Deposed Empress General

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You are the ruler, I am a subject, you want loyalty, I’ll give you loyalty.
You are the ruler, I am the subject, you want my sacrifice, I will sacrifice for you.
This lifetime, we’ll only be ruler and subject…… cannot become the one who accompanies you to experience everything.

A deposed empress, a failure of a substitute. Charging into battle, he was the emperor, and she, his general. But within the intimacy of their military tent, he was her husband, and she, his wife.

But everything was star-crossed. For the one he loved the most, he would push her into hell again and again.

Associated Names
One entry per line
废后将军
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
You Must Pity Me (3)
Unrepentant (2)
Eastern Palace (1)
Ballad of Ten Thousand Gu (1)
One Night, One Day, One Year, One Lifetime (1)
The Journey of Flower (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Novels which lives in me
  2. Historical Romance
  3. All my like
  4. my tears ricochet
  5. angsty 2AM read

Latest Release

Date Group Release
05/03/19 LanguidTranslations c132 (end)
05/03/19 LanguidTranslations c131
05/03/19 LanguidTranslations c130
05/02/19 LanguidTranslations c129
05/02/19 LanguidTranslations c128
05/02/19 LanguidTranslations c127
05/02/19 LanguidTranslations c126
05/02/19 LanguidTranslations c125
05/02/19 LanguidTranslations c124
05/01/19 LanguidTranslations c123
05/01/19 LanguidTranslations c122
04/29/19 LanguidTranslations c121
04/29/19 LanguidTranslations c120
04/29/19 LanguidTranslations c119
04/28/19 LanguidTranslations c119
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34 Reviews sorted by


Chibiterasu22
Chibiterasu22 rated it
April 21, 2019
Status: c112
Okay, so I never write reviews.

But I had to for this novel.

First of all, the translator. Holy crap, the consistency is insane. Even if they miss a day, they will make up for it. They are keeping up with their schedule of one release a day. These aren't short chapters either, chapters are filled with complexity and depth that the translator is properly able to convey. So I just wanted to give a giant shout out and heartfelt thanks to the amazing translator.

Second. I've read my fair share of political... more>> intrigue and tragedy novels and this novel is up there for me. I love the character growth and progression within this novel. Each character is fleshed out and you truly become immersed in the setting, making the novel all the more poignant. I don't have the words to describe how much this novel makes me feel.

I have no clue why this novel has such a low rating. Please give it a shot. This is not some generic political novel with pacing issues that has an OP MC. This story takes its time to build up tension and to deliver gut-wrenching blows. Give this novel a few chapters, while it has a slower start, the journey is worth it.

This novel gets a solid five stars from me. <<less
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RabiezMonkey
RabiezMonkey rated it
February 10, 2019
Status: Completed
Spoiler

I tried to mini-translated this LN. It's one of kind tragic and complicated story I've ever read so far (actually I don't like reading tragedy, but dunno why I decided to give this one a try...)

I'm positive that all female readers here will hate the emperor Murong Yan so much that they want to slap his face, kick his bu*t until his flower burst, throw him with rotten egg and veggies and tomatoes (or... a brick ?! I dont want it to be too gory tho...) But here I thought, mostly people dunno how to cherish other people around them. At the time they realize it, everything have been too late. Murong Yan is this kind of man. He thought that he love a girl but he didnt realize that his heart had longing for another since long ago... But what to do, he is the emperor after all. People said that someone who stand above 10.000 will never be trully in love. Murong Yan is also like this. Highly ambitious and full of schemes. The woman (and pawn) he personally nurtured and loves has too much power in the end under her, he cant accept that. Everything that have potential to endanger his throne, he will never let it grow. So he had to cut her wings...

Our MC, what should I say, I dun understand her tho... She said that she love the emperor, but she didnt want to stay by his side either... Her life wasnt all tragic, because she actually had lots friends who care about her. The best thing was the little third prince under her wings would be the only one who laugh in the end. #banzai

Overall, in my point of view, this story is very tragic for the emperor, but NOT too tragic for our MC. The man was dead in remorse, thinking about her even before his death, but our MC in the end regained her freedom...

