CHAPTER 464: CHAPTER 464: MR. SONG’S ENCOURAGING TEXT MESSAGE

"Arch-rivals meeting must be especially envious," that must be the situation being described.

On the corridor, Tang Li did not acknowledge Lai Yuaner and passed by her, heading straight for the director’s room.

Zhao Zhenglei was in the room discussing the script with the lead actors. Apart from the lead actress Tong Jing, Tang Li had also met the lead actor Li Yanxin at the previous kickoff press conference. Li Yanxin was not only a veteran actor who had won the TV King award multiple times, but also the main lecturer for the acting department at Capital Film Academy.

In front of the 30-year-old Tong Jing and the 42-year-old Li Yanxin, Tang Li, who would be just 20 years old in a few months, was not only a newbie but also a junior.

Because of Tang Li’s arrival, both leads packed up their scripts and left first.

Previously, at the kickoff press conference, a scandal had occurred. The producers had some complaints about Tang Li and Lai Yuaner. After Tang Li was cleared of the drug abuse suspicions, Lai Yuaner was still mired in controversy. It was because of Lai Yuaner’s background that the production didn’t replace her.

Upon reaching the set, the first thing Zhao Zhenglei had Tang Li do was hair extensions.

He also went over the scenes that were to be filmed the next day.

Tang Li’s first scene after joining the cast was of her being brought back to the palace by Emperor Zhou Qing. In the script, this scene is a climax in the latter half of the drama, revealing an impending struggle in the harem between the female lead from the Qi Family and the new favorite of Emperor Zhou Qing, Mrs. Bao.

After finishing her tasks, Tang Li didn’t forget to send a message to Song Baiyan to report that she was safe.

In a second message, she told him that she would be going to get her hair done tomorrow morning, and in the afternoon, she would be filming her first scene for "Phoenix Concubine."

At the end of the message, Tang Li typed a few words: "Somewhat nervous."

After she finished showering and came out, there was already a reply from Song Baiyan on her cellphone.

— It was a line of poetry from "To My Nephew’s Study".

"Youth is the time to toil for a lifetime, never slacken in your efforts during these precious days."

Holding her cellphone, Tang Li deciphered the general meaning of the poem: In one’s youth, effort and learning are the foundations for the future, and one should never let up during those valuable times.

Sitting on the bed, she looked at this encouraging message. Her previously anxious emotions gradually calmed, and she faintly recognized that no matter what she encountered outside, he was the harbor she could return to, the person she could rely on and trust in this world.

The next day, right after Tang Li had her hair done, she went to the makeup studio.

Her makeup was different from that of the other actresses in historical palace attire; as Bao Xin, a rustic country girl who had just arrived in the capital, who couldn’t be more plain, even Emperor Zhou Qing, who had someone tidy her up beforehand, couldn’t help her close the gap in demeanor with other concubines.

Most importantly, Tang Li had to portray Bao Xin’s pure gaze—the stunned yet clear eyes after she stepped off the horse carriage and saw the vast palace, which stirred Emperor Zhou Qing’s compassion and led him to disregard the etiquette, taking her hand and stepping into Weiyang Palace.

The makeup for Tang Li took nearly an hour.

By then, she had already changed into the Zhou Dynasty outfits prepared by the crew.

After finishing the makeup, Tang Li picked up a thermos, took a small sip of hot water, and just as she screwed on the cap, a staff member opened the door to the makeup room, momentarily startled by the sight of Tang Li in front of the mirror, then immediately said, "Teacher Tang, the director asked me to inform you, the next scene is yours."

In the crew, regardless of seniority, staff members always address actors as ’Teacher’.

"Alright, I know," Tang Li smiled and replied.

As the door to the makeup room closed again, Tang Li turned her gaze back to the mirror, observed her ancient costume with red garments and dark eyebrows, closed her eyes slowly, then opened them with firm confidence and grace.

She told herself in her heart—

From this moment on, you are no longer Tang Li, but Bao Xin.