A widower's entertainment

"Throughout the ages, how many wronged souls have lamented? In vain, the human world is boundless, teeming with sorrow and resentment. Flies and insects weep blood, laughing at the heavens, while lone sails cast shadows on the white ribbon. The waning moon rises, and suddenly a fierce wind arises, scattering everything."

These few simple sentences outline the overall tone of the drama "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner". Although the tone is slightly bleak, the drama is currently very popular.

That's right, it's incredibly hot!
It's worth noting that in another timeline, back in 2005, CCTV broadcast this historical suspense drama. After its premiere, it not only garnered extremely high praise, but its viewership even surpassed CCTV's flagship program, "News Broadcast," at one point. This alone demonstrates just how exciting and captivating "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner" truly was.

Especially since it's still 1996!
With the airing of this groundbreaking period detective drama, viewers across the country stayed glued to their television sets, watching episode after episode. As the series progressed, the cases became increasingly complex and the inside stories darkened, leaving viewers with indescribable emotions. Whether it was the plot of the mystery or the exploration of human nature and officialdom, the drama was truly profound.

In the eyes of the audience, Song Ci was an isolated anomaly, unable to clear the turbid world. The country, riddled with chronic diseases, was doomed. His retirement ended in an infinitely desolate and heavy mood. The saying "There is nothing new under the sun" was a long sigh, and the world had never changed.

How easy is it for an ant to shake a tree? A tree with deep roots is hard to uproot. It's truly pitiful, lamentable, and chilling. From the audience's perspective, everything from costumes, props, makeup, and music to the actors' performances is meticulously crafted. The costumes in the drama are not flashy or extravagant, but rather simple and beautiful. The men all wear their hair up, and the details, such as the terms for male actors, perfectly capture the atmosphere of the Song Dynasty. In addition, the props, sets, and music are all excellent, the pacing of the story is well-handled, and the actors' performances are superb. Although it tells a fictional case, it realistically recreates the political landscape of the Southern Song Dynasty, even reflecting some aspects of today. From a small local case to a major case in the capital, the details are tightly interwoven, making it a fine exposé of officialdom. The cases themselves are not complicated; the focus is on how human desires crush national righteousness and the common people.

This is the kind of TV series that has viewers all over the country going crazy watching it!
Because this drama is so captivating, viewers in front of their TVs are all following it, discussing the plot of each episode. It's safe to say that viewers are completely engrossed, and the drama's ratings have skyrocketed.

While the cases in "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner" are quite predictable, and might seem too simplistic by today's standards, they were undoubtedly groundbreaking in 1996. The ancient investigative methods were remarkably professional, truly showcasing a classic historical detective drama to the public. The show's realism was particularly noteworthy; it didn't rely on suspenseful cases, ingenious processes, or unexpected outcomes. It seemed that predicting the culprit was essential. Its true uniqueness lay in its focus on the ordinary and simple. The protagonist, Song Ci, wasn't a god, and the courtroom was a typical setting in feudal society. The cases were commonplace, but because of their seemingly ordinary motives and lack of complex backgrounds, they felt relatable and could happen anywhere. The emotions within each case were genuine, and the show's serious approach to matters of life and death brought a palpable sense of solemnity to the audience.

It is precisely this rigor and authenticity that has brought genuine emotion to the people.

As the TV series unfolds, an autopsy reveals that Zhu Yinggu's father, Magistrate Zhu, was also poisoned. His professional expertise in mortuary examination quickly clarifies the case, allowing the evidence to speak for itself in a captivating way. Later episodes include the "Taiping County Wrongful Conviction Case," the "Li Family Serial Case," the "Maozhuwu Headless Case," the "Chengnan Well Corpse Case," and the "Fake Fan Case"...

This case involved a series of interconnected investigations, with various professional techniques emerging. For example, one technique involved washing the skull with strong vinegar and then pouring hot water into the skull's crown chakra. If the victim had drowned, mud and sand would have entered their brain through their breath during the struggle; however, if the body was murdered and disposed of, there would be no mud or sand...

