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The Job of an Imperial Concubine
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Web Novel (CN)
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Rating(4.6 / 5.0, 577 votes)
5    77% (447 votes)
4    14% (80 votes)
3    4% (22 votes)
2    2% (9 votes)
1    3% (19 votes)
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Completed (117 chapters + 4 extras)
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Every 68 Day(s)
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Weekly Rank: #9367
Monthly Rank: #4913
All Time Rank: #746
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On 4583 Reading Lists
Monthly Rank: #565
All Time Rank: #1584

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To pass as an imperial concubine, one must be professional.

Actually, the profession of an imperial concubine is pretty good. The emperor will accompany you in eating and drinking, and even pay you for it. What’s not good about that?

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Nghề làm phi
ว่าด้วยอาชีพนางสนม
妃嫔这职业
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Recommendations
To Be A Virtuous Wife (10)
The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir (7)
Eight Treasures Trousseau (4)
Pampered Consort’s Acting Awards (4)
The Times Spent in Pretense (3)
Chongfei Manual (3)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Binge worthy Ancient China (BG)
  2. Imperial theme [BG]
  3. Best Female Protagonists
  4. Memorable Reads
  5. The BEST Historical Novels (BG only)

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148 Reviews sorted by


Sun_day
Sun_day rated it
November 23, 2021
Status: --
hmm I think it's good but not just my cup of tea, it's interesting at first but the plot just resolve around the palace for the whole story, the same kind of plotting and scheming in the harem, feels very static and boring to me so I dropped it halfway, though the aspect of MC being content with her position is refreshing and realistic, so plus point, and how some of the concubines are friends and taking care of each other is sweet and sad at the same time
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Rhiech
Rhiech
November 19, 2021
Status: c121
She transmigrated as a concubine in the Harem. She doesn't looking for love. She just want to survive in the battle called the Harem. The women of the imperial harem fought for themselves, for their families, for their children. Rarely did they stop for a rest

In this harem had no pure women. Those who were had already died or withered away. The women who died. The women who lost favor. The women in the Cold Palace, who remained alone, suffering with no one to rely on.

He was handsome, with a... more>> tall and slender body, possessing advantages other men did not. However, this man was the emperor. A man that could have hundreds of women. The emperor she both could not love and was afraid to love.

He was the most honorable man of Jiuzhou Country, and also the man Zhuang Laoyan fought for her whole life. Even though she did not love him, and he did not love her.

Yet, they were destined to be tangled together their whole lives.

"Emperor, you are a pitiful worm who can’t even see through your own heart.” <<less
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eispurple12
eispurple12 rated it
November 7, 2021
Status: Completed
RECOMMENDED? MOST DEFINITELY YES

I've read the author's other books before this one (TBAVW and ETT) but barely recognized the way the story and characters were written. Definitely more realistic and surprisingly more satisfying, though not as emotionally moving as the other ones. Excellent characters especially the MC and ML. MC is a very good actress, always clear-headed and good-natured, not weak but also not overbearing. ML is the perfect emperor, and a decent man. Supporting characters are complex with their motivations, feelings and mixed personalities that makes the reader see... more>> them in different light. Simple plot, few turns ands twists, not many intense face-slapping scenes as other novels like it but beautifully & subtly executed schemes. The pacing is also good.

Over all a very satisfying read. Kudos to author and translator's amazing work. <<less
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yamibae
yamibae rated it
October 29, 2021
Status: Completed
An amazing realistic novel of life as both a concubine and an emperor. The emperor being a special type of man cannot be kept to a single woman due to his need to have an ensured line of sons to maintain the royal family. The concubine has to struggle against all the other women as there is only one man.

The beautiful thing about this story is that it doesn't rely on funny things like love at first sight or nonsense like that. The female lead has no special skill and... more>> her looks are average in the harem, her main ability can be summed up to being a great actress and knowing her place in the harem never stepping out of line and never going out of her way to scheme against others unless scehemed against first.

The emperor acts like a normal emperor of his era and has his priorities in order, he will not give up "the world" (empire) for a single woman and yet also feels the hidden loneliness of him being surrounded by the best women but he is destined to never love all of them equally and they all either love him because he is the sole man they can have or have an ulterior agenda. Emperor being so clear about his priorities truly makes him an enlightened emperor compared to his predecessor and it's riveting to see how he acts.

