Chapter 117: New Drama

Chapter 117: New Drama

Since they couldn’t discuss everything over the phone, Lu Xu decided to fly over and meet Liu Chunfeng and Qin Yu in person.

It had been a long time since their last meeting, and Liu Chunfeng had gained weight, making him appear less professional, which caught Lu Xu's attention.

Liu Chunfeng immediately understood his gaze and defended himself, "I definitely didn't overeat. Whenever I felt tempted, I’d slap myself."

This not only made Lu Xu's expression odd but also drew an indescribable look from Qin Yu.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lu Xu held Qin Yu’s freshly completed script in his hands. It was a story about a young general, titled "Chivalrous Fragrance."

The script had just been completed, and Liu Chunfeng was already planning to collaborate with Qin Yu again.

In their minds, the first choice for the lead role was naturally Lu Xu. However, times had changed. Lu Xu had already starred in two movies and was moving toward a film career. Inviting him back to TV dramas might not be something he was willing to do.

Moreover, although the historical genre had a brief resurgence with "The Son of Heaven," it was still considered a niche genre.

Both Liu Chunfeng and Qin Yu were well aware that Lu Xu had at least fifty or sixty scripts on his desk, if not more. Although "The Son of Heaven" had made Lu Xu known to the audience and their previous collaboration had been harmonious, it didn't necessarily mean Lu Xu would accept this new drama.

In the coffee shop, Lu Xu silently read the script from beginning to end, then went back to carefully review it again.

"I'll take it."

"Ah?" His response was so quick that both Liu Chunfeng and Qin Yu were caught off guard. Liu Chunfeng forced a smile, which only made him look more intimidating, "Won't you think it over?"

"I've already read it," Lu Xu replied. "The role is a perfect fit for me."

Like "The Son of Heaven," "Chivalrous Fragrance" was also a drama centered around a historical figure, with historical events as the backdrop. The protagonist, Nie Yunzhang, was tasked with leading battles across the battlefield from a young age, winning battle after battle, and becoming a renowned young general.

Unfortunately, Life rarely offers perfection. Nie Yunzhang, despite his extraordinary talent, fell ill and passed away early, leaving behind only the legend of the young general.

Aside from his military achievements, Nie Yunzhang was also a rare handsome man, earning praise for his striking looks in historical records.

Having worked with Liu Chunfeng and Qin Yu before, Lu Xu was quite familiar with their directing and writing styles. "Chivalrous Fragrance" was shorter than "The Son of Heaven," as the latter depicted the entire life of Emperor Cheng as a ruler, including the intricacies of court politics and the conflicts between the harem and the court, which provided more material to write about.

However, "Chivalrous Fragrance" also portrayed the cruelty of imperial power struggles and warfare.

According to Qin Yu, writing the script for "Chivalrous Fragrance" was even harder than writing "The Son of Heaven," as the latter had a wealth of historical documents and video materials to reference.

Nie Yunzhang was better known for his personality than his exploits. The specifics of the battles that earned him the title of War God were sparsely documented.

To accurately depict the war scenes, Qin Yu consulted various historical documents and even visited experts in the field of military history. He carefully studied military tactics and even borrowed from several ancient military strategy books.

Qin Yu sighed, "Writing these scenes isn’t as impactful as crafting a passionate love story."

"I don't have a problem with love scenes. What I mean is, why ask me? Am I the right person for that?"

As the screenwriter of "The Son of Heaven," Qin Yu's current project naturally drew attention in the industry.

Several male actors' agencies had approached him to inquire about the type of script "Chivalrous Fragrance" was. It was normal for them to ask, but what irritated him endlessly was that they kept asking about the protagonist's love scenes, emphasizing the character's highlight moments, rankings, and CPs.

Indeed, adding those elements could boost an actor’s popularity and make the character more memorable to the audience.

But during the creative process, Qin Yu only wanted to write a good script featuring well-defined characters, a coherent plot, and historical accuracy. If the character had a love scene, he would naturally include it. If not, he wouldn't shoehorn unnecessary love scenes into the story, as that would leave him very dissatisfied.

