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There’s Something Wrong with the Chief: Du Zhu You Bing (Novel) #3
There’s Something Wrong with the Chief: Du Zhu You Bing (Novel) Vol. 3
“LET ME LIVE FOR YOU, ALL RIGHT?”
After converging in the capital, Xiahou Lian and Shen Jue soon learn that the imperial court is no safer than the roads that brought them there. Power is shifting perilously, secrets are tightening around them, and Xiahou Lian’s attempts to protect himself through deception place him in unexpected danger.
Shaken by the fallout, the two dare to rebuild the bond they once lost. As Xiahou Lian gains a foothold in the Eastern Depot, he and Shen Jue are swept into a storm of treachery and enemies. A once-overlooked pawn has become a deadly adversary, and every step becomes a gamble with their lives.
As peril closes in from all sides, Xiahou Lian and Shen Jue must rely on the fragile trust they’ve only just begun to reclaim—because this time, it may be the only thing that keeps them alive.
After converging in the capital, Xiahou Lian and Shen Jue soon learn that the imperial court is no safer than the roads that brought them there. Power is shifting perilously, secrets are tightening around them, and Xiahou Lian’s attempts to protect himself through deception place him in unexpected danger.
Shaken by the fallout, the two dare to rebuild the bond they once lost. As Xiahou Lian gains a foothold in the Eastern Depot, he and Shen Jue are swept into a storm of treachery and enemies. A once-overlooked pawn has become a deadly adversary, and every step becomes a gamble with their lives.
As peril closes in from all sides, Xiahou Lian and Shen Jue must rely on the fragile trust they’ve only just begun to reclaim—because this time, it may be the only thing that keeps them alive.
404 pages, Paperback
Published May 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 26, 2026
the second half left me thoroughly unimpressed. also this novel has some very boring token villains and the revealed big baddy is probably the most boring of them all. their personality is that they kill people without remorse. woah now. dostoevsky could never. so 3 yawn stars.
May 26, 2026
4.8/5
After all the pain in Volume 2, we finally get a break from it in this volume!... well, sort of? It is way more political, and I am absolutely here for it. And the little romantic moments? Aaahhhh! To die for! I seriously need the confession. My theory is that Xiahou Lian will confess first... maybe? 🤭
After all the trauma and broken trust, watching Xiahou Lian and Shen Jue try to rebuild their bond is both incredibly sweet and agonizing. They both want to be the protector, but one of them definitely gets protected more. They are so fragile around each other, but the devotion is building.
I am absolutely happy about what transpired for Shen Jue! He deserved to relish in this victory, even if it does come with a price.
There is also a new threat on the horizon, and they came into the plot with a BANG! The reveal of who it was blew my mind—though I knew this character was kind of weird when we first met them.
When can I have Volume 4 in my hands? Because I really need to know what happens next! Also, I want to address my review of Volume 2 where I called Xiahou Lian an "idiot." HE’S NOT! He knew exactly what was going on, but he had one goal in mind. ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT FROM VOL 2: His number one goal was to kill his father and take down Qiye Garden! He didn’t care about anything else! ⚠️END OF SPOILER WARNING
Happy reading!
SPOILER FOR FUTURE VOLUMES IN COMMENTS = AUTOMATIC BLOCK!
After all the pain in Volume 2, we finally get a break from it in this volume!... well, sort of? It is way more political, and I am absolutely here for it. And the little romantic moments? Aaahhhh! To die for! I seriously need the confession. My theory is that Xiahou Lian will confess first... maybe? 🤭
After all the trauma and broken trust, watching Xiahou Lian and Shen Jue try to rebuild their bond is both incredibly sweet and agonizing. They both want to be the protector, but one of them definitely gets protected more. They are so fragile around each other, but the devotion is building.
I am absolutely happy about what transpired for Shen Jue! He deserved to relish in this victory, even if it does come with a price.
There is also a new threat on the horizon, and they came into the plot with a BANG! The reveal of who it was blew my mind—though I knew this character was kind of weird when we first met them.
When can I have Volume 4 in my hands? Because I really need to know what happens next! Also, I want to address my review of Volume 2 where I called Xiahou Lian an "idiot." HE’S NOT! He knew exactly what was going on, but he had one goal in mind. ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT FROM VOL 2: His number one goal was to kill his father and take down Qiye Garden! He didn’t care about anything else! ⚠️END OF SPOILER WARNING
Happy reading!
