When the ML was recounting his past death, you see that it was the Jing Consort who betrayed him and eventually delivered the poison wine to him. She insulted him and all, but you also can't help but pity her at the last moment when she eventually tears up, asking him not to blame her because she only had the one son left, and she couldn't let him die too. Some people might say that she was the one who started it first and/or that if she has just stayed put he would have protected them anyways. But knowing his communication style, I doubt he told her anything of his little plans. And also, you place these people in a competitive field and expect them not to worry and scheme for their lives? Does everyone look like bodhisattva to him? And when she mocks him for thinking that his inner courtyard was harmonious, you could hear frustration in her voice. I mean if it was me, I would be so f*cken annoyed too. You create a competitive environment and then expect people to get along all jolly and happy. You get to live a life of oblivion while everyone else has to live life on constant edge. If he didn't even have to smarts to notice that people were killing each other behind his back, then I would understand where her frustration, disappointment, and eventual betrayal came from. He not only proved that he was incompetent once, he proved it more than twice. He said so himself, that in his past life, whatever he did, the crazy new emperor was out to get him and every other prince. I really think she felt like it was a last resort for her as well. Honestly, it would have been interesting to see a short story from her perspective in their first life.

It's weird because it seems like the author themselves know that this is pretty logical, but because the ML is still the main lead, they could only circle it back around to say that, in the end he is still the main lead so she is the ultimate bad person here. But to compromise, they added in the little insert saying that, the ML didn't like her, but he couldn't bring himself to hate her either after seeing her cry. So basically it's like ML also knows himself that she had it hard, but still wants to hold it against her because he still feels wronged even though he was the one that forced them into that position.

it's hard to get rid of the 21st century mindset here okay. When you think about it and it kicks in, doesn't it weird people out that she is literally 14 or 15 years old and he is this 25 or 26 years old when they did it. Like I know, I know that this is historical and that this was normal back then, but just thinking about it... she was a kid and he was this grown ass adult. And also, why do the FL always have to be kids. I know the authors can tweak some things a little. Like make them older and say that that was their disadvantage. That would have been interesting to see. Its like they are basically saying that younger is better or that only young people are attractive. That's kind of...

I wouldn't have minded it so much if their little awkward relationship had lasted for much longer where they both began to understand and trust each other more and she got older. His record as an apathetic obstinate monk went down the drain too quickly. If it took just that for him to get off then I don't know how much to believe him when he says he wasn't the type to be active in bedroom affairs. Maybe it wasn't that he wasn't interested in bedroom affairs, but that he really was just more attracted to younger people...😬😬😬

It would have been nice to see that she was more involved in his schemes too. And by that I don't mean like his strategist or right hand man with a halo, but someone he trusts enough to send out for messages or for small but also important tasks. Instead, she is just stuck in the courtyard waiting for him to come see her. It's disappointing because you almost see no new growth in her. All that you see now is the things that she learned and brought over from her last life, but what about this life. What new things did she learn in this life time that have developed her even more as a person?

Due to Ruan Siyi’s mother being greedy, she leaks some rumors about FL being a sl*t climbing the bed of her son to be a concubine and then was sold. She wanted to sully FL’s reputation since she’s the Emperor’s favourite concubine. After some trials, she is ordered to hang herself by the Emperor for spreading slander and lies. Ruan Siyi’s family falls from grace. Qiao-shi’s plan was to make him love her and then leave him brutally. Heh. Read the extra to find out what happens. It is so good.

Dont worry for the segs scene. ML didnt viciously make her couldnt walk for three days, couldnt blame him for everything since he saw everyone in his mansion as his own which is he could do anything to them since that what its thought to him for sure, hes a prince anw. And again he would stop when FL said its painful, and he learn from those mistakes by learning from somebody LMFAO so yea in next segs, FL said she really enjoy it 🥴btw FL aint passive in segs, she even teach him some ways to make her and both of them 'happy' 🤫 for the r@pe imo its in first till second segs (?) bc she enjoyed the rest (iirc) and ML always said he cherised her b4 making out :)

MAJOR SPOILERS - The MC is great at first. She's strong in her own way but relatable in the sense that she can't fix everything and the world (ie author) WILL NOT bend to her advantage like in other novels. I still prefer the latter than stories that are overly realistic because why would I want to read depressing sht when life is already sht. However– and I can't fault the author too much considering her role as just a concubine– she becomes a background reacting and taking care of her children for the most part.