{"product_id":"the-shadow-of-the-empire-main","title":"The Shadow of the Empire (Main)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Brilliant' -\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e Starred Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe legendary Judge Dee Renjie investigates a high-profile murder case in this intriguing companion novel to \u003c\/i\u003eInspector Chen and the Private Kitchen Murder\u003ci\u003e set in seventh-century China.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJudge Dee Renjie, Empress Wu's newly appointed Imperial Circuit Supervisor for the Tang Empire, is visiting provinces surrounding the grand capital of Chang'an. One night a knife is thrown through his window with a cryptic note attached: '\u003ci\u003eA high-flying dragon will have something to regret!\u003c\/i\u003e' \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMinutes after the ominous warning appears, Judge Dee is approached by an emissary of Internal Minister Wu, Empress Wu's nephew. Minister Wu wants Judge Dee to investigate a high-profile murder supposedly committed by the well-known poetess and courtesan, Xuanji, who locals believe is possessed by the spirit of a black fox. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhy is Minister Wu interested in Xuanji? Despite Xuanji confessing to the murder, is there more to the case than first appears? With the mysterious warning and a fierce power struggle playing out at the imperial court, Judge Dee knows he must tread carefully . . .","brand":"Severn House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51947320508647,"sku":"9781448307395","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0449\/4075\/5096\/files\/imageloader_e2ff126d-9a41-4218-a469-f08a585c3fae.jpg?v=1775486817","url":"https:\/\/arvidabookco.com\/products\/the-shadow-of-the-empire-main","provider":"Arvida Book Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}