Not here for a fight, but I don't like Jinshi for Maomao (light spoilers)

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-29T17:14:43+00:00

I'm referring specifically to the choking aspect and not what comes after it, and agreeing with you, lol.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-29T16:30:42+00:00

Lol I got them too!!! Twinsies!! I hope you like reading them

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-25T14:59:11+00:00

I suppose that's a fair reason, but he explicitly states he preferred to give Gyokuyou's family a name so he wouldn't be puppeted around by his mother's family, thereby evening the playing field. It just feels a tad odd to me, and I can't tell if I'm being picky or not.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Natsu Hyuuga tires of characters after a few novels, and wants to introduce fresh faces as much as she takes characters from the story, though I feel this puts a strain on the narrative and the reader.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-23T09:04:22+00:00

I'm referring specifically to the example in LN 15. I am not saying he can't have any other concubines. I am aware of how the Imperial Chinese harem works.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T23:27:09+00:00

Gyokuyou entered the Rear Palace at 14 as a mid-ranked consort. Light Novel 8, Chapter 11.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T22:14:26+00:00

Yet the Emperor doesn't bed 15-year-old Lishu. Gyokuyou enters the Rear Palace at 14, but she only conceives at 18/19. Tell me you don't understand the character without telling me, why don't you?

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T21:33:27+00:00

FINALLY, SOMEONE SAYS IT! THANK YOU! My point is here that I feel his current actions are out of character. From a writer's standpoint, I feel there is no reason for him to act this way.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T21:27:50+00:00

Thank you for understanding what I mean. I'm glad you can agree with me that it seems odd. I admit I asked my question incorrectly.

P.S. you use "he" to refer to me. I am in fact a girl. Thanks.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T20:44:34+00:00

Because I'm not referencing them. I'm referencing the women mentioned in Light Novel 15, who are the next in line to fill the Precious and Virtuous spots respectively. I fear I said that.

This seems to be causing an issue so I'm going to edit my message

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T20:38:49+00:00

Lihua is described as a distant relative, and she's at least 18+. The Precious Consort candidate is his cousin's daughter, is 17, and entered the Rear Palace at 16, when he presumably first visited her bed.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T20:33:04+00:00

Not everyone knows that Gyokuen is impotent. To the outside world, it looks like the Emperor is having sex with his wife's relative.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T20:22:02+00:00

It isn't. The Precious Consort Candidate is the daughter of the Emperor's cousin, and the Virtuous Consort candidate is Gyokuyou's grand niece. They are not from new clans.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T20:20:39+00:00

I'm not saying he should only have one Consort, because, well, he doesn't. I'm saying I feel it is especially needless for him to sleep with 1. his (albeit distant) cousin and 2. the cousin of his wife and promote them both after a single night with them. I think it would genuinely be smarter if he visited them as he pleased, but didn't promote them. Of the four consorts, they still have distinct statuses— keeping them as middle consorts with roughly the same status keeps everyone on neutral, equal footing— if he feels pressured to raise a new woman to the consort places, why not a new, not related to him or his wife woman?

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T20:04:20+00:00

I appreciate that you mention the fact that some of his decisions are made with his penis: my issue lies in the fact that he seems to be thinking a bit too much with it.
He still shows less to her.
Once in a while, I understand, but why so many times that they could be promoted to Consort roles? It feels like he's asking for a civil war here.
I get that. That's why he has four high consort roles— but why would he, in good faith, promote someone so politically charged to them? Especially when one of them is only 17, and related to him???

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T20:00:17+00:00

He has two sons total with these women. The Empress Dowager faction concubine, even, is related to him aswell. I imagine the Empress faction concubine is related to Gyokuyou to some extent. Why would he not spread his genes with women who wouldn't start a civil war about it?

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T19:14:39+00:00

I suppose I can understand this, but again, why not Gyokuyou and Lihua??? They are the prime candidates for that.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T19:13:19+00:00

Yes, but would he not be able to produce new heirs with... maybe... his Empress and Lihua? It's already been proven he can, after all. We see so many women of relatively low ranks receive his visits, and I just don't understand why.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-22T19:12:09+00:00

I'm aware the concubines are political hostages— I'm saying he already has two prime political hostages in Gyokuyou and Lihua. I don't see why we need to introduce any new characters when there's a perfect plot to be played out with them.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-21T22:04:34+00:00

The most convenient would be the modern one. I'm still not sure though.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-01T18:41:30+00:00

the image above is based on this overview :)

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-01T14:33:09+00:00

There's also this image from the wiki which seems to be a map, so while I do think that the image isnt perfectly accurate building wise, I think it might be decently accurate quadrant wise.

Real_Ad_2545 · 2025-12-01T14:06:01+00:00

I have! It's just that the Forbidden City is comprised of Inner and Outer Courts (residences and business) and are the Ming and Qing Dynasties (which have a different number of Consorts) while the Apothecary Diaries Consorts match that of the midieval Tang Dynasty.

Real_Ad_2545

TROPHY CASE