Refusing to Serve Me? Then Off With Your Head!

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Someone said: “My bed, it’s not your first time sleeping here. Why aren’t you coming over?”

Me: “Your majesty, this wanted fugitive is not a concubine in your palace. I’m not obligated to sleep with you!”

… Makes no sense the concubines are left idle, instead wanting a criminal awaiting execution like me to waste energy both mentally and physically.

Someone said: “Really? – – An Yi is surprisingly very righteous!”

Not lightly nor heavily, he lets out a decree: “If you don’t want to sleep with me, then off with your head!”

Associated Names
One entry per line
Don’t Want To Sleep With Me? Off With Your Head!
Dám Kháng Chỉ! Chém
不侍寝?砍了!
皇后去争霸
Related Series
The Black Horse (Same Franchise)
Recommendations
Unruly Phoenix Xiaoyao (3)
Doomed to be Cannon Fodder (3)
General Above I am Below (3)
Your Humble Servant is Guilty! (2)
Empress with no Virtue (2)
Great Han’s Female General Wei Qiqi (2)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Memorable Reads
  2. Feel-Good Pages
  3. Historical Romance
  4. Ancient China Novels
  5. All my like

Latest Release

Date Group Release
02/23/18 Creative Novels c64 (end)
02/09/18 Creative Novels c63
01/26/18 Creative Novels c62
01/12/18 Creative Novels c61
01/05/18 Creative Novels c60
12/29/17 Creative Novels c59
12/26/17 Creative Novels c58
12/15/17 Creative Novels c57
12/15/17 Creative Novels c56
12/05/17 Creative Novels c55
12/04/17 Creative Novels c54 part2
12/01/17 Creative Novels c54 part1
11/25/17 Creative Novels c53
11/20/17 Creative Novels c52
11/17/17 Creative Novels c51
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89 Reviews sorted by


maiha-sama
maiha-sama
May 23, 2017
Status: Completed
Reading this just breaks my heart. Its a different way of storytelling for this genre.. Peppering the present with the events of the past. Its actually very well done - very smooth so you don't feel it is awkward as you read in. The contrast in her past love-struck idiotic behavior and the present indifference - its just so jarring and so sad. The past-present narrative only accentuates the contrast. Throughout the story, whether intentionally or not, there's a thread of melancholy even in the seemingly light interactions. Many times... more>> she cruelly mocks herself and her past actions, its quite tragic to read. I've never read a character like her - I like it.

A carefree loving girl is forced to dress as a male and falls in love with her childhood friend. You can feel her complete diffidence when she interacts with Yan Ping and her fearlessness when dealing with anything else. A more-or-less simple girl, betrayed by ones she loved/trusted, forced to grow up into an indifferent woman who can now only worry about surviving.

Spoiler

Some of the lines in Chapter 11 show her helplessness: "I look up to the tall and lofty Feng Zhao Wen from the ground. I feel like I have hit rock bottom long ago. No matter how many people kicks and tramples over me, the one person who cares for me is no longer here. No matter how much I stumble and suffer, everything will bring no difference." I really felt bad for her at this point.

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I like how she gradually grows from indifferent to aware, to confident and then to bold. The way she dealt with the court and the ladies towards the end was hilarious! The ML has a big big role to play in her development. Somehow, I felt bad for him after we were shown the whole picture. The multiple POV epilogues made the book even better. Recommended! <<less
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remy911
remy911 rated it
March 25, 2016
Status: --
Initially rated a 4, now 5.

The beginning is a bit confusing, but it seems to iron itself out around chapter 4.

Not sure where this story’s headed, but I like the heroine. She intelligent (but clearly not in the matters of romance...) and has an almost self-mocking sense of humor. The story’s surprisingly funny, even though I don’t think this is a comedy.
4 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Yaunglynnn
Yaunglynnn rated it
June 18, 2019
Status: Completed
This novel is underrated.

I really enjoyed the MC's listlessness & really liked her manliness too.

I cried hard for her tragic past.

Really my top favorite kind of MC.

