Drop this series after 36 episodes. Typical Yang Mi's production with miracle cure, typical love relationship, a faked death, surviving fall from the height, etc. But eventually, I dropped this series because at the tail end of it, it drifted into a senseless love story. Just like Ten Miles of Peach Blossom, just when you felt sorry for the 2nd Male Lead because of the death of his beloved love interest, it turned out to be a faked death. So many of the same tricks and story lines from "Legend of Fuyao" could be seen in this series.

What is with the bromance between the Emperor and the Male Lead. Is this a BL adaption of some novel?

Don't waste your time. Go for "Sword Snow Stride" instead.