 years or so as his widow before finally passing away herself and getting reborn back to her 13 year old self.
After being reborn, Yu Lingxin's first order of business is to protect herself from being kidnapped by her birth mother, which is how all her troubles started in her previous life, and to find ways to protect her family from getting involved in the fight for the throne. The fight for the throne between the Empress and the Noble Consort Zhu was vicious in her previous life and harmed a lot of families, including hers as well as the ML who was the first prince's childhood reading companion and firmly on his side.
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
It's crazy to me the extent that the FL's own mother tries to kidnap her to her new family, the Kou family, all for the sake of the FL's sizable dowry. Luckily this time around, the FL already knows about her fake motherly act and instead focuses her affections on the family who actually care about her, her father and paternal grandmother. She also has the ML watching out for her, which is the first hint that the ML was also reborn. Otherwise, the ML's family status is much higher than the FL's family, and there's no reason for him to be helping out a female stranger.
I'm glad that they mutually recognize their rebirth selves pretty early on in the novel. That means that the romance starts quite early and the reader doesn't have to wait for long. There's a 6 year age gap between them, and the ML is 19 when the story first starts, so you just have to remember that girls marry young in historical Chinese society. I actually kept forgetting the FL is only 13 years old, since her thoughts are already complex as she retains all the knowledge from her previous life, but the FL's young age might bother some folks.
Because they've already spent multiple years married and have the same knowledge of their previous lives, their communication is super seamless and not like a young couple. It confuses everyone who observes their interactions so much, which I got a kick out of. For example:
Yu Lingxin didn't lift the thin curtains, just asking through the window, "Today's flower banquet, will fourth young master come?"
This question was truly asked without any heads or tails. Ming Jinrou who was listening to the side once again blanked. However, outside the carriage, Xun Che just fell silent, unexpectedly responding, "I understand."
This time, Ming Jinrou already wasn't just shocked. When it comes to that mutual understanding between Yu Lingxin and Xun Che that came from don't know where, she can be said to have seen several times already.
But this time, it practically reached a new level. These two only said about ten words in total. Without even asking, Xun Che just knew that it was Yu Lingxin calling him, and Yu Lingxin's vague words, he also just understood.
Exactly what did this mean?
The FL's relationship with both her family and also her in-laws is so wholesome. I found that very refreshing. She has a loving father and grandmother who's watching out for her. Plus her mother-in-law treats her like her own daughter and doesn't let her suffer at all, despite her unreliable divorced mother and lower family standing. Also, she has a great relationship with the younger females in the ML's family, like the younger sister and female cousin. I love all the positive relationships in the novel. Because the ML brings her in to help with the accounting and event planning within his family very early on, I love how she's already half counted as a member of the family before ever marrying in XP
I really enjoyed the story itself, but the translations left a lot to be desired. I almost dropped the story at the beginning due to the terrible quality of the translations, but I persevered and I'm glad I did as I loved the story. Eventually I felt like the quality improved a little bit, though it still was never that great. The whole text was riddled with grammatical mistakes and badly worded sentences along with incorrect pronouns and names. After you take into account all the side characters and the complicated family relationships paired with the terrible translation, it was quite to read and get into, especially at the beginning.
The story itself read like a slice of life, with the main couple going off their knowledge from their past lives to prevent schemes from the various parties. It follows them from their initial meeting to marriage to having kids and ends only when the battle for the throne is concluded. It's quite long and took me many hours to finish, though a large part of that is due to the author's extreme wordiness. I feel like the story could've been at least 1/4 shorter if the author had kept her words more succinct.
There were a lot of moments that I particularly enjoyed, when either the ML or FL sees through some scheme and turns it back on the original perpetrator. Possibly my favorite was when Xun Che blocked every possible way for his conniving cousin, Xun Yan, to publicly return to the capital. This cousin was overlooked by the ML in his previous life and but actually contributed quite a bit to the downfall of his family, which he didn't realize until much later, so he absolutely hates her and is determined to stop her tricks this time around. When she secretly entered the capital to conspire with the Zhu family, the ML does everything he can to block her from leaving the capital so she can't publicly come back. Despite all of her and her family's excuses, the ML is super persistent and doesn't let a single excuse of hers pass. It was so satisfying to watch him block all of her attempts.
