Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 333 "The Chinese Poetry Competition" (5k)
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A sudden and fierce storm arose.

A highly respected university historian has published a lengthy article sharply criticizing "The Imperial Doctress".

His opinion video was quickly reposted on Bilibili, sparking widespread discussion. Criticism mainly focused on the following points:

First, the historical prototype of the female lead is drastically altered. The article points out that the historical prototype of the female lead, Tan Yunxian, is a real female physician from the Ming Dynasty, but the series has made a lot of fictional and dramatic changes to her life that deviate from historical facts.

For example, a woman who, according to historical records, was merely an ordinary housewife, childless, and whose later years were tragic, was portrayed as having relationships with two Ming Dynasty emperors (Emperor Yingzong Zhu Qizhen and Emperor Daizong Zhu Qiyu).
The "strong female lead" with complex emotional entanglements has been criticized for "disregarding basic historical facts in an attempt to grab attention."

Secondly, there are serious deviations in the portrayal of historical figures, especially Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Zhu Qizhen.

The article points out with great distress that the drama portrays Zhu Qizhen's experience of being captured by the Oirat Mongols after the Tumu Crisis (historically known as the "Northern Hunt") as if he were "studying abroad in the Oirat Mongols," and even arranges childish plots such as "angrily killing a husky," which is a great disrespect to history.

Meanwhile, the palace power struggles depicted in the drama have been criticized as "too childish and outrageous," lacking the gravitas and logic expected of a serious historical drama.

To make matters worse,

A professor from Jinling University of Chinese Medicine also spoke out, questioning some of the medical practices depicted in the drama.
Claims such as "chicken manure cures cholera" and "mad dog brains cure tetanus" are cited, pointing out that these methods not only lack rigorous scientific basis but also involve huge controversies in medical ethics and are likely to mislead viewers.

These criticisms were sharp, logically sound, and came from professionals, quickly gaining significant attention and generating considerable discussion.

For fans of the TV series "The Imperial Doctress," especially loyal fans of characters like Gu Qing, Liu Shishi, and Huo Jianhua, this is undoubtedly unacceptable.

Their reactions quickly split into two camps:

Radical fans were furious, and the comments were generally inflammatory:

"It's just a TV series! It's a work of art! Why can't it be adapted? Does it have to be exactly the same as history?"

"Journey to the West and Romance of the Three Kingdoms are also adaptations, why don't you criticize them?"

"These 'experts' who are clearly bullies who prey on the weak and seek attention should get lost!!"

"If there are problems with the plot, blame the screenwriter and director! Why are you taking it out on the actors? The actors are just acting according to the script!"

"Can I only say that my brother and his friends were set up by rival capital? So many ridiculous and terrible dramas went unpunished before, why is it that when we become popular, they make such a big fuss?"

The moderate fans generally only had one comment: "A bunch of clickbait bastards! I hope your whole family gets hit by a car!!"

Even worse, some extremely irrational fans have begun trying to find the personal information of these scholars and professors, threatening to "open the box" and retaliate.

For a time,

The comment sections of related news and videos were almost entirely dominated by fans' various defenses, angry rebukes, and attempts to control the narrative.

However, today is different.

As the topic continues to gain momentum, it has firmly occupied the top spot on the trending search list.
A large number of casual viewers were drawn in and quickly joined the fray, forming a "counterattack" against the fans' comments:
"Hilarious! They think it's justifiable to drastically alter history? They can't even criticize a bad film?"

"The plot made me feel nauseous. How dare they call this the 'ceiling of Ming Dynasty craftsmanship'? The experts are absolutely right to criticize it!"

"Some filial sons and maids still have the nerve to mention the Four Great Classical Novels? If your drama had even a tenth the quality and respect for the original works of the Four Great Classical Novels, who would criticize it?"

"If the plot is wrong, it's all the screenwriter's fault? So your older brothers and sisters don't read the script before accepting roles? Are they blind? If there's a problem, don't take the role!"

