I read this story months ago and somehow I kept going back to it in my thoughts. It definitely had a unique way to tug at my heartstrings. It does have a bunch of my favorite BL stuff, like past secrets, regret and redemption, second chances, wife-chasing, hidden identities, things that are not what you think they are, all in a historical/fantasy setting, and I love it. But its main charm for me is probably in its characters. They felt for me like the real people I didn't want... more>> to part with and wanted to get to know better.

The MC, Li Yi, is a kind and gentle person. He is a transmigrator but it hardly has any influence on the story, except for explaining his character. He was a quiet, scholarly artist in the modern times, and he has the same quiet, scholarly temperament when he transmigrated. He transmigrated as an adult soul into the body of a baby and had to be careful with his every word and action for many years, which made him even more reserved. He is stoic and introverted. He would rather endure or leave than fight, to the point that he gets amusingly proud when he does manage to defend his interests. But when it comes to those dear to him, he will do absolutely anything to protect them.

The ML, Zhao Yuan, is complicated. At first, he appears to play the role of a typical scum gong. He betrayed and hurt the MC in the past and now he wants to get the MC back, acting from the position of force. He is domineering and possessive. It is very satisfying to watch him chasing after the MC, while the MC does everything to get away from him.

But as the full story gets revealed, you understand that the ML is anything but scum. He always does his best. He has nothing to be ashamed of; it's just that he is so often forced to choose the lesser of two evils.

He is pretty much a tragic hero. He was used by his family literally since the moment he was born and for all his life, and as the story starts, his family is planning to use him again for the last time.

His family is really cutthroat; everyone in it is cutthroat including women and children. It can be said that the Zhao family is a tank full of sharks, while Li Yi is a little guppy. If one of the sharks wants to protect a guppy... they both will suffer. If Li Yi was less kind; if Zhao Yuan was less strong and smart, it might have ended badly.

But there is HE, of course, no worries; it is hard won.

There is one more important character, the little emperor, Zhao Heng. He has his own CP, so there is no love triangle. His story is about trying to balance between being an emperor and a decent human being. By the end, I don't think I liked him but he also felt very real. <<less

It's not your usual transmigration novel. I hate the flashbacks, too long, and the fact MC was an artist in modern times, and ended up doing the same in his new life but he's still a carpet. Sometimes he shows defiant and strong personality but he's quite passive. Like, ''I've got a new life, a second chance, therefore I should live'' but at which price?

I've read all but it's slow paced and boring because it's all ML giving rhythm to the story because he's a chief of army.

Painstakingly finished the... more>> story...

But if you're into that kinda characters, guess it's a perfect built novel for you <<less

Ok, it was not really a 5* novel for me but I will be comparing with other novels I read here, and it is still not a 5*... but I think I should rate it higher cz I gave worse novels good ratings so...

it was quite interesting, I liked the characters, the plot, flashbacks were taking too many chapters, but ok, they were important though could be shorter imo.

I liked MC, he was not the usual transmigrator type who was a nice character in his previous life but became cunning... more>> and ruthless after transmigration, he brought his modern times personality into ancient times and thus suffered a lot but still did not change and I like him for that. Not everyone can be ruthless you know...

ML was s*upid for not being honest with MC in the past, he should just have told him his plan

Spoiler

to fake kill him and save himself trouble in the future. He didnt have to mention the blood poison part

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and MC would most likely agree. Anyway he was not forcing himself on MC physically just bcz he loved MC and in my opinion it already makes him better than 80% mls in danmei.

In general I would not give it a best novel I read this month award but I think it was good enough and I enjoyed reading it. <<less

To me? Disappointing.

In my opinion, this could have easily been a novel that was around 50 chapters (or less, honestly) but was stretched to 80 chapters. Characterization was weak, and the promised dog blood/crematorium was not really delivered. I'm the type of reviewer that judges a book for what it is supposed to be (i.e. I'm not going to expect a comedy book to be some plot heavy masterpiece, and I'll rate it accordingly) but this was a bit of a let down.

It's a fine novel to pass time, but... more>> forgettable. Despite reading this a few days ago, I don't even remember enough of the plot to go into an in-depth analysis of why I thought it was average (other than the basic points mentioned above). A 2.5/5.0 stars. <<less