- the abrupt switch of FL seeing the Fang family as family. In my opinion it wasn't executed that well, as the things the Fang family did for her to feel that way was because of the paralysed guy she cured. Later, the old lady seems to genuinely care more about her irrespective of her grandson but the abrupt switch wasn't done well and even felt forced

- the king of Qi being seen as a wise monarch because of covering everything the Duke did up

- like I mentioned before; not even a glimpse of the couple's life after getting officially together

- no development at all for the Fang third sister and that Chen guy (even though they've been together for years)

- no clarification of the fl's sisters marriage with the Lu guy. Are they getting divorced or not? Will the sister get together with the Gu guy as you can see that they are pretty ambiguous at the end

- no reunion with the sister after knowing FL is her dead sister

- we don't even get to see how they will tell their brother that she's her dead sister and how they will react/interact

Not exposing anything at all:

- how the emporer killed the previous crown prince (when it was so easy for the author to execute this with the whole segment of finding the medical notes of the crown prince's illnes. Because like why were the euneuchs uncomfortable when the ministers found those notes. It was easy to lead to the reveal. But no, everything was just swept under the rug)

- how that Huang old man basically colluded with the Jin people (which could also easily be executed with how they caught the guy that he colluded with alive)

- how the general that replaced the duke in the North basically was responsible for the first town to get massacred, because of the SAME mistake he made last time; greed for money that made it possible for spies to infiltrate as merchants. And how they just put the blame on the duke without any consequences. No accountability at all

- all of the conspiracies against the duke

Everything was basically just covered up which is disappointing because the theme was getting justice so in the end, the justice was only for the people involved which is kind of anticlimatic after all of that build up to not expose anything to the people. Even if its "unrealistic", the story is unrealistic from the beginning. Even though it was disappointing, I could still understand it a little but what I can't understand is the things involving the peace talks, collusion with the Jin people and the actions of that new general in the North being covered up. Because now, the people&minsiters still won't realize the severity of these mistakes. This will make it easier to repeat those mistakes.

1. Fang Chengyu (paralysed cousin the she marries to cure and later divorces)

I don't really like him. I actually liked him more in the beginning than later. After being cured he acted like a child constantly. I get it but I just don't like it. Also how he let's her sleep in his courtyard after being divorced because he likes her. Like, I know you like her but in that time, it could've ruined her completely. FL and the rest just letting it happen was also frustrating. "My sister is the best" "my sister is the best!" Was annoying. I actually kind of felt bad for the mother because he really always prioritized her over everyone else

Only thing I really appreciate is what he did once he realized his marriage was fake to cure him; spread rumors about how it was all fake to save fl's reputation. I liked it because it was a lot of truth mixed with a lot of false things but the essence was the truth: it was to save him.

He also contributed a lot with money so that FL could execute her plans easier

2. Ning Yuzhou (the one with the marriage contract)

Technically, he's a good guy but I just can't seem to like him. His overthinking was just annoying and exhausting. What made it ironic; he basically did what he despised women that like him do; overthinking the behavior of the opposite s*x and intentionally approach by "coincidentally" meeting each other. It just seemed hypocritical. I also hated the fact that he never considered her life after marrying into his family (like he wanted to). His mother hated and despises her. Even if the FL can handle his mother, he never considered how strained their relationship can become with a mother in law like that. Does he really think she can be comfortable in a house where so many people despise her. Even if she can handle it, she will never be able to truly relax in her own home. But he never considered that.

How he treated his sister made me also really uncomfortable. On one side, he should punish and correct his sister. But on the other hand, his actions really made it hard for his sister to live a comfortable life at her husband's family. After basically marrying her off as fast as possible, he also never cared about her anymore. He only thought of the fl. That just made me feel cold towards him

But he did contribute a lot on the court side for fl

3. Lu guy (her ex-husband)

Even though he is kind of pitiful, he was disgusting. He did love FL but it turned into an obsession which made the love tainted. He helped the FL a lot in his own way like protecting the brother and sister but the execution was just wrong. The FL did like him before because she didn't know anything and he treated her well but once you realize what he did to marry her and how he basically put her in a cage so that she will only depend on him, it's just disgusting. All of the substitutes (these were also never mentioned again. What even happened to them) and forcing the FL to be with him didn't make it better.

