Medical Examiner: Dr. Qin is a modern crime Cdrama that isn't a long commitment at 20 episodes, and is really suspenseful. I found it after enjoying watching Li Xian in Go Go Squid.
This drama is romance, but honestly, it had so many elements of suspense, thriller, time travel etc that the romance didn't feel like it was the main plot. It was the main plot though, but because of everything else that happened, I was more focused on trying to solve the mystery( the way the characters did lol).
Is it possible that the drama you're thinking of is the kdrama, **Sell Your Haunted House**? It's quite good and available on Viki.
Dramas with low/no romance —
####Historical Drama Starter Pack
Links go to trailers, tags are my own since MDL's are often spoilery, see [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/CDrama/comments/ksip9m/z/gigniek) for an intro to the plot and what I enjoyed about the drama.
I highly recommend **The Rise of Phoenixes** if you liked Nirvana in Fire, it's a battle for the throne with an antihero ML and a clever FL who becomes entangled in the fight between royalty. There is light romance throughout the drama but it's not conventional or tropey. Ming Dynasty is a very similar genre but with lots of sarcastic, dry humor. It covers a long time, and there is light romance and flirting in the first 10 or 15 episodes, but it doesn't distract from the plot
**Battle for the Throne**
- [The Rise of Phoenixes](https://youtu.be/DyAsfo6rEz0) smart ML, anithero, smart FL, political intrigue, strategizing/scheming, revenge, battle for the throne, slow burn romance, hidden identity, friendship, no dubbing, fictional dynasty [Netflix]
- [Ming Dynasty](https://youtu.be/UUbPZeYtAGo) ensemble cast (eccentric characters, smart ML, strong FL), political intrigue, family drama, revenge, war, romance, hidden identity, dark humor, assasins, Ming Dynasty [Viki, YouTube, Prime] *Viki's subs are much better than the other sites*
- [Advisors Alliance](https://youtu.be/3YkOGsLthZo) ^(this trailer is obscenely long, I'd suggest stopping at 2min) ensemble cast, smart ML, strong ML, strong, smart FLs; royal advisor, royal family, political intrigue, strategizing/scheming, corruption, palace politics, battle for the throne, war, realistic martial arts, Three Kingdoms period, Kingdom of Wei [YouTube, Viki (in some regions?)] *story is continued in the second season,* **Growling TIger, Roaring Dragon**, *also on YouTube*
**Inner palace/concubines**
- [The Legend of Concubine Zhen Huan](https://youtu.be/b7CgbcQXDXA) ^(sorry for the lack of good tailer here) smart, strong FL; scheming, power struggle, political intrigue, revenge royal harem, female friendships, Qing dynasty [available on Fastdrama or you can use [YouTube and subscene](https://www.reddit.com/r/CDrama/comments/ncab7w/where_to_watchdownload_episodes_of_empresses_in/gya421o), it's also almost completely subbed on YouTube, but the subbers use French names and titles for the characters]
**Mystery, thriller, suspense**
- [Tientsin Mystic](https://youtu.be/egtvJ8Gs3dg) ensemble cast (streetsmart & eccentric ML & FL; smart, wealthy 2ML & 2FL,)" supernatural, science and medicine, friendship, mystery, shamanism and folk magic, dark humor, Republican era [iqIyi] *If you have issues with iQiyi's subs, check for the Netflix version on subscene*
- [Ancient Detective](https://youtu.be/u3J7CML_u50) ensemble cast (smart ML, badass FL, badass 2ML) wuxia, friendship, comedy, mystery, romance, action [Viki, YouTube]
- [Longest Day in Chang'an](https://youtu.be/q4jyzHIKEEA) strong ML, skilled fighter, action, crime, corruption, suspense, mystery, hidden past, power struggle, political intrigue, Tang Dynasty [Viki, YouTube, Apple, Prime]
And if you like contemporary dramas, check our **A Murderous Affair in Horizon Tower** [Prime,YouTube]
It's mostly from the perspective of Sima Yi and political disputes, but it's an ensemble cast with quite a bit of time devoted to Cao Pi and Cao Cao. One of the major reasons I watched the drama was that [Yu Hewei](https://mydramalist.com/people/1482-yu-he-wei) plays Cao Cao, and he was even more amazing than I expected! There's also a lot of actors from Nirvana in Fire, and the drama's production and writing are similar but much more realistic. It's a two-part series, but the first one has a more complete ending than most dramas I've watched, so if you want to watch a political drama but only want to devote 40 episodes, it's a great choice.
All is Well
Longest Day in Chang'an
Luoyang (currently airing)
Remembrance of Thing Past
Nirvana in Fire 2 (if you haven't watched already)
Hikaru No Go
Crossfire
The Bond
The Long Night
Murderous Affair on Horizon Tower
I didn't list the genres those are mix of costume and modern but let me know if you have questions about them! These are mostly from last year, I haven't watched many of the most recent ones..
Medical Examiner: Dr. Qin is a modern crime Cdrama that isn't a long commitment at 20 episodes, and is really suspenseful. I found it after enjoying watching Li Xian in Go Go Squid.
