The Fake County Magistrate Covets My Puppet Magic

[A highly skilled puppeteer x a scheming, sinister fake county magistrate]

Cui Yinyin was the heir to a family of puppeteers, and once had a brilliant partner in solving cases.

Whenever she mentioned her partner, she would click her tongue and shake her head. “What a pity about Brother Cheng Jin. With his talent, he’s stuck as a county magistrate in remote Chaozhou.”

One day, she was suddenly summoned to the palace on the pretext of investigating a case, and told she could not return home until it was solved.

Desperate to go home, she prepared to escape one night.

She had set up red strings attached to her puppets, so she would know if anyone entered her chambers.

Just as she was about to climb out the window, the strings wrapped around her waist, and she fell into a broad embrace.

The man whispered in her ear, “Miss Cui, didn’t you say in Chaozhou that one day you’d become my little constable? I asked Father Emperor to bring you here to investigate a case. Are you unhappy?”

Cui Yinyin: ?

You mean my little county magistrate partner is actually the eldest prince?

Wait, why are you standing so close?

.

For the sake of an obsession, Cheng Jin pretended to be a county magistrate and went to Chaozhou.

There were bandits everywhere along the road to his post. A woman came to his aid, leaving the bandits in a river of blood.

They traveled together and solved cases. She was calm and decisive in a crisis, and when she worked her puppets, it was impossible to look away.

She called him her good partner.

But he never told her that from the moment they first met, he had coveted her puppet techniques. If he could become her, perhaps he could finally put that obsession to rest.

The day she said goodbye to him, he suddenly understood.

If he couldn’t become her, then breaking her wings and keeping her bound to his side might do just as well.

*Reader’s Guide:

1. Both virgins, HE.

2. Strong female lead, mystery, and standalone case arcs. The early story focuses on investigations; later, it focuses more on the romance.

3. The male lead pretends to be a gentleman at first, then becomes thoroughly sinister. He’s quite heartless before falling for the female lead, so proceed with caution if that bothers you.

4. A fictional historical setting with a mix of influences. Please don’t nitpick historical accuracy.

5. The text will be revised after completion.

Theme: People are bound to meet again