Seizing the Palace

(Woman disguised as a man, political intrigue and romance)

Rong Yu is the Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, The Outcast, second only to the emperor and above all others. Everyone says she is as elegant as a jade tree, but no one knows she's actually a woman.

A palace maid admires her high position and wants to become her sworn partner.

A scholar admires her extraordinary literary talent and wants to befriend her.

The officials of the court trust her seasoned methods and want to form a faction with her.

Rong Yu remains composed, impartial, and unhurried.

Until one day, the gentle and poised Crown Prince refuses to let anyone into her office.

The overbearing prince who constantly gives her a hard time stammers, defending her more than anyone else.

The reserved and inscrutable Grand Secretary quietly brings her a cup of brown sugar ginger tea.

Rong Yu: "…"

My next novel, Half a Pot of Vermilion Sand. This is all I have for the blurb for now. I'll revise it when I start writing, but the core of the story won't change. It's also a political intrigue and romance story of the same kind.

Blurb:

The Crown Prince is found dead under mysterious circumstances in his private quarters, with half a pot of vermilion sand left on his desk. The case shocks the court. The emperor orders the three judicial offices to assign staff to investigate it, and Cui Qi, an official of the Court of Judicial Review, is one of them.

Cui Qi has recently become famous in the capital for solving several cases in a row. Until now, they were all minor cases among the common folk. This time, the case concerns the heir to the throne. Cui Qi returns home in a cold sweat, tosses the documents to his younger sister, and says,

"You little troublemaker. You got me saddled with a reputation I don't deserve. Here, if you're so capable, go handle it yourself."

Cui Zhao takes her brother's documents with a sweet smile, immediately changes into his official robes, grabs her forensic kit, disguises herself as a man, and heads straight to the Eastern Palace to take up her post.

With her slender, delicate hands, she will uncover this bizarre case that threatens to engulf the entire court.

Theme: Stay true to your original aspirations