Next what awaited him is the travel North with his family and unknown future.
But what he didn't expect is the acquaintance of the Seventh Prince, Liu Ke, who is too well-known in the capital for his deeds. But is he truly as rebellious and wild as the rumors say the future will show. Not really planning to join the battle for the throne, JinLing now thinks how to make the Seventh Prince achieve success.
Highight: Revenge is a dish best served cold frozen.
With unimaginably face-slapping beginning and a roller-coaster of ups and downs in actions, this novel was to a great start, later it was much more than this. The plot has proven that it was not overly simple palace drama, but it was also not truly complicated too. There is no wild action, but at least the actions and consequences are stringed along.
Novel had a promising growth of characters (and delivered). From a combo of the most shunned prince in the capital who is notorious for his actions and the most unnoticed and pitied young master who spends most of his time behind the doors at home to a power couple who came to share the worries and achievements.
The beginning reads like a bloody script. I have a feeling like I started reading this novel and might have paused. But the further you read, the more interesting it gets.
At the beginning the father of JinLing indeed brings back his concubine and illegitimate child that grew up outside. This child is only a year younger than JinLing, but had all the love that father never gave to JinLing. To make the matter worse, they come from the main entrance (big no-no) and with idea of making the main wife to accept both concubines and the son into the house and also ancestry.
But this starts a shitshow and sparks flying all over around. Because the situation is not as simple as it seems at the first glance.
This man actually fears his main wife and never had a concubine at home, but for a reason, his wife Shang Qingrong comes from a prominenet family and used her own money to fill the debt holes created by the Fang family, she supported the house and his career with her own strength, the man did nothing tbh.
But because his concubine, which was actually of a daughter of a criminal who is now reinstated in his position due to push of the previous reform forward, this gave the man the confidence to bring both back home and demand magnanimity from his wife. Like everyone does it and so am I, your son is sick, this new son of mine will take care of him etc.
But his wife is no pushover and Fang JinLing who now inherited the body and the rest of the mess is also not an innocent fellow.
Even when the situation finds the two between two opposite camps (Prince Duan with this scholar Yang and opposing Prince Jing), they refuse to bend and become a spear that will hit the enemy but will leave them as scapegoats of the situation. So it's quite spectacular to see Shang Qingrong as a strong woman coming from a general's lineage and wielding swords and spears and not caring about rules.
Eventually they come out from the situation unscathed, Shang Qingrong divorces her husband, proves that his infidelity was based on her money and support, that he wants to frame her. This situation actually balanced the overall situation in court and they owned nothing to others, so they could leave the capital.
Well, partially they also could just force their way through all thanks to the arrival of seven aunts. Shang family had several uncles in the family and Qingrong is the only daughter, but the next generation has the opposite effect, seven daughters and JinLing as the only male descendant. Playing his part he leaves with his mother travelling North.
All sisters are actually super cute. They're fierce as generals, they don't act like women, they grew up in the army. But they're a bit like face control and find JinLing cute and are ready to protect him at once. I think they're a lively bunch and they're super cute to me. Its truly funny how along with them the only man who travelled along was third sister's husband who is a businessman, who was asked by their grandfather to let him count Qingrong's dowry and he basically stripped everything he could. Later you meet husbands of others and they are basically a very similar bunch of people, loud, ready to fight, but are deeply loyal to each other.
Although after reading for a while MC does feel like he has some omnipotent brain that predicts actions of others, he is balanced by the prince who pretends to be a pig to eat the tiger, who actually may not have much ambition or seriousness at the beginning of this journey.
We know that the two met by accident at a birthday banquet, but a small talk and actions of the other party allowed JinLing to see further than the surface of the Seventh Prince's true character. While two brothers of this prince, one tries to support a scholar who will help him promote a reform that will allow to cover up his own deeds (corruption of the Ministry he is the Head of), the other stays on the opposing side and even used the long friendship the original Jinling had to use against him. This completely showcases their ambitions, but also complete lack of care for the people. There is a constant mention of a disaster outside and many people starving or dying, but the palace continues to live the way it lived. On the contrary Liu Ke was met by JinLing eavesdropping, but actually saving a little bird that was freezing in the cold. His actions at the banquet fully showcased how he sees these people as hypocritical monkeys that can only jump up and down and he looks at them as a sort of a show. It's like "I'm the one sober" situation.
The only thing both want after dealing with things is to leave the capital. JinLing is picked up by the Shang family, while Liu Ke confronted the Emperor to grant him the fiefdom that will neighbor with the Shang family. It was impulsive and maybe Liu Ke is oblivious to his impression so far, but at least he is very friendly already.
In Liu Ke's words they're like two brothers who did something bad together and it united them.
