What does a person do just before they die?
When Ruan Zhaoyan, shackled and in chains, appeared at the execution ground under the watchful eyes of soldiers and executioners, the first and only thing she did was:
She looked up at the sun.
"War fires shine over the capital; my heart cannot be at peace."
She walked into the flames along a thorny path. Her eyes reflected streets and alleyways, the white snow in the courtyard, the bright starry sky, and the colors of all creation.
As Zhaoyan gazed at it all, she suddenly smiled.
If there were one more thing she could do,
she would only wish to see the first light of dawn once more.
Just once.
*The author isn't a history buff, so some details may be inaccurate. Corrections are welcome. Zhaoyan has no historical counterpart, though she was inspired by historical figures. Some elements are based on Chen Junqi, the first female Communist Party member in Jiading, Shanghai.
*I originally started writing this to remind everyone that in that era, the people who worked to liberate minds weren't only men; there were many women too. This is Ruan Zhaoyan's story, and a tribute to the martyrs. Thanks to them, we can enjoy this beautiful land.
Theme: No matter how long the night, dawn will come. And if it doesn't, then I'll bring it about myself.
