The Record of Washing Tassels

Qin Ying, a criminal investigator from modern times, dies in the line of duty and transmigrates into the body of a villainess in a melodramatic novel. In the original story, this Qin Ying is the County Princess Yunyang, a pampered noblewoman obsessed with Cui Muzhi, the Marquis Changqing’s Heir. Her unrequited love drives her to frame the novel’s female lead, Lu Roujia, for murder, leading to her own death and her family’s downfall. Upon waking in the Zhaomu Pavilion, Qin Ying finds herself in the middle of a crisis: Lu Roujia is accused of killing Cui Wan, the Earl Zhongyuan’s daughter, who was found dead in a lotus pavilion ten days before her wedding. The evidence points to Lu Roujia, including a silk handkerchief found near the body, and the local magistrate, Zhao Lian, is eager to close the case by imprisoning her.

Recognizing the absurdity of the accusation and the danger of the original plot, Qin Ying intervenes. Using her forensic expertise, she challenges the assumption that the lotus pavilion is the crime scene, noting that the lake’s current could have carried the handkerchief away from the actual murder site. She proposes that Cui Wan was struck on the head before being thrown into the water. Her sharp reasoning forces the magistrate to reconsider, and she proceeds to examine the corpse herself, despite the objections of the victim’s grieving mother and the disdain of Cui Muzhi. Qin Ying discovers drag marks and external injuries, confirming that the murder occurred elsewhere, likely in the garden’s artificial mountain cave, before the body was moved.

The investigation is complicated by the sudden arrival of Xie Xinglan, the ruthless Envoy of the Longyi Guards. Unlike in the original novel, where he remains a passive observer, Xie Xinglan takes immediate control of the case, detaining the guests and demanding separate testimonies. Qin Ying learns that Xie Xinglan has recently undergone a drastic personality change, possibly due to a poisoning incident, and has already made enemies of powerful families, including the Cui family. Despite his cold demeanor and suspicion, Qin Ying realizes that his involvement offers a chance to uncover the truth before the original timeline’s tragic events unfold. She collaborates with him to analyze the testimonies of the guests, identifying inconsistencies in their alibis regarding their movements through the cave system.

As the investigation progresses, Qin Ying navigates the treacherous social landscape of the capital’s nobility. She maintains a facade of her former self to avoid suspicion while secretly gathering clues. Her father, the Marquis Linchuan, unaware of her true intentions, believes she is investigating to win Cui Muzhi’s affection and assigns a guard to protect her. Qin Ying, however, is driven by a desire to solve the puzzle and prevent the innocent Lu Roujia from suffering the fate destined for her in the novel. The story sets the stage for a complex mystery where Qin Ying must outwit both the murderer and the political machinations of the court, all while managing her complicated relationship with the volatile Xie Xinglan and the indifferent Cui Muzhi.

The narrative shifts from a simple murder mystery to a high-stakes political thriller as Qin Ying delves deeper into the secrets of the Great Zhou dynasty’s aristocracy. She uncovers layers of corruption and hidden grudges among the guests, realizing that Cui Wan’s death is not an isolated incident but part of a larger web of intrigue. Xie Xinglan’s aggressive tactics and Qin Ying’s forensic insights create a powerful dynamic, forcing the suspects into a corner. As they close in on the truth, Qin Ying must also protect herself from the original plot’s fatal trajectory, which threatens to kill her just days after the case is solved. The story follows her journey from a despised villainess to a key investigator, as she strives to rewrite her destiny and bring justice to the deceased.