You were asked to write a political intrigue drama, but you wrote "Da Ming 1566".

Chapter 111 There are peaks above the peaks! Who else but me can top the list of divine dramas?!

After the senior executives of Huaying hurriedly helped Master Wang to a large leather office chair, it took several minutes for Master Wang to finally recover from the overwhelming shock he had just experienced.

He gently pressed his throbbing temples, staring blankly at the large screen in front of the conference room. The screen was scrolling through news reports and trending topics about Chen Yu that were sweeping across the internet like a tidal wave. His eyes involuntarily revealed an undisguised look of shock.

"I finally became a master screenwriter at the age of 47. At that time, I felt that I had reached the pinnacle of my life. I was full of vigor and pride. I was admired and envied by countless people wherever I went, and I could hear a chorus of compliments wherever I went."

"But who could have imagined that this young man named Chen Yu, at only twenty-one years old, would so easily have completed the path that took me decades to walk?"

"A monster! This is an absolute monster! Such astonishing talent makes him the greatest screenwriter in the history of China. Even Xiao Tuo, who was once famous and hailed as a once-in-a-century genius, is far inferior to him; they're not even in the same league!"

"And this fearless audacity..." Watching Chen Yu's merciless and scathing public attack on Guo Gang, the president of the Screenwriters Association, on the screen, Master Wang felt a sense of vicissitude that he was truly getting old. The sharpness and edge that belonged to young people were things that people his age had long since worn down.

"This is the kind of spirited, unyielding, and indomitable drive that belongs to young people."

"Guo Gang has been the president of the Screenwriters Association for so many years. We who have been in the industry for decades know exactly what kind of person he is and what kind of behavior he has. It's just that no one is willing to be the first to stand up and expose him. I never expected that in the end, a young man in his early twenties would expose him in public and lay all his shady dealings on the table."

Master Wang let out a long sigh, his brows furrowed with complex emotions—a mixture of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep feelings), 慰慰 (wèiqù, gratification), and a hint of inexplicable melancholy. Clearly, he was overwhelmed with emotion. Beside him, a shrewd and capable-looking senior executive from Huaying, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, cautiously leaned forward and whispered a suggestion.

"Master, the conflict between Chen Yu and Guo Gang has now escalated to the point of no return. It seems like it's a fight to the death. Shouldn't we take this opportunity to deepen our cooperation with Guo Gang and join forces to suppress this troublemaker, Chen Yu? After all, he's too powerful right now, which isn't good for Huaying either."

As soon as he finished speaking, Master Wang turned his head sharply and stared at him with a look as if he were a fool, his contempt and disdain almost overflowing.

"I'm getting old, and sometimes my mind does get confused, but you look much younger than me, so how come your mind is even less clear than this old man's?"

"I'll just ask you one question: Didn't you already team up with Guo Gang once before? You even used so many resources and connections, and what was the result? Did it have any effect whatsoever? I don't think it had any effect at all; on the contrary, it made Chen Yu's reputation grow even greater."

"Besides, if it really comes down to choosing sides, on one side is Guo Gang, who's nearing the end of his life and won't be around for much longer, and on the other side is Chen Yu, who has a bright future and unlimited potential. Even someone with their heels should know which side to stand on, right?"

"Guo Gang is already quite old. Even if he can endure it all, how many more years can he hold onto the position of president of the Screenwriters Association? At most, three to five years. But Chen Yu is different. He's only twenty-one years old, right in the prime of his creative years, when his thinking is most active. He might even maintain his peak creative state for thirty or forty years. By then, I'll probably be long gone. Do you really intend for Huaying Film Studio to struggle with such a genius for the rest of its life?" Master Wang said, shaking his head helplessly, his face full of disappointment.

"There's absolutely no need for that. Let's just take the initiative to apologize to Chen Yu formally for what we did to him before. And we must show enough sincerity and not just do it half-heartedly."

"You see, Chen Yu didn't completely destroy those other top-tier film and television companies this time. He just stopped there. This shows that he doesn't want to be an enemy of the entire industry. His target from beginning to end has only been Guo Gang."

The senior executives of Huaying who had personally participated in the operation against Chen Yu all showed extremely unwilling expressions. If things were really handled as Master Wang suggested, even if they weren't directly kicked out of the company, demotion was a certainty. Their positions, which they had painstakingly built up over the years, would plummet, and all their previous efforts would be in vain.

They gritted their teeth, their facial muscles twitching slightly, still unwilling to give up, and wanting to persuade Master Wang to change his mind again.

