9/2/25 no but how did I read this in A DAY?! 😅 Am I reading too fast?! Did I read/skim more than I thought?! ... this was SUCH an interesting set up [and I wonder who they'll cast ... likely also for FL and her brother they'll just have an actress play both roles? I hope they do a good job with it when she has to play the CP not just half ass it...] I wish there was more relationship DEVELOPMENT in a way, and yet like ... THE WHOLE THING was their relationship development. He ... tbh kinda truly did fall in love at first sight enough though he doesn't admit it. And they're both prickly so they don't want to say. But once he acknowledges it he is really ALL IN. And then scary possessive. I LOVED that MHJ didn't turn evil. He had some dark moments but that was beyond understandable like dude it would've been MORE questionable had he not. I did think the villain shit was way too drawn out like ... for all these super smart people to not notice ANYTHING? And then when FINALLY there's an inkling just for it to drift away. ARGH. But then finally at least they do figure it out. I did feel the court shit that was THE ENTIRE BOOK then dropped off and it was kinda like "...what?" I did definitely super love the ending though.
I can absolutely see myself re-reading this book, and in fact have already picked up another book by the author.
B+++ maaaybe even A-- ~*~*~*~ The Situation Depends on the Entry/The Gambit Of Embers
1 … FL currently has no name! Wonder if the guy she was captured with is her bio dad or truly a foster dad.
2 The empress is devil, disgusting, & incompetent. I hope she suffers greatly
8 interesting tutor Ge is actually truly smart & has fooled everyone. And FL (Yan Xiao Ying) has been trying to save her brother. I hope she succeeds… Who is ML?! Not the injured Mu?!
11 lol I love our cheeky FL. Too bad that Tang bitch only got slapped 10x.
13 seriously how is she so smart?!? 😻😻😻
15 holy yikes poor eldest prince
Aha. Meng Zhen is her adoptive father & I bet she’s his deputy the “little king of hell.” Poor righteous people being slandered & framed. His family decimated. Oh ho & I knew it! Mu Hanjiang is faking being crippled!
19 whoa A’Yuan can climb over his wall - what is he doing with that notch thing?! He’s 22 now… locked up for 10 yrs poor thing. (WTF though author initially said P3 is already in his 20s during that ~wrestling thing… FL is 17)
26 eldest prince restored
33 bwaaah her ruined “suicide” omg poor darling girl
40 lol the bathhouse test; I thought they made a fake dick for FL - forgot her brother is here too. LOL seems Mu almost got slapped in the face by her brother’s dick 😹😹☠️ He’s attracted to her imo but def thinks she’s her brother. Guy definitely has lost some of his soul
42 lol yay she cleared her group’s name!
46 😹😅☠️ “Xiaoying turned back to him reproachfully: “If this was your intention, why didn’t you say so earlier?” She had thought Feng Yuan had improper intentions and had nearly kicked him to death in the carriage. Feng Yuan raised his eyebrows but didn’t say that he had seen Ge Di Shi give things to his teacher’s wife in a roundabout way without explanation. The Imperial Tutor had called this a “surprise.” However, this approach didn’t work well with this lady. Those kicks from her would have shattered the liver and lungs of anyone else, causing them to spit blood and die.”
47 does he suspect/know she’s the little king of hell? Sad their idyl at his mother’s estate was cut short by Mu. Uh oh he saw the scar on her leg
53 oh he realizes he’s caught feelings
54 lol their ~wrestling got him hard & get embarrassed
57 awww he refused to bring her/allow her into battle cuz the trauma of his mom. But now he knows she hates waiting not knowing the situation. These two ❤️
60 “Thinking that she wouldn’t have to remain in a cold war with him anymore, Xiaoying suddenly felt much lighter. She reached out and hugged Feng Yuan’s straight waist, placing her face against his chest, listening to the young lord’s slightly rapid heartbeat, softly saying: “No need to say those things. I understand…” Feng Yuan’s eyes lit up at Xiaoying’s words, somewhat disbelieving, as he slowly embraced the lady in his arms as if holding a precious treasure.” Oh girl you do not understand. He is ALL IN. Meanwhile she thinks at best she’s a passing fancy/toy for him. Oof. I get why he’s not clear with her - he’s scared & also doesn’t want her to take advantage of his affections - which unfortunately we KNOW she would. But oof. … did they hide from Mu Yanyan ML trying to kill her dad? (Also what did the dad do to make ML want to kill him?)
