The ending was anticlimactic, I thought there would be some epic battle between them and the 4th prince, or that Hua Mei would make an appearance, or that they would help Hua Ling, but nope. The author just makes it so the ML becomes emperor and then quickly and vaguely glosses over everthing that happens from when she brings him supplies to the border all the way to the end of the story. Then they irresponsibly tossed their work unto their kid, which I mean literally he is a kid, they have their 5 year old son running the government.

*Many characters from the first time line fades away no follow up once the Shen villagers reached the Capital

*The Gu clan plot was unnecessary Hua twins went back to the clan Hua sister was attacked and in a coma Hua Mei escaped and that's it no follow up that was their last appearance 🤦‍♀️ and what's the point of FL leaning the Gu it was irrelevant to the story other then using it once on insignificant character it was not mentioned again 😔

* The Qi third miss fades away without any consequences with many other characters has no conclusion 🤦‍♀️

We're occasionally given glimpses into the villagers who went a different route than the Shen Family. Mostly, it's how their lives are gradually becoming more terrible. Eventually, we stop getting those clips but it leaves their end fates unknown.

The Original Storyline gets completely turned on its head but we never learn the fate of those characters either. Just a blurb about the scholar arranging things for the Prince and then going into the city. And either I missed his ending completely or it just isn't there.

The Gu tribe is another. There is such a build up about the MC gaining a companion Gu but then nothing ever happens with it beyond using a 'truth' Gu. Which was unneeded as the MC had already used her psychic powers once to force someone to tell the truth. Not sure why they needed the addition of the Gu for that one scene.

Following that, we're told that one of the MC's companions has slipped into a coma from a different Gu and that the culprit escaped. Then it's just forgotten.

The Fourth Prince's machinations result in him becoming Emperor. Only for the other Princes to defeat him I guess? I mean, I might have subconsciously skipped his end but it was like one moment he was Emperor and the princes were attacking him and then the next the princes were attacking the West instead.

Also the General. Repeatedly we are told that people are trying to recruit him to their side but he doesn't want to join them. That he's got one of the largest militaries in the country. He gives the appearance of neutrality (which makes sense) but then the author reminds us that he has sided with the ML. Over and over. Every time he's mentioned, that gets mentioned. In the end, the ML just tells him to continue protecting his area and that's the only thing he wants from him.

The final few chapters literally have the defeat of all the Princes. The ML's parents running away so they aren't made Emperor and Empress. The ML being crowned. People trying to get concubines in with the ML and failing. The Wedding of the MC and ML. No baby for at least a year. Then a son is born super fast. The son gets raised as Crown Prince and begins overseeing political stuff when he's two. The ML and MC then go on vacation when the Crown Prince is five. They travel the world and only return when the MC gets pregnant again. Then she gives birth to dragon-phoenix twins.

It's enough to could fill another half a book but we get it in like two chapters.