This Case Has Nothing to Do with You (Mystery)

Currently ongoing, another mystery-solving story: Who Keeps Playing Matchmaker? See the blurb at the very end.

Blurb: Li Changye never imagined she would get caught up in a case so shocking.

After much effort, she made it to the position of head constable in the small city of Fengzhou. Her ideal life from then on was to solve cases, grow vegetables, and while away the rest of her years in this little city.

But when the newly appointed magistrate, Tao Mian, took office, her peaceful life came to an end.

At first, it was only a woman's corpse floating down the river.

Then an entire army vanished in the wilderness, leaving not even a skeleton behind.

A bizarre manual made from human skin stirred up a storm across the city.

Then a top scholar suddenly died in public, his cause of death a mystery...

Even more baffling, behind all these strange incidents, she always seemed to catch sight of a familiar figure: Tao Mian.

He clearly wielded great power, yet lived in a remote little city.

He treated her like an ordinary colleague, yet always became her support when she was in the greatest danger.

But when all the clues came together, every lead unexpectedly pointed straight at her.

Li Changye finally realized:

She wanted to retire, but fate wouldn't allow it!

Little Scene (Falling in Love)

When Tao Mian first arrived in Fengzhou, he heard that the city had a cold-faced constable named Li Changye.

She solved every case, acted swiftly and decisively, and had no interest in romance.

He had thought their paths would cross only on official business.

It was not until that cold night that he understood her image had long since been etched in his heart.

The night was as dark as ink, and the wind cut to the bone.

Li Changye emerged from the county office, a smear of blood still wet on her forehead.

Tao Mian stood some distance away and raised a lantern. Its faint light dispelled the darkness and fell across her cool, composed face.

"Let's go." His voice was gentle, yet brooked no refusal.

She said nothing. She silently walked over and stepped into the light beneath his lantern.

At that moment, something deep in his heart quietly shifted.

In this pitch-black sky, perhaps he could light a warm lamp to guide her, too.

Little Scene (Reunion)

Li Changye never dreamed she would fall because of this murder case.

From a renowned constable who solved one strange case after another to a prisoner behind bars, it happened in a single night.

She thought she had left without looking back three years ago, and that he had long since forgotten her.

She never expected fate to bring them together again.

Tao Mian was renowned throughout the capital, as gentle as jade and as elegant as an immortal.

To everyone else, he was an upright magistrate. Only Li Changye knew that beneath his mild exterior lay a deep, unyielding obsession.

Now she stood below the magistrate's bench, road-weary, her clothes stained with blood.

He sat above her and spoke in a cool voice: "Constable Li, I will personally hear this case."

She looked up and replied coolly, "Lord Tao, this case has nothing to do with you."

From then on, frost settled over the spring breeze between his brows.

His tenderness disappeared, leaving only a low murmur, restrained to the point of breaking:

"Nothing to do with me? Li Changye, what you owe me, you'll repay sooner or later."

Currently ongoing, another mystery-solving story, a bickering couple: Who Keeps Playing Matchmaker? If you're interested, please add it to your collection!

Blurb:

Matchmaking Bureau clerk Gu Xingge, who never loses at pairing people up, VS cold-faced, emotionally clueless Deputy Minister Wei of the Court of Judicial Review

Rumor has it that the capital has two great scourges.

Gu Xingge, a clerk at the Ministry of Rites' Marriage Bureau, kicks cheating men to the curb, delivers happy matches, and ties the red threads of fate for people everywhere.

Wei Huaizhou, Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, catches criminals with his left hand and solves cases with his right, determined to round up every villain in the capital.

They should have been a perfect contrast:

One handles marriage, the other criminal justice.

One sends people to their wedding, the other sends them to prison.

Their paths should never have crossed.

But somehow, every match Gu Xingge arranged ended up as a murder case in Wei Huaizhou's files.

--

Gu Xingge declares firmly, "These two are made for each other: their birth charts are compatible, their families are well matched, and their personalities complement each other."

Wei Huaizhou opens a case file and sneers. "Heh. The man just murdered someone yesterday."

Gu Xingge insists, "This couple is a match made in Heaven. So many people hope they'll get married."

Wei Huaizhou raises an eyebrow. "A match made in Heaven? The Court of Judicial Review arrested these two last month. They were both imprisoned for robbery and murder."

Gu Xingge bristles. "The Court of Judicial Review deals with death, and the Marriage Bureau deals with life. We have nothing to do with each other!"

Wei Huaizhou closes in on her. "Ridiculous. The people you've tied together are nearly all ending up in my prison."

The Ministry of Rites' Marriage Bureau versus the Court of Judicial Review: a clash between two of the imperial court's greatest departments.

Gu Xingge thought they were only clashing over official business, until one day she saw what was written on the imperial decree of marriage in her hands:

"Gu Xingge, Clerk of the Ministry of Rites, is hereby bestowed in marriage to Wei Huaizhou, Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."

She jerked her head up, questioning her life choices. "Did someone make a mistake?"

Wei Huaizhou leisurely folded up the decree, his eyes profound and his tone mild. "No mistake."

He held the paper decree, his gaze falling on her lips, and added with an almost-smile:

"This time, your marriage is under my jurisdiction."

Gu Xingge nearly choked.

Theme: Sincere feelings will eventually be seen