I think Xiang Liu deserves better, though. It was a very one-sided relationship, where he did all the giving and sacrificing, while she joined team imperialism.
I'd prefer to see a story where he only lost one life in that battle, before he escapes to somewhere far away. Then we get to go through 8 more lives with him, on a very rocky road to finding a place in the world, where he is not demonized, healing from all his trauma, trying to avoid love because it has been so painful, but always finding connection that he can't deny. But, each time, he gets better at holding onto his self-worth, expecting actual partnership - rather than thinking love means he has to sacrifice himself - and less acting out when he feels sad or vulnerable. I'd read 8 novels of that, if the author had the ability to write a story of healing rather than one of imperialist warfare. Where, in his final life, he just gets to live a normal one, somewhere where he is respected and welcomed, and can bring his whole awesome self without shame or fear of being abused.