The Rainbow-Silken Pavilion of Kaiyuan: A Thousand Mechanisms

[Political Intrigue + Martial Arts + Multiple Twists] The second installment in the Kaiyuan Rainbow Skirt Pavilion series, The Kaiyuan Rainbow Skirt Pavilion: The Thousand Schemes, depicts political power struggles and palace conspiracies during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang dynasty. In the seventh year of Kaiyuan, the Turkic crown prince Ashina Lian becomes the new khagan, and the Tang dynasty and the Turks maintain peace. At home, Duke Xue and Chancellor Situ are locked in a bitter struggle for power. After a Taoist priest at the Eight Immortals Temple is murdered in a suspicious "accident," Cui Mubai, deputy captain of the Imperial Guard, discovers a far greater conspiracy behind the case. Situ Liuyun's corruption is exposed, while the ambition and schemes of Wang Ting, Duke Xue's son, gradually come to light. Xiao Ruhai, commander of the Imperial Guard, encounters numerous obstacles in his investigation, but with help from Bai Zhishao and other chivalrous figures of the martial world, he ultimately exposes the collusion between the Princess Dowager Wang and the Later Turks, averts a series of crises, and restores order to Chang'an.