First Life (Ancient Era):
Female Lead: Yan Feixuan, a woman general of the Luohou Kingdom. She devoted herself to her country and won countless military honors. Her father died on the battlefield when she was young, so she inherited his title as a woman and lived with her mother, relying on one another.
Male Lead: Zhou Pojun, military strategist of the Rong Kingdom, a man of great learning. He posed as a down-and-out scholar and arranged to be rescued by the general. She took him in and recommended him as the Crown Prince’s study companion. Later, he retired to the general’s residence, but his identity as a spy forced him to put the general in mortal danger. Unable to bear watching her die an unjust death, he got her drunk when the kingdom fell and hid her in a cellar. Then he impersonated her to lure away his own army, leaping into a bottomless ravine to mislead the enemy and atone with his life.
Crown Prince: Mo Xuan, heir to the throne, though actually a woman disguised as a man. Gifted in statecraft, she later fell for her study companion’s extensive knowledge and wanted to appoint him chancellor, but the ministers opposed the idea because he was from another country. When the kingdom fell, she fought alongside the general to the very last soldier and died a worthy death.
Grand Tutor: Li Mu, a respected elder who had served three generations. He taught and guided both the Crown Prince and the general.
Deputy General: Shi Yong, the general’s trusted aide. Honest and upright, he was devoted to his country and followed the general’s lead throughout his life. When the kingdom fell, he took a sword meant for the general and died beneath a rain of enemy arrows.
Maid: Qi’er, the personal maid to the general’s mother. Utterly loyal, she died protecting her mistress.
Minister’s Daughter: Qin Shumin, the general’s close friend. Virtuous and charitable, she was known among the people as a living bodhisattva. She later married into the chancellor’s family and had a daughter, but died in childbirth.
Stable Hand: Li Zun, a soldier from the general’s residence. After breaking his leg on the battlefield, he was kept on as a stable hand. He eventually died beneath the enemy’s hooves.