From the very beginning of each case, the investigation unfolds step by step, analyzing each case in a logical and well-reasoned manner, making it quite thrilling and increasingly exciting. Of course, more importantly, it is not just about suspenseful and bizarre cases, but also focuses on shaping the protagonist's image of justice and integrity. Many of the descriptions of official conduct and official behavior have a bit of a satirical tone, using the past to criticize the present.

This unprecedented period detective drama has become incredibly popular, with numerous media outlets across the country discussing and debating "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner," a groundbreaking work.

For example, the *Yanjing Daily* published an article with the headline, "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner: The Dead Speak, the Bones Cry Out for Justice," praising it as follows:

"The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner is an unprecedented period drama, pioneering the genre of period detective dramas. In addition to the cautious approach to criminal justice that is of paramount importance, and Song Ci's advanced forensic identification and investigation techniques, the most touching aspect is the genuine emotions behind the wrongful convictions in the stock market. For example, the deep bond between a mother and son is particularly moving, bringing many viewers to tears."

"A mother, deeply in love with her son, but when he was wrongfully imprisoned and came to their home to retrieve so-called evidence, she forged a blood-stained garment, sending her son to the executioner's block. Did the mother no longer love her son? Absolutely not. When the mother saw her son, tortured to the point of wishing for death, her heart was broken. Seeing the look in his eyes, where he only wanted to die quickly to end his suffering, the mother understood everything. Of course, she also hoped that the county magistrate would keep his promise and spare her son's life after obtaining the so-called physical evidence to close the case."

"The story then follows a father who murders his son-in-law to seize his ancestral estate and attempts to frame his daughter. Because of the belief that even tigers don't eat their cubs, not only Song Ci but also the audience initially don't suspect the father. However, when all the suspicions point to him, like Song Ci, there's no sense of relief at the case's resolution, but rather a deep shock and lament. So later, when the case from 25 years ago is solved in connection with it, and Song Ci says, 'Thank goodness it wasn't,' the audience feels a huge weight lifted from their shoulders. That father is not only not the daughter's biological father, but on the contrary, he is the murderer who killed her father and took her mother. The story that follows not only brings the murderer to justice but also makes the audience believe that family love should be beautiful."

"The historical feel of 'The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner' is strong in its overall visuals, with authentic and retro costumes and props. It pays close attention to detail in its narrative and features an intricate and captivating plot, which is its biggest selling point. Most importantly, the screenwriter, Lin Youcheng, is very meticulous in arranging the plot. The drama involves a lot of professional forensic knowledge, and the reasoning process of many cases is also verifiable. It is evident that the plot arrangement strives to be realistic, which is quite thoughtful and meticulous."

"Furthermore, 'The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner' creates a somber and gloomy atmosphere throughout the series, starting with a tragedy that immediately soothes the audience. However, both the emotional build-up and the plot are well-paced, especially the gradual unfolding of the cases, which immerses the viewer. The series seems to foreshadow various tragedies from the very beginning; behind each case lies helplessness and sorrow, each tragedy a product of an inhumane society. Each investigation leaves an indelible scar on the forensic examiner, whose power is limited. He is powerless to change anything, forced to watch helplessly as tragedy after tragedy unfolds. How powerless he is, as the ending theme song sings: 'Throughout the ages, how many wronged souls have lamented? Empty sorrow, boundless humanity, teeming with grief. Flies weeping blood laugh at the heavens, a lone sail's shadow locks the white silk. The waning moon rises, a sudden fierce wind blows, scattering everything…'"

……

Undoubtedly, as praised in the Yanjing Daily, the TV series "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner" truly broke new ground, opened the door to a new world, and impressed audiences. It also surprised industry insiders, who widened their eyes and discovered that TV dramas could be made in this way.

It's safe to say that the most talked-about TV series in the industry right now is "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner," without a doubt.

Zheng Xiaolong from the Yanjing Television Art Production Center was clearly amazed by Lin Youcheng's "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner." He was truly impressed and discussed it with his colleagues, praising Lin Youcheng's "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner" as it was so novel and unique. Besides discussing it at work, Zheng Xiaolong also visited Lin Youcheng in Xinghua Hutong to talk about the drama.

"Youcheng, this drama of yours is really something!"