But although Liu Ke voiced his ambitions, he did not feel as ambitious as the moment JinLing talked to him during the journey. JinLing showed his full trust when they could talk face-to-face and was honest that he sees no other better candidate for the throne than Liu Ke. Which is followed by a wonderful exchange.
He really wanted to raise his hand to cover his chest, because the young man in front of him had opened a gap in his heart with just few words, and warm spring was pouring into it, flowing through his limbs and bones, and passing through every part of his body, warming and touching him, with an indescribable feeling of emotion.
Finally, Liu Ke managed to utter, "I'm not as good as you think."
"Then can you try to become what I want, and we fight together?"
This is touching because by now we know that Liu Ke doesn't have any support from his family, the one he has is fake (after all it becomes evident that the current concubine Wang was most likely guilty of framing her cousin, Liu Ke's mother, which sent her to the cold palace where she died), the secret help from his grandfather may come at a cost. The only person who helps him is the one who was framed alongside his mother. Others consider him a plague and don't want to deal with him, his reputation which he created is abominable. But folks actually do not mind. And only JinLing among others showed no fear, no disgust and was basically the same kind of person. A soulmate.
More spoilers after this, because I'm almost retelling the story.
Although I say that ML gets a character development, it feels like JinLing doesn't, which isn't true. Their travel north and the situation before their arrival actully made both characters face a situation that definitely influenced them. Because it's an early spring and both caravans moved out at the same time, basically JinLing travelled with Liu Ke. And the fiefdom bestowed upon Liu Ke is YongLiang. But before they even reached the outskirts they faced a situation. Refugees. Thousands of people who were left outside city walls to fend for themselves due to the disaster mentioned earlier and what could these people do? Rob others. Main population of these refugees were not aware that they were played with by people from the city that did not open the gate for them, because they were inspired to commit the crime with bandits, but unlike bandits these refugees were barely holding on. And bandits were in cahoots with the city prefect, so even if refugees did not survive it wouldn't be a big deal, more likely the city will have legitimate reason to get rid of these people.
Thanks to the Shang family the refugees were subdued and bandits were wiped out, but the look of these people and the trust from JinLing for the first time gave Liu Ke the sense of responsibility he never felt before. Because the two of them shared the story of Liu Ke's past on the road and now JinLing knows what happened 20 years ago, Liu Ke still had the feeling like he lives for revenge, even if not for anyone else but for himself. He doesn't want to be a chess piece in his grandfather's hands too. JinLing found this grandfather too cruel to let the child find the truth so young and make him into this. But Liu Ke slowly tore himself from them and now had his own ideas, but before he had no responsibility. He lived like he wanted and didn't care about people at all. But now he does. Very much so.
JinLing on the other hand realized that he doesn't have such a strong heart and mainly was too conceited to make few plans and see them being carried out. But the picture of such a huge number of people rushing, seeing people being wounded, especially his sisters, he realized that he is only good on paper, but his heart is not strong enough to face some bloody things.
Maybe there is no crazy dynamic, but characters change, their relationsips also change. After all outside of simply viewing MC and ML, there are a lot of secondary characters and we also can see the relationship through them.
Although this part is greatly satisfying with our characters having the final victory and it also gave te people hope, but it also showed how deeply this cancerous idea of one family (Zhang), who rooted themselves in this place for years, wanting to be lords of this place was. People outside were suffering and they didn't bother at all. This also shows how far the court and the Emperor are far from the provinces that should serve them. And their reforms that they want to implement not for the good of people, but basically to fill the deficit created by the lavish style of the Emperor he himself does not want to admit. Tbh sometimes I think that the movie Hero with Jet Li, which showed an Emperor who might be hated by some, but who eventually conquered lands to unite them, is quite a great example. But many times Emperors in fiction are quite incopetent. Because they don't create a working ecological system of give and take from a simple farmer to the Emperor, but are more concerned about the connections between aristocratic families. Here is the examle of a ruler who is well aware of the situation with his state, he also likes the flattery and indulgence, but he doesn't want to be remembered as lavish, so others should bear the stigma for him instead, or use meaningful reasoning for those lavish expenses. One of the examples is how Prince Jing finished a whole palace and presented it under the guise as a reward for Emperor's wisdom in letting Prince Duan starting the new policy and it harvested a lot of silver for the treasury, so how good it is, while he did nothing, but if something goes wrong, he's not to be blamed. The portrayal of the Emperor is deep, but it's quite disgusting.
But during this period it was not only the realization of their duties for both characters, but also an emotional discovery.
