I'm glad Sheng Ze Xi left a good impression on the family earlier. They mention he stayed at their house to recover from injuries. That's a good foundation. They know him. It makes the blind date less random and more acceptable to the family. It also explains why he has feelings for her. She was kind to him during his low point. She taught him to fold paper cranes. That's a sweet backstory. It gives their relationship history.
The secondary characters are criminally underrated. The old man downstairs who says “Got a new partner?” when Xie carries the confidential delivery, and then “Take care of yourself” — that’s the perfect nosy neighbor trope. The street-sweeping uncle who traded his tricycle and now blasts Purple Mountains Green Waters while doing push-ups is just the right amount of background absurdity. Even the police officers from the flashback (young, old, and junior) each had distinct reactions that made the inflatable doll excuse feel lived in. I also enjoy the counselor, Teacher Xue, screaming at Xie over the phone. Her fury feels earned after years of his trouble making. These small roles add richness to the world without needing much page time. It’s a sign of confident worldbuilding.
2 I noticed a small plot hole: the herbalist’s basket was broken by the tiger spirit, yet later he carries herbs in it? The story says he “fell to the ground” and the baby was thrown out, but he still has the basket later. It’s a minor inconsistency. Also, he found three Seven-Leaf Lotuses, ate one, and then had two left. But then he replants them as “two Seven-Leaf Lotuses” and also has a Purple Backed Heavenly Sunflower. That part is fine. But the timing of his return is a bit fuzzy. These are small issues but worth noting.
That duel setup with Eric feels like a classic confrontation, but the part that bugs me is why the king acts like the princess isn't missing. Three days locked up and nobody raises an alarm? It's either a plot hole or some deep political game where the king knows and is using this as an excuse to cut ties with the Stuart family. I'm leaning toward the latter because the foreshadowing is heavy.
The story does a good job of making me care about the characters in few chapters. Mu Fenghua’s past life of sacrifice, Mu Yilan’s hidden pain, the brother’s scared obedience—all feel real. The emotional beats during the tribulation and birth are well-paced. I felt genuine relief when the father died and joy when the twins were born safely. This emotional engagement keeps me invested despite any logic leaps or fast pacing.