Longing for a Late-Night Haven

My new novel is now underway. Find it in my profile: Spring Mountains Meet Green Again

[Clear-headed, resilient female doctor x sharp-tongued, low-ranking official of the Court of Judicial Review]

[Read with care! Proceed at your own risk! This is a practice piece, and it's unfinished. It may contain things you don't like...]

"Once we leave the estate, the world is vast. Surely there's somewhere we can call home, where we can do whatever we want."

Also known as The Fish Ball's Adventures and I Just Want to Go Home and Open a Clinic

Blurb:

Jiang Yuwan's parents died when she was young, and she spent several miserable years in the Cheng family. At last, the Cheng family fell into decline and she could finally leave. But in a deal made for mutual benefit, she was promised to the foolish young master of the Xie family. Jiang Yuwan naturally refused.

After fleeing, she faced an uncertain road ahead. A lone orphan with a talent for medicine, Jiang Yuwan thought she could make a decent living traveling the world as a physician. Instead, she was caught dressed as a man and forced to help build the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Texts.

Her dream of becoming a traveling physician was snuffed out.

Determined to return to her hometown of Wu County, Jiang Yuwan had no choice but to embark on a quest to find the missing Imperial Seal.

At first:

"What's your name?"

"My surname is Jiang. Jiang Wu. I'm the fifth child in my family."

Xie Zhaofei knew who she really was. In the Court of Judicial Review's case files, she was the final entry concerning the Cheng family.

"Cheng Yuwan, originally named Jiang Yuwan, was adopted as the Cheng family's second daughter."

Jiang Yuwan regretted lying.

Xie Zhaofei: "I don't meddle in other people's business, but you'd better not lie."

Later: Jiang Yuwan looked at Xie Zhaofei. "You're the low-ranking official of the Court of Judicial Review now, not a powerless concubine-born son."

Xie Zhaofei looked up at Jiang Yuwan. "Jiang Yuwan, you're Doctor Jiang now."

[Before You Read]

1. Lord Xie is sharp-tongued and slow to warm up at first, but later puts Doctor Jiang above all else.

2. Doctor Jiang is clear-headed and focused on opening a clinic.

Chance encounters, and we're all just passersby.

Theme: The endless vitality of life.