I have a persona specifically for acting.

The “quick transmigration” had given Tong Zhao many abilities beyond the ordinary.

The cultivation techniques from the immortal world were useless in a plane without spiritual energy, but they were still effective for strengthening the body and enhancing appearance. In the martial arts world, Tong Zhao had come from an assassin family and had been immersed in countless toxins from a young age. She had an inexplicable sensitivity to poisons that could be fatal to the human body. Regardless of how diluted the poison was or how it was mixed into rich food, she could detect it just by smell.

Her personality had changed, but the knowledge she had acquired remained the same.

“I don’t want to drink this anymore; take it away,”

On-screen, Tong Zhao lay down on the couch, her flawless face showing a hint of arrogance. She instructed, “Don’t drink it secretly. If I don’t want something, no one else should touch it, even if it means throwing it away.”

Accustomed to her capricious behavior, the palace maid dared not disobey and could only regretfully pour the entire bowl of fine chicken soup away.

…

The screenwriter was surprised: “Is Tong Zhao just lucky?”

The director gave him a stern look.

However, the next development genuinely astonished the staff.

When the empress failed to gain favor, the younger cousin only became more cherished, gaining unprecedented popularity in the palace. Emperor Ming showed no signs of diminishing his interest in her. Initially intending to watch from the sidelines and let other high-ranking concubines deal with her, they each took turns trying to teach her a lesson. This was part of the script: to have her suffer and then transform from a scheming vixen into a black-hearted fox. However…

The character played by Tong Zhao, the Chen beauty, had never suffered once.

When it came to mentioning the Chen beauty’s overbearing behavior, the lower-ranked concubines pointed out that she didn’t have the demeanor expected of her rank.

The emperor, still infatuated with Chen’s beauty, decided to ask Tong Zhao for an explanation. Tong Zhao, pouting with a look that made the emperor not tired of her, said angrily, “No one at home treated me well. After entering the palace, only the emperor dotes on me. I’m not trying to show off. I just feel… I’m the one the emperor cherishes. The most distinguished man in the world treats me well; what could I possibly do wrong?”

She then muttered to herself, “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

When a man is enamored, everything a woman does seems right.

Tong Zhao aimed to establish a lasting impression during this period, gradually changing her character, providing continuous novelty, and achieving a sense of accomplishment. She started as a pampered child and then became a charming, confident favorite after her promotion.

Tong Zhao nestled in Emperor Ming’s embrace, letting him hold her slender waist.

“Your Majesty, they say my behavior doesn’t match my rank, but I don’t want to change. They think I’m unworthy, but I don’t care. Do you think I am worthy, Your Majesty?”

She lifted her face to look at Emperor Ming, and the director quickly zoomed in for a close-up.

The so-called “ironclad” straight man, Song Wanzhuo, saw the beauty’s eyes turning red and felt sympathy. He wiped her tears and said something that left the staff stunned: “Why are you crying? I haven’t blamed you. Of course, you’re worthy. There’s no need to change.”

?

Wanzhuo, you’re this good at handling emotions?

In the previous idol drama, you hurt the heroine’s feelings with your blunt handling of conflicts, but now you’re spouting sweet words in this palace drama?

This is actually not Song Wanzhuo’s fault.

In the previous idol drama, the heroine’s “true self” was a bright and lively little sun. Song Wanzhuo’s “true self” followed the script and fell for her. However, just like a forced situation is never sweet, apart from the plot, he wouldn’t have many sweet details for the heroine.

Who is the Consort Chen?

No matter how many emperors there are, she could win their favor just the same.

In the next day’s plot, without Tong Zhao’s scenes, everyone thought her role was over. It was already quite an improvement that Song Wanzhuo’s “true self” could say sweet words to comfort others.

However, after the morning court session, Emperor Ming ordered that Consort Chen be promoted to Imperial Concubine Chen.

From Consort to Imperial Concubine—this was not just a promotion but a significant leap.

