- Drama Title: Legend of The Female General
- Also Known As: 锦月如歌, Jin Yue Ru Ge
- Director: Jiang Jia Jun, Peng Xue Jun, Du Yuan
- Genres: Romance, Drama
- Cast: Zhou Ye, Cheng Lei
- Number of Episodes: 36
- Date of Release: August 6, 2025
- Original Network: Hunan TV, Mango TV, Tencent Video
- Where to Watch: WeTV, Tencent Video, iQiyi, MGTV, Viki
- Adapted from the web novel “Rebirth of a Star General” by Qian Shan Cha Ke
Dear readers… how are you today? This week was a little bit hectic, but I managed to squeeze some dramas into my schedule. Between house chores, work, and everything else that life throws at me, those dramas time felt like a treat. I just can’t wait to share my thoughts with you about this Legend of The Female General drama review.
Some scenes made me laugh, some made me sobs, and others left me wide-eyed at midnight. Well, let’s start with this one. This is the drama that’s been making everyone buzz with the hype, Legend of The Female General. It’s one of the Chinese dramas released in August 2025. So, before I kept rambling on, let’s dive in! Happy reading, dear readers! 😘
Legend of The Female General Synopsis
He Yan, the daughter of the He family, was forced to disguise herself as her brother, He Ru Fei. This scheme was devised by their father to protect the family’s reputation due to He Ru Fei’s frail health. He Yan then was raised as the young master of the He family. And to hide her real identity, she had to wear a mask all the time.
During her time at Xianchang Academy, she met Xiao Jue, a brilliant scholar from a military family. Later, in order to escape an arranged marriage, He Yan enlisted in Fuyue Army.
Starting as a nameless foot soldier, she worked her way up to become the invincible General Feihong. After earn military merits and winning the emperor’s recognition, her greatest trial came when the He family betrayed her. They took her identity, her hard-won achievements, and eventually her life.
Yet heaven granted her a second chance. He Yan was saved by her master, and she returned to the army once again. But this time, under her true name. Her goal was clear, to earn military merits, reclaim her rightful legacy and took revenge on the family who wronged her.
At the army camp, fate reunite her with Xiao Jue, now the formidable General Fengyun. However, Xiao Jue was suspicious of her. He tested her repeatedly to probe whether she was a spy sent by He Ru Fei. but through countless trials and life-threatening battles, Xiao Jue came to see her talent and loyalty. Suspicion turned into respect, and respect slowly blossomed into affection. All amid the smoke and chaos of war.
Legend of The Female General Drama Review
Legend of The Female General is the drama that I’ve been waiting for this year. It was adapted from the web novel Rebirth of a Star General by Qian Shan Cha Ke, the same author behind The Glory and The Double. I’ve read the entire novel and was captivated, which is exactly why I was so eager to see the drama adaptation.
Of course, there were changes in the drama. But the main storyline stayed intact. At least, I wasn’t left in total disappointment like I was with Romance of a Twin Flower. That one was also a novel adaptation.
However, the drama strayed so far from the novel that it felt like they only borrowed the characters’ names and the city background and forgot the actual story. Thankfully, Legend of the Female General drama didn’t fall into the same trap.
If you, like me, enjoyed Mulan, you will probably fall for this one. There’s something awe-inspiring about watching a delicate-looking woman don armour and swing a weapon with such confidence. Every time He Yan stepped into battle, my brain just went, “Wow… that was so cool!”.
Still, one thing kept bothering me. Could someone really disguise themselves as a man so convincingly that nobody noticed? Especially like He Yan who looked just as beautiful in dresses and makeup.
Now let’s talk about the number one reason this drama made me glued to the screen: Cheng Lei. I’ve been captivated by him since My Journey to You drama, where Gong Shang Jue instantly become my favourite character thanks to his flawless performance.
I wrote a review article about My Journey to You, you can read it here My Journey to You drama review. And yes, I highly recommend that drama too!
Back to this one.
Cheng Lei absolutely nailed it as Xiao Jue. At first, I was a little sceptical. Xiao Jue is like an ice block., reserved, emotionless, and not very talkative. So, I am sure there wouldn’t be many things to enjoy except his handsome face. But boy, I was wrong! As the story unfolded and he spent more time with He Yan, Xiao Jue softened. More smiles, fewer frowns. More micro expressions, fewer cold stares.
Cheng Lei brought Xiao Jue to life with subtlety. You could catch small shifts in gaze and tone that spoke louder than grand gestures. That soft, regretful look he gave He Yan during a wedding ceremony tugged deeply at my heartstring. Cheng Lei performance proved that quiet emotions can be as heart wrenching as the explosive ones.
