JoJe

I have to agree with you on this one. Novel Yeli feels too mature and sometimes too perfect in my opinion. Drama Yeli is more alive, more real, more 3D

Agree with this, there are even characters with the same name but playing different roles with different status. They could use different name, but don't know why decide to use that particularly same name😅 . I started to think drama and novel as 2 different beings instead of confusing myself 😂 As long as I love both, why not 😁

Indeed kind of new novel. Even the objective different 😂
At first I thought at least I could know some characters bad or good from novel, for example Muyang - bad, Murong - good, Duke Hua - good. But, since they change Mo Wuyou from Princess to Mo Xiuyao's nephew then change Qin Zheng from Yeli's friend to Consort Dowager. Oh, better to consider drama as a new script rather than confused myself. Both are good in their own way

Maybe that is the time youku will release express. So for anyone pay extra money will get eps 22-24 on17th or 18th

Yes, true. We talk about out of the box kind of things. Make it deliver well and it will be a big big success. The complexity level of novel, you can just enjoy it in novel because to cover all, it must be seasonal drama, if not with 40 episodes maximum, just like you said it will be badly cut cut cut

Didn't mean to compare, just note how it differs

- Lishan Academy. It is an academy open by Ye Li’s maternal family led by Yeli’s maternal grandfather. In drama Ye Li live in Lishan academy and have some close senior there while in novel, after her mother passed away 8 years ago Ye Li still live in Ye family. No close senior but Xu family (Ye Li’s two maternal uncles and five cousins) as her big supporter. Drama not include a bunch of Xu Family, maybe change it to her 3rd paternal uncle which is not in novel. Drama has mystery element about Lishan Academy and maybe all are died already while in middle part of novel, as Prince Ding conflicted with Emperor and Lishan has differnet goals with Emperor, Lishan Academy being burned but no one killed. Xu family move to Li City (root of new dynasty established by Mo Xiu Yao) before Emperor could catch them and build new Lishan Academy there.

- Revenge plot. In drama, seems like both Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao have deep grudge, trauma and revenge agenda. Ye Li bacause of the fall of Lishan academy and how Lishan Academy being bad treated. Mo Xiu Yao with imperial order (which later burned and cannot made as evidence) make his brother & father lost the battle, labeled as traitor then executed. While in novel, I don't think so Ye Li had such deep grudge because Lishan Academy still stand good although had to lowkey open outside capital. At beginning Ye Li basically only punish everyone who want to take advantage of her. About Mo Xiu Yao, in novel he didn't know his brother and father being betrayed until much later. There is suspicion but no clue. So at beginning, Mo Xiu Yao only hate Emperor because after all his family did to guard country, fight against enemies until his brother & father die at war and he become disabled but Emperor still suspect him, scheming for his downfall to take his military power (Prince Ding mansion hold great military power afraid by many countries and Emperor eye Mo Family army). Only later part of novel when he knew Emperor's army are one of the parties that make Ye Li fall from cliff then also know about betrayal, Mo Xiu Yao take action, patiently strategize for revenge plot

- Theme. In drama it still too early to judge where the plot will take us, but there is mystery in it with hallucination, trauma. There are palace politics and revenge. Heavier in romance and more main lead focus. While in novel, I would say war take quite big part, then with its politics, war strategy, military power. There are at least 4 different countries with each own strength fighting over territory & power, also many more parties with each own story. So like it or not, the focus divide between main lead and others (though others have interesting story too so no boring moment)

- Empress Dowager & Emperor. In drama, Emperor much younger, struggling to get his own power over Empress Dowager and how not become puppet Emperor. In novel, Emperor much older, already has Empress, Noble Consorts and Consorts. Prince Li is Emperor's younger brother from same mother & father. Previously, Empress Dowager indeed very powerful, but now Emperor can overshadow her and ask her to enjoy her golden time. She cunning enough to secretly support Prince Li in order to make Emperor and Prince Li fighting over throne.

- Qin Zhen. If I'm not mistaken, Qin Zhen is Consort Dowager in drama, suspicious and seems like has her own bad agenda. While in novel Qin Zhen is one of Ye Li's friend, bethroted with Ye Li's 2nd cousin since childhood and stand with Xu family in difficult time. Later they get married. She is no villain and not a major character throughout novel

- Mo Wuyou. In drama, Mo Wuyou is Mo Xiu Yao's nephew. Together with his mother live in Prince Ding Mansion. While in novel, Wuyou is birth name of Princess Changle. Princess Changle is Emperor and Empress Hua's daughter. Empress is Duke Hua's daughter so later they stand on different side. Emperor maliciouslly 'gift' Changle to old king of neighboring country. Ye Li help free her and take her to Li City, since then she change her name to Mo Wuyou. Mo Xiu Yao's sister in law has no child in novel and choose to live quietly in temple after her husband death

As novel reader… Drama deviates really a huge way from novel at the point you can’t trace next drama plot line or even know some character are good or bad from novel. But strangely I love both! I love the detail from novel, the complexity and the straight story-telling (no love triangle etc, no noble idiocy). Besides, I also love war between countries, the strategy, their gradual strength, Ye Li & Mo Xiu Yao mutual understanding. On the other hand, the drama… although I just watched 7 episodes only, I love the new mystery & trauma element they put in drama, make it unique, unpredictable with layering truth we still need to peel it through next episodes. I love Ye Li be chatty make her livelier and I believe drama will have more tender romance between Ye Li & Mo Xiu Yao as they will heal each other

