RegisterLogin
Theme
Search
Series Group
To Be A Virtuous Wife
Type
Web Novel (CN)
Genre
Tags[ ]
Loading...
Tags List | Request Tag
Rating(4.6 / 5.0, 1695 votes)
5    76% (1289 votes)
4    13% (225 votes)
3    5% (86 votes)
2    2% (37 votes)
1    3% (58 votes)
Language
Support Book (#ad)
Author(s)
One entry per line
Artist(s)
One entry per line
N/A
Year
Example: 2012
2013
Status in COO
Status in Country of Origin. One entry per line
123 Chapters (Completed)
Licensed
No
Completely Translated
Original Publisher
One entry per line
English Publisher
One entry per line
N/A
Release Frequency
Every 207.3 Day(s)
Activity Stats
[Graph]
Weekly Rank: #3065
Monthly Rank: #1203
All Time Rank: #324
Reading List
[Graph]
On 14597 Reading Lists
Monthly Rank: #484
All Time Rank: #92

Description

Links are NOT allowed. Format your description nicely so people can easily read them. Please use proper spacing and paragraphs.

As a virtuous wife, does it include tolerating his cousin, enduring his concubines, bearing his mother?

If you will not let me live freely, why would I let you live in satisfaction?

Did fate let women time-travel so they could learn the three morals and four virtues?

Rather than act like a coward and live, it would be better to live in satisfaction and die.

Associated Names
One entry per line
He Wei Xian Qi
Thế nào là hiền thê
ชายาผู้มีคุณธรรม
何为贤妻
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Eight Treasures Trousseau (31)
Chu Wang Fei (14)
Husband, Be A Gentleman (12)
Chongfei Manual (9)
Demon Wang’s Golden Favorite Fei (8)
Mei Gongqing (7)
Recommendation Lists
  1. The Girlies of Ancient Times (Historical)
  2. HISTORICALLY LIKEABLE <3
  3. lifes better in saturn
  4. BEST BOOKS I'VE READ SO FAR. gs
  5. Favourite historian CNovels

Latest Release

Date Group Release
10/22/15 Dreams of Jianghu c48
10/21/15 Dreams of Jianghu c47
10/20/15 Dreams of Jianghu c46
10/19/15 Dreams of Jianghu c45
10/18/15 Dreams of Jianghu c44
10/17/15 Dreams of Jianghu c43
10/16/15 Dreams of Jianghu c42
10/15/15 Dreams of Jianghu c41
10/14/15 Dreams of Jianghu c40
10/13/15 Dreams of Jianghu c39
10/12/15 Dreams of Jianghu c38
10/11/15 Dreams of Jianghu c37
10/10/15 Dreams of Jianghu c36
10/09/15 Dreams of Jianghu c35
10/08/15 Dreams of Jianghu c34
1…456789
Go to Page...
Go to Page...
Write a Review
355 Reviews sorted by


Rida
Rida rated it
November 30, 2020
Status: c54
The author makes the ML clever only by making every other character brainless.

... more>>
Spoiler

For instance, when the first and third prince were fighting and the fourth prince got injured, they only suspected each other. I understand why they might make that conclusion but shouldn't they at least consider that a third party might be involved? (In this case it was the ML, who is manipulating them behind the scenes like literally every BG xianxia book.)

[collapse]

The MC is also quite irksome. She's a grown woman mentally but takes pleasure in the fact that she can rebut the words of a teenager. Even if I don't expect her to be a punching bag, she should be more mature than what she acts like.

Overall an over-hyped and generic let-down. Don't recommend. <<less
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Xye86
Xye86 rated it
December 9, 2017
Status: c123
Just done reading this novel and I can say that this is really Gem...a treasure novel. Real Fairy Tale in a more realistic plot.

Been doubting reading this novel at first. I, myself, doesn't like male MC behave as a Lothario but the Male MC here proves me wrong... He is hopelessly devoted to the female MC. I bow to this faithfulness.

I love the tenacity and coolness of the female MC. Wish I could be like that.

Overall this web novel is something I would love to keep and re-read it again... more>> sometime soon.

I intensely Recommend this to readers who loves a realistic Fairy Tale (with some twist). <<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Sae
Sae rated it
October 19, 2016
Status: Completed
Definitely a great novel of its genre, whichever you would categorize it into. There is a fine balance between romance and noble/imperial life struggle, though it is more lighthearted and easy on the mind than other disadvantaged female reincarnation stories. The novel is straightforward, laced with humor and subtle philosophy, only 123 chap yet many moments are pure gold, I didn't regret a second of it.

There are no overly, obviously 1D dumb characters that put up a headache of prolonged nonsense verbal arguments. Many characters are realistic and some even delightful, those who appear simple are not really simple, befitting the era setting. The lead couple are smart people who excel at acting and hiding their true capabilities. Their interactions are thus interesting and spark great chemistry.