Even though less obvious, he was also essential for everything to work out well (like keeping information about FL a secret)

4. Zhu Zhan (end game: our male lead)

I'm glad he's the ML because he's the only male lead that I have more positive feeling for. Although I sometimes got irritated how he constantly pushes FL away, it's understandable. At least his love was pure and realistic. Even though he had someone in his heart and didn't want to forget her, he's human and started having feelings for the fl. In the end, it is the same person so it ended happily. But if they weren't the same person (which is essentially the case as he didn't even really know the "first love" that well. He only met her 2 times so even though it's the same person; it's basically 2 different people), him catching feelings for someone years after his first love dies is super realistic. But just because of his principle of only having the first love in his heart, he pushed her away and just wanted to help from a distance so that his love can stay pure. It just worked out well as they are the same people.

The FL only showed her real true self with him. With the Ning guy, she was harmonious and comfortable but that also made them feel distant. With Zhu Zhan she was teasing, childish and arrogant in a different kind of way. She showed a side to him that she doesn't show others

His family also loves her and she loves them so you know that she will live a comfortable life when they get together

-‐----

I just don'thow to feel about the fact that for everything to have worked out for fl, all of these mls were crucial. And why these mls helped her like this (except the end game male lead) was because they loved her. These kinds of conditioms don't sit right with me. If the essence of the relationship varried, it could've been better because these kinds of stories would crumble if there was a small variablity like having another girl that the mls start to like

Zhu zhan x juiling : end game. He is the same man who solves her puzzle game during lantern festival.

Cheng master ends up faking and staging his death so tha6y he is no longer tied with the burdens on family business. He wants his sisters to start afresh with no past things attached to the business so that its clean. There is a hidden story to unlock which is another tiring arc, but thats the end of it.

Her husband from first life, forgot his name: He is forever hated and despised by her and he resigns to that fate to always be a bystander in her life.

Her ex-fiancee from new life, forgot his name too: he proposes 3 times and gets rejected everytime. Honestly he is the only redeaming character with good morals and respect.

Here we have a young miss who literally just had her soul transferred to another body. Same time. Same era. Just under a different family. If you've read Evil Emperor's Wild Consort, you get the full picture. Then again, unlike EEWC, this isn't about martial arts, transcending the heaven thing. It was purely political and intelligence. Not too vengeful and dark, but just right for my tastes. I daresay it's one of the tamer ones of the bunch.

Another interesting slightly rare trope added to the mixture (rarely seen, if not haven't at all as far as I'm concerned, on CN novels, but definitely on JP ones) : about the miss being once spoilt rotten to the core. And nope, this isn't the "I've reincarnated into a villainess of a <insert story/game/etc> so I must change my fate!" Nope. 'cause unlike in other stories where the villain HASN'T even started with her villainy (and we just know she's a villain because of a book or a game), this one already had our MC transmigrated at the height of things wherein people in past-owner-body's family, who are downright good people, hated her because of her haughtiness (and hence, you can't fault them).

And a lot of the earlier chunk details the endeavours of MC slowly changing those bad views on her whilst patching up her relations. To this, to my knowledge, I'd say Light Beyond is the only and more appropriate/similar novel to reference.

Ah... also, while it does not focus on romance, MYGOD this novel contains some really well-deserving ML entourage. Still don't know who's the very main guy though. Well, there are hints... but I don't wanna jump too soon.

Then again, I advice readers to not focus on the romance, as things so far are geared more on solving current problems, improving MC's relationship with family and other character / world building developments. Despite that, there are lots of bittersweet / very potential "romantic" scenes tho. I really pity the Ning dude. <///3

We do know in the later chapters that she was the dead Princess Juiling, was a divine doctor's student, and betrayed by someone yet unidentified. It's a riveting story as the truth is slowly unraveled.

Who are conspiring to kill the male heirs of the Fang family and what's with the bloody current political intrigues?