The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir

Description

Links are NOT allowed. Format your description nicely so people can easily read them. Please use proper spacing and paragraphs.

“I can’t accept this! I can’t! Even as a ghost, I’m going to spend eternity cursing that your relationship will shatter like glass! Break apart like a pair of mandarin ducks that fly away from each other!” With such a persisting obsession, it would be difficult for the vengeful departed spirit to move on.
 
Ji Man had only read a light novel to pass the time, but she was unexpectedly pulled into a very strange dream. She had become the novel’s most vicious villainess.
 
The novel rewinds to the beginning. The villainess who had been ordered to commit su*cide reappears on stage and begins to follow the plot as she walks toward the novel’s ending once again, to a courtyard deep inside the marquis’ residence. A female lead that’s like the Holy Mother. Countless cannon fodders. The imperial family’s favor…

Associated Names
One entry per line
DSB
Romance of a Twin Flower (drama)
春闺梦里人
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Rebirth of an Abandoned Woman (7)
Heavenly Divine Doctor: Abandoned Concubine (6)
To Be A Virtuous Wife (6)
His Transmigrated Cannon Fodder Fiancé (6)
Doomed to be Cannon Fodder (5)
Eight Treasures Trousseau (4)
Recommendation Lists
  1. My absolute faves
  2. books i enjoyed
  3. (GXB) Villain, cannon fodder or similar situations
  4. Historical/ Fantasy BG
  5. Ancient China Novels

Latest Release

Date Group Release
11/01/19 Fuyu Neko c510 (end)
11/01/19 Fuyu Neko c509
11/01/19 Fuyu Neko c508
11/01/19 Fuyu Neko c507
11/01/19 Fuyu Neko c506
11/01/19 Fuyu Neko c505
10/31/19 Fuyu Neko c504
10/31/19 Fuyu Neko c503
10/30/19 Fuyu Neko c502
10/30/19 Fuyu Neko c501
10/29/19 Fuyu Neko c500
10/29/19 Fuyu Neko c499
10/24/19 Fuyu Neko c498
10/24/19 Fuyu Neko c497
10/24/19 Fuyu Neko c496
Go to Page...
Go to Page...
Write a Review
268 Reviews sorted by


Ziaoi
Ziaoi rated it
July 14, 2019
Status: c397
Why did I waited so long to read this novel?! And what's with the ratings?! This novel and Fuyu Neko deserves better!

First of all, I am kind of both regretful and happy to push this novel so long, because at one point you knew you just missed some good stuff, but on the other hand, hey they have uploaded so many chapters! I just finished marathon all the chapters within 2 nights, now I have a big black eyes but it's all worth it!!

If you like novels such as Eight... more>> Treasures Trousseau and To Be A Virtuous Wife, with a bit mix of The Rebirth of Malicious Empress, you'll definitely enjoy it. It's started off with the basic, standard transmigrated modern female lead, who reads a webnovel about this villain character, who basically ended up dying because she's been mistreated by her husband. Very similar start to Doomed To Be Cannon Fodder.

I love the slow-burn romance, the neat and detail writing about each POV of the characters, just like ETT and TBAVW, which also why I think Fuyu Neko as the translator has done a very good job. It has much more realistic plot with the political turmoil around the era and therefore affecting their household affairs.

The male lead does not fall in love and showing his affections instantly like Xian Junwang or Duan Wang, he's a Marquis that has a lot of things going on, considering who he has to protect and throw away. It's not a fluffy romance novels, it has more mature level of story. He can't be brazenly wanting to protect the people he loves, and you know, just get a way with it. In TBAVW you saw Duan Wang/He Heng dismissed his harem for Qu Qing Ju almost immediately and later on never takes any women, which is just straight impossible, considering men in that era (especially with status) wouldn't do that despite of loving the main wife dearly.

I love it when the male lead gradually realized that giving love to someone he adores is not enough for him to judge whether that person can be reliable and capable on taking care his household. He learns to appreciate people, thinking that if a person is upright and reliable, he will eventually love them instead. Which is a very good view on marriage perspective, even in today's time. It's only sweet during the honeymoon phase, then it hits hard.

He's still very courteous towards each of his concubines, attending them at least once a month, favored or not, which is considerate. They actually could live happily if not of greediness because the male lead is an ok guy. Although I definitely hate him haha :")

Our female lead, who considers herself still to be the second female lead, has strong character like Shen Miao. But she's not a genius and know-it-all, which is very approachable and real. She's not timid nor careless, she tides things carefully. She's kind and humane, despite all the things happening around her, but also not that magnanimous. There's a lot of events she doesn't know and understand, she can still avoid some schemes, but she's not a mary sue who do things perfectly.

She's a good businesswoman and clever in using her strong points just like Chu Lian in Transmigrator Meets Reincarnator, proving that she's capable being on her own. Without her husband, she would still lead a satisfactory life. And this will always be my most favorite trait of transmigrated/reincarnated female leads.

The plot is heavy, and very long. You need to be patient and just read through. Because the style of writing really reflects on 'slice of life', some of you might not enjoy it, but I definitely love seeing the chain of events that happens. Like the third Newton's Law, action=reaction, it's just fun to see how one events can affect the other and so on. It's slow, but you grasp everything from the story and able to assess deep into it.

To be honest, I think this is the best transmigrated novel I've ever read so far. The plot, the translation, is just top notch. 5/5 from me :) <<less
9 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Emylin
Emylin rated it
May 5, 2019
Status: c470
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!

I need to complain, I'm sorry, but I need to voice out all the frustration and angst I'm feeling right now. I have been crying over frustration for real, I'm so unsatisfied and frustrated and angry with the male lead that I have been crying again and again.

... more>>
Spoiler

First major frustration is her kid, Haohao is definitely adorable I get it, but come on, the kid get kidnapped and he rescued it, okay that's cool, but instead of giving it back, he hides it and then bring a woman out of nowhere, makes her the mother and then when he asks the kid he clearly has no idea who JiMan was, still he uses the boy to make her do the impossible to be with her child.

