Chapter 80: Am I Her Master?
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Ruan Yesheng and Xi Mo stood in the proper positions. When everything was ready, the script supervisor clapped the board in front of the camera, and the camera started moving, following the shoot.
This is another swing scene.
The first swing scene took place in the Deng Mansion garden. At that time, Deng Sui was still an innocent girl, and Ding'e was not much older than her, also in her youthful years.
Those were the youthful days when time was the best and the purest.
And walking along the thorns of power, those bright old times have long been mottled and faded. Deng Sui and Ding'e are gradually drifting apart, and the gap is getting deeper every time. Now everything has changed too completely, and they can never go back to the past again.
Lin Qitang intended to compare this swing scene with the previous one. Judging by his approach, a nostalgic montage would surely be included in post-production. Therefore, he demanded that the setup of the palace garden and pathways, the framing of the shots, and the camera angles be as similar as possible to those in the Deng Mansion. However, in certain aspects, he also required differences to be shown.
These differences mainly needed to be conveyed by Ruan Yesheng and Xi Mo. The machines could maintain the previous shooting style without changes, but humans were alive, and the changes in details had to rely on the actors.
Back then, Deng Sui held Ding'e's hand with joy, teasing her for being a block of wood while leading her deeper into the garden.
At this moment, Ruan Yesheng walked in front, slowly along the garden path. Her expression was always poised.
Once someone reached the pinnacle of power, the poised expression on their face became a habit that could never be removed. Deng Sui was like this. Xi Mo followed behind her with her head lowered. She held a gold-threaded birdcage in her hands and was silent all the way, keeping a neither too close nor too distant distance from her.
A thrush was locked inside the birdcage.
When they reached the swing, Ruan Yesheng looked at it without turning her head and said indifferently, "It has been a long time since I came here. Palace Guard, go and check this swing. With the wind, sun, and rain, is it still as sturdy as it was back then?"
This swing was specially set up by Liu Zhao when Deng Sui was granted the title of Noble Lady. In the storyline, Deng Sui missed her home and mentioned to Liu Zhao that she liked to swing in the garden of the Deng Mansion when she was young. Liu Zhao adored her, and the next day he ordered palace craftsmen to make a swing for her to play with.
Xi Mo bowed and said, “Nuo."
After inspecting the swing, Xi Mo respectfully said, "Your Majesty, this swing has been maintained by palace staff and is still sturdy."
"Is it truly sturdy?" Ruan Yesheng stared at her and sneered, "So many years have passed. Even if it has been repaired by someone, how could it compare to the original?"
In the script, Deng Sui's lines are mostly double entendres meant to probe Ding'e. However, Ding'e is like a deep, bottomless pool—she understands every question Deng Sui asks but pretends not to. She either does not respond or changes the subject.
Xi Mo said, "Your Majesty, when you ask if it is sturdy, are you intending to sit on the swing?"
Ruan Yesheng did not answer directly. Instead, she glanced at Xi Mo, walked to the swing, and reached out to touch it.
At this moment, Deng Sui recalled the scene from back then when Ding'e pushed her on the swing. At first, Ding'e was not skilled and pushed too high, scaring Deng Sui on the swing so much that she both screamed and laughed. Later, Ding'e gradually learned how to control the force, but sometimes Deng Sui, still feeling a bit anxious, would remind her to push more slowly and lower.
Precisely because Deng Sui was reminiscing at this time, Ruan Yesheng had to express this psychological activity through her facial expression. Her originally slightly frowned brows slowly relaxed, her eyes drooped, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
One close-up shot gave her a full-face close-up. Without such a close-up, the subtle smile would not have been captured.
Then, her smile quickly faded. Ruan Yesheng held onto the swing's ropes and sat down. The swing began to move with her weight. Xi Mo, trying to conceal her movements, quickly took a step forward as if to support her, fearing she might fall. However, she only took a slight step and then stopped, continuing to keep her head lowered.
Lin Qitang watched Xi Mo's detailed performance on the monitor and felt that, at that moment, she had completely merged with Ding'e. Just as Ding'e was concerned about Deng Sui, Xi Mo also seemed genuinely concerned about Ruan Yesheng.
