Nian and Xi's starkly different reactions made Ling realize how serious things had become

"That's truly remarkable." Lee, a shrewd and astute individual born into a prestigious family, though he had never entered officialdom, understood its intricate relationships. He said, "If he can subdue all the officials, wouldn't the entire Great Yan be under the sole control of this Emperor Jiajing?"

"Even the late emperor wouldn't dare say he had this kind of courage, would he? The son of the Duke Wei is truly gifted—ah, I'm talking about in the script."

Lee, in the most absurd way, voiced everyone's thoughts, and naturally, he wouldn't be blamed. Even the Great Yan Emperor couldn't help but nod and sigh inwardly:

"Is that really the case...? My talent is insufficient, and I'm afraid this Emperor Jiajing's talent will surpass even that of my elder brother."

"But if that's the case, why did Director Chen Qi say that the Emperor Jiajing was a tyrant? He had such talent, controlled the court, and all the officials were afraid of him. How could he be associated with being a tyrant?"

"Or perhaps... his talent was wasted? Or he went astray?"

The Great Yan Emperor's words made it clear to everyone that Chen Qi had more to say. Since the Emperor Jiajing was so talented, yet Chen Qi described him as a foolish ruler, it was obvious that this exceptionally gifted monarch had made some mistake. This was a valuable lesson for them.

"Your Majesty is half right." Chen Qi nodded, then began to introduce the background of "The Great Yan Dynasty 1566," saying:

"In the background of my drama, 'Sui' had been completely wiped out during His Majesty's reign. However, the true form of 'Sui' was awakened, and the Great Yan, at the cost of fighting for a single city and losing three-tenths of its soldiers, finally destroyed 'Sui'."

"And it was under these circumstances that the Emperor Jiajing unexpectedly became the emperor. The Great Yan Nation was greatly weakened. With Ursus raiding the border in the north, the Higashi being eroded by the Seaborn in the east, and the Church of the Deep repeatedly plundering, the Great Yan once again fell into an even more critical situation of internal and external troubles."

Chen Qi briefly explained the background. When they heard that the original forms of "Sui" had been destroyed, the four "Sui" members, led by Chongyue, all had different expressions. Chongyue and Ling didn't react much, but Nian and Xi were quite frightened.

The Great Yan Emperor and others focused on the loss of "less than three out of ten remaining," nodding to themselves. This was in line with their long-held expectations, which was why they dared not completely break with "Sui" and had to minimize the losses.

If they were to actually wage war against the true form of "Sui," the Great Yan would undoubtedly suffer a tremendous loss of national strength. As for the raids by Ursus and Seaborn's followers mentioned by Chen Qi, they were within the expected scope.

"It's truly a hardship for our descendants," the Emperor of Great Yan lamented. Wei Yenwu nodded in agreement; such a war-torn Great Yan had indeed made things difficult for its later rulers.

"And in the first few years of his reign, Jiajing's political achievements can be described as quite remarkable, and he has the potential to lead the Great Yan, riddled with problems, toward a path of revival," Chen Qi continued, speaking to everyone.

"Unfortunately, during the reign of the Emperor Jiajing, he made a grave mistake that directly led to the complete loss of all his previous efforts in governing diligently and frugally."

"What is it?" everyone asked curiously, and Chen Qi, after a light laugh, said something that was sure to shock:

"He was no longer satisfied with his status as an immortal being and wanted to become a new 'god,' so he began the path of cultivation. In other words, he began to want to become the only Feranmut of the Great Yan."

"As a result, for the next twenty years, the Emperor Jiajing never attended court again, instead retiring to the Western Garden to practice Daoism and cultivate immortality. He even created 'elixirs of immortality' to help himself become a new Feranmut, neglecting state affairs, causing waste of resources and lives, and emptying the national treasury."

"Boom!"

However, just as Chen Qi finished speaking, a loud bang was heard, and the Emperor of Great Yan suddenly stood up, the chair beneath his feet shattering in the middle. This clearly demonstrated the enormous impact Chen Qi's words had on the Emperor of Great Yan.

"... I lost my composure." It took the Great Yan Emperor a long time to calm himself down. Only when the Imperial Guards outside the door brought him a new chair did the Great Yan Emperor sit back down, but his expression still showed uncontrollable remorse.

