A Match Made in Splendor

The traditional Chinese edition is now published. For details, see @Que Shang Xin Tou Ya. Everyone in Yanjing knows that the Ding'an Earl's sixth daughter, born to a concubine, is a vain woman. She dresses up like a flower every day, is charming and coquettish, and covets wealth and status. Whoever marries her is doomed. Everyone in Yanjing also knows that the Yongping Marquis's third son is a wastrel. He spends his days riding through the streets, eating, drinking, and having fun, with no ambition whatsoever. Whoever marries him is in for a miserable life. An imperial decree brings these two scandalous figures together as husband and wife. From the day of their wedding, the two put on a grand show at the Yongping Marquis's residence. The wastrel wants to open a racetrack, while the vain woman wants to run a brocade shop. With only so much silver allotted to the secondary households, the couple's battles are quite the spectacle. - That night, Jiang Lingyao changes into dark clothes and slips out of the marquis's residence. In a flash, she becomes a specially appointed investigating officer for the Shuntian Prefecture. As soon as she enters a crime scene, she looks up and sees a familiar figure. Duan Nanke, dressed in a flying-fish robe and holding an embroidered spring saber, stands beside the victim with a frown and a cold expression. The couple's eyes meet in the chill darkness, sparks flying between them. Duan Nanke curls his lips into a smile. “My dear, fancy meeting you here.” * Only when this most unlikely couple become, respectively, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the first female junior minister of the Court of Judicial Review do people understand the true meaning behind the emperor's marriage decree. Now that peace reigns throughout the realm, surely these completely mismatched colleagues will finally go their separate ways? But instead, all of Yanjing sees the newly appointed commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard escort the Court of Judicial Review's female junior minister down the street, solicitously helping her choose a dagger. “My dear, this one's the prettiest. With so many gems, it'll really shine when it's covered in blood.” Jiang Lingyao smiles brightly. “All right. You have the best taste, darling.” Reading notes: One-on-one, each other's first love, a sweet little treat. A Ming-dynasty version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, with lighthearted episodic crime-solving. The leads are good at playing roles and hiding their identities. My Weibo: @Que Shang Xin Tou Ya. I have chapters saved up and update steadily, so it's a safe bet! References are listed in the author's note in Chapter 3. My completed novels: The Noble Consort Is So Charming | A Murder in Yanjing's Boudoir (crime-solving) | The Noble Consort Is So Enchanting | The Noble Consort Is So Alluring | The Palace Maid Becomes Empress | The Banquet of Ruyi, and more. Enjoy! Theme: The leads work together to solve cases, clear the dead of wrongdoing, and uphold justice.