After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety
Chapter 187: Falling Down the Stairs

Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Falling Down the Stairs

In the afternoon, the filming on set commenced as scheduled.

Even though the lead actors were absent, it couldn’t bring the production to a halt.

Every minute and second costs money, from set construction to location rentals.

If we can’t shoot scenes with the leads, we’ll shoot those with other actors.

"Where’s the actress playing Princess Jin’an? Why isn’t she here either?"

Nobody dared to provoke the director, still with a scowl. Eventually, Wei Minmin stepped up to the challenge, "Director Wei, have you forgotten? Lin Xuefei took a few days off for other engagements."

"Isn’t she back yet?"

A staff member quickly replied, "Counting the days, she’ll be back the day after tomorrow."

So, we could only shoot the harem scenes first.

Unfortunately, there were two segments involving Qing Yuan.

Wei Xiao originally planned to let Jiang Xiyu take a day off, to find her groove, lest she make frequent mistakes like this morning.

Now, they had no choice but to continue, "Call Jiang Xiyu over here, I’ll explain the scene to her clearly first."

A staff member quickly got up to fetch her.

But soon, he returned with a troubled expression.

"Where is she?"

"Director, we only found Jiang Xiyu’s assistant. Her assistant said Jiang Xiyu took her phone and left, didn’t let her follow, didn’t come back for lunch. She picked up the phone but refused to let the assistant disturb her. The assistant doesn’t know what to do now."

Wei Xiao couldn’t help but laugh out of anger.

"I only said a few words to her this morning, and she couldn’t take it? She acts so poorly that I can’t even comment? With such a fragile psyche, how is she an actress?"

Assistant Director Lin, sitting at the back, quietly shrank his head.

"Go, tell her assistant to call her. If she doesn’t come back, she can get lost!"

When Wei Xiao finally saw Jiang Xiyu and noticed her current state, he was stunned.

Jiang Xiyu was still wearing the same costume from the morning; there were a few streaks of dust on the hem of her clothes. Her makeup didn’t look merely smudged by the heat—underneath, her face seemed exponentially more haggard.

The dreariness about her made him question if his words earlier had been too harsh.

Seeing her in this state, Wei Xiao dared not say anything harsh. Even his explanations carried a hint of gentleness.

But the effect was unclear. As he spoke until his mouth was dry, he looked up to see Jiang Xiyu staring off into space, seemingly not having listened to a word he said. Frustration flared up inside him.

"Jiang Xiyu, are you listening to me or not?"

Jiang Xiyu returned to focus, meeting Wei Xiao’s glare, "Director, I’d like..." She swallowed hard, biting her words out, "I’d like to request leave."

"You think you can request leave and just leave whenever you want? If you do, how am I supposed to keep filming?"

"Didn’t Lin Xuefei also request leave?"

"That’s because she has other work, and coincidentally, she had no scenes these days. That’s why I approved it. Do you think you two are the same?"

Jiang Xiyu realized there was no chance of getting her leave approved.

She wanted to focus, but the call she made earlier kept echoing endlessly in her ears, the words her aunt said before hanging up were unforgettable no matter how hard she tried.

Her heart and nerves were constantly tense, cold sweat continuously breaking out on her back. By now, she was utterly exhausted by her own fears.

She shook her head weakly, "I won’t request leave."

Half an hour later, upon watching yet another vehicle leave for the hospital, Wei Xiao couldn’t help but reflect; he should have checked the almanac when scheduling today’s scenes.

Perhaps today wasn’t suitable for filming at all!

Just five minutes prior, they were filming a seemingly ordinary short segment.

Emperor Yuan Zhao, caught up in state affairs, instructed his Chief Palace Maid, Qing Yuan, to deliver tribute treasures from neighboring small states to the Empress Dowager as a gesture of filial piety.

This was primarily a scene between Jiang Xiyu and She Man. Perhaps because Jiang Lingxi wasn’t present, Jiang Xiyu performed adequately and made no mistakes. She Man, as an actress, consistently maintained her high standards.

Until Jiang Xiyu, playing Qing Yuan, finished delivering the items and was leaving Cuwei Palace where the Empress Dowager resided, suddenly missed a step while descending, rolling down several steps and couldn’t move.

She was taken away for treatment, forced to take the leave she couldn’t initially get approved.

Wei Xiao had a touch of superstition; having two accidents in a single day on set left him unwilling to continue filming. He directly announced the end of the day’s shoot, including the originally planned night scenes.

While the actors went to remove their makeup and the staff began dismantling equipment and props, he walked alone to the steps where Jiang Xiyu had fallen, even reaching out to touch them.

"These aren’t even slippery!"

The fact that these steps caused her to fall could only mean Jiang Xiyu was truly down on her luck this time.

*

Finally finishing all examinations, Jiang Lingxi, eating lunch in a hospital room closer resembling a hotel suite, first saw Lu Zhengzheng, who rushed over upon hearing the news, then received messages from Wei Minmin.

Three in total.

First message: "How are you feeling now? Did they find out the cause of the vomiting blood?"

Second message: "Jiang Xiyu apparently broke her leg by stepping off the stage during filming and was just sent to the hospital."

Third message: "Uncle might think today isn’t fit for filming, ending production here early. Which hospital are you at? I’ll come see you after taking my makeup off."

Upon reading the second message, Jiang Lingxi put down her chopsticks and raised an eyebrow.

Was the step-off and leg fracture an accident, intentional, or backlash?

If it were the second option, then Jiang Xiyu was indeed hard on herself.

After replying, she heard Lu Zhengzheng gritting her teeth beside her.

Looking over, she saw the girl’s eyes were red again.

"No crying."

Lu Zhengzheng held her breath quickly, "Sister Xixi, was the vomiting blood because of Jiang Xiyu?"

Jiang Lingxi could confirm Jiang Xiyu was not a magician, but the incident was indeed related to her.

She nodded and, before Lu Zhengzheng could speak, relayed the latest update from the production team: "Jiang Xiyu is likely leaving the crew."

"Ah?" Lu Zhengzheng, who was thinking about revenge, was stunned upon hearing this.

"She broke her leg so can’t walk normally for at least a month. The crew won’t wait that long for her."

Lu Zhengzheng realized the sense in this but was still indignant, "But that’s too easy on her, plus they’ll have to recast for the role of Qing Yuan."

Jiang Lingxi smiled, without the help of the so-called Master Mei, the magician, if Jiang Xiyu continued plotting against her, she would need to measure her own worth first.

Though she was no longer an empress, she wasn’t someone any random person could scheme against.

Especially by using such underhanded methods, one must be prepared for backlash.

As for casting another actress for Qing Yuan...

Wei Xiao was currently troubled with this issue too; Jiang Xiyu, sent to the nearest hospital, was diagnosed with a moderate fracture in her lower leg, necessitating treatment that made returning to the team impossible for now. With so many people in the crew, it couldn’t be on hold just to wait for her.

He had instructed Assistant Director Lin to visit the hospital to discuss terminating their cooperation and had begun quietly searching for someone suitable to play Qing Yuan.

But with all the events occurring in succession today, he was at a loss for ideas.

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