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A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart
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Web Novel (CN)
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Rating(3.1 / 5.0, 9 votes)
5    33% (3 votes)
4    11% (1 votes)
3    11% (1 votes)
2    22% (2 votes)
1    22% (2 votes)
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2023
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407 Chapters (Completed)
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Release Frequency
Every 1 Day(s)
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Weekly Rank: #3263
Monthly Rank: #3138
All Time Rank: #13206
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On 369 Reading Lists
Monthly Rank: #3794
All Time Rank: #15902

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In the capital’s elite social circles, rumors abound about Wen Yu’s ruthlessness. Even the Emperor, upon hearing these tales, has repeatedly nodded in agreement!

Wen Yu, upon learning of this, responded with a cold smile: From a young age, her mother was mu*dered, her grandmother showed no affection, and her father offered no love. She was the target of envy and constantly schemed against. After much hardship, she finally secured a good husband, only to find her marital home a chaotic mess!

Should she play the innocent fool? If so, would a husband of exceptional talent and beauty, intelligent and considerate children, a devoted mother-in-law, and the title of Duchess simply fall from the sky?! In her past life, the Duchess met a miserable end!

Our protagonist first sets her sights on the male lead, unceremoniously claiming him as her own. After marriage, she employs every tactic imaginable: throwing herself into his arms, playing hard to get, alternating between gentle affection and playful dominance, expressing care while subtly tormenting…

From then on, the exceptionally handsome, ruthless, yet capable Fifth Young Master Qi, whose emotional intelligence borders on naive innocence, is repeatedly berated by the Emperor, who points a finger at him and scolds, “You spineless fool! What kind of life is this?! Divorce her immediately! Don’t be afraid, I will support you!”

Fifth Young Master Qi blushes slightly: Actually, this life… isn’t so bad…

This story portrays a strong female lead who makes every effort to achieve happiness.

***

Overlooked and undervalued, Wen Yu, the legitimate daughter of the Wen family, endures a life of quiet suffering.

On her fifteenth birthday, tragedy strikes, setting in motion a chain of events that culminates in her agonizing death. Miraculously reborn, Wen Yu returns to the day it all began, armed with the bitter memories of her past life and a steely resolve to change her fate. This time, she won’t be a pawn in her family’s games.

She will reclaim what is rightfully hers, expose the hypocrisy and cruelty of those who wronged her, and forge a new path for herself.

But as she navigates the treacherous landscape of family politics and builds her own power, she must confront not only her past enemies but also the unexpected attention of powerful figures who see her as a valuable asset in their own games.

Will Wen Yu succumb to her thirst for revenge, or can she find a way to break free from the cycle of pain and create a different future for herself?

Associated Names
One entry per line
国公夫人她人美心黑
Related Series
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Recommendations
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Recommendation Lists
  1. Some of the novels I've read so far 4.0

Latest Release

Date Group Release
04/26/25 Lightnovelasia c161
04/26/25 Lightnovelasia c160
04/24/25 Lightnovelasia c159
04/23/25 Lightnovelasia c158
04/23/25 Lightnovelasia c157
04/21/25 Lightnovelasia c156
04/21/25 Lightnovelasia c155
04/20/25 Lightnovelasia c154
04/19/25 Lightnovelasia c153
04/18/25 Lightnovelasia c152
04/17/25 Lightnovelasia c151
04/16/25 Lightnovelasia c150
04/15/25 Lightnovelasia c149
04/14/25 Lightnovelasia c148
04/12/25 Lightnovelasia c147
123…11
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4 Reviews sorted by


miu
miu
November 27, 2024
Status: c36
So I decided to stop reading it seriously at chapter 36 because I don't really agree with how the author explained MC's past relationship with her husband. This is just my personal opinion and beliefs and doesn't have anything to do with how well the story was written. Up to this point, it reads like a typical second-chance rebirth story with the MC being more decisive due to her past experiences. She plans things out the moment she is reborn and is determined to not repeat the past mistakes. Thus,... more>> she decisively chooses not to remarry her past husband who was her cousin Song Shang. The point the author stresses is that her cousin actually really loves her. He already had a wife so he married her as his concubine but she was basically brought in like a second wife. He pampered her to the moon and gave her everything he could. Later, he also ended up divorcing his wife but then the Song family was seized and killed by MC's half sister with the help of Song's ex-wife's husband. MC ends up in prison and on the verge of death her half sister comes and gives the typical villain speech confessing to all the bad things she's done, etc. So after MC is reborn, she doesn't want to make the same choices again, including marrying her cousin.

