Set during the turbulent Shenlong era following Wu Zetian’s abdication, this novel follows Di Renjie and his team as they travel between the Western Regions and the Central Plains, solving the mysteries of the Silk Road through their ingenuity. From the murals of Dunhuang to the hidden passageways of Gaochang, from bloody murders in Luoyang to conspiracies in Tingzhou, every case is rooted in the Tang dynasty’s diverse, multicultural society, interweaving court power struggles with dangers on the frontier. Drawing on the best of classical detective fiction, the story emphasizes fair-play mysteries and nuanced character portrayals, weaving a strange and magnificent portrait of the dark side of a golden age through the cracks in history.