"Foolish, utterly foolish! They are already immortal beings, why pursue immortality further? During their reign, they should focus on managing state affairs well, why bother becoming some kind of Feranmut?"

"... Perhaps it's because he was exceptionally gifted and knew that if he lived long enough, he could use his talent to ensure the continuation of the Great Yan?"

At this point, Wei Yenwu also expressed his judgment. Although he did not agree with the Emperor Jiajing's actions, he could understand why the Emperor Jiajing did so.

"Besides, if what Chen Qi said is true, then when he ascended the throne, you and I should both have died because of 'age,' otherwise he wouldn't have had the chance to sit on the throne."

"Having witnessed the deaths of us brothers, it's likely that this is part of the reason he wanted to become an immortal Feranmut."

"There is still a gap between immortal beings and those who can truly be called 'gods'."

Wei Yenwu's remark made everyone instantly understand why the Emperor Jiajing sought to become Feranmut. Chen Qi, who had merely adapted the Emperor Jiajing's story based on the Terra universe, looked at the self-justifying Wei Yenwu with some surprise—how did he manage to make this setup coherent?

After all, in Chen Qi's world, Emperor Jiajing's obsession with cultivation was nothing new. Countless emperors throughout history, starting with Qin Shi Huang, had become addicted to consuming elixirs and cultivating immortality. Chen Qi was even worried that his reason might seem too out of place in Terra.

Chen Qi carefully noted down Wei Yenwu's explanation, thinking he could use it in the preface of the first episode of the TV series, so that the audience of the Great Yan wouldn't have any complaints about why the Emperor Jiajing was obsessed with cultivating immortality.

"The Great Yan destroyed the Feranmut, yet the emperor is obsessed with becoming the Feranmut —how ironic."

Xi suddenly uttered those words, immediately attracting everyone's attention. Although a little scared, because of Chen Qi, the timid Xi seemed much more unrestrained, simply drinking her tea silently and pretending not to say anything.

"Director Chen Qi, we now know the background. So, what are your plans for the key roles?"

Faced with the awkward atmosphere, the Grand Tutor stepped forward promptly. Chen Qi knew they were now discussing a crucial scene from the filming, and immediately said:

"The most expressive character in the drama, the Emperor Jiajing, naturally needs someone capable of portraying him. My plan is to have Duke Wei assist, but I wonder..."

"He's willing to help; I've already discussed it with him." The Emperor of Great Yan waved his hand, indicating that this point didn't need further discussion. Seeing this, Chen Qi immediately stated the next role:

"Several very important figures were involved, and they were the ministers who had the most contact with the Emperor Jiajing. Among them were Yan Song, the Grand Secretariat Yan Song, known as 'Grand Secretary Yan,' and his son, the Junior Grand Secretary Yan Shifan, who was then the head of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Works."

"These two characters, along with their followers, form the 'Yan Faction,' which is the largest force in this drama. Considering the relationship between the two characters, to portray them effectively, I think we need to first consider their interactions, which requires finding a pair of similar people."

As soon as Chen Qi finished speaking, everyone's eyes were drawn involuntarily to the Rat King, who was positioned quite far back, and Lin Yuxia, who was standing next to him.

The Rat King never expected that Chen Qi would suddenly hand him the role of "Grand Secretariat Secretary." He had initially thought that Chen Qi had only asked him and Lin Yuxia to come for a minor role, but unexpectedly, Chen Qi had given him the opportunity to play the part of "Grand Secretary."

Moreover, this was of great significance to the Rat King. Lin Yuxia had only acted in a movie called "Kung Fu Hustle" with Chen Qi. Although she was called the female lead, she didn't have a single line and was just a decorative vase. Yet, the Emperor of Great Yan appointed her as a seventh-rank official, completely clearing her name from the underworld family.

Rat King had given up hope of clearing his name; he had only ever wanted to be Wei Yenwu's "black glove" for life, just to protect his daughter's future. Unexpectedly, Chen Qi's actions gave Rat King, at his age, a glimpse of the possibility of clearing his name. He was extremely surprised and delighted, turning his gaze to Chen Qi.

"Is it really possible for me?"

"Of course, Rat King. I can't think of a more suitable candidate than you."

Chen Qi also cupped his hands in greeting. He had his reasons for choosing the Rat King. After all, Yan Song was quite old. Among all the immortal beings present, only the Rat King could convey that sense of old age without losing wisdom. Therefore, the Rat King had to play Yan Song.

