The Legend of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau

Set against the backdrop of the Ming Dynasty during the Yongle era, specifically spanning from the eighteenth year of Yongle to the spring equinox of the nineteenth year, this historical mystery unfolds within the intricate corridors of astronomical bureaucracy and ancient detective work. Gu Qing, a doctoral scholar in the Observation Division, uncovers a shocking truth: the celestial anomalies hailed as auspicious omens a decade prior were nothing more than a fabricated hoax. This deception led to the disappearance of his father, driving Gu Qing to seek the truth behind the forgery. To unravel the conspiracy, Gu Qing joins forces with Shen Jinghong, a female doctoral scholar from the Huihui Division, and Zhao Feng’an, a commanding officer of the Eastern Depot. Together, they expose Prince Jing’s sinister plot to usurp the throne. Their journey takes them far beyond the capital to Dunhuang, where Gu Qing finally locates his mother, who has been missing for ten years. There, they discover the staggering secret of the Yuezhi clan’s "Return Path"—an ancient heritage route leading deep underground.