Fan Changyu Alternate Version
I am a big fan of the series and read.the book also. I appreciate the characterization of Changyu who is such a dare devil. But one thing that kept bothering me was that Changyu being a strong fighter is such a big plot point. If she was not a super strong, super fighter but still took care of Xie Zheng when he was injured and down, would he have cared for her later? And then she kind of upgraded herself by earning a military position to be worthy of him. In the book she says I am earning dowry by being in military. While that gave us a wonderful heroine, I cant help thinking why does she need to do that when she is such a resilient, lovely, kind girl as is. How important is her physical strength and ability to fight in the overall plot? Would things not worked out for the couple if Changyu was not interested in physical fights and military but went back to her sister?
Edit :- to explain what i am trying to get at. Imagine Xie Zheng was a famous football player who got lost , landed in Lina'n and saved by Changyu. Rest everything stays same except that Changyu has also been trained in football by her father. When Xie Zheng goes back to his football team & she discovers he is a world cup winning captain, she starts learning football to be with him.And then becomes the MVP of his team. They live happily ever after. My problems is that despite how much she loves him, she had to become an exceptionally good football player for their happily ever after. Her innate strength, independence and love wasnt enough for the plot to succeed. She had to redesign her life around his.
Edit 2: As one of the commentators pointed out she is a natural leader who inspires people and wants to do her bit to end the war. And not necessarily trying to mould herself for him & his world. I think that makes more sense.