Lin Yuxia, who plays Yan Shifan, repeatedly speaks rudely to Yan Song in the drama. Chen Qi believes that just based on this point, it is much easier for Lin Yuxia to handle the role of Yan Shifan than for ordinary people.

"Since Director Chen Qi has made that decision, I grant it."

"--This old minister thanks Your Majesty!"

As soon as the Emperor of Great Yan spoke, the Rat King almost burst into tears. He knelt down before Great Yan Emperor with a grand gesture, and Lin Yuxia helped him to his feet.

"Besides the Yan Faction, another group that rivals them in the drama is the 'Clear Stream Faction,' who are attached to Prince Yu, a prince of the Jiajing Emperor. They are unwilling to submit to the Yan Faction, so they secretly compete with the Yan Faction and want to overthrow Yan Faction."

"I understand." Hearing Chen Qi's words, Chen Huijie immediately understood and asked with a smile, "The Yan Faction are the villains who form cliques for personal gain, while the Purists are just honest and good officials who dislike the Yan Faction and want to overthrow them, right?"

"... You'll find out later, Huijie."

Chen Qi did not answer directly, but just smiled. The Emperor of Great Yan and Wei Yenwu understood from Chen Qi's reaction that this "Clear Stream Faction," whose name sounded very upright, might not be much better than the Yan Faction.

"Although the Purists did not have a nominal leader, it was mainly modeled after three ministers: Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng."

"I'm thinking, if possible, please have Grand Tutor play the role of Xu Jie. However, I haven't decided on the roles of Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng yet."

"Then let me decide." The Emperor of Great Yan nodded, looking at the list in his hand. Suddenly, he caught sight of the name "Directorate of Ceremonial" and couldn't help but ask:

"What is the purpose of the numerous roles within the Directorate of Ceremonial?"

"These are a group of powerful eunuchs who rely on imperial authority. Since their power is granted by the emperor, they are extremely loyal to him and convey his will. All decrees of the Grand Secretariat must be approved by the Directorate of Ceremonial before they can be implemented. They can be considered to be exercising imperial power on behalf of the emperor."

Chen Qi answered the Great Yan Emperor's question, and upon hearing the word "eunuch," the Great Yan Emperor frowned and immediately said:

"This needs to be changed. In our Great Yan, eunuchs have long been consigned to the dustbin of history as a relic of the past. Could the Directorate of Ceremonial be changed to a part of the 'Inspectorate'? At least we shouldn't let eunuchs reappear."

"Of course, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs will serve as the core department of the Inspectorate. As for the roles within it, aside from the few already appointed, we'll leave the rest to Your Majesty."

Soon, in just a few words, the crew for the first episode of "The Great Yan Dynasty 1566" was gradually finalized. And now, apart from Chen Qi, no one present had any idea the immense upheaval this drama would cause in the officialdom of the Great Yan...

This drama exposes the most authentic and treacherous aspects of officialdom, with no stereotypical characters and almost no absolute good or bad. Instead, it focuses on the clash of interests and stances. The release of this drama will allow the darkness of officialdom, which the Great Yan has never revealed to the world for so many years, to be fully released in one go.

The clashes and conflicts between ruler and subject, people and officials will all be revealed in this drama.

Chapter 271: The starkly different reactions of Nian and Xi revealed the seriousness of the situation.

"So, here are the scripts for the first two episodes. Shall we have the first audition in a week?"

"Alright, Director Chen Qi, please rest assured. I have already instructed them to set up the exquisite residence in the palace in the Western Garden according to your instructions. You will definitely see a satisfactory filming location in a week."

After Chen Qi and his party greeted the Emperor of Great Yan, they were arranged to stay in the palace, which Chen Qi accepted. He had Mini-map and knew that the Emperor of Great Yan had not specifically assigned anyone to monitor them. Moreover, if he really wanted to monitor them, it would be the same even if they were on a ship, since this was their territory.

Chen Qi gave her the script and told Talulah to have everyone on the ship move their filming equipment and personal belongings to their quarters in the palace. No sooner had Talulah left than Xi silently approached and said:

"... You don't need to take such a risk for us, Chen Qi."

