novellhall 82, First Broadcast
82, First Broadcast
The popular MBC Wednesday-Thursday drama "The Moon Embracing the Sun" airs at 9:55 PM, a prime prime-time slot.
Today also marks Li Jingcheng's first appearance on screen, and fans and viewers are already waiting in front of their televisions.
Even before that, Kim Ji-soo had been eagerly anticipating the airing of this episode. She hadn't watched the previous episodes and was only looking forward to Lee Kyung-sung's appearance.
That evening, Kim Jisoo finished washing up early and sat leisurely in front of the TV in the living room, tuning in to the channel and waiting for the premiere to begin. She didn't want to miss a single shot or scene of Lee Kyung-sung appearing.
As the series progressed, Lee Kyung-sung finally made his official appearance in the main hall scene.
Li Jingcheng stands in the main hall, facing the emperor directly, while also engaging in a direct confrontation with the assembled court officials.
Time flies, and eight years have passed like flowing water. The former Crown Prince Li Xuan now sits on the dragon throne, which symbolizes the highest power.
However, the court session that day turned tense due to the words of one of the ministers.
The atmosphere was so heavy it seemed to freeze.
As the narration ended...
The prime minister and his cronies knelt on the ground, their words earnest yet subtly sharp, attempting to use ancestral rules and celestial phenomena to suppress royal power once again.
All the civil and military officials bowed their heads and held their breath, not daring to look directly at the emperor's face, for fear of being affected by this invisible pressure.
In this oppressive silence, Li Xuan showed no emotion whatsoever.
He sat upright on his throne, his posture as straight as a pine tree. The golden royal robe embroidered with coiled dragons did not make him look bulky; on the contrary, it accentuated his broad and sharp shoulder lines, making him appear even more upright.
Even when faced with the prime minister's barrage of remonstrances lasting half an hour, he showed no sign of impatience.
He slowly got up.
At that moment, the once noisy hall seemed to be instantly emptied of air. He looked down at the ministers below him,
"Lord Prime Minister."
He spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every corner of the hall.
As the camera zoomed in, the close-up focused on his expressionless profile.
She saw him slightly raise his chin, his eyes sharp and authoritative. Although she couldn't see any expression on his face, she could feel his aura as if he ruled the world.
Kim Jisoo's throat suddenly bobbed, her eyes fixed on Lee Kyung-sung's face, and she muttered softly to the screen.
"Oppa, if he orders me like that..."
Her face flushed, and she quickly picked up her phone, pressing the shutter button on the screen to capture the tall, upright, and dignified figure. A click later, the image froze on the faint, almost imperceptible smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"Oppa, this is really...so handsome."
Kim Jisoo muttered to herself as she quickly saved the photos she had just taken into her encrypted album, 【Kyung Sung Oppa♡】.
Having just finished filming and returned home, Lim Yoona was holding a bowl of instant noodles that had just been filled with hot water. She originally planned to eat while casually glancing at the TV, but as soon as her fork pierced the noodles, she heard Lee Kyung-sung's voice, "Prime Minister," slam down on her from the TV.
Yoona paused in her noodle-picking motion, her eyes widening slightly, not even bothering to dodge the steam that was hitting her face.
She leaned closer to the screen, her pearly teeth nibbling on a ramen fork, her eyes glued to the person on the screen. His plain-colored brocade robe, in the style of ancient costume, accentuated his upright shoulders and graceful figure. His perfect head-to-body ratio was visually striking, exuding an aura of aloofness and nobility befitting a prince.
"This guy's face is truly a gift from God." Yoona exclaimed sincerely, her eyes filled with amazement.
She initially thought it was just a standard period drama with a special filter, but the more she watched, the more surprised she became. Li Jingcheng's portrayal of the adult Li Xuan was far more nuanced than she had imagined.
"He doesn't rely on his looks to carry the show; he relies entirely on his lines and expressions to portray the character."
Lim Yoona's eyes were bright. The instant noodles were already on the table, and her hunger had been completely suppressed. Her eyes were only filled with longing for Lee Kyung-sung's acting skills.
I'm so envious...
In front of the same television screen, in another luxury apartment.
Kim Soo-hyun sat on the soft carpet, a can of ice-cold beer in his hand, but he didn't drink it. He stared intently at the huge LCD TV wall.
On the screen, Lee Kyung-sung is acting out the scene where Lee Hwon questions the shaman in the rainy night.
"Tsk." Kim Soo-hyun tried to squeeze out a hint of sarcasm through his teeth, but found that he couldn't find anything to criticize at all.
Whether it was the control of facial expressions, the explosive power of the lines, or even that deep-seated arrogance, everything was so perfect that it took his breath away.
Sitting on the sofa, Bae Yong-joon watched Lee Kyung-sung's performance with a calm yet focused expression.
As both a boss and a veteran actor, his assessment was more rational and incisive.
"No wonder Representative Lee has invested so many resources in him." Bae Yong-joon shifted his position on the sofa, making a slightly jarring sound. "Lee Kyung-sung's acting is excellent, and his appearance is very appealing to the audience. Most importantly, he brought the character of Lee Hwon to life."
He turned his head and glanced at the stiff Kim Soo-hyun beside him, his tone becoming somewhat complicated. "With this drama, his debut and status as a male actor in television dramas are completely established. The ratings won't be lower than the previous episodes; they'll at least break 40."
Kim Soo-hyun's fingers turned white from gripping the beer can so tightly.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something. He wanted to say that Li Jingcheng was just lucky to get the notebook, that his gaze and emotions were actually a bit excessive, he wanted to say…
But all the explanations seem pale and powerless in the face of an absolutely perfect performance.
Kim Soo-hyun finally managed to squeeze out a cold sentence, filled with a stubborn resentment, "This role... was originally mine."
Upon hearing this, Bae Yong-joon did not turn around, but simply reached out and pressed the red button on the remote control.
"Beep—"
The huge TV wall went black instantly, reflecting Kim Soo-hyun's somewhat distorted face.
"If you don't plan to participate in any more collaborations with CJ, then don't think about these things." Bae Yong-joon's voice rang out, calm yet undeniably authoritative. "Don't think about anything else. Just do your best in the roles that CJ and MBC are compensating you for."
"CJ has already started contacting Lee Kyung-sung for movie lead roles. If the movie is a box office flop, his resources will naturally drop, and we can get our revenge. Once CJ gives up on him, you can trample on him however you want."
Kim Soo-hyun shuddered and abruptly looked up at his current boss.
"A movie? Bro...could you..." His eyes flashed with jealousy; he also wanted to try and get a movie role.
But Bae Yong-joon had already turned off the TV, cutting off all his thoughts as well.
"You can't get a good role in a movie right now, and the risk is too high. You've worked your way up from a supporting role in a TV series to a leading role, so don't set your sights so far ahead."
The room fell into a deathly silence.
Kim Soo-hyun stared at the black screen, his lips pressed tightly together. He was already imagining Lee Kyung-sung's box office failure and being ridiculed by the entire internet as a useless royal. At that time, he could finally vent his anger.