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Legend of Concubine’s Daughter Minglan
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Web Novel (CN)
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Rating(4.3 / 5.0, 446 votes)
5    70% (313 votes)
4    10% (45 votes)
3    6% (26 votes)
2    6% (27 votes)
1    8% (35 votes)
Language
Support Book (#ad)
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One entry per line
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Year
Example: 2012
2010
Status in COO
Status in Country of Origin. One entry per line
5 volumes (376 chapters)
Licensed
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Completely Translated
No
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One entry per line
English Publisher
One entry per line
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Release Frequency
Every 8.9 Day(s)
Activity Stats
[Graph]
Weekly Rank: #847
Monthly Rank: #1065
All Time Rank: #341
Reading List
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On 7998 Reading Lists
Monthly Rank: #4296
All Time Rank: #552

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The pessimistic and negative daughter of a concubine living in the ancient times thought – since life is so difficult, why should one invest serious effort in struggling to live?

The life of an ancient noble woman is often determined and controlled by her family. Moreover, one’s actions often implicate one’s entire family – thus, it is fairly common to see an unexpected calamity result in suffering borne by one’s whole family. Managing to live a good and successful life while retaining one’s dignity is simply too difficult to achieve.

Ah, living in the ancient times is simply too dangerous – we should all just sleep till we die.

Associated Names
One entry per line
The Story of Ming lan (drama)
Zhī fǒu? Zhī fǒu? Yīng shì lǜ féi hóng shòu
หมิงหลัน บุปผาเคียงใจ
庶女· 明兰传
海棠依旧
海棠依舊
知否？知否？应是绿肥红瘦
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Eight Treasures Trousseau (10)
Chongfei Manual (9)
Heavenly Divine Doctor: Abandoned Concubine (7)
To Be A Virtuous Wife (7)
The General’s Little Peasant Wife (5)
Chu Wang Fei (4)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Most Popular Historical BG
  2. want read
  3. My roman empire
  4. My favorite 10/10
  5. Favorite stories

Latest Release

Date Group Release
03/03/24 Lady Kelpi Translations c48
03/03/24 Lady Kelpi Translations c47
03/03/24 Lady Kelpi Translations c46
02/25/24 Lady Kelpi Translations c45
02/25/24 Lady Kelpi Translations c44
02/25/24 Lady Kelpi Translations c43
01/14/24 Lady Kelpi Translations c42
01/08/24 Lady Kelpi Translations c41
12/31/23 Lady Kelpi Translations c40
12/24/23 Lady Kelpi Translations c39
12/24/23 Lady Kelpi Translations c38
12/17/23 Lady Kelpi Translations c37
12/17/23 Lady Kelpi Translations c36
12/10/23 Lady Kelpi Translations c35
12/05/23 Lady Kelpi Translations c34
123…29
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99 Reviews sorted by


NightAir
NightAir rated it
February 22, 2018
Status: c6 part 2
Will update this review as I get further. I'm giving this a five star early on having read only 6 chapters because I'm genuinely invested in it, which is my criteria for 5 stars, in that you lit can't ask for more. I did though just about almost die from reading all the background information (had to force myself through the long winded first few infodump chapters), but the current translation team doing the retranslation made it all smoother and sensical to digest and I honestly am grateful because I... more>> get to enjoy this gem. The set up is interesting and everything's not black and white with people or the circumstances. I'm very excited to read more for when the time comes. <<less
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Pachia
Pachia rated it
February 26, 2017
Status: c18 part1
The MC is so cute and innocent. The characters are more human like, then other novels so far. Can't wait to see what the male lead would be like. Though it did say slow romance for the tags. So we might not know that it is the male lead even though we meet him? Looking forward to more chapters!
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
iampsyx
iampsyx rated it
February 22, 2017
Status: c17 part1
The first few chapters are heavy on world-building and introducing the characters and their relationships, and the story moves along in a slow pace. However, what makes it really shine are the characters --- all have their own motives, fears, desires, aspirations, etc. And are all colored in varying shades of gray. Honestly I like this better than Chu Wang Fei or The Princess Wei Yang because I can feel that the characters aren't just plain stereotypes. There's insight, real relationships, and character actions that actually make an impact on... more>> the story. Side characters aren't just there as decorations --- they have their own personalities that make them likable or not. I rarely give out 5 stars, but if it's to express just how much I love this story, I would give all the stars I have, hands down. <<less
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
DOHere
DOHere rated it
November 9, 2016
Status: Completed
The story, the characters and their relationship are very intricate. You find out little by little all details about each character and each event from various sources. Not only the story, but the way it's narrated seems very realistic. At first the MC is very sick and depressed, but slowly recovers. I think this actually makes sense. It did cross my mind reading other such time travel novels that the MC recovered too quickly from the shock. I, for example, would be very sad missing and thinking of the people close to me that will suffer since I died in my previous life, and all that. The translation is not the best, but better than machine translations and releases are quite frequent as well.
Edit: the translation by the new translation group Flying Lines is great

But I mtl-ed the rest of the story as I couldn't wait anymore. I also watched the drama and, although I liked it, it falls short compared to the novel.
The love story is not the main focus of the story, but plays an important part. I would say it's a realistic love story as well.

