Going from "Fanservice" to Reality with My Goddess - Chapter 6

Yu Nianzhe’s eyes widened. “You…”

“Me? What about me?” Shen Yan’s posture remained as indolent as before. She flicked her robes aside and sat on the edge of the bed, locking eyes with Yu Nianzhe.

Yu Nianzhe stared blankly at her. Her shock didn’t stem from the content of the words, but from the fact that Shen Yan, playing the Crown Prince, had shifted her voice from a clear male tone to that of a woman!

Catching a glimpse of the truth, she looked at Shen Yan in shock. “You are…!”

Shen Yan suddenly reached out and covered her mouth, making a shushing gesture. “My Lady, why so excited?”

With only the two of them in the room, Yu Nianzhe was pressed against the bed with her mouth covered. Her heart was a chaotic mix of surprise and fear. Forcing herself to be calm, she shook her head to indicate she wouldn’t speak recklessly.

Only when Shen Yan saw her settle down did she slowly withdraw her hand.

Shen Yan’s tone remained light and brisk, but to Yu Nianzhe’s ears, it sounded like the hissing of a venomous snake. “From now on, you and I are grasshoppers on the same string. My Lady must not speak of this outside; it would benefit neither you nor me. I believe you are a smart person who won’t do anything foolish.”

Their bodies were currently overlapping; to an outsider, it might look like a moment of deep intimacy. Yet, Yu Nianzhe could clearly feel the murderous intent lurking beneath that smile.

Yu Nianzhe swallowed hard. “I understand.”

Shen Yan straightened up and smiled. “Good girl.” She then turned away to wash her face and change her clothes.

“Cut!” Duan Yi shouted. “This take is a wrap.”

Yu Nianzhe let out a long breath. The pressure Shen Yan had just radiated made it feel like she was actually going to do something to her; it had truly startled her.

Shen Yan walked back to the bed and asked Yu Nianzhe, “I didn’t scare you just now, did I?”

The startled Yu Nianzhe shook her head repeatedly. “No, no! Your acting is just too good, Teacher Shen.”

Shen Yan smiled slightly. “As long as you’re okay.” She then stepped aside to let the stylists help her de-robe.

Once Shen Yan washed off her masculine makeup, the next scene began.

Shen Yan stepped away for a while, and when she reappeared before Yu Nianzhe, she had completely transformed. Having only seen her “male” visage until now, Yu Nianzhe’s eyes lit up at the sight of Shen Yan’s true appearance.

Her facial lines had softened. The sharp, bold eyebrows were replaced by delicate willow-leaf brows. Her cheeks held a faint flush, and her lips were the color of cinnabar. In an instant, she had become a maiden with eyes full of tenderness. Perhaps because she had played a man for so many years, even without heavy makeup, she still carried a sharp, heroic edge.

The spirited freedom of a man and the gentle elegance of a woman were harmoniously unified in her.

Yu Nianzhe thought for a moment and understood Shen Yan’s intention within the script. As a newlywed couple who would be facing each other day and night, the secret would be discovered sooner or later. It was better to be clear from the start. Although she knew the character only told her the truth out of fear of future complications, Yu Nianzhe felt much more relaxed. An inexplicable sense of peace settled over her.

“Rest now, My Lady,” Shen Yan said. “I will go fetch more bedding.” She then slipped out the door.

On a wedding night, it wouldn’t look good if the Crown Prince and his consort slept in separate rooms or separate beds. The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace was forced to sneak out personally to fetch extra blankets.

Shen Yan soon returned and began setting up. Seeing Shen Yan seriously preparing to sleep on the floor, Yu Nianzhe, sitting on the bed, spoke up hesitantly: “The floor is cold. Why don’t you… why don’t you just sleep on the bed?”

Shen Yan’s movements paused. She looked up at Yu Nianzhe with a half-smile. “Oh?”

Yu Nianzhe shrank into the covers a bit and whispered, “We are both women; there’s no need to be too concerned about such things. Besides, sleeping alone feels a bit too empty.”

Shen Yan arched an eyebrow but said nothing. This was their first meeting. Before seeing Yu Nianzhe, Shen Yan’s character hadn’t considered having any deep contact with her future wife. She was a woman; the idea of a deeply affectionate “husband and wife” relationship was something she had never contemplated. They were supposed to be a couple that “respected each other like guests” married in name, but living separate lives.

