In a Jiangnan water town of rippling waves and lush green willows, a wedding brings together a refined, witty young man who has returned from abroad and an innocent, sheltered young woman from a traditional family.
The unexpected arrival of the Japanese shatters the peace. The wedding is forced to stop, and the groom flees in the middle of the night. Sheng Mingxu returns to his life with regrets, only to discover that he is a man-eating flower grown in a mire of sin, born bearing the guilt of his family.
After his father and elder brother die one after another, he resists but has no choice but to take on their responsibilities and lead the family forward. He must atone for the sins committed by the Sheng family. In a land on the brink of ruin, battered by wind and rain, how can he escape the mire? How can he find his footing as the nation is swept into catastrophe? The spirited young woman he met amid exquisite waters and beautiful woods is the only person, beyond his duties to family and country, who occupies his heart. In this war-torn age, when no one knows what tomorrow will bring, he schemes and struggles to survive. But where will fate lead him in the end? Can he and the woman he loves fight their way to a happy future despite being swept along by the times?
The heroine’s growth arc comes later in the story. The first half focuses more on the male lead, partly due to the historical setting.
The author portrays the emotions of the characters in a story that blends the late Qing Dynasty with modern elements with great subtlety. Looking forward to updates.