Minor
Spoiler

The MC is clear-headed, open-minded, charismatic, adapting and knows how to care for herself. She has a firm mindset and not afraid to live as freely as she could because 'the worse is just death'. She manages people skillfully and never goes out of her way to slight more people and create never ending cycle of enmity, nor actively trying to climb the power ladder. That's why she is lowkey, not showing off her might yet still greatly respected and able to enjoy her life though being a member of the imperial family.

The male lead's character can be considered pretty decent for the era and also for someone with the prince position. He is also capable yet even more lowkey, because he is the type that secretly scheming, and he is very good at it. The story being not from his pov also contributes to this. I eventually got to see how he is fitting to be a ruler, a skilled flirt but I never held him highly in the matter of romance and reading the MC's heart. However at c104, I realized that I underestimated him greatly. After that he gets better and better.

[collapse]

The translation quality is thumbs up great, the translator is thoughtful and pleasant. The author leaves a good impression. 5/5 for everything.
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
pichu
pichu rated it
May 10, 2016
Status: --
Lack of sleep for 2 days is worth it. I enjoyed reading this story. There is no major conflict between the main characters, its more like nourishing love as time passed. Slow paced yet I can't stop reading it. Good job and thank you.
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
meowm
meowm rated it
January 20, 2022
Status: c41
Holy hell, am I the only one who doesn't like this novel?

I read it once before but dropped it and I didn't remember why when I decided to give it a try again since I hear so much about it. It's okay. Honestly, I'm not impressed. Another story where the main character is the only smart one among everyone. She outshines everyone, no one is as good as her. So cliché. I am biased though, because while reading this I suddenly figured out the reason I dropped it. Rui Wang.... more>> Safe to say, my tastes in men haven't changed since the last time I read this book and it's definitely beauties like Rui Wang. Arrogant, willful, gorgeous enough to surpass women, yup, he checks all the boxes, so when this story displayed him as some sort of idiotic man-child, I was clearly not going to have any of it. It's not only this though, it's like I mentioned before, showing how smart the main characters are compared to everyone else and how boring the male lead and main character are. Seriously, I haven't been this unattracted to a male lead except for novels I hate. He's so boring, so robotic and I really don't feel his chemistry with MC, at all <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Kim Nara
Kim Nara rated it
August 30, 2021
Status: Completed
This is a story about how a woman should behave. Put yourself first before others, please yourself rather than fawn and please others because if you let yourself down then others could do that to you too.

The FL didn't have that ridiculous OP, super smart brain or whatever, she's just someone that already died once and so she accepted that one day she will die again but before that happens, she would enjoy herself as much as she can and not let others bothered her.

Of course since it is ancient... more>> time, this traits of her will make her special in the others eye and make her win ML favour. But I myself think even in our society now, this carefree attitude could make you pass your day happier than if you fawn and pleased others to give you happinesses.

I love how FL enjoy herself, find amusement, and watch everything with carefree attitude. She's not someone that make trouble then crying for help, or acted coquettish to gain favour. Of course she acted and fake her behaviour too, but it's rather to amused herself and she love watching other people reaction towards her.

I give this 5 star so others can read this too, this is a good light story. <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
LaCondesita
LaCondesita rated it
September 23, 2020
Status: Completed
Its an ok read. The romance and the characters are ok, not very complex, really. The plot is bland except for the treatment of females, that I found interesting and realistic for a historical fiction. Of course, the bad girls are still dumb. The political part is not well made and the leads are forgetable for me... I did not feel the love LOL. But well, my last novel had Xie Jing Xin and Shen Miao... the bar was too high.

I liked the translation, because I like the cultural details... more>> to be kept as much as possible. <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
aitakm1
aitakm1 rated it
July 21, 2020
Status: c10
I tried to skip the rating section on this review but accidentally gave it a one... whoops.

Anyways, to me, as well as many others, this novel was very difficult to read due to all the excessive use of Chinese terms the translators decided to put in. This was the first reason why I struggled to finish 10 chapters.

Another reason was that the protagonist’s personality was too bland to me. Maybe it’s because in the more recent novels I read, the protagonists were so full of life and a way to... more>> connect, that from this protagonist I felt nothing.

Finally, this may be weird to say, but it felt too fast paced? Like how quickly she captured the prince’s attention, how quickly she was able to adapt and put people in their place?

Of course, these types of novels I don’t necessarily mind sometimes as long as there is something to capture my attention. However this novel was not for me.

