chase_kayden:
So I guess the drama is the same in the novel then that it wasn't explicitly said he thought her archery so that she has something to protect herself. But the readers were able to interpret it that way.
No, the novel is explicit. In the epilogue, which is from XL's POV, he thinks to himself:
"Remembering our first meeting in Qing Shui Town, you were all shits and giggles, a mouth full of made up crap. But the only thing you said that was true was: I have no ability to protect myself, no one to rely on, and nowhere to go.
After over tens years of teaching you archery, you now have the ability to protect yourself. You don’t need to use your own body to protect someone you treasure when danger is around. The right man for you, you now have someone to rely on, you don’t have to be all alone anymore with solitude as your companion. The sky is vast and oceans deep, you now have a place to go and don’t need to be chased by people and be without a place to call home.
...Xiao Yao, from now on I can no longer stand watch to protect over you, you have to take good care of yourself, wishing you a lifetime of worry free happiness."
And then he carves that sentiment into the crystal hidden in the laughing doll, which he has Sir Bi give to XY as Sir Bi's wedding present to her.
chase_kayden:
Some novel readers mentioned him ordering the bow was too early. Also, in one of XL's theatre chapters released by TJC's studio, XL was shown drawing the bow.
Yes, I think I had it wrong. The scene in episode 13 where XL commissions the bow doesn't exist (as in, it's not explicitly shown) in the novel and happens at a point that takes place much earlier in the narrative than that scene should take place if it followed the timeline from the novel, but the drama writers probably just changed the timeline. It likely is meant to depict XL commissioning XY's bow, not weapons for his army.