CH 35

When Jin Ziyi saw someone coming, she sat back in her seat with a guilty conscience. She didn't know if she was heard talking about someone behind her back just now.

Fortunately, Wen Jin, who never showed much expression to others, just glanced at her lightly and didn't say much.

On the other hand, Huo Yitong, who was usually not very harmonious with her, came to her side with a smile, "Breakfast looks pretty good."

"Mm, Director Wen suddenly found her conscience, she is kind to us recently." Jin Ziyi nodded perfunctorily but looked at Wen Jin and Ruan Jinghong from time to time.

She saw the little sister A'Ruan who was chatting and laughing with her just now, but as soon as she saw Wen Jin, it was as if she had been immobilized, holding a fork in one hand and staring blankly at the dining table, not even knowing what to say.

"Did you rest well last night?" Wen Jin put a piece of bread on Ruan Jinghong's plate and said in an ordinary tone.

"Ah, very good." Ruan Jinghong, who came back to her senses, was stunned for a moment and replied.

Why are they asking me "Have you had a good rest?" Do I look like I haven't had a good rest?

Ruan Jinghong lowered her head, picked up the bread, and took a bite, with a bitter expression on her face: It tastes like durian.

Wen Jin looked at the "forced smile" of the little thing in front of her, and felt very distressed: She must have seen those comments last night to be so sad.

Ruan Jinghong planned to pretend to take two bites first, and then quietly put the bread aside. But Wen Jin was staring at her with a "full of pity" gaze as if she wouldn't give up if she couldn't finish the bread she had personally picked up.

Ruan Jinghong felt helpless and swallowed the whole durian-flavored bread with great difficulty.

After everyone had breakfast, the director was not in a hurry to announce today's task but asked everyone to go to the dressing room to change their looks. During this period, all the guests should not be in contact with each other.

"What are you planning? It's so mysterious." Jin Ziyi, who had only read the outline of the script, muttered in bewilderment.

She saw that the other two big bosses beside her were quite familiar with each other, and even the little sister who was always in a daze was very calm. She didn't want to look as ignorant as those two young little traffickers, so she also pretended to be very calm and went to the dressing room with the staff.

Ruan Jinghong entered the third dressing room on the left. She originally thought that the program crew would ask her to change into some sportswear so that she could participate in some extreme sports later.  But she didn't expect that she was asked to change into... a traditional costume.

The orange-yellow satin is covered with brocade patterns, which are gorgeous yet girlish and fresh. It seems that the owner of this robe is either rich or expensive.

Ruan Jinghong once acted in a female supporting role in a costume drama crew, and the costumes she came into contact with were all the ones that had been worn many times in Hengdian*.  It was the first time for her to wear such an exquisite costume.

*Hengdian World Studio, a filming site for period films, with replicas of ancient Chinese palaces. There are also costume rental shops for tourists if they want to roam around in costume.

Um, costumes?

Director Wen probably wants everyone to rehearse a scene together in the variety show, right?

Ruan Jinghong was full of doubts, but obediently cooperated and changed into clothes, and let the staff put a red hairpin on her head and powder on her face.

After an hour like this, Ruan Jinghong looked at herself in the floor-to-ceiling mirror. She had the same face as usual, but her temperament was quite different. Like a little princess who grew up in the palace and pampered.

The roles Ruan Jinghong took in the past were almost all vicious female supporting roles. Even if some of them were the roles of Miss Qianjin*, the makeup artist would deliberately outline her eyebrows and eyes to be sharp and mean.

*stereotype daughter from a wealthy family in Chinese period dramas

But this time, the makeup artist kept her original special makeup, and only used bright colors and light powder to brighten her face, making her look more energetic.

Ruan Jinghong looked at herself in the mirror, and couldn't help being narcissistic. A sweet smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, thinking: I'm so pretty.

"Teacher Ruan is so good-looking." The young lady who was in charge of makeup on the side spoke her heart out for Ruan Jinghong.

"I have been in the industry for so many years, and I have rarely met someone with such fair and supple skin. Even the powder can be reduced by two layers, which is very trouble-free."

"Thank you, sister." Ruan Jinghong blinked at the makeup artist lady beside her, her smile was soft and cute with a little pride.

The young lady was touched by this glance. She remembered the comments she saw when she checked Weibo last night, and she couldn't understand why someone would be so hostile to such a beautiful and lovely girl.

The young lady saw Ruan Jinghong's look of hopelessness and wondered if she had seen those negative comments.

Ruan Jinghong saw that the make-up artist lady looked easy to talk to, so she inquired: "Sister, I dressed up like this, am I going to act later, am I going to play a princess?"

The makeup artist lady smiled, "You'll know when you get there. It's done, let's go, the car is waiting for you at the door."

Ruan Jinghong: ...

Are the people in this program group all from the Bureau of Secrecy?

So how did Ziyi find out information from the program group twice in a row?

The vehicle drove Ruan Jinghong for more than an hour. When she got off the vehicle, she saw the palace in front of her and almost thought she had crossed.

At this time, a staff member appeared and handed her a notebook, and said, "Please write down the information on this within 20 minutes, and then enter the palace."

She's a little unaccustomed to the CALL process without a big speaker.

Ruan Jinghong took the notebook and saw "Princess Harmony*" written on the cover.  She opened the cover, and it was written inside: Your identity is Ruanruan, the little princess of Chen Kingdom. The princess of the Western Real came to Dachen to marry your crown prince brother but died unexpectedly before getting married. 

*Princess who gets married off to other monarchs of a foreign land to enhance the mutual relationship.

