A Slacker Puts on an Act

Chapter Thirty-Five

Jiang Hansheng was unhappy. In Prince Jiang's world, even though everyone was related, men and women should keep their distance.

He immediately stopped exchanging pleasantries with the nobles, walked over, took a bite of watermelon, and fixed Su Mingwei with a dark look. "Yes, it's very sweet."

He ate the watermelon as though he were gnawing on meat, bones and all. His vicious tone made Su Mingwei shudder.

"Ha... haha, then have some more." Su Mingwei forced a smile.

Nobleman Xiao Yi: ???

Had he missed some crucial plot again?

That evening, Zhao Shiyao finally showed herself. The production team intended to cover for her by saying she needed rest due to acclimatization issues, but her face still looked terrible when she came out. Clearly, she was holding in a bellyful of anger.

She looked around, but there was no one suitable to vent on. Xiao Yi and Jiang Hansheng were immediately ruled out. She had heard that Su Mingwei... was also off-limits. Tang Jingran would directly tear her apart with his words. That left only Li Wenchuan, who had neither influence nor many fans.

"Everyone must be tired today. I'm sorry, I haven't been feeling well. I didn't expect this to happen either. I'm truly sorry." Her voice carried the rich fragrance of fake innocence. As expected of an actress, if one ignored her cold expression and listened only to her voice, she sounded exceedingly sincere.

"It's fine. Today went quite well." Jiang Hansheng nodded.

There were several choices in the script, and inevitably, they had to draw lots again. They needed to pick a representative.

Zhao Shiyao seized the chance. "Then we should send someone with good luck. What if this person has terrible luck and is dressed all in black, then picks some lousy script?"

Her words were cutting. Other than Li Wenchuan, who else present was dressed all in black?

Tang Jingran set down the skewer he had used to spear watermelon. He could no longer listen and was about to speak, but someone beat him to it.

"Then we won't let you draw. You look so acclimatization-sick that your forehead has turned black. Your luck must be bad." Jiang Hansheng spoke solemnly, then paused in thought before adding, "There aren't many people like you, willing to fulfill others and sacrifice yourself. Thank you."

It would have been better if he had not thanked her. That "thank you" made the sarcasm even more blatant. Tang Jingran snorted with laughter.

"I didn't—" Zhao Shiyao tried to defend herself.

"Don't mention it. It's only right." Jiang Hansheng smiled and patted Li Wenchuan beside him. "Go on. Everyone's waiting."

The veins in Zhao Shiyao's hands bulged with anger, but what could she say? That she did not have acclimatization issues and was not unwell? Wouldn't that be slapping herself in the face? She truly did not know why Jiang Hansheng had to open his mouth and let Li Wenchuan get his way while leaving her furious.

Everyone received the theme—the Murder at the Chen Prince's Residence.

The story revolved around the birthday banquet of the master of the Chen Prince's Residence. Of the current emperor's three sons, none had yet been named crown prince. The three heirs openly and secretly fought each other. On this very day, the Second Prince died within the Chen Prince's Residence. By chance, Miss Shangguan deliberately led the Eldest Prince, Prince Chen; Princess An Yi; the Third Prince, Prince Jin; and a young general to catch Princess Chen in an affair, only for them to stumble upon the murder scene.

Now, they had to deduce which of these people was the real murderer.

The roles were randomly assigned. Prince Chen was Jiang Hansheng, Princess Chen was Li Wenchuan, Princess An Yi was Su Mingwei, Prince Jin was Tang Jingran, the general was Xiao Yi, and Miss Shangguan was Zhao Shiyao.

Everyone received their scripts, and the role-playing began. They had to carefully examine their own timelines to reason out the truth, while the murderer had to conceal it and shift the blame.

Zhao Shiyao felt that even this random casting was mocking her. They had actually assigned her the role of a vicious supporting actress. She once again aimed her cannon at Li Wenchuan. "This drawing system is really accurate. It's obvious you're suited to playing a woman."

Jiang Hansheng raised his eyes and coldly looked at this woman who did not know whether she was alive or dead. "You don't need to find other excuses just because you're suited to playing a petty villain."

