"Both of these episodes are very short, but they tell a complete story. They begin with a certain incident and end with the character being banished to the cold palace."
"—And most importantly, these two plot points are completely unrelated!" Shang Yechu said with sparkling eyes, "There's neither a scheming heroine nor a cunning palace maid. I'm just an observer."
"The portrayals of Consort Zhao and Consort Liang are completely different, yet their fates are the same. I immediately thought of what Teacher Zheng mentioned: 'Destroying you has nothing to do with you.'"
"So, who destroyed these women?"
Shang Yechu took a deep breath and said, word by word, "That's right, it's the emperor played by Teacher Qin Tianye!"
Without realizing it, Zheng Bohan had already leaned forward slightly, adopting a posture of focused listening.
"Yes! The biggest villain in this drama is none other than the emperor!" Shang Yechu exclaimed excitedly. "A palace intrigue drama that doesn't focus on vying for the emperor's favor, but instead directs its criticism at the instigator. What is this? This is an epoch-making innovation!"
"Whether you are a clever and understanding young woman, or an innocent girl just entering the palace; whether you are a powerful daughter of a military family, or a low-ranking concubine who rose from humble beginnings; whether you are a favored imperial concubine, or a lowly maid who has never even seen the emperor's face—"
"Under imperial power, everyone is a slave! Even the empress is nothing more than a slave of a higher rank!"
A wake-up call!
In an instant, Zheng Bohan felt a surge of relief, as if a strong wind had swept across his heart, blowing away all the dust that covered it!
"Great! Great!" Zheng Bohan slammed his hand on the table, making a loud thud. "Great!"
Shang Yechu finally recovered from her fervor and quickly apologized, "Oh! I'm sorry, Director Zheng, I was just too excited."
“It’s nothing,” Zheng Bohan clapped his hands. “I think what you said is better than what I wrote. Please continue.”
Of course it's good. Shang Yechu worked day and night for two days and nights to finish this manuscript.
"After having this guess, I remembered that the Cold Palace was called Muyun Palace, and our drama is called 'The Tale of Clouds'. I think this story might be a very long one. It tells the story of the concubines in the Cold Palace throughout the dynasties who were oppressed by the imperial power. The reason it is called 'The Tale of Clouds' is because when the dynasty is overthrown, this Cold Palace called Muyun Palace will also collapse. Teacher Zheng, am I right?"
Shang Yechu's eyes were filled with longing, like a child eager for a teacher's approval.
Zheng Bohan's heart skipped a beat. He didn't answer the question immediately. Fortunately, Shang Yechu didn't wait for his answer foolishly, but continued speaking.
"Palace dramas are women's dramas. But, apart from the main characters, most of the women end up dying. All the palace dramas currently airing tell the story of the victors." Shang Yechu sighed. "Actually, where are the victors? The so-called victors are nothing more than appendages of imperial power."
Everything that needed to be said has been said; now it's time for the emotional part.
Shang Yechu paused for a moment, then said, "I am very happy to be able to participate in such a drama. I am really happy. Even if I can only be a little palace maid or an observer, I feel honored."
"Ten years ago, you wrote 'Xiyuan'. There is a line in it that I still remember to this day: 'A tyrant, a traitor to the people, the one who usurped the world, is the emperor!' It cleansed up the trend of singing praises to feudal emperors in the film and television industry at that time;
"Ten years later, you still haven't forgotten your original intention. Whether it's the struggles in the officialdom or the battles in the harem, the spearheads of these works have always been aimed at the person who should be targeted the most. Teacher Zheng, you have never changed."
Shang Yechu raised her eyes and looked intently at Zheng Bohan: "Teacher Zheng, I grew up watching your dramas. This drama will definitely be a success. It will be as popular as your previous dramas, sweeping the country and drawing huge crowds, ushering in a new era!"
As the last word faded from her lips, a tear slid down Shang Yechu's cheek. She hurriedly wiped her eyes, saying with embarrassment, "Oh dear, why am I crying? I'm so sorry, Teacher Zheng, I got too excited."
Zheng Bohan's eyes also welled up with tears.
He suddenly felt a sense of absurdity. Not for Shang Yechu, but for himself.
Look! He almost lost something precious just because he was trying to spite Xu Hanwen!
What was he thinking when his script was performed for the first time and received applause from the audience for the first time?
When did he begin to forget his original aspirations?
Yes. Xu Hanwen is a traitor, the capitalist is a thief, "Qingyun Biography" is a bizarre monster, and Meta Pictures is an arrogant amateur.
For these things, he did not hesitate to destroy his own foundation and damage his own wings, changing his creations beyond recognition, abandoning his true core, and giving up the audience who had accompanied him for twenty years!
Zheng Bohan pulled two tissues from the table, handed one to Shang Yechu, and used the other to wipe his glasses.
Zheng Bohan remained expressionless and said in a calm tone, "Well then... Ye Zi, I think Yu Zhu, you'd better not act anymore."
Shang Yechu looked surprised: "Director Zheng?"
"Don't panic. Don't panic." Zheng Bohan smiled. He didn't smile often, so the expression looked a little strange.
“Yuzhu, you shouldn’t act anymore. I have a more important role for you.” Zheng Bohan put on his glasses, the lenses reflecting Shang Yechu’s stunned expression. “Based on your understanding of this drama, this role is very suitable for you. Wait here for a moment, I’ll go talk to Lao Qin.”
After saying that, Zheng Bohan got up and left without waiting for Shang Yechu's reply.
He made up his mind that even if Metafilm withdrew all the money, leaving the crew so poor that they had to share ten sets of costumes, he would not let Su Ge change the script into a melodramatic romance.
He wants to film what he truly wants to film.
The audience can't see anything.
The audience cannot see the power struggles of capital, the oppression, contempt, and disdain suffered by the screenwriter, or his helplessness and compromises.
The audience can see everything.
Audiences will use their own eyes, their own hands, their own mouths and their own hearts to choose what they truly want to see and to choose the creators and works they truly want to follow!
Look, Xu Hanwen, look at you and me, who is the one chosen by the audience!
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