Chapter 46 So sweet. :"Plant flowers with your tears."
Jiang Yan laughed this time, much happier than before, bending over with laughter.
She slowly finished dressing, but couldn't help laughing. "Teacher Qin is probably thinking to herself that I always look like I'm wearing work clothes, isn't she?"
"yes."
This person came over late at night after getting her hair done, complete with suspender earrings. They did share a bed later, but this person usually didn't wear anything, and Qin Lan had never actually seen her in pajamas.
"Alright, I've been watching your live stream for so long, behave yourself." Qin Lan gave her a warning look.
"Um... will Teacher Qin come to see me when she gets back?"
Qin Lan hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "If you're sleepy, go to sleep first. It'll probably be very late tonight."
Jiang Yan smiled and hung up the video call: "Okay, then I'll have the front desk keep a room key for you."
Qin Lan coughed twice, holding her hot phone, and stepped upstairs. As soon as she opened the fire door, someone stumbled in from outside.
"..." Qin Lan expressionlessly dodged to the side: "You're still not busy enough."
Yu Jintang had been hoping she could act as a human cushion, so he scrambled a couple of steps to brace himself against the opposite wall, and gave an awkward laugh: "Hahaha, Lao Qin, you're here too."
She stood up straight, walked over, and casually put her arm around Qin Lan's shoulder: "I was just too curious. It's rare to see you bloom like an iron tree, Qin."
"So you're still too idle." Qin Lan walked back speechlessly: "Look at Song Man, she gets up at six o'clock every morning to wash up, eats melon for ten minutes at six-twenty, and spends the rest of her time practicing."
Yu Jintang shrugged: "Song Man is a madwoman. If she had practiced any static skills like playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting, she would have grown mushrooms by now."
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The banquet ended a little late.
Qin Lan got into the car, and Yu Shan drove towards the hotel.
"Sister Qin, it's Sister Bai Ai's phone call." Xiao Qing handed over the phone.
Qin Lan didn't even want to lift her hand: "Take it."
Xiaoqing turned on speakerphone.
"My dear Miss Qin, do you know you're trending on social media? I heard from the PR team that you're not letting them take it off the trending list?"
Qin Lan said lazily, "I know. What's trending on social media?"
"You already know, why are you asking me?"
"Oh, I knew it would trend on social media, but I didn't know what the hashtag said."
Qin Lan was so sleepy that her eyes were already closed: "Read it to me."
"The fact that you helped Jiang Yan deliver the gift is already quite a spectacle, but for some reason, a bunch of people have suddenly appeared below, all shipping you two as a couple."
"oh."
Bai Ai was furious: "No, aren't you going to explain?"
"What am I supposed to explain?" Qin Lan said wearily. "That's just how they saw it. There was no distortion or fabrication. What's there to explain?"
"My goodness, you're still on the rise! Are you planning to be the first person in the industry to publicly disclose their sexual orientation?"
"We won't make it public now," Qin Lan said. "There won't be any results for a while, let's wait until we have some information."
"But you should at least be mindful of your words and actions in public!" Bai Ai exclaimed in despair, "Your CP supertopic already has 10,000 people! I really don't know where these cultists came from."
Qin Lan didn't care: "Let them kowtow, it was real anyway."
Bai Ai was furious: "Qin! Lan!"
"Oh, okay, Sister Bai, I'm so sleepy." Qin Lan said groggily, "I didn't say I was going to go public, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"What do you think you'd know?" Bai Ai muttered under her breath, then added, "Then I'll contact Jiang Yan's company and we'll just create a CP (couple pairing)!"
Qin Lan was almost asleep: "What's the benefit of creating a CP (couple pairing)?"
Bai Ai was speechless: "Why don't you mention the downsides! The upside is that your show will generate a lot of discussion, because you two have been arguing for so many years and you both have your own fan base. Your show will be a hit even before it airs."
Qin Lan nodded: "Great, Yu Jintang doesn't need to worry anymore."
