Go Princess Go 太子妃升职记

by Xian Cheng

This is an alternative histroy novel. Zhang Pengpeng, the Princess of the Eastern Xia Dynasty, feels that the joke God play with her has gone too far. She is a man in heart but a lady in body. Since her husband doesn't like her and her position as a princess is unstable, why not be an empress dowager to control life by herself. However, from princess to empress dowager, the obstacle is not the empress but the unfathomable heart of her handsome husband. Fortunately, she finds a royal highness as her allinace! However, as time goes by, it seems that she has a crush on her cool prince... 南夏太子妃张芃芃觉得老天爷跟她开的这个玩笑有点大。她有着男人心，却为女儿身，丈夫不喜，地位不稳，不如从“太子妃”升职为“太后”，我的人生我做主！
但是，要想从太子妃升职为太后，中间隔了不止一个皇后的距离，还有她盛世美颜太子夫君那颗深不可测的心。
好在太子虽然冷，却有九王这个绝美暖男做同盟，有胜算！只是，与这冷面太子这一天两天一年两年地相处下来，好像……也处出一点感情了……

Genres: Asian Literature, Romance, Fiction, China, Fantasy

620 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2012

Reviews

[Namgi Love · Rating 2 out of 5]

Watched the drama and was so happy to read the novel but I was disappointed. the lead is extremely sexist. the novel has no romance. some of the decisions made are so stupid. I tried to understand the lead's logic but in vain.

[Ana K P · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is very literally just a journey from Crown Princess to Empress Dowager. And lots of schemes along the way.

I wanted to read this for the Palace drama, but I never thought there might be such a thing as too much Palace drama! At no point does it end, and everyone is scheming against everyone. I was hoping for at least a few genuine relationships, but alas.

As far as side characters go, they were some of the best! Lu Li is extremely suited to living the palace life and does admirably in every role she is thrust into! Chu Wang and Zhao Wang are two pitiful brothers, but their relationship with the MC is also to be admired.

In the end, it's not that the story was too convoluted, but that it's convoluted without any satisfaction. Everything the MC plans for, the ML has already seen through. It's as if all his/her plans were for naught.

And that's another thing - the MC gets used to being in a female body in ancient times real quick! To the point that he/she has no issues with being pregnant 5 times and delivering kids!

All in all, well written and addicting, but not truly satisfying. I got the palace drama I wished for, but i got nothing along with it.

2½ 🌟

[Kynthos-the-Archer (Kyn) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun transmigration story with a gender-bending twist, and a dash of Boys' Love.

I came across this novel after I watched the web series adaptation (Go Princess Go, 太子妃升职记) of it quite some time ago, probably two years back. The web series is absolutely delightful and most refreshing. I had so much fun and laughter watching it. That is what compels me to read the novel too.

The web series and the novel has many differences, but the core remains the same. The protagonist was a young guy transmigrated into a different body. Only, the body is of a beautiful woman with bountiful bosom and super hot body—just the type he desires. This new identity created lots of mishaps and pain for the protagonist. Not only did he have to suffer gender slash identity crisis, but he also the wife of the Crown Prince, on top of that, an unwanted wife.

Thus begins his tumultuous life as the Crown Princess in the palace with hidden dangers lurking in every corner. He also spends his time lamenting his lack of the right 'equipment' to enjoy all those beauties that surrounds him in the palace. Not that he did stops trying to molest these beauties mentally and physically at every chance he gets.


(here's him seducing his own maid, and molesting the other concubines. lol)

The thing is, if you are expecting romance, you might be a little disappointed here. The dude is very much a typical guy. He is all about practicality and forever in the survival mode. He is just too clear-headed to be fooled by any sweet talkings or romances—a tough to please character when it comes to romancing. All the guys in the story are most of the times frustrated with the protagonist as 'she' is not the regular female type. Then again, this is the protagonist's unique trait that interest the guys oh so very much.

