Ever since the FL recovered her memory, by hitting her head on a stone for tbe second time.

He died because of a wound infection after being in battle against the Mongols, which personally I didn't care about him, he was just a plot setting, but the author had to prolong the novel this much, just to know this guys ending, like he was a villain, but he wasn't really.

Nice FL, just OP skill, where she can read people micro expressions, to know if they lie or not.

Her interaction with the ML was really enjoyable to read, especially when they were solving cases.

Immoral ML where he lied a lot to the FL, and gets some consequences for it/redeems himself somehow, by proving to the FL that his feelings later on are true to the FL, overall, he was fine (in novel terms).

2nd ML basically just repeats his mistakes with FL all over again with his wife, just with a different reason this time, the self-centered bastard. I feel sad for all the women connected with him. His tragic ending will likely endear him somewhat to the reader, however.

FL learned to stand on her own feet without having to consider others' thoughts, do what she wants to do, and like what she wants to like. Of course, she later regains her memories right after the wedding ceremony and felt betrayed by everybody, She wanted to leave and run away from both ML and 2nd ML, which they allowed. After ML's silent pursuit and the Emperor's words, she realizes that she fell in love with the '2nd brother' after losing her memories, which is the ML himself and not the 2nd brother (2nd ML) that she grew up with.

FL is able to judge whether someone is lying by reading their micro-expressions while ML is very good at deducing things even with the finest details so they became a power duo when solving cases. ML is also extremely cunning, knowing when to retreat and when to advance. This is definitely the main reason why their love did not end up tragic, and they were able to quickly reconcile (in a month) after FL received all her memories. ML didn't go the usual overbearing ML path (even though he is) and instead gave FL time and space to think properly while silently brushing his presence on her in the name of solving palace cases. FL knows this and wants to avoid falling into ML's trap but failed in the end since she truly loves ML despite all the lies. FL is a great character, but I think that the ML is the MVP in their relationship lol.

2nd ML does love FL so hard that it drives him mad but he's scum. He always expected that FL will always be waiting for him and always love him, taking her love and care for granted. He never noticed that FL liked different things and that FL suffered so bad for him long ago, which made FL not trust him at all when he tried to convince her that he was the real 2nd brother. He made FL into a doll (figuratively) that only caters to him and doesn't have an ounce of her own self. He does realize he is sh*t tho but still never gave up on trying to steal back FL. ML, while he is despicable for lying and manipulating FL (cause that's just his personality initially), he genuinely cared for FL. He learned about her monthly discharge pain and have her take medicine to recuperate that illness and make her feel better. He felt distressed by FL's stubbornness and recklessness in waiting for her '2nd brother' who now became him. He constantly reminded FL that she is her own person and that she can like what she wants to like and do what she wants to do. He let FL use her abilities for the greater good, listened to her opinions, allowed her to grow while protecting her, and at the same time, corrected the weird perspectives that FL had. He knew that FL would definitely hurt him or leave him once she regains her memories but he didn't want to hurt her. If FL really tried to stab him, he would most likely just allow her to off him. Despite wanting to lock her up and completely take her to become his (as that is his most real personality), he gritted his teeth, distanced himself from FL, made himself busy with work, and silently helped her (despite it being all too painful). Because of this, FL felt his sincerity for her and her only knot was that she was deceived. He was able to embrace the beauty after so many efforts of restraining himself so yay!

Even though the Fu family wasn't likeable, they were completely understandable as products of their time. FL had no background, no property, and no dowry. And, the impression I get was that she was brought back without asking any of the ladies of the household, it was just a decision Grandpa Fu made on his own. So of course, she was never considered part of the household by anyone other than Grandpa Fu, and was never considered part of their caste due to being a commoner.

And even though Grandpa Fu apparently made it clear to the household he wanted Fu Tingzhou (2nd ML) to marry FL, he never actually made any official arrangements for their engagement. TBH that alone shows FL was never given proper respect as a marriageable lady and was likely to end up a concubine even in Grandpa Fu's plans. If there had been a publicized engagement or engagement token, it would not have been so easy for 2nd ML's mother to arrange a marriage or for 2nd ML to give in to the rest of the family's wishes.