[collapse]

Spoiler

Second point, and I think I didn't even need to mention this, but he was part of the reason her whole family was killed, he was very aware about the second prince intentions and yet he didn't support the third prince, much less warn him. He has always been a treacherous bastard. When JiMan had to seek the first prince because of this I was so sad for het, after all the prince tried to mu*der her child when she was still pregnant.

[collapse]

Spoiler

Another frustration is her general situation, how many things had she swallowed down, abuse after abuse, form him, from the other woman. In the very beginning when he canned her as a punishment, I thought, with my naivety, that it was gonna get better, she wouldn't be abused right and left like this in the future, just persist, happiness will come, and then around ch190 I was like, when will it come? And then when peace finally came, BOOOM, Major bomb fell from the sky and now I'm so frustrated, because she has to and she propably will end up with that bastard.

[collapse]

Spoiler

Male lead is a manipulative, abusive, unreliable, controlling, jealous, arrogant, childish, frustrating, bastard of a husband. And I feel so bad for her. Honestly I came to the point that it does not matter what he does to atone himself, he will never ever deserve her, and it's killing me to think that they will end up together.

[collapse]

Spoiler

This is another frustration but what is the deal with the second male lead how can he be so ridiculous? He help mu*der her family, he knew about the second prince and he still wants to make her his concubine? What the f*ck, how can this males be this bad, it is like they are competing to see who can wrong the girl the most!

[collapse]

Anyway, after all my venting is done I'm just going to say that I will only keep reading for her, because after all she went through she needs to be happy, even if it means to end up with the male lead. I want to see Ji Man became genuinely happy.

By the way I said it, she should have divorced him, even better, run away from him in the beginning. She had money, a lot so she should have used it to flee to the farthest corner in that place. And just to say, but all this is like the tip iceberg.

Edit:

So I have finished reading the main story and I must say. WHAT THE f*ck?!?! Forgive my wording.

Honestly at certain point, I lost all hope, even though I felt frustrated for all the forgiving and letting go that happened between JiMan and Yuxuan, I came to accept it. BUT, like, for real, what was going on? What the heck was that ending? What was wrong with those women just in general?

Spoiler

Like Haohao situation for example, he was such a crucial piece that was discarded, like that. He was poisoned and had to be taken away (out of nowhere) and since when did buddhism supported taking kids from their unwilling parents? That was disrespectful as hell!!!

[collapse]

Spoiler

Further thoughts was that all people in love is dumb and s*upid. Zhao Li, the emperor's wife was poisoned, slowly mu*dered after giving him the throne, even though he regretted terribly it was just a bitter after taste.

And then there was that girl that almost married Ji Man, the Male version, she was dumb! r*ped, shamed, miscarried, forcefully married herself... At least she seemed to find some kind of happiness

[collapse]

Basically, after reading I just felt that the author tried to be smart and make a whole surprising story with lots of plot twist, but it just went overboard... Ji Man could be so forgiving because at the end she wasn't Sangyu, no other reason, the marquis was real tr*shy and sincerely, he s**ked, tell me one decent redeeming point, please. There was so much regret and sad things and no real happiness that made it worth the ride.

Conclusion, Ji Man suffered so much for nothing, because I don't think that Yuxuan, no matter how sweet and nice he became, was worthy everything she went through, and that was basically all she got. <<less
9 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Cle
Cle rated it
January 29, 2019
Status: c192
This is my first review.

I'm gonna have to drop this hot potato. I love a good developing slow romance, but this is too much.

Pros:

... more>> The story was decent in the beginning and the characters were intriguing. The main female character was absolutely amazing. She dished out some pretty hard comebacks and was absolutely hilarious when she secretly complaining in her head. She's also the type of character that is resourceful and independent. Really loved her character.

Very realistic.

DRAMA. I love myself a good dramatic scene.

Translation/Translator: Very quick and pretty good.

Cons:

Two letters---->ML

The male lead is a complete douche. Like I understand during those times everything was different, but are you serious. That man has slept with so many women I was surprised he didn't contract no STDs. We might as well don't call him the ML, we should call him the friendly neighborhood bicycle. He really, really did not deserve the original wife, even with her flawed personality. In my opinion, he didn't deserve the title as ML and the redemption. Haha. Don't make me laugh, how could that man be redeemed when half way in the book he couldn't pick between which chick to sleep with.

Spoiler

Oh and did I mention his hand in indirectly killing his unborn children. *Gasp*

[collapse]

Woah shocker.

He's basically the main reason why I'm dropping this book. He's by far the worst ML I've ever read.

Original FL: In the beginning, I liked her but then I was like, yeah no. She's probably a little bit better than the Original FL from, Doomed to be Cannon Fodder. I'd say, if the Original FL from Doomed to be Cannon Fodder had a pinto bean as a brain, then the Original FL from this story has a slightly bigger pinto bean as a brain.

Basically she's not as dumb, but she's still annoying. That's why her nickname was Bimbo.

Overall: Decent story. It had me hooked, but then the hook slowly broke.

Recommendation: Sure go ahead, experience it. If you're into history with a dash of realism and politics, this might just be for you. If you're into cute fluffy romance, with a loving loyal ML and a sweet caring FL, then girl you are in the wrong place.

I'd probably give this a 3.5, cause FL did not give a crap. <<less
9 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Devi_SF
Devi_SF rated it
January 16, 2022
Status: Completed
First of all, I should thank the author and translator for their good work and delivering the story to us. One-third of translation period, I was so impatient that I braved mtl for the first time and finished it in three days. Then, I came back to read Fuyu's translation version when it's complete. It's simply that good.

For NU's standard of rating of similar genre (transmigration, scheme and conspiracies, harem intrigue, palace intrigue, and ancient fiction with fight for the throne), imo it deserves 4-4.5/5, so I rate it 5... more>> to pull up the rating.

So, here we come to the deeper review. First, read and heed the tags of this book.

Our MC (Ji Man) read a romance web novel at random to pass the time after she finished her work as a bedtime story. She read it and thought the book was so s*upid that she's questioning the moral outlook of the (fictive) author while defended the villainess ex-wife (Nie Sangyu). Was Ji Man properly read the book at that time? Nope. She skimmed through it, especially after the villainess ex-wife's death, until she's fallen asleep. Then the villainess ex-wife's soul came to her dream, crying and complaining, asking her to fulfill her wish then disappeared. The next time JM opened her eyes, she had become NSY.

