FL has a cutesy baby-like voice but personally it didn't bother me as it wasn't idk super high-pitched? ๐ It felt more like 'I'm a harmless baby-girl, you can't hate me, right?' rather than 'nails on a chalkboard infantile' ๐ฅฒ Obviously your mileage will vary The plot is VERY simple and they actually add more to it than is needed, especially at the end. But the highlight isn't the the background plot, it's the PLOT ๐คฃ which is 'girl needs to hug, kiss, smex guy to stay alive LITERALLY'.
Not bad. Drops off with the Lu storyline and the Song storyline is cute but also brief. The very end is a 'oh yeah, we need to end this' type Kumbaya acceptance ending. ALL of the subtitles found online currently are awful, hopefully someone can eventually make a version without lines like 'It's already gone by the time you reach the end of this episode." ๐คก๐
This version is still my favorite for how viscious and unemotional it is. This is not a cutesy comedy but rather a grim fight of a woman willing to do literally anything to not die like she did originally and exact her revenge. The ML is narcissistic and a nymphomaniac. He requires sex to survive in his mind but sex doesn't equal love. As long as his love is the perfect image he will love them forever; shatter that and sex can love. Version includes wife pregnancy and death. Last portion of drama focuses on business rise and her final revenge plan. Tagged as romance but this is a 'revenge complete' ending; not a 'romance' ending.
This version starts out rather well and nicely paced but by time it gets to the business subplots the pacing and editing suffer. One moment I'm understanding she's setting someone up for a fall regarding the incense recipe and then the next moment people from the palace are involved and she's buying land to save ancestral graves... Despite this choppiness it does give the most feeling of how FL could be rising through business within the house. In this aspect it is most like Advanced Manual for Water-Carrying Maidservants which focused the most on her rise through business of all versions. Scenes are semi-spicy, FL main concern is to stay away from Wife and not die, focuses on her encouraging ML to go to wife (and leave her alone ๐ ), includes Wife pregnancy 'full circle' plot, does not include wife death. Favorite line: "A Casanova's love is like a urethral stone causing frequent, urgent, and incomplete urination."
This version ends rather abruptly. While it's technically a complete story as is, there is definitely more source material that could have been adapted. Aligns with Advanced Manual for Water-Carrying Maidservants but is more 'cutesy'. Watching that version gives a longer ending than this one. Intimate scenes are mostly tease and alluded to - this version includes wife waking up but saying nothing. Wife's pregnancy is only mentioned in last episode and they don't really delve into her business dealings. Not quite a comedy but rather comedic in how she rolls her eyes at the ML.
2nd version to this heart breaking drama: (if you have a stronger heart than me. not currently listed on mDL yet):…
The overall story of this version made more coherent sense than As A Slave. It adapts 'less' of the plot of the other but it focuses more on the emotional aspects of her torturous affair with the 9th Prince. It also differs in that it includes the fact that the Prince and her were intimate for years while As A Slave seems to live in some fantasy land where they 'lived as husband and wife' for years but he never touched her in the past or during the drama. As A Slave is more of a tale of a helpless woman escaping an obsessed man while The Legend of Mingyue, A Maidservant is more a stereotypical sado-masochistic love story where the 'ML' finally loses in the end and the FL doesn't give her heart away again.
