- #1
Enjoying the read so far but I had to stop for a moment because one the character's line broke my heart.Consort Jin's situation is such a difficult issue to stomach. Although she wants to lie low and be a hidden dragon, everyone around her advises her to be a villain. Not that she doesn't have her own crazy ideas, but in her mind they're for her pride as the main wife, not so much to be cruel. This alone isn't due to her being spoiled or whatever, but she has seen the suffering of a main wife bullied by concubines in her own maiden home. The fact that she can't speak to anyone about her orientation is sooooo hard to swallow. She is one of the loneliest characters in all the novels I've read.I've seen other readers calling the ML names bc of how he ignores his concubines?? Were you hoping this would become a harem novel? He did not marry them at will but they were granted by the Emperor because no one knows that he actually has an heir already. Were you guys expecting him to sleep with them too? Don't forget that if he gives them any kind of respect or leeway, they would think that he is favoring them and scheme. They're all the type to take a mile when given an inch.The ML doesn't stand out from any other domineering and possessive ML, which is the type that I enjoy so no issues here. There is some very brief smut scattered throughout, and it's rather inconsistent but still tasteful. Before I started reading, I checked the reviews and some of it said there was a lot of smut, which I disagree with... All smut were brief... Maybe just three or five lines at most and it's not often that the author goes into details. Yes, our ML has a fetish, however, it's only act upon with our MC. There is 1 scene where he was abusive due to being poisoned so if that triggers you, please skip! He could do better to show his Consort some respect but he is a Prince after all. Spoiler
and let's be fair about this, as much as I feel Sorry for the consort, she jilted him first when she cheated. He was initially excited to marry her. I don't think he is homophobic but rather petty and traumatized from being cheated on. During this era, whenever a woman steps out of her marriage, she is called disgusting amongst other names, which is how he views the consort. I don't think it was her orientation that bothered him as much as her cheating on him.
[collapse]Overall a decent read so far for the genre.