A Gentleman’s Recollections

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As a traitor, Yue Lingxi knew that in order to turn her life around, she had to be loyal to the emperor.

When there were assassins attacking, she stood in front to defend, and when there were corrupt officials causing trouble, she stood at the forefront to protect her fellow soldiers.

But the emperor instead flew into a rage, and there was a chill in the air as he spoke to her.

“You are so diligent. Should I award you a plaque?”

“Your Majesty, serving the emperor faithfully is my duty.”

“Xi Xi, to be loyal to the monarch, one must first love the monarch, do you understand?”

Little Red Riding Hood, who has strong survival skills but fell into the trap of love, versus the Big Bad Wolf who is always ready to pounce.

The female protagonist is not the type of bodyguard, but she is intelligent and tenacious, and not at all weak.

Important matters should be prominently displayed.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Cong Jun Ji
From a Monarch's Recollections
从君记
Related Series
The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband (Prequel)
Recommendations
Greetings, Ninth Uncle (1)
The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband (1)
The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage (1)
The Yandere Came During the Night (1)
Feng Xing (1)
My Darling, Coax Me (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Historical drama
  2. completed
  3. 1* Novels (Subjective)
  4. Personal favorites
  5. Can be your next read

Latest Release

Date Group Release
11/30/23 Send Lucky Wishes side story 1
11/30/23 Send Lucky Wishes c153
11/30/23 Send Lucky Wishes c152
11/29/23 Send Lucky Wishes c151
11/29/23 Send Lucky Wishes c150
11/29/23 Send Lucky Wishes c149
11/28/23 Send Lucky Wishes c148
11/28/23 Send Lucky Wishes c147
11/28/23 Send Lucky Wishes c146
11/27/23 Send Lucky Wishes c145
11/27/23 Send Lucky Wishes c144
11/27/23 Send Lucky Wishes c143
11/26/23 Send Lucky Wishes c142
11/26/23 Send Lucky Wishes c141
11/26/23 Send Lucky Wishes c140
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17 Reviews sorted by


YouToon
YouToon rated it
May 27, 2023
Status: c5
This has a dynamic and interesting beginning. A young girl with impeccable memory recall and strategic instincts is in the middle of a battle between two armies. In the chaos she and a high ranking soldier save a little boy and each other. Not enough has occurred to say how the overall story will evolve from there to the situation described in the synopsis. Still the set-up is engaging. Both characters seem honorable and smart. Usually web novels sacrifice one or the other in characters. Hope it can keep up... more>> the excellent characterization and action. <<less
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A-Zedel-Zong
A-Zedel-Zong rated it
May 27, 2023
Status: --
As Youtoon has said above, this story does start with an intriguing plot, as we are thrown onto a battlefield with our female main Yue lingxi. Though the story has not enveloped properly, translator currently at chapter 5 as of time of publication, it has a good setup, with the female leads wits certainly catching your attention. I will rate it a 3 for the time being as nothing worth noting has been translated for me to rate it higher. Certainly however, if the story keeps up at the same... more>> quality that it does currently then I will definitely consider it at least a 4, or even 5?

Give the story a go, while it's still updating it has definitely made a slight impression of me and should do the same for you.

X <<less
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riajhart
riajhart rated it
December 10, 2023
Status: Completed
I didn't read the prequel and it didn't feel necessary at any time.

MC is totally a breath of fresh air in the romantic department, if you get what I mean.

She's smart, strong and flawed. She has her own trauma, and even things she avoids or kind of mishandled emotionally, which may give us a bit of frustration to us readers but it also made her feel human.

ML is honestly great, one could say he is manipulative but in a very considerated and harmless way. Plus she is very willing, even... more>> though she is kind of numb to romantic feelings at the start.

He is quite straightforward too and very fast in recognizing his own feelings, but from what I got, it seems he got that from his mother.

No third party here, and if there kind of was ("a second ml"), it caused no problem at all and there's also no toxic pissing contest between him and the ML, after all, they are indeed family.

Though, I admit, the ML was pretty understanding on that front, but then, he ain't a cruel person and he is pretty sure of her love for him so he wouldn't make a fuss about it, which was refreshing. <<less
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ntww12
ntww12 rated it
August 6, 2023
Status: --
I'm not sure why there are low ratings considering this story is pretty good! It does have a very quick start. There is barely any introduction from the characters as the author probably assumes we've read the prequel.