This version is like playing ping-pong where the woman is utterly helpless. It's enjoyable if you have a strong stomach for watching scheming men who are fighting for a throne try to use a woman in the powerplay. Neither man was roses but 9th Prince was just crazy in addition to being full of schemes that involved her. It says something that the 3ML was the 'most normal and sane' character and even he kidnapped her as a power play (but at least he apologized ๐คฃ)
This gets points for being entertaining but that's basically it. If you are looking for a story at ALL similar to the source material it includes the same names, the fact that the ML is the General Uncle and involved with a treason case (though this one is VERY loose about that aspect), the fact the husband has a white moonlight and refuses to sleep with FL which causes her to need to 'find a man' elsewhere. Other than this, basically EVERYTHING else is different ๐คฃ. EVERY character is over the top, both men are simps and all the females are a level of materialistic gold-digger. At the end I HONESTLY don't know if the FL ever even liked the ML (let alone loved him) or if she just went 'money AND power? FUCK YES! My baby can take the Imperial Exam when he grows up for SURE now!' ๐๐คฃ
As a comparison to the other versions of this plot this version is the most fast paced. It condenses scenes and removes 99% of the white moonlight plot and changing her reason for not being with the 2ML all that time. The costumes are a lot more revealing and Lan Bo's version of Uncle Pei is MUCH less reserved and hesitant, more yearning. It's best positive is that this version adds scenes in the beginning explaining FL marrying 2ML and WHY she is so willing to endure this strange marriage rather than allusions the audience has to try and piece together. Overall I like the Du Yafei version more as an OVERALL story (I gave it a 6.5), but this one I like more strictly on an enjoyment level; especially with Lan Bo as ML ๐ (this one weighted up to 7.5 with enjoyment and rewatch value as I've watched it more than once now and still enjoyed it.)
1st version released and honestly the gold standard version in my opinion. All versions are slow but this one is more steady and romantic. Personal opinion it has the best add-on storyline portion for the white moonlight section as there's actual scenes instead of tacking it on at the end and rushing the ending. Definitely not 'AS' focused on the taboo as other versions in second half and more focused on his feelings and begging for recognition.
This is the longest version and MY opinion it's my least favorite. It is almost word for word in many places the same script as Du Yafei version just with slightly different scenery, a few elongated scenes, and a different (lesser imo) ending. One good thing about this set of adaptations though, no matter which one you choose it's essentially the EXACT same story just with different people one or two changed minor details that don't matter to the overall plot.
Stories plot details and adaptations comparison value are weak but intimacy was higher in this one with multiple chest shots and kiss scenes ๐ . You definitely have to overlook the oddness of MLs wig, the VERY bad "swimming under water" effects, and the magical hair that never gets wet though ๐คฃ. Not bad but I definitely sped through parts even with it being less than 2 hours.
hey you also gotta tell us the dramas where the man can kiss ๐ I need to judge myself too okay?
Most of his dramas aren't actually listed on MDL ๐ and a bunch don't have subtitles like his recent Imperial Power Grants You that was taken down, or Invite You To Share My Remaining Years at least has a dailymotion video but again no subtitles... ๐
-> 5 Vertical Dramas ๐ธ Hua Qian Xi Shi - Zhang Chu Xuan / Garvy Jin (A "marry in place of sister; 1st infatuation regrets it" story with a better quality script and higher production value) ๐ธ Huan Qin Hou Wo Shun Bian Huan Le Jiang Shan, Hen He Li Ba - Zhi Chun He / Li Shi Yao (FL Transmigration leads to her getting her husband-to-be's family ready to be exiled "in style" - multi-part) ๐ธ Mou Qing Gu - Shi Xue Jing / Li Shi Yao (semi-dark, Tongue-in-cheek comedy) ๐ธ Hong Luan Yin - Wang Yunyun / Hyde / Lan Bo / Yi Hang / Liu Zi Heng (REVERSE Harem; FL plays with a kisses all 4 men; trope is General ex-husband, Didi 'not brother', Crippled Prince, Foolish/easily tricked Childhood Frenemy) ๐ธ Imu's Three Knives - Wang Gege / Cai Xin Yang (Dark anti-Japanese house drama about a slave who kills the kin of one of the Japanese weapons dealers with whom her house is carrying favor)
-> 5 "I'll Watch Every Version Past, Present, Future" Novel Adaptations ๐ฅ Di Hou Mei Tian Hu Ou, Kan Shei Xian Si - The Emperor and Empress Beat Each Other Up Daily, To See Who Dies First (5 adaptations - comedy) - technically a harem but also.... ๐คฃ Not Your 'Usual' type ๐ฅ Hu Shuo, Ta Cai Bu Shi Huai Nv Ren! - Nonsense, She's Not A Bad Woman! (4 adaptations - FL is an unrepentant villian) ๐ฅ Da Zhu Mu, Cai Shi Zi, E Nv Ya Huan Shang Qing Yun - Beating the Mistress, Stomping the Prince, and the Evil Maid Rising to Power (5 official, 1 unofficial MDL adaptations - revenge for 1st life) ๐ฅ Chong Sheng Zai Long Ta, Chong Fei Bao Zhe Bi Xia Ku - Reborn On The Dragon Throne, The Favored Concubine Wept in The Emperor's Arms (4 subbed, 1 unsubbed adaptations - "choose your kink" type of adaptation differences; brat, babygirl etc...) - technically has harem but barely present ๐ฅ Bi Wo Jia She Zheng Wang, Wo You Yun Ni You Forced Me To Marry the Regent; Now That I'm Pregnant, Why Are You Crying? - (3 adaptations - FL in love with adoptive brother for 10 years is forced to marry his friend, the Prince Regent, who is obsessed with her)
hey you also gotta tell us the dramas where the man can kiss ๐ I need to judge myself too okay?
