I think the actions leading to XL's death was better done in the novel because TTJ had feelings for YXW but these feelings were not as deep as in the drama yet. TTJ in the novel was much darker and ruthless. So, him using the puppet spell on her made sense. Also, in the novel YXW was still scheming and guarded against TTJ.
For YXW to try TTJ to free XL in the drama, the stakes needed to be higher. TTJ was just keeping XL imprisoned until the end of the war. It was hard for me to understand how YXW made such a decision to free him. I guess the writers had a hard time to justify TTJ using puppet spell on YXW at that point in the drama without the misunderstanding.
Here's how I would rewrite to remove misunderstandings and still arrive at the same plot point of XL's death:
TTJ needs to kill XL due to political reasons. YXW has no choice but to publicly save XL and in the process betrays TTJ openly and puts TTJ's life at risk. TTJ can't kill YXW even as she goes on the run with XL. TTJ is tormented with his insecurities and public demand in the Jing Kingdom to kill XL and end the war sooner. Why did YXW choose XL over him? TTJ decides that YXW needs to pay by using puppet spell on her to kill XL with her own hands. So, if it becomes known that YXW killed XL, TTJ can take her back in the Jing kingdom.
What do you think? Is this version more reasonable and character driven?