The Beauty approached the King’s side. The King, having just wiped her long sword clean, lifted her gaze and glanced at her.
Once the madness had faded, the young Mad King was a stunning youth with clear eyes and a tender face. The Beauty raised her eyes, gazing silently at the bloodstains on the Mad King’s face.
The King picked up her sword and leaned in close with a grin. “What does my beloved consort think of this sword of mine? Sharp enough?”
The Beauty lowered her gaze to the sword in the King’s hand, reeking of thick blood, and said nothing.
The King took a step forward and breathed softly against her ear. “If you find it sharp, how about I gift it to you?”
She couldn’t fathom the Mad King’s intentions or what she had just done in the hall. She feared the King’s madness, yet in that very madness, strange thoughts stirred within her.
The Beauty took a step back, still silent. The King reached out, yanked her into her arms, and forcefully pressed the sword into her hands. A warm body pressed against her back. The Beauty’s fingertips trembled as she and the King together grasped the heated hilt.
The King held her half in her embrace, resting her chin on the Beauty’s shoulder, exhaling warm breath by her ear. “Take it. In the future, in the great hall, anyone who displeases you can be killed.”
This seemed to be the first time since entering the palace that the King had explicitly granted her such a privilege. The Beauty gripped the hilt, her heart trembling along with her fingers.
She swallowed her fear and assumed her usual indifferent demeanor, stiffly uttering, “I… I won’t kill.”
The King grasped her hand, raised the sword, and laughed wickedly. “No matter. I’ll teach you to kill.”
With that, the King wrapped an arm around the Beauty’s waist and led her a few steps onto the snow-covered open ground. Holding her close, she guided the Beauty’s hand in a slow arc, sword in grip, whirling her into a deadly dance amid the snow.
On the vast snowy expanse, the King in plain white robes embraced the red-clad Beauty, teaching her hand-in-hand how to kill.
Thrust, slash, stab, chop—each move targeted the body’s most vital points. Crimson robes flared like flames across the snow, blooming bloodflowers amid the whiteness.
The Beauty, long treated like an ice sculpture since entering the Royal Palace, realized for the first time that to the mad King, she might matter more than all the ministers in the hall. And the ministers lurking in the shadows, watching hungrily, saw through the Mad King’s actions in the hall something they had long coveted—now seemingly within reach.
That day, amid the snow-filled courtyard, the Beauty did not learn to wield a sword and kill. But in the years that followed, through the King’s hand, she would be stained with blood.
Perhaps from all the rehearsal, Lin Zixi shot this scene smoothly. What she thought would be a tough dance sequence flowed effortlessly under Ye Can’s lead, thanks to her martial arts foundation.
Ye Can was a natural talent. From the first take, she pulled Lin Zixi right into the rhythm. Acting with someone so skilled made it all feel effortless. Only after Yu Ming called “cut” did Lin Zixi snap out of it, slipping from Ye Can’s embrace.
She tried to step away, but Ye Can held her tight. Lowering her gaze, Ye Can stared straight at the Lin Zixi in her arms. “Is this when you fall for me?”
Lin Zixi’s mind blanked for a moment before she caught on. Staring into Ye Can’s dark pupils, she paused. “You mean when Gantang falls for You Wang?”
Ye Can nodded. “Something like that.”
Lin Zixi thought they were analyzing the characters and smiled. “Something like that. This is where subconscious attraction sparks.”
Ye Can nodded in understanding and asked something she never would have before. “Why?”
Lin Zixi smiled softly at Ye Can. “Because it’s mesmerizing. The handsome young Mad King slaughtering ministers in the hall—pure violent aesthetics.”
“For someone like Gantang, who’s never been protected, it’s easy to be moved.”
Ye Can murmured an “oh” and pressed. “But you don’t need protecting. The King’s pity is cheap. So why fall for her?”
Lin Zixi looked at Ye Can’s childlike, youthful face and sighed. “That’s why you’re too young to get this feeling.”
Thinking of the scenes ahead, Lin Zixi decided Ye Can needed a proper lesson.
Still in costume, they huddled together in front of everyone, dissecting the characters. “Whether Gantang needs it or not, You Wang enters her life.”
“You Wang scorns the world but shows Gantang extreme favoritism and uniqueness.”
