The Truth Behind Di Renjie's Mystery Case

The coffin is opened and the corpse examined: no injuries or signs of poison. The chaste widow’s highly suspicious, peculiar behavior arouses suspicion. Willing to risk being punished for a false accusation, Di Renjie, magistrate of Changping County, resolves to uncover the truth. With his sharp mind and keen judgment, he solves one strange case after another. Recommended by the governor of Shandong Circuit, he is promoted to prefect of Henan and concurrently appointed Pingzhangshi. Alongside upright court officials, he matches wits and courage with their foes, rids the court of treacherous ministers who have seized control of the government, persuades Wu Zetian to welcome back her son, Emperor Zhongzong Li Xian, and restore the realm to the Li Tang dynasty.

After Emperor Zhongzong Li Zhi abdicates, he ennobles Di Renjie as Duke of Liang. Having entered officialdom at eighteen, Di Renjie reaches the pinnacle of his career.