Who Gets the World (且试天下) Drama News & Snippet

September 13, 2014 by peanuts 34 Comments

I’ve good and bad news so which one you wanna read first? Okay, I’ll tell you the good news first. Who Gets the World will be adapted into a drama and filming will commence at the end of the year. The bad news is the author will not be participating in the script writing and the scriptwriter doesn’t seem to understand the novel/characters well:( I am afraid he’ll white wash my Hei Feng Xi as he commented that HFX is too conniving and selfish and couldn’t understand why Bai Feng Xi would love him! As I’ve written before, I suspect the scriptwriters hate the authors so they’ll try their best to destroy the novels when adapting them. A reader also suggested usually the scriptwriters are male and the authors are female so they interpret the novel from totally different perspectives.

I don’t know which production company has bought the copyright but it can’t be any worst than Yu Zheng’s studio, right? The names that were tossed out for leading the drama sound kind of random and not to my liking:( Firstly is Louis Koo as the production company wants to recruit an A list star. But Louis is a bona fide movie star now so I doubt he’ll accept this role. Anyway, he is too old, similar to casting Kevin Cheng as Mu Yan in Hua Xu Yin:( The second name is Feng Shao Feng, lidge’s crush, lol. He is alright but he doesn’t give me the Hei Feng Xi’s vibe because I always find the characters he had portrayed weak and useless. Last name is Huang Xiao Ming. I know he has a lot of fans and is good looking but sorry I don’t like his OTT (Over The Top) acting. With his hair down, I feel that he looks like a mad man:(

I don’t really know who can portray such a complex character like Hei Feng Xi well but if I’ve to pick names then I’ll pick either Hu Ge or Yuan Hong. I’ve always have a soft spot for Hu Ge but he never fails to make me cry because he has bad endings in nearly all his ancient drama:( Hence, I want to watch him in a great drama with a happy ending and this character is rich enough for him to showcase his acting abilities. As for Yuan Hong, I feel Hei Feng Xi is quite similar to Yang Kang in Jin Yong’s Legend of the Condor Heroes. The exception is Hei Feng Xi has more redeeming qualities and more heroic. I feel if given the chance Yuan Hong will be able to nail it perfectly. It’ll be a dream team if both of them also get a role in the drama as the second male lead is also rather memorable. Hoju thinks Yan Kuan is a good choice but I find him kind of boring and serious looking:P For those who’ve read or listened to the novel, who do you think is most suitable to be Hei Feng Xi?

Hopefully the cast as well as the drama will turn out well and not disappoint me. For those, who can understand Chinese, I strongly recommend you to read the novel or listen to the audio book. For those, who can’t understand Chinese, I strongly don’t recommend you to use google translate to read the novel because the Chinese in the novel is just too advanced and poetic which google can’t handle. Thus, it is better that you wait for the drama adaptation or the English translation of the book which is a bit slow. In the meantime, if you can’t wait, you can read my summary and snippets:)

Like me, Acrosstime is a super fan of the audio book. Unlike me, Acrosstime can read Chinese. Therefore she has translated some snippets and posted them in shusheng bar. For those who don’t visit the book bar or who are not aware of this, I’ve reproduced one of her snippets below with her permission so do take a look at how Hei Feng Xi and Bai Feng Xi met for the first time when they were kids.

First Meeting When Young (translated by AcrossTime)

Da Dong Jing Yian Fifteenth year, summer.

Ba Huang Ta (tower in the royal palace) is Di City’s tallest tower. Far away is the Ling Xiao Dian (palace) that stands opposite of the tower, is a palace of forbidden grounds, persons with no permission are prohibited to enter.

At this moment, under the beautiful red sunset, a shadow in the sky flew across the palace gates, but the speed was too quick. Suddenly you looked up but only to see a flash of white light.

In a blink of an eye the shadow was already in front of the Ling Xiao Dian. Because it is forbidden grounds, there was no one in front of the palace, the guards were all on watch far away.

Under the skies of red light, the shadow was actually a girl around the age or 13 or 14, dressed in a robe of white with long black hair and beautiful face. In the middle of her forehead rested a string of black beads with a half moon like accessory. Despite her young age, she revealed a presence of grace beyond her age.

The white robed girl lifted her head to look at the sign, which engraved the three letters, ‘Ling Xiao Dian’. She smiled slightly thinking, ‘This is the place!’

Lightly opening the palace doors, she entered, then again lightly closed the doors. Then she looked inside and saw multiple paintings hanging on the palace walls. After seeing the paintings, she quickly walked over.

