Chapter 30: What a Big Production

Probably because she’d been mentally in the “Queen’s” persona, when Wang Zhang told her she’d be cross-dressing as Bai Qian, she hadn’t reacted immediately. Back at her apartment, Cheng Jinzhi opened the script again and read it closely. Maybe it was the earlier resistance, but reading it again, it didn’t feel so awkward. These past two days, Cheng Jinzhi had DC track the preparation of 《The Queen’s Plaything》’s crew. Having a big-shot director as a father was indeed convenient—others were just starting at the starting line after graduation, and she was already taking over her father’s baton at the “finish line” of many. Not that it was unfair. Life was both a marathon and a relay race; you take your parents’ resources, and you create conditions for your own next generation.

《The Queen’s Plaything》 seemed to be a big IP. Since the author’s rights were sold, all sorts of young actors and flowers were being floated. Even He Xi and Gu Ah were mentioned. In today’s film and TV industry, you don’t choose the right actor; you choose the popular one. Popular was right.

Looking at the roster of 《The Queen’s Plaything》, one could say it had big-movie credentials. Forget the director—the other supporting actors were all seasoned veterans, and they’d outsourced the costume design team. Even the music production was handled by a Japanese music company.

“Regarding the lead casting, there’ve been many online votes. Does Director Wang have any preferences among them?” This was an online interview, the reporter asking Wang Zhang.

Online, many polls had been launched. Among female actresses, the top vote-getters were Chen Man and Gao Yi. The two were neck and neck—one a mature woman who’d made a small splash with a spy drama earlier in the year, the other a little flower who’d blown up massively last summer with solid acting. The highest-voted male actor was Yang Shu. Yang Shu had a very handsome appearance and was a child star, with many die-hard fans. His heat had dipped recently; the votes were probably from his die-hards.

“I’ve read all your votes and comments. We’re also in contact with the candidates you recommended. But one thing will disappoint you: they’ll be in the show, just not as leads.”

“So the leads are already decided?”

“Let me put it this way—I’m making this production specifically for these two leads.” Wang Zhang laughed.

“May I ask which two big stars have caught your eye, Director Wang?”

“Soon.” Wang Zhang smiled enigmatically.

“I heard Director Wang has started preparing the promotional video? Can’t wait to see it.”

“Yes. The cast list will be released together with the promotional video.”

“Very bold.” The host joked. “If the audience doesn’t like the casting, there’s no changing it?”

“I believe their brilliant performance won’t disappoint.” Wang Zhang’s words were rather official.

The interview video got a million views—clearly showing the public’s interest in this production.

“Don’t like this young director. Arrogant tone.”

“Not as good as her dad.”

“Curious to see how she smashes the old Wang family’s golden sign.”

Cheng Jinzhi closed the video, cross-legged on the sofa. It seemed Wang Zhang had indeed settled on her. This was like a pie falling from the sky. Wang Zhang hadn’t contacted her these two days, truly giving her time to think. Or maybe she was too busy to spare the attention, certain Cheng Jinzhi would agree anyway.

The video just now had moved Cheng Jinzhi. It was the unique confidence on Wang Zhang’s face—not inflated arrogance, but quiet certainty and complete assurance.

Cheng Jinzhi thought, her fingers curling to tap her own head. What was she thinking? This was Wang Zhang—Oscar-nominated Wang Zhang! She was still a poorly-reviewed actress; she should be worrying about whether Wang Zhang was okay with her! Wang Zhang had already made the final call; what was she still deliberating about? Cheng Jinzhi quickly picked up her phone and called DC.

DC went to the company, organized an emergency meeting overnight, consulted with lawyers on the contract, and adjusted Cheng Jinzhi’s schedule for the first half of the year.

After Cheng Jinzhi signed, Rong Si signed as well. With the leads finalized, 《The Queen’s Plaything》 officially changed its name to 《Beauty of Rivers and Mountains》. The first post from 《Beauty of Rivers and Mountains》 announced the news of Bai Qian being a trouser role. Cheng Jinzhi had assumed original-novel fans would strongly resist. Instead, they went wild reposting.

“It’s alive, it’s alive! I died when it was changed to a straight pairing. It’s actually a trouser role ahhh.”

“The victory of the original readers. Looking forward to Little Princess Bai Qian.”

Before entering the recording studio for the theme song, Cheng Jinzhi searched online for 《The Queen’s Plaything》. She didn’t read web novels much—honestly, she didn’t read novels much.

《The Queen’s Plaything》, author Bai Shao. Her backlist held only a few novels, and the most popular was 《The Queen’s Plaything》. Cheng Jinzhi looked at the hits and comments. Should be decent, right? DC had downloaded the novel for her before, and she’d read the beginning then stopped. The beginning was background introduction, rather dry. But when she saw the blurb, Cheng Jinzhi was stunned.

“Death? What a comfortable thing. I’ve thought of a good idea—I’ll take you as a consort and let the whole world see how our brilliant little princess becomes a woman to ‘preserve the greater good.'”

Who was the little princess? Cheng Jinzhi dug around: the little princess was Bai Qian, the youngest princess of the Haker tribe. And the Bai Qian she was cross-dressing as was the youngest prince of the Western Dai royal family. Was this a fanfic of 《The Queen’s Plaything》? No, the author had no other columns.

Waiting outside the recording studio, Cheng Jinzhi flipped through the novel again. The opening was an introductory point-of-view.

