
A Life of Servitude
为婢
- Status
- Completed
- Length
- 389k Words
- Genre
- Ancient Romance
- Subgenre
- Palace & Household Intrigue
- Updated
- 10mo ago
- English
- Request a translation
Synopsis
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More by this author
In booklists 238
See allTomato's Four Great Tearjerkers 🍅
Are There Really No High-Quality Women’s Fiction Books Anymore?
Looking for books similar to "Quick Transmigration: The Charming Beauty of a Villainous Cannon Fodder". I’m so frustrated. Some quick-transmigration authors really don’t understand what quick transmigration means, and drag a single arc out for a hundred chapters. I hope someone can recommend some fast-paced, high-quality stories with no romance. No number one...
Masterpieces Close to a 10.0 Rating
Looking for books like "The Gods Play Their Foolish Games". No, no, it's just a 10 out of 10 in my book. Let's see if you have any books like it in your library.
The Male Lead Goes Crazy With Jealousy When He Sees the Female Lead With Someone Else
Angst Novels With Relentless Heartbreak from Start to Finish!!!
Tragic romance.
Books Worth Reading Ten Times
Only 9.8-Rated Masterpieces, Anything Below 9.8 Keep Out
Looking for Bizarre, Extreme, Oppressive Novels That'll Put Me Off My Food. I Want to Load Them Onto a Friend
In a Serious Reading Slump. Share Your All-Time Number One
Female-oriented novels, any genre. I'm in a reading slump lately and can't get into anything.
Rated 9.99, So Good You’ll Binge-Read All Night!
Looking for stories similar to The Abandoned Divine Doctor Returns Reborn.
Looking for the Best of Historical Romance, the Kind You Can Read Over and Over
Male leads similar to those in "A Fine Brocade of Good Days" and "The Phoenix’s Grace Knows No Bounds".
The Hidden Gems on Tomato: Thought-Provoking, Flaws Don't Diminish the Whole, and Excellent Writing
Looking for books like "The Story of How I Pretended to Be a Noble Young Master of the Southern Dynasties".
Extremely Angsty!! The Kind That Makes You Cry Five Pounds Off in One Night! Angst! I Rarely Cry
Looking for books similar to Qingshi.
The Male Lead Was in Love with Someone Else, but Later Falls for the Female Lead
The heroine is the hero's friend and has a secret crush on him. Later, the hero falls for someone else, and it hurts her to watch him pursue the woman he likes. That woman doesn't return his feelings, so he goes through the same heartbreak. Eventually he falls for the heroine and has to grovel to win her back.
Tragic Bad-End Stories That Wreck Me, and Are Super Short
Angsty Stories With a Sweet, Quiet Female Lead
Angst.
Your All-Time Favorite Historical Romance (Completed)
Looking for a historical romance. No angst, no brainless characters, and no bad writing, please.
Heartbreaking Stories That’ll Make Your Heart Ache
If I go a day without reading an angsty story, I feel completely out of sorts.
The Male Lead Hurts the Heroine for His Own Reasons Early On, Then Grovels to Win Her Back
Please recommend stories where the male lead initially approaches the female lead with an ulterior motive, which she knows about. Later, his motive is exposed and he accidentally hurts her. Then he has to win her back.
I’m 18 Now, Time to Read Some Good Books
Looking for books like "Quick Transmigration: Clear-Headed in the World, Yet Bound to a Romance-Brained System".
The Number One Novel in Your Heart
I'm desperately out of books to read. Send me recommendations!
High-Quality Angst! An Original Plot, a Smart Hero, and Beautifully Written Short Stories
What Are Some High-Quality Tearjerkers So Heartbreaking You Can't Bear to Read Them Twice?
The kind that hurts so much it aches, and makes you cry your heart out. Come share those heartbreaking stories that have you sobbing late at night but still unable to put them down!
Angsty Stories! Angsty Stories!
I want to read something heartbreaking, preferably with a bad ending. Please, I’ve been in a reading slump for ages.
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Reader comments 50
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What I care about most when reading historical romance novels is the writing style. It doesn't need to be overly ornate, but it must flow smoothly. The author's writing is exceptionally fluid and silky! The Crown Prince's character is very well-developed. I love his intelligence, cunning, and unpredictability; winning him over would be quite a challenge.
Love yourself first, love others—the theme is excellent, and the writing is superb. Kudos to the author! However, I want to complain a bit. After reading the whole story, everyone knows how much physical and psychological trauma the female lead suffered.
I cried many times while watching it. The female lead is really strong and brave, and her way of protecting herself is also very consistent with her identity, status, and virginity. I just hope that Xiao Lu stays away from the female lead (to be honest, I feel dizzy every time I see Xiao Lu appear again).
The first-person narration is truly excellent! Reading it was heartbreaking; I felt the pain of the female protagonist's struggles, and the pain of Xiao Lu, with whom she once shared beautiful memories. I felt the pain and helplessness alongside the female protagonist as she experienced her fluctuating affection and abandonment of Xiao Lu, and I was also drawn into the Crown Prince's inexplicable…
Every character is vividly portrayed, unlike the utopian perfect personalities often found in ancient romance novels. They experience the joys and sorrows of ordinary people, face unavoidable circumstances, and even harbor darker aspects of their personalities.
It's good, but it has a really old-fashioned feel. The female lead suffers physically and emotionally. Maybe it's not that severe? But she definitely suffers. She loses her child, has to put on a smiling face, and still likes Xiao Lu. Later, she discovers that Xiao Lu made her miscarry, and then he arranges a marriage with the princess. That's even worse; the female lead has to run away.
This is so good! After reading so many sweet romance novels, this kind of story where the female lead gradually grows is a refreshing surprise! You can feel the author's dedication to the female lead. Although she's initially weak, she fights for her freedom step by step, and her thinking is awakening. So far, these changes don't feel abrupt in the plot.
I can only say that this is the best book I've ever read so far. I will not give up on this book halfway through; it's just too good. Every character is well-developed, with a clear backstory and logical explanations. It doesn't treat the reader like a fool, making it a rare gem among Tomato's books. The female lead has a wonderful personality, very close to real life, which means very realistic.
The story is intricately plotted, logical, and detailed; the characters' growth and emotional journeys are portrayed with great subtlety. Thankfully, the female lead doesn't suffer from Stockholm Syndrome. Ah Lu truly loves her and truly hurts her; the Crown Prince experiences the pain of love, while Xiao Qin's love is restrained and forbearing.
The crown prince's love may not be pure enough, but it's more captivating, and the tug-of-war between him and the female lead creates more dramatic tension. Qin Yuanze, who appears out of nowhere, has a relatively perfect character, but lacks depth. As things get more and more like Qin Yuanze is going to win, I'm losing interest!