Another moment that was enjoyable was all the chaos that went down at the imperial consort selection banquet. The empress organized the banquet to finalize the candidates for the consort and concubine selection for all the princes, but due to some animals running around and starting a fire, a number of the girls end up falling into the water with both the second and third prince. I've never read about such a chaotic scene in a historical novel before, and one with such ridiculous consequences.
Instead of taking one main consort and maybe 1-2 concubines, because 13 girls fell into the water with the second and third prince, they each have to take 1 consort and 6 concubines. However, some of the girls are completely unwilling to become a concubine as they come from a reputable family and go to extreme lengths to avoid entering the palace, including one girl who broke her own leg. I was cackling when I read this XP
At the same time, Xuan Emperor's mood was also very bad. Clearly, it was selecting beauties for his beloved sons, yet it got to the point where the beauty had to break her leg for survival, in order to tactfully express their rejection towards a prince?
This really was the most absurd joke in the world!
In addition to the main couple, there were plenty of side couples in the story as well. Perhaps my favorite was the first prince Qin Wang with the ML's female cousin Ming Jinrou. They've known each other from a young age thanks to the ML being the prince's reading companion, but due to some misunderstandings they get married on cold terms. However, the prince wins the cousin's heart back thanks to some alcohol and loose tongues, and they live a happy married life where both side consorts are completely ignored.
Another couple that finally got their happy ending is the ML's younger sister and the talented scholar Qi Ke. I actually didn't think this one was going to work out, since Qi Ke willingly worked for "the enemy" second prince to help protect the younger sister, but things worked out here as well.
All in all, even though the story was really long and the translation not that great, I really enjoyed this novel. Would highly recommend!
A great novel that sets itself apart through these important points:
1. They might have come back but their actions cause changes that they don’t anticipate and aren’t always in their favor. Though there is a HEA of course. 2. The ML is not the crown prince / prince aiming for the throne / future emperor / great general but a scheming official - and he stays that too. 3. Female friendship that actually stays relevant and with friends who have great stories of their own. They could easily be the female leads of their own stories.
Definitely worth reading and the fan translation is great too, though I think it would have helped to adjust some of the grammar.
It's now 3/26/25 ... heh while I was reading it I kept thinking "damn, if only this translation had been done sooner I could've read it and used it for the March TBR challenge cuz THIS ML had MAJOR rizz. His game was 💯." *whispers* I have to say ... maybe >.> I overly liked Tyrannical Wang - or that really was edited more? But reading this one ... the grammar. *twitches* I almost thought about emailing to offer to do edits but. 🙃 So - really trying not to let that color how I felt about it but. 😅 oh right. Now that I try to reflect since I was like "man I didn't retain much" *sigh* I'm remembering how much I hated the last few chapters. Like... wow way to read 200 fucking chapters only for almost everything to be ruined in the last few. The ending itself was then ok - it got better, but I was already so fucking fed up and irritated. Just thinking about it now is making me mad. [Also for me personally I hate the Romeo/Juliet thing and DO NOT find it romantic. And thus her whole "if you die I'm dying with you" made me so annoyed. And HE EVEN POINTS OUT THEY HAVE AN INFANT. And sure ok in this life she does think "well we have so many family members left to raise him" but I still think that's incredibly shitty. It's not the fucking same as having your own good parents. [Granted his grandparents and aunt and uncle would be good - but not AS good.] Also the grandparents are already getting up there in age ... and the aunt is stupid AF - about to kill herself for Qi Ke and they literally spoke what like twice ever? She just fucking read a bunch of his poetry, which sure la la, great connection, but ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! *snickersnort* literally my eye is starting to twitch.
C+ - but for the chapters between like 200 [or so] and like 207 ... it'd be better. ~*~*~*~ Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam
1 FL is Yu LingXin … and oop she’s just been rebirthed/transmigrated to her 13 yo self (😅 either this translator has regressed or I overly loved Tyrannical Wang…)
(4 😿😿 truly the grammar is a mess…)
8 lol who broke the Qi carriage axel?