Grandpa Fu was a general and dealing with a lady's engagement is a matter for other ladies of the house, so it's not too strange he didn't put more thought toward this. But, there are many ways the Fu family could have given FL a way out, such as arranging a dowry for her and making plans to marry her out as a proper wife to someone lower ranked. Instead, no one even asked her what she wanted to do, they just assumed Fu Tingzhou would take her as a concubine. And Fu Tingzhou assumed this as well. Despite the saying, "It's better to be the wife of a poor man than to be the concubine of a rich one, " no one ever asked her if she was willing. And Qingqing wasn't a s*ave, she was a commoner-- she had the right to decide her own future.

It just goes to show that nobility breeds entitlement.

It's interesting to me that FL never used her ability to read expressions to get in the good graces of anyone other than 2nd ML. But later I realized FL simply didn't have the ability to do that. Even though she could read expressions, she didn't have the ability or the willpower to manipulate people. At most, she could only do her best to give them what they wanted, and when she did that with 2nd ML growing up it resulted in him completely failing to notice how much she did for him and all the problems she had to face because she was that good at keeping his backyard nice and tidy.

2nd ML never thought of her as a person, he never gave her any respect, he never asked her what she wanted, and after she expressed her desire to leave, he simply thought, "Well, that's that, " and offered no support or protection. He feels entitled to everything he has and no responsibility for anything else. He never thought about FL's wellbeing at all.

And on top of that, 2nd ML's treatment of FL doesn't piss me off as much as his attitude toward the marriage he agreed to.

2nd ML is clear from the beginning what the purpose of the marriage is. He marries his wife to get political support from her mother's maiden family. But he feels that the act of marrying her is enough to get that support. And, he's right... after her maiden family and her mother's maiden family see the situation clearly, they give 2nd ML a concubine-born girl from their family as a concubine since the legitimate wife is unlikely to bear any children due to 2nd ML making it so obvious he disliked her.

Meanwhile, 2nd ML reaped the benefits of their marital alliance early on and was able to climb the military ladder quickly.

Whether or not the wife in question was a good person is irrelevant. (She isn't. But she isn't particularly evil, either, she's just a product of her environment.)

2nd ML made a business deal but did not uphold his end. On top of that, the wife was immediately sacrificed by her maiden family as soon as it became clear she wouldn't be useful.

2nd ML is a guy who wants to have his cake and eat it, too. And he never figures that out about himself, which is why he takes deals with short term gains up to the very end of the story, to his own undoing.

After the FL is 'lost', he comes to realise her place in his heart.

Now he's a person typical of his time, he has to shoulder the responsibility of the entire clan by himself and he realises that he doesn't have enough power and one way to get that is to tie their family with another that will bring him benefits and so he does that regardless of what the FL would've thought about it as he felt she's understand and tolerate him like before. Now this is the part where he became undeserving of the FL's loyalty and love, he didn't give a tiny rat's a** about what she thought or felt, he instead felt angry when she acted cold towards him, and forced her practically to do something she clearly didn't want to (go to the temple to offer incense where she'd meet his fiance). Now this part I wanted to slap the bratness out of him but once he looses her, he starts to realize his own insensitivity towards her as well as how much he had taken her for granted.

Now the parts that showed how much he had changed would have to be after she regains her memories (all thanks to him again.. No sarcasm intended tbh) where she clearly tells him that the past is the past and that the future is upto her and whatever feelings they've had between them before, she's lost them. It was honestly the biggest blow to him but he accepted that. He came to realize his follies, came to realize how powerless he still was to give her what she wanted and that even she he could she was unwilling now, and also realised how much she had to endure in his house before contrary to how she was much more happier than before and now that she wanted to leave and go away, he didn't have any rights to stop her and he didn't even try. Now that was the point where I started to really pity him because he didn't hold on to his ego and let her go simply because she wanted to.

After he learnt about her marriage with the ML, he didn't try to come inbetween them or spoil anything, honestly I was half expecting him to go evil cuz that's what the usual trope is but he didn't and that's how it proved that his feelings were not shallow and that he was truly a good person (can't be sure that if the ML was in his position he wouldn't have messed up the situation)

Although I felt bad for his wife, but I couldn't blame Fu Tingzhou for how he treated her, she probably reminded him of what he had done and he couldn't face that, he was decent with her and treated her with respect initially till she wanted much more than that which he couldn't give. She did come off as a vain person but that was just how she was, a spoiler daughter who was brought up in the inner courtyard without knowing anything else. I sympathized with her but that was it. She herself came to terms to it eventually but that was just sad how it's supposedly the reality of many women of her times.

