Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 548 Liu Yifei's Two Thousand Years

Zhao Sha told the truth, and seeing Lao Zheng's surprise, she first shirked her responsibility: "I've said everything I can, Director. Liu Yifei did indeed ask to terminate the contract today, and even the temporary suspension you suggested was rejected."

Zheng Xiaolong frowned: "Why go to such lengths? Did you mention anything, or can you tell what Mr. Lu's attitude is?"

"I shamelessly asked her, but she was rather vague, only saying that Lu Kuan had sent her to bring Yao Beina to terminate her contract today..."

Seeing his hesitation, Zhao Sha was also willing to facilitate the termination of the contract, in order to give face to Xiao Liu, an old acquaintance. After all, with the mystery surrounding Zhen Huan still looming, it was unclear whether this time the deal could be settled smoothly.

“Director Zheng, those two girls are sitting in the office right now. I dare not and cannot kick them out. The request she made is really not unreasonable. It's cancer!”

"Do you know if it's true or not?" Zheng Xiaolong glared at him, seemingly feeling that what he said was somewhat unethical, and then waved his hand impatiently: "It's not that I don't believe it, it's just that this guy is good at subtle and insidious tactics, you don't know how powerful he is."

"If it's just Yao Beina, then let her go. We might be able to do something for her out of humanitarianism."

"But now that 'Empresses in the Palace' might be in trouble, do you think I shouldn't seize this opportunity to gather more information? What time is it now?"

Zhao Sha remained silent; of course, she knew what time it was.

Now is the crucial moment for Lao Zheng, the head of this "public institution," to smoothly transition into the "enterprise" Gehua Media, taking advantage of the favorable conditions brought by the "Cultural Industry Revitalization Law."

Job positions, compensation, and even relatively lenient equity issues within companies all urgently need to be addressed, and the perfect project, "The Legend of Zhen Huan," is the best "full-mark answer."

But now someone might come and tear up this exam paper, what should we do?
If it were six years ago, or even three years ago, Wenjie and Lu's boss would have been hurled at them by every single person in the Beijing circle, with terms like "stinking excrement" and so on.

Just like when they criticized Zhang Yimou before.

Not content with just criticizing them, they launched a complete ban on the arts and culture sector, obstructing censorship and effectively crippling the young director and film company.

But times have changed. A few years ago, when the steamed bun incident involving "The Promise" broke out, they did try to use public opinion to attack this person, but it was later proven to be completely futile.

Old Lu is paralyzed on one side and bedridden, unable to take care of himself like a useless person. His son is also stuck somewhere, unable to get the sewing machine out.

Chen Kaige, who was originally torn between his uncles and elders, would have almost offered Diao Chan to them if he hadn't been so proud and eager to apologize.

Even today, although Lu Kuan dares to defy public opinion and make a fuss about ethnic issues, and the Beijing elites do have the voice and confidence to retaliate, he will ultimately not come out on top.

Especially myself, who was the first to be affected.

But what Zheng Xiaolong needs to figure out first is what this richest man's purpose is. Is it to overthrow the Beijing elite and the Manchu people, and to target and suppress them?
Or is it simply a matter of wanting to demonstrate his influence in the cultural field and transform Zhao Sha's personal preference, such as "he may not like Qing Dynasty dramas," into an industry standard through his industrial power?
It is often said that "first-class companies set standards, second-class companies build brands, and third-class companies make products," but Wenjie has already taken one foot from first-class to top-class, and has initially gained the ability to influence industry policies and public opinion.

This is truly terrifying.

For Zheng Xiaolong, gathering a group of Manchu people from the Beijing elite circle and filing a complaint under the banner of opposing ethnic discrimination would definitely be effective.

Putting aside others, Yingda, whose father had been a big boss at Wenhua, had a powder keg-like personality and could gather enough powerful and influential people, but what was the point of it for him?
I am not in the flag.

The time traveler, who should still be sound asleep in Vancouver, hasn't said a word and is completely unaware of this situation, yet his wife, Liu Yifei, has already made Zhao Sha, Zheng Xiaolong, and their group hesitant and agitated.

However, there was a reason for this, and Liu Yifei did indeed know Lu Kuan's stance and attitude, but this "Huang Yueying scares away the dead horse" scene was enough to make people laugh.

Zheng Xiaolong hadn't even finished his cigarette when he made a decision: "Zhao Sha, go find the production manager, Lao Chen. I'll have him find someone to draft a contract to terminate the previous agreement with Yao Beina, and we'll forget about the penalty for breach of contract."

