This is the second time I'm reading this and I bet I would reread this again in the distant future. Both TBAVW and ETT are from Yue Xia Die Ying so some comparison really can't be helped. Unlike TBAVW where the MC is too cold and the ML that you can't grasp if he really was sincere or not, this couple from ETT had a heart-to-heart talk which I wanted the HH and QQJ to have. HXW and YQJ aren't the types of people who loved the other more than... more>> themselves, the love they give each other was just enough to leave some for themselves. HXW and YQJ loved themselves more, but the sincerity they hold for each other was moving. I can only lament that it is too short, I had wanted to read about their children but oh well. <<less

Similar to To Be a Virtuous Wife, 8TT is a period drama set with women having lower statuses than men. Maybe because I've read the former first so I have high expectations, but for me, this story's overall rating is 3.5.

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Spoiler

The story begins with our MC, who is a transmigrator from the future who had a reputation as a female with no beauty. She was decreed to be married to our ML, who was widely known as a good gentleman with no ambitions to become the next emperor. 8TT was a story on how they fight the ML's competitors and taking the position of the emperor and empress all while gaining a deeper understanding of each other's foundations and character.

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Though I generally felt indifferent to the MC, I can say that she, and her mother, were outliers during this era - even MC's own father agreed with that. By outlier, I meant she did not bend nor shape her foundations to what was expected of women at this time. She knew what she's capable of and what her priorities are - she even tried to demonstrate her martial prowess in front of ML to intimidate him that she's not the kind of wife who just obeys everything. For more information on her character, I think these excerpts fit her well - first one was how ML described her and the second was a sentence she said herself in the story:

• She was lazy but not s*upid, beautiful and intelligent, emotional but cool.
• If status of men in the entire dynasty depended on the good relationships between women, what was the use in having these men?

ML was a prince-nephew of the current emperor, which meant he's not the first in line for the fight to the throne. Unlike TBVW's ML, this ML was painted with a contrasting personality with regards to whom he was interacting - a loving, scholarly and gentlemanly personality towards the crowd to mask the dark, cunning and brutal personality he used while indiscreetly fighting for the throne. That dark personality of his was what draw me to his character because it made him more faithful to his setting as an imperial family member who had designs to become an emperor. That personality was what TBVW's ML lack as a character with the same circumstances.

The character that I like the most was Zhang Huo, the official from the Guard Office. Up until the end, it was not clear on which faction he belonged to - he was bold enough to make the emperor angry but not as just as he portrayed himself because of the facts that he hid from the cases that he'd investigated. I saw him as your typical politician-inspector who wanted to make himself known but was smart enough to know how to play by the rules - a character who, for me, had the most realistic personality given his circumstances.

At first, the story had so many subtle hints and hidden meanings - it would be a bit hard for a reader to deduce future scenarios based on conversations and idioms mentioned if one did not have a bit of knowledge on the culture (thanks translator/s!). At one point I thought that this was a mystery or suspense novel, minus the scary or surprise part. I therefore do not recommend this story's beginning as a first read on any Ancient-China-themed novel, but it would be a good insight on how flowery and indirect people of the past converse and make or break connections.

But as the story progressed, the characters of the story became much more 'direct' and 'predictable', like the author (or translator, I don't know who to blame since I've only read the translated version) suddenly ran out of ways on how to make the plot more mysterious so he/she suddenly reverted back on the style he/she used for TBVW. That pissed me off a little bit, because it felt like the build up done at the beginning was suddenly washed away with cold water. Don't get me wrong - the plot remains, but the excitement and mysteriousness of their conversations vanished, so it became a bit boring when reading it towards the end.

