At this very moment, on the program, every contestant had the same question lingering in their minds. What exactly was this... That dialect. That submissive man who always seemed timid and lacking in confidence, what had he actually done? He had switched on the radio, yet there was no FM signal at all. The old radio emitted nothing but intermittent static.
And then, he spoke. He uttered those literary words that vividly portrayed the young Ying Zheng. Not merely describing him on the surface, he used language to unravel the emperor's mentality, his domineering nature, and his psychological journey, layer by layer, inch by inch, minute by minute.
Combined with the powerful lines organized by Little Shuying herself, everything seemed to merge perfectly. Gradually, the shadow of an emperor emerged within Little Shuying's mind. But... Could an ordinary man really accomplish something like this?
Unyieldingly proud.
Advancing through endless darkness.
Resolute and sharp, stained with blood, carving a path forward and shattering every obstacle standing in his way.
Each phrase connected seamlessly with the next.
And in Xuejian's eyes, this was precisely the image of the young emperor. "...This..."
He was stunned. As Ye's words echoed through the room, goosebumps spread across his entire body. It felt as though an emperor was recounting the story of his life in a hoarse, weathered voice.
One had to understand, this level of emotion and tension could only be achieved by exceptional narrators, seasoned academics specializing in historical studies, or those who had personally experienced extraordinary hardships. How could he possibly possess such ability? How?
Xuejian fell silent. For the first time, he had the unsettling feeling that this man had been orchestrating everything all along. From the very beginning... From the moment Little Shuying first appeared... The groundwork had already been laid. Everything had been carefully shaped.
Every time Ye spoke about what the First Emperor should be like, how he ought to think, how he ought to stand above others... He was continuously engraving into Little Shuying's heart the image of an overwhelmingly domineering ruler.
Thus, whenever Little Shuying surpassed expectations, Ye's seemingly sarcastic remarks would become another force pushing her to exceed her limits once again. Through this endless cycle, the silhouette of a young emperor struggling forward through countless hardships gradually took form.
Xuejian remained silent.
Shuying was even more silent as she stared blankly at the screen. For a moment, she froze.
"He... said those things? Impossible... He's the same man who haggles endlessly at the wet market. That's who he is." Shuying forced a bitter smile.
For a brief moment, her thoughts became chaotic. Yet she couldn't forget that humble man who frequented the vegetable market. Because what appeared on the screen next was precisely that reality.
Another ordinary day, and training had just ended.
Ye took Little Shuying to buy groceries. Inside the bustling market, Ye held up an eggplant and argued with a vendor over a few cents. "It's cheaper elsewhere. Other stalls sell it for thirty cents, but you're charging thirty-five."
Little Shuying frowned, and disgust flickered in her eyes. When it came time to pay, the total came to exactly ten dollars and fifty cents. Ye searched through all his pockets, but in the end, he only managed to gather ten dollars.
Scratching his head awkwardly, he flashed an embarrassed grin at the plump vendor. "I only have ten dollars. I'll pay you the rest next time."
The vendor immediately raised her voice. "Again? You're always short on money! If you don't have enough, buy less! Not this time! Aren't you embarrassed? Bringing your daughter here while trying to haggle over every last cent. Keep dreaming!"
Her loud scolding echoed throughout the marketplace, and Little Shuying felt deeply embarrassed. Yet instead of lowering her head, she silently observed everything before her. She engraved this scene into her memory because she wanted to stay as far away from this life as possible.
Little Shuying in this scene was different from everyone else. Eventually, after a lengthy exchange, Ye obtained the result he wanted. With obvious satisfaction, he walked away carrying the groceries.
As they exited the market, he proudly said, "See? I saved another fifty cents!"
His tone was filled with triumph. There was even an inexplicable sense of pride.
Little Shuying quietly watched him, and disappointment filled her eyes. Alongside it was a growing sense of distance. She never wanted her future to resemble this.
As they rode home on the electric scooter, Ye smiled while passing through an intersection bathed in the light of the setting sun. But this smile... It was complicated.
The earlier excitement.
The endless chatter.
The apparent pride.
All of it seemed false.
Now, beneath the sunset, his smile appeared warm. Yet it was unbearably lonely. Anyone who saw it would instinctively feel heartache, but no one could explain exactly why.
At this moment, most viewers watching the broadcast saw only one thing: A painfully realistic father struggling at the bottom of society. There was nothing remarkable about him. Nothing extraordinary.
Even after hearing his earlier recitation, many people still questioned everything. Was it really him? Or was it merely the radio? How could this possibly be true?
Meanwhile, within the live broadcast studio of the program, Cihai unconsciously clenched his fists as emotion surged through him. If he had only harbored suspicions before... Now, he was finally beginning to believe. The humble bargaining in the vegetable market. The despair hidden beneath ordinary life. The weak and insignificant image displayed. None of it was accidental, but everything had been deliberately constructed.
He intentionally presented this reality before Little Shuying with overwhelming authenticity. He wanted her to understand that she could never become this person. He wanted her to know what humility looked like. To understand what powerlessness felt like. To despise it. To reject it so completely that she would rather die than live such a life.
Then, he planted within her heart the image of Ying Zheng during his youth. The lines he had carefully guided. The domineering aura shaped through those "radio broadcasts." Everything connected together, piece by piece, until the image of a young Ying Zheng had been completely forged within her heart.
Yet... This was also Little Shuying. The sun and moon shone together.
Cihai's voice trembled with emotion. "You ask me why a child who came from the lowest levels of society shines more brilliantly than wealthy children of the same age? Then let me tell you. Because within her heart, she once experienced an extraordinary and magnificent life. She witnessed humility with her own eyes, and she hated it with all her being. So when she stepped onto the stage to portray this role... No child of the same age could ever rival her."
"Why?" His voice paused, and then he answered softly. "Because...her father was built different."