Filming began on "Braveheart," and Yan took notice / The Emperor of Yan: Am I supposed to consider making Chen Qi my son-in-law?

Thinking about it this way, it seemed like no one on this land could harm Director Chen Qi. With this in mind, Theresia understood why Chen Qi dared to be so bold as to directly influence the course of the battle; the forces around him had long since formed a deterrent force that even nations wouldn't dare to provoke directly.

This further solidified Theresia's resolve to bring Chen Qi to the Sarkaz camp—until the time was right and she could be honest with her brother! For the continuation of the Sarkaz, she was willing to give everything!

Chapter 96: The Filming of "Braveheart" Begins, and the Attention of Yan

During this period, the situation in Victoria changed almost daily. For Chen Qi and his team, who had now returned to Rhodes Island, everything that "Darkest Hour" reflected about the current war situation was a testament to the great success of their film.

"Kazimierz announced a complete withdrawal of his troops, Campaign Knight began to expel all Victoria civilians from Connor County, offering travel expenses for those who left. This was met with fierce resistance from the citizens, resulting in large-scale bloodshed."

"The morale of the Leithania army is low, the supply of Leithania specialty beverages is insufficient, and there is a severe outbreak of Oripathy among some warlocks, making logistical support difficult."

"The Ursus Army Group launched a five-hour artillery bombardment of Doren County, reducing nearly half of the Doren County to ruins. The Ursus Third Army's offensive had little effect, and after seven days of fighting, it still could not capture the Doren County Central Building."

"The Sarkaz mercenaries have begun to declare their allegiance to the war, claiming to have been 'invited by the Duke to defend Victoria,' and have now joined forces with the Victoria army after intervening in the wars against Leithania and Ursus."

Each news headline was a new newspaper issue every day. This huge bundle of newspapers was brought back by Penguin Logistics, who had finished all their business in Victoria and conveniently bought up all the Victoria newspapers for the week.

At that moment, Młynar was also sitting in his seat, looking at the newspapers in his hands. Beside him, Margaret and Maria, the Glasgow Gang led by Vina, and the members of the Londinium Self-Rescue Army were all listening to Młynar read the contents to everyone.

Although the current mobilization and offensive of Victoria can be seen on Terra International News, Vina and others have long been aware of the situation.

But there is no doubt that the news published by the Victoria newspaper excited Victoria, led by Vina, since it was common knowledge that their own newspaper could generally report the good news.

"It seems that Kazimierz is now planning to call it quits. Given the current resistance from the residents of Victoria, it will be difficult to even expel them. The Campaign Knight will likely return empty-handed for the first time."

However, despite saying this, Młynar's face showed no extra emotion; he simply did what he believed was right—and he wasn't involved in the filming of "Darkest Hour," he only helped with anti-war films like "Braveheart."

He was aware of the situation, but as an ordinary, mediocre person, he was powerless to stop it. Młynar used this excuse to numb himself; after all, even someone like him would feel powerless in a war between nations.

But... someone actually managed to use the pen as a blade, ink as blood, and a single film, coupled with perfect timing and sufficient propaganda, to directly change the course of the war...

"It should be said that it's fortunate that director Chen Qi's film 'Braveheart' was made to oppose war... If he had used that talent to stir up trouble on this land..."

Thinking about this, Młynar couldn't help but feel lingering fear, but he kept reassuring himself that Chen Qi wasn't that kind of person.

However, he was also worried that Chen Qi might go astray and use this ability for some other bad purposes... Thinking this, Młynar couldn't help but wonder whether he should stay by Chen Qi's side and the Art Troupe.

After all, after the filming of "Braveheart," he and the other members of the Nearl Family, including Margaret and Maria, would be recognized by the people of Kazimierz on the day of its release. And during the war in Kazimierz, the consequences of the Nearl Family, a well-known knightly family, making a film against the war at this time were predictable.

On a small scale, this is spreading defeatism; on a larger scale, it's treason.

