The Tale of Chang'an Roof Tiles

*The Story of Chang’an Roof Tiles* is set in Chang’an during the height of the Tang dynasty. It tells the legendary tale of Su Yan, a craftswoman at Guiyan Tile Workshop, who uses tiles as her bond and craftsmanship to break through obstacles, uncover a Silk Road injustice, and protect the peace of the people.

Su Yan inherited her grandfather’s exquisite skills. Specializing in restoring ancient tiles and identifying their age and origins, she wanted nothing more than to tend the workshop and live a quiet life. But a flying-horse roof tile from the Western Regions unexpectedly drew her into a century-old secret. Li Heng, a young nobleman of the imperial clan, was secretly investigating an old case. The two were brought together by the tile and joined forces to uncover the truth.

Their investigation led from the depths of Chang’an’s imperial palace all the way to the deserts of the Western Regions, where they finally uncovered the truth behind the fall of the Kingdom of Miro: the ancient kingdom had not been destroyed by sandstorms. Court officials, coveting its abundant underground gold mines, had plotted a massacre to silence its people, then deliberately erased the relevant history. Using the secrets hidden in the patterns on the tiles, Su Yan deciphered the sand formation and opened the underground palace. The ancient tiles served as proof, finally clearing the kingdom’s name a century later.

Once the turmoil had passed, envoys from the Miro survivors arrived in Chang’an, bringing the distinctive craftsmanship of the Western Regions. Su Yan brought together artisans from China and abroad, firing a tile symbolizing harmony along the Silk Road. Central Plains building traditions and foreign techniques now shone side by side in Chang’an.

Soon afterward, Su Yan amazed everyone at the capital’s ancient architecture restoration contest. But remnants of the treacherous officials and the Black Sand clan tried to assassinate her with a poison made from a secret fragrance of the Western Regions. Following subtle traces between the tiles, she unraveled the clues and solved not only the poison-murder case but also exposed the secretive artisan organization that had been lurking for years: the Flying Bird Pavilion. These craftsmen, who used their skills for evil, were the ones who had covered up the evidence and committed repeated crimes all along.

From the bustle of the common streets to ancient desert cities, from court intrigue to secret battles between artisans, Su Yan remained steadfast in her commitment to integrity and craftsmanship,