Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty (Horror Stories of Tang Dynasty / Tang Chao Gui Shi Lu / 唐朝诡事录)

There are many classes in the Blessing Temple now.

Teachers there

are the best in the country.

This is a rare opportunity.

It's not difficult for you

to learn martial arts from me.

But if you want

to be as erudite as Su Wuming,

it won't be easy.

Xue Huan,

whether you can make great achievements

and become a strong man

in the future

depends on your choice today.

I know

that studying is painstaking,

but I have great expectations of you.

That's why I made this choice

for you.

Xue Huan,

your master is right.

I've known Lu Lingfeng for so long,

but I never knew until this moment

that he's better at lecturing than me.

Xue Huan,

listen to your master.

By the way,

go to the Memorial Temple of Master Di

to find that little beggar.

His name is Niu Su.

He's a smart boy.

Take him to the Blessing Temple with you

and see to it that he studies hard.

You'll both follow the right path in the future.

I will often come to Dongdu to see you.

Her Highness has sent someone

to the Blessing Temple for you.

Don't keep them waiting.

Master,

I don't want to leave you.

Neither do I.

Follow me.

Off he went.

Off he went.

But if I miss him,

I can visit him anytime.

After all, in the list given by Minister Xing,

there are over 100 court ladies in Luoyang

who have used the Face Flowers.

They haven't taken the antidote yet.

I have to stay in Luoyang.

I can't leave now.

No course is nobler than saving lives.

Fed,

I respect you from the bottom of my heart.

Su Wuming,

what did the Princess

talk to you today?

Court affairs.

She didn't ask about you.

It's spectacular!

Unbelievable.

Magnificent.

Hurray for the great Tang!

Hurray for the Sky-scraping Tower!

The building of the tower

started in the first year of Emperor Gaozong's reign.

Was it in the same year

that Empress Wu Zetian was named Heavenly Empress

and referred to as the Two Saints with Emperor Gaozong?

The Japanese envoy

knows a lot about Tang.

You're right.

It was in that year.

Almost 40 years have passed.

The Sky-scraping Tower is so great.

No country

other than Tang

can build

such a great tower.

Nearly 40 years.

Well…

Why did it take so long to build the tower?

Yeah.

Only the foundation was laid at first.

During the reign of Heavenly Empress

and his son Emperor Zhongzong,

the building of the tower was halted.

It was after Queen Wei ascended the throne

that the building was resumed.

However, it stopped again when only half of the tower

was finished because of the ousting of Queen Wei.

The building of the second half

started a year ago

under the charge of the Princess.

It was just finished last month.

Look!

The completion celebration

will be held at the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

At that time,

a magic show will be presented here.

The Emperor of Tang

will invite all officials,

envoys of different countries,

and the people of Chang'an

to enjoy the show together.

As far as I know,

the magic show was banned

by Emperor Gaozong back then.

Yes.

That's because some magic tricks

are too dangerous and bloody.

Emperor Gaozong did ban the show.

But this time,

His Majesty is determined

to bring the show back in the completion celebration.

It means that the country is in peace now.

I believe this magic show

will be an unprecedented one.

Mr. Yuwen,

you are the main architect

of the Sky-scraping Tower.

This tower has three floors underground

and 33 floors above the ground.

Why is that?

The 33 floors above the ground

is an allusion

to the Heaven of 33

in Buddhism.

Plus the three floors underground,

there are 36 floors in total.

They're an allusion

to the 36 Heavens in Chinese myths.

I've heard

that there is one floor call Beyond Heaven

at the top of the tower.

That's right.

If this tower

is the greatest building in Chang'an,

the Beyond Heaven

is a shining star

in the sky above Chang'an.

Today,

can we have the honor of visiting the Beyond Heaven

and looking at Chang'an from the top of it?

Yes. Can we have the honor of that?

Of course not.

To go to the Beyond Heaven,

one must have His Majesty's permission.

Coming to the Beyond Heaven

with Your Majesty

and looking at Chang'an from the top of it

is such a great honor for me.

I heard from Du Ming a few days ago

that the envoys of various countries

are all looking forward to the magic show on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

They all hope

to be invited by Your Majesty

to the Beyond Heaven

to look at the prosperous Chang'an after the show.

I bet the Sky-scraping Tower

has no equals

in the whole world.

It took nearly 40 years to finish building this tower.

Its design and construction

are both brilliant.

To ensure that this tower is unparalleled,

His Majesty ordered Yuwen Mukai

to burn the blueprints.

In that case,

no other countries will be able to replicate this masterpiece.

It was so wise a decision, Your Majesty.

If our plan succeeds,

everyone contributing to it will be invited here for celebration.

At that time,

you'll definitely be one of them, Assistant Minister Pei.

His Majesty

thinks highly of you, Assistant Minister Pei.

Among all the officials,

you are the first one

to come to the Beyond Heaven

with His Majesty.

Your Majesty,

I feel so honored.

Assistant Minister Pei,

look.

It seems to be a bird.

No.

Its wings

are different from a bird's.

Is it a wooden bird?

Your Majesty,

should the Imperial Guards

shoot it down?

Don't make a fuss.

Even if it's a wooden bird,

there's nothing to worry about.

Word has spread

that I'll hold a magic show

on the Mid-Autumn Festival.