Chang'an Mysteries: Fragments of a Golden Age

Su Yunzhao, once a young and idealistic vice minister of the Dali Temple, was crushed by political machinations. After ten years in exile, he returns as a detached observer, armed only with a cynical tongue and a keen eye for deception. He forms bonds with Cui Xun, a loyal orphaned minister, and Sang Daomao, a mysterious Taoist. Together, they uncover the rot beneath the empire's splendor: murderous silk robes, poisonous elixirs, ghost markets, and a conspiracy to usurp the throne. Though he knows the dynasty is doomed, Su Yunzhao chooses to fight for a sliver of justice, lighting a candle in the darkness.