Neither spoke again. Yu Nianzhe thought the other woman didn’t want to share a bed and was trying to think of a way to save face, when Shen Yan suddenly moved. As if guided by a mysterious whim, Shen Yan stood up and lay down on the bed beside Yu Nianzhe.

Long afterward, when Shen Yan recalled that moment, even she found it unbelievable. Fate’s beginning and end often start with a single, fleeting impulse of the heart. Since there was this first exception, everything that followed could be considered within the realm of reason.

This segment was primarily an internal psychological battle for the two leads. With few lines, much had to be expressed through micro-expressions and body language, placing high demands on their acting. However, filming remained very smooth. Shen Yan’s acting was beyond reproach, and Yu Nianzhe’s performance was more than a few levels above what Duan Yi had anticipated.

With the day’s tasks completed successfully, Duan Yi let everyone go back to rest.

Reflecting on the day’s shoot, Shen Yan realized Yu Nianzhe’s acting wasn’t as bad as she had previously thought. Just then, someone approached and asked, “Teacher Shen, shall we head back together?”

Shen Yan turned and saw Yu Nianzhe. The girl was looking at her with an expression that practically screamed “Please say yes!” in giant letters. Shen Yan chuckled and agreed.

They returned to the hotel together. Inside the elevator, Yu Nianzhe asked, “Which floor are you on, Teacher Shen?”

“The 15th.”

“Okay.” Yu Nianzhe paused. “The 15th?”

“Mhm,” Shen Yan nodded. “Why?”

“Which room are you in?” Yu Nianzhe pressed.

“1504.”

Yu Nianzhe’s eyes lit up. “I live right next door to you!” She had only just realized this.

“Is that so? Quite a coincidence,” Shen Yan smiled. She remembered the sound of someone hitting the wall next door last night; so it was this little one “making a fuss.” The smile on her lips deepened.

Yu Nianzhe didn’t notice what Shen Yan was smiling about; she was too busy being privately giddy. The elevator stopped at the 15th floor, and they each went to their rooms.

The next morning, when Yu Nianzhe opened her eyes, the bedding beside her (in the script) was already empty. She got out of bed, washed her face, and sat at the table to eat alone.

“Where is the Prince?” she asked the serving maid.

The maid was played by Zhuo Ningxiao.

Zhuo Ningxiao replied, “It is nearly the hour of the Snake (9–11 AM). His Highness the Crown Prince is at court and cannot wait to dine with you.” She then added pointedly, “His Highness is busy with official duties; his heart is full of the state and the world. I’m afraid he will have little time for such trifles with you in the future.”

She was essentially saying the Prince wouldn’t bother with a useless idler like her. Yu Nianzhe had asked one question, and the woman had explained the entire context just to get a couple of digs in, making no effort to hide her disdain.

Yu Nianzhe acted as if she didn’t hear the thorns in her words. She turned and asked, “What is your name?”

The maid replied, “Yun’er.” Her tone held not a shred of humility.

“Yun’er…” Yu Nianzhe glanced at her. “I will remember that.”

Zhuo Ningxiao couldn’t help but shiver. Although Yu Nianzhe still had that same downcast, smiling look, Zhuo Ningxiao felt as if she were being watched by something predatory, causing an inexplicable chill.

In the palace, everyone was the type to bully the weak and fear the strong. Yu Nianzhe’s character had neither status nor background, coming alone to this far southern land. These “small fry” had been suppressed for a long time; finding someone they perceived as easy to bully, they couldn’t wait to act out.

Yu Nianzhe knew she couldn’t fight them all alone. While she didn’t want to cause trouble, she couldn’t let a few maids walk all over her. She finished her meal in silence and headed to the inner courtyard.

“Cut!” Duan Yi called. “Wrap it up.”

Zhuo Ningxiao immediately approached Yu Nianzhe with her usual false sincerity, calling her “sister” this and “sister” that—even though in her heart, she wished she could swallow Yu Nianzhe whole and play the Crown Princess herself.

Filming continued in an orderly fashion. As the schedule progressed, the cast’s chemistry improved.

The next scene involved Shen Yan attending court and debating with the new elites and veteran officials. Yu Nianzhe wasn’t required for this scene, but she came to the set anyway to watch. After greeting everyone, she sat aside to observe the veteran actors.

