I thought there were too many transmigrations, rebirths and re-rebirths. Also there weren't any situations where the MC had to actually *do* something lol.. It was all taken care of by her doting ML. The author really meant the "laid-back" in the title

The author did devote the final chapter of the novel to rewrite Mu Qing Ci in a "third" rebirth (a third timeline of the story) and she purposely never met with the tornado that is Ruan Ning. So, in her third life everything went back on track to how it's supposed to be. And it still kept the timeline for Ruan Xi too, so no changes between her and Wen Tingzhou. It makes me wonder why the author even bothered to write the interaction between Ruan Ning and Mu Qing Ci. Honestly it was not even comedic, just tragic. The poor girl was so screwed over by Ruan Ning that it was just pitiful.

On the other side, it turns out that Ruan Xi was always the original Ruan Xi. I'm not sure, mainly because it was kind of unclear to me, but I think she had been reborn in another life, leaving her body behind in the first timeline (the novel timeline) then returned to her original body as Ruan Xi in the second timeline (present story). So Ruan Xi lived in the novel timeline for a while but then got sick (?) and left to the modern world, only to return to a completely different timeline back in her original body. She felt extremely saddened that in the original novel timeline Wen Tingzhou was alone til death since their promise between each other was never fulfilled. Their promise to get married when they grew up, he always held that in his heart and stayed alone in the end. While Ruan Xi had left her body to the modern world, someone else entered her body and got married to Qi Yue An. That person also actually came back to this second timeline as someone named Yang and was actually able to marry Qi Yue An again (so they both got a happy ending). Funny enough it was a good choice that Qi Yue An broke the engagement between himself and Ruan Ning.

As for Ruan (San) Ning, I swear she basically lives four times. First in her original world. Second as the transmigrator in the novel timeline, ending in a tragic death. Then, third, she rebirths in the second timeline and lives out her days abandoned in the palace after the emperor dies. She was married to him yet again. However, there's still the fourth time when Mu Qing Ci rebirths into the second timeline—which basically creates a third timeline by her deviation to not get involved with Ruan Ning. All in all, Ruan Ning never lives happily and it was pretty much self-inflicted.

The amazingly idiotic Third Sister who transmigrated and was reborn several times and never learned from any of her past lives.

She was the most entertaining, funnily enough. The FL was a bit boring and dry (as was the ML) and it was more fun to watch all the wacky situations the 3rd Sister got herself into.

Was okay. The couple was basically smooth sailing the whole way and all the tension was gone after their relationship was solidified since nothing was able to get in their way and everything happened as they wished.

Not a complaint really just FYI

one reviewer complained that the step mother/legal wife’s beef with the MC doesn’t make sense but it does? And I don’t know how someone can not see that?? We must not be reading the same story bc ?? Anyway, it does make sense. The whole point is that she wants to hoard all the resources for herself and her children. MC gets in the way of that. Especially bc she is fairly competent and is smart enough to hide her talents. She’s a threat to what should be the status quo.

another reviewer was complaining that the transmigration is never addressed. And like, , , it’s not supposed to. When reading fiction there is a term called “suspension of belief” wherein the readers are able to set aside their reality (and the rules of their reality) to immerse themselves in this fictional world. In this case, we are to believe that these characters transmigrated. Don’t ask how or why. Just believe. The characters won’t ask why or how either. The point is that it happened.

and lastly, someone else complained that Ruan Niang is comically and ridiculously, s*upidly evil. She’s transmigrated and then reborn but still hasn’t learned. They point this out as a fault against the author but like, , , that’s the point. The point is that she’s s*upidly, incomprehensibly villainous. As readers we have to ask ourselves what the author is trying to get across—what message or theme they’re trying to get across. And the message of this story, I feel, is to reject modernity and embrace tradition. The other two transmigrated characters assimilate. They conform. They are lauded as the “good” ones who get good endings.

Ruan Niang is supposed to be s*upid and ridiculous. The point is for us to sit and laugh at her. She is supposed to be an example of what not to do/be.

These are real spoilers that are revealed at the end of the novel...

- MC did not transmigrate. She actually reincarnated with memories of her previous life. However, due to unknown reasons, she experienced memory loss... sometimes of her current life and sometimes of her past life. That's why she mistakenly believed that she transmigrated.

- At the age of 12, MC rescued ML, Wen Ting Zhou. At the time ML had promised to devote his life to her and to propose marriage once she came of age.

- RN's ex-fiancé, Qi Yue An, does find happiness. He gets engaged to a lady who is similar to MC. However, it states that this lady was reborn also but into a different body. Her soul was in MC's body in the first life and was the one married to QYA. This makes me confused since the obvious question is... so where was MC's soul in the first life? 🤷‍♀️