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

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On the one hand, he yearned for a spiritual realm transcending worldly concerns. He loved the zither and the drum, knew Ji Kang's "Guangling San" by heart, and longed for Ji Kang's carefree and noble spirit as he returned to Beiman Mountain.

On the other hand, he was also oppressed by worldly forces. Caught in the currents of society, he was powerless, lacked dignity, and could only become a scapegoat for others to make money.

[At this moment, seeing his fate approaching, Shen Yishi knew his death was near. For his final outing, he chose to dress in the attire he admired, like a noble young master from the Wei-Jin period; his robes fluttering, he walked towards his end.]

When Chen Yu typed out these few lines of annotations, the audience gasped, their eyes widening in shock. The character Shen Yishi was actually this complex?!

Extremely arrogant, extremely insecure, with a refined literary talent, yet forever destined to be a cautious and timid businessman... After seeing Chen Yu's analysis of Shen Yishi's character, many viewers were shocked to discover that from the moment Shen Yishi appeared, the description perfectly matched this.

For example, Yang Jinshui asks Shen Yishi, "Drinking plain water and wearing simple clothes, who are you trying to impress with this act of poverty?" After a cautious reply, Shen Yishi adds, "Even if the higher-ups dislike me and kick me to the curb one day, I'll still live." At the time, the audience thought it was just a joke from someone of low status. But now, it seems there's a hint of pride in Shen Yishi's words. This small act of defiance within his humble expression reflects the complexity and inner conflict of Shen Yishi's character.

At this moment, Professor Shuping on the judging panel wore expressions of admiration and respect. "The portrayal of Shen Yishi is absolutely brilliant, truly brilliant."

"Until now, I thought the most richly portrayed characters in the Ming Dynasty were Hu Zongxian, Hai Rui, or Jiajing, but now it seems that the artistic value of the character Shen Yishi is probably the highest!"

"This complex character is portrayed through such actions; Chen Yu is truly a genius in character portrayal, his talent is astounding."

"I'm not as good as him!" Shu Ping's statement, "I'm not as good as him," instantly ignited a storm of controversy. After all, Shu Ping is a titan in the field of screenwriting, an authority among authorities, a textbook example. He actually said he's inferior to Chen Yu in character portrayal? What level is Chen Yu at then? Some audience members swallowed hard. "A founder of a school of thought..." "A grandmaster!"

Then, while the audience was still marveling, Chen Yu typed out the next part of the plot. After Shen Yishi boarded the boat, he instructed his steward to fetch four girls from the Qiantang Courtyard. At the same time, he asked the steward to bring several buckets of koi carp for release. After the girls boarded the boat, Shen Yishi didn't intend to have a fling with them; instead, he had them release the carp. [Accumulating some merit, so that in the next life they can be reborn as good men.] And then, one of the girls giggled and said that she didn't want to be a good man, that being with Shen Yishi was much better than being a good man.

Shen Yishi gritted his teeth and uttered a single word: 【贱 (jian, meaning despicable)】. If Chen Yu hadn't included the preceding character analysis, most viewers would likely have thought Shen Yishi was mentally unstable and had a strange personality.

But now, most viewers can sense Shen Yishi's mindset. "He himself has already entered a dead end."

"Looking at these girls, he felt like he was looking at himself, hoping to be reborn as a good man in his next life. These words weren't just for the girls; they were for himself."

"Accumulate some good deeds, and perhaps in the next life, he won't have to live in such a precarious situation. Perhaps he can be born into a commoner family and pursue his 'literary talent, elegance, fame, and literary achievements.'"

"That's why Shen Yishi was so angry when the girl said she didn't want to be a good man, because he saw in her his past flattery of those high-ranking officials. The word 'cheap' was a self-criticism."

Next up is another memorable scene featuring Shen Yishi.

On the river, a gentle breeze was blowing. Shen Yishi told the girls that if any of them could tell him the source of the poem he was about to recite, he would redeem them from their servitude.

In fact, this is also a kind of redemption that Shen Yishi wanted to achieve.

If the courtesans in the Qiantang Courtyard could read articles and poems, they must have been like him, possessing a lofty spiritual realm despite being in the mud, and truly dreaming of becoming good men.

If there really was such a person among these people, Shen Yishi would help her redeem herself, just as he would redeem himself. Upon seeing this, some viewers expressed surprise and uncertainty, saying...

