Lai Yuaner knelt next to Tong Jing, who was portraying Mrs. Qi. Seizing the chance while the camera temporarily stopped filming their area, she couldn’t help but look up towards the carriage parked in front.
As Emperor Zhou Qing finished speaking, a fair and slender hand was placed on top of his.
Emperor Zhou Qing gripped it tightly, making no effort to hide his favoritism.
Shortly after, a young woman bent down to exit from the carriage; seemingly unaccustomed to the sunlight, she raised her other hand to shield her eyes. After a moment, her gaze traveled past, first landing on the majestic gates of Weiyang Palace and then on the kneeling Concubines and palace maids.
Almost subconsciously, she turned her head towards the man beside the carriage.
"Your home is much bigger than I imagined."
This was Bao Xin’s first remark upon arriving at Weiyang Palace.
Emperor Zhou Qing was pleased by her naive demeanor, "It is quite big, in the future, you will have your own room and lots of servants to command."
Bao Xin was not dazzled by the wealth she saw before her, "We are husband and wife, isn’t your big house mine too?"
Hearing this, Emperor Zhou Qing laughed heartily, his gaze softening on her small face, "Not just your room, everything here is mine."
"That’s mine too," said the girl standing at the carriage shaft, unaware of the rebellious nature of her words, just smiling with her lips pursed, like a dandelion in spring—not as dazzling as a peony, nor as fragrant as gardenias, but beautifully endearing in a way that made one want to protect her, to keep her smile so simple and pure.
Emperor Zhou Qing nodded, the amusement in his eyes growing, "That’s right, mine is yours, so in the future, you can go wherever you want without anyone stopping you."
Watching this scene, Lai Yuaner’s hands slowly clenched into fists on her lap.
Beneath the camera, the NG she hoped for did not happen. During Tang Li’s performance, there was none of the nervousness she expected, and even if the acting wasn’t perfect, Tang Li showed no fear across from Li Yanxin—a veteran actor. Unlike herself, who on her first day on set, struggled through over a dozen takes in one scene facing an actor of Li Yanxin’s caliber.
This scene included many shot parts.
These were the various reactions of the concubines kneeling on the ground as they saw how Emperor Zhou Qing treated Bao Xin.
Which included the close-up of the Empress’s heartbroken expression, the aloofness of the heroine from the Qi Family, and Lai Yuaner’s portrayal of the maid Ah Nan whispering, along with the other concubines enjoying the drama.
After reshooting two takes, Tang Li finished today’s filming.
Just as Tang Li walked towards the palace wall, Yuan Qin appeared out of nowhere, holding her thermos.
Tang Li took it and had a sip while her eyes still looking towards the filming area.
At that moment, they were filming the scene where the maid Ah Nan spoke in defense of Mrs. Qi.
Lai Yuaner kneeled by Tong Jing’s side, and as the camera zoomed closer, she glanced towards the carriage and then whispered, "His Majesty said he was going to empathize with the common people’s condition, so why bring back a woman? This woman, clearly from the common folk, showing no respect for rank..."
Before she could finish her lines, Zhao Zhenglei yelled cut!
The director’s chastising voice followed: "You are supposed to defend Mrs. Qi, your words should target Emperor Zhou Qing, not direct hate towards a concubine you just met!"
Tang Li stopped watching and left with Yuan Qin to rest.
It had been over an hour since Lai Yuaner finished filming the shot.
Off the set, Lai Yuaner looked pale; she felt that Zhao Zhenglei was intentionally targeting her.
Despite her good performance, he kept calling cut with his megaphone!