He sighed inwardly: "Regardless of anything else, if she really is sick, and she was introduced by Liu Huan, we should always leave ourselves a way out."

Zhao Sha knew that he had been forced to give up testing her, and that it was better to play along with her first. She nodded and was about to leave when Zheng Xiaolong called her back.

“You’ll take this with you later…” The veteran director from the Beijing film circle paused for a moment, then naturally changed the subject: “Never mind, I’ll take the contract with me later. Please ask them to have a seat.”

He then added, "Well... I still have to step in, otherwise Yao Beina won't be able to go back for treatment with peace of mind. Let's do a good deed to the end."

Zhao Sha chuckled inwardly, but calmly nodded and left.

Liu Yifei and Yao Beina were naturally relieved to hear the news. The latter, in particular, was worried about how she would get along with Teacher Liu Huan after seeing her childhood friend being so assertive. But for the time being, she could only let her be.

Upon hearing the good news from the assistant director, he couldn't help but grasp Liu Yifei's hand, his gratitude overflowing.

Xiao Liu turned her head and smiled gently at her, then looked at Zhao Sha: "Whether Director Zheng is home or not, we have felt the humanitarian care of the crew, and we still need to express our gratitude."

"Oh! He'll be down in a bit." Zhao Sha said, getting up to boil water. "Bena doesn't drink tea, just some water. Sisi, you can have a cup of tea."

"No more drinking, I'll keep going to the bathroom if I drink." Liu Yifei and Yao Beina stood up together and said seriously, "This time the crew is being kind, we should go and thank Director Zheng. Sister Sha, you can take us there."

"Is it convenient?"

"Ah? Convenient! Convenient!" Zhao Sha led them out while inwardly marveling at how meticulous the richest woman was in handling things.

Just moments ago, during the negotiations, he was unyielding, every word hitting the nail on the head, and even subtly exerting pressure. Now, however, he has taken the initiative to lower his stance and even made a special effort to personally express his gratitude.

When it's time to be firm, he doesn't hesitate; when it's time to be tactful, he knows how to give people a way out. Even if their positions may differ, Zheng Xiaolong is, after all, a leading figure in the television industry, and at nearly sixty years old, he deserves respect.

The balance of strength and gentleness is the wisdom of the Chinese in doing things.

The three women took the elevator to Zheng Xiaolong's sixth floor, where he was glancing at the termination agreement in his office. He sighed, got up, and prepared to leave.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't annoyed and frustrated. In terms of background, talent, and seniority, I'm a well-known figure in the domestic arts and culture circle. I never expected that I would have to be so anxious and timid that I would have to personally test and curry favor with a female actress in her twenties.

No, it can't be considered flattery. We old Beijingers are generous and straightforward. He didn't intend to make things difficult for Yao Beina; he just wanted to get a glimpse of the bigger picture.

Old Zheng comforted himself in this way, but just as he reached the door, he was startled by a sudden "knock knock knock" sound.

Zhao Sha's voice rang out: "Director, Yi Fei and Bella have come to thank the crew. Are you there?"

Ok?
Zheng Xiaolong raised an eyebrow. The old man was quick-witted and immediately tiptoed back to sit on the sofa, clearing his throat twice: "Please come in!"

As the door opened, he saw the young actress Liu Yifei with a perfectly measured smile on her lips—neither overly enthusiastic nor lacking in sincerity.

Yao Beina, standing behind him, looked slightly haggard and gratefully gazed at him.

"Hello, Yifei!" Zheng Xiaolong felt at ease and quickly stood up, not caring about putting on airs. "You see, the center has been undergoing reforms lately, and I had several meetings this afternoon, so I couldn't receive you."

He turned to his casting assistant director: "Zhao Sha, did you treat Yi Fei and Xiao Yao well? Don't hide all the good tea from them!"

Zhao Sha cursed the old bastard under her breath, then grinned and pulled out a Pu'er tea cake from his cupboard: "The stuff I have isn't much better than high-quality broken tea. You still need someone like Director Zheng, someone with enough prestige to entertain the richest man's wife!"

Xiao Liu was used to such scenes and let them perform, thinking that it was all an expression of attitude and goodwill, and that it was best not to expose their suffering.

"Director Zheng, I won't have the tea. I'm already very sorry to have bothered you with your work today." Liu Yifei glanced at the contract in his hand. "I still want to thank the crew for their humanistic care. Director Zheng is a director with a broad vision."

Yao Beina nodded gratefully: "Director Zheng, I'm sorry to have troubled you this time. If you think I'm alright, I'd be willing to sing theme songs for the crew for free in the future."

