Chapter 111: The Small, Dark Room
Pan Xiang repeatedly insisted that those two scenes deviated from her script, but Director Pan didn’t understand her distress. Ji Junxin started putting on her makeup immediately after lunch, her eagerness also a mystery to Director Pan.
I must be getting old, he thought, unable to keep up with these young people.
But their individual anxieties and eagerness didn’t affect the afternoon filming, which started on time.
Even with Ji Junxin’s early makeup preparations, they still had to wait for Jiang Duo, who hadn’t eaten lunch on set and only returned just before the end of their lunch break.
Jiang Duo was frustrated. Her family was a mess, her mother’s gambling debts seemingly endless, her father unable to control her mother. She had to work, to earn money to repay the debts. She couldn’t stay home and watch over her mother. Although the debts to the gambling den were almost paid off, she still owed a large sum to Lu Gaoshi.
And Lu Gaoshi’s money wasn’t easy to repay. Jiang Duo wasn’t stupid, she knew what Lu Gaoshi wanted. She had initially played along, hoping to use Lu Gaoshi’s connections to get closer to Ji Junxin and Qiong Yu. But after several attempts, she realized that although Qiao Rubai and Ji Junxin were polite, they weren’t interested in her. Forget about connections, even a simple conversation was impossible. The Qiong Yu path was blocked, and now, her family owed Lu Gaoshi a large sum, with no way to repay it! The Jiang family’s initial plan of using Jiang Dingyi to win over Lu Gaoshi and then dumping her after securing a deal with Qiong Yu had failed. Now, without any hope of working with Qiong Yu, Lu Gaoshi was their creditor, inescapable.
Jiang Duo knew her father was still meeting with Lu Gaoshi, but she couldn’t control the nature of their relationship. After all, she was just a small-time actress, her future uncertain. Her hard-earned money had already been used to pay off her mother’s debts, she had no money or power to “rescue” her father from Lu Gaoshi. Regardless of their relationship, she couldn’t do anything about it. If her father wronged anyone, it was her mother, let it be her mother’s karma for her gambling addiction.
Jiang Duo knew that her family problems were affecting her performance, her anxiety leading to even more mistakes. She wasn’t a big star, just an actress Dajin Entertainment was trying to promote. People’s displeasure, the cold shoulders and subtle criticisms, were unavoidable. Even Zhang Zijing, from the same company, who had shown some interest in her, was now distant. All she could do was endure.
She had initially panicked after learning about her family’s financial situation, her mind consumed by it. But this only lasted for about a month. Although still distressed, her state of mind gradually improved. Unfortunately… by then, she had already become unpopular in the crew. Her later poor performance was partly due to her family problems, and partly… because of the crew’s attitude towards her.
Once you make a mistake, it’s hard to recover.
Jiang Duo could only hope to finish this film and then start anew with a different crew.
Today’s scene was her last one in “Imperial Secrets,” a thought that filled her with relief. She could finally escape this terrible environment!
Waking up that morning, she felt a renewed sense of hope and anticipation, unlike her usual dejection! She could almost see a brighter future waiting for her after this scene.
The feeling of finally escaping a toxic work environment… that was Jiang Duo’s current state.
The scene of Consort Zhu being force-fed poison was originally scheduled for the morning. Jiang Duo had thought she could finish her part in this production today. But Ji Junxin, who usually nailed her scenes in one take, kept NGing, and Director Pan didn’t seem to be letting her pass. Seeing the time, Jiang Duo figured finishing her scene in the morning was unlikely. And then Director Pan, for some reason, decided to reshoot a scene Mi Hongdou had already completed. Jiang Duo sighed, things never went as planned. Director Pan’s way of doing things was really annoying. She glanced at the bustling set, then went to her resting area.
Jiang Duo didn’t know she had missed two great performances. But even if she did, she wouldn’t have cared.
For her, a good performance wasn’t the priority anymore, she just wanted to be done with this crew!
Unable to finish in the morning, Jiang Duo, annoyed, ate a lot for lunch. Looking at the food, she couldn’t help but think of Ji Junxin. Although she hadn’t had many opportunities to get close to Ji Junxin during these past few months of filming, she had to admit that Lu Gaoshi was right, Ji Junxin had a weakness for food. If it weren’t for Mi Hongdou moving into Ji Junxin’s room and Jiang Lingling bringing a feast to the set every day, Jiang Duo thought she could have used food to build a relationship with Ji Junxin. Unfortunately, they had beaten her to it!
Thinking this, Jiang Duo finished her meal, her resentment growing.
Negativity breeds negativity.
But when she returned to the set, still annoyed, she was surprised to find someone even more resentful than her.
As soon as she entered the makeup room, she felt a hostile gaze, a blatant, unwavering stare.
As the crew’s NG queen, she was used to such looks.
But she hadn’t even started filming yet! And why was this almost murderous gaze coming from Ji Junxin, who was known for her good temper!
