Records of Strange Cases in the Divine Capital

In the final years of the Kangxi reign, the realm is at peace. Yet a bizarre murder in the imperial capital, Jingcheng, shatters the calm. Yu Zhenluan, Vice Minister of Works, is found dead in his own sealed study. The doors and windows are locked from within, with no sign that anyone entered, and the only clue is a strange, haunting fragrance. The Shuntian Prefecture investigates for days without finding a lead. Rumors of a vengeful spirit claiming lives spread through the streets, leaving everyone in fear.

The case is reported to the Court of Judicial Review, and Pei Xuanchen, an official there, is ordered to take it over. A celebrated prodigy from a young age, Pei Xuanchen is meticulous and unconventional in solving cases, skilled at uncovering mysteries in the tiniest details. He does not believe in ghosts or spirits, firmly convinced that “every strange occurrence has a human cause.”

As the investigation deepens, Pei Xuanchen discovers that the Ministry of Works, at the heart of the power struggle, is far more complicated than it appears. An old case, a massive imperial project, and bitter rivalries among colleagues are all intricately connected to Vice Minister Yu's death. From frightened servants and colleagues pretending to be calm to mysterious practitioners from the martial world, everyone seems to be hiding a secret.

The fog is thick, and danger lurks at every turn. With time running out, Pei Xuanchen must pierce through layer upon layer of deception, use airtight reasoning to capture the true culprit hiding among the crowds, and restore peace and justice to Jingcheng.