My character list:

Spoiler

Sheng MingLan (13) ❤
- 6th young lady of the Sheng Household
- in her previous life she was Yao Yiyi, a court clerk
- cute, very small dimples, as beautiful and delicate as a porcelain doll, the most beautiful of her sisters
Xiaotao (naive, straighforward, 8), Mama Cui (plump and gentle), DanJu (6, gentle, kind, her father died early and her mother had many kids after remarrying, her aunt took pity on her and sent her here), BiSi (skinny, pretty, literate), QinSang (gentle, tender and shy), LuZhi (neat and bold, sarcastic), RuoMei (13-14, cool and charming), CuiXiu (11, clear and smart), Cuiwei, CaiHuan (sent by Wang shi, beautiful) - her personal maids
You mama - came back after she abandoned mc's mom
Steward Cui and his sons, Cui Ping and Cui An, Liu Mangui (smart, taciturn), Ji Qiang (stammered, 25, Luzhi's brother)
XiaHe, XiaZhu - given by Shao shi
-------------------
2nd Old Madame Sheng ♥
- 1st miss of Marquis Yongyi's household from Nanjing, caring and wise, her husband was the 2nd master
Mama Fang, Cuiping - her maids
YanCao (small, straightforward, easily swayed, was sent off to get married, worked for mc)

Gu TingYe (20) ♡
- 2nd di young master of Marquis Ningyuan household, handsome, 2nd rank military governor of the left army
Lai momo and family (from ml's step mom), Liao Yong's wife, Tiao family (from 4th old madam Gu), Diao family (from 4th old madam Gu)
________________________________________
Manniang ╬ - his mistress, who bore him a son and a daughter
-------------------
Ronjie'er (7-8) - thin, timid, weak, pretty
________________________________________
Marquis of Ningyuan ☠ - his father, brother of Marquis of Xiangyang
________________________________________
Qin shi ☠ - 1st madam, daughter of Marquis DongChang
________________________________________
Concubine Gong HongShao (27-28) - pretty, from his 2nd wife Yu YanHong ☠
________________________________________
Concubine QiuNiang - was his ml's maid since his childhood
________________________________________
Lady FengXiang - sent by a general

Gu TingYu (28) - 1st di young master, in poor health, 1st madam's son, very thin, but very delicate and pretty
-------------------
Shao shi (~30) - his wife, oval face, elegant, pretty
-------------------
Xianjie'er (18-19) - their adopted daughter, pretty
________________________________________
Bai shi ♡ ☠ - 2nd wife, ml's mother
________________________________________
Qin shi (44) ╬ - 3rd wife, sister of the 1st wife, daughter of Marquis DongChang
Xiang momo
________________________________________
Yu YanHong ꐦ ☠ - ml's 1st wife, Yu Yanran's younger step-sister
________________________________________
Gu TingWei - 3rd wife's son
-------------------
Xiange'er (2-3)
-------------------
Zhu shi ♡ - from Earl Chengping's family
________________________________________
Gu TingYan - shu daughter of ml's father
________________________________________
TingCan - di 7th lady, pretty, clever, lofty

4th Old Master Gu ꐦ - burly, muddy eyes
-------------------
4th Old Madam Gu
-------------------
Gu TingXuan (33-34) - shu 1st son
-------------------
Xuan ♡ - 1st daughter in law
-------------------
Gu TingYing - only daughter of 4th old madam, dignified, tender, pretty
________________________________________
5th Old Master Gu - scholar looking, elegant, old beard
-------------------
5th Old Madam Gu - quiet
-------------------
Gu TingYang (33-34) - 1st son
-------------------
- 1st daughter in law, timid
-------------------
Gu TingLing - miss, graceful, pretty, cheerful, sweet
________________________________________
Gu Lian - Pingning jungzhu's niece, similar age with mc

