Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty (唐朝诡事录)

Set in the Tang Dynasty during the tumultuous second reign of Emperor Ruizong, the capital Chang’an is plagued by a series of bizarre and sinister events. When a mysterious "Black Tea" becomes the talk of the city, coinciding with a wave of bride disappearances, the proud and impulsive Jinwu Guard General Lu Lingfeng is tasked with uncovering the truth. His path crosses with the sharp and cunning Su Wuming, a disciple of the legendary detective Di Renjie. Initially at odds, the two form an uneasy partnership to solve a chain of supernatural mysteries, uncovering a web of dark conspiracies that threaten the very foundation of the empire.

The first season has 36 episodes, each approximately 45 minutes long, and is structured around eight distinct cases. Each arc is roughly 4-5 episodes long.

• Arc 1: The Chang’an Black Tea (Episodes 1-6): The introductory case where General Lu Lingfeng, investigating the disappearance of brides, meets Su Wuming. Together, they uncover a sprawling conspiracy tied to a mysterious hallucinogenic tea known as "Chang’an Black Tea," leading to their first major victory and subsequent banishment from the capital.
• Arc 2: Southern Exile & Bizarre Local Cases (Episodes 7-21): Forced to leave the capital, Su Wuming is demoted and exiled to Nanzhou, while Lu Lingfeng is stripped of his official rank. During their journey, they encounter a series of strange local mysteries in different towns, including the cases of "The Painting of the Stone Bridge", "Hall of Life", and "The Ghost of Gantang". This arc focuses on their growing partnership and solving cases that reveal the dark underbelly of seemingly peaceful communities.
• Arc 3: Return to the East & Escalating Stakes (Episodes 22-31): The investigation leads the duo to Luoyang, the eastern capital and the center of a fierce power struggle between Princess Taiping and Crown Prince Li Longji. Here they tackle the cases of "Tuo God" and "Face Flower," which are more politically charged, directly tied to the escalating imperial power struggle.
• Arc 4: The Final Conspiracy & Climax (Episodes 32-36): The final case, "Sky-scraping Tower," sees the duo return to Chang’an where the conspiracy reaches its peak. The mastermind behind the earlier schemes is revealed, and they must intervene to prevent a catastrophic event that could eliminate the crown prince and the princess, ultimately saving the empire from a devastating power vacuum.