"Director Chen, is this a low-budget version of Werewolf or something?" Cui Mantong asked with a laugh.
Chen Tianming spread his hands. "I originally planned to put this in the next episode, thinking of doing a big detective case. But it's fine, we'll do a simple version this time, just to get everyone warmed up. When you're all familiar with it, you might play even more vigorously next time."
After he finished, he had the staff distribute simple scripts and slips of paper to everyone.
"Now, you all have 20 minutes to familiarize yourselves with the plot. The game begins in 20 minutes."
[Director Chen is really something. It's raining and nothing can be done, but he actually had the staff write a simple script to liven things up. ]
[Look at Fang Miaomiao and Cui Mantong, they're good friends, their miserable looks are exactly the same, they might as well have 'I don't want to work' written on their faces.]
[Chen Tianming says: Having you all is my blessing.]
Twenty minutes later.
The game began.
This time, it was a simple palace murder case.
Find the two murderers of the Emperor.
Chen Tianming placed the camera on Wen Zhiyan's script.
[I always feel like Director Chen's shot is not simple. Could it be that Master Wen is the murderer? Damn, that's exciting. I'm already wondering if Miaomiao is an accomplice too.]
[Director Chen wouldn't be so cliché, would he? They'd at least have to be in love and hate each other.]
"Now, please, Forensic Officer, bring out the first murder weapon found at the scene."
A staff member brought out a wine glass.
"The imperial physician discovered potent poison on the wine glass. Although the poison hasn't been identified yet, anyone among you could be responsible."
Zhou Jiaxin frowned. "Wasn't the wine glass served to His Majesty by a maid? Logically, the maid should be the most likely to have poisoned it."
"As everyone knows, His Majesty is very suspicious. We maids must undergo strict checks. How could we have secretly put poison into the wine glass without anyone noticing, and then had His Majesty drink it?" Cui Mantong said calmly. "Moreover, anything His Majesty consumes is tasted by a dedicated person. In that case, wouldn't the possibility of Imperial Guard Cui be greater?"
Cui Tong ran his finger over the paper in his hand. "We guards carry poison in our bodies. This poison can only be neutralized by the Emperor. If he dies, we all die. So I have no reason to kill the Emperor."
"First round of accusations concluded. Please choose your suspect and state your reasons."
Zhou Jiaxin raised her hand. "I suspect Maid Cui and Guard Cui. If they collaborated, they could have caused the Emperor's death without anyone knowing."
"I think it's Guard Cui," Cui Mantong said with a serious expression.
"Mantong?" Cui Tong looked at Cui Mantong's excited expression with some helplessness. "I am your husband."
Not only in real life, but in this game, they were also playing a married couple.
"Righteousness over kinship."
Cui Tong shook his head.
The first round, due to insufficient evidence and accusations, could not be concluded.
Second round.
The imperial physician's statement and another clue were presented.
"His Majesty discovered an improper relationship between Consort Fang and Guard Wen."
Hearing this clue, Cui Mantong looked at Fang Miaomiao with a half-smile. "Consort Fang, you're playing a wild game."
Fang Miaomiao spread her hands and blinked innocently. "Can I say it was a misunderstanding? Back then, I really just fell from a tree, and Guard Wen happened to pass by and save me. Who knew the old Emperor saw it from nearby? I'm also very innocent."
"What does Guard Wen say? With a beauty in his arms, and also under the Emperor's control," Cui Tong said with a smile. "You're more suspicious than me, after all, I have a wife, but Guard Wen doesn't."
[Cui Tong is amazing. Three out of his five sentences are about having a wife. He even teased his brother-in-law for not having a wife. What is this elementary school squabble?]
[Hahaha, I find it hilarious too. But I'm really curious now, who killed the old Emperor? Currently, the two guards and Maid Cui are the most suspected.]
[I feel something is off. If the two guards are the most suspected, why were Consort Fang and Maid Cui exchanging glances?]
[I also feel that the way these two women look at each other is a bit strange. Damn, could the murderers be Consort Fang and Maid Cui?]
[To the commenter above, isn't that a bit too exciting? Let's keep watching to see what happens.]
"Now, please reveal the private clues you received and further analyze the cause of the Emperor's death."
Chen Huan played with the slip of paper in his hand. "I'm more suspicious of Prince Wu, because the clue I received states that the original heir to the throne was not the current Emperor, but Prince Wu."
"But for some reason, the one who ended up on the throne was the deceased Emperor. Prince Wu, please tell us what happened that made you, the first choice for emperor, become a prince without any military power?"
A subtle flicker flashed in Wu Lu's eyes. "What happened in the past is in the past. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with this matter, does it?"
"So there's another hidden plot here," Cui Mantong said, resting her chin on her hands with great interest. "It feels like everyone among us is suspicious."
"I am wronged," Fang Miaomiao said obediently, raising her hand. "During the banquet, I was confined because of this matter with Guard Wen."
"Is that so?"
"I can attest to that," Wen Zhiyan nodded. "However, the clue in my hand says that Guard Cui and Prince Wu were in a tea house, plotting something."
"Guard Cui and I hit it off immediately and chatted a bit. Is there a problem with that?" Wu Lu took a sip of tea, his expression calm and composed.
"Hit it off immediately?" Maid Cui smiled charmingly. "Isn't it because he's the child of your beloved?"
"What a shocking piece of gossip," Fang Miaomiao found it increasingly amusing. "Was the old Emperor cuckolded, or what?"
Wu Lu said faintly, "I only had a few encounters with that lady, no fate. When I saw Guard Cui, I suddenly noticed he bore some resemblance to that lady, so I interacted with him a bit more."
"If you suspect me because of this matter," Wu Lu continued, " then I can only say that you've fallen right into the hands of those two murderers. After all, even if I killed the Emperor, I wouldn't be able to hold onto the throne, would I?"
"The four nations are at war, and our country is the weakest. I, myself, do not consider myself a good person, nor do I wish to save anyone from dire straits. I'll reveal myself, I'll be open. I have defected to another country. Once I hand over the city defense map, that country will guarantee my lifelong safety and endless prosperity."
"His Majesty already knew about your intentions," General Ye said coldly, at the same time revealing his clue. "That's why he prepared to have you die at the banquet."
Prince Wu fell silent.