Well as far as web-novels go, this was ok. This reminded me a lot of another web novel where the girl gets murdered and reincarnated again as herself which I sadly can't remember the name of. Anyway as it has only 81 chapters its quite good to pass time with.
Edit = 2020.08.27
Maybe I have grown too used to these kinda of novels. It does not impress me much.
After I finished this novel, I was sad and felt I miss it already. I love how both Pei Jin and Shi Ning were so evilly and manipulative smart (especially Pei Jin), and the political war and all the scheming, I just love everything! But I expected too about Emperor's dislike to Pei Jin, I was left sort of disappointed it didn't make a huge impact.
I am still confused to whom I felt sad for at the ending, but 80% of it I believe is about Pei Khan. That I somehow think there's another story for this, I don't know, maybe the 20% was because I wanted Pei Jin to be the Emperor? I AM STILL SAD. T_T
Ok so this one I first read in 2016. This is another one I've read a lot over the years, and am going to read again soon.
They're kind of like rivals to lovers. Childhood enemies to lovers. ML loves teasing her; FL is always teased. The steam in this one is sort of high. Prince Pei Jin is kinky lmaooo.
What gets a little weird is the shift from humor and comedy to full force political drama. The FL is no longer the main character. She's in the dark when it concerns to the moves ML is pulling with court politics. He doesn't tell her shit -- but he does want to make her his empress, even if his Dragon Father the emperor, who hates him the most, swears he'll never pass the Dragon seat on to him. And ML has no design to be emperor himself. So how will he pull this off???
Plot: 4.5/5 Characterisation: 4/5 Prose: 3/5 (rough estimation as I read the translated to English version) How much I enjoyed it: 4/5 Was pleasantly surprised with this book... not a light or comedic romance... but more of a political intrigue with a constant romance.
Plot: Childhood frenemy romance ft. an arranged marriage, a tiny dash of palace plotting and a significant amount of smut.
1. Yet another entry in the "great premise, subpar execution" pile, alas. The blurb sold this to me as two secret assholes fool everyone around them but each other and while that's technically true, there's not enough of it to love up to the spirit of that promise. Boo.
2. This is the *checks* tenth-ish translated novel I've attempted to read over the past three months or so, and it's by far the worst written? I mean yes- almost all translations have grammar/formatting errors and often-awkward prose, but that didn't actually affect the flow of the story. Not so much with this one- events happen and characters react to it and it's all very weird because I have no idea what anyone is thinking or feeling most of the time? I'm also not particularly invested in anything or anyone which makes it you know- hard to care about whatever is happening.
3. Things admittedly picked up a bit more in the late-30s chapters where the hero stopped going "I must protect my wife by letting her MARINATE in IGNORANCE" and told her crucial information, but by that time I was pretty sure my apathy was gonna win the day. So here we are in DNF-land.
4. Literally the only person I actually have interest in is the crown prince and that's because I haven't figured him out yet. Everyone else is fairly simple and predictable.
5. Also wow there is way more smut in this than I expected.
If you're looking for a historical romance with plenty of political intrigue, you can give this book a try. I enjoyed it, but sometimes the writing felt awkward as the author gives multiple characters' thoughts on an event back to back, like this is what the emperor thought, this is what the empress thought, this is what our male lead thought, etc. However, both main characters are very smart and it was enjoyable to follow along with their schemes. I felt like the story did end a bit abruptly, since there are no extra chapters.
The premise of the story is that our FL, Yan Shining, is the ignored elder daughter of the Prime Minister. Because of her unfavored position in the family, she has trouble finding a marriage partner until the ninth prince, Pei Jin, who recently returned to the capital, proposes to marry her. From the outside, they're a good match for each other because they're both so gentle and kind, but actually they're a perfect match for each other because they're both secretly smart and ruthless and an expert at hiding their true colors.
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
The first part of the story focuses more on cleaning up the ML's estate and getting revenge on the FL's family for mistreating her. Interspersed with that is some palace intrigue. Then the story shifts its focus to the fight for the throne, and Pei Jin gets embroiled in the middle of that, even though from the beginning he's maintained he doesn't want to be the crown prince and to live a carefree life instead.
Something I found interesting is that the FL gets pregnant halfway through the story, which plays into the palace intrigue and scheming since she automatically becomes a target with a potential prince in her stomach. Usually similar stories I read all have the FL getting pregnant at the end of the story after the ML has become the emperor, so I appreciated that this was different.
I didn't like most of the side characters as they're all painted to be bad or evil. The only character I actually felt slightly bad for was the crown prince, who really wanted to live his life freely and leave his palace life behind. Unfortunately, no one believed him and ultimately he got caught up in the schemes and died as well.
There was a weird side romance going on for a couple chapters between one of the ML's allies and one of the female servants in his household. Not sure what the point of that was but I just skipped those couple of chapters.
Fun. I liked the politics a lot, but I thought the Emperor's reasoning for distrusting Pei Jin was a little weak. How much of a control freak do you have to be, I mean. Just... But really fun. Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
😬😅 it's now 2/19/24 and read till my notes on C13 and still was like 😳 I have no recollection of this book - BUT then I went to re-read and a few paragraphs in I remembered - ok this was one of the drier books but also >.> slightly sexier/more suggestive? I liked how ML was always in love with FL; and they'd known each other since ~childhood. (Although kinda creepy he's what six years older than her? As "adults" cool, as kids ... dude no.
Sigh yet another shit emperor because OF COURSE. Anyway I like how both of them are so ... "grey"/have this tacit understanding of each other. Not really an enemies to lovers but antagonistic to love ... and still love needling each other ❤️ I actually liked it so much I read "please divorce me" after this cuz I wanted more from the author. - And just looked for more and might even read a modern written by [her].
