If the cast and crew were to appear in their costumes, I might be so moved that I’d cry. The day before the “Golden Age” fan meet-and-greet in Nanchang, my friends and I were still talking about it.
On June 18, at the Honggutan Grand Theater in Nanchang, the creative team actually appeared before me in their costumes.
Li Yifu, clutching his ceremonial tablet, stumbled along while cursing under his breath,Xi Xin, with her sword at her side, looked dashing; Liu Xi held a peony hairpin; Gao Yang skipped along, holding a kite; Li Tai drew his bow and shot an arrow; Li Zhi held an umbrella; and Wu Yuan Zhao carried a palace lantern.One moment, these classic scenes were on the screen; the next, they were unfolding right before my eyes. I could barely hold back my tears.
As they took the stage, the audience erupted in wave after wave of cheers.
01
"A Golden Age" is an interactive film produced by New One Studio. Unlike the linear viewing experience of traditional films, viewers step into the life of "Wu Yuanzhao" through her first-person perspective.From “Concubine of the Late Emperor” to Empress, every step is determined by the audience. Different choices lead to different story endings, creating a unique and immersive viewing experience.
In China, the first interactive film or TV production to enter the public eye was 2019’s *The Invisible Guardian*, also produced by New One Studio.At that time, *The Invisible Guardian* was still primarily photo-based and could not strictly be considered a film or television production. For a long time afterward, although similar works continued to emerge in droves, the genre remained a niche market that was largely overlooked by the industry.
It wasn’t until last September, when the “Meiniang” chapter of *A Prosperous World* was released—and sales across all platforms surpassed 1 million within 12 days of launch—that this market segment reached a new milestone in the public eye.
In June of this year, the “Empress” chapter of *The Golden Age* was released, presenting the entire series to audiences for the first time, and the buzz surrounding *The Golden Age* reached its peak. In just five days, online sales of the “Empress” chapter surpassed 1 million. In less than a month, total online sales of *The Golden Age* had exceeded 4 million.
Clips from Liu Xiaoqing’s live stream of *A Prosperous Realm*, in which she has played the Empress on multiple occasions, have gone viral online. She repeatedly praised the series for its high-quality production and star-studded cast of handsome men and beautiful women, adding that it was a very unique viewing experience.
The hundred different ways to die depicted in the work have become a viral meme online; even people who haven't seen it know there's a scene involving “endless osmanthus pudding.”
Beyond the creative ways of dying, viewers were also deeply drawn into the story. Stand-up comedian Li Xueqin, who loves sweet romantic storylines, was moved by the intimate interactions between different plot options during the livestream and couldn’t stop exclaiming in wonder.
When Li Zhi—who had been by our side for half our lives in the show—passed away, one netizen wept so bitterly it broke her heart. She posted a video of herself crying, and many people in the comments section could relate.
02
Offline, amid waves of cheers, the surging outpouring of love took on a tangible form.
As far as I can recall, this is almost the first time a work of this genre has held an in-person meet-and-greet.
The Nanchang meet-and-greet for *A Prosperous World* was scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. In Nanchang, where the temperature was 32°, a long line had already formed outside the venue before 1:00 p.m. amid the stifling heat. The audience members in attendance were all selected at random after filling out an online questionnaire.
A long time ago, each of them wrote a short essay of about 1,000 characters expressing their love for *A Prosperous World* in order to be eligible for the lottery. Enthusiasm was so high that even after the list of selected participants was announced, many people were still lamenting that they hadn’t been chosen.The night before the event was set to begin, the organizers worked tirelessly behind the scenes and managed to secure an additional 200 spots at the last minute.
As this huge crowd gathered in the theater, the entire venue was filled with enthusiasm. Standing on stage, I could see the deeply moved expressions on the lead actors’ faces as they looked out at the audience.
Huang Yi, who plays Wu Yuanzhao, said, “Actually, we had a dress rehearsal last night, but when I heard everyone cheering from backstage—knowing they were really sitting there—I was suddenly overcome with emotion.”
When she first started filming *The Golden Age*, she was still a bit hesitant, but she never expected that this genre—which seemed quite niche at the time—would ultimately become so popular.
Lin Xiaozhai, who plays Gao Yang, had been worried just the day before that she might not be able to control her emotions on set, but when she read the letters from the audience, her eyes welled up with tears right then and there.
For Gong Zhengye, who plays Li Yifu, it all still feels a bit surreal. While filming *The Golden Age*, he didn’t even bring a crew—he went out on his own and shot the entire scene by himself.On the night the first promotional material for the “Empress” arc was released, he was just about to rest when his phone began beeping nonstop with notifications—only then did he truly realize the level of attention this production had brought him.
At the meet-and-greet, his hands trembled slightly as he repeatedly bowed and thanked the audience in his character’s voice: “I am humbled. Thank you, thank you.”
03
I can really understand the audience's enthusiasm.
As someone who has been following *Prosperous World* even before the game was released, I’ve experienced the loneliness of not being able to share my thoughts with anyone for a very long time. Sitting here today, I can’t help but be moved.
The on-site cheers for the creative team stemmed, on the one hand, from the immersive storytelling experience provided by interactive film and television, and on the other hand, from the emotional resonance evoked by the compelling story crafted by *Prosperous Realm* itself.
