The Female Detective

Li Zhao is an ambitious person. Just after passing the exams to become a low-ranking official at the Court of Judicial Review, she eagerly helped expose a treason plot and won the empress's favor.

But in the blink of an eye, her fiance was implicated in the treason case and exiled, while she was suspended from her post.

The court was full of hidden dangers, and undercurrents swirled through the capital. In spring, the empress planned to host a flower-viewing banquet, but strange events began occurring. Three high-ranking officials in succession fell to their deaths under mysterious circumstances near the Ascension Tower, where the banquet was to be held.

A night watchman encountered a ghost in the dead of night and heard weeping from the tower. Blood seeped from its signboard.

Before long, the whole city was gripped by panic, and rumors ran rampant.

The many suspicious clues suggested that the case had far-reaching implications. The Court of Judicial Review investigated for days, delaying the flower-viewing banquet, but made no progress.

The empress was furious and ordered the establishment of a bureau to investigate wrongful convictions. As she considered which officials to appoint, she suddenly thought of the female official who had once saved her life and was later suspended: Li Zhao.

That young official had a bold and fearless spirit. Perhaps she could be useful if summoned now.

Meanwhile, Li Zhao had no idea that she was about to be entrusted with an important role. She was busy sending a letter to break off her engagement with her ex-fiance in exile, and planning to meet the new husband her family had picked out, to see whether he was handsome.

Li Zhao is a thoroughly ordinary person. First, she loves promotion and riches. Second, she loves fine clothes and delicious food. Third, she loves handsome men.

It's just that the new husband her family introduced is indeed handsome, but his manner seems a little too proper. He even wiped his chair twice before sitting down.

Reader's Guide:

1. An alternate-history setting with a fictional dynasty. For now, the story is about 70% detective work and 30% food, romance, and relationships.

2. The female lead is an ordinary, worldly person, not a powerful heroine. She is greedy for money, enjoys handsome men and good food, and loves getting promoted and rich. The author's writing is limited, and this is not a historically researched novel.

Core theme: Heaven's justice is clear, and retribution is sure.