The Fragrance of Medicine in Chang'an

During the Kaiyuan era of the Tang dynasty, an unassuming little pharmacy called Huichun Hall stood in Chang'an's western market. Its proprietor was a young woman named Shen Zhiwei. She was the daughter of Shen Wenyuan, head of the Imperial Medical Office. Three years earlier, her father had been framed for using medicine to plot rebellion and beaten to death. His property was confiscated, and although she narrowly escaped, she had to hide her identity, disguise herself as a man, and practice medicine to make a living.

One day, a seemingly dissolute and carefree young gentleman named Pei Yan barged into the pharmacy seeking treatment. In truth, he was a secret investigator for the Censorate, probing a series of poisonings in Chang'an. Several young heirs of powerful families had died mysteriously. Their deaths looked like sudden illnesses, yet carried the sinister chill of poison. As the two pursued the truth, they moved from testing and guarding against each other to gradually uncovering one another's secrets, then joined forces to venture deep into the tiger's den.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.