Even at the end of the story it is not clear if they both love each other but it can be summed that they both love their child and they do in all other aspects show that they care for each other the best they can. Also no, the Emperor doesn't suddenly decide he only wants to have 1 woman, this is through and through a realistic harem that being said he does give the FMC the most attention and care. <<less
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Noveltoread
Noveltoread rated it
October 28, 2021
Status: c121
These past day all I did was read this novel. It is interesting and made me want to know how it will end and what will happen at the end. As I was coming towards the end, I started worrying that it will end.

I usually dont like the transmigration in ancient harem setting (Sometimes makes me wonder cant they just be normal woman of that period just smart without them being transmigrated tho I know it is done to make them have more experience, modern acceptable norms and values) ... more>> as it tends to be more fantasic and true love type (with FL doing the most basic/ nothing or being op) which is not possible but since this was written by tbavw I gave it a try and it was worth it.

MC says she doesn't have FL halo but I highly doubt it.
All the womens were terrific and played their act following their beliefs and goals. In fact I prefer the ones where they just are head strong, tactful, smart women without transmigration.
I thoroughly enjoyed the time they came in the story aside from the MC, how they are able to see the happening and able to carry on. After knowing the fickleness and heartless emperor, the harem makes compromise Some just wants to keep her position, some wants to live a carefree live as much as they can when they can, some wants to endure for the future they hoped, some for their families, some for their love whereas some just hope for a comfortable lives while some for avenging someone.

While there are many characters the story is told without making it confusing. In middle I did find it a bit draggy but my curiosity wasnt diminished. At 109 Consort shu part I felt totally heart broken 😭

Spoiler

Consort shu downfall was one of saddest and heart breaking moment in entire series as she loved the emperor and the downfall was due to her family. Who can continue living with the person who decides to kill off your father and brother)

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& subsequent chapter the smart boss : empress. She was a treat and has accompanied such a husband since she was 15.

Spoiler

even tho empress hated shu, she didnt take joy when shu was at the lowest. The empress is truly tactful. She openly said she was barren to make the emperor aware abt her ambition and future.

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Brings me to this emperor, how at the beginning of reign they used these women's family to their advantage and after they have good hold of power they just discard them. Use and throw, very fickle. Tho it says it is family's fault. But truly a pitiful one as he will not understand the one who truly loves him
Spoiler

I kinda want to see his reaction years later in his deathbed bed that the one he says loved him the most, wasnt in love with him at all. And the one that loved him, he bestowed them with death) how will that feel?? But his development is shown in the extras and is sincere in protecting our MC.

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I very much liked the ending
Spoiler

It ended when the MC is at peak of her post? But they are in this vicious cycle throughout their life (so the MC is in where consort Shu previously was, so who knows what future will hold as many will come and many will go. I am glad even after years she is still favored according to the extras. Though it still is a bit fantasic type ending it was well protrayed and justified.

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On another note
Spoiler

since the author says she never loved him, how tiring must it be for MC to always act like she is in love. Whatever it may be she excel in her job : maintains good relation with her colleague, respected by her staffs and juniors and more importantly is praised by her boss.

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The translations were very smooth. Now that I have completed it, I am left with a void cause it was very enjoyable. <<less
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Angela2nite
Angela2nite rated it
October 22, 2021
Status: c121
Thank you translator Sleepchaser, after two or three years reading in your blog... Thank you for your efforts!

This is one of my favourite josei novels with To be a virtuous Wife and Eight Treasures Trousseau. This is not the typical male lead falls in love with female lead. This is a more realistic (it's still a novel so is not wholly realistic) point of view of a woman who transmigrates and knows that she can't and won't fall in love with the emperor. She wants to have a tranquil future... more>> so she schemes and is schemed by others in the harem. The beauty of this is story is the perspective and the intriguing mystery behind the schemes, as well as the variety of women and their personalities.
Spoiler

I really loved the female lead as someone who views this life as a job, that requires a strong -and positive- character. The empress is a woman who finally gave up of being loved but understands that she at least can retain the power and fame of being the empress having also secured her future. The women of the harem are also quite interesting, Noble Consort Shu appears at first as the most favoured, aloof and intelligent but in the end she also craves for the heart of the emperor. I was really sad at her ending, such a beautiful and smart woman destroyed by the emperor. Consort Rhou I think is the most clear-headed of them all and I think she will live well many years.

