I imagine that Li Changge has been written quite deliberately as an anachronistic figure in an all-too-real historical context of war and internal power struggles. A privileged duchess raised among the nobility, schooled in traditionally masculine pursuits like martial arts and the history of strategic arts, she is unconventional even for our time. But heroes real or fictionalized tend to standout from the crowd. They are heroes by the very fact that their achievements are noteworthy. Of course here she’s undoubtedly created to be more palatable for readers/audiences in a post-feminist 21st century world. A strong female persona with achievements under her belt is a figure of hope and aspiration. However, in keeping with the historical context, this outstanding female dresses in man’s clothing in order to participate in activities normally denied to her sex. It’s also telling that she doesn’t menstruate until she takes her first journey to the steppes. Something that the show is at great pains (no pun intended) to highlight. When she’s finally with the man who is worthy of her love, a man who will become the love of her life, her femininity becomes somewhat relevant. More than just a patriot, she is now a figure of romance. A romance that has important ramifications for her entire trajectory.
Your insights are really good. I love reading it.