Moreover, given that many Commercial Federation nowadays want to completely crush the Nearl Family, and even the Supervision Committee itself, many Knight Commander have reservations about the Nearl Family... once "Braveheart" airs, the fact that the Nearl Family is a traitor to Kazimierz will be confirmed.

But Młynar had already decided to shoulder all of this alone. Kazimierz was no longer a suitable refuge for the children. After the war ended in defeat, Kazimierz would be plunged into turmoil for several years. She could not leave in peace then, because the fire would eventually reach the Nearl Family.

During the war, the fact that none of the renowned knightly family, the Nearl Family, participated in the battle will disappoint many Kazimierz who have placed their "blind trust and high hopes" in them. In the end, the Nearl Family will still suffer an unexpected disaster.

Therefore, take this opportunity to have the Nearl Family completely relocate from Kazimierz... Although they will lose their family property, at least they can preserve their lives and the Nearl Family bloodline.

History will prove who the heroes are, and in doing so, I'll also have time to find my brother and sister-in-law.

"Perhaps... I should stick with this film crew? They'll be traveling all over this land in the future, and judging from their movements, if my brother and sister-in-law are still alive... the chances of them finding me through the film crew are much higher."

"Furthermore, Margaret and Maria... should also find a place to gain experience."

Młynar thought to himself, seemingly having already made up his mind. Suddenly, a ripple appeared in a portrait beside him, and a voice immediately came from within:

"Mr. Młynar? Are you ready? We're about to start filming the first scene of Braveheart. Have you changed your clothes yet?"

"... Coming right away."

Młynar put down the newspaper and walked towards the painting. During this process, Młynar removed her close-fitting coat and gold arm guards one by one.

Then, the moment Młynar entered the painting, he shed all his glamorous appearance and transformed into a weathered-looking man with slightly thinner muscles, wearing only a gray vest... middle-aged man.

Yes, he looked like an old father who was unkempt and just lounging around the house in a vest. In addition, Chen Qi had deliberately made Młynar unkempt during this period, which, combined with his slightly messy hair and unkempt beard, made him look even older.

Młynar, who had just entered the scene, looked at Margaret, who was now dressed as a man and had Caprinae's symbolic long horns, as well as Zofia, who played her wife in the film, and Maria, who played one of the main characters, the female veterinarian "Anna".

In Braveheart, the role of Carl's son was played by a child Infected with the Caprinae tribe from Rhodes Island.

As for the indispensable rescue Fangbeast "Walt," the role was even simpler, as it was entirely drawn by Ms. Yu. A Fangbeast that completely obeys Yu's commands is enough to save time in the filming of "Braveheart" and greatly reduce the difficulty of filming.

Chen Qi noticed Młynar's arrival immediately. Seeing Młynar, now disheveled and stripped of all her fine clothes, Chen Qi nodded and said:

"You look much better, although you're a little thinner than I expected. But after spending several months as a farmer in the paintings of the evening, Mr. Młynar, you finally seem to have shed some of your 'knightly' airs."

"Now that we're ready, let's test the waters. Time inside the scroll moves much slower than outside, so this time we can refine it to perfection!"

"... Hopefully, this movie can really stop this war."

Młynar nodded in agreement. He had placed all his bets on "Braveheart." If the film succeeded, Młynar would immediately join the crew to search for his brother and sister-in-law and guide Chen Qi toward good.

He may not be able to change anything by himself, but this person... this director, he can change the disasters, injustices, and suffering of this land. With enough support, his talent can definitely change the world.

Just as countless people in Kazimierz blindly believed in Nearl name Nearl, this time Młynar made such a blind mistake for the first time... He now understood how faint that last glimmer of hope was, yet how irresistibly compelling one was to pursue it.

Meanwhile, the actions of Chen Qi and his group, who were preparing to film "Braveheart" within Xi's painting, were clearly not only being watched by one country, but also being discussed by the court of Yan.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Calendar Bureau has reported that Xi and Nian have recently been in contact with the Integrated Cultural Troupe and director Chen Qi, who has swept across the mainland. They seem to intend to stay with the Integrated Cultural Troupe for an extended period."