ML is cute too.
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Angryant2021
Angryant2021 rated it
April 27, 2023
Status: Completed
Writing this review after reading for the second time! I laughed and I cried. The writing is very engaging, funny, and yes confusing at first--but you've got an unreliable narrator, so what can you expect? Written beautifully with the past events interwoven seamlessly.

The world and relationships aren't black and white--which is portrayed perfectly here!
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Uruchan2009
Uruchan2009
October 22, 2022
Status: Completed
Ahh... reading this story is so tiring. Not because the story is bad, but because it gnawing of your heart. It's so painful and tiring, but also so good.

I feels like I turned into an M while reading this. You could feel how worn out the heroine was in the story physically and mentally ... more>>
Spoiler

she got amnesia, her mind got broken until she didn't care about anything at all (deep depression) her body also got hurt so many times that she couldn't feel anything at all, it even took a lot of precious medicine to get her to pregnant

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, but can't help to cheer her up to stay strong to not let those people to step on her furthermore. <<less
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javv
javv rated it
June 28, 2021
Status: Completed
its a total gem🤩

love the way that on the surface its marvelously funny but there's a darker undertone in the way that the MC's past is revealed little by little, its totally one of my fave novels.

👍translators!
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rndmsmmrflng
rndmsmmrflng rated it
March 8, 2021
Status: Completed
I've been seeing this title a lot but I kind of refuse to read it because of its unusual title and synopsis that kind of misled me.

Anyway, the first few chapters confused me because the events and explanations were not directly fed but was narrated through flashbacks and hints in conversations. I just wish that the flashbacks were italicized or in some other form to distinguish it because it's a bit confusing at some point.

I agree that this novel is indeed a story of An Yi's healing and acceptance of... more>> her pain and finally let herself grieve—and of course, her romantic life as well. I honestly cried with her and felt her pain. Maybe because I naturally have a soft spot for stories concerning father's love.

An Yi for me is not really that great but she has some sort of appeal. She may initially come off as a super dense character and foolish and shameless but that is only bec of her upbringing and how her life changed for the worst. I do commend her for taking care of Xiao Huang.

I also share the same thoughts with the ML. He's not too great in comparison to the almost perfect MLs out there but he wont lose in terms of devotion and loyalty to his woman.

Yan Ping. I've read a few (almost a lot) of hate comments about the dude but I can't come to hate him. I mean honestly guys... if you were him in that kind of era and how society views homosexuality I don't think you can blame him for desperately avoiding An Yi. He admitted that his anger and rudeness was only bec of his denial. And he doesn't even know that An Yi is a girl so naturally he would think that something is wrong with him. He was only a child and a growing teen at that time with an ambitious father who kept on pressuring him. I don't like how he tried to take advantage of An Yi but I don't hate him. It takes a lot of guts to come out of the closet and when he finally decided to do that he was greeted with An Yi's secret.

Xiao Huang. This child. My heart aches for him. Really. At first I was annoyed with him but I swear you will gradually soften up to him and undertaking his actions. I am honestly glad with how he turned out to be and his relationship with An Yi. There were some frustrations but it was just little and more like a precious memory to him. <<less
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highlightsvt
highlightsvt
February 3, 2021
Status: Completed
This won’t be a long review or feedback.

I read this in 2018 and I’ve got to say that this is one of the best I’ve ever read. When picking out what to read, watch, ANYTHING, I get REAL picky. This novel is one of the best out there. It keeps your interest up but the only problem here is I guess the translation. I’m not sure if it was just how the story was written or the translation itself but I do remember getting confused whenever I read it towards... more>> the middle to end.

I can never differentiate when it’s flashbacks or the present.

Even then, I thought the novel was good and pretty light hearted. It was enough for me to remember it even years later. So if you’re just trying to find a novel that doesn’t have a lot of conflicts and just want a normal SIMPLE CN novel for once, this is it. Give it a chance. You’ll want to give up because of the translation but I promise you, it WILL be worth your while. <<less
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nxtlvl
nxtlvl rated it
January 25, 2021
Status: Completed
This story takes a tragedy and turns it into a journey of healing. It's told in a non-linear fashion and is done so rather effectively, slowly peeling back bits of the dark past between our main trio. The author's choice of disguising FL's trauma behind denial and laughter felt particularly poignant, setting this apart from typical hurt/comfort.

