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the novel definitely doesn't show her dropping her sword in the midst of battle. in fact, the novel makes a big deal about how she will and must press on fighting even in the face of a friend's death.

you gotta be kidding. she friendzoned that man 6 feet underground. he doesn't even register to her in that way. she sees him as one of the weak she's compelled to protect.

The novel sprinkles the academy days flashbacks in little by little over time. It's a bit similar to MDZS that way (both are set in present day after the main character has died once and now is in disguise. Main character's love interest is someone they knew from back in school around 14-15 years old, the cold and stern top student. Flashbacks intersperse the narrative, as their full past is slowly revealed.)

Glad ep 26 included Chu Zhao standing up for those women. I have mixed feelings as a novel fan about how his character was adapted but this moment was important to me because it is the ONE TIME in canon that he has pure motives. It's striking BECAUSE he is selfish and grey character. Passage from the novel: [[ “After a moment of silence, Ying Xiang spoke again, “Fourth Young Master shouldn’t have done that.” 

“Oh?” Chu Zhao responded. 

“There might be people from the Xu Xiang’s residence in the city. If the Xu Xiang sees Fourth Young Master like this, he may not be pleased…”

Xu Jingfu is someone who dislikes others acting on their own. Since the incident in Rundu has nothing to do with him, Chu Zhao not only spoke out but also brought up Xu Jingfu. Once Xu Jingfu knows about it, he will inevitably harbor displeasure towards Chu Zhao. 

“I did it; there’s no need to worry,” Chu Zhao smiled slightly. “As for the Lord Xiang, I will explain it myself.” 

“Why did the young master do that?” Ying Xiang asked softly.

Chu Zhao didn’t answer, just looked at the vast sky outside the window. 

Why indeed? 

Most likely, it was the image of her standing in front of those women that reminded him of the time when someone bullied him in the brothel house, and Ye Runmei stood in front of him. There were few moments in his life when he was protected, and besides Ye Runmei, there was only He Yan. 

She protected those women, just like she protected him in Jiyang. One person protecting another, without selfishness, blood ties, or even any intimate relationship, just because she thought it should be done, so she did it. 

Her boldness was enviable, her openness making others jealous, like a beam of light that even those who approached couldn’t help but be illuminated. So when he stood up that moment, he thought he was also an upright and brave hero. 

But… 

He was ultimately not light, just a shadow. ]]

No, Chu Zhao's mom was done wrong by his dad. She's not his legal wife. Chu Zhao in the drama I think wants to get her included in the family registry. (which would give her more honor and included to be worshipped as part of family ancestors). In the novel, he doesn't even aim that high. In the drama he literally sees his dad's servant end his mom's life in front of him because they consider her worthless because she works in a brothel. 🥲

Ok, I can help! :) :) This is a harem situation. Any time you are watching a historical drama like this, you should expect that the normal situation for noble families is multiple brothers living in the same mansion. Each brother typically has multiple wives. (1 main wife plus concubines). So it is very expected that He Yan has siblings and cousins who live in the same mansion as her. And they will often be only blood related through the FATHER. Chu Zhao our 2ML is of an entirely different family and they don't have any direct relationship with He family.

you're confused. they're not related in the slightest. not step-siblings, not cousins. no connection between their families.

they don't. this person is confused.

Yeah ML's mom pretty much sucks lol. But since the novel really has a strong variety of women and female strength and resliance of different kinds is highlighted, it didn't bother me at all in that context. Men of weak character are also featured. But truly it tears at our hearts to think of the ML's youth. 😭

in the novel, they're able to share his thoughts so it makes a bit more sense.--- [ He had been in the darkness for many years. But when the first ray of light appeared, even knowing it didn’t belong to him, he still wanted to greedily hold it in his palm.] -- It's made more clear in the novel that at first he just wants to manipulate her and doesn't have clean motives towards He Yan but then he's drawn to her sincerity, heroic spirit, and protectiveness towards the weak and vulnerable. She basically stands for the hero he wishes had come for him as a child. And she makes him want to be a better person. Like putting himself at risk in Rundu for no reason. His maid is like wtf bro? She doesn't need YOUR help with her abilities. And he thinks,--- [ One person protecting another, without selfishness, blood ties, or even any intimate relationship, just because she thought it should be done, so she did it. Her boldness was enviable, her openness making others jealous, like a beam of light that even those who approached couldn’t help but be illuminated. So when he stood up that moment, he thought he was also an upright and brave hero.But… He was ultimately not light, just a shadow. ] ---So on one hand he knows they're on different paths, they're never gonna happen, and she doesn't need him. But on the other hand, he mentally can't let go. imo the Chu Zhao thing with He Yan is like the obsessive parasocial relationship that some people have with their idols, more than normal romantic love.

yeah we can't blame the drama for that. there's no problem in the original language. it's a translator mistake 🤷‍♀️

all I know is there are a dozen short vertical dramas based around this same general storyline (clearly adapted from the same novel but applying different twists to it) and all of them are HE. so likely this one too.

It's indeed really similar to the 15 other sister swap vertical dramas 🤣 but oddly 9 episodes in, I find that I've enjoyed a lot of them more, despite the lower budget, bad lighting, and uneven acting. I think it's that the FL is TOO under constant attack here and doesn't get enough breathing room and winning moments. I guess I like watching the evil sister lose more lol.

???? Do you mean, why would He Yan going Xiao Jue's army when his family was almost crushed? At start of the story, Xiao Jue has already pulled the family out and retained the military power by winning that huge battle where he drowned the enemy. He's still quite powerful and has left the capital only in an "advance by retreating" mode. He still has the emperor's ear and some trust at this point. The soliders don't think they're losing by following him. Once he wins a couple battles, he'll be on top again. and there are border nations actively doing incursions.

Yeah, he wasn't just stronger than her. He was THE BEST of the academy and all his peers idolized or resented him for it. She was at the bottom in their youth and the amount of progress she made is impressive.

no one knows, it's different from the novel

She reclaims the General Feihong identity (the world knows it was truly the female daughter He Yan who was replaced) but that's now a legendary dead general, slain unjustly by villians. In the novel her spirit is in another body. If that was widely known, they'd just lock her up and do exorcisms 🤣🤣

she's always thinking that she's taking advantage of him 🤣🤣 she truly thinks he's so pretty and clean, considering herself rough in comparison.

Father dies in a failed battle THEN denounced and blamed THEN xiao jue allies rally to save his sons from being executed or exiled THEN xiao kneeling in rain THEN xiao jue gets 3,000 soliders to win a huge battle against 100,000 enemies (if he wins he preserves the military power) THEN wins by flooding and horrifies the world.

He preserved the generalship and military power by winning that controversial battle where he won by drowning the army and a town. His older brother holds the title.
No he never knew about HY having a martial arts master. But he doesn't find it super odd or push for answers because he has one himself.