In the eleventh year of Chongzhen, the Ming Dynasty was in turmoil. The Liaodong front was lost and the Hou Jin Dynasty was approaching. However, the prophecy that "the dragon spirit moves westward and the destined emperor comes from Shaanxi" spread wildly in the capital. At this juncture, the Rumor Department of the Ministry of Rites—a small yamen specializing in controlling public opinion and dealing with rumors—received a secret order to trace the source.
Xu Yan, a junior official, thought it was just a routine errand. Unexpectedly, as the investigation deepened, three shocking cases were uncovered: the attempted eunuchment, the demon book rebellion, and the return of the third prince Zhu. The ultimate goal behind these three cases was to lead the emperor to misjudge and force Yuan Chonghuan, an important minister of Liaodong, to die, so that the Ming Dynasty could cut off the arm that defended Northern Xinjiang.
When the truth surfaced, he discovered that everything was already doomed: rumors can kill people, and even kill the country.
"The Rumor Book" is a story about intrigue, lies and human nature, the struggle of small people in the big era, and the collision of small truths in the big chess game. Who writes history? Can the truth trump the lies people are willing to believe? Let us go together into the depths of the capital where rumors are woven.
