I love this drama. It is a gem under the radar. It has a great plot with unusual and interesting criminal cases filled with man-made supernatural phenomena, magic and mysteries. Each case is different with unpredictable outcomes. The main characters are intelligent and lovable. The pace is good, the story telling is excellent and logical. All these are built upon a real historical background which is authentic and fascinating, albeit violent and stormy. Most of all, it’s a page turner and very addictive.

Set in the Tang Dynasty during the tumultuous second reign of Emperor Ruizong (r. 684-690, 710-712) (not explicitly stated) who was one of the sons of the infamous female Emperor Wu Zetian, the era saw the Dynasty as the center of the world with exquisite material life and fusion of diverse cultures. Consistently behind the scene is the power struggle, which is historically recorded, between the Emperor’s younger sister, Princess Taiping (youngest daughter of Wu Zetian) and the Crown Prince, Li Longji. It was said the Princess was the real power behind the throne. Many court officials and military personnel flattered to join her camp, and her power exceeded even that of the emperor’s. In this drama, we see deadly political conflicts and manifestation of conspiracy between the Crown Prince and the Elder Princess. And both of our main leads are embroiled in the conflicts which are linked to the cases they have to solve.

Yang Xuwen as Lu Lingfeng is convincing as the proud general who is not too flexible but very good in martial art fighting especially with his long spear. He is upstanding and will do anything to uphold justice. He is loyal to the Crown Prince but is warned to hands off from his investigation of the Chang'an Tea mystery which he's deeply involved and couldn't withdraw himself. So after the mystery is being solved, Lu Lingfeng is stripped of his title and ordered to leave the capital. Behind his background, he has a secret which he doesn’t know himself. Yang Xuwen has a rather rigid look and his portrayal of Lu Lingfeng is very believable.

Su Wuming (Yang Zhigang) is a student of the genius investigative judge Di Renjie. He is humble and resourceful, and is appreciated by the Princess. Su Wuming doesn’t want to be involved in the royal court disputes and is sent away from the capital to the regional office. He is meticulous and observant of the tiniest details, and he is wise but often underestimated by his enemies. Yang Zhigang’s portrayal is very authentic with his suave demeanor, bringing the character alive and loved by viewers.

On their way out of Chang'an, Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming meet again. Lu Lingfeng initially has a grudge against Su Wuming over some personal issues. After solving their first case together, they become rather fond of each other and the two become good partners, and from thereon, jointly solving cases after cases. Both characters have opposite personalities and strengths, complimenting each other in their investigative work. The bromance between the two is funny and lovable. Their formidable team later includes a talented artist who is in love with Lu Lingfeng, a brilliant doctor disguised as a beggar who loves to eat chicken, and a boy who is talented in martial arts and later becomes Lu Lingfeng’s disciple. I really enjoy watching all of them working together, fending off enemies and solving cases.

My Verdict

If you love The Imperial Coroner, The Detective, Ancient Detective, or Miss Truth, you may love this drama as well. Though with less romance than the other aforementioned, this drama has, among others, few plot holes, good storytelling, and high quality plops. The cases are intriguing and complicated, and the characters are equally lovable and intelligent.

The drama showcases phantoms, illusions, legendary beasts with the ample use of CGIs, some very good as (such as those with the giant crocodiles, phantoms), some less so (such as those with the giant bear). Every seemingly unimportant detail is a clue. Each case is different like an adventure. The case solving techniques involve new way of thinking, understanding of human psychology and most of all, common sense. The culprit in each case has compelling human reasons for committing crimes. A lot of the plots and dialogs are oxymoronic and comical without brazenly admitting so.

Romance is not the focus here as both men are tsunderes and practically run away from romantic relationships despite both men so have love interest with two women. For me, no romance is better than bad romance.

A great watch for thriller buffs.

TWO THUMBS UP! BRAVO!