The way Jiang Nanyu deals with the grave robbers is badass. She gets thrown to the ground and immediately whacks their knees with a flashlight. Then the ghosts beat them up while she calls the cops. The robbers' terrified "there are ghosts here!" screaming is so satisfying. And the fact that they were trying to steal bodies for "spirit marriages" makes them even more scummy. Glad they got caught.
I'm already hooked on the emperor's frustration about not having kids. It's such a relatable human emotion even for a ruler, and the way he smashes that teacup feels so real. The setup with the concubines kneeling in fear is intense, you can almost feel the tension in the hall. But what really got me is the system introduction—a Childbirth System? That's wild and fresh. The main character Su Zhiruan dying as a wage earner and then getting this mission feels like a dark twist on the typical transmigration story. I'm curious how she'll approach the emperor without being caught.
The description of the sand piles and the unfinished building in the last part creates a creepy atmosphere. The criminals are so casual about murder, joking about digging a hole and planting ginseng. It’s unsettling because they treat it like a normal job. The detail about the sand being hard because it’s old and mixed with soil adds a realistic texture. I can almost feel the shovels hitting compacted sand.
Honestly, the biggest strength is how quickly you’re invested in the conflict. Within a page, I already hated the grandmother and wanted the mother and daughter to escape. The dialogue is effective at creating clear villains and sympathetic heroes. The grandmother is cartoonishly evil in her yelling, but in a way that works for the genre. The second sister-in-law’s fake concern is also perfectly annoying. The story doesn’t waste time with moral gray areas in this part – it’s very clear who you should root for, which makes for an easy, engaging read.
I'm curious about the other first years and how Xi En will interact with them. The story has set up a loner protagonist with a desperate goal - will he make friends, or will he be too focused on grinding to form connections? His interaction with Hermione and Justin suggests he's not antisocial, just preoccupied. I hope he finds a balance.