Huayu: From the Era of Ringtones to Becoming a Legend

Tangyuan Scenic Area, the filming location for "The Song of Zhenguan".

Lu Jiuge squatted at the foot of the palace wall, looking at the main hall not far away.

A film was being shot inside; you could vaguely hear the director yelling and the actors delivering their lines.

Just as Lu Jiuge was about to use the same trick she used to fool Liu Yifei, she stopped director Wu Ziming.

Before they could even get close, they were pushed and stopped by two stagehands:

"No unauthorized personnel allowed! We'll call the police if you cause any more trouble!"

Looking at the two menacing-looking people, Lu Jiuge felt a little scared and obediently stepped back, afraid of being beaten.

"If we can't force our way in, we'll have to outsmart them!"

Lu Jiuge looked around and saw a man wearing a denim vest with the words "Stageman" written on it not far away. She had an idea.

"Hey! Wang Guangjun, come quick!"

Five years ago, when Lu Jiuge first came to Hengdian, she met Wang Guangjun, who was starving, under a bridge and lent him twenty yuan.

Later, Wang Guangjun got lucky and became a featured actor with regular roles, and occasionally even worked as a production assistant.

Wang Guangjun looked up, saw Lu Jiuge, and ran over in surprise:

"Ninth Brother? What are you doing here?"

"Looking for work!"

Lu Jiuge had already prepared her answer and replied directly:

"Could you get me into the film crew? Just an extra role, I'd like to learn up close!"

Wang Guangjun looked troubled.

"Ninth Brother, it's not that I don't want to help you, but today's scene is crucial. Director Wu has a terrible temper; he just yelled at three production assistants until they cried!"

"Thirty a day, the extra is yours!"

Having dated for several years, Lu Jiuge, who knew Wang Guangjun's temperament well, increased her efforts.

"This isn't about money..."

"Add another pack of Hongtashan cigarettes!"

"become!"

Wang Guangjun, greedy for money, gritted his teeth and agreed:

"I can help you, but you have to promise me that once you're inside, you'll be like a wooden doll, doing whatever the director tells you to do, and absolutely no uttering a sound!"

"No problem, we're here mainly to learn today!"

"Make a promise," Lu Jiuge urged Wang Guangjun to lead the way.

Half an hour later, Lu Jiuge changed into a costume of a vassal envoy and followed Wang Guangjun into the Taiji Hall.

Inside the main hall, the lead actor, Tang Guoxiang, sat on the dragon throne, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, exuding an imposing aura.

Behind the monitor, director Wu Ziming, with his messy hair, was muttering to himself while looking at the script.

"Later, we'll be filming the scene of the envoy's audience with the emperor. You'll play a minor foreign official with no lines."

Wang Guangjun lowered his voice and instructed:

"Kneel in the third row. When the Tang Emperor tells you to raise your head, you should look up in fear, then kowtow. That's it. Understand?"

"clear."

Lu Jiuge knelt down in the third row on the right as instructed, head down, her eyes peering through the crowd at Wu Ziming, pondering how to provoke him.

Lu Jiuge knew that provoking a perfectionist director who was also being held back by the censorship department would likely result in a high return on investment.

"Ready!"

Script supervisor clapping:

"The Song of Zhenguan, Mirror Eighty-One, First Action!"

Filming begins.

Everything proceeded in an orderly manner: the envoy entered the palace, presented gifts, and knelt in worship.

Tang Guoxiang, playing Li Shimin, sat upright on the dragon throne and slowly spoke:

"My beloved subjects, you have come from afar; you must be tired!"

Soon, the play reached the part involving the character Lu Jiuge.

"My beloved minister from the vassal state, raise your head and greet me!"

"Your Majesty, I dare not raise my head!"

As soon as Lu Jiuge uttered her lines, the hall fell silent instantly.

All the actors were stunned, and even the staff holding the microphone boom froze in place.

Wang Guangjun was inwardly groaning:

"Ninth Brother! My own brother! You're going to get me killed!"

Behind the monitor, Wu Ziming looked up at Lu Jiuge but did not immediately call for a halt.

Tang Guoxiang, sitting on the dragon throne, was also taken aback.

But he was a veteran actor after all. Seeing that Wu Ziming didn't speak, he assumed it was a deliberate arrangement and immediately picked up the act, continuing the performance along with Lu Jiuge's words:

"Why dare you, my dear minister?"

Lu Jiuge knelt on the ground and continued rambling:

"Because I am too ugly!"

"puff!"

One of the new actresses playing a palace maid couldn't help but laugh out loud, then quickly covered her mouth.

Two seconds later.

"Card!"

Wu Ziming snapped out of his daze and roared in fury:

"Who told you to add lines? Are you the director or am I the director?"

