Chapter 15
The ancients were shocked and amazed. "Is this acting? That can't be possible! I saw her blood coming from her chest with my own eyes! That knife even stabbed right into her!"
"Sisters, look, she's been stabbed again! That's just... too cruel."
Although Gu Sang had explained it was fake, just acting.
But the ancients had never witnessed such a vivid scene of being stabbed and bleeding on stage before.
It wasn't until they saw the person who had coughed up blood stand back up, dust herself off without a care in the world, that they were utterly dumbfounded.
Stabbed by a knife and... and still fine?
Just what sorcery was this?!
"The next scene will be your acting test, remember safety comes first, don't try to be overly competitive."
"You all go pick your horses from the stables now and get ready for the test."
The assistant director led a few people to the horse stables.
The stables were not large, with only a dozen or so horses, each kept in their own stall.
Within minutes, everyone had picked out a horse and led it outside.
This was a multi-rider horse scene, so to avoid poor performances, the others had all chosen docile, gentle mounts.
When they saw the large, muscular, vigorous stallion that Gu Sang had picked, head held high with a prideful air of defiance, even the assistant director's expression changed.
The girl who had just put down Gu Sang started mocking again: "It's just an acting test, no need to take it so seriously, right?"
"That horse clearly hasn't been properly tamed yet. If you fall off later, a broken leg would be the least of your worries."
"Didn't your little sister say you used to be too scared to even approach horses? Now you've picked such a fierce one just to prove yourself, even putting your safety at risk?"
"Tsk tsk, just showing off for attention."
Gu Sang gave the girl a momentary glance before elegantly retorting, "With such a foul mouth, I suggest you keep it shut."
"I'm afraid when I slap your face later, the scraps stuck in your teeth might come flying out in surprise."
The girl shut her mouth: .......
It was at this moment that the props and cameras were all set up.
The assistant director stood in the filming area, and someone not far away held up a clapperboard, calling out "Action!"
The women simultaneously grasped the reins in their left hands, planted their left feet in the stirrups, and with a forceful push, mounted the horses with ease and stability.
Next!
They squeezed the horses' bellies firmly with their legs, and the steeds charged forward at a gallop.
The horses raced ahead as one, the women riders cutting dashing, heroic figures atop them, like the legendary warrior maidens of the Yang family.
In that instant!
She would surely die!
To be trampled underfoot by that horse was a death sentence!
But in that moment, a dazzling figure flashed across their vision, the woman pressing herself against the horse's belly and pulling hard on the reins.
Gu Qing was pulled out from under the horse and up onto another steed's back.
The two horses passed each other in a whirlwind, the sheer speed raising a cloud of dust.
The assistant director let out a huge sigh of relief, shaken to his core: "Scared me half to death! If we had a real casualty over an acting test, this entire production would be scrapped."
"Horsemanship like that would make her a top cavalry officer on an ancient battlefield!"
"Originally that battle scene was cut due to concerns over the riding, but with a talent like her we could put it back in! What a find - perfect form and presence too!"
The ancients cheered: "Our Noble Consort is so formidable, to perform a rescue from horseback at such close range!"
"In the past, this subject heard tales of how the Noble Consort Gu braved the enemy alone to rescue His Majesty, but did not believe them. Now, this subject is convinced!"
After riding a distance, Gu Sang finally brought the sweat-drenched Gu Qing down from the horse, relieved to see her unharmed.
The director, assistant director, and crew, hearts still pounding, rushed over in the aftermath.
"What was that about? Didn't I tell you all not to be so recklessly competitive? There were no safety precautions for that riding scene - did you think it was just playing around?!"
"Pushing it way too fast when you couldn't control the speed? Are you trying to get killed?!" The director angrily scolded everyone present.
Noticing the cold sweat on Gu Qing's forehead, Gu Sang quickly waved the director over.
The shooting pain from her left leg caused Gu Qing's lips to turn white, and she opened her mouth with a trembling voice on the verge of tears: "My leg... it hurts so much."
"There's so much blood, the bone must be damaged!"
"Quick! Get her to a hospital."
The crew had a basic stretcher, and with Gu Sang and the other women's help, they managed to get Gu Qing down from the horse.
The normally arrogant and foul-mouthed Gu Qing now clung to Gu Sang's hand, crying: "Gu Sang, is my leg going to be amputated?"
"I can't feel it anymore, waaaah I can't move it....."
Gu Sang: Weren't you just being so brave a moment ago?
Now you're crying and clinging to me?
Gu Qing had always seemed headstrong and self-assured, but when faced with real danger she just held onto Gu Sang's hand and kept bawling: "Waaah....."
"Waaah....."
"It's just some blood and numbness, what are you panicking about? You'll be fine, I'm taking you to the hospital."
The ancients were puzzled: Hospital?
What is that place?