The following contains spoilers.
In the final episodes, Song Mo (played by Li Yunrui) and Dou Zhao (played by Meng Ziyi) unite to fight against their enemies.
Readers of the novel noted that two crucial scenes in the ending were omitted or not depicted in the drama.
These scenes were excitingly narrated in the novel. In the original story, Prince Qing unexpectedly stages a rebellion that catches Song Mo and Dou Zhao off guard.
In the novel, the couple has an eldest son named Song Yuan. While Dou Zhao, Grandma Cui, and Yuan are vacationing at the Ying family's villa in the summer, Song Han suddenly appears with a dozen friends, claiming to have injured his leg and needing help.
They are placed in a separate building next to the villa. This is actually a scheme by Prince Qing to kidnap Dou Zhao and Yuan, intending to use them as hostages to prevent Song Mo from resisting the rebellion, Upmedia reported.
At that time, Song Mo is on guard in the palace. Even though he wants to go save his family, he decides to defend the palace and protect the emperor.
Meanwhile, Dou Zhao and her guards are holding their ground at the villa, surrounded by enemy troops. This story is thrilling as both risk their lives while worrying for each other's safety, especially since Dou Zhao is pregnant with their daughter.
After an intense struggle for survival, the two are finally reunited with their son the next morning, even though they haven't completely triumphed yet.
In the drama, this scene is omitted and replaced with Dou Zhao being asked to use firearms to fight against the rebellion. This change makes the story more concise for a 34-episode format, but it diminishes the strength and determination of Dou Zhao's character from the novel, who is willing to sacrifice her life to save her son and prevent herself from being used as a hostage against her husband.
Additionally, the romantic meeting between Dou Zhao and Song Mo, which showcases their deep understanding of each other in the novel, is also cut.
In the drama, they do not meet at the Shenji headquarters but instead at the palace. In the snowfall, Dou Zhao runs to Song Mo, who is clad in armor and covered in blood.
They embrace tightly and cry, with Dou Zhao expressing that she no longer wants to wait outside the palace.
In the drama version, Song Han (played by Yang An) collaborates with Queen Wan to aid Prince Qing's rebellion. Song Mo and Dou Zhao assist the emperor in resisting the uprising. Ji Yong (played by Xia Zhiguang), who pretended to sever ties with Dou Zhao and side with the enemy, is actually deceiving the foes, prioritizing the safety of the people.
Once the palace turmoil subsides, the emperor reflects on his original intentions when ascending the throne, hoping for a fulfilling old age, the usefulness of his youth, and a prosperous future. Ultimately, he feels relieved and gives Song Mo the snow mushroom he had originally used to save his life as an antidote.
The drama's conclusion shows the couple living with their 5- to 6-year-old daughter. The pacing and development of the story from beginning to end are well-controlled.
If the drama had only ended with Dou Zhao giving birth to their daughter, it would have felt flat. However, the screenwriter added a storyline about their life together with their child.
The couple goes horseback riding to the lake for a picnic and enjoys the scenery. They express their love for each other and cannot hide their feelings, leading to a passionate kiss.
This sweet interaction contrasts sharply with the hardships they previously faced. Their life appears to be very happy, earning praise from viewers. Audiences have lauded the strong chemistry between Li Yunrui and Meng Ziyi in the drama.
Despite the changes made in the drama that differ from the novel—possibly disappointing some readers—the general audience in China seems satisfied. This satisfaction is reflected in the drama's rating, which reached a score of 7.5 on Douban.