The grand finale of Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: Chang'an (唐朝诡事录之长安) has left its audience with more questions than closure. While the third season of this popular historical mystery series delivered the expected courtly intrigue and atmospheric detective work in the bustling capital of Chang'an, its conclusion felt curiously unfinished. The central power struggle between the young Emperor and his formidable aunt, the Princess Zhenguo (镇国), reached a simmering new tension, setting the stage for a future confrontation. Yet, several narrative threads introduced throughout the season were left dangling, and one character's entire purpose remains bafflingly unclear. For dedicated viewers, the finale was less a resolution and more an intermission, prompting intense speculation about what the creators have in store for the next chapter.
The Monk Who Meant Nothing
In the season's second case, "The Weeping of Chengfo Temple," investigators Su Wuming (苏无名) and Fei Ji encounter a monk named Kong Le (空了). His introduction is charged with deliberate mystery. He bears an uncanny resemblance to Qin Xiaobai (秦孝白), the legendary, blind court painter from a previous season's "Subduing the Demons" case. While the connection is visually teased, it is never explained. Kong Le speaks of a grueling pilgrimage from the eastern coasts, deciding to stay in Chang'an after witnessing its glory.
His most significant moment comes when he kneels before a mural painted by Qin Xiaobai, visibly moved to tears. This poignant scene creates an expectation of deeper ties—perhaps he is a relative, a disciple, or even Qin Xiaobai himself under a new identity. The show invites the audience to ponder a hidden backstory, linking the spiritual art of the temple with the tragic artist of the past.
This expectation, however, leads nowhere. When a later case involves a mythical beast also said to originate from the eastern coasts, viewers naturally anticipated Kong Le's relevance. Yet, he vanishes from the narrative completely. With no impact on the plot or character development, his presence feels like a discarded concept, a red herring without a purpose. Whether he is merely a forgotten loose end or a puzzle piece for a future season is now one of the show's own unresolved mysteries.
A Question of Loyalty
Beyond unexplained characters, the season finale deepened questions about allegiance within the palace walls. A key figure in this quiet war of trust is A Yin, the Emperor's most personal maid. She is privy to his most confidential conversations, suggesting absolute faith. However, subtle details hint at a far more complex history. The Emperor recalls that as a sickly child, he was nursed back to health in the Princess's own mansion, with A Yin by his side. This places her origins firmly within the Princess's household.
Furthermore, it is revealed she grew up in the harsh Yeting (掖庭) palace quarters alongside the famous Shangguan Wan'er (上官婉儿). While Wan'er found patronage with Empress Wu Zetian (武则天), the question of who rescued A Yin lingers. The most logical benefactor would be the Princess herself, raising the obvious suspicion that A Yin is a planted agent. Her deep, longstanding connection to the Princess makes her the perfect conduit for information.
The compelling twist is that the Emperor, a master of political strategy, likely suspects this duality. His decision to discuss sensitive matters in her presence may be a calculated gambit. By controlling what A Yin hears, he can feed misinformation directly to his aunt. A final scene where he loudly chastises a eunuch for being overly wary of the Princess could very well be a performance for A Yin's ears. Her true role—a genuine loyalist, a deliberate double agent, or an unwitting pawn—remains the season's most intimate cliffhanger.
The Unseen Hand
The political machinations extend beyond the palace, into the shadowy underworld of assassins. The case "The Flag Pavilion Murders" introduces Mo Ying Youyan, a legendary killer who resurfaces after two decades in hiding. His target is Lu Lingfeng, the Princess's secret son and a central protagonist. Mo Ying admits he was activated by a "Blood Drop Order," a deadly contract from within the powerful Xuedi (血滴) assassin guild. But he takes the identity of the contractor to his grave.
This unanswered question points to high places. One potential culprit is Minister Cui (崔相), the Princess's chief advisor. While ostensibly loyal, he has previously acted independently to force the Princess's hand, such as conspiring with Li Nai'er (李奈儿) to assassinate the Emperor. Eliminating Lu Lingfeng could be another brutal tactic to escalate conflict and push the Princess toward open rebellion, severing her emotional ties to a son who serves the throne.
The more likely suspect, however, is the Emperor's own confidant, the Yang Neishi (杨内侍). This shadowy eunuch has a history of targeting Lu Lingfeng, having orchestrated assassination attempts against him in the previous season. Acting on the Emperor's implicit desires or his own initiative to remove a key piece from the Princess's side fits a established pattern. The unresolved "Blood Drop Order" is a stark reminder that the greatest threats to Lu Lingfeng may not come from monstrous legends or foreign foes, but from the calculated cruelty of Chang'an's own power players. The answer awaits in the promised conflict to come.
