The driver took the order and turned at the next intersection.
"good!"
After the scenes were finished, Director Zhang looked at his watch and announced that they would stop filming here in the morning and continue in the afternoon.
Mingwei stepped off the carriage, and the assistant immediately came over with an umbrella to block the bright August sunlight for her. Mingwei took a sip of water and glanced around. She found a strange woman among the familiar staff. She was wearing an exotic black suspender dress, a sun hat, and sunglasses. She looked cool and gorgeous, with a pair of seductive red lips.
Mingwei couldn't help but take a few more glances.
The other person seemed to notice her gaze, raised the corners of his lips slightly, took off his sunglasses and walked towards her.
The assistant whispered to Ming Wei: "That's Shen Su, the elder sister of the Dongying boss's wife and the boss of the Tianji Model Agency. She probably wants to sign you."
Ming Wei suddenly realized. People outside didn't know that she was playing the role of Princess Minghua, but this was no secret in the industry. Since she joined the group, she had been invited to meet with management companies one after another. Ming Wei refused the small company, but there were two more famous management companies that attracted her. She asked Chen Zhang for advice. Chen Zhang knew more inside information than she did, and suggested that she turn it down and wait a little longer.
While she was thinking, Shen Su had already come up to her, introduced herself with a smile, and praised Ming Wei's acting skills.
Mingwei thanked him modestly.
"Miss Ming, do you have time? If it's convenient, let's have lunch together." Shen Su made the invitation.
Mingwei had two hours of break and went to the hotel with Shen Su.
Shen Su was originally a model agent, and in recent years she has expanded into the film and television industry, creating a world for herself. Later, her sister married into the Lu family of Dongying, and Shen Su had more resources, and the overall strength of the company was very strong. However, Shen Su was impartial, and when chatting with Mingwei, she did not mention the Dongying boss lady who recommended Mingwei for an audition, and even advised Mingwei not to rush to make a decision, to start filming first, and then carefully consider whether to sign with Tianji after the filming was completed.
Mingwei was moved at that time. She went back to her room and searched for information about Shen Su. Then she looked at the contract that Shen Su left for her. Mingwei's heart settled down.
The filming of her first drama is about to be completed, and she has also found an agent. It seems that her acting career is about to truly begin.
The afternoon was Mingwei and Mu Tingzhou's last scene together.
In the Taifu Mansion, the Taifu sat alone in the study with a worried look on his face.
The Taifu, who was over fifty years old, had wrinkles on his face and a beard around his mouth and under his chin. The only thing that remained unchanged was his deep, bright black eyes. Having experienced countless changes in the court, the Taifu rarely showed obvious personal emotions, but at this moment, he felt heavy-hearted, so heavy that he could hardly breathe.
"Sir, the princess requests an audience."
The Master's hands trembled, and for a moment he doubted whether he had heard it wrong, but he immediately understood.
Now, she could only beg him.
The Grand Tutor went to greet the princess in person. From a distance he saw her in court dress. Her face was pale, yet as bright as a pearl, and he could not look at her directly.
"I didn't know the princess was coming. Please forgive me for not coming to greet you." Even when they were far away, he dared to look at her. When they got closer, the tutor lowered his head respectfully, just like every time he met her over the years.
Princess Minghua cried silently.
At first, she hated him for being ruthless and impulsive to marry. A few months after the marriage, Jin'er died of illness, and the tutor became a widower. At that time, Princess Minghua regretted it so much that she couldn't sleep or eat. She wished that time could go back. Then she would definitely wait for a few more months until he lost his wife, and then pester him until he softened his heart. It was also at that time that Princess Minghua realized that her tutor was too deep, and had already penetrated into his bones and blood.
But time cannot be turned back, and she no longer has the right to be willful. Her husband has deep feelings for her, and she is pregnant with a child.
Once you miss it, you miss it after all.
"Teacher, please stand up." She said softly, her voice choked with sobs.
The tutor did not raise his head, but bowed slightly and asked her to go to the upper room.
Since the marriage, the two have met several times, but seldom talked. Now they are in the same room. She is no longer young and willful, and he is still silent. Things have changed. Even so, in the eyes of Princess Minghua, the tutor is not an outsider. There is no need for her to be polite to him. He may not like her, but he has always taken care of her in his own way, including tolerating the prince consort several times.
After a long silence, Princess Minghua said bluntly: "The prince consort's crime is unforgivable. I have no intention of saving him, but Lang'er and Yu'er are my flesh and blood. I can't watch them die... Master, the emperor listens to you the most. I beg you..."
At this point, Princess Minghua burst into tears, covered her mouth, turned around and cried with her back to him.
She didn't want to embarrass him, but she really had no choice.
"I obey your orders. I will do my best to help you two gentlemen."
Without any hesitation, without any weighing of pros and cons, the Taifu calmly promised, and agreed so easily that it was easy for the person making the request to have the illusion of being pampered, as if if she asked for his life, he would give it without hesitation.
Princess Minghua cried even more sadly. She was young and ignorant and could not see through his deep love. Now she understood it, but it was too late.
She raised her sleeves to wipe her tears until they stopped, then slowly turned around and walked towards him.