The storyline is fast-paced and already full of intrigue.

However, just like her prequel, it is an interesting read and I like Chu Xiang, our ML a lot as he does resemble his mother.

I do feel like the progression of the romance is a bit fast. The FL seems to pretend not to notice... more>> the ML's advances or is she just oblivious to them? On the other hand, since the ML is her savior she might think it is right for her to give herself to him? She has very low self-esteem btw and I enjoy seeing how the ML struggles to lift her up.

Looking forward to the completion of the translation. Superb translation. <<less
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Sam2018
Sam2018 rated it
January 6, 2024
Status: Completed
Honestly this book has left me in a bit of a pickle... I've read so many chinese novels but rarely ones that really leave such an impression on me. The ML for me was THE ML.

I loved the FL as well and just the dynamics of their relationship. Now I'm struggling to find my next book because this book has just raised the bench mark for me. I've read both books of the author and this is my favourite of the two.
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midori_13
midori_13 rated it
December 7, 2024
Status: Completed
A Gentleman's Recollection: A Tale of Uneasy Imbalance

This novel had potential, but reading it left me deeply uncomfortable. The glaring imbalance between the male and female leads turned what could've been an engaging romance into a story weighed down by awkward power dynamics and second-hand embarrassment. (|||❛︵❛.)

A Disparity That's Hard to Ignore

... more>>
Spoiler

The female lead is plain-looking and clumsy, while the male lead is handsome, accomplished, and brimming with authority. Now, I don't mind a plain protagonist—relatability can be refreshing—but here, the difference felt more like a deliberate humiliation. It's as if the narrative wants us to constantly question her worth.

This imbalance wasn't just implied; it was reinforced repeatedly, both in how others viewed her and in her own behavior. And it's impossible to ignore that feeling of inferiority, where everyone in the palace seems to silently judge her: How could such a plain and inadequate girl be worthy of the emperor?

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Humiliation Masquerading as Character Development

Spoiler

The female lead's struggles as a court official were painfully drawn out. Not only does she fail to follow court etiquette in the beginning, but she also flounders in some tasks, making her seem more like a liability than a capable person. The emperor's affection for her felt less like admiration for her character and more like pity for her unfortunate circumstances. After all, the text itself drives home her insignificance:

"He is the ruler of a country, able to command the elements with a wave of his hand. What does he lack in this world? What can you do to repay him? At most, you can assist him in his duties when he is busy and accompany him in his leisure time. Any female official in the court can do this. There is no need for someone like you, who does not understand the Chu language and has no background to do it."

And then, this poignant moment:

"Yue Lingxi (female lead) stiffened, a dull pain suddenly spreading in her heart. Yes, as lowly as she was, what could she possibly do to repay him?"

The narrative hammers this home so often that it's hard to see the female lead as anything other than inadequate. Her presence in the court feels less like a triumph and more like a continual reminder of her unworthiness.

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Rushed Romance, Unconvincing Affection

Spoiler

To make matters worse, the emperor's love for her develops almost out of nowhere. He's a cold, calculating ruler to others; but he's inexplicably caring to her. But the story seems to not offer a convincing explanation for his special caring, making their relationship feel unearned and forced.

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The Power Imbalance That Dominates Everything

Spoiler

The emperor's overwhelming authority, coupled with the female lead's clumsiness and lack of self-esteem, created an oppressive dynamic. Every interaction reinforced the idea that she was only there because of his pity, a narrative amplified by her family's exile and the emperor's role in "rescuing" her. The result? A relationship that felt less like love and more like an act of charity.

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Missed Opportunities

Spoiler

What makes this all the more frustrating is that the story could have taken a different path. Imagine if the female lead had been given the chance to shine in a war setting since the beginning, where her bravery, intelligence, or unique skills could have proven her worth. Instead, we're stuck in the palace, watching her flounder through a series of humiliations, her every success a gift from the emperor rather than an achievement of her own.

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Final Thoughts

Despite the male lead's sweetness, the female lead's constant humiliation and lack of agency made this story difficult to enjoy. Her inferiority was so painfully highlighted that even the moments meant to showcase their romance felt hollow. Instead of a compelling love story, we're left with a tale of imbalance, where the emperor's greatness only serves to diminish the female lead further. For me, this imbalance overshadowed everything else, leaving an unsettling aftertaste. ╰༼ ⋋ ‸ ⋌ ༽╯ In the novel the heroine even commented about Mulan... why she couldn't be strong and unrestrained like the amazing soldier Mulan? <<less
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Artymis
Artymis
May 29, 2024
Status: Completed
An interesting story about war and politics with enough romance. I was so hooked, reading it one sitting.