Spoiler

I understand what the author is trying to get to and I can see the vision, however, I just don't think it was executed in a way I personally can find acceptable. MC admits that she also fell in love with her cousin after he did so much for her during that life. He was always there to help her whenever she needed help and it didn't seem like he had any ulterior motives except that he just really loved MC. The author hinted that maybe he didn't love MC from the bottom of his heart but maybe because he saw that MC needed him and that's what he wanted or something. But the author will also say how happy and confused Song Shang was when MC was pregnant for the first time and how depressed and sad he was when she miscarried due to the ex-wife. He was so sad to the point of starving himself when the miscarry happened. And then, at the end, when Song Shang was imprisoned and suffered a lot, MC was so heart-broken and sad. So when she saw him happy and healthy again in this life then she was relieved and happy that it hasn't happened yet. She still wants to save the Song family and her cousin, but she doesn't want to be with him. I just don't really get that. I mean, if MC gets a second chance and starts to plan ways to change her future from the moment she re-opened her eyes, then shouldn't she think that she can also save the person she loved in her past life? Song Shang was also described as a very capable person and she practically relied on him alone in her past life so why couldn't they do more together with her past memories? You love the guy, at least the author said you did, and he doted on you so much, so why wasn't your first thought to be together again and be happier this time? MC was pregnant twice and lost both at 7 months and she was very sad about it. She even mentioned that her first child was a boy and he even cried after being born before dying. I mean, I'm not a mother, but I don't understand why she doesn't think she should give that child a second chance over just completely starting a new life again? To me, this kinda seems heartless. Like, she accepted his love but felt guilty for implicating him so instead of making it up to him, she just rather love someone else but she'll still help the cousin out and make sure his family is safe this time. But in the end, that's not what the cousin wanted and she knows that too. She just doesn't want to make the same choices.

[collapse]

Honestly, I don't think the author gave a good enough excuse for the MC to act like a scumbag. At least for me, the excuse is pretty weak and it turned me off in continuing to read this. The ML too had a childhood sweetheart but was dumped right in the first several chapters. The childhood sweetheart just turned around and got engaged to someone else and the author hinted that she'll show back up in the future just to make things difficult for ML. Which leads me to believe that this will be an annoying c*ckroach because the ML was pretty much infatuated with this childhood sweetheart; he saved his money since he was young to buy stuff for her, he didn't listen to advice from his servants who thinks she was taking advantage of him, etc. But of course, I haven't gotten to that part yet so I don't actually know but just thinking he'll also have love debts doesn't make me very interested in seeing their relationship. Song Shang isn't great either because he was already married and his wife gave him a daughter and he still loved his cousin but was too weak to divorce his wife before marrying MC.

So the way the author wrote about relationships just isn't my cup of tea. I know that not everyone is perfect and that people will and can have multiple relationships in their lives especially in those days but I also just want to read something that is a bit more pure, that's why I'm reading fictional novels online. Overall, the plot is ok, the antagonists are annoying and a bit one-dimensional but they make you hate them as they should and the MC is also just ok with a few character issues. I only saw ML in one chapter so I can't comment too much on him yet. If you don't think these issues are issues then maybe you'll like the novel. I do recommend reading the first couple of chapters to see what you think first and if you don't like it, then stop, but if you do like it then maybe just keep reading. <<less
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Agreta1
Agreta1 rated it
February 16, 2025
Status: Completed
Final Review Update (End of Novel) :

Okay, now that I've finished the novel, I have some final thoughts.

  • One thing I really appreciated was how the novel gave us multiple strong female characters, each with their own strengths and personalities. Unlike many similar stories, the FL wasn't the only competent, beautiful, or interesting woman. This made the world feel much richer and more realistic.
  • The ML was also a breath of fresh air. Instead of the usual all-knowing, omniscient, cold, and calculating male lead, he actually acted like a 19-year-old. He was good at fighting but completely clueless about women's tricks, which made for some really fun and realistic moments.
  • I must insist again that one of the best parts of this novel is the multiple storylines and how they weave together. The way different characters' stories progress in parallel is so well done. It makes the world feel dynamic rather than just revolving around the FL.
Now on to the negatives:

... more>>
  • I can confirm that the villains' final showdowns are weak. Some don't even get a proper conclusion at all. Maybe it's more "realistic" that not every bad guy gets a dramatic ending, but after reading 400+ chapters, you really want something more satisfying.
  • The ending felt quite rushed and not entirely satisfying. After such a well-paced build-up, it seemed like the author just wrapped things up quickly to finish.
  • The extra stories are so frustrating! I still don't understand whether the emperor took concubines or not. The author kept teasing us with hints but never gave a clear answer it felt like they were deliberately leaving us hanging.
  • There were so many unresolved plot points, which was disappointing. What happened to the maid who wanted to be a concubine? How exactly did the ML's first love die? And what about Qi Xiao his fate was just left open-ended. These lingering questions made the ending feel incomplete.

    The biggest negative is that the ending and resolutions were wrapped up way too quickly. After all the buildup, the final stretch just didn't deliver the same level of depth. Overall, it was a highly enjoyable read. On its own, I'd rate it a 3/5, but compared to other rebirth novels, it stands out as a solid 4/5.
PREVIOUS REVIEW-------------------

At Chapter 162:

Okay, so I'm giving this a 5-star rating mainly because I think the current score is too low. In reality, I'd say it's a solid 4, but since the rating system tends to lean harsh, I want to bump it up.

