My problem with him is not indecisiveness but more like he lack a reflection arc, a smooth transition to think about his feelings. He don't dwell much about his feelings or talk about it with others. Like why he like Luomei and Mei Lin in the first place? What's their differences? Why he choose Mei Lin over Luomei? Him becoming an emperor is not even explored in the story? I can't imagine him as emperor! At least the drama MRJH has work experience because he became a governor too and not only a general. His drama version is better in that aspect.

Sure, there's war and he's busy but you're selling it as romance so he need to think about why he like his woman. In the beginning, it looked like he's using Mei Lin to make Luomei jealous but later it became he use Luomei to make Mei Lin jealous. I also hate that the heroine became like a plot device. She's the answer to most of his problems! So even if the heroine want to get away from him, the plot is like NOPE WE STILL NEED YOU TO PROGRESS. Want to frame his prince brother? Let's use heroine to escape suspicions. Broken meridians? Heroine has the doctor for that. Luomei is dying? Heroine's worm inside her body can heal her. Luomei left MRJH because he became an emperor? MRJH goes back to pursuing the heroine. That part is what annoyed me the most. Maybe its because its from the heroine's perspective who unconditionally accepted his terrible sides so its hard to see him as good love interest. He's interesting character for sure though. All I can say is the author must be a sad*st to write this lol.

I wish the main couple just go back living to that remote village in the ending instead of becoming emperor but oh well. I appreciate that her mom is at least alive though. The book has happy ending than the drama even if MRJH's actions remained questionable after everything. I also enjoyed the little references the drama used from the book such as the sachet gifted to MRJH, the dog gifted to Mei Lin, wildflowers in Mei Lin's burial, them singing a song in their stay in the village, etc. It really help me finish this with the cdrama in mind because the cdrama cast for main couple are perfect.

What I disliked most about the story is that the FL forgave the s*umbag ML and ended up having a happy ending with him. He even made her marry his subordinate, so why?! Why still marry the ML in the end after you got divorce? I know the FL became used to going with the flow and she dont have much choice, but still... I had hoped she would find someone else or be happy being an independent & free woman since the summary mentioned she'd have a happy ending, but I consider the ending a tragedy

He starts of as a very flawed character (again fine).

However, I read these romance novels to read about characters who show more decisiveness when faced with so much character interaction that you as a reader feel moved by-- whereas here, he continues to be ignorant and indecisive

We needed him to turn around and realize the worth of our protagonist heroine --that is so evident to any one with a bit of sense. His realization comes too late and he experiences too little suffering as a consequence.

The heroine on the other hand deserves every good thing

He has very low emotional maturity which makes it hard to support the romance. Personally I don't really like romantic interests who are indecisive, so I am very neutral about him. He tends to ping pong between our MC and his white moonlight. I guess the author really wanted to make the story angsty as possible, which is why the main lead made decisions that were sometimes kind of incomprehensible.

Torn between our heroine and lingering Spector of his 1st crush, he is indecisive, wavering and inconsiderate in his actions. His choices therefore repeatedly hurts FL, dragging her through emotional upheaval.