Bai Ai: "...Also, the two of you are now even more closely bound together. I guess even if you break up in the future, there will still be some topic about... or about a failed love confession turning into an enemy. Then your CP fans will be screaming in the super topic, arguing about remarrying every day."
"Oh, well, it's not like there's any downside," Qin Lan hummed sleepily. "Then it's settled. You go and create a CP (couple pairing) with the other company, and I'll be responsible for sleeping..."
Bai Ai called out twice, and Xiao Qing's voice came through: "Sister Bai, Sister Bai, shh—Sister Qin is asleep."
Bai Ai paused for a moment: "Really asleep? She wasn't just making excuses for me."
Xiaoqing covered her phone and whispered, "Of course, Sister Qin is especially tired today. She filmed all day and has to attend Feng Yinghou's wrap party tonight."
Bai Ai had no choice but to hang up the phone: "I understand, tell her to get some rest."
The car drove more gently, finally slowly pulling into the hotel parking lot. Yu Shan unbuckled her seatbelt and turned around. Qin Lan was still asleep. Xiao Qing shook her head at her. The two turned off the lights and waited in the car.
After midnight, Qin Lan woke up: "What time is it? Have we arrived at the hotel?"
"We've arrived," Xiaoqing quickly said. "12:05."
"It's so late?" Qin Lan glanced around groggily, then suddenly remembered that she had promised Jiang Yan to visit her. She quickly opened the door and got out of the car: "You two go back and rest."
Upon seeing her enter, the receptionist handed her a room key, his face flushed red.
Qin Lan glanced at her indifferently and gracefully entered the elevator.
She swiped open Jiang Yan's door. The room was dark, except for the bathroom light, which cast a soft silhouette on all the furniture.
Qin Lan entered the room.
Jiang Yan nestled on the sofa, covered with a blanket.
Qin Lan lowered her head.
From this angle, she looks incredibly well-behaved. Her eyes are closed, her hair is fluffy, and she's obediently hugging her knees, curled up into a tiny ball.
Qin Lan resisted the urge to pat her head, carefully placed his hands under her to support her, picked her up, and walked towards the bed.
But as soon as she moved, Jiang Yan woke up and rubbed against her, still very sleepy, saying, "You're here."
Qin Lan's hand trembled, and he almost dropped her to the ground: "...Why don't you go to bed?"
"Because I'm waiting for you." Jiang Yan's voice was also sleepy. "I waited and waited, but you didn't come, so I fell asleep."
Qin Lan felt guilty when she thought about how Jiang Yan had been eagerly waiting for her to come, and how she had actually fallen asleep in the car: "I'm sorry, I fell asleep in the car."
Jiang Yan gently touched her brow with concern: "Are you very tired? Have you been filming all afternoon?"
"Yes, today's scene is very important." Qin Lan put her on the bed and covered her with the blanket: "Go to sleep."
Jiang Yan stared at her intently: "Could you stay with me for a few more minutes before you leave?"
"Okay." Qin Lan sat down beside her. "Go to sleep."
Jiang Yan indeed closed her eyes, her breathing becoming shallow.
Qin Lan waited a while, and only released her hand after hearing her breathing gradually even out. Before leaving, he hesitated for a moment, then turned back to look at Jiang Yan with conflicted emotions. In the end, he resigned himself to his fate, lowered his head, and gently kissed her forehead.
"So sweet." She thought to herself, touching Jiang Yan's eyelashes, wishing she could stay, climb into bed, and cuddle with her.
Jiang Yan hummed softly and unconsciously moved closer to her, giving her the impression that she could do anything.
How can someone be so well-behaved? It's practically unfair!
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After Li Xian ascended the throne, a number of meritorious officials who had followed him were promoted.
First and foremost was Zhang Jianzhi, the mastermind behind the coup, who was appointed prime minister along with four other ministers.
Shangguan Wan'er was appointed as Zhaorong, in charge of imperial edicts, and her power grew ever stronger.
Princess Taiping was awarded the title of Princess Taiping, who was granted the authority to govern the country, and was given a government and official position, with a rank equivalent to that of a prince.
