FYN Chapter 91 Killing Emperor Liang with his own hands
Chapter 91 Killing Emperor Liang with his own hands
After months of filming, the final scene has finally arrived, which is also the climax of the entire series – Mei Changsu leads his troops to force the emperor to abdicate and kills Emperor Liang!
This change to the ending also sparked considerable discussion within the production team.
Unlike the relatively mild "rehabilitation" and "confrontation between ruler and subject" in the original work, Qi Yue's proposed version is clearly much more radical:
At the last moment, the old emperor realized that Mei Changsu was actually Lin Shu. In shock and anger, he pretended to negotiate while secretly dispatching his trusted border troops back to the capital, intending to wipe out Mei Changsu and his supporters in one fell swoop.
Fortunately, the news leaked, and the situation instantly deteriorated to a life-or-death struggle. With no way to retreat, Mei Changsu had no choice but to take a desperate gamble, leading Meng Zhi and his personal guards, veterans loyal to the Chiyan Army, and forces from the martial arts world to forcefully break through the palace gates and strike at the heart of the enemy.
It's no longer about refined scheming and court debates; it's about rolling up your sleeves and getting straight to work.
The filming location was chosen to be the square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the largest and most magnificent "Imperial Palace" scenic area in Hengdian. With banners fluttering and armored soldiers standing in a solemn atmosphere, even knowing it was a film shoot, one could still feel a sense of impending doom.
Various cameras, tracks, and cranes were on standby, and the lights illuminated the square as brightly as day, yet deliberately created a chaotic atmosphere of flickering flames and glints of swords.
Zheng Peng, dressed in the uniform of an ordinary Imperial Guard soldier, stood among a group of extras dressed similarly, clutching an unsharpened standard longsword tightly in his hand.
My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest.
His palms were sweaty, not from the heat, but from excitement and a hint of indescribable nervousness.
The group leader mysteriously approached him late last night, patted him on the shoulder, and said:
"Hey Zheng, I've got a great job. No lines, but you get to show your face and do some action. Plus, you have a scene with the lead actor, Mei Changsu! Want it? The pay is three times what you'd get as a regular extra!"
Do it! Of course we'll do it! Forget triple pay, even if we don't get paid, Zheng Peng would be willing to get exposure just to show his face!
It wasn't until he arrived on set today and listened to the assistant director explain the scene that he realized what kind of role he was playing.
He, Zheng Peng, plays a soldier of Emperor Liang who is personally chosen by Mei Changsu in the final chaos, and then wields a sword to kill the stubbornly resisting Emperor Liang!
"Just remember this," the assistant director emphasized, "when Mei Changsu hands you the sword, your eyes must be resolute, your movement when receiving the sword must be steady, then step forward. Emperor Liang will have a pleading performance; ignore that, just listen. When Mei Changsu says 'make your move,' you thrust the sword forward, and when it touches Emperor Liang's clothes, pull it back immediately. The blood pack will explode inside his clothes. Then hold the pose; there will be close-ups of your face and the sword. Understand?"
"I understand!" Zheng Peng nodded vigorously, engraving every word into his mind.
Regain your composure.
At that moment, he stood in the ranks about to "charge," secretly glancing up at the distance.
Mei Changsu did not wear his signature plain white fur robe, but instead changed into a dark, almost black, close-fitting outfit, covered with light armor, his long hair tied up, and his face pale as if he had just recovered from a long illness.
He was quietly confirming the positioning with the actor playing Meng Zhi next to him.
The actor playing the old emperor is a veteran, who is currently sitting on a makeshift "dragon throne," closing his eyes to rest and prepare for the madness and fear of a dying emperor.
"The entire room fell silent—"
"Final scene! Shot 3! Begin!"
After a loud thud, the explosion occurred, sending plumes of smoke billowing out!
"kill--!!!"
A deafening battle cry rang out, and Zheng Peng, along with his "comrades-in-arms," charged forward, roaring as they followed the rehearsed route.
