A Night of Dragons and Fish Dancing

[Next up: The Voyage of He Zhou]

Blurb:

Strange affairs abound in Yuan, their riddles pondered beneath the setting sun.

She investigates their clever workings, and solving each case leaves people amazed.

Also known as The Little Witch: Li Yuanxi's Casebook.

A serial murder case.

A missing concubine case.

A man's corpse in a dry well.

A child with a severed finger.

An old woman's poisoning case.

A strange agarwood case.

Six cases, six different fates, woven into a portrait of all living things.

This story focuses on mysteries, with romance as a supporting element. There isn't much sweetness, but what there is is delicious, so savor it.

*Blurb for The Voyage of He Zhou:

After refusing a princess's proposal, top graduate Chi Zhou is ordered to marry Qian He, a merchant's daughter.

Amid their sarcastic barbs, the two grittingly begin their married life.

They really do grit their teeth.

Open attacks and hidden arrows come from every direction, and a tangled web of intrigue closes in.

As their stubborn wills clash, a few sparks fly.

They kindle a flame in both their hearts.

With their feelings burning bright, they take off their masks and finally open up to one another.

A story of finding a way through the darkness.

Qian He has two goals in life: make money and marry her childhood sweetheart.

But fate has other plans, and she is ordered to marry Chi Zhou, the top graduate of the imperial examinations.

"A top graduate? Just a bookworm who knows nothing about crops and never lifts a finger! His annual salary is forty-eight taels. Even if he spends nothing, he can't afford a little house!"

"Handsome? So what? A man's brains are what matter. Looks don't count! Don't forget, even a hero can be brought to his knees by a single coin!"

Just as she is doing everything she can to get a divorce, she discovers the truth behind their arranged marriage and realizes she is the foolish goose who was sold and even helped count the money!

Chi Zhou, courtesy name Xingzhi, excels in both civil and martial arts. After placing first in the imperial examinations, he began his career as an official in the Ministry of Works. Later, he was sent to serve as magistrate of Yongchun County in Guangxi, where he achieved a great deal and was promoted repeatedly, eventually becoming the governor-general of Guangdong and Guangxi.

Though Chi Zhou is a powerful regional official, he has a nickname: Three Spoons.

Three Spoons is the polite version. Put plainly, he fears his wife.

His wife, Madam Qian, is ugly, sharp-tempered, and jealous. Relying on her strength, she beats Chi Zhou with an iron spoon whenever they disagree. After three blows at most, he always begs for mercy, or else she'll break his hand or knock out an ear.

Thus, Lord Chi lives an exceptionally hard life. He has no money to his name and doesn't dare take a single concubine. The only comfort is that he has a full house of children: five sons and two daughters.

Theme: Never deceive the human heart.