The drama series General & I was broadcast in 2017 whereby I caught snippets of them before catching on to follow the series on and off. The drama series touted big names of Angelababy and Wallace Chung as the main leads. The series was a long 62-episodes, of which I recalled with fond memories of great theme songs. Two of my favourite theme songs are arranged & shared in earlier blogs.
Recently, I have read the English-translation of the webnovel. The translation is very well-done and the link is as below.
It is quite surprising that the series span over 62 episodes while the novel only has 75 chapters. The series has followed very closely to many of the novel’s directions & storylines, staying true to the original novel. I actually like the novel very much, as it provides a little more to the imagination although it I did constantly compare Angelababy’s portrayal of Bai Ping Ting vs the real Bai Ping Ting in the novel.
The novel/ series revolves around the chaotic struggles of various countries fighting for supremacy, amidst their own internal conflict.
- Gui Le state is where He Xia and Bai Ping Ting hail from, whereby He Xia’s Jing An House is royalty. However the existing emperor of Gui Le is highly suspicious of Jing An’s House and fears their military might, leading to the destruction upon Jing An’s House at the beckoning of the emperor
- Dong Lin state is where Chu Bei Jie is the great General and the younger brother to the emperor. The two brothers share strong family bond & trust. Unfortunately the bond is chipped away with the arrival of Bai Ping Ting in Chu Bei Jie’s life
- Bei Mo state is where Bai Ping Ting’s good friend – Yang Feng has married into. A lot more fragmented, the country is on the defensive and trying to survive on their own.
- Yun Chang state is more diplomatic, maintaining peace treaties to avoid direct military confrontations and wars. Princess Yao Tian is the last royal blood, who marries He Xia – spelling the doom for herself and her country.
The name of the countries are changed for the purposes of the series. The main protagonist of the novel is actually the very ordinary-looking Bai Ping Ting, who is the maid cum companion to the Young Master of Jing An House, He Xia. The novel describes Ping Ting as a very ordinary-looking girl, with the charisma & intelligence on par with or even exceeding many male counterparts.
Muse #1 The series with Angelababy portraying the role of Bai Ping Ting, this description does not seem to fit. 😀 Angelababy has an ethereal beauty but did not manage to bring out the charisma of how I would have imagined Bai Ping Ting. A little mischievous with a lot of trickeries behind an ordinary face. During the airing of the series in 2017, she receives a lot of backlash for the portrayal. I did not understand the criticism back then, but upon reading the novel I have to agree that she did not bring out the Bai Ping Ting of the story in the novel. A pity, really.
When calamity falls upon Jing An House, Ping Ting is separated from her master and caught by human traffickers before being sold as maid into another household. Subsequently, she meets Chu Bei Jie (who is the great military general of Dong Lin and brother of the Dong Lin’s emperor) whereby she is mistaken to be the lady of the household. The two plays cat-and-mouse games, hiding behind their masks where Chu Bei Jie is totally smitten with the mysterious Ping Ting. On the other hand, Ping Ting finds herself admiring Chu Bei Jie’s tactics and personality, despite their wariness with each other and their little mind games.
Muse #2 The author actually introduces the two characters in the most difficult of positions. Warring states and enemies. Bai Ping Ting’s character is actually a little devious and full of trickeries. I am amazed what Chu Bei Jie sees in her. Between the two characters, she is actually a little more dominant while Chu Bei Jie’s character comes off as a fool in love. Wallace Chung is quite good in portraying Chu Bei Jie’s character and he has done quite well to fit the description of the character in the novel.
Ultimately Ping Ting remains loyal to He Xia, whereby she finds herself betraying Chu Bei Jie to broker a peace deal between the two countries – Gui Le and Dong Lin. Upon playing the qin from the cliff, Chu Bei Jie who is eager to maintain the open communication relents, admitting defeat and retreats from attacking He Xia’s troops. Although disappointed, Chu Bei Jie discovers new-found respect for Bai Ping Ting and finds himself falling in love even more with her.
Muse #3 Bai Ping Ting is renowned for her qin-playing skills but the series fall flat on this area, a real pity. The qin-playing scene on the cliff is just not how I would have imagined it while reading the novel.
Muse #4 When I first watch the series, I am puzzled and bemused with He Xia’s character. While reading the novel, the feeling is the same. The character actually has a lot more growth & changes throughout the storyline. From a young loyal ambitious young master of Jing An House, his world comes crashing down with his family members’ death. His obsession with revenge drives his actions but his suspicious nature loses the trust in his best companion Bai Ping Ting, pushing her away. His obsession with unification of a new kingdom blinds him to those dear to him, including Princess Yao Tian. The scene when Princess Yao Tian is in a difficult labour, while he refuses to see her nor provide medical assistance – this is a breaking point. At that juncture, he is beyond any help nor can he ever be forgiven. He is also obsessed with Ping Ting returning as his side-kick, although I do not think he is ever in love with Ping Ting. She is his life-long friend, who is loyal to him rather than a partner in romance. At the end he is equally obsessed with the Empress’ Crown of which he instructs for the best jewel to be designed for the crown. My final conclusion is He Xia is obsessed with various things at different stages of his life journey, but never really loving anyone.
Unfortunately for Bai Ping Ting, He Xia starts having suspicion of her intention, leading her to resolution to leave to stay independently. She moves to Bei Mo in search of her good friend fellow qin-player Yang Feng who has married General Ze Yin of Bei Mo. During the time she spends in Bei Mo, the military troops of Dong Lin is on the offensive towards Bei Mo’s city of Kanbu. Upon Yang Feng’s deep-felt request, Bai Ping Ting reluctantly agrees to assist as a military strategist to assist Bei Mo. During the critical battle of Kanbu, the face off between Chu Bei Jie and Bai Ping Ting leads them falling off the cliff. This also leads to them facing their own heart to admit their love for each other, promising and agreeing to wait for each other at Dong Lin.
