Thanks for your patience everyone! My wrist is still healing, so I’m still typing mostly with one hand. There’s still donation sponsored bonus chapters in the queue though! I haven’t forgotten ^^
Behold, another 10K character chapter qwq. ENJOY!
{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}
Just like the audition, when Old Liu shouted “ACTION“, Rong Xu calmly lifted up the simplistic teacup.
His long, slender fingers gently swirled the tea foam around in the cup, and the faint fragrance of tea emerged from the cup and quickly filled the entire set.
Rong Xu’s costume this time was even more gorgeous than when he auditioned. The stylist had specially styled his wig to match his face shape, and his clothes were rushed overnight to perfectly fit his figure. From a distance, even in the dimly lit, ordinary, official’s house, when Rong Xu raised his hand to support the teacup, (his image) was still eye-catching, elegant and noble.
What was most amazing was that, while Rong Xu drank his tea leisurely, separated by the door, Qin Cheng seemed to know exactly what (Rong Xu) was doing. It was only after Rong Xu took a sip of the tea, that he suddenly walked through the doorway and strode three meters into the house.
(The action of) deliberately stepping back a few steps was (supposed to be enacted to) inform the other actors in the house: I am going in, be prepared.
However, Old Liu watched from the monitors and discovered that just as Rong Xu lowered his cup, Qin Cheng simultaneously began walking into the house. The two cooperated seamlessly right until the man reached out and pushed open the wooden doors, allowing bright light to shine in from the outside.
In that instant, Rong Xu stopped his movement of swirling the cup and turned his head. At the same moment, Qin Cheng paused and looked steadily at Rong Xu.
The dark beige brocade robe outlined the young prince’s slender body. Only a piece of white jade with the word “Lang (琅)” engraved on it decorated his waistband, and the rest of his outfit was otherwise unadorned. Standing in the palace halls, he presented a powerful and convincing figure, but standing in the home of one of his subjects, he only smiled softly with the corner of his lips as he looked at the commander of the Elite Guards who suddenly entered through the door.
Everyone under the Heavens agreed that amongst the three sons and four daughters of that dynasty, six of them had an average appearance and none inherited the appearance of their mother concubines. Only Crown Prince Zhu Molang was blessed with a stunning appearance and noble temperament, carried a demeanor similar to that of the pious empress and was completely different from His Majesty.
Kong Chao naturally recognized the Crown Prince, but he never expected to meet the Crown Prince in his own home.
This sudden visit took the Commander of the Elite Guards by surprise and he ended up forgetting to salute for the first time in his life. He looked at the young and handsome prince in confusion, while Zhu Molang looked back at him. The two’s eyes swept across each other’s faces. After a while, Kong Chao suddenly remembered to kneel on one knee and bow.
“This humble Commander of the Elite Guards Kong Chao greets His Royal Highness.”
The man’s low, magnetic voice echoed throughout the otherwise silent set.
Qin Cheng lowered his head, half-kneeled on the bluestone tiles, and spoke respectfully with every word. His voice was like pieces of shattered rock chipping away at ice, cold and sonorous, steadily smashing its way into the hearts of all those present. The atmosphere suddenly turned solemn, and every staff member was staring at the two on set. Unknowingly, they also grew a little nervous.
The area around the set had, unknownst when, already been dragged into Qin Cheng’s rhythm.
A seasoned actor could induce others to become immersed in an act. As soon as they read their lines and created their role, you would immediately feel a very strong sense of engagement. You would be able to understand the character’s emotions at that very moment, and likewise experience their sorrows, love, and pain.
Qin Cheng has a strong foundation in line reciting, and his voice was faintly distinct from his usual. It was still his original magnetic and pleasant voice, but Kong Chao’s voice contained a trace of bloodlust. He was clearly only giving a ceremonial greeting to the Crown Prince, but he couldn’t hide his cold and powerful spirit.
This image reflected Rong Xu in his eyes and (his voice resounded) in Rong Xu’s ears. There was a smile on his tender face, but his heart was serene. He lifted his phoenix eyes and said with a smile: “Commander Kong need not be polite. Coming here without forewarning today is this prince’s lack of propriety.”
Following the end of those words, Kong Chao stood up and dropped all pretenses of politeness with the Crown Prince. However, there was no trace of dissatisfaction on Zhu Molang’s face. He merely placed down the cup in his hand, making a “clack” sound (on the table).
In the center of the set, Rong Xu stood beside the Eight Immortals Table, calmly and quietly, with only a faint smile playing on his lips. Qin Cheng was shadowed in frost and cold air. There was no expression on his stern and handsome face. A faint light was reflected in his pitch-black eyes as he looked calmly at the young prince in front of him.
This confrontation lasted only a few seconds, but the atmosphere in the entire audience was heavy.
One faintly smiling, the other staring back with an icy face.
Neither of them spoke nor moved, but Luo Qian herself felt as if she were lacking air beside the set. She could almost hear music in the background, a low and muffled guqin sound, echoing note by note through the air slowly but tensely, just like the scene in front of her——
Kong Chao was deliberating whether or not to trust the Crown Prince.
Rong Xu’s calm temperament and Qin Cheng’s cold face formed a sharp contrast. At first Luo Qian only felt that when the two stood together, (their image) was very pleasing to the eye. But gradually, she became immersed in the plot. She held her breath as she waited for the two to continue the act.
Finally, it was Qin Cheng who moved first. He looked downwards at the gentle and serene Crown Prince and said calmly: “I don’t know why His Highness the Crown Prince is here today.”
Rong Xu lifted his gaze and chuckled softly: “Commander Kong already has the answer.”
Qin Cheng replied indifferently: “This humble servant doesn’t know.”
The corners of Rong Xu’s lips rose a few degrees higher as his clear gaze fell upon Kong Chao’s unchanging expression. He said coolly: “Yesterday, by West Yanluo Alley, I heard that Commander Kong almost hurt innocent civilians by mistake. Among the civilians there was…… This Prince’s older (male) cousin.”
Astonishment immediately appeared upon Qin Cheng’s face. He bowed slightly: “This official did not know, may His Highness bestow punishment!”
After watching Rong Xu’s audition from the week before, the screenwriter happened upon some inspiration and tweaked the scene of Zhu Molang and Kong Chao’s first meeting. It was no longer (introduced) in a direct, name-calling approach, but rather in a circular manner which not only connected (the characters) to the earlier context, but also better expressed the personalities and relationship between the two.
{Please read the original translations on SurrealSkyTranslations instead of supporting TL aggregator sites. Thanks!}
Surreal Sky Translations 
Thank you for updating!!!!
LikeLike
Thanks for the chapter 💖
LikeLike