5 stars!!!

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seishoku
seishoku rated it
March 14, 2020
Status: Completed
I never write reviews, but this was so powerful to me that I felt that I had to write one. First of all, kudos to the translator. Even though I binge-read this after it was all done, looking at the dates on the posts I could really see how regularly and frequently they updated. I also really enjoyed reading their comments on the chapters, hehe.

I don't usually like/read tragic stories, so I read the last 2 chapters first to see how the ending was. Those two chapters were written in... more>> such a beautiful, evocative way that it convinced me to read the story from the beginning to understand what had happened and see how things ended up that way. It was worth it. This novel is so powerful and I love the way it was written. It's so descriptive and some of the ways that the author describes the most emotionally painful scenes forced me to tears. Here's an example: "Memories were the blade that could cut through gold and jade. It just slid over his soul so sharply." There were quite a few times you had to really read between the lines to understand what was going on. There was a lot of plotting and nobody ever really said what they truly felt inside.

The characters in this were just... wow. Unlike a lot of similar stories, there aren't really THAT many characters. There's no true cannon fodder that's just gone in a few chapters. You have some recurring characters in each of the countries that keep coming back again and again. The main trio of orphans was such a strong group. They were all characterized really well and everything they did, how the three developed throughout the novel made sense with their convictions and personalities. PARTICULAR SHOUT-OUT TO THE AWESOME LENG FEIYAN. Definitely one of my favorite female characters in a Chinese novel. Of course, Zuo Canglang was amazing. More on her later.

I quite enjoyed all of Marshal Wen's faction members, too. Wang Nan was really cute and I had a soft spot for Yuan Xi, as well. At least some of them got a sort of happy ending, so I'm glad about that. Daxi Qin............... wow my heart ached for him. I was also secretly hoping that he would manage to take Ah Zuo away by the end. He didn't appear often, but he left a real impression every time he did.

The male lead (if you can call him that) Murong Yan was a true enigma for a lot of the novel. I knew he had to be a bad dude since readers hated him so much, but in the end, I just found him pitiful. Some analysis of him and his relationship with Zuo Canglang below, obviously with spoilers:

Spoiler

This was a person who was deeply traumatized by his past. He went from being the most spoiled little prince to being completely ignored and even hated by his father. His mother actually treated him very poorly due to her delusional beliefs that doing so would make him stronger and a better emperor, etc. That plus the way she died, hissing "This is what happens to the weak!" at him while gripping tightly onto his arm... Can you imagine being held onto by your dead mother like that? How much did those words sink in, how long did that haunt him? The answer is "his whole life". He learned at the age of 5 that people's feelings and promises aren't worth anything and that he'd die in the worst way if he was "weak" so he no longer was weak.

There's this part later in the novel where it talks about how he became a different person, strong and cunning... but a part of him was always still that small child who wanted to be loved and wanted to be approved of, and it was that small child version of him who longed for Zuo Canglang's gentleness. "This type of Murong Yan that was like he was begging to be loved was seemingly a laughingstock, but at the same time was pitiful.... He hated that child that was crying, hiding in the dark corners. He hated that weak and bright infant. He thought that that child already died, rotting in Zhangwen Hall's tr*sh heaps, in some unknown corner. But he didn't know when it had started, that every time he looked at her, held her, that child would appear again." Murong Yan couldn't stand that, and I think that's part of why he treated her so badly.

There's another part later where one of his minor consorts muses that he could spoil and pamper those he didn't love with riches and gentleness because he didn't care about either of those things. He only seemed to treat them well on the surface, but that was just a testament to how much he didn't care about them. But to the person he truly loved, he could give them nothing.

