Novel versus Drama (differences)

 Sssnoopyyy:

Does FSG redeem himself as a ML in the end considering how much of a red flag he was. It’s hard to believe since we have more or less more of a gentleman on screen

Frankly, I found it hard to believe novel-Yixiao fell in love with novel-Feng Suige at a certain point in the novel, given how it was written. It would have made more sense for novel-Yixiao to fall in love with novel-Feng Suige later in the novel. I found Ling Xueying's relationship and marriage with Ning Fei more plausible than Yixiao and Suige because Ning Fei was more shrewd and worldly in the novel, plus novel-Ling Xueying has some differences with drama Ling-Xueying. Feng Suige's jealousy and suspicion became quite tedious. It was impossible to deny that novel-Yixiao up to a certain point was also still harbouring feelings for novel-XJS despite being married to Feng Suige as his secondary consort. Did that answer your question? XD  

 Xiang83:

Frankly, I found it hard to believe novel-Yixiao fell in love with novel-Feng Suige at a certain point in the novel, given how it was written. It would have made more sense for novel-Yixiao to fall in love with novel-Feng Suige later in the novel. I found Ling Xueying's relationship and marriage with Ning Fei more plausible than Yixiao and Suige because Ning Fei was more shrewd and worldly in the novel, plus novel-Ling Xueying has some differences with drama Ling-Xueying. Feng Suige's jealousy and suspicion became quite tedious. It was impossible to deny that novel-Yixiao up to a certain point was also still harbouring feelings for novel-XJS despite being married to Feng Suige as his secondary consort. Did that answer your question? XD  

Yeah I tried to read some chapters and it was hard to follow both the main leads thought process at times. Almost like it just seemed to happen unnaturally. The constant jealousy was so exhausting, I am surprised she didn’t just leave. The drama version seems like a totally different set of leads lol. I kinda wish we got more out of XJS in the drama, he feels flat and one dimensional which is unfortunate

 Tew:

Could you please share detailed spoilers about the ending? 

Ending for which character(s)? 

 Xiang83:

I saw spoilers floating around but given how the scenes didn't match the speculations (just because something is posted on x or weibo or douyin or wherever in mandarin doesn't mean the speculation is correct)

Okay yeah I was seeing videos posted in Mandarin describing future events.  Will keep in mind not to fully trust them until the episode airs lol. Although, there were some voice overs with Xiyang's voice saying that she regrets it. 

From the trajectory of drama-Xia Jingshi, it looks difficult for Yixiao and Suige to be helping him because some things like the death camp and sacrificing 300,000 civilians just can't be justified. But then looking at how drama-Xia Jingshi was being treated by the Emperor and Empress Dowager, I also find it difficult for him to be the main villain. In the novel, who were the main villains in the end?

Also thank you for the clarification of Xiyang's actions. I was unaware that it was her fault that Jingshi got captured and tortured. Makes more sense for her sacrifice in the end.  From what I have seen so far, it also doesn't appear to me that drama-Jingshi hates her since he has treated her respectfully so far, and sometimes looks guilty that she's doing all this for him. But yeah, I am holding out hope that they somehow manage to give Jingshi a bit of redemption in the end. It also doesn't make sense to me for Jingyan to be less evil than Jingshi.

MDL doesn't allow for quoting long posts (which is your most recent post), so I'll answer by quoting this post. Who are the main villains?

The main villains are XJS younger brother the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. XJS natural parents were killed by the Empress Dowager, so she could take the throne and her biological son could become Emperor because the late Emperor had written clearly in a draft just before dying that XJS was his choice for Emperor.   

As to my speculations on how the novel ending and drama ending can match, if it happens:

Second Prince is loyal and loves his older brother Feng Suige. Second Prince will communicate in secret with Feng Suige, after seeing the true faces of his mother and grandfather being too evil and also not wanting to be a puppet Emperor used by others. After recovering from the attempt to kill him, Feng Suige and Yixiao go to save Xiyang. However, novel-Xiyang is very daft and drama-Xiyang is matching that characterisation this far. If drama-Xiyang attempts to ally herself with XJS after divorcing him because she believes XJS is responsible for the deaths of her father and brother when news reaches her, XJS goes for the throne. If all this happens in the drama, truce is reached when Yixiao tells XJS she is pregnant with Feng Suige's child (this part is in the novel, about Yixiao being pregnant and Feng Suige realising he will be a father) and pleads for peace between the two kingdoms, and Feng Suige wants to officially have peace between both kingdoms and promises no more attacks on Jinxiu Kingdom. And if drama-XJS truly loves Yixiao as much as he does in the novel and only wants to rule in peace, XJS agrees as Emperor of Jinxiu to Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao.   

 Xiang83:

Before the epilogue:

Feng Suige finds out Yixiao is two months' pregnant, and he will be a father in summer. 

Including the epilogue:

Feng Suige becomes Emperor. Yixiao gives him a son and becomes the first commoner-queen of Susha Kingdom, backed by a wealthy merchant (who may not appear in the drama). I wonder if the Storm Alliance in the drama will contain one character to replace that merchant character of the novel,  backing Yixiao to become Empress. 

Thank you for taking the time and effort to reply.

Thank you so much for all the info.  I guess while drama Xiyang improved upon novel Xiyang in some ways, I am kinda sad that Xiyang and Jingshi became enemies in the drama. Part of me wishes that some aspects of their relationship in the novel was kept in the drama, namely that Jingshi, while he could never reciprocate her feelings, would also never abandon her. While novel Xiyang was very impulsive and rash, at least her feelings for Jingshi were validated. I thought that the drama would have followed the novel more closely for Xiyang because their first encounter was Jingshi sparing Xiyang's life and giving her water, but alas.

 Xiang83:

In episodes 10 and 15, there are some details about Xia Jingshi:

yeah this detail makes me believe he's not all bad but i can't tell with this drama anymore. i feel like the way he treated xiyang thus far wasn't as horrible as i was anticipating. before the slap, he treated her pretty respectfully and tried to return the favour. but somehow i feel like the drama is spinning that to make him more heartless? i also feel like he's not as manipulative as the drama is trying to make him appear because then he would have actually used xiyang since she was willing to do anything for him but she kinda just all did it on her own... 

i was holding out hope that they would redeem him but i feel like the death camp and the sacrifice of 300,000 civilians is just too much... but it also doesn't entirely make sense for his character writing because if he was so manipulative to the point he only saves prisoners for his own benefit, how come he never thought of using xiyang in that way? ig her lovesickness scared him off lmao. but then in their first encounter he stumbles upon a random woman in the desert who is from enemy territory and spares her life because he says he doesn't kill women (this gave him no benefit whatsoever and he couldn't even remember the incident), but he's also ready to sacrifice that many of his own civilians??? it doesn't line up to me lol.