I really can't believe I held back on reading this for so damn longgg!!! This was so good!

This one doesn't necessarily have any revolutionary new ideas, but the strongest point in this novel is the way the author navigates and explores the emotions of characters and their interconnections between 3 lifetimes. Quick summary, MC transmigrates into a sickly character in a novel where a system gives him missions to help the og protagonist become the emperor. The first time, he dies from poison and he's brought back to life to... more>> restart his mission and try again. The second life the og protag kills him due to our MC associating with the novel's villain. And in the third life in which this novel follows, MC is resolute to live the life of a salted-fish while making sure the villain doesn't destroy the world in the end.

Because of MC being terminally ill and the villain being a doctor, there's a bit of angst that continuously comes up. Usually MC will try to remind villain continuously that he doesn't have long to live, so when he dies, for villain to do xyz. The author does such a great job in giving the reader heartache in the most subtle of ways that it slowly marinates the heart until a certain climatic moment where you finally realize you've been stabbed by a knife and can't even complain because as a reader, you should've already knew it was going to happen.

Since the MC is the narrator, although it does go through the complicated politics/relationships, we never get bored to death from the political jargon. The balance tips more towards slice-of-life, but it isn't slow either. In my opinion, the author shows great understanding in this area, knowing when to push and pull the plot along without feeling too hasty nor too slow. I didn't even realize this novel was 170+ chapters I just somehow felt in my heart that the end could use some more meat on the bones lol.

MC and ML character growths were executed so well! I especially loved that the one thing that doesn't change about our MC is his moral stance. Standing beside the wronged villain, he knows and understands that death and killing is inevitable. Though he also doesn't wish for the common people to suffer cruelly and unnecessarily especially if it's due to those in power. ML also understands this and without even knowing, slowly MC guides the villain's mind and heart to give up destroying the world. To me, these type of characters are always a hit or miss because it is entirely dependent on how much care and thought the author puts into the story to make them consistent and cohesive in the world setting. A lot of the times, authors will write this amazing type of character only to turn them into an annoying love-brain that loses their ability to THINK. Even with the MC and ML having their little love-brain moments, it never compromises the foundations of their personality, strengths, and beliefs. This is so important to me!!!!

Also, I especially loved some of the side characters, especially Ke Hongxue. Although they're not so much there at the end, I'm just glad they get their happy ending.

Overall, the story progresses so well. Even though the plot twist (?) reveal did feel like we needed a bit more to it, I think it's still pretty good. The journey to get there made it make sense. I used the asiannovel site since I guess it's an edited mtl version and not too bad, but 10/10 will read again once more chapters are translated. <<less

I don't know the reason for the low rating. But this is a very good novel.

It is a somewhat redemption story for MC and ML. Majority of the scenes are slice of life and interactions bet the main chara's. You'll also be fed with lots of dog food, and I don't mind choking XD since it's very relaxing reading the story. Lastly, I love the depth of the convo among the characters. Despite being a slice of life, this is the only novel that doesn't make me feel bored. However,... more>> I'm not sure for others so u may skip this novel if u'r into a fast-paced and face - slapping.

Downside - Anticlimactic but satisfying ending. More on narrative during the turning point of events. Also, MC is a salted fish so in the latter part he always lets the ML to have his way with him and is very dependent on ML. <<less

It was one of the best novels I've read so far! If course there were some cliché usual for novels like ML being too aggressive in bed until MC cries but not too much so it says okay. But the plot! It was slow but at the same time so captivating I couldn't look away. Both of them pamper each other so much. And one of the best things is that supporting characters are so vivid. Each has its own history and personality. Though I have to admit that we... more>> don't have much insight into reasons of the final villains. They are just too disgusting for this. All in all it definitely deserves 5 stars and I will surely read it again <<less

A beautiful, brilliant book. The progression of the plot is smooth, slow, yet never boring, captivating from the first moments. The development of the relationships between the main pair is one of the best I've ever seen -- gentle, gradual, based on mutual respect and understanding, from a simple interest to a true devotion. The complexity of the relationships and characters is deserving all praise. A real masterpiece of a story.

One of the best bl I've read in recent memory, it's a mutual pampering type story where the leads truly seem well matched, where one minute they're comparing notes on the latest schemes to overturn the country, testing each other's wits like top students, and in the next moment, they're stuffing each other with candy (& me with dog food). Although MC is not directly in the action due to his resolution to live out his last sickly life in peace, he's always able to trace what significant event has... more>> happened with just a few words. ML, who is way too terrifyingly smart, makes the original 'Son of Heaven' character look like a joke from beginning to end. No wonder that guy always lost, everything was always in the palm of ML.

In the first two lives, ML lost many things without realizing it & made himself miserable while seeking revenge, even though he always succeeded. I'm glad MC could help him get back so many people who care about him & make his life worth living on, even after his revenge. I'm also glad MC didn't let their relationship stagnate for too long even if he was conflicted, and he always put ML first, even when the whole world told him he was wrong to do so. I think he has always loved the ML, even before he transmigrated, but that's just what I read in between the lines.

The 'Son of Heaven' character who was supposed to overthrow the ML is a disgusting thing that reads like the scummiest scum gong to ever scum. They were never in that type of relationship beyond mentor & student, but the scum still blames MC somehow after squeezing every last drop of use out of him. It does not make sense the level of victim mentality he somehow has, and I hate him.

5 stars bc this novel deserves a higher rating that what it has. <<less