Zheng Xiaolong truly admired Lin Youcheng from the bottom of his heart. Although he had long known that Lin Youcheng's stories were always very exciting, such as the previous collaboration between him and Lin Youcheng, "Crossing the Guandong," it was still a very exciting drama. However, "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner" was a professional drama that really broadened Zheng Xiaolong's horizons.

Zheng Xiaolong was naturally aware that "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner," while disguised as a mystery and suspense drama, gradually transformed into a political intrigue story, exploring human relationships, human nature, and case-solving. Behind each case unfolded a major political scandal, with the appearance of Yuan Tongpan, who could achieve three goals at once, and the connection between 200,000 taels of silver and Song Ci's impending journey to the capital. Wu Miaoshui made another ironic reappearance, Shi Wenjun showed his ingratitude, Xue Tingsong suffered a moral failing in his later years, and Diao Guangdou used incriminating evidence to command the officials, presenting a complex panorama of official life.

It's truly a series of interconnected events, incredibly exciting!

Zheng Xiaolong looked at Lin Youcheng and said, "It still has to be you."

Upon hearing Zheng Xiaolong's praise, Lin Youcheng smiled and said, "Don't say that."

"I truly admire him from the bottom of my heart. My workplace is currently discussing whether we should also film a period detective drama."

Upon hearing Zheng Xiaolong's words, Lin Youcheng couldn't help but say, "If you're going to film this, you must carefully consider the plausibility of the case; this is very important."

Zheng Xiaolong nodded repeatedly. He naturally knew that this was the most important thing. The reason why the TV series "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner" is so popular and loved by the people is because the reasoning of the cases is quite exciting. In fact, the most important reason is the wonderful script.

This is why industry insiders, including Zheng Xiaolong, admire Lin Youcheng so much.

Lin Youcheng thought for a moment, looked at Zheng Xiaolong, and said, "If you really intend to film a story like this, you could consider historical figures like Bao Zheng and Di Renjie."

"That's right, we are indeed considering these two historical figures."

Hearing this, Lin Youcheng couldn't help but smile. He felt that if the TV series "Young Justice Bao" and "Detective Dee" appeared earlier because of "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner", it wouldn't be a big deal. It was just like how his TV series "The Message" and "Lurking" were followed by similar spy dramas in the industry.

"I just don't know if I can write a good book like 'The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner'!"

In particular, Zheng Xiaolong also knew that what made this drama special was that Song Ci's identity as a forensic doctor brought the scientific methods from modern crime dramas to ancient times, which created a subtle sense of conflict.

Zheng Xiaolong was actually a little regretful that he wasn't in charge of this groundbreaking TV series. After all, as a director, he didn't want to miss out on such a good script. He personally really liked the story of Song Ci, the forensic examiner. The key was that the whole story had a tragic and shocking feeling, especially the overwhelming sense of righteousness and the overly idealistic, almost obsessive, sense of justice!

In fact, this is not only what Zheng Xiaolong thought, but also what the viewers thought. Countless industry professionals have also praised it, especially literary critics who have praised Lin Youcheng's portrayal of Song Ci, who adheres to his ideals and beliefs.

It can be said that the current popularity of the TV series "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner" is due to the fact that upright people always deserve respect. Song Ci repeatedly emphasizes these fundamental principles that should never be forgotten:
Human life is of paramount importance! Human life is as precious as the heavens! The human heart is more treacherous than mountains and rivers! If you don't want others to know, then don't do it! The net of heaven is vast, its meshes are wide, yet nothing escapes it!
As the plot unfolds, the show becomes increasingly popular, generating more and more lively discussions. It's fair to say that the general public has come to know Song Ci, the remarkable pioneer of forensic science. Some viewers have even developed an interest in forensic medicine and learned that "Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified" is the world's first forensic medicine treatise, derived from ancient medicine and law. Its practicality and scientific validity still hold significant reference value today. All of this undoubtedly makes "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner" a more substantial and popular drama.

This fervent enthusiasm, just as Zheng Xiaolong said, stems from the fact that "The Great Song Dynasty Forensic Examiner" is an unprecedentedly excellent novel! (End of Chapter)