The wall had a total of 9 paintings of 8 men and 1 woman, the peoples in the drawings looked almost real, embodying their souls. The girl’s gaze stopped at the only woman’s painting. The woman in the picture wore an emperor head piece, dressed in a white empress robe, with an elegant face perked a bit upwards, hinting her proud and strong personality, and the gaze in her eyes felt like they carry a sharp sword-like force.

“So she was like this…” the little girl quietly mumbled as she looked at the woman in the painting.

At this moment there was a small burst of excitement in her heart. When she calmed and regained her senses, she felt another presence coming, but it was too late, foot steps were already outside the door. She quickly turned her body and the palace’s doors lightly swung open, there stood a young boy dressed in a black robe.

The black robed young boy was also surprised since he did not expect someone to be in the palace.

Two people with four eyes gazing at each other, with a feeling that they’ve met before, but did not know when or where they’ve met.

Facing this sudden change, the white robed girl decided to speak first, righteously spoke, “Who are you?” at the same time closely observing the black robed male. Around 15 to 16 years old, handsome face like jade, movements brought a certain grace. However the most odd thing was the string of white beads with a black half moon accessory in the middle of his forehead. Other than the different color, it was exactly the same as hers.

While the white robed female was observing, the young black robed male was also strangely observing her. When he heard her question, he politely said, “I am the oldest prince’s study partner, may I ask you are…?”

The white robed female was already prepared, opened her mouth and haughtily spoke “My (she originally said ‘ben gong’, aka what queens or princesses refer to themselves) name is not one you can ask!”

“This is a forbidden ground, you’re just a study partner, so why are you here?” the young white robed girl asked again.

“Oh, I heard the first prince said that this palace has paintings of the first lords who founded this country. I am curious so I sneaked in to see.” The young black robed male replied at an unhurried pace. When he saw the white robed girl’s eye flashed of light, his heart secretly smiled. Before the white robed girl can open her mouth again, he spoke: “Since princess said this is a forbidden ground, why are you also here?”

The white robed girl blanked, then suddenly returned to her royal princess posture, “I (ben gong) am also curious about this palace’s paintings. If you dare to tattle tale, I (ben gong) will tell my royal brother to behead you!”

“I do not dare.” The black robed male lightly lowered his head, then lifted it once again looking at the young girl, then said, “Since we both sneaked here to see the paintings, then why don’t we both keep each other’s secret?”

When he spoke those words, his eyes were clear and expressed sincerity. However not knowing what, when the young white robed girl saw his face, she has an urge to reach over and claw off that face that wrote ‘modest gentleman’s’ skin. But, at this moment, she restrained her impulses, lowered her voice and said, “Okay, let’s keep each other’s secrets.”

After the young black robed male heard the reply, he nodded his head and smiled, stepping into the palace. His eyes gazed upon the paintings, looking at them one by one. When he swathe second painting on the left side, his gaze paused upon it. The male in the painting wore an emperor head piece, body in a black emperor robe. His handsome yet beautiful face greatly surpasses the normal person. At this moment only looking at the painting made one instantly mesmerized, yet if it is the real person, you don’t know how much more captivated one would be.

“This is Feng Chao Wang, namely Da Dong’s (country) most handsome male in his day. Only looking at this painting do you know who is the real ‘beauty (mei ren)” said the white robed girl with a hint of mockery.

The black robed male turned his head to look at her, softly smiled, “History’s exceptional elegance’s appearance is of course not the average.”

This smile like an orchid’s tranquil blossom, subtly bringing a faint fragrance, making the young white robed female blanked out. In a moment time regaining her senses, she felt anger. She was usually a carefree person, but not knowing why at this moment this young boy’s heart seemed to emit a precaution guard, and this guarding has a kind of feeling between admiration and dislike. So seeing him smiling so well, she cannot help but suppress his smile, “You’re still less than him by a bit.”

Didn’t think the young black robed male would not mind, in exchange he said, “Thank you for your highness’s compliment.”

The young white robed female was in a daze again.

“Since this Feng Chao Wang is Da Dong’s number one handsome man, and princess said I’m still less by a bit, that means I’m considered the second. However Feng Chao Wang has long passed away, by that means I’m this world’s number one.” Black robed male smiled warmly with grace.

The young white robed female was initially mocking him, however now has turned to be a compliment, making her chest uncomfortable. Looking at the person in front of her, feeling very like a kind of animal she really dislikes, especially that face with that kind of smile, she then scrunched her nose, corner of her mouth lifted, “The fox is smiling.”