Liu Ke actually took it negatively, for a reason. This time we need to say two words about what happened 20 years ago. We have a feeling that his mother was framed, but what for? She was a witness to the Emperor violating her brother, she comes from the Wang family and her brother is a successful scholar waiting to enter the court, but it is implied that Emperor does not only do it with women, but more with men. He has a young eunuch by his side who is supposed to be a former scholar, so the Emperor also has a sort of f*. So Liu Ke's mom witnessed the scene by accident. That night her brother died and later she was framed and her cousine, current Imperial Concubine Wang, framed her and lied as a witness. Not to mention this, this involved a young scholar who had no idea about it, who later survived and came back to serve Liu Ke, but his life was practically ruined. So the Emperor basically dusted his own faults here, while Liu Ke and his mother were stained with this stigma for life and of course the Emperor refused to let her clean her name, because "so many people are involved". Because of his own father being so disgusting, Liu ke became disgusted with himself for harboring such thoughts about JinLing. And even if his heart ached and it was hard for him to conceal his love, he didn't do anything to tarnish their friendship.
Both thought that after they separate those feelings will fade. But the separation made it stronger.
JinLing actually did not catch up this fast, but he still had an idea or two, but he promised in front of his family that everything will be appropriate. Now they separated and he left for Shamen Pass where his grandfather resided. Coming to this place is like nothing else. I actually felt sappy for this family, because Shang Qingrong was a beloved daughter and basically she entrusted her life to the wrong man, if she did not divorce her ending would be bleak. Distance and responsibilities, family ties, many things separated this family for years.
JinLing was officially named Shang JinLing.
He adapted well to this new life, we have a bigger picture of all the family members. Now temporarily JinLing became a teacher alongside his second brother-in-law Gao Xueli, whose father alongside minister Yang promoted the new policy, but was sent away as a criminal and did not survive. But both saw hope in teaching people in this forgotten place. JinLing himself was getting ready for taking exams to become an official, because otherwise how he is going to support Liu Ke in court. Fortunately or not, but Shang sisters discovered Prince Ning's feelings, but although they wre against it they were more open-minded? This part did not last long, because the family got involved in new policies. Because at all times the Emperor tries to strip away the military power of generals by beautifying it as "you served well, now you can rest", the Shang family did not escape, but they rellocated only a little away from Shamen pass, but because there are only girls who are generals, they could not keep their place here.
During this time a lot happened. Of course the last prefect was dealt on the spot, later Shang family helped to deal with the Zhang family. Next was the conflict with Hu elders who occupied the market and oppressed merchants travelling from afar. After getting rod of all of these, it was time to slowly implement new policies and thanks to second blother-in-law who took office, things were getting better and better.
JinLing took and exam and later had to travel to the next prefecture to take another one. The loveliest part that because of his sisters Liu Ke who wanted to bury his feelings deep down confessed in front of people and JinLing agreed to him, more like agreed to wait and later decide, though later they act quite like a couple that are just a step away from becoming legit. Liu Ke although very loving, but never even daring to touch JinLing btw.
After JinLing travels to Yunzhou, the place of unrest, now here they faced a big predicament, which I think was interesting in itself. This prefecture was deeply filled with corruption and minister Yang had to go by himself to solve the problems. But from one side the one who is supposed to be blamed is a related household to Prince Duan who supported him. From another side we have scholars coming from a famous academy, whose headmaster was ready to sacrifice himself for greater good, before JinLing appeared and offered to deal with the mess with a better outcome. Becuase they needed this policy to move forward and not backward, because of the possible scholars' riot and being taken down by sent people from the capital, which may cause even bigger unrest among masses. because minister Yang chose policy, of course he and Prince Duan parted ways and his path became so much thornier.
Even if they indeed succeded to persuade both sides at that time, but the unrest been growing for couple of years here and there, all because there are no perfect policies, but there are countermeasures to loopholes and the need of honest and hardworking officials. Here only minister Yang was working hard now, because the bumper harvest of silver that Prince Duan needed was already in their pockets and he could care less for this policy to continue.
From another side the situation in the palace was brewing. After Liu Ke left, the two opposing brothers couldn't stand each other and fought each time they saw each other, eventually both sides won and lost many times. To water it down, especially after all the unrest going on and only YongLiang having implemented the policy perfectly, the Emperor decided to call Liu Ke back, but this was going on for couple of years, before the situation was critical and the Emperor was ready to sacrifice Concubine Wang, after all she became a scapegoat, but before that she told Prince Jing the full story of what his father did to their uncle and the secret behind those beautiful eunuchs in Emperor's palace. It makes you think that Emperor is more gay, but he still visits the harem just to spread branches and leaves, yet he prefers eunuchs to women. One of whom is Eunuch Zhu Yuanfeng, who is also a ruined scholar. It's actually a pity to see such characters suffer from injustice just because of indulgence of one person. Interestingly, the story is not explicitly told, but I still had enough compassion for several characters with ruined lives. This eunuch was with Emperor for a long time and was also almost corroded by the filth in the palace, but he was lucky to meet JinLing on his journey to inspect north and he saw some promising future in Prince Ning unlike others. Although he couldn't do much.