13 JFC her mom is the worst. (And why is she so determined to kidnap FL?! WTAF?!)
Ok Xun Che is IMO DEFINITELY rebirthed too - from that sickness. He’s 17, she’s 13… 4 years isn’t too bad but he better wait a few years
17 she definitely thinks/knows he’s been rebirthed, just not details. … does he know she’s come back too?! And yay I hope her little brother continues to be good ❤️ (also though wait is he really just 6 months younger than her?!)
18 LOL wait what?! Guy is sending her [his] maids?!? lol you’re going to fast and scaring her my guy!
22 🙊🙊🙊 the inscription on the hair pins Also! lol normally I’d be like “😡😡 too overbearing and controlling, dude!” But just… it’s so well done here! And her trying to step back but him all “wife” and the courtesy name he gave her - just wow. So much more smitten than I thought! (Also what… what fleeting lost thing?! WHAT?!) I also love that instead of going with all her question she ended up [simply] asking “are you well?” ❤️
27 wait but with their difference in status how is he gonna convince his dad & marry her? (Also aww her poor innocent carriage driver, ML you owe him!)
😻😻😻 god damn he had prepared people within 50 li of that port in case her mom really did kidnap her Ok and I admit I’m willing to give him a lot leeway cuz his teasing and he’s so damn charming!
33 lol ML is even using the Ming siblings to meet with FL
34 lol Ming JinRou adapted quickly - though guy! What if FL’s dad gives her an actual courtesy name this time?! What is going on? You’re calling her HuiJun - she’s only 13! (And I thought MJR is older? 🙃 guess I shoulda paid more attention?)
35 ugh ok now I’m confused which Wen girl is the bitch but also I don’t care about them, so … problem. (Oh they’re both awful)
36 Wait lol now she’s suddenly 14?! (She lived to 34 her past life, 😱 12 years as a widow!) 😹😹☠️❤️ she teases him back and immediately literally runs away (I’m giggling) And sigh so - seems the empress DOES suck 🫥
39 Oh huh so FL is older than MJR. … *blinks* Omg lolololol the Ming siblings laughing at ML’s misfortune/FL rejecting his date 😹😹☠️💯 - and he sent her 😱 over 1000 (taels) worth of 😻 water lily jewelry! 😹😹😹 him sending bitter tea to convey his feelings after she rejects him
42 she met his mom! And lol to him hijacking the carriage and kicking MJR to his lol
48 😹😅☠️ our poor girl got conned. Drowning in club planning and account books. ML you’re charming and sweet but you better step up your game even more! 😹☠️
60 yikes this messy family. Hopefully Xun Cong wakes up. And I’m glad ML’s mom finally stopped
63 Oh shit his 2nd branch “sister” (cousin) Xun Yan has already buddied up with that stupid bitchy RuiYang junzhu?! (Glad the carriage thing got resolved - I was worried)
64 ok now she’s about to turn 14. (STOP MESSING WITH US, AUTHOR!) On the 6th of the 10th month, first kiss! (Her birthday is in the 12th month)
69 OH MY GOD 😹😹☠️☠️☠️☠️ I was snort laughing. His mom fucking with him telling him she’s made FL her adopted daughter lololololol (And yay FL got the same engagement gift!) lol this shameless future MIL kicking the conclusion to FL 😹☠️
71 Oh interesting it was ML’s mom who picked FL the last life
80 well that banquet went horribly, WTF is up with the Qin wang and who was scheming against him?
81 lol future MIL visit (but yeah ok TN pointed out - in c47 author said FL’s birthday is in the 4th month…) but in this & a previous more recent c it’s the 12th
83 😱😱😱 did Qin wang go visit MJR?!
84 JFC her mom is awful constantly writing her for money. Bitch she’s YOUR DAUGHTER. And you ABANDONED HER. … AND SHE’S ONLY 13!!!!!
87 lol uh oh FL’s dad doesn’t like ML & is trying to find her other matches. And ML crashes her blind date bringing along his ~entire family 😹☠️
91 wait Xun Yan is dead? (If so, lol)
93 lol ML digs a big pit for his dad then walks out I like that FL isn’t scared of ML’s dad
95 lol looks like FL is engaged. Love MJR’s dad is awesome too ❤️
98 😹😹☠️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ shoutout to ML not giving Qi Pei or Xun Xiang any face. That’s right! If they try to scheme against FL THEY GO DOWN
(101?) CHEN YANLING IS AMAZING AND I LOVE HER 😹❤️ plus I hope Xun NanHeng this WenAn Marquis future FIL really does give her a dessert shop 😇 (and he did!) Def 101 - lol to ML’s family offering 30k as a betrothal gift?! When a normal 4th-5th rank official would have a 5k dowry?!
