This is the entertainment industry! No tantrums or shouting allowed!

Before the official start, the production team arranged for a costume change.

Viewers hadn't had high expectations, but when Wen Yao came out of the fitting room, the live chat was flooded with "Wow!" comments.

She wore a pink and white high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with exquisite workmanship, and even the embroidered petals were lifelike.

Her already voluminous hair was padded with a hair bun, and a head full of gorgeous hairpins highlighted the noble air of a legitimate daughter.

Having gotten used to seeing Wen Yao without makeup, seeing her with such exquisite makeup and styling was a real eye-opener for the audience, making them practically sparkle like little stars!

The identities of the other guests were also revealed one by one.

Gu Yan, steward of the Grand Secretary's office, and the Grand Secretary of his faction.

Yunxing, the younger sister of the Great General, is also a Great General in her faction.

Yunyue, the general's fiancée, is also a general in the faction.

Lu Anbo, a eunuch, is neutral.

Lin Xinwei, a female physician in the Imperial Hospital, is neutral in her faction.

Fu Wanzhou, the younger brother of the Emperor's Consort, is part of the Emperor's Consort faction.

Josius, an envoy from the Western Regions, whose allegiance is unknown.

Jiang Jinghuai, a disciple of Tianji Pavilion, whose faction is unknown.

...

Wow, our little sister got a really high-level status! She should have a small advantage in the early game!

[How could you make a guest a eunuch! Isn't that humiliating? Oh, it's Bai Zi, never mind then. /heart emoji]

Wow, now there are at least three factions openly, and there are probably also neutral and unknown factions secretly siding with each other or mysterious factions. I feel like this dungeon will end in a fight, haha.

...

at the same time.

Following the directions, Wen Yao found her mother, Wen Zecheng, who was also the current female prime minister.

She guessed that it might be her own mother, Ms. Wen, who had been invited, but she was stunned when she saw her in person.

It wasn't her mother, but someone she knew.

"Ah Yao, you've arrived." Director Cheng, dressed in official robes, said with a kind expression, "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Is Director Cheng's directing skill really that good?

Wen Yao felt that the way her mother looked at her was almost the same way her mother looked at her.

However, the most important thing about murder mystery games is immersion, so Wen Yao obediently bowed and said, "Mother."

"Good boy."

Director Cheng, having finally indulged in being a "mom fan," was grinning from ear to ear, barely managing to control her expression.

"Now that you're entering the palace to participate in the 'Selection of Talented Individuals,' remember to be careful with your words and actions. If you are selected, that would be wonderful, but it's alright if you blend into the crowd. You will still be your mother's most precious daughter."

"However, your mother will naturally want to plan more for you. It's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings, but money can make the devil turn the millstone. You should keep this ten thousand taels of silver!"

"By the way, Mother received news that the final evaluation criteria are related to 'reputation points.' Political achievements and military merits can both be exchanged for reputation points, and silver notes and silver can also be directly exchanged for reputation points."

Wen Yao thought for a moment, then said in a coquettish tone, "Mother~ Ten thousand taels isn't even enough for me to buy a piece of jewelry normally, could you give me some more pocket money?"

audience:? ? ?

Good grief, you can even ask NPCs for money directly?

On second thought, this is my own mother, so asking for some personal money doesn't seem unreasonable.

Besides, when Yao Mei acts cute, even the gods can't escape her charm!

Sure enough, Director Cheng couldn't resist and wanted to give all his money to Wen Yao.

It was only after Director Cui screamed wildly into his earpiece that Director Cheng was slightly brought back to his senses.

"This ten thousand taels is also for you." Director Cheng stuffed another ten thousand taels into Wen Yao's small bag. "By the way, Mother was worried about you going alone, so she specially sent the steward Gu Yan to help you."

Wen Yao: "Butler? Then he's my servant?"

Director Cheng: "He is extremely loyal to our Grand Secretary's Office. I regard him as my own son, so you can call him brother."

Wen Yao said with a hint of regret, "But I want him to be my servant."

Just then, Gu Yan, who had finished his task of guiding others in the warehouse, came to find Wen Yao.

Upon hearing this, he was speechless.

"Wen Yao, why don't you just fly to the moon?"

"How dare you! I am the eldest daughter of the Grand Secretary, how dare you speak to me like that!" Wen Yao said, hands on her hips. "Kneel down!"

Gu Yan: ? ? ?

Okay, okay, you're even putting on an act with your own brother!

"Your Excellency, please see the truth!" Gu Yan cupped his hands in greeting. "With such a mischievous young lady, how can she be entrusted with important responsibilities after entering the palace? Why not use family discipline now to teach her a lesson!"

Wen Yao:? ? ?

Fine, fine, you're even using family discipline on your own sister!

The siblings betrayed each other right from the start, causing infighting within their own faction. This disastrous beginning made viewers wonder if their faction, led by the prime minister, could even achieve victory.

"Alright, alright, you are all from my Prime Minister's Office, you should work together to win the election."

Director Cheng quickly smoothed things over, handing Wen Yao a letter. "After you enter the palace, first go and find the eunuch who served the late emperor: Xiao Baizi. He has an important clue for you."

Xiao Baizi? Is that Lu Anbo?

Wen Yao put the letter away, glared at Gu Yan, snorted, and walked ahead.

The guests gathered outside the palace gate.

The room suddenly went dark, then the lights flashed, and a female general holding a red-tasseled spear appeared, fighting with a grand eunuch dressed as a court eunuch.

Amidst the flashing swords and the clash of blades, their skills were superb.

The production team thoughtfully added subtitles: "Both NPCs are guest appearances by staff members; one has practiced martial arts since elementary school, and the other is a former Taekwondo instructor."

The silence of the audience was deafening.

Now I finally understand why Director Cheng was able to handle the guests in the past. With this kind of staff, which guest would dare to disobey?

"Stop!" The head of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion stepped forward and coldly shouted, "This is the capital city, a place of great importance. Aren't you two afraid of the Emperor's displeasure by fighting like this?"

After a scene was performed, the head of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion made a "please" gesture: "Please come with me to meet the Imperial Consort."

The crowd whispered among themselves, exchanging information.

Lu Amber: "How much money did you all get?"

Lin Xinwei: "I got five thousand, how about you?"

Josius: "A little more than you, six thousand. Perhaps it's because I'm an envoy."

Yunyue: "I have eight thousand."

"Holy crap, the lucky guy really is lucky!" Lu Anbo wailed. "Why did my godfather, the chief eunuch, only give me three thousand? So stingy!"

Wen Yao listened to the gossip for a while and suddenly realized that she had actually received the most initial funds!

It seems that being the eldest daughter of the Grand Secretary is quite appealing.

Soon, the group arrived at the main hall and met the Emperor Consort.

"The late emperor passed away early without leaving any heirs. Now the position of crown prince is vacant. Do any of you gentlemen have a good plan?"

Gu Yan was the first to raise his hand.

"Oh, so you're Steward Gu from the Grand Secretary's residence. What are your thoughts on this?"

Gu Yan spoke eloquently: "Actually, I've had a dream of becoming an emperor since I was a child. Specifically, whenever someone offends me, I feel that those who obey me will prosper and those who oppose me will perish!"

Those who directly criticize me will be slapped! Those who submit written remonstrances will be executed! Those who slander me in the marketplace or court, and whose words reach my ears, will be forced to commit suicide!

The Emperor's lips twitched slightly: "Are you sure you want to be the Emperor, and not the Minister of Justice?"