The female characters penned by Old Master Liang, such as Lian Nishang, Li Shengnan, Yi Lanzhu, Ling Muhua, and Wu Xuanshuang, among others.
They were both chivalrous maidens and celestial beauties, possessing unparalleled beauty, formidable martial prowess, and independent personalities, embodying true leading ladies.
This point was particularly commendable.
And in Liang's works, Jiang Ling's favorite female character had always been Li Shengnan.
In traditional Wuxia novels, the heroines invariably ended up with the male protagonist, retiring to a life of farming and raising children, living out their lives.
Li Shengnan, however, was different. She was one of the rare heroines who made a dazzling debut but ultimately met a tragic end.
She was a spectacular fireworks display blooming across the vast plains of Liang's novels, illuminating the night sky with the most beautiful, brilliant hues, overshadowing both the moon and the stars.
A moment of breathtaking beauty that consumed her entire life; after the splendor, all that remained was desolation, leaving Jin Shiyi, the male protagonist, with endless regret and sorrow.
Jiang Ling would never forget the finale of the television adaptation of "Romance of the Jade Rabbit in the Sea of Clouds" in her previous life.
Li Shengnan poisoned Gu Zhihua, forcing Jin Shiyi to marry her. At the wedding, she appeared before everyone in a white dress.
One had to wonder which bride would choose to wear such a color on her wedding day? Kuaishu Pavilion
"Brother Shiyi, I can't bear to leave you! I know you like Miss Gu very much… I wish you and her a lifetime of happiness and enduring love… I only wish that you remember that there was once a person who loved you very, very much, Brother Shiyi! Don't be sad, because if you're sad, my heart will break! Look… it's snowing outside again, just like when we first met!"
Those lines had undoubtedly pierced the hearts of countless viewers at the time.
The blood stained her snow-white skirt, drop by drop, like a red rose blooming on the snowy ground.
She died in the arms of the man she loved, yet she had lodged a thorn in Jin Shiyi's heart that could never be removed.
For Li Shengnan herself, her life was undoubtedly a tragedy.
But for the actress, this role was both a challenge and an opportunity.
Anyone who could portray Li Shengnan well and gain audience recognition would, at the very least, not be disliked, even if they couldn't become a top-tier star.
The actress who played Li Shengnan in her previous life was Ye Xuan. In recent years, she had been involved in numerous controversies and negative news, even rumored to have been cursed.
However, many netizens expressed that, for the sake of Li Shengnan and Shangguan Haitang, no matter what she became, they couldn't bring themselves to dislike her.
This demonstrated the profound impact a deeply ingrained character, one that evoked sympathy and lingering regret in the audience, could have on an actor.
Humans are emotional beings, clear in their love and hate. Love for an object extends to things associated with it, and hatred does the same.
Many audience members conflate the character with reality, unconsciously transferring their sympathy and pity to the actors themselves, showing them boundless forgiveness for their mistakes.
Conversely, if a character is deeply hated, the actor often suffers as well.
Take Rong Mama, who was pelted with rotten eggs, or Miss Tao Xinran, who played An Xiaoniao. Extremely fanatical and irrational anti-fans, due to their dislike of An Xiaoniao for causing the death of Sister Mei, cursed her newborn daughter to have a short life.
Jiang Ling intended to play a deeply sympathetic leading lady role that would evoke lingering regret for years, thereby boosting her popularity and helping her return to her peak.
Unexpectedly, while she was dozing, the system arranged this role of Li Shengnan for her at this very moment.
If it were any other role, Jiang Ling wouldn't be sure if she could reclaim her throne.