The Film Queen’s Little Bunny Wife - Chapter 56

By the time Ling Hanyan finally finished the movie’s publicity work, packed her bags, and was ready to join the film crew, the time had already reached the October Golden Week holiday.

Tu Jiaojiao’s scenes were still a long way from being filmed, so she was still a free agent.

On National Day, she booked two movie tickets early and happily took Xuanxuan to the premiere of The Crane Spirit Empress.

By the time the two of them bought drinks, it was already late. They rushed into the theater right on time and found that the cinema was already full.

They quickly quieted down and slipped into their seats.

At this moment, the screen darkened, the SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television) Dragon Mark appeared, and the movie officially began.

Amidst the swirling clouds and mist, several celestial cranes flew toward the audience. One of them turned its head to look into the distance, its black, bright eyes seeming to ponder something.

Before long, the celestial cranes reached their destination. It turned out they were handmaidens serving under an immortal. Upon landing, they all transformed into lively and mischievous maids.

The immortal summoned Qin Qianhe, played by Ling Hanyan, to her side, her eyes filled with compassion and affection: “Qianhe, your trial has arrived. I can no longer keep you here. Return to the mortal world to seek your destiny.”

Qin Qianhe nodded slightly, indicating her understanding.

She then turned to instruct the other cranes on various tasks, preparing to return to the human world.

It was evident to keen observers that this crane’s temperament was much more composed than her sisters, perhaps suggesting she was the leader of the cranes.

The scene shifted, and Qin Qianhe arrived in the human world, where she was momentarily flustered upon discovering her magic was completely gone.

However, she was excellent at reading people. She quickly suppressed her panic, imitated and learned the behaviors of mortals, and gradually integrated into the crowd.

Qin Qianhe kept the immortal’s prophecy firmly in mind: her destiny lay in the autumn.

She waited and waited. Autumn leaves fell, the south wind rose, and she shed her summer clothes for warmer attire.

During the Imperial Autumn Hunt, the young Crown Prince Li Wangshui, in a moment of arrogance, chased after prey.

He carelessly fell into a long-abandoned pit trap set by hunters. He had no attendants or pages by his side.

Qin Qianhe, who was gathering mushrooms on the mountain, happened to pass by and saved him.

The prince had only ever encountered delicate, gentle ladies from respectable families or daughters of high officials. This was the first time he had seen a beauty so full of untamed spirit, yet radiating an ethereal quality.

Ignoring the warnings and reminders from those around him. ‘In autumn, animals are busy fattening up and are ferocious; even experienced hunters dare not venture onto the mountain alone, there is something suspicious about this woman,’ and ‘Everyone says this woman arrived here last year, with no family or relatives, which is very unusual’ his heart was utterly captivated by Qin Qianhe.

He sent flowers, gifts, and residences. In winter, he braved the snow to visit her, and in summer, he sent precious stored ice. Slowly, after more than a year of persistent effort, Qin Qianhe’s heart was gradually warmed, and she finally agreed to be with him.

After entering the palace, Qin Qianhe was adept at maneuvering, secretly assisting the Crown Prince with affairs, removing the malicious Third and Fourth Princes, and marrying off the eldest princess who tried to overthrow the Crown Prince.

Seven years later, the former emperor passed away, and the increasingly dignified-looking Crown Prince smoothly ascended to the throne.

Soon after becoming emperor, he defied all dissenting voices and elevated Qin Qianhe to the position of Empress.

Up to this point, the plot was exhilarating and enjoyable. However, then the court officials began to impeach the Empress, claiming that she had not borne a son or daughter in all these years, suggesting she might have a physical ailment, and that the imperial harem should be filled to continue the royal lineage.

The Emperor remembered the promise of a lifetime of monogamy he made to Qin Qianhe when he was young, and he withstood the pressure for half a year.

But he couldn’t stand the constant people wailing in his ear about ‘filial impiety, with the greatest being the lack of an heir,’ ‘the Empress cannot bear children, but the Emperor’s bloodline must continue,’ and ‘the Empress is jealous, alas for our dynasty.’

His stance softened, but he genuinely did not want Qin Qianhe to know. So, under the pretext of an incognito visit, he took other women outside the palace.

What kind of person was Qin Qianhe? The spies she had placed around the Emperor were more numerous than the maids in her own palace.

She learned the news that very day. Since the Emperor did not return to the palace, she sat alone in the imperial garden for an entire day and night.

The pale moonlight shone on her face, evoking deep sorrow.

Qin Qianhe took out a pair of longevity locks, shimmering with moonlit radiance, and summoned her sisters from the heavens to peck them apart, mouthful by mouthful.

It was only then that the audience realized she had been refusing to have children all this time to perfect the longevity locks.

She was a celestial crane, and only in this way could she bear a child untainted by “demon blood.”

The locks would have been finished next month on the full moon, but alas, the “dog Emperor” couldn’t endure the loneliness and broke his vow.

The officials had been planning for years, waiting for the chance to send their daughters into the palace.

Those seemingly dignified and beautiful maidens, with their varied charms and figures, desperately employed every tactic, outshining even courtesans, and managed to keep the Emperor away for over half a month with their skills in bed.

The Emperor had not intended to be away from the palace for so long. He had calculated clearly: he would only bring the outside women into the palace if they conceived otherwise, they would be kept in reserve.

When he returned, his movements were hesitant and constrained, terrified that Qin Qianhe might notice his unease.

But the more worried and cautious he was, the more ridiculous he appeared in the eyes of Qin Qianhe, who knew everything.

The Empress sat in the high seat. Upon seeing the Emperor, she did not greet him warmly, but a smile curled on her lips.

“Wangshui, you’ve returned.” She nodded slightly, looking even more beautiful and ethereal than usual.