"Oh! What are you saying?" Old Zheng smiled broadly and invited the two to sit down, handing them the termination agreement: "The center has stamped it and I've signed it, so please keep it safe."

He looked at the young female singer suffering from a serious illness: "Xiao Yao, 'The Beauty's Tribulation' was written by Liu Huan, and he also recommended you to sing it. The production team highly recognizes your abilities!"

"It's okay if this collaboration doesn't work out. Just focus on your recovery and get well soon. There will be plenty of opportunities to collaborate in the future!"

"Yes, Director Zheng, I've got it." Yao Beina couldn't possibly maintain the same composure as Xiao Liu when facing Zheng Xiaolong. This man was a big shot in the domestic TV drama industry, with every single one of his dramas being a hit, and they were mostly broadcast on CCTV.

Hit dramas usually have highly popular plots and deeply memorable characters. As viewers watch the drama, their emotional dependence on the theme song and interludes deepens. Examples include "Red Beauty's Tribulation" from "Empresses in the Palace", "The Power of Love" from "Palace", and "Cool" from "Eternal Love".

Young female singers like Yao Beina, who rely on their talent and are not good at self-promotion, represent a core group that cannot be ignored.

Zheng Xiaolong watched as she opened the contract and began signing and affixing her fingerprints. He glanced at Liu Yifei, whose expression remained calm, and couldn't help but ask:

"Yifei, I saw in the news... Director Lu is currently filming 'Ball Lightning' in North America, right?"

Zheng Xiaolong helped resolve the thorny issue, and the richest woman generously showed some goodwill, smiling and saying, "Yes, it's been half a month since we left, and it's still early morning there."

"Right, haha, there aren't many directors in China who can make science fiction films. I see that Avatar is making a lot of noise right now. It's probably going to sweep the world like Titanic. In the domestic market, we still have to look to Director Lu."

He changed the subject: "Consort Yi, you've been resting for more than half a year, have you ever thought about going back to TV dramas?"

"After all, movies have a long production cycle, and the final cut is only two or three hours long. From your fans' perspective, they still want to see you make an appearance on the big screen."

Xiao Liu smiled and said, "Although everyone says that movies have a higher status and a larger scope than TV series, I think the key is still the role."

"If there is a suitable and interesting role, I personally don't care whether it's a TV show or a movie."

The fact that TV dramas are considered to be of lower status than movies, and are located at the bottom of the social hierarchy, is determined by a combination of factors, including differences in production costs and production cycles, market positioning and audience segmentation, and the value of actors.

This is an industry consensus, and also a global consensus.

Even at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards ceremony, the host was still sarcastically remarking, "This is an annual opportunity for people from the film industry and the rats from the television industry to share a room."

Zheng Xiaolong said calmly, "The female market has strong purchasing power now, and various film and television companies are also making film and television works for female audiences. You can see that LeTV Culture's 'Palace', our 'Empresses in the Palace', and Wenjie's several historical IP adaptations are all like this."

He coaxed her gently, "Consort Yi, are you interested in our 'Empresses in the Palace'? The character of Zhen Huan actually fits your requirements quite well. The role has a wide range and rich emotional layers—"

"From the innocent girl who first entered the palace, to the mature strategist who experienced the palace intrigues, and finally to the tragic figure who saw through the world, Zhen Huan needs the actress to accurately grasp the changes in temperament at different stages. Among the actresses of the right age in China, I think you are the most suitable."

coming!

Xiao Liu paused, looking at Zheng Xiaolong who seemed "eager to find talent," and realized that this was another test, just like Zhao Sha's.

What exactly are they worried about?
Liu Yifei hesitated before saying, "Thank you for your kind offer, but even if I could start working again sooner, it wouldn't be until next year. Firstly, I can't coordinate the schedule, and secondly..."

Zheng Xiaolong's heart tightened, but he maintained his smile, only to be met with a ruthless and decisive move from Xiao Liu—

"Director Zheng, have you ever considered giving up on Qing Dynasty dramas? Actually, there are still many good IPs in the industry, covering various dynasties. I used to pass the time with them when I was pregnant and in postpartum confinement."

"There might still be opportunities for cooperation."

"Huh? This..." Old Zheng and Zhao Sha were both dumbfounded. It's true that I'm from the Beijing circle, but you can't treat me like Fu Zuoyi!
Zheng Xiaolong's rise to prominence in the 1980s was due to his background as a child of a privileged family and his position at the Beiping Film Art Center.

In that ignorant era when the entertainment and literary circles were still dominated by figures like Wang Shuo, Ma Weidu, Haiyan, Liu Zhenyun, and Mo Yan through their literary works, it was the fertile ground of the Beijing circle that propelled him to his high position.