If you like plots about fighting for power and period dramas, then consider this novel. <<less

I had to put a review because I keep seeing people say all they do is have s*x and the love isn't believable... what's not believable is other reincarnation/transmigration novels where its instant fluff and instant love. The MC is brilliant she's incredibly intelligent and can be cunning but she would rather laze her days away and eat good food. Everyone thinks the only good thing about her is her face which is hilarious because she sees right through them but she truly can't be bothered to entertain people unless... more>> they go pass her bottom line. The ML, in the end, does have feelings for her but she's not receptive. She doesn't shun him shes very realistic she knows she's stuck in a time where her choices and freedom are limited and she doesn't' try to scheme or be someone great. She accepts the marriage and lives with him without issue but shes knows he's cunning and that his affection, especially in the beginning, was false. However, as the novel progresses he does care for her she just doesn't accept it right away. I think it's hard for some people to get because they don't outright state things they have lines you have to read between which for me was interesting but in the end, she even says herself if someone takes 99 steps for you the least she can do is take one. It's clear she chooses to give the relationship a try for real and that she cares in the end. It's ambiguous and you get the feeling he cares more but its all because shes guarded. Love her though she can fight for herself and isn't a damsel in distress she knows her husband does dirty things in the dark and pretends otherwise and he knows she knows but says nothing and then he starts to like her not because she's some white lotus and pretty but because she has a temper on her and will kick his ass lol. I loved figuring out the hidden meanings of the story. <<less

This story is often compared to TBAVW, but frankly I was a little disappointed because of this comparison.

The MC is too passive and lazy for my liking. I appreciated her laissez-faire attitude at first, but I really wished she became more involved in the political scheming / intrigues of the plot. While she was more or less aware of everything that happened, it was all "behind the scenes". There wasn't really anything for the MC to deal with - at least in TBAVW the MC had to deal with other... more>> concubines / SILs / MIL / her family. I did like how this MC had a loving family supporting her though. It was nice to see for a change!

The ML was interesting, but I didn't feel the chemistry between the MC and the ML compared to some of the other pairings in other novels I've read. This was probably my biggest disappointment.

There was also a lot of underlying, hidden meanings in dialogue that I don't think I picked up the first time, so I will probably have to reread it to fully understand all the foreshadowing. I really appreciate the hard work of the translators! It must have been difficult to translate.

Overall, an enjoyable read, but not mindblowing. <<less

This was a truly entertaining read! I highly agree with some of the reviews as I was also someone who read 'To Be A Virtuous Wife' first too. This indeed has a pretty similar feel to that except our Xian Wang-Wang Fei couple is more sort of 'detached' from the scheming grounds, while they are definitely involved, they are pretty hands off most of the time and its the others that does the work for them. I agree with that someone who said this is pretty much more 'watered down'... more>> than TBAVW. Our FL is much chill-er and lazy than Qu Qing Ju and has pretty much absolved herself of doing unnecessary effort, keeping true to her aim of living idly lol but she does know how to act properly when she needs to and by no means a weak woman. She is indeed a perfect match to our ML who has such a deep scheming mind and his vicious nature deeply hidden. Ever since TBAVW, Qu Qing Ju has been my favorite female lead but now I can say Hua Xi Wan would is pretty close there too (QQJ is slightly above because I liked that she was more expressive, its opposite for the ML though, I liked Yan Jin Qiu more)

This was by the same author as TBAVW so I did expect a lot and I was not disappointed, I must say I really enjoyed this one more in terms of writing, I liked that there was a lot to read between the lines and the schemes weren't explicitly laid out, realizing how things happen on your own has its own flavor for a reader (especially if you are someone like me who probably have read hundreds of these types of stories)

Some people might say its boring but we have our own cup of teas that we prefer I guess? I think its actually this novel's charm, the way the focal point of the story is about the leads' (trying to live) domestic idle life whilst schemes and troubles are brewing in the background and the readers are engaged further in trying read between the lines and catch the subtle hints on the schemes of our main couple. The writing is just *chefs kiss*. If you are 50/50 about reading this like I have I suggest you give a try, I ended up very satisfied so you might too. <<less

This is not for males. It's all female fantasy where Man must be the one to confess first. I, a manly man, regret just by reading one chapter. Didn't know that it had female MC. Shit.

I love this book esp the FL. The ML is fine but he seems too weak for me.

I started reading this because some compared it to the other novel that I liked, To Be A Virtuous Wife. I’m glad I read it because they really have some similarities. I love the couples and the story’s progress.

It’s a very nice love story coupled with struggles, but a guaranteed romance tandem. They are an unusual pair so it makes it unique especially from their character build-ups. ❤️❤️❤️

A very interesting and well-written story. It is filled with intrigues and there is a lot of depth to both the plot and all the characters. The translators did a really great job and made it a joy to read.