(keep in mind, I only read 10 chapters so what I said is based off of those 10 chapters) <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
CherryPie94
CherryPie94 rated it
June 6, 2020
Status: c38
The problem with this story is that the female lead is not developed properly. We hardly know anything about her previous life and there is no grand purpose for this story. In "The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage" the female lead wants revenge and in "Doomed to be Cannon Fodder", the female lead wants to survive, however in this novel, you just don't know. The only thing she does is eat and sleep with the male lead.

The translation is like a Chinese lesson too. Wang Fei could... more>> have been easily translated as Princess Consort. Fu could have been easily translated as complex, house, or residence. Duān Qīn Wáng could have been easily translated as Prince Duan of the First Rank. I'm pretty sure people had to keep the glossary open and check each time they forgot the meaning of a word.

I was actually editing an epub file and translating almost all the pinyin to their English equivalent term if available, but because the story is boring I just abandoned that at chapter 38.

I just started "Doomed to be Cannon Fodder", but I totally recommend it if you stories like this. Actually, "Doomed to be Cannon Fodder" has lots of Chinese terms like "To Be A Virtuous Wife" but they were almost all translated instead of being left as pinyin. <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
nenuphar
nenuphar rated it
June 1, 2018
Status: Completed
Well...i enjoyed it, even through the translation at first was very hard to understand given the fact it was my first c novel but it was still surmountable. What I didn't really like was the lack of hardship for the FL. Everything is so easy for her: the romance, the mother in law, the dumb enemies.... all was served on a silver platter for her so I had difficulties to relate to her or even to care about her. She's like a big mary sue with no defaults and it's... more>> a bit tiring. Characters like qin bai lu and he yuan were so much more interesting with really good growth character ? ML was okay but forgettable cause the romance was too much smooth like they NEVER had an argument so I had the feeling of watching a lovey dovey OLD couple and their romance was never challenged. It should have been. <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
LeeEzekiel
LeeEzekiel rated it
March 21, 2018
Status: --
Story: A bit of a mellow taste, I suppose? First, the way cannon fodder are dealt with was pretty anticlimatic and / or rushed compared to other works in the genre. Second, everything feels shallow; I can't get invested into any of these people. I do like the uniqueness of the MC and ML's romance though. It's like they're both putting up the facade of a sweet harmonious couple for their own purposes, yet they slowly become genuinely fond of each other too.

Translation: Okay, I understand leaving terms like wang ye and wang fei untranslated, but for even the terms for sister-in-law, servant girls, concubines, etc. To be left in Chinese feels horribly pretentious, like ten levels worse than Japanese translators refusing to translate "nakama". This isn't preserving the essence... more>> of the novel, this is just being pedantic for the sake of it. Then there's the issue of rampant typos - seems to have very little proofreading, translator just relies on a spellchecker, so most errors are things like using the word "being" instead of "behind". All in all a well-meaning but sloppy performance. <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
andrometic
andrometic rated it
March 3, 2018
Status: Completed
This story was... disappointing.

But you still gave it a 4 star, you may ask - well, I managed to stick with it til the last two chapters of the epilogue, so I think it deserves that much. And the writing was truly beautiful - the translators did an amazing job, and there are some really nice passages. They also put together a wonderful glossary, which was very helpful during the first several chapters, and periodically included a visual compilation of the jewelry, fabrics, and other such things, which I thought... more>> looked absolutely beautiful. Technically, this was a wonderful piece of writing - it was the soul that was lacking.

(SPOILERS AHOY. I am new to this site and don't quite know how to work the spoiler buttons yet, so I am giving a warning!)

I don't mean the romance between the two main characters. That was another thing I enjoyed - it was delicate, well planned out, and honestly, the two were super cute together. You could really feel the love even coming out of the pages! (Well, the computer screen, lol.) The scenes where HH and QQJ are together and in love, they're really well done. The scenes like sharing a bath, playing a board game, they were so cute, and the... shall we say, steamier scenes were deftly handled and so good! Plus, the MC's approach to her life - don't dedicate your life to a man, treat yourself best first - was refreshing and tbh, actually some pretty good advice.

The sad thing is the plot, because this was basically the super powerful best at everything stallion novel hero dressed up in women's court dresses. The MC is just the best at everything, the prettiest, most virtuous, most perfect woman, whose charms are so great her husband would never stray, not once. Nothing bad happens to her and nothing bad reflects on her, or at least not once she finds out about it. Everything goes perfectly for her; the book reads more like a gloss than an actual story, there's next to no plot that doesn't either happen to her or happen around her. And for a modern woman, she certainly had no internal issues with completely destroying people's lives, just with the vague thought that 'oh, they brought it on themselves.' Whether that's true or not, you can't even find one shred of sympathy or guilt that comes from a human place? The MC had very few moments of being an actual character, not the hand of the plot gods - I loved the small moments where she does stuff like cheat at a board game and plays a naive idiot with her mother-in-law, and how she's like, 'but actually I really like all these pretty jewels and robes, ' but other than that she's just a dream archetype with faint personality.