What I like the most about this book is how real the MC and ML's flaws were and how they actually got burnt and have to bear the consequences of such flaws. For example, how JM was NOT an actress nor she ever learn acting. No matter how confidence she was of her acting ability and how well she has deceived the others, in fact, she can't fool people who's close to her (such as NSY's personal maidservant) and who's observant, cautious, and care enough (such as her husband, her MIL, Noble Consort Nie, etc) that she's the ori-NSY. They just got along with her play-pretend as long as they get what they want from her. When they can't get what they want and/or she's of no use for them, they schemed by themselves while putting her in the "useless person list" (which triggered JM and most of the readers 😅). Another example was how both the JM and the ML (NYX) have the common flaw of smart/clever/genius and "insightful" people: prejudice and tendency of taking actions as if they knew better than the rest of people. And how the consequences of this prejudice and arrogance f*ck them up for a long time (The first days NYX saw JM, he thought she's NSY and judged her based on how NSY has always been behaving. Then, he thought she's a dangerous spy/imposter and judge her as such. Thus, he treated her really bad and as consequences, JM never believed his romantic pursue of her for a long time no matter how sincere he was. Or how JM pushed the Nie up to be the strongest faction-- disregarding the reason the emperor pushed them down on the first place--and gave them the power to resume their unruly "habits". They were corrupt and they used Noble Consort Nie, the third prince, and NSY's father's influence and name to oppress common people and wreak havoc again. The NC Nie, the 3rd prince, and NSY's father let them did that because they need their support to push the 3rd prince to be the new crown prince. When no one can blind anyone of the Nie's atrocities anymore, NYX can't protect them anymore and he had to spin a scheme to at least save JM and NSY's brother's life--but, ofc JM disregarded the Nie's fault and crimes and pushed all the blame on NYX. And some people might say that anyone who call on JM's misdirected anger in that case was an unemphatic person because I see not a few readers agree with JM on that the Nie and NSY's father were wrongly mu*dered by NYX).

Another point I like about this book is how it depicted that no one, not even JM and NYX have omniscient perspective and knowledge and they have to face real consequences of that when they acted as a decisive know-it-all. E.g. how NYX was politically astute and insightful, but he's almost blind about harem intrigues. How NSY has received modern education, has some modern knowledge and watch/read many ancient stories, but she still doesn't know some important rules and laws of the dynasty NSY has lived in (such as noble and gentle women having private business--regardless she's a maiden, married, or widow--is illegal and can be considered as a crime). How she has (skimmed) read the novel, but she still doesn't know the real causes of the rise and fall of the Nie. Or how the intelligent network spies aren't omniscient in gathering information even when they're on protagonist's side. How people still get f*cked off because disregarding "trivial" information and/or some misdeeds or bad thing that (they know, but dismissed because it) was not their responsibility to tidy it up, even though they're MC and ML.

As humanely flawed and limited JM and NYX are, they're decisive and never fall into inaction. When they know they're wrong, it's harmful and they can make it right again, they would do it. But, when the circumstances hinder them, they would tolerate, compromise, and make the best of the situation (which might disappoint some readers) instead of forcing their revolutionary idealisms into an established ancient dynasty and magically successfully do that despite the lack of modern education (and/or the effort on popularizing modern common senses) in the population. (Mind you, Ji Man was NOT an educator, politician, economic leader, military leader nor she was an enthusiast of it in her original world. Meanwhile NYX was a "pure-blooded" ancient man who's "brainwashed" by ancient ideologies and cultures and work in imperial court and as a patriarch of a marquisate for years using those ancient values).

And these qualities are reflected well on the slow development of JM and NYX's romance. Both JM and NYX can put their romance and personal feeling aside for the bigger picture (and I understand if it makes them seems like scum/slag for some people's standard).

Most of the time, NYX would chose to sacrifice his wives' happiness and wellbeing--wives whom he fully knows as pawn of his political enemies (or someone who's harmful to his family/clan) and/or mostly being obstacles/burdens for him in the fight in imperial court--if it could protect the life of most of the people under the Ning's protection (including their s*ave-servants). Aside from those particular occasions, NYX treat them equally well according to the dynasty and family laws despite he's forced to marry them. He will let them be punished when they crossed the line or breached the law, similar to any other members of Ning clan. The only exception for it were NYS, the ori-FL (Wen Wan), and JM.

NSY was... 😔 Her personality make it easy for NYX's enemies to use her to drag down not only her paternal family (the Nie) but also the Ning. Not to mention, she tended to going too far/vicious when she punished the s*aves (the servants and NYX's tongfangs/bedwarmers) and half-s*aves (NYX's concubines). She really was a hard-to-love kind of person, easy to be misdirected/manipulated and slandered. Given how "brilliant and perfect" NYX's reputation was, the only choice they have to ruin the marriage (and marriage prospect) between the Ning and Nie was to ruin and slandered NSY's reputation. Under the joint efforts and long years efforts of many factions to ruin their marriage, even years before their marriage, it's understandable how NYX has terrible impression of her and hate her. He's especially harsh on her not only because of that, but also because she's his marchioness, his legal wife and she can't keep going to be used by his enemies at every turns and corners.

Spoiler

His impression of her was so terrible that he had to put out the candle and treat her extra "rough" whenever he visited her for fulfilling his "husband's duty". Although some comments call out NYX for it, NSY was happy with it and even wore the "love medals" (bruises) with pride and flaunt it in front of his concubines. So, 🤷‍♀️. Some people love BD*M, and NYX might think she's one of those people. If I remember it right, he even gritted his teeth when he heard about how prideful she's of the "love medal". 😑🤐

In the original plot, she chose to curse Wen Wan and her dead unborn baby instead of cleaning their accusation that she's poisoned WW and made her miscarriage. NSY was the model case of labelling in sociology. She can't clean herself of the accusation because she has been caught red-hand and/or proudly admitting of harming even poisoning NYX's concubines and WW on several occasions in past years. Unsurprisingly, she's dead by drinking poisoned wine as the punishment of mu*dering a conceived baby (a baby who's been anticipated by the ML).

