Chapter 445: The Finale of Nirvana in Fire

The large characters on the poster give one a sense of power and resonance.

Some people feel ignited.

Some people feel sorrowful.

Some people feel... is he scolding me?

Beneath this poem-like text, there is a dividing line.

Below the dividing line are a few golden characters in a larger font:

"【This is an era that needs heroes.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Monkey King: Hero is Back.】"

Many netizens suddenly feel that the title of the movie, Monkey King: Hero is Back, is actually quite well-chosen.

Because of the special meaning of the word "return," binding it to the release period gives it a unique flavor.

The Great Sage is about to return.

And what we must do is wait silently.

……..

……..

The online popularity of Monkey King: Hero is Back is constantly rising.

It is hard to imagine that an animated feature film could possess such terrifying online influence in its early stages.

These days, on every major ticketing app in Blue Star, there are so-called "experts" making predictions about the final box office of movies.

This prediction changes in real-time.

Before the release, it is just a forecast. After the release, it is based on real-time box office data for big data analysis.

Nowadays, most "experts" are very optimistic that Monkey King: Hero is Back will break the box office record for domestic animated films, believing its box office can exceed 200 million!

In their words, a 200 million box office is already a paradigm shift, pushing domestic animated films to a new peak.

As for the director and screenwriter of Monkey King: Hero is Back, Luo Mo, what has he been busy with these past few days?

He is focusing on the finale of Nirvana in Fire and the upcoming New Year's Eve Gala on Octopus TV.

New Year's Day is almost here, and the station head of Octopus TV, Xu Guan, personally invited Luo Mo to attend the Octopus TV New Year's Eve Gala.

Ever since Celestial Sword 5 Qixia Zhuan, Luo Mo and Octopus TV have had a pretty good collaboration.

From a certain perspective, Xu Guan actually showed great appreciation for Luo Mo regarding the satellite broadcast of his television dramas.

Of course, Octopus TV has also seen its ratings climb steadily thanks to the Celestial Sword 5 series and Nirvana in Fire, occupying the throne for the highest annual satellite TV ratings for two consecutive years; Nirvana in Fire even has the potential to break a 2.0 rating!

Originally, Luo Mo had also received an invitation to the CCTV New Year's Eve Gala.

But regarding the songs, he could never reach an agreement with the General Director.

Luo Mo wanted to sing the theme song for his Monkey King: Hero is Back, but the General Director of the CCTV New Year's Eve Gala found it somewhat difficult.

Regarding this, Luo Mo expressed his understanding.

After all, the nature of CCTV is different; singing a movie theme song is essentially a form of advertising.

This year's General Director has a relatively conservative personality and is quite conventional, not wanting to make an exception for such a thing.

Looking at Octopus TV, on the other hand... go for it! Isn't it just advertising for a movie!

Small matter, small matter!

As soon as Xu Guan heard that Luo Mo wanted to sing a new song that had never been performed on any occasion, he immediately got excited.

"Haha, if we're lucky, our Octopus TV could become the number one in ratings among all local satellite channels for this year's New Year's Eve Gala!" Xu Guan calculated in his heart.

After all, judging by Luo Mo's past track record, as long as he goes to a gala to sing a new song, he is sure to break records!

Of course, with three days left until the New Year's Eve Gala, today's primary focus is still the finale results of Nirvana in Fire!

Night falls, and the grand finale of Nirvana in Fire is about to be broadcast!

………

………

In an apartment, the up-and-coming Drama Critic Xiao Cai can hardly wait to watch the finale of Nirvana in Fire.

This show is truly magical; the Drama is captivating, and the further it goes, the more unable one is to extricate oneself.

These days, many people watch shows but never catch up to the finale.

There are also some people who have no interest in the ending.

After all, the ending is mostly predictable.

For Xiao Cai, there are two things about the finale of Nirvana in Fire that make her the most anxious.

"One is whether the old case of the Red Flame Army can be redressed, and whether Mei Zhangsu can help Xiao Jingyan ascend the throne."

"And the other is... the life or death of Mei Zhangsu!"

With the Drama at this stage, the silly and honest Prince Jing finally knows that Mei Zhangsu is his former best friend Lin Shu, and the good buddies have finally recognized each other.

In episode 52, which aired last week, the foreshadowing had already clearly begun.

Whether a show is considered a failure in its ending actually has a lot to do with whether the plot holes were filled.

Nirvana in Fire is still very detailed; even the future of Tingsheng is mentioned in this episode.

This child, who has royal blood in his veins but grew up in Ye You Ting as a convict slave, has been adopted as a foster son by Xiao Jingyan, who has already become the Crown Prince.