Song Wanzhuo was known for his decisive action.

Does the favored consort not want to change her ways?

Fine, then it must be an issue with her rank. Change the rank, and it’s resolved.

As for why she became an Imperial Concubine?

Because the person behind the scenes making sour comments is a respected lady, which is just enough to push her down a rank.

After a round of analysis by the behind-the-scenes staff, everyone was deeply impressed.

Screenwriter: “Well, in the script, she was supposed to be promoted to Imperial Concubine in seven episodes.”

Director: “That’s how instinctive movies work!”

Who could watch this and not say Tong Zhao’s true self is impressive?

The screenwriter, feeling helpless, just hoped that the following developments wouldn’t be too unexpected. Former writers often said sentimentally that characters in their writing developed their own ideas and that the writer merely put them on paper and couldn’t control them. Little did they know that years later, instinctive movies would make such worries a reality.

After being promoted to Imperial Concubine Chen, Tong Zhao became even more audacious.

When she was in a good mood, she would skip the morning greetings and lazily lie on the couch, enjoying a lie-in.

When she was in a bad mood, she would dress elaborately to go for the morning greetings. The imperial harem had strict dress codes with prohibited colors, but as everything she wore was a gift from the Emperor, accusing her of breaking the rules was tantamount to blaming the Emperor. Thus, the other concubines could only swallow their grievances, resenting her for her petty displays, only knowing how to pile on gold and jewels without any refined elegance.

Tong Zhao didn’t care about them.

She wore the largest and finest jade and dared to wear a massive string of rubies. Such fine items would make anyone of lesser beauty look pale in comparison, but under the director’s close-up shots, the dazzlingly dressed Tong Zhao overshadowed the entire harem, truly making the six palaces’ makeup appear colorless.

Although her behavior was inappropriate, she carried a kind of languid indifference in her gestures, as if no one in the world was worth her attention. She was like the faint scent of incense after it had burned out—fleeting, elusive, and ungraspable in its charm.

As the main plot of *Emperor Ming* developed to the tribute from a vassal state, Emperor Ming rewarded two important ministers. In the Qiang Kingdom, there was a tradition of comparing virtuous talents to pearls, and the largest East Sea pearl became a crucial plot item contested by the male second and third leads.

However…

Scene: The Imperial Study

Characters: Emperor Ming and Chief Steward Hai, who was about to report the list of tributes.

This was the original script.

But under the surveillance of the behind-the-scenes staff, Tong Zhao, dressed very plainly, barged in.

?

What are you doing here? Quite the scene-stealer.

Emperor Ming didn’t like the idea of adding extra charm, but he had specifically allowed Concubine Chen to come in.

Chief Steward Hai, understanding the situation, lowered his head. He guessed Concubine Chen had come to seek favor and make her presence known, which didn’t concern him.

The Emperor asked her what she wanted.

Tong Zhao, not bothering with formalities, didn’t grind ink but rather casually sat on the Emperor’s lap. Clearly acting out of bounds, she tilted her head and rested it on his broad shoulder, making one doubt whether she could walk independently at all. She spoke in a delicate and pretentious manner: “I haven’t been to the morning greetings these past few days.”

“I heard about it.”

“Who told you, Your Majesty?”

The Emperor replied coolly, “I figured it out myself.”

“It’s actually not my fault,” Tong Zhao, undeterred by his seemingly indifferent attitude, said sullenly. “I ran out of clothes to wear and don’t have new accessories to visit the other ladies.”

Chief Steward Hai, who had been pretending to be invisible, was shocked.

How shameless can Concubine Chen be!

Since her favor began, a steady stream of rewards flowed into her Yanxi Palace.

Moreover, saying she wouldn’t go for morning greetings without new accessories—could such a thing be said by a consort? Isn’t she embarrassed?

Emperor Ming: “This is unreasonable.”

