I think the only thing that was a little weird and it felt like oh so the main character can finally find out who is behind it was like that secret paper writing thing. I think maybe I didn't quite understand that very well but I felt like that kind of came out of nowhere and why would that be there. But other than to hint and help the main character figure out who it was. But you know what I'll accept it cuz it's very minor and it doesn't mean anyone I know is out of character because obviously we didn't really know that person very well who did it. Because that person was written very vaguely.

well the mastermind and of course in my opinion the second Prince

I think it's interesting that the emperor felt betrayed by the first Prince when the first Prince was trying to save his wife's family. I think that is a perspective I didn't even think about until the emperor said it and I felt a little bit sad for him but at the same time I was also like.. You know something sketchy happened and you know that his wife's family didn't actually do all of those things other than obviously some neglection for the people underneath and so yes his father-in-law should be punished but not to the degree where her entire family should be punished. But the fact that you know his the emperor was trying to give a way out to his first son multiple times in order for him to keep his lineage and keeping running for the crown, yet was rejected every time, I was like that is kind of sad I guess. He did technically pick his wife over his father. But it wasn't like that. And I think everybody knows and emperor knew that He was just doing what he could to protect people he cared about whereas the emperor could also have like done more for his first son but obviously maybe they were both in positions where they couldn't do much without it seeming unequal or whatever. Regardless I thought that was an interesting perspective. I do think of course it was a bit like self-imposed by the emperor because he was just being too rigid with himself and what he thought he could do and what his ego would allow him to do. As an emperor. But you see that's like the level of complexity and emotional depth that was in this novel for every single character. Not just the main character.

To be honest he's definitely the scariest one in my opinion. I think yeah very scary. I know that's technically a mental disease or whatever but without the proper support... Or the proper psychological therapy or emotional understanding or whatever it would require... It was very hard to change such a sociopath or like psychopath into someone who could empathize And have emotions for people and be a good leader. He's definitely the scariest but he is very smart. And I think what he did at the end was really interesting carving and figuring out who the Mastermind was kind of vaguely because he's so sharp. And I always remember how the main character was like how the second Prince was the toughest and the sharpest of mind so he would have like probably figured it out at the end. To some degree that is.

I think there is really nothing wrong with this person to be honest. Other than the fact that he wanted to become king. Although the fact that he wanted to become king did help make him like a little bit nasty in a way. Viewing everyone as a way to get up and just the whole process of wanting to become king and being King is just such a nasty kind of like situation. Just the prospect of wanting power makes you disregard people who are important in your life. And I think that was the reminder with him. But I felt like considering how he didn't make the situation worse for his eldest brother, at the end there when that situation happened to him, I felt like he still was a decent person even though he did some like sketchy things I guess and was obviously not that nice to his wife

yeah it's kind of sad. He definitely was the one that could have been the answer for everybody even the main character to you know have everything they wanted. If only only that didn't happen you know. It's like he was the most innocent to be honest. He is the most innocent. Out of all the princes and he was like honestly really wise as a child to. But just lazy. I'm not saying that something bad happens to him but I'm just saying that I feel like considering everything, he was the one who did the least to everybody but he yeah it was unfortunately in the mix of everything just like everybody else was. He didn't do anything wrong and that's kind of sad. I mean this is a spoiler but yeah in the end I think he is fine and happy where he is

To be honest.. He has a right to feel rebellious and feel mad but I thought he was just s*upidest of all of them. He was like intelligent probably to the level of the second Prince and the third Prince which is quite intelligent but he was the s*upidest out of all of his brothers in my opinion. Because I know yes you should feel like you want to take revenge for someone who killed your family.. But when your family was just advocating you to work for the person who so obviously was willing to step on you and you were potentially going to die but only this time your family was the one who died instead.... Yet you wanted to go on a rage path well silently to get your revenge by becoming the pawns of everyone else as well as the pawn of revenge and never truly living for yourself until the end where you just got the ending that you deserved but also luckily because the main character is so forgiving and also understanding and that they never had beef that it ended up okay for you. I don't know he was just a pawn like he was just the entire time. He was a pawn to his emotions. Like he never thought about what would make me happy. Like truly what would make him happy. Like he never got that smart. He was the s*upidest straight up. Because he was taking revenge for his mom but his mom was willing to do everything in order for herself to move up including having her own son be stepped around and pushed around and ultimately probably killed. Like her's mom was really s*upid too. Like his mom could not see that was going to happen? If it could happen to any of the servants who get caught then it can happen to her own son who is a servant to the six Prince. And so he was taking revenge for his mom but his mom would have probably ended up getting him killed anyways. And then he was taking revenge for his father who was playing the political game but I don't know I didn't really feel that like yes it does show that you know the emperor is a very complex and gray character because of the situation of being an emperor but it's just like I don't know he's pitiful. But like in a s*upid way. He really never lived for himself. If you say revenge is living for yourself but the revenge is only for someone who is willing to step on you and I don't know. I mean I know it's more complex than that like emotions are but it's just like it's just kind of funny but predictable! I don't actually hate him. Because he never did anything nasty in my opinion other than try to get his revenge but it wasn't ever like crazy. But it's just like so sad because he could have he could have turned the other way with the right support and I understand the main character when he felt like sad that he couldn't do that for the 5th Prince because he didn't notice it in time. And the good thing about the main character is that the main character although he feels regret about certain things if it isn't like life-threatening, he won't do anything in the sense of like like he won't do anything overtly but like underneath it he will try his best to make sure that they survive or that they make the right decisions hopefully. So I like the main character for that

You can pretty much tell what's going to happen to him because it's pretty well foreshadowed from the start. So I won't say too much that's all I'm going to say LOL.

