However, we learn later that a lot of that stems from her unhappy circumstances. She's originally from a different kingdom, one which are viewed as "barbarian" and so she has faced a lot of criticism from both society and her mother-in-law and demand to conform to the more restrictive customs. However, even despite stifling herself and perfectly adapting, her mother-in-law still is unsatisfied and her husband also takes many concubines and has children with them. No one in the family shows any genuine concern or compassion, which has turned her defensive and resentful. Learning about her backstory was a real shock, especially since it spun out of her suddenly busting out with martial arts when she and the FL are attacked by bandits. And it was also heart warming to see her opening up to the FL and rediscovering the self she'd left behind in her attempts to please her mother-in-law and husband.

The character who would normally be the FL's love rival has NO interested in the ML at all. In fact, her first meeting with the FL involves the FL sharing food with her at a banquet and from that point on the would be love-rival is conquered by the FL to the point where she immediately dislikes the ML because she feels he's too cold to the FL.

Her sisters-in-law also go from hostility to competing with each other for her affection, to the point where the two sisters and the FL look like two concubines fighting for the husband's favor. There's a particularly hilarious scene where the sisters-in-law, the would-be female rival, and the FL are in a carriage together and the the three of them are all competing to show who the FL is the closest too.

Poor ML, his biggest rivals aren't men but his brother's wives.

What left me with the deepest impression was the second master branch' story. The second master is the biggest preposterous scum tbh. What hurt his wife the most, I think, because he covered his cruelty with gentleness and love. No wonder his wife turned into a bitter woman with thorns. I'm speechless. He literally took his wife from her root and brought her to the capital, only to let her pull out her unique personality (that got him fall in love with her in the first place) little by little in her desperate attempt to adapt. And then he innocently took concubine after concubine, offering a lame reason that she would always be his sweetheart.

I'm so happy the author didn't gloss over the severity of his actions. In my opinion, until the end of the story he's still somewhat be a selfish man. I mean, his way to repent was to leave the capital, his concubines, and concubines' children?? (If I'm not wrong *coughs MTL he got tons of children from his concubines, although what was clearly written was just that his wife snapped after he got a concubine pregnant. Will follow the properly translated one to get more clarity.

I'm not too sure what happened to MC's second sister in law. The breakdown in her marriage was sad, and even though her husband wanted to make amends, I'm not sure if she ever gave him a chance, she just had enough already. In the end, I'm not sure, but her husband applies for a transfer to her hometown, and so she can live closer to them? But in the ending, it was only mentioned that she would be going? I'm not sure what happened to her husband and daughter. Also, I was completely shocked when MC revealed she was pregnant. Because up until then, the only thing they had done was innocently kiss, and sleep together on the same bed. No Snu snu. No hanky panky. But BAAM MC is suddenly pregnant. I'm not sure if I missed something because the s*x was just that vague and ambiguous. Something like, then where was a scene of spring in the bedroom and then fade to black. Boooo. Boring. This novel definitely has no smut. Only food p*rn.

the second sister-in-law who originally seems kind of rude and mean, but later her backstory is really well explained. She was always criticized and slowly she started to become bitter and the type who criticized others, but the MC helps her move past that through food and just kindness.

Even with her husband, who takes multiple concubines and really causes her a great load of pain, I still felt pity for him at the end. He was dumb and really just didn't understand what was so wrong about what he did until much later and I didn't agree or sympathize with him, but I did feel bad for him near the end.

one girl tries when ML is traveling for work, but he straight up doesn't pay attention and even ignores her.

The story tells an important lesson about being yourself so that you can live happily. FL decides to be herself and just cook, making her life comfortable and in turn people liked her as she is although she's not the normal noble wife mold. 2nd sister-in-law surpassed her own nature, even giving up practicing martial arts because her husband and his mother expected her to behave like a typical noble wife. In turn, the mother-in-law is never pleased with her and the husband wonders where the girl he liked is even though he is the one who expected her to conform. He then keeps bringing home concubines. When 2nd sister-in-law finally had enough and decided to be herself, she was much happier. Dumbass husband remembers that he loves her when she reverts to her original personality but it's too little too late. You can only stomp on someone's heart so many times before enough is enough.

