A modern chemistry PhD travels back in time to become a remote county magistrate in the Northern Song Dynasty. Right at the start, he encounters a bizarre case of a corpse cremated by celestial fire. The prefectural judicial inspector uses divine punishment as an excuse to burn the evidence, threatening dismissal and collective punishment if the case is not solved in three days. While others worship gods and buddhas, he pulls out white phosphorus, chalcanthite, and saponification reactions. Blood streaks in bone crevices expose arson; a beeswax delay mechanism dismantles the locked-room trick; and a ladle of acetic acid in the courtroom reveals the true face of the celestial fire stone. What he cracks is not just a murder case, but a dark military contraband smuggling ring for saltpeter and chalcanthite, backed by the omnipotent hand of the Prime Minister. In the Song Dynasty, a science scholar wields chemistry as his blade to burn corrupt officials back to their true forms.

A Science Student in the Song Dynasty - 1

A Science Student in the Song Dynasty (23 episodes) - AllShorts