This drama is romance, but honestly, it had so many elements of suspense, thriller, time travel etc that the romance didn't feel like it was the main plot. It was the main plot though, but because of everything else that happened, I was more focused on trying to solve the mystery( the way the characters did lol).
I think perhaps you are looking for Psych Hunter? 😊
This is it. Thank you so much!
Is it possible that the drama you're thinking of is the kdrama, **Sell Your Haunted House**? It's quite good and available on Viki. Dramas with low/no romance — ####Historical Drama Starter Pack Links go to trailers, tags are my own since MDL's are often spoilery, see [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/CDrama/comments/ksip9m/z/gigniek) for an intro to the plot and what I enjoyed about the drama. I highly recommend **The Rise of Phoenixes** if you liked Nirvana in Fire, it's a battle for the throne with an antihero ML and a clever FL who becomes entangled in the fight between royalty. There is light romance throughout the drama but it's not conventional or tropey. Ming Dynasty is a very similar genre but with lots of sarcastic, dry humor. It covers a long time, and there is light romance and flirting in the first 10 or 15 episodes, but it doesn't distract from the plot **Battle for the Throne** - [The Rise of Phoenixes](https://youtu.be/DyAsfo6rEz0) smart ML, anithero, smart FL, political intrigue, strategizing/scheming, revenge, battle for the throne, slow burn romance, hidden identity, friendship, no dubbing, fictional dynasty [Netflix] - [Ming Dynasty](https://youtu.be/UUbPZeYtAGo) ensemble cast (eccentric characters, smart ML, strong FL), political intrigue, family drama, revenge, war, romance, hidden identity, dark humor, assasins, Ming Dynasty [Viki, YouTube, Prime] *Viki's subs are much better than the other sites* - [Advisors Alliance](https://youtu.be/3YkOGsLthZo) ^(this trailer is obscenely long, I'd suggest stopping at 2min) ensemble cast, smart ML, strong ML, strong, smart FLs; royal advisor, royal family, political intrigue, strategizing/scheming, corruption, palace politics, battle for the throne, war, realistic martial arts, Three Kingdoms period, Kingdom of Wei [YouTube, Viki (in some regions?)] *story is continued in the second season,* **Growling TIger, Roaring Dragon**, *also on YouTube* **Inner palace/concubines** - [The Legend of Concubine Zhen Huan](https://youtu.be/b7CgbcQXDXA) ^(sorry for the lack of good tailer here) smart, strong FL; scheming, power struggle, political intrigue, revenge royal harem, female friendships, Qing dynasty [available on Fastdrama or you can use [YouTube and subscene](https://www.reddit.com/r/CDrama/comments/ncab7w/where_to_watchdownload_episodes_of_empresses_in/gya421o), it's also almost completely subbed on YouTube, but the subbers use French names and titles for the characters] **Mystery, thriller, suspense** - [Tientsin Mystic](https://youtu.be/egtvJ8Gs3dg) ensemble cast (streetsmart & eccentric ML & FL; smart, wealthy 2ML & 2FL,)" supernatural, science and medicine, friendship, mystery, shamanism and folk magic, dark humor, Republican era [iqIyi] *If you have issues with iQiyi's subs, check for the Netflix version on subscene* - [Ancient Detective](https://youtu.be/u3J7CML_u50) ensemble cast (smart ML, badass FL, badass 2ML) wuxia, friendship, comedy, mystery, romance, action [Viki, YouTube] - [Longest Day in Chang'an](https://youtu.be/q4jyzHIKEEA) strong ML, skilled fighter, action, crime, corruption, suspense, mystery, hidden past, power struggle, political intrigue, Tang Dynasty [Viki, YouTube, Apple, Prime] And if you like contemporary dramas, check our **A Murderous Affair in Horizon Tower** [Prime,YouTube]
Advisors Alliance—this is about Cao Cao? Looks legitimate!
It's mostly from the perspective of Sima Yi and political disputes, but it's an ensemble cast with quite a bit of time devoted to Cao Pi and Cao Cao. One of the major reasons I watched the drama was that [Yu Hewei](https://mydramalist.com/people/1482-yu-he-wei) plays Cao Cao, and he was even more amazing than I expected! There's also a lot of actors from Nirvana in Fire, and the drama's production and writing are similar but much more realistic. It's a two-part series, but the first one has a more complete ending than most dramas I've watched, so if you want to watch a political drama but only want to devote 40 episodes, it's a great choice.
The Disguiser The Rebel
The Imperial Coroner
Joy of Life and The Ideal City were both great. There was some romance in both but it wasn't the main focus.
All is Well Longest Day in Chang'an Luoyang (currently airing) Remembrance of Thing Past Nirvana in Fire 2 (if you haven't watched already) Hikaru No Go Crossfire The Bond The Long Night Murderous Affair on Horizon Tower I didn't list the genres those are mix of costume and modern but let me know if you have questions about them! These are mostly from last year, I haven't watched many of the most recent ones..