102 poor not smart step mom. (Though imo noble consort Zhu being attacked is fake)
104 Oh wow - wedding date set for the 17th of the 6th month which was when they were [both] rebirthed a year ago
105 lol I lowkey have a crush on DuanYi xianzhu Chen YanLing, lol though she didn’t do much this c
106 … ok her hairpin ceremony is the 16th of the 5th month so like WHEN IS HER BIRTHDAY REALLY?!?!?!! Oh no WTF ML’s home caught on fire (and I’m biased so I’m more worried FL won’t be getting the gifts from the poetry club though I guess the total wouldn’t have been much)
107 😿 poor ML getting beaten all the time. His gma is truly disgusting. And I think ML’s dad is being excessive. 🤷🏻♀️ I also don’t trust Xun Tan just because he reported it
109 😅 tbh I’m a little confused on how all the dowry stuff worked out (and like if she’s taking 90% of the betrothal gifts which were 30k but really 32k, already had 9k (supposed to be 10k), and got 20k or so in gifts … shouldn’t her dowry be 56k instead of 30k? 🤷🏻♀️ Anyway I’m glad her gma, dad, and it seems her cousin all love her ❤️ (& maybe her younger half brother too?)
Nice lol her dowry is 128 chests (🤷🏻♀️ worth 30k 🤷🏻♀️)
111 ARRRRGGGHHH I was going to say “😏 looks like they had a good wedding night” but then the damn author ruins the c and MADE IT CREEPY with her calling him 2nd brother 😖😖😖😖😖😖😖😖😖😖😖😖😖 - also what did he want her to call him instead of husband?! That?!?!?!
113 ML’s gma is the worst. She needs to die. His aunt too. And what’s that shitty Qi family up to 😒😡
117 goddammit poor MJR. (Also does Qin wang like her or not?!) although now if they do even still get married everything is ruined… 😖
123 😹☠️ the mess of the palace selection banquet
124 😡😡 isn’t it insulting to the wangfei to have to share her wedding with 2 other side consorts? Poor MJR. I’m with her dad on this one
125 I’m having a hard time believing the emperor isn’t exceptionally stupid (Lololol MJC’s waist isn’t good eh?!? ☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️)
126 Oop Qi Ke who her dad picked for her passed #1 in the imperial exam
133 Jesus Christ the empress is a fucking piece of shit I’m so mad at Qin wang too. Poor MJR. Hopefully she gets to live a good life.
134 at this point I don’t care if it was Qin wang, ML, or even actually the emperor, but I’m glad the shit empress got her face (figuratively) slapped. Cunt. And those two smug side consorts too
135 omg I couldn’t stop snort laughing 😹☠️❤️💯 I love these Ming siblings (and their aunt)
137 I actually got emotional at how loving her married family is to her. ML was so attentive during her period and top to bottom her in-laws even the extended family are all caring ❤️
138 I’m just so sad & stressed for MJR. … DOES Qin wang like her? He’s definitely showing sincerity but that’s… not affection.
141 waiting for FL to meet with MJR alone - but so far seems good for this Qin wang couple?!?!
145 🤷🏻♀️ tbh I really want this Qi Ke (courtesy name YunZhang) to get with Xun Ying 💪💯 Always good to have a smart, capable, upright guy on your side ❤️
146 lololol eat shit, Qi Pei and your stupid mom lololol
149 *sigh* and there it is. I’d been annoyed they were at times so complacent assuming it’s all set & obvious. Yo Qin wang isn’t the emperor yet. Shit can change. And … now something big has with that Chen province rebellion 🫥 Hostile xianzhu & MJC can still be together…
151 ugggh ominous c ending- I am STRESSED about this stupid poetry gathering
157 oh thank god XY escaped that gathering unscathed. And hopefully FL’s half sister too - glad she seems to have acquired a brain. (And her cousin who likes that Yan girl?!)