"I support taking it down! This kind of terrible show that misleads teenagers must be taken down!!"

"Sisters, let's all file a complaint on the State Administration of Radio and Television's official website!!"

Previously, fans could barely control the comments and argue their point, but under the impact of this massive wave of "casual viewers," their arguments were instantly routed.

They can only retreat into their own "information cocoons," huddling together for warmth, leaving behind only impotent rage.

In the evening,

The fan groups of several rival celebrities were filled with jubilation and joy.

They shared their "victories" with each other, their words filled with schadenfreude and arrogance: "Sisters, keep up the good work!"

Keep it up! Let's try to get this lousy show taken down as soon as possible!

"Those lowly fans of Gu Gou, didn't they used to brag every day about how much influence their master had with the authorities? Hah!"

"If we can really get his show taken down by reporting it, then he'll be a real tainted celebrity! Let's see how arrogant they'll be then!"

Faced with this overwhelming and almost one-sided online public opinion, the producers and broadcasting platforms of "The Imperial Doctress" were naturally well aware of the driving forces behind it.

Their chosen crisis management approach was traditional and simple: play dead! Let it cool down!

Don't underestimate this old-fashioned method; it works in many situations.

The internet has a short memory; the massive amount of information updated daily quickly washes away trending topics.

As long as no new and more substantial negative information is exposed in the next week, the public's criticism of "The Imperial Doctress" will naturally gradually decrease.

however,
The producers of "The Imperial Doctress" overlooked a crucial issue: the buzz might cool down, but the show continues to air every week as usual!

Just at this critical juncture, the aired episodes entered the phase where Yunxian and Zhu Qizhen were stranded in the Oirat region and supported each other.

The novel extensively portrays the female lead's resilience and the subtle, unspoken feelings between the two characters.
This foreshadows the later melodramatic climax of "two emperors vying for one woman." This is tantamount to adding fuel to the fire!
Those who were merely casual observers and critics were even more furious: "Look! They're still drastically altering the original! They're still fabricating stories!"

But amidst their furious rant, they also found themselves somewhat frustrated to discover that, in trying to focus their attacks on Gu Qing, they couldn't seem to find a perfect angle.

Because of the current storyline of Zhu Qiyu, played by Gu Qing,

The focus is on the section where, after he ascended the throne, he donned armor, fought valiantly, and protected the Ming Dynasty.

Due to his insistence before filming began, this part of the plot involving major historical events and figures received relatively more respect and restoration, with fewer historical inaccuracies.

If you want to nitpick about acting or plot logic, you can only resort to nitpicking and pointless criticism, which has limited impact.

Fortunately,

These "opportunistic" individuals quickly discovered a silver lining in this misfortune: as long as they focused their attacks on Liu Shishi and Huo Jianhua,

Gu Qing's fans' willingness to resist will be greatly reduced, and there is even a tacit understanding that they "would love to completely remove their own brother from the picture".

"Sisters! Adjust your strategy! Concentrate your firepower and target Liu Shishi and Huo Jianhua!!"

The leader of the anti-fans was giving instructions in the group chat.

"Huh? Why? Isn't our goal to bring down Gu Qing?"

"Idiot! Our ultimate goal is to get this show taken down or rectified! If the show is gone, wouldn't that be the biggest blow to Gu Qing?"
Let those family-oriented people lower their guard first, thinking they can get away with it, then they'll suffer the consequences later!

then,

Public opinion began to target Liu Shishi and Huo Jianhua more precisely.

The storm of public opinion is growing stronger and stronger. Behind it is no longer just the infighting among a few fan groups, but the result of the tacit approval or even promotion of many large brokerage companies.

They cannot tolerate a top-tier artist who is out of control, has too much momentum, and is almost breaking the existing pattern sitting firmly at the top.

Since we cannot bring it under our control or seize its resources, the best way is to bring it down and destroy it!
Under pressure, Liu Shishi was the first to break down.

