"The Setting Sun of Wanli" tells the story of Shen Yanzhi, who had just passed the Jiangnan Provincial Examination in the 26th year of Wanli. After receiving the urgent letter that his father was seriously ill, he immediately set off from Nanjing to Beiping to visit relatives. However, there were constant disturbances on the way back. There were White Lotus sect activities on the canal, and he was also interrogated by the Jin Yiwei. Along the way, he heard about factional disputes in the court, the emperor's neglect of government and other chaos, and he also learned the truth about the border crisis. After arriving in Peiping, Shen Yanzhi found that his father had passed away. He adhered to his duties and was buried in Hunhe to protect the military household list. In the end, Shen Yanzhi burned the answer sheet, took the knife, joined the recruit team and rushed outside the customs, embarking on his own path in troubled times.