Plus, it seemed like so many of the women were punished for 'not being the MC.' I mean, they even make a note of that in the story - that women are judged far more harshly than men - and yet, it feels like empty lip service when you see characters like Rui Wang/He Yuan beat and (possibly, I skimmed over the scene because it was kind of upsetting) r*pe their concubines and wives, act like spoiled brats, and generally have an evil personality, and yet what happens to him? He's demoted for five years and in the end gets to divorce Qin Bai Lu and marry a new, younger, more beautiful wife - approved by MC, naturally - and suddenly he is more faithful to her. Meanwhile, MC's half sister, one of his concubines, whose greatest crime is being kind of mean to the MC when they were children because they were step sisters and her mother clearly hated MC, ends up as his concubine because her parents are power hungry, and is beaten by him, if not r*ped then is violently treated by him in bed, and eventually, once she dares to ask him to spare her family because her parents have been coming to beg her about it, he casts her to the side for having the temerity to ask him for anything, then she gets sick and dies because Qin Bai Lu and He Yuan both refuse to call a physician and even mock her for it. Similar things happen to everyone who's even halfway interested in the ML, the MC doesn't even hesitate before skipping straight to crushing them, and it's only the women who are interested in ML or have wronged MC. So many families destroyed, not unjustly but each chapter it happens the characters and the narrative make a point of blaming the woman interested in the ML as the source of all her house's troubles. MC has no relationships with anyone not her husband or (barely) Jin An Princess (maybe her mother in law? but they disappear midway through the novel) that isn't one where she's in a superior position; her closest people seem to be her personal servants who exist mostly to give an in-universe account about how she's so great, she's wonderful, she's the best.

And for all that this novel pays half a mind to what a modern woman might think living here - there's a couple of great sections where MC and Jin An Princess are watching a play or MC reads a novel and she comments on how obnoxious and wish fulfillment they are and how women are always the villain in them even when they are the ones being wronged, or MC thinks about how much she wants internet because she is so bored, or that they should think about the poor people who are starving as a result of embezzlement and raised taxes for nothing more than some new clothes for the wang ye - they never follow through on anything. I'm not saying she has to single handedly revolutionize industry, I'd just like something to come of it! How hard is it to introduce some tension or conflict between her own views and the world she is living in? The MC was a dancer and worked as a manager in the entertainment industry, ostensibly (we get no memories and no information on this) - you're telling me you can't work this into the novel as anything more than an explanation for why the MC is The Best at dancing and The Best at reading people? Somehow she instinctively knows all the proper manners and way of speaking of a world hundreds of years before her own and never makes a mistake? How boring.

Which brings me to a repeating theme in the story, especially at the beginning - the idea that life isn't a fairy tale. And it's not - unless you're the MC. I've seen some comments both in and out of the text that lean towards parts of this story being a deconstruction of fairy tales, specifically when touching on Yun Qing. But rather, it seems that this is a fairy tale, it's just the MC's fairy tale. Which is fine, but shouldn't be billed as a story where the MC works to make her future happen, and succeeds due to her skill and practicality. She's an incredibly passive agent throughout the whole story, and that just doesn't make for interesting reading, to me. I much preferred her mother-in-law, who was principled, loved her son, but still pretty scheming, and didn't drag down every woman her man came into contact with.

Overall, this story had a lot of promise but was lacking a lot of soul (and relationships between women that weren't centered around a man and a nuanced take on, well, anything but especially women). 4/5 because I only bowed at the very very end, and it's a good story if you just want something about (really beautiful, I did enjoy this part) fancy clothes, a loving husband, and being right and justified and perfect in every way. And I mean, hey, who am I to judge your wish fulfillment? I was just hoping there was more to the story since I saw it so highly recommended, but it ended up being a disappointment that left me with a sour taste in my mouth. <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Iskandria
Iskandria rated it
March 3, 2017
Status: c123
This is an excellent light novel. With only 123 chapters it is the shortest novel I've read so far, which is also completed, naturally. Overall idea is a reincarnation of a smart female into the body of a unfortunate one. A classic. The female lead has no overpowered abilities. She simply has brains. Nice! As one might think, the chapters are on point and doesnt get lost in senseless explanations. 123 chapters, youre never getting bored or try to skip parts. A welcoming change. Story is simple, slaps are there... more>> but not as excessive as the classics. Focus lies on the characters. Sweet, nice, and understandable. MCs have s*x. Nice! Villains are not purely villainous but comprehensible and with intelligent reactions and endings. Author puts emphasis on the fate of women in a similar time period as the Ancient chinese dynasties. Bittersweet, not always fulfilling, but intelligent and realistic. Do not fret, though, happy ending for MCs.