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Spoiler

In the end this is a novel about a heartless scum emperor (words from the female lead, love when she roasts him in the novel) and how beautiful and smart woman fall in love because he's the only man they can have. The emperor with some many beautiful women around him ends bein a "pitiful pitiful worm" (words from Consort Ning, lol) because he thinks our FL is in love with him but she never wil. Nevertheless the ending was really beautiful, and don't worry, our FL will have a happy ending

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maims
maims rated it
October 20, 2021
Status: Completed
One of the best. So realistic, balanced, thoughtful and thought provoking... One of the author's personal best in my biased opinion. I liked TNAVW, but I think I like this one better. I heard this was her first, then TBAVW then ETT, and I can completely see the progression of style, but I prefer this one, when she was still brutally honest about life and not softening her stories up to suit the "romance" genre. I mean. This is not romance. But whatever this is, I love it.

[Edit] Top notch... more>> work by the translator. <<less
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Indelible Faith
Indelible Faith rated it
October 17, 2021
Status: Completed
One of the most realistic and wonderfully depicted palace dramas I've read so far!

Zhuang Laoyan is an unfavoured Consort before a modern-day woman transmigrates into her body. Having taken stock of everything, the new Zhuang Laoyan decides to treat her new life as a job.

Funnily enough, she actually succeeds pretty well with her method! As far as she is concerned, all she has to do is spend her time leisurely till the Boss (Emperor) comes to visit, where she must entertain him and then get her monthly salary, plus bonuses.... more>> That is exactly what a Consort does get though, so her analogy is pretty solid.

What I enjoyed was that the MC had no expectations of love or romance from the ML. And even towards the end, it is clear that theirs is an open kind of relationship, seeing as the Emperor does have other concubines.

Well written, with a wonderful cast and a logical plotline, this satisfies everything if you're looking for a genuine harem-palace drama.

The translator has done a brilliant job as well.

4½🌟 <<less
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chande
chande rated it
October 17, 2021
Status: Completed
This is one of the best palace story I've ever read. I love the plot and the characters so much. MC wasn't some OP character who relied on a cheat to survive harem schemes, instead she relied on her knowledge and experience as public relation to gain ML's favor. If I must say what is her true strength, I'll say:

... more>>
Spoiler

She never let herself to fall in love with ML till the end. She saw herself how the other concubines ended up after foolishly giving their heart to ML and she never want to experience it. But of course even though she won't fall in love with ML, she could still convince the latter with her superb acting skill that she was infatuated with him. I don't know how ML will feel if he knew that MC only acted on front of him all these times.

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Meanwhile, ML wasn't the type of ML that most of readers wanted but somehow I found him realistic this way. He was 100% scum and even he himself admitted it. He only saw woman as a tool and plaything and he won't let himself fell in love with one of them. Until he met MC of course. ML found MC different from other concubines an slowly fell for her. But even though he loved her, he won't let himself to be an infatuated emperor who solely favored only MC. He still visited other concubines but he visited her more often than the others.

I love how MC didn't end up as an empress in the end because I found the empress was quite pitiful. She was the one who accompany ML since he was just a crown prince but she couldn't get his heart after so long. Even more so, the empress couldn't give birth anymore after a series of miscarriages so she didn't have any child to depend to. But ML still respected her as his main wife even after the empress family's fall. That's when I feel that ML wasn't that heartless, at least towards the empress. <<less
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xuexin
xuexin rated it
October 1, 2021
Status: Completed
This is a nice novel. It's different from the usual type of transmigration set in ancient China. The author wrote the plot very well. Each and every character in the novel had their reasons for their actions. Surprisingly, I would have to say no one in the novel was necessarily blindly s*upid.

Do take note that you will not be finding fluff in this novel. The story is strictly following the theme of ancient China where the ML/Emperor tumbles in bed with many different women. The schemes of the women of... more>> the harem are profound. It's not as predictable as you'd expect. FL is not a person who openly schemes and face slaps her enemies. She is just trying to live peacefully and by doing that, she needs to act a specific role. The Emperor is more hands on in dealing with the harem with concubines losing favor or gaining favor here and there. Plot-wise, I definitely give this a full 5 stars.

While FL has found a happy ending one way or another, it's not really the kind of ending you expect. In reality, you don't really know whether she really fell in love with the ML or not even until the end. Overall the realities of ancient China was very sad. Women of the harem can be favored one moment and cast side the next moment. The novel reminds us of this very often. Overall, it's still a very nice story. <<less
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Aki-no-hikari
Aki-no-hikari rated it
September 5, 2021
Status: c115
This one is just a lot of fun to read. It has typical harem drama and an MC that is smart and ruthless and knows how to play the airhead and take advantage of the situation. Even though it sounds cliche, it's so entertaining that you can't help but devour each chapter as they come.