I developed a soft spot for secondary lead, Yan Ping, which was further magnified after additional readings of the novel. It's not exactly second lead syndrome, because I still believe ML is the superior... more>> choice for FL (though the standard is not set very high, ML also has his tr*sh moments) and Yan Ping's poor predicament in the present time of the novel is very much a consequence of his own doing. But I just feel bad for him as a human being.

More on Yan Ping:

Spoiler

In another story with more a more progressive setting, he could've become the male lead and this might've been a rendition Coffee Prince. Alas, he was a product of his own time, and it wouldn't have been realistic for him to outwardly embrace what he thinks are homos*xual feelings in such a conservative era. This doesn't absolve him of his tr*sh behavior, but I do think some of the reader hate on him is undeserved. The internalized h*mophobia he was dealing with feels like a tragic situation in its own right, and Yan Ping's side story at the end is definitely worth reading.

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Thoughts on character development:
Spoiler

Interestingly, I find that FL, then ML, have the most engaging character developments. ML can be considered charming in his own tyrannic sort of way, but he doesn't go through as much change or growth. Perhaps this was intentional because he needed to be FL's support system while she went through her own healing. In addition, some have mentioned that the non-linear storyline is confusing, but I think the lack of coherency early on was a great storytelling tool in depicting the effects of FL's PTSD induced memory loss and concentration problems.

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<<less
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peerlesscucumber
peerlesscucumber rated it
November 19, 2020
Status: Completed
If you're ok with reading MDZS or TGCF (I know lots of people come here from popular danmei) you'll probably be ok with this. The beginning two or three chapters are the most confusing, but it quickly irons out. Just for some help: the protagonist is pretending to be a man at the start, and is arrested for stealing food and harboring a fugitive. But she is a woman, and the fugitive is her deposed emperor.

Knowing all of that, you should be able to get stuck in! I've written a... more>> longer review on An Yi's character in my recommendation list, but the reviews left by other readers are really good and helpful if you want to know more about the story as a whole. It's very tragic in retrospect, but luckily it takes place after all the tragedy has ended. This is An Yi's happy ending :) <<less
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tedy2004
tedy2004 rated it
September 15, 2020
Status: Completed
Some little spoilers here, warning:

... more>>
Spoiler

The story was supposed to end, however the author decided to write till they have kids, which it felt too long without a exciting plot but only a plot where we will see at the end their happy family. I admit I liked the 1-35-40 chapters, and it felt uncomfortable even if it didn't go in detail about the ML sleeping with the FL in the same tent, don't get me wrong at first it tells they slept together in the tent while she leaned on his warm chest -.- and she was comforted by him when she had nightmares, that's all, but then they did the deed, well mostly he did it (forcibly or dominantly) without getting married, because yea he had the background of being Crown Prince and then the Emperor, sigh... and the FL had no choice but to be forced and then to start develop Stockholm Syndrome, not joking here really........ These are my conclusions and my opinion about the novel. 1 Star for the translations, 1 star for the FL ---> another opinion of judging -> honestly for me the author really made the plot for the FL and the ML in the middle chapters to be felt too unrealistic. I mean the ML started to realize that FL is a white eye wolf person sometimes, and his feelings for her are so decisive, yea whatever, typical plots sometimes but still was enjoyable in some parts, 4.5/10.

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Good Night <<less
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spchntrt
spchntrt rated it
May 5, 2020
Status: Completed
Truly recommended.

This is not about revenge, political struggles or anything alike. It is simply about a mentally broken girl went through rehabilitation under the protective roof of the emperor. This story is fluffy yet at the same time will make you end up feeling crushed. The pain and suffering that the characters have experienced were well written with multiple POVs. Also, in almost every chapter, the author never forgot to slip a few comic reliefs, which made the readers laugh and cry simultaneously. This is a perfect example of a... more>> bitter sweet story about life and love. Tbh, I personally like neither of the MLs. But she's happy, so...