As for Zhou Ye, I’ve seen several of her dramas, and she never disappoints. She shines in lively roles, like Yanhui in Back from the Brink or Yue Qian Ling in Everyone Loves Me. But my personal favourite is her role in The Scent of Time, where she portrayed a villain who wants to atone for her sins.
In Legend of The Female General, Zhou Ye captured both the strength and the vulnerability of He Yan, balancing between the strong willpower and a heartbreak.
This drama also had its share of behind-the-scenes controversy. Before the premiere, one of the actors, Li Ming De who played Cheng Li Su, was arrested and later banned from the Chinese entertainment industry due to a scandal.
To avoid issues, the producers replace him with Li Qing. They use AI technology to swap out his face in already-shot scenes. Well, honestly, if I hadn’t read the news, I wouldn’t have noticed at all.
Overall, Legend of The Female General is an entertaining watch. Yes, it missed some impactful details from the novel, but it still delivered a compelling story and beautiful visuals. And even if the plot isn’t entirely your cup of tea, let’s be real. Cheng Lei’s handsome face alone is worth tuning in for…😁
The Story-From Empowerment to Embrace
There were significant differences regarding He Yan’s identity in the novel and the drama. In Rebirth of a Star General, He Yan went through a rebirth. Her life as He Yan of the He family ended because her husband (yes, she was married) and her family plotted her murder.
She then woke up in the body of another He Yan, a gentle and delicate daughter of a minor officer. In Legend of the Female General, He Yan survived the murder attempt thanks to her master, Liu Bu Wang. Because she was poisoned, her body became weaker.
This is still a reasonable adjustment. Another change was in the novel, He Yan and He Ru Fei were cousins, while in the drama, they became stepsiblings.
I was a bit disappointed because the drama skipped over important explanations. For instance, the reason why He Yan must disguise herself as He Ru Fei. In the novel, this was clearly explained that due to his health, the physician predicted that He Ru Fei wouldn’t live more than three years.
As the sole heir, if He Ru Fei died, the He family’s noble rank would be stripped away, leaving them with nothing. That’s why He Yuan Sheng forced He Yan to take his place. But in the drama, this was never clarified, leaving viewers who hadn’t read the novel puzzled.
Another missing detail was why He Yan needed Xiao Jue’s help during their academy days. In the drama, it almost looked like she was below average despite her later brilliance in the army. the novel explained this better.
It turned out that the He family raised her to behave and act like a man. But she wasn’t taught much beyond that. That’s why when He Yan entered the academy, she was clueless about many things and became the subject of ridicule and the source of the teachers’ frustration.
In my opinion, there were personality gap between He Yan in the novel and He Yan in the drama. When I read the novel, I pictured He Yan as someone who mostly serious. She could also be playful at times but still carrying a reserved nature. In contrast, He yan in the drama was far more mischievous, playful, and even flirtatious. Honestly, it felt out of place for me.
But of course this is just my view as someone who read the novel first. for drama-only viewers, her carefree attitude was reasonable since the beginning emphasized how she had lost her identity after living as a substitute.
At home, He Yan wore someone else’s clothes, slept in someone else’s room, and answered to someone else’s name. she basically had nothing. But on the battlefield, she could finally become herself, wearing her own clothes, and earning respect for who she truly was.
Overall, this drama has its strengths and weaknesses. The visual storytelling and cinematography were impressive, but the story lacked strength, leaving many loose ends that viewers had to piece together themselves.
Legend of the Female General was supposed to deliver a strong message of women’s empowerment. That women could achieve what men could, and that they shouldn’t be bound by unjust tradition or judged by society. He Yan’s character was intended to represent the messages.
For example, during her stay at Jiyang City. He Yan inspired the women to believe in their own potential. She reminded them that woman deserved equal footing with men. They could broaden their horizons through travel, study, or reading just as men did.
However, this empowering theme felt fleeting. As the story progressed, I feel that the story focus shifted away from He Yan’s journey and leaned more toward the romance between her and Xiao Jue.
But as a self-confessed romance junkie, I can’t say I was disappointed. I truly enjoy the way period drama often portray romance, slow burning, tender, innocent, sometimes heartwarming, sometimes heart-wrenching. My favourite moments, though, are when humor sneaks in.
Take the scene where He Yan cooked noodle for Xiao Jue. He ate it with gusto despite the saltiness because Xiao Jue was touched by her effort and genuinely happy to receive the food. Yet, the great general choked when He Yan cheerfully announced that that she will cook another bowl of noodle for him the next day. That poor man! 😂
The Story-When Enemy Become Lovers
“Your good looks caused trouble, and I bore the consequences”, said He Yan to Xiao Jue.
