Deng Hua Xiao Chapter 200 Discussion

This is the latest novel of the author and it really shows how she has improved a lot since her earlier novels.

The writing style is less verbose, the main characters are strong but not overly so, the pace is engaging and the road to revenge is well constructed with ups and downs, very satisfying to read.

The secondary characters are well-rounded and there is genuine female friendships.

After learning of the unjust death of all her family, she devotes heart and soul to revenge. Being well aware of how the law protects the nobles and oppress, if not crush, the commoners, she doesn't waste time in trying to bring the culprits to justice.

She knows that, for the law and society, the life of a commoners is worthy nothing in comparison with the life of a noble, so she directly plans how to kill all those responsible.

The journey is not easy: she willingly put herself in increasingly risky situations to get close to her enemies, she is forced to act humbly and often endure people's contempt just because she is a commoner. The most insulting slap is when the life of a noble's dog is considered superior to her own.

She fully trusts only herself, and as much nobles look down on the lower class, as much she resents and feels disgust for the powerful. When she becomes tentative allies with the ML, she shares only bits of her plan because, among other things, she doesn't believe that the ML truly understands her determination to seek revenge. The relationship between the leads is very slow (personally the slower the better) : starting with suspicion, rudeness and sentiments of "I hope this is the last time we meet" to dubious friendship to unstoppable creeping affection.

Reading between lines, I think that the ML, coming from a poweful and influencial family, is also partially biased against the commoners. In several conversations with the MC, he fails to fully understand or he is oblivious to how much commoners struggle in having a decent life.
Of course, we could say that the MC is also biased against the nobles, thinking that anyone who is rich or powerful is a loathsome person, but considering the circumstances, she has every right to think so.

The more I think about it, the more I can't find major defects. Unless the ending will be garbage, this is the best light novel I have read this year.