No Regrets

When Nan Yuan, the son of the prime minister, and Mu Ling, the son of the Grand General Who Guards the Nation, were born, the civil and military officials all came to offer their congratulations. Their first-month celebrations were even livelier. As they grew up, fate brought the two together, and they came to know and understand each other. A few years later, war broke out across the Nan Jin Kingdom, which was locked in a fierce conflict with the Bei Yang Kingdom. The Grand General Who Guards the Nation and his eldest son, Mu Xuan, set off for the battlefield. But when defending Qi City, their forces were vastly outnumbered. They fulfilled their duty for three days and three nights, then ultimately died defending the city. At last, reinforcements arrived, and Qi City was saved. When word of this reached the capital, Su Zimiao, the general's wife, was overcome with grief. One morning, she hanged herself in her room, leaving behind only a final letter. Mu Ling fell into a long period of despair. Later, he asked the emperor to let him go to the battlefield...

Theme: I hear echoes from the valley and the heart. With the lonely sickle, I reap empty souls, repeating my resolve again and again, then repeating happiness. One day, an oasis will sway in the desert. The lights in the distance always shine brighter, but remember: sunlight casts shadows on petals, and even more so on life.