She did not forget them and was actually not willing to let them go in the first part of the story (i think taoist priest highlighted it by saying she will only wake up after she put down her grievances and past? It's the first passing out of FL I think when she was attacked)

until MC met the bit*h who stole her past life's husband, the prince, I will explain in cons.

Just see MC's circumstances, in her past life she blindly loved the prince, one-sided love. She always give, never receive. Her poor judgment of people makes her always to be a victim of scheme. In short, she cannot tell other's intention at all. The only thing that covers this downside is her future knowledge, that's it. Moreover, ML is described as frivolous and at the same time also pushy and straightforward. In past life, people around her always covers their intention while interacting and that's why she tries so hard to uncover ML's intentions even tho his only intention at first just that damn "she's an interesting and devious girl" plot.

Even tho it's cliché, their romance progress with the right pace. They both have their goals, their first impression for each other is that "I need to be cautious of this man/girl" and it is so justified remembering that their goal is far from being a saint. While MC tries to avoid ML to prevent unnecessary disturbance, ML tries to get close to her not just bc she is interesting but also to ensure that MC will not be a negative variable for his plans. The turning point of his impression is when she gambles with her life to do her scheme (she burned her hand), he found out that she is struggling to live (I am so sad in this part) among her poisonous so called family. I think this is when the haters start coming and say ML steal her spotlight. Well, I can understand haters, this is when the genre start tilting to romance than revenge. But from ML pov, this is what he would do. He pitied her and he wanted to help her. But at the same time, he still has his own goal as priority (that choking scene in the secret room) and that makes him conflicted. Her tears makes him feel guilty so he let her go, I don't really agree ML already love MC at this point, he just pitied her, that's all. Ugh, describing the plot will be wayyy too long so I will stop here. The point is, the plot and characters' trait complement each other that I will say again the plot line development is nailed.

Second, even tho many disagree ML's trait as mainstream and unlike able, this story really need ML with those traits. MC is confirmed having PTSD even tho is not well described, which makes her as passive girl who couldn't make a new relationship either love or friend. She does everything alone that it will make the story awkward if she suddenly develops friendly trait while interact with new people. Well yeah, I admit ML kinda like a creep by not letting her has her privacy. But, bc he is so pushy and frivolous, MC could get out from her comfort zone and has better character development.

Third, didn't have unnecessary misunderstanding. I really hate those bs fillers that only makes chapter longer.

Forth, allies around her also got time screen to develop their character while her enemy describes as complete tr*sh is a little bit shameful. I was hoping at least they have reasonable excuse for what they did, which didn't, they just are described as third rate villains with bird brain.

And for cons, I feel ashamed telling that the biggest cons is MC herself. In her past life she is described has one-sided blind love to the prince and also is an empress with dignity and wisdom after her harsh life in palace and other country, until the end she loved the prince dearly. This is so contradicting that I feel frustrated. I mean, IF she were blind to love she loved the prince till her end, it doesn't make sense that she woke up with those hatreds point out to the prince. I mean, she loved him so bad that her wisdom couldn't even make her has a slight doubt of the prince's act. When she woke up, actually she should be broken first, fault herself and not to the prince, she wants to hate the prince badly but she loves him blindly, what can she do? That is the most logic one.

It doesn't make sense that she is said as wisdom but cannot see through people close to her. IF ONLY, in her last years from past life, she has doubts about the prince, it means she start to see things what she couldn't see before but it's already too late that she died, if it were the case, it will be justified she woke up with those hatred.

While the other characters are well made, MC herself has too many holes. Her past life is one, the other holes was MC couldn't stay true to her original trait. The story is well made until that bit*h who stole the prince showed up, she no longer has wisdom and clear judgement, she became a PTSD patient with broken self confident. I'm not telling it was bad, only placed in the wrong order. Her anxiety is actually better placed before she married ML, before she opened her heart, while she still had the lingering remorse. By accepting ML is like a point where she starts to realise how to embrace herself, to love herself. And by showing her anxiety when bit*h appeared in the latter, it's not just show how she still doesn't develop to be better person also that she's still doubting ML's love.

Ah, those third rate villains. I won't say much. Their appearance was made only to fill the hole that MC is back for revenge, that's it. It's so sad that it was decided MC will revenge her enemy thus her enemy was made, it will be much more better if her enemy wrongdoings was well made first then affecting MC's character growth and not MC's character affecting how her enemy will be wrongdoing her.

How her return is explained, I'm not really fond of it but I will not complain since other novel with the same bg has it worse.

Wrong target revenge. While she hate the prince and do scheme to drag the prince down, the one who actually made her anxious and miserable is the bit*h who stole the prince. Look how clouded her judgement for the bit*h compared to her judgment for the prince. I don't even remember anymore who is the worst scheming against her.

Shen Miao was often plagued with guilt. Guilt from her past actions that caused the death of her first household, guilt from not being able to save her children.

And he bought a white tigress, and named it after her?! He knows our Empress can't be tamed!

Two important people died. A love in a harem is truly a saddest thing. But most of all is that life is not enough to spend it most to the person they love. It really hurts my heart that I cried everytime I remember that part