The Wife Comes First

by Lv Ye Qian He

Genres: Fantasy, Light Novels, Romance
Pages: 417
Series: The Wife Comes First #3
Rating:

Synopsis:

“OVER TWO LIFETIMES, I HAVE ONLY EVER LOVED YOU.”

Welcomed back to the capital with unbelievable rewards, Jing Shao and his princely consort Mu Hanzhang fall into a new routine at home and at court—involving challenging but satisfying duties that Mu Hanzhang takes on with pleasure.

While the two men contend with scheming princes, unexpected visitors, and volatile in-laws, new trouble is brewing. The earlier revenge taken on Mu Hanzhang’s behalf set off a chain reaction that now threatens his father’s clan and his mother’s life. And when a death unearths secrets from the past, Jing Shao may have to use all that he’s gained just to survive the machinations threatening him.

But with his brothers—both blood and sworn—at his side and his wife in his arms, Jing Shao vows that this time, no matter the danger, he’ll find happiness with Mu Hanzhang.

Volume three of Lv Ye Qian He’s The Wife Comes First wraps up the series, bringing Mu Hanzhang and Jing Shao back to the capital and back into the thick of the political plotting. Compared to how slowly the first two books moved, this feels like there are a few time jumps, to give time for all the manoeuvring: it’s not a bad thing, but if you don’t keep track of the weeks/months slipping by in the story, some things seem very sudden!

Mostly, it’s an excellent ending for them, almost tipping into a reprise of Jing Shao’s first attempt… and then, at the last, it’s averted. There are a couple of surprises and twists, one of which (I think all in the extras) I guessed in advance from certain scenes. I can’t really say much about all this since it would be very spoilery at this point.

There are actually a couple of extras, which skewed my perception of how much time was left in the story and made the pacing feel confusing. In themselves, they don’t add a ton (and one is just a silly short from Lil Sunbeam’s point of view), but there’s some cute stuff there.

Sadly, the Right Guardian and Left Guardian don’t follow up on Mu Hanzhang’s veiled hints(?), as far as I can tell…

Anyway, I don’t think this series is super well written, and there are plenty of quibbles with it and needlessly evil concubines, etc, etc (there are some positive female characters, like Ge Ruoyi and Mu Hanzhang’s mother). But I was won over by Jing Shao being a big stupid puppy, and Mu Hanzhang being a clever schemer — for his loved ones’ sake. Definitely one I’m rating on enjoyment more than technical skill, which is worth taking into account.

Rating: 4/5 (“really liked it”)