If a pie falls from the sky and hits someone, they'll definitely be a little stunned.
That's how the actress who was originally a palace maid in the mirror feels now.
Her name is Zheng Xuan. She is not a beauty in the traditional sense, but she is very distinctive.
She pointed at herself incredulously and said, "Director, you want me to play the female lead, to play Empress Zhenrui?"
Director Lin glanced at Gu Yanyan, and seeing that she was still somewhat dazed, he nodded slightly, "It's tentative. If there are no surprises, it's you."
Zheng Xuan's eyes were brimming with tears of excitement, and she prayed fervently: Please don't let anything happen, please don't let anything happen. When I get back, I must find a temple dedicated to Empress Zhenrui and pay my respects.
She glanced at Gu Yanyan with some gratitude, gave her a kind smile, and then left reluctantly. She wasn't stupid; she could tell that it was the beautiful woman next to the director who whispered something in the director's ear that made him let her audition for the role of Empress Zhenrui. Otherwise, as an unknown actress, she would have had no chance at all.
Everyone had left.
Director Lin then asked Gu Yanyan, "Do you think she's a good match?"
Gu Yanyan followed Zheng Xuan out before saying, "She looks just like Empress Zhenrui."
With an 80% resemblance in appearance and a 60% resemblance in spirit, she was more than capable of portraying Empress Zhenrui. Gu Yanyan didn't know whether meeting someone who looked so much like her was a blessing or a curse.
Director Lin looked at Gu Yanyan with a complicated expression. He had a persistent feeling that Gu Yanyan came from the Great Jing Dynasty. Her familiarity with the Great Jing Dynasty seemed impossible for someone who hadn't grown up there.
Just like someone who grew up in Beijing, he will unconsciously carry the temperament of the city. His words and deeds bear the imprint of that city, and others can easily tell where he comes from from him.
Director Lin said, "Are you so sure?"
Gu Yanyan thought for a moment, then found a picture of a deity statue in a temple online and said, "She looks a lot like the deity in this picture. The deity looks a lot like the real Empress Zhenrui. The person who sculpted the deity had seen Empress Zhenrui in person and was her chief steward."
Director Lin seemed to be deep in thought. He quickly realized that if he made a 3D reconstruction of this photo and then compared it with Zheng Xuan's, it would be a great publicity stunt.
Zheng Xuan's acting skills are also good, but she just hasn't met a good mentor. I'm grateful to have been her mentor and helped her get promoted.
Thinking of this, Director Lin nodded: "Okay, it's settled then. Using new actors will also reduce the price."
Gu Yanyan: "..."
Director Lin coughed, realizing he'd slipped up earlier. "Our production team is short on funds; all the money's going to props. We need to cut back on the actors' pay wherever possible! There's a requirement to limit actor salaries these days; we're actively responding to the national call!"
Gu Yanyan: "..."
Believing you would be foolish of me.
...
Things related to the film crew.
Everything is proceeding smoothly.
Aside from Zheng Xuan, she felt that this young girl in front of her was really demanding of her.
"Your squatting posture is incorrect. Your upper body should be straight, and your lower body should be slightly lower."
"No, you are a princess, not a palace maid! This way of walking is wrong."
"Her Majesty the Empress is very domineering. Your cautiousness and timidity do not match her demeanor."
"Walk more calmly, shrug your shoulders back a little, and walk slowly. There is only the Empress in the harem, she will not be so flustered and worried."
Gu Yanyan's voice echoed in her ears like a spell.
Zheng Xuan's inner thoughts were like this: ┭┮﹏┭┮
However, she still had to make this gesture: ^_^
During the three months of intensive training, Zheng Xuan did not film any movies or commercials. Apart from occasionally shooting some posters to promote her new drama, the only thing she needed to do was to treat herself as the real Empress Zhenrui. Every word and action she took was gradually moving in the direction of Empress Zhenrui.
Many times, when Gu Yanyan looked at Zheng Xuan dressed in the attire of the Great Jing Dynasty, she felt as if she had returned to the Great Jing Dynasty.
Three months later, filming officially began.
A completely new Zheng Xuan has amazed everyone.
She was dignified yet lively and clever, stunningly beautiful yet cunning and intelligent.
She is the clever young lady who manages Shenzhuhai, the tavern owner who sells wine at the counter, the charming Princess Consort of Chu who stands on the street, and the domineering and powerful Empress Zhenrui.