"Your Majesty, the two Sui Beasts are with a director whose talent is enough to shake the earth... Although Nian and Xi have been well-behaved under the watchful eye of the Imperial Calendar Bureau for the past few years, their actions are quite noteworthy."

In the imperial court, Zuo Le, one of the members of the Imperial Calendar Bureau (司岁台), truthfully reported their observations of the fragments of "Sui" (岁) during this period. As expected, Zuo Le's words caused a great deal of discussion among the officials in the court.

Soon after, an official stepped forward from among the ministers and addressed the Yan Emperor, who was seated high on the throne:

"Your Majesty, we believe that Chen Qi should be summoned to the capital."

"Oh? Why?" the Emperor of Yan asked upon hearing this, though in reality, he already had a similar thought in his mind.

"Your Majesty, although Chen Qi is not registered in Yan, according to our intelligence, his appearance, his life, and even his identity within the Art Troupe all confirm that he is Yan. Therefore, as a Yan, summoning him to the capital to meet the Emperor and utilizing his talents to serve the country is the right path for him."

"Moreover, his talent is extremely influential. Victoria was divided because of one of his TV series. His Majesty even set up a special research group to summarize the information. Does His Majesty not value his talent?"

"Not only that, but the campaigns of Kazimierz, Leithania, and Ursus against Victoria were already at a disadvantage, have now been turned around by his film."

Having said that, the official immediately started talking and continued:

"It is a pity that such a talent, capable of stirring up the world, does not serve our Yan —but even if he does not serve, we should not let him fall into the hands of another country and be used against us."

"He's now the center of attention; countless people and countries want to kill him, use him, or seize his territory. Perhaps we should use the power of the Yan to protect him and his film crew."

"Your Majesty could first summon him to an audience, inquire about his aspirations, and then try to win his heart. With Your Majesty's imperial might, you will surely be able to subdue him."

The official didn't continue speaking, because it wasn't something he could decide, but everyone, including the Emperor of Yan, understood what the official's next sentence meant.

If they refuse, then kill them!

It must be said that although this method is rather common, it has always been very effective. However, the Grand Tutor soon noticed that, judging from His Majesty's expression... His Majesty did not approve of this approach.

His Majesty clearly prefers to utilize Chen Qi's talent rather than let it be wasted in his hands—that would not only be a pity, but also because Chen Qi has an alliance agreement with the Sarkaz and Sarkaz.

Such a person cannot be acted upon casually, at least not in Yan, especially since this Chen Qi seems to have a rather close relationship with the two fragments of "Sui"... If he were killed, it would probably force the Nian and Xi, who had finally managed to calm down, to start turmoil again.

... Thinking about it, this Chen Qi really was a tough nut to crack. For a moment, the Emperor of Yan was in a state of headache, and he also noticed the Grand Tutor's expression—he seemed to have a solution.

The Grand Tutor had clearly thought of a way to get Chen Qi to join forces with the Yan! A good way to get Chen Qi to serve the Yan without even provoking him!

Chapter 97: Emperor of Yan: Should I consider making Chen Qi my son-in-law?

After the court session, the Emperor of Yan met privately with the Grand Tutor. However, after walking together for a short while, the Emperor of Yan took the initiative to ask the Grand Tutor for a solution.

"My dear minister, do you have a way to solve this problem? If we make Chen Qi work for me, and... how can we ensure that other countries, or even 'Sui,' won't use his talents to cause trouble?"

To be honest, the Emperor of Yan was also nervous. Especially as a witness, he had witnessed Chen Qi's talent, which had turned Victoria upside down. The fate of this old power, whether it was declining or rising, was entirely in Chen Qi's hands.

Like a lump of clay being casually molded in someone's palm, Victoria became the "clay" that Chen Qi used to prove his abilities to the world, the "clay" capable of stirring up everything on the continent. This forced the Emperor of Yan to take his talent seriously, as well as... his apparent identity as Yan.

After all, it can only be assumed, because Chen Qi's household registration cannot be found in Yan. This means that even if Chen Qi really has Yan blood, he may not have grown up in Yan. Such a person does not have the concept of "Yan is his home" in his mind. Therefore, being summoned to the capital, something that makes Yan feel apprehensive, may not be useful to Chen Qi.

