The Spring Light Fades, second-generation series
Jiang Wanhan x Du Mingzhao; proud and carefree childhood friend x childhood friend who bears humiliation and hardship
Jiang Wanhan grows up carefree in the waterside town of Nanting, but at seventeen, she makes a decision.
She’ll travel north to visit her godfather in the frontier, take part in the martial arts tournament, and, while she’s at it, fight injustice and roam the world with her sword.
But an accident draws her into an assassination plot, and she stumbles into the turmoil of the capital, where she reunites with an old friend.
She wants to save him, help him fulfill his wish, and get him out of this devouring capital.
But in the end, all she can do is watch as the mire of power and ambition slowly swallows her whole.
Snow flies across the sky, dusting the green tiles and vermilion eaves.
In a blood-red wedding gown, she is dragged to the edge of the city wall.
Below, ranks of grim, iron-clad soldiers stretch as far as the eye can see. Du Mingzhao returns, clad in silver armor and drenched in blood. Snow melts between his brows and trickles down as water, yet not a trace of sorrow in his eyes melts away.
Li Huaizuo sits at ease in a grand chair, dressed in a dark dragon robe. He turns a jade ring between his fingers, his eyes faintly revealing the viciousness and cruelty of a young emperor. Then he curls his lips into a smile and calls to the people below the wall, “General Du, do you want her, or the remnants of your army in this ruined city?”
Wen Heqing closes his eyes in anguish. In the end, there is nothing he can do to stop what is happening.
Du Mingzhao looks at the flash of red on the wall. His eyes turn red, and cracks slowly spread across the longbow clenched in his hand.
But after a long silence, he says nothing.
He remembers how he used to ask her, “Why are you always following me?”
She would smile brightly and reply, “Because I don’t want to leave you alone!”
She knows the burdens he carries are too heavy: revenge, and the greater good. He has suffered for so many years.
But now, he is the one leaving her alone.
Jiang Wanhan understands. She smiles without regret.
She doesn’t blame him.
Daybreak comes, and the first faint rays of sunlight fall upon her.
Just like her name, dawn is near, but in the end, it comes too late.
Jiang Wanhan slowly closes her eyes and leans backward.
A flash of red falls from the city wall.
In that instant, both the emperor and the general lose their composure.
Li Huaizuo rushes forward in a frenzy to catch her, but all he manages to grasp is a scrap of her clothes.
The longbow lies shattered. If you look closely, you can see the character “Han” carved into it.
☆ Political intrigue and a serious plot
☆ One-sided healing and redemption, mutual pining, chasing after the one you love, personal growth
☆ One-on-one romance; happy ending; their early romance feels like two kids in love
Theme: Dawn will come at last