And we enter the last part, the return.
What I liked by far is that, despite JinLing claimed to be the genius of all geniuses, which was toned down by other more respectable teachers telling him he has room for growth. he was really praised a lot for being quite brainy, but there are notices here and there that imply that he might be cunning, but people with more experience can sometimes see his moves. Yet they let it go because of his character and wit and intelligence.
Both were growing as people and as a couple, so everything that happened to them and to character that surrpounded them was stringed along and had a deep sense of actions and consequences.
For example, Liu Ke, angered the Wang family by crying for a princess who was a dog, this ruined the prospect of unwanted marriage, angered the Emperor, Liu Ke confronted the Emperor, met JinLing and chose YongLiang as his destination, he was out of reach. Thanks to Shang family quelched the rebellion, uprooted the blood-sucking Zhang family, cleansed the office, dealt with monopolization of Hu elders over the market, followed with new policy to highlight his prestige, sent people to other places to promote it, merchants who travel the country also promoted how great YongLiang is. Meanwhile his brothers completely angered the Emperor and just for the sake of balance he was invited back, but only after his mother's name was cleaned of charges.
JinLing used his situation in favor of divorce, moved out, met Liu Ke, they became friends, he also adviced Liu Ke a lot. he traveled North, later spent some time with the Shang family, also hinted where it would be better to be rellocated when his grandfather will be sent to retire. He thought for everyone. He taught in school, taught himself. Took Liu Ke's uncle Yun as a teacher (the framed scholar). Moved to Yunzhou for exam, met with the situation, instantly wrote back and spoke to both sides to reach agreement, which further promoted Prince Ning's prestige etc. JinLing came up with many ideas and he saw the overall situation quite clearly with possible consequences.
Meanwhile they might not be taken seriously, but they had an overview of entire situation. And they had a deep trust and support of each other for years.
Another great thing about this novel I think are dialogues. Because it really has the feel of not speaking directly and using an allusion instead of being straightforward. It may not be that big of a deal, but there is certain style to eat to speak without speaking.
For example, the eunuch Zhu who befriended JinLing asked Liu Ke to not take an exam in spring, which is a completely neutral phrase, but followed by the scene of Liu Ke's complete rage. From a reader's point of view we realize that Emperor loves clean and elegant scholars the most, his own uncle was the victim, this scholar Zhu was one as well and clean and charming JinLing might not go unnoticed.
Another example, which was striking when uncle Yun and the two of the received the news of concubine Wang having her name cleared. All knew that the main culprit, the Emperor was still out there and to Liu Ke it was sickening to return, they also spoke of his grandfather he hasn't seen for years and come to conclusion that the elder Wang never left the capital and what JinLing considered cruelty was a necessity for a child to recognize those who took part in his mother's demise and his uncle's death. But through actions we can understand that his grandfather cared for Liu Ke. But now that Liu Ke can return it's all about the throne and his throne also depends on his grandfather's "answer". After these words JinLing cries. This is sad because we know that for Liu Ke to even be a candidate he can't contact his grandfather, otherwise the suspicious Emperor will think that now Liu ke knows the whole truth os that year and he will not let the son who hated him to the core sit on the throne, for this his grandfather most likely has to die as the last witness of Emperor's depravity.
So I had an affinity to such simple dialogue yet it was delivering.
Returning to the return part. This is of course the final piece, since it is either do or die situation, although both had such confidence and trust, despite knowing that they might end up badly, that you don't get nervous, but distressed.
But his Liu Ke's of course has logic behind his return. Because unlike his brothers he succeeded in implementing new policies, he does not follow the same path. And this gave him the fake freedom for action. Although he stepped on the bottom line of the Emperor many times, but for the future and prestige of his name the Emperor would endure. So Liu Ke knew that after he was done dealing with the mess he will find himself sent away, thus the conflict was unavoidable.
With wit and planning he indeed manage to get rid of one brother after another and later leave only his people behind. Others might think he is mindless and loud, always confronting the Emperor, but we know how deep his scheming is with JinLing. It was all or nothing.
Because I was so invested in this novel, this is why the ending was so satisfying. It had plot, it had great relationship, it had characters I wanted to root for. And I skip on the very ending, although I missed a lot of the good stuff that happened and just described the overall direction, but this is because I want others to discover it for themselves.
Conclusion: This is the type of novel I'd recommend others to read, especially if you're into ancient times. The plot is present, it's not mindless and it's not overbearing. The characters have a growth period, so you follow them changing and they grow on you. Instead of simple romance and love and every day routine, it has a healthy relationship between two people who support each other in good and bad times. There is a lot of background work done for this novel to work. And also it has some wonderful dialogues. Even reading the mtl version did not diminish the style.
RATE: 5/5.
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