TEFSCBSS Chapter 1

“It’s not a bookstore. The owner says it’s a script shop!”

“Script? Like a theater? Any new plays? I’m tired of hearing about those romantic scholar stories.”

“That’s the strange part. My second aunt’s son-in-law’s cousin works there as a clerk, and he says there isn’t a single performer in sight. Just the owner, him, and a little maid. Only three people altogether.”

“That is odd.”

“Anyway, today’s their grand opening. The owner set up a big stage at the entrance and invited everyone in the neighborhood to join in on the fun—for free!”

Hearing the word free, the crowd quickly gathered and made their way to South Road, buzzing with excitement.

At the street corner, they were met with an eerie sight. A previously lively tavern had transformed into a decrepit building, complete with broken windows, a withered tree, fallen leaves, and spiderwebs. Even in broad daylight, it looked like a haunted house.

“Hiss—“

The crowd collectively gasped. In just a month, a perfectly good location had turned into such a spooky place.

They instinctively stopped ten paces away, hesitant to go closer.

Inside the building, Su Li stifled a laugh, struggling to maintain her composure.

Who would’ve thought she’d transmigrate into an absurd cliché collection of dog-blood novels? Everywhere she turned, the plots were full of melodrama and nonsensical twists.

Her original character? A stereotypical “villainess”—a fake daughter mistakenly raised by the prime minister’s family. When the real daughter, Su Yao, returned, she not only reclaimed her family’s love but also stole Su Li’s engagement to the Third Prince. This drove the original Su Li into a jealous frenzy, trying to ruin Su Yao at every turn, only to be poisoned to death by her own “father” in the third chapter.

What a tragic backstory! Worse, Su Li had never even met her biological parents and didn’t know their names or whereabouts.

Luckily, Su Li transmigrated just in time—on the very day Su Yao was set to return.

Determined to escape this life-destroying plot, Su Li immediately shed her arrogant persona, declaring her willingness to leave the Prime Minister’s residence and let everyone return to their rightful places.

The Prime Minister, ever “reluctant,” tearfully offered to adopt her as his foster daughter and let her stay.

Yeah, right. Stay and wait to be cannon fodder? Su Li refused three times in a row, much to his growing annoyance.

It was only the old matriarch—her “grandmother”—who relented, secretly giving Su Li a thousand taels of silver as she left.

Initially, Su Li planned to leave the capital entirely, far away from the plot and its dangerous players.

But at the city gates, she overheard news of natural disasters, roaming bandits, and widespread famine.

Glancing at her delicate figure, Su Li decided it was safer to lay low in the capital for now. After all, it was the emperor’s city.

So, she donned a disguise, dressing as a man and taking the name Zhao Li. With her savings, she rented a small property, hired a male and female assistant, and opened a shop specializing in what she knew best—murder mystery role-playing games!

At this moment, Su Li stood listening to the growing commotion outside her store, a satisfied smile on her face. Seeing that the timing was just right, she signaled to her assistant, Zhao Si, and stepped out.

The sound of the creaking door silenced the murmuring crowd. They turned to see a pale, refined young man—or rather, Su Li in her male disguise—step onto the stage.

“Greetings, esteemed neighbors.” Su Li bowed, spinning a quick tale about her background.

“I am Zhao Li. After ten years of studying and traveling, I have returned home, eager to share my experiences with you all to broaden the horizons of our community’s scholars.

“However, I am but a poor speaker and unskilled in storytelling. Thus, I have opened this West Pavilion Script Shop to share my tales through interactive games.”

Her speech quickly won over the crowd. So, it wasn’t a haunted house! This young master Zhao seemed like a kind-hearted and earnest person, who wanted to educate the youth.

With their suspicions eased, many began to see her in a positive light.

Taking their reactions in stride, Su Li ascended a small platform and accepted a wooden box from Zhao Si.

Snap! The box lid opened, revealing shining silver ingots.

“Whoa!” The crowd gasped in unison.

Placing the box on a stand, Su Li smiled warmly. “Today is our grand opening. To celebrate, I am giving away silver!”

“You heard that right! A full fifty taels await the victors of today’s games!”

The crowd erupted into excitement, their eyes gleaming. Silver? Fifty taels? What kind of competition was this? Poetry? Martial arts?

Across the street, in the second-floor private room of a fancy tavern, two richly dressed young men watched the scene unfold.

“Third Prince, isn’t that Su Li? She’s even disguised as a man now. Unbelievable—still as bold and unconventional as ever.”

The Third Prince, Han Yueyi, merely sipped his tea without comment.

He had been close to Su Li as a child, but after years of being stationed far away on military assignments, he returned only recently to find out about the switched-at-birth drama.

Today, by sheer coincidence, he and his friend had stumbled upon her shop’s grand opening.

Unaware of their presence, Su Li beamed as more people arrived. Her shop’s success depended on this very day!

Clearing her throat, she raised a paper cone she’d crafted into a makeshift megaphone.

“Quiet, everyone! To win the silver, you’ll need to solve three questions. Only the cleverest among you can claim victory!”

The crowd fell silent. But before Su Li could continue, a muscular butcher scoffed loudly. “Hmph! What now? Another test of classics and history? Let those bookworms have their fun.”

Nearby, a scholarly man adjusted his robes smugly. “Jealous, are we, Liu Butcher? Afraid of losing again?”

The butcher bristled. “Jealous? Of you? One more word, and I’ll knock you out!”

“Go ahead, see if that wins you fifty taels!” the scholar taunted, clearly confident in his intellect.

Meanwhile, Su Li held back a chuckle, watching their antics. She knocked on the box to regain their attention.

“Here’s the first question,” she announced.

“Xiao Hong’s mother passed away, and she and her sister hosted the funeral. Seven days later, her sister also died. Why?”

The crowd froze.

“Wait… what?”

“That’s the question?”

“What kind of riddle is this?”

Su Li’s smile deepened. A professional murder mystery writer in her past life, she knew exactly how to leave them bewildered. Let the games begin.