He truly gave Zuo Canglang nothing. He only took from her over and over again. At the beginning, he wanted to portray himself as this loving emperor, so he pushed her into hell over and over to flaunt to the public his relationship with Jiang Bilan. Then Jiang Bilan crossed a line with him and he broke that illusion. The scene where he beats the crap out of Jiang Bilan, saying that if it wasn't for how he needed her show of affection, why would he have bothered leaving her alive???? As a reader you wonder as you read if he ever really loved Jiang Bilan and that scene just confirms it all in the most heartwrenching way. It actually makes you feel so bad for Jiang Bilan in that moment. There's no truly evil characters in this novel. All of them are just trying to survive and be loved.

Murong Yan slowly killed off all the people Zuo Canglang cared about until nothing was left but him and her, but her heart was completely dead. And the thing was that he knew it. He says so many times that he doesn't even care anymore if her gentleness is real or fake, he just wants her by his side. In the last 50 or so chapters, he basically lets her get away with everything. She breaks people out of prison, she does all this conspiring, and he knows all of it and just lets it go. He wants so desperately to make up for all the crappy things he knows he did to her: getting her almost killed on multiple occasions, forcing her to have an abortion while faking a temper tantrum about the identity of the father of the baby deSPITE KNOWING FULL WELL IT WAS HIS BABY (THE BABY WAS IN ITS 6TH MONTH!!!!!! THIS PART ALMOST MADE ME STOP READING, I WAS SO UPSET), plotting and succeeding to kill off all of her closest friends and loved ones... The only thing Murong Yan ever really "gave" her was the position of general and the glory that came with that position. But she never wanted any of those things and her being general was just convenient for him.

There's this part after he basically forces Yang Lianting to die where he thinks "This has also become, between him and her, a wound where it was impossible to staunch the hemorrhaging." As he does all these horrible things, Murong Yan knows that it will only further drive this wedge between them. But he feels that he has to. Part of it is because, as emperor, he cannot stand anyone who is noble and so disloyal to him (even if it's just in his head). Part of it is also because he truly wants to completely clip Zuo Canglang's wings. If she has no one else to rely on, no one else she cares about left alive, then no matter what her feelings towards him are, he is all she has left.

At the very end, he achieves that and it's just so sad. It's depressing to see Zuo Canglang watch his actions later in the novel and think "Wow if this had happened a year or two ago, I would've been able to justify it. I would've truly thought that he worried about me, but now I can see all the lies" (her thoughts were more poetic than this lol that is just a summary). Then in the next few paragraphs, you read about Murong Yan thinking "in the past when I said these things, she believed it, but now I can see that she just doesn't believe in anything I say at all anymore".

His previous lies are no longer lies, but she's no longer willing to believe!! She took 99 steps towards him out of her deep love for him, but he rejected her at every step, so she turned away. So even though Murong Yan takes 1, 000 steps towards her after, Zuo Canglang only slips further and further away.

It's just a lot of torture. Yet it's very satisfying. Even though my heart ached, I did not once wish for her to turn back towards him. Their relationship is beautifully ugly. Zuo Canglang loves him so deeply from the very beginning, and he very quickly falls in love with her, too, but doesn't recognize it. He just uses her feelings for him again and again, torturing her mind and body (or tacitly allowing others to) in the worst ways. Once he is all alone at the top and realizes how much he wants her love and gentleness towards him, it's already too late. Her heart has turned to ashes and she actively plots against him.

There's a scene towards the end where Murong Yan goes up to the top of a building with his third son, Murong Xuan who has been raised by Zuo Canglang. They talk some double-meaning stuff about how it's nice at the top (ie: being emperor) but then Murong Xuan says "Unfortunately Ah Zuo isn't here." and Murong Yan agrees that that's unfortunate before thinking "Not knowing why, a sliver of pain just slowly spread in his heart. Ruling the world, everything had to submit to his will, but unfortunately she wasn't here." That really just about sums up their relationship.

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So yes, this novel is tragic. But I would actually say that the tragedy is in the middle. The ending was the best possible outcome for everybody. I definitely recommend this novel and it's one that I will likely read again and again, just chasing for that feeling of emotion and melancholy. <<less
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amruta
amruta rated it
January 29, 2020
Status: Completed
what a sad story.

This novel reminded me of Scarlet Heart Ryeo. No one in the story has a happy ending.