From then on, the political status of Wan'er and Princess Taiping was further enhanced. Wan'er, who had been the Grand Chancellor since the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, was naturally in a position of power, while Princess Taiping moved from behind the scenes to the forefront. If before she could only exert influence subtly through conversations with Wu Zetian and her daughter, now that Princess Taiping could establish her own government and appoint officials, she could directly place her own faction and thus participate in political decisions.
Princess Taiping loved to help scholars and recruited talents from all over the country, thus gathering a large following and numerous retainers.
In addition to the rewards of power and wealth, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Li Xian, also granted Princess Taiping the special right not to kneel before him.
After a process of rewarding those who had contributed, Li Xian realized that everyone else had received something, while he, despite becoming emperor, had no power of his own.
Therefore, in order to balance the relationship between the emperor and his ministers, Li Xian thought of the person he trusted most in the world.
Next, historical figures Empress Wei and Princess Anle made their grand entrance.
Two newcomers joined the production team: Liu Lü, who plays Empress Wei, and Xiahou Cheng, who plays Princess Anle.
Liu Lu is 42 years old this year and has acted in many well-known TV series, but she has never become a big star, and has been working her way up to the age where she is about to play mothers and mothers-in-law. Even so, she still insists on choosing her own scripts. After reading part of the script for "The Era of Red Powder," she decided to audition. Yu Jintang told her that the pay was very high, higher than the pay she had received for playing the leading role before, as long as she was willing to act.
Liu Lü said, "Don't worry, I'm definitely going to act in this. You can even let me act for free."
Yu Jintang was deeply moved, but when she turned to look at another actor, she became a little annoyed. Xiahou Cheng was standing to the side like an old man, fiddling with the crew's equipment.
She had heard of the "Crazy King of the Entertainment Industry" and was afraid that he would go crazy and quit the crew if she angered him, so she gently advised, "Teacher Cheng, please don't play with the crew's equipment."
"You don't know that my surname is Fu, do you?"
"Teacher Cheng, please excuse my poor hands. Could you please put your hands down? The camera is about to fall."
"Unless you call me Xiahou."
Yu Jintang: "Teacher Xiahou."
"Remove the teacher."
Yu Jintang thought to herself that this person was crazy, and patiently repeated, "Xiahou, put your hand down."
Xiahou Cheng: "Make your tone even harsher."
Yu Jintang: "?"
Are we acquainted?
Aren't you new to the team?
Yu Jintang couldn't help but say, "Are you alright?"
Xiahou Cheng's eyes lit up: "Yes, that's it. Keep that feeling when you talk to me."
Yu Jintang felt a chill run down her spine.
Qin Lan turned to Jiang Yan and said, "It seems that the Mad King is a bit more sophisticated than a lunatic."
Jiang Yan nodded: "I'm really looking forward to their showdown."
Qin Lan nodded; she wanted to see it too.
Yu Jintang is usually quite sick and annoying, but the reason why Qin Lan and others can tolerate her is because she is very serious when she is working.
But Xiahou Cheng was different. She would steal props while filming, play with other people's wigs while waiting to be filmed, and burn mineral water bottles with a lighter while getting her makeup done. Not a single second of her was normal.
After Yu Jintang yelled "Action!", she could immediately get into character, and her ability to change her expression so quickly was astonishing.
This scene depicts the happy family life of Emperor Zhongzong after he ascended the throne and made Lady Wei his empress, along with Princess Anle and her family.
Li Xian, now in his fifties, returned to the palace, this time as the true ruler of the land. He couldn't believe his eyes; just days before, he had been a fearful, disfavored crown prince. It all seemed like a dream.
To perfectly portray the character's vicissitudes, Yu Jintang hired a top makeup artist to successfully adjust the actor's facial appearance to that of a man in his forties or fifties.
The old crown prince looked even older than his mother, Empress Wu Zetian; the long years of exile had made him unrecognizable.
This time, Li Xian was no longer as arrogant and ignorant as he was in his youth. Instead, he assessed the situation, silently endured, and appeared much more composed.