As the other reviewers have said, the FL is refreshing and has her own ideas. She doesn't immediately lose her ability to think and take action the moment she has gotten together with the ML.

ML is someone with endless patience and love with the added bonus of being the most powerful man in an ancient setting.

The side characters are equally interesting and it was nice to read an ancient novel where the imperial... more>> family interacts with their cousins and relatives like a normal family without the constraints of their position. Impractical sometimes but very very refreshing. Would have definitely liked to know more about the ending for some of the side characters, which felt a little incomplete.

Also like that there in no long drawn out jealous imperial women fight like many other ancient setting novels. So if you are looking for a little more realistic ancient novel, this might not be it but otherwise 10/10 for story pacing, intrigue, plot, and romance. <<less
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liappletree
liappletree rated it
March 11, 2024
Status: Completed
Very interesting FL..a fresh view after some other typical pretty smart or scheming kind. However I feel that backstory of some character is a little lackluster and some character have so much potential this include villians but the novel just skim them true.. All in all a 7.9/10
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Clarimel7
Clarimel7 rated it
January 7, 2024
Status: Completed
This is the most undestanding ML ever.

While the FL was super independent and resilient in the first arc of the story, soon she struggled with her new found relationship and took a back seat among the action in the novel. I guess this discouraged me. But the intricacies and depth of the story is well-written. So all in all, this novel gives a realistic feeling.
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
reader9999997
reader9999997 rated it
November 20, 2023
Status: c50
The FL is very calm and smart. Not the usual (tender I will be hurt if I touch water type) fl. She has a very good temper too. Very suitable with the ML temperament.

I love the dynamic between FL and ml. Their romances are very sweet and somewhat refined not crude nor toxic. The ML is very reasonable and smart not oppressive or mildly abusive like usual ML in c web novel.

In short, it's a nice romance story with overall good character settings and plot. I enjoy reading it.
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Gleeannjuliana
Gleeannjuliana rated it
February 20, 2025
Status: Completed
I don't mean to embarass the author but the story has no essence at all. It goes crazy left and right. Its like an adult asking a child to do an assigment, and then we say "well, he's just a child after all".

The story did not justify how the Emperor feels so in love with the MC. His action were so overwhelming. He is an Emperor! Damn it... And he is suppossed to be so damn poweful in his martial arts but assasins keep coming and no awareness of it.

The... more>> MC, well, I like her innocence at the beggining and thats it. The tragedy of her family did not even make my heart ripples. (I cry even a cat dies in a story).

The Chu Kingdom is big, but the story makes it so small because not so many people are involve.

The tragedy of MC's family and the war were the focus of the story but none were flesh out. It was brush out just like that.

This is for begginers reading list, I guess.😎😎😎 <<less
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n0isy.ninja
n0isy.ninja
February 8, 2025
Status: Completed
I enjoyed the story although I thought the plots are awkward and lacking content in the buildup of the plot.

Examples

  1. The development of the ML and FL romance. Yes she is smart with a photographic memory and useful.

    It is just lacking from a coincidental meeting to ML falling hopelessly in love.
  2. The lack of good reasoning for wanting to eliminate an entire YUE family including distant relatives who know absolutely nothing about rebellion, I don't understand.
  3. The background of the second FL, Madame Ru, isn't well developed.
  4. The lack of conclusion between the second ML and FL left me unsatisfied.
This is just to name a few of plots that lack context.

I do like bring back the main characters and other characters from pre-quel.
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l8rose
l8rose rated it
October 12, 2024
Status: Completed
This novel is rather interesting. Everything moves at break neck speed (unfortunately leading to some moments of being told instead of shown what is happening) covering quite a bit of time in the Protagonists' lives but this often leads to parts that happen for no reason other than story has got to story.

The MC is Xi Xi (her name varies in the translation but this was a commonly used nickname), a young woman who rescues a child before ending up in the cross hairs of the Emperor. Slightly emotionally stunted,... more>> she often comes across as naive until the story needs her to be clever.

