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[Update on 14/07/2024: A brief recap+discussion of the plot from Chapter 52 to the Extra Chapter is available at the end of Extra Chapter! Thank you all for reading!! Reminder: Please remember to revisit the Prologue for a bit of plot][Update on 11/06/2024: A brief recap+discussion of the plot from Chapter 42 to Chapter 51 is available at the end of Chapter 51!][Update on 01/02/2024: A brief recap+discussion of the plot from Chapter 32 to Chapter 41 is available at the end of Chapter 41!][Update on 13/09/2023: A brief recap+discussion of the plot from Chapter 21 to Chapter 31 is available at the end of Chapter 31!][Update on 05/06/2023: A brief recap+discussion of the plot from Chapter 13 to Chapter 20 can be found at the end of Chapter 20!!][Update on 20/05/2023: I just uploaded a character sheet for Da Dang, listing all the important characters so far. I will update the list as the story proceeds. Do take a look if you find the characters of the story confusing. The link is available in my translation group page (click on A Rainy Bookshelf next to any chapter link), and the link is under Group News.][Update on 10/04/2023: I have added a brief discussion of the plot by chapter, from Prologue to Chapter 12. You can find it at the end of Chapter 12. I will update about the plot discussion every ten chapters or so. Enjoy!!]As requested, here are some pros and cons of the novel based on my personal understanding.Even after reading hundreds of danmei, Da Dang remains one of my favourites as it intrigues me in so many ways. To me, one thing that particularly stands out in Da Dang is its unique writing style. The author put in tremendous effort into her writing. The clothes, the antiques and the poems she mentioned or quoted can all be traced back in history, making the story incredibly convincing and realistic. The readers could be almost certain that this story had truly taken place in the Ming Dynasty.I also genuinely admire the descriptions in Da Dang. The author did a fantastic job of capturing different characters' personalities and emotions. Her characters are all complicated and vivid to the readers. Not only that, the characters' fates are all intertwined, adding more depth and complexity to the story.I was simply in awe when I read about the buildup of s*xual tension in this novel. Nothing felt forced in this story. The two main characters are so lovely, and their love for each other came naturally to fruition. I admire the descriptions of the explicit scenes too, as they were so poetic and picturesque. It will be a challenge to convey the beauty of her writing, but it is a challenge that I am willing to take on.However, some banes may dissuade some readers too.One thing to take note of is that the story is between a man and a eunuch, which means the explicit scene may not be what some readers have expected. As much as some eunuchs may be cruel or abusive, eunuchs are in fact sensitive and timid creatures that need to be taken care of.Besides, as the story unfolds with the two main characters being pen pals, you can expect the story to be relatively slow-paced. For the readers who wish to see more of their loving interactions, you may have to wait a bit longer.Lastly, the story is not an exactly hardcore novel about political strategies. While there are some plots regarding politics that require the readers to dig into it and read between the lines, they may not be as grand as some well-known novels in this category. Our protagonist, who is merely a sixth-rank official, is also just a small man in the face of the powerful establishment of the ancient Chinese royal court. We can only expect him to do what's within his power for his loved one.P.S. I'm not sure how to leave a comment without giving a rating, so I left a 5 star simply because this book is my favourite.