The main character is a foodie who supposedly was constantly cooking and is good at drawing. While there are a few marketing ideas that main character pulls off it for most part all follows a logical sense. Basically outside of marketing, any talent she shows can be concluded under two categories of related by association of food or done from standpoint of pulling from memories and having the ability to recreate it because of her art skills. While most of marketing ideas for most part might draw a few questions but also can be contributed from a modern mindset.

When he finally realizes the two Chu Lian's are different he straight up becomes a child. Excuse me, even more of a child since before this realization one of his brilliant totally adult ways of sabotaging her was by literally gorging himself on her food so she wouldn't be able to eat. Truly the brilliant machinations of a high class noble man. Anyways, he becomes jealous of anyone who gains her favor (one of the female generals ends up being like an older sister figure and even THAT's seen as threatening) in any way and expects her to carry out her wifely duties without so much of an apology (at least up to chapter 424) for his earlier behavior. He's also assaulted her in her sleep a total of 3 times so far, a number I pray to god doesn't go up. Another problem I had was the fact this 20 year old man couldn't seem to wrap his head around the fact this 15, yes 15, year old girl was probably manipulated by Xiao Bojian. Yes, I know it was common for girls to be married off young back then and I'm able to put that fact aside (at least a bit) when reading period pieces, but even back then that was still known as the 'you're still s*upid listen to your elders' age. I get she had a hand in his downfall, but jesus christ she's a s*upid teenager who was obviously a pawn. You're main target should be the one actually orchestrating everything not the grunt who doesn't know any better aaaa. This behavior being excused as him "just being a tsundere lol" is so annoying. He's not a tsundere, he's just insane. If you want a good tsun then look at Makise Kurisu from Steins;Gate or Kyo Soma from Fruits Basket!

Madame Zou does not deserve the downgrade she eventually got. It's like the author wanted Chu Lian to be the favorite wife so much that she realized "oh shit, Madame Zou's too level headed. Better make her become extremely jealous and crazy for ReaSoNs!" At the start of the story she's a generally agreeable elder sister in law to Chu Lian and acts as the one who's essentially keeping the estate running smoothly. We're then introduced to her growing unease over Chu Lian's rapid success and growing favor with the Matriarch. This plot point by itself is perfectly fine and I was curious to find out how this friction between the two would play out. Alas, there was only ever one conclusion for someone having even the slightest of negative opinons of Chu Lian. She only grows more and more jealous, starts trying to take credit for Chu Lians accomplishments, it's revealed that she's also a thief, and finally she goes on an erratic rampage after her husband is made to take a concubine. Yep, you heard that right. This feudal Chinese woman who's grown up with this custom as the norm, was warned this would happen, and knows that her husband had no choice in the matter goes on a rampage where she blames her HUSBAND and the girl being given to him like an object rather than, idk, just ignore the girl and find comfort in the fact her husband is also upset about the situation pointing to his obvious preference for her.

After reading He Changdi vicously coping a feel right after Chu Lian just escaped a life or death situation and was unconscious was when I finally gained a deep understanding of the saying "coughing up blood in rage".

constantly holding Chu Lian down, assaulting her when she doesn't know it's him, feeding her an aphrodisiac without her consent, using his safety and health in order to make her forgive him, never using his words, still overall childish throughout the entire novel

There was one flaw that Dryvk did not get to because he/she gave up much earlier. The Emperor has a secret corps of intelligence gathering. Many well-kept secrets could not be hidden from them. A good example of this was when ML claimed credit for FL's original contribution of the "snowboat, " because she did not want to claim the credit herself. Keep in mind that men were the dominant s*x during this setting. Somehow, the Emperor found out. In fact, every little thing was known to him because the Emperor was suddenly interested in FL. However, if the Emperor had this capability, why did he not find out earlier that Ye Xun, a woman he loved and had a child with, died and left FL? You are telling me the Emperor did not find anything about her and his daughter who is FL? If you ask me, that is pretty bloody disappointing. Sure, it could have been the mysterious organization behind Xiao Biaojian keeping things a secret. However, how does the Emperor NOT HAVE spies in that organization as well? Maybe it is just me not reading further along.