Zheng Xuan brought Empress Zhenrui to life.
Thanks to Zheng Xuan's outstanding performance, the performances of the other actors were also excellent, giving the entire play a completely different feel. It exuded a sense of rigor and discipline, showcasing the grandeur of the Great Jing Dynasty.
The online promotion for this drama is quite interesting, especially the fact that Zheng Xuan and Empress Zhenrui look alike, which has been widely circulated online.
This show became a hit even before it aired.
...
After filming wrapped on "Empress Zhenrui", Gu Yanyan left the production team.
On the day he left, Director Lin solemnly left Gu Yanyan's contact information. He was filled with emotion. He never expected that such a young-looking girl would eventually become the director of this film.
She single-handedly designed hundreds of costumes and thousands of outfits for the entire production, each perfectly matching the character's image. She also made significant improvements to the background props, almost realistically recreating the life of the people of the Great Jing Dynasty at that time. She even trained everyone on etiquette and manners, making their words and actions more in line with the customs of the Great Jing Dynasty.
She went through the script several times, revising many overly colloquial parts and making many words more in line with the way people spoke at the time, while still making them understandable.
She poured her heart and soul into this production, and he felt that without her oversight, the final result wouldn't have been so good.
She was a living encyclopedia of the Great Jing Dynasty, and she was probably even Empress Zhenrui's number one fan.
Director Lin is very fortunate that although he looked down on Gu Yanyan because she was too young, he did not speak ill of her. Now, he has gotten what he wanted and fulfilled his wish to make a good drama.
...
After returning home, Gu Yanyan spent a long time resting.
Zhang Yang makes soup for her every day to help her recover. He can tell that Gu Yanyan has been overexerting herself lately.
"I'm so happy!" Gu Yanyan said, sipping her soup with a satisfied expression. Finally, she didn't have to look at that cringe-worthy Empress Zhenrui anymore.
Zhang Yang looked at Gu Yanyan with affection and asked, "The film crew's work is finished. You should take a good rest for a while. After the film is released, you can work if you want to. If you don't want to work, you can try starting your own company to do costume design. You don't necessarily have to work for another company."
Zhang Yang is rich!
It's so easy to start a company for my wife.
Gu Yanyan's eyes lit up; she hadn't expected there to be such a "operation".
She has a lot of experience now.
As soon as "Empress Zhenrui" airs, her net worth will likely skyrocket, making it the perfect time for her to start her own company and create her own brand.
Moreover, the girl has business experience and has also studied business herself, so it can be considered a family tradition, which is a good opportunity for her to try her hand at it.
With that in mind, the business deal was settled happily. After a period of leisurely living, Gu Yanyan couldn't stand the loneliness and personally went to inquire about starting a company. She handled all kinds of licenses and permits, selected a location, renovated the premises, and recruited employees. She was busy for more than half a year before things gradually got on track.
"Empress Zhenrui" has also premiered.
On the day the show premiered, the two of them ate out. Zhang Yang bought snacks and drinks, and the two of them snuggled on the sofa, watching the TV series that Gu Yanyan had poured all her heart and soul into.
A melodious tune drifts in, and a deep, weathered female voice sings an ethereal song. Peach blossoms permeate the entire scene, creating a beautiful, exquisite, and luxurious atmosphere.
After the opening theme song.
Under the wishing tree, a girl looked at the tree covered with red ribbons and wishes, her expression indifferent. When she turned her face, Zheng Xuan's face, which resembled that of Empress Zhenrui, was revealed.
Gu Yanyan's eyes instantly filled with tears.
Zheng Xuan already had an 80% resemblance to the original, but with the skillful hands of the makeup artist, she looked 90% like her. After further processing, she looked as if the Empress Zhenrui herself had arrived.
Gu Yanyan stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth to stop herself from crying out loud, and continued watching the show. The more she watched, the more engrossed she became.
When the characters in the play cry, she cries; when the characters in the play laugh, she laughs.
Zhang Yang quietly handed her snacks, water, and toilet paper.
After the two episodes ended, Gu Yanyan came back to her senses, still wanting more, wishing she could watch all forty episodes in one day.
Zhang Yang laughed: "You can ask the director for the sample footage and watch it yourself!"
Gu Yanyan thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Two episodes a day is fine, at least there'll be something to look forward to."
On the internet.