“The Wang regime finally fell under the Chimei and Lulin uprisings. The Lulin Army supported the imperial clansman Liu Xuan; the Chimei Army crowned Liu Penzi as emperor, defeating the Lulin Army. This became known as the Chimei Han. The Han imperial clansman Liu Xiu proclaimed himself emperor south of Hao County, executed the Gengshi Emperor Liu Xuan, and became Emperor Guangwu of Han. He continued the Han reign, calling it the first year of Jianwu, capital Luoyang—historically known as the Eastern Han. The Xiongnu and Donghu, not yet dead, allied with the imperial prince Liu Yuan to establish the Northern Han, striking back at the Central Plains. Of the great powers under heaven: two parts Chimei Han, six parts Eastern Han, two parts Northern Han. The Northern Han destroyed the Chimei Han, contended with the Eastern Han and various separatist forces, and Liu Yuan established a kingdom. After years of war, the Northern Han absorbed the separatist forces of Ji Meng and Gongsun Shu, gnawing at Eastern Han territory. The Eastern Han, through the Guangwu Restoration and the Ming-Zhang governance, saw its people prosper. During Emperor He’s reign, he allied with eunuchs to wipe out the Dou consort clan. But ‘from then on, eunuch power began.’ After that, eunuchs and consort clans clashed endlessly, until Emperor Long of Han ascended the throne—Emperor Long of Han, Liu Changyuan, only five years old—with Empress Dowager Wu and the Eldest Princess Liu Changxi holding the reins of court.”

The Eldest Princess Liu Changxi was Rong Si’s role, and her Bai Qian was the captive prince of a defeated nation. The novel sliced through historical events, set in the Han dynasty, while the script’s framework was entirely fictionalized. No wonder reading the novel felt like reading another script—the framework had been adjusted so heavily.

Cheng Jinzhi had just finished reading the opening when a staff member invited her in. When she entered, Rong Si was already there, wearing headphones, a folder in hand. Seeing Cheng Jinzhi, Rong Si took off her headphones and handed her the folder. Cheng Jinzhi glanced at it. At that moment, a staff member also handed her a folder—the lyrics. She’d seen the lyrics before.

Wang Zhang had even had someone specially adjust her vocal register. Cheng Jinzhi put on the headphones. The prelude was zither music, drifting in.

“Blades’ gleam and shadows of swords, red candles burn low, the bed-curtains cold. How many towers of smoke, scraping ice and cutting snow in a palm-held cup. Rise and fall like fragile willows, life like a hollow boat…” Cheng Jinzhi’s part came first. She pressed her headphones, pressing her voice down as she sang.

Rong Si seemed to enter character immediately; her voice transformed dramatically. In the《Girls’ Fortress》 theme song, it had carried a hint of allure. Now it was very low, carrying a thread of deep affection. “Life has bounds, love’s road has none, the masses toil to cross…”

The song was called 《The Finite》, with lyrics by the original author.

Soon, the cast list was posted online.

“Cheng Jinzhi? qaq no…”

“Who’s Rong Si? Can she hold down the Queen?”

“Who the hell are these people? Director, did you spend all the money on props and not have enough for actors?”

Clearly, a wave of criticism flooded the internet. Adaptations of original works always stir audience resistance, let alone starring two relatively unknown actresses. Many fanned the flames. “Great—one is the scandal-riddled Parkinson, one’s so obscure she doesn’t even have a Weibo. Director, glad you’re having fun.”

The official Weibo of 《Beauty of Rivers and Mountains》 remained unmoved. At eight in the evening, it released the promotional video.

“The Western Dai first communicated with them during the He-Xiao era. Originally thirty-six kingdoms, later divided into fifty-plus, all west of Western Dai, south of the Wusun. There are great mountains to the north and south. A river runs through the center, over six thousand li from east to west. To the east it connects with the Northern Han, bounded by the Yumen and Yangguan Passes; to the west, limited by the Pamir Mountains. In the final years, the Wang clan usurped Han, and the Central Plains erupted in chaos. The Western Dai took advantage and declared itself a kingdom…”

The opening was a battlefield of slaughter.

Arrows rained into the palace, fire swept the walls, people scattered in all directions. This shot lasted only five seconds and cost at least half a million.

A small view of a great war—the cruelty and intensity conveyed instantly.

Cheng Jinzhi’s Bai Qian stood at the palace gate holding a short blade, pressing it to his own neck. A thread of blood had just appeared when a flying red whip knocked it away. The red whip belonged to the Eldest Princess of the victorious kingdom.

At first, the barrage comments were about the adapted framework. When Cheng Jinzhi and Rong Si appeared, a flood of red text exploded. “Oh my god, Cheng Jinzhi is so beautiful in this!”

“Ahhh my Queen, my Majesty Changxi!”

Through several transitions of court and battlefield, the climax “romance scene” arrived.

“I had a very, very long dream. In the dream, I was the scheming Eldest Princess Liu Changxi. Outside the dream, you only know Liu Changxi, but you don’t know me.”

“The state has fallen. I am Western Dai royalty. If you want immortal merit, then kill me, and build your eternal empire on my blood.”

The white blade stained red. Robes soaked in blood.

Comments flooded in.

“Blockbuster, blockbuster—when does it air qaq”

“The background music in the promo is gorgeous! They say the leads sang it—《The Finite》, highly recommend!”

“The actors’ voice work is incredible!”

Overnight, the promotional video surpassed ten million views.