An entry in the “Bringing Ancient Books to Life” joint writing contest. In 2025, the National Library of China and the National Center for the Preservation of Ancient Books held a joint contest with Tomato Novel, receiving over 48,000 submissions. Set during the Yuanhe era of Emperor Xianzong’s reign in the Tang dynasty, this book centers on historical locations such as the Anxi Protectorate General’s Office and Suyab. Using the ancient text Records of Strange Tales from the Western Regions as its medium, it tells the story of a modern restorer of ancient books who transmigrates through time to investigate the truth of history.
