I never read the novel, but i've finished the whole series, i think Zhang Tian Ai has played the role very good as a Great General A Mai, and Zhang Hao Wei (Shang YiZhi) as the only son of previous crown prince (in disguise), he played so funny character in this series, the story tells a clever young woman who wants to do revenge of her family's tragedy and the only way to do the revenge she has to join the army disguised as a men, with her talent of war strategy and hard work, she got promoted from an infantry till a Great General, Zhang Tian Ai when she disguises as a man she is SO MAN, and when she wears female clothes she looks very pretty as well, Zhang Hao Wei as Shang Yi Zhi plays the role very good too, from a naive spoiled young nobleman and because of the situation he's forced to be a King, eventhough all he actually wants just to be with A Mai, but the condition made him had no other choice except accept to become a king, he never give up to make A Mai stay on his side at all cost, but the palace life is not suitable for A Mai, I think the ending is not as bad as others said, i think that's the best way for A Mai and Shang Yi Zhi, she is still a royal concubine of the king but they serve the country and the people in their own ways, i can't imagine if the ending would be A Mai lives in the palace happily ever after naaa.... or Shang Yi Zhi follows A Mai to the army and leave his throne naaa..... or both of them find a place to live together ever after and don't care of their country and their people naaa..., i think this is the best ending for them, maybe if there is a season2 the story can be advance, maybe one day AMai can forgive Shang Yi Zhi's betrayal, and they have sons who can be a king and a great general, so that they can retire and be together :)