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| Original Title | 夏虫行燈 |
|---|---|
| Author | 吉川 英治 |
| Genre | Popular Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In the shadowed corridors of Kofu Castle, where summer storms brew betrayal and ancient grudges fester, a tale of love and vengeance unfolds. When a priceless poetry scroll vanishes during a routine airing of treasures, Umino Jinzaburō—a scholar admired for his intellect and integrity—faces disgrace and ritual suicide. His rival, Takayasu Heishirō, a guardsman nursing bitter resentment over a lost love, is tasked as his executioner, igniting a volatile clash of honor and hidden motives. At the heart of their feud lies O-Sayo, daughter of a revered strategist, whose shifting affections have left scars deeper than any blade. As lightning cracks the sky and secrets unravel, alliances fracture: whispers of theft, political machinations, and a desperate chase through dew-soaked fields threaten to expose treachery that could topple reputations and lives. Amidst koto melodies and thunderous accusations, loyalties are tested, and the line between justice and revenge blurs beneath a star-strewn sky. Will truth emerge before the final strike of the sword—or will buried desires consume them all? |