I'm the Only One in the Whole Yamen Eating Dirt (Mystery)

[A sickly, penniless clerk x a stone-faced county magistrate who always takes her side]

Overnight, the magistrate of Yancheng drops dead. The county deputy, who had been taken in for questioning, kills himself in prison, and the county office falls into disuse.

Bi Qufei, a former clerk, loses her secure government job, so she sets up a shabby stall on West Street.

"For six copper coins, I'll work on behalf of the county office and investigate cases..."

Before she can finish, a clear, cool voice comes from in front of the stall:

"The county office has long been closed. Who are you?"

Bi Qufei looks up and unexpectedly meets a pair of eyes as deep as a still pool.

Without changing her expression, she says, "I'm an unofficial detective, the genuine article."

The other person falls silent for a moment.

"And you are...?"

"Yan Zihao, the new magistrate of Yancheng."

Little scene:

The coroner, Lin Shangruan, doesn't even look up. "Get all the riffraff out of here."

Bi Qufei glances at her own frail frame and promptly steps half a pace back. "I'm willing, but I'm not up to it."

Nearby, the county deputy Xu Jinqiu gently questions the young woman who reported the case, but she only blushes and asks whether he's married.

Bi Qufei touches her own face, which is, at best, merely pretty, and quietly steps away, only to run straight into the county magistrate Yan Zihao's cold gaze. She immediately puts a hand to her forehead, coughs, and sighs at the sky. "I toil like an ox and a horse every day. I might as well die sooner rather than later."

Suddenly, she's grabbed by the collar and lifted up by Yan Zihao. "You, come solve a case with me."

"My lord, I'm too weak to even truss a chicken."

"No fighting required. You're the only one who can do this."

"...What is it?"

"Pretend to be my daughter and gather information."

Bi Qufei is stunned. "My lord, you're only two years older than me, aren't you?"

Yan Zihao doesn't bat an eye. "Then pretend to be my mother."

"My lord!" Bi Qufei's eyes go wide with shock. She reaches out to feel Yan Zihao's forehead, trembling. "You're not sick, are you?"

Xu Jinqiu, who has inexplicably frozen at his friend's words, can't help laughing. "You took a more roundabout route than Maze Lane in the west of the city."

Lin Shangruan, still examining the corpse, gets straight to the point without looking up. "Why not just pretend to be husband and wife?"

Yan Zihao falls uncharacteristically silent, then turns his face away. "...Wouldn't that be taking advantage of her?"

Bi Qufei raises an eyebrow. "My lord! You don't think asking me to be your daughter or mother is taking advantage of me?!"

Reader's guide:

1. One-on-one romance, both leads sexually inexperienced. A lighthearted ensemble mystery about everyday life.

2. Fictional historical setting where women can hold official positions.

Theme: Ideals belong to those who never give up.