So, when he eventually decides to return to battlefield and succumbs to his injuries, it's much more bittersweet that I had expected. He was a young master favoured by everyone, brought up by his grandfather who was a great general, took up the responsibility of the house as his vain parents couldn't, lost his love as he wanted power, wasn't able to let go of his regrets and eventually decides that in his life he had achieved nothing but as a general he should protect his honor and if he were to die he's do it with grace on the battlefield as he eventually did.

His character was so bittersweet that I am not sure how to feel after all this. I surely don't like him for what he did at first but as the novel progressed, so did he and so I couldn't help but feel sad on his passing.

Like others I too feel he's unworthy but as a character he's not without development.

The FL lived on thin ice catering to everyone everyday of her life after she came to the Fu mansion, but after loosing her memories, with the urging of the ML who provides her with a safe and tbh very healthy environment, she learns to live vivaciously for herself (yeah I'll omit the deception he caused cuz well.. Why not).

The ML is well quite interesting, he's someone with no morals, he himself admits that his moral values fluctuates high and low as needed. He's very very ambitious, he wants to have a great career for himself and doesn't give a sh*t about others till ofc he meet the FL. Now now, he's not that vain and cringe that he falls for her once he sees her. He wanted to use her and once he realised she has amnesia, he is thrilled because of how much of a Trump card she would be to deal with Fu Tingzhou. He admits that he immersed so much in his role that it became increasingly harder to understand what was real for him and what was not, as he eventually realises that maybe she does matter a bit to him. I liked how unlike other MLS who are like insomniacs and falls asleep around the FL and becomes oh so comfy immediately, he doesn't, even though he realises he liked her, he couldn't betray his instincts of being on constant guard with someone near him even if it was her, ofc he becomes much more comfortable later on and turns into the biggest perv.. ahem

Anyways, the ML is by no means a good guy, keeping everything he has to do for his job aside, he would feel nothing if he were to use underhanded means to get his way, he admittedly says that he has embezzled and well, simply the fact that he decides to quickly marry the FL and cook the rice before she regains her memories to basically tie her down shows that he's not a nice person. But that's the catch, the FL is surprisingly clear headed and realises all this, and she accepts him for who he is, what's important for her isn't how much of a good person he is, but how much she likes him. The ML is inherently an unkind person, he is someone who cleans up the blood behind the court and harem intrigues, if he's someone who is forgiving and kind, he would t have been able to hold onto his position. The story doesn't try to excuse his ways or character but gives it as it is making him very very likeable.

I have the most complex feelings for the emperor.. Like he's a good emperor but with so many catches. His obsession with taoism and the pills incident was honestly very hard to digest. How he treated his empresses and concubines were even more hard to digest. But his methods to keep the court in check as well as this methods to bring peace to his land were honestly good.

When the author decided to kill Fu Tingzhou out of nowhere.

The novel differs a bit from the usual since Fu Tingzhou (first love) isn't purely evil or an a**hole. To me, he's an overall good person it's just that Qing Qing's (FL) level of love and devotion for Fu Tingzhou exceeds his feelings for her and that's the gap in their relationship. (For what its worth, I do have to mention the synopsis leaves out the detail wherein Fu Tingzhou does notice and try to save Qing Qing before she falls).

Lu Heng (ML) on the other hand is highly clever and manipulative. He has a cold demeanor (as he should as an ML character 😂) but can show warmth when he wants to. He also genuinely treats Qing Qing much better and sees her worth as a person better than Fu Tingzhou (I just love how both he and Qing solve the crime cases together 🥺) but then at the end of the day he knows his priorities lie in his revenge plan.

Like I said, Qing Qing (before having amnesia) is very devoted to Fu Tingzhou. Like head-over-heals-will-risk-her-life kind of devoted, which the readers will eventually come to understand since Fu Tingzhou was one of the two people she could trust as an adoptee in his home). However, she isn't completely helpless. She still has self-respect and confidence in herself as she already planned to leave their home after learning about Fu Tingzhou's engagement. After falling off the cliff, I guess you could say we get to see Qing Qing in her purest form, meaning without any influence from Fu Tingzhou since we also come to learn that she has adapted her personality to his lifestyle prior to everything. With the help of Lu Heng, we can see her discover her self better and build more confidence in life without Fu Tingzhou.

for an unwanted guest to be able to survive sure needs some skills, but to be able to accurately catch micro-expressions with little exposure to various kinds of people and without a master to guide is really quite a stretch. And it's not like there are any books written about it during that time (I assume).