While novel might be more grandeur classic Chinese history type, the drama feel more modern and fresher. If you want to know how drama different from novel, you may see spoiler below

Novel make their age very young, maybe because that what history should be.
At beginning of novel (just before marriage), she is 15 years old and he is 25 years old
They never met 8 years ago. But, yeah something happened around 7-8 years ago

FL : It was when she was 7 years old, her mother passed away. She become extremely poor health and regained her memory of previous life as special force soldier (she was transmigator). Since then, she live quietly at Ye residence, labeled as no talent, no beauty, no virtue
ML : It was when he was 18 years old. His father and elder brother died at war because of betrayal. Then, MXY inherit Prince Ding title, continue the war, win but at the cost of being disfigured, disabled, gravely ill. Since then, Prince Ding mansion closed its door, people labeled him as waste

I believe, drama intend to make their age older but still in that around 10 years age gap
Drama deviate a lot, like really a lot. But in my opinion not in bad way. Drama has its own strength and appeal. Positive thing is you cannot guess next plot solely based on novel, make it an interesting journey

Oh, Thanks God!! 😊

Ooouu, based on current episodes. Maybe I'm panicking too soon because eagerly expected this drama since don't know how long 😂😂

"There's a really, really, really heartbreaking scene at the end. At that point, I think anyone who felt sorry for Ye Li would be completely devastated."

This not gonna be sad end, right?? I really, really, really can't take sad or open ending for them

Wow, I see,, thank you. Instantly feel like she is more powerful and everything gonna be alright :)

Thank youu!
Very glad for this. Stand on that palace intrigue chaos, so glad for Chu Zhao to have close ally (beside our ML of course)

Need a bit spoilers at least from novel
Chu Tang as Chu Zhao's ally won't betray her till the end, right? Any happy ending for Chu Tang?

I watch the latest trailer and looks like there will be tons changes from novel. Maybe drama will only take the background and make the story flow to different route. A bit afraid but still have confidence in drama because the trailer looks that great for me. Keep my expectation not too high while wishing although different route, as long as the same result (which is Prince & Princess Ding good and happy ending) all will be good. Maybe when drama finish, I could have two great story like they are living in parallel universe, but still have fate to be on each other’s side and be each other “One life, one world, one pair”

Yeah, based on novel Qing Shuang is quite trustworthy & longest maid by Ye Li side. And she is like that almost throughout the novel. Although when Ye Li went war, she won't take Qing Shuang along. Only at couple of last chapter, it just revealed that Qing Shuang is Changmang mountain's spy and because later Changmang mountain and Mo Jingli join in hand so Qing Shuang help Mo Jingli infiltrate Li city and Prince Ding mansion. Her betrayal didn't cause big impact in novel because Prince Ding mansion - including heir (their son) already strong and stabil

I don't know what is the drama intended for the role of Qing Shuang, drama seems like take different route from novel. But I think drama will also make Qing Shuang a spy, someone near Ye Li but betray her. Her betrayal might come earlier and cause bigger impact in drama

Manage finish read the novel before drama start. It is a good read. Now, I can't wait for drama. July please come faster!

Novel end with
Main couple succeed reign northwest, establish city named Li. ML refused to ascend the throne because he knew FL never had heart for palace intrigue and harem. Li city become most prosperous - the start of golden era. They have 3 kids, first born son and couple son & daughter twins.

Epilogue: 5 years later, ML passed Prince Ding title to firstborn son Mo Xiaobao (15 years old) then departed with FL to wandered freely between mountains and rivers. Mo Xiaobao governed diligently and their power grew stronger. However, only when Mo Xiaobao is 30 years old he agree to ascended the throne and established dynasty called ‘Li’. He possessed the entire realm, unifying the world. Thus be the most powerful golden dynasties in historical records

For drama... We should wait and keep believing in happy satisfied ending too 😊

My favorite line from last ep
"It's your fault for thinking... I took her when she was never yours"

Yeah, I only curious how they will proceed here
If I remember correctly, the Double and Coroner's Diary has two actress play each character then change identity. She depends on almost no one recognize the face of the other person (real Jiang Li send to faraway temple 10 years ago in 'The Double' and real Qin Wan live in Medicine King Valley for long time in 'Coroner's Diary'). While here, Meng Ziyi play both character

I think about maybe they indeed have similar face then Gu Qingzhi take Shen Xihe identity. Shen Xihe is Northwest Princess, so no one in capital know her character well. But how drama will resolve the real Shen Xihe? I will be sad if the real Shen Xihe dead - real dead because she really has close relationship with her brother and father. Only imagine how every scene of new SXH with her family turns to be not genuine because she is GQZ make me scream please don't.

Things like new Shen Xihe gain GQZ experience while also has memories of real SXH + closeness with SXH's father and brother kind of not gonna pass censorship although I wish this is what happens just like novel's writer intended