Cheng Lei, Xu Ruohan deliver heartbreaking ending in 'The Lament of Autumn'
The Lament of Autumn closes with a heartbreaking finale, as Cheng Lei and Xu Ruohan deliver a Republican-era romance that has left C-drama fans in tears.
'LAMENT of Autumn' sees Cheng Lei and Xu Ruohan bring to life a love story that earns its emotional weight, drawing tears through its heartfelt storytelling and performances.
Photographs courtesy of iqiyi and mydrama list
C-DRAMA fans have been left emotionally devastated following the finale of The Lament of Autumn, as Cheng Lei and Xu Ruohan delivered a love story that earned its tears rather than simply demanding them.
SET in Republican-era China in the early 1920s, the 40-episode drama unfolds amid warlord conflicts, political intrigue and shifting alliances.
Set in Republican-era China during the early 1920s, the 40-episode drama unfolds against a backdrop of warlords, political intrigue and shifting alliances. Premiering on MGTV on 12 October, it follows Pingjun (Xu Ruohan), who is given 10 days to clear her name, while Changxuan (Cheng Lei), the man who arrested her, ultimately controls her fate.
The series gradually evolves from a tense cat-and-mouse relationship into a deeply emotional romance built on sacrifice, forgiveness and mutual respect.
Instead of offering a conventional happy ending, the finale embraces tragedy.
Changxuan, now fighting on the battlefield, leads his men into a desperate final stand after they run out of ammunition and are forced to fight with bayonets. Gravely wounded, he never returns home, taking his final breath while clutching Pingjun's hairpin.
The closing moments are among the series' most poignant. Before leaving for war, Changxuan had promised to plant a maple tree with their son, Xiaoyu. In the final scene, the tree has already been planted. When Xiaoyu asks when his father will come home, Pingjun gently tells him he will return when the maple leaves turn red — a quiet acknowledgment that he never will.
While the television adaptation ends in heartbreak, it is notably less tragic than its source novel.
In the original story, Pingjun dies alone in a ruined temple while Changxuan unknowingly passes by her body. An additional chapter even sees him accidentally killing their son, an ending the author described as deliberate retribution. The television adaptation instead allows Pingjun to survive and raise their child, while Changxuan dies defending his country.
The performances of Cheng Lei and Xu Ruohan have drawn widespread praise, even as reactions to the screenplay remain divided.
Many critics have highlighted the pair's chemistry and emotional performances, though some felt the script should have more clearly addressed Changxuan's questionable actions earlier in the story. Others praised the restrained ending, arguing that the quiet image of the maple tree carries more emotional weight than a conventional last-minute reunion.
Whether viewed as a tragic romance or a bittersweet tale of love, sacrifice and peace, The Lament of Autumn leaves behind an ending that lingers long after the credits roll.