Low chapters mean not always satisfying appearences of side characters. Which is sad, since they are well made and likeable. Doesnt negatively influence the Story, though.
Had some good laughs along the way, so Humor is there. Nice!

Overall: Read this, its good. <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
sindea
sindea rated it
January 14, 2024
Status: Completed
It was fine/pretty good. 3.5

It was fine, however not really my cup of tea.

Like previous reviewers have stated, the translators left SO MANY words in pinyin that it really took the reader out of immersion. There was literally 5 footnotes in every paragraph, and I couldn't remember what all the pinyin stood for, so I had to keep scrolling back to previous footnotes; and I even speak Chinese (albeit not well but still fluent) ! And it was still hard for me.

This is probably one of those more realistic ancient... more>> novels. Although FL is powerful, but during those times, woman are after-all still VERY limited in what they can do, and their life really DOES depend on men. So FL was pretty limited, and most of the scheming is about how to make ML stay loyal to her.

Again, it was well written and realistic, but I guess for my personal taste I didnt like that everything FL did revolved so much around ML. I prefer stories were FL has her own goals and ambitions.

Their romance was also very... well not romantic, and kind of off putting at times for me. Again, the way it was portrayed was probably more according to how things were realistically back then, but still.. isnt that why we dont live in that kind of society anymore? Nobody likes it lol (except for men I guess they can have harems and have all the power ofc...).

Their romance basically is FL being very guarded and always having to stay alert to keep MLs interest.. Imagine living like that.. ML is very dedicated to FL but
Spoiler

at a later part when he has already said OVER and OVER again how much hes into FL and how loyal he is to her, it is still kind of implied that he flirts with one of the members of his harem... UGH... disgusting.

[collapse]

So yeah, it was good enough, I liked it, I finished it. But it was not my cup of tea. I prefer something more like Malicious Empress <<less
5 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
ykovache
ykovache rated it
July 28, 2023
Status: Completed
I read the novel because of the good ratings and the recommendations that it's supposedly of higher quality than other romantic novels set in ancient Chinese times. It's more realistic, detailed, and it definitely has a rich language with philosophical tendencies. We see a bit of the ancient times through the eyes of the MC. All things that I generally love, yet here I find their execution (how the characters were developed instead the characters of ML and MC themselves, what the author emphasized and what ignored, the general attitude... more>> of the author toward the characters) annoying instead of enriching the story. The author introduced many different ideas and attitudes (some even opposite) switching between them and not fully developing them and often exaggerates an already good idea in an effort to make it great, making it feel bad as it fails short of what the author is trying to make it artificially. One of the main issues for me is the combination of realistic elements and the more simplistic attitude that the main characters are good by understanding without needing to prove it (especially the ML whose previous actions to the beginning of the novel are not promising at all and nearly contradict the supposed goodness and need an actual proof to believe that he's not that bad), the remaining characters are bad and s*upid and the main characters set an extremely low bar. In a simple more action based story, where the bad guys are clear from the start (because we're told what they have done) and it doesn't hurt that they are of higher standing - so it is satisfying when the good main characters beat the more powerful bad guys using their smarts.

Here the main characters more than anything just enjoy their lives and the advantages their high positions allow, they are not s*upid but they barely use that (get to deserve their happiness) and instead it's more served on their platter. On its own that wouldn't have been that bad - nothing inherently bad in rich people enjoying themselves, but when the MC gets so much so easy due to pure good luck and high position and yet she judges disparagingly (contrivedly interpreting others's actions in very negative light) who haven't had that many opportunities whether her husband's concubines or other main wives with husbands not even willing to entertain the idea of relationship with their wives in contrast to the ML, I find it really off putting. So many secondary characters get treated unfairly (unnecessary and unfair judgement and/or mostly undeserved harsh punishments) by the author and the 2 main characters so that the main characters can enjoy their worry free relationship. This very strong favoritism attitude of the author toward the main couple at the cost of others less socially privileged or generally lucky, with the focus of showing that the others are supposedly not good enough instead of elevating the couple through actions, makes me unsympathetic toward the main couple. This is the reason why the author made me I disliked both main characters in the first 6 chapters and it kept reiterated for the most part in the first 40 or so chapters and again in the end. Initially it sounds like the MC is transmigrated in a bad situation and she would need to fight (enjoy herself and go all out for as long as she could), but in reality she doesn't have that many challenges and this repeated implication that she has done a lot/brave becomes annoying. She gets control of the house so easily because she has the highest position and has the support of her husband - so not really that impressive. Another the part I personally disliked that while the MC doesn't go all the way scheming against the other concubines, in the first few chapters before we even get to know her, the MC goes out of her way to be mean to them without them actually doing anything to directly to her in a complain that she's not getting the respect due to her position
Spoiler