(Dear god, he is just too manly. The poor guys are befuddled by this odd Crown Princess, and can't help themselves but be smitten by her)

I did have fun reading this novel, and it did make me laughed out loud quite a number of times. It was an entertaining read. Still, some parts are a tad bit repetitive and boring, like the lengthy political plotline. Aside from that, the protagonist's conflict with the antagonist (his husband, the Crown Prince) is long-drawn-out, and it gets on my nerves at times. Even right till the end, I am kind of questioning if the protagonist really loves the Crown Prince and how much?

Enough on the analysis. The most important thing is that I am pretty happy with the novel, and it was a unique story that I wouldn't forget anytime soon. I am giving this a solid four stars out of five.

* Reviewed on July 18th, 2020 [Read the novel in Chinese via Cantonese TTS]

[Cali · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Questo voto è un compromesso tra il 4 e mezzo per gli intrighi politici e la suspence e il finale, e l'1 e mezzo per la mentalità altamente sessista del protagonista)

[Loverture · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s actually not that bad, but definitely a twisted kind of relationship and trust is constantly tested (and broken). I’m not in love with it but certainly intrigued. There is a certain kind of sweetness that does come out from the story.

I’m not sure why I’m so okay with this scheming male lead because the whole situation reminds me of The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir and I absolutely hated the guy in that one, so much that I couldn’t finish it. Edit: Upon re-reading some reviews for Dreamer to refresh my memory I have figured out the reason: the male lead in Promotion Record isn’t an asshole who forces abortions on his concubines (besides a multitude of other sins), simple. :)

[Esmeralda · Rating 4 out of 5]

¡¡NOVENO HERMANO!! ༼⁠;⁠´⁠༎ຶ⁠ ⁠۝ ⁠༎ຶ⁠༽

Ah, realmente quise mucho al noveno hermano. Al parecer no tuvo hijos, es decir, nunca consumó su matrimonio porque siempre esperó por el protagonista. Como no se aclara en la novela, va a ser mi headcanon. Déjenme ser feliz y al mismo tiempo sufrir por ello.

Realmente realmente no me gusta Qi Sheng, pero qué hombre tan tenaz. Logró muchas veces hacer palpitar mi corazón como loco. Eso sí, nunca cómo lo hizo el noveno hermano (me encanta llamarlo así).

El final me dejó un sabor agridulce por el Señor del Baño, como lo llamaba el protagonista. Desde que casi nunca utilizó su nombre entendí que no habría nada entre ellos, pero cómo fui feliz con ese beso. Y, creo que se puede decir, fueron dos. Ah, qué feliz fui. Realmente feliz.

El noveno hermano, *suspiro de enamorada*, será siempre el mejor para mí. Sus miradas quedarán en mi memoria; sus palabras, en mi corazón; y él, en mi alma.

"Since I made a promise to you, I would keep it with all my heart".

[Edith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed both the book and the drama (which is a good adaptation, but with more stereotypically soapy rom-com and has more hilarious moments that can't exactly be conveyed by words) and the different versions of the characters. Reading this made me appreciate the diglossic nature of the Chinese language and how the different registers of formality can be used to make a point, from the eloquence of classical (which can also be used for humorous purposes to sound absurdly and unnecessarily pompous) and the kind of vulgar humor that can only be conveyed by slangs.

[Bethsleeps · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m having to call this one quits at chapter 97 because I can’t find an English translation past that point that makes sense. Anyway it was pretty fun, I have absolutely no idea why any of the characters were doing what they were doing but it was still pretty entertaining, if confusing. If it gets officially published in English I’d definitely give it another go, but for now better to just watch Mr King on Netflix.

[Biscuit · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting for most part then it went downhill. I just never felt the love between them. To me it was more like he was with her because of lust and she was with him because she didn't have any other choice.
Overall 3.5/5 rounded up to 4/5

[Minh Anh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rất thích lối viết của Tiên Chanh, cảm thấy quyển này là nhí nhố nhất và đọc ko cần não nhất :))) thỉnh thoảng đọc lại quyển này cũng thấy vui vui.