He rushed over, his finger almost poking Lu Jiuge's nose:

"Get out! Now! Immediately!"

The moment Wu Ziming yelled "Get out!", the system screen in Lu Jiuge's mind suddenly jumped!

High levels of negative emotion detected.

[Source: Director Wu Ziming (Industry Influence B+)]

[Emotional Types: Anger, Disgust, Rage]

[Negative Faith Value +387!]

The numbers jumped from 219 to 606!

"Just 394 more points to unlock the shop!"

Lu Jiuge roared inwardly:

"Yes! That's exactly the feeling! The director's anger is definitely more valuable than the actors' resentment!"

Looking at Tang Guoxiang, Lu Jiuge was filled with anticipation:

"Mr. Tang Guoxiang, could you also give me some negative feedback so I can round it up?"

Surprisingly, Tang Guoxiang, who was on the dragon throne, was not angry. Instead, he stepped down from the throne and looked at Lu Jiuge with great interest.

"Young man!"

Tang Guoxiang spoke, his voice gentle:

"Your line about being too ugly, while not in line with the script, was quite an interesting change. Which acting school did you graduate from?"

Positive sentiment detected

[Source: Actor Tong Kwok-cheung (Industry Influence A)]

[Emotional Type: Appreciation, Curiosity]

[Positive Faith Value +55!]

A warm current instantly flowed from the top of my head into my whole body!

Lu Jiuge felt an indescribable comfort throughout her body, and even the slight dizziness caused by long-term malnutrition was greatly relieved.

"Wow, this feels even better than eating a super nourishing soup!"

With a roar of inner turmoil, Lu Jiuge decided to continue provoking Wu Ziming, hoping to make up for the negative faith points that were originally intended to be inflicted on Tang Guoxiang.

"Your Majesty, no, I mean, Teacher Tang, I haven't attended any performing arts school; I've just been figuring things out on my own!"

"Oh? Self-taught?"

Tang Guoxiang was more interested in:

"The look in your eyes when you looked up just now, a mixture of fear and cunning, was quite interesting!"

Wu Ziming's face turned ashen:

"Old Tang, are we still filming? We're making a movie, not giving a lecture!"

"Of course I'll take pictures!"

Tang Guoxiang gave an awkward laugh, but didn't leave, continuing to look at Lu Jiuge:

"Young man, there must be a reason why you added those words without permission. Tell me, why did you add that line?"

The opportunity is coming!

Lu Jiuge took a deep breath, and instead of admitting her mistake, she raised her head and looked directly at Wu Ziming:

"Director Wu, I added that line because I felt the emotional tone of the scene wasn't right!"

"What did you say?"

Wu Ziming laughed in anger:

"You're just an extra, and you're telling me how to act?"

"I wouldn't dare!"

Lu Jiuge spoke faster:

"But I noticed from the side that you kept looking at a particular page of the script..."

……

Having experienced the benefits of positive faith points, Lu Jiuge changed her mind and decided to cling to Wu Ziming's coattails, recounting in one breath the entire story of how the Zhenguan Song was blocked from review in later generations.

Upon hearing Lu Jiuge recount the full content of the instructions from the higher authorities, Wu Ziming's pupils suddenly contracted!

He stared intently at Lu Jiuge, his gaze shifting from fury to surprise and doubt, and then to seriousness.

He remained silent for a full half minute before speaking:

"What's your name?"

"Lu Jiuge!"

"Follow me!"

Wu Ziming turned and walked out, leaving behind the words:

"Continue, shoot 109 shots!"

Lu Jiuge stood up and followed behind Wu Ziming.

Upon arriving outside the Taiji Hall, Wu Ziming lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and looked at Lu Jiuge:

"Hey kid, who are you anyway?"

"Nothing special! He makes a living as a fortune teller around Hengdian, and his nickname is 'Ninth Brother the Fortune Teller'!"

Regardless of whether it would give her away, Lu Jiuge immediately made a boastful statement to emphasize her identity.

"Fortune telling?"

Wu Ziming laughed in anger:

"So, what you just said was calculated?"

"I could tell!"

Lu Jiuge pointed to her eyes:

"Director Wu, the crux of your drama isn't the acting itself, but its scope! The higher-ups wanted a grand and prosperous era, but you've given us imperial intrigue—it falls short!"

Wu Ziming didn't say anything, he just smoked heavily.

After a long while, he threw the cigarette butt on the ground and stomped it out.

"There's a small restaurant nearby. Let me treat you to a meal, and then I'll tell you more about it!"

Lu Jiuge smiled.

"The director's anger is indeed valuable! Once I have enough faith points, I'll exchange them for a divine song and let those who look down on me taste the bitterness of being slapped in the face."