Going from "Fanservice" to Reality with My Goddess - Chapter 12

Compared to Yu Nianzhi’s struggle to feign composure, the reactions of the two young assistants, Song Xin and Lin Xin, were far more straightforward and raw.

“A wife-doting maniac! The Jealous King of South Liao! What kind of legendary CP is this? This ‘dog food’ is so delicious! I’m stanning them so hard!”

Their only grievance was the inability to take photos. They desperately wanted to post on Weibo or their friend circles to share the joy with the world. Before they even realized it, the two had become the founding members of the “Yan-Zhi” CP club, sounding the first battle cry for the ship long before Love and Longing even aired.

As soon as the scene ended, Shen Yan reverted to her gentle and considerate persona. She asked Yu Nianzhi apologetically, “I didn’t startle you just now, did I?”

Yu Nianzhi shook her head vigorously, her face still flushed. “No, not at all.”

Shen Yan nodded. “That’s good. I was a bit anxious in the moment, so I improvised that bit without giving you a heads-up.”

“It’s fine,” Yu Nianzhi said hurriedly. “It was for a better performance, after all.”

Internally, she added: If possible, please feel free to improvise like that as often as you like.

The improvisation was merely a small interlude in the production. Afterward, everything returned to normal as everyone busied themselves with the continued filming of Love and Longing.

The happy days of marital harmony were fleeting. Before the peach blossoms in the Imperial Garden could even wither, a new crisis emerged.

Urgent news arrived from the Northern borders: the state of Beiyan had launched a surprise attack on South Liao’s frontier, signaling the start of a war. Comparing the national strength of the two, South Liao was at a disadvantage, and the court fell into a temporary panic.

Before the civil and military officials could formulate a counter-strategy, more dire news followed Beiyan had come prepared, and their army was now marching straight for Fujiang City. Fujiang was struggling to hold out; if it fell, the situation would be dire.

The court was shocked. Fujiang was a vital defensive stronghold in Northern South Liao, a key hub for foreign trade and grain transport. If the city fell, any hope of a counter-offensive would be nearly impossible.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor wasted no time, summoning his senior ministers overnight. In the end, Crown Prince Feng Ji volunteered to lead an elite force to Fujiang City to defend South Liao’s territory. The Emperor granted the request, issuing an imperial decree for Feng Ji to mobilize the troops and save the city.

The situation was too urgent for personal sentiments.

Returning to the Crown Prince’s Manor, Shen Yan immediately began packing her bags. She was to head to the military camp the next day to gather the soldiers and depart for the battlefield. When Shen Yan entered the room, Yu Nianzhi was already awake, standing quietly by the window, waiting.

“What is so urgent?” Yu Nianzhi asked, her face etched with worry.

Shen Yan explained the situation. In the face of such a crisis, she had a thousand words in her heart, but they were choked in her throat. Finally, she lowered her eyes, looked intently at the woman before her, and left her with a single promise: “Wait for me to return. I… have much to tell you.”

Her tone was gentle yet firm her most solemn vow.

Yu Nianzhi looked up at Shen Yan. Makeup masked the Prince’s delicate features, and it seemed to mask the tender emotions of a woman as well. It was as if this person was born to be the favored child of South Liao, destined to carry such heavy burdens.

The people praised her as a genius, the guardian deity of the North. No one knew that the hero they worshipped, the Crown Prince admired by ten thousand, was actually a princess who should have been pampered by her parents or learning the arts from court ladies. No one knew the blood and tears she had shed behind the scenes to achieve what she had today.

And now, she was going to war for her country.

As Shen Yan turned to leave, Yu Nianzhi suddenly stopped her. She took a sachet from a box and placed it in Shen Yan’s palm. “I… I sewed this sachet for you. It contains the Abrus seeds (Love Seeds) from our manor.” She looked up. “May they protect my Crown Prince, bringing you victory and a safe return.”

Shen Yan’s long eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes seemed to shimmer with unshed tears. She remained silent for a moment, then leaned down slightly and pressed a gentle yet solemn kiss onto Yu Nianzhi’s lips.

Their foreheads rested against each other, their noses touching. A soft breath brushed past Yu Nianzhi’s ear, carrying the scent unique to Shen Yan.

“Wait for me,” Shen Yan whispered.

This was their first kiss, and in the next moment, they were to be parted.

As their lips separated, Shen Yan gave Yu Nianzhi one last look before turning away, her figure gradually disappearing into the vast darkness of the night.

“Cut! Excellent, that’s a wrap for this scene.” Duan Yi nodded as he reviewed the playback. Suddenly, he joked, “Xiao Yu, come to think of it, was that your on-screen first kiss?”

