[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment":3,"chapter-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-13":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Intelligence King of Chinese Entertainment",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260316,4411,"Chapter 13: The Fine Horse Sai Long and","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-13",13,"\u003Cp>“Giddy-up, giddy-up…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li rode a brown horse at full gallop along a hundred-meter dirt road, making several round trips before finally pulling the reins to a reluctant stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good horse, well-behaved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li praised it, gently stroking the horse’s mane, receiving in return a high head toss and a curled upper lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his studies these past days, Yan Li knew this behavior usually indicated the horse was happy or excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other signs like a raised tail or eager attempts to rear up carried the same meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, these gestures must be interpreted in combination with ear position, gaze, and expression—some single actions could have different meanings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, when a horse lifts a front hoof and taps lightly, it might mean happiness, agitation, or even the Yunniang  of an attack in anger or fear; the next step could be a heavier stomp as a warning, and a temperamental one might kick or bite outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the dirt road, Yan Li dismounted and took a small carrot from his pocket, slowly feeding it to the horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horse was entirely brown, save for a patch of white fur on its forehead—distinctive and easily recognizable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li remembered that in “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” Liu Bei’s Dilu horse was said to bring misfortune due to its white forehead marking, but after learning more, he realized such white markings were common—he’d simply been fooled by Luo Guanzhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Xu, one of the horse team’s supervisors from “Heroes of Sui and Tang,” watched the interaction between man and horse with a touch of envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even Huizi is closer to you now than to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a fine horse—you gave it such a terrible name. I’d call it Red Charcoal Fire Dragon Steed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this time, whenever Yan Li had no scenes, he came to ride; he’d grown close to Lao Xu and now began scheming to convince him to rename the horse he bonded with most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Xu was very dark-skinned, with a scruffy beard; he took the Yuxi cigarette Yan Li offered and exhaled a slow smoke ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you just suggest ‘Sai Long Wu’ something-or-other last time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I actually liked ‘Sai Long Wu Ban Ju’ better, but you said it sounded bad, so let’s change it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li smiled—he’d chosen the name with ulterior motives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether “Sai Long Wu Ban Ju” or “Red Charcoal Fire Dragon Steed,” both were names of Yu Wen Chengdu’s mount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Different versions of novels or oral storytelling had led to variations in the name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Li Yuanba’s steed: some called it “Ten Thousand Li Smoke Cloud Veil,” others “Chasing Wind White-Spotted Ten Thousand Li Cloud” or “One-Striped Ribbed Lai Qilin”—at least six or seven versions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the Phoenix-Winged Gold-Plated Spear was beyond the prop team’s capabilities for “Heroes of Sui and Tang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the drama, Qin Qiong wielded iron clubs, Yuchi Gong used whips, Cheng Yaojin swung axes, Li Yuanba and Pei Yuanqing swung hammers, Yang Lin had the Dragon-Imprisoning Rod—but Yu Wen Chengdu was stuck with a cheap long spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his signature weapon gone, Yan Li could only make up for it on the mount—after all, he wanted to enjoy himself a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Call it whatever you like. I still call it Hu Zi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Xu was still smoking Yan Li’s cigarette, so his tone wasn’t firm—but renaming was out of the question unless Yan Li bought the horse outright; then he could name it whatever he pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much is Sai Long?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li smoothly switched the name, then couldn’t help asking about the price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Xu’s mention of buying a horse struck a chord—Yan Li had already said this horse was especially close to him; his rapid progress in riding stemmed from their deep unspoken understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yan Li had grown fond of Sai Long and wanted to own him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Xu glanced at Yan Li and sneered: “You can’t afford it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t horses supposed to live over twenty years? Sai Long’s only seven. I can’t afford him now, but that doesn’t mean I won’t later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li had some confidence in his future—at least with the system’s help, he wouldn’t spend ten years struggling to buy a single horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then save up slowly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lao Xu crushed out his cigarette, not taking Yan Li’s words seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li wasn’t the first actor who’d wanted to buy a horse out of fondness or liking—he’d seen it several times, but none ever actually paid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, horses were expensive. Though not purebred champions, the team’s horses weren’t farm workhorses either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their price was already high, but crucially, these horses were trained for filming and could keep earning through future productions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Factoring in breeding costs and future earnings, their value soared beyond what most could afford.