Socially Anxious, but Always Right

[Beautiful, kind, and painfully shy x cold, ruthless, and deeply devoted]

Jiang Yan, an Assistant Judicial Commissioner at the Dali Temple, was imprisoned and sentenced to death after accidentally killing a man while trying to rein in a mad horse in the street.

His teacher, Zhang Ze, pleaded for him and angered the emperor. He was beaten thirty times with a staff and died.

The students were outraged. They took to the streets in protest, and the emperor had no choice but to release Jiang Yan for the time being and demote him, ordering him to walk to Mintang and take up the post of county magistrate.

By the time he arrived, his legs could barely carry him. The overbearing county magistrate had also stripped him of his authority. Jiang Yan reined in his temper and lay low, biding his time until he could seize power.

Just then, a young woman from Bianjing was framed as the culprit in a hanging-ghost case. Even under torture, she refused to confess.

Watching her, Jiang Yan thought, She's a fool. I can use her to regain control of the judiciary.

Yang Mingyun studied under Zhang Ze. Upon returning to the capital, he submitted a memorial angrily denouncing the ruler to clear his teacher's and fellow student's names. He angered the emperor and was banished from the capital.

His younger sister, Wuguan, had been raised in a poor alley since childhood. Unable to bear the thought of her suffering any longer, he left her some money and hoped she could live freely.

But a local bully coveted her money and came to force her into marriage. Wuguan refused to accept her fate and fled to Mintang, hoping to seek help from Jiang Yan, her brother's fellow student.

But as soon as she arrived in Mintang, she was framed as a murderer, and the county magistrate Jiang Yan intended to use her.

Seeing through it all, Wuguan merely smiled. "Lord Jiang, I do as I please and have a clear conscience. I just think that a person's death should not be taken so lightly."

The hanging-ghost case was solved.

Wuguan asked Jiang Yan to help her find out what had happened to her brother.

Jiang Yan agreed at once. "I'm also short a housekeeper. Work for me, and I'll pay you. That way, when we find out where he is, you'll have money for the journey."

Wuguan was puzzled. She muttered under her breath, "You need a housekeeper for a little patch of land like this?"

"What was that?" Jiang Yan asked.

"Nothing." Wuguan smiled. "I said I'd be happy to."

(Reading Guide)

❶ A fictional setting based on a real dynasty, inspired by the Song dynasty.

❷ Early on, the leads work together to solve cases and contend for power in a small town. The middle focuses on palace intrigue, and the later part takes place on the northwestern battlefield, where the leads marry.

❸ Happy ending. Both leads are virgins in body and spirit.

Theme: Grateful for the rise of feminism, she too wants to sing out loud amid the din of voices