This novel one of the best novel I ever read until CeZhou separated many event many stories, The writer didn't focus on the main couple and their story after they separate many chapters not even a letter between them
some of the event seem meaningless to me just to make the novel longer I finished the first 140 chapters in 3 days now not even read 5 chapter in day because nothing encourage me to keep reading
I don't say it not worth reading It's really amazing story as long as CeZhou together so hope they meet again soon because I miss them together so much

What a ride. This book has shades of Sha Po Lang and Clear and Muddy Loss of Love. It is REALLY heavy on the politics. There's three parts - first part is set in the capital, second part is in Zhongbo, third part kind of spans both.

I really loved the first arc, kind of liked the second, and wasn't really a fan of the third. The thing I love most about this novel is the arcs of the two protagonists, Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye. They had really beautiful arcs - Shen Zechuan's PTSD, anguish, and trauma and the beautiful symbolism and meaning behind his name, and Xiao Chiye's restlessness and pain in being trapped as a glorified hostage in the capital, his growth as a person and as a member of the Libei family and army.

This author is really really great at writing angst and the responses and growth of the characters when they face setbacks, suffering and loss. First two parts had a lot of this, and there were some really unforgettable scenes and quotes. The moments of vulnerability and intimacy between the two leads was so perfect 😭 And I still remember that poem and the explanation behind Shen Zechuan's name 😭

The third part was full of heavy politicking, with multiple side plots being dealt with. The novel no longer felt like an intense character study of the two main characters, but now focused on this huuuge ensemble cast. I started skimming POVs and chapters. I even got a bit bored of the main couple by the end because their interactions became fairly predictable? As compared to the growth, tenderness and depth that was being explored, built and developed in the first and second parts.

I really struggled to keep up with the huge cast of characters, their histories, motivations and political leanings by the third part. I didn't really feel invested when the author included a poignant moment about the side characters, because there were just so many of them. The chapters also ended abruptly and scene transitions often seemed to be missing in the Chinese edition I read, so it was kind of abrupt and jerky sometimes.

That said, I loved the female characters to bits!!! It's so rare to see complex, competent and likeable female characters in danmei, especially women who have relationships with each other. It's almost a given that danmei fiction is misogynistic; if the women aren't unlikeable and despicable, then there usually is only one (1) likeable female character. I also feel like the author was implying the Qi Zhuyin/Hua Xiangyi relationship?? I love the female characters so much and wish there was a whole novella about them.

As usual, in ancient China political novels, Chinese imperialism is very much part of the foundation of the novel. I also found it a little disappointing that Shen Zechuan became the Emperor... This didn't seem to be where his arc (his name) was leading. Not to mention it's hard to believe that things would really change and there would be less cruelty and corruption, when the author spent most of the novel showing that the system is the problem.