158 eek FL is pregnant?! Didn’t these two dummies take any precautions?! She’s still too young! And lol to the poetry event scandal - P3 slept w/ his brother P2’s concubine that hadn’t entered the manor yet. Ahaha
161 uh random past life short story interjected in here O.o
162 interesting - seems to be the future them when he talks/thinks about the past life where he was a memorial tablet already (yet was able to sometimes somehow spy on her elsewhere?) 🤷🏻♀️ both cute
163 return to regular programming! End to-
164 HE’S BACK! ❤️
174 wait what?! Qi Ke is tying himself to Wu wang to … block Wei wang who is lusting after XY?! Or? WHAT. … WHAT.
179 Argh WTF is Qi Ke doing?!? I’m so stressed! How is becoming an enemy helpful to XY?!?!?!????!? Whatever. Fuckhead. I hope XY finds a delightful peerlessly handsome, gentle, scholarly, utterly devoted man (Also why doesn’t ML take any exams? Like just to shut people up? Or debate them or something?)
184 yaaay! A son!
192 🙊 lol ok even knowing they were prepared for the palace banquet scheme I was stressed & annoyed & skimmed the instigating cunts & their blather… but LOL to O.o P3 fucking P2? Or vice versa? But… 🙃🫠 them having sex eh?
193 I am so amused and horrified but not. Just 🤣🤣🙊🙊🙊 on P2 & 3, and F their mom consort Li too.
194 honestly I’m mad FL’s FIL (yes ML’s dad) kicked him. Sure filial piety and that’s the dad’s mom… but she’s a fucking monster. I don’t blame YX for acting at all - poison her more. Poor FL’s hand. And her & XY’s mental state
Skimmed 202 tbh it’s annoying how Wu wang can just casually say shit and it’s a huge setback for ML et al
Skimmed the end of 203 too this shit is just stupid
Skimmed 204. How did it all go downhill so quickly
205 why don’t these evil bitches just die
206 messy stupid shit plan, cunt empress and consort li. And that Hanlin scholar’s wife too
207 Jesus Christ does XY know how to do anything other than try to commit suicide now? 🙄😒😡🔪 Furious the dad is in danger
Read skimmed 208 p1, I don’t even know or care what the issue is up north now Plus her whole “I’m dying with you” is stupid and annoying as shit P2 is pissing me off too cuz it’s obviously her preparing to die/commit suicide when she finds out ML is dead. This is all so fucking stupid I’m obviously glad he’s back & the dad is alive but honestly all goodwill towards this book is pretty much gone. Too many shit chapters & stupidity. TBH I kinda wished she’d stupidly kill herself then oop ML would return. BECAUSE THIS SHIT IS SO STUPID. Sweet(er) ending but tbh I want to hit the author
209 cute ending & rushed pairings but I don’t get the MJC enlightened thing? 🤷🏻♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Yu Lingxin, the widow Wen'an Marchioness, was sent back in time when she's in her boudoir before all the tragedies in her family and in her husband's family took place. When she's busy avoiding all the traps of the previous life trying to protect her family, someone seems to lend her help without asking. It's none other than her sick husband of three years, Xun Che, who also was sent back in time like her.
I absolutely loved the premise, the world-building, the storyline, the character arcs. It truly showcased the fear and determination of two reincarnated individuals fighting against the world to protect their loved ones. Especially, the love and bond of Yu Lingxin and Xun Che gets more highlighted the more we read the novel. And we can understand why despite being a couple in name only, both loved and despaired for each other in the past life.
There are also so many side couples that would just spoil the novel if I go on. But just know that everyone makes it out even if it doesn't seem like it sometimes. The villains will get their just desserts and the people that unjustly faced tragedies for various reasons in the past life are going to have their happy ending in this one. Though, there's plenty of political intrigue, there's also fluff, romance and slice of life elements. The only thing I can complain of is that the male lead's genius in schemes many times overshadowed female lead's own halo.
All in all, absolutely loved it! Would recommend!!
Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam, la storia non è male, è solo che avrei preferito che anche lei avesse un po’ più di spessore nella storia invece ad un certo punto sembrava quasi un personaggio come gli altri