Even with Lu Gaoshi’s help, she hadn’t been able to win over Ji Junxin. After Lu Gaoshi left Qiong Yu, she had tried to approach Ji Junxin a few times, but… she had been politely but firmly rebuffed. Even without any friends in the crew, she couldn’t keep fawning over Ji Junxin, especially with Mi Hongdou always nearby, frowning at her. So, for the past few months, besides filming, she had barely interacted with Ji Junxin. But that didn’t mean she hadn’t noticed Ji Junxin’s good temper.
So why this sudden hostility? Jiang Duo hesitated at the door, almost afraid to enter.
But with the end of the lunch break, she had to go in. To her surprise, as she sat down and started with her makeup, although the hostile gaze persisted, it seemed to soften slightly.
It was strange.
But it didn’t matter, it was her last scene anyway, Jiang Duo comforted herself.
Since Director Pan insisted on using real props, she had asked the props department earlier and, knowing that the “poison” was just flat cola, felt relieved. As long as it wasn’t something disgusting, she could handle this scene.
She was wrong.
Jiang Duo, as Consort Zhu, after having her old-age makeup done, was hung, spread-eagle, in a small, dark room.
According to the script, Consort Zhu seemed to have anticipated this day, but when it finally arrived, she still struggled, her eyes filled with defiance. It wasn’t until Miao Qianye, now the Empress Dowager, opened the door that she asked, her voice choked with anger and despair, “Where’s my son?”
Miao Qianye, also with graying hair, replied calmly, “Dead.”
Then, ignoring Consort Zhu’s angry curses, Miao Qianye, her expression cold, refused the servants’ assistance and personally took the bowl of medicine from the tray, forcing it down Consort Zhu’s throat. Just a few drops were enough to be fatal, but Miao Qianye, ignoring Consort Zhu’s struggles, even the blood that started trickling from her mouth, forced her to drink the entire bowl, the blood mixing with the medicine.
Jiang Duo had initially thought that the only difficulty in this scene was remembering to bite the small blood capsule hidden in her mouth while being force-fed the medicine.
When filming started, she realized how wrong she was.
The so-called “small, dark room” wasn’t that dark, with cameras and crew members around, Jiang Duo wasn’t afraid at all.
Until… the door opened.
The light from outside wasn’t particularly bright. What was dazzling… was Ji Junxin.
Dressed in the heavy, dark robes of the Empress Dowager, her expression cold and imposing, she stood at the door, followed by a retinue of servants.
She wasn’t excited about killing someone she disliked. It was as if she was just here to crush an insignificant ant, an effortless task, not worth any excitement.
As Ji Junxin approached, Jiang Duo, acting out her struggles, prepared to ask, “Where’s my son?”
But when Ji Junxin was close enough for her to see her expression clearly, Jiang Duo froze.
What kind of look was that… Jiang Duo felt like she was looking at the real Empress Dowager, her word law.
Was that… killing intent? Jiang Duo shivered.
“Cut!” Director Pan’s voice.
Jiang Duo, who had expected a quick and easy scene, was now trapped in a series of “cuts.”
And no matter how many times they reshot it, every time the door opened, it was the same expression, the same aura. The repeated NGs didn’t seem to affect Ji Junxin at all.
The more they NGed, the more terrified Jiang Duo became. This wasn’t normal! Even if Ji Junxin was immersed in the role, her acting that good, how could her state remain unaffected after so many NGs? And… Ji Junxin’s aura seemed to intensify with each take. Jiang Duo almost felt that if she NGed again, Ji Junxin wouldn’t just feed her the medicine, but would smash the bowl against her face!
No, Ji Junxin wouldn’t do that! Jiang Duo refused to believe it, but her instincts told her that Ji Junxin’s patience was wearing thin. She looked at Director Pan and the crew pleadingly, wanting to ask for a break, hoping it would make Ji Junxin act normally again, although she doubted it.
But all she saw were annoyed and impatient expressions, their patience also wearing thin…
Jiang Duo, her arms tied, spread-eagle, suddenly felt like the real Consort Zhu, trapped and helpless, everyone thinking she deserved it.
A strong sense of fear washed over her.
Who said historical dramas were safe! She felt a sense of danger.
With the increasingly intimidating Ji Junxin on one side, and the impatient crew on the other, Jiang Duo didn’t dare to NG again, she had reached her limit.
Desperate times called for desperate measures.
Jiang Duo, no longer daring to NG, when the door opened for the next take, she also became immersed in the role…
Perhaps because her current fear mirrored Consort Zhu’s, she finally managed to deliver her lines and interact with Ji Junxin without NGing.
And her genuine fear, projected onto Consort Zhu, made her performance even better, even satisfying Director Pan.
Director Pan rubbed his eyes, couldn’t believe that the terrified yet defiant Consort Zhu was actually Jiang Duo.
How well Jiang Duo acted didn’t matter to Ji Junxin.
As long as Director Pan didn’t call cut, she would follow the script, Miao Qianye would have her revenge for Qin Muxue.
Having to follow the script for revenge was so frustrating. The desire to have her drink the same poison, to have her suffer the same fate, burned in her heart.
No matter how long it took, how many takes, she would have her revenge.