SPOILER FOR FUTURE VOLUMES IN COMMENTS = AUTOMATIC BLOCK!
June 15, 2026
“I can't live for myself, Shaoye. So let me live for you, all right? You're too good to me; I must've piled up lifetimes of virtue to meet you in this one. I have nothing to offer you but my life. Will you accept it?"
Things were going so well for me at the beginning of this volume. The story was introducing new threats, old enemies were still lurking in the background, relationships were shifting, and some major events made it feel like the series was entering a much bigger phase. I was especially interested in how the villains were being humanized. I like seeing characters who aren’t simply evil for the sake of being evil. It makes the conflict more interesting and gives me more to think about while reading. The problem is that as the story got bigger, I started feeling more lost. I don’t need every mystery explained right away, and I actually love complicated stories. Some of my favorite series are full of twists, secrets, and unanswered questions. What frustrated me here was that so many important situations felt vague without giving me anything solid to hold onto. When I reached certain reveals, I wasn’t shocked or excited. I was mostly trying to figure out what I was supposed to take away from them. If answers don’t come until later, I still want enough information to look back and connect the dots. Here, I often felt like I was waiting for context that never arrived.
As the volume went on, that feeling only got stronger. There were multiple moments where I could tell something important was happening, but I wasn’t sure how to process it because I didn’t fully understand the motivations behind it. The villains are probably the biggest example. I can tell the story is building toward something significant with them, but right now their side of the conflict feels so unclear that it’s hard for me to get invested. I honestly think I would have preferred if their motivations had stayed hidden a little longer. Or maybe if the story had given us a simple explanation early on and then slowly revealed why that explanation wasn’t completely true. Either option would have helped me stay grounded. As it is, a lot of the information feels scattered across the volume. I kept waiting for things to come together, but each new development seemed to raise even more questions. By the end, I wasn’t feeling excited by the story. I was feeling confused and exhausted by it.
The ending is where my feelings became the most mixed. On paper, it feels like a strong place to end a volume. A lot has happened and there are plenty of reasons to keep reading. At the same time, one particular situation involving Shen Jue left me scratching my head because it felt like it was quietly pushed aside. It felt strange watching everyone move on when I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I understand that things like that happen in real life. Sometimes everyone knows something is wrong and nobody can do anything about it. Still, it left me unsatisfied here. Even with all my complaints, I don’t think this series is bad. Far from it. There are a lot of ideas that I genuinely love, and there are moments where I can see how great this story could become. Right now, though, it feels like the series is asking me to wait for future volumes to make sense of things that should have felt stronger in this one. I’m still interested in seeing where it goes, but this volume left me more frustrated than excited.
Date Read: 2026.06.14
Things were going so well for me at the beginning of this volume. The story was introducing new threats, old enemies were still lurking in the background, relationships were shifting, and some major events made it feel like the series was entering a much bigger phase. I was especially interested in how the villains were being humanized. I like seeing characters who aren’t simply evil for the sake of being evil. It makes the conflict more interesting and gives me more to think about while reading. The problem is that as the story got bigger, I started feeling more lost. I don’t need every mystery explained right away, and I actually love complicated stories. Some of my favorite series are full of twists, secrets, and unanswered questions. What frustrated me here was that so many important situations felt vague without giving me anything solid to hold onto. When I reached certain reveals, I wasn’t shocked or excited. I was mostly trying to figure out what I was supposed to take away from them. If answers don’t come until later, I still want enough information to look back and connect the dots. Here, I often felt like I was waiting for context that never arrived.
As the volume went on, that feeling only got stronger. There were multiple moments where I could tell something important was happening, but I wasn’t sure how to process it because I didn’t fully understand the motivations behind it. The villains are probably the biggest example. I can tell the story is building toward something significant with them, but right now their side of the conflict feels so unclear that it’s hard for me to get invested. I honestly think I would have preferred if their motivations had stayed hidden a little longer. Or maybe if the story had given us a simple explanation early on and then slowly revealed why that explanation wasn’t completely true. Either option would have helped me stay grounded. As it is, a lot of the information feels scattered across the volume. I kept waiting for things to come together, but each new development seemed to raise even more questions. By the end, I wasn’t feeling excited by the story. I was feeling confused and exhausted by it.
