After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety
Chapter 712 - 702 "Empress Yuan Zhao" Premieres

Chapter 712: Chapter 702 "Empress Yuan Zhao" Premieres

Xu Ling’an glanced at the TV being adjusted by Xia Zhi, "Sister, I’m planning to go to Grandma’s to accompany her watching ’Empress Yuan Zhao’."

"Sure, let Huzi take you." Just as Xia Zhi turned on the TV, the evening news was playing, with a New Year countdown sticker at the top of the screen.

Jiang Lingxi looked at Xu Ling’an who was getting ready to leave, "An’an, why don’t you ask Grandma to come to Xiyuan for New Year?"

She had asked Shen Yunqing, and it turned out the other members of the Shen Family rarely came here, and even less often spent New Year’s at Xiyuan, as they all went back to the old Shen residence.

In such a large place, aside from Shen Yunqing and Xia Zhi, and the staff managing the garden, few new faces appeared throughout the year.

From this perspective, Xiyuan was a private estate that required an invitation to enter.

It was even quieter than the empty Yinhe Palace she once had in the back palace.

At least in the front court of Yinhe Palace, there were many courtiers coming and going everyday for court affairs.

But Xiyuan used to be exclusively for Shen Yunqing, and now she was there, too.

Since her move to Xiyuan, Tong Yue and others sometimes had to come over for work or to do makeup and styling, adding some liveliness to Xiyuan.

But if they spent the New Year at Xiyuan, just the three of them would feel a bit too quiet.

Xu Ling’an was taken aback to hear this suggestion from his sister’s mouth.

Jiang Lingxi smiled and added, "No rush to answer now; ask Grandma first when you get back, in case she has other plans."

"Mm-hmm."

After sending off Xu Ling’an, Shen Yunqing subtly moved to Jiang Lingxi’s side and, following her suggestion, continued, "Then shall we invite the in-laws and Xiaoxu over too?"

After all, their Majesty had always liked a lively atmosphere.

Ironically, in a previous life, the Royal family was the coldest of all.

No matter how splendid the New Year’s Eve banquets at the palace were, it could not conceal its inner coldness.

He still remembered how one time, after a palace banquet, Qing Yuan secretly arranged for him to stay in a side hall. While waiting there, he saw her Majesty, who should have been hosting the Royal family banquet, dressed in ordinary attire, sneak out of the palace with him, and they spent a night strolling the bustling streets, watching the New Year reunions among the common folk.

"You reminded me." Jiang Lingxi immediately picked up the phone beside her, "I’ll call them to ask."

When the call connected, she happened to hear the TV background noise from the other side.

Coincidentally, it was exactly the same as the TV in front of her.

"Are you guys watching the national channel too?"

Jiang Wenhu put down her chopsticks and lowered the TV volume, "We’re waiting to watch ’Empress Yuan Zhao’ that you’re in. Isn’t it supposed to premiere tonight?"

"That’s right, Yunqing and I are getting ready to watch it too."

"I’ve recommended it to the sisters I work with too, without mentioning that it’s my daughter acting in it. I’m afraid they’d all come asking for autographs, now that you’re so popular."

"Mom, do you want to come spend New Year’s Eve at our place?"

Although one question was asked in person and the other over the phone, Jiang Wenhu’s reaction was similar to Xu Ling’an’s; she was stunned for a few seconds, "To spend New Year at your place? Your dad and I have almost finished preparing for New Year’s."

"That’s no problem; you can bring your New Year’s goods over with you. Yunqing and I haven’t had time to prepare anything yet."

"Then, shall we come over the day before New Year’s Eve? You won’t be busy then, right?"

Jiang Lingxi decisively said, "I’ll drive over to pick you up then. Just pack up and wait for me."

"Alright, alright, remember to drive carefully, the roads are busy during New Year."

"Got it."

Jiang Runcheng came out of the kitchen with a bowl of rice, only to see his wife holding a phone in one hand and the remote in the other, her eyes slightly red and glistening under the light.