The ML turned out to be a manipulative jerk. The side characters are also tragic. The only good thing is that the FL manages to escape. FL realizes that ML is power hungry and will go to any extent to get what he wants. FL then actively slowly poisons ML. ML never regrets his actions till the end. Instead, he thinks he should never have met the FL. The way the... more>> ML considers his own children as things is appalling. Overall, an ok read. Don't read unless you want to get depressed. <<less
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lonelysaram
lonelysaram rated it
September 28, 2019
Status: Completed
Spoiler

When I first started reading, I thought it would have a happy ending. How s*upid I was that time, and after reading chapters after chapters, losing sleep for it, I eventually got into the end and didn't know what to feel.

It's a very pitiful story because both the main characters were never able to be together. Even if there is another lifetime, they shouldn't be together. The ML was calculative and manipulative even until the end, but I can't really blame him because of his trauma when he was a child. It was a repeatedly mentioned, and at the start, I didn't realise how detrimental it was and how his trauma was affecting his ability to trust and love someone genuinely.

Every single person was a chess piece to him.

The MC was wild and brave, but loyal to the bone. She thought she only needed to see him happy and she would be happy, and it worked for a while. If you read the story till the end, you realise that some of the moments in the beginning,

Spoiler

when he showed how loyal his heart was to his childhood sweetheart, who was also his betrothed before she was drugged and r*pd by the crown prince, he was actually doing so in order to manipulate the MC, who he knew had longing for him.

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These longing and admiration toward the ML eventually became her ultimate doom.

I loved how there was a turning point in the story and this piece of a story is truly well-written. Each war was detailed enough but written concisely, short and to the point. I love how the author was breezing through the growing up part and the wars, but provide enough information so that we were able to imagine every scene.

Throughout the story, I wonder if the ML ever truly love the MC, and even if he did at the end, there was nothing that he could able to change. Sometimes I wished to see them together and to have a happy ending. Both of them were pitiful people, abandoned and neglected, only trying to thrive for a cause they believe in. Maybe, maybe, ML did wish for a peaceful reign that he visioned for, but at the end of the day, he still caused a lot of blood to flow in the river, twist a knife in her heart.

If they had met in a different time, as different people, how good it would be... but past debt can't just forgotten after reincarnation, ah.

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Jden
Jden rated it
September 15, 2019
Status: Completed
I just finished reading this and... I am awestruck. This story was meticulously woven. The complexity of it all was thrilling. Really makes you ponder. It's really delirious how he could give the ones he didn't love all the riches and pamper them, giving them his devoted attention and gentleness. But for the person he truly loved, he could give nothing. Not only is the romance complex, the setting, the events, festivities, etc... all was taken into account and written with much detail and intricacy. Please ignore the bad comments... more>> (if any) and give this a chance, you won't regret it. <<less
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rosesakura95
rosesakura95 rated it
October 10, 2020
Status: Completed
This quote describes this novel the most accurately:

"Zuo Canglang reached her hand out, pressing on his heart. Actually, the most frightening thing in this world, isn't actually when the person you love doesn't love you. But it's actually when you fall in love with a person. And you use your entire passion and being to protect it, but in the end, you discover that what you have held in your embrace was just a stone." When I read this I really felt all her emotions. This story has one of the most UNFEELING ML I have ever seen since he doesn't show any guilt or repentance of what he has done from beginning to end. This ML is on my top 5 tr*sh MLs just like the one from Jiang Hu's Road is Curved. Both only see others as their puppets which is disgusting.

I really liked the plot of this tragic story with our kickass MC who was basically the most intelligent character of the story and how she changes from someone who was so devoted to the ML that she did anything he asked her to do to her awakening to his true nature and the start of her revenge.