Give it a shot. You won't be disappointed. <<less
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earlgreyt
earlgreyt rated it
February 5, 2019
Status: Completed
When I first read this, I didn't find it all that good. The pacing was disorienting, the flashbacks were confusing, and the MC didn't have much agency; she just seemed to accept everything that was happening with a very disassociated mindset.

Additionally, there was a lot of semi-maudlin melodrama with the other leads, memory loss, etc.

While the translation is good, the author's writing could have been much better.

However, despite all that, the story did cause me to feel a slew of deep emotions and for some reason, on certain days, I... more>> go back and reread it (so I upgraded my eval).

This is definitely one of those that get better with rereads because of how confusing the backgrounds of the characters are.

Even though the writing isn't the best, the characters aren't very likable, and the end relationship is too manipulated for my liking, it's still a story that somehow left a deep impression on me.

So maybe I would recommend this to people tired of the typical formula of revenge historical drama. <<less
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chibiheaven
chibiheaven rated it
November 27, 2017
Status: --
Going in, I did not expect to bawl my eyes out. There's interesting twists to the story and I feel the author kept things simple and spared us any useless petty misunderstandings.

There's lighthearted humor and banter.

All in all an interesting read that isn't too long!
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Elissiaro
Elissiaro rated it
October 16, 2017
Status: --
The beginning is a bit slow and confusing, but I really like this story, one of the later chapters actually made me cry.

The main character is kinda... Extremely dumb, but she's dumb in an endearing way (kinda like luffy in one piece). And the text doesn't go on about how smart she is while constantly showing her acting like an idiot. Like alot of the bad chinese novels do.

Also she has a pretty good excuse for at least some of the s*upid.

The translation is good too. Just a few words... more>> that are wrong now and then, but like, just the wrong form of the correct word. <<less
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alexfilia
alexfilia rated it
August 11, 2017
Status: c38
The MC is an air head and quite shameless wich leads to hillarious situations on her part... The ML is doting in his own way.... The mc's father raised her as a boy in order to avoid court troubles and also spoiled her to death but an unfortunate even led her into joining the war against the ML and almost throwing her life away

Its a cute read although it often jumps aroung between flashbacks and events happening now

as for the second ml... well it a case of bad timing
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Narutolvr
Narutolvr rated it
July 16, 2017
Status: c30
Reading this story, I find myself fighting the inexplicable urge to weep with every word and action of the MC, even while cracking up. The author does an amazing job with conveying just how empty our MC has become emotionally, even before mentioning what actually caused her to become so numb. As things stand right now, I can't claim I want her to end up with any of the male characters specifically, but I'd give a million dollars for her to pick Feng Zhao Wen over Yan Ling. I hate... more>> everything about him and, the more the story develops, the more I find myself recalling his actions in the earlier chapters and hating him all the more. More than anything, though, I just want the MC to heal; it's been a while since a light novel was able to draw out my emotions like this. I absolutely recommend this story if you're in any sort of mood as it manages to be both heart-rending and hilarious/lighthearted at the same time.

One caveat though, the first several chapters are a bit... vague. I didn't find them confusing, per se, as I could tell most of the things I didn't understand were events that would be explained eventually. But, the setting isn't too concrete when you first start so that will definitely be an obstacle in getting you hooked. I didn't find myself really falling into the story until chapter 6 or 7- prior to that, I'd kept reading mostly out of mild curiosity. So I'd recommend that, if you're going to read this, you force yourself to ignore anything else for the first 5-10 chapters to properly get the setting of the story. It's a great work, though! <<less
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willwiz
willwiz rated it
September 9, 2016
Status: c54
This is a pretty worthwhile light-hearted romance to read if you 'understands' it and tough it through. At any point in the story from beginning to end, it will be confusing, non-sensible, just generally lacking in background information in someway. In fact, the whole story (except ending and extras) is essentially about adding detail and background to the previous chapters to solve your questions, confusion, befuddlement about what is going on.