Funny enough I don't specifically remember the ones where he DOES kiss but more the ones where he DOESN'T ๐ - Like for instance Chong Guan Jing Hua made me VERY annoyed because they kept tilting the camero offscreen or ending the episode at the barest lip brush peck. It was almost like why bother even TRYING to pretend if that's what you're handing out? Hou Fu Er Ye Chao Chong De also doesn't have kissing but that one made sense at least as it was a story about the ML being the FLs dead husband's brother and she was pregnant and grieving for most of the drama as they were slowing growing closer... ๐ Getting hot and heavy would have been against morals. I suggest watching ALL his dramas (even the 'bad' ones) and falling in love with him regardless of kissing but then again I'm EXTREMELY bias ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐ป
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Obviously your mileage will vary
The plot is VERY simple and they actually add more to it than is needed, especially at the end. But the highlight isn't the the background plot, it's the PLOT ๐คฃ which is 'girl needs to hug, kiss, smex guy to stay alive LITERALLY'.
ALL of the subtitles found online currently are awful, hopefully someone can eventually make a version without lines like 'It's already gone by the time you reach the end of this episode." ๐คก๐
The ML is narcissistic and a nymphomaniac. He requires sex to survive in his mind but sex doesn't equal love. As long as his love is the perfect image he will love them forever; shatter that and sex can love.
Version includes wife pregnancy and death.
Last portion of drama focuses on business rise and her final revenge plan.
Tagged as romance but this is a 'revenge complete' ending; not a 'romance' ending.
Despite this choppiness it does give the most feeling of how FL could be rising through business within the house. In this aspect it is most like Advanced Manual for Water-Carrying Maidservants which focused the most on her rise through business of all versions.
Scenes are semi-spicy, FL main concern is to stay away from Wife and not die, focuses on her encouraging ML to go to wife (and leave her alone ๐ ), includes Wife pregnancy 'full circle' plot, does not include wife death.
Favorite line:
"A Casanova's love is like a urethral stone causing frequent, urgent, and incomplete urination."
Intimate scenes are mostly tease and alluded to - this version includes wife waking up but saying nothing.
Wife's pregnancy is only mentioned in last episode and they don't really delve into her business dealings.
Not quite a comedy but rather comedic in how she rolls her eyes at the ML.
As A Slave is more of a tale of a helpless woman escaping an obsessed man while The Legend of Mingyue, A Maidservant is more a stereotypical sado-masochistic love story where the 'ML' finally loses in the end and the FL doesn't give her heart away again.
Neither man was roses but 9th Prince was just crazy in addition to being full of schemes that involved her.
It says something that the 3ML was the 'most normal and sane' character and even he kidnapped her as a power play (but at least he apologized ๐คฃ)
EVERY character is over the top, both men are simps and all the females are a level of materialistic gold-digger.
