Seems like both brothers comforted her when she was at her worst time.

One could argue that the older brother picked imperial power over her (he could have decided not to get tangled up with the ministers and consolidate power for the throne), but his entire upraising and being the eldest prince of his subjugated country meant that he would have never made any other decision.

Probably, his biggest mistake was taking the path of putting her by his side but not acknowledging her while he was biding his time and grabbing for power. He could have just hid her somewhere outside or farther away from him to keep her safe and gone back for her when he got rid of all the other ministers.

Younger brother dedictated his whole life to her as well, but he also left all the responsibility of the throne to his older brother. But, by being there for her and not being the cause of her pain, he definitely deserved the happiness of having his feelings eventually recipocrated.

I was pleasantly surprised that Jin Xiu does eventually grow to love Chen Lan, and their love story is so tragic. Normally the second ML pines until the end of time so thankfully they become a loving couple. The part where she realizes what it feels like to be treated well and loved in return by her loved one is so poignant and sad to read. I liked how this short story also demonstrated the importance of being respected and treated well by the one who loves you. Even if Chen Ruo truly loved her, his love was selfish and ruined Jin Xiu's life. The twist at the end that he was actually the one who listened to all her pain was well done. After all he's the one who caused all the pain. I was also so proud of her when she was able to stand up to him and show her resentment!

MC is dumb. She falls in love when she is like, what, 6? And then gives up literally everything, her father, her country, her home, her status, to follow this guy who was literally held hostage by her own father? Moreover, he wasn't even the one who asked her to follow him she did it of her own free will. She even helped him escape despite knowing that her father had refused to let him go. Love must have blasted some serious holes in her brain for her to do this. I agree with her when she admits that it was all her fault. She choose to help and follow him, so most of the things that follow are the consequences of her own actions. Except when ML was cruel and essentially tried to kill her. That's on him. ML is a selfish and heartless bastard. Imagine leaving the so called love of your life for dead, and then when your littler brother, who you apparently also love, saves her and gets together with her, and you still have the audacity to ask him to let her go so you can be with her? The brother and MC should have just set everything on fire and gone out in a blaze of glory instead of just complying obediently. MC is so unlucky in love.

chen rou is a piece of shit. greedy bastard. I would have truly liked him BUT he just HADD to take FL away from her lover, chen lan.

like dude, chen rou, you know you can't protect her so let. her. go!

Both brothers are in love with her but chen lan is the man. he is not selfish like his sh*t brother, chen rou.

FL's hair turned white within a night because she was so heartbroken knowing she will get taken away from chen lan in the morning. how does this happen?? I initially thought she took poison in an attempt to die but nahh... homegirl is THAT heart broken. which is sad (of course unrealistic but still sad). her soul left her body, that is the only explanation I can think of.