Sheng Hong
- mc's dad, 4th ranked Left Intermediate Censor
- son of concubine Chun, Old Madame Sheng is not his legitimate mother but he was recorded under her
Laifu - steward, Liu Kun - housekeeper, Jiu'er (her daughter, worked for mc)
-------------------
Wang Shi
- wife of Sheng Hong, 2nd di miss of the left assistant minister of revenue ☠, grew up in her uncle's house
Liu Kun's wife, CaiHuan, CaiPei Qian momo - maids
YinXing - servant she had sent to MC and took back
-------------------
HuaLan (14-15) ♡ - 1st di miss, noble and dignified, slender and beautiful, Yuan Wenshao's wife
-------------------
ChangBai (courtesy name: Zecheng) ♡ - 2nd di young master, aloof and serious, tall and straight appearance with delicate features, 5th in the spring examinations, Librarian of Imperial Academy (8th ranked official)
Han Niu (11-12), Yanghao (his tongfang), Langhao, Zihao, Jihao, Jianhao
-------------------
- 2nd miss of the Hai family in Jiangning, family rules don't allow men to take in concubines, noble and elegant, long face and long eyes
-------------------
Quan - Hai shi's son
-------------------
RuLan (6) - 5th di young lady, spoilt
XiQue, Caipei (sent by Wang shi)
________________________________________
Concubine Lin ╬ - favored concubine of Sheng Hong
XueNiang - Xia Xian's wife
MaGui's wife
-------------------
ChangFeng (10) ꐦ - 3rd shu young master
Rou'er - maid he likes
-------------------
MoLan (15) ꐦ - 4th shu young lady, married Liang Han (see below)
Luzhong, Yunzai (sold after helping Molan run around), CaiYun - her maids, older than her
________________________________________
Concubine Ju Fang - became pregnant with Sheng Hong during national mourning as planned by Concubine Lin, so she was forced to abort
________________________________________
Concubine Xiang - originally Wang shi's maid, not very pretty, but gentle
-------------------
ChangDong (12) ♥ - 4th young master
________________________________________
Concubine Ping - great beauty, seemed frivolous and timid, given as a gift by a colleague
________________________________________
Concubine Wei ♡ メ
- Minglan's mother, died after 5 years of marrying
- born of a proper and good household at Jiangnan, generations of farmer scholars
- doesn't posses good literature education, but was virtuous and extremely beautiful
________________________________________
Scholar Zhuang - skinny old mister, the children's teacher
-------------------
Mrs. Zhuang - music teacher

Qi Heng (titled Yuan Ruo, ~11) ♡
- very beautiful, was a student of Mr. Zhuang
- the only son of the envoy of the Salt Department, the 2nd young master of Qi Gong Gong, 4th place in the imperial exam
- was married to the daughter of the 6th prince, Jiacheng xianzhu ꐦ ☠
Chun'er ☠ - helped him meet with MC, was killed by his mother
-------------------
- granddaughter of Grand Secretary Shen ShiQi
________________________________________
Marquis of Xiangyang - brother of Marquis of Ningyuan
-------------------
Pingning jungzhu (30) - 2nd madam, only child of Marquis Xiangyang
-------------------
Lord Qi - 3rd ranked official, department head of the salt distribution bureau
________________________________________
?- 1st madam, daughter of the Great General and prince's maternal uncle
-------------------
- shu young master, sick

1st Old Madam Sheng ♡ ☠ - fragile and skinny, her first daughter, Hong, died thanks to a concubine, wife of deceased Sheng Huaizhong
_____________________________
Sheng Wei ♡
- 1st master, in the restaurant business, wealthy
- squarish face, seems like he has been through rather tough times, only a few years older than Sheng Hong but looks as if he is 10 years older; looks very kind
-------------------
Li shi - 1st madam, shu born, amiable, graceful
_____________________________
ChangSong ♡ - 1st son of Li shi, dark skin, strong features, loud and generous, will inherit the family business
-------------------
Wen shi - his wife, pregnant
_____________________________
ChangWu (21) ♡ - 2nd son of Li shi, straight, impressive, upright, amicable and honest, outgoing, Director of Zhongwei Guardian Team
-------------------
Kang Yun'er - ChangWu's wife, Wang shi's niece
_____________________________
Shulan ♡ - 1st daughter of Li shi, common looks, living with her nice in CanXiang, divorced Sun ZhiGao and remarried an honest and friendly guy from a big wealthy family; gave birth to twins
Bian mama
-------------------
Sun ZhiGao (25) ╬ - Shulan's ex-husband, fine features, arrogant, married a prostitute who gave birth to a bastard boy and stole their property and left, now married a brave widow
_____________________________
PinLan (12) ♡ - 2nd daughter of Li shi, wild
_____________________________
Sheng Yun (~40) ♡ - 1st Old Madam Sheng's daughter, dark skin, lively
-------------------
Er'niu - her husband, farmer
-------------------
Hu Taisheng - Sheng Yun's son, dark skinned, well built
-------------------
Guilan/Guijie - Sheng Yun's daughter, married in CanXiang, in the countryside, gave birth to 3 sons and is pregnant again, her father in law is the head of the village
_____________________________
Zhou shi ꐦ - 3rd madam, narrow eyed
-------------------
Huilan (15) ꐦ
-------------------
XiuLan ♡ - married into a poor but happy and nice family
-------------------
YueLan ꐦ - shu born, married into a rich family, but her husband is a rogue

