And there will be a consequence to using this knowledge

To be clear, ML is attracted to MC relatively early on once they spend more time together, but I don't think he's truly in love with her until later in the story. And MC will not wholeheartedly love ML until he places her as his highest priority

There's one major devastating event and two minor events that's all linked to one motive. I really like how MC's emotions goes through the five stages of grief before moving on and figuring out the next step she will take. But, the last story arc of the novel is super fluffy, especially the cotton candy sweet ending.

- She will eventually leave the residence and travel on her own.

- After the second male lead marries someone, his wife is jealous about the attention he pays MC. Instead of acting like a typical c-novel villainess, she and MC have a calm discussion of how they'll stop his behavior.

- MC crossdresses later in the story for a short period of time and people start gossiping that ML is bis*xual. It's very funny and I like that ML doesn't care about the gossip. It really shows how much he has changed since the beginning of the novel.

ML is a d*ck whose life embodies 'spoiling the concubine and destroying the wife', hence his inner courtyard being on fire 80% of the time. This seems to be a political calculation, but I honestly can't see how it gets him ahead in terms of the imperial court.

Pre-transmigrated FL was a bitch, but the story basically goes into how the ML slowly drove her insane/destroyed her life because he never valued her to begin with. No wonder she went nuts and took things out on the concubines. Pre-transmigrated FL was apparently an easily-manipulated moron who was head over heels for him, so if the ML had spent the slightest effort he probably could have controlled her and prevented the utter disaster that was his inner courtyard.

Pretty much the entire story, I've been going, 'MC... you may as well forget going back to the modern era and just take your money and run away with the supporting ML.' But honestly, that isn't a solution for her situation either. She's backed up against a corner and has no outs because her own family is tied up in the struggle for the throne.

The point I quit reading was after she went through a huge struggle just to carry a baby on behalf of the original owner of the body, just for the story to go into a hugely depressing spiral. It was a tragedy conga and I finally gave up because I couldn't see how the situation could be turned around in the MC's favor.

The final goal of 'get the ML to fall in love with the MC' is just... I just find it depressing. The ML set his own backyard on fire, but the only possible happy ending for the MC is for the ML to also get a happy ending.

Nesting a spoiler because this was what made me quit reading:

well almost. later she disguised as a man yo! even tried to marry a woman yo!

First of all, I am rating this story 5/5 because of its translator, fuyu neko. I love her/him!!!!!! Literally the best translator ever. This person deserves all the love, support and recognition this world could give. After reading fuyu neko's works, my standard when it comes to chinese novels (ofc translated) became high LOLOLOLOL so... I found this novel through Chongfei Manual (fuyu neko announced there that he/she will translate another novel) and I got excited and because I'm a fan of his/her works so I checked it out as soon as possible. I am sorry I just love and admire the translator so much T___T I'm honestly thankful that I don't have to miss his/her works aka da wonderful translations since Chongfei Manual is ending soon. YAY!!!

ps I also recommend chongfei manual!!!!!!!!!!!

To start off, let me clarify some of my points by introducing the characters:

[1] Female Lead's family is powerful.

Now, what do you think happens to an FL who has a powerful backing and then married to an equally powerful house but not a Wang? (1) She is an eye-candy politically, so (2) a lot of people want to manipulate/use her, have her killed or get her as an ally. ML-FL relationship isn't simple.

[2] Male Lead's

family is powerful but not Imperial.

Now, what do you think happens to characters that aren't Imperial but powerful? Their family hangs on a scale. Princes either wanting to recruit them or have them killed. So to this, the ML tried his damnest to balance things out.

This ML has layers upon layers of schemes of his own and really manipulative.

(1) He is not Imperial so (2) he has limited privileges, and (3) he is good in martial arts but not ridiculously good, but (4) it doesn't matter anyway because martial arts is not a central point in this thing. So he isn't OP.

Now, the reason I say it's similar to TBAVW is because it's more of a politically intrigue novel where characters are not what they seemed.

In character temperament, and the romance aspect, both novels followed the same formula:

In both novels, ML use their women to gain advantage.

[1] Except in TBAVW, because the ML is a Wang and FL bg is powerful, he only had to look at her and insta-support. No need to be antagonistic to FL. Moreover, FL transmigrated early so she immediately behaved herself. Hence, we don't have drama and ML is only loving to her. Readers love him and everyone is happy.

[2] Here in DSB, on one hand we have an FL background who is skewed to one faction (i.e. FL's aunt who is the favoured Imperial Concubine, say IC) and another hand the scheming crown prince's under the Empress. FL married the ML because of IC in the first place, so yknow. Anyway, ML hangs on a delicate balance. And since this is ancient setting, we don't have the privilege of seeing an overly-doting ML on the FL.