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As one of the close contacts of the Princess of the West, you have also become the object of suspicion. Your task is to lead everyone to find the real culprit who killed the princess of the Western Realm in the next exploration.

It turned out to be a murder-mystery role-play. Ruan Jinghong turned the page back, wanting to get more information about the identity of Princess of Chen, but saw that it said: Your character has lost her memory, please find your lost memories in the next game process. Remember, don't let others find out that you have amnesia.

Ruan Jinghong:

This is really the shortest script she has ever seen in her life. It doesn't take 20 minutes to memorize this content.

Ruan Jinghong, the first guest to read the script, approached the palace early, not wanting anyone else to enter the venue earlier than her.

Jin Ziyi, who was dressed as a court lady, prostrated herself in front of the carved bed, crying and shouting: "Princess, you died so tragically. This servant will find out the real culprit and avenge you."

If it weren't for the fact that she couldn't see a single tear on her face, it would have been quite sincere.

Huo Yitong, who was dressed in an official uniform, stood in front of the bed with a solemn expression: "The princess of the Western Realm was killed on my birthday. This matter is related to the diplomatic relations between the two countries, so it is a big matter."

Looking at the two people who entered the play quickly, Ruan Jinghong was speechless inwardly: So... the show has already started?

I really envy those who have a script, unlike me, a person suffering from amnesia.

At this time, Yin Xiang, who was wearing a light yellow robe, and Zhong Manyun, who was wearing a concubine's palace attire, also entered the arena together.

Yin Xiang looked at the bed where the body of the princess of the Western Realm was placed aside, and tried to make his expression look sad,

"Princess, l am a Crown Prince with limited fortune. I have no chance with you in this life, I only wish to continue our relationship in the next life."

Zhong Manyun comforted him from the side: "Crown Prince, don't be sad anymore. Sister is gone, and you still have a concubine."

It was obvious that this is the first time wearing a period costume for these two talent show-borne idols, and they are working very hard. The tense expression on his face was a little funny.

Everyone is working so hard, Ruan Jinghong felt that she should also say some lines to show her identity. Without a script, she has to make one herself to hide the fact that she has amnesia.

So she came to the coffin and said seriously: "Princess, eat and drink well below, don't be afraid that you will be lonely, maybe my royal brother will come to accompany you soon, the marriage that should be continued and it can be continued anywhere .”

Prince Yin:

You just sent me away with just one sentence!

The last person to appear was Wen Jin. She was dressed in a plain robe and held a feather fan. Her attire was the simplest among all the people present, but it allowed her to put on an indistinguishable beauty, and she was full of flair.

She shook her fan and walked into the crowd, saying to the other people in the room, "The Princess of the Western Realm was killed in Dachen territory for no reason. I have been ordered by His Majesty to investigate her cause of death. You were all in close contact with the Princess before her death. Could you please tell me what you each did between the hour of Wu to the hour of Mao* of the Princess's accident

*Ancient Chinese Time divided time into twelve segments, each segment is equivalent to two hours in modern time.

Wushi (twilight): 7 - 9 pm

Maoshi (sunrise): 5 - 7 am; shi means hour/time

Good guy, I got myself the DM script as soon as I arrived. Huo Yitong was the least easily deceived among these people, and immediately asked, "Who are you? Do you have any evidence to claim to be investigating under His Majesty's orders?

After all, the identities of the other few people are easy to distinguish from their attire and lines. Jin Ziyi is the palace maid next to the Western Princess, Yin Xiang is the Crown Prince of Dachen and the fiancé of the princess, Ruan Jinghong is the Princess of Dachen, Zhong Manyun is the Crown Prince's side concubine, and Huo Yitong herself holds the identity of Grand Fu*. Only Wen Jin, a person in plain clothes, appears the most out of place and mysterious among the people in the palace.

*emperor's minister/ emperor's teacher

Wen Jin was not in the least concerned about Grand Fu Huo's questioning and said calmly: "I am an idle person from the country of Chen, who worked as a strategist for His Majesty during his imperial expedition, and am now under an urgent imperial edict to investigate the assassination of the Princess of Harmony.

This is the gold medal bestowed upon me by Your Majesty."

Everyone looked at the small golden card in Wen Jin's hand. They saw that the workmanship was quite exquisite. It should not have been made by Wen Jin herself, but probably made by the program team in advance. She also temporarily accepted her identity as a counselor.

At this time, the six guests have all identified themselves, and then they will enter the stage of explaining their alibi.

Advisor Wen's alibi was completed when she revealed her identity just now. After all, she had just entered the palace.

According to the report from the palace staff, the last time the princess of the Western Realm was seen alive in front of people was at the hour of Wu, but the princess's body was found at the hour of Mao. There were almost four hours in between, and the period was relatively large.

According to the script she received, the golden palace maid recalled: "The princess said yesterday that she was tired and wanted to have an early rest. She spared me my work early and went back to the room to rest alone. When I first arrived in Dachen, I was full of fresh feelings about everything. When I'm free, I go to the imperial dining room to learn how to make a small Dim sum. I made two pieces for the princess to taste. Unfortunately… princess, you died miserably." She said like she was possessed by a dramatic ghost.

Grand Fu Huo was the first one to look away "Stop for a moment, you said you went to the imperial dining room to make snacks at night, do you have proof?"

"Of course there is." The golden palace maid took out two pieces of mung bean cakes from her pocket, which were still steaming. "It's fresh, do you want to try it?"

Among the people present, only Ruan Jinghong, who hadn't eaten enough during breakfast because of the durian bread, gave her face. She took the mung bean cake from the golden palace maid and took the opportunity to eat the props, "Mm, it's delicious and not poisonous, she should be innocent.”

The remaining four people: …