1 The pacing feels a bit rushed at times. We go from the ancestral hall to the office to the monster attack to the PSB rescue in what feels like a single day. I would have liked a bit more breathing room between the big set pieces, maybe some time for Lin Wang (and the reader) to process everything. The office scene especially could have used more buildup before the monster appeared. Still, it keeps things exciting, so I can't complain too much.
A really interesting point is the 'privacy' of grief. Rong Wanqing loudly confesses, Gu Yanzhi makes a public spectacle of punishment, and Madam Wang brings in a crowd to give a beating. In contrast, Shen Weiyang's son was lost in absolute silence and solitude. The story contrasts public, dramatic emotions with deep, private, unprocessed pain. It makes the reader feel like an intruder on her grief, which is exactly the point. 2