8. Ode to Faith

Beta read by: SnowyEgrett

Lin FenXiang really had the audacity to enter the set without knowing the drama's name.

The period drama was called 'Ode to Faith'. It revolved around the romance of male and female leads as well as the political intrigue brought by the imperial rule.

The female lead of the drama—played by Bai LiuYao—Liu TianYa, was the third princess of her kingdom, daughter of Son of Heaven and his favourite imperial concubine.

She grew up pampered and the male lead of the drama—played by an A-list actor—Shang WeiZhou, the enemy, neighbouring country's prince.

The second male lead, Lin FenXiang was going to play as, Watanabe Kiyoshi, down and out ex-prince of the neighbouring country subjugated under the Emperor's rule, was a scholar and seemingly religious person.

Under that gentle and kind face was hiding a treacherous schemer whose initial purpose of approaching the female lead was to get revenge on his dead family. Him approaching Liu TianYa was all a part of his elaborate plan.

Later, he came to consider her a friend and was willing to spare her for the sake of the friendship they shared. But how could a villain succeed? Just before his years of scheming was going to bear the fruits, the male lead destroyed everything. Captured him for treason and homicide and his trial was held in front of the entire imperial court.

There, before the Emperor could give the verdict, Watanabe Kiyoshi snatched the sword from the guard, looking dead into the Emperor's eyes, he glanced briefly at Liu TianYa and sneered with contempt.

"Heaven bore witness to my sufferings, to the cries of my family, where was your justice then, Your Majesty?" He asked hoarsely. "I will die here, but my memory will live on, branded into the minds of every witness. So I win."

These were his last words before he brought the sword to his throat and mercilessly slit it with his own hands.

He'd killed himself before the Emperor could order his execution.

This was Watanabe Kiyoshi's last act of revenge and rebellion against his enemy.

Lin FenXiang sat down reading the last line of his dialogues as he contemplated.

Truthfully if he—Drystan himself—was anything less than mad then he might have killed himself on the spot if he was to get caught.

But he didn't get caught. Nor did they realise it was him.

Not until, something inside his head had snapped and he'd gone out of his way to reveal the truth, just to be able to see Adrastus' stunned face.

Lin FenXiang really did some bloody inexplicable things in his original life.

Now looking back, all he could do was pin the blame on his craziness.

Lin FenXiang sighed. Today was the first day of his scenes. Because he had to leave for Oxford soon, upon discussing it with Director Peng, the old man had decided to shoot his scenes with Bai LiuYao before others'.

Lin FenXiang was really grateful for that, but goddamn it, this costume was getting the better of him, not to mention this headdress.

His maternal family might have been Japanese but he'd rarely worn traditional Japanese attire in his lifetime, so this was the first time for him to be wearing these kinds of clothes.

Half lifting, half dragging his clothes with him to the set-up, Lin FenXiang sighed. Actors really have it hard.

"Xiao Lin!" Director Peng called through the microphone. "Get ready for your turn!"

Lin FenXiang nodded, memorising his script as he held a mini electric fan in his other hand.

"Okay, Lin FenXiang, get here!"

Lin FenXiang nodded again, obediently standing in front of the camera with Bai LiuYao, waiting for the shoot to start.

By the time, the 5th scene of his part ended. Lin FenXiang was nearly half dead with the boiling heat of the sun shining right above his head. Actors in this era have it hard.

Before long the shooting ended, Lin FenXiang sat in the corner fiddling with his script, with Bai LiuYao squatting by his side.

"Kiyoshi is cool," she said out of the blue. "To have the guts to die, is a courage of its own."

Lin FenXiang looked at his script, a frown painted on his face. He answered. "Sometimes death is better than life, especially if the purpose of life is over."

"I can see why Kiyoshi is a good character," Wang YiZhou—male lead—yawned. "I mean, come on, he's different from the mainstream second male lead whose only job is to be a foil of male lead. He's insidious, he's cunning, he's cruel, he doesn't want to protect the female lead, he just wants revenge."

After days of shooting together, the three of them had become familiar with each other, growing into some kind of friends.

"And tea," Lin FenXiang added, sipping into his thermos filled with hot tea.

Wang YiZhou all but grimaced, "Man, Young Master Lin, how can you drink tea in this weather."

"Acquired taste."

Lin FenXiang answered and then stopped paying attention to the two of them.