Xi's words made Chen Qi turn his head slightly. However, a gentle smile appeared on Xi's face that even Chen Qi found a little strange, yet it was mixed with a hint of guilt and unease. She said softly:

"I've even forgotten what I said back then. I was just saying it in anger... Nian and I were both under surveillance by the Imperial Calendar Bureau back then, far from the freedom we have now."

"Now, Nian, your sister, your brother, and I have all regained our freedom. You've done enough for us. There's no need to risk angering the Great Yan Emperor by filming this project... While the Great Yan Emperor hasn't made up his mind yet, it's not too late to give up."

Giving up? Chen Qi was also a little surprised to hear this word from Xi's mouth. If you were to ask who in the crew was the most stubborn, Xi would definitely be number one. Although Xi was in charge of set design, if she didn't want to take on a painting, even Chen Qi couldn't persuade her. This shows how much influence Xi had in the crew. She always stuck to her principles, refusing commissions and only painting what she felt was right. If she didn't want to paint, no one could change her mind.

Now, to hear the word "give up" from Xi's mouth, Chen Qi didn't think twice and immediately laughed:

"Xi, you have your principles, and I have mine. This drama was already in my plans. Even without your request, I would have filmed it in Great Yan when the time was right."

"... You're lying." However, Xi replied decisively, "Someone as indifferent as you, if it weren't for my words back then, how could you possibly have filmed such a backstabbing drama?"

"Chen Qi, I'm begging you this once, please stop filming. Humans are untrustworthy. Even an emperor, if you really said something sharp inside and angered the Emperor of Great Yan, you wouldn't have the strength to escape."

"... This seems to be the first time you've advised me against making a drama. Talulah and everyone else have tried to persuade me before, but I always managed to convince them."

Seeing that Xi was clearly taking this very seriously, Chen Qi couldn't help but ask her a question in return. At that moment, the anxious Xi reacted almost reflexively, forgetting even to suppress her voice, and said:

Because I'm afraid you'll die!

"..."

As Xi finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the scene. Not far away, Nian, who was usually quite outspoken, was unable to interject when she heard Xi and Chen Qi's conversation. When Xi spoke, Nian didn't even refute her, but a look of melancholy appeared in her eyes.

She was afraid he would die... Yes, Xi was afraid Chen Qi die, and Nian was actually afraid too. But Nian kept these thoughts to herself and didn't say them aloud.

Like Xi, Nian and Xi had known Chen Qi developed a deep friendship with him before they even knew he was their "younger brother." Therefore, after learning that Chen Qi was their thirteenth brother, they were unsure how to face Chen Qi, but their feelings for Chen Qi were now tinged with a sense of "protection for a younger brother."

However, the difference between Nian and Xi is that Xi spent a whole year thinking about this question during her time in the world of the painting. Finally, when she met Chen Qi, she had a sudden realization and understood that her feelings for Chen Qi were not those of a sister for a brother, but rather heartfelt affection.

While Nian seemed unperturbed by this, in reality, she was using her status as the "older sister" as an excuse to justify her indifference.

However, Nian knew Chen Qi even earlier than Xi, and she even realized earlier than Xi that Chen Qi was her confidant and someone she wanted to learn from. Now that such a big change in identity has occurred, it is impossible for Nian to adapt immediately.

Nian feared Chen Qi's death, fearing that his confidant and the only person he truly admired would offend the emperor with his sharp words and die. He was even more afraid that Chen Qi's identity would be exposed, and that the Great Yan emperor would think he had been plotted against by "Sui" and kill Chen Qi in a fit of rage.

Then, she would be all alone again, with no one to find a confidant... How many years had she waited to find someone who could stay by her side for a long time? Where could she find such a person?

"You are my friend. Your work gives my paintings a soul. Our collaboration is seamless. You are my true confidant."

Compared to Nian, who appears outwardly fiery but keeps her true feelings hidden, Xi, who seems quiet but whose emotions become increasingly uncontrollable once they erupt, actually spoke Nian's innermost thoughts aloud, her face slightly flushed with anxiety as she said:

"I don't want you to die because of this. If you die... I'll have to go back to Huiji Mountain, back to that landscape I've seen countless times, back to that lonely life, forgetting time, forgetting warmth. I can never live that kind of immortal life again."

"You tainted me with the dust and grime, you made my sister pull me out of Huiji Mountain, and you stirred up waves in my heart with your works... How could you be so heartless as to do all this and then just abandon me?"

