This was the peak of the Tang Dynasty and the starting point of its collapse. On the surface, it is a continuation of the "Kaiyuan Prosperous Age", when all nations came to the court and peace flourished; but internally, the struggle for power between Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong intensified, the status of Prince Li Heng was in jeopardy, Anlu Mountain on the border was gathering strength, and social contradictions and class antagonisms became increasingly acute. This huge tension of "gold and jade on the outside, but ruins on the inside" is the best breeding ground for suspense stories.
Core Mystery: The "Blue Dragon's Prophecy" Serial Murder Case
The beginning of the mystery: It begins with a nursery rhyme circulated in Chang'an City: "The green dragon opens its eyes, and the streets are bleeding; the white tiger carries the corpse, and the country's gate opens; the red bird burns its wings, and the palace is destroyed; Xuanwu weeps, and Xuanzong is covered in dust." At first, this was regarded as nonsense. However, not long after, a court official related to "water" or "dragon" (such as the Du Shui Envoy) was found drowned in a dry home. His death was strange. A blue dragon totem painted with special minerals was left at the scene.
This is not an isolated case. Subsequently, a series of seemingly unrelated murders occurred one after another. The victims had different identities, including palace eunuchs, border army messengers, Western City Hu merchants, and even reclusive Taoist priests. However, at each crime scene, there are strange clues related to the "Prophecy of the Four Divine Beasts" left behind, and the killing techniques are extremely sophisticated and full of ritual, as if they are recreating an ancient sacrifice.
