Huayu Entertainment Starts with Xiang Yu, the Hegemon of Western Chu

Jiang Yang rejected Cai Yinong's offer without hesitation, and there was another important reason for that.

He has no shortage of acting opportunities now.

Just before his audition, Jiang Yang received a call from Gao Xixi.

"Are you busy? Do you have any free time?"

"Yes, is it a reshoot, director?"

"It's not a reshoot. I have a new film, or rather, it's not even mine, it's just one I invested in."

Gao Xixi has her own company.

He himself was not involved in this production, and he wasn't even credited as a producer. However, as the second-largest investor, he still had the authority to get a few people into the production team.

First, Gao Xixi recommended Li Yixiao.

The fact that "The Legend of Chu and Han" replaced her role as Consort Yu with that of Lady Qi can be seen as compensation for her.

However, Li Yixiao only got a minor supporting role, and Gao Xixi felt she had lost out. After thinking it over, she thought of Jiang Yang again.

Although this kid isn't one of their own artists, he debuted in "The Legend of Chu and Han," so he's practically their apprentice.

Jiang Yang thought to himself, "Gao Xixi still remembers me?"

It seems that the "Immortal's Guidance" is at work.

"What kind of play is it, director?"

"Do you know Yu Zheng? After the huge success of 'Palace' last year, he's become a hot celebrity. He's working on a new drama called 'Legend of Lu Zhen,' and I invested in it."

That brat, she knows all too well.

His screenwriting abilities are unknown, but he's definitely a master at marketing, an early practitioner of the "black-and-red" strategy.

Ten years later, they are still jumping around.

His Wikipedia entry for "controversial events" lists more than thirty incidents, making him a "bad track record" and probably the only one like him in the entire entertainment industry.

However, Yu Zheng's statement that "the most popular stars of this generation are all made famous by me" is not entirely self-praise.

In the years following "Palace", he was incredibly successful.

Legend of Lu Zhen, wow.

So Jiang Yang left the sugar figurine shop and went straight to find Yu Zheng.

"Oh, you're Jiang Yang?"

"He's so tall and handsome, no wonder I told you he could play Xiang Yu."

"Director Gao Xixi already told me, don't worry, I've arranged everything, just waiting for you to start filming."

Yu Zheng showered Jiang Yang with praise, which Jiang Yang found unsettling.

That brat is so effeminate, I heard it's because of her son...

Quietly take a step back.

"The director didn't give me too many details. Who am I playing?"

"We certainly won't neglect the person recommended by Director Gao Xixi; we've reserved the second male lead role for you!"

Yu Zheng may not have much respect for Gao Xixi.

However, the second largest producer of this drama still needs to be treated with respect.

The second male lead in "Legend of Lu Zhen" is named Gao Yan.

This is also a historical figure, Emperor Xiaozhao of Northern Qi, the sixth son of Emperor Shenwu Gao Huan, born to Empress Wuming Lou Zhaojun, and the third emperor of the "Beast Dynasty".

The Northern Qi Dynasty is short but exciting. The Gao family likely has a hereditary mental illness; none of them are normal.

But don't misunderstand, this Northern Qi is not that Northern Qi.

The drama "Legend of Lu Zhen" is, if not completely consistent with historical facts, at least completely unrelated.

The level of fabrication is even greater than that of "Ballad of the Desert"!

It's a completely parallel universe.

The female protagonist, Lu Zhen, is based on Lu Lingxuan, the adoptive mother of Gao Wei, the last emperor of the Northern Qi Dynasty. She was a notorious traitor and historically defined as a "femme fatale who brought about the downfall of a country."

This person, because of her status as the "only female prime minister," has transformed into a leading lady and an inspirational role model.

"Legend of Lu Zhen", also known as "Female Prime Minister".

Look at this, all for a little bit of vinegar, this batch of dumplings.

Does that mean "Legend of Lu Zhen" is completely worthless, since it is historically inaccurate?

Not entirely.