I took away 1 star because I just couldn't really feel that the ML was abused at all after she started her revenge.
Spoiler

I am so sad that she didn't cheat on him with that Daxi guy since that would have been so good: It would have been great to see her say something like, didn't you say that the child you made me abort was not yours but from me cheating on you with him well now I really did cheat on you with him

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The ML literally destroyed every single thing or person that could bring her joy. So I feel that her revenge on him was really lacking if you calculate what he owes her. The only thing that I am happy about that he did was
Spoiler

that he directly or indirectly made her infertile and although I felt really sad and angered for her, in later chapters I also felt relieved for her because I wouldn't have wanted her to be shackled by him because of his child

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Her revenge on everyone else was really fulfilling though.

4/5 rating

Edit: I thought it was weird that the title of the novel had nothing to do with the actual story since she was never an empress nor deposed and I Just found out that this novel has 2 versions and the one that's translated here is the new version.

Just finished reading the old version and OMG I cried so much as compared to the new version. This version is way more tragic because it is concise and short so all the tragic things happen one after the other and the feels are so much stronger. This version literally only focuses on the abuse that the MC goes through and its ending is more tragic, unfortunately there is no revenge on anyone in it.

I suppose the author felt bad for how tragic the MC's life was in this old version so he/she changed many things to make the new version a bit better.
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Humbledaisy
Humbledaisy rated it
February 23, 2020
Status: Completed
I decided to re-read this novel after about nine months. I had to up my review to five stars. The very long slow burn of the relationship between the MC and ML - from simple loyalty to love to fear and escape - was like watching a beautiful apple blossom bloom, turn into a delicious apple and then rot on the branch. It was horrible yet lovely.

As for the prince-turned-emperor Murong Yan - he's a despicable character that became the right man for the job. Bit by bit, he turned... more>> away his friends and lovers (through loss of position and death) until he had the clean skeleton of a powerful position. No one to undermine him - no one to love or admire him either. A king on a throne of bones.

That's really how almost any powerful person ends up if they value their own position over the relationships that made them.

I did enjoy reading how our FL ended her career - she raised the third prince to be what his father ultimately couldn't be and created her own ending.

I also thought the translator did a fine job. <<less
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Michelicious11
Michelicious11 rated it
May 17, 2019
Status: c132
Wow. What a journey. This novel was a surreal experience but what amazed me most was the consistency and competency of the translator. I also like how he took a risk and translated something that was bound to be unpopular and that didn't follow the common tropes. Thank you for the variety contributed to NU. And for sharing your opinions! It's nice when thoughts from someone this close to a project are shared! I have rarely been this impressed and am looking forward to his next installments! Now to the... more>> review itself.

I think you don't just rate a story, but also its translator, so this was bound to be high-rated by me considering the first paragraph lol.

The MC is someone I had a lot of compassion for. I truly was rooting for her throughout the whole story and wanted her success and happiness. She has had it rough, yet didn't let it turn her into a monster.

Talking about monsters, there are quite a few in human skins in this novel! ML is probably the most hated character, but I don't think he deserves that title. There are much more hateful characters in there. I think the hatred directed towards him is mainly inspired by the MC's pain which he was a big contributor to, but ultimately he also saved her and cared for her no matter the motives (and that care was mostly genuine) while some people just hurt her out of pettiness.

I really liked the common commentary of the TL as mentioned, and one L/N from him stood out. One where he tries to see things from the ML's pov. I will never condone his wrongdoings, actually he froze my blood and heart on a regular basis, but he was a product of his environment and overly competent. And I was rooting for him to turn over a new leaf, to escape his wickedness aided by MC's love and dedication.

I could go on and on, and that's exactly a factor to why this story is so good. The psychology of the characters is complex and need constant analysis. Most of them are clever, and the schemes so abundant. You never have a dull moment. I appreciate how this story wasn't needlessly dragged on.

And the political landscape... Aaaaah don't get me started. It was brilliant! So much attention to details and authenticity to the ancient times. The horror of the Harem and the fight for the throne along with the many international strained relationships. The constant back-and-forth between visiting and experiencing the civil arts and martial ones which ML was very versed in (give him that). I adored it all. This story is unbelievably witty and among the bitterness and heart break, subtle humor was weaved in. It always came out of nowhere haha, actually managing to get a few chuckles out of me.