This group of seasoned veterans, with their connections, backgrounds, and talents, sparked the first wave of prosperity in the entertainment industry, producing numerous film emperors, television emperors, and heavyweight figures.

However, times have changed. With the advent of the Internet age, the print media influence of the Beijing Times and the literary and artistic commentary system, which were originally firmly controlled by the Beijing circle, have been breached.

In early 2002, Wang Shuo, Ma Weidu, and others could still openly criticize Zhang Yimou as "stinking excrement," not even worth a hair of Feng Xiaogang;

One could dismiss Stephen Chow's "Kung Fu Hustle" as a vulgar and unbearable "martial arts fantasy";
Shi Kang, a writer from the Beijing literary circle, could criticize new generation writers like Han Han as "wild children who have been born but not raised by anyone."
Yingzi and others can dismiss Dao Lang's works as worthless and devoid of any artistic value.

But now?

If it weren't for Xu Jinglei's large number of followers on Weibo and her blog, Han Han's fan base alone could have easily wiped out these veteran writers in the Beijing literary circle.

Especially in the last two years since the entertainment industry entered the 2.0 era, whether it's Huayi Brothers, whose presence in the Beijing circle has been completely erased by the "evil new forces," or a group of veteran writers who control the original star-making chain through screenwriting and television dramas, or even renowned directors from the Beijing circle such as Zheng Xiaolong, Teng Huatao, Zhao Baogang, and Feng Xiaogang, they all have to face a harsh reality—

The new era is slowly replacing the old order.

The most notable creators of this new era are undoubtedly Lu Kuan, the founder of Wenjie, but there are also coal bosses, real estate developers, and internet capital investors.

As a result, Teng Huatao from the Beijing circle went to LeEco Culture, Feng Xiaogang went to Wanda, and Zhao Baogang's Xinbaoyuan and Xiaoma Benteng reached a cooperation agreement, which led to the release of "My Youth, Who Decides?", a sister series to "Struggle", this year.

Having weathered two decades of ups and downs since entering the industry in the 1980s, Zheng Xiaolong is now facing an inquiry from an excessively young Best Actress. It's unclear whether this is a whim of hers or an olive branch extended by a powerful figure behind her.

But the gradual decline and disarray of the Beijing and Manchu elite circles that appeared before his eyes was undeniable, and he couldn't deny that the other party wanted him to play the role of Fu Zuoyi...

It's very tempting.

Even with 200,000 troops under his command, Fu Zuoyi could not withstand the tide of the People's Army. The Beijing entertainment circle has long lost its former glory. Otherwise, Huayi would not have been completely wiped out this time, and not a single one of them would have dared to show their face.

The Berlin Film Festival Best Actress's statement, "There are many good IPs in the industry," is clearly a coded message for peaceful adaptation, much like the negotiation conditions offered by the People's Liberation Army when they besieged the city.

Like Fu Zuoyi, who was "trapped in Beijing," Zheng Xiaolong, who was "trapped in the Beijing circle," did not surrender so quickly. "Consort Yi, may I ask if Director Lu has any objections to Qing Dynasty dramas and Manchu people?"

"Is it because LeEco Culture was making 'Palace' while we were making 'Empresses in the Palace'? Is it simply... business competition?"

He didn't dare use the term "underhanded tactics" to describe it.

In truth, Liu Yifei had no idea what her sleeping husband's attitude was. Only then did she fully realize that, for some reason, the person opposite her had completely regarded him as a hypothetical enemy, which led to Zhao Sha and then Zheng Xiaolong's own probing and questioning.

But Xiao Liu knows best his ambition and aspirations to promote Chinese culture and its internationalization. Otherwise, why would he send Guo Fan to study on the set of Avatar? Jiaozi is still racking his brains over his "Chinese mythology system".

Therefore, the subsequent psychological manipulation of Zheng Xiaolong became a natural progression.

"He couldn't possibly dislike a particular ethnic group; to be precise, he should say he prefers certain things. To use his instructions during a meeting with the IP and screenwriting staff at Wenjie—"

"His core concern lies in the cultural bias caused by an over-indulgence in a single historical narrative."

He believes that the repeated portrayal of power struggles in the Qing Dynasty's imperial harem and the excessive glorification of emperors on screen not only narrows the public's understanding of the grand diversity of Chinese civilization, but also ignores the more brilliant cultural and spiritual core of other historical periods. Moreover, it is detrimental to overseas dissemination.