"Master Wang, Huaying Film Studio is one of the top-tier film and television companies in China, and you are a highly respected master screenwriter. How can we so easily bow our heads and admit defeat without even putting up a fight?"

"If this gets out, where will Huaying's reputation be? Will we still have any weight in the industry? What will other companies think of us?"

Master Wang listened to their words and just sneered disdainfully, his eyes filled with a cold mockery.

"Don't drag me into this, and don't use Huaying's reputation as a shield for everything. What are you plotting? Do you think we can't see through you? You're just worried about losing your positions and your own interests."

"I'm only telling you this one last time. I can report this directly to the chairman and tell him everything you've done. But if it really comes to that, your fate will be much worse than it is now. You'll definitely be fired from the company, and you can forget about ever working in this industry again. If you voluntarily accept the punishment now, you can still leave yourselves some room for maneuver. It's up to you to decide what to do."

As soon as Master Wang uttered those words, the faces of the several high-ranking officials turned deathly pale, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on their foreheads. They lowered their heads, not daring to utter a single word, and could only silently turn and leave the conference room, their backs looking incredibly lonely and disheveled.

Those high-ranking officials who hadn't participated in the operation against Chen Yu and had luckily survived were secretly relieved, but also asked Master Wang with a hint of worry.

"Master Wang, we understand and support your decision to issue the apology statement and the disciplinary action against the relevant executives."

"But what about that spot for script study within the system? You know better than anyone how important that spot is. It's related to the resource allocation and industry standing of Huaying Film Studio for the next few years. We can't just give up on this, can we?"

Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed in Master Wang's eyes—a light that contained excitement, anticipation, and a long-lost fighting spirit. He took a deep breath, as if he had made a momentous decision.

"We must fight for this spot, of course we must fight for it."

"But we absolutely cannot resort to those underhanded tricks and dirty tactics to compete. Even if we win, it won't be honorable, and we'll offend Chen Yu, which is a losing proposition. If we're going to compete, we should compete with him openly and fairly, and let our work speak for itself."

"To be honest, it's been many years since I've felt this creatively motivated. Seeing this young man, Chen Yu, and his unwavering passion for creation has truly rekindled a long-lost fighting spirit in this old man."

Master Wang's eyes became incredibly bright, as if he had regained the radiance of youth, and his entire demeanor underwent a dramatic transformation.

"As people get older, their creative drive and state of mind inevitably decline rapidly. Many ideas and inspirations can't keep up, and what they write always lacks a certain flavor."

"I can still barely grasp a trace of my peak years. I don't want to end up like some master screenwriters, mediocre and unproductive in the last few years of their careers, just relying on their past fame. I want to seize this last precious time to create a work that represents my highest level, as my final masterpiece for the screenwriting world."

"I'm going to break into the top ten of the best TV series list again!"

"This time, I'm in better shape than ever before, and I'm absolutely confident I can do it!"

Master Wang stretched his stiff shoulders and neck, slowly sat down at the computer desk, put on his reading glasses that had been with him for over twenty years, and his expression instantly became incredibly focused and serious, as if the whole world consisted only of him and the computer screen in front of him.

At this moment, his entire demeanor underwent a dramatic transformation, like a powerful figure in a fantasy novel who is about to break through to the next level and achieve ultimate sublimation, exuding an awe-inspiring aura.

This master screenwriter, now in his twilight years, has decided to rediscover the creative energy he had during his peak years, and to shine brightest in the final stage of his career!

Master Wang stared at the blank computer screen in front of him, his fingers lightly resting on the keyboard, and spoke in a low but firm tone.

"I can start creating anytime now. You should immediately notify the live streaming department and have them prepare by bringing over the best equipment and team."

"Since Chen Yu has just finished writing the climax of Act 25, he definitely needs some time to rest and prepare for the new plot. Moreover, the new plot cannot reach the same climax as before in a short time. You guys should use all the live streaming resources you can to create a large-scale promotion across the entire network and maximize the popularity."

"This old man will shamelessly try to gain an advantage today and have a good fight with this young man!"

Hearing Master Wang's inspiring words, the remaining executives of Huaying Film Studio also showed excited expressions, their blood boiling with enthusiasm.

If Master Wang can truly achieve another brilliant success and write a script that can enter the top ranks of legendary dramas, then it's really hard to say who will get the spot for studying scripts within the system this time.

Moreover, this work will become one of Huaying's most important projects in the future, which will help Huaying quickly restore its industry reputation that was seriously damaged by this apology announcement, and may even elevate Huaying's status to a higher level!