Zhao Shiyao: "..." Damn it.

According to the general introduction in the script, Miss Shangguan was secretly in love with Prince Chen. She drugged and framed the Second Prince and Princess Chen, deliberately bringing others to catch them in an affair. They did not see Princess Chen, but discovered the Second Prince's corpse instead. In particular, the young general, who secretly loved Princess Chen, had witnessed her earlier scheme. She was currently the prime suspect.

"I never intended to hurt anyone. I only wanted to ruin his reputation and take his place myself." Zhao Shiyao refuted according to her script.

Jiang Hansheng did not buy it. "Who knows whether you wanted to poison my beloved to death and take her place directly?"

Li Wenchuan's ears suddenly grew warm. Beloved was too subtle a form of address. He secretly glanced at Jiang Hansheng, only to find him looking completely natural, as if stating some sort of fact. Perhaps that was the caliber of a Best Actor—he entered character so quickly even in a murder mystery game.

Seeing how dedicated the Best Actor was, Li Wenchuan felt he could not fall behind. He immediately became weak and aggrieved. "Someone splashed filth on my skirt. I never expected the maid to lead me farther and farther into a secluded place, so I took advantage of her inattention and ran away. My prince, I have been wronged."

Li Wenchuan: "Sob, sob, sob."

Everyone else: "..." Baa, baa, baa?

Jiang Hansheng pulled his little wife into his arms by the shoulder. "Chuan'er, do not cry. I will seek justice for you."

"Then where were you? Maybe you were the one who killed the Second Prince." Zhao Shiyao was beside herself with anger. How could this person be so fake and manipulative?

Li Wenchuan looked even more aggrieved, tears glimmering in his eyes. With his exquisite features, he possessed a beauty that blurred the line between male and female. "This is the Chen Prince's Residence. If I wanted to hide, would that be difficult? Was I supposed to stand out and become a target for your people? Besides..."

He turned to look at Jiang Hansheng, then cried out sorrowfully, "I am but a weak woman. How could I possibly contend with Second Brother?" As he spoke, he seemed deeply embarrassed and lowered his head.

Jiang Hansheng strongly agreed. "Chuan'er has only recently recovered from childbirth. Her body is still weak. Do not spout nonsense!"

Xiao Yi also quickly got into character and chimed in, "The Second Prince is trained in martial arts. That is unrealistic. Where is the subordinate of yours who pretended to be a maid at the Chen Prince's Residence?"

"I don't know... I hired them from outside." For the first time, Zhao Shiyao felt that a man could be so unreasonable. She wanted to attack, yet feared Jiang Hansheng opening his mouth.

"Heh." Tang Jingran laughed, looking at Jiang Hansheng with amusement. "Eldest Brother, perhaps you merely sat back and reaped the benefits." He cast Li Wenchuan a meaningful glance. "And stop pretending to be so devoted here."

Jiang Hansheng stared at Tang Jingran without retreating. "Third Brother, when people speak, they should leave themselves a way out."

Tang Jingran rose to the challenge. Acting opposite a Best Actor was a rare gift from heaven. Yet before long, he was nearly intimidated by the other man's wolf-king gaze. His hair stood on end, and he could not help leaning back slightly.

"Hehe, Third Brother is still young." The pressure vanished, and the chilling sensation of being targeted by a predator immediately dissipated.

Jiang Hansheng's smile was gentle as spring rain. His arm around Li Wenchuan tightened, and when he saw the dazed look on the person in his arms, his smile became a little more genuine. "Are you scared?"

"No..."

"I'm here."

Hidden beneath the cover of the murder mystery game, no one noticed anything unusual about Jiang Hansheng. Instead, they admired that stretch of acting.

As expected of a Best Actor. He handled Prince Chen's deep scheming, arrogant attitude, and the subtle shifts in his feelings toward his beloved with perfect ease, without the slightest sense of discord.

Su Mingwei, who had been ignored all this time, finally spoke. According to the plot, she was obsessed with her brother. Her biological elder brother was Prince Chen, and she had once held immense hostility toward Princess Chen.

"But Imperial Brother, I saw Imperial Sister-in-law chatting happily with General Bai earlier, not long ago."