At the end I HONESTLY don't know if the FL ever even liked the ML (let alone loved him) or if she just went 'money AND power? FUCK YES! My baby can take the Imperial Exam when he grows up for SURE now!' ๐๐คฃ
Overall I like the Du Yafei version more as an OVERALL story (I gave it a 6.5), but this one I like more strictly on an enjoyment level; especially with Lan Bo as ML ๐ (this one weighted up to 7.5 with enjoyment and rewatch value as I've watched it more than once now and still enjoyed it.)
One good thing about this set of adaptations though, no matter which one you choose it's essentially the EXACT same story just with different people one or two changed minor details that don't matter to the overall plot.
-> 5 Vertical Dramas
๐ธ Hua Qian Xi Shi - Zhang Chu Xuan / Garvy Jin (A "marry in place of sister; 1st infatuation regrets it" story with a better quality script and higher production value)
๐ธ Huan Qin Hou Wo Shun Bian Huan Le Jiang Shan, Hen He Li Ba - Zhi Chun He / Li Shi Yao (FL Transmigration leads to her getting her husband-to-be's family ready to be exiled "in style" - multi-part)
๐ธ Mou Qing Gu - Shi Xue Jing / Li Shi Yao (semi-dark, Tongue-in-cheek comedy)
๐ธ Hong Luan Yin - Wang Yunyun / Hyde / Lan Bo / Yi Hang / Liu Zi Heng (REVERSE Harem; FL plays with a kisses all 4 men; trope is General ex-husband, Didi 'not brother', Crippled Prince, Foolish/easily tricked Childhood Frenemy)
๐ธ Imu's Three Knives - Wang Gege / Cai Xin Yang (Dark anti-Japanese house drama about a slave who kills the kin of one of the Japanese weapons dealers with whom her house is carrying favor)
-> 5 "I'll Watch Every Version Past, Present, Future" Novel Adaptations
๐ฅ Di Hou Mei Tian Hu Ou, Kan Shei Xian Si - The Emperor and Empress Beat Each Other Up Daily, To See Who Dies First (5 adaptations - comedy) - technically a harem but also.... ๐คฃ Not Your 'Usual' type
๐ฅ Hu Shuo, Ta Cai Bu Shi Huai Nv Ren! - Nonsense, She's Not A Bad Woman! (4 adaptations - FL is an unrepentant villian)
๐ฅ Da Zhu Mu, Cai Shi Zi, E Nv Ya Huan Shang Qing Yun - Beating the Mistress, Stomping the Prince, and the Evil Maid Rising to Power (5 official, 1 unofficial MDL adaptations - revenge for 1st life)
๐ฅ Chong Sheng Zai Long Ta, Chong Fei Bao Zhe Bi Xia Ku - Reborn On The Dragon Throne, The Favored Concubine Wept in The Emperor's Arms (4 subbed, 1 unsubbed adaptations - "choose your kink" type of adaptation differences; brat, babygirl etc...) - technically has harem but barely present
๐ฅ Bi Wo Jia She Zheng Wang, Wo You Yun Ni You Forced Me To Marry the Regent;
Now That I'm Pregnant, Why Are You Crying? - (3 adaptations - FL in love with adoptive brother for 10 years is forced to marry his friend, the Prince Regent, who is obsessed with her)
Hou Fu Er Ye Chao Chong De also doesn't have kissing but that one made sense at least as it was a story about the ML being the FLs dead husband's brother and she was pregnant and grieving for most of the drama as they were slowing growing closer... ๐ Getting hot and heavy would have been against morals.
I suggest watching ALL his dramas (even the 'bad' ones) and falling in love with him regardless of kissing but then again I'm EXTREMELY bias ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐ป
Version 1 - Every one gets a kiss / true 'choose your own kink' harem
General
Childhood Friend
Didi
Prince
Gege
Prime Minister
Version 2 - General focused
General
Childhood Friend
Didi
Prince
Version 3 - Drifts away the most and has a story end
General
Prime Minister
Didi