Jiang Ling was so focused on studying her character that she didn't realize Hua Ruyi's elaborate maneuvering had already roped Jian Zhou into playing the male lead in this drama.
She only found out a few days later when Hua Ruyi announced the news, pre-promoting the drama's commencement of filming. Jian Zhou would play Li Zhi, and Jiang Ling would play Wu Meiniang.
The news came as a surprise. While Jiang Ling was pleased, she also felt a mix of joy and worry.
The joy stemmed from the prospect of starring in another drama with Jian Zhou.
The worry was that the character of Li Zhi was as complex as Wu Meiniang's. She wasn't sure if Jian Zhou's acting skills could handle this scheming, pampered character.
"One useless general can exhaust an entire army." This saying held true for television dramas as well.
If either the male or female lead faltered, the entire drama could be ruined.
This was a good time to revisit the "Condor Heroes" starring Liu Tianxian, to be flogged repeatedly.
That version of "Condor Heroes," whether in terms of actors or filming, was of superior quality. With China's beautiful landscapes as a backdrop, the frequently featured Jiuzhaigou looked like a celestial realm.
Logically, this script should have become a classic among classics, comparable to the 95 version of "Condor Heroes." However, because the male lead's performance was so greasy, described by netizens as greasier than peanut oil, the reputation of the show collapsed.
Specifically for "The Two Saints of the Tang Dynasty," both Wu Meiniang and Li Zhi were central figures in the drama. If either one was played poorly, the entire show would immediately fail.
Compared to Jiang Ling's mixed feelings, her fans and Jian Zhou's fans were ecstatic upon receiving the official announcement.
"That's great, a second collaboration!"
"A handsome man paired with a beautiful woman, a perfect match. Director Hua truly has vision."
"We couldn't get enough of Tong Hao and Tian Yu from 'The Prince Who Turned into a Frog.' Now we have a Prince and Empress CP. Fantastic!"
"Jiang Ling has acted with so many male actors before. If we're talking about the best CP chemistry, it has to be 'The Prince Who Turned into a Frog.' Their gazes met, their eyes so clingy they could spin threads."
"I feel the same. My Zhou Zhou is so handsome. Besides a goddess like Jiang Ling, who is beautiful enough to topple cities, no one else deserves to be paired with him."
"Historically, Li Zhi was a weak and gentle puppy-like character. It's perfectly fitting for Jian Zhou to play him. In my opinion, his Tong Hao is the pinnacle of puppy-like characters."
"A puppy-like male lead paired with an older, mature female lead. Absolutely perfect!"
"Right, when will it air?"
"Yeah, film it quickly, you're killing me with anticipation!"
"I haven't watched a new drama since 'The Prince Who Turned into a Frog' ended. Damn, it's so bad. There are still too few good domestic dramas!"
Whether they were Jiang Ling's fans, Jian Zhou's fans, or simply casual viewers, everyone was highly anticipating the new drama "The Two Saints of the Tang Dynasty," wishing it could be released the day after the promotion.
This news also caused quite a stir in the entertainment industry.
The influence of "The Prince Who Turned into a Frog" had been immense. What kind of wave would Jian Zhou and Jiang Ling's powerful reunion create?
Suddenly, the historical drama market, especially the idol dramas that focused on handsome men and beautiful women, trembled with fear, worried that the same thing would happen again.
On the very evening the news was released, many idol drama crews were inquiring about "The Two Saints of the Tang Dynasty's" release schedule overnight.
Estimating a general timeframe, these crews were either rushing to finish filming and premiere early, or indefinitely postponing their releases, fearing a clash with "The Two Saints of the Tang Dynasty" and being completely crushed.