Instead, he used that "ancient setting sh!t" to his advantage by:

using his harem like 100% more than TBAVW

because (1) he needs to, (2) yeah, he still has a choice not to but why not anyway, and (3) original owner's behaviour (original owner of body before FL transmigrated) was very disagreeable at the start so they had a major fall out.

Imagine being in a tricky situation where you are trying not to offend people to preserve your life, then here goes a person waltzing in and cannot even understand what you're trying to do so unintentionally wrecking havoc in your plans? I think ML felt that way to original!owner and so she lost his favour. And rather than doting on her, his original actions is more on the negative end and being antagonistic by appearing not too biased on a faction.

I stand my ground that ML on both novels are scheming and manipulative (and both FL's know this). Just that, because of circumstances, ML on former is doting on his wife and ML of latter is hot-cold.

This is also the reason why I say both followed the same formula. Most other novels followed a different one (and one that readers loved best) : ML is black-bellied, FL may or may not be black-bellied, and ML is only doting to FL because they are both black-bellied anyway so they don't mind offending people. Case in point: DCF, PGC, BBM, all other novels with once-assassin/doctor female transmigrated to ancient times.

That aside, other things about this novel so far:

The FL's modern knowledge doesn't make her OP, and she is sympathetic to fellow women.

But that doesn't make her the holy mother, that role belonged to OFL (lol). It's just that... she's not vengeful, very tolerant but doesn't mean she'll just allow others to bully her. She understand why women have to do this and that, and so doesn't take it against them.

Her view on love is also very similar to TBAVW's FL: she really doesn't care about ML but also won't actively push him away. To live well, she has to pretend to still like him. She also knew ML's status and so behaved properly according to her role.

Also, like I said she's not OP (unlike in DCF perhaps where later on Nee Bai used her knowledge on bombs and stuff to gain leverage and help ML) which is something I appreciate 'cause hey, it's not like you can just randomly see formulas of bombs anywhere, remember it and use it. Instead, her "modern" knowledge comes in the form of production of beauty products (which is more realistic imo), having business skills despite being a woman, earning money, and being able to cook despite being noble.

The characters have depth, the OFL halo is strong and FL's life is not given on a silver platter.

The characters aren't 2D, enough said. Putting aside ML's asshol-ic personality, I'm hands down to author for not making him black-bellied but still someone who knows his sh!t nonetheless. I mean... I appreciate his character the most. He is not all-good 2D. He is scheming, manipulative, to a point I find him hateful, funny, but interesting (yes, I am weird).

Not just he ML, but basically everyone. Cannon fodders aren't just cannot fodders. They didn't become hateful just for the sake of being one, but because they were pushed that way (another example is the antagonist of Rebirth of an Abandone Woman), as opposed to say OFL of DCF where, tbh, she became hateful just for the sake of it: I don't understand her because she's just too stupid. Something like that.

I appreciate smart antagonists, as oppose to plain unreasonable ones. And so far, the development here is good. Like, for example, the development of OFL to a true antagonist after her fall from grace is reasonable. There's a step-by-step process we get to see and I like that, and isn't because she's just inherently/became stupid.

OFL's halo is strong. Unlike DCF where it was slowly but surely being clipped, here it isn't (at least not obviously), which I appreciate. A lot of people might hate ML because she dotes on her while being antagonistic to FL, but do remember FL

is

villainous and cannon fodder originally. So why would ML have his sights on her?

It's strange how people don't bat an eyelid when ML of other novels act harsh on antagonists, but flip heaven and earth when ML is harsh on FL who is (again) supposed to be an antagonist. You don't pity women antagonists on other novels who died and was tortured by MLs, but complain when ML here had FL be punished and ignored her in favour of OFL who is the original protag? lol

FL's life isn't given on a silver platter. Unlike in DCF or TBAVW where everything is smooth-sailing, here is obviously not. Not only because the OFL halo is strong and the tricky part of FL's background, but like... every action of FL really has consequences.

I read a bit later on (before MTL fried my brain) and, yeah, the consequences can be

heavy. It's heart-wrenching, but provided the realism I need that not everything is rainbows and ponies. Just because she is now the FL doesn't mean she now gets the express lane in everything. In fact, the things that happened just made me appreciate her character more, for being strong, independent and... just so far, I really like her.

Has a lot of concubines, gets them pregnant.

Sees women as tools (I guess it'll change in later chapters)

Power and scheming is everything