The Strange Cases of Changsha

The main story is complete. Dear readers, see you in the bonus chapters. Please don't repost pirated copies. Thank you for supporting the official version. In the twenty-fourth year of the Republic, grave robbers in Ningxiang County unearthed a Han Dynasty coffin. When a few of them opened it and lit their lamps, they found a jade stone in the throat of the female corpse. It was beautiful, pale white throughout, with red veins running through it. That night, it fetched a high price at the ghost market. Later, it hung around the slender white neck of Mrs. Xie of the Xie residence on Duzheng Street. After Mrs. Xie began wearing the jade, strange things happened one after another. First came nightmares every night, then a prolonged illness that refused to heal. They summoned a Taoist priest from Yunlu Temple to perform a ritual. Strange as it was, after the ritual, Mrs. Xie hanged herself in her room on a moonless night. The Xie family fell into chaos, believing an evil spirit was at work. They searched far and wide for an expert, but everyone in town said the object was cursed, and for a while no one dared go near it. A day later, a young Taoist priest arrived at the Xie residence. She said she had studied under the Jing Sect and was skilled at driving away evil and catching ghosts. But after entering the residence, A Tan did not perform a ritual. Instead, she walked around the coffin and discovered that the circumstances of Mrs. Xie's death were suspicious, and seemed to point to foul play... That night, she sneaked into the residence to open the coffin and examine the body. Suddenly, someone grabbed her by the throat from behind. "Who are you?" "Zhou Qinzhi of the Police Bureau. Who are you?" "I'm your old flame!" Zhou Qinzhi gave a derisive laugh. "I wonder where I got an old flame like you?" When the candle was lit, Zhou Qinzhi used its glow to see her face. To his shock, the woman looked exactly like his deceased fiancée, Miss Lin Xiuyin, the only daughter of the Changsha Chamber of Commerce president... Quirky, foreign-educated forensic examiner x aloof police captain [Republican-era episodic cases: Chinese horror + mystery and deduction + nation and family] All cases and characters are fictional. Please add my upcoming novel The Truth of the No-Man's Land to your collection. (I) In a desolate wilderness, a black SUV raced through the yellow sand. Cheng Zhaoye planned to cross this dangerous no-man's land before nightfall. He slammed on the brakes. Seeing the woman who had suddenly dashed in front of him, his defiant eyes blazed with anger. "Do you have a death wish?" The woman leaned against the car window and slowly raised her face, beautiful and cool despite her disheveled state. "Help me." This place was desolate. If he didn't help her, the wolves might tear her apart after nightfall. Cheng Zhaoye took pity on her. Once inside the car, the woman pressed a sharp knife to his waist, her expression fierce. "Drive faster, or I'll kill you." (II) A vicious murder case shook the entire city. The police investigated and quickly identified the culprit. At the trial, Cheng Zhaoye appeared for the prosecution. There was eyewitness testimony, complete evidence, and a clear chain of clues. It seemed the verdict was a foregone conclusion. But soon, the defense lawyer's arrival turned everything upside down. She wore a black business suit, her wavy hair tied back in a ponytail, and carried herself with confidence and pride. "My name is Gu Shao. I will be entering a plea of not guilty for my client." Criminal defense lawyer x detective Bold beauty x rugged man The author's completed novels: Blade and Strong Liquor [Criminal Investigation], Heart Set on Fire Again [Criminal Investigation], Wildfire Drowned, She Is Like a Cold Glint at a Knife's Tip [Criminal Investigation] Theme: A married couple works together to solve extraordinary cases