"Empress Zhenrui" has become a huge hit.
The play received high praise as soon as it was released. The costumes, props, actors, and acting skills were all remarkable. Many parts of it went against the audience's understanding of the ancient Jing Dynasty, yet it was so attractive.
Several historians and archaeologists also watched the show and explained some points that viewers felt did not conform to common knowledge. Only then did people realize that the Great Jing Dynasty was like that!
I learned something new.
The next day, the show's ratings tripled, making it the highest-rated TV series of the year. Even more astonishingly, the ratings continued to climb, indicating that it had become a nationwide sensation.
The promotion for this drama was also very effective, with various actor interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and anecdotes from the crew all being presented to help people understand the actors and the drama both on and off screen, creating a greater sense of connection.
People then learned that the entire cast had received systematic cultural training for this play, and the costumes were hand-embroidered by professional embroiderers who specialize in mending emperors' robes. The emperor had more than a hundred sets of clothes, and the empress had even more. Every scene was different in terms of clothing, food, housing, and transportation, and even the jewelry had specific specifications.
Zheng Xuan wore the clothes of the Great Jing Dynasty and spent three months in ancient times before filming began. There was a talented costume designer who designed more than 3,000 sets of Great Jing Dynasty clothes. The salaries of all the actors were very low, and the money spent on props accounted for 70% of the total cost.
This is a film that was truly made with heart.
Almost every day, the popularity of the drama "Empress Zhenrui" was rising. It created a ratings miracle. When the finale aired, Empress Zhenrui committed suicide by poison and lay peacefully in the coffin. Countless people cried, and there were not enough tissues in the house to wipe away their tears.
When the palace maid beside Empress Zhenrui handed the treasure map to the emperor and then committed suicide, countless hearts felt as if they had been shattered.
Gu Yanyan was overwhelmed with tears, and Zhang Yang held her, feeling heartbroken beyond measure.
To others, it was just a TV series, but to Gu Yanyan, it was the first half of her life.
...
The year after "Empress Zhenrui" aired, people were surprised to find that the market for period dramas was not selling well. Every time a period drama came out, people would inevitably compare it with "Empress Zhenrui", and the conclusion reached after the comparison was: trash.
For more than a decade after that, no one dared to film "Empress Zhenrui" again, because it was impossible to surpass it, and any filming of it would only be met with criticism. Therefore, no one wanted to lose money on it.
Gu Yanyan made a name for herself in the fashion design industry. The clothing company she founded and the brand she created became well-known light luxury brands in China. She herself became famous overnight because of the drama "Empress Zhenrui". When it comes to costume design, everyone will mention her. The only regret is that she will not be coming out of retirement. That drama was the only work she participated in. No matter how much money they offer, they cannot hire her for other period dramas.
She lives a fulfilling life in her own little world, with Zhang Yang, "Empress Zhenrui," her career, and her little dumpling. She is very content.
In the third year of her marriage to Zhang Yang, Gu Yanyan gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. The two children had beautiful features and were full of spirit. Gu Yanyan carefully taught them, just as her daughter Linghu Lan had carefully protected her, she cared for her children.
Her face was also gradually aging, which made her even more satisfied. It meant that she and Zhang Yang could sit in rocking chairs and grow old together, instead of living a lonely life for thousands of years.
She later realized that the poison she had drunk, though not fatal, had damaged her ageless constitution, and now, like everyone else, her lifespan had come to an end.
That's great!
She still loves embroidering bibs, but now the patterns she embroiders are very diverse, including fair-skinned children, auspicious couples, and peony scrolls. Her embroidery skills are unparalleled, and many of her embroidered works are listed as collectibles as soon as they are made. She herself has become an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage and a key protected object.
The embroidery skills of the Great Jing Dynasty continued to be used in her hands. People often came to her hoping to become her apprentices. She selected a few who caught her eye and took them as her disciples. She taught them the techniques without reservation. The only requirement was that they could graduate after three years and claim to be the inheritors of "Jing Embroidery".
Her life was full of ups and downs, yet incredibly fascinating.
She was an insignificant maid in a backyard a thousand years ago, but due to fate, she shines brightly a thousand years later.
In one's life, one will always encounter many benefactors, but she was lucky enough to meet the most valuable one. Her life was worthwhile because of meeting the girl, and because of meeting Zhang Yang.
I am very happy to be born as a human being!
—Gu Yanyan
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