Chief Steward Hai: “Yes, yes, Your Majesty is wise!”

Tong Zhao lifted her face, her red lips slightly curled, and her eyes moist: “I want to wear new clothes every time I appear before Your Majesty, to give you a pleasant surprise.”

Emperors come in many types.

Some prefer spirited young women who aren’t afraid of authority and speak their minds, while Emperor Ming’s preference was very clear: he was a top-notch male chauvinist, not particularly concerned with women’s issues as long as they pleased him and acted coquettishly. He was very receptive to that.

Many women may disdain this, but it’s effective.

Emperor Ming didn’t comment on this flimsy excuse but simply looked at Chief Steward Hai and said, “Since she’s here, let’s see what tributes have come this year and choose some favorites.”

Chief Steward Hai: “Just like that? Your Majesty, please reconsider!”

As a result, the East Sea Pearl, which was a key plot item fought over by the two ministers, was picked by Tong Zhao.

Of course, she also took many excellent clothes, furs, and accessories, but this pearl was the best. It was listed first on the tribute list by the vassal state’s envoy, indicating it was truly a valuable item.

Screenwriter: “What?!”

Screenwriter: “I worked two all-nighters on this script, and now it’s just gone??? Song Wanzhuo, wake up!!”

Life truly is full of ups and downs.

He was so angry that he didn’t even call Song Wanzhuo by name anymore.

In instinctive films, there’s no going back. Although the plot changed, the director didn’t call for a reshoot. Considering the cost of each shoot, the screenwriter could only humbly pat his rapidly thinning hair and mutter, “When Song Wanzhuo comes out, I’m definitely going to grab him by the shoulders and shake him, make him wake up and stop favoring this little enchantress, Chen!”

The Assistant Director pointed out: “Just yesterday, you wanted Song Wanzhuo to be nicer to Tong Zhao in the film to make the favored consort role more convincing.”

The screenwriter was even more frustrated.

He truly didn’t expect Tong Zhao to become so captivating once she got into character.

……

After shooting five consecutive episodes, it was already late at night when the actors emerged from the chamber.

Exhausted, the actors followed medical advice to exercise in the specially provided gym to counteract the negative effects of long hours lying in the chamber. After sweating it out, they showered and went to bed. This was the routine for most actors, as shooting instinctive films was incredibly demanding.

Song Wanzhuo was an exception.

After finishing his stretching exercises and his usual rigorous workout, he returned to his dorm room and requested a sample of the footage from the director.

When he left the chamber, the screenwriter had been casting a very subtle gaze at him.

That gaze was tinged with five parts disappointment, three parts reproach, and two parts sympathy, which made him uneasy, suggesting that there might have been a flaw in the TV show’s performance. The lead actor he was working with was usually reliable; the only potential issue was likely with Tong Zhao, the relationship client.

Sitting on his bed, Song Wanzhuo answered a concerned call from his manager: “Hmm, I’m still up. I’m watching the sample footage before going to bed.”

The manager advised, “Be careful not to be too tired tomorrow. It’ll be the same whether you watch it or not; you’ll remember it by tomorrow anyway.”

Appearing in instinctive films is like having a long dream. To avoid an overload of memories flooding into his brain upon waking, the long-term memories would gradually be sorted out.

The amount of memory from five episodes would be restored after a full night’s sleep.

“It’s fine, one episode is half an hour, so five episodes will be two and a half hours. I’ll watch it at double speed and finish by midnight, then go to bed. I’m worried about Tong Zhao’s performance and afraid I might not hide my opinions about her in the show. The screenwriter’s gaze towards me was strange; I’m afraid I’ve lost my touch…”

Song Wanzhuo calculated it well.

However, after watching, as he gradually recalled the memories from the show, he was completely unable to sleep.

No wonder the screenwriter’s gaze was odd…

Who is this dog emperor? I don’t know him!

Author’s Note:

Dog Emperor in Shock.JPG