[collapse]

WW was your typical shoujou FL. She believes that love can solve all kind of adversities and it's the only pure/innocent reason for people to do anything. Although she's also a pawn of a faction in imperial court (the Crown Prince's faction), she's also NYX's first love. Although he hadn't fully fall in love with her when he married her, he protected her especially well and treat her better than his other wives. He even hid and turn a blind eyes on her misdeeds and harmful schemes, he tolerates it for years. But, as most other romance novels' female protagonist I've read, she takes the ML's indulgence of her misdeeds for granted. And if he can't indulge her misdeeds anymore, it means he doesn't love her, a scum, and unworthy of her love.

Spoiler

Unfortunately, NYX can't be her doormat like the other MLs could for their FL. He tried to correct her mistakes, provided education and resources for her to be a strong and well-respected marchioness (she's his new marchioness after NSY was demoted) well-fitted to their era so that she wouldn't be anyone's pawn. But, no. She regarded it as he didn't love her anymore. She blamed JM and blackened. Her ill-placed stubbornness, self-righteous, and harmful schemes slowly eroded NYX's love and trust in her. When she killed their baby daughter, why and how she did it, that's the last straw for NYX's hope in her. Finally, he treat her similar to how he treat his other wives. But, that's not the end of blackening and malicious schemes.

[collapse]

JM was similar to NYX in not placing romantic love as their highest aspiration and goal. Most of the time, she denied herself of her attraction toward NYX and NMJ. But, she especially turned a blind eyes on her attraction to NYX and his well- intended helps. It's clearly because she judged him as the scum-husband of NSY, the ori-ML of the tr*sh novel meanwhile she keep the detachment because she's still hoping to return to her original world. She believed that getting NYX's love and blissful marriage was NSY's wish. So, she worked on it while unbeknown to her, they're slowly falling in love with each other because of their intense interaction. Even when they started to fall for each other, they still didn't put their romance as the top priority in their life. Not even when JM realize that their world wasn't merely a book's world and the characters in it, including NYX were not merely ink on papers, that they're flesh and blood with their own life, dream, and aspirations. NYX, as the patriarch and according to his family law still put the common people and the empire as his top priority without coveting the throne. Meanwhile, JM as a "daughter of Nie family" put them as her higher priority (second only to her return to her original world). After the Nie were executed, her son and revenge were her top priorities.

But, the beauty of their relationship are: When they found out the truth and got ride of their prejudice, when they decided to express and work on their love, both of them willing to learn, tolerate, and compromise to bridge the differences between them. I rarely find a female MC who's dubbed as smart and independent who's willing to tolerate and compromise as much as the ML does for the MC.

So, imo, this book not only depict the realism of Ancient China of its selected setting, but also depict the realism of human's flaws (which often dismissed) in its protagonists and how a romance between two adults works (not necessarily the slow burn, but definitely the good communication, compassion, tolerance, and compromise equally from the both sides). <<less
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
riajhart
riajhart
July 28, 2021
Status: Completed
It was a FRUSTRATING read. There's no way around it. It's frustration after frustration after frustration, completely avoidable frustrations too. 90% of the problems and great sufferings the MC and ML go through, they not only incited but openly let happen, which is SO FOOLISH and that's why it's so FRUSTRATING to read this novel.

To its favor, I couldn't stop reading, but oh my god, it's so frustrating and unsatisfying I wish I had never started.

The main second FL (that was the FL in the og story) is so dumb...... more>> but the ML practically serves her with every opportunity to cause him trouble in a silver plater... and we are talking about a scheming and supposedly smart ML, someone described as cruel and vicious with enough heartless actions to confirm it. It would have been far more interesting if the second FL was smart, given how dumb she was, the author had to make the ML and MC act dumb to let the second FL cause trouble... which, as I said, IT'S SO FRUSTRATING.

People keep saying the word "realistic" when talking about this novel as if it was a good thing... yeah, I also like "realistic" novels, but satisfying realistic novels. You could say reality isn't satisfying... yeah, you're totally right, but for that kind of realism we already have our lives, don't we? WHY would I read a book full of it?

I don't know, this had the potential to be SO good, but I'm left with bitterness about how it all developed and ended... it was sloppy beyond belief, mostly because you can tell this is a good writer, if only they had gone that last extra mile to really bring forth everything and improve the things that were half-assed...

I won't rate this, I don't think I can be fair, but to the ones that are on the fence about this... don't read it unless your life lacks frustrations, then, by all means, go ahead, you'll love this. <<less
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
xXLicorneXx
xXLicorneXx rated it
June 13, 2021
Status: Completed
First, for all new prospective readers, let me clear up a few things...

THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE NOVEL.

This is a tale of survival and all that it should entail.

... more>> So, for all the readers desiring a "Husband pampers wife" type of fullfilment story, some face-slapping avenger or just a feel good, cute & fluffy novel about a husband mending his ways... LOOK ELSEWHERE. This novel is definitely not for you. Mind you, there are some complex feelings and affection but nothing really "romantic" per say.

This transmigration novel tells the journey of a modern woman who's dumped into the backyard of an ancient & chauvinistic ML. She used to be the first wife but has just been spurned and demoted in favor of a new woman (the heroine of the novel). And contrary to most novels where the hero or heroine can just magic-wand the deadly planned course of events into better ones, it doesn't happen here. The MC has to navigate a backyard that is unfamiliar to her by using her smarts, trying to avoid the most pressing dangers, and by sometimes showing submission in order not to thrive, but just to survive. The story centers around the tense and darkly ambiguous dynamics and power-plays between the MC & ML.

Also, let's be honest... the ML is a GRADE A prick: he is utilitarian, cold-hearted, sexist & narrow-minded. It's his personality trait. He's not simply "flawed" nor is it a temporary phase where he, unconsciously, was just waiting for Miss Right to show him the light and turn him into a decent human being. He has some charms to him but charm and decency are two different things. What changes is that later on he's willing to make some concessions which make him more palatable.

