Lord Qin's Rules for Survival

"The Survival Rules of Magistrate Qin"

One day, a book called "The Survival Rules of Magistrate Qin" began circulating quietly among the people. The first page read:

First: My name isn't Magistrate Qin. It's Qin Mobai.

Second: This is a pirated book. The official title is "The Official Conduct Rules of Censor Qin". Please support the official release.

Third: The Vice Minister of Justice and I are just friends. The Minister of Justice is too, as is the young marquis, and the Censor-in-Chief as well.

Magistrate Qin has a simple dream: pass the imperial exams, return to his poor hometown, and serve as a low-ranking county magistrate so his neighbors can live without worry. But in court, power struggles leave him able to do very little...

In a court full of danger, Magistrate Qin defies the powerful and stays true to himself. Together with his colleagues at the Censorate, he follows the path of justice, leaving no wrongful or unjust case uninvestigated and seeking justice for the people. The only thing that displeases Magistrate Qin is how many obstacles he finds along the way!

Why does that annoying Vice Minister of Justice always oppose him? Could the young master of the marquis's household stop targeting him all the time? Fortunately, his old friend, the Minister of Justice, holds a high position, and his superior, the Censor-in-Chief, dotes on him as if he were a delicate flower. Magistrate Qin's career prospects are looking bright~

"Magistrate Qin is handsome and refined, yet decisive when interrogating criminals. His expression is innocent and harmless, but his words are forthright and incisive. Even his superiors don't dare provoke him. A beast pretending to be a cute pet: that's Magistrate Qin's survival rule."

Content note: Male lead pursues; male-male romance; no explicit scenes; no fixed couple (use your imagination). An alternate-history setting, with institutions inspired by the Tang dynasty's Three Departments and Six Ministries, though there are changes.

Theme: 1. The way of an official: Hear cases and deliver judgments with fairness and integrity. Material things come and go. 2. The way of a person: Be modest and live as you please, while remaining principled and steadfast.