Chapter 47: The Movie Ends

China Film Group already had grievances regarding Chen Kai's frequent requests for additional investment; if he reached out for more money now, it might truly earn him some resentment.

"Cousin, you look so beautiful as Empress Zhangsun!"

While others were marveling at the "Prince of Qin's Battle Music," little Nezha, Song Zu'er, who had attended the premiere with Su Chang, spoke with a face full of envy.

Su Chang gave Song Zu'er's tender little cheek a playful pinch and said, "What does a kid like you even know about beauty?"

"I know, of course! Like you, cousin, you're a great beauty," Song Zu'er said proudly, lifting her small, pointed chin.

"Little brat, am I a great beauty then?" Sitting on the other side of Su Chang was her close friend and the daughter of her godmother, Liu Xiaoli—Liu Yifei. She leaned over and asked Song Zu'er.

Liu Yifei had originally been filming the *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils* TV series, but upon hearing about her best friend's movie premiere, she immediately insisted on attending. Liu Xiaoli also had her own motives; she planned to take her daughter to see the world and see if there were opportunities to collaborate with major directors.

Thus, Liu Xiaoli brought Liu Yifei to the premiere.

Unfortunately, Liu Xiaoli had hoped Su Chang would introduce her to Cheng Sheng, but the premiere was so hectic that Cheng Sheng had no time to host her.

She could only wait until the movie ended to see if there was a chance to have Su Chang help arrange a meeting with Cheng Sheng.

"Sister Yifei is also a great beauty, but she's not as amazing as my cousin. My cousin is a Venice Film Festival Best Actress!" As soon as Song Zu'er mentioned Su Chang, her face filled with pride, treating Su Chang as a tool to show off.

"Changchang, this little cousin of yours is quite interesting."

Liu Yifei, rather than being offended by being ranked below Su Chang, simply smiled and spoke.

"Don't listen to her nonsense. Yifei, you are much more beautiful than I am," Su Chang said.

She wasn't being modest; she meant it. In her eyes, Liu Yifei's looks were truly top-tier, perhaps unmatched even within the entertainment industry.

While the group was chatting, the film continued.

Cheng Sheng's movie adhered strictly to history. Every character possessed a temperament very similar to their historical counterparts. Even the dialogue had been meticulously designed through the simulation panel, ensuring every word spoken was historically grounded.

Even if professors from history departments watched this film, they likely wouldn't be able to find any fault in the dialogue.

The plot provided by the simulation panel was quite straightforward. Anyone who knew history would understand what was coming next, yet the audience didn't think much of it; instead, they were deeply captivated by the narrative.

Although *The Great Tang Dynasty: Origins* was about the history of the Tang, more than half of it covered the end of the Sui Dynasty.

It began with Yang Guang being besieged at Yanmen Pass, followed by the young Li Shimin offering a strategy to repel the Turks.

Then came the moment Li Shimin realized the Sui Dynasty was doomed... followed by him persuading Li Yuan to rise in rebellion against the Sui, known as the Jinyang Uprising.

Next, Li Shimin led his troops to capture Chang'an, while the other protagonist, Yang Guang, indulged in the debauchery and excess of Jiangdu, completely abandoning his empire.

By this point, the movie was more than halfway through. The subsequent plot involved Yang Guang being killed by Yuwen Huaji.

Finally, Li Shimin swept through the Central Plains with his army, establishing the Tang Dynasty.

The final scenes depicted Li Yuan, the Xuanwu Gate Incident, and Li Shimin's ascension to the throne, marking the beginning of the Zhenguan era.

With that, the movie ended.

As for the "Reign of Zhenguan," that would be the core content of the second installment.

The credits rolled.

The three-hour film had concluded.

However, the entire theater remained silent, as if everyone was still immersed in the story, unable to react for a long time.

*Clap, clap, clap!*

Someone started it, and soon, applause began to rise, growing louder and louder until it sounded like thunder.

"Bravo!"

"Amazing!"

"This is the Li Shimin of my dreams."

"Fu Dalong played Yang Guang so vividly!"

"My God! I finally understand why this movie won the Golden Lion at Venice. Director Cheng Sheng is incredible; he actually made a film that could be written into textbooks."

"If I had even ten percent of this movie's content when I was studying history, I wouldn't have failed my history exams."

"Incredible. Whether it's Cheng Sheng or the actors, they are all phenomenal. The acting is god-tier."

"Su Chang's portrayal of Empress Zhangsun brought virtue and grace to life so perfectly. No wonder people say she is the smartest empress in history."

"With Su Chang's acting, 'Best Newcomer' is an insult. She could easily win Best Actress at Venice."

"Venice owes Su Chang a Silver Lion."

"What about the plot after Li Shimin's ascension? Will there be a second part? I'm so looking forward to it!"

"Zheng Guolin brought Li Shimin to life. In my mind, Li Shimin should be exactly like him."

"The administrator's comment was spot on: 'The young master of Taiyuan arrives in humble brown robes.' As a noble of Taiyuan, Li Shimin wore the clothes of the common people to connect with the masses, sharing their joys and sorrows. He was the first emperor in Chinese history to truly rule for the people."

"Li Shimin is like a 'Mary Sue' protagonist from a novel. Most novels wouldn't dare write him this way, but the real Li Shimin was even more impressive than this."

"A 'Jack Sue' life... I want that too!"

"The concubines in Yang Guang's harem were so beautiful!"

"Don't you think Princess Pingyang Zhao looked so heroic and cool? I was totally captivated by her."

"Yeah! What was the name of the actress who played Princess Pingyang Zhao? The credits went by too fast; I missed it when I blinked."

"I think it was Bai Baihe..."

As a supporting actress, Bai Baihe wouldn't normally have sat in the front row, but since she was a student at the Central Academy of Drama, Cheng Sheng had arranged for her to sit in the front row with the professors.

Hearing someone mention her portrayal of Princess Pingyang Zhao caused the corners of Bai Baihe's mouth to curl up slightly.

Being discussed meant she was becoming famous.

Perhaps she wasn't as explosively popular as Su Chang or Zeng Li, but as a student of the Central Academy of Drama, achieving such great results in her first film was more than enough to satisfy her.

Meanwhile, Tong Yaya and Wang Zhi, who also appeared in *The Great Tang Dynasty: Origins*, both looked dejected.

While Su Chang was being discussed, Zeng Li was being discussed, and Bai Baihe was being praised—even the mistresses of the coal boss were being called beautiful—they, as palace maids with only three lines of dialogue, hadn't made even a tiny ripple.

"Yaya, we've become nothing but background scenery!" Wang Zhi whispered to Tong Yaya.

Tong Yaya stared blankly at the mistresses sitting with the coal boss, dressed in flamboyant colors. She sighed inwardly, a hint of jealousy creeping into her heart.

She didn't feel she was inferior to those mistresses.

In terms of beauty, with a little makeup, she was also a great beauty.

However, when she looked down at her exposed skin, she couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration.

(End of Chapter)