Faced with a torrent of malice and accusations, she felt unprecedentedly helpless and insecure, and became depressed.

Huo Jianhua, who has always presented himself as a "veteran cadre" and has a gentle temperament, was almost brought to tears by the scolding.

Full of grievances: The script was received by the company, the lines were written by the screenwriter, and he acted exactly as the director told him to. What did he do wrong?
He was just a dutiful actor.

As for Mr. Cai, the largest investor,

My mood has been like a rollercoaster ride, from the initial elation of soaring ratings to the current state of being overwhelmed and exhausted.

She was so angry that she would curse her colleagues who were sabotaging her behind her back in the office every day: "You're going to such lengths to destroy us! You're killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own! What's the point?! Can you guarantee that your own productions will be completely problem-free from now on?!"

At the very least, my drama uses 100% meticulously researched Ming Dynasty costumes, props, and sets!

however,
No matter how angry and cursing she was, it was all in vain.

Those letters of complaint and phone calls that flew to the General Administration like snowflakes were no joke.

The matter has caused a great uproar and has already attracted the attention of the authorities.

In recent years, the State Administration of Radio and Television has been quite disgusted by the rampant, poorly made, and historically distorted historical dramas on the market.
Several years ago, the filing of costume dramas with the themes of "time travel" and "palace intrigue" was explicitly prohibited.

Ms. Cai was almost in despair. Although it was unlikely to be "taken down," she had vaguely heard rumors that the series might face a "short-term suspension for rectification."

This is undoubtedly a fatal blow to a TV series that is currently airing and relies on daily updates to maintain its popularity, and the damage to the reputation of the lead actors is immeasurable.

Just when Ms. Cai was feeling utterly hopeless and could see almost no hope at all, her phone suddenly vibrated, the screen lit up, and it showed that she had received a new message.

"Gu Qing?"

Upon seeing the sender's name, Mr. Cai was startled, almost holding his breath, and hurriedly picked up his phone to check.

The message was unusually simple, consisting of only one sentence: "Sister Cai, remember to switch channels and watch the program next Sunday at 8 PM."

"One unit? This isn't..."

Mr. Cai's heart skipped a beat, and an unbelievable thought flashed through his mind.

Her fingers trembled as she quickly opened a webpage and searched. A moment later, she finally confirmed that it would be next Sunday night at eight o'clock.
What program will that channel be broadcasting soon?

The Chinese Poetry Competition!
This is a top-rated cultural program created by CCTV in recent years, achieving both high viewership and critical acclaim!
It not only successfully sparked a nationwide craze for revisiting classical poetry and learning traditional culture,

Its novel competitive format and profound cultural connotations have attracted a wide audience, ranging from the elderly to young students, and its influence is enormous!

In an instant, Boss Cai understood why Gu Qing would suddenly send her such a message at this critical juncture!
You all keep saying that my drama "drastically alters history", "desecrates traditional culture", and "has distorted values"?

Now, our drama's lead actor has been invited by CCTV's most culturally significant and influential program promoting traditional culture, and is about to make a grand appearance on stage!
What does it mean to have "red roots and a straight lineage"?

What does official endorsement mean?

This is what you call having impeccable political background! This is what you call official endorsement!
"Hahaha—hahahaha—!"

Overwhelmed with joy and a sense of triumph, Boss Cai instantly dispelled the gloom of the past few days, and couldn't help but burst into laughter in his empty office.

She spoke to the air, as if gritting her teeth at her opponents lurking in the shadows:

"Go ahead and make a scene, just wait until next Monday and see how you're still having fun!"

at the same time,

After sending the message, Gu Qing was boarding a flight to the capital.

"Boss, you're amazing..."

Assistant Zhao Ya struggled to fend off several flight attendants who were eager to get Gu Qing's autograph and take photos. Back in her seat, her face still betrayed her admiration and excitement.
She lowered her voice, "In such a short period of time, to appear on a TV show twice, not to mention the Spring Festival Gala at the end of the year, how many artists in China can do that!"