The ending is where my feelings became the most mixed. On paper, it feels like a strong place to end a volume. A lot has happened and there are plenty of reasons to keep reading. At the same time, one particular situation involving Shen Jue left me scratching my head because it felt like it was quietly pushed aside. It felt strange watching everyone move on when I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I understand that things like that happen in real life. Sometimes everyone knows something is wrong and nobody can do anything about it. Still, it left me unsatisfied here. Even with all my complaints, I don’t think this series is bad. Far from it. There are a lot of ideas that I genuinely love, and there are moments where I can see how great this story could become. Right now, though, it feels like the series is asking me to wait for future volumes to make sense of things that should have felt stronger in this one. I’m still interested in seeing where it goes, but this volume left me more frustrated than excited.
Date Read: 2026.06.14
June 4, 2026
“Well, ‘Xie Lian’ sounds awkward.” 🤣
I love this book sm I need them to kiss RIGHT NOW
I love this book sm I need them to kiss RIGHT NOW
May 21, 2026
I genuinely loved everything about the relationship between Xiahou Lian and Shen Jue. Their bond is incredibly beautiful, yet bittersweet. The slowness of their relationship makes them more tender and full of depth.
One of my favorite quote in this book is,
It’s such a lovely comparison for Shen Jue. 🥰
One of my favorite quote in this book is,
“Xiahou Lian gazed at him quietly. Shen Jue was always beautiful— wherever he stood, the scene transformed into a painting. Beneath his feet, even a mud puddle would bloom with lotuses. When he stood beside Xiahou Lian, his companion’s heart felt impossibly full.”
It’s such a lovely comparison for Shen Jue. 🥰
May 15, 2026
Why must we end on the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers? If I’m going to lose my MIND. This story has been one tragedy after the next with barely any happy moments so I need something good to happen in the last book. Also I loved how we developed Xiahou Lian and Shen Jue’s relationship in this book. Honestly I really thought we would get somewhere, but I guess we had to spend most of the time getting Xiahou Lian to simply acknowledge his feelings. Poor Shen Jue, so pent up. If I can make a comparison this also somewhat reminds me of Ballad of Sword and Wine Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye but if things went much much worse for them all of the time and they were a lot more evil. I just get hits of vibes. Small similarities. I think if you like one series you might like the other. This on is a lot more gore and death though. Overall this was an incredible and action packed book. I honestly have zero idea how this story is going to end with one more book. It feels like we have a lot to take care of and both of their reputations are kind of bad. But I guess we shall just follow their story to the bitter or sweet end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2026
A thousand pages and you’re shitting me because WHY HAVENT THEY KISSED WHEN THEYRE LITERALLY MARRIED (im NOT KIDDING, Xiahou Lian took Shen Jian’s name!!!! 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷)
June 29, 2026
4.5 stars
I adore this cover. It encapsulates everything I love about this series. The yearning between Xiahou Lian and Shen Jue is beautiful, the moments they are together so tender.
Shen Jue already knows he loves Xiahou Lian, but the slow realization the latter makes in this volume was so well done and seals their connection. While I of course want them to confess to each other, I found the reasons for their hesitation believable. They need each other and risking losing the other for any reason is unfathomable.
The story itself, while not perfect, is engaging throughout. I also appreciate how the author was able to make me care so much about some of the side characters, some of whom also made me quite emotional in here.
The volume ends on a cliffhanger, though it is one that actually leaves me hopeful rather than apprehensive, because of who is involved.
I'm very much looking forward to the conclusion coming soon.
I adore this cover. It encapsulates everything I love about this series. The yearning between Xiahou Lian and Shen Jue is beautiful, the moments they are together so tender.
Shen Jue already knows he loves Xiahou Lian, but the slow realization the latter makes in this volume was so well done and seals their connection. While I of course want them to confess to each other, I found the reasons for their hesitation believable. They need each other and risking losing the other for any reason is unfathomable.
The story itself, while not perfect, is engaging throughout. I also appreciate how the author was able to make me care so much about some of the side characters, some of whom also made me quite emotional in here.
