"This humble priest has been in the Taoist practice for many years. Based solely on the intense evil aura in this courtyard, I can determine that your household must be plagued by malevolent spirits." I laughed out loud at this line. This blind Daoist is such a smooth operator—pretending to be a legitimate priest while clearly being in on the poison scheme. But what really struck me about this whole sequence isn't the Daoist. It's Yan Changfeng. Let me just say: this girl is terrifying in the best way possible. She didn't sleep all night. She calculated, she observed, she waited. And when the moment was right, she moved with the precision of someone who'd already played out every scenario in her head. The scene where she confronts Yaoniang in the private room after Zhang Mingshun leaves? Chef's kiss. Yaoniang is still composing herself, fixing her disheveled hair, trying to maintain composure—and Yan Changfeng just walks in like she owns the place. The power dynamic is so clear. Yaoniang thinks she's safe because Yan Changfeng has no proof. But Yan Changfeng doesn't need proof in that moment—she needs Yaoniang to reveal herself, and she does exactly that by playing along about the Daoist priest. What's fascinating is their history. Yan Changfeng says to Yaoniang: "One's heart is hidden behind layers of flesh." That line is everything. It's not just an accusation—it's a lifetime of observation compressed into seven words. She knows her sister. She's watched her. She understands the performance. And Yaoniang's reaction is equally telling. Even when exposed, she doesn't break. She puts on a tragic air, swears to heaven, plays the victim. This is someone who has been scheming for a long time and is very good at it. Their relationship isn't just sister vs. sister—it's two predators who've been circling each other, and now the mask is finally off. I also want to talk about Yan Changfeng's relationship with her mother, Lady Yao. The text says Lady Yao "had rarely encountered such sinister schemes in her life" and still refused to believe Yaoniang was truly wicked. That tells me everything about Lady Yao—she's gentle, loyal, maybe a bit naive. Yan Changfeng clearly protects her from the ugly truths, which speaks to their bond. And then there's Zhang Mingshun. The text describes him as having a "plump and greasy appearance" with an "excessively wealthy physique." Yan Changfeng's internal monologue about him is hilarious: "Where could the Zhang Family afford to keep such a plump concubine!" She's mocking him even while taking his affair seriously. This woman has no filter when she's alone with her thoughts.
Great novel!!
this seems interesting keep it up author
I really liked it until the last few chapters and then character names n backgrounds changed... it got confusing...but great story
keep going dear author!!
love it so much the book is so good I can wait till the next chapters come out
It was a relaxing read. While there were a few mistakes here and there, the translator was cute and worked hard to update frequently. I appreciated their hard work so much that I even paid for the chapters, which I usually don't do; I tend to support with Ko-fi instead.
Anyways, about the book, it was interesting and a leisurely read. However, the ending was quite disappointing.
**Spoiler**
The main character (MC) was good at business, so I thought she'd become a business tycoon or something, but nope, she ended up as a translator. No matter how the author tries to glorify the translating job—like the MC translating for foreigners and whatnot—it's still just a translating job. What about the business ideas and money-making ventures she was so good at before? Additionally, the male lead (ML) was pretty useless. The author tried to make him appear smart and capable, but in the end, his younger brother, who used to be nowhere near as competent as the ML, became much more accomplished.
**[End Spoiler]**
I liked the interaction between the leads. I also appreciated that the author didn't spend too much time on the cuteness of the children. I don't really care how perfect fictional children are; I just want the plot to flow. Some novels spend way too much time on such details. , I really enjoyed it. Not the best novel, but definitely enjoyable.
I'm annoyed because I hesitated reading this for the longest time due to CasBrin's review. But now that I've read the entire novel, I'm confused. Did they really read the novel? It feels like they were talking about a completely different story.
1. ML didn't keep silent to "keep the peace." In fact, he was the one who suggested separating the family. At the beginning, he did ask his brother to control his sister-in-law when she wronged the MC. However, he also stated that there would be consequences the next time. And he kept his word; he asked for separation the next time his sister-in-law caused trouble. It wasn't even a "three strikes, you're out" scenario. He only warned her once.
2. "Sister-in-law tried to correct herself" — yeah, right. It was clear that she felt so entitled that she couldn't understand why people were upset about her mistakes. It was also mentioned that she showed no remorse at all. And she didn't "discuss a lot" with her husband (ML's brother). The "discussion" was more like one-sided gossip about the MC.
3. The MC is not selfish at all. She's a stepmother who was married to take care of the kids, and she did an excellent job. She made clothes for her husband, her stepchildren, her mother-in-law, her father-in-law, and her sister-in-law (ML's sister). She also taught her sister-in-law (ML's sister) cooking and embroidery. When the college examinations were announced, she insisted that the whole family go to the provincial capital for the family's development. I don't think that was selfish at all. She knew which way the wind was blowing and wanted the whole family to benefit from it.
4. "ML made MC pregnant to prevent her from studying" didn't happen at all. She got pregnant, gave birth, and then the college examinations were announced. She then convinced ML and her sister-in-law (ML's sister) to take the exams with her, and the whole family moved to the provincial capital after they passed. MC and ML agreed not to have another child while they were studying, but MC never got pregnant again even after they graduated. The idea that "ML controlled MC using her pregnancy because he was traumatized from his first wife" sounds like a completely different novel to me.
5. They really made the first wife sound good. "Divorcing the husband to pursue her dream." They probably forgot that she was cheating on ML with another guy who she thought could support her in the capital. There's also the matter of abandoning her children at a very young age. Is it really that admirable to pursue your dream despite using unscrupulous means and abandoning responsibilities?
The story itself is okay. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. It's nice for leisure reading. There isn't much drama, and misunderstandings and conflicts are resolved quickly.
"Stars! This book was truly exceptional! The characters and the depth of world-building are simply incredible - it's outstanding! I found myself shedding tears at certain parts, it evoked such strong emotions that I was taken aback. I cannot praise the author enough for creating such a masterpiece! I am deeply in love with this novel – I mean, I really, really love it. The characters and their journey have captured my heart. I adore the historical ambiance the story conveys; exploring ancient civilizations is truly fascinating.
Although the plot might appear clichéd at first glance, it's anything but! There's far more to Galland's quest for revenge against Hymos than meets the eye. And let me rave about the character development – Prince Galland, King Camos (my heart aches), Hymos, and Nega... When Galland finally ascended, I couldn't help but imagine it like Simba's triumphant climb to the Pride Rock in 'The Lion King.' The emotions were overwhelming!
King Camos' storyline... well, you'll just have to read it for yourself. This novel has set the bar high, and I fear I won't find another like it anytime soon. If anyone knows similar novels, especially shounen-ai or even well-written het romances with male protagonists, but open to female leads too, please do share! I need to collect myself after this emotional rollercoaster."
Thank you for taking an interest in this! Although I've enjoyed the manga adaptation, I'm thrilled to dive into the novel. The narrative is excellently crafted, a thrilling roller-coaster ride filled with mysteries, humorous moments, intense emotions, and heartfelt love.
true... XD When I saw the tags at first I was like d*mn... but then intrigued and curiosity got the better of me until it was 400 or 500 in I realized how hooked I was
how is there a comment from 3 years ago here???