In fact, in the second part of Nirvana in Fire, Feng Qi Chang Lin, Tingsheng has already become the Prince of Changlin, which is also one of the biggest tear-jerkers of the show.

Once the final two episodes of Nirvana in Fire were updated on Penguin Video, countless viewers immediately began camping out to watch them.

There was no helping it, the end of episode 52 was cut off way too well!

Or rather, it was cut off in a heartless way!

The members of the Mei Zhangsu team have started to group up to take down the big boss.

In other words, everyone is about to launch the final palace siege against the Emperor of Liang to seek redress for the Red Flame Army.

Furthermore, it is happening at the Emperor of Liang's birthday banquet!

Chang Gongzhu takes the lead, beginning to state the crimes of Xie Yu and bringing the old case of the Red Flame Army out into the open.

Luo Chun, who plays the Emperor of Liang, delivers an emotional outburst in this scene that can be called textbook-level.

Amidst the stirring background music, Chang Gongzhu lists the crimes one by one, and the camera begins to cut to every character at the banquet, giving one close-up shot after another.

Everyone's face is as heavy as water.

This high-energy scene makes all the viewers cry out in satisfaction.

After all, this is the main plot thread that has been buried since the very first episode.

Coupled with the acting skills of the entire cast, it leaves the audience feeling thoroughly satisfied.

The Emperor of Liang falls into a fit of Anger at this moment, his entire face flushed red, his eyes bloodshot, as he bellows, "Stop, stop!"

"Guards, drag her away! Drag her away!"

A group of soldiers and generals floods into the hall, yet they remain unmoved.

Meng Dahuiling Meng Zhi, who has been by the Emperor of Liang's side, begins to step forward, then says before Chang Gongzhu, "Your subject respectfully requests that Your Majesty hear what Chang Gongzhu has to say!"

In an instant, countless viewers feel a sense of thrill.

Another climax of the entire Drama officially begins at this moment.

Princess Nihuang begins to step forward, requesting a thorough investigation into the Red Flame Army case.

One official after another also begins to step forward in succession.

"This subject seconds the motion!"

"This subject seconds the motion!"

"This subject seconds the motion!"

The voices rise and fall, making the viewers feel more satisfied the more they watch.

Even the elderly Prince Ji, who has always been seen by the Emperor as an idle prince who only knows how to have fun, stands up and says, "This younger brother believes that what the ministers request is entirely reasonable!"

In an instant, the Emperor of Liang is overcome with rage.

Luo Chun's performance here can be said to have revealed all of the Emperor of Liang's complex emotions without reservation.

"You, even you..." He begins to cough violently.

Then he scans the hall of ministers and shouts aloud, "What do you think you are doing?"

"Are you forcing me together!?"

The camera freezes on the solemn face of Mei Changsu, and episode 52... ends!

If you want to keep watching, you have to wait until next week.

It can be said that for the loyal viewers of *Nirvana in Fire*, these few days of waiting are extremely agonizing.

Drama Critic Xiao Cai feels like she has even developed an irregular period from waiting.

"Luo Mo, you are really annoying!" As a big fan, she can't help but want to beat Luo Mo to death.

Is this something a person would edit?

If you had stopped the editing before everyone collectively forced the Emperor of Liang, that would have been tolerable.

What is this, stopping halfway through the siege?

In the end, the camera even focused on Mei Changsu, giving himself a handsome close-up; isn't this clearly telling us, don't be anxious, the protagonist hasn't even made his move yet!

This makes Xiao Cai's review of episode 52 consist entirely of praise for the first 900-plus words.

Praising the Drama, the soundtrack, the cinematography, and the acting.

The final closing sentence is: "However, Luo Mo, you are truly a dog!"

This review went viral.

Everyone forgot all the previous content and only remembered the last sentence, "Luo Mo, you are truly a dog!"

However, the more the entire internet rants about this way of cutting the plot, the more it shows how attractive the Drama *Nirvana in Fire* is.

Nowadays, in front of *Nirvana in Fire*, things like *Jade Pearl City* or *Nine Sins* are all small fry!

The popularity and various data points truly crush all other dramas from the same period.

As soon as episode 53 starts, Xiao Cai begins watching with a smile, her cheeks slightly puffed out as she takes a big gulp while gently biting the straw of her three-percent-sweet milk tea.

As it turns out, the beginning of this episode maintains the high-energy plot of the previous one.

Princess Nihuang's younger brother, the young Prince Mu Qing, takes the lead in appearing, requesting that the Emperor of Liang reopen the Red Flame Case.

The Emperor points at this young man and bellows, "Mu Qing! Mu Qing! Do you want to rebel too?"

