One thing I actually didn't like is that the ML seems to have a curse that kills him when MC doesn't love him, which is such bullshit. I hate any kind of "I know I made you suffer but you need to stay with me and endure even more pain so I survive" scenario, especially when it's already been shown that ML himself wasn't prepared to do the same and inconvenience himself for the sake of MC's life before. In this case at least it's somewhat fine, since MC has a somewhat extreme idea of love and the curse+ML's sacrifice is used to show that ML is learning how to understand and reciprocate MC's love.

If you have to rely on pain to remember that you like me, what kind of liking is that? At best, it is a threat.

both of these characters had their reasons why their relationship in the past didn't work and I agree with the one reviewer here who mentioned how everything in their past life needed to happen for them to be happy in their current life. Mc's love was obsessive and possessive. It was very unhealthy. He was losing himself in the relationship. You're supposed to still keep yourself solid while being in a relationship aka save some love for yourself. However, I understand things only got out of hand because of things behind the scenes (i won't specify), since MC wasn't originally that kind of person. On the other hand, ML had to take over the role of being the emperor at a very young age and without anyone to guide him and help him balance how to be a good emperor and a good husband. He was so focused on trying to be a good emperor, he forgot about the person he loved. However, he never explained the reason for anything he did and he was very harsh to the MC. I understand there were things he had to do to protect the MC and stuff he had to do to maintain power but I don't think it explains or justify why he went completely cold and harsh on MC to the point of ignoring him completely. That was the one part I couldn't understand or accept. It's like he let go of their relationship once he couldn't put a leash on the MC. He forgot what kind of person the MC was and didn't notice if anything was wrong. Well, it's because he's busy with the country but is there really any excuse to be an as*hole to your spouse or an as*hole in general? Not really. Can I mention though that I loved how sadistic and vengeful the MC was. It's just so refreshing to have an MC who vents when he needs to vent and gets the exact kind of revenge he needs. I didn't really come here to read a pure and healthy novel even though I'm glad it did try to become healthy in the end. MC needed that wake up call to take a step back and remember who he was before the relationship. ML needed the wake up call to take a step back and remember he also has a role outside of being an emperor. The main story's ending was my favorite part I think because it reflected what we all probably wanted deep down and how these two will move forward in their relationship.

"At this moment, he was not the Son of Heaven, nor the emperor. He was simply Li Ying running to Yun Qingci." the two kids, now adults, who fell in love with each other, loving each other. MC has learned to wait and give the ML more room to express himself and initiate things. ML has learned to be more affectionate and expressive to MC.

there are definitely things in their relationship that are missing: relying on each other, being completely secure with each other, having full trust in each other, and the fact that their relationship doesn't seem like how it was originally before everything went downhill. But, I guess, that is also one effect and consequence of everything that happened. It's irreparable. And that is true to reality. No matter the clearing of misunderstandings and getting evens, a relationship will never stay the same. But if it means the MC can love in a healthier way, then that's a good step forward. The ML still needs help with how to love as he thinks living with chronic pain is deserved and he becomes very self-deprecating after all this. He has to remember that he made the right choice for the country and MC even tells him this. Just that he shouldn't be such a jerk to MC like before.

a good and completely refreshing read that somehow motivated me to keep going haha the development is just so good! It starts out dark and cruel but the writer shows you that things can't stay that way. There still needs to be change and that no matter how wronged you feel and you are, there are consequences to everything and there are still reasons why you need to be more understanding and compassionate.

to tear their marriage off because MC kept demanding and because he wanted MC to be happy. Then MC gives a tantrum again, says he doesn't want to get divorced and ML is pitifully happy, like a dog given some scraps. It was disgusting to see. It did not give me flutters. At all.

There are 2 lifetimes. In the first life the MC was persuaded by other people to act wicked and kill. The ML was constrained by other people to keep acting aloof. In the end the MC felt the ML didn't love him and killed himself.

ML used a spell by hurting himself and dying to reverse time. The time went back but the him in his 1st life didn't go back. So the 1st life is a Bad Ending, they both died.

In the 2nd life the MC promises not to love the ML and is cold. The ML decide to put MC first over everything and acts "crazy" because he is the one to kill all the people in their way now. He throws away his image of a kind emperor. ML also suffers from like PTSD as he recalls how MC died several times. Later they find out both are reincarnated.

At first MC is upset at ML still. But he learns about how ML suffered after his death and realizes how much ML sacrificed to turn back time and they reunite reconcile and it's a happy ending. ML learns to put the MC first and the MC continues to love him with all his heart.