“Most women have a hero complex. To Gantang, You Wang’s a madman, but her hero.”
Ye Can glanced at her oddly, ears burning. Embarrassed, she slowly released Lin Zixi.
Lin Zixi continued. “After proving her worth here, Gantang gets blackmailed by her uncle’s family. She’ll serve You Wang poisoned wine daily, plotting her death.”
“That’s why Gantang ends up loving and hating You Wang, full of guilt and pity.”
Ye Can nodded. “I know.” She looked at Lin Zixi, silent for a beat. “The wine… I drank it willingly. No need for guilt.”
Lin Zixi blinked at Ye Can’s serious expression, assuming she was in character as You Wang. She paused. “You know, but Gantang doesn’t. So she dies guilty.”
Ye Can gazed at Lin Zixi, suddenly grasping for a moment why she chose death. Loving her, forced to harm her, dying with regrets. Maybe for a chance at reconciliation in Hell.
Ye Can watched her a while longer. “No guilt. I forgive you.”
“I never blamed you, so don’t blame yourself.” She paused, offering her take. “Change this ending. Lin Zixi, I forgive you.”
She used Lin Zixi’s real name, not Gantang’s. Bewildered, Lin Zixi looked up, confused like an outsider screenwriter. “You mean rewrite the script’s ending?”
Ye Can nodded, gaze softening. “The original’s too tragic. Change it, Lin Zixi.”
“It was my fault. At least when I left, I shouldn’t have just let you go.”
“I freed your body from chains but not your heart. My mistake.”
Thinking Ye Can was a method actor, Lin Zixi felt a stir. Hesitant, she said, “We could change the script. I’ll think it over.”
Ye Can hummed. “No need. Just change it. I’ll improvise lines anyway.”
Lin Zixi glanced at her, recalling today’s tweaks, helpless. “Fine, but don’t change too much. I might not keep up.”
Once the leads finished discussing, Yu Ming called them over to review the footage. Lin Zixi and Ye Can had incredible chemistry—the sparks on screen stunned everyone.
Yu Ming was thrilled and passed it in one take. Jiang Yue, waiting nearby, sighed in relief and patted Lin Zixi’s shoulder. “Nice one, Teacher Lin. One-take pass—solid!”
“Ye Can’s great too. Nothing for me here. I’m off.” Jiang Yue headed back to her unit once they were set.
Opening with a one-take, Lin Zixi gained confidence in her cameo. She and Ye Can shot the remaining snow scenes together.
They filmed until nightfall, when snow began falling heavily again.
On this snowy night, Ye Can and Lin Zixi wrapped the “first snow encounter” scene. After their relationship hurdles, three takes nailed it.
Just as Ye Can thought they were done, Yu Ming said, “Your Majesty, hold still! Sit back on the throne!”
Bewildered, Ye Can draped in her cloak lounged on the throne. “What’s up? More shooting?”
Yu Ming clapped. “Just sit tight. Be ready soon.”
Ye Can nodded and slipped back into the Faint Lord’s pose, slouched on the throne, waiting.
Suddenly, all set lights went out. Only the cinematographer’s key light shone, beaming straight at Ye Can. Under the glare, she squinted, body tensing defensively.
In the dimness, someone started clapping, then singing haltingly, “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…”
Ye Can froze, then watched Lin Zixi wheel over a towering multi-tiered cake. Amid the singing, Lin Zixi followed the light to her, smiling tenderly.
She stopped before Ye Can. “Your Majesty, happy birthday!”
The title startled Ye Can—she couldn’t tell if it was for the fictional King or the real her. Stunned, she stared at Lin Zixi. “Is today my birthday?”
Lin Zixi beamed. “Yes! It’s your birthday, Ye Can. Happy birthday—get up and make a wish!”
Ye Can blinked in realization. It really is my coming-of-age day.
If she were still alive, today would be her crowning ceremony.
Gazing at Lin Zixi, an inexplicable feeling welled up. Celebrating her coming-of-age with this person… seemed pretty nice.
If she’d known, she could’ve held on another half-year, past the ceremony, before dying.
A hidden longing reignited deep in her heart.
Amid cheers, Ye Can felt herself splitting in two. One stiffly rose, stepping into the light to thank everyone. The other approached Lin Zixi, pulled her into an embrace, and dragged her into the deep shadows.
