Famous! Ch.118

Chapter 118: Nie Yunzhang

“Action!”

As soon as Liu Chunfeng’s voice fell, the entire set fell silent. At that moment, all eyes turned to Lu Xu and Shao Yao.

In this scene, the Crown Prince’s face began to show signs of despair.

Shao Yao hadn’t acted in many historical dramas, and Song of Southern Country was one of the few. His features were more rugged and sharp rather than gentle. The production team had invited him to play the Crown Prince because, historically, this Crown Prince would eventually become a very assertive emperor.

Especially after Nie Yunzhang’s death, he became even more domineering.

With the God of War who had protected the country gone, who could he rely on? He could only resort to stronger and more aggressive tactics.

In this scene, the Crown Prince bore some resemblance to the one in Son of Heaven.

— Both had received imperial education from a young age, fully aware that they were destined to rule the world.

There were only dead crown princes, never ones who knelt, no matter who the enemies behind them were.

At this moment, the Crown Prince was truly at a dead end.

Outside the palace were assassins planted by a favored concubine. Inside the palace, apart from the emperor’s personal chambers, spies from the favored concubine were everywhere. He didn’t know whom he could trust, nor did he believe he could survive this crisis unscathed.

As the heir apparent, though desperate, the Crown Prince still held his head high, awaiting the fate that would descend upon him.

Liu Chunfeng, while staring at the monitor and stroking his chin, remarked, “Shao Yao’s acting is much better than I expected.”

The role of the Crown Prince had been recommended by other actors, which led Liu Chunfeng to invite Shao Yao. Before extending the invitation, he had even consulted Lu Xu, who had worked with Shao Yao before, asking if he was suitable for the role.

Lu Xu had silently given him a thumbs-up.

As it turned out, among the younger actors, Shao Yao’s acting skills were undoubtedly top-tier.

The Crown Prince was deeply despairing, but he also held onto his dignity. Liu Chunfeng was looking for an actor who could exude nobility in every gesture—someone unyielding and composed.

Without a doubt, Shao Yao had struck the perfect balance.

This segment of the plot was filmed with a tight focus by Liu Chunfeng, primarily to highlight the peril the Crown Prince faced. The tension in this scene was palpable; only by doing so could Nie Yunzhang’s dramatic rescue later become even more thrilling.

The Crown Prince hid in a dark chamber, alone, without even a single guard for protection.

If he were discovered, it would mean this calamity was destined, and he should meet his end here.

At this moment, however, he had already heard footsteps outside the chamber.

The steps were light and steady, so much so that they seemed almost unreal. It was immediately clear they belonged to a skilled martial artist.

The Crown Prince clenched his teeth, gripping a dagger hidden in his sleeve. If he were discovered, he was ready to end his own life on the spot—he would never let his fate fall into the hands of the favored concubine.

In the next instant, as if in a flash of lightning, he was indeed discovered.

But to his surprise, the face before him was not cruel or menacing, intent on ending his life. Instead, it was a face so strikingly handsome it seemed almost out of place. The moment the man saw him, he broke into a wide, goofy smile.

The Crown Prince’s reflection was captured in the man’s bright eyes, and within them, he saw only pure joy.

“Why are you here?”

Just as he was about to speak, the man raised a finger to his lips, signaling him to stay quiet. With only his lips, he mouthed, “Are you hungry?”

In front of someone he trusted, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but nod honestly, showing a rare trace of boyish charm.

Nie Yunzhang, without hesitation, stuffed a piece of pastry into his mouth. The pastry was dry and crumbly, choking the Crown Prince as it stuck in his throat.

“I want roast chicken,” he managed to mutter hoarsely.

“Roast chicken has a smell—it would give us away,” Nie Yunzhang whispered, lowering his voice. “I disguised myself as Aunt’s guard to sneak into the palace. You know how cautious she is. She would never involve herself in these disputes.”

After eating something, the Crown Prince regained some strength. Nie Yunzhang then placed iron plates against the Crown Prince’s chest and back before leading him through the encirclement.