Yu Nianzhi, her face still slightly red, gave a soft hum of affirmation. Though Love and Longing might not be released domestically, it was indeed her first time filming a kiss scene.

Shen Yan was surprised. “Your first time?”

The question made Yu Nianzhi even more embarrassed. With her head bowed low, she gave another “Mhm.”

“Then I suppose I’ve gotten quite a bargain,” Shen Yan joked.

“No, no,” Yu Nianzhi waved her hands hurriedly. “It was… it was I who took advantage of Teacher Shen.” Her expression was a mix of joy and shyness, her voice trailing off.

Shen Yan couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity, “Then your actual first kiss…” Before she could finish, she realized it might be inappropriate. “Never mind, if it’s hard to answer, don’t worry about it.”

Yu Nianzhi buried her head even lower but answered obediently, “It was also this time.”

Shen Yan: “…”

Well, this isn’t good.

She thought to herself: This girl is so pretty that she must be loved wherever she goes. How has she never been in a relationship? Is that even logical? But it was a private matter, so despite her curiosity, she held back.

The usually calm Shen Yan looked uncharacteristically awkward. She debated for a long time, feeling as though she had bullied the poor girl. She almost blurted out, “I’ll take responsibility for you.”

She forced herself to calm down. No, this is just for the play. It’s not like I did anything on purpose. I didn’t actually do anything to her. Besides, Yu Nianzhi didn’t look unwilling. Perhaps the girl understood it was just for the role and wouldn’t take it to heart.

With that thought, Shen Yan’s guilt finally eased though she then realized she was the one who seemed most eager to take responsibility.

As Shen Yan was lost in thought, Duan Yi chuckled. “Why is this girl so easy to embarrass? We still have to film the scenes later where…”

Yu Nianzhi knew exactly what the future plot held. Hearing this, her face turned even redder, looking as though she might literally start steaming.

Shen Yan interrupted Duan Yi before he could finish. “Stow it. You’re a grown man, yet you’re so improper. No wonder no one wants you.”

Duan Yi: “…” Can’t you take a joke? It’s fine when you joke, but I’m ‘improper’? Classic double standards. He retorted, “You’re one to talk! It’s not like anyone wants you either.”

Shen Yan was full of confidence. “Am I the same as you? Do you want to do a public opinion poll right here on set?”

Duan Yi was silenced. He truly couldn’t compete with Shen Yan’s popularity. If she shouted that out right now, half the people here would fight to take her home. Seeing him speechless, Shen Yan felt quite satisfied.

What do you mean, “no one wants her”? I want her! Yu Nianzhi nearly shouted it out. She clamped her mouth shut and merely glared at Duan Yi with “hostile” eyes.

“Alright, alright,” Shen Yan said, seeing her shyness. “I won’t tease you anymore. Go and rest.”

The actors took a short break before continuing. The plot of Love and Longing was now reaching its climax. The first half focused on the couple’s meeting and bonding, while the latter half was filled with dramatic conflict.

In a flash, three months had passed since Feng Ji’s departure. Wen Yan remained alone in the Crown Prince’s Manor, her heart filled with hope for his safe return. One morning, she went for a walk and looked up to see the Abrus tree in the garden bursting with flower buds, their petals dancing in the wind like a flaming red ocean.

The Love Seeds are blooming. Husband, it is time for you to come home.

While Wen Yan looked up at the flowers, Shen Yan—far away in the North—was fighting for the survival of her country. Beiyan launched a new offensive, and Shen Yan remained calm, commanding her troops with composure.

After months of warfare, the conflict between South Liao and Beiyan had reached its final, decisive moment. The Beiyan soldiers were retreating, and the drums of South Liao grew louder, poised to crush the enemy.

Victory was within reach when disaster struck.

As Shen Yan focused on her troops, an arrow flew out from nowhere, straight toward her.

“General, watch out!” a deputy screamed in terror.

Years of experience on the battlefield allowed Shen Yan to sense the danger instantly. She reacted lightning-fast, narrowly dodging the arrow by a hair’s breadth.

The deputy exhaled in relief and stepped forward. But almost instantly, a second arrow whistled through the air from another direction, aimed straight for her vitals. Having barely dodged the first, Shen Yan had no way to avoid the second.

With a sickening thud, the weapon pierced her flesh. Accompanied by the deputy’s agonizing cry, Shen Yan fell heavily to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.

The sachet she had kept tucked carefully in her robe fell out, hitting the ground with a soft click. Shen Yan’s vision blurred, but she still struggled to reach for it. Just before her fingers could touch it, her strength left her, and her hand fell limp.

In her final moments of consciousness, her only thought was: My lady, I fear I must break my promise…