By far, the most mind blowing china palace politics novel I ever read.

A change of ruler by treason is usual, but to have a country besieged and a dynasty fell to the enemy, reclaimed it back, the new emperor to ascend and die while the previous emperor still alive? These are stuff I never read before.

Also, this is a novel in which you dont have a care of MC and ML, no need, since both are MCs. Golden Stage is a tedious with many and the lack of details yet... more>> it also felt short lived with only 78+extra) chapters. The wholesome chapters lack of care to the characters, other than main casts was somehow unsatisfying.

Nonetheless, as reader I am satisfied to have read this novel, and will visit to read them again. <<less

5 stars!

Thank you so much for the quality translation! Love the story, the setting, the political intrigue and most of all, the RELATIONSHIP GOALS. That interaction is just mmf! The best! This novel definitely deserves all the praise and high ratings.

Just wana say though, disappointed

This story is really friends to enemies to husbands to LOVERS and I am here for it.

I really love everything about the first half of the novel as both Fu Shen and Yan Xiaohan plot against their enemies, and each other. There's an extended flashback sequence that shows how they met as teenagers, and it honestly made me adore everything about their story.

As enemies/frenemies they're formidable but when they reach an understanding with each other, they're really unstoppable. Mu*derS are solved! ENEMIES are destroyed! I do think the story slows... more>> down a lot in the final act, but I enjoyed the parts before it sooo much and I loved their relationship so much.

This is a great translation too, really enjoyable to read. <<less

So like everyone here who read this novel, I am also fascinated by the main characters. This story is amazing indeed. Literally no one can resist this much fluff and sweetness.

Putting their romance aside, I really like the plot of the novel. No plot holes what so ever so just enjoy the reading/ride of emotions without any pause for confusion. As for the briefing of the MC AND ML, someone already gave a detailed in this section.

Thanking the translators for their astonishing translation.. Thank you so much.

I love this novel.... more>> (˘ ³˘) ♥ <<less

This is one of my favorites, it's so so romantic to me, they didn't realize what they meant to each other and slowly find out and when one finds out they reciprocate throughout the story slowly, until full trust is built. I felt so giddy and fluffy the whole time reading it, very enjoyable. Love, love, love!

Personally it would have been 3 stars, but truly that's on me and my love of messy protagonists and drama. Also the modern sensibilities that sometimes resurfaced put me off, despite being the source of the balanced romance and relatively easy solution for the problem of the empire sucession/organization.

Regardless of that it's a well written novel, the characters make sense, and are kinda interesting, their romance is nice enough and is not overly long, and btw the translation is also good, so I gave it 4 stars.

I'm more of... more>> a Meatbun and the more screwed up Priest protags girl though, so I was very meh about it all. Didn't hook me up emotionally even as I appreciated the author talent. The political schemes weren't anything out of this world either, so it didn't get me like Qiang Jin Jiu or Langya Ban either. Very mild scheming, to be expected of a court setting, so people who don't like it would probably enjoy this even as it was a negative for me...

EDIT: Screw it I'm giving it 3 stars for those with likes like mine. It's also not an enemies to lovers despite being advertised that way by some btw, more of an, we were friendly and then fell off over different morality and then were brought together bc emperor f*cking us over. Like I said this lacks drama for the romance to be interesting to me. <<less

Despite having completed the novel a long time back, this is one novel I can't help but come back to. This is the ultimate definition of a healthy couple. The lead characters are fully fleshed out who are great independently and even better when they are together. There is no angst to speak of neither is it tooth achingly sweet, but it definitely is a pleasant ride, one that you would remember for a long time.

Despite having completed the novel a long time back, this is one novel I can't help but come back to. This is the ultimate definition of a healthy couple. The lead characters are fully fleshed out who are great independently and even better when they are together. There is no angst to speak of neither is it tooth achingly sweet, but it definitely is a pleasant ride, one that you would remember for a long time.

This was so good!! Chichi's translations were really wonderful and this story had so much fluff! I enjoyed both the sweetness of the couple and how badass they are. I would re read this anytime.

Love it. It was refreshing for me after reading domestic violence with love content over and over. I feel like I was drowning and Golden Stage gave me a breath. Now I can pick what should I read more attentively.