Wang Yan - Wang Shi's brother, now an official
____________________
Madame Kang ꐦ - Wang shi's older sister, 1st di daughter, her husband was dismissed from office, cunning
-------------------
- 1st di son, minister of rite
-------------------
Kang Yun'er - di young miss, married to ChangWu
-------------------
Kang Yuan'er ꐦ - di youngest daughter, arrogant

Marquis Zhongqin
-------------------
Madam Yuan ꐦ
________________________________________
- di 1st son
-------------------
Zhang? - Daughter of Imperial Academy Senior Official His Excellency Mei, Madam Yuan's niece, currently no more officials in her family
________________________________________
Yuan Wenshao (20) - 2nd son, vice commander (military) trusted by Commander Dou, has a sister which is engaged (c130.1)
-------------------
HuaLan (~14-15) ♡ - 1st miss of the Sheng household, noble and dignified, slender and beautiful, has a daughter and a son
Caizan ꐦ - sent by Wang shi, had become a concubine, gave birth to the 1st illegal son
Cuichan - had been old madam Shen's fav maid, married the most powerful steward in the manor and became HuaLan's most reliable maid
-------------------
Zhuang Jie'er (4-5) - her daughter, shy and cute
-------------------
Zhuang Shi - her son
________________________________________
Yuan WenYing ♡ - Madam Yuan's di daughter, round fair pretty face, generous, engaged to Marquis Shoushan's son

Marquis/earl Shoushan
-------------------
Madam Huang ♡ - looks amiable, eldest sister of Marquis Zhongqin, Yuan WenYing is her niece and her son's fiancee

Marquis YongChang - has lots of connections
-------------------
Madam Liang - light clothing and makeup
________________________________________
1st shu son
________________________________________
Liang Han (17-18) - youngest son, vice commander of Five Armies, 7th rank official
-------------------
ChunGe - his concubine, beautiful, was brought by his 1st sister in law, beautiful
-------------------
Molan (see above)

Bo TianZhou - Right Military Governor of Commandery of Five Armies, old

Zhang XiuMei - her father passed away

Emperor ♛ - 8th son of the late emperor Renzong, from Shu, square face and big ears
____________________
Empress Shen ♔
____________________
Empress Dowager Sheng'an - has no son, the previous emperor RenZong's wife
____________________
Empress Dowager Li - Shuyi Li, was originally a maid, the current emperor's mother
____________________
3rd senior prince ☠ - son of Imperial Noble Consort De, weak body, no sons, killed by the 4th prince, knowledgeable
-------------------
- adopted 6th prince's son as his heir
____________________
4th senior prince ☠ - son of Imperial Consort Shu ☠, plotted a rebellion, good at martial arts
____________________
Prince Jing ☠ - 5th senior prince, cruel, rebelled, son of deceased Imperial Concubine Jia, noble birth, 1st di daughter of General FengGuo
____________________
Senior prince Tan - Prince Jing's accomplice
____________________
6th senior prince - junwang, Ruler of Daliang, has 3 sons and 1 daughter, now stripped of his noble title, social
-------------------
6th senior princess ☠ - died in the revolt, fair and plump, kind-looking
-------------------
Jiacheng xianzhu (15-16) ꐦ ☠ - beautiful and graceful, oval face, married Qi Heng, died in the revolt
-------------------
- his youngest son was adopted by the 3rd prince as his heir

General Shen CongXing /congwen? - Empress Shen's younger brother, Marquis WeiBei, 2nd rank military governor of the main army
- his 1st wife died

Old general Gan - minister of war

Zheng Xiao- Empress Shen's new brother-in-law (brother of an imperial concubine)
-------------------
Zheng Jun - Left Vice Commander of palace guards, young and unhibited

Marquis FuChang - Imperial Concubine Rong ☠'s brother, accomplice in the 4th prince's mutiny
-------------------
Rong FeiYan ꐦ ☠ - his daughter, was kidnapped, afterwards killed herself
-------------------
Rong Xian ꐦ - his son
CuiXian

