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Yes, it's inspired by the characters in the novel. Doesn't follow the plot. In the novel it's that for years she keeps scaring away (or becoming sworn brothers) with any attempted engagements. All the noblemen in the capital stan her like as a guy and idolize her but see her as a bro. Or they're terrified of her. ML is cousin to the noble consort who is besties with the empress. They settle the match for the FL in first chapters of the novel. She's worried they're forcing him LMAO but then finds out he suggested the match himself to his cousin. (he's 4 years younger and had noticed her and was crushing on her. she wasn't really aware of him before.)

yep it's totally different. so we can't use the novel to predict what will happen.

in the novel they are already engaged from the very early chapters. ML suggests to his cousin the royal consort to marry her. 7 marriages had already been set up for her and failed so everyone is confused that this odd introvert is the only one she's just accepting and she is being protective over him and encouraging. She finds his crush on her really endearing and she starts falling for him. Low conflict novel. Fluffy. I don't recall any breakup or serious fight between them.

but in the novel it's not really a big deal. they're engaged from the start. ML already openly likes her. she is starting to fall for him. them thinking they need to protect each other from harm since they don't know the other has powers is just played for humor or sweetness. the identity reveals are low drama, low conflict in the novel.

I'm the same, I really hate the losing memories trope! If the character doesn't get back all their memories of what was experienced then it eventually ruins my enjoyment of the drama. Let's hope this ends up well.

the novel is super different. this is a loose adaption, more inspired by... it's very fluffy and mostly just romance focused and low conflict. (that's not a bad thing, just 2 different things thay are both good)

yes the original body owner was indeed a spy

CZ is a character who was changed the most from novel to drama. He wasn't annoying in the novel and he went from opposing and wanting to manipulate He Yan to hurt Xiao Jue to actually caring about her - which means he stopped any further negative actions towards her and actually reduced how much he interacted with her (to not draw attention to her from the messy people on his side). I would say, CZ is NOT a good person in the novel nor the drama. But in the novel his feelings for He Yan turn from false to true. She is his weakness in a way, because he has options to try to manipulate or harm her in order to act against Xiao Jue and achieve his goals... but he won't do that. He believes He Yan should be free and uncaged. And in the drama, he just feels obsession and doesn't understand that this isn't love. And thus he gets a worse end.

Yes very insightful. that's totally his deal, expanded on in the source text. jovial and sentimental but not competent at governing.

In the novel he does die lmao. His evil crown kills him and it's totally cause he didnt handle his business properly and was passive about the bad forces in the court. Then Xiao Jue has to help the Not Evil Prince take over. (face palm)

if you consider that he had a malicious chancellor for years and apparently missed it. plus so easily misled about xiao jue's dad... he's not been established as one of the more competent emperors. 🤷‍♀️

yes poisoned

yep. if I recall she's not sure in the moment if it's just a pretense.

the novel is super super different but a funny bit is FL musing that whenever she sees the empress and consort hanging out together she imagines the emperor's hat growing more green 🤣 they just adore each other the most 😄

Actually so hyped that the drama is giving more screen time to celebrated wife-haver General Yan. More of him and their academy class, less Chu Zhao please.

Indeed! This makes it a private, sentimental secret between master and servant! Calculated to diffuse resentment.

Why does the emperor think he needs Dudu but not He Yan? This is made clear in the novel. Misogyny - he and the court CANNOT concieve of the idea that He Yan is actually a useful general who can protect the realm. It's like being super impressed that your dog or kid did a cool trick. Wow, she's a lady and she DID WAR. woooowww how impressive for her. Everybody clap! At this point the emperor thinks she is a very impressive lady. And he's open to the idea that she is a useful in battle as a capable lieutenant. But the promotions she is given are more about pleasing Chu Zhao and Xiao Jue. If they hadn't been advocatingfor her, she would not be a marquis. The novel is always very conscious of the ingrained misogyny in the culture and how it impacts He Yan and other women in all situations. (Later she actually proves her value and then yeah, she's seen that way. But at this point in the novel they have not seen her leading an army all on her own and winning big battles against the enemy. They don't know she is actually the famous Feihong General).

Xiao Jue giving her secret sword tutoring is from the novel and it didn't lessen her accomplishments. She earned everything from her own efforts. A. he helped her because her perseverance and her ethos impressed him and B. just because we have teachers through our lives, that doesn't erase what we learned and our success. It's just like she learned strategy from her Master. Think of it as wuxia logic. All heroes get elite instruction! In the novel, the reveal makes her realize that someone actually noticed and appreciated all her struggles and hard work back then. He had accompanied her all the way.

Xaio Jue using the "she's my beloved" excuse is pulled from the novel - and in the novel this was actually a strategic move. Because in the novel we get a lot more on the emperor's psychology and how key players use it to manipulate him. He hasn't accomplished much and he's too dependent on his chancellor. He isn't as awesome as his dad was. He has imposter syndrome LOL. He is very sentimental and likes the idea of making grand gestures (because it reminds him of his dad as a beneficient emperor). Xiao Jue read him correctly that he LOVES this idea of supporting a great romance and forgiving everything in celebration of loveeeee (in the novel he also gives then a marriage grant in the same scene). Another back-up is that the emperor NEEDS Xiao Jue and tying her in this way to him as his beloved means killing her for deceiving the emperor would mean making an enemy of his best general. Realistically, just basing this on He Yan's merits wasn't enough. Danger of it going wrong and her getting punishment/exile/prison. (in the novel that actually was her original plan, to pled forgiveness on merits, and Xiao Jue goes around her back and does this instead. Fully explains to her after why they needed to take this angle, because her way is too risky.)

In the novel He Yan teases him multiple times that he had a gay crush on her in their teens. He denies it but not too strongly (as in, he's not offended or insistent about it). I personally feel that in the novel it's intentionally left ambiguous. Maybe, yeah, teen Xiao Jue was a bit gay for the pure hearted worst student. He certainly acted out of character about He Yan back then, doing so many gestures and secret support. Ultimately, even if he did have a crush he's in denial about - he's only ever liked this a person. It doesn't really matter.