A meritorious war general, Fu Shen, is rendered crippled after an ambush. Not only is he stripped off his military powers, but he’s also further pushed into a corner by the reigning emperor who decrees a marriage order, tying Fu Shen down to the infamous court lackey Yan Xiaohan. Killing two birds with one stone, the emperor’s motivation is to ensure Fu Shen has no heirs and to use Yan Xiaohan to keep Fu Shen in check. The two seemingly opposite personalities - one a state loyalist with integrity and... more>> the other a ruthless politician without any bottom line or scruples. The two are as opposite as chalk and cheese with clashing personalities, opposing views, and a history of betrayal lingering between them. How do two seemingly opposite personalities fall so deeply in love? Well, that’s the story of the golden stage for you!

Romantic, plot-heavy, wonderful characterization, masterful dialogues, and a profound love story. Fu Shen and Yan Xiaohan have all of my heart. This my friends is how a love story should be written. <<less

Came for yanfu, stayed for yanfu AND the unbelievably juicy court drama and political intrigue. A phenomenal work that will make you question your perceptions and standards of love and forever judge couples of all other danmeis to (and couples in real life as well). It's truly difficult to put into words the things I have learned from reading this novel and how I'll strive to keep it close to my heart.

3.5 stars

Read this a while ago, but didn't write the review. From what I can recall, I took me a while to get through this story. I had to restart it 2-3 times before I was drawn in.

Interesting enough read

‘Golden Stage’ represents many things for the main cast. This is essentially a hall of honour for martyrs. Hanging inside include portraits of our Meritorious General Fu’s Grandfather, Father, and Uncle. This is also where he set off from the capital to join the war as a general at the mere age of 18. Small spoiler, it’s also where he abducts his ‘wife’ to get married instead of the location arranged by the Ministry of Appointments. The Golden Stage sees the ups and downs of General Fu’s life as well... more>> as the rise and fall of his nation. It is much less pivotal to our Mister Yan, but it still the location where he experiences a grim farewell without expectation of safe return, that lasts for many years. Regardless, he respects and acknowledges the importance of the Golden Stage to General Fu. The reader too can step into this bit of historical fiction from the drama of court schemes or the dog food of the frenemies turned couple.

The story is pretty good. The plot twists are sound. The mysteries are intriguing. The reveals are satisfying. Give it a try! <<less

ohoho, arranged marriage but with MEN.

Super good flow between cases and arcs.

manly men weak for each other? Sign me the heck up. Not really a slow romance but definitely a hiccup between the two in the beginning of the book. After the misunderstandings are cleared, the two work so seamlessly.

the historical aspect was also a very pleasant surprise. It is very much written like a war/historical novel with a romance subplot. I went into this book for the romance, knowing that there was some history and it was the complete... more>> opposite.

I loved reading this book and it is really my standard for war/historical novels now. <<less

So I finally finished this book after picking it up and dropping it at least twice lol. This is mostly court politics/intrigue-focused. The main couple was really cute. I've read a number of politics-focused novels so I skimmed parts of the book because the tropes and arcs become a little predictable.

This was such a joy to read. There's plenty of novels out there that rely too much on miscommunication tropes and slow buildups to keep the plot going. Golden Stage has your mains get together fairly soon, and has am entertaining plot outside of the romance. Both MC and ML are independent of each other- there's no dependency issues here, no big age gaps, no toxicity or unnecessary angst. All in all, a very wholesome read!

The 1 star I'm taking away for: Prose flow-though likely due to translation. A few... more>> plot points were way too convenient, so much they made me laugh. These things I don't really care for, but as others have said I didn't enjoy the

Spoiler

drug ab*se depiction because it ultimately was only used to push for s*x

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Also, there is no smut! (Yay) <<less

This story made me hella mad! Why my boys have to suffer so much T.T Actually, it was my first historical novel that also had a plot about politics. It was really interesting, but it made my heart hurt.

... more>>

Spoiler

Every time when main characters had to separate, I was really sad. I know that it is logical, but I hate it... Can't it be just peaceful and they will stay together happily? Author had no mercy till the end. Even at the end of extras you think that maybe in the future one of them will die and I feel so bad.

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Overall, it is a great novel. I liked it. <<less

I've adored this novel from start to finish.

Can you believe that the main couple actually likes and cares about one another?!!! When there is misunderstanding, it's not contrived and actually resolved?! What is this trickery? :D :D

It's not all tooth-rotting fluff, though. There is conflict and drama, but again: NOT CONTRIVED.

10/10 recommend!

this is my very first historical danmei and im not disappointed!!! The way the author weaved the story and how the translators thoroughly translated the story is just soooo damn good!!! Not to mention the very realistic characters of this story that made me feel like im inside the story itself.

P.S - I noticed some comments that said the story have a slight slow start and it really is. But once you get through 1-3 chapters it will be okay. This story deserves its rating