Sometimes, the emotions of actors in a scene overlap with their real feelings. Lin Qitang, having directed so many productions, had always been keenly perceptive. He could distinguish between those who could not get into their roles and those who were too deeply immersed. However, Xi Mo was an exception to him.
When Xi Mo first joined the cast, Lin Qitang noticed that this "Miss Ruan" easily got into her role. Her acting was undoubtedly outstanding, but it seemed as if she kept her true emotions separate from the character. She was herself, and the role was just a role—clearly distinct, yet without affecting her performance, making her portrayal flawless and convincing.
But only she knew that she was not truly that character.
Lin Qitang, as an observer, could discern a hint of this. However, as filming progressed, he noticed that this "Miss Ruan" had changed in her portrayal of Ding'e. She gradually stopped separating herself from Ding'e. Her acting remained as superb as ever, but her emotional expression had added a more vivid touch.
So, at that moment, perhaps Xi Mo herself did not know whether her step forward was due to Ding'e's needs or whether she subconsciously moved because she saw Ruan Yesheng sitting on the swaying swing.
Ruan Yesheng stabilized herself, turned her face, and said to Xi Mo, "Later, move more slowly and lower."
Xi Mo's lowered eyes showed a clear reaction upon hearing this, and she replied softly, “Nuo."
As she was about to put down the birdcage, Ruan Yesheng said, "I will hold it."
In the later part of the storyline, Deng Sui always referred to herself as "I"* and was officially the Empress Dowager, but in reality, she was the ruler of the court.
*"朕" (zhèn) royal pronoun ‘I’ was traditionally used by emperors in Chinese history to denote their supreme status.
When Ruan Yesheng said this, her gaze was cold and heavy, as if she were not sitting on a swing but on a gilded dragon throne. Just one look from her was enough to make someone kneel on the ground.
"Nuo." Xi Mo handed the birdcage to her and then moved to stand behind her.
Over there, Shen Qingbie had chosen a spot with an excellent view. The scene between Ruan Yesheng and Xi Mo was completely visible.
She watched attentively. When she saw Ruan Yesheng's series of actions, expressions, and lines, all flowing naturally, there was no sign of any eye problem. Her anxious heart finally relaxed. Looking ahead, she said to Yu An beside her, "It seems Xi Mo's eye problem was just a temporary minor issue. A visit to the hospital helped, and it won't affect her acting in the future."
Yu An: "..."
Shen Qingbie continued watching.
Yu An noticed that she seemed particularly engrossed in the performance today. Usually, Shen Qingbie was too busy with her own roles to enjoy watching others act. It was strange that she came back today after watching all day yesterday. Though curious, Yu An didn't ask and simply handed her a can of drink. "Have something to drink. Don’t just focus on watching."
Shen Qingbie took the can without looking, pouring it into her mouth while keeping her gaze on the camera.
Yu An: "..."
After pouring for a long time without any liquid coming out, Shen Qingbie became anxious. Looking down, she realized the pull tab of the drink can hadn't been lifted.
Shen Qingbie: "..."
Yu An was really exasperated with her, taking the can from Shen Qingbie's hand, pulling up the tab, and handing it back to her. Only then did Shen Qingbie manage to drink.
Soon after, Yan Mu came over, sitting eagerly next to Shen Qingbie and greeting her warmly, "Sister Qingqing, you're here to watch me film again today?"
"Yes," Shen Qingbie turned her face, smiling, "I've been waiting for you here."
Yan Mu was overjoyed to hear this.
Yu An thought she was talking nonsense.
In the scene being filmed, Deng Sui had already become the Empress Dowager, which meant that by this point in the storyline, Liu Zhao had already passed away. Liu Zhao, the emperor, had a very short reign and died young. However, filming rarely follows the script's chronological order. It was common for later scenes to be filmed before earlier ones. Yan Mu still had some earlier scenes left to shoot, but he was indeed nearing the end of filming.
Lin Qitang had not called for a stop and the filming continued.
Xi Mo carefully pushed the swing for Ruan Yesheng. Holding the birdcage in her arms, Ruan Yesheng's suspended legs gently swayed with the swing's motion. At that moment, she looked less like a high-ranking ruler and more like the carefree person she once was.
