TEFSCBSS Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Su Li Wants to Do a Reality Show?

In the imperial city, in the dead of night, inside the dungeon of the Bureau of Military Affairs.

Jiang Liang slowly regained consciousness. As he took in the unfamiliar surroundings, a wave of excitement surged in his heart.

“Did I finally escape that cursed place?”

“Could it be that Li Tiechui rescued me?”

“Sigh, no wonder he was sent by Prime Minister Su. He’s strong, calm, and even amid that ghost-infested nightmare, he still could save me.”

“I wonder how the mission is going now? What kind of reward will the Prime Minister give me?”

The more he thought about it, the more delighted he became. What did mercenaries in the martial world seek if not a chance to showcase their skills and make a living? If he continued handling tasks for the Prime Minister, he wouldn’t expect riches beyond imagination, but he could certainly climb higher in status, gain some recognition in the capital, and maybe even marry a servant girl from a noble house. Heh…

“But why is it so cold in here?”

He shivered and tried to sit up to stretch his limbs, thinking he should find something to eat.

Huh?

His eyes fell on the iron bars right in front of him. As he scanned the surroundings, realization struck—this place looked an awful lot like a prison cell.

Before he could fully process the situation, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from outside. A man in a familiar guard’s uniform approached, carrying a food box.

“Master Su San!” Jiang Liang sprang to his feet, excited. The newcomer was none other than Su San, one of Prime Minister Su’s trusted aides, responsible for managing the mercenaries under his command.

Su San ignored him, stepping inside and methodically setting out the food from the box before finally turning to regard the disheveled Jiang Liang with an indifferent expression.

“What exactly did you do at the script shop? What did you see?”

Jiang Liang was momentarily puzzled. Hadn’t Li Tiechui already reported back? Or was it that they had different missions, so he needed to recount it again? Regardless of his thoughts, he faithfully relayed everything he had witnessed.

At the end, he added, “That Su Li is truly something else—she can command ghosts! It’s terrifying!”

Su San gave him a glance. “You’ve worked hard today. This is a special order from the lord—eat and rest well.”

“Then… what about my reward?”

Su San’s gaze turned ice-cold. The meaning was clear: what right did a lowly mercenary like him have to bargain?

Jiang Liang dared not press further. Besides, he was starving. He lowered his head and began eating. But halfway through, his mouth suddenly filled with a bitter, black liquid. As realization struck, disbelief flashed in his eyes. He gasped, trying to say something, but his body collapsed lifelessly.

Task completed. Su San did not linger. He turned and left, heading back to report.

—

With two successful script games under its belt and with Su Li regularly hosting small-scale Werewolf tournaments, the Xilou Script Shop was gradually making a name for itself among the common folk of the imperial city. Even members of the nobility had begun to take notice.

Especially when word spread that the Third Prince, Wang Bokao, Zhao Wen, Gu Qing, and other young aristocrats were frequent visitors, a wave of enthusiasm for script-killing games and Werewolf swept through various social circles.

Nowadays, visiting a tea house or tavern without boasting about one’s performance at the script shop was considered out of fashion. More and more people flocked to the store.

Across from the Xilou Script Shop, on the second floor of a respectable tavern, two figures sat facing each other over a game of Go.

“You sure have an interesting way of passing the time—playing chess right across from her shop,” a woman chuckled, her tone tinged with schadenfreude.

“You’re the one who called me here, Miss Zhou,” Su Yao countered coolly as she placed a white stone on the board. “Since you’ve yet to say what you want, I figured I might as well entertain myself while I wait.”

“Fine, fine. I just wanted to ask about your next move. It’s been long enough—shouldn’t you act already?”

Su Yao glanced at her with amusement. “You’re getting impatient?”

The woman, referred to as Miss Zhou, brushed her fingers over the mask covering her face and said meaningfully, “The wealth and power of the imperial city can be intoxicating. I just don’t want you to forget our goal.”

“And the more popular she becomes, the harder she’ll be to get rid of.”

Su Yao remained unfazed, her gaze drifting toward the bustling script shop across the street. “Sometimes, the best way to deal with an opponent is to let them believe they are safe. That’s when they are most likely to reveal their weaknesses.”

“The higher they climb, the harder they fall.”

“And besides, her reputation, her influence—it’s nothing but a house of cards.”

Miss Zhou chuckled, her laughter light and mocking. “Prime Minister Su should come see this. So this is his so-called obedient and well-behaved daughter?”

She played with a black Go piece between her fingers, then smirked. “I have to hand it to you. No wonder that person said you don’t need a mask. Delicate and weak in front of others, yet scheming and ruthless behind the scenes—that’s a skill I could never master.”

With that, she placed her piece on the board, capturing several of Su Yao’s white stones. “As for me, I only focus on removing the obstacles right in front of me. If I don’t get rid of them, I won’t be able to sleep soundly.”

“You do realize that person already thinks your plan is unnecessary? Absolute power and swift elimination—those are the only real solutions.”

Su Yao smiled as she placed another piece. “But I just won this match, Miss Zhou.”

“To control the whole game, you have to think three steps ahead.”

Losing the game didn’t seem to bother Miss Zhou. She leaned on her hand, looking at Su Yao with mild amusement. “I admit, I’m not as good as you at chess. But the current situation isn’t a board game—don’t overplay your hand. She even used some games to spread the story of her ‘fake death.’ Have you thought about how you’re going to fix this?”

Su Yao shot her a cold glance. “Don’t worry. She and the Third Prince won’t make it out alive. And I will find what you’re looking for.”

“Heh. I certainly hope so.”

Miss Zhou yawned and stretched lazily, her masculine attire only adding to her casual elegance.

With one last glance toward Xilou, she tossed a bottle of medicine to Su Yao and strolled away.

“Hmph.” Su Yao let out a cold snort. One day, she would deal with that unruly woman.

But for now, she wasn’t wrong. The fake death plan was no longer viable—it was time to change course.

—

Su Li suddenly felt a chill. She paused, putting down her charcoal pencil, and glanced around the script shop. The players were still engrossed in their games, some so excited they were nearly stripping off their shirts in the heat of the moment.

The atmosphere was buzzing with energy, so why did she just get a shiver down her spine? Was someone cursing her behind her back?

Forget it. Not worth thinking about.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the stack of papers in her hand. “Heh heh… Once this project goes through, I’ll be raking in another fortune!”

She lifted her head and called out, “Zhao Wen! Zhao Wen! You little mutt, get over here!”

Zhao Wen: …

He looked up from the sea of documents in front of him, his face full of misery. “What do you want this time?”

Yes, it was indeed Zhao Wen.

That night, he had run away like a coward, with nowhere to go. In the end, he sneaked into the script shop and spent the night lying in the main hall, only to be discovered by Su Li the next morning.

Of course, she promptly sent him back home—where he got a well-deserved beating.

After much negotiation, Zhao Wen managed to keep his life. The price? He now worked for Su Li, handling collaborations between her and his father, specifically adapting legal case records into scripts.

By now, they had sifted through all the classic cases—ones that were both intriguing and educational. So what was she dragging him into this time?

Su Li grinned and handed him a project proposal. Bold words were printed across the top:

“A Heart-Stirring Offer—Grand Advisor Selection Reality Show”

Zhao Wen: ???

What the hell was this?