WHY DO I LIKE THIS NOVEL THEN?

First, the obvious. It's a beautifully written and translated novel.

And while I generally enjoy transmigration or rebirth novel, this one happened to be a little different as nothing is purely as it seems! Remember how most transmigration novel have preset values and emotional range assigned to most characters? Not here people! As the MC breaks into the novel and starts changing the timeline, so do the characters and you slowly start to discover that none of them are inherently good or evil: they are all morally grey people (shockingly so sometimes) with motives and aspirations of their own. It's that psychological thrill that I found engrossing. The MC & ML's tense relationship is a prime example of that.

Also, the MC has a personality that just fits my taste and that I found refreshing: she is a smart, cold, older women who's willing to fight dirty to survive, in a world where no one is really her ally and the set of events are running against her. She is put through the wringer time and time again but doesn't let go. There's a sense of suspense & impending danger that I rarely find.

Finally, I feel like this novel is meant for maybe an older audience? It's rare so I enjoyed it all the more for it. It's ripe with the concession and thought process of someone in their thirties. A.K.A the age where love is no longer the main and only driving factor of a relationship. Yep, there's a reason why the expression "young love" exists...

So it's definitely a novel I would personally recommend but just not to everyone ;) <<less
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
veritere
veritere rated it
December 5, 2020
Status: Completed
Oof... what a ride this book is. This is the novel I wanted To Be a Virtuous Wife to be, and though it has its flaws I do recommend it. I'm writing this review a few weeks after having finished it, so these are the impressions that have remained with me:

The good:

    • This novel is very different from your average transmigration novels and their tropes. The amazing MC whom the ML immediately falls for; the one-dimensional allies and enemies; the perfect ML... you'll find none of these here. Everyone is human, dealing with a time period in which women were expected to permit their husbands to sleep with multiple others while remaining loyal themselves, and the men took it as their due. It's a screwed up dynamic that has real effects.
    • The harem dynamics are very very realistic. This isn't a harem populated solely with women with room-temperature IQs - those who aren't too bright are still very human. One other member of the harem starts off in a strong position but ends up terribly, because of her own weakness of character and inability to read people. Some are genuinely good people in bad positions.
    • I love that nothing about the scenario here is easy. The MC is plunged into a bad situation where she's outright disliked for very valid reasons, and that dislike does not easily go away. There's no Mary Sues in this book.
    • The plot and machinations are definitely really interesting and held my attention. Everyone in this novel has their own agenda, which the MC is sometimes privy to and often isn't. This is true on the smaller scale of the harem, and extends up to the Emperor's court.
    • The main character is amusing and very human. I love her ambivalence to (and initial outright dislike of) her husband, her clear-eyed observation of the screwed-up dynamics of the harem, and her way of handling things. She doesn't fall into the traps of trying to attract the ML's attention or play for his love - she doesn't love him, and is clear with him about why (she does try to pretend to love him after a while, but is pretty laughably bad at it). Even once she starts sleeping with him, she's clear about not being in love; she has a modern attitude towards it that's honestly really refreshing compared to all the doe-eyed teens in so many other novels. She gets her own source of income as soon as she can, and keeps herself occupied with her own interests, makes her own friends, and is just an interesting, well rounded character. Once she does begin to fall in love, she's still very aware of his faults.
    • The ML is also very very human. He's a ruthless manipulator, he doesn't change his opinion of the MC easily and has no issues doing some really awful things (never s*xual violence or even the threat of it though). Like the other men in this book, he is used to the culture that's the only thing he knows, and it takes effort and time for him to grow to love the MC and view her as an equal - and he recognises and accepts that she does not love him very early on. Their relationship is built on the both of them putting in real work to show each other care. It's genuine character development that feels earned. His work is also a very delicate balancing act that is by no means easy and really requires every ounce of acumen he has.
    • There was one character introduced near the end who seemed to be a joke based on the idea that women can't sexually assault men, which I at first found horrifying - but it was both lampshaded and then resolved in a way that actually didn't make me cringe.
    • Not every character has a happy ending. The MC and ML do, but that leaves several other characters in a really sad position in some ways. It's again really realistic.
    • The humour is great. I laughed out loud at multiple points when reading this book!
The bad:

    • Honestly, I think this book is about a third too long. It veers dangerously close to melodrama at a few points, and many of the later plot points just seemed silly.
    • I don't dislike the ML as much as some other readers, but I think some of the things he does
      Spoiler

      like taking away the baby, even if it was to save his life

      [collapse]
      are just cartoonishly bad. It feels more melodramatic than necessary.
    • I don't love the masks and the bit where she's a tutor. That was mostly just silly.
    • I felt like the novel fell back on tired cliches a lot more towards the end, honestly.
    • I rather wish the MC hadn't decided to stay with the ML in the end. For once, I'd like a story where she went "... nah. I can do better." And I think it would have been entirely realistic for this character. I guess it's just necessary for the genre.
I want to make it clear - neither the MC nor the ML are good people, deep down. Again, they're human and flawed; they're both deeply selfish in their own ways, and both hurt other people to get what they want. The ML even more so than the MC, whose selfishness shows more towards the end of the book. It's complex characterization that's head and shoulders above a lot of its peers.

This list might give one the impression that this book is a heavy read - by no means! In fact its humour is its best selling point, and all the points it makes are done so without shoving them in one's face. It's an enjoyable romp with a quick-witted protagonist in an ancient world, and it's worth a shot for sure.
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
WhatABatch
WhatABatch rated it
October 16, 2020
Status: c220
I honestly don’t know how to rate this novel so I’m giving it 3 stars. I love the female lead but hate the male lead with a passion. He is selfish and awful. He sleeps with every woman he comes across. There is not an ounce of loyalty in him. To say I want him to burn a fiery death is an understatement. I realize he is in a tough political position but he treats the female lead much much worse than necessary. I am going to take a break... more>> before continuing because this novel is giving me anxiety issues!!! <<less
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Simichan1995
Simichan1995 rated it
October 12, 2020
Status: --
It sucks. The characters are all so despicable...I came for some simple dog blood drama but this was a whole s**tfest. I love fuyuneko and her other works. So I gave it a try. Here are some pros and cons

Pros

*smart female lead: not smart as in genius but street smart. Knowing how to adapt.