The Grand Tutor lowered his head and followed her footsteps. There were only two steps left, and he instinctively wanted to retreat. But Princess Minghua rushed over first, hugged him desperately, and pressed her head tightly against his broad chest, and cried with great effort. This cry was more effective than any coquettishness. The Grand Tutor stood firmly in place, stopped hiding, and closed his eyes to let her hug him.
"Is Mu Ze good to you?" she asked crying.
Mu Ze is the adopted son of the Grand Tutor.
"Respect me as your own father." The Taifu raised the corners of his lips slightly, and his voice was unexpectedly soft.
Princess Minghua smiled. Having a younger person by her side was more or less a companion.
"If I could start over again, would you lie to me again?" She asked quietly, rubbing his chest dependently.
The Master opened his eyes and his gaze fell on the calligraphy and painting hanging opposite him. It was as if he was looking through the calligraphy and painting and saw fifteen years ago.
He understood what she meant, but he didn't know how to respond, and he didn't know if he would respond.
There were servants walking around outside the door. The tutor was busy with court affairs and could not spend much time with Princess Minghua.
He didn't urge her, and Princess Minghua took the initiative to let go of his shoulders, and pulled his left arm with her small hand, moving it down little by little, and finally holding his big hand covered with calluses. The tutor looked down and saw her crying while she put the red jade bracelet on her wrist, the bracelet her mother left for her, from her side to his hand.
"I won't be able to come out from now on. You should take good care of yourself. You are old now, so don't do everything for yourself."
After saying that, he let go.
The Master moved his fingers as if to catch her, but he let her go without even sending her off.
I didn't expect that today's farewell would be forever.
Next, the tutor went to the palace to meet the emperor, willing to give up his power in exchange for the lives of Princess Minghua's two sons. The emperor was a little shaken and agreed to consider it, but at night he dreamed that the prince consort brought his two sons into the palace. The emperor woke up with a startled look and became more determined to kill. Soon, the prince consort and his family were all executed.
Princess Minghua was shocked to hear the tragic news. She sat there in a daze all night. Before dawn, she changed into her girlhood hairstyle and clothes and committed suicide by taking poison.
Upon hearing the news, the Taifu's hair turned white overnight, and he gradually became thinner. He passed away suddenly in the late winter of the same year.
When the Grand Tutor dies in the later period, he will look back on his life, sacrificing love for eternal achievements and being admired by thousands of people. From the perspective of serious drama, Mu Tingzhou truly interprets the life of this Prime Minister, who was decisive in his prime and wise and restrained in his later years. From the perspective of romance, although the Grand Tutor and Princess Minghua are tragic, their emotional line runs through the whole play. The scenes are concise but touching, which adds a human side to the role of the Grand Tutor and adds a lot of fun to the whole play, becoming the key to attracting young audiences.
At the wrap-up party, Director Zhang got drunk and patted Mu Tingzhou on the shoulder and praised him non-stop. Not only Mu Tingzhou, but every important actor received praise from the director. The script was well written, and the actors performed well. Even before the film was released, Director Zhang knew clearly that this collaboration had produced another good film that was destined to become a classic.
"We are old and will have to leave the stage sooner or later. You young people should work hard. The future of Chinese film and television depends on you. If you don't want to shoot, then shoot some quality films and set a good example for the next generation!" Director Zhang shouted, his face flushed from drinking, and raised his glass high: "Come on, let's drink to good films!"
“Cheers to a good movie!”
Mingwei stood up and clinked glasses with everyone, feeling inexplicably heroic.
The party lasted a lively night and ended at almost nine o'clock.
Mingwei's table left the last and called a designated driver. She, Mu Tingzhou, and Chen Zhang got into a car, with Mu Tingzhou sitting in the passenger seat.
"Have you chosen your next play?" Chen Zhang chatted with Ming Wei.
Ming Wei has already signed with Shen Su. Due to the confidentiality agreement, she couldn't say too much. She only said, "There are two scripts. One is for the second female lead in a big project, and the other is for the female lead in a small project. I haven't decided which one to take yet." The second female lead is a positive character and has a lot of scenes. It is said that she is quite popular among female stars.
Chen Zhang thought about it for a moment and guessed what the big project was. He said meaningfully, "The choice is yours. However, I have also accepted a big project."
Mingwei understood immediately, smiled, and didn't give a definite answer. It was of course a pleasure to work with a friend, but Mingwei actually preferred the small project, which was fresh. The script of the big project was old-fashioned and full of the routines of palace dramas.
The car arrived at the hotel. Chen Zhang had to go somewhere else to meet friends, so Ming Wei and Mu Tingzhou got out of the car.
Mingwei and Chen Zhang had endless things to talk about, but she couldn't find any topics to talk about with Mu Tingzhou because Mu Tingzhou ignored her anyway.
Unexpectedly, while waiting for the elevator, Mu Tingzhou spoke to her first and asked her what types of the two scripts she was going to take.
Mingwei was flattered and quickly gave a brief answer.
Mu Tingzhou had a blank expression on his face. He stepped into the elevator first, looked at the floor number and said, "You have a high starting point. If you can play the leading role, don't play the supporting role. It's cheap."