Liu Yifei laughed and said, "Director Zheng, I am the most qualified to speak on this topic. When I came to the United States at the age of 10, I was discriminated against not only by Western children but also by Korean children. They used the derogatory term 'Qing Guo Lao' to refer to us, the Chinese immigrants who were easy to bully."

"For a time, I wished I could cut my hair as short as possible because they often mocked my braid, saying it was a symbol of the Qing Dynasty being enslaved by the West."

"In the Western stereotype, Chinese people are seen as having queues, wearing straw hats, and hunching over, and Qing Dynasty dramas reinforce this prejudice."

Zheng Xiaolong listened with a somber expression. The driving force behind "Empresses in the Palace" included many Manchus and senior figures in the arts and literature circles in Beijing, as well as various ethnic associations. Before Liu Yifei pointed out these views from Lu Kuan today, he had not thought about these issues.

Like the vanished Huayi, these people's vision and perspective have only reached the point of whether they can become a big hit and make money in mainland China. They never think about the impact on neighboring Japan and South Korea, or the West.

The words of the richest man in mainland China made this veteran director feel slightly ashamed. The country and the people had spent more than a hundred years tearing off the queue, and these artists were actually vying to wear it again...

Zheng Xiaolong is not a Manchu, and he has no Manchu bias whatsoever. It's just that his exposure to so many Manchu figures, from Ying Da to Hua Yi, Wang Shuo, and the Beijing entertainment circle, over the years has prevented him from seeing the narrowness of these cultural perspectives. It's also a matter of one's own self-interest determining one's viewpoint.

"We have the intellectual ferment of the Hundred Schools of Thought in the pre-Qin period, the grandeur of the Han Dynasty, the openness and inclusiveness of the Tang Dynasty, the technological progress of the Ming Dynasty, and the elegance and vitality of the citizens of the Song Dynasty."

"Director Lu is right. From the perspective of cultural dissemination abroad, the proliferation of Qing Dynasty dramas will mislead overseas audiences into thinking that only the Qing Dynasty period of Chinese history is worth filming, and even make them think that Chinese people still live under that system today."

"The cultural themes we should showcase are open, inclusive, and brilliant, not closed, servile, and ignorant."

Liu Yifei continued, "Director Zheng, you must know about the 'Cultural Industry Revitalization Law,' including last year's 'Film Promotion Law.' In terms of top-level design, the country is now placing the cultural industry in a very important position."

“Lu Kuan was particularly excited after watching the military parade this year. With the country’s strength growing, the cultural sector must also keep up. It can be said that cultural export and cultural confidence are the main themes of the future. It’s time for you to break free from the barriers and old habits.”

As the conversation deepened, Liu Yifei completely "drew her coattails," sharing all her insights from listening to Boss Lu's meetings and casual conversations with him with Zheng Xiaolong.

These are all natural expressions that arise from being exposed to them.

The couple isn't always busy making love at home, tearing clothes, playing with cat toys, and the like. Although Xiao Liu has only recently been released from her ban and her obsession with being affectionate has increased compared to before, her literary and artistic nature still makes her prefer to have some deeper spiritual exchanges with her husband.

It usually happens afterward.

But to the native Zheng Xiaolong, these insightful observations from a time traveler who had lived two lives, along with his predictions and aspirations for the future development of the cultural industry, sounded like the grandest of bells.

It's true that the cultural industry is flourishing, but who will lead the overall trend?

In other words, how do we determine the most profitable and popular themes and trends that best align with the times?

First, observe the imperial court; second, observe the common people.

The "temple" refers to various industry guidance laws such as the "Cultural Industry Revitalization Law" and the "Film Promotion Law," and the guidance provided by content output units such as China Film Group and the State Administration of Radio and Television.

The "jianghu" (江湖, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) is, of course, comprised of various capital groups and film and television companies, especially top-tier cultural capital like Wenjie, which has a huge following in television stations, cinemas, online ticketing, and the internet.

Otherwise, why would Lao Zheng be worried about this Boss Lu "potentially targeting period dramas"?

If he puts all his effort into promoting Manchu-themed dramas and the Manchu influence in the entertainment industry, he could really stir up a bloody storm!

Of course, the Manchu people in the old cultural circles were not to be trifled with either. If they really made too much trouble, it would be fatal for them to report the old leader for inciting discrimination.

Even if Mr. Lu were a trillionaire, he couldn't afford to take the blame for this, and it would easily become a target for Westerners.

With this thought in mind, Zheng Xiaolong, familiar with the influence of these Beijing and Manchu circles, couldn't help but subtly remind Liu Yifei before making his own decision on whether Beiping should be peacefully liberated—

It's also a way of praising her husband behind the scenes.