... more>> *great writing and translation: the biggest point that made me read this.

* decent plot and progress

Cons

* s*upidly long: I binge read but its still really long

*characters: Ungrateful, backstabbing, s*upid.. you name it

Male lead: he is a con in itself. Manipulative, ruthless, chauvinist, sexist, ungrateful ass, rapist... so many. <<less
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Ryuu_Flame
Ryuu_Flame rated it
July 23, 2020
Status: c28
At first I loved this novel because of how independent the female lead was, but because I was bored and suspicious on who the male lead was I went towards the coment section... more>>
Spoiler

and found out that that the male lead was the as*hole husband from the first few chapters I mean why would you love a man who Forced you to commit su*cide and was and as*hole the entire time like literally the man left his wife who for sixteen years loved and was faithful towards him but no he decided to leave his wife to be with a woman who he barely new for six months like come on couldn't he see why she did those "childish and insensitive rage filled" things in the first place would he be happy if he saw his wife be with another man who she barely new no he wouldn't

[collapse]
all I'm saying is that I am disappointed in the author who wrote this book, but I can say is the translator did an amazing job on this translation of the book that is all also I am dropping this book to find a better one <<less
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
yamibae
yamibae rated it
February 18, 2019
Status: c72
Don't enjoy the novel at all. The Male lead is deplorable at best, complete as*hole worst. The other female characters are as intelligent as a bunch of monkeys. The Female lead is the only saving grace of the novel and is far too good of a catch for our shitty Male lead. If I were her I'd frame him for some crime then run away, problem solved.

Major spoilers below due to me skipping ahead.

... more>>
Spoiler

In the end ofc, the ML becomes the love of my life person despite his failings as a human being. The author's note at the end was good. Not only does dickhead ML not exist everything she sees is just a figment of her imagination nothing more. Apparently, she's in a vegetative state but she will eventually wake up from this dream and everything/everyone will be gone.

[collapse]
<<less
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Kurobito
Kurobito rated it
June 18, 2018
Status: c15
First of all, I am giving this novel a 5 star due to the author himself/ herself for doing a great job in connecting the story very well as most of the chapters have link to its previous chapters. (I am reading the raws) The ML may be a douche bag that you can't help but to want to give him a thousand punches in the beginning but later in the story you'll start to accept him. This part makes it almost similar to the 'Empress with no Virtue'.

Next, I... more>> would like to give a big thumbs up for FuyuNeko for finding such a great novel to translate as this novel differ from the other romance novel. It is sort of a one-of-a-kind novel that makes you have a mix feelings towards it. I really look forward for every of its translated chapters. <<less
8 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
sovoy
sovoy rated it
December 1, 2021
Status: Completed
This novel seems to be trying to do everything: transmigrator doing business, faceslapping the white lotus/green tea, intense politics, mystery, tragic love story... It's very hard to enjoy when you keep getting whiplash from the abrupt changes in theme. Well, at least there's never a boring moment.

I don't think this deserves a 3.8 rating though, probably should be 4.2 or so. You can really see the hard work the author put in, at the very least plotwise. I feel like half the low ratings must be due to people giving... more>> up immediately upon discovering the ML. <<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Pahpie
Pahpie rated it
November 8, 2021
Status: --
one way to describe this book! Emotional frustrating. Psychologically draining. All the damage is spiritual. Okay! First allow me to praise the translator. They are amazing and did a wonderful job portraying the author's work beautifully. The author has a nice writing style. If the book had a more like-able theme, I would be completely hooked.

This book almost made my soul jump out and not in a good way. It's a good thing that I don't have this obsessive disorder to finish everything I start anymore.

note; may contain some spoilers.

I... more>> only read part of the book before I decided that I wasn't going to kill my liver anymore. The moment the ML decided to whip the MC just for walking out and not caring about her explanation, I threw him into the tr*sh.

I don't agree with any form of physical abuse. He could have just made her kneel, but for walking, he had her beaten up and didn't even repent. Mark, this was after he starved her for having excessive emotions. Lock her up to reform, that's okay. But deny her food? Arseho-

Then they really glorified the second ML. But despite making him seem like a candle in the dark. He was pretty much useless.

what annoyed me even more was that the FL/ villainess Wanwan, was turned from an angel to a villainess simply because someone wasn't playing the villainess role? It simply showed me that the author may end up tr*shing all the characters just to make MC look good.

Fvc! I finally broke when the scum ML came to the MC for midnight rendezvous! And when he noticed that she didn't obsess over him anymore he decided "I'll treat you well."

LIKE THE HELL!

Let's not forget that at this point the villainess/ wanwan was giving him some headache so he decided to run to the room of the person he once hated! I-

I honestly can't express myself properly on this one without talking too much and getting offensive.

when I noticed my soul was about to float away, I rushed to the end of the book in hopes that I don't have to endure coughing blood for nothing. My my! The MC and ML end up together?! Tr*sh I closed the book. I couldn't take it. Some scums don't deserve redemption. I wasn't going to swallow bitter fruit for that.

there was no way such a ML could be redeemed in my eyes. Apparently he is really smart and can tell who people are and lies can't hide from him. Yet, he failed to see the sincerity of his wife's feelings. To make matters worse, he fell in love with his wife's replacement!? The first soul didn't get any consolation at all. You know what! Eat shet! After that are we supposed to act like it's okay?

no! Don't get me wrong, I've read books with characters that anger me and there's no redemption. But that was all part of it, you laugh and you cry with them. I don't know what the author did, but I was completely turned off by this book.

But like I said, the author has a good writing style. The translator is even more amazing. If you can endure, I advice you to read it. Honestly, the writing is really good. It's just that the plot is a killer. it's like having a movie with good acting and good film but the story will just kill you. <<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
hobbes
hobbes rated it
September 29, 2021
Status: Completed
Oh my god. This novel is amazing. It had so many things I hate in a novel and I still ended up loving it.