(the handkerchief incident and going to check/antagonize the flute girl) in a very showy way with a pompous language

[collapse]

Moreover, the author keeps treating the concubines as the bad or s*upid for trying to improve their positions by getting the attention of the ML - I'm sorry for the MC but this is normal for the time period so if we forgive the ML for playing with women, why should we see the concubines as so bad. Why couldn't it just be that they try for the off chance they get lucky (it could have been their fairy tale instead of the MC's) and then don't succeed as the ML prefers his wife or tries to be good (the author treating them with dignity) and then leave the concubines to accept the result, instead of not immediately accepting the sudden complete dominance of the MC meaning that they are shameless, s*upid etc and necessarily getting a bad ending or if they accept it, the author makes sure that they are very clear on how much "better" the MC is. If anything, I think the ML is the one in fault for creating the situations - he's the one who got the concubines, indirectly encouraged them by paying more attention to them instead of his wife, he even took as a tong-fang one of the servants of his dying wife after she just performs a dance.

ML is not necessarily a terrible person, especially for the times, in that he was willing to see how far would the relationship between him and his wife develop but he didn't actually go out of his way to get to know her or make it work. The lack of actual acknowledgment that he didn't behave that greatly in the past (and now suddenly the author is trying to imply that he's trying to develop a relationship with his wife, instead of just spending time with her because he's smitten with her) even by the MC, who doesn't acknowledge that other women have less opportunities or the ML treated other women badly to the very end, she's too focused on getting his approval for her benefit. Somehow we should accept very quickly that he's good and suddenly from the smallest thing - in general him saying that he's not a bad person and automatically/immediately he gets all the praise for being so good (which off puts me toward him instead of endearing him - again everything oh so easy given to him). I get that there's a certain growth in him in that the ML is initially cold to all women and sees them as playthings and in the end he falls for his wife, but for actual growth he or at least the author must admit that there some bad characteristics. Instead the ML's growth is - he gets the wife of his dreams to entertain and entice him in the bedroom regularly and he's willing to stick with her and treat her well. The author places the whole blame on the concubines and would be concubines in that they didn't know that he's supposedly good guy (who despite his previous actions of neglect, is actually interested in interacting with his wife) and not the typical guy of the time ignoring his wife, so they bear the burnt of the MC's punishment while the MC tries to create intimacy and domesticity with the ML to improve her situation. Not favoring the concubines turns more into, he favored them in the past at the cost of his wife but now he doesn't care how much the MC punishes them. Even in the end, MC encouraging to other women felt more like yet another reprimand for being wrong -
Spoiler

the MC admits the men are unfaithful and women are left to suffer so if she said that the young women should want to be main wives instead of concubines because then they will get more respect from people include their husbands I will agree, instead in a very Marie Antoinette's moment the MC implies that the young women are wrong to want prestige as imperial concubines and talks how love is better when as most marriages are arranged, unless the women are very lucky they won't have even warm relationship with their husband and mostly because of his actions.

[collapse]

This makes me unsympathetic toward both ML and MC: for him - no acknowledging that he hasn't been great in the past but now that he's interested in his wife, he's trying and so this is why he's not taking other concubines and for her - all these grandiose words that she doesn't care about the ML, she'll get her pleasure etc, and yet she goes to seduce him like the rest for her benefit and blames/punishes/disparages the concubines, not overly but enough to be clear that she's mostly empty beautiful words. Additionally while the couple is seen just following their lust it is often implied that they are trying to create a harmonious domestic relationship - again implying that the main couple does more/is better than presented. To the end bad/worse things happen to most women instead of the guys - even the worst brother of the ML gets a bright future with a good wife and being turned in a tragic character romantically languing after the MC while his wife who he definitely didn't treat well is used to create drama by doing something very uncharacteristic for the time period -
Spoiler

infiltrate the palace to kill the MC.

[collapse]
which the author can get away if they are portrayed as one sided characters in a more simplistic action focus story but here in a more realistic setting and characters, it's wildly unfair - they must suffer for dramatic effect so that the main characters can enjoy their mostly worry free fairy tale. The author doesn't really care about them so it doesn't matter that the ML sees them as only playthings, the important thing is that the great MC gets her happiness and if the less great secondary characters suffer, oh well, their fault for not being so awesome or not being born under a lucky star because the author shares the casual callousness bordering on cruelty. Yes that atmosphere explains why the MC is reluctant to believe that ML will remain faithful or emphasizes the MC's great achievement of completely charming off the emperor, but it also shows how badly the others are treated (mostly just for not being as lucky) while the MC lives her fairy tale. Throughout the story the philosophical attitude of the author, it's very often a backhand way of implying that the main characters are intrinsically better than the rest, without them doing much beside having "cute" scenes in which they enjoy each other or how much the MC has achieved/how great she is and so different than the rest (trying to enjoy her life is a completely new idea (s) and oh so easy to say by the one having so much and so easily, very unsympathetic). Cute is in quotations because I don't find such scenes (2 people in love) cute for their own sake and spreading from there to the characters, for me it is the other way round. I need to like characters and find them interesting in order to be interested in their love story and to be able to enjoy their cute scenes.

