I would love to go back in time and bring a copy of this book, except rewritten in traditional Chinese to some lovely neoconfucian scholar and watch them like one would a Victorian child given popping candy.
I was fascinated with how many references to classical literature there were in this book. To be clear I assumed this book, having been published as a web novel, would be the equivalent of a particularly good Wattpad story - a Wattpad story nonetheless. The amount of literary references quite shocked me (with the most strange one being two love poems by Mao being quoted - when the plot takes place in fantasy ancient China). I struggled to keep up with the plot a bit because there was a lot of political scheming and euphemisms - just like Wu Xi I found myself wishing they'd be more honest and say things clearly. I preferred this novel to Tian Ya Ke by far, it seemed more well-paced and maybe it's because I didn't have a good drama adaptation to contrast it with. The characters are each well fleshed out, the plot is complicated but intriguing and the romantic plot is just very cute. The main couple is great together, Wu Xi is an amazing romantic lead. Somehow it doesn't feel creepy despite the... age difference? Can we still call it an age difference when it comes to reincarnation? Hm...
The most shocking thing in the novel is when

you find out about the familial ties between Helian Yi and Jing Beiyuan. I was very shocked at that, didn't expect it, also I'm not entirely sure I understand the previous life - did Helian Yi kill Jing Beiyuan for being his half brother or was there an extra reason beyond the weird incest?

Anyways I really enjoyed this book, laughed a lot, couldn't bring myself to stop reading at times. Definitely recommend reading this first and then getting to Tian Ya Ke.