The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits

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Shen Yu was sincerely in love. For that person’s sake, Shen Yu ignored his illness-ridden body and plotted to overthrow the tyrant. It was only after Shen Yu died that he learned the truth. He was a character in a book, and the man he loved only viewed him as a stand-in for the protagonist. To pave the way for that couple’s happiness, Shen Yu lost everything.

After he was reborn, the sickly Shen Yu was so done with that.

As for that man, whoever wanted him could have him.

Shen Yu took his half-brother’s place and became the male concubine of the tyrant. The tyrant didn’t like men anyway, and Shen Yu didn’t have much time left. Since he was going to die, he might as well go to the palace to sit around and wait for death.

After entering the harem of the tyrant everyone feared, Shen Yu ate and drank without a care in the world.

The tyrant, with long black hair on his shoulders and crimson eyes, didn’t hide his hostility. He grabbed Shen Yu by the neck. “You’re not afraid to die?”

Shen “Just get it over with” Yu felt a little excited. “Are you going to kill me now?”

Tyrant: “? ? ? ? ?”

Shen Yu entered the palace expecting to die, but he waited and waited and waited. In the end, the officials petitioned to make him the empress, and the tyrant cured his deadly illness.

Shen Yu: “…”

Shou: jumps frantically up and down on the gong’s bottom line but never dies

Gong: all he can do with the shou is lower his bottom line again and again

Associated Names
One entry per line
病美人替身不干了
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
I’m The Vicious Cannon Fodder In The Book (5)
After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine (2)
The Tyrant’s Beloved Empress (2)
The Reader and Protagonist Definitely Have to Be in True Love (2)
Married Thrice to Salted Fish (2)
The Emperor’s Favorite Imperial Concubine is an O (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Already ding dang read BL 6
  2. Ancient bl
  3. Danmei 2024
  4. WinterxSummer [BL]
  5. Historic BL Novels

Latest Release

Date Group Release
04/21/24 Serafin_Translations c179
04/14/24 Serafin_Translations c178
04/14/24 Serafin_Translations c177
04/07/24 Serafin_Translations c176
04/07/24 Serafin_Translations c175
04/06/24 Serafin_Translations c174
03/10/24 Serafin_Translations c173
03/02/24 Serafin_Translations c172
03/02/24 Serafin_Translations c171
02/24/24 Serafin_Translations c170
02/17/24 Serafin_Translations c169
10/17/23 Serafin_Translations c168
10/13/23 Serafin_Translations c167
08/27/23 Serafin_Translations c166
08/27/23 Serafin_Translations c165
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40 Reviews sorted by


dyodaks
dyodaks rated it
July 2, 2022
Status: Completed
It's a satisfying story for me. I like court drama, so the abundance of it was expected and very much welcome since the MC and ML are literally at the pinnacle of the empire. Was there anything new and profound? Not particularly but this wasn't nearly as atrocious as I thought it would be, with some of the reviews I've read. If you're a simple person who likes a smart MC and an equally formidable (and doting) ML then please go ahead and pick this up, just take note that... more>> it's very much character driven. <<less
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DeeAnn
DeeAnn rated it
July 31, 2023
Status: c200
First, I fall in love with the cover, he is soo lovely on the cover

second, I like the MC character and I always imagine how he looks based on the cover, yes I am face-con

lastly, the story is good for me, even though it is not necessary to have long chapters until 200s something and due to MC's sickness I imagine if this story is adapted to drama, there will be 2 settings, leads in the palace all the time and others running around outside, especially Minister Fang

all in all,... more>> I still enjoy the story <<less
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msbwhy
msbwhy rated it
September 28, 2022
Status: --
Some people were probably kinda uncomfortable with the non-con moment (it didn't happen a lot). This, I get it. But if you look into a bigger picture (and probably just overlook the non-con part) things might be quite interesting...

Shen Yu (MC) x Shang Junlin (ML)

OK, first of all, romance. It wasn't specifically shown as "Early Romance" or "Slow Romance" because the romance is blended perfectly with the plot. You won't see any specific moment when MC realized he was in love and confessed to ML or vice versa. Their... more>> romance just smoothly slipped in between the plot.

