The Retired Recluse

[Plot-driven, four-character ensemble, mystery and investigation, traditional wuxia, not a perfectly balanced ensemble]

Also known as: The Loner Marshal and Her Three "Helpful Spouses"

Song Lu, a self-proclaimed master of the martial world who runs a little thatched cottage, is a marshal with no troops. She boasts of being a great martial artist, but when heroes began dying in the chaos of war, she chose to withdraw from the world and retire early to a comfortable life.

Lin Baomo, son of a former leader of the martial alliance, was once a powerful martial artist. Now, with his meridians destroyed and poisoned, this sickly wanderer needs a fortune in gold and silver just to stay alive. To repay a debt of gratitude, he has no choice but to offer himself in marriage. Ahem, to serve her hand and foot!

Chu Peijing, daughter of Yue Wang, the Prince of Lan who stands shoulder to shoulder with the emperor, and also an honored county princess. Born to wealth and nobility, she lowered herself to join the thatched cottage over an old case. The reason turns out to be a jade token?

Zong Ye, the emperor's maternal uncle and an investigating censor, is upright and inflexible, which brings him a death sentence. Lost in the martial world, he takes up with bandits and begins the second half of his life as a wage earner~

A wonderful retirement begins with picking flowers and gathering herbs!

Wait, why are all the ones I bring home money-guzzling monsters?

The cottage owner walks around clutching her purse and sobbing. Then, in the blink of an eye, the three young masters and young ladies are looking at her timidly, saying they've caused a little world-shattering trouble.

"Unless I'm mistaken, I'm your benefactor and your employer, right?"

The young masters and ladies rub their hands together. "Not quite. The employer isn't that broke."

"...?! Get out of my house!"

The young masters and ladies pick their ears. "What did you say?"

"When you leave, turn left at the stairs and close the door behind you. Thanks."

Joke around all you like, but the cases that need investigating mustn't be neglected!

The Violet Locust Sect, the greatest martial arts sect, has been wiped out by its rivals? Song Lu: Nonsense!

The biggest martial arts school in the capital was slaughtered overnight by the White-Faced Ghost? Song Lu: Impossible!

The imperial salt reserves have been smuggled, and the mastermind turns out to be a mere local governor? Song Lu: Absurd!

So the young masters and ladies stare at her. "How do you know that again?"

The cottage owner's gaze wanders. "Hahaha, I happen to have a little standing and a few connections in both the martial world and the government."

Reader advisory:

1. This is a fictional dynasty. Please don't associate it with any real historical period!

2. Some cases are based on real events.

3. This is pure wuxia, with no ghosts or monsters.

Theme: The lowly live in the wilderness, the middling live among the people, and the truly great serve at court.