Historical records stated that after the Emperor ascended the throne, Nie Yunzhang became his most trusted minister. This Emperor was skilled in both governance and warfare, decisively expanding his territory. While ministers came and went, the Emperor seemed to wield an impeccably precise ruler in his heart—rewarding and punishing appropriately, with no undue favoritism.

By then, he was a ruler of unparalleled competence.

But when it came to Nie Yunzhang, he treated him differently. Whether in life or death, Nie Yunzhang received honors far exceeding those granted to others.

Nie Yunzhang left no descendants, yet the Emperor went so far as to adopt his own nephews and sons into Nie Yunzhang’s lineage.

In Lives Beyond Death the Chivalry, the relationship between the Crown Prince and Nie Yunzhang was portrayed as that of true confidants.

Nie Yunzhang’s family was distantly related to the royal household, which led to his familiarity with the Crown Prince. The two got along exceptionally well, and Nie Yunzhang had long since pledged his unwavering loyalty.

In this scene, Nie Yunzhang was equally worried—fearful he might fail to get the Crown Prince out alive and worried about implicating his own family. Thus, he disguised himself, carefully covering his face.

What followed was Nie Yunzhang charging forward with his blade, running at full speed. He carried the Crown Prince on his back, his hands deftly fending off attacks from the front while evading arrows from behind.

The sound of blades cutting into flesh was disturbingly clear. Then came the thick, metallic scent of blood in the air. The Crown Prince couldn’t tell whether the blood came from Nie Yunzhang or the assassins attacking them.

This was from the Crown Prince’s perspective.

In contrast, the other camera focused on Nie Yunzhang. His face was dyed a deep red with blood, and his eyes burned with the same intensity. On normal days, he was a refined noble youth who understood decorum and restraint. But when pushed to the brink, as he was now, he transformed into a God of War.

A future God of War could never afford to be weak or fearful.

Lu Xu’s long hours of badminton training had unexpectedly proven useful during the filming of Lives Beyond Death the Chivalry. The energy and momentum from swinging a racket were seamlessly channeled into wielding a blade. In one relentless streak, he could cut down numerous foes.

After eliminating the final wave of ambushes, Nie Yunzhang reunited with the general who had come to reinforce them. By then, Nie Yunzhang was entirely drenched in blood, resembling a man carved out of gore.

Proclaiming his resilience, Nie Yunzhang insisted that the doctor tend to the Crown Prince first.

This was why, years later, when Nie Yunzhang succumbed to an incurable illness, the Emperor—who had since ascended the throne—was wracked with guilt. Nie Yunzhang, who had always been full of life and as strong as an ox, couldn’t possibly have fallen ill so easily.

It was likely a consequence of the injuries he sustained during this rescue.

During filming, Liu Chunfeng deliberately framed several close-ups of Lu Xu. One captured his God of War-like ferocity as he fought off the assassins. Another showed his soft smile as he insisted the doctor treat the Crown Prince.

When facing the Crown Prince, Nie Yunzhang’s demeanor was free of any ferocity.

He offered the Crown Prince absolute loyalty—something no one understood better than the Crown Prince himself.

Looking at Nie Yunzhang in such a state, the Crown Prince clenched his teeth harder than when he had been at his most desperate. His fists tightened as he pounded the ground in silent frustration.

His gaze grew cold and unforgiving.

He would not run again.

He would not give the favored concubine even the slightest chance. If there came a day when he found himself in such peril again, even if it meant overturning the throne of his father—the Emperor—he would not hesitate.

…

“Excellent!”

As the scene wrapped up, Liu Chunfeng couldn’t help but clap enthusiastically.

Qin Yu exchanged a glance with Liu Chunfeng, and what they saw in each other’s eyes was not just delight but also a hint of astonishment.

Both of them knew that Lu Xu and Shao Yao had a good relationship off-screen. Still, they had assumed Shao Yao had a rigid and stoic personality. To their surprise, when paired with Lu Xu, he could even pull off some comedic moments.

