Records of Strange Cases in the Bureau of Astronomy

The author, who can't write blurbs, howls: Heaven, strike me with lightning and open up the channels that let me write one!

The story is complete. I'm polishing the details, and will post bonus chapters after the settlement goes through. My next book is The Prime Minister Father. Its blurb is at the end. Please add it to your favorites!

A miserable, incurably ill, give-up-on-life bottom x a hopelessly lovestruck top whose heart belongs only to him

[Blurb below]

-From the bottom's perspective-

During the Zhaohua era of Northern Jin, An Wujin, Chief Director of the Bureau of Heavenly Affairs, possessed supernatural abilities and solved countless strange cases.

Everyone thought he worked himself to exhaustion poring over case files and was an immortal living in the woods. Few knew he loved doing as little as possible and would casually spout nonsense he didn't even believe himself.

Fewer still knew that he once had an inseparable friend who was caught up in a supernatural incident and died without a trace.

To avenge him, Director An fashioned a sword from his own bones. The backlash from his supernatural abilities left him with an incurable illness.

*

A few years later, An Wujin heads to the northern frontier and happens upon the Sixth Prince, who is patrolling the border. The prince is strikingly handsome, and looks exactly like the beloved he lost.

At first, An Wujin thinks: Whatever history we have, get off the Sixth Prince first.

Later, An Wujin grows ever more certain that he didn't die: Was it all a lie? Did he fake his death? Did he turn his back on me? Why have I been turned into something less than human?

Turns out the other man cares more about serving the people and honoring Heaven than about him.

So An Wujin does exactly as the other man wishes and devotes himself entirely to official business. He drags his broken body through investigations by day and writes books by night, terrifying the Sixth Prince into becoming a clingy nuisance who fusses over him and frets whenever he coughs, yet lapses into silence whenever the past comes up.

An Wujin laughs in fury: If you remember my courtesy name is Wujin, then stop blowing so hard on a pile of ash.

*

After that,

Director An solves one bizarre case after another: a skinning incident involving a grinning ghost mask; a soul-binding stake at a corpse-raising site; a shop selling paper effigies where the dead walk...

He even personally takes part in a ghostly marriage ceremony with a vengeful spirit.

On their wedding night, the “ghost groom” catches his hand in the candlelight and presses it against his chest. His heart pounds. “I was wrong. I have no excuse. Let's start over, Wujin~”

The buried truth finally comes to light.

An Wujin at last realizes the other man wasn't a bastard who faked his death. He was a “bastard” who took everything upon himself to protect An Wujin.

But An Wujin takes one look at his fortune and sees that his five elements are short on life: He's practically dead already. What good would starting over do now?

-From the top's perspective-

The Sixth Prince has two swords.

One is a ceremonial blade, ornate and useless. The other is a short blade, dark and deadly.

He thought he could use the short blade to help Wujin sweep away injustice across the land, never realizing that only the useless ceremonial blade could save Wujin's life.

The Sixth Prince heartlessly fakes his death: I'd rather he hate me than see him die.

But time passes, and he realizes that though he'd calculated everything, he'd forgotten to account for his own feelings. The price is still the life of the man he loves.

[Notes]

※ One-on-one romance, happy ending.

※ Main plot plus episodic cases. Many events and cases are based on real ones, with major fictional alterations. Includes supernatural lore and strange abilities, but probably no ghosts (there shouldn't be, probably). Some content is graphic and macabre. The story doesn't take sides or favor anyone, including either partner or either gender. Readers who prefer lighthearted stories or are strongly attached to one side should read at their own discretion.

※ The author is terrible at writing blurbs and obsessively nitpicks wording. Details may be revised from time to time. Updates follow the rankings before signing, then daily after signing. I'll leave a note if I need time off. Please add it to your favorites if you like it. Check my profile for my track record.

------·The blurb for my next book·-------

A father with youthful charm x a young man with a fatherly air

-From the right-hand man's perspective-

Cen Li suffers from a heart condition. Despite his youth, he has killed countless enemies and has been tasked with stabilizing the court.

A foolish emperor ascends the throne, resenting him for “hanging high in the sky like a bright moon, yet shining on everyone but me,” and plunges the realm into chaos, bringing the state to the brink of ruin.

So Cen Li deposes the foolish emperor and installs a new one, taking the position of prime minister. The new emperor honors him as “Prime Minister Father.”

Only a few years later, beset by troubles both within and beyond the realm, Cen Li's hair turns gray and his face grows haggard. Knowing he has little time left, he makes secret arrangements.

A year later.

The new emperor surrounds the prime minister's residence with troops and asks tearfully: Why did Prime Minister Father collude with foreign powers and embezzle the treasury? Give me a reason, and I'll forgive you.

Cen Li smiles as gently as a spring breeze. “As the ruler of a country, you must punish high and low alike to command respect at court. Your heart is too soft, Your Majesty.”

He takes poison and dies, his white clothes stained red.

But when he closes his eyes and opens them again, there are no ox-headed guards or horse-faced demons before him.

Instead, the young emperor is right beside him, his eyes bloodshot from sleepless nights. The emperor tears up the documents in which Cen Li falsely accused himself, then lays out his many years of achievements and says furiously: “You are like the bright moon in the sky. Why won't you shine on me alone?!”

Cen Li: ...?

-From the emperor's perspective-

Northern Yan has a custom: when a prince is born, his mother must die.

Unable to bear the thought of his mother's death, Shen Zhan makes plans to save her as a child. He commits one “evil deed” after another, becoming guilty of sins he can never make amends for.

Years later, he still ascends the throne, putting away his fangs and selfish desires. Under Prime Minister Cen's protection, he spends the most peaceful years of his life.

Until Cen Li risks his life to cut out the heart of an emperor from his chest...

Afterward, Northern Yan has no more Prime Minister Cen. A mysterious nobleman takes up residence in Shen Zhan's villa, guiding him through all manner of troublesome affairs.

Shen Zhan follows his instructions, bringing peace and order to the country. He plans to abdicate one day and travel far away with him, but a sudden natural disaster strikes, followed by a plague.

Amid the ravaged land, the ministers jointly submit a petition: The treacherous minister Cen Li faked his death and went into hiding, beguiling Your Majesty and bringing down Heaven's punishment. We beg Your Majesty to put the realm first!

Theme: Prosperity, democracy, and peace