This is a tragic song of the times in the turbulent times of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, in which little people are forced to grow up, idealists are martyred, and pragmatists strive for survival. Through the perspectives of a disillusioned scholar, a general who is hated by his country and his family, and an aristocratic woman struggling to survive in power schemes, the story shows the insignificance and unyielding fate of individuals under the wheel of history. It is not only a game of power, but also a profound inquiry about choice, sacrifice and what constitutes "China".
