Shu Qinghe [In the End, It Was Like a Dream]

[Not quick transmigration / No System / Physical torment / Ensemble cast / Master and servant / 1 v N / Nontraditional historical fantasy / Strong female lead / Equally matched leads / Serious tone? / Terrible at writing blurbs / Beautiful but tragic]

Shu Qinghe lost focus after witnessing a teammate die on the battlefield and was injured. When she opened her eyes again, she had become Shu Qinghe, an assassin from the Soul-Praying Hall.

Her first assignment after suffering serious injuries was to assassinate Zhang Wujiu.

Zhang Wujiu was a renowned court official in the capital, a favorite of the emperor, and a chronic invalid who spent most of his time in bed.

Shu Qinghe stabbed him.

Out of guilt, she agreed to his request, never imagining that this was the beginning of her being “held hostage.” But in the end, who was holding whom hostage?

The Crown Prince Zhou Siyao, Zhang Wujiu, and Shu Qinghe shared a hidden past, but Shu Qinghe had forgotten it.

The crown prince was as beautiful and pure as a painting, and he loved her. But he never said so.

Shu Qinghe and Zhang Wujiu investigate cases together, face danger, and grow closer. But what do Du Yunchang, Shu An, Liu Qi, and Zhang Weiyi mean to Shu Qinghe? Close friends? Senior fellow disciples? Younger brothers?

A mercenary transmigrates into the body of an assassin / Max-strength assassin x frail, deceptively dark and calculating minister / Leader of an assassin organization

Not a power fantasy / A little bitter / Everyone loves the heroine / Slow-burn romance

Main quest: A peaceful and prosperous realm *Side quest: Fall in love

Neither lead has ever loved anyone else

Ensemble cast (sort of. I added this tag after coming back to the story midway through writing. I can’t help giving every major character a complete character arc.)

I want to write political intrigue, though I may not do a great job of it.

This is not an inexplicable transmigration; every action in the story has a motive.

All the major characters are resourceful, and none of them are pushovers.

Content warning: physical torment*

Every major character has something they consider more important than their own life*

Lots of physical torment*