Wen YanJing - 1st son, passed the imperial examination at provincial level, Rulan's husband
-------------------
ꐦ - his mother prefers her unambitious younger son

Royal Princess QingNing

Zhu shi - wife of Li shi's brother, plump, business family
-------------------
Li Yu - 2nd young master, smiling, handsome, bright
-------------------
Li Du - 3rd young master, shy

Old Lord He - minister in the Taipu temple
-------------------
Old Madame He ♡ - black hair, healthy and energetic, from Baishitan, South JiangSu, originally from Jinling's Zhang family that have been imperial doctors for 3 generation
____________________
1st madam He - sick, her husband died early
-------------------
He Hongwen (~18) ♡
- proficient in medicine, tall, thin, elegant, scholary and calm, composed and modest
- attractive, although not as handsome as Qi Heng, likes mc
____________________
2nd madam He - round
-------------------
Jin'er - her daughter, most apt at embroidering
____________________
Madam Cao (~50) - 1st madam He's older sister, her and whole Cao family were exiled to Liangzhou (Liang prefecture), rough sallow skin
-------------------
JingXiu (~17) - very thin, was married before

Wu Baozhu - Rulan's friend
____________________
miss Liu - Rulan's friend, Liu Tongzhi's di daughter
____________________
Chen Xinya ꐦ - di miss, Molan's friend, the only daughter of Zhifu, so she had always been tempered and arrogant
____________________
Hong Qingyu - 2 years younger than MC, her friend, naughty

assistant minister in the 5th ranked vice-minister of Revenue
____________________
Yu Yanran (15) ♡ - gentle and sweet, tall and slim, mc's best friend, di 1st daughter, her mother died long ago
-------------------
♡ - her grandfather was the Grand Secretary (Cabinet?), only had her grandma as a wife, was poor at the beginning
-------------------
♡ - her grandma, her husband was her father's favorite pupil
-------------------
ꐦ ☠ - 2nd daughter of the 2nd wife, married Gu TingYe
____________________
2nd master ♡ and his wife ♡
____________________
di young master of the Duan Family from Dali (Yunnan), leg problems

Governess Kong (60) ♡ - old palace maid born in Shandong with many merits, was the girls' tutor, friend of Old Madame Sheng

Peng family - from Qing City in Gannan, tried to marry a shu daughter to Gu TingYe, Marquis Fuan's distant relatives

Cao Bang gang:
Che Sanniang (18-19) - dark, big mouth and eyes, beautiful
-------------------
Shi Keng - her husband, bear-like
____________________
Shi Qiang - his younger brother
____________________
Yu Wenlong - comely, white
____________________
Gongsun Baishi - middle aged, dressed like an intellectual
-------------------
Gongsun Meng - his nephew, vigilant and sharp-witted

Commander Dou - the emperor's aide

Secretary of ZhongJidian
-------------------
Madam Zhao

Assistant administrator of State Affairs
-------------------
Madam Qian

Qiu Shu - 1st son of grand secretary of Wuying palace, won 3rd place in imperial examinations

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3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Rahimah05
Rahimah05 rated it
December 25, 2022
Status: c354
I love the story. The women are so powerful. But it usually about scheming and dodging the scheme. Im so in love with the smart ideas of Minglan. Its fun every charpter. Its so intense how Gu TingYe fell in love with Minglan. Though Minglan hasnt fell in love with GTY, but its a gradual phase. Its really anti traditional male lead. If only I didnt watch the drama, I might not figure out the GTY will be the husband.
I hope they continue translating this good novel into a proper english.

please translator! Continue translating! Im on the part of Aunt Kang! I want to smash her head! Lol!
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
AnOddPerson
AnOddPerson
September 26, 2022
Status: c96
This is so, so disappointing.
It has such a great start - the main character is very realistic and smart, and her relationships in the inner house are genuine and interesting, especially with her grandmother. She's such a great MC!
But then the Author suddenly went insane and decided to throw away a hundred chapters of character development on a romance with a scum who supposedly 'turned over a new leaf'... only just became a slightly different kind of scum. I can't bear to see this tr*shbag marry wonderful Minglan, especially when the originally hinted ML was a thousand times better! Gross, such a waste! How can the author bemoan the fates of poor girls but got bad marriages in one breath and then pretend that the ML is any good!
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Asphyxia778
Asphyxia778 rated it
June 29, 2022
Status: c323
I really enjoyed this story in the first half but after Minglan's marriage the story suffers a bit but I'd say the author actually toed the line between ancient and modern perspectives well.

