The Possession of My Beloved

I really enjoyed this novel. However, in terms of plot, I'd give it 3.7 stars. The character development earns a 3-star rating. Yet, I absolutely loved the trope of amnesia leading to them becoming lovers, which bumped my overall rating up to 5 stars.

In a nutshell, it's a story about enemies turning into lovers while navigating the intricate plots and schemes of a dynasty. The novel covers a lot of ground, with numerous subplots that sometimes had me skimming through chapters. Despite these tangents, I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between the main characters—they were so spicy! ☺️

It was like a rollercoaster, not in the sense that there were too many ups and downs, but rather that the beginning was slow and steady, almost boring and somewhat uncomfortable (since I didn't like the Male Lead, or ML, at first). Once the story started to pick up, it immediately became enjoyable and thrilling.

This novel had sprinkles of everything I like for a leisurely read: an interesting plot, good character development, and a healthy mix of angsty, sweet, and thrilling moments. Despite the slow and somewhat uncomfortable start due to the amnesia and the ML's initial behavior, the novel became better and better with each passing chapter for me. It wasn't exactly amazing or perfect, but it was quite enjoyable. I also came to love our leads, especially the ML, who underwent significant positive changes (from a modern reader's perspective) to become the lovable character he was by the end.

**Spoiler Alert:**  
The reason I found the ML uncomfortable at first was because he used the Female Lead (FL) by taking advantage of her amnesia to lure out an enemy (she was his lover) and pretended to be her husband. While he kept a reasonable distance from her, he eventually developed feelings he shouldn't have. His intentions evolved from using her and then getting rid of her after catching his enemy, to letting her live decently after he was done using her, to keeping her as his mistress in the outhouse (while he planned to marry his cousin, to whom he was engaged), to marrying her as a concubine (after she discovered she had been deceived and left him), and finally to marrying her legitimately as his only wife. The ML is a very stubborn, dedicated, and hardworking man, so once he made a decision, he never regretted it and worked tirelessly to achieve his goals, both in his love life and his career.

Similarly, the FL is a resolute and strong woman. She does what she has decided on, whether it's being a supportive wife who takes care of her family or a leader who shoulders her subordinates (though we didn't see much of the latter). She is also mentally strong, resolutely leaving the ML after discovering how she was deceived and his future plans for her, even though she loved him. She knew that if he let her down, she wouldn't be able to deceive herself into continuing to love him, so she chose to part ways with her dignity intact (as she did with her ex). I really enjoyed both characters, as they aren't your typical transmigrators or regressors but individuals with their own ideals. When the FL and ML were being affectionate with each other initially, it was uncomfortable not knowing how they would react after the truth came out. But when it finally did, I wasn't disappointed, and their reconciliation was refreshing. I couldn't love their relationship more.

Despite a few cliché tropes used here and there, they didn't drag the story down or become annoying. Therefore, it was a good read, and I might reread it after it has been completely translated. Kudos to the translator for bringing this wonderful novel to us with a great translation.

I rarely read novels with more than 150 chapters. However, my interest in the amnesia trope and positive reviews convinced me to give this one a try. The synopsis can be somewhat misleading, though. While it does mention certain elements, they don’t significantly impact the plot until the very end of the novel, when she finally recovers from her double amnesia.

What I enjoy about ancient-themed novels is the political backdrop. This one offers some unpredictable, if not entirely mind-blowing, plot twists, similar to many other ancient Chinese novels.

The first 50 chapters are quite slow-paced, nearly making me give up, but it becomes much more engaging afterward. Perhaps it’s because the romance starts to build, and I had grown tired of the male lead’s behavior in the early chapters. Finally, there’s progress on both main characters’ sides.

It’s a nice, long, and fulfilling read if you enjoy ancient Chinese novels, especially those with an enemies-to-lovers trope. 😛

If there's a downside to this novel, it's that the main lead is a narrow-minded jerk. It takes 170 chapters for the female lead to reform him. Thank goodness he's cute, or he probably wouldn't have been worth saving. But nothing but good things to say about the female lead! :)

I love this story. The female lead is an amnesiac who is beautiful, intelligent, and open-minded—truly the perfect wife. Unfortunately, she meets a male lead who is a big liar, but he eventually falls in love with her. The plot is full of mysteries that slowly unravel. I can't wait to see how the female lead reacts when she discovers the truth. How will she handle this male lead?

I love this novel. The plot is engaging, even if some elements seem a bit convenient and coincidental. The amnesia trope isn't new, but the author does a great job using it to add twists and make the story fun to read.

What I appreciate most is how the author gives diverse paths for the side characters. They don't all end up with miserable lives just because they aren't the main couple.

It's a comforting and peaceful read for me.

The only thing I don't like is the portrayal of the Japanese as villains near the end of the novel. The author doesn't use offensive language, but it makes them appear a bit foolish. I understand that Japanese and European characters often play the role of villains in historical Asian novels, not just Chinese ones, but I still find it unsettling when it's written so bluntly.

The premise is intriguing and overall it was a good read, but towards the end, the final arc felt a bit draggy, and I had to push through to finish the novel.

I liked the female lead. She is capable and can take care of herself. The male lead is decent as well. It’s refreshing to see them work together effectively. Like another reviewer mentioned, I found some elements to be a bit too coincidental. However, there’s a touch of humor that I enjoyed. I would recommend this if you’re looking for a light-hearted read.

I've been searching for a good read that matches my taste, and I finally found this one. Don't be discouraged by the low ratings; most of the highly-rated books I came across were just trash. Give this one a try.

I hope the translator finishes this work. You've done an excellent job. In the meantime, I'll check out the machine-translated version out of curiosity.