"No way, Chen Qi! I will never leave you before you die. If you want to die, I will die before you, and I never want to return to Huiji Mountain where only my own voice can answer."

Xi's attitude was utterly impolite, and her tone was more forceful than ever before. However, the words that came out of Xi's mouth sounded like a plea, even giving the impression that if Chen Qi were to think, she would follow him to her death.

Perhaps, as Xi said, she had experienced the life of a reclusive "immortal" and now, being by Chen Qi's side, she never wanted to go back. But to others, these words didn't sound the same.

"Oh my, my dear Xi-mei, your words just now were so sweet they almost sobered me up. I never imagined you could be so bold; it's certainly broadened my horizons."

Just then, Ling, carrying a wine jug, walked up to the three of them in a daze. Although Ling seemed half-drunk and half-awake, she had actually heard the whole story and completely understood Xi's thoughts. Now her mind was perfectly clear.

After sobering up, she was filled with uncontrollable anger and horror. She grabbed Xi's shoulder, her breath reeking of alcohol, and said with a forced smile:

"What? Xi-mei, which man have you taken a fancy to? You should tell your sister when the time comes. Don't stay in your empty painting tonight, come sleep with your sister, let's chat, and have a good time with your brother."

"Sister, I..."

However, Xi only realized what was happening when she saw Ling arrive. Besides her and Nian, Ling and her elder brother Chongyue were still in the palace. Had her words been heard? Could it be that her sister Ling had already guessed her thoughts?

At this thought, alarm bells rang in Xi's heart, and she subconsciously wanted to go back into the painting to hide, but before she could move, Ling grabbed her by the back of the neck, and she immediately lost all strength.

"Don't be so quick to run away. Your sister won't force you to drink; she just wants to have a good chat."

"Ah, Nianmei, why don't you come along? The chef at the palace made some really good Shangshu cuisine last time, I'm sure you'll like it."

Ling grabbed Nian, who was trying to escape. She hadn't forgotten that Nian had been silent the whole time, and something must have been on his mind. Ling thought of a possibility, and she felt like her heart, liver, and lungs were about to explode with anger. Her cheeks were flushed red, not from the alcohol, but simply from anger.

What angered Ling wasn't that her two silly sisters had designs on her brother—perhaps her brother did—but Ling herself was free-spirited and indifferent to worldly conventions and rules. What angered her was that her two sisters didn't consider the situation. Knowing full well that Chen Qi was their brother, and that they were all in the palace, under the Emperor's nose, with Chen Qi already in danger of his identity being exposed, they still did something so conspicuous, insisting on exposing their only innocent brother.

Ling is always told by Chongyue that she won't be a good older sister. Mainly because Ling feels that no matter what the twelve brothers and sisters do, it will be seen as a conspiracy, so why should she care about Nian and Xi? Anyway, Imperial Calendar Bureau will make up the rest in her own mind.

But Chen Qi is clean; he's the only one who can completely clear their names. Now that Chen Qi is halfway there, these two sisters are making a huge fuss over this trivial matter. What will happen when the little pureblood baby is already in their belly? Won't the Great Yan Emperor know what's going on as soon as he sees it?

It's not impossible for Feranmut to not have offspring, but the offspring of two different Feranmut races is very likely to be a chimera, and probably short-lived (compared to Feranmut)... But if you give birth to a purebred baby, people will definitely suspect Chen Qi!

If I don't punish you today, you'll probably cause trouble for everyone! That's what makes me angry.

"Excuse me, Director Chen Qi, we have to take the two little girls back now. You can focus on your acting. -- By the way, my brother also asked me to inquire whether we have any roles in 'The Great Yan Dynasty 1566'?"

"Of course there are." Chen Qi looked at the sisters, who were being carried by Ling, one in each hand, as if she were carrying two cats. Completely unable to help, she could only answer Ling's question:

"Chongyue, I plan to have him make a cameo appearance as a general of the Great Yan Dynasty named 'Qi Jiguang.' As for you... if you don't mind, I have a role here that would be perfect for you."

"Oh? Who is it?" Ling asked curiously.

"Zhao Zhenji, a 'Purists' who never leaves a trace in his actions, maintains his integrity, and neither makes enemies nor forms cliques."

"Given your personality, I think you might want to give this role a try?"