[Tang Dynasty + mystery-solving + episodic drama + strong leads + no CP + ensemble cast]
On the eve of the Shangyuan Festival in the twenty-fourth year of the Kaiyuan era, a maid is found dead on a bed in Prince E Li Yao's residence. Since the cause of death is suspicious, the Emperor orders Prince Guang Li Ju, Censor-in-Chief Xiao Chengyun, and Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Xu Qiao to investigate. From that moment on, their fates become intertwined. Chang'an may seem prosperous, but danger lurks everywhere. Where will the three of them end up?
"The sights of Fanchuan are all clouds of the past. Since it is no longer possible to invite you to gather there, I have come to the heights of Leyou to gaze upon the mountains and the sunset. Chang'an remains as it was. May you find peace in this fleeting world."
Warning: Historical setting with real-life inspiration. Most of the characters in the book are fictional, so please don't treat it as a historical account.
(I began writing this in 2019. I wrote on and off due to personal matters, so it wasn't inspired by Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty.)
Theme: The Tang Dynasty was more than a thousand years ago. In that era, the ruler was above and officials below; officials were children, and the people were their subjects. Everyone played many roles for personal and public ends, fighting for the nation and petitioning for the people, continually changing masks throughout history.
