Shen Yourong, as the eldest daughter of the Duke’s household, engraved the word “propriety” into her bones. Her words and actions never faltered. She neither harbored secret affections at a young age, nor engaged in the childhood antics of love-hate relationships. Moreover, she never encountered any strange encounters while traveling, smoothly embodying the epitome of a noblewoman.
The only hiccup in her otherwise flawless life was her marriage, which didn’t go smoothly. Despite discussing marriage with her nephew, she ended up marrying her uncle, which was quite embarrassing.
The Emperor, advancing in age, favored the fourth prince, Ji Chengyao, for the heir position. The fourth prince’s foster mother, Lady Shu Fei, hinted at a marriage alliance between Shen Yourong’s maternal family, the Duke of Qi’s household, and the fourth prince. Both overtly and covertly, they suggested that Shen Yourong should befriend the fourth prince.
Ji Zhuo always felt that Shen Yourong, this so-called model noblewoman, was not as genuine as she appeared. A noblewoman who seemed diligent and earnest shouldn’t be casually snacking on melon seeds while watching the fourth prince flirt with other girls, as her family tried to curry favor with him.
In the beginning, the plot is full of allusions and foreshadowing that at times made my stomach drop. The writing itself is very beautiful, and the way the author conveyed the main character's feelings to us, the readers, was lovely. However, I do feel the writing became a bit dull towards the end.
I will say that because of the tone of the novel and the writing style, from the beginning to the middle, I had different expectations for how the plot would progress. I was anticipating tragedy, twists, and heartbreak, but I was still satisfied with how the novel unfolded.
Additionally, as one reviewer mentioned, the sisterhood in this novel is fantastic. Given that many historical novels often pit girls against each other, I expected the sisterly relationships to deteriorate, but to my surprise, they did not.
I recommend it because it's a well-rounded novel in terms of characters, plot, and a happy ending for almost everyone, except maybe two.
Spoiler:
The "emperor" definitely deserved his fate due to his schemes and insincere feelings. The other character who didn't quite get a happy ending was Concubine Shen. However, I like to think that she might be content with her situation due to her modern mindset.
Thank you to the translator for bringing this novel to us!
It’s a laid-back, slice-of-life kind of novel. If you’re looking for drama, political intrigue, or complex schemes, you should probably look elsewhere. This novel isn’t designed for that. Go in with no expectations, and you’ll likely appreciate its unique qualities.
Shen Yourong, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Qi, is the epitome of a model woman in the capital. She is noble, rule-abiding, and almost too perfect. However, we get to see her inner world, which is much like any other teenage girl’s, but with a touch more maturity and cleverness.
Ji Zhuo, the brother of the current emperor and Prince Duan, is well-versed in classics and literature, and he comes across as gentle and amiable. Yet, we also see his cunning and ruthless side.
These two seemingly two-faced individuals somehow find themselves attracted to each other and fall in love. Don’t expect a cloyingly sweet love story or fluff here. The romance reminds me of the one in "Concubine's Daughter Minglan."
Be forewarned, though—the leads have a significant age gap, and the female lead is underage. If this makes you uncomfortable, I’d suggest skipping this novel. For me, the male lead’s treatment of the female lead never felt inappropriate.
One of the best parts of the novel is the sisterly bond between the Shen sisters. They experience moments of jealousy, but they also recognize that everyone has their own struggles and destinies. Particularly, Shen Qingyan, the transmigrator, deserves a hug. She deserved someone like Yao Jian instead of the fake righteous Fourth Prince.
Shen Shuo is also a great brother, and a shoutout to Shen Qingfeng as well.
If there’s one thing I didn’t like about the novel, it’s the ending.
**Spoiler**
I would have preferred if the male lead realized his ambitions at the end. No regent in history has ever had a good ending, and he had all the necessary tools to become the emperor. Anyway, that’s just my take on this novel.
The author introduces the MC when she is 14 years old. The Fourth Prince is around 16, and the ML is 24.
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Nice novel.
Although the Female Lead (FL) and her brother lost their mother, they were still able to live a harmonious life with their stepfamilies.
The FL and her stepsisters grew up in a well-bonded family, which is a healthy example.
The Male Lead (ML) was initially a scammer who pursued the FL for personal gain. However, he later changed his mind and gave up the throne for a more enjoyable life.
I just don't like the last chapter about their daughter. A six-year-old girl with such ambition to become a female emperor seems out of place.
Really can't understand why it ends like this.