Anyway, I don't think I've spoiled anything. I could still go on. It is because this novel is so thought-provoking and heartfelt that is it so great. There is subtle analysis and commentary on the customs of ancient times. To what point are they all accountable for their actions? Being born in this kind of era, does it excuse some of their deeds? I, ultimately, believe that it does. In a few centuries, I'm sure we'll be all judged on our wastefulness and materialism lol. It's hard to look at this story objectively, not tainted by modern and western mentality. It is a very difficult exercise actually, but I liked it.

Finally, I'll end this by exposing my naivety and sentimentality... I truly wished...

Spoiler

that eventually, in their older years or even before that they would manage to truly understand each other when it came to the other person AND themselves.

They knew each other like the back of their hands and were so close, yet so far. ML, I am sure, loved MC but never owned up to it while MC never wanted to see ML for what he was and went ahead blindly rushing into obsession. Although ML has chosen power over love, didn't MC love the idea of him more than the man himself? She chose a dream before reality in my opinion. They never truly connected and never could as they both were untrue to themselves and disillusioned about the other.

I was sad that neither got closure. ML dies alone and lonely and MC exiles herself having lost almost everything and leaving the rest behind. What kind of life can she hope to achieve? I wanted to have the ML acknowledge his wrongs to her. Her, to see the humanity he rarely exposed. I wanted to hurl when he didn't even let their child off. And with her friends' deaths, there was no going back *sigh

However, I am certain he ached over most of the things he did to her despite still going through with them. And he did create an entire personality just for her. I find it romantic for him. He faked it for her more than for his childhood friend and that means a lot.

And in the end, MC didn't give him her everything as she promised, and even became as guarded of him that he was of her. Reasonably, but to me they both fail each other.

Why did I wish for a somewhat happy ending despite the tags and red flags. I cherished their moments together though and the glimpses of true love that couldn't be contained.

This story is bittersweet but also very romantic. My opinion.

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Can't wait for the TL next project! <<less
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dhiladahlan
dhiladahlan rated it
January 29, 2019
Status: c29
I first get to know this novel from a recommendation from other site.

Although the translated lines can be a bit confusing sometimes, but it is still a decent read.

I love the characters (our Miss Leng especially) and the plot so far. Thank you to the translator for picking this up. I'm ready to cry all night after I finished with 'unrepentant'. Well, all and all this novel might suit those who love story with a lot of angst
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tedy2004
tedy2004 rated it
June 13, 2020
Status: c34
I wouldn't want this to happen to our FL but it did!, this is too annoying because its way too depressing.

The ML is a jerk with his "love" for another. If there was a possibility to give FL an advice I would tell her:

Run girl runnnnn !!! from this place, what loyalty! that's s*upid, if a person like ML backstabs psychologically and intentionally too, in your mind and heart, then he doesn't deserve it even if he saved you at the beginning, you're not his s*ave. There are other fishes... more>> in the Better Men Sea!!!!!!

So... R.I.P this novel.

2 stars for poor FL,

it's sad she didn't run away from him sooner <<less
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Riiz
Riiz rated it
May 25, 2019
Status: c132
Spoiler

I went in knowing that it was not going to end happily and almost definitely expected the FL to die. But apparently there are two versions of the story - the original having a much worse ending i.e FL dies so the one I read was an extended version where the ML was rewritten in a slightly better light. In saying that though, the FL was still written as a wonderfully smart, loyal and pure person as she dedicated her whole life to the scared, twisted ML character who by the end created his own demise by spiraling into evil and dark actions due to his paranoia and inability to show his vulnerability and trust.

I'm so glad - even though it happened wayy too late in my opinion - that FL was wise enough to see the clarity of the situation and the destruction ML was causing to those around him to play the same kind of facade ML does to fight for what she believes is right. Honestly she deserves so much better and even though her life suffered the loss of all the ones she cared about around her, you KNOW that she was cared for, respected and appreciated in many ways.