Just as the Emperor of Liang finishes speaking, the camera focuses on Lord Yan, Yan Que.

"So handsome." Xiao Cai can't help but exclaim.

It must be said that in the entire *Nirvana in Fire*, the bearing and temperament of Lord Yan are truly peerless!

When Luo Mo was choosing the Actor for this role, even with the full support of the National Theatre of China and a group of "National Team" actors to choose from, he was troubled for a long time.

There was no help for it; the one who played Lord Yan on Earth was Wang Jinsong.

An Actor who, when playing a villain, makes people feel that the good guys can't beat him, but when playing a hero, can be full of righteousness and extraordinary bearing.

His acting is truly of the explosive kind.

It's strange, but you can see the two words "moral integrity" in him.

This may be related to his incredibly bumpy journey and his late success.

For some reason, as Xiao Cai watches this scene and looks at this face, she feels an incomparable sense of resolution.

She previously watched the Emperor of Liang berate the young Prince Mu Qing and always felt he was bullying a youngster.

Good heavens, the older generation is starting to strike back.

As soon as Marquis Yan stepped forward, his bearing made Xiao Cai shout inwardly: "So handsome, so handsome!"

These days, many male stars in the entertainment circle are becoming increasingly greasy, especially after some of them get older.

"That greasiness, I feel like it could make me break out in acne just through the screen," Xiao Cai thought, feeling immense disdain for these people.

"Uncle Circle, can you all please step it up to the standard of Marquis Yan?"

He has the temperament, and he has the acting skills!

But when it comes to acting, Xiao Cai feels that the Emperor of Liang played by Luo Chun is truly acted too well.

It is very strange; logically speaking, this scene should be something that makes people feel deeply gratified.

The dog emperor has finally been pushed to this point, and the old case has finally been brought to light.

However, Luo Chun relies on textbook-level acting to make people feel a sense of desolation as they watch him fly into a rage.

Especially at the moment when Xiao Jingyan, who has already ascended to the position of Crown Prince, also stands up.

Today is a birthday banquet, and most of those who have come here are royal clansmen.

This is equivalent to being deserted by everyone!

He has become a true... lonely man!

He looks around the room, his gaze finally fixing on Mei Changsu, who has been sitting to the side with a face as calm as water.

Just from this close-up shot, Xiao Cai feels her heartbeat skip a beat, and she becomes tense along with the drumbeats of the background music.

"The Emperor of Liang still doesn't know that Mei Changsu is Lin Shu!" this thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

Yes, when everyone watches the show, the anticipation from the beginning has always been: when will the old lover Nihuang recognize Mei Changsu, and when will that good buddy Xiao Jingyan recognize Mei Changsu?

Everyone's focus is entirely on these people.

At this moment, the thought of Mei Changsu finally being able to stand before the Emperor of Liang in the identity of Lin Shu makes Xiao Cai tremble all over, feeling an immense, secret thrill in her heart!

And one must know, if Mei Changsu can shed his disguise before the Emperor of Liang, then he can live on in the identity of Lin Shu from now on!

At this moment, the Emperor of Liang begins to interrogate Mei Changsu, assuming that everything before him must be the handiwork of this Qilin talent.

Mei Changsu, played by Luo Mo, finally stops sitting and slowly rises.

There is a long passage of dialogue here, and reciting each part is a test of an actor's command of lines.

Whether you can stir the audience's emotions depends on how well you deliver your lines.

Only hearing Luo Mo say in a deep voice: "In the 26th year of Jingyun, Your Majesty was still a prince, framed by others, with the butcher's knife hanging over your neck. It was your classmate and study companion, the later Commander of the Red Flame, Lin Xie, who risked his life to find the evidence and present it to the late Emperor, only then saving Your Majesty's life."

Once these words were spoken, the Emperor of Liang began to scrutinize Mei Changsu, his eyes revealing a hint of suspicion and a hint of disbelief.

Mei Changsu continued to step forward, saying: "In the 29th year of Jingyun, the Rebellion of the Five Kings bathed Beijing in blood. Back then, Commander Lin was still a commander of the Patrol Battalion; he personally led three hundred cavalrymen to charge into the Imperial Guard camp, ultimately ensuring Your Majesty's ascension to the throne!"

The Emperor of Liang looks at him, the doubt in his eyes dissipating, leaving only shock and Anger.

At this moment, the shift in his eyes is equivalent to confirming Mei Changsu's identity!

"Shut up! I command you to shut up!"

Mei Changsu's tone begins to grow heavier, and his pitch begins to rise:

"In the 10th year of Kaiwen, Western Jin fell, Jinling was besieged, and it was Commander Lin again, marching a thousand miles from the Northern Border to rescue the King, fighting for three days in blood to quell the chaos in Beijing!"