"I... am actually quite surprised too."

Gu Qing frowned slightly, a hint of genuine confusion in her eyes.

Although he knew that the eldest princess didn't follow entertainment trends as closely as the sixth princess, she wasn't completely isolated from the world either.

However, negative opinions about "The Imperial Doctress" are rampant online, with endless criticism.

For an artist caught in such a huge controversy, the eldest daughter should usually be more cautious and avoid getting into trouble.

He was genuinely puzzled that they would take the initiative to invite him to participate in the program.

"It can't be... that some big shot's daughter has taken a fancy to me, can it?"

An absurd thought flashed through his mind, which he immediately dismissed with a laugh.

After the plane landed and arrived at the Grand Princess headquarters, Gu Qing completed a series of procedural meetings, photos, and autographs before being led by staff to a lounge to wait.

Not long after, there was a knock on the door, and then several middle-aged people with a calm demeanor and impressive presence walked in.

Gu Qing immediately recognized the three faces following him: the host Dong Qin, Xiao Sa, and the chief director of "Chinese Poetry Conference," whom he had specifically researched online before coming.

However, the other unfamiliar faces, judging from their demeanor and the attitudes of those around them, were clearly leaders of a higher rank.

"This must be Comrade Xiao Gu, right?"

A leader smiled and said in a friendly tone, "Not bad, not bad at all. He is indeed a handsome and promising young man."

Most importantly, at such a young age, to have made such a significant contribution and demonstrated such awareness is truly commendable!

"Hello, leader."

Gu Qing immediately stood up awkwardly, making full use of his age and appearance, and showed a shy and humble smile on his face. This well-behaved and handsome appearance was very easy to win the favor of the elders.

With his pleasing appearance and the "positive information" they had gathered about Gu Qing beforehand, the admiration in the eyes of these high-ranking officials grew even more pronounced.
He offered a few more words of encouragement, such as "keep it up" and "set a good example," before leaving.

The air pressure in the room seemed to return to normal instantly after the leaders left.

Only Dong Qin and Sa Beining remained as the two hosts.

Gu Qing then let out a long sigh of relief, almost imperceptibly, feeling like she was about to break out in a sweat.

"Sit down, sit down, relax."

Xiao Sa greeted them warmly, rubbing his forced smile and flexing his muscles by opening his mouth wide.
"Don't even mention you, my face was practically plaster statue from smiling so much just now, my muscles are sore right now."

"Xiao Sa, how old are you? You're still acting like a little monkey. Can't you be a bit more composed in front of the boss?"

Dong Qin chuckled and shook her head, maintaining her elegant and dignified demeanor.

"Sister Dong Qin, Brother Xiao Sa,"

Gu Qing looked bewildered and asked, "What the leaders were talking about... 'contribution'? I didn't quite understand. What exactly did I do?"

He was genuinely confused.

"You didn't know?" Dong Qin was quite pleased with his obedient "sister," and after a slight smile, a hint of surprise appeared on her face.

"I really don't know..."

Gu Qing shook her head blankly.

"This..." Dong Qin seemed hesitant, as if unsure whether she should be the one to say it.

“Oh, it’s alright,” Sa Beining said readily. He patted Gu Qing’s shoulder with a smile. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take the liberty of calling you ‘brother.’ I can’t very well use the same address as the leaders.”

He leaned closer and lowered his voice slightly, but his tone remained clear: "Among the people who came just now, one of them is a leader from the tax department."

He discovered that, from last year to this year, you are the celebrity in the entire entertainment industry who has paid the highest amount of taxes and has the most standardized tax declaration!
That alone is enough to make many leaders look at you with new respect. Now you understand?

"I... understand."

Gu Qing was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, and nodded hurriedly like a chick pecking at rice, "Thank you, Brother Sa."

So... the big one is coming...

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(End of this chapter)