Although this film doesn't quite reach the classic status of the '87 version of Dream of the Red Chamber, and its plot has quite a few structural flaws, it does feature a rather endearing supporting character: Lady Wang, played by Ruo Fu.
In fact, Jiang Ling had already considered a comeback to the entertainment industry last year. She felt she had been idle for too long and wanted to find something to do.
As soon as the thought arose, the system issued a mission, arranging for her to play Lady Wang.
In reality, this role was originally intended for Jiang Yu Shuang.
In the TV drama's script, Lady Wang is a character full of comedic appeal, endearingly clumsy.
The director had seen "Pure Yuan Musk Elixir" years ago and was deeply impressed by Qi Er Ha, played by Jiang Yu Shuang, considering her the perfect choice for Lady Wang.
Jiang Yu Shuang wouldn't even need to exert much acting prowess; a natural portrayal would suffice to capture the essence of Lady Wang's character.
However, plans can't always keep up with changes. No sooner had Jiang Yu Shuang accepted this role than her son ran into trouble.
Her son, Jian Jing Chuan, had been engaged in a love-hate struggle with his father, Jian Fan, for nearly twenty years, a constant battle that was quite entertaining.
Recently, while traveling abroad, Jian Jing Chuan had been wary of Jian Fan setting traps for him. He never expected to be the victim of a honey trap orchestrated by a high-level "green tea" girl studying abroad.
This "green tea" was incredibly difficult to deal with. Even Jian Fan, an old fox seasoned in business wars, found it somewhat challenging.
He thought that this woman was extremely cunning, and engaging in a battle of wits with her would only be a waste of time. It would be better to have Jiang Yu Shuang handle it, using simplicity to overcome complexity, which might lead to a swift resolution.
As expected, Jiang Yu Shuang's appearance was like Yang Guo's Xuán Tiě Sword – a heavy, unadorned blade, demonstrating great artistry through simplicity. "I'm not going to play mind games with you, you little brat. How dare you mess with my son? I'll tear you to shreds."
Jiang Yu Shuang, with her headstrong and impetuous might, broke through the "green tea's" thirteen layers of defensive Golden Bell Shield, reducing her to tears.
However, this process consumed too much time, making it impossible for her to keep up with the film crew's shooting schedule.
Jiang Yu Shuang felt deeply apologetic. Not wanting to delay the crew's filming schedule due to her personal reasons, she sought out Jiang Ling, hoping she would agree to take on the role.
Jiang Ling hadn't expected this role to go to Jiang Yu Shuang first before eventually finding its way to her, so she nodded in agreement.
The director of "The Rise of Phoenixes," originally intended for Jiang Yu Shuang to play the role, hoping to better embody Lady Wang. He never imagined it would ultimately fall to Jiang Ling, which was an unexpected delight.
Although Jiang Ling's personality was worlds apart from Lady Wang's, her god-like acting skills, capable of transforming her appearance, meant she could handle any role.
The older generation in the industry knew that anything produced by Jiang Ling was bound to be a masterpiece.
With her acting prowess as support, why wouldn't "The Rise of Phoenixes" become a massive hit?
Therefore, instead of being unhappy about Jiang Yu Shuang's withdrawal and the change of cast, the director was overjoyed and flattered. He eagerly signed the contract with Jiang Ling.
The subsequent filming proceeded extremely smoothly. After sixteen years of refinement, Jiang Ling's acting became even more masterful, much like her surname suggests, "old ginger is spicier."
Upon seeing Jiang Ling's confirmation, everyone frantically searched for the drama "The Rise of Phoenixes." They discovered it was the transitional work of a well-known rising star in the industry, adapted from a namesake online novel, telling the life story of Ming Lan, a young lady from an official family in the Northern Song Dynasty, from a pampered daughter of a noble household to the mistress of a marquis's mansion.
And Jiang Ling's role was the female protagonist's legitimate mother.
As soon as words like "legitimate" and "concubine" were heard, the audience couldn't help but automatically imagine the schemes and intrigues of inner-court power struggles.