Unfortunately, Bai Ping Ting’s advice in poisoning the royal family of Dong Lin backfires, accidentally killing the two young princes of Dong Lin (ie Chu Bei Jie’s nephews). Thus chaos & suspicions arise in Dong Lin, with a Chu Bei Jie caught in the crossfire of his loyalty towards his brother & Dong Lin and his love for Bai Ping Ting. Henceforth, Chu Bei Jie willingly retreats from his royalty status and military responsibilities to provide the re-assurances to his emperor brother. Bei Jie retreats with Ping Ting to live in seclusion and holding a cold-war towards Ping Ting, while she tolerates his silent anger.
Muse #5 Linking the love story of He Xia, there is mention of the 3 chances in Chu Bei Jie and Bai Ping Ting’s journey of love. It then dawns upon Bai Ping Ting that had she or Chu Bei Jie chooses differently, the estranged relationship could have equally happened to them. I am taking a guess that the 3 chances implied are
- Qin @ the cliff in exchange for 5-year of peace treaty – the ability to forgive a betrayal. Ping Ting’s betrayal is not only forgiven but respected by Chu Bei Jie for her stance & loyalty towards the Jing An House.
- Battle @ Kanbu – the trust (and acceptance) in spite of the actions & evidences of betrayal. Chu Bei Jie’s acceptance of another deemed betrayal which harms his own family is totally magnanimous. Ping Ting’s acceptance of her fate & his anger shows her thawing trust for Chu Bei Jie. My only grouse herewith is the lack of communication from Ping Ting to provide the explanations.
- Retreat @ countryside – the disappointment of a broken promise. I thought that Ping Ting’s indignation that Chu Bei Jie’s delay in return is a broken promise is a little far-fetched.
Thereof, I do think that the fool in this couple is actually Chu Bei Jie (poor guy), while Bai Ping Ting has the advantage all the time.
Meanwhile, the ambitious He Xia plans out his route for revenge. His first step is to marry Princess Yao Tian of Yun Chang, gaining access to military of the country. While Princess Yao Tian is in love with He Xia, he plots to advance his revenge towards Gui Le, with further eyes towards Dong Lin and Bei Mo – with the ultimate aim to unite all the countries under him.
As he furthers his ambitions, his methods become more and more cruel. Annihilating Gui Le’s royal family members, poisoning the royal family of Bei Mo, and at the same time attacking Dong Lin’s border. In order to obtain ultimate control of Yun Chang, He Xia intentionally ceases medical assistance to Princess Yao Tian who is going into labour. She dies in labour, still in denial of He Xia’s cruel intention.
He Xia is subsequently obsessed with getting Bai Ping Ting to return to his side. When she refuses, he re-directs all his anger towards Chu Bei Jie. Luring Chu Bei Jie out from his retreat with the threat against the border of Dong Lin, Chu Bei Jie chooses to assist his brother and his country. Unfortunately, Bai Ping Ting is surrounded at their country-side retreat with an ultimate showdown with He Xia. She barely escapes with a female doctor Zui Ju, disappointed with Chu Bei Jie as he is unable to keep his promise to be back on time. Running towards Bei Mo in search of assistance from Yang Feng, she splits up with Zui Ju in their attempt to escape He Xia’s troops. Getting caught in a blizzard, Bai Ping Ting is mistakenly assumed to be attacked by wild wolves in the jungle. Meanwhile, Zui Ju is caught by Fan Lu, an eccentric official cum spy under Yun Chang.
Muse #6 Yang Feng and General Ze Yin’s side love story is a little cliche and not so exciting.
Muse #7 Zui Ju and Fan Lu’s side love story is more interesting but also borders on abusive relationship. Zui Ju’s straightforward manner and somewhat naivete is something that would be attractive to a spy like Fan Lu, but it is a wonder how Zui Ju could return his feelings. As I read their storyline, I am rooting for them. However, I also wonder whether Zui Ju’s feelings is really of love or gratitude or a bit more sinister?
As the land descends into further chaos and wars under He Xia’s intentional unification, Ping Ting finds solace with Yang Feng & her family as commoners in the country side of Bei Mo. She refuses to see Chu Bei Jie, preferring to hide behind her “death”. Zui Ju is imprisoned by the eccentric Fan Lu, but slowly gains access to his heart. Chu Bei Jie further retreats anonymously to mend his broken heart, mistakenly informed that Ping Ting died enroute to find Yang Feng.
Two years (in the series it is 10 years) pass by with misery for all commoners, especially with the instability created by the warring states. Driven towards despair with military troops attacking commoners, Ping Ting takes a hard stance to return going against He Xia. She finally braves herself to seek out Chu Bei Jie. Delighted to see Ping Ting alive, Chu Bei Jie is motivated to go against He Xia. With Ping Ting’s help in military strategies, the couple sought out various enemies of He Xia.
The plots ultimately lead to a confrontational showdown with He Xia, who loses the one-on-one battle with Chu Bei Jie. Before his death, He Xia ponders the meaning of his obsession for revenge & the unification of the states, with deep regret for his treatment towards Princess Yao Tian. Subsequently, the 4 states are united but under Chu Bei Jie who ascends the throne with Bai Ping Ting as his empress.
Muse #8 Bai Ping Ting is supposed to be a great military strategist, and I guess with trickeries up her sleeve she should live up to her name. Chu Bei Jie names the army battalion as Ting Army, a little cheesy.
A good series to watch, a better novel to read. Have less expectations of the series.
Cheng's Musings 