"Everything so far has been great; Shen Yishi's character has been portrayed vividly. But is Chen Yu going to write a poem for us?"

"No way, is Chen Yu going to write his own poems in the script?"

"Holy crap, no way! I once read a script where the story was pretty good, but when the characters started reciting poetry, it was so cringeworthy I felt like I was digging my toes out of a three-bedroom apartment."

Inside the Screenwriters' Guild, Guo Gang witnessed this scene. He had been unable to express his anger until now, but his eyes lit up. His face was full of mockery. "Writing poetry?"

"A self-taught writer, a web novelist, writing those shady things, and now you want to write poetry?"

"Hahaha, I'd like to see what you can write. Maybe some doggerel or pretentious poem?" At this moment, Guo Gang's eyes lit up. He remembered that among the new members of the Screenwriters Association this year was a high-achieving student from the Department of Literature at Yenching University who had switched to screenwriting.

It is said that he studies ancient poetry.

If Chen Yu were to add an original poem to the script, wouldn't he be walking into a trap?! Thinking of this, Guo Gang quickly called over the young screenwriter and asked him if he was confident he could thoroughly criticize Chen Yu's nonsensical poem.

The young screenwriter also exuded confidence. "Don't worry, Chairman, I'm a professional in the field of classical poetry. I've written countless poems in various genres."

"Chen Yu's poetry is like showing off his limited skills before an expert. Just wait and see. If I don't find ten faults in his work, I'll be ashamed of my profession."

Guo Gang nodded in satisfaction, eagerly watching the screen, as if he could already see Chen Yu being ridiculed by everyone after he pointed out his mistakes.

Just then, Chen Yu tapped his fingers, and Shen Yishi in the script recited aloud: "Floating past the head of the summer waters westward, I look back but see no gates of the old capital."

My beloved is beyond words, my heart is filled with sorrow; the road ahead is long, and I know not where I will end. I borrow the wind and waves to carry me across the river; the waters are vast, and heaven and earth flow in a mournful embrace!

At the same time, Chen Yu also typed out the annotations for this poem.

This poem is a vernacular version of Qu Yuan's "Lament for Ying." Shen Yishi did not recite the obscure original text, but rather the vernacular version. This is also a form of expression, showing that Shen Yishi was not showing off or making things difficult, but rather that he desperately longed for a miracle, hoping that a virtuous person with lofty ideals would emerge from among a group of lowly people, so that by redeeming him, he could redeem himself.

The original text of this passage in "Lament for Ying" is as follows: "Passing through Xia Shou and floating westward, I look back at Longmen but cannot see it. My heart is filled with sorrow and grief, I am lost and do not know where to go. I drift with the wind and waves, wandering aimlessly as a guest."

"Lament for Ying" was written by Qu Yuan after the fall of the Chu capital due to the incompetence of its ruler. He lamented that he had foreseen everything but was powerless to stop it, and could only watch helplessly as the people of Chu were displaced and suffering.

[Reciting this poem perfectly captures Shen Yishi's helpless state of mind at this moment, as he can only watch helplessly as he marches towards destruction.] As line after line of poetry emerged, viewers who were initially somewhat apprehensive, fearing they might see a pretentious or cringeworthy poem that would make their scalp tingle and lower their impression of "The Ming Dynasty," suddenly realized something.

"This poem actually looks quite decent!"

"Wow, it's not sour at all. Although I don't quite understand it, I can feel a sense of sadness." "Moreover, Chen Yu even designed a vernacular version and the original text, making Shen Yishi read the vernacular poem, which further strengthened Shen Yishi's mentality. Wow, awesome, so awesome!"

"And another thing, Chen Yu designed a poem specifically for this role, and even created a story about Qu Yuan for that poem? Holy crap, that's amazing and incredibly meticulous!"

At this moment, looking at the viewers' praise in the live stream, Guo Gang's face was full of disdain. "A bunch of peasants, what do they know about poetry?"

"Brainless sycophants! Chen Yu writes such rubbish and pretentious poems, yet they're all getting hyped up." "What kind of idiot Qu Yuan is this? Making up a story makes trash poetry seem high-class?"

He turned to the young screenwriter from before and said…

"Come on, use your professional eye from the Department of Classical Chinese Literature at Yenching University to find the flaws in this lousy poem." All that could be seen was the young screenwriter standing there, pale-faced, drenched in sweat, and utterly dejected. Guo Gang said discontentedly.

"Wait, what are you standing there for?"