… was this “Princess” AnQing the bitch who killed FL’s foster father’s family? And ML’s mom?
63 does MHJ realize he’s attracted to FL?
66 dude that inn ambush was thrilling! They better include that in the drama! (Also WTF is up with AnQing WTF is she trying to accomplish & what evil has she done)
69 who is that evil “master”? He needs to be eliminated ASAP 😡
72 oh damn, MHJ is ML’s half brother. AnQing is a disgusting hypocrite. As is his dad. Fucker creep
75 lol Xiao Tianying is the best elder
80 what if the letters to him from his mom are forgeries? And/but what if they are real? The “master” is evil
Oh ew. I know I’m a bit slow on the uptake - but is Mu Yanyan also the emperor’s daughter? Is that why her mom is like “you’ll never marry a Feng” - cuz it’d be incest?
81 awww she says she loooves him ❤️
82 lol this FL might truly be the most broad minded
84 lol I really like this Chu Yu. Hopefully she remains FL’s good friend!
… I thought maybe the hooded guy was Duke Jung, MHJ’s dad but he seems to treat the Mu siblings super well? 🤷🏻♀️
92 word salad calling ML the crown prince 🙄 Shang is a totally annoying fly lol to FL saving Tang Mi this favored imperial concubine
93 wait so … the emperor did already issue an edict for marriage?! Or is it maybe almost?!
94 man usually I hate not getting consent but … I think she really does love him? But oof about the palace…
96 ok I’m pretty convinced the hooded “master” is Duke Jing. But why would he abandon ML, Ye’s child? Like… wtf? This stupid dog blood shit And so smiting her brother was caught. Ugh.
97 I’d bet good money Mu Shen, Duke Jing is that “master” & I hate him. And the emperor.
98 ugh but FL acting as CP again Mu Shen tagging along def would’ve seen the difference between her & her brother
99 ah MS thinks FL is CP who made an elaborate scheme with ML
100 finally confirmed Why does nobody think Cheng Kun was MS’s guy & he still has some control? FL even overheard at the villa
101 I get the author is doing this “for plot” but all these supposedly smart people being SO unaware of MS is so irritating
Skim/scrolled 102 hate author made them fucking idiots. And canoodling openly in the palace AYFKM.
103 🤷🏻♀️ how is she not suspicious MS could rush to take that punch? More read/scrolling - how can they not notice he’s always insisting shit
… uh if the emperor has spies in ML’s residence then what about their fooling around…
107 Fuuuuuck Xiao Tianyang was definitely poisoned by that disciple - the bitter fish every day
109 what’s up with the bridal stuff And oof his leg better be ok
112 lol at least she’s playing duke Jing for now/this is really their first meeting. Seriously the emperor is stupid AF
115 ugh I was going to say crisis averted Shang also dead but fucking Mu came to see CP again & saw the latrine cart. Ugh
117 every time I think AnQing might be redeemable… nope
119 phew she escaped the murderous emperor - even her brother ran out to protect her! ❤️
Ugh 122 FL’s arrogance got her
123 stupid emperor died too easily
124 ah it was all a set up
126 awww “When Mu Hanjiang left the capital, Feng Yuan personally rode on horseback to escort him out of the city gates, then tossed him a finely forged steel sword, saying calmly: “I commissioned a master to forge this for you. Wei Country is dangerous, take care of yourself… A fortune teller also predicted my fate, saying I have a hard destiny that brings misfortune to my mother and friends. If you die, my reputation for having a hard fate would become reality.” These words sounded awkward, full of curses, but Mu Hanjiang understood. From childhood to adulthood, Feng Yuan had only one good friend—Mu Hanjiang—a friendship of life and death, unrelated to blood ties!” And I’m so glad MHJ didn’t turn evil ❤️
127 huh 10 year time jump. No CP appointed though it’s pretty obvious it’s gonna be ML
128 Yay! They have a son! Feng Xuan Aww p3 did marry MYY & they have 3 kids. (Poor wronged stupid AnQing - she was jealous of ML’s mom & did some wicked stuff but not as bad as she was framed) Oh wow this is the end
129 epilogue lol adorable ridiculous fun. THIS is how you end a book! ❤️💯
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.