One past event after another is spoken, and this is actually also telling why Lin Xie had to die.

The reason is very simple—his merits were so great they overshadowed the master!

"However, the protagonist group has the protagonist group's own stance," Xiao Cai says in her heart.

Finally, the Emperor of Liang utters that line: "You, you! Who are you!!"

"You are that resurrected traitor, aren't you!?"

Xiao Cai lies half-slumped on the bed, looking at the tablet in her hand, thinking: "Finally! Finally, it has reached this scene!"

The Emperor shouts to kill him, yet no one steps forward.

So he draws his sword himself.

But the Emperor of Liang is old.

The Emperor of Liang is angry.

The Emperor of Liang is at a loss.

As he walks down the steps, shouting "traitor," he trips and falls to the ground.

His imperial crown falls to the floor, and the Emperor of Liang reveals his gray-white hair, looking utterly disheveled, yet he falls into an even deeper level of rage.

Why did Lin Xie and the Prince of Qi have to die?

Simply because the Emperor of Liang is a monarch, and he possesses an endless desire for control.

At this moment, everything is out of control, and this sense of loss of control naturally causes his emotions to explode.

"Luo Chun acted it too well," Xiao Cai thinks she should write a review specifically for him.

But in reality, the strongest moment of Luo Chun's acting, a classic scene in the finale, has not yet arrived.

Amidst the cries of "traitor," the Emperor of Liang stumbles out of the great hall.

The second half of episode 53 is Mei Changsu meeting the Emperor of Liang alone.

The Emperor of Liang remains with his white hair disheveled, not wearing his imperial crown.

This detail actually implies that his power has been hollowed out.

The Emperor of Liang agrees to retry the old case, but he also puts forward a condition.

"No matter what, Jingyan is, after all, my son."

"But you..."

"You are different."

"The blood of the Red Flame has, in the end, flowed too much."

"I absolutely cannot let Lin Shu, let you, live and stand in the imperial court! Stand before me! Stand before the people of the world!"

"Do you understand?"

Seeing this, Xiao Cai began to curse loudly: "And here I was just thinking this white-haired old man was miserable, even feeling sorry for him!"

"Dog Emperor! Dog Emperor!"

Lin Shu agreed to the Requirement.

Emperor Liang asked him how he intended to persuade Xiao Jingyan on this point.

Mei Zhangsu indicated that he had long anticipated Emperor Liang would have such a Requirement, and that if he himself were active in the imperial court, the world would inevitably always point fingers at the court.

As for how he would persuade Xiao Jingyan, Your Majesty need not worry.

"You and I need not meet again." After leaving these words behind, Mei Zhangsu turned abruptly.

Emperor Liang looked at this Back Shadow, looking at this person whose face was completely changed, bearing no resemblance to his former self.

Perhaps, he thought of that youth who used to call him Uncle.

He was the child of his own younger sister.

His father was his closest friend since childhood, the greatest contributor to the current dynasty.

"Wait, wait!" Emperor Liang called out to stop Mei Zhangsu.

Mei Zhangsu stopped his steps, standing before the door, his back to Emperor Liang.

Emperor Liang just craned his neck like that, gazing at his Back Shadow.

That kind of senility, that kind of struggle.

The ultimate iconic scene of Luo Chun's explosive acting, it has arrived!

His head was full of gray-white hair, messy and filled with the gloom of twilight. The whole person was haggard, struggling, his expression complex.

The temperament of an emperor was portrayed vividly and three-dimensionally within a short episode!

He actually knew the truth long ago, and had realized long ago that Lin Xie and the Prince of Qi were both loyal.

But.

But!!!

"You must believe that I was deceived by villains."

"Lin Xie assisted me for ten years."

"Your mother, Jinyang, was my own younger sister."

The next sentence, along with Luo Chun's terrifying acting, made Xiao Cai, a young girl who hated Emperor Liang to death, have her emotions take another turn.

"I held you, took you horseback riding, accompanied you... to fly kites."

"Do you, do you remember?"

Listening to these lines, slightly choked with emotion, and seeing Emperor Liang's expression and the hope in his reddened eyes, one could see the extreme complexity of human nature, rather than a stereotypical black-and-white portrayal.

"Luo Chun's acting in this drama is divine! Luo Mo's filming of this drama is also divine!" Xiao Cai felt that she would probably not just watch this drama a second or third time.

But that in some future day, perhaps by chance seeing news related to *Nirvana in Fire*, she would be unable to resist turning back to watch it again.

(PS: 5000+, two-in-one.)

(End of chapter)