Classic Chinese Romance: Moonlit Dust and Love in Chang’an

During the early Tang, from the Zhenguan to Yonghui eras, Chang'an stood as the imperial capital of the realm. Envoys from every nation came to pay tribute, the markets thrived, palaces towered overhead, and the powerful gathered in the city. Songs and dances never ceased behind the vermilion gates of aristocratic mansions, while carriages and horses streamed through the bustling streets. Knights-errant roamed the city, scholars lay low as they awaited their chance, and the imperial guards and powerful clans fought for influence. Beneath the appearance of a golden age lurked undercurrents of political intrigue, the joys and sorrows of human relationships, and the fate of prosperity that could vanish in an instant. In the court, noble houses and scholars from humble backgrounds maneuvered against one another; the imperial harem and the court were entangled, and every street and pavilion in Chang'an concealed tangled desires and affections, power and conviction.