Instalment 53 (1913)
Scene 1: Nanjing; in the antiques shop
Tian Mo ist waiting for the shop owner Wang Afa, but he has still not returned. Then Tian quickly hurries to the train station to see Song Jiaoren off.
Scene 2: At the train station
Song Jiaoren and Luo Wen, who are both leaving for Beijing, are saying goodbye. Suddenly, a passer-by pushes Luo aside and shoots with a gun at Song. Immediately, Ying Guixin, who was employed as Song’s bodyguard, shoots at the assassin. But before the latter dies he calls out “Mister Ying”. Huang Xing notices this.
Scene 3: At the hospital
Song Jiaoren’s last words are dedicated to his goal: the institution of a regular constitution. He has a letter written to Yuan Shikai (!) hoping that Yuan will realise his recommendations. Then Song dies. Everyone is very upset. Huang Xing is enraged about the assassination and wants everyone to know that Song has been murdered. Song’s dead body is photographed and then published in the newspaper.
Liang Qichao suspects Yuan Shikai of having planned the assassination (probably because of Yuan’s reactions while they were both watching the GMD films of the election campaigns). Liang is shocked and directly asks him. But Yuan rejects Liang’s accusations: he, the experienced “killer”, would never commission such an unprofessional assassination! Then he has the Governor of Jiangsu province, Cheng Dequan, investigate the murder. Zhao Bingjun, however, seems to act oddly.
Commissioned by the Guomindang, the legal expert and Member of Parliament, Luo Wen, is appointed the lead lawyer for the court trial. He has Ying Guixin summoned to give a testimony at court since he suspects him of having been part of the plot to kill Song Jiaoren. Despite Cheng Dequan’s protest, his subordinate Ying has to appear in front of court.
The police search Ying Guixin’s house for evidence on the assassination. They find a note on which it says: “The head of the thiefs of Liangshan [a famous Chinese novel] has been eliminated.”
At court, Luo Wen cross-examines Ying Guixin. But Ying repudiates all charges. Wang Afa, the antiques dealer, is also questioned. But Wang has not said the truth at court, because he does not want to hand over the piece of evidence, the precious jade bracelet that he had pawned.
Tian Mo scolds Wang Afa for his false testimony in court. She then borrows Ying Guixin’s jade bracelet from Wang.
Wearing the bracelet around her wrist, Tian Mo pretends to be Ying Guixin’s lover and pays Ying’s wife a visit. The “proof” of Tian’s relationship with Ying completely confuses Ying’s wife because the bracelet used to belong to her. Thus, Tian is able to trick Ying’s wife into handing her a telegram draft and a book with telegram chiffres which are needed as evidence in court.
The evidence Tian Mo has succeeded to obtain revealed the Prime Minister Zhao Bingjun to be the recipient of the telegrams and the chief instigator of the assassination. After a short period of consultations, the court decides to summon Prime Minster Zhao Bingjun. The audience applauds the court’s decision.
Yuan Shikai receives a telegram sent by Sun Yatsen. Sun indirectly makes him responsible for Song’s assassination. Yuan’s favourite consort, Yingzi, enters. She asks him to help Zhao Bingjun since he was responsible for uniting them back in the times of Xiaozhan. But Yuan seems to have already made his own plans and tells Yingzi not to mingle in his affairs.
Sun Yatsen is depressed and grieves for Song Jiaoren. He feels responsible for Song’s death and wants to do something; he therefore sends Huang Xing to summon the eight Guomindang military governors to Shanghai.
The first session of the newly elected regular parliament is convened. The main task is the election of a committee for the drafting of the final constitution. At the beginning of the meeting, Yuan proposes to hold a minute of silence to commemorate Song Jiaoren. Everyone present, including Zhao Bingjun, rise from their seats.
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