He quickly glanced at the TV and saw it was just the evening news, showing households preparing for the lively New Year.

"How did the news get you crying?"

Jiang Wenhu sniffed, "Xixi just called, asking if we’d like to spend New Year’s with her and Yunqing."

Jiang Runcheng paused with his chopsticks holding rice in mid-air.

After a while, he softly said, "This is the first time she’s said she’d spend New Year’s with us since she went into the entertainment industry, right?"

"Isn’t it? I’m not crying; I’m just excited. Old Jiang, I’m warning you, don’t mess this up again!"

It took so much effort to reconcile with their daughter, she couldn’t allow her husband to estrange them again.

Being able to have a festive meal together during holidays was what she had always dreamed of.

Jiang Lingxi made a "thumbs up" gesture, and Shen Yunqing nodded with a smile, estimating how many people would move in, "Xia Zhi, have someone tidy up the neighboring courtyard tomorrow."

On the sofa beside him, Xia Zhi, who was about to start following the drama, nodded quickly, then gratefully looked at the Majesty beside Sir.

Finally, finally, this New Year’s wouldn’t just be Sir and him.

This time, they definitely needed to create a festive New Year atmosphere!

Though time was short and the task was heavy, he wasn’t worried, he could start acting now!

Yet, after glancing at the program announcement on the TV, he nonchalantly sat back down.

It wasn’t too late to act after watching two episodes of the drama starring Her Majesty and Sir.

*

"Mom, change the channel, to the national channel!"

The mother turned her head in surprise at her daughter who suddenly dashed out from the bedroom, "I thought you didn’t like watching TV?"

Qiao Xiaoxi plopped down next to her mom and reached for the remote, "This time it’s different; this is the drama my Xixi is acting in, and I plan to watch it from the first episode to the finale. I’ve checked the calendar, and it will just end when my winter break finishes."

"Your Xixi? Do you think a big star like her knows who you are? If you want to use the TV, what about my ’Bossy Little Chef’ that I’m watching? Go, go, watch it on your computer; don’t fight with me over the TV."

"She might really remember me." A black mask flashed across Qiao Xiaoxi’s mind, she blinked, "Besides, watching on the computer isn’t as nice as the big TV, and ’Empress Yuan Zhao’ is surely more interesting than that chef drama of yours. This is about a generation of an empress’s journey to power, I can even learn some history while watching. Watching people cook in dramas every day isn’t as good as buying a cookbook and trying it yourself."

"Can you really learn history from it?"

"If you don’t believe me, watch it with me."

"Okay, just one episode."

This scene occurred in many of Jiang Lingxi’s fans’ homes.

With the fans of other actors in the drama, and those who regularly watched dramas on the national channel, when eight o’clock arrived, the staff who were monitoring the background watched as the line representing the channel’s ratings shot up to an unexpected height on the big screen.

"Here it comes, it’s finally here!"

Jiang Lingxi put down her teacup and looked up at the TV, where the opening sequence finally showed Shen Yunqing’s full face and the character, "The most mysterious Prime Minister Shen, has been hiding for so long, finally shows up!"

Saying this, she turned to look at the person beside her, only to find he was also quietly watching her.

After a pause, "Don’t worry, the other identity won’t be hidden for long either."

Shen Yunqing looked away, satisfied.

However, while some were satisfied, others were purely shocked.

"Holy crap!"

Qiao Xiaoxi blurted out, wide-eyed, and immediately earned a smack on the back from her mom.

"What did you just say? Say it again!"

"No, no, mom, I just thought the actor playing Prime Minister Shen looked familiar!"

Though one was in modern attire and the other in ancient costume, one wearing a mask and the other not, the eyes and the demeanor were unmistakable. It had to be the same person!

So, not only did she once question Xixi’s family as fake fans, but she also dissed the actor playing Prime Minister Shen? And did it several times!

How was she supposed to face the upcoming scenes now?

Qiao Xiaoxi, why are you so impressive!