Chapter 120: Watching the Drama Unfold

Nodding like they were pounding garlic, the group echoed Feng Bai’s sentiments, expressing a twinge of envy for the young emperor—they were, after all, red-blooded men.

As they talked, the commercial break, which seemed longer than the soap operas themselves, finally ended. Instantly, the group fell into a tacit silence, countless eyes glued to the television mounted on the wall.

Following the preview, the first day featured two back-to-back episodes. It wasn't nearly enough; once the forty-plus minutes of "River and Mountains" concluded, everyone felt an unbearable itch for more. The time had flown by so quickly it felt as though they had only watched half an episode before it vanished in a blink.

The students in the cafeteria, who relied on the free public television, were particularly affected. The set was hung so high that by the time they finished watching, their necks were stiff, yet they remained buzzing with excitement. They started debating immediately, filling the cafeteria with a chaotic, lively din.

There was no helping it; for broke students without TVs or laptops, this was the only way. Fortunately, watching with such a crowd and discussing it afterward was even more engaging than any social club.

Because the pacing was so tight, "River and Mountains" already offered plenty to dissect after just two episodes. Moreover, every actor’s performance seemed to have moved up a notch, a world away from the usual fare they saw on screen. Even a casual mention of a specific shot or an actor's expression felt loaded with meaning and depth.

As soon as the episode ended, the internet erupted. Major forums, film and television hubs, and the official fan pages for each actor were instantly flooded with talk about the show.

The discussions covered everything: character analysis, costume and scenery critiques, and wild theories about the plot. If you had watched the show, you were guaranteed to find a topic that piqued your interest.

"Hey, who’s the beauty playing Noble Lady Rou? Is she a newcomer? She’s intense!"

"Wow, talk about being out of the loop. Ever heard of Yun Tianxue from 'Dragon Roars Beneath Heaven'? Seen the music video for 'Waxing and Waning'? She even walked the red carpet with King of Pop Xiao Jingxuan at the College Student Film Festival on New Year's Day!"

"Wait, really? Yun Tianxue? The lead from 'Waxing and Waning'? I didn't even recognize her! Those two are my absolute favorites..." This was the advantage of having versatile features. In the modern age, with such masterful makeup techniques, changing one's appearance was easy as long as the styling was different, preventing the audience from seeing the same look every time.

Of course, this only applied to the unfamiliar. True fans of Chu Luoxi and those who knew her well could naturally recognize her after a second glance. However, the ability to offer a fresh, striking look with every transformation was a major asset for an actor, as it prevented audience fatigue.

"Pfft, I didn't recognize her at first either. I had to look her up on the web—I was so surprised!"

"Tsk tsk, this Noble Lady Rou is seriously impressive. If she weren't a woman, she’d have the makings of a general or a statesman. Look at her—she always knows what her man likes, what he wants, what she herself wants, and how to act to get it. Aside from a slightly lackluster background, the other women in the harem can’t even compare to her!"

"Exactly! If she’s this good, how are the others supposed to compete?"

"You’re all wrong. The reason Noble Lady Rou is so formidable isn't just her intelligence—it's the Emperor’s love. Women in the harem fight for status, power, and favor. If you have the Emperor's affection, you can achieve your goals without complex schemes. Noble Lady Rou has both his favor and his love, which makes her invincible. Despite her weaker background, she is brilliant in her own right..."

"When you put it that way, it makes sense. Perhaps the Emperor favored her precisely because her background was clean. She is truly 'his' person, unlike those connected to complex, tangled webs of influence that require constant calculation."

"Mhm, that must be it. And Noble Lady Rou was smart enough to seize the opportunity to step into the Emperor's heart, leading to the current situation. Indeed, nothing comes for free."

"So, Noble Lady Rou and the Emperor are on the same side..."

"Uh..."

Among the many topics, the one concerning Noble Lady Rou was the most popular. Even though the character hadn't been officially promoted to a Consort yet—she was still just a low-ranking Noble Lady, barely noticeable in the eyes of the power players—her performance was magnetic. Her eyes, in particular, left a lasting impression on the audience. After two episodes, whenever anyone thought of "River and Mountains," the first thing to come to mind was that pair of clear, autumnal eyes.

"After all this analysis, has anyone considered the danger of perfection? Don't you think Noble Lady Rou is just a bit too perfect? Even though we all love her, that’s fatal for a plot!" Someone raised a dissent, clearly a veteran of palace intrigue dramas.

"How is it fatal? Someone explain, please..." those who hadn't caught on asked directly, unable to grasp the key point.

"Explain, please +1."

"Uh, +2."

A string of confused replies followed. Not everyone watched television with such depth, looking past the surface to the essence. In a show filled with overt and covert schemes, the hidden layers were well worth exploring for those interested.

After a long wait, the person who spoke earlier finally reappeared: "Noble Lady Rou’s presence is too overwhelming. It can't stay this way forever, or as you all said, there'd be no room for anyone else to play. That would ruin the 'Schemes of Beauties' aspect of the show and lower the quality of the entire series. This opening was as good as it gets; the director wouldn't want us throwing rotten eggs at the screen later, right? So, in conclusion..."

"Ugh, OP, don't leave us hanging like that!"

"What conclusion? Then what? Keep going, you're killing us..."

"If the director doesn't want rotten eggs, do you want us to throw them at you instead?"

"Sharpening my blade, flipping the table—hurry up and speak!"

After another long silence, the person who had been under fire finally returned, sounding completely unhurried: "Ahem, I’m a slow typer, bear with me. I also had to take a quick bathroom break. Have some patience, I’m continuing..."

"In conclusion, looking at all the factors, while Noble Lady Rou is a standout, she probably isn't the main lead. Her final fate is likely not going to be good. Either she loses the Emperor’s love and is forced out of the power struggle entirely, or... she dies. That might just be the catalyst to turn the young, soft-hearted Emperor into a cold-blooded ruler." The netizen, who went by the handle 'Glass Cup,' spoke with growing confidence, and as it turned out, she had guessed quite a bit correctly.