First, let's address what some people have mentioned in the comments

the whole "g*ooming" aspect. Yeah, it's there, and it's not great. It wasn't a fun read at all, but honestly? It's not any more shocking than what you'd find in a lot of historical novels. And now that I'm at chapter 162, I've basically forgotten about it because the story moves way beyond that. So if that's the only thing making you hesitate, I'd say just push through

it stops being a focus.

One of the things I love about this novel is that the male lead is actually not a tsundere, not a cold overpowered genius, and not some omniscient schemer. He's actually kinda na

ve and a little dumb, which is super refreshing compared to the usual MLs in these types of stories. In fact, I didn't even realize he was the male lead when he first showed up because he's just

different. But in a good way!

As for the female lead, I really like her. She's smart, determined, and ambitious, but she's not some all-knowing, flawless protagonist. She makes mistakes, doesn't have plot armor-level foresight, and actually has to figure things out instead of just magically being ten steps ahead of everyone.

The side characters are really well done. This isn't one of those novels where the FL is the only beautiful and competent woman around

there are plenty of other strong and interesting female characters, which makes the world feel more realistic.

Also, I absolutely love her dynamic with her future mother-in-law. It's one of the best relationships in the book and so much fun to read. It's not the usual "evil MIL vs. FL" nonsense. Instead, their interactions feel layered and sometimes even wholesome.

Another thing this novel does really well is the plot structure. Unlike a lot of novels where the FL just fights one villain at a time like some kind of RPG boss battle, this story has multiple antagonists moving in parallel. There are a lot of hidden agendas, shifting alliances, and layered conflicts happening at the same time, which keeps things interesting.

Plus, I'm pretty sure at least three characters are hiding major secrets, and I can't wait for those reveals. The novel has done a great job hinting at bigger mysteries without being too obvious, so I'm expecting some good twists ahead.

So yeah, I'm really enjoying this so far. The pacing is good, the characters feel well-developed, and the story keeps you invested with constant moving parts. It's different from the usual "FL levels up, crushes villain, moves to the next" formula and actually feels more dynamic and unpredictable.

If you're debating whether to read it, I'd say go for it. Just get past the early stuff, and you'll probably get hooked like I did!

Edit (Now at Chapter 288) :

Okay, so now that I'm further along, I have to add a few thoughts.

First villain down around chapter 220

honestly, their ending was so anticlimactic. I've noticed this in quite a few revenge novels

you spend 200 chapters waiting for it, and then when it finally happens, it just fizzles out. Definitely not as satisfying as I'd hoped.

Then around chapter 275, another villain was gone in the blink of an eye. No final showdown, no dramatic confrontation

just poof, done. It's starting to feel like these villains are built up for ages, only to get taken out with barely any payoff.

Also

yet another old guy getting together with a 16-year-old girl. I really don't like it. It wasn't a major focus, but every time it happens, it pulls me out of the story.

That said, one thing I can now definitely confirm

the side characters all have their own storylines, and you actually root for them. The different plotlines are progressing in parallel, and it's masterfully done compared to other novels where everything revolves solely around the FL. It makes the world feel so much richer and more alive.

Still, despite my gripes about some villain resolutions, I'm sticking with it. The plot is still engaging, the characters remain strong, and the storytelling is solid. <<less
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Pixy
Pixy
March 19, 2025
Status: Completed
First off, ignore the beasts and beastkin tags because I didn’t see either of them.

Second, this book was a fun read and I enjoyed reading it, but the author isn’t consistent with pacing or tone. Sometimes the story veers into comedy and then transitions into bloodthirsty viciousness which might be jarring. Generally speaking, the book is quite plot-driven and the plot becomes rather chaotic about 2/3 of the way through.

Third, there are a lot of smart women in this book which I appreciate. I found the main antagonist quite compelling... more>> because the author fleshed out her backstory (although this does affect the pacing and overall coherency), and while she’s a ruthless woman to be sure, you can see her rationale for her behavior. The main character is a bit OP for my tastes and equally ruthless as the antagonist which I found to be off putting. I don’t need to like a character to find them interesting but I did find her unlikeable in some ways.

As I said before, it is a fun read but it isn’t a deep read. I found it more readable once I left some of my snooty expectations behind. <<less
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Sleep-deprived
Sleep-deprived rated it
January 13, 2025
Status: c28
3 stars is pretty fair. Although it didn't seem like it at the start, MC is just too miserable here, her cousin - the ex from the past life - is kinda pe*o who groomed her (altho he did do best after making her his concubine up till they both tragically died. But together! Side note: I think the story actually explained perfectly why she didn't want to have any relationship with him anymore despite loving him; who in their right mind would rush to be a concubine? She was... more>> outright suicidal in her past life at the time! But not now)

It's irritating, the constant "!" in the text. I don't know if it's the author's fault, or translator's, but it makes text feel utterly unserious. It might be a parody? But it doesn't look like it either.

Overall, a hard read, for me personally - but then again, I stopped reading the Rebirth of something something Consort because of feeling miserable, too. <<less
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
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