After a while, Ruan Yesheng looked back at Xi Mo.
To emphasize Deng Sui's decisive and mature demeanor, Ruan Yesheng's makeup was somber, with eyeliner and slightly uplifted eye corners. Standing next to her, Xi Mo could see the sunlight falling on her face, softening the somberness and adding a bit of sparkle to her eyes.
Ruan Yesheng's fingers rested on the birdcage, lightly tapping it. The thrush inside fluttered. She said, “I remember now, this thrush was a gift from you.”
“Your Majesty still remembers,” Xi Mo said as she gently pushed the swing.
Ruan Yesheng replied, “Since you gave this thrush to me, am I her master?”
“Yes,” Xi Mo said, her head bowed, but her voice carried a subtle dignity, “The Empress Dowager is the ruler of the world, let alone a mere thrush.”
Hearing this from Ding'e, Deng Sui felt the unyielding pride that did not submit to her and was very displeased. Ruan Yesheng coldly laughed and said, “Good. Since I am its master if it displeases me, and I am tired of it, is it not right for me to want to crush it?”
Xi Mo stopped moving the swing abruptly.
Ruan Yesheng opened the birdcage and reached in to grasp the thrush.
The thrush remained motionless in Ruan Yesheng’s hand, its tiny claws twitching slightly.
Ruan Yesheng looked down and stroked its feathers. For the filming, this thrush had been raised in the crew for a while. Ruan Yesheng had become quite familiar with it and had learned some techniques for handling it. Though the scene made her appear unapproachable, her touch was very gentle, and the thrush lay in her hand, enjoying her comforting strokes.
“Ding'e.” Ruan Yesheng continued to gently stroke the thrush while looking at her. “If I were to crush her now, what do you think?”
Xi Mo lifted her eyes, no longer feigning humility but directly meeting her gaze.
Their confrontation had always seemed calm and collected.
Sometimes, acting does not require weeping or tears, nor does it demand furious eyes or intense conflicts and clashes. Of course, such performances can provide strong emotional impact, with more dramatic highs and lows, and are often perceived as showcasing great acting. Many stars known for their acting skills actually present themselves in this manner. While it can be effective, it can also lack something, and there is even the risk of overacting if not done carefully.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
What truly tests acting is hearing the sound in silence and stirring waves where there is no wind.
The surroundings are quiet, with bright sunlight in the imperial garden, trees swaying, and butterflies dancing among the flowers. There is no direct display between the two, but there is an invisible pressure.
In this seemingly peaceful scene, their gazes meet. Even the slightest facial expressions and the most subtle body language reveal rich layers of meaning. Each phrase seems gentle, yet underneath, there is an intense collision, making one’s heart ache. Whether Deng Sui already knows everything Ding'e has done, whether she knows Ding'e is related to her father's death, and whether Ding'e has realized that Deng Sui is already aware, are not explicitly stated but are implied everywhere.
Hidden currents surged, with endless and silent tearing beneath the calm surface, making one feel as if they understood yet did not.
Xi Mo's voice was very soft: "Whatever Your Majesty wishes, that is how it shall be handled. Since it is Your Majesty’s possession, life and death are naturally determined by Your Majesty."
Shen Qingbie had not read the script but only knew from the official announcements that Ding'e was an important female supporting role, who had followed Deng Sui as a maid since childhood.
She watched this scene, growing more and more puzzled while also feeling as if her blood were boiling. She wanted to discuss it thoroughly with Yu An beside her, but Yu An had instructed her to remain quiet on set. Therefore, she had to hold back. Unable to endure it any longer, she grabbed Yu An's arm tightly.
Yu An: "..."
While watching, Shen Qingbie asked Yan Mu, “Yan Mu, are you the male lead in this drama?”
Yan Mu had been engrossed in watching the scenes between Ruan Yesheng and Xi Mo. Hearing Shen Qingbie’s question, he came to his senses and replied confidently, “Of course. Did you not see the announcement? My name is listed right after Sister Xi, which is the standard male lead positioning.”
“...Are you sure?” Shen Qingbie asked, glancing again at the two actors.
Yan Mu also looked over and, for some reason, suddenly felt less certain. “It... should be, I guess?”
Author's Note:
Thank you, lovely people~