He was waiting for his scenes to be over, he had to go to the Ashmolean Museum. He wanted to see his paintings. His collections, everything that was reminiscent of Adrastus.

"Come on, our scene!" Wang YiZhou stood up, excited as he called Lin FenXiang.

Lin FenXiang nodded slowly, putting aside the script, he brushed off the dust in his costume and followed behind Wang YiZhou.

"Alright everyone, get into position! Second last scene—Watanabe Kiyoshi!"

Lin FenXiang immediately adjusted himself and got into the play.

The extras, playing as guards, pulled him through the shackles towards the podium in front of the imperial throne.

"Watanabe Kiyoshi," the official announced his name. "You have been brought here due to charges against you, such as treason, intentional homicide and conspiring against the crown. Do you have anything to say in your defence?"

Lin FenXiang looked up without so much as ripples in his expression. His eyes held no remorse or guilt.

"I," he started. "In my defence, I have none. However," he paused, raising his head, his eyes piercing into the Emperor's. "It's not treason if the country was never mine to begin with."

Scandalised gasps rang throughout the courtroom plunged in utter silence, as Wang YiZhou looked at Lin—Watanabe Kiyoshi in silent bewilderment.

"So, you mean to say that you never considered yourself a part of DaQin?" The Emperor asked.

"What man, who lost his entire family to this country, would consider the killers of his life his own?" Watanabe Kiyoshi questioned fearlessly in the face of death. "You accuse me of conspiracy and I accept it. End of matter."

"You are as insidious as the reports state. Ruthless, cunning, what did you want to usurp Zhen's throne for?''

Watanabe Kiyoshi smiled suddenly, laughing in an unrestrained manner, he answered. "I want revenge."

With a pause, he let the thick silence prevail before continuing. "Ruthlessness, Your Majesty shouldn't speak of it, when you yourself are more capable of it. Tell me Your Majesty, what did you gain from killing my—barely two years old—sister?"

The Emperor had a violent reaction to his words. Eyes blown wide, the aged ruler opened faintly.

"Kazuhiko?"

Watanabe Kiyoshi smiled, a chilling upcurve in his otherwise beautiful face. "So Your Majesty does remember me."

"You did all this to avenge your dead family?"

Watanabe Kiyoshi—Kazuhiko—scoffed. "Revenge is not meant for the dead. It is taken because the living can't bear to see the person who wronged them prosper."

"Enough," the old Emperor held up his hand. "Your Highness, the Crown Prince of XiLuo, do what you see fit to him."

As soon as the son of Heaven uttered these words, Kazuhiko moved like lightning and snatched a sword from the guard.

"I will not perish because you want me to," he sneered, resting the sword against his throat.

Wang YiZhou moved to stop him, but Kazuhiko avoided the man.

"Heaven bore witness to my sufferings, to the cries of my family, where was your justice then, Your Majesty?" He asked hoarsely. "I shall die here, but my memory will haunt you. Your sins will be branded into the minds of every witness to my death. So I win."

And then, the sword slid across his throat.

"Cut!" Director Peng yelled out through the megaphone.

Lin FenXiang broke away from the character, lowered the sword and heaved a sigh.

Acting was no joke!

"Great job, Xiao Xiang!" The Director praised him when Lin FenXiang walked away from the cameras. "You've improved by leaps and bounds during this period. You got such a scene in the first take, great job."

Lin FenXiang sheepishly scratched the back of his head, "It's all thanks to Director Peng's guidance."

"Aye, aye, there, give yourself credits!"

Lin FenXiang calmly withstood the onslaught of the director's pats and smiled gently.

Just then, a production department member came running to them.

"Director Peng!" He said anxiously.

Both Lin FenXiang and Director Peng turned to look at him in unison.

Lin FenXiang gave him a cold look as he tilted his head slightly. His eyes were calm and impassive.

Facing the unnerving gaze of the Ex-captain, the production department member felt a shiver run down his back as he hurriedly spoke.

"Ode to Faith is all over social media, especially the issue of changing actors. It's probably Mr. Si's company hiring a water army. All of them are constantly attacking Young Master Lin!"

Lin FenXiang raised an eyebrow in surprise.

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Author has something to say:

A'Xiang: I'm being targeted while lying down?【Surprise.jpg】

Adrastus: So, when do I join this shit show?

Author:【Sweatdrop.jpg】