Review by erickabdz - 泾渭情殇 [Jīng Wèi Qíng Shāng]

erickabdz 's review for:

4.0

Do you remember?

I had once worn a groom's robe to kneel before you, requesting for your hand in marriage?

I have never in my life earned so much a happy ending.

This is such a hard book to rate. On one hand, this book was definitely smarter than I am. I would have enjoyed this a lot more if I were more literate in politics and history. If I spoke Chinese, too, it would certainly have been a wonderful lecture: there were so many beautiful and smart things that I'm guessing were only more gorgeous in its original language. The translators did a wonderful job, though, and I could appreciate the insights.

This is a very long book. I think, one of the longest books I've ever read. It was really a slow read, but still very interesting. All the political schemes made me want to learn how the problems would be solved. For me, this was the biggest strength of this book: the realistic portrayal of a court and its problems. There was so much to learn while being thoughtfully entertained and I'm in awe of this capacity.

The relationship between Nangong Jingnu and Qi Yan was something wonderful in its simplicity, and also something sublime in their devotion towards each other. They made me smile so much, especially Nangong Jingnu, and I especially relished seeing her grow into a smart, kind and graceful

Spoiler

Emperor

. Their individual characterizations, too, were incredibly good, and I easily fell for both of them, though in very different ways: I fell in love with Jingnu's ingenuity and heart of gold, and I fell in love with Qi Yan's intelligence and determination. I also hated Qi Yan half of the time, but these two feelings can and should coexist.

Qi Yan was an excellent character character because she's both awful and wonderful: she's a very complex human being that doesn't fit in black or white. None of the characters fit these categorizations, in fact: there was a cast full of complicated, morally grey individuals. My favourites were Nangong Sunu, Sijiu, Gongyang Huai and Qian Tong, whose grey fell a little bit in the lighter side. But all of the characters were great, with detailed background histories, and I can't imagine the love and thought the author put into each one of them.

Honestly, this was a strong four-star book, maybe even rounded up to five stars, until the very end. Most of the book (98%) had a low pace and explained things dutifully, carefully, compromising with the complex story even if it meant sacrificing action. There was a lot of built-up that was incredibly well done, all characters playing an important part.

Then. The last chapters that were supposed to tie the knot. Just. Failed me completely. There were a rushed conclusion and some loose threads that made me feel unsatisfied, for how much I had spent on the schemes. If the political aspect of the story hadn't played such as an important part in the story, I certainly would have been able to enjoy the beautiful parts of the ending way more. But... for how much (and really, really, there were *so many* pages of it) I invested in the worldbuilding I couldn't help to feel disappointed.

Anyhow, I don't regret reading thousands of pages of Qi Yan and Nangong Jingnu love story and having my heart broken more times than the number of crimes Qi Yan committed. There ending was a little bit to open for my tastes, but still, this is a wonderful, complex story that gives food for thought.

edit: I'm going to round up to four because I really can't stop thinking about it.