He might not even understand what it means. It's difficult to get close to someone who has no sense of belonging to the country by using theories of national righteousness.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. This old minister does have a plan—it's just that I don't know if Your Majesty is willing to do it."

The Grand Tutor pondered for a moment, then mustered his courage and asked the Emperor of Yan, "Does Your Majesty still remember the sworn brother of the Duke Wei of Wei?"

"... Edward? Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

When the Emperor of Yan spoke of these events from years past, he unusually showed a hint of embarrassment, but quickly recovered. The Grand Tutor immediately replied:

"Then Your Majesty should know that Edward had a daughter before his death, who was saved by Duke Wei at the cost of personally killing his sworn brother. Her name is Talulah."

"This old minister once sent spies to Lungmen to inquire about some information. If the information is correct, then Talulah has now become Director Chen Qi's confidante, perhaps even his bedmate."

"Oh? She's still alive? I heard that after she was taken away by Ursus Duke Koschei of Ursus, there was no news of her. And she's actually standing with Director Chen Qi, and in such a relationship?" The Emperor of Yan was unaware of this news, after all, such details were too trivial.

"Doesn't that mean Talulah still carries the blood of my Great Yan? In terms of seniority, she should call me uncle?"

"Indeed, Your Grand Tutor, she, like Chen Huijie, is considered a 'princess' of our Yan." Seeing that the Yan Emperor seemed less hostile and more curious, the Grand Tutor's worries lessened somewhat, and he continued:

"However, Talulah and Duke Wei do not have a harmonious relationship. When she was filming the movie with Director Chen Qi in Lungmen, she did not choose to stay. Therefore, this old minister believes that their relationship is still superficial."

"If Your Majesty values Chen Qi's talent, you might consider using this as a starting point. Since Talulah is Director Chen Qi's bedmate, she must also hold significant meaning for him."

"... Does my subject mean that I should bestow a marriage upon him in the name of the Emperor of Yan?"

The Emperor of Yan immediately understood the Grand Tutor's meaning, but after some thought, he said with some difficulty, "But my brother and I... even if I am the Emperor of Great Yan, I should not make the decision for my brother."

"Moreover, Director Chen Qi and Talulah may not necessarily be grateful for my bestowal of marriage. Their relationship does not need my approval."

"--No, Your Majesty, what this old minister desires is an even greater favor."

Upon hearing this, the Grand Tutor's expression became much more solemn. But before the Yan Emperor could even ask questions, the Grand Tutor suddenly knelt down before him, performing a grand ceremony for the first time, and then solemnly said:

"This old minister dares to suggest that Your Majesty adopt Talulah as your 'adopted daughter,' in order to appease the hearts of Duke Wei and Talulah, and also to appease Chen Qi."

"With such recognition, Director Chen Qi will have an inseparable relationship with the Yan. At that time, if His Majesty needs Chen Qi's talent, Chen Qi will surely come to the capital to meet the Emperor because of Talulah. Even if he does not enter the court as an official, he will certainly be of use to His Majesty and will definitely take Talulah into consideration, while drawing a line between himself and some other countries."

"With Talulah's status, those petty villains will be even less likely to harm Director Chen Qi. This is a plan to kill two birds with one stone—it all depends on whether Your Majesty is willing."

As he spoke, the Grand Tutor bowed deeply to the Emperor of Yan. This time, however, the Grand Tutor Yan with an eerie silence. After a long while, the Emperor, the True Lung of Heaven, finally spoke slowly:

"My dear minister, you should know that I have no children yet, so you should also know what it means to make such a suggestion at this time... right?"

The Grand Tutor didn't say a word upon hearing this, only silently lowering his head even further. After a long silence, the Emperor of Yan sighed and replied:

"... Let me think about this matter, and consider whether it is worth doing."