I’ve read the novel, and it gives off a slightly different vibe about He Yan’s relationship with Xiao Jue. Both were outstanding generals, and their minds worked in sync. Although they didn’t realize it at first, there was always a tacit understanding between them.
During the competition at the Yuzhou Garrison, Wang Ba was abandoned by his teammate to fend off wolves alone. Xiao Jue sentenced the man to death, which Cheng Li Su thought was too cruel. But He Yan understands perfectly.
A man who abandoned his brothers has no place in the army, much less on the battlefield, since no soldier could trust him to guard their backs. Xiao Jue’s decision wasn’t just punishment. It also serves as a warning, meant to restore discipline in the garrison.
Between He Yan and Xiao Jue, he seemed to fall first. His cold demeanour made their love a slow burn. However, his jealousy over Chu Zhao was obvious. His possessiveness surfaced every time Chu Zhao was near He Yan.
For me, the best part of their relationship was during their time in the military camp. Their casual banter was refreshing, whereas the “pretend to be husband and wife” arc felt a bit cliché.
And like any other Cdrama, of course, we got a love triangle. The third wheel was Chu Zhao. On top of that, there was the inevitable jealous woman character, Xu Ping Ting. She was obsessed with Chu Zhao and couldn’t bear to see any woman near him.
Aside from He Yan, she even targeted Ying Xiang, Chu Zhao’s personal maid. Honestly, her type of character pops up in so many Cdramas that I didn’t see her as special.
Besides He Yan and Xiao Jue, there were two more love stories. They were Cheng Li Su and Song Tao Tao, and Princess Mengji and Liu Bu Wang. Surely the most tragic one was he latter.
Cheng Li Su and Song Tao Tao didn’t get along at first. Both hated the idea of arranged marriage. Song Tao Tao didn’t like Cheng Li Su because she thought that he was only a spineless flatterer who catered only to the princesses and the palace concubines.
But in truth, Cheng Li Su and Song Tao Tao were alike. Both were frank, childish, careless, yet kind. Their romance was a slow burn, without any intimacy, but still deliver warmth on its own way.
Meanwhile, Liu Bu Wang and Princess Mengji’s story felt like a forgotten subplot. It’s a pity because their tragic love could have been one of the most powerful storylines.
As for the ending, it delivered happiness for almost everyone. The villains got to pay the consequences, and a certain hypocrite got slapped by his own scheme. Serve you right, mister! If you want the detailed ending of Legend of the Female General, you could check my separate Legend of The Female General Ending Explained post.
The Visual-A Feast with Flaws
Legend of The Female General offers stunning visual that are a feast for the eyes. The sets were crafted with great details. The lighting was spot on and the camerawork was sharp and immersive.
The dynamic camera movement during battles and fight sequences heightened the atmosphere and kept the tension alive. The directors also made a good use f close-up shots, which I especially appreciated. Well, who doesn’t love seeing beautiful faces up close? 😁
But of course, Legend of The Female General wasn’t without it flaws. Some scenes left me frowning. Take Liu Bu Wang’s death for example. Before he died, Liu Bu Wang was surrounded by enemies and was stabbed multiple times. However, his robe was perfectly intact.
Just a few bloods splatter for the effect. Then there were battle scenes where Xiao Jue and He Yan slaughtered countless enemies. But somehow, their hair (especially Xiao Jue’s!) remained suspiciously tidy.
In my opinion, the production team should watch Zhou Yi Wei’s battle scenes in The Rebel Princess. His battle-worn and unkempt looks were what a soldiers should look like. after all, hairspray wasn’t even invented until the 1940s. 😜
Some details, though, were totally baffling. In episode 28, Xu Pign Ting found a painting of He Yan in Chu Zhao’s room. And let’s be honest, it looked more like a digital print than a painting. I was speechless…🤯
The Characters
He Yan / He Ru Fei / General Feihong (Played by Zhou Ye)
He Yan is unlike any other girl of her era. Having lived as both a man and a woman, she has a unique perspective. She experienced the hardships that women endured, yet she also enjoyed the privileges that men had. This makes her both empathetic and critical of unjust traditions.
He Yan has endured countless obstacles. Life in the He mansion was harsh, and life as a soldier was even worse. However, these experiences strengthened her character and honed her principled nature. Her strong willpower, resilience, and courage are her core strengths.
In the army, she demonstrated her brilliance in strategy and warfare. She is also independent, proud, and charismatic. She is righteous yet vengeful. He Yan’s anger isn’t driven by blind revenge, but by a sense of justice. All she wanted was to claim her rightful legacy and bring justice to fallen soldiers.