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse, keeping a horse after purchase was another problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To maintain a horse in good condition for free galloping required land, labor, feed, veterinary care, and countless other expenses—far too costly for the average person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, most people’s interest was fleeting; once the novelty wore off, they forgot about it entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they still wanted to ride, there were plenty of better horses outside Hengdian—no need to buy one here with low cost-to-value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li didn’t argue with Lao Xu; he affectionately stroked the white patch on the horse’s forehead: “Sai Long, wait for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, another white horse galloped over and stopped beside Yan Li; the young man with a buzz cut looked at him and called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yan Li, race one lap?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li lightly brushed the horse’s face to calm Sai Long, who was growing restless at the stranger’s approach, and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I’ve got something else soon. Next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man didn’t press it, tugged the reins, and rode off. Lao Xu watched his back, annoyed by the man’s disregard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, acting so high and mighty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li paused, said nothing, and quietly resumed feeding Sai Long his carrot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man was Nie Yuan, who played Luo Cheng in “Heroes of Sui and Tang”—second only to Huang Haibing’s Qin Qiong in male supporting roles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yan Li and Nie Yuan had no direct scenes together, frequent horseback visits had made them familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At present, Nie Yuan was in a rapid ascent: last year he became famous in “The Wrong Bride,” this year he portrayed Emperor Qianlong in CCTV’s New Year drama “The Granary of Heaven,” his fame surging—he was clearly becoming one of the mainland’s rising young stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even within “Heroes of Sui and Tang,” though Qin Qiong was the lead, the popularity of “The Cold-Faced, Ice-Spear, Handsome Luo Cheng” needed no explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the production team was actively promoting Luo Cheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the original “Sui Tang Romance,” Luo Cheng’s character was morally questionable, but the script erased all his flaws, shaping him along the lines of Yue Fei and Zhao Zilong—Yan Li personally felt this version was even more compelling than Qin Qiong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Yan Li couldn’t help feeling a pang of envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Cheng discarded all his flaws and piled on virtues, while Yu Wen Chengdu had thrown away his few bright points and was treated abysmally—same crew, different fates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, apart from that, Yan Li had a decent impression of Nie Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both loved riding, were similar in age, shared common interests, and since Yan Li was at least a known actor in the crew, he had some standing—so they got along well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another key factor: the system—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Daily Intelligence x: Nie Yuan recently raced and chatted with Yan Li, found him pleasant, and plans to hang out more often.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Daily Intelligence x: Nie Yuan was delighted by Yan Li’s insights into cavalry battle scenes, found him loyal and open-hearted, and now considers him a friend.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A person’s outward behavior can be faked, but their true inner feelings cannot be hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So for Yan Li, no matter how friendly, warm, cold, or stern someone appeared, he placed greater weight on the system’s direct insight into their inner thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for others in the crew, opinions on Nie Yuan varied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his career soaring and youth on his side, Nie Yuan was constantly fawned over both inside and outside the crew, inevitably revealing a touch of arrogance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was understandable—most people would act the same, perhaps even worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But logic doesn’t guarantee understanding; few people were truly empathetic, and many had directly experienced his arrogance—so their views on Nie Yuan were predictably negative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li had a decent personal relationship with Nie Yuan and wouldn’t speak ill of him behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he heard others gossiping about Nie Yuan, he’d gently deflect if appropriate; if someone like Lao Xu was too blunt, he’d pretend not to hear and stay neutral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1464,"2026-06-19T16:16:52.605Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","06982b5c4e24cd045e7c915311d762b1b756378a774788af912622486c3269dc","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-14","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-12",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-cover.jpg"]