Chapter 72: Ginseng Is Not Used This Way

Of course, the most frustrated of all was Chu Luoxi. Once the cast was switched, there was nothing for her to do. Her costume was specifically for the investiture ceremony; for other scenes, she rarely appeared, almost not needed at all. If she were to perform in a different scene, she’d have to completely change outfits—a process that would take several hours. No one would want to go through such trouble for nothing!

So, all Chu Luoxi could do was sit and watch others act, waiting for Huang Zixue to “return to normal.” Her debut performance with the crew was thus ruined in Huang Zixue’s hands.

However, watching the others act, Chu Luoxi could truly sense how high Qiu Xian’s standards were. Even a single inappropriate raise of the eyebrow would warrant a retake. If anyone made the crew redo a scene several times, wasting everyone’s efforts, they’d feel embarrassed. Naturally, everyone became more focused, giving their all to their performances.

No wonder people said that even the most minor roles in “Empire” were played by skilled actors. Under such intense pressure and high standards, who would dare slack off? Relentless pursuit of perfection is the simplest shortcut to creating a classic.

Yao Xiao’s character, the Virtuous Consort, had carried a child for ten months. After painstakingly evading the schemes of the other palace concubines to protect her unborn child, she was nevertheless ensnared at the moment of childbirth. It led not only to massive blood loss but also the loss of the child. Only the Virtuous Consort survived, though her health was left severely weakened.

Although the imperial physicians advised her not to become pregnant again for several years, recommending rest and recovery before attempting to bear another child, the Virtuous Consort never had a second child for the rest of her life.

This is the ending of her story in the script—why, despite becoming the last powerful woman by the emperor’s side, it was still the child of the Gentle Consort who ascended the throne. Partly, it was due to the Gentle Consort’s schemes, but also because the Virtuous Consort, as the final victor, remained childless—a twist of fate.

Had any other concubine emerged victorious, the Gentle Consort’s son would never have had the chance to wait for the throne. Of course, the Gentle Consort’s early death was another factor. The concubines’ struggle had become a matter of life and death; no one would let their opponent benefit, even if it meant letting someone else take advantage.

With the Gentle Consort’s untimely death, she didn’t participate in the heated power struggles. Over time, old grudges faded. When the Virtuous Consort was left childless, she naturally needed to raise a son for herself. Coincidentally, the Gentle Consort had been the only woman the emperor had ever loved, so her son was the best choice.

In short, this difficult childbirth scene was extremely important for the Virtuous Consort. The loss of her child before birth deeply changed her peaceful nature, gradually transforming her into someone ruthless and cunning. This psychological journey—her subtle transformation—would both shock the audience with her later cruelty and evoke sympathy for her tragic experience.

Because this was a key turning point for the character, Qiu Xian’s demands were higher than ever.

Yao Xiao herself had never given birth, though she had acted in such scenes before. Nevertheless, she prepared thoroughly for this role, hoping to meet the director’s expectations as soon as possible.

Childbirth is like a brush with death for a woman, a perilous ordeal mixed with maternal hope, affection, and a host of complex emotions. It was not a scene to perform simply by straining and feigning exhaustion.

After two consecutive retakes, Yao Xiao was almost out of strength and took a break to recover.

Qiu Xian reviewed the monitor playback. In the first take, Yao Xiao’s anticipation for the child was too strong, making her seem calculating, which didn’t match the Virtuous Consort’s character before the tragedy. In the second, her motherly emotions were insufficient—the balance was difficult to strike.

Chu Luoxi drew closer to watch the playback several times, sincerely believing that Qiu Xian had already squeezed every ounce of Yao Xiao’s talent. Her gaze, hands, even the muscles in her neck and face were expressive, full of dramatic tension. If this weren’t a film set, even experts might believe she was truly giving birth.

“So, did you notice anything?” Qiu Xian asked casually, trying to relax after the tense shooting.

“Heh, Director Qiu, you’re putting me on the spot. Honestly, I think Yao Xiao is already performing beautifully and precisely,” Chu Luoxi replied with a soft laugh, going along with his tone. “At least, if it were me, I wouldn’t be able to do it this well!”

She wasn’t being modest. In her previous life, she’d acted in childbirth scenes, but never as vividly as Yao Xiao; she’d always managed to get by with the bare minimum. She guessed Yao Xiao must have researched or observed the childbirth process in detail; otherwise, she wouldn’t have such insight.

Every director’s requirements differ, and so do the actors’ performances…

“Since you know that, keep learning. Acting is a journey with no end.” Qiu Xian said with a touch of emotion, impressed by the sharpness in Chu Luoxi’s gaze—truly a remarkable newcomer.

“Yes, yes, but Director… um…” Chu Luoxi wanted to raise a suggestion but didn’t know how to begin.

“What is it? Is there something off?” Qiu Xian asked cautiously. “If there’s anything wrong, speak up. I want ‘Empire’ to become a classic that’s hard to surpass. If there’s a flaw and you see it, we must fix it.”

Perhaps sensing that ambition, Chu Luoxi didn’t hesitate. She blinked and said, “It’s not about Yao Xiao’s performance, but the plot. The Virtuous Consort suffers massive blood loss during childbirth, and her closest maid gives her thousand-year-old ginseng to save her life. That, actually, isn’t right.”

“Oh? What’s wrong with it?” Qiu Xian asked in surprise. Since this was a script issue, it would be a serious flaw if true, but he hadn't noticed anything wrong.

The use of millennium-old ginseng to save the Virtuous Consort was a key plot point. If it was inaccurate, it was indeed a significant problem.

“In fact, this is something that has misled viewers in many TV dramas. Whenever something happens, they use some centuries-old ginseng to save a life, which greatly exaggerates ginseng’s effects. Ginseng does replenish blood, but it also promotes blood circulation. If a person is suffering massive blood loss, giving them ginseng is absolutely forbidden. Otherwise, they’ll bleed to death. Ginseng should only be administered when there’s no active bleeding,” Chu Luoxi explained slowly, a point she’d found troubling for years.

This misconception is so widespread—everyone treats ginseng like a miraculous elixir, but the way it’s used in dramas is completely wrong, and it could actually kill someone!

But since all the scripts and shows depicted it this way, no one thought it odd. She’d brought it up in her past life, but either people were too lazy to change it or simply didn’t believe her. Over time, Chu Luoxi stopped mentioning it.

Now, hearing Qiu Xian’s words, her interest was piqued again, and she pointed directly to the key issue…