The Emperor was a little surprised to hear his personal name, but the Empress was smiling, so she must not have known.

He relaxed considerably, recounting his experiences outside, edited and curtailed, as he always did, to share with the Empress.

When Li Wangshui looked at Qin Qianhe, her eyes were gentle. When he turned away, Qin Qianhe’s eyes hid both fondness and loathing.

The Empress is jealous, how laughable.

It was nothing more than the most ordinary wish: I only love him, so I hope he only loves me.

A celestial crane doesn’t care about the petty squabbles of the mortal world. If your love is stained with impurities and is no longer pure, then I don’t want it anymore.

A few days later, she revealed everything.

She even proposed to the Emperor, don’t let the girls waiting outside suffer any longer; choose a date and bring them all into the palace. I will be happy for the Li family to have an heir.

The Emperor, overwhelmed by immense joy, actually made the arrangements.

The officials were also perplexed, with some even doubting themselves, wondering if the Empress was naturally magnanimous and they had delayed their daughters by not daring to speak up earlier.

When the first child was born, the Empress personally went to take a look.

Consort Li thought the Empress wanted to take her son and, ignoring the fact that she had just given birth, knelt down to beg for mercy.

Little did she know that for the past year, the Empress had consistently refused the Emperor’s advances, which was why she had given the other women a chance.

Yet, Qin Qianhe didn’t even hold the child. Instead, she turned to the Consort’s visiting relatives and asked curiously, ‘How old are you, and are you married?’

The sight of the Empress ignoring her son and being more interested in matchmaking truly embarrassed Consort Li.

She frantically signaled her younger brother, but the fool misinterpreted her intent and bowed, replying, “To answer Her Imperial Majesty, I am devoted to studying the sagely texts, hoping to enter the palace to assist His Majesty the Emperor. I am ashamed to say that I have yet to be married.”

Upon hearing this, a certain chord in Qin Qianhe’s mind suddenly struck.

She requested the young man’s birth characters, then looked through the daughters of the officials and helped match them up.

A perfect match!

Now, the Empress seemed to have fallen in love with matchmaking. She immediately embraced the path of a matchmaker, abandoned romantic love, and spent her days brokering marriages.

The way a celestial crane thinks is vastly different from a mortal, leading to many amusing incidents.

By the time the “dog Emperor” realized that all the beauties in the harem had ulterior motives, and only Qin Qianhe loved him wholeheartedly, and he was filled with regret…

The Empress’s palace had already become a temple to the God of Marriage, with the threshold almost worn out by people seeking matchmaking, leaving no time for her to meet with him.

With the Empress leading by example, time passed, and this feudal dynasty actually began to advocate for monogamy.

Not only did the status of women rise, but men no longer had to worry about conflict in the back courtyard, feeling that loving one person wholeheartedly was a very happy and fulfilling thing.

The movie ended, and the entire audience burst into thunderous applause.

While waiting for Schrödinger’s egg (the after credits scene), everyone couldn’t help but discuss the plot.

The director handled many ambiguous and suggestive details extremely well, managing to turn the entire film into an all ages production.

Tu Jiaojiao watched the movie with great enjoyment.

She had placed herself in the heroine’s perspective. Apart from feeling a bit stifled when Qin Qianhe decided to give up the “dog Emperor” and sail away alone, she was very comfortable at all other times.

During the screening, laughter occasionally echoed in the theater this was the public’s acknowledgment of the film!

Tu Mixuan was young, but her comprehension ability was not lacking.

Stepping out of the cinema, she also began to share her thoughts with her aunt: “Auntie! Yanyan is so beautiful! That Emperor was so foolish, he was so close to having a baby with the Empress.”

“He doesn’t deserve Qin Qianhe,” Tu Jiaojiao quietly mumbled, her gaze falling on the waiting area.

Seeing the pile of red-crowned crane plush toys in the center, her eyes lit up: “Xuanxuan! Want to buy a plushie?”

After the movie was released, rave reviews poured onto the film review websites.

People were tired of works where the heroine endured hardships for the sake of love, and the sudden appearance of the clear headed Qin Qianhe felt fresh and interesting.

After the first wave of fervor passed, CCTV (China Central Television) followed up by releasing the production documentary in succession.

It was only then that people discovered the many hidden stories behind the film.

Those who had previously mocked Ling Hanyan, saying she was unworthy of the lead role and only fit to be the second female lead, all fell silent like ducks.

Sister Mao’s team gained respect, and she had been enjoying a period of great success these past few days.

However, the excitement belonged to them. Tu Jiaojiao had only just savored a taste of it when it was her turn to join the film crew.

Thinking about her first time portraying a character, she felt quite nervous.

Fortunately, Ling Hanyan was by her side. She meticulously explained everything that needed to be said and done to Tu Jiaojiao.

She told Tu Jiaojiao that she had a high degree of overlap with Ruan Binghua, so she didn’t need to worry too much about whether her acting was perfect.

All she needed to do was let go of the pressure and portray the role authentically with her purest, truest self.

However, this was easier said than done.

Seeing so many people surrounding her, hoping she would do something, Tu Jiaojiao felt immense pressure.

What Ling Hanyan said was no longer helpful she simply couldn’t get over her own mental hurdle.

The director was initially very satisfied with her appearance, but after wasting dozens of takes, his expression also darkened.

Afterward, he called Tu Jiaojiao over for a chat.

Fearing a scolding, Tu Jiaojiao felt extremely anxious.

But since she had accepted the job, she had to treat it seriously. She bit the bullet and complied obediently.

“Jiaojiao, what exactly are you afraid of?” Fang Zhiqiu sat in the chair. Hearing her footsteps, he turned his head and asked her flatly.