The volume ends on a cliffhanger, though it is one that actually leaves me hopeful rather than apprehensive, because of who is involved.
I'm very much looking forward to the conclusion coming soon.
July 5, 2026
My favourite volume so far.
September 14, 2026
I love intense slow-slow-burn as much as the next freak but THREE books and no confession??? I'm dying here!!
August 19, 2026
I'm not sure what exactly is so compelling to me about this series but I'm legitimately so invested I'm actually vibrating with need for the last book.
June 14, 2026
4.5 ★ i know this series gets a lot of bad reviews but i really enjoy it 🤷♀️ love the characters and i think the plot continues to be interesting despite some frustrations idk maybe im just tasteless but i really like it
May 21, 2026
GET TOGETHEERRRRR ALREADY ONGGGNDNENEMEMSME
Did Not Finish
September 23, 2026DNF at 30%.
This volume has completely lost me. Shen Jue and Lian finally reunite, but the reunion was completely unsatisfying for me. After Shen Jue failed to recognize him because of the plastic surgery and then tried to execute him before figuring out at the last minute who he actually was, I was just completely over Shen Jue as a character. At this point, I no longer care about him. His only redeeming quality was his devotion to Lian but he keeps botching even that.
At the beginning of this volume we get a frustrating retroactive info-dump that resolves several of the questions that bothered me in volume 2 by simply having Shen Jue narrate everything to Lian. Suddenly, he knows that the Abbot orchestrated Lian's mother's death as part of a convoluted plan to free Lian from the enclave, that the Abbot had actually given Lian the antidote, and seemingly understands several other things about the Garden that even Lian himself didn't know. The problem is that we're never really shown how Shen Jue learned all of this. After spending the last volume watching him struggle to infiltrate the Garden and spending years searching for Lian, it's difficult to accept that he apparently has such an extensive understanding of what was happening in the Garden. It didn't feel like a natural progression of the story, where we finally have answers but more like the author handing Shen Jue the answers because it's convenient and easy to close off several plot issues from the previous volume.
And then this leads to another problem: if Shen Jue knew this much about the Abbot, the Garden, and what had happened to Lian, why was he unable to find Lian for so long? If he's really this knowledgeable and capable, why has he failed Lian so badly until now?
At this point, I think this is where I need to part ways with the series. I'm over the plot, I don't particularly care about who is really behind the Garden, and most importantly, I no longer find Shen Jue and Lian's relationship convincing or emotionally satisfying. I don't need or want to find out what happens next.
This volume has completely lost me. Shen Jue and Lian finally reunite, but the reunion was completely unsatisfying for me. After Shen Jue failed to recognize him because of the plastic surgery and then tried to execute him before figuring out at the last minute who he actually was, I was just completely over Shen Jue as a character. At this point, I no longer care about him. His only redeeming quality was his devotion to Lian but he keeps botching even that.
At the beginning of this volume we get a frustrating retroactive info-dump that resolves several of the questions that bothered me in volume 2 by simply having Shen Jue narrate everything to Lian. Suddenly, he knows that the Abbot orchestrated Lian's mother's death as part of a convoluted plan to free Lian from the enclave, that the Abbot had actually given Lian the antidote, and seemingly understands several other things about the Garden that even Lian himself didn't know. The problem is that we're never really shown how Shen Jue learned all of this. After spending the last volume watching him struggle to infiltrate the Garden and spending years searching for Lian, it's difficult to accept that he apparently has such an extensive understanding of what was happening in the Garden. It didn't feel like a natural progression of the story, where we finally have answers but more like the author handing Shen Jue the answers because it's convenient and easy to close off several plot issues from the previous volume.
And then this leads to another problem: if Shen Jue knew this much about the Abbot, the Garden, and what had happened to Lian, why was he unable to find Lian for so long? If he's really this knowledgeable and capable, why has he failed Lian so badly until now?
At this point, I think this is where I need to part ways with the series. I'm over the plot, I don't particularly care about who is really behind the Garden, and most importantly, I no longer find Shen Jue and Lian's relationship convincing or emotionally satisfying. I don't need or want to find out what happens next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2026
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I enjoyed reading it for the most part. On the other, there were quite a few moments when I found myself confused or simply uninterested.