This style of writing is not very reader friendly for everyone and probably will make a bunch of people drop... more>> it straight away. If reading the first few chapters just won't work for you, I advice you read dysry's first 5 chapter summary as a start, or wait for more chapters to read together. <<less
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astaterix
astaterix rated it
May 21, 2016
Status: c6
At the beginning, it quite confusing to understand the story, since this novel use first person POV. But starting from chapter 5, the plot is clearer and very interesting.

So be patient, and give it a try :D
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Mystiqueeee
Mystiqueeee rated it
July 3, 2023
Status: Completed
I really thought that it's a sweet and funny story because of the synopsis. Who would've thought that it's this suffocating (especially at the beginning).

I wanted to hate and hit the old FL who's a lovesick fool, but whenever I compared the her who's already exhausted from everything, it's a mixed of pity and dislike. She's very naive before. Her world revolved around the man she loves, not caring about anything else. A smile from him can make her do everything for him, even if that smile is nothing but... more>> a trap. She's the most pitiful in this story that even if she's laughing or joking around, I can't find myself being amused, instead, I feel like she's living in a mess.
Spoiler

Her mother died when she's young. She's raised as a man, although it's said to be for her own good, it's still something forced upon her. The one she sincerely loved used her feelings and betrayed her for political power. She watched her father died. She unknowingly betrayed her comrades when she lost her memories. And then she thought she was betrayed by the only person in Great Chen that she's willing to protect, the one she treated as her younger brother (good thing that he didn't betrayed her though).

[collapse]
But you know what's admiring about her? She's very resilient. She bounce back pretty quickly and can adapt wherever she is.

You said, Yan Ping, that hateful second ML, isn't the one at fault. But when he tricked the FL, he knows about the FL's feelings for him and used it in order to stab her and her family behind their backs. No matter how much he regretted it, I really can't find myself to symphatize with such man. It's the FL's fault for being a lovesick fool but it doesn't mean that he's innocent of betraying a friend (if he ever considered her as one) as well as using someone's feelings. So even when I read his POV, there's just, "you deserved it" schadenfreude in me for him.

And the ML, I can't say he's hateful for besieging the FL's empire since the latter doesn't really have much patriotism for her country as well. Plus, if the ML didn't conquer the land, they'll fall on their own. So the ML conquering the empire is a blessings disguised as a misfortune. Anyway, he really treated the FL well. He waited for her to be okay and didn't despised her. I really like how sincere his love is. He fixed her step by step and tolerated her foolishness.

Meanwhile, I almost drop this from the very beginning because of the 1st POV narration. Since the POV is from the FL, and the FL's mind at the beginning was messy, the narration was also messy and even I felt muddleheaded. However, everything took a great turn when the flashbacks happened.
Spoiler

I can't help but to cry when the FL's father died, then the scene with Yan Ping followed. Every time the FL's father was mentioned, I can feel the FL's regret, guilt, and awe for her father.

[collapse]
. Anyway, the POV started to became more normal when the knot in the FL's heart was resolved. And that's the only part where there's real comedy and sweetness. It's not like there's no sweetness at the beginning, but the pity for the FL is more dominant at that time because of her situation. But at the latter part, it's more relaxed, sweet, and funny because there's no more burden in An Yi's heart.

Overall, this political/palace drama has a different and unique approach (be it narration and how the story started), it was interesting. The translation is good too. The way how the author touched the emotions of the readers was well written, especially about the FL's circumstances. The author didn't portrayed the FL as a melancholic person, in fact she's bubbly and despite everything that happened, she retained her innocent and naiveness, however, what happened to her can evoke the readers sympathy for the FL, and through the FL's actions, though not implicitly written, it can be said that she suffered from severe depression and trauma. Therefore, aside from political struggles, war matters, etc., this story is also about self-healing. It's 9/10 for me. <<less
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