Out of Tune

As the year draws to a close, news reaches the capital that a court official has been murdered, shocking both the court and the people. Lu Zhuoguang travels with the Ministry of Justice to Danyu to investigate. The murder is strange enough, but the local county magistrate introduces a woman named Zhou Xing to assist with the case, and she seems none too respectable either. Not only does she touch his hand in front of everyone, she showers him with sweet talk while making no effort to hide her lust, as though she is always trying to do something to him. He is a scholar and an examination graduate, yet he is publicly harassed by a woman and not a single person steps forward to demand justice. What kind of nonsense is this? Some people even make snide remarks: Can't you endure it for the sake of the investigation? When Zhou Xing first meets Lu Zhuoguang, he is dressed in a snow-white gown, smiling at the corners of his eyes. His words are like a gentle spring breeze and drizzle: "I, Lu, am an unremarkable man. I have no special talents and no lofty ambitions. In this life, having learned to read and earned the title of examination graduate is enough for me." Later, on a dark and windy night, she sees this Lu Scholar, who supposedly has "no special talents and no lofty ambitions," holding a freshly severed head in one hand and a blood-soaked book in the other. Beneath the moon, he mutters regretfully, "A unique edition by a famous author. The characters are impossible to make out now. What a pity." [Elegant and impoverished scholar x socially adept commoner] [Fierce killing machine x someone who calculates every move] ※A purely ancient romance with no ghosts or supernatural elements. This is not a mystery or investigation novel. The male lead is two years older than the female lead, so this is not a sister-brother romance. ※Entirely fictional, with an imaginary setting and no real-life models. Please do not nitpick historical details. I write according to my own style and do not accept writing advice. ※This novel is not suitable for readers devoted to any particular character preference. Theme: Bamboo bends beneath the pressure of the sea, then rises again; wind darkens the mountain's edge, then light returns.