Second, intriguing plot. We knew from the start that MC is reborn. However, things were getting interesting when we saw... a transmigrator arrived in this world....
Spoiler

Not one, but two transmigrators. Could be more, though, since I haven't finished the whole story

[collapse]

The schemes and conspiracies here were so good, you will never know who's the main perpetrator. The court palace drama was more like political rather than harem competition. I'd say the romance was more like 40% and the plot overall was like 60%. <<less
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Q3APo
Q3APo rated it
May 4, 2022
Status: c54
well, overall this is a good novel. the plot is thicken gradually and connecting to each other. I just hope the enemy worth it. if it still the what prince it will be boring.

what I like is the ML and MC relationship. the ML is not your overbearing tyrant. just someone who wont his explain the reason for his rules like put officer in jail. typical who think I did it for good. I dont have to explain which make people had wrong impression of him and get exploited by... more>> his rival. thankfully MC help him change his image. and I love when he ask MC what mistake that make MC agry with him? its cute.

the MC, hm..... he is quite strong mentally. he had to survive in a house where no father love. the concubine tried to kill him and it made him bitter I think. cant relax. in this second life he tried to enjoy life to fulllest. which in helped by the ML who indulge him. he didnt forget his purpose. but he tried to life his live and found new purpose on the way. basically if you change the MC into a woman it work well too :D

for you who wants sweet story with a healthy relationship just read it.

thanks for the translator <<less
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WordEater
WordEater
April 18, 2022
Status: c42
Seems like a slice of life because of the easily resolved problems? I don't care. I'm sold for the fluff and domestic dog food being thrown around. In this relationship, they're both learning how to care for the other without going too far and how to compromise.

Anyway, the Emperor is smart and has many connections to get information. He just had to be nudged in the right direction so his manpower would efficiently uncover the secrets buried in the soil. The consort, on the other hand, has already lived... more>> this life once. Even though he don't exactly know the circumstances, he could see the information he managed to hear from before to gain insight as to what is going on. He was the main brainforce in his past life. Still as shrewd and :> <<less
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nonononhia
nonononhia rated it
March 16, 2022
Status: --
I'm not going to comment about MC & ML dynamic, because it's relationship between emperor and his consort (despite being the only one), because yeah it'd be icky for some people about the whole power balance and consent thing (it's icky for me too as ML keep on pushing intimacy).... yeah that.

Some comment said the plot holes keep on coming as whatever lurk behind finally surfacing. I read this through mtl so I might not fully grasp the plot.... but I considered the narrative of the story came from MC... more>> despite not being 1st pov. It was mentioned a lot that MC before rebirth was very sickly (still capable but physically weak). Cmiiw in the 1st lifetime MC actually capable to shift from him that forced to enter harem, and pushed Shen Qinran instead to enter. In 2nd lifetime MC choose to enter the harem instead, and messed SQ & his mom position in the household before he went. It also in 1st lifetime MC was very sick that sometimes he lose conscious/fallen into comatose. The knowledge he has comes from the situations that he actually experienced (oftentimes he didn't pay too much attention because it wasn't related to to king yue so he considered those unimportant), and the book he saw after he died (which tell him the whole thing/ his life was a book, that SQ was the MC of that), so it's truly make sense MC missed so much clues from his 1st life. <<less
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abyssalwitch
abyssalwitch
March 13, 2022
Status: --
i haven't finished the whole story yet but I really really realllyyyy wanna say something cuz some reviews are just.. Misleading. Well, in my opinion they are.

there are a lot of dramas happening everywhere in this novel. Characters who just pops out of nowhere, twists and turns which seems dramatic at first but it's written in a way that doesn't make it seem like a big deal. Like it's narrated in a very casual way that everything seems lighthearted. It's not a bad thing by the way. Instead it makes... more>> the whole novel kinda relaxing? There's no thrill, no anxiety bc of the plot and no disobedience bc of the dramatics that just appears out of nowhere lol.

i saw someone complaining that the MC and the ml's relationship is disturbing cuz there's no two-way complete consent which is understandable but I think saying it's disturbing is kinda going too far?? Although there's no verbal consent, it doesn't mean that its forced or something. Cuz like the ML is really obedient to the MC and if the MC really doesn't want to do something, the ML stops. I think we're overlooking the fact that the MC at first doesn't really wanna consider romance cuz of what happened in his first life where affection doesn't exist just a whole lot of schemes that ended up with him and the prince dead.

but it's also kinda far fetched saying that it's realistic? Lmao but it's not tr*sh I assure you. Although it's not the best, it's enough to satisfy. <<less
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ylial
ylial rated it
March 7, 2022
Status: c123
The novel is written well and the chara are realistically portrayed without making it abusive.

The MC isn't like the other OP chara that got their 2nd chance. He won't let himself suffer much but is a little submissive to emperor which is not my type but his attitude to emperor is close enough to reality since ancient China culture really observes the hierarchy. Tbh, I like a calm collected reasonable yet OP MC lolXD but this one is refreshing. The MC is still calm collected and reasonable but obedient to... more>> ML (let the ML bully him). I only feel off by how aggressive the ML in bed stuffs. But ML respects and pampers MC in every way, and they haven't yet crossed the last step due to MC's constitution. This is like bullying the person first and giving something sweet later on. The MC really like a pet (cat) of ML.

