TEFSCBSS Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Clues in Motion (Part One)

After giving the ten candidates enough time to calm down, Su Li signaled that they could begin.

Down below the platform, the entire area—judges’ panel and audience alike—was as silent as could be. Especially the regulars of the script shop, who all pulled out their trusty little notebooks, ready to start taking notes.

As the saying goes, “Know your enemy to defeat them.” Those itching to challenge the reigning champions were already gearing up, eager to knock someone off their pedestal.

Meanwhile, across from the script shop, on the second floor of a proper and respectable tavern, in a familiar private room, two familiar figures sat together. Han Yueyi and Wang Bokao were drinking from the same jar of fine wine Han had once won.

“Hmph, at least you’ve got a conscience—not hogging the whole jar to yourself,” Wang Bokao said with a smirk, though his hand never stopped scribbling notes.

Han Yueyi just let out a sigh. “You’ve got it easy. Ever since I returned to the palace, I can barely find time to sneak out. And those dear brothers of mine keep asking when I’ll get married and move back to my fief in Northern Rong.”

Wang Bokao looked at him sympathetically. “Why’d the Emperor have to give you a fief so damn far away? Once you’re married and the Crown Prince is named, getting back into the capital will be almost impossible.”

“He means well,” Han replied, though his tone was dry. It was his father’s way of subtly telling him the throne wasn’t in the cards for him—essentially protecting him by keeping him out of the political crossfire. And Han didn’t want the throne anyway. Still, it stung a bit to be ruled out like that.

But even with that level of “protection,” his siblings still saw him as a threat. That’s what happens when your mother is the Emperor’s “white moonlight” — his most cherished love. Everyone’s afraid the old man might lose his head and name Han as Crown Prince just to honor his beloved.

Han was tired—truly exhausted.

Not that he couldn’t just get married early and retire quietly to Northern Rong. But when his eyes drifted up to the radiant figure of Su Li standing on the stage, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed since they were kids.

Su Li’s personality was still the same, but as her childhood friend, Han Yueyi could tell—she no longer held any special feelings for him.

He remembered when they were young, Su Li had lifted her proud little face and boldly declared that she would only be with someone she truly loved, or she’d rather die. Because of that, he couldn’t bring himself to just marry someone else.

Besides, the attempted assassination mentioned in the last script still hadn’t been fully investigated. There was no way he could leave the capital with something that serious unresolved.

Hmph. At the very least, he’d make life more difficult for those oh-so-loving royal brothers of his!

Wang Bokao glanced at Han’s constantly shifting expressions and rolled his eyes. He didn’t bother to comment, simply refocusing on the candidates’ speeches.

The truth—he was determined to uncover it.

The ten candidates were grouped as follows:

Group 1: Candidates 1, 7, 9, 10
Group 2: Candidates 2, 4, 6
Group 3: Candidates 3, 5, 8

[Character Relationship Statements] began as follows:

Candidate 1: “The deceased was infatuated with Chun Ya, the wonton vendor, and planned to propose to her.”

Candidate 2: “The deceased and Butcher Liu were neighbors and had a history of disputes.”

Candidate 3: “The deceased was a local scholar with many classmates, most of whom were witnesses that night.”

Candidate 1: “Chun Ya is an orphan with no surviving family.”

Candidate 4: “Butcher Liu is also a local escort master and hasn’t left town in the past month.”

Candidate 5: “According to his classmates, the scholar often visited Moon Fairy Pavilion, but he had no particular favorite among the ladies.”

Candidate 1: “Chun Ya suffers from face blindness. She can’t recognize people by their faces—only by their clothing and voices.”

Candidate 6: “Nearby vendors all said Chun Ya is kind, hardworking, and an excellent cook.”

Candidate 8: “There were few customers at the wonton stall that night. Some say her cooking had declined—the wontons tasted strange.”

Candidate 1: “The performers on the lantern float were from a local theater troupe and had nothing to do with the case.”

Group Two: …They shook their heads regretfully. They had no additional information.

Candidates 3 and 5 also shook their heads. Then, Candidate 8 spoke up loudly and clearly: “A few days ago, Chun Ya helped some homeless people in the back alley, but she didn’t do so today.”

Candidate 1 glanced at 8 and continued in a cold tone, “Chun Ya said she didn’t know the victim.”

Candidate 8: “Chun Ya doesn’t remember the scholar.”

Candidate 1, furiously: “How is that different from what I just said?”

Candidate 8: “Of course it’s different. Are you saying the victim is the scholar?”

Candidate 1: “Isn’t that obvious?”

Candidate 8: “And how exactly are you confirming that? The victim’s face was badly disfigured—there’s no way to be sure.”

Candidate 1: “You—!” Candidate 1 was so angry that he looked like he might lunge at 8. He jabbed a finger in 8’s direction. “Alright, Jiang Yanke, you go a few days without getting your butt kicked and suddenly you forget who I am?!”

Su Li quickly stepped forward to break things up before it got physical. “Everyone, just share the clues you believe are correct. You don’t need to argue about who’s right or wrong right now. Candidate 1, do you have anything else to add?”

Candidate 1 looked out at the crowd below, snorted coldly, and said, “No.”

Candidate 8: “I have one more thing.”

“According to Butcher Liu, Chun Ya left her wonton stall that night saying she was going to dump the slop. She came back a while later. During that time, neither of them can vouch for the other’s whereabouts. The area was busy with customers, so no one noticed anything unusual.”

“That’s all.”

Su Li quietly sighed to herself. She felt like she was back in her old job hosting reality shows in the modern world—always on edge, worrying the players might actually come to blows.

She patted her chest lightly, trying to calm her poor, overstimulated heart, then turned her gaze toward the judges’ table.

“We’ve now concluded the reporting of clues related to Character Relationships from all ten candidates. Judges, please share your feedback.”

Judge A was the first to hold up a scorecard. “All of you were excellent. Very observant.”

Judge B: “Hah. What a classic fence-sitter. I think Candidate 1 has a real problem. This was supposed to be a group presentation. Why did every other group take turns speaking, but in your group, only you talked?”

Candidate 1 frowned, looking unimpressed. “I’m the team leader. Is it a problem for me to speak on behalf of my group?”

Judge B, meaningfully: “Let me remind all the candidates—you’re not in a team competition. The groupings were temporary, but you’re still individual competitors. If you give up your chance to speak and let someone else hog the spotlight, that’s your choice. But as a judge, I can’t evaluate what I don’t see. So for Group One, aside from Candidate 1, I’m giving everyone else a zero.”

The remaining three members of Group One looked rattled. One of them glanced toward Candidate 1, only to be met with a cold glare that quickly shut them up.

Down below, the challengers—those hoping to dethrone the current stars—were thrilled.

“Well, if someone doesn’t want to compete, might as well walk off the stage now and give us a shot, right?”

“Exactly. I thought getting selected meant they had real skills. Turns out they’re just scenery. Boring.”

Boos echoed from the audience. The other three members of Group One lowered their heads. Their expressions were hidden, so no one could tell what they were thinking.

The moment passed quickly. The other judges were far less confrontational. Their comments were friendly and mild. After all, no one said scores had to be revealed right away—whatever they wrote on their sheets remained unseen by others.

Meanwhile, Wang Bokao ignored all the backstage drama. He pulled out his freshly scribbled notes, plopped down beside Han Yueyi, and said, “Alright, let’s go through this together.”