go out at night alone with an engaged person (of who you respect the fiancee of) to camp in the middle of no where. Sorry but even modern sensibilities would find that a bit sus, let alone the sensibilities of the time it's like you want to get married to him. And let's not even mention how foolishly she acts at the banquets? Like she was in college, anyone who's watched a single palace drama, and since they're as common as water in China I expect she's watched at least one, you would know better than to prance around and misbehave and then knock a random dude out, like you wouldn't do that even in the modern times if you went to like any formal event either so like?

I hate the ML, he's petty af and yet is like I want to marry her! Bish you made her ride in a bumpy carriage to the point she threw up obviously she doesn't want to be near you. Yeah she embarrassed you first but like then why do you want to marry her??? Just be frienemies or enemies for goodness sake.

And the second ML, well first of all he's already engaged, to someone the MC admires despite her only knowing her for like 1 min. Second of all if he hadn't already been engaged I would wholeheartedly ship them. Like he's just so nice to her and really cares for her? But also like, he brought her out in the middle of the night despite the fact that it could totally ruin her reputation if anyone found out so I'm still freaking wary about him. But the fact I like him more than the actual ML despite being engaged and potentially ruining her virtue says a lot. Like if the author could spin it that either the second ML breaks the engagement and steps down as prince to run a restaurant with the MC I'd be fine. Or if the author made it so that the second ML, MC, and the engaged person were all happy together as prince, concubine, and wife (we stan proper polyamorous relationships) with some palace intrigue that would be good too. But I read spoilers for future chapters and I'm so done with this bs.

The first 20ish chapters were good and is really promising, the MC is smart and strong but---

The part when MC had successfully runaway from her wedding (with ML)

, she got out from the confinement of the gates and finally got her wish to wander outside the capital - the story got boring to read (at least to me), but hey I still want to finish it.

The events that happens afterward sounds forceful and way too dragging, then mostly a narrative.

After 3 years of wandering she chance upon with ML, they had some moments of fluff, she realized that she kind of like him (a bit). Then she was sent back by ML to the capital to wait and prepare for their wedding but it was cancelled again because some palace intrigued happens. She got reeled in the center of the chaos (-- 'twas the reason why she runaway from the capital at first place but she does it for the ML).

Then this where the "strong female protaganist" started deteriorating - she becomes a damsel in distress and always need saving instead.

She got kidnapped many times (forgot to count).

(Skipped the face off of ML and 2nd ML).

The last instance that MC got kidnapped again by a newly introduce character from a neighboring country, while waiting for their wedding ceremony! (Yes cancelled again!) - well, the plot was over stretched. I skip most of the part hereafter and read straight to the last chapter so I might skip some details.

Well, yes the ending. The wedding ceremony that I've been anticipating since chapter 20ish finally happens, and it felt bland.

Overall, it was a good start and I'm expecting too much so I'm really dissapointed by the events that follows after (swear it wasn't because Zi Li's not the ML, haha).

The Male lead is decent. Very straightforward with his feelings. The female lead rather, is UGH... idk. She makes drama? Not really but it her not really liking or something like that- she's a bit apathetic. I stopped reading when the guy got married but still came to her and she's like "you want to know the truth? I'm happy that you're here blah blah and it boosts my ego (b*tch) " the guy left (obvi) saying he'll be responsible gor Gu Tianlin (wife). I feel this is angst ish or regret sh*t so. f*ck it, this is not even 2.5, this is 1.5! 2 at most!

However at chapter 20 she and 2nd ML did such a thing that I just decided to drop it.

First of all 2nd ML and MC, I really thought he was ML but no he is not, they are friends (kinda brothers) at the beginning and then 2nd ML stats to have feelings for her which is really annoying. If you want to be friends with opposite gender, it is ok (even though it is ancient times) but his behavior kinda annoys to me. Even though he already has fiancee, he still have thoughts about MC and apparently wanted to take her as his concubine (like hello). I know that it is ancient novel but his behavior was kinda unethical ((

The even though the crown price action were more acceptable I don't like him as well.

About MC I am greatly disappointed in her. She was a well written personage. But she just was oblivious to the fact that she went out at night with engaged man to have a PICNIC with him and just sleeps on his laps (like hello do you really think that your actions are alright? And please don't call it friendship. Have you ever seen friends who have romantic picnic at night alone, no girls would believe if you say that he has no feeling to you, If your friend has a girlfriend she will start to suspect both of you are cheating) Let's not talk about ancient women even modern ones don't do smth like that.

Her behavior reminds me a lot of white lotus b*tches, which totally killed my interest towards this novel.