“Jingming told me that this is also your first time filming a night scene. Are you nervous?”
“Not at all,” Chi Yan replied. “Once I finish this scene, I won’t have many left to film. I’m almost wrapping up. I should be happy.”
Shen Chen smiled and said, “That’s true. Who wouldn’t be happy to finish work? Then let me congratulate you in advance.”
“Thank you.”
“This costume suits you well,” Shen Chen remarked. “It feels like you’re meant to wear it.”
Chi Yan asked, “Are you saying I look like someone from an ethnic minority?”
Shen Chen chuckled. “Not exactly. It’s just a feeling.”
Before long, Yu Jingming came over to call Chi Yan.
“Shen Chen, don’t keep my cast member any longer. It’s time for filming.”
Shen Chen looked innocent. “I never said she couldn’t go film.”
Chi Yan sensed that the atmosphere was becoming a bit strange. She quickly said, “Uh, Director Yu, we should hurry back.”
“Alright.”
This night scene involved many actors. According to the script, the emperor had left the palace for a hunting trip on the grasslands, accompanied by his concubines and ministers.
The scene being filmed tonight was their first night on the grasslands. The local officials had already arranged everything and informed the emperor that the Naadam Festival was about to take place. Intrigued, the emperor decided that his concubines and ministers should all go and enjoy the festivities.
It was a large ensemble scene with many actors involved. Once everyone was in position, Yu Jingming called out, “Action!” and they all got into character.
Shen Chen stood next to Yu Jingming, observing the actors’ performances. While Yu Jingming focused intently on the monitor, Shen Chen’s eyes remained on Chi Yan.
Chi Yan played Princess Jiayin, who held a high rank among the emperor’s concubines, so she walked beside him. On the emperor’s other side was the empress.
The three of them stood at the center of the group, with high-ranking ministers behind them. Lower-ranking concubines and officials stood further back, while palace maids and eunuchs positioned themselves behind their masters. Guards stood nearby, maintaining security.
While the emperor and his ministers discussed state affairs, the empress and Princess Jiayin remained silent, as it was inappropriate for them to interrupt.
Shen Chen noticed that Chi Yan’s demeanor while acting was quite different from her real personality.
The princess in the drama was meant to be full of curiosity about her surroundings. The loud and lively atmosphere of the festival made her look around excitedly, embodying the character of a bright, energetic young girl.
But Chi Yan wasn’t like that in real life.
Even though Shen Chen had only spoken to her a few times, he was certain that the real Chi Yan wouldn’t look around in boredom just to entertain herself.
More than that, her acting presence surprised him.
He had assumed that a newcomer like Chi Yan would be overshadowed by more experienced actors. But she wasn’t. In fact, she had a presence that naturally drew people’s attention.
Shen Chen realized he was a little biased—he found himself more interested in watching the silent Princess Jiayin than the ministers passionately debating national policies.
In the scene, the emperor led the group to a bonfire and remarked, “The people of the grasslands are very different from those of the Central Plains, but their love for festivities is the same.”
“Your Majesty,” said General Liu He, played by Liu He himself. “That may be true, but these barbarians know nothing of proper etiquette and civilization.”
“Nonsense!” Princess Jiayin rebuked him angrily. “The etiquette of the Central Plains is considered etiquette, but the customs of the grasslands are not?”
This was the last scene between Liu He and Chi Yan. After tonight, he would no longer have any scenes with her.
He had already planned to embarrass Chi Yan, and this was the perfect opportunity. He wasn’t going to let it slip away.
“Your Highness, you are a foreign princess, so of course, you would speak in their favor!”
Liu He deliberately emphasized his line, aiming to undermine Chi Yan. His delivery was well-executed.
Yu Jingming also thought Liu He’s performance was decent.
However, after observing Chi Yan’s work over the past week, Yu Jingming was satisfied with her acting. Still, he was concerned—Chi Yan had never acted opposite someone with significantly more experience. He worried she might struggle to respond.
Fortunately, his concerns were unnecessary.
“What do you mean by that?” Princess Jiayin snapped. “Since I have entered the palace and become His Majesty’s concubine, I am now part of his people! Are you implying that the emperor himself is of foreign blood?!”
Having spent a long time in the palace, Princess Jiayin had developed the commanding presence of a royal concubine. These words came naturally to her.
Liu He was so startled that he nearly forgot his next line. He was relieved that Qiu Sisi and Ou Yang had lines coming up to ease the tension.
But then, resentment filled his heart—Chi Yan had just publicly put him in his place, humiliating him in front of everyone. He swore he would get revenge.
The empress stepped in to smooth things over. “Sister Xianfei is unwell and speaking nonsense due to her fever.”
The emperor, valuing his wife’s dignity, said, “Enough. Xianfei, do you hear yourself? If you are ill, go rest. General, you as well—do not hold such prejudices against my people. If you do so again, you will be stripped of your title and sent home.”
“I would not dare!”
Princess Jiayin wanted to argue further, but the empress stopped her with a glance.