I wanted to strangle the ML so many times, Initially I was even shocked to know that he was the ML. He had all things I hate in a ML. But as story progresses I started liking him. I had read a novel before in which the FL wont be liking the ML, so the ML decided to make the FL like him by getting used to... more>> him everyday like little drops of rain and before she realizes she will be completely drenched in his rain of love. This ML was totally like that. As story goes on, many little things he does adds up and I ended up liking him.

There are many reviewers saying many things about ML about how he controls women and their pregnancy. Initially I thought that he was such a prick too. But later on in the story they explain as to why he did that. You can read it in the spoilers below.

Spoiler

Every concubine works for some or the other prince, favoring any of them means supporting that prince. And if the supporting prince doesn't become the king then his whole family will be killed. He will always want to maintain a neutral stance when it comes to succession of the throne. Even the FL will be the cousin of the third prince. That is why he doesn't let any concubine get pregnant and when the FL becomes pregnant he gets really worried and decides to make others also pregnant to again come to a neutral stance.

Spoiler

In the original story line he will be favoring the original FL BECAUSE he would have decided to support the first prince to become the king, and the original FL will be working for the first prince. BUT in the current story line, when the first prince tries to hurt the son of the FL he will DECIDE not to support him anymore.

[collapse]

BUT after the child is conceived and born he never thinks about hurting the child. He even feels very guilty when the original FL kills her own daughter to get the favor of the ML. He will know this and hate himself for being in that position. When the son of the FL is born, they will replace him with a kitten and try to kill him, the ML saves him and gives him to a monk to bring him up to keep him safe. He never tells any of this to anyone, even to the FL, because some or the other way it would leak out and put everyone at risk. He becomes a bad person in everyone's and FL's eyes. This does BECOME TRUE because when they come to know that the son is the lost child of the FL. Sooo many people will try to kill him. He is poisoned twice and also locked up in the palace for a long time without his parents. In the end the when the child is poisoned there will be no other way to save him. The monk comes and takes him away and ONLY in this way the baby survives. That is why their son grows up with the monk until adulthood and finally goes back to live with the monk for his whole life too. Did it do any good after everyone came to know his identity? NO, the ML was doing what best to keep everyone safe, being a soft hearted person would have f*cked up everyone's life.

When he falls in love with FL, he tries his best to minimize the losses and keep her safe. Her whole family will be killed because they supported the third prince and the second prince will become the king. If the ML hadn't used his wits then it would be his family getting executed. Instead he helps the second prince and in turn this helps him in saving the FL. He maintains a neutral stance and lives after three kings die and succeed. This would not be possible if he was a saint. If the ML was perfect and goody old shoes then he would have died long back along with his whole family and that includes the FL.

In the end when all the fight for the throne is over, he will love and live with only the FL. He wont get any concubines. When the FL asks him why he suddenly changed, He says that he is at a stage in life where he just wants to have a quiet and peaceful life.

In the original story line also after the first prince becomes the king and the fight for the succession is over, ONLY then he decides to live a peaceful life with only the original FL, This means that he never wanted all those things and he just wanted a peaceful life BUT it was never a option for him. He HAD TO fight and that is the only way to survive.

[collapse]

FL was amazing, she was smart and decisive and she doesn't fall in love with him until the end. I usually like the novels where in the romance starts at least by half of the novel. But the time in this novel, although it was towards the end it was right on time, the ML was way too dangerous to fall in love in the beginning. ML is one of the smartest ever I have read. Everything he does has a meaning. Every small damn thing is related to something bigger. The way he plans for every small step to keep the FL safe in extraordinary. The story flow is really good. Translation was amazing.

With all said, her life is was way too exhausting. I really cant imagine myself living like her. Taking precautions each and every step and thinking so much will make me go crazy. I am really really glad for the world we live in now. This novel has made me love my life more and cherish the small things which we have now and ignore everyday.

Its a really good read, you should give it a try. Even if you hate it in the beginning try to stick to it, you might be as amazed as I am now.

Ending

Spoiler

The ML and FL both fall in love and get married again. (They would have got divorced in the middle)

Their first child will be a boy (which is born in the beginning on the novel) will grow up under a monk for various reasons (explained in the spoilers above). He comes back when he is grown up to see the mortal world and late goes back and becomes a monk. ML and FL only wishes for his happiness and lets him do as he likes. They also have a daughter at the end.

All his concubines die by end except for one of them and she will just be living in the same mansion. The ML will only love the FL in the end.

All the good side characters will get a happy ending too.

All princes die except a 7 year old young kid, he will be placed as an emperor and the ML acts as his advisor. The ML retires when the king becomes 24 yrs of age. The ML and FL live happily until 78 years of age.

[collapse]
<<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
alostlemon
alostlemon
September 23, 2020
Status: Completed
When I finish a novel I tend to ask myself, 'would I read this again?' I can't say I enjoyed 'The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir' and given the chance, would definitely not pick it up again. Despite that I still gave it a solid 4 star, perhaps even 5 could have been possible if I didn't throughly detest the male lead and a few others.

Having said that, and before I mention why I still rated it highly, I want to take just a moment to defend the male... more>> lead.

As many others noted, the male lead is an ass. Perhaps with due reason which still wouldn't change the reality of him being an ass. Taking into account the time period, he'd still remain an ass. An ass, but not tr*sh as some were to deem him. His treatment of others especially women and family could be said to be inhumane, but not cruel. To put that into perspective let me define those two words first.

  • Inhumane: without compassion for misery or suffering
  • Cruel: wilfully causing pain or suffering to others, or feeling no concern about it.
The ML's action wasn't one with no concern. Because he did have concerns, ones that couldn't be expressed. And even if he didn't want to wilfully inflict suffering onto others, his entire ship would be in jeopardy of sinking together with all he held dear or responsible for should he have acted otherwise. The ML was put in display as a person with great power. A person that oversaw many departments and inviduals but it would take only one word from the monarch to strip him of such a rank and render him useless. Without power, without influence, him and his whole family would have been at the mercy of those sitting on the throne and the fate of those women following him wouldn't have been all that much better. That's why, yes, he's an ass who treated his close ones inhumanely. It was also this attitude that allowed them to stay out of other potential harm awaiting them. We could go on about how the male lead was terrible and what not, but it's hard to deny that modern day value is so instilled into us that it's potentially impossible for us to see eye to eye with how the ancients viewed their own values.