Anyway this book ... 😿 was so sad there were no extras. I'd say ... B? I'd def re-read it.
~*~*~*~*~ C4 actually made me teary when it hurt her feelings when he said he was forced to marry her I think he really does love her but is def way too into teasing & antagonizing her 😅 (His untrustworthy words though like him saying he waited so long for her to be an adult my dude she’s 18 what took you so long?)
C5 omg the mix of serious to humor - FL (and ML’s mom) being poisoned (which 😡 seems like the emperor is a suspect in his adoptive mother’s death) and FL’s bitchass “step mother” poisoning her 😡😡😡 But him wrapping the incense in her undergarments 😹😅
C8 oop crown prince - her future double BIL likes her… But why was he glaring at her? Also he only likes what he knows of her but 🤷🏻♀️
Awwww c10 he tricked her into learning to read & write ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Kinda 😐 she hasn’t figured it out (😅 hopefully just not admitted it?) - glad to know she has beautiful calligraphy though 💯
C12 honestly can’t believe awful maid breaking a gift from the emperor wasn’t enough to shitcan her. Or you know HER DRUGGING HIM 😡😡😡 (lol but him suffering the effects to get excuses/sympathy for constantly feeling up his wife)
C13 lol welp framing evil maid for poisoning FL works 💯
C18 omg he remembered his promise to 12 yo her and gave her the “most beautiful dress in the world” - although him being 6 years older … hm
C20 omg the assassination attempt (questionable) but am teary eyed at FL remembering/realizing ML has been there for her her whole life & is the ~only one who cares for her Also him jumping out in front of her was hot I like the crown prince noticed his shit fiancée I’m mad FL’s dress is ruined & there’s probably no compensation Lololol her period ruining their first spring night <.< they shoulda still gone for it
C24 lol finally the wedding night though 🙄😒 to all the pain like why authors why
C28 😱😅 their male brothel visit - and O.o seeing the crown prince there (and then o.O CP jacking off to thoughts of FL. Just… 😬)
C30 shocked yet not surprised & utterly disgusted by ES & evil stepmother. 🤷🏻♀️ poor CP. Even his mother schemes against his heart.
C34 lolololol ML blackmailing evil stepMIL 😹💯 Awww but why did ML “ruin” her reputation & let the city know she sleeps in? So she can be more free in the future? 🤷🏻♀️
Ugh c38 FL is being too obvious 😐 she better not run the plan
C39 Omfg FL’s laxative in ES’s tea - ES literally shitting herself during the wedding ceremony. (But does she dispose of the half cup ES poured into the vase?!) ES & CP turning on each other… 🤷🏻♀️
C40 :/ FL truly is naive
O.O c43 ok I KNEW ES was faking it But uh… formerCP might very well be a psychopath or sociopath…
C45 awww she’s pregnant (also dude her shitty family - tho I’m mad she ~let evil stepmother blame her for the letters) Awwww Bei Dou & Xiao Tu ❤️
lol c54 this might be the 1st cnovel I’ve read where they have sex while pregnant 💯
C60 like I get it but I’m concerned ML’s manor guards are oblivious to the court battle. I’m sure SOMEONE in ML’s camp knows but…
C61 glad ML made Huang Guo reveal his plan. Nobody gets to use ML!
Gaaaaah c66 after consort La dies P13 becomes silent & finds FL & gives her that butterfly hairpin on the day of his mother’s funeral gahghhh 😩😩😩
C78 shew ok so letting that injured spy live was part of the plan. Also damn I hope the emperor is at least 2x as focused on the welfare of the nation as he is on scheming against his sons 😒
😐 c79 so it *was* the emperor who killed consort Chen. He continues to be the worst. Sucks he killed all of ML’s supporters too. Asshat.
C80 poor ML. Glad he survived. And made up that edict he rules till p13 is 16 and will take over. Good choices imo Awww Pei Khan p13 crying as his uncle, aunt, 2 nephews & niece leave the city. (Will he really leave the throne to his oldest nephew though…)
I want to love this one, premise is right up my alley, enemies to lovers, agreement marriage, and palace intrigue. But I hate that the couple can't talk to each other straight. We are shown the ML has sincere feelings on their 2nd meeting but he doesn't tell her. They still bicker like school children. He finds out someone gave her poisoned incense that can causes infertility and even death if she gets pregnant, he takes them away but again doesn't tell her. Doesn't he want her to be more cautious? We're introduced to the first other woman/white Lotus, and it's a servant given by some minister or somebody or another that he can't offend, and it takes 3 or 4 appearance of this lotus for them to get rid of it. Are you kidding me? Do we really have to be careful getting rid of servants? He's a prince. He couldn't have planted a reason before FL married into the household? I just can't... I can't keep reading this. It's gonna make me want to pull out my hair
This story has a unique style of revenge. I love the main characters relationship from the beginning always getting annoying. Lol It is a bit long on certain parts that drag a bit.
The platform I read this on had a warning and a skip page option on mature scenes.
Self note: when childhood rivals marry and fall in love. - Pei Jin/H and Shi Ning/h were so evilly and manipulative smart (especially Pei Jin). They're BOTH black as night wolves in sheep's clothing.
so good i want moreeeeee. gimme moreeeeeeeeeeeeee! the only reason this is not 5 stars is because imo the storyline is too fast and i need more plot if possible ;3
(4/10) I feel like the writer tried to write something “politically intriguing” but this book turned out to be very boring and full of unnecessary sex scenes