Spoiler

Seriously. The novel implies she has a photographic memory until it would impede her being a damsel in distress and then she suddenly has it again when she needs to help someone. Eventually, it implies she gave herself photographic memory by forcing herself to remember things (not how that works but again, story is going to story).

The same problem happens with her observation skills. She notices "glints in people's eyes" or their similarity to a painting but never realizes the two people that are in love with her. Or when she was captured, she never suspected that she was the valuable target and that her cold, but calculating, captor did not go out of his way for revenge.

Same with her intelligence. She even agrees to a marriage with someone other than the Emperor just after the Emperor proposed to her because she didn't want to tarnish his reputation.

[collapse]

The ML is the Emperor who first encounters the MC in the middle of the battlefield and ends up leaping inti a river to save them both. He is domineering, slightly controlling and pretty much what you would expect an Emperor to be. He falls first and falls super hard.

Spoiler

He stays with her for a short while before they go their separate ways. Once they meet up again, he pretty much forces her into the palace. We are then treated to a very long "Will they?" segment as he has her take on the role of a female official.

She ends up more like one of those maids who warms her masters bed. Also surprise smut was a surprise.

[collapse]

A lot of things unfold in this story but once something happens, the characters from that event fade out of the story. It happens almost everytime.

Spoiler

The child the MC rescues serves only to let her meet the Emperor and then a noble woman in the capital before he just fades out.

Her biological sister ends up nearly revealing their familys back story and then reveals that their mother chose the sister to save (ouch). After she learns about the death of her adopted parents, she asks for revenge and then becomes a nonentity in the story.

The second ML proposes, gets rejected and shows up to maybe three more pivotal parts before he too fades out.

[collapse]

It also doesn't feel like a satisfactory explanation for some of the plot points.

Spoiler

Especially about the Yue family's extermination and the mastermind's downfall. It was the focus for most of the novel and then suddenly his scheming failed because of one guy not being properly mu*dered. Also 10 years is a long time when it comes to evidence or even people remembering what happened.

And then there are the other characters who become s*upid. Such as the one guy who tries to drive a wedge between two of the secondary characters with the knowledge that the husband killed the wife's father. Nevermind that her father turned her into an assassin, poisoned her and used her to get the MC (who this woman treated like a sister). Super tactician.

[collapse]

Overall, it's alright but it's definitely not a 5 star story. Especially when it starts to feel like the author wanted to write about characters other than the main leads. Heck, the final chapter isn't even about them.

Just be prepared that characters will change their personalities to fit the narrative. <<less
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Savannah7
Savannah7
July 18, 2024
Status: Completed
Honestly wished they didn't even include the cousin 3rd party, it was so unnecessary if every way.
Spoiler

I also am no believer that FL was so ignorant to the way of life as to not know how absolutely her dumb ass fully was taking advantage of ML's kindness, and being nothing but ungrateful for bringing his cousin into their issues. Also in how she decided to selfishly do things on her own, as he worked daily to bring them closer together.

[collapse]
besides that, this one gave me a ML I respect up to the very end, unlike the other book which disappointed me in the ML in the end.
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Mariria33
Mariria33 rated it
July 15, 2024
Status: Completed
I liked the prequel more, but the story line about their son is also good, just a bit too long and to much war. Will be better to have more stories about other couples and more side stories instead.
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Tainted_Words
Tainted_Words rated it
March 4, 2024
Status: Completed
I'm not as eloquent as the other reader's here but truthfully speaking there are only a few days in the entire year where I go without thinking of this novel and it's characters. It was really beautifully written and realistically depicted. Despite the characters' several flaws they manage to captivate the reader.

The ML is really understanding and caring towards the FL. I would recommend the others to read it. I hope that you find the joy that I found while reading it.
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yampaste
yampaste
January 5, 2024
Status: Completed
An invigorating story about war, politics, and love.

Well-written and well-translated, this story will sit in your heart for a long time after reading it!

FL is very realistically written, she has many flaws but remains strong in the face of adversity. ML is stubborn but strives for the right things.

This story's romance doesn't feel like a typical romance, there's not so much heart fluttering, blushing moments - a weak point I would say would be FL's reaction to Mal's advances towards her. Sometimes it feels a little assault-y but the author... more>> never lets it get too far.

Interesting story and interesting characters! Would suggest to give it a try, the action in the beginning is blood pumpingly good <<less
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