“Cut!” Yu Jingming shouted. “That was pretty good. Liu He, try to maintain your energy level. Your performance in the first two lines was solid, but when you said, ‘I would not dare,’ it felt weak. Do it again!”
However, Liu He’s performance only got worse. He struggled to find the right tone.
Yu Jingming’s expression darkened.
Liu He saw that the director was truly angry this time, and he was actually scared. In this state, Yu Jingming barely felt that his performance was acceptable.
The other actors who had been performing alongside him were already tired from standing for so long. He had messed up nearly ten times, yet not a single actor comforted him. Instead, they all watched coldly from the side, showing just how unpopular he was within the crew.
Liu He felt deeply humiliated and furious. He blamed everything on Chi Yan! He had to make her suffer somehow!
“Alright, everyone take a break and adjust your emotions,” Yu Jingming finally announced.
He felt quite helpless. He was used to being the one giving orders on set, but this time, after being pressured by Shen Chen standing beside him, he had to call for a break. It was not a pleasant feeling.
Shen Chen thought that the actors had been performing for a while, and their emotions and physical strength had been drained. It was indeed time for a rest.
However, the only actor he was paying attention to was Chi Yan.
When he realized that among the entire cast, he was only watching Chi Yan, Shen Chen reassured himself: In this production, I only know Yu Jingming and Chi Yan. What’s wrong with looking at her a little more?
He originally wanted to go over and talk to her, but when he saw her chatting with her friends, he decided against it.
What annoyed him even more was Yu Jingming, who restarted filming after just ten minutes of rest.
Chi Yan hurriedly said, “Yes,” making no effort to hide her displeasure. Just as she took a few steps back, preparing to return to the tent, an arrow suddenly shot through the air, blocking her path.
“Ah!” She let out a startled cry but quickly reacted, shouting, “Protect His Majesty!”
As soon as the words left her mouth, it was as if a trigger had been pulled—arrows began raining down from all directions.
The scene instantly turned chaotic. The consorts were all screaming, and even the ministers shrank back in fear. Fortunately, the guards remained composed, drawing their swords to deflect wave after wave of incoming arrows.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness, please come with me!” The general grabbed a sword from a nearby guard, shielding the emperor as they retreated toward the tent.
But his actions had drawn the attention of the assassins, who began targeting him with even more arrows.
As a result, he became overwhelmed, unable to fully protect those behind him.
At some point, the emperor had ended up exposed in the open, directly in the assassins’ line of sight. Countless arrows shot toward him, but thanks to his martial arts skills, he barely managed to dodge them.
Before long, the assassins were subdued by the local military, and the number of arrows in the air visibly decreased.
However, just then, the real danger struck!
The emperor had just sidestepped an arrow aimed at his chest, only to be caught off guard by another arrow coming straight for his heart!
“Your Majesty!” the general shouted in alarm.
“Husband!” the empress cried out in distress.
Thud. The sound of an arrow piercing flesh rang out.
The emperor stared in disbelief at the consort who had stepped in front of him. “Xian—Xianfei, hold on! I will have the imperial physician treat you!”
“As long as Your Majesty is safe… that’s all that matters,” the princess consort murmured before losing consciousness.
For the next part of the scene, an arrowhead and fletching were attached to Chi Yan’s costume to simulate being shot.
With that, the scene was completed.
Yu Jingming watched the monitor, sensing that something felt off. The moment Chi Yan was struck by the arrow, her facial expression shifted—just for an instant.
But the moment passed so quickly that he almost thought he had imagined it.
However, Chi Yan then approached him.
“Director Yu, I need to talk to you about something.”
Yu Jingming found this unusual. Chi Yan usually spoke her mind directly. Why was she hesitating today?
“Go ahead,” he said.
“Can we find a quieter place?” she asked.
Shen Chen immediately stated that he would be coming along.
Chi Yan thought for a moment and said, “Alright.”
Not far away, Liu He, who had been keeping an eye on Chi Yan, paced anxiously.
He couldn’t believe she had gone to find the director.
She shouldn’t have noticed anything wrong—she’s never filmed a scene like this before!
Once they reached a secluded area away from the rest of the crew, Yu Jingming asked, “What’s wrong?”
“This scene tonight felt off,” Chi Yan said, pulling out an arrowhead from her hand. She explained, “The one on the right is something I picked up from the ground. The one on the left is the one that hit me. This one is much sharper—it even tore my costume.”
She pointed to the hole on her shoulder.
Fortunately, she had worn a spare costume today, not the expensive one from her promotional photos. Otherwise, the damage would have been worse.
Shen Chen frowned and asked, “Did someone deliberately target you?”
“That shouldn’t be possible,” Yu Jingming said. “Could it be a mistake from the props team?”
“Impossible,” Chi Yan refuted. “I checked the arrows on the ground. They all have dull tips, unlike the one that hit me.”
Shen Chen’s expression darkened. “We need to investigate. Whoever did this should be kicked out.”
Yu Jingming nodded. “Alright, I’ll question the archers and the props team. There should be some clues.”
Author’s Note:
Just to clarify, all the plot details are made up. There’s no logic in this story.
