The Detective I Admire Is My Husband's Secret Identity

Coming soon: the historical romance The Shadow Guard Bride. Its blurb is at the end.

Blurb:

A seemingly flirtatious but truly devoted foxlike prince x a scatterbrained yet incredibly skilled general's daughter

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Gu Nanzhi was born into a military family. She wielded her silver-tasseled spear as skillfully as any man, and was meant to follow in her father's footsteps and join the army alongside her two older brothers.

But two years ago, amid political turmoil, a man known as Han Qingjun solved several baffling cases, helping his younger brother, the emperor, secure his throne. He refused all rewards, disappeared without a trace, and has not been seen since.

A dashing, carefree prince, he was a breath of fresh air among the capital's spoiled young nobles.

Gu Nanzhi, who had grown up in the capital, was utterly astonished. Then she ran away from home!

Her plan was simple: become a constable, then build up her case-solving experience until she could stand alongside Han Qingjun.

Traveling south, Gu Nanzhi unexpectedly met Yu Li, who publicly dismantled her theory. They clashed before becoming friends, and together they were swept up in one bizarre case after another...

A series of triple murders seemingly committed by a beast; a locked-room frame-up in an eminent family: who turned to murder over the division of property? And what lay behind the robbery in a seaside fishing village?

As the investigations deepen, the connections between the apparent facts prove inevitable, and the identity of the person manipulating events from behind the scenes is about to be revealed!

After everything is settled, Gu Nanzhi begins wondering how to get her parents to agree to her marrying an ordinary commoner. Then Yu Li tells her that he is the very Han Qingjun she keeps talking about!

[The male lead's perspective]

Have you ever seen an heir to the throne with no interest in the crown, willing even to ruin his own reputation just to stay out of trouble?

That is Jiang Yuli.

He has no interest in the struggle for power at court. All he wants is to live freely.

When he earns his father's favor, he plays the fool to dodge trouble. When officials try to befriend him, he talks nonsense to anger them...

Then, two years ago, the new emperor's position was still insecure. Jiang Yuli had no choice but to assume the name Han Qingjun and investigate the common folk, exposing a nest of corrupt officials and putting an end to the political unrest.

But that one case made him famous. Jiang Yuli understood the danger of overshadowing the emperor, so before the young emperor could react, he wisely retired, gave away his wealth, and took to wandering among the common people.

From then on, Han Qingjun was no more. There was only the "ordinary citizen" Yu Li.

Until the spirited young lady appeared before him. He knew then that the day he returned to the capital was near.

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Gu Nanzhi: So what if he's handsome? He's no match for Han Qingjun's grace and brilliance.

Yu Li: You flatter me, my lady. I am Han Qingjun.

Gu Nanzhi: Liar. As if I'd believe you.

Yu Li: ... (I've hidden my secret identity too well. What do I do when I'm jealous of myself?)

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Notes:

1. Both leads are clever and capable, and make a strong team. No groveling arc. There will be misunderstandings, but they will be cleared up.

2. The heroine succeeds in meeting her idol. Her career and romance develop side by side.

3. Fictional historical setting with plenty of creative liberties. One-on-one romance, both leads' firsts, happy ending.

Coming soon: The Shadow Guard Bride

Sweet, resilient sweetheart x icy, doting demon king

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Yu Yuan is the legitimate daughter of the magistrate of Shanyang. After her birth mother dies, she loses her protector. Just after coming of age, she is schemed against by one of her father's concubines, bundled off to the countryside with her bedding, and hastily married off to a farmer.

There is no auspicious wedding date or grand bridal procession. In a daze, Yu Yuan marries Jiang Zhi.

Jiang Zhi has cool eyes and an aloof air. After bringing Yu Yuan home, he sleeps in a separate room from her, as if she were not his wife but an ornament bought to brighten up the house, or perhaps... a pet?

Before she can even become afraid of this strange man, she finds herself growing curious about him.

Yu Yuan loves to sleep in. Jiang Zhi doesn't wake her, but quietly sets out a table full of fragrant food in the courtyard.

Yu Yuan falls ill. Jiang Zhi says nothing to comfort her, yet stays up all night with a lamp lit, repeatedly wiping her down and mopping her brow.

Yu Yuan goes into town. Jiang Zhi doesn't accompany her, but always appears in time when things get dangerous and shields her from harm.

Just as the young woman begins to fall for him, Yu Yuan discovers one night that Jiang Zhi is climbing over the wall to secretly meet a woman!

[The male lead's perspective]

His identity as a farmer is a lie. Jiang Zhi was once a shadow guard who killed without mercy, serving under the "Eldest Princess" of the Great Xia royal family.

By a twist of fate, Jiang Zhi returned to his hometown in Shanyang and took a break from his busy life to marry a wife.

He had only enjoyed a few days of married bliss when the "Eldest Princess" came calling. Yu Yuan misunderstood the situation, and the young woman, unable to swallow her anger, packed her things and left home.

As Yu Yuan wandered wherever she pleased, Jiang Zhi, secretly protecting her along the way, could no longer hold back. He blindfolded her and stopped her in a dark alley.

Thinking she had been robbed, Yu Yuan shakily threw her money as far away as she could. "Take the money and go! My husband is the most formidable man in the world. If you hurt me, he won't let you get away with it!"

"I didn't tell you the truth and caused you sorrow. I certainly wouldn't forgive myself."

Jiang Zhi slowly lowered his hand, caught Yu Yuan's delicate hand, and pressed it to his chest. "But rest assured, my heart belongs to you alone. There's no room in it for anyone else."

"I'll spend the rest of my life protecting you. I'll be the shadow guard devoted to Yuanyuan alone."

Yu Yuan blushed and turned bashful, thinking she was the first to fall in love.

Little did she know that on a rainy night three years earlier, Yu Yuan had saved Jiang Zhi, gravely wounded and on the brink of death. One glance was all it took for him to cast aside every defense and offer her his whole heart.

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Notes:

1. Marriage first, love later. A fluffy, no-brainer sweet romance. One-on-one, both leads' firsts, happy ending. They are each other's one and only.

2. The male lead has a dangerous profession and has killed people, but gives it up after marriage. The leads are five years apart.

3. Fictional historical setting. Please don't nitpick the creative liberties.

Theme: The net of justice may be wide, but nothing escapes it.