The play on stage was the legendary tale of King You of Zhou, who lit the beacons to amuse the cold beauty Bao Si—a classic tale of folly.

The performance continued in the same style as the previous act.

The actress was a stunning beauty. Although she had been out of the entertainment industry for years, her makeup and costume restored her former peak appearance. She leaned against the window with an air of melancholy, her eyes full of sorrow and a caged-bird despondency.

Qin Zhao, playing King You of Zhou, walked past, looking troubled. “How can I make my beauty smile?”

A treacherous minister stepped forward and suggested setting up an elaborate scheme, igniting the beacons to fool the various lords, which would surely amuse her.

King You found the idea intriguing and laughed heartily, deciding on the spot.

Bao Si was soon brought to the high platform, looking weary as she was held by King You, who joked with her. Every part of her demeanor spoke of helplessness.

The beacons were lit, horses thundered, and the lords and their generals rushed to the platform, panicking and demanding to know where the enemy was.

But all they heard was King You’s laughter from above, joined by the snickering of his treacherous advisors.

Bao Si’s face was one of stunned confusion. She didn’t understand the meaning of the beacons or the scale of what she was witnessing. The men below were intimidating and furious, as if something terrible had occurred.

“My beauty, this grand show was arranged just for you. Why aren’t you laughing? Isn’t it funny?” King You asked.

Bao Si’s eyes were filled with panic. The overwhelming scene left her at a loss, and faced with King You’s question and the laughter around her, she forced an awkward smile.

Her smile delighted King You, but the lords below realized they had been made a mockery of and demanded answers, enraged.

King You, oblivious and arrogant, said, “It’s your honor to bring joy to my beloved.”

Bao Si’s face went pale as she saw countless eyes below glaring at her as though she were a criminal deserving the harshest punishment.

“You’ve bewitched the king into such foolishness!” 

“The witch dares to toy with us! She must be punished!”

Accusations and curses filled the air, mingling with background sounds of national ruin. The large screen lit up, rolling with centuries-old criticisms of Bao Si.

“The fall of the Zhou Dynasty was because of her.” “She brought calamity to the nation.” “Beauty as the root of misfortune.”

The stage darkened, leaving a spotlight on the actress.

She stood trembling, taking shaky steps, unable to face the screen as she wept, covering her face.

“No, it wasn’t… it wasn’t me! Why do they say it was me?”

“I was just a captured beauty from a defeated land, taken by King You against my will. I was far from home, forced into marriage. I was unhappy and homesick. I couldn’t smile; it wasn’t out of spite to make him coax me.”

“Even if I didn’t find lighting the beacons for amusement funny, the king went to such great lengths for my smile, causing such a ruckus. When everyone laughed, how could I not?”

“But I never thought that one smile would mark me as the bearer of a kingdom’s downfall.”

“I don’t understand. Why me?”

It was genuine grief, every line choked with sobs, every word dripping with tears.

…

The audience was entranced. Compared to Ji Fei’s slightly raw acting, this was the real deal—a masterclass performance that transported everyone into Bao Si’s helplessness and wrongful blame.

The live chat buzzed with commentary.

“Wow, her acting is incredible. She’s beautiful and talented. If she hadn’t left the industry, she’d be a top star now.”

“She was accepted into the acting department with the highest scores. Of course, she’s skilled.”

“Are you all forgetting? The internet never forgets. She was just a university student when she was kept by a wealthy backer, using someone’s husband’s resources to force her way into fame. Everything flopped, nearly ruining the company. The wife exposed her with videos, accusing her of seducing her husband and destroying their home. She’s just like Yu Rouyin.”

“I used to support the Top Flow Group because of their reputation as the ‘Entertainment Judges,’ but why bring someone like her into this? I’m disappointed.”

“Is she trying to make a comeback? The buzz is huge, even that wife who exposed her is speaking out, condemning the Top Flow Group for using such an immoral actress.”

“Think, people! The Top Flow Group isn’t short on resources or fame. Choosing her for this theme is clearly intentional. She’s been out of the industry for years. Apart from justice championed by the ‘Entertainment Judge,’ I can’t think of another reason. I’m off to dig up old gossip and see if there’s more to this.”

“My gut says, trusting Fei-jie is the right move—there’s more to this story.”

“True or not, back then, the man quietly disappeared after saying he was ‘bewitched’ and muddled, leaving the actress to take all the blows. This really mirrors the play—King You lost the kingdom, but most of the blame fell on Bao Si.”

“Exactly. King You’s antics to entertain Bao Si cost him the kingdom, just like that tycoon’s reckless investments for an actress nearly destroyed his company. The end is always the same: the man hides behind the woman, who takes all the public scorn.”

The online discussions were divided, but they weren’t wholly condemning the actress. Maybe it was because she’d been out of the industry long enough for resentment to cool, unlike Yu Rouyin, who faced current ire.

…

On stage, Bao Si’s crying grew quieter, then suddenly changed—her voice sharpened with newfound defiance.

“Why?”

She turned and grabbed King You’s robe fiercely.

“You, with your recklessness, using your power to show off before women—was it me who asked for this? It was all your idea to amuse me!”

“When things went wrong, why did you shrink away and let others lay the blame at my feet?”

She spun around and kicked the lords down.

“What’s this? Too afraid to hold your king accountable for fooling you and losing the nation? Too cowardly to admit you failed in your duties to advise him? You’d rather target me, a defenseless woman? Hypocrites, disgusting, spineless!”

The camera zoomed in for a close-up of her face, full of rage and frustration, as if she were venting years of bottled-up anger—more intense than the earlier crying.

It felt like she was truly yelling at someone.

Finally, she picked up an arrow and shot it at the screen.

The screen burst into a special effect, shattering the words that had condemned her.

Wind surged, and Bao Si stood alone, turning to face the camera, tears still clinging to her lashes, eyes unwavering.

“I am beautiful, but not the source of calamity.”

The act ended, and the audience burst into applause, appreciating the stunning performance.

The online discussion took a sudden shift as netizens rapidly searched for more gossip.

Right as the actress finished her scene, a revealing post was published, telling the truth behind her exit from the industry.

A wave of shock swept through the internet.

Even the wife who had criticized the actress was caught in a storm of reactions, the comment section flipping between support and angry questioning.

It turned out…

The actress, then just a student, was pursued by the tycoon who funded her debut movie. She took the role, seizing any opportunity as a newcomer, not suspecting ulterior motives. Only after he showed unwanted interest did she refuse him. But he wasn’t deterred and used various coercive tactics, citing the film’s failure as leverage. His ultimate aim was to flaunt his wealth and bend her to accept the realities of the adult world, hoping she’d become his kept woman willingly.

When his poor business decisions led to a financial crisis, nearly bankrupting the company, he retaliated. Drugging her and filming the encounter, he handed the video to his furious wife, who released the footage online, ensuring her public disgrace.

The exposé included recorded conversations and proof that the actress had been unwilling. Financial records showed the company had been in trouble long before.

The new information set off a storm online. The unique twist in *The Beacon Incident* had primed the audience to reconsider, sparking empathy and deeper thought. No longer did they judge the woman alone.