Like the story isn't without flaws. There are no perfect characters in the story, especially the ML but for his time ML is way better than typical noblemen of his era. Similarly Shen Hong, isn't a great husband but he did his best to ensure good marriages for his kids and not to discriminate too much against them.... more>> They're products of their time and while criticizing them from our modern perspectives is easy, keep in mind for Minglan this is her reality and she has to blend in so her reactions don't come as a surprise to me.

Now this leads to one of my favourite characters of the novel Old Madam. She is one of the best teachers and loving family member to Minglan who fights tooth and nail for her wellbeing. Her wisdom and the lessons she teaches help Minglan a lot and really shed light on how great familial love is. Their relationship is really one of the highlights of the story.

Now finally onto Minglan our protagonist. She's level headed and she knows that she's insignificant to change the flow of society this she doesn't struggle with a fight she won't win. Instead she observes and learns how to survive and keep herself safe. She goes against her modern perspectives many times and she eventually grows numb to it. Even so she is intelligent and that's why she notices many things.

I think the author did good with Minglan's character. Overall I did enjoy the story and can say with certainty that this is one of the better grounded stories in the CN transmigration to ancient times genre.

3.5 stars <<less
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nimeaano
nimeaano rated it
February 22, 2022
Status: c95
MC is transmigrator but not using her former life experience to gain advantage except having more mature foresight.

Character done well, antagonist at most just despicable, doing things out of selfish greed. Crisis is not as dramatic as most story, so it can be enjoyed lightly.

... more>>
Spoiler

For romance genre where there are more than one suitor, one of the greatest enjoyment is to root for your desired couple.

I have read this until MC is rescued by GTY. Life is the most precious thing, so with this event and the more frequent appearance of GTY, I wouldn't be surprised if he is the final ML.

Based on the temperament of MC, I'd prefer HHW, but since life will be so peaceful, to progress the story it is understandable if this pair wouldn't work. Personally I don't mind slice of life, though.

[collapse]

Since I might disappointed later, I'm dropping this. <<less
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sushimomo
sushimomo rated it
December 4, 2021
Status: c354
An amazing read filled with three dimensional characters who actually make you feel something may it be anger or sadness or happiness

One of the few novels which has actually made me smile at many points and behaviour

The MC is not overpowered but sometimes even relatable to us modern women. She is likeable and practical who actually adapts to various situations and learns to go with the flow

... more>> The ML is also likeable. Some readers do not like him and it’s understandable but to each his own.

I eagerly wait for updates to put an end to this great read <<less
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adorkablehiko
adorkablehiko rated it
September 29, 2021
Status: c125
Like other reviews mentioned, the former half of the story is really good. The slow pacing and being able to see and consider things from women in ancient times was interesting. Just like why concubines would scheme or the considerations when looking for marriage matches.

The characters so far, at least the ones that got lots of screen time, were all very interesting despite their flaws. I liked the first two love interests and it was very heartbreaking when things didn’t work out well because of circumstances.

... more>>
Spoiler

But after reading spoilers of who the ML is, that’s where I draw a line. I’m not knowledgeable about the history of China and all I know of how marriages worked in ancient China are from novels, but if the ML is her uncle, isn’t that considered taboo? When an uncle and a niece marries?

As I mentioned, I love all the major charas so far, except for the ML. My dude was a wild child in the beginning, he leaves his family home then bam, we suddenly get a more mature ML. Uh, what? What makes you think I’d cheer for him? ALSO SPOILERS MENTION HIM SCHEMING TO TRAP MINGLAN INTO A MARRIAGE WITH HIM WTF. So far, he’s just not earning any brownie points from me. He’s the worst love interest in this novel AND THE AUTHOR CHOSE HIM.

Like others have said, our girl Minglan deserved better. If not He Hongwen, at least Qi Heng. This is just harsh.

[collapse]
<<less
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everylittleflowers
everylittleflowers rated it
September 21, 2021
Status: c340
Wonderful novel! The MC is so cute and smart. I also love that her relationship with her siblings isn't too crazy like many of the novels, they fight yes, but there's never really any horrible schemes or anything. Also, her relationship with her grandmother is so wonderful, I cried many times reading it. The ML doesn't really leave any interesting impact on me, but he loves the MC and dotes on her so much. The story is quite realistic (as realistic as it can be I guess) and the MC... more>> isn't too overpowered <<less
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Neleothesze
Neleothesze
June 12, 2021
Status: c170
I really enjoyed the first 100 chapters. They were a very fresh take on the topic of transmigrated protagonists. Unfortunately, like other reviewers, I had to quit soon after the MC got married.

5/5 for the first 120-130 chapters

2/5 for the rest

Long spoiler:

... more>>
Spoiler

I actually loved the fact that Minglan didn't marry Qi Heng or He Hongwen. I felt that having a ML with realistic flaws was a novelty. Gu Tingye scheming to marry her was an unexpected plot-twist I actually enjoyed.