Although He Yan claimed to be good at pretense, her acting was actually bad, and Xiao Jue could always see right through her lies. She was always playful and mischievous, but that didn’t erase the sorrow in her heart. Only Xiao Jue, who had weathered a stormy life of his own, could truly understand her.
Xiao Jue / Xiao Huai Jin / General Fengyun (Played by Cheng Lei)
Xiao Jue was the youngest son of the late General Xiao Zhong Wu. He was famous for being cold and ruthless. As the only one who followed in his father’s footsteps, he took on the responsibility of protecting the future of the Xiao Army.
His resentment towards He Ru Fei began after the death of his father and the 30,000 soldiers of Xiao Army in the city of Mingshui. At that time, the Xiao Army fell into an ambush by the Wutuo Army because He Ru Fei arrived late.
As a commander, Xiao Jue is strict and intimidating. He holds himself and his soldiers to the highest standard. He is unyielding, just, and merciless. He gives rewards and punishments fairly, without showing favoritism.
On the battlefield, Xiao Jue proved to be the strongest and smartest commander. Beneath his cold and stoic exterior, he has a hidden sense of responsibility, guilt, and compassion. He keeps his feelings locked away and rarely shows emotion. Only He Yan saw him as a man with a sharp tongue but a tender heart.
Chu Zhao / Zi Lan (Played by Zhang Kang Le)
Chu Zhao is Xu Jing Fu’s disciple. He respects his master and looks up to him. Xu Jing Fu didn’t seem to have any sons; he only had a daughter named Xu Ping Ting who fell head over heels for Chu Zhao.
Therefore, Xu Jing Fu regarded Chu Zhao highly as a future son-in-law. He treated Chu Zhao like a son but was strict enough to ensure that Chu Zhao always acted according to his orders.
Behind his gentle appearance, Chu Zhao hides his thoughts and ambitions. He is a brilliant strategist, and Xu Jing Fu always listens to his advice. Chu Zhao had a scarred past. His mother lived a sad life and died in misery.
Thus, it become an experience that shaped him. Because he was bullied as a child, he developed a fear of fire and was always accompanied by a loyal maid/personal bodyguard named Ying Xiang.
Cheng Li Su (Played by Li Qing)
Cheng Li Su, the flamboyant physician, is the top disciple of the Imperial Medical Bureau as well as the nephew of Xiao Jue. He can often be seen hovering around his uncle with a fan in hand.
Cheng Li Su is an expert in gynecology, a field that aligns with his quirky preference to only treat female patients. Unlike his uncle, he is playful and lively. He was somewhat naïve, yet loyal. Cheng Li Su was betrothed to his master’s daughter, Song Tao Tao, even though they did not get along.
Song Tao Tao (Played by Zhang Miao Yi)
Song Tao Tao is the daughter of Chief Imperial Physician Song and Cheng Li Su’s fiancée. Like him, she ran away from her arranged marriage. She met He Yan when she was almost kidnapped by criminals and fell in love with him because she thought He Yan was a man.
Song Tao Tao has a stubborn but honest personality. She has a sweet appearance and a naïve nature. However, you should be wary of her fiery temper and sharp tongue. She enjoyed creating poisonous drugs, which she always carried in her pockets.
He Ru Fei (Played by Bai Shu)
He Ru Fei is the elder stepbrother of He Yan. He used to be frail and was sent to Yuhua Temple. Years of solitude changed his personality for the worse. When he returned, he demanded that He Yan return his identity and the hard-earned merits.
He Ru Fei was narrow-minded and envious of He Yan’s achievements. He firmly believed that, since all the achievements were written under his name, they became his. However, he was not as capable as He Yan. Aside from lacking judgment and intelligence, He Ru Fei was also hot-tempered and greedy.
The Conclusion
Legend of The Female General is a drama that will awe you with He Yan’s powerful character, Xiao Jue’s striking charm, and stunning visual. This drama is a perfect choice for those who enjoy strong female character such as Hua Mulan.
If you decided to watch, just open your mind and heart as wide as possible. Remember, nothing is perfect in this world, much less in Cdramaland. Embrace the positives let go of the negatives. After all, you’re here for a dose of entertainment to brighten your day.
But if that still isn’t enough, I suggest reading the novel before rewatching the drama. It might give you a fresh perspective on the story.
Dear readers, don’t forget to take this review with a grain of salt, since everything I wrotecomes from my personal preferences. I hope this review helps you to decide whether to watch or to skip this one. And if you already seen it, please feel free to share your thought with me in the comment box below. Thank you for stopping by dear readers. I’ll see you in another drama review. Until then, goodbye!