They immediately sprang into action, like clocks wound up tight, constantly making phone calls and directing various departments to prepare a grand live broadcast for Master Wang's final performance of his career. The entire conference room was filled with a tense yet exciting atmosphere.

However, at that moment, a rapid and dense sound of keyboard tapping, like raindrops, suddenly came through, breaking the busy atmosphere in the conference room.

The busy executives of Huaying Film Studio all paused for a moment, stopping what they were doing and looking at Master Wang with some confusion.

"Master Wang, our live stream isn't ready yet. The equipment hasn't been tested. You don't need to start creating in such a hurry. It's okay to wait a few more minutes."

But when they turned to look at Master Wang, they saw a look of terror on his face, as if he had seen a ghost. His eyes were wide open, and his mouth was slightly agape, as if he couldn't believe it.

His voice rose eight octaves in shock, and his tone trembled slightly.

"I haven't even started typing yet! It's Chen Yu, this voice is coming from Chen Yu's live stream!"

"That clattering sound of the keyboard is Chen Yu typing!"

Master Wang suddenly turned his head and stared intently at the large screen on the wall that was playing Chen Yu's live broadcast, his eyes unblinking.

Sure enough, he clearly saw that Chen Yu, who had just finished writing the twenty-fifth scene of the plot and hadn't even had a sip of water, put his fingers on the keyboard again and typed rapidly at a speed that was almost invisible to the naked eye. One white character after another appeared on the black screen like flowing water.

Upon witnessing this unbelievable scene, Master Wang felt his mind go blank and buzz, and the fighting spirit he had just managed to muster was instantly extinguished by more than half.

What ultimate sublimation? What final masterpiece? Sublimation my ass! What kind of monster is this?!

Chen Yu isn't human at all; he's a complete monster!

"???"

'

"No way? Hasn't he finished writing yet? Didn't he just finish the twenty-fifth act? How come he's started again without even taking a breath?"

"He's actually going to keep writing?! Doesn't he need to rest? Doesn't he need to come up with plot ideas?"

Then, the striking words Chen Yu typed out made everyone present gasp. The entire conference room fell silent instantly; you could hear a pin drop.

That was none other than the twenty-sixth act of the Ming Dynasty—"When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away!"

This is yet another major plot twist with its own independent title.

Upon seeing this title, which is full of tragic color and historical weight, everyone instantly understood that this scene was definitely another earth-shattering climax, and an even more shocking and profound climax than the twenty-fifth scene!

What do you mean by needing a transition after a climax? What do you mean by needing time to build up a new plot? It's all bullshit! Utter bullshit!

This scene was actually the climax! And it was an even more intense and emotionally impactful climax than before!

At this very moment, amidst the uproar and screams of tens of millions of viewers across the internet, Chen Yu's eyes also burst forth with an unprecedented and terrifying light, as he was completely immersed in the ultimate state of creation.

From this scene onward, the most core, profound, and cruel issues of the drama "Da Ming Dynasty 1566" will be completely revealed and presented to all viewers.

Shen Yishi, the richest merchant in Jiangnan, a man who dominates the business world and is incredibly wealthy, will pay the price with his life to enter the game. With a tragic and resolute death, he will tear off the layers of fig leaves of the entire Ming Dynasty, from the court to the local governments, from the emperor to the officials, and expose the true face of this corrupt dynasty, riddled with holes and terminally ill, to everyone!

Those high-ranking officials of the Ming Dynasty who were eager to fill the national treasury deficit and line their own pockets by confiscating Shen Yishi's property would eventually be shocked to discover that Shen Yishi's supposedly immense wealth had long been exploited and devoured by the entire bureaucratic system of the Ming Dynasty. The little bit of assets left in his treasury was not even worth as much as that of an ordinary middle-class family!

Chen Yu knew very well that the shock this scene would bring to the audience would far exceed that of the twenty-fifth scene, which was called "Calling the Wind and Summoning the Rain"! It was a shock that went deep into the bone, a profound reflection on humanity and history.

This is an even greater climax after the climax! A peak beyond peaks!

"If the twenty-fifth act alone was enough to propel 'Da Ming Dynasty 1566' to ninth place on the list of masterpieces, then what will happen after the twenty-sixth act is completed, and even after the series is completely finished...?"

Chen Yu's fingers flew across the keyboard, a confident smile playing on his lips, his eyes gleaming with an air of dominance.

"Who else but me, Chen Yu, deserves to sit at the top of the list of best-selling dramas?!"