The Lychees of Chang'an
Set in the bustling, corrupt Tang Dynasty capital of Chang’an, *The Lychees of Chang’an* follows Li Shande, a low-ranking, math-savvy government clerk who stumbles into an impossible mission: delivering fresh lychees from the tropical Lingnan region—over 3,000 miles away—to the Emperor’s favorite concubine, Yang Guifei, in just 11 days. Tasked with a death sentence if he fails, Li navigates cutthroat court politics, treacherous terrain, and bureaucratic red tape to crack the code of lychee preservation and rapid transit. Along the way, he confronts the brutal cost of imperial indulgence: exploited villagers, exhausted couriers, and broken friendships. As he succeeds against all odds, Li realizes the hollow glory of court success, choosing integrity over power and retreating to Lingnan to rebuild his life. Ma Boyong’s witty, tightly woven narrative humanizes the hidden struggles of ordinary people in a grand, unforgiving empire, offering a sharp critique of bureaucratic corruption and the price of luxury.