The way the story stands - we have a woman trying to interest her husband, who's used to treating women as playthings, and yet somehow the story very soon (strong undertones that this is their fairy love story already in chapters 20-21) jumps to their love story and we need to treat them as love heroes because they fall in love. Good for them, but why should we care and root for them? Develop it properly by building their relationship where they get to know each other by interacting outside of the bedroom to explain why they fall for each other instead of just focusing on growing feelings and how much the ML is satisfied with the MC. The very limited part of the story where they (mostly ML scheming for the throne) and we see that they are better power couple than the other 2 realistic options is the middle 1/3 of the story, which I actually like and wished it was more developed (it's abstractly interesting as I can't muster enough sympathy for him to see a guy spoilt imperial prince like the ML fall in love and try to win the MC's love but again it's done in a very self-centered way) and much earlier in the story, instead of the actual focus - concubines and other women bad, the main characters fall in love. It feels too much like a fanfic about a couple the author likes instead of the actual story. I care to get to know the main characters and why I should root for them and not that others characters are supposedly s*upid! Then again in the last one third of the story back to the same old the focus is again intimate moments between the couple, the other people are bad - women get humiliated for trying to improve their situations in order to emphasize the ML's love, bad stuff happen to other women for drama and excitement.

Moreover, I am interested in what the MC thinks of the ML as a person (how can she so easily/actually love a man like him just cuz he treats her well??? She even avoids calling him out in her head and is more focused on how to win a man, way too accepting about the inequalities around her, as long as she's happy, she doesn't call out enough the men/husbands) instead of the author's emphasis that the MC doesn't believe whether he would remain faithful and even more the emphasis is on her being cautious vs whether he's good enough. I understand that she can't do much in who her husband is and the author is trying to present the MC as the best woman, but if the author gave us a bit more look inside the MC's feelings about her situation (worries/complaints) and be more honest that she's trying to make her husband like her, instead of flaunting the MC's supposed greatness with grandstanding words in vacuum (pretending not to care), I would actually like MC more and sympathize with her instead of getting angry/annoyed with the MC/author. <<less
5 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
happydot
happydot rated it
June 15, 2022
Status: c1
I completed this a long time ago. Since it was one of my first Chinese web novels, I thought it was normal to struggle through numerous untranslated words that were pointless to know. I decided to come back in hopes of rereading the story, but upon opening the first chapter, I was given PTSD from all the untranslated words. After consuming so many Chinese web novels and dramas, I now know that it is not normal to come across the pinyin form of words like sister-in-law, elder brother, etc. I... more>> understand that translators would like to keep the essence of the language, but having the pinyin form of sister-in-law does not make any sense. It detracts from the story and makes it frustrating to read.

What's supposed to be a light, slice-of-life read is now an annoying, frustrating read because of the poor translation.

I just wish I could reread this with a complete, proper translation. <<less
5 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
werk5
werk5 rated it
June 13, 2022
Status: c17
Dropped. The writing is fine but I just did not see the point in continuing on with the story because I was not invested at all. Don't understand why the MC could magically figure out how to manage things in ancient China and the explanation that she was a manager in modern times did not make sense at all. Apples and oranges. Also, I felt that Duan Wang warmed too quickly to the MC, one moment she was a neglected wife, the next moment, he was siding her on all... more>> fronts. <<less
5 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Ting Ting Ball og Jungkook
Ting Ting Ball og Jungkook rated it
May 24, 2022
Status: Completed
BORING!!!

I'm a huge fan of historical chinese romance novels. This novel was recommended in so many list that I finally though of giving it a go. But it disappointed me so much I had to write a bad review. First of all, many terms are not translated in the novel. Yeah, I understand that CN novel readers are familiar with some of the terms, still it's irritating. Those terms were explained at the end by the words written in mandarin character. I mean come on! If I knew how to... more>> read mandarin, I wouldn't be looking at the meaning. Secondly, the novel is really boring. The main leads (both ML and FL) are stoic. There is almost no fluff and the face slapping moments are also boring. <<less
5 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Nikkiart
Nikkiart rated it
May 7, 2021
Status: Completed
This is one of the best ancient China setting novels I've read.