This is equivalent to Fu Zuoyi, during the siege of Beiping in 1949, simultaneously engaging in secret negotiations with our army while still maintaining the facade of being the Kuomintang's North China Suppression Headquarters Commander-in-Chief.

Who doesn't want to improve?
Even though Lao Zheng is one of the old captains of the old ship of the Beijing circle and the flag circle, the other party is a damn aircraft carrier!
Zheng Xiaolong picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and let the tea roll around in his throat three times before slowly speaking: "Yi Fei, I admire Director Lu's vision. But some things really can't be rushed."

He abruptly changed his tone, making it sound less like a warning and more like a proud introduction in front of Zhao Sha and the others:

"Look, right now, Ms. Lei, a first-class composer at our Beiping Art Center, is a member of the National Musicians Association; Mr. Xi Guanmucun, the vice chairman of the National Musicians Association, is a member of the National People's Congress; and Mr. Wang Liping, the lifetime honorary chairman of the National Music Copyright Association, and many other highly respected senior figures in the arts and literature circles are all..."

He swallowed the last two words with his tea, but the meaning was already perfectly clear.

It's fine for the theater to produce plays featuring the Qing Dynasty style, but they need to be fully prepared to avoid being unfairly blamed – that would be very dangerous!

From top to bottom, inside and out, almost everyone is your "enemy".

This has always been the case in the arts and culture world.

At this point in the conversation, Xiao Liu could no longer continue to "borrow the tiger's power" and impersonate her husband to deceive people.

This matter is of great importance, and the Empress dares not "interfere too much in politics," lest she be punished again with a spanking and a rub.

"I understand, thank you for reminding me, Director Zheng."

Zheng Xiaolong waved his hand and laughed, "It's a misunderstanding, really. We haven't been caring enough for Xiao Yao, which is why we had to ask you to accompany her through the contract termination process. Actually, the contract was already prepared!"

"In addition, when I received the call that day, Wanda's people were also present, and LeTV Culture's 'Palace' also invited a lot of flag studies research organizations, leaders and professors to promote it."

His two seemingly random sentences revealed all the information he had at that moment: even if he was forced to film "Empresses in the Palace" due to pressure, he would definitely not suffer that person's thunderous retaliation.

Even just escaping with one's life would be good, wouldn't it?

His old crony Zhao Sha listened from the side and secretly thought to herself, "No wonder you, Lao Zheng, are able to become a big leader and a big director!"
You're not exactly a Fu Zuoyi, but you've leaked all of Tang Enbo's secrets to the Communist army. You're playing both sides, aren't you?
Who is Tang Enbo?
In 1949, his mentor and adoptive father Chen Yi plotted an uprising and defection. He secretly telegraphed Chiang Kai-shek, which led to Chen Yi's arrest and execution. He himself did not have a good end later.

In terms of cultural projects and products like Qing Dynasty operas, the arts and culture circles did indeed produce quite a few in the past two years of my previous life.

Palace, Scarlet Heart, The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan 4, New My Fair Princess, The Legend of Zhen Huan...

There was even a Sino-Japanese co-production in 2010 called "The Firmament of the Pleiades," which was set against the backdrop of the Guangxu era and focused on the power struggle between Empress Dowager Cixi, played by Yuko Tanaka, and Emperor Guangxu, played by Yu Shaoqun.

This is just one of the more popular braided dramas.

Looking back at the previous era, these four or five period dramas covered almost all four genres: time travel, idol dramas, remakes, and political intrigue, making stars of actresses like Yang Mi and Liu Shishi, who were originally not even as popular as Xiao Liu.

However, during the same period, Liu Yifei, while playing romantic leads with bald-headed princes and nobles in dramas, experienced a temporary slump:

In 2009, while still under attack from Huayi, whose traces had been erased in this life, she proactively reduced her workload in a state of confusion and disappeared without a trace.
In 2010, she returned to the big screen with a bare-faced performance in "Love Announcement". In 2011, she began a year of intensive filming for "A Chinese Ghost Story", "The Last Supper", "The Four", and "The Assassins".

Of course, the ancients have already ridden the yellow crane away, leaving only the Yellow Crane Tower behind.

By the end of 2009, apart from Da Mimi, LeTV's top star who had accumulated significant resources, another "Little Liu Yifei" had disappeared without a trace.

It seems that she only made a brief appearance as a fox spirit in last year's "Xin Shisi Niang" and has since disappeared from the public eye.