Director Pan didn’t call cut, and Ji Junxin, increasingly immersed, her pent-up rage and desire for revenge almost overwhelming her.
As long as she drinks it, the same poison, my revenge will be complete.
Don’t rush, don’t rush…
Ji Junxin steadily held the bowl and brought it to Jiang Duo’s lips.
Jiang Duo’s trembling lips touched the rim of the bowl.
And then, Ji Junxin, who had been so gentle, suddenly shoved the bowl against Jiang Duo’s mouth.
Jiang Duo’s teeth hit the porcelain, a sharp pain.
And it was just the beginning.
The pain jolted Jiang Duo out of character. But she quickly realized that this was almost over, she couldn’t NG, she couldn’t face this Ji Junxin again, this crazy woman!
Jiang Duo endured the pain as her lips, teeth, even her tongue, were pressed against the bowl, and managed to bite the blood capsule hidden in her mouth.
She spat out the liquid, pretending to vomit blood.
It’s over… just finish this bowl, and it’s done. She relaxed slightly, and Ji Junxin, seizing the opportunity, poured the medicine down her throat, making her choke.
Director Pan still hadn’t called cut, so… the scene continued, and Jiang Duo, choking, finished it, driven by her survival instinct.
When she finally closed her eyes, she didn’t want to open them again, didn’t want to see that lunatic Ji Junxin. She felt like her lips were cracked, her teeth aching. And she couldn’t even complain.
Consort Zhu, her head drooping limply, died in front of Miao Qianye.
Ji Junxin, holding the empty bowl, her expression blank, turned and walked away, her movements stiff and mechanical.
A crew member whispered to Director Pan, “The script says Miao Qianye should cry after feeding her the poison, should we call cut?”
The cameraman, following Ji Junxin, captured the moment the bowl slipped from her hand as she continued walking, seemingly oblivious.
Director Pan watched the monitor and shook his head. “No, this is perfect. Keep this shot.”
Jiang Duo, who had been playing dead with her eyes closed, barely daring to breathe, afraid of another NG, felt someone untying her. Finally, it was over.
Her arms released, she almost collapsed, weak and pitiful.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t show her suffering and humiliation, or Mi Hongdou and Qiao Rubai would have gleefully said, “You deserved it!”
Ji Junxin, with her intense performance, had inadvertently avenged her past self.
Since that morning’s scene, Mi Hongdou had sensed something was off with Ji Junxin. But if she asked, Ji Junxin would just retort with, “You and Qiao Rubai had secrets, and you wouldn’t tell me either.” And Mi Hongdou had always been silenced by this… Seeing that Ji Junxin’s only unusual behavior was her serious expression and her silence, Mi Hongdou assumed she was just affected by the heavy emotional scenes.
But after Jiang Duo’s scene, Mi Hongdou felt even more uneasy.
Compared to Director Pan and the others, who were focused on the technical aspects, Mi Hongdou, concerned about Ji Junxin, instinctively felt that something was wrong. But when she tried to approach her, she was rebuffed again. This time, Ji Junxin didn’t ask about her conversation with Qiao Rubai, but just looked at Mi Hongdou silently, her gaze complex.
After Qiao Rubai’s story, Mi Hongdou couldn’t bear to look at Ji Junxin, couldn’t bear to think about what she must have been like in her previous life. Now, Ji Junxin’s silence and her steady gaze were unbearable.
And her attempts at conversation were met with just a curt “I’m fine,” or a slightly more elaborate “I’m fine, really.”
Mi Hongdou hadn’t gotten anywhere when Director Pan announced a new plan.
“While Ji Junxin is in the zone, let’s film the final estate scene.” What?
Director Pan had made the decision, Ji Junxin readily agreed, and Mi Hongdou… what choice did she have?
Fortunately, for the final estate scene, they just needed to make Ji Junxin look older and have her walk around the estate. She could consider it a relaxing stroll… Mi Hongdou, without any say in the matter, could only think this.
As the makeup artist aged Ji Junxin, and she slowly walked around the estate, touching the old spinning wheel, Mi Hongdou felt a pang of nostalgia.
Not long ago, she and Ji Junxin had been filming here every day, complaining about the desolate surroundings while enjoying Jiang Lingling’s feasts. And now, the film was almost finished…
Every encounter in life was a gift, no matter how joyful, it always ended in separation.
The estate, still desolate and deserted, felt strangely cold. Mi Hongdou’s gaze followed Ji Junxin’s slow movements, her suppressed sadness surfacing.
It was just a walk… why does it feel like it’s pulling at my heartstrings?
She suddenly remembered a quote she had read long ago: “Cruelty is revealing the truth at the happiest moment.”
When the audience saw the once bustling estate, now deserted, only the elderly Miao Qianye slowly walking through it, searching for traces of their past struggles and joys, how would they feel? Would they feel as heartbroken as she did?
Mi Hongdou’s gaze towards Ji Junxin softened… at least, in this life, she wouldn’t let her be alone again.
In this life, I will absolutely not do any wire stunts! Absolutely!
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