Not my thing so will drop. <<less
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InsomniacWhoEatsLemons
InsomniacWhoEatsLemons
February 2, 2024
Status: c21
3/5, I know I'm not really that far in, but this is just getting harder to read. Usually I fly through chapters but this is honestly just that boring. The translation is really good though! So a bonus star is for that

ꉂꉂ꒰•̤▿•̤*ૢ꒱
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Opheliapurple
Opheliapurple rated it
May 14, 2022
Status: c60
It’s a slice of life with stakes on the lower side and a pretty slow pace- but if you don’t mind that I 1000%
recommend!!

I adore the couple, they’re funny and smart and interesting and I was so surprised at how much I enjoyed every moment they were together.

If you’re familiar at all with villainess isekai manhwa this is basically the exact same thing but with a male lead instead. I LOVE villainess isekai and this scratched that itch wonderfully.
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eniaw
eniaw
May 12, 2022
Status: Completed
First of all : just give it a try, maybe you'll like it. Don't get intimidated, also don't get too excited. You can always stop at any point of the novel and move on with next novel.

I personally enjoy reading this 250+ chapter novel.

Yes, it is a long novel. Most of the protagonist faction character is OP, esp the secret guards, they can show suddenly. There's constant addition of cannon fodder. There's even one or two character we think is important but never show up or don't have any development... more>> at all. Like they're just there to serve as the solution for some problems. There's is some plot twist that makes me excited and also some that can easily guessed. Some arc will left you with satisfactory ending, some arc will just gone and never come up again. It's an interesting chaos. And it makes me want to read the next chapter to see if the ar has ended or there's new development. That's how I get hooked !

There's layers of villain, and when you think the problem's is solved, there will be new villains added. But, I have to admit that the Final Boss defeated TOO easily. Hey! I want some bloody and desperate situation here! I expect dog blood! Unsatisfied! Hence, 4 stars.

In every second chance/rebirth story there are 2 development : first one is changing MC's life; second is re-living MC's life but with 'extra cheats'. In this novel we will see the first one. Now for the 'dub-con', this actually very common and found many other novels. So I would like to admit that this part not stepping on my bottom line. At least our ML respect the MC. And our MC is okay with that, so as a reader I would sit back with my melon seeds.

All in all : this is a lightweight novel that is okay to read to pass the time.

Re-read? 3.5/5 will re-read if I had time for 250+ chapter. <<less
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Misqua
Misqua rated it
April 7, 2022
Status: Completed
I accidentlaly rated 4 instead 5. : ( I like.. Yeah- a lot plotty. But I like the characters- they are devoted to each other. There is no ridiculous romance plot rising from misunderstandings. It is open communication all the way baby! In that I think they were as emotionally developed as modern era.

Everything tied around eventually- before that it might seem confusing. And there were times the MC did feel a bit too op. But then after suffering one life time it is enough to enjoy the rest.

What I liked-

1.... more>> Devoted love. Cute romance.

2. The climax that I def didn't expect

What I didn't like- there were hint of some side couples which never got realized! <<less
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Dianille
Dianille rated it
March 11, 2022
Status: c141
Pretty good. The MC and ML is good for each other. I swear at the beginning the ML needs a professional PR team. I don't think MC is weak, he's surprisingly stubborn behind that docile behavior. Though, he often give way for the ML, it's not always. The ML always in state of horknee while the MC is constantly repulsed by attachment. I think this story is kind of sweet.
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Miss Millie
Miss Millie rated it
March 10, 2022
Status: c248
Finished reading this on mtl... I tried to comprehend as much as I can given the inaccurate TL and grammar and I still loved it!! I've seen this on Foxaholic and I know that this still has a long way to go before the entire novel gets translated. It's a pity that the side stories were not available in the mtl site where I was reading this on. : (
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Bl_23 rated it
March 28, 2024
Status: --
I love this novel the relationship between the MC and the emperor are just so good I love how the emperor just absolutely spoil the MC I love this kind of story when it comes to a novel and I love you protective the emperor is toward the MC and I love to court drama.
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Jackaloe.22
Jackaloe.22 rated it
November 18, 2023
Status: c141
I dropped it at ch 141 bc it was really dragging on. The author oftentimes uses conversations between commoners as a way to “prove” to readers MC/ML’s actions made progress. It got repetitive. MC and ML have a good relationship- they don’t argue, no pointless misunderstandings, and the ML didn’t do anything awful to Shen Yu’s close friends/ family (which is more than could be said for many popular web novels). ML is very doting and will bend to Shen Yu’s will time and time again (but some of their... more>> bed scenes r giving dub con/ non con sorry but even if u agree to s*x at first u can revoke consent at any time and Shen Yu’s descriptions of crying and begging for him to stop and needing to stop making sounds so ML stopped going harder and faster just made me </3). This novel is not sexist which is a plus- yay gender equality! Really I’d give this a 3.5 but novelupdates doesn’t do half star ratings and this novel won’t be getting 4 stars from me. <<less
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RenTheWitch
RenTheWitch rated it
September 16, 2023
Status: c125
Interesting read if u have time, but the emperor ways to force s*xual intimacy at times dont feel romantic, its a mix, like the author wasnt sure "is this sexy and romantic or not" and throws it in anyway just in case. The MC is delicate, the emperor always worries about that, but when push comes to shove he lets h**ny take over and is quite aggressive, that even the doctor said more than once "be more mindful". The MC himself cant seem to make up his mind about it?... more>> Maybe its since they are still exploring what works, but I wish the ML thought less with his h**ny and more on "have to go from low to higher to see what works for us". <<less
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Akci
Akci
August 24, 2023
Status: --
I think the pace slow down around ch.70, maybe by 20%?