Especially when someone died, I keep remembering the childhood moment of MC when everything was simple, when he would share false and embarrassing facts about the emperor with his sibling, when the emperor chased him around. I think this is what makes me so involved. All the small and seeming unimportant scenes just keep stabbing me in the heart at the end. I cried a lot when his first dog died. I can't believe the funny scene of him using a dog cart before can be such a sad thing. I cried especially a lot when the emperor died. All the childhood moments of him with his father just flashed back into my mind, and I can't hold the tears. Even though I understand the MC's dislike (?) if we can describe that as that, at the same time I also can understand the father who cannot be a father because of his position. The ending feels bittersweet for me.

The Emperor:

He starts off as a grey character. But I genuinely enjoyed both MC and his relationship. Truly!!! I loved it so much. The emperor's undeniable pampering and the MC's playful mischievousness.

But as they grew up, I realized MC is lot more cold blooded and calmer than I expected. I don't blame him for that. Instead I admire him to not get lost in the favor of an emperor. He was extremely rational.

But as I read about the emperor in between the lines I realized he was such a lonely figure. He was a great emperor. But not a good father or husband. And the irony was that, it's because he wanted to be a dignified emperor that's why he never gave emotions to others.

But I realized that he loved MC extremely much. So so much.

It is indeed MC who started their dad son relationship, but it was the emperor who fell harder.

Some highlight moment was when

Emperor says to mc: I did not order them to give you poison. I never want to harm you.

The emperor spoke him so pleadingly

Another moment was when he said

You don't have to be constrained by the rules of palace. If you want to live freely, just live free

Him asking MC to one last time call him Dad? Will you call me dad one last time?

I know the MC's pov, as well as Emperor's pov. That's why I felt it was even more heartbreaking. My tears did not stop for a long time and his death took quite a toll on me.

Usually characters like Emperor in similar novels appear hypocritical to me. And I always comment on that. But the MC addressed that issue clearly in this novel. He said the false and true feelings towards emperor seem to come to an end with his death. I thought wow!! MC can really control himself even at this point of time. Did the fifteen years do nothing for him? Rationally I understand his pov, extremely so!! But I thought really?

Only for the author to describe that MCs felt wetness in his eyes.

I really love MC. His Thoughtfulness towards others and everyone. And how he actually had to put an effort to not fall for complete parental love for the emperor. To constantly remind himself that he is not just his dad but an emperor. One of the highlights even among his family was between him and emperor. I truly love both of them.

Again I am definitely not saying the emperor is right. He did many wrong things, but he was a good ruler at his time of service. He did try to keep the princes in check. But he always had a reason. He made difficult decisions even if he didn't want to. Again, we cannot judge others from 21st century pov. Compared to Nanning emperor or Nother Frontier empire. The zhou kingdom emperor was enviable.

I wished there was more interaction between emperor and MC. And as the emperor grew older, his loneliness really opened my eyes. And him caring so much for MC made me realize that, it's true MC fell first, but the emperor fell harder for MC. (Parental love)

I am still so heartbroken!!! I still feel like crying. Please help me author, you made me cut onions without paying me

especially when you read about the puppy cart and feather duster at the later parts of the novel. And the extras and welfare extras of the novel... Idk, if the author just like twisting the knife for the extended pov of Dahei and the emperor or they meant it as relief like "hey look, in their last moments they are fine and still look after they beloved master/son"

author never leave any of his brothers unscathed. (Are all the authors who wrote this kind of novel, never leave behind at least one good brother that fully support the protagonist without having tragic background or tragic ending?) Man, I can't move on from the fact that that brother will be like that at the end. I want him to attend their family gathering but alas, it is better for him to be in that state.

LMAO when he got blind and he agreed to the simulator's offer to help him see things. When he opened his eyes it is 2D version. 😂, it is really funny how he commented that maybe after xx month, he will stop watching cartoons. Cause it is literally like that. And from the perspective of the people around him he was depressed but switching to his perspective he was having fun looking at the mushroom that looks like pixilated snowman in his eyes so he thought it was cute and started building snowman next to it.

there;s so many heartbreaking moments, like when he immediately told xiaoqi he did not poison him and was touched when xiaoqi said he never believed it anyway. or after xiaoqi comes back from war and has scars on his hands and the emperor recalls xiaoqi's unblemished little hands as a toddler. When he begged xiaoqi to call him dad one last time, and when xiaoqi cried after his father passed, and mourned that there would be nobody to punish him with a feather duster anymore...

experienced the traumatic death of his parents