In the end, I can only feel pity for ML because despite truly having feelings for FL, he is never able to/not willing to acknowledge the powerlessness and fear which love brings and considering he puts on the facade of an unbreakable iron exterior that's the true reason why he'll always be empty and lonely.

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Lamyea
Lamyea rated it
May 8, 2019
Status: c132
I started reading this novel after a review on another translating website. All I knew before coming to this novel was that there was a lot of angst.

My god was this beautiful, the characters were intricately made and their development was amazing. I fell in love with this novel from the first chapter, especially the MC. She was strong, courageous and the ending was (for me) perfect.

I know that a lot of the readers don't like Murong Yan, I in a weird way kind of pity him. There were parts... more>> in this novel that I felt like he was being unreasonable, or just plain paranoid. But as some parts of the chapters revealed why he was so distrusting, it made me understand him a bit. The novel reveals how many layers he wears in this mask and his childhood, so I didn't really hate him in the end. However, the things he did to the MC and her child, his distrust and his acting made me want to punch him, scream to him that the MC was loyal to him and that by doing this he was pushing her away. I feel like Murong Yan was ultimately the most fleshed out character and the ending was perfect for him because the thing he wanted the most, he couldn't have because he was the one who reject it first.

I actually heard that this specific novel is different from the original material. In the original, the MC started off as the empress and I heard the ending is also different. This novel (in my opinion) is better because the ending was satisfying. The MC didn't start of as the empress but in the end, she was so much more powerful than any other characters in this novel.

Actually, what I really loved and admired about this novel was the loyalty that some characters held. It was exactly this loyalty that made the plot more angst.

Also, I want to thank the translator for picking up this novel, as it really made my day. The consistent posting and translations was unbelievable. It's thanks to you that this story can be shared. <<less
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Shio
Shio
January 20, 2019
Status: --
You know when you read a chapter and you instantly know it's a good novel? Yeah, this novel fit the bill. While the title is similar to other common, standard face slapping novel, the content inside is actually a rarely seen novel with good character builing. The story might not be everyone's favorite, but I believe it deserve higher score.

Our heroine was a normal girl who, after her father died, been choosen as sacrifice to the mountain god. Almost died on the mountain, she was picked up by second prince's... more>> faction and entered competition with other orphan to stay alive.

Like the summary suggest, she would be the second prince's most trusted attendants, but being the general-much less empress, is still far away from the current chapter. The author didn't take the lazy way here. We started from the bottom and then follow her as she grew up.

I am a sucker for characters that have their own mind and agenda, so this one is a 5 for me. <<less
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Reira16
Reira16 rated it
January 13, 2019
Status: c14
Spoiler

Really interesting, the story is deep. Although we can already see it's going to be with lots of heartache. But what I'm wondering is, will he not love her, but instead that other girl (his fiance from childhood) ? May contain some

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neri21
neri21
January 25, 2019
Status: --
i heard about this novel from another site. And I read the reviews online via MTL. Everybody who's read it have boiling blood reading about this emperor (not sure if he's one or not. Really can't understand the MTL.) anyway, he deposed this girl because he really disliked her. He liked the other girl better. But the scene that really angered everyone and showed this guy's utter depravity and cruelty is that he allowed his lover to torture this girl. How? By forcing girl to swallow snakes. Yup, snakes were... more>> forced down girl's throat which caused her death later on. I don't know what happened after this cruel act since as I said the MTL was horrendous but believe me, everybody was screaming to have this guy's balls cut off in the cruelest way possible. Que horror, right? <<less
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tanzmoon
tanzmoon rated it
January 5, 2019
Status: c6
The description is certainly interesting. The quality of the translation is okay, it’d be great if the translator got an editor as it has lots of grammatical errors.

But I really appreciate the translator’s hard work.

I left a 5 star as there are too many 1 stars. We’ve yet to see how this novel will progress so, rating will change depending on that.

I hope the translator won’t give up halfway. Keep up the good work ???
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Pixy
Pixy
December 16, 2020
Status: c70
Why isn't this tagged as ultramega tragedy?
I hesitated writing a review because I haven't finished the story but it's been on my mind, so here we go:

First off, the translation is well done, though there is some anachronistic wording that took me out of the story a bit. However, the translation is clean, easy to read, and the translator brings forward some very artful phrases that are top notch.