This drama wasn't actually written by Yuya; the screenwriter is Zhang Wei, who previously wrote "Du Lala's Promotion Diary".

Therefore, the script of "Legend of Lu Zhen" is fundamentally a workplace drama, and can be called "an ancient palace version of 'Du Lala's Promotion Diary'".

At least in the workplace aspect, it's quite commendable.

The biggest flaw in "Legend of Lu Zhen" is that it incongruously and forcibly inserts a historical background of the Northern Qi Dynasty, distorting the truth.

Jiang Yang made two requests.

"I don't want to play Gao Yan, I'll play him."

Let's set aside the historical facts for now and just talk about the script.

In the setting of "Legend of Lu Zhen", the second male lead Gao Yan and the first male lead Gao Zhan have a deep brotherly relationship, and the main villain is Gao Yan's biological mother Lou Zhaojun.

Between the two is Xiao Huanyun, the second female lead, who is the second male lead's wife and the male lead's childhood sweetheart.

The second male lead is a damn simp.

Knowing full well that Xiao Huanyun still harbored feelings for Gao Zhan and was devoted to him, they finally managed to move him, only to have them both disappear from the game shortly afterward.

Jiang Yang doesn't dislike sycophants; it's just that Gao Yan's character is sickly, which doesn't match his own personality.

He had his eye on the third male lead.

This time it's finally a fictional character named Shen Jiayan, whose identity is that of a young general.

Oh, what a coincidence!

Okay, Shen Jiayan is actually a simp too, but he's the simp for the female lead, Lu Zhen.

This character is closer to the traditional second male lead in idol dramas, because his rivalry with the male lead is based on the female lead, while Gao Yan's rivalry with the male lead is based on the second female lead.

Yu Zheng reacted extremely quickly, his eyes darting around.

"Sure, no problem. This was my oversight. With your image, you are indeed more suitable to play Shen Jiayan than Gao Yan."

"It's okay, I'll revise it for you, and I'll revise the script while I'm at it."

"I promised Director Gao Xixi that I would give him the role of the second male lead, and that means I will. I just need to adjust the scenes between Shen Jiayan and Gao Yan."

And so, Jiang Yang changed roles, still playing the second male lead in "Legend of Lu Zhen".

But it's not over yet.

"One more thing, change the historical background of this drama to an alternate history, stop trying to piggyback on the Northern Qi dynasty."

"Anyway, the history of the Northern and Southern Dynasties is a niche subject. Even humanities students who study hard in high school know almost nothing about the Northern Qi Dynasty."

"A person who truly understands history and takes things too seriously can actually be a trigger point."

Upon hearing this, Yu Zheng remained silent.

That brat doesn't care about history at all. She even piggybacked on the Nine Princes' Succession Struggle in "Palace," and I never saw her hesitate to take action.

However, Jiang Yang's reminder was not without merit.

What's so great about the Northern Qi that we can take advantage of?

Moreover, the only connection between the drama "Legend of Lu Zhen" and history is reflected in the names "Gao Zhan", "Gao Yan" and "Lou Zhaojun".

Is it difficult to create a fictional world?

If you change the name, it's considered a fictional story.

Here's the situation, but given Jiang Yang's status, it's probably inappropriate for him to interfere with the script.

Yu Zheng couldn't help but ponder this.

Is this Jiang Yang's own idea, or is he representing Gao Xixi's idea?

If it's the latter, then we need to think about it carefully.

After filming "New Three Kingdoms," Gao Xixi is now filming "Legend of Chu and Han," practically becoming a specialist in historical dramas. She must think she knows a lot about them.

He might want to show off a bit in this area, who knows?

Jiang Yang knew Yu Zheng would think that way.

This is a case of "borrowing the tiger's might"—as expected, that brat finally admitted she was willing to change the story's setting to a fictional one.

It went even more smoothly than expected.

Jiang Yang couldn't help but sigh, "That brat is a decent person, there's a reason she's successful."

He's better at listening to advice than Cai Yinong in that respect.