It’s not just the core characters of the main storyline—Wu Yuanzhao, Lizhi, Lita, and Gao Yang—but every supporting character in the series also has a well-developed and nuanced character arc.
Li Yifu is greedy and ruthless—hardly a model official—yet he is our most loyal ally and the confidant who understands our ambitions best. Xi Xin is a formidable warrior and our most reliable guardian. Liu Xi, who appears to be our adversary, has spent his life trapped by hatred; he, too, is a pitiable figure, a pawn in the imperial court with no control over his own fate.
Each character has their own struggles and vulnerabilities, so whenever an actor takes the stage, the audience responds with cheers and applause just for them.
Hu Yiyao, who played Liu Xi, took the stage and joked with a smile, “I was worried everyone would throw eggs at me.” No sooner had she finished speaking than a chorus of shouts rang out from the audience: “Hu Yiyao, you were amazing!”
Gong Zhengye, who plays Li Yifu, reflected that in his previous roles, fans online would always ask, “When are you going to die?” He never expected that, despite playing a character who isn’t exactly a hero, the thing he’s appreciated most from the audience is hearing them say, “Please don’t die.”
The charm of this character is inseparable from the actor’s spot-on performance. The iconic scene in the drama where Li Yifu holds a ceremonial tablet during an argument is a classic moment that came about only because Gong Zhengye empathized with the character and improvised on the spot.
But the reason the series resonates so deeply with audiences lies in the dedication and sincerity of the entire production team. Many viewers are familiar with the story behind the scenes: during the winter 2024 shoot, the entire crew stayed in Hengdian, with no one returning home for the Spring Festival.From its inception to its full release, the entire production of *A Prosperous World* took three years to prepare and produce, with the rough cut and adjustments to multiple storylines alone taking more than half a year.
The stunning scenes and exquisite makeup and costumes that have earned widespread praise from audiences were all meticulously refined and polished by the director and the styling team. In a behind-the-scenes vlog released by director Zhizhu, it’s revealed that each actor’s final look was repeatedly adjusted to match their character’s essence; every frame and every shot composition was carefully considered and polished.It is through this meticulous craftsmanship that the cast has delivered such critically acclaimed iconic scenes on screen.
This sincerity extended from the online production all the way to the preparations for the meet-and-greet event. Inside the venue, photo spots were set up to recreate the classical Chinese scenes from the film; attendees could take photos there, pick up merchandise, and even taste the osmanthus pudding and longan that appeared repeatedly in the film.The staircase leading to the second floor was also recreated to resemble the “Path to the Throne” that the Empress walked step by step before her coronation.
Even more impressive were the opening and closing segments of the meet-and-greet, which were staged just like a theatrical production. Before the actors took the stage, the large screen displayed the original animation of the palace gates opening, and the cast—dressed in period costumes—recreated the classic scene as they walked slowly toward the front of the stage.
In the original film, we—as “Wu Yuanzhao”—had a dream in which we conversed with our past before ascending to the throne: with lost lovers, friends, enemies, and even ourselves.
The conclusion of the Nanchang meet-and-greet felt much like a series of layered dreams.We bid a fond farewell to loyal ministers, trusted friends, and loved ones. Finally, the curtain closed; as it fell, “Wu Yuanzhao” turned to look back, bidding us a final goodbye as well. With all the characters having exited the stage, we, the audience, must also say goodbye to this story.
It’s not just the audience who are reluctant to say goodbye; the creators are also filled with mixed emotions.
It wasn’t until later, while scrolling through social media, that I realized Rourou, the lead screenwriter of *Prosperous Realm*, had also been at the event.After the meet-and-greet ended, it started pouring rain in Nanchang. She took a photo of the venue after the crowds had dispersed and wrote: “After the press conference ended, I noticed it was raining outside the venue. While waiting for my ride, I crouched under the eaves and quietly watched the players coming and going as they chatted about *Shengshi Tianxia*. It made me feel so happy and deeply moved.”
04
My emotions reached their peak after I finished work for the day and returned to the hotel.
At the meet-and-greet, 170 lucky audience members were selected to receive gift bags. I was lucky enough to be one of them.
The heavy bundles of gifts were prepared by the actors who attended the event that day.
When I opened the package, I realized these weren’t gifts endorsed by celebrities or mass-produced merchandise—those run-of-the-mill gifts. Instead, they were individual items to eat, use, or keep as special mementos.
There used to be a trend online where people would send gifts to each other. When I opened the gifts everyone had prepared, it really felt like I was receiving a carefully curated surprise box from a stranger. From each set of gifts, I could seem to discern the sender’s intentions, habits, and personality.
This thoughtfulness gave me the illusion that I actually knew them and had shared a part of my life with them. I’m not a fan who chases celebrities, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been obsessed with anything, but at that moment, I felt like I truly understood those fans who write thousand-word essays and travel from far and wide just to attend meet-and-greets.
Do you think *The Golden Age* is a truly perfect work? I believe it’s rare to find a work that is flawless. But when every viewer immerses themselves in it and personally experiences this life of court intrigue, the story takes on a unique vitality through their empathy. As we immerse ourselves in it, we, too, become a part of the story.
Just like at the end of the meet-and-greet, the IDs of every audience member in attendance scrolled across the screen, accompanied by the words: “It was once an ordinary world, but because of you, it has blossomed into a golden age.”
原创文章，作者：游茶妹儿，禁止转载：https://youxichaguan.com/en/archives/208032
