After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety
Chapter 717 - 707: Jiang Lingxi is a Fan of Empress Yuanzhao

Chapter 717: Chapter 707: Jiang Lingxi is a Fan of Empress Yuanzhao

Fang Yao expressed his doubts in a low voice, "Why? I think she’s quite similar to Yuan Zhao, the Empress. Although she didn’t become Emperor, her status as Empress and Empress Dowager was not too different from the Emperor’s."

"How are they alike? She is willing to kill her own child and her ex-husband’s child for power, whereas if Yuan Zhao, the Empress, had a child, she would never choose to kill her own child for anything. Xiao Chan is a person who is power-hungry and ruthless, how can she be compared to Yuan Zhao, the Empress." Jiang Lingxi swallowed back the words ’I do not wish to associate with such people’, "Sister Tong, let’s turn it down."

Tong Yue looked at Jiang Lingxi, who suddenly became serious due to Fang Yao’s comparison, and couldn’t find it in herself to argue back on this matter, so she had to find another angle, "Actually, it’s generally difficult for actors to encounter roles they particularly like. If roles were chosen based solely on preferences, no one would play the hated villains. How about reconsidering, it’s a rare opportunity, if you turn it down, it might really go to Zhou Lingyue!"

Jiang Lingxi met Tong Yue’s sympathetic gaze and pursed her lips, "Actually, there’s another reason why I want to give it up. I played Yuan Zhao, the Empress, but I don’t want to be perpetually labeled as such. For similar roles in this genre, I only want to play the most virtuous and powerful character, and I don’t want to settle for anything less."

Tong Yue: "..."

This left her with no way to argue!

And praising Yuan Zhao, the Empress, as the most virtuous and powerful, "Are you secretly a fan of Yuan Zhao, the Empress herself?"

Jiang Lingxi nodded calmly, is there a problem with being my own fan?

Absolutely not!

Lu Zhengzheng couldn’t resist interrupting when she heard this, "Sister Xixi, if Zhou Lingyue hears this, she’d probably be furious!"

No wonder she’s called the "Empress Professional," in every historical drama over the past few years, any role titled ’Empress’, whether major or supporting, was basically portrayed by Zhou Lingyue.

This made other actresses too lazy to even compete for them.

"Don’t interrupt," Tong Yue glared at Lu Zhengzheng and reached up to massage her forehead, "I won’t force you to play Xiao Chan, but we can’t just outright reject Director Tang. I have to think of a reason, we can’t just tell them you simply don’t like the character of Xiao Chan. Speaking of which, I wanted to ask you, do you have any roles in mind you want to play next?"

"Anything other than roles similar to Yuan Zhao, the Empress, is fine."

Tong Yue: "..."

This answer might as well not be an answer.

"If another good script invitation happens to come in these next few days, it’d be easier to decline the offer."

Jiang Lingxi saw her somewhat anxious look, "There’s no need to rush, let’s celebrate the New Year first."

Tong Yue almost laughed in frustration, "It seems that, to you now, nothing is more important than the upcoming New Year."

"Hmm."

"You even ’hmm’!"

"This New Year holds a different meaning for me."

"Alright, alright, anyway, with the achievements you’ve garnered this year, I never imagined at the start of the year that you’d be this successful."

Back then, she was even contemplating what other livelihood Zhu should switch to if her career hit rock bottom. Thankfully, there’s no need to worry about it now.

"It would be my fault if you couldn’t have a good New Year."

The nanny car stopped at Xiyuan, and Jiang Lingxi got off.

After the vehicle started again, Fang Yao nervously tugged on Tong Yue’s sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Sister Tong, did I say something wrong earlier? Is Sister Xixi angry with me?"

Tong Yue was taken aback by the question, remembered what Fang Yao had said before, and reassured with a smile, "You’re overthinking it, Little Xixi wouldn’t hide her anger and leave you guessing. If she were truly angry, the scene would be..." Tong Yue shook her head hurriedly, breaking off her thoughts, "Don’t let your mind wander with wild thoughts, it’s not a thing at all."

Lu Zhengzheng put her arm around Fang Yao’s shoulder, "Actually, I don’t think you were wrong, I’m just not sure why Sister Xixi reacted so strongly this time. But I didn’t see her actually angry, you’re definitely overthinking it!"

Fang Yao nodded shyly, simultaneously resolving to go home and thoroughly brush up on information regarding Xiao Chan.

*

"What do you mean still considering the candidates? Didn’t you tell Director Tang that I specifically cleared my schedule? Is there anyone more suitable for this role than me? Surely no one’s trying to join with financial backing?"

Her agent looked at Zhou Lingyue’s mouth, which, after opening, closed to unleash a torrent of questions, and felt a headache coming on.

"Producers and Director Tang likely have their considerations, let’s patiently wait a bit more."

"Waiting any longer and the vegetables will be wilted!" Zhou Lingyue snapped, twirling anxiously, then suddenly looking extremely agitated, "Do you think they’re considering Jiang Lingxi, hence the delay in a definite answer?"

As she said this, Zhou Lingyue unlocked her tightly gripped phone, staring at Jiang Lingxi’s name firmly occupying the hot search list for three consecutive days since airing, as if willing to see through those three letters with her eyes, "It’s been three days since it aired and it’s still on the hot search, it must be bought!"

The agent opened her mouth but eventually didn’t counter, turning away to gulp down her iced Americano.

She honestly didn’t know how to advise someone who was drilling straight into a dead-end and couldn’t be pulled back to sense!

For an actor, being typecast into the same kind of role is a frightening thing. Sure, you fit the role well, but others do too.

Actors need to adapt to various distinct roles to broaden their acting range and options.

But Zhou Lingyue stubbornly limited herself and believed that no other role was fit for anyone but her in the entertainment circle.

Perhaps it’s because of playing too many Empress roles, but no distinguishing acting quality could be seen between her characters, whereas the air of ’I’m the only one’ was firmly established, bringing it back into real life was quite exhausting for people around her.

Honestly, she’s really worn out now. She’s an agent, not a servant specifically for the Empress!

In her own mind, she even wondered if it’d be good for Jiang Lingxi to snatch this role away.

Perhaps it would finally stimulate Zhou Lingyue to wake up from the self-satisfied illusion of ’only I can play the Empress’.

While Zhou Lingyue constantly claimed Jiang Lingxi’s trending was bought, her fingers were honest as she clicked on it.

Gritting her teeth and frowning, she read through the discussions by countless netizens, recognizing a few familiar influencers along the way.

Until she stumbled upon a hugely liked picture from a well-known influencer.

Captioned: "Yuan Zhao the Empress and her Prime Minister Shen have finally begun their fateful intersection!"

She stared wide-eyed at the face of the man in white in the picture, "Isn’t that the male assistant who was by Jiang Lingxi’s side at the international fashion show? How is he also playing Prime Minister Shen, just what is their relationship?"

The agent listened beside her with an expression of exasperation, "Why do you care about how others participate or their relationships, it doesn’t concern us."

"How can it not concern us?" Zhou Lingyue’s eyes gleamed bizarrely, "Onscreen, they play ruler and courtier, it could very well reflect their real-life relationship. Otherwise, how do you explain Jiang Lingxi bringing this male assistant overseas, isn’t it just to warm her bed? Imagine, if viewers find out about their real-life relationship, then look back at the drama, how would they feel?"

If Jiang Lingxi falters, wouldn’t that benefit her?

How could it not be related!