They keep repeating on the same things that we already know so it takes more time to progress.

Many low score reviews are from the non con. Though I don't think it's that non consensual.

Spoiler

The first time the ML got carried away and overestimated thr MC's health. Later times, MC healths are just poorer than normal people so he couldn't stand it, I think.

[collapse]
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Linest
Linest rated it
July 12, 2023
Status: Completed
It's an okay novel, boring after 100 chapters

Sincerely I see the bad reviews is focused in the dub/noncon details and while I understand the uncomfortable approach that the author choose to describe their intimate scenes, I wasn't expecting much more, I was dissapointed but not surprise with the bath scene and after this I read the novel for the MC and for the plot, well guess what, it's as much messed as the romance

First, the novel start strong, we have a cunning and intelligent MC and what seem to be... more>> a tyrannical but not s*upid ML, well it's proven wrong in the future, while the MC is actually an interesting character, his personality soon get old and cliche because he's too OP with his knowledge about what's going happen in the novel, maybe if author had actually turn the events against MC because of the changes he did make after his rebirth we could truly see as talented the MC is, but he escapes these conflicts with ease and this destroys any interest in the novel's political plot, that is repetitive and weak, MC is VERY Mary sue

ML was actually an interesting character in my opinion, but after he started falling in love with MC it's like any personality that he had before vanished and he only exist to please the MC, it's like he CAN'T think for himself and have no ambition even after it's said as much he suffered and was rejected by his own father, you never get to truly see the ML having plans before the MC talk about it, at first I thought he was using MC meddling on the palace and court matters as an opportunity to get total control and fight his enemies with actual ammunition, but nope, he just have no brain and can't do anything without MC help

Like the user @dday0425 said, around chapter 50 you start asking yourself why hell this novel have 200+ chapters, the plot LITERALLY don't live up to it promises and everything is so shallow that any conflicts that the MC and ML find in their journey don't give you the feeling that something can change and their lucky will stop, it's fake antecipation and I did get tired faster of the s*upid villains that literally are there just because the author need keep the drama alive

Spoiler

like we had two transmigrators and both was s*upid, literally no one could fight the MC and the ending is anti climatic

[collapse]

The romance is killed after 60+ chapters of the same bullsh*t of ML going out his way to do everything MC wants while MC indulge him because it's convenient, their relationship do feel one sided, but not only because ML don't respect MC boundaries and is a creepy, the MC as well don't reciprocate ML feelings in the same way, he's not sincere either and actually I read his behavior as manipulative and petty, I wouldn't care if in the end MC acknowledge that he did treat ML as shit, but he always believe he's right in the situation

Spoiler

also I'm tired of the virg*n trope, ML was LITERALLY in the military, the guy being a virg*n is unrealistic in my opinion, that's only an excuse so the s*x is so bad, I can buy the MC not having experience due his poor healthy condition and the way he given his all to the King of Yue in the past live, but the ML? Nah it's bullshit

[collapse]

Oh and don't expect much more from the two side couples either, not even them can save the romance in this novel, both are ignored and don't have any development, their relationship even feel forced, are there only because we need more gay couples yay

Anyway, it was entertaining for some time, I really enjoyed the MC and ML dynamic before it get repetitive and cliche so my 3 stars is mostly for the start of this novel that was really interesting, everything else is sadly a waste of time <<less
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