I, Shen Zhiyi, lie low in the Office of Records under the guise of a low-ranking clerk, all to uncover the truth behind my father's old case of "treason."
But just as my new superior takes office, he hits me with a bombshell. This Assistant Director Zhu is said by some to be a barbarian bastard from the steppes, by others the former dynasty's crown prince. His name contains the humiliating character "Li," and he carries himself like a man who has given up on life: slumped in his chair yawning, skimming only three lines of every case file. Yet the next moment, he tosses aside my resignation and fixes me with a gaze sharper than a blade. "Lord Shen never had a daughter. You're the orphan of Yu Shaobao, aren't you?"
"Want to reopen the case?" His eyes hold a hidden meaning. "Then work with me."
I follow this "frail" superior as we investigate the case of the Chastity Arch, probe the dry well at Wuxin Convent, and match wits with the old hands by day. At night, I must also watch out for palace assassins and Eastern Depot spies.
Only later do I understand: he isn't frail at all. He's deliberately hiding his edge. Under the pretext of investigating cases, he seeks justice for the wronged across the land: clearing the name of a maid forced into a marriage to bring good fortune, restoring a nun's reputation, reopening a loyal official's case, and clearing his own father's name!
I thought we were simply using each other. But when danger strikes, he takes an arrow for me, blood running from his shoulder as he laughs, "What's a little pain?" I give him seven-star grass to counter the poison. He wears it close to his body but never uses it, preferring to keep himself alive by taking another poison. When I look at him with red-rimmed eyes, he taps my desk. "Get back to work. Why are you crying? If I die, who'll help you fight for justice?"
Before the palace gates, the Embroidered Uniform Guard surrounds us on every side. He shields me behind him, his cane braced against the green bricks and his back straighter than a mountain. "Justice in this world has never been something you can beg for. You have to fight for it, step by step, out of the muck!"
It's been a long time since I've read such a delightful book. The author's writing is delicate and the ideas are clear. I really enjoyed it! 👍👍👍
The ending was abrupt; I thought it would end with the female lead clearing her family's name, but it suddenly ended 🤦 The author's writing is quite good, and the case was also very exciting.
There's no strong female lead, no rich and handsome man, no bizarre time travel, reincarnation, or resurrection; it's just a perfectly normal storyline that's captivating.
Very good read, clear structure, and excellent writing.
Fluent writing style, excellent article