After blocking out the storm of online criticism, Jiang Yixing didn't stay idle at home.
He Mang's earlier statement about casting Jiang Yixing as the lead actor wasn't just talk; he had been preparing for it ever since he returned. He recently found a good script, and although he hasn't finalized the investors yet, he couldn't wait to send the script to Jiang Yixing.
Jiang Yixing has been reading the script for this new movie for the past two days.
The film tells the story of a woman's life from her perspective. Set in a fictional ancient dynasty, the emperor ruled with heavy taxes and corvée labor, causing immense suffering for the common people. The protagonist, a skilled weaver from a young age, possessed unparalleled craftsmanship in the surrounding area. When she was fifteen, the emperor, growing old, became obsessed with Taoist practices of immortality and rarely concerned himself with state affairs, leaving them entirely to the crown prince. Meanwhile, the crown prince and the second prince were locked in a fierce struggle for the throne, and no one paid any attention to the actual state of affairs.
Upon hearing the legend that "if there were a garment in the world as thin as a cicada's wing, the wearer would be able to attain immortality and ascend to heaven," the emperor, in order to fulfill his wish of eternal life, widely summoned skilled and extraordinary people from all over the land to come to the palace to weave this legendary garment for him.
As a result, officials from all over the country began to search for women skilled in needlework, selecting them layer by layer and sending them to the palace.
The female protagonist was also chosen. The year she was chosen was the second year after the emperor issued the order. For two whole years, all the skilled craftsmen in the country were anxious, but no one could make this dress. Apart from the emperor, everyone assumed that this was an impossible task.
However, the emperor did not give up. He believed that it was precisely because of its difficulty that the rumors were truly verified. How could ascending to immortality be so easy? A loyal minister advised the emperor to stop this wasteful and extravagant practice, but the emperor considered it disrespectful to the immortals and dragged him out to be beaten dozens of times. He was barely breathing on the spot and died when he was carried out of the palace gate.
As a result, no one in the court offered any further advice; instead, they became even more proactive in searching for talented people with exceptional garment-making skills.
Although the female protagonist grew up in a farming family, she is particularly concerned about national affairs. On the surface, she is a timid and submissive farm girl, but deep down she harbors a burning anger towards the world.
She had overheard people in her hometown whispering that the eldest and second princes were now locked in a fierce struggle for the land, with the emperor turning a blind eye. Only the third prince cared for the people, but had no way to do so.
She made up her mind to support the Third Prince and to change the world.
The female lead was successfully selected, entered the palace, and made contact with the Third Prince. As rumored, the Third Prince was indeed a gentle and refined gentleman, and the young female lead fell in love at first sight.
The third prince promised that if he could save his life in the future, he would definitely marry her.
The female protagonist then devoted herself to embroidering the garment. For a full half month, she remained motionless in her room. When the third prince came looking for her, he opened the door and saw only a thin robe that shimmered in the sunlight. From a distance, it looked like a wisp of mist. The splendor of the garment shocked everyone. Without a doubt, this was the garment the emperor wanted.
The third prince was overjoyed and went to the palace to meet the emperor, with the female lead accompanying him.
Upon receiving the clothes, the emperor was overjoyed and immediately appointed the third prince as crown prince, promising the female lead to be his crown princess.
All her dreams seemed to be coming true, but before the female protagonist could even feel joy, her eyes started to hurt so badly that she couldn't see anything. Two lines of blood appeared, and she went blind.
Although the female protagonist is blind, she yearns for a new life, imagining a peaceful world without war or hardship.
The emperor soon died, the third prince successfully ascended the throne, while the female protagonist was imprisoned.
She had neither the status of a crown princess nor the promised gold, silver, and wealth.
A blind man is imprisoned in a jail. The female protagonist has long forgotten the passage of time and lives numbly.
One day, cries and commotion came from outside the prison gate. The female protagonist took advantage of the chaos to escape. She had long since given up hope for the third prince and only hoped that the world could be changed.
However, standing in the middle of the road, all she heard with her increasingly acute hearing were cries of pain and desperate calls, accompanied by unrestrained laughter in a foreign language she couldn't understand.
The city gates have been breached.
The story ends abruptly here, without revealing the fate of the female protagonist or the third prince.
Jiang Yixing finished watching the entire plot, but was still not satisfied. The whole story had a bizarre and fantastical feel to it, and there were many foreshadowings and doubts. How could the female lead, a peasant girl, have such superb skills? How could she have overheard others discussing state affairs? Discussing the emperor in private was a capital offense.
The Third Prince hadn't come looking for the female lead for so long, but he appeared just as the clothes were finished.
The emperor was not yet near death, but he died soon after receiving the clothes.
A series of doubts surrounded Jiang Yixing, prompting her to read it again.
After reading the script twice, Jiang Yixing made a decision: he absolutely had to take on this film project.
She's already eager to try.
He Mang's clear voice came from the phone receiver: "You have good taste. I've been looking for this script for a long time."
Jiang Yixing's voice carried a hint of excitement, "It's very good, let me play this role."
He Mang raised an eyebrow. "Of course, I've tailored this specifically for you."
Then, as if he had thought of something, He Mang suddenly coughed twice and lowered his voice, "Um... Rong Hang, what's your relationship with him... He said something quite shocking yesterday."
Jiang Yixing's voice returned to its calm tone, "Oh, that's my boyfriend."
The other side fell silent for a moment.
He Mang was like a rooster whose neck had been grabbed, suddenly losing her voice, and it took her a long time to find it again, "...boyfriend?"
"Yes, that's right."
He Mang didn't know how to describe her feelings. It was as if she had gained something and then lost it, feeling a little reluctant, unwilling, and regretful.
"You're pretty quick."
He Mang frowned after speaking; the tone was too sour, and Jiang Yixing had nothing to do with him now.
Jiang Yixing didn't notice anything amiss. "It's alright, we've known each other for a long time."
"oh..."
He Mang felt extremely thirsty, as if something was stuck in her throat. "I see."
Seeing Jiang Yixing again was a completely unexpected thing. She seemed to have been reborn, completely losing the naivety of her college days. She had a strong sense of approachability, but also a slightly aggressive temperament, which made people unable to help but pay attention to her, without disliking her, but only silently amazed in their hearts.
He Mang's Adam's apple bobbed. He had shaved off his beard just two days ago, and now, reflecting on his actions, he gave a wry smile, truly unsure of what he had done.
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