The family of three stood silently in the golden hall for a long time, and all of them wept with joy.
"Guo'er... Guo'er..." Empress Wei called out Princess Anle's nickname, tears streaming down her face: "You've never been here before. This is the palace, our home from now on. You don't have to live in fear anymore, you don't have to live in anxiety anymore, you are a princess now!"
Liu Lü lost control of her emotions during the last line, and her voice cracked a bit, but her expression was perfect. Yu Jintang exclaimed in surprise, "Yes, yes, that's exactly the expression of joy turning to sorrow!" and quickly gave her a close-up.
Xiahou Cheng nodded thoughtfully.
When it was time to rest, the makeup artist came over to touch up her makeup and asked her to close her eyes for a moment.
Xiahou Cheng: "Please close your eyes if you're talking about a princess."
The makeup artist's lips twitched: "...Princess, please close your eyes."
Xiahou Cheng's makeup was easy to touch up; she hadn't even started crying yet. But Liu Lü's was more troublesome; she had cried so emotionally that her collar was stained.
After all that fuss, the group returned to their original positions, gathering their tears. Yu Jintang waved her hand and said, "Start crying!"
Liu Lü burst into tears, and the actor playing Li Xian also silently shed tears. Only the naturally spoiled An Le walked to the table as if she had come home, curiously picked up a piece of pastry, tasted it, and her eyes lit up with surprise: "Father, Mother, you should try it, it's so delicious."
Empress Wei was stunned for a moment, then wept even more bitterly, and couldn't help but recall the hardships of the past. Back then, her family lived in Fangling, far from the capital and its bustling cities, and their food, clothing and daily necessities were very frugal. Even after the family returned to the capital, they were still living in constant fear.
Both princesses, Taiping grew up in a wealthy and luxurious family, while Anle wore coarse clothes and ate simply. How simple? Her childhood nickname was Guo'er (裹儿), because when the child was born, Li Xian, who was on his way to exile, couldn't even find a piece of cloth to wrap the baby in, so he had to take off his outer garment to use as a swaddle.
Hardship made the family's bond stronger than gold. Anle received all of his parents' love and became arrogant as a result.
Until this day, Li Guo'er had never truly enjoyed the treatment of a Tang Dynasty princess. The family embraced and wept again, and this time Li Guo'er also wailed, crying and asking her father if no one would dare to bully them anymore, so that she wouldn't be beaten even more severely when she went back to report them.
Liu Lü's eyes were swollen from crying, so filming had to be stopped to apply ice. Yu Jintang turned around to find Xiahou Cheng to talk about the plot, but when she found him, he was twenty meters away, frantically cleaning with a broom and rag.
She was frantically washing the floor while tears streamed down her face.
Yu Jintang was shocked: "Teacher Cheng, what's wrong with you?"
Xiahou Cheng sprinted over on all fours to wipe the table, exclaiming, "Oh, I'm crying uncontrollably!"
Yu Jintang subconsciously replied, "Then you should wear diapers."
The two stared at each other, wide-eyed. Three seconds later, they burst into a bizarre, maniacal laugh.
Yu Jintang laughed until tears streamed down her face, clutching her stomach and trembling all over. Xiahou Cheng laughed wildly and cried at the same time, pulling a paper cup from his huge pants pocket and carefully bringing it close to Yu Jintang's face.
Yu Jintang was stunned and instinctively flinched: "Teacher Cheng, what are you doing?"
"Plant flowers with your tears."
She actually started planting flowers on set. That very night, she had someone bring over a bunch of fresh willow branches, put them in a bottle, and started hydroponically growing them. She even recorded a video and sent it to Yu Jintang: "Teacher Yu's tears are in there."
Ten seconds later, Yu Jintang replied: "Didn't it evaporate??"
Xiahou Cheng: "Just soak the cup that held the tears in water."
Yu Jintang fell silent.
She always felt she was quite sick, but it seems there's someone here who's even sicker than her.
But she was traumatized later in life, while it is said that Xiahou Cheng has been like this since he was a child.
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