For instance, one afternoon, Shao Yao, in a moment of haste, mistakenly called Liu Chunfeng “Coach Liu.”

The next moment, realizing his error, he quickly corrected himself: “Oh, that was a cow mooing. Whose cow was that?”

Liu Chunfeng: “…”

First of all, no one in the crew owns a cow.

Secondly, as an actor, mixing up sounds is a bit much, isn’t it?

Who was he kidding?

Of course, Liu Chunfeng was certain this was all Lu Xu’s influence corrupting Shao Yao!

“Shao Yao is such a straight-laced kid!” — That was Liu Chunfeng’s original assessment.

“Director Liu’s face looks so much like a fitness coach’s!” — That was Lu Xu’s witty response.

Liu Chunfeng responded with a smack, hitting him like a proper fitness coach might, leaving Lu Xu yelping in pain.

While their camaraderie was undeniable, Liu Chunfeng had not expected Lu Xu and Shao Yao to demonstrate such seamless chemistry when acting together. The sparks they generated during their scenes almost brought the characters of the Crown Prince and Nie Yunzhang fully to life.

Qin Yu’s historical dramas had a unique hallmark: he didn’t depict his characters as cold and detached. Instead, he placed significant emphasis on the emotional interactions between them.

However, he wasn’t particularly adept at writing romantic subplots.

In historical dramas, the focus was often on the court or the harem, leaving little room for personal relationships. Monarchs like Emperor Cheng or the Crown Prince in this drama, being exemplary rulers, would inevitably compress their personal emotions for the sake of their roles.

In historical records, an emperor who was overly emotional was often destined to fail.

The performances of Lu Xu and Shao Yao perfectly captured the vibrant, human aspects of their characters.

Qin Yu wasn’t the kind of screenwriter who completely ignored viewership dynamics. He understood that if a drama began with dry portrayals of imperial strategies and court power struggles, the audience would quickly lose interest.

Regardless of the genre or the characters involved, people in stories must feel like real people.

At the very least… people should act like people.

If viewers couldn’t find even a hint of emotional resonance in the characters, the entire production would inevitably fail.

In short—casting Lu Xu as Nie Yunzhang was the right choice. Choosing Shao Yao to play the Crown Prince had exceeded all expectations.

This scene between Lu Xu and Shao Yao was completed smoothly, almost without a single NG. Liu Chunfeng and Qin Yu were now filled with confidence about the rest of Lives Beyond Death the Chivalry.

Good actors are half the battle in making a drama successful.

Lives Beyond Death the Chivalry had younger leads. In most viewers’ minds, dramas of this type typically featured ensembles filled with seasoned actors, like Son of Heaven. If the roles of Nie Yunzhang and the Crown Prince had been given to actors with inadequate skills, no matter how brilliant the script, the entire production would have collapsed.

Finding young actors whose abilities could match those of veteran performers was as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.

But Lu Xu and Shao Yao both delivered.

At the very least, the two were well-suited to their roles, capable of carrying them—and even so outstanding that they managed to astonish both the director and the screenwriter.

…

While Lu Xu and Shao Yao were busy filming, Zheng Xiao was grumbling in their group chat, complaining about being left out of the production.

Lu Xu: “…”

[If you don’t mind, there’s still an opening for a young eunuch by the Crown Prince’s side.]

Zheng Xiao: ]…Do I look like someone suited for that?]

[Can’t you find me a more fitting role? Are there no other roles left in your production besides eunuchs?]

[And even when it came down to eunuchs, I wasn’t your first thought! The betrayal!]

Zheng Xiao continued ranting for the better part of the afternoon, even momentarily considering taking on the role of the eunuch.

But after hesitating for three seconds, he declared, [If I, as the eunuch, end up looking better than the Emperor, wouldn’t that be a bit much?]

Shao Yao: “…”

[I’ve only ever played an emperor once, I swear.]

Feeling a bit sorry for him, Shao Yao graciously forgave the jab.

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