Chapter 70 (070) – Viewers simply didn't buy it! ...
Chapter Seventy
Viewers who know a little about Shao Jing are familiar with how he made his selections in history.
He did not choose the Grand Secretary's side, but instead stood on the Emperor's side.
Although the emperor relied on the power of civil officials like Shao Jing to seize power, Shao Jing also gained the emperor's favor.
After watching one episode of "The Powerful Minister," Sang Zi noticed that while the pacing of the show was indeed slow, it provided all the necessary information without padding or unnecessary plot points. It was the kind of show that you could watch an entire episode without even realizing it.
Most importantly, each actor plays their part, and the different personalities of the characters are presented to the audience in a flexible way.
Song Kuan did not want to take Shao Jingjin's top rank, but the emperor used his influence to achieve his own goal.
Although all those ranked in the first class were Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), they were guaranteed entry into the Hanlin Academy. If Shao Jing's ranking had dropped to the second class, although he could still occupy a position in one of the Six Ministries, his chances of later becoming a Grand Secretary would have been much lower.
Sang Zi wasn't particularly invested in analyzing the plot, but as a viewer, she felt that—she had originally thought the imperial examinations would be an extremely tedious and boring affair, but watching the clashes in the court and the political arguments hidden in the scholars' essays was much more interesting than she had imagined.
This is probably what is meant by "literature conveying the Way".
The most ornate essays, recommended by scholars from all over the country, ultimately failed to achieve the highest rank, precisely because their writing lacked sharpness.
An official who lacks both sharpness and independent thought will only be a fence-sitter once he enters the court, and will be a disaster for the people.
She didn't deliberately check Shao Jing's ranking in the imperial examinations, but she didn't find this part of the story boring at all.
In the first episode, Shao Jing changed into two different looks: one as a scholar going to the capital for the imperial examination, and the other as a young scholar who answered questions in the palace with sound reasoning. Whether it was the soft lighting or the scholarly air that made Sang Zi feel most strongly that Lin Yuan was not greasy at all.
A scholar with no trace of femininity, only a heart full of ambition.
This reminded Sangzi of a show she watched when she was a child.
When she picks up a sword, she is a dashing general; when she puts it down, she is a handsome courtier. She is capable of governing the country with her literary skills and securing peace with her martial prowess. Even if someone told her that Lin Yuan could become the top scholar in the imperial examinations if he traveled back to ancient times, she would believe it.
There's also the scene between He Xun and Lin Yuan.
Sang Zi knew that He Xun and Lin Yuan had a good relationship, and through the trailer for "The Powerful Minister," she could also catch a glimpse of how Lin Yuan and He Xun worked together.
However, after the series actually started airing, Sang Zi realized that Lin Yuan and He Xun had a very compatible vibe.
The emperor, dressed in a dragon robe, appeared innocent on the surface, but in reality, he was scheming. Regardless of his future relationship with Shao Jing, at this moment of first meeting, the emperor's appreciation for Shao Jing was completely genuine.
Joy shone in the emperor's eyes.
It was just a first encounter, just a glance exchanged.
The emperor sat high up, and Shao Jing probably couldn't even see his face clearly. But this scene alone made people think that this emperor and his minister were destined to be entangled in the future.
The brilliance was created by the two of them, but the trust was also broken by the two of them.
It's hard for Sangzi to describe that atmosphere in detail.
All she could say was that both of them were incredibly good actors.
From the very first minute of "The Powerful Minister" aired, Sang Zi felt completely immersed in the story. Among the actors, Lin Yuan and He Xun were probably the youngest, but they both portrayed their own scheming and plotting skills with composure that matched the characters' nature, without any exaggerated expressions.
Sang Zi hasn't watched dramas in a long time. It's not that she doesn't like watching them, but she's afraid of feeling awkward.
The actress herself doesn't feel awkward when she's acting, but as an observer, she feels that if she encounters someone with particularly abstract acting skills who loves to boast, she really can't help but dig her toes into the ground.
When the newly appointed scholars lined up outside the Grand Secretary's door, eager to serve him, Shao Jing's suddenly serious expression was particularly pleasing to the eye.
Starting from the second episode, Shao Jing has already become involved in the conflicts in the capital.
"The Powerful Minister" is not the kind of work that drives the plot through changes in the characters' emotions. On the contrary, its plot is very solid, and its interpretation of emotions is much more restrained.
Shao Jing was not entirely without fear, but he had something more important in his heart.
The Grand Secretary wielded immense power and had numerous followers, yet the world did not become any better as a result. If it had, he would have remained silent. Shao Jing was not an incorruptible official who could not tolerate any wrongdoing; he himself could not achieve such integrity, nor did he demand it of others.
The pacing of "The Powerful Minister" is varied, with ups and downs as the plot unfolds.
The cheating scandal led to the imprisonment of the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), revealing a dark corner of the capital to Shao Jing. However, those from prominent families could easily escape the situation, while the poor and innocent suffered the consequences, being sent to harsh and cold places if they were not careful.
One of Shao Jing's classmates couldn't bear it and spoke up for his friend, but was left out in the cold.
This is what Shao Jing experienced as a young boy.
Although Shao Jing is the protagonist and will become a powerful minister in the future, the audience does not need to worry about his future at all. However, the sudden upheaval in the capital will still make the audience feel uneasy.
Sang Zi didn't see a trace of Gu Yilou in Shao Jing.
Lin Yuan managed to handle two people with completely different personalities and ideas very well.
Most importantly, "The Powerful Minister" is not boring at all.