Story: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Translation: 5/5

I love this novel very much. I read two times. The story lines is so interesting.

I love C novel. I always have some imagination about what character I want to read. I want a female who an agent like SWAT I got It, I want A female doctor I Got It, I want a professional Thief I got it and this one I want some one from modern time who want idle life with a good family, 6 brothers (Just 2 brothers it's ok), no one outside the fu have... more>> seen her and thought she was ugly. The first people see her face others than her family is her husband and the the whole imperial family. And I got it. So I love this story because it fulfill my imagination. <<less

This novel is so good! I was enthralled from the beginning to the end. One of the things I enjoyed is that the male lead actually talks to the female lead. There aren't misunderstandings between them because the main characters communicate so well. I also really liked the female leads family. I don't want to give away too much but this novel is definitely worth reading.

If all romance novels are chocolates, ETT would be bittersweet dark chocolate. When most CNs try to drag their story, ETT skipped to expound on some plot details to keep focus on the story... It sometimes makes the plot thick and leaves readers with more questions. Nevertheless, MC's character was consistent throughout the story. The romance is more implied throughout the story and leaves a lot to readers' imagination. ?

what I like about the story is how the ML stay true to his words to MC. This is a transmigration story but the MC didn't display any knowledge about her world except from her previous life as an actress (since the imperial family members love to act a lot to get favor). what I like about this too is that I didn't predict how things will happen (well as the translator stated, the author loves to foreshadow but I just don't know how it'll unfold). so far, ML... more>> is already added to my list of best hubbies. ♥ MC on the other hand stayed true to her principles (filial to her family, do not retaliate unless provoke, don't harm her love ones or else you'll see hell, do not be easily swayed by handsome men's words, lazy as hell but she's a great martial artist, etc.). She was transmigrated to a loving and protective family unlike her previous life which is full of hardships. I just want to know how MC died. She just keeps on remembering her past life but didn't state how she died. <<less

A beautiful novel, really well written. The characters are not second dimensional, you can see the ugly side of humanity even in our main characters, but you can also see the human side of some of the enemies (except the baddie, he just wants power lmao), not many of them fall on the evil character prototype, their own feelings engage in conflict sometimes and know when to retreat and change their goals. I DON'T REGRET STAYING AWAKE UNTIL 5AM TO READ IT ALL, IS SO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.

I LOVE THE MC.

She is truly my favorite character. She will all her personal maid is the best squad, hahahahaa.

And of course I love ML, such a cunning, gentle, calculative, yet he loves and treat MC really good.

Another favorite character, Mu Tong, as the forever third wheel.

The ending somehow very satisfying and I love this novel. &Lt;3

I've finished this novel for quite some time now and Im only writing a review today. This novel is really worth reading. The author doesn't drag nonsensical arcs and the FL is not your typical character, she has her own beliefs and she tries to solve things on her own pace. I do recommend this for people who wants a short but fun read

I had previously rated this, but I returned after reading all the chapter and it's actually tremendously good. I know a lot are comparing this to tbavw, and although that previous novel is also tremendously good, but I actually prefer this more. For the first time, I wanna have the main lead.

MC is amazing. Calm, intelligent and excellent in being lazy. ML is amazing. Ruthless, intelligent and adorable. The interaction between them is the best, however, you must have the ability to read between the lines.

The couple are more talkative as compared to TBAVW, as in they probe each other more and trying to see each other bottom lines. Anyway the dialogues are amazing, each one contains information so open your eyes. Anyway if you can't understand, the commentary section below each chapters are helpful.

All characters are not 1 dimensional and... more>> each has 3 sides and faces of their own.

To my little bit of regret..

Spoiler

no epilogues about their children like in the TBAVW. Is this a spoiler? Idk myayayahaha I just like using this spoiler thingy

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but not enough to dismiss the 5 star it deserves <3 <<less

Really love the MC and ML... There's a dark side from the ML character but I think it makes him more appealing

I like the translation style... we need to learn a few chinese words but actually after reading around 10 chapters there're not many words to memorize

highly recommendation... the MC was lazy but has strong personality... while ML was very loyal as well to her... all ML did not want the throne just the father love.. and I was wondering has the emperor ever felt guilty about it? Happy ending with so many sweet moment between MC and ML