Set between 1930 and the victory in the War of Resistance in 1945, the story spans pivotal historical events including the Central Plains War, the September 18 Incident, the resistance in Shanghai, currency reform, the Xi’an Incident, the July 7 Incident, the Battle of Shanghai, and the bombing of Chongqing. At its heart are the intertwined tales of revenge, personal growth, and devotion to family and country experienced by Shen Ruoyan, daughter of Shanghai’s wealthiest merchant. Blending high-stakes battles of wits, palace-intrigue-style power plays, heartrending romance, a wealth of knowledge about the Republican era, jianghu chivalry, and military and political maneuvering, it creates an epic panorama of the era, rich in historical depth, dramatic tension, and human warmth.