But his behavior after the wedding was perhaps too realistic for me!!

I can imagine a former playboy who spent his time around prostit**es not giving a fck about his wife's physical pleasure!

I can imagine a rebellious son dumping the family troubles on his young wife!

I can imagine a husband who considers money and house-management as 'trifles' but still expects them to be well done!

I can imagine a partner who expects honesty and then dismisses the honest answer as unimportant, annoying or troublesome!

My own extended family had modern-versions of those sort of crappy things happening and they're not 'edgy fun'. They just make for sad, tiring marriages.

Let me be clear, Gu Tingye has a lot of good traits, he's not a monster! But complex characters are often polarising and I'm one of those people who just can't stand how he acted after getting married to Minglan.

I spent the last chapters thinking to myself, thank God my own marriage isn't like that, and remembering some of the stuff that happened to my own unhappy relatives and inlaws. Finally, I decided to stop reading before I lost all hope for this novel.

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I'm rating it 4/5 for the interesting start and the original spin the author put on many genre cliches. I really recommend reading until the marriage and then hypnotising yourselves with a 'and they lived happily ever after.' Otherwise, Minglan's words from the summary are just depressing foreshadowing:

'we should all just sleep till we die'. <<less
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scarletsnow2424
scarletsnow2424 rated it
July 10, 2020
Status: --
This novel isn’t your typical, I’ll take revenge for the original owner of the body. Become a peerless beauty, make every man fall in love with me, and surprise everyone with my talents. In simpler terms, this is a good novel.

It doesn’t have any of the annoying and overused tropes, it’s a good novel. The MC is smart, talented, and beautiful but she chooses to be safe.

She doesn’t use her modern knowledge to bring attention to herself, only gives her opinion when it benefits her and does it in a... more>> smart way.

Everyone has a good opinion of her, but she doesn’t act like a Mary Sue. Not every man is in love with her. Also, the villain’s are good developed characters. They’re not evil for the sake of being evil.

The author takes her time creating original, entertaining, and interesting characters. Unfortunately, this is the reason the novel is a bit slow. But good, like really good. <<less
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weirdnshort
weirdnshort
June 21, 2020
Status: c26
I really like this! It's so refreshing change from the typical transmigration stories. For once, the MC is not OP. She fakes being illiterate (at the beginning), whereas in other c-novels, the MC would use her skills to her advantage.

Her host's mother was schemed against, but the MC's attitude was very objective. This seems more realistic - why would she feel like she needs to right all wrongs when it's not even her birth mother (as opposed to other C-novel MCs) ?

Even the "antagonists" - I don't really hate them.... more>> I understand why they are the way the are - since it's a male dominated society, the women are in the male's whims and needs to do whatever it takes to get the most out of him.

I can't even hate the father, because at least he is a bit unconventional - gives the concubines and descendants more fair treatment than what is typically done in society. <<less
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Vanessa Moran
Vanessa Moran rated it
June 12, 2019
Status: c101
Great novel. The pace develops so naturally and smoothly. And the characters are all well built. Minglan is a smart girl but not a bit OP. There are times when she has to give in. And like the translation also.
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JasmineBeauty99
JasmineBeauty99 rated it
April 16, 2019
Status: c71
It’s a breath of fresh air from other transmigration novels because the characters are fleshed out well and there are a distinct lack of one dimensional villains. Even if you don’t like a character, you can sympathize with them and understand why they behave the way they do. Minglan’s a very calm and level headed protangonist as well. If a realistic, slice-of-life transmigration story is up your alley, check out this story!
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OTrizy
OTrizy rated it
April 18, 2018
Status: c90+
I enjoyed this very much, MC is very realistic and the pacing is very nice. Other children are different and also have more depth than in other same styled light novels. I like how elder characters have so much depth in it, I had no idea they could be like this, even though they are old their way of talking to each other is like old friends meeting after awhile no need for all those politeness and straight to the point. Not many deaths in this and I don't hate... more>> MC's father who I usually do in these type of novels. A lot of stuff is still in the family/fu.

EDIT: I loved to read this before her marriage and after that I basically just dropped the novel, the interactions with MC's family before marriage was just so good. And after that interest just vanished and havent read at all. <<less
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sindea
sindea rated it
February 26, 2024
Status: c194
Not sure how to rate this. Like many said, the first part up untill the marriage was AMAZING, id rate it a solid 5, or 4. But after the marriage... yeah.. not so much

First of all, no matter how you feel about the MC, ML, shady things happening during historic times, the part after the marriage... was just boring, it wasn't interesting anymore, and the vibes completely changed.