"Hurry up and find fault with me! I don't want to see Chen Yu so arrogant anymore, understand?" The young screenwriter seemed to have just come back to his senses, his voice hoarse. "Um, Chairman, I think I have an upset stomach. I'm going to the restroom." "I find inspiration more easily in the restroom."

Guo Gang frowned even more, a hint of disdain in his voice. "Young man, so young, why so many problems?" "Alright, alright, go on over there!" Then, Guo Gang paced back and forth in his office, waiting for the young screenwriter to return. But the longer he waited, the more Guo Gang's brow furrowed. "What's going on?"

"Did you fall into the cesspool?" "Aren't you coming back?"

Just then, the receptionist from the association came to bring Guo Gang afternoon tea and fruit. Guo Gang greeted her.

"Get a few people to go to the men's restroom and check on Xiao Wang. Why hasn't he come back yet? I need to speak with him urgently." The receptionist looked surprised. "Huh? President, are you talking about screenwriter Wang?" "I just saw him."

The receptionist said it again.

"Screenwriter Wang just left the association. He said he's withdrawing, saying he can't handle the work." "Didn't he tell you, Chairman?" Guo Gang was stunned, taking a long time to react.

"You quit the club?!"

The next moment, Guo Gang's expression twisted, and a string of curses burst from his mouth. He frantically dialed the screenwriter's number, but all he got was a crisp busy tone.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is busy, please try again later." How could Guo Gang not know that he had been blocked?! He, the president of the Screenwriters Association, had been blocked? How dare they! Just as Guo Gang was about to explode with anger, Screenwriter Wang was in a coffee shop on the street, looking lingeringly frightened.

"That idiot Guo Gang told me to smear Chen Yu's poem?" "I'll smear your ancestors for eight generations!"

"Why the hell won't you let me fight Ultraman? Do you think I'm worthy to criticize this poem? Do you think I'm worthy of it?!" He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and then revealed a sneer.

"Guo Gang, you have no idea what you're dealing with." "A person who can write such poetry is a genius beyond compare, a literary giant worthy of being remembered for eternity in the history of China." "You, a mere association president, dare to suppress such talent? You're a fucking idiot! You'll probably be infamous for eternity. Luckily I ran fast, otherwise we'd definitely be nailed to the pillar of shame together!"

Then, screenwriter Wang dialed another number. The person on the other end lowered their voice after the call connected. "My goodness, Brother Wang, why are you calling me again?"

"Didn't we agree that I'd let your graduation thesis pass? Please, please, please don't go into classical Chinese literature!" "You pose no threat to me in academia, but you'll ruin my reputation in education, my goodness!"

Screenwriter Wang chuckled. "Well, I heard you're planning to take on another PhD student?"

At that very moment, a scream, like someone suffering a heart attack, came from the other end of the line. "Don't fucking tell me you want to come back and take my doctoral entrance exam?!"

"Brother Wang, I'm begging you, please just focus on being a screenwriter, okay? I practically begged and pleaded to get you into the screenwriting industry!"

Screenwriter Wang looked completely embarrassed. "No, teacher, it's like this, I was thinking that since you've started recruiting PhD students, you must be short of research topics, right?"

"I recently came across a poem, teacher, do you think it has any research value?" With that, screenwriter Wang read aloud those lines from "Lament for Ying".

At first, the professor on the other end of the phone seemed somewhat dismissive. After all, he knew his friend Wang's academic level; he could only fool laymen, let alone find research topics for him. But as screenwriter Wang read those lines aloud, the old professor's breathing quickened instantly, and his eyes turned bloodshot. "Where did you find these lines of poetry?"

Screenwriter Wang paused for a moment. "The Creators Competition" was filmed in Yanjing, so saying Yanjing wasn't wrong, was it? "Yanjing," he said. The old professor was overjoyed. "Hahaha, Yanjing! It's actually Yanjing!" "That's wonderful! It's so close!" "Quick, Brother Wang, buy me some sandalwood, yellow paper, glutinous rice, black donkey hooves, and stuff like that. Let's set off right away!"

Screenwriter Wang was stunned. "???" "Why buy these?" the old professor asked matter-of-factly. "These poems, so full of ancient charm, must have been dug out of some ancient tomb."

"There isn't an ancient tomb in all of Yanjing that I don't know. This must have been recently unearthed. Although we don't advocate feudal superstition, there might be some truth to it. It's better to bring it along just in case."