A mystery novel about women
[Outwardly bold and straightforward, inwardly gentle and thoughtful princess x outwardly aloof and calculating, but actually innocent and clueless about women, top scholar]
Zhao Shuangyue, a lawyer specializing in cases involving women, opens her eyes to find herself in the body of a princess. Surrounded by dazzling jewels and sumptuous delicacies, she couldn't be happier, until...
The very next day, an imperial edict arrives. The emperor has betrothed her to this year's top scholar?!
Thinking of all the cases she once handled involving men who cheated, abused their wives, or treated women as nothing but baby-making tools, she is furious. How could she possibly agree to get married without a fight?!
Just as expected, she runs away without hesitation!
*
Ji Fenglin has spent over a decade studying hard and finally passed the imperial examinations as the top scholar. But after he accidentally catches an assassin in the palace, the emperor decides to reward him with a marriage?!
He politely declines, only to be impeached by the officials and demoted to county lieutenant in Xucheng County, where thieves run rampant and everyone lives in fear?!
So be it. He'll take the demotion and do the job. But the county magistrate and his deputy are in cahoots, obstructing every investigation and even refusing to hand over case files. What utter nonsense!
*
To hide her identity, Zhao Shuangyue pretends to have lost her memory and flees to the local government office, where she ends up becoming County Lieutenant Ji Fenglin's secretary.
Just solving cases? Not enough!
Making money? Not enough!
A once-in-a-lifetime romance? Still not enough!
She turns the entire government office into a shelter for women...
Until a prince comes knocking...
[Reading Guide]
1. The focus is on solving cases. Set in an imaginary Song Dynasty, so please don't scrutinize the historical details.
2. Happy ending, single-couple romance. The plot and romance develop side by side.
3. The autopsies are based on Forensic Medicine, The Washing Away of Wrongs, and similar works.
Blurb captured on May 24, 2023.
Cover character design used with permission: Bu Jie
Theme: Women's independence and self-reliance