The translation is so neat and easy to read, and the translator's notes are specially useful!
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nikhil123
nikhil123 rated it
August 1, 2021
Status: Completed
Honestly if you want a drama on Chinese emperor harem that is realistic just read this.
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hjquinzel
hjquinzel rated it
July 18, 2021
Status: Completed
I really enjoyed this novel, finished reading it on an MtL site as the translater only translates one short chapter a week.
The main character is refreshing and practical, seeing her position as a concubine as a job instead, and working hard to get promotions.
Short and fun.
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Starfish9y
Starfish9y rated it
July 7, 2021
Status: Completed
Literally describes how the concubine "should" be in a harem. This is not a romance it's specifically view here how cruel the royalty are. The MC basically fights for survival and only do things to survive. In every action there's an intent and it excites me how she maneuver to passed those schemes. There's a character development and I love how she uses her brain instead of the heart. I don't have any problem with the plot but I kinda want it to have some romance so for me its... more>> an okay to read. The translation is superb so 5 star for me. <<less
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smalllove08
smalllove08 rated it
June 27, 2021
Status: c106
I have to say, this sh*t is good

The way the story goes is quite realistic with no unnecessary cliches, the harem is really not that messy.

The part I love most is that the women, they are not s*upid, they clearly know that loving the Emperor is a no go and is only trying to obtain his favor

The MC too, I really love her character, her comparison between the FL in transmigration stories and her situation gave me a good laugh
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crow008
crow008 rated it
June 13, 2021
Status: Completed
Only fools would give their hearts to the emperor.

Translation is 5 stars but it does not count into review rating.

The story is simple: modern-day woman who works in PR dies and becomes a concubine of the emperor. Like prior reviews stated, this is not a 1 v 1 story nor a fluffy romance. This is realistic in the sense that it displays properly the mindsets of the people during the time period.

The story draws one in because of how interesting the careful manipulation of the MC and the... more>> ML is. MC is not kindhearted nor attached to the ML. ML is the emperor and views the women of the harem as playthings. He cares not for their feelings. The story is around how MC manipulates the ML into thinking that she purely "cares" and "loves" him. She dumbs down her personality to a low-IQ-in-love-you-are-my-world-emperor girl. But it is like intentional.

Its refreshing to read this. So read this (especially after you read a story about a supercool-i-can-do-anything-but-in-reality-i-am-a-brainless female lead and a op-demon-king-but-turns-devoted ML.) Very satisfying.

Spoiler

Here are the cons of this story but it should not stop you from reading it (WITH SPOILERS) :

Spoiler
  • MC is a mary sue. The story mentions how she is not like the female leads of typical transmigration stories but sorry... MC is pretty mary sue
    • EX: MC is said to be pregnant but not pregnant. Emperor hears about it. People think she is pregnant. MC thinks its a scheme for the people to hate her. Its not a scheme. Imperial physician made a mistake. Cooperates with MC to say that she "Miscarried". Oh emperor sad. Promotes her.
    • People killed in peach garden outside her residence. Was supposed to frame her and have the maid killed look like a su*cide. But luckily, lighting strikes and kills the people carrying the body so shows not a su*cide. MC sees bodies. "Scared" and emperor finds out there is a bigger scheme behind this. Moved to a bigger palace that no one of her rank has..
      • 1 in 100 chance exists a tree may be struck by lightning each year
      • Now in a peach garden with many trees... happens to be that tree the people are under... outside her residence... on the day it is raining and the people are trying to frame MC and kill this maid... wow
  • Even her beginning situation was kinda great compared to others. The previous owner of the body made a mistake BUT WAS NOT DEMOTED, is from a well-respected family, and is of a lower-middle rank. To be removed from favor, a low rank concubine, and not be literally DEMOTED OR SENT TO THE COLD PALACE IS EXTREMELY LUCKY.
    • In the rest of the story, even girls RANKED HIGHER and FAVORED MORE THAN HER than her previously got punished by demotion or salary deduction but all MC got was kneeling?
    • Admittedly maybe they were probably heavier crimes than her... but still
    • Her beginning situation was great. It was salvageable compared to others. IK that the author had to start SOMEWHERE for the story but since the author kept mentioning how the MC is not a typical female lead--I felt obligated to respond.

Overall, read this story. It does not disappoint. You won't even notice these small details/cons because the story is pretty good. :)

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AsEsTa
AsEsTa rated it
October 18, 2020
Status: c71
Honestly I love this so much!! The translation is amazing too I’v entries reading translations from other sites but it really just hurts my brain. I feel like this novel is way more realistic then any other novels and has raised my expectations for future ancient time period novels.
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Honeycomb
Honeycomb rated it
September 26, 2019
Status: Completed
MTLed it! That's how much I love this story. It's just sweet and light, watching the MC move up.
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trash_generalist
trash_generalist rated it
August 3, 2022
Status: Completed
UPDATED REVIEW: (01/18/23) This is the second time I've read this! The first time around, my opinion of the novel was high, but I wasn't really prepared to read such an unconventional piece. So, after falling asleep in the middle of reading it, I ended up dropping it the next day. Just as promised though, I reread it once my mood was right and enjoyed it immensely!