This was also why "The Son of Heaven" dominated the Star Awards, but Qin Yu, as the screenwriter, couldn't make a similar impact in the industry.

Some screenwriters write so badly that audiences actively avoid their projects, yet somehow keep landing adaptations of major intellectual properties.

First off, the entertainment industry thrives on personal connections, and the other side can tweak the script. Actors can add extra pages if they want or inflate the content as they wish, desperately cramming all the spotlight onto the main characters.

For example, the drama "Nine Turns Decree," starring Wei Fangfei, was such a flop that it became infamous. The lead actress Wei Fangfei and the lead actor Chu Tianshu vied to add more scenes, yet this didn’t stop the screenwriters of "Nine Turns Decree" from climbing the ladder. In recent years, the two screenwriters have appeared in multiple projects within the industry.

"Nine Turns Decree" flopped, and several other dramas also flopped, but in the eyes of the actors, they are the go-to screenwriters.

Qin Yu obviously does not belong to that type of screenwriter, which is why, after going back and forth, he still chose to collaborate with Liu Chunfeng.

...

"I didn’t expect Lu Xu to jump on board so fast," Qin Yu couldn’t help but say to Liu Chunfeng on the return flight.

"I didn’t expect it either."

Liu Chunfeng had already braced himself for rejection and had even considered continuing to use newcomers.

Liu Chunfeng is a stubborn man who rarely compromises. Back then, in order to find the right actor for Qin Zhao, he practically combed through half the industry.

After Qin Yu finished writing the script for "Chivalrous Fragrance," Liu Chunfeng immediately pictured Lu Xu. He couldn’t picture anyone else in the role.

If someone else were to play it, if that actor fell even a little short compared to Lu Xu, whether in looks or acting skills, Liu Chunfeng would feel uncomfortable.

Liu Chunfeng doesn’t see this as being picky; he just pursues perfection more than others.

Lu Xu’s willingness to take on the role also made Liu Chunfeng very happy.

When Lu Xu joined the cast of "The Son of Heaven," Liu Chunfeng felt that Lu Xu could become a star. However, Lu Xu’s rise to fame was so meteoric it took everyone by surprise—when portraying Qin Zhao, Lu Xu didn’t even have a management company. "The Noble Son" had some popularity, but it was the kind of drama mainstream audiences turned their noses up at.

Some people have always said that "The Son of Heaven" accelerated Lu Xu’s rise to fame.

Liu Chunfeng was thrilled to have been the one to guide Lu Xu, but he believed that regardless of "The Son of Heaven," Lu Xu was destined to become famous.

This time, with Lu Xu confirmed for "Chivalrous Fragrance," Liu Chunfeng felt more confident about the drama’s prospects. The "Lu Xu Curse" in the TV world is legendary, and even Liu Chunfeng, a director who usually pays no attention to gossip, has noticed it.

No one saw it coming that Lu Xu would next headline a TV drama.

...

After Lu Xu was confirmed as the lead, the preparation process for "Chivalrous Fragrance" accelerated. The entertainment industry has no secrets, and Liu Chunfeng had to drop Lu Xu’s name first to attract actors.

Word got out that he was starring in a historical drama soon after Lu Xu joined the cast.

"Liu Chunfeng + Qin Yu + Lu Xu, awesome!"

"Taking me back to 'The Son of Heaven,' I’m obsessed with the costumes!"

"Lu Xu is going to play Nie Yunzhang?!! My favorite actor playing my favorite historical character, I’m so moved."

"I always said that Nie Yunzhang is such a great character, but all the adaptations have been terrible. The last version turned him into a weak, flamboyant Nie Yunzhang. I nearly lost it watching that and even suspected the screenwriter had a grudge against Nie Yunzhang."

"Is it 'Rising to the Top'? That’s insane. The female lead was written as Nie Yunzhang’s love interest, setting up a love triangle, but she ended up choosing the Crown Prince, saying how jealous Nie Yunzhang was of the Crown Prince. My God! Historically, the Crown Prince and Nie Yunzhang were such a harmonious pair of ruler and minister; no emperor could’ve matched that."

