A Female Official's Guide to Rising Through the Ranks at the Dali Temple

[Complete]

The whole novel is only 5.5! You won't lose out, you won't get ripped off!

A well-behaved young lady who becomes a master detective × The Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a sly fox on the surface but a doting husband at heart

When Shen Yunchu first met Xie Tingnan, she was dressed as a page and swaggering off to watch a play. She stepped in to help when she saw injustice, and from the second floor Xie Tingnan saw right through her disguise and realized the "page" was a woman. The next time they met, a murder took place at the royal hunting grounds. The two unexpectedly worked together, though they kept testing each other. Once the killer was brought to justice, Shen Yunchu finally entered the Court of Judicial Review, a place she'd long dreamed of joining.

As the second legitimate son of the Duke of Zhenguo and Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Xie Tingnan held a fourth-rank official post. Anyone would praise him as a promising young talent! Not only was this second young master Xie exceptionally handsome and refined, he was also "exceptional" with his words:

"Miss Shen, your eyes are for watching where you're going, not for glaring at people."

"Do you like this thumb ring, or do you like my hand?"

"Miss Shen is truly clever. It seems I can step aside and let you take over."

Shen Yunchu's inner voice: You'd better really give me your position!

Xie Tingnan raised his fox-like eyes and coaxed her, "I think there's another position that's even more suitable for Miss Shen."

"What position?"

"My... wife."

After an imperial decree arranged their marriage, Shen Yunchu became Madam Xie. Everyone else could only sigh over what a well-matched couple they were, but the two people involved knew that their marriage was nothing more than a deal, each getting what they wanted.

Yet strange incidents kept occurring across the dynasty: a mysterious death at the royal hunting grounds, a lovesick scholar dying for love, rumors of a rebel faction spreading through the capital, children vanishing mysteriously in Jiangcheng... After solving one baffling case after another, can the two still maintain the partnership they began with?

(Xie Tingnan answers first: No! I had ulterior motives from the very beginning, after all. (?￣▽￣)?)

It's a sweet romance at heart. No competition between women or men for romantic partners, and every couple is one-on-one. Read and ship them with confidence!

[Reading Guide]

1. Fictional setting, loosely inspired by the Ming dynasty. Don't overanalyze the historical details.

2. A powerful team-up, with an ensemble cast and political intrigue and palace scheming.

3. The pacing can be slow at times and fast at others. They fall for each other, with no angst in the romance.

Thank you to everyone who has bookmarked or commented on the story, my dears. I really love reading the comments. Hope you enjoy!

Cover thanks to Weibo user Lailexi Yaokaixin

[New Novel Coming Soon 1] The Great Escape Livestream Game

"No matter how exciting your life is, the audience can still change the channel."

In the twenty-third year of the New Era, the whole world entered the age of entertainment. The livestream industry was nearing saturation, but a live-action experience show called The Great Escape stood out, gaining over two billion loyal fans in just two years.

[Game Rules]

1. Every week, the platform randomly selects 100 citizens from around the world to enter the livestream. Players' real identities are unknown, and the livestream lasts three to seven days.

2. The game setting is randomly generated and may include, but is not limited to, ancient times, the modern era, virtual worlds, reality, fantasy, science fiction, horror, and the supernatural.

3. Once players enter the game, the System randomly assigns them an identity. Players must act according to their assigned roles. Do not go out of character, or the audience may judge your performance negatively, affecting your final reward.

4. Players can leave the livestream only if they survive the game. Based on their performance and the audience's response, they can earn a cash reward of up to 100 million New Era coins. If a player dies in the game, they become an NPC in that setting and can never return to the real world.

5. Players can form teams or act alone, as they choose.

6. Remember the five rules above. Once you are selected for a livestream, you have no right to say no.

"Dear player, welcome to The Great Escape Livestream Game. Good luck."

[Content Warnings]

1. This is a collection of separate stories. Only the broad setting is the same; each story may have its own plot, protagonist, and ending. Not every protagonist makes it out alive.

2. There is very little romance. The main focus is on the livestream plots. The only characters who may appear throughout are the viewers and the livestream platform.

3. The System isn't very useful. The players mostly have to rely on themselves, and not every protagonist has a golden finger.

4. The characters' values do not represent the author's. Please don't conflate them.

5. Just enjoy the thrills.

[New Novel Coming Soon 2] Saving Up a Nest Egg After Seeing Ghosts

Also known as: The Days I Had to Take Up Ghost-Hunting as a Side Job to Live a Few More Years

On their fourth anniversary, her boyfriend broke up with her. Jiang Yi worked overtime until late at night, wiping away her tears. When she finally got off work, a handsome man stopped her outside her company.

With a serious expression, he said, "Miss, you have a dark aura between your brows. You'll soon suffer a bloody disaster!"

"I'm here on behalf of the underworld to save you!"

"Hey, don't go!"

Jiang Yi hurried off: ...Where did this lunatic come from?

Two days later, Jiang Yi was clinging eagerly to the handsome man's hand, calling him "dear big brother" and asking how she could stay alive. He thumped his chest and grinned, "Come with me. Let's make a big score together!"

The handsome man's name was Qi Ze. He wasn't human.

No, that's not an insult. He really wasn't human...

[Short Scene 1]

Jiang Yi looked at the stranger with handsome brows and bright eyes as if he were an idiot. Her red lips parted. "Are you crazy?"

Qi Ze: "I'm not lying! You're really going to die!"

Jiang Yi: "Oh? How?"

Qi Ze: "At 6:13:28 p.m. five days from now, at the intersection of Zhongxiu Road and Beijiang Road, you'll be hit by a truck and die!"

Jiang Yi: "Ha, that's pretty convincing."

Qi Ze, looking sincere: "I can save you. Work with me tonight. You'll not only extend your lifespan, you'll earn money too!"

Huh? Tonight? Work?

Qi Ze: "What are you thinking? We're doing honest work! And each job pays fifty thousand!"

Jiang Yi: "The money isn't important. The main thing is that I'm full of energy at night and can work like crazy!"

Qi Ze: "..."

[Short Scene 2]

The City God Temple?

Jiang Yi: "We're going to 'work' here?"

White-Bearded Old Man: "Ye Zhong, you're here? Oh, and you've brought a newcomer!"

Jiang Yi: "Ye Zhong, Ye Zhong... Isn't that the notorious ghost from the underworld in the legends? You're a ghost!"

Qi Ze, displeased: "What are you saying? Notorious ghost? He's called the Night Patrol God!"

With only a few days left to live, Jiang Yi joined the Ghost-Hunting and Misbehaving Duo at the City God Temple in Gongyang City, completely bewildered. She got herself one contact ghost, one communicator, and two ghost-hunting tools, and met her future teammates in a friendly manner.

After taking on two jobs, Jiang Yi, dark circles under her eyes, grabbed Qi Ze by the collar and yelled, "What do you mean each job pays fifty thousand? You lied! It's only five hundred!"

Qi Ze: "Aw, jobs come in different sizes. The SSS-ranked ones really do pay fifty thousand!"

Jiang Yi: "SSS rank?! Forget it. I don't want to live anymore. Thanks."

[Reading Guide]

1. A blend of the underworld and the modern city. The heroine has supernatural abilities.

2. The male lead is an ordinary person and doesn't have many scenes early on. Oh, and he isn't mentioned in the blurb.

3. All names of people and places in the story are fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or places is purely coincidental.

Thanks for your support, mwah!

Theme: Those who follow the righteous path can accomplish great things