Solving Cases in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio

[Main story complete] After Wei Hemo worked himself to death from overwork, he opened his eyes to find he was alive again. That was a good thing, although... “Waa... ah!” How had he ended up in ancient times? Fine, he had been reborn as a baby. He had to treasure this second life. This time, he would become a government employee with a secure job! Wei Hemo clenched his tiny fists, furrowed his brow, and pursed his lips as he made his vow. The next second, someone shoved a mouthful of goat’s milk into his mouth. Fine. The first step of being reborn was to fill his belly. After more than a decade of hard work, he finally fought his way to a place in the world and became an honorable... junior constable. As Wei Hemo faced the test of his first case on the job, the more he heard, the more familiar it sounded. [A beautiful young woman appears out of nowhere in the countryside and smiles as she gives a plum blossom to any man who passes by. Without exception, every man who accepts the flower loses his soul and spends his days pining for her, refusing to speak or eat until he wastes away and dies.] “Th-this isn’t the story of Ying Ning from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio?” Wei Hemo was struck as if by lightning. He regretted never studying the classics properly, leaving him knowing only Nie Xiaoqian and the Painted Skin, and nothing about the rest. Never mind! Now that he was a constable, he had to do his job conscientiously! A young bride disappears for years after her wedding, only to reappear in the countryside... A husband who died long ago roams the streets wearing a dog’s hide and biting people... One of eight sealed golden cups appears in a small town a thousand miles away... Hateful blood has stained the earth green for a thousand years; beneath the cold moon and over yellow sands, ghosts guard the dead. There is too much injustice in this world, and wrongs laid bare are seldom righted. (Note: The lines are from Li He’s “Autumn Comes” and Cao Xueqin’s “The Song of Strange Paintings, Part Three.”) Though low in rank, I will do my utmost to bring justice and clarity wherever I can! Coming soon: The Vicious Beauty Knows He Was Wrong. Rolling around and begging for follows! There are always people who flaunt their exceptional looks, family background, and status, treating others’ sincere feelings as toys. After doing every kind of wicked thing, they fall from grace and struggle to survive for half their lives, only to realize they let their truest love slip away. If I could live again, I would choose only to be with you. Would you stay by my side? World One: A pleasure-seeking, carefree young master bottom x a loyal servant top who grew up with him World Two: A ruthless eunuch bottom who plays political games x a cold, suspicious emperor top who rules over all World Three: A greedy, money-loving male consort bottom x a possessive, sweet-on-the-outside, dark-on-the-inside scholar and top scorer Other worlds to be decided Theme: Justice will come in the end