[Bar · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd time reading, Jan/Feb 2025:

5 stars

This was I think the first chinese (web)novel I have ever read, so no wonder my og rating was so low! Less than a year later, I needed to reread it for joy, comfort, laughs, swoons (damn you, Qi Sheng, you vicious ambitious lovable bastard!!!) (wait, no, I swear I said nothing about Emperor's eyes being slightly blue-) and simply just to read a really good story. Now that I have also found a full translation the last few chapters were actually readable. Sorry I have ever doubted you.


Zhang Peng Peng is probably no.1 asian protagonist and one of my favorite main character/narrators ever.

And what Qi Sheng did at the end is one of most romantic things in history 😭





1st time reading, March 2024 (3/5?):


It's hard to rate it, since after obsessing with "Mr Queen" i ended up starting first episode of the og cdrama and THEN picking up the book... or rather its unofficial english translation. (There are two versions, and while at least 90% was readable (1st), the last few chapters (2nd) i barely understood. oh well, at least the last chapter was decently translated (3rd) somewhere else too!)

Sure, it's not the most perfect story that ever existed and neither is our protagonist... But it was SO DAMN FUN. (This book even stopped me from watching my dramas and it's almost impossible these days.) The romance is kinda there, but subtle (i need fanfics!), the characters were fine - everyone need a Lu Li in their corner! - and most of the plot was as well.

The ending is also the healing everyone need after Mr Queen's 20th episode.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had already watched the webseries before reading the book, I was surprised that there were so many differences, some for better and some for worse. It was a fun and interesting read, but I feel like it has a lot of missed potential of dealing with misogyny and gender and sexuality issues. Our protagonist believes himself to be a cis man, but it turns out there was a mistake and he was supposed to have been born as Zhang Pengpeng, the wife of the heir to the throne. The first part of the book he really struggles with his new identity, he still considers himself a real man and is attracted to women. But then partway through the book she starts to consider herself a woman and is attracted to her husband, Qi Sheng. Not that I necessarily wanted a lot of angst over it, but it's never really fully explored and addressed. The author also could have used this to challenge the protagonist's misogyny, but throughout the book he looks down on women and is always talking about how "women make no sense" etc. If it wasn't for all the misogyny I probably would give this book a 4.

[Anis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like it and I just think it's very realistic. The male lead is a just a teen, and just like his brother said, tho he is scheming, but he is also soft hearted. And for the ninth brother, i truly think he is also nice and it's not like he really wants the throne but he just wants to survive. And again, idk, it's just my opinion, the real reason why ML didnt kill him it's not only because of the emperor's old wish but he is, again, soft hearted.
However, the ending hmm hmmm. Could been better tho. Wish it has sequel. Also, the thing that i couldnt understand is, one moment MC said different things and it makes me think he is stupid but when he explained to ML, he is spot on like wut. I feel like I'm one of the character because I'm not reading MC at all. He's, um, unpredictable is not really but kinda.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched the Princess Go Go series and found it entertaining, but I have to say there are certain scenes and motivations I really liked here that added to the story overall but weren't included (likely b/c of budgeting, which they made into it's on joke in the drama with the PPL). I found this an entertaining read and thoroughly enjoy the imagination and humor of this story.

[Blanca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's quite comical in the beginning due to the transmigrator's perspective, slowly it starts to become more complex and serious. I also feel that the transmigrator's sexist attitude is changed by the end.

[L i n h · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truyện cũng có đầu tư, cung đấu hiểu lầm yêu đương vặn xoắn thành một cục dưới cái mồm ứ đỡ được của bạn Bồng Bồng, đọc mà cười gần chết. =))

[Phong Nhược · Rating 3 out of 5]

Đọc bộ này mấy lần. Khá thú vị.