It has the weight of a historical drama, but it's not dull.
...
Sang Zi tried typing the name "Shao Jing," and as she expected, not many results came up.
I doubt there are many viewers watching "The Powerful Minister".
Sangzi scrolled through her phone, focusing only on the messages for today:
"The actor who plays Shao Jing is quite handsome."
"As a fan of Shao Jing, I can say that the image of Shao Jing in 'The Powerful Minister' is quite close to my imagination. I just don't know how the pacing will be later. If it maintains the current pace, I will continue watching."
"I was watching a show out of boredom and felt that the pacing of 'The Powerful Minister' was a bit slow, so I switched channels to watch 'Lin Lang'. But the story felt a bit empty, so I came back to watch 'Shao Jing'."
Sangzi's eyes lit up.
Although "The Powerful Minister" is mentioned very few times, whenever it is mentioned, the real-time reviews for "The Powerful Minister" are all positive.
Others, like her, felt that Lin Yuan and He Xun's collaboration was very compelling.
Of course, it wasn't sexual tension, it was just the atmosphere during the collaboration... it was very exciting.
Good acting skills are indeed very important; you can play any role well!
If "The Powerful Minister" had cast other actors instead of Lin Yuan, Sang Zi would never have chosen to watch a historical drama. Lin Yuan successfully drew her into the "The Powerful Minister" pit, and now what keeps her watching is not just Lin Yuan's face, but Shao Jing's future life.
Sangzi opened Shao Jing's encyclopedia entry, which contained comprehensive information about what Shao Jing did during his time in power and his life and death.
The ending was indeed not good.
But for such historical figures, the so-called "ending" is also very vague. If he wanted a good ending, he could even give up his official position and just be a wealthy man. In an era when even a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination) could bully the local people, a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) would definitely have no problem becoming rich and powerful.
Some things should be done even though it's known to be impossible.
Sang Zi couldn't help but sigh.
Because Lin Yuan played Shao Jing, she suddenly hoped that Shao Jing could have a good ending, even at the end of his life, that he and the emperor could remember their friendship and the hardships they had endured together in their youth.
Unfortunately, Shao Jing didn't live to see such an ending.
According to a later account, the emperor was not unwilling to bestow honors upon Shao Jing after his death; it was just that the emperor himself left in too much of a hurry. He may have wanted to do something, but there was simply not enough time.
There are even rumors that the emperor's death was triggered by the death of Shao Jing.
It would take some time for news to travel from Shao Jing's hometown to the capital. Based on this calculation, the emperor probably fell seriously ill and passed away not long after receiving news of Shao Jing's death, leaving neither the court nor the harem unprepared.
"well."
Sang Zi couldn't help but sigh, Lin Yuan always played roles that made her worry about him.
...
For viewers, March 16th was just an ordinary Friday, with some dramas ending and others starting new ones. There was nothing special about it, and even within the entertainment industry, the competition between several new dramas wasn't worth investing too much energy in.
But Ye Liuchuan paid special attention to it.
He guessed that Lin Yuan was probably the same way. Although Lin Yuan acted like he didn't care, given the extent of Lin Yuan's hostility towards Wink, the other party would never ignore "Linlang".
That night, Ye Liuchuan didn't sleep well. He barely slept until morning, and before dawn, he turned on his phone to check the latest viewership data.
To his disappointment, the ratings had not yet been released.
He waited until the temperature gradually rose and it was broad daylight before the latest viewership rankings appeared in his field of vision.
Among the more than 30 dramas broadcast during prime time on various satellite TV channels, "Lin Lang" is currently ranked second. The first place is a period drama that has finished airing. That drama has received good reviews, so this result is normal.
As a new drama, "Lin Lang" has made a good start by ranking second after only two episodes.
"The first episode got a 7.91% viewership rating, that's pretty good!" The agent moved the computer screen in front of Ye Liuchuan. "It's even better than Zheng Mian's last drama."
Zheng Mian's previous drama was a recognized hit, but the premiere ratings only broke 6. If "Lin Lang" can maintain this momentum, its performance will definitely be good!
"What about 'The Powerful Minister'?"
With "Linlang" still enjoying high ratings, Ye Liuchuan couldn't help but smile slightly, but he suppressed his smile and took the initiative to ask about "The Powerful Minister".
The agent couldn't hide her smile: "Here."
He dragged his finger down almost from the top of the screen to the bottom: "17th place."
"Pretty good," Ye Liuchuan said, his smile even brighter than before.
"Lin Yuan isn't an unknown actor," the agent said. "These ratings are no different from what Xiaguang TV usually does. Xiaguang TV can get these ratings no matter what drama it broadcasts."
"Yeah?"
The agent nodded: "Ratings aren't that easy to increase."
As the agent said, Xiaguang TV's ratings are indeed unlikely to rise anytime soon.
After three days of airing, the viewership rating for "The Powerful Minister" finally broke through 4%.
By this time, the viewership rating of "Linlang" had exceeded 10%.
Initially, the gap between the two dramas was less than 6%, but as the plots became more fleshed out, the viewership gap actually widened.
In addition, the pairing of Zhou Linlang and Qi Yejue has gradually gained a presence on Weibo.
"So, Ye Liuchuan is still stronger."
"If you ask me, Lin Yuan would be better off focusing on making movies. At least he could exude some prestige then. If he insists on making TV series, who can he compete with?"
"They even make historical dramas to appear sophisticated? It's laughable; the audience simply won't buy it!"
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Author's Note: Update! [Let me see][Let me see] It's here! [Let me see][Let me see]
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