Power Plays and a Brick Wall

Set in the fictional great nation of Dayan, Temple Halls and Mortal Fires follows power minister Liu Yingchuan, street storyteller Sang Wujiu, and intersecting storylines from the halls of government and the common people's lives. Across three generations of dynastic change, from the final regime of Wen Chuci to the rise of Yu Jiahe, political scheming in the halls of power, absurdities of everyday life, and underdogs turning their fortunes around all intertwine. Absurdity and tenderness coexist, as do the cold indifference of power and the warmth of human nature. Liu Yingchuan gradually awakens amid the whirlpool of power, Sang Wujiu uses humor to sway public opinion, Feng Hongyuan inadvertently becomes embroiled in political turmoil, and Chen Mancheng holds fast to his principles. Through these intersecting storylines, the novel reveals the absurdity behind power and the glimmers of light deep within human nature. As a new era dawns, the characters meet different fates, while history and reality echo one another. With humor and satire, the book reflects the world as it truly is.