Despite not agreeing with a lot of the characters values and actions, be it the ML, FL and numerous side characters. I rated it highly because the novel is a beautiful piece of writing.

Putting aside the themes and values, the plot was solid and flowed. The characters were not two dimensional and had their good and bad points. They did not run on this idea where one trait seeemingly define their whole way of thinking. They were shown to be able to react and respond to the situation happening around them. Good was not just good, and bad was not just bad. The writing style and expressions were vivid and on point. Hints and foreshadowing were there if one had the mind to notice and were not blindly fed to readers. All-in-all, so well written that even if I disagreed with the content I still think highly of.

Finally, the translator did wonderful work on the translation. I can not read Chinese so my view on the author's work is based entirely on how it was translated. <<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
LostMySoul
LostMySoul rated it
April 6, 2019
Status: c313
I think I'm done with this novel. No matter how much I try to, I can't get myself to like this. The MC is alright tho she has her weaknesses but the male lead? He's the worst. Nauseating. I know that he was raised to have harems for the continuation of his linege, whatsoever, but even after he had feelings for the MC, he still slept around without hardly any guilt. He always wants to make the MC jealous which is such a childish tactic. Fortunately, our MC doesn't have... more>> any feelings for him at all. Guy just does whatever he wants. Later on, specially when the MCs family died, he did protect her and help her out. He shows lil things from time to time but that still isn't enough to make up for his mistakes in the past. I like how the MC never gets swayed by feelings when it comes to him tho. I know they end up together in the end and the ML grovels for a lil bit but boy, do I hope he grovels for a long time. I have no idea how our MC can be with in the end and actually have feelings for him. But love does work in mysterious way. Literally, I would give 0 for romance because the tag romance was useless. This is first and foremost a political novel with lots of angst and realistically done too. I gave points for that. Maybe I'll come back when ML starts to grovel <<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Yinyin22
Yinyin22 rated it
January 3, 2024
Status: --
I feel like it’s almost satire??? 😭😭😭

The MC becomes the person she transmigrated into, spineless, in love with the ML whose problems she knows and ignores cause they are in love right?The return from the modern era is what convinced me onto this argument.

I have no problem with the harem or polygamy tbh but really, the ML sucks. He disappointed me sooo much, I kept waiting for his so called redemption or intelligence but nada. It’s like he chooses the worst possible, inelegant solution over something that could actually solve... more>> a problem. Inelegant is the best word I can use, like an elephant in a fine china shop. The fact that the MC returns to this hot mess despite all of the 200+ chapters of torture p*rn is what I call bs. It would have been much more satisfying and interesting if she didn’t return and we see the conclusion of the ML’s life in the historical era (a long life) till his death and then he reincarnates in the modern era. How they patch up or get into a new relationship... Thats what I expected anyway, because in that life I didn’t see them being happy. I still can’t see why the MC is in love with him, what is her understanding of love exactly? Does he value her (only as long as she’s not a part of his schemes but when is she not?), respect her (lol), cherish her (where 😭😭😭), was it the gift giving or him favouring her? (☠️☠️☠️ he told her her child is dead and ignored her and her like 1/2 of the novel. Overly doting? I can’t see affection with a microscope because anything material will not cover up all the stuff he does regardless). So how much love is necessary until pain removes it, or what exactly convinced this MC she was in love with him because I really really was unconvinced. If she fell in love and then fell out of it it would add all the depth the author wanted. Ugh. The author chose the worst way out just like her ML lmao. Not my cup of tea so I’m giving it 3 stars. <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
JessieImInTheWallsJesse
JessieImInTheWallsJesse rated it
June 5, 2023
Status: --
Tried to read this novel three different times and dropped it three different times.

It seems like the author used this book as an excuse to make the FL suffer as much as possible with 500+ chapters filled with bullsh*t plot conveniences and excuses to have to go through the dumbest sh*t possible.

The FL is surprisingly dense and while not a pushover just goes along with almost everything with some sassy quip that she never says out loud.

The ML is absolute garbage at least the psychopathic Wangye ML's who mu*der willy... more>> nilly for the love interest DO things for their love interest, he is just a whiny baby that expects to be loved and praised by his women who he is actively or passively ruining their lives.

I personally find harems and harem intrigue really compelling and dont really care if the ML has concubines because it makes sense for a powerful man to have concubines thats just how things are but this trope in this book aggressively pisses me off everyone is simultaneously the dumbest and yet smartest person alive who NEVER and I mean NEVER get their comeuppance, these women legit commit things that would get them and their entire families hanged or at the very least they would be kicked out or divorced in a sane world but no some excuse from the writer saves them so they can continue wreaking havoc for another hundred chapters. They become less and less interesting and more and more tiring.

Do not read past the 100 chapter mark, this book should have ended in 200 chapters or less, dragging it out made me want to commit crimes. <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Afm
Afm rated it
November 30, 2022
Status: --
If you looking for 'Simple-Easy-Mind' stuff or nice-beautiful-romance.. This Novel NOT for you..

It's contain a 'VERY-Heavy-Political-Machinations'.. with 'Low-Level-EQ' here..

ALSO.. To Be Warned!! IF u Dislike 'Male Chauvinism' ML.. It better to AVOID to read... his harem too chaotic, because he didn't really let his main wife (fl) to fully control it..*sigh* It's So anoying and EXHAUSTING!!!

... more>> And DISGUSTING TOO!!

I Know.. the FL didn't using her Real-Body there..

Although there a phrase saying; "when you in Rome, do as the Roman's does"...

As A Modern Person, we've been educated about "S*exual-Knowledge", and was 'Awared' about "Multiple-s*xual Partners-RISKS"!!

SO!!!The ML TRULY DISGUST ME!!!!!!!!! <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Leave a Review (Guidelines)
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.