Pre-marriage, Minglan was SO smart, and it was so interesting to see her endurance and forbearance in overcoming her obstacles. However, after marriage,... more>> she starts acting kind of silly with the ML, I mean she is still smart, but she is also super silly and childish when "flirting (?) " with the ML...

Ok, now on to the ML. Many people didnt who turned out to be the main ML. I actually eventually really liked him and even rooted for him to be the ML. The two other side MLs relationship and falling in love with Minglan seemed pretty shallow. With Minglan's interactions with the main ML, you could see that she could actually show her "true self" and how smart she is, so I actually really liked him as ML.

But like previously stated, their interactions pre-marriage were fun and showed how Minglan could show her clever side to him. But after mariage, she became SUPER silly with him and acted like a baby... And he all of a sudden was INFATUATED with her.. just boom, like that..

As some people have also pointed out, the s*x scenes... yeah I dont know.

If you read it through a historical lens... maybe it would be... "acceptable"? Since things in ancient histary were pretty shady, and women were indeed VERY limited and treated pretty poorly somtimes.

If you read it through a modern lens, it would be AT LEAST dubcon, or a gray area. Maybe not explicitly r*pe, but honestly in my opinion, I was pretty uncomfortable reading about it. I mean the guy has s*x with Minglan and she is literary in SEVERE pain, she keeps crying how much it hurts, and she is continuously crying.

I know in may romances, the overbearing type will be described with immense s*xual prowess and make their partner cry and "be bullied" and whatnot. I'm used to it, ive read the trope many times before.

However, here Minglan is literally continously crying, she is in pain. Its to the point where she cannot even walk the WHOLE DAY. She has dark circles under her eyes because she is in so much pain/so uncomfortable. Everyone around her notices thats she is waning. The ML even is described to notice that she is becoming dispirited (literally from the text). Yeah... thats not romantic... not even in the cringe overbearing trope type of way.

On top of that, its described that while Minglan is becoming dispirited, the ML is becoming more spirited, hes getting more and more refreshed, while Minglan is waning...

I'd say its dubcon when the other party is clearly SO uncomfortable. At the very least, it makes the ML seem VERY selfish to keep inflicting this on her when he even notices that her pain and fatigue makes her dispirited? Yet he keeps going? Like if you love your partner that much, wouldnt you care at all that she is in pain? that the s*x is literally draining her? Is it REALLY that hard to restrain just a tiny bit?

Then we find out the ML had a whole intricate plot in order to snatch a marriage with the MC. She is really angry, but he promises that if she marries him he guarantees nobody can wrong her, which is really all she wants in a marriage at that point.

BUT THEN, the whole intrigue with his family is WAY worse than everything she had to go through with her own family...

It was just so off putting reading the whole ordeal, the dubcon, the selfishness, the apparently awful s*x.. yeah def killed it for me. And I was even initially rooting for this ML. <<less
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Marinka68
Marinka68 rated it
February 5, 2024
Status: --
I loved this story and love all others written by this author. Once has to accept that this is a book written about time that long has passed and it is not a fairy tale (despite transmigration). It is life with all the good, ugly and indifferent bits that make this book so interesting to read. The ML is not perfect, the MC is not perfect either, so do not read if you like to read cookie cutter type stories.
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NokNoku
NokNoku rated it
December 15, 2023
Status: Completed
I see that many people misunderstood the ML and FL "uncle-niece" relationship. They're not related at all, he is distantly related to Xi Heng ̣ (the little lord Xi) and Xi calls him "Uncle". The FL consider she is in same gen with Xi, so she calls him "Uncle" too at first. And ML is a young man around 30 years old.

He's being criticized for bringing He's cousin to destroy the marriage, but that's a true problem with He family and will act up sooner or later. He schemed, but... more>> he pointed out the bad thing about the kind HHW, indecisiveness, and lack of depth. Minglan realized that too and said: "isn't it would have been worse if I discovered this after married into He family?"

And about r*ape, it's depends on you accept the historical background or not. They're married and Minglan was not eager, but not agaisnt their first time also. He's being experienced and excited and she call him "uncle" in bed made u feel bad but she say right after that she will soon be "the attacker" when she grow older.

And ML was a bad guy with his past, but to Minglan his love grow everyday and he gave her everything, back her, respect her, protect her and not once he says a bad thing or looks down on her. Little lord Xi loves her but too pampered to understand her difficulties, HHW adores her but lacks the courage to defend her at all cost. ML maybe naive but he understand her very deep down. He deserve her more than anyone here. <<less
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