SUMMARY: The FL is a modern woman who transmigrated into the body of an imperial concubine. The imperial concubine is beautiful, but not the... more>> most beautiful. She was also not very talented. However, the emperor did give her some favor in the beginning. It was only because she was too arrogant that she ended up dying and being switched with the FL. Perhaps, if it were anyone else in the FL's position (at least if it was a typical heroine lol), they would have rushed to fall in love with the Emperor. But the FL of this novel is very realistic. She knows that there are only two endings waiting for her. Either she earns the favor of the emperor or she becomes a forgotten concubine bullied by everyone in the palace. Wanting live a comfortable life, she picks the former, and starts to treat her current situation as a job.

THOUGHTS? When most people read novels, it's often with an escapist mentality. A happy ending, a great romance for the ages, etc. If a story doesn't have both of those things, it becomes a bit unconventional. That's the case for this piece. It's not something that I would easily recommend, no matter how much I liked it! Mainly because this is the kind of literary work that's easier to enjoy when one knows what to expect from it. The first time I read it, I really wasn't prepared for the novel to be like this, so I ended up dropping it despite knowing that it had great potential.

Anyway... definitely read this if you have the chance! Just remember that this is not your normal work. It's better to know what's in store. At least then, you can enjoy it for what it is.

RATING: 4.65/5

The first I read this, the rating I gave was 4.15 (I read c45 chapters at the time). Now that I've finished the novel, my opinion of it has risen quite significantly. I think it's a novel to remember. Perhaps it's not as satisfying as other works may be. But it's well-written, has a great theme, and is thought-proving. In this way, it stands out from other works.

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OLD REVIEW: Life of a girl that was transmigrated into the imperial harem. The FL is the pragmatic type, she considers her new role as a career and Is very professional when it comes to 'training the emperor' to love (all while coldly avoiding love herself). It's definitely not a romance, more of a comedy/drama that's focused on imperial harem intrigue. I was looking for a novel just like this, where the realistic happenings of the palace are detailed, so I'm glad to have read the novel even if I didn't end up finishing it.

I recommend at least trying it out whether you like romance or not. The FL's thoughts are hilarious and it's very satisfying to see her climb up the ranks with all of her small schemes. The realistic characters only add to the enjoyment — making it easier to get s**ked into the flow of the novel. As for the ML, he's polygamous — uniquely so. Most MLs end up devoting themselves to an FL after a while, but this handsome scum of a man is an emperor through and through. The FL's training works but it doesn't mean he's going to stop enjoying other women.

RATING: 4.15/5

Even though I didn't finish this novel, I still think very highly of it's content. It's written well and is translated well. The characters are great and the premise intriguing. It doesn't have the usual romance factor, but the mystery helps with adding that little something-something. I just fell asleep in the middle and didn't feel like reading anymore after waking up LOL. Happens all the time to me. So I'll have to come back and reread it another time when I'm in the mood for such a story. <<less
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rosalinenightskies
rosalinenightskies
May 8, 2022
Status: --
I am so confused how the MC, a modern women could tolerate being shared. Like I guess if you right it as an ancient women, you can tolerate it but it will be boring since there isn't anything to say about but it doesn't make sense how a women can change so quickly. The MC just goes through with it? I understand an emperor who suddenly changes his mind is strange and probably would be protested against by his citizens but I will never understand how the MC can accept... more>> the fact that yeah. She is sharing someone.

I mean that is just sad, you could have made her run away, it is hard but she is a modern women right? It would be hard if she was someone from Ancient China but she is a rebirth modern women, running away seems good.

It just makes me view MC like the ML, both manipulating each other for their own gains. I guess this is just not my cup of tea since I do not like the fact that MC could just be like, screw it, I prefer money and jewelry than my own happiness and freedom. Its not like the ML favors her so much that she is being put on a pedestal either or a bit better than others, its a story of a normal women rebirthed to concubine and an emperor and scheming to get to the top.

You could see how the MC's character is like, she is kind of treating this as a deal for money really, so I assume money is her happiness or she cant be bothered to fight for freedom, which is sad because she is a modern person. <<less
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