This novel is just ??. I love the characters individually and together and very much so. Easily one of my all time favs. The entire time reading it I genuinely felt so content. Yah Xiaohan and Fu shen together make my heart warm. This novel is so wholesome and I absolutely loved it. The translation is also done so well and I'm so grateful for it.

I LOVED IT. That’s it. Since there are a lot of reviews already, I won’t go in details. Just... you want “enemies to lovers” but VERY WELL written? You want a traitor character that in the end you will just start to love madly? You want a super well written love story, with a lot of foreshadowing and not shallow at all? Well, this is for you.

All spiced up with a very well thought plot, that puts everything to his place and makes sense from start to the end.

So, yes,... more>> read it. Translation is amazing too. <<less

OMG! This is one of the best Chinese BL novels I have read! The two protagonists are so well rounded and so compatible. Their interactions are too cute (even though neither is the "girl") And the world building is excellent, the plot well though out. Bravo! This should be turned into a drama. And not a Chinese bromance, since you cannot have the two men marry and have it be bromance, so I guess Netflix will have to produce it. I can't wait to see what the author's next... more>> novel will be like. <<less

This story is amazing! It’s perfect for those who enjoy historical BL and witty, strong characters. I felt that the main pair had a good balance between them and the sidecharacters and pairings brought a nice addition to that.

All I can say is that I’ve never read a CN BL novel with such fleshed out, multifaceted characters before (and I’ve read a lot) ! It was a gem to discover and read. The translator is phenomenal as well, and I throughly recommend it to anyone who wants to read something with substance behind it.

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

Took me a while to finish reading this. I guess I got a bit too bored with the politics and kinda stopped reading when they finally got together, but it is still a beautifully written and beautifully translated novel.

The love story between the main characters and how they grew to love each other from as early as when they were teenagers and how it develops was wonderfully told. They are so romantic and the story was intriguing, just a bit too political for my mood maybe starting this, but still... more>> a good read.

The extras were actually really cute. &Lt;3

Over all, 4.6 out of 5. &Lt;3 <<less

I read this so long ago that I already forgot everything, but I have a good impression and memory of it. Nothing "top 10 best ever" but I enjoyed it.

Particularly I like to thread novels where one of the MCs has a disability to see how the author handles it. I was pretty satisfied with this one :3

Ermm.. As for the romance. It's okay. Yeah, I liked it. The marriage scene is good. The angst is good. (I cried when they hurt my baby). Overall.. It's aight. Solid novel.

Also, the... more>> translation quality is very good. <<less

It's very sweet, but I am bored; there is no conflict when it comes to their love life.

I read this novel long ago and liked it. Although it's no longer free to read, I still remember some plot points and the warm feeling the romance of these two exude. There are a lot of complications and schemes that cause the couple headaches but they work together and individually to solve each one. Both MC and ML are intelligent, scheming, and strong... one does not fall behind the other.

Although MC is disabled, ML never looks down on MC and instead shows tender care. They have a happy ending... more>> and the empire does also.

Spoilers can be read in other reviews but this is something that stayed with me...

Spoiler

About the couple switching... maybe in the future but not currently. There are no scenes in which they switch, only a scene where MC mentions it but then changes his mind. Although I do believe that ML would have been agreeable with the change if MC didn't change his mind.

Another spoiler that might be mentioned elsewhere but I haven't seen it. ML is the Emperor's son. His mother was his grandfather's concubine. However, when his grandfather died, his father coveted his mother and slept with her. She became pregnant with ML. His father didn't know.

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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