In the fourteenth year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty, the sixth-grade magistrate Tang Fan collaborated with Sui Zhou, the general flag of the Imperial Guard, to solve the murder case of a noble lord's son. Their fame rose immensely, and they forged a bond. Despite their fame, Tang Fan, known for his integrity, continued to rent a room for his living, while his virtuous landlord, Madam Zhang, was brutally murdered in a locked room. Although it appeared to be a suicide, there were many doubts surrounding it. After an investigation, the dead woman’s husband, Li Man, was eventually captured. Soon after, Tang Fan traveled to Henan to investigate a case and discovered that many people near the tomb of the Northern Song Dynasty emperor had gone missing, with the real culprit being the escaped convict Li Man. In a fierce battle, Li Man was apprehended again, yet he and his henchmen seemed to be mere pawns in a larger game. Subsequently, numerous major cases erupted in both the capital and local areas, including the "murder case of the Director and his wife" and the "kidnapping of the Crown Prince". Behind these events, the influence of court factions was evident. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou eventually uncovered the truth – the mastermind behind this series of crimes was Shang Ming, the supervisor of the Eastern Depot, who was plotting to rebel. He exploited his connections within the court and the political realm to create chaos, eliminate rivals, and cultivate support to lay the groundwork for insurrection. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou joined forces to thwart Shang Ming's conspiracy and were rewarded for their efforts. The two continued to diligently serve as officials, maintaining justice and working hard to punish evil and bring peace to the people.