The 2nd brother gave his wife a letter that declared she was free from their marriage, so that she can leave and return to her family home at any time. He had asked the Emperor for a transfer to a town far away from the Capital. While the town is in the same region as 2nd sister-in-law's family home, it's still quite a distance away and would take at least months of travel. He is bringing their daughter with him but will drop her off at 2nd sister-in-law's family home first before continuing to the town of his posting. Their last conversation sums the situation up brilliantly.

When he gives her the letter of divorce she says (loosely translated) :

Her: You know that even after you did all this, I won't thank you.

Him: I know.

Her: You know that I still resent you?

Him: I know.

As to the main couple, they did the deed in chapter 104. There's mention of clothes falling to the ground and the look of "spring" in the room.

The first branch had a tried and tested marriage where they were solely monogamous despite past attempts to put in a concubine. Xu-shi cared much about rules and looking like the perfect lady unaware that her husband had always been aware of her "mean" side. On their wedding night she had threatened to a "sleeping" hubby that she'd make his life hell if he tried bringing in other women. She's a good mom and learns to loosen up and improve her relationships with the other sister in laws.

The second marriage was sad. A wild martial arts practicing girl from a military family and a pampered gentle scholar falling in love but everything changed when they married and she had to change to fit with what was expected. He was careless with her feelings, brought in concubines and even raised women outside (he had to bring one in specifically because he knocked her up) and it hurt her every time yet he did nothing but say sweet things. As if that would make everything better instead of embittering her. Like this marriage was bad, like drink poison to harm others bad, even her relationship with her daughter was estranged. After she and MC became friends and she went back to her old self (with cooking thrown in). She's better in almost every aspect of her life. Only now does the hubby realize he was losing her and wanted to fix things but her hearts gone cold. They end up divorcing and it's ambiguously open on whether they'd reconcile. Though there's a minor character introduced that I thought would be better but nothing happened.

Our leads (the third branch) were sweet young lovers still figuring each other out. ML is initially wary but quick to accept her change, he eventually figured out she changed souls and was relieved. It really blossomed their feelings. That was different from other stories I've read where the reveal is after the feelings have been cemented. It just help ease their hesitation. They were big on learning from the other's relationship both the good & improving on the bad, MC could be a bit dense emotional. I think she was still more forward though.

I love 2nd sister in law and also feel that her decision to leave 2nd brother is good. But damn do I want second chance between the two of them like please.

All those 'cousins' made the story 100x more entertaining. Also the FL mum is a nice change of pace sad that despite all her money she was still stuck with her husband. The love between FL and ML is super cute so be warned if your here looking for spicy moments they do not consummate the marriage until chapter 104 (1) out of 109 (2) chapters also no real description of the event pretty PG.
I enjoyed the love between the first wife and her husband he and his third brother view marriage/love in the same way you find out near the end of the story though obviously ML is way more lovey. The second brother... Despite his redemption arc of letting second wife go and moving up north so the daughter could split her time between them, he can not be redeemed. Her family told him no concubines, he gets them so she argues with him but eventually quietens down since she is alone with no maternal support in the capital. He has multiple shu children she turns her head but the straw that broke the camels back was getting a random women outside pregnant. He then has the balls to turn around and be shocked and later even when apologizing he only shares the blame saying she should have told him she was unhappy sooner, like dude she argued with you every time as you pointed out earlier. Utter hypocritical scumbag. Second sister is best side character though!

It's about Zhou-shi and Xie Lang. I felt complicated about their separation. On one side, I thought their separation was the best for Zhou-shi. Xie Lang indeed hurted her badly and she deserved to be happy without him. But on another side, I also wished that they will go back together, maybe not now but someday. Xie Lang reflected on his mistakes and chose to be an official near Zhou-shi's hometown. It sounded romantic but what will happened with his concubines and childrens back at Beijing?