What kind of absurd story doe Turandot tell?

Turandot tells an absurd story that happened in ancient Beijing, China. The original script of this opera is a five-act allegorical play by the Venetian writer Carlo Gezi. It is based on the fairy tale "Arabian Nights" popular in France at the end of 17th century, and there are many roles in it. Among them, Princess Adema of Tatar, who served Princess Turandot because of the demise of the motherland, originally served as a leading role and tried to commit suicide in the play, but it was deleted in the opera and replaced by Liu Er, the innocent and lovely little maid favored by Puccini.

Only in the square in front of the Forbidden City, Princess Turandot announced to her suitor that whoever can guess the three riddles written by her will marry her, but if not, she will be executed. Turandot, with a cold face, was determined to avenge her ancestors because her grandmother was ravaged by foreign invaders a hundred years ago, so she designed to kill all foreign royal men who courted her by guessing. For a long time, no one can guess the princess's three riddles, and many people died by the sword of this cruel game.

Calaf, the young prince of Tatar, was deeply moved by Turandot's beautiful face, and decided to propose at the risk of his life and conquer the princess with his courage, wisdom and passionate love. Finally, his two hearts were fully combined. Liu Er, a loyal, pure and kind maid, has a deep crush on Prince Calaf, but there is no lucky chance. In the end, she committed suicide to save her beloved prince.

Against the background of mystery and horror, the whole drama successfully shows a bizarre and tortuous love theme full of human nature, with three characters as the main line: Chinese princess Turandot, prince Calaf, the Tatar's servant, and Liu Er, the Tatar's daughter.