Upon hearing Sister Sa’s words, Jiang Ling immediately declared, "What is this about leading roles and supporting roles? No character is more or less important than another; as long as it's good, that's what matters."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiaolong breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiang Ling’s acting skills were so exquisite, and she was so young.
If she were to star in this drama, not only would it add brilliance, but it would also bring significant buzz.
It would be even better if she was willing to compromise.
However, there were different levels of supporting roles.
A supporting role with substantial screen time and a well-defined character could sometimes be more captivating to play than the protagonist.
For the role of the beautiful, flamboyant, and powerful Consort Hua in the drama, she would be a perfect fit.
Zheng Xiaolong made up his mind to cast Jiang Ling as Consort Hua.
Unexpectedly, when the investors heard that Jiang Ling was going to appear in this drama, they demanded that Zheng Xiaolong change the casting, compensate Sun Li for a portion of the breach of contract, and have Jiang Ling play the female lead.
Zheng Xiaolong quickly explained that the contract had already been signed, and it would be inappropriate to unilaterally breach it.
The investors, however, were unfazed.
They were investing in this drama precisely to gain profits.
Jiang Ling possessed both acting talent and popularity, and if she were to play the female lead, viewership ratings would be guaranteed.
When it came to investment, certainty was the ultimate pursuit.
Compared to the uncertainty of Sun Li, they naturally preferred Jiang Ling to play the female lead, leveraging her vast fan base to drive popularity and pre-emptively secure investment returns.
Zheng Xiaolong, on the other hand, was different. In addition to pursuing viewership ratings, he placed greater emphasis on artistic presentation.
Certainly, if Jiang Ling were to play the female lead, with her acting skills, she would undoubtedly be able to handle the role.
But according to the plot's setting, Consort Hua was the most beautiful woman in the harem.
To quote Aunt Fangruo, "Let alone the Han army banner, even all the Manchu and Mongolian banners combined could not match the magnificent grace of Empress Huifei!"
Jiang Ling was so beautiful; if she played the female lead, who would they cast to play the role of Consort Hua, who was even more beautiful than the female lead?
Furthermore, unless an actor had character issues or problems with their performance, arbitrarily changing the cast without cause was also a major taboo in filmmaking.
Zheng Xiaolong persisted, even resorting to a white lie, claiming that Jiang Ling preferred playing supporting roles. After much persuasion, he finally convinced the investors.
The filming location for "The Ballad of Chun Yuan and Musk" was the Ming and Qing Palaces in Hengdian.
This Ming and Qing Palaces, except for Tiananmen being scaled down by 20%, was a one-to-one replica of the Forbidden City, or the old imperial palace.
After Sister Sa and the crew finalized the arrangements, Jiang Ling booked her flight and immediately flew to Hengdian to have a detailed discussion with Zheng Xiaolong.
Zheng Xiaolong was one of the top directors in the country, with many classic works to his name.
In a good drama, the script was the skeleton, the actors were the flesh and blood, and the director's role was also crucial.
Only with favorable timing, advantageous location, and harmony among people could a masterpiece be born.
Jiang Ling had watched Zheng Xiaolong's previous films and greatly admired his talent.
Zheng Xiaolong's wife, Wang Xiaoping, was also remarkable. It was thanks to her ability to simplify complexity and her meticulous revisions that "The Ballad of Chun Yuan and Musk" transformed from a second or third-rate novel into a first-rate drama.
Zheng Xiaolong attached great importance to Jiang Ling's arrival. Upon learning her itinerary from Sister Sa, he specifically sent someone to pick her up at the airport.
The moment Zheng Xiaolong saw Jiang Ling, his eyes lit up.
She truly lived up to her reputation as a top-tier celebrity; her beauty was undeniable.
Zheng Xiaolong walked straight towards her and said with a smile, "Miss Jiang, I am Zheng Xiaolong, the director of this drama. I am very happy that you could grace us with your presence to act in my new play. Which role in the drama would you like to play? The female lead has already been cast, but you can choose any other role."