Although it was just acting, the atmosphere of thousands of troops, palace raids, and regicides still stirred his blood. It felt as if he had truly become a part of the historical tide.
A chaotic "battle" ensued, with the enemy breaking through and closing in on the main hall.
The camera primarily follows Mei Changsu. His steps are somewhat unsteady, but his sword-wielding hand is as steady as a rock. Wherever he goes, the stubborn "Imperial Guards" fall one after another.
Finally, under the protection of Meng Zhi and others, Mei Changsu stepped onto the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and walked to the old emperor, who was slumped on the dragon throne, his crown askew, and who seemed to be insane.
Their eyes met. One gaze was as cold as ice, bearing the weight of a blood feud; the other's eyes held fear, disbelief, and the hysteria of someone at their wit's end.
"You...you really are Lin Shu!" The old emperor's performance was extremely powerful, his voice hoarse and trembling.
"I knew it! I should have killed you long ago! Killed the entire Lin family!"
Mei Changsu simply looked at him quietly, his gaze as if he were looking at a dead man, or as if he were looking at a sinful history that was about to be ended.
He slowly raised the sword in his hand, the tip pointing at the former monarch.
"Your Majesty, the border troops you secretly mobilized couldn't save you in time." His voice was eerily calm.
"The debts of my father and His Highness Prince Qi should be settled."
"Clean? How do you clean it?!"
The old emperor struggled to his feet, but stumbled back onto the dragon throne in a disheveled manner. A twisted smile suddenly appeared on his face, and his voice became urgent and humble.
"Lin Shu! Lin Shu, do you remember me? When you were little, I held you in my arms! In the Imperial Garden... and you even called me Imperial Uncle! Spare my life, spare me! I abdicate! I'll give you everything!"
This sudden plea for mercy ripped away the last shred of dignity the emperor had left, making him all the more ugly and pathetic.
Mei Changsu's eyes remained unwavering, filled only with a deep weariness and coldness. He slowly shook his head, his voice echoing clearly in the suddenly silent hall:
"The Lin Shu who used to call you Imperial Uncle, died at Meiling thirteen years ago, along with your father and the personal guards of the commander's mansion."
He paused, each word like an icicle striking:
"The person standing before you now is merely a strategist, Mei Changsu, who has crawled back from hell to collect his debt from you."
Having said that, he stopped looking at the old emperor's desperate and contorted face, and his gaze swept around. Finally, it landed on the face of a young soldier beside him who was tightly gripping a knife—it was Zheng Peng.
Mei Changsu reached out, turned the hilt of his longsword around, and handed it to Zheng Peng.
"You," Qi Yue's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable command, "come here."
All eyes, including several cameras, instantly focused on Zheng Peng!
Zheng Peng reached out and took the heavy longsword, which seemed to be burning hot.
It was icy cold to the touch, yet so hot it made his heart clench.
"Lin Shu! No—!!!" The old emperor let out his final, desperate cry.
Qi Yue looked at Zheng Peng and coldly uttered two words:
"Let's do it."
Zheng Peng felt a jolt run through his body; all the tension, excitement, and thrill of filming combined into a resolute force at that moment.
He gripped the sword hilt tightly with both hands, his eyes fixed on the body on the dragon throne—a symbol of supreme imperial power, now ugly and begging for mercy—and a low, furious roar escaped his throat.
With all his might, he thrust the longsword forward with tremendous force!
"Pfft!"
The sword tip pierced the old emperor's dragon robe, causing his body to shudder violently. The specially made blood pack on his chest burst open, instantly staining the area red.
Zheng Peng maintained his thrusting posture, his arm trembling slightly from the exertion.
The camera zoomed in, giving him a clear close-up.
At that moment, Zheng Peng felt a sense of disorientation, as if he were the true protagonist of "Nirvana in Fire".
The camera rises,
Soldiers flooded into the palace like a tidal wave, and the dead old emperor was swallowed up by the sea of people.
"Card--!!"
"This one passed!!"
"Congratulations everyone, filming has wrapped!"