Interestingly, the timelines of the two lifetimes have changed so drastically that in this lifetime, Xiao Liu, who stands at the beginning of the peak of the Qing Dynasty dramas, follows her husband's perspective and footsteps, and becomes a judge of "cultural dross".

Meanwhile, Yang Mi, who might become the one being judged, is recording "The Power of Love" for the upcoming drama "Palace," which is set to officially begin filming next month, with her ambition to surpass others.

I hold you in my hands, reverently burn incense, cut a piece of candlelight, and illuminate the scriptures...

Life is but a dream, two lifetimes on different paths, fates shift like a game of chess, a single thought can lead to vastly different worlds.
-

At the bottom of Building 8 in Guanyuan Community, it was already getting dark.

As dusk settled, the autumn wind swirled a few withered leaves across the concrete ground. Liu Yifei, having just returned from seeing someone off, was eager to go home.

Yao Beina knew that she was worried about her child, so she didn't try to persuade her to stay. She had already said almost everything she wanted to say in the car.

"Xixi, I'll go upstairs first. Tomorrow I'll go to the hospital to see Dr. Xu Binghe, whom you mentioned."

Xiao Liu squeezed her cold hand tightly: "Just go ahead and do it. Everything is arranged. Focus on your treatment. I'll come see you when I have time."

"And Su Chang, Liang Ying and the others, I haven't said anything yet without your permission. You can decide whether you want to inform them yourself."

Yao Beina had nothing to say, she just stood on tiptoe and hugged her tightly.

The streetlights in the neighborhood had just come on, and their dim yellow glow seemed especially warm in the deepening night, just like this little sun illuminating her own life.

When Xiao Liu returned home, she informed the Empress Dowager of the good news that Yao Beina's matter had been successfully resolved that afternoon. After her routine check-up and interaction with the baby, she went into her study.

In the past, she would either curl up on the sofa with a book or go to the terrace to enjoy the natural breeze. Now, after starting to write the script for "Reply 1982," she has also started to sit at her desk like that man.

Yesterday, Liu Xiaoli's lesson on maternal love was truly inspiring and worth recording as a source of inspiration.

It wasn't until 9 p.m. that Mr. Lu, who had just opened his eyes at 6 a.m. in Vancouver, saw several text messages from his wife, all sent before, during, and after his trip to the Beiping Art Center that day.

Regarding Yao Beina's contract termination, the Qing Dynasty opera, Zheng Xiaolong's final hints, and her own attempts to poach his girlfriend, etc.

Lu Kuan, who had just woken up, was already confused, and this series of "novel plots" made him even more confused:
[Yao Beina terminated her contract; "Empresses in the Palace" may demand a penalty for breach of contract. Damn it, I'm going to meet them!]

[That lawyer Zhu from Wenjie Law Firm was able to be dismissed, yet there wasn't a single loophole in the contract? What happened to the supposedly top litigator in Beijing?]

[I just chatted with Zhao Sha, and she was completely taken aback. She's the one who discovered Yang Mi, and now Yang Mi is causing quite a stir. She even gave Zhao Sha a fright just now, haha!]

[Waiting here for Zheng Xiaolong's reply, hopefully it will work. I'm actually quite good at conning people now, hehe!]

[By the way, they seem quite worried about the authorities targeting period dramas with Qing Dynasty hairstyles, so I used this to scare them!]

The following text messages were sent after a long time, probably because Liu Yifei was too nervous and excited during the period when she was trying to scare Zheng Xiaolong, and she didn't have time to type.

Then came the following: [Zheng Xiaolong is interested! If you dig a little deeper, you might be able to get him to film other dramas, and you might even be able to get Zhao Sha!]

Road width: ? ? ?
When did I decide to "completely ban" period dramas with Qing Dynasty hairstyles? Of course, it's true that I don't like them.

When did I ever target Manchus in the entertainment industry? To the point that Zheng Xiaolong solemnly revealed their backgrounds?

Of course, we should pay attention to the fact that LeTV Culture has made a big bet on "Palace". How come Wanda is also involved?
I just took a nap, and my wife somehow managed to storm the heart of the Beijing elite circle and almost win over this freak Zheng Xiaolong?
Do you have many questions about washing machines?

Ring ring ring!
Liu Dao, who was still struggling to write the script, was startled. He glanced at his phone screen and immediately answered the call.

"Ma'am, what's going on?"

Liu Xiaolv said smugly, "Check your text messages! What you see is what you get!"

"Zheng Xiaolong forgot to take his high blood pressure medication today. How could he betray his class? You wouldn't have hit that old man, would you?"