If the Yan Emperor were truly given the choice, he would rather choose Chen Huijie as his "adopted daughter" and then send her to marry Chen Qi. The Yan Emperor didn't know why he had this thought; perhaps it was because Chen Huijie's bloodline was purer than Talulah's —she was entirely Yan, while Talulah's bloodline was half from the descendants of Victoria's Drac, which made the Yan Emperor somewhat displeased.

Even if an heir must be chosen, shouldn't it be a purebred Yan? How can the Great Yan empire be handed over to someone of foreign blood? Because of the education the Yan emperor received from childhood, it's difficult for him to understand this point.

"Please rise, my dear minister. I know you have no other intentions than this; you are only concerned with the fate of my Great Yan."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The Grand Tutor also broke out in a cold sweat, but seeing that the Emperor did not blame him, he breathed a long sigh of relief.

Although the emperor did not immediately agree, he did not refuse either, which means there is still room for negotiation... The Grand Tutor believes that the reason for His Majesty's hesitation is probably that Chen Qi has not yet shown any real assets that would make him feel the need to "win him over" in this way.

However, the Grand Tutor had confidence in Chen Qi —if Chen Qi truly lacked that level of talent, the Grand Tutor wouldn't have made such a bold proposal.

"As for the matter of Sui... I believe there is no need to worry. Among the 'Sui,' Nian and Xi are not the most troublesome, and they would not dare to mess with Director Chen Qi's abilities."

"This old minister believes that we should inform the two monks, Jade Gate and Shangshu, about Director Chen Qi's affair with Xi Henian, and have them write a letter to Xi Henian. They are both intelligent people and should know what they should and should not do."

The implication is that your third sister and eldest brother are now under the jurisdiction of our Yan and have no intention of rebelling. You, the ninth and eleventh sisters, are mistaken if you think you can do whatever you want just because you've latched onto a powerful figure.

"--This method is excellent." The Emperor of Yan nodded, and then immediately gave the order:

"Perfect timing. Some time ago, Laterano Church sent a messenger with several videotapes to me. I'll send two of them to Ling of Shangshu and Chongyue of Jade Gate respectively."

"... Yes." The Grand Tutor's answer this time was also somewhat subtle— the Laterano Church sent His Majesty a videotape from afar? He just couldn't believe it.

It's obvious that His Majesty himself heard that Victoria's videotapes were distributed by the Sarkaz, so he knew the Pope must have some in stock, and specifically sent an envoy to trade them, right?

The Grand Tutor also knew to some extent that ever since the TV series "Yes, Prime Minister" entered the palace and gained His Majesty's approval, their Emperor of Yan had become a hidden fan of director Chen Qi... This was evident from the fact that he sent people all the way to Laterano to retrieve the videotape.

Furthermore, the Grand Tutor had heard His Majesty complain more than once, saying, "The Great Yan is a vast and resource-rich land, producing many talented individuals. Why can't our Great Yan produce a genius screenwriter like Director Chen Qi to enhance the Great Yan Nation?"

However, the Grand Tutor wanted to say... Although they had never met Director Chen Qi, judging from his audacity in making "Yes, Prime Minister" and now "Darkest Hour," this guy was incredibly bold. It was hard to guarantee what kind of script he would write once he came to Yan.

If it were something like "Darkest Hour" that could have a positive impact on the country, that would be fine. But the problem is, what if he wrote something like "Yes, Prime Minister"?

This is why the Grand Tutor valued Chen Qi's talent so much, but he hadn't yet made up his mind to contact Chen Qi —he wasn't sure whether Chen Qi was a person who would be beneficial or harmful to the Yan.

Especially now that he's with Xi and Nian... Although the Grand Tutor was very confident when he vouched for him in front of the Emperor, he must still have some reservations in his heart.

"This young man's temperament is unpredictable. Entering the court as an official may not necessarily benefit the Great Yan; on the contrary, it might bring him great disaster."

"We still need to wait and see. If Chen Qi can produce something that's immediately recognizable as a virtuous work, then I can vouch for it. But right now..."

Yes, not yet. Even if he were to come to Yan to film, the Grand Tutor would first test whether Chen Qi could follow their rules.