I mean, the ML definitely wasn't winning any "husband of the year" awards from the start. He forces the MC into marrying him (like, either the MC marries him or the ML decimates the MC's country/city. I don't really consider the latter a "choice"....) and basically acts like a horndog from then on. But he also doesn't r*pe the MC (he pressures the MC to have s*x with him but doesn't actively f*ck him against his will, and yeah it's not much but considering they're married and the MC is supposed to be fulfilling his "marital" duties, I'll give him some credit) and dotes on him a lot.

However, I strongly disagree with how furious he gets at the MC about being a guy. The ML humiliates the MC and then (inadvertently) causes him to almost die and goes on and on about how the MC has "wronged" him. Like, first of all, the ML had premonitions about the MC's true gender way back before he gets official confirmation. Why the hell is he so surprised? You can't have him be super observant/"intelligent" but then also totally unprepared for the truth. Second of all, yeah, I suppose under normal circumstances you would be justified at being mad at your significant other for keeping their actual gender a secret. Here, however, the ML was l I t e r a l l y the one who forced the MC to marry him? And the ML l I t e r a l l y killed the MC's brother and was about to burn his city/country to the ground? And the MC is l I t e r a l l y a hostage in their country? I don't know if it's just me, but I think the MC has a pretty valid excuse for lying about being a guy, and that the ML in particular doesn't have the right to feel so "betrayed" by the MC keeping it a secret. Luckily for me the queen points out as much to the ML, which saved me from wishing I could transmigrate into the story and smack him on the head.

Enough for him to elope with the MC by throwing away his Crown

I was waiting for him to chop the MC down when revelation came but his reaction was relatively super mild?

WHERE ARE MY BABIES GENERAL QIANG AND A'JIN'S WEDDING? WHY DIDN'T WE SEE THEIR STORY!!

WUWU SO UNFAIR

To be honest, I don't really like the ML, he.... Is quite childish especially when he blamed MC for 'deceiving' him because the MC was a guy and not a girl, like bro what do you expect? He didn't deceive you voluntarily but was was forced to because you'll possibly no, CERTAINLY raze his country to the ground if you ever found out. If the ML never had budding feelings for the MC he would certainly do just that, evident by how he almost made the MC die when he found out he was a man, even though he already 'liked' the MC at that time.

I also think that he was quite incompetent, because he still had to bow his head towards his father the emperor, and is concerned more about his position as the crown prince and then his position as the emperor after his succession than the MC. Evident by how he delivered a female dress to the MC when they were about to have a ceremony to officially become the emperor and empress, even after the MC told him that he wanted to dress as a man and reveal his true gender without disguising anymore. The MC cried at that time so the ML coaxed him and said that he could dress as a man if he wanted to, but went on saying that that dress wasn't for females cuz it was more simple and a lot of feminine details were removed, it looks like in between a female and a male clothing and then what happened after that was never mentioned in the story. Although my understanding might be inaccurate because it's mtl, I dunno. But there's one thing for sure, the ML was kinda insensitive....... and a little scummy at this chapter.

But I think that the ML only said that because he knew that the MC wouldn't do that, because the emperor was still alive and the emperor and their people might not accept it. Evident by how the emperor almost ordered to kill the MC when he suspected that he was a man. If the MC wasn't pregnant then, he wouldn't have survived. And the ML's rule wasn't stable because he just ascended and it was even before he was officially crowned as emperor, so exposing the MC's identity as a man isn't a wise choice. I think that the female dress that was altered to look in between a female dress and male clothing serves as a reminder to the MC by the ML and a silent refusal of his request, although he would make some adjustments for the MC he still wouldn't change his decision for him, that's why the MC didn't stop crying. He knew what he should do and based on how he loves his country he would still wear that d*mn clothing and would probably wear clothes like that for the rest of his life.

And did you notice what the empress said to the MC? She said that the people in the emperor's family are h**ny people lol (or something along those lines) 😆 and the MC should be ready if the ML ever decides to take in a concubine. Because that happened to her, the emperor and her might possibly share mutual love because it was said that the empress helped the emperor greatly, and that the emperor chose to live with her for the rest of his life after retirement, their are also snippets of how the empress cares for the cold feet of the emperor, and the emperor would only ever bring her along when visiting their grandchild, Mac's baby. But even though they loved each other, that still didn't stop the emperor from taking in some concubines either for political reasons or what nots.

This should be a foreshadowing, because to the ML and the emperor has quite the similarities in their temperaments and attitudes, they both wanted MC dead when they suspected he was a man. And the emperor and the ML values the position of the emperor more than being a husband to their spouses. Although the ML said that he wouldn't be like his father and would have the MC as his only one, but I still doubt it.

The ending is open-ended, but you can infer that the following matters after the ending is anything but sweet. The MC and the ML might become the next emperor and empress, one would value the position of an emperor, and one would silently accept everything because that would be what a good empress would do and try to be indifferent. And at their old age, they would let their child inherit that position and then would live together but would never mention the previous things and would just silently let those words rot in their hearts and continue on.

But the MC showed more concern over his family and his country than the ML so I suppose that's a good thing. I don't want the MC to give his whole heart to the ML who literally killed his brother, forced him to marry, threatened to raze his country to the ground if he didn't, almost killed him though indirectly, and made him lose the possibility of ever regaining his male identity. So MC, just give him some bits of your heart and leave the rest to your family and children. Cuz I don't think he's worth it.

1, why are u complaining that he MC is "acting like a girl", can we not group traits to girls, just because he complains and is all docile and stuff? Did we read the same thing? He has been brought up as a princess his whole life, if u don't think males can also have this personally then look at the tags. Also he literally gives birth so he is inter**x, that makes him kinda female too.

2, are people also forgetting that he is a princess and has like 5 older brothers and is adored by his father, of course he is spoilt and taken care of, I would be surprised if he were any different. That doesn't just suddenly go away when ur married. Over this course he does learn a lot, and I didn't really notice this it's just the typical princely behaviour.

3. People are annoyed he is not this STRONG and powerful uke. Like have u forgotten that he is literally SICK, he has an illness that makes him extremely weak to the point that he can't walk for a small stretch of distance, and is constantly beddriden with colds and almost dying. If him not living on and doing normal stuff isn't strong then u don't know how hard some people have it, when u don't have control over ur body and are in constant pain.

4. I saw another one complaining that the mood didn't improve and that the whole gender reveal thing was dragged out?!? I'm sorry, why would the tone shift to all happy when ML found out since he was lied to the whole time? That is the entire plot of this story. The second half deals with how the rest of the family will find out and the consequences of meanding the relationship, the plot was not boring to me at all it was very exciting to me.

5. I'm very mad that someone just said the ML likes the MC for his looks, excuse me? Someone also said that he liked his military prowess but then suddenly forgot about it. Did u think of maybe he liked his mind? And personalty？the way he thinks and talks they are all charming in addition to his looks. Of course he is going to like at first like the pretty weak uke who needs protecting. But for me ML falls for him by seeing how strong the MC is despite his illnesses (also little bit sassy), his steadfast character, and his determination as a prince to his country.

The Jade Goddess Breast Enlarging Pastry 🤣

MC was furious because ML refused to let him be a bait to catch mc's crazy pursuer who killed the empress dowager. He thought ML kept seeing and treating him as a weak woman. But ml's action actually makes sense? What kind of person would let their sickly, pregnant significant other to be a bait? MC and ML have different priorities; ML only wanted the MC to be as safe as possible, but MC is very devoted to his country