Okay, I get it. It's not realistic but what're people expecting from a transmigration novel? She adapts easily, yes, but suspension of disbelief is part of reading these genres. At least she manages to explain her great acting skills as she was essentially in the entertainment industry so it makes more sense than like why would a doctor suddenly be proficient in martial arts or etc. I also do understand the whole pinyin is confusing, but stick with it.

Here's... more>> the thing that sets it apart from other transmigration into the ancient world novels: the moral and political stances of the characters.

The thing that tends to annoy me about many of the historical and even just regular Chinese novels is how easily they'll excuse r*pe and mu*der. There are so many novels where the main characters who come from modern times by the way suddenly become completely ok with drugging other women with aphrodisiacs or poisoning women so that their faces melt off or whatever else. This novel doesn't have that. There are definitely people who die but that's due to treason and in ways that are more believable than the above. For example:

Spoiler

One of the tong fang I believe they're called (? Basically it's a maid who's slept with the ml, but doesn't have the background necessary to be a concubine) is passing news to one of the other princes. She gets caught and made to drink poison.

Should she have died? Maybe or maybe not, but I do understand that something like that is important to make sure it doesn't happen again and there isn't a chance for it to happen. So I guess it's awful, but this were the times, but it's much better than the novels where maids are beaten to death for the smallest mistakes or whatever.

Also is poison a terrible way to go? Absolutely, but is it a million times better than all the death in webnovels where the women are r*ped and tortured or killed in increasingly horrific ways.

[collapse]

Basically in my opinion, the whole story doesn't reek of misogyny. I'm not saying that in this novel women are equal to men- absolutely not- but the author and the MC acknowledge it and they essentially try not to make it even harder for women by putting women against each other due to petty reasons.

There's still plenty of jealousy between women, but it's never from the MC really which I think is great. The MC knows that she can only do what she can and for however long the ML allows it and she doesn't try to make life harder for the others under her power unless they directly challenge her (not for the ml's favor, but by being rude and etc).

The MC gets revenge, but within the confines of respectable society. She's literally the epitome of 'living well is the best revenge.'

Additionally, I like the political intrigue in this a whole lot. It doesn't get in depth compared to eight treasures trousseau, but it's still there in a more realistic way than most novels where everyone's secretly hiding hundreds of assassins with basically mystical levels of martial arts. There's also no war.

I do think this isn't as good as Eight Treasures Trousseau in terms of the romance, but it's still good and realistic in how the MC isn't willing to trust the ML in a society where men have so much more power than the women.

Overall, I think this is a truly well written and beautiful novel and hope that more people would read it. <<less
5 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Elqior
Elqior rated it
May 3, 2020
Status: Completed
To describe this story in one word, it is "realistic"

I personally like heavier plot than this. I just finished Rebirth of malicious empress from military lineage before reading this. This story plot is not as heavy as the former with less scheming and politics. The rude way of describing is all bark and no bite politics. It focused more about the love story of the main character and the struggle of each household, mainly the ML and FL household.

many said the footnote is incredibly lot. That is so true, I... more>> am overwhelmed for few starter chapter. After a few chapter, after knowing the meaning, everything is easy and smooth. The footnote is actually quite generous as the translator explaining the meaning of name, idiom and story. In chinese, name is very important, the name will define something. So explaining it is very generous. Also, by including chinese way of calling ones make the dialogue more realistic and china-esque. You need to overcome the hurdle first though :')

when I read review of others that said this is about pure love, I thought about something fairy tale-like romance. But actually not at all. What I read is 2 realistic people falling in love. I want to describe very roughly about the ending below.

Spoiler

I thought the ending will be happily ever after like in the fairy tale, but no. The ending is a good ending but realistic. If the ending of a fairy tale happily ever after ending is flowery ending with nuance of spring of the year, I think this ending is like a calm lake at the end of winter. It is beautiful and realistic.

[collapse]

I personally very like and happy with the ending.

as to why I rate this as 4 is the way the feelings are delivered and I think the plot is not completed. The sarcastic and sneer reply are not delivered well enough and the FL is transmigrated but there is no explanation nor elaboration about it in later chapter. Every one is so focused to the love story and the transmigration just become a reason for the change of attitude.

overall, very good for those looking for love story with little schemes in politics. For those who like heavier plot or schemes, the schemes and harem is just too peaceful. After reading so many schemes at harem in various novel, I am quite in bewildered when reading this. I don't have to worry about the schemes at all, every schemes are like child play and not too harmful compared to the other novels. Quite a refreshing read to clean this blackened brain :D <<less
5 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
1 2 3 4 … 18
Leave a Review (Guidelines)
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.

Novel Updates

User Tools

Latest Series

| Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Contact Us