Liu Yifei retorted, "Don't look down on me! Reading a book a hundred times will reveal its meaning. I'm just using your methods, and they're particularly convenient for me!"

"Which one?"

"First, they slap on the righteous banner, then offer incentives, and in between, they add their own agenda to intimidate people!"

Xiao Liu has been teaching this class for seven or eight years, which is why he can summarize it so aptly: "The country needs to set the stage, the trend of the times needs to guide it, then paint a picture of a lucrative future, and finally casually mention that those who go against the tide will perish..."

Is that so?

"As expected of a woman who knows me well," Washing Machine sighed on the other end of the phone. "Congratulations, you've graduated!"

"I will no longer be able to gauge your true abilities. The only way to truly understand this matter is to put it into practice and test you thoroughly before making any further judgments!"

Liu Yifei was amused by her husband's lewd joke: "Bow my foot! I'll castrate you!"

Then he asked with a hint of doubt, "But speaking of which, is Zheng Xiaolong of any value to the Asking Realm?"

"Of course!" Boss Lu got up and drew back the curtains. The temperature in Vancouver in October was less than 5 degrees Celsius, and a misty white fog rose outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the luxury hotel.

"He is a prominent figure in Beijing's elite circle. Although this circle is gradually declining and becoming increasingly intertwined with other capital, it still has a considerable number of talented individuals."

If the timeline hadn't changed, Zheng Xiaolong would have turned "Empresses in the Palace" into a phenomenal work, topping the ratings charts, accumulating over 10 billion views online in later generations, and even spawning "Empresses Studies" culture, greatly promoting the rise of "Qing Dynasty craze" and pro-Qing culture.

But aside from a bunch of old women engaging in palace intrigue and using underhanded tactics, they didn't say anything else, and their words were of no use.

Boss Lu walked into the bathroom wearing only his underwear, and "whoosh~" he urinated profusely.

Xiao Liu stopped writing: "What's that noise?"

"Niagara Falls is releasing water." Washing Machine joked before getting back to the point: "If it's really as you say, then we really need to find a good work to see if we can win him over."

"Or it can't be called united front work. We don't lose money in this kind of cooperation. We've bought a bunch of copyrights, but there aren't many directors who fit the bill."

"Furthermore, period dramas don't really have much cultural value. It's better if Zheng Xiaolong doesn't make them. We can just focus on making a mess of LeTV Culture, and we'll have fewer people arguing with us."

"In that case, does the company have any suitable notebooks for him right now?"

Liu Yifei is quite knowledgeable about the current copyright situation in the industry. During her pregnancy and postpartum period, she was worried about radiation, so she restrained herself from using the computer and spent most of her time reading the company's film library.

"Hmm..." This question really stumped Lu Kuan.

"Nirvana in Fire" is already taken, and it is also a pseudo-political drama with female characters;
Although "The Story of Minglan" became very popular in later generations, and even has many fan fictions on Qidian, compared to "Empresses in the Palace," it simply moved the power struggles between women from the imperial palace to the household of a high-ranking official, although the dynasty has the advantage.

These points don't seem to align with the effect of Xiao Liu's "eloquent" cultural output today.

He searched his mind for some outlines of scripts from later generations. Although he couldn't remember all the details, with a team of screenwriters around, they could always come up with a film or television adaptation plan.

Such as "The Longest Day in Chang'an", "The Qin Empire" series, "The Advisors Alliance", etc...

These dramas all have some highlights, and with adaptation and improvement, they would perform well in the market and receive good reviews, but they all seem to be lacking something.

Boss Lu suddenly remembered a historical novel from Qidian that was not a traditional online novel.

The story spans a vast period of time, offers a unique perspective from an immortal, and features the female protagonist personally experiencing rather than forcibly altering historical changes from the Warring States period, the Qin and Han dynasties, the Three Kingdoms period, the Tang and Song dynasties, to the modern era.

She is more like a witness to history and a contemplator of suffering than an omnipotent intervener.

Because of its vast historical span and lack of lengthy and convoluted melodramatic love stories, it can consistently present a visual feast showcasing Chinese civilization's clothing, etiquette, architecture, military, and lifestyle.

From the ruggedness of armor, the solemnity of Han robes, the splendor of Tang suits to the elegance of Song clothing, all can be exquisitely reproduced based on historical research, making them perfectly suitable for production and broadcast as episodic dramas.

As long as a lot of effort is put into adapting the original work into a film or television series, the image of the female lead—without romance, but with action scenes, and possessing a free-spirited, ethereal, and resilient temperament—is actually quite suitable for Liu Yifei.

"The Two Thousand Years of Poor People"

(End of this chapter)