This time, it’s the young black robed male to blank, thinking that since young, everyone compliments him as beautiful as jade, like an orchid’s grace, but has never been ridiculed as an animal before.

The young white robed female saw him blank out, finally feeling her breath calm, then turned to continue looking at the painting, looking as she was praising, “This person’s whole body is shining brightly with such a vulgar essence! Ai ya, this person’s baby face, looking as though she’s young than me…”

The black robed male saw her observing the paintings, also turned over and lifted his head to the painting, as his gaze moved, softly made a sound “Yee.”

The young white robed female heard and looked at the direction the black robed male is looking, seeing him stare at the right side’s last painting, strangely said, “Who is this person? Da Dong founding country only had one king and seven emperors, originally 8 people, but why is there another person’s painting?”

The young white robed female wanted to know more about this painting, so she concentrated fully on the female painting so she did not realize there was an extra person. This time hearing the black robed male’s words, again placing her gaze to that painting, as soon as she saw, a curiosity grew.

The wall had 9 paintings; all the persons had an emperor head piece, dressed in emperor robes, with an aura of authority showing their noble ranks.

However within all of the paintings, on the right side, the person on the painting was dressed in normal clothes. On top of that out of the 9 paintings, 8 persons’ paintings is of their front side, yet only this person in the painting is of his back.

“Who is this person? Why is his back facing the whole world?” The young white robed female spoke, unable to hold back her words.

The person in the painting seemed like a male, high up on a mountain peak, stood as welcoming the wind. But only the back, however that unrestrained aura was seemingly flying out of the painting, leaving awe. Also, since this person’s painting is in Ling Xiao Dian, means that he must’ve been one of the contributing people of the country, but why is this person’s back facing the country?”

“Back facing the world?” The young white robed female unconsciously said, this phrase caused the black robed male’s heart to shake. Back facing the world, is it not willing to face the world? Or is it cannot face the world? He looked at the man in the painting, eyes flickered a ray of bright light, “This has much meaning, Ling Xiao Dian does not only have 8 person’s paintings, however who is this person with his back facing the world?” He mumbled to himself, face peering a smile that has much depth.

The young white robed female also did not understand, “This is weird, history books clearly stated that Ling Xiao Dian only has 8 founding emperor’s paintings, it did not say there are 9 people ah.”

Two people facing this painting, one full of puzzled bewilderment, the other with playfulness.

Sight once again gazed at the other 8 paintings, they are in the same standings as this person, they obviously all know the answer, however they will never be able to answer.

“Wei Li Di, Wang Wu Wang, Ning Rui Wang, Feng Shao Wang, Bai Wen Wang, Hua Kang Wang, Feng Shao Wang, Nan Yi Wang.” The black robed male’s eyes swept through the paintings of the past’s heroes, his heart forming excitement. After his gazed fell upon the last painting, “Eight people were the founding country’s founder king warriors, formed a sacred friendship for the future to admire However in their 8 person’s Ling Xiao Dian, hangs another person’s painting, the reasoning behind it must not be simple.”

“This person… I will find out who he is!” The young white robed female’s gaze locked on the man in the painting.

“Oh?” The young black robed male turned his head to the young girl and with a light smile, not knowing why, at the bottom of his heart has a feeling, he will see this white robed female again. “Why don’t we have a bet, let’s see who can find out the full details.”

The young white robed female turned her head to look at him, eyes shining bright, “Okay! However what does the loser have to do?”

“The loser…” The young black robed male looking at the bright little girl, then turning his head to look upon the painting’s past legendary persons, “The loser will never abandon the winner!”

“Eh?” The young white robed female was dazed by this bet.

“Do you dare?” The young black robed male turned his gaze back on the young female, those flawless black eyes that do not have an ending to its deepness, however having a slight venomous lure like awaiting.

In a moment, the young girl’s heart skipped a beat, bringing her palm out, “There’s nothing I do not dare, I promise!”

“Okay!” The young black robed male reached his hand out.

“Pa!” Two person’s palm clapped against each other for the promise.

“Next year’s today, we will meet again to decide the winner and loser.”

Done looking at the paintings, their goal has been set.

Walking out of Ling Xiao Dian, the two left in their own ways. When they meet again, both know in their heart to “forget yet cherish” that promise. Of course, that is another story.

Yet during that year, that time.

The young black robed male went home and secretly looked for his family’s hidden away family books.

The young white robed female went home and looked for her brother: “Xie Yue gege (brother), why are there not only 8 people in Ling Xiao Dian? Who is the other person?”