YMMV / She Who Became The Sun

• Alternative Character Interpretation:
  • Was Chen Youliang once like Zhu? While we see him in the future, his nature as a Shadow Archetype and the book's grim displays of how the court can twist people's ambitions into evil. His grim satisfaction toward his rival's deaths can also be seen as either indicative of sadism, or of relief as he has one less obstacle to worry about on his path to power.
  • Is Ouyang simply envious of Esen's female lovers, or is the fact he's been emasculated causing him to overcompensate.
  • While there's no question in whether Ouyang loves Esen, the question of whether Esen loves him in return or merely views him as a possession to obsess over is raised within the text itself. Ouyang simultaneously adores Esen and expresses the fear that Esen would not listen if he refused an advance.
• Heartwarming Moments: The relationship between Ma Xiuying and Zhu Chongba is a sweet and healthy love that carries on no matter their struggles.
• Magnificent Bastard: The nameless peasant girl who takes the name "Zhu Chongba" from her late brother, along with his glorious fate. Disguising herself as a man to infiltrate a monastery, Zhu Chongba eventually becomes a glorious military commander feared and renowned for her strategies. Navigating the treacherous imperial court and surviving a brutal defeat at the hands of General Ouyang that costs her a hand, Zhu instead makes a deal with Ouyang to deal with both their enemies in the thick of battle, returns to court and kills the Prime Minister. Initially saving the Emperor's son with her loving wife Ma, Zhu realizes he is an impediment to her destiny and regretfully kills him, albeit as painlessly as possible to conclude her ascent to the throne and ensure her name will be remembered for all time.
• Nightmare Fuel: Chen Youliang has one of his rivals skinned alive before the entire court, watching with only a slight sign of glee at his ascent.
• Tear Jerker:
  • Though Zhu claims her throne, it costs her everything. She shatters her own decaying morals by murdering a child to take the throne for herself, earning disappointment from her beloved Ma Xiuying, and sacrifices everything she once loved about herself to gain power. The only consolation is that she makes a vow to rule well to ensure her descent wasn't in vain.
  • Ouyang finally claims vengeance in eliminating the Temur bloodline, but it doesn't fill the hole in his heart. All he can muster is misery as he holds Esen's body in his hands, and soon after he commands his army to attack the Great Khan while fully knowing it's a fight they cannot win.

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