A Scheming Snow in a Gentleman's Attire

Gender-swapped imperial examinations x mystery-solving x sweet, satisfying comeback! A high-powered premise, with a royal flush from the start!

Mu Shangxue never imagined her life could change so quickly. In a single night, her brilliant twin brother died unexpectedly, and her family's ink workshop teetered on the brink of collapse after a tribute-ink poisoning case. With no other way out, she cut off her hair, put away her feminine clothes, and assumed her brother's name, "Mu Chen." Resolutely, she entered the imperial examinations, where only men were allowed, swearing to uncover the truth and defy fate!

But the examination halls were full of intrigue, and another murder soon took place, with the murder weapon pointing straight to her family's ink sticks! Even more absurd, a stunningly beautiful "embroiderer" named Shen Wan, whose skill was unparalleled and whose strength was astonishing, kept appearing and disappearing around her. This "young lady" had sharp eyes and was even better at solving cases than she was at embroidery.

"Young Master Mu, there seems to be something wrong with your ink..." "Miss Shen, there seems to be something unusual about your hands, too..."

She disguised herself as a man and treaded on thin ice; he disguised himself as a woman and planned his every move. They tested each other and harbored suspicions, yet became each other's only source of support through one life-or-death crisis after another. When a bizarre poisoning occurred again in the examination compound's secret chamber, and the mastermind's emergence revealed a shocking conspiracy...

He shed his skirts and revealed himself as the cold-faced prince who held power over the court; she washed off her makeup and revealed herself as a brilliant female strategist!

A powerful pair, facing off as equals. She wielded ink and brush as blades, sweeping corrupt officials from the examination halls; he wove a net of power, purging the demons from the court. Together, they solved strange cases and cleared the wrongly accused, and amid flashing blades, they pledged themselves to each other, promising the land as a betrothal gift and their hearts in ink.

"Your Highness, does that handkerchief you gave me when you were disguised as an embroiderer still count?" "My lady, if you like it, then..."