Feigning Innocence

Lu Que was a treacherous minister who wielded power at court, only to die beneath a rain of blades.

When he opened his eyes again, he was eighteen, reborn on the road to take up his post in Changyang County. Facing an old acquaintance, Qin Mingyan, who had come to kill him once more, he put on a meek, helpless act. “Spare me, my lord! I’m just the concubine that corrupt official kidnapped…”

Qin Mingyan was a transmigrator who had awakened in the body of a low-ranking soldier near the end of the Qing Dynasty.

He had fought with all his might, yet still suffered the defeat foretold in the history books. After leading the surviving troops to clear out the mountain, he waited quietly for the uprising that would shake the Qing Dynasty three years later.

When he heard that a county magistrate would be passing through his territory, Qin Mingyan paid it no mind. But when he learned the man’s name was Lu Que, murderous intent surged within him. He failed to kill the infamous villain who would stink up the history books for generations, but instead came across a pretty young man.

Lu Que presented his appointment letter. He only wanted to hand off this troublesome post, then be taken up the mountain like in his previous life and live comfortably as a pampered husband. He absolutely would not sneak out of the stronghold in the middle of the night while pregnant to take up his post again.

But Qin Mingyan weighed the official seal in his hand and said something utterly astonishing. “You’re educated? Then you can take up the post of county magistrate.”

Lu Que’s smile vanished. What? No, is that right?

And so the strangest magistrate-and-bodyguard duo in history was born.

The real villain spends every day jumping back and forth between his corrupt self and the persona of an upright magistrate, while the fake bodyguard is utterly absorbed in the act, secretly cheating his way to success with distilled liquor, soap, and glass.

As Changyang County flourishes under their rule, Lu Que starts to think this life isn’t so bad after all.

That is, until the incorruptible official who killed him in his previous life shows up. The bandits mistake the man for one of their own and tie him up before Lu Que. Lu Que is itching to seize the chance to make a move, but the man spits out the gag in his mouth. “Lu Que, you’ve colluded with bandits to murder an official of the imperial court!”

Lu Que: !!! My secret identity!

BL:

1. Mpreg. The baby is reborn too, and will tell the uke what happened after he died in his previous life.

2. The uke is no good person. He seems refined and carefree on the surface, but is actually a cunning, exceptionally clever little liar.

3. The seme looks fierce, but is a bit of a blockhead: an honest, somewhat naive military-tech geek.

A quick plug for my new novel, The Cross-Dressing Master Is Hooked on Collecting Cards in the Detective Conan Universe.

Blurb for my next novel:

Lin Qingyuan has just transmigrated and gotten a golden finger. “Whoa, I came back from the dead! Let’s get hyped!”

Then he learns he’s in the Detective Conan universe. “I’m done for.”

Lin Qingyuan discovers his golden finger requires cross-dressing. “I’m never cross-dressing. Not in this lifetime.”

Three minutes later: “Ninety-nine percent complete, how rare!”

Lin Qingyuan swears to stay far away from the Black Organization. “If I see anyone wearing black, I have to avoid them. I must never get involved with the Black Organization.”

Three months later, the sixteen-year-old girl who has become the first Kid’s apprentice says, “Senior Sharon, it’s me! I’m your cutest junior sister, remember?”

A year later, Lin Qingyuan deliberately cuts off a handsome silver-haired man from the Black Organization in his vintage car, then taunts him with a whistle while dressed as a woman.

Lin Qingyuan gets caught by the silver-haired man and dragged into the organization to do grunt work. “I have absolutely no interest in being a spy.”

The very next day, Lin puts on a crop top and miniskirt and has a one-of-a-kind encounter with a blond Japanese police officer.

To get a complete wedding dress set, Lin even throws away every last shred of dignity and completes fourteen couples’ quests with a certain undercover agent, from holding hands to proposing.

After finally saving Scotland, Lin Qingyuan declares firmly, “If I save anyone again, I’m a dog.”

A year later, Lin says, “What’s so bad about being a dog?! Woof! Woof!”

After faking his death and leaving the organization, Lin Qingyuan settles into a peaceful life. “I can scare Conan, but I absolutely won’t get involved in the main plot.”

Not long after, Lin says, “Kid, did you drop this gold listening device, this silver one, or this one covered in gum and trampled to pieces?”

Theme: Judge by actions, not intentions.