I realized that most of my issues stem from the fact that I haven't really connected with the main characters. I'm following their story, but their romance just hasn't grabbed my interest yet. I have to admit I'm much more invested in Xiahou Lian and his brother. Their relationship feels far more compelling to me, and I'd love to see it explored in greater depth.
I'm also not sure whether it's the translation or just me, but there were several moments when I was genuinely confused about what was happening. For example, during the ambush on Shen Jue, it initially seemed as though he had been run through with a sword. I actually had to go back and reread the scene before I realized that someone else had been injured instead. Moments like that pulled me out of the story.
One last thing: the reveal that the girl is the boss of the Garden felt completely random. What even?
I'll probably pick up the next volume (is it the last one, or are there more?), mainly because I really want to see Xiahou Lian and his brother reunite. After that, though, we'll see whether I continue with the series.
I realized that most of my issues stem from the fact that I haven't really connected with the main characters. I'm following their story, but their romance just hasn't grabbed my interest yet. I have to admit I'm much more invested in Xiahou Lian and his brother. Their relationship feels far more compelling to me, and I'd love to see it explored in greater depth.
I'm also not sure whether it's the translation or just me, but there were several moments when I was genuinely confused about what was happening. For example, during the ambush on Shen Jue, it initially seemed as though he had been run through with a sword. I actually had to go back and reread the scene before I realized that someone else had been injured instead. Moments like that pulled me out of the story.
One last thing: the reveal that the girl is the boss of the Garden felt completely random. What even?
I'll probably pick up the next volume (is it the last one, or are there more?), mainly because I really want to see Xiahou Lian and his brother reunite. After that, though, we'll see whether I continue with the series.
September 30, 2026
4 🌟
Imagine taking your wife's name. A-Lian, my devoted assassin, best friend, and husband. I have never lasted in slow-burn tropes, but somehow I don't mind with this one; I appreciate them finding their footing and how they establish a genuine connection first. Definitely one of the best story-building series I've read this year.
Can there be anyone else more sincere in loving Shen Jue besides A-Lian? I didn't think so, and I'll die on the hill that A-Lian deserves to be on the yearner podium.
Was genuinely confused when they said Shen Jue was a possessive man; now I understand in Volume 3 why he was titled one of the most possessive men.
Imagine taking your wife's name. A-Lian, my devoted assassin, best friend, and husband. I have never lasted in slow-burn tropes, but somehow I don't mind with this one; I appreciate them finding their footing and how they establish a genuine connection first. Definitely one of the best story-building series I've read this year.
May the heavens protect Shen Jue. May he be safe and sound, and may his wishes come true.
Can there be anyone else more sincere in loving Shen Jue besides A-Lian? I didn't think so, and I'll die on the hill that A-Lian deserves to be on the yearner podium.
"You misremember. I always called you A-Lian. Plenty of people call you Xiao-Lian, but only I can call you A-Lian."
Was genuinely confused when they said Shen Jue was a possessive man; now I understand in Volume 3 why he was titled one of the most possessive men.
"Then I'll change my name. Easy. I'll take your surname and go by 'Xie-Lian' or 'Shen Lian.' Your pick."
Let Heaven's retribution fall on me alone. My Shaoye—my Shen Jue—my Xie Jinglan. He must stay safe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Loved them, missed them, and it was so good being back with these characters again. Everything is almost going too well right now, which honestly has me worried that something is about to go terribly wrong for them
.
I know it’ll probably end happily in the end, but still… the fear is there.
I’m also really excited to see all the buildup between the leads finally start paying off.
Loved them, missed them, and it was so good being back with these characters again. Everything is almost going too well right now, which honestly has me worried that something is about to go terribly wrong for them
.
I know it’ll probably end happily in the end, but still… the fear is there.
I’m also really excited to see all the buildup between the leads finally start paying off.
August 19, 2026
My favorite volume out of the series (for now) and I DESPERATELY need book 4 😭 sooo many good quotes and monologues from Shen Jue and Xiahou Lian that made me throw the book and squeal. I’ll be rereading until book 4 comes out !!!
May 25, 2026
[3.5] I'm a sucker for slow burns but it genuinely makes me want to bash my head into a wall. CAN THESE FREAKS KISS ALREADY??
May 15, 2026
4.5⭐️
July 5, 2026
4.5 stars
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