"Exactly, the Crown Prince treated Nie Yunzhang a thousand times better than Emperor Cheng treated Qin Zhao, but the screenwriter butchered it. Clearly, the screenwriter didn’t do their homework."

"!!! Is the Crown Prince played by Shao Yao?"

"LOL, Shao Yao somehow gives off more of a general vibe, but his ancient costume still looks very scholarly. It’s a good fit!"

"The 'Voices of the Dead' cast has reunited, and with Zheng Xiao joining, I can probably look forward to some funny behind-the-scenes antics from the cast."

"Zheng Xiao won't come; there's no fitting role for him. All three of them are quite established now, and getting two of them in one project is already quite an achievement."

After the actors gradually joined the crew, the 'Chivalrous Fragrance' production team released the official character stills of the main cast.

First up was Nie Yunzhang in full military regalia.

Though also dressed in period attire, Nie Yunzhang was not as frail and pale as Qin Zhao, who lived in the shadow of his father, nor was he as bold and unrestrained as Ji Xiuya. To be more specific, in the character stills, Lu Xu's portrayal of Nie Yunzhang was fearless and dashing.

His eyes were intensely resolute, radiating the poise of a young general, yet not as composed as an elder, still carrying the pride of youth.

The stylist merely gave Lu Xu's eyebrows a slight trim and styled his hair, and Nie Yunzhang's look was complete.

Liu Chunfeng and Qin Yu were both eager to see how Lu Xu would embody Nie Yunzhang. When Lu Xu's new appearance was revealed to them, Liu Chunfeng realized that, in that moment, Lu Xu perfectly matched the Nie Yunzhang he had been imagining.

With his sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he was full of vitality.

Lu Xu's own persona was concealed behind the character, with only the character shining through.

When Lu Xu's character stills were posted on the official blog, the fans' reactions were overwhelmingly positive.

"I knew it! Lu Xu has never let me down when it comes to bringing a character to life!"

"Looking forward to Lu Xu's version of Nie Yunzhang, hoping this version becomes the cherished ideal in my heart!"

"Indeed, Lu Xu hasn't abandoned TV dramas. While movies are great, I believe TV dramas provide richer content, and I love every character Lu Xu has played."

"At least Lu Xu won't turn his back on the TV world after making movies. In his heart, he doesn't belong to the elite movie circle."

"Feels like the comment above just roasted a lot of people, lol."

"I was just speaking offhandedly, please don't take it personally, hahaha."

...

In previous series related to Nie Yunzhang, the story would start from his childhood, depicting his entry into the palace as a young man and his immediate rapport with the crown prince, setting the stage for his future military campaigns.

However, 'Chivalrous Fragrance' begins with a palace intrigue involving the crown prince.

Historically, this crown prince was not favored, differing from Qin Zhao in that the current emperor was incompetent, doting on another concubine and wanting to depose the crown prince.

In such circumstances, the ministers naturally stood up against the emperor, with more siding with the crown prince in court. However, the Imperial Favorite tightly held the emperor's heart and also gathered a group of supporters, striving to seize the crown prince's position.

In court, the ministers could argue for the crown prince, but the harem was the Imperial Favorite's domain. Though the crown prince was clever and quick-witted, he couldn't withstand the Imperial Favorite's repeated schemes.

In this palace, few could protect him.

Assassination attempts and poisonings were continuous, and even the crown prince's most trusted palace maid unknowingly sided with the Imperial Favorite.

The crown prince felt hopeless, and it was then that Nie Yunzhang appeared like a divine savior to rescue him.

This was the beginning of the harmonious relationship between the monarch and his minister as recorded in history.

Author's Note:

The title is a line from Li Bai's 'Song of the Swordsman': 'Even in death, the chivalrous bones are fragrant, unashamed before the heroes of the world.'

Wang Wei also has a line: 'Who knows not the hardships of the frontier? Even in death, the chivalrous bones are fragrant,' written about Huo Qubing, which I find fitting.