... more>>
Spoiler

The story is intense. It's one of the few that I just can't bring myself to finish, and actually had to skip to the end to see if I was going to make it. I don't think I can, since my poor tender heart is already broken at the midpoint and it doesn't look like it will mend (story wise).

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In my head, I divided the story into two basic arcs, the first is action and character/world building, and I enjoyed this very much. The characters are all people who have experienced a great deal of pain in their lives, which has hobbled them emotionally, and this arc shows how their determination, skill, and intelligence pushes them to not only succeed, but to excel. This is apparent in the female characters, who don't readily fit into societal roles. We are introduced to characters as are their mettle is tested, and they form a trio of friends (two female, one male) whose bond is strengthened throughout. This bond is a pleasure to read about, and I wished the story concentrated more on them and their relationship.

This first arc is also full of a lot of action, and I enjoyed (?!) the war, strategy, and other action elements a lot.

The second arc is much more about political machinations, both in the court and the rear court. This was where it became tough reading for me. The strong female lead was not equipped to deal with this sort of fighting, and she is at a huge disadvantage when trying to navigate through this. While I do think it's an excellent depiction of cutthroat qualities of court and particularly the damage that comes from harem life which disenfranchises women to the point where their only moves are to actively attempt to destroy each other, it got harder and harder for me to read and this is where I just had to give up.

It shows again how emotional violence is much more damaging than physical violence, but after while the mood just became unremitting in its darkness, and the characters damage begins to really show.

Read it if you enjoy well written and complex stories, but be aware that it's not going to have many happy moments, so make sure you have the tissue box handy. <<less
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Reader coming through
Reader coming through
November 18, 2019
Status: --
This is an amazing novel with such a tragic story.

In the middle you actually hope that it gets better between our MCs.

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Spoiler

But their love is destructive. You actually want to blame Murong Yan but it's actually a tragic depiction of a prince than didn't know how to love someone. Actually the main fault is on his parents while the mother only know how to show her love by hurting him again and again, the trauma of her death (showing the ruthlessness of the harem). And his father who was so paranoid that he though that ignoring him, letting his people hurt him would actually make him feel grateful and dissolve his hate (yes dude, that's the right way). You are not surprised that he turned this way.

I feel sad that Zuo Cangjian couldn't heal him. But I'm impressed by her character. She was hurt physically and spiritually so many times and she still put the people before her.

In my opinion, their biggest mistake would have been to let Jiang Sanyi live so long. He sowed discord so many times. If he was killed earlier I feel that they would not have turned this way (actually the whole family). But as the author seeked a tragic ending we can't help it. ToT

Just one thing I disliked was when Murong Xuan asked if she had loved him and the others who have been watching them since the beginning kind of advance that she didn't. YES of course she did! Don't tell bullsh*t like "it's complicated" humph.

For me, if she didn't want to be burried with him and have been titled before is because it's the only way she could use to show her disapproval on the way he dealed with his court and her lack of trust after manipulating her every time. After all, he's the king and she couldn't resist in many way against his twisted love.

Also one thing I find hard to understand is that he tolerated the sheming of the harem while his own mother died because of it. It was explained by his ability to not trust anyone and that he wanted to keep a certain balance in his court but it's actually lead to the opposite. And it was thrown in his face in many situations but he still choose to ignore it.

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I read it with great interest, if you don't feel too frighten by tragic story. Go on, take some handkerchiefs with you though. <<less
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Wiuwiu
Wiuwiu rated it
June 11, 2019
Status: Completed
Five stars!

This is my favorite angst novel so far I read ancient background novel. Damn, I really love the author pictures the flow, character growth, multiple layers that unveiled through the story. Especially the strong character FL. Give it try reading this, it does worth high rating.

Spoiler

even though my ship ZC and DQ didn't sail, but the end was satisfying

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Thanks a lot for the translator bringing up this novel
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