During the prosperous era, as Ling Yichen, Jun Mozhan, and Lu Zixuan implemented reforms to the ancient entertainment industry, an unprecedented trend swept through the entire entertainment world like a surging tide. The three of them inadvertently embarked on a legendary path to becoming ancient stars.
The modern performance training method advocated by Ling Yichen quickly spread throughout the opera troupe. The performers treasured it and studied it diligently. Among them, a young performer named Su Jin, with his profound understanding of this new performance style and his own talent, shone brightly in an important opera performance. He played a traditional, loyal and righteous man, but inspired by Ling Yichen's performance philosophy, he went beyond superficial actions and lines, delving into the character's inner emotional struggles and contradictions. On stage, when faced with a crucial moment of choosing between family and country, his eyes revealed a complex mix of pain and determination. His slightly trembling hands and slightly hoarse yet deeply emotional voice vividly portrayed the character's inner world. The audience was deeply moved by his performance, feeling as if they were in the character's shoes, experiencing the character's emotions firsthand. After the performance, Su Jin's name quickly spread throughout the city, and everyone was talking about this exceptionally talented performer. He received numerous performance invitations and became a sought-after figure by many opera troupes, much like a highly anticipated star in the modern entertainment industry.
Jun Mo Ran's opera costumes became a fashion trendsetter. The city's high-ranking officials and wealthy heiresses followed suit, ordering custom-made garments. Orders poured into her embroidery shop, forcing Jun Mo Ran to recruit more embroiderers and tailors to meet the demand. Long queues often formed outside her shop, the eyes of those waiting for custom-made clothing filled with a yearning for beauty and a pursuit of fashion. Even the imperial concubines heard of Jun Mo Ran's fame and invited her to design costumes for them. Jun Mo Ran and her team entered the palace, creating a series of garments for the concubines that blended modern fashion elements with ancient court style. These costumes caused a sensation upon their debut in the palace. The concubines, wearing these exquisite garments, danced gracefully at court banquets, like fairies descending to earth, captivating the emperor and other members of the royal family. Jun Mo Ran's name spread throughout the palace, making her a leader in court fashion and granting her unparalleled prestige.
Lu Zixuan's renovated theater became the most popular place in the city. Every performance was sold out, with audiences queuing for days in advance to witness the opera performances under the new stage setup, lighting, and sound effects. Even young people who weren't initially interested in opera were drawn in by the novelty and impact of the performances, becoming loyal fans. In one performance, Lu Zixuan cleverly used lighting and sound effects to create a mysterious and fantastical fairyland scene. As the actors performed mythological stories on stage, soft lighting bathed the smoke-shrouded stage, seemingly draping the actors in a divine glow. Accompanied by melodious music and realistic sound effects, the audience felt transported to a fairyland, experiencing the legendary tales alongside the deities. After this performance, Lu Zixuan was hailed as a "stage magician," his name inextricably linked to the theater's spectacular performances, becoming a popular topic of conversation.
As their influence grew, the three began receiving invitations to various social events and cultural exchanges. At a grand gathering of literati, Ling Yichen, Jun Moran, and Lu Zixuan attended together. Their arrival caused a sensation, with the assembled scholars and artists crowding around to discuss art with them. Ling Yichen shared his insights on performing arts; his words were profound yet accessible, demonstrating both a deep understanding of ancient opera performance and a unique interpretation of modern performance concepts, leaving the audience feeling refreshed and greatly benefited. Jun Moran showcased some of her latest embroidery designs, the exquisite patterns and delicate stitches drawing admiration from the crowd. She also introduced the concepts of color matching and style innovation in modern clothing design, injecting new vitality into ancient costume culture. Lu Zixuan shared his vision and practical experience in stage art; his creativity and talent gave the audience a completely new understanding of stage performance.
At this gathering, they met many influential figures, including some court officials and noblemen. These people greatly admired their talent and achievements and expressed their willingness to support their further development in the entertainment industry. One nobleman named Zhao Xuan was particularly fascinated by Ling Yichen's performance and offered to sponsor Ling Yichen to establish his own opera troupe, enabling him to better promote modern performance concepts and cultivate outstanding performers. Ling Yichen gladly accepted his offer, and with Zhao Xuan's support, the troupe was quickly formed and began intensive rehearsals and performance preparations.
Jun Mo Ran partnered with a wealthy heiress named Lin Wan to open a larger embroidery workshop. Lin Wan provided the capital and space, while Jun Mo Ran handled the design and management. The new workshop not only continued producing opera costumes but also expanded its business to design and produce various everyday garments and accessories. Jun Mo Ran perfectly combined modern fashion elements with ancient traditional craftsmanship, launching a series of products that were highly popular in the market. The workshop's business flourished, and the name Jun Mo Ran became synonymous with quality and fashion.
Lu Zixuan attracted the attention of the imperial court. Hearing of his exceptional talent in stage arts, the emperor appointed him as the court's director, responsible for various performances within the palace. Lu Zixuan felt a great responsibility and meticulously planned a grand theatrical performance to celebrate the emperor's birthday. In this performance, he fully utilized his creativity and talent, creating a magnificent stage setting, using lighting and sound effects perfectly, and delivering a splendid performance from the actors. After the performance, the emperor was delighted, richly rewarded Lu Zixuan, and bestowed upon him the title of "Master of the Royal Stage."
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