Zhuo Ningxiao followed as well, obediently running off to chat with the heavyweights on set, including Shen Yan.

Duan Yi laughed. “You don’t have scenes today, Xiao Zhuo. Why are you here?”

Zhuo Ningxiao smiled sheepishly. “My acting is still far from where it needs to be; I wanted to learn more from the teachers.”

Duan Yi, a master of conversation, praised her a few times to get her in high spirits before starting the shoot.

The Emperor sat on his high throne, looking down at his ministers. His health had always been poor; now that he had reached the “Age of Obedience” (sixty), his symptoms were worsening.

“My ministers,” the old Emperor spoke slowly, “some time ago, our Nanliao sent troops to aid our neighbor in their crisis. While the immediate danger was resolved, the situation remains grim. Though Beiyan is wary of us, their ‘wolfish ambitions’ are clear. This is no long-term solution.”

As soon as he finished, a veteran official stepped forward. “Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject believes that living in temporary peace is not a solution. We should seize the initiative, take Dongyuan, and combine the military power of both nations. Then, we shall have the strength to fight.”

The speaker had graying hair and a face that looked upright and majestic, making him look like a loyal, steadfast official. This man was Wen Jian. Though he held great prestige at court, he was a master of being two-faced, perpetually calculating for fame and wealth. His honest face was a great deception.

The actor playing Wen Jian was Ye Wu, another veteran whose acting was seasoned and effortless.

As soon as he spoke, members of his faction immediately stood up to agree. These officials might have been inefficient in their duties, but when it came to eloquence, they were truly skilled. Their arguments made it sound as if there was no way to survive without going to war.

Shen Yan spoke up in rebuttal. “This son believes Minister Wen is mistaken.” She swept a cold gaze across the officials. “Regardless of whether the situation is as dire as he claims, the sheer cost of this campaign is a major problem.”

Ye Wu countered instantly. “Our nation’s power is robust! A mere—”

Before he could finish, Shen Yan interrupted. “Minister Wen, may I ask: where will the funds for this military equipment come from?”

Ye Wu replied calmly, “Our citizens’ lives are prosperous. It is merely a matter of increasing taxes by a few cents.”

“Merely a few cents?” Shen Yan’s tone carried a sharp sarcasm. “May I ask if Minister Wen has ever stepped onto a battlefield? Have you ever led troops in a campaign?”

Ye Wu choked. “I am a civil official! Why would I perform the duties of a general?”

“Is that so?” Shen Yan asked again. “Then let me ask Minister Wen: have you ever visited the common folk? Have you ever gone incognito to observe their hardships?”

Ye Wu was silenced. He flicked his sleeve. “I handle memorials every day and learn of the people’s suffering from subordinate officials. I am naturally clear on their lives.”

Shen Yan laughed softly. “Does Minister Wen know how much wealth and resources a single war consumes? Our empire has faced abnormal weather this winter; many citizens are struggling just to survive. Where would they get the money to contribute to your war? Just ‘a few more cents’ in taxes?” The disdain at the corners of her mouth was no longer hidden. “Minister Wen, you truly are a high official who knows nothing of the people’s suffering.”

“You!” Ye Wu was clearly furious and opened his mouth to strike back.

Shen Yan gave him no chance. She turned to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, in this son’s opinion, our neighbor has been our ally for many years. The previous war was a matter of necessity. But now is absolutely not the right time to provoke another conflict. We should allow the people to rest and recuperate. To plan for the long term is the superior strategy.”

During this speech, Shen Yan’s presence was fully unleashed, radiating the majesty of royalty.

Standing on the sidelines, Yu Nianzhe had previously found it hard to believe that the character Feng Ji could hide her gender for over a decade without anyone noticing. But seeing Shen Yan’s portrayal—so decisive, quick-witted, and bold in her rebuttal—she believed it. In the court, there wasn’t a trace of feminine softness; there was only the iron-blooded heart of a man. This aura of someone who cared for the people and wouldn’t yield an inch was exactly how a fine young man should be.

Watching from the side, Yu Nianzhe felt her legs go weak from how cool Shen Yan was. She was at least trying to be dignified; beside her, Song Xin and Lin Xin were already hugging each other in excitement, squealing, “Sister is so cool!!”

Yu Nianzhe: “…”

Did I just gain two more rivals?

No, Yu Nianzhe comforted herself those were just two “fence-sitters” (fair-weather fans).