Film and Television: The Villain's Life Begins with Joy of Life

Outside the city, in a secluded woodland.

Zhou Cheng found a clean spot under a tree, sat cross-legged, opened the box, took out all the parts of the Barrett, and examined them carefully.

Guns are a man's romance.

Barrett is the epitome of romance.

In reality, he never had the chance to touch a real object in his entire life, but now, the cold touch from his palm made him feel extremely satisfied.

He examined each component thoroughly, pondering its structure and principles.

After studying it for a while, he began to try to assemble it.

Barrel, bolt, stock, scope...

Although his movements were clumsy, they were methodical. He tried once, twice, and soon he successfully assembled it.

He enveloped the gun with his inner energy, cocked it, carefully sensed its movement, and then pulled the trigger.

After confirming that the assembly was correct, he took out the five bullets from the system space.

The gleaming yellow cartridge cases shimmered warmly in the moonlight. He picked up one, pushed it into the magazine, then two, three...

"Click."

Magazine inserted.

Zhou Cheng raised his gun, squinted one eye, and peered into the distance through the scope.

True energy surged from within his body, like a fine net, covering the muzzle of the gun.

He took a deep breath and held it.

The finger slowly pressed down on the trigger.

"boom--!"

A thunderous roar erupted, and sparks shot from the gun muzzle, instantly illuminating the ground several meters around! A powerful recoil surged forth, but Zhou Cheng remained motionless!

With a fluttering sound, countless birds in the forest were startled into flight.

Zhou Cheng couldn't care less about any of that; he sighed helplessly.

Ten zhang away from him, a tree a foot thick was pierced directly by a bullet.

The Barrett armor-piercing round penetrated the tree trunk and continued its trajectory, eventually striking another large tree.

Its power is naturally stronger than that of a ninth-rank archer, but Zhou Cheng fired the gun not to test its power.

He intended to store the bullets fired by Barrett into his spatial storage, but the bullets were too fast, and even though he was prepared, he still couldn't react in time.

A normal person's reaction time is about 0.25 seconds. As a grandmaster, his reaction time is a hundred times that of an ordinary person, but even so, he still failed to react to the first shot.

A bullet traveling at nearly three times the speed of sound, at such close range, requires a reaction time of less than 0.001 seconds to catch.

Even as a grandmaster, he couldn't do that, so he could only make predictions.

Zhou Cheng tried again, and with another clap of thunder, the unfortunate tree snapped in two.

Zhou Cheng was speechless. He held his breath and even closed his eyes.

He gripped the barrel with one hand and pulled the trigger with the other.

As he pulled the trigger, he sensed that everything inside the gun was transformed into a frame-by-frame image.

The moment the trigger was fired, before it could even spring back, before even a sound could be transmitted, Zhou Cheng's thoughts and his true energy network moved in unison!

"boom--!"

The thunder continued to roar.

But this time,

No bullets were fired.

Feeling the bullet that had come to a standstill within the system space.

Zhou Cheng finally felt relieved.

Having learned from this success, he picked up his gun again.

"boom--!"

Another loud bang.

Another bullet disappeared in the flash.

"boom--!"

The gunshots rang out like thunder, echoing through the mountains and forests. Under the moonlight, Zhou Cheng's smiling face was visible.

Five bullets were fired, two failed, leaving three, all of which were stored in the system space.

Zhou Cheng leaned on his gun, ignoring the scorching heat of the barrel.

His consciousness landed in the system space.

The three warheads were barely noticeable inside.

But these three little things, each one of them, can kill a Grandmaster.

Invincible!

He's truly invincible!

At least in a one-on-one fight against a Grandmaster, he could take one down with a single, unexpected shot.

Even the strongest Grandmaster is still a mortal. Only an intelligent robot like Wu Zhu could withstand his bullets with his super-standard materials.

Of course, he wouldn't use those three bullets lightly.

This is our trump card.

He wasn't in a hurry about the task.

Just follow the trend and act according to the plan.

He's not in a hurry to return to reality; compared to the mundane existence of the real world, he now prefers the freedom he enjoys here.

As long as the task can be completed, every day spent here is pure profit.

……

After returning the box to Fan Xian, nearly a month passed peacefully.

During this period, Fan Xian's fame soared.

His poetry collection was printed, and for a time, paper became scarce in the capital, and the name "Poet Immortal" spread far and wide.

His poems were recited everywhere, in streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns. Countless scholars and intellectuals considered it an honor to be acquainted with him.

The Xihu caravan that Li Yunrui helped Zhou Cheng organize also set off secretly, one openly and one covertly. Zhou Cheng only sent a few stewards from the royal palace to accompany them, without even showing his face.

After the negotiations were completed, Zhuang Mohan returned to the State of Qi with the delegation.

When Zhuang Mohan left, his face was ashen, and most of his energy had vanished; he looked like he was barely clinging to life.

He was so angered by Fan Xian in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests that he vomited blood, and his reputation of more than seventy years was ruined overnight. This trip to the Qing Kingdom became a lifelong disgrace for him.

Fortunately, the goal of exchanging Yan Bingyun for his younger brother Xiao En was half achieved.

After Zhuang Mohan returned to Northern Qi, news came back from Northern Qi.

After Zhuang Mohan returned to Northern Qi, news came back from Northern Qi.

Emperor Zhan Doudou of Northern Qi issued an edict acknowledging the negotiation results, agreeing that Qing Kingdom would not return the territory, but would only exchange Yan Bingyun for Xiao En.

The news caused an immediate uproar in the imperial court.

The civil and military officials argued fiercely over who would be sent as an envoy to the Northern Qi.

The Crown Prince has made his move, and so has the Second Prince.

The officials under the two men were practically bloodthirsty in their fight for the position of team leader.

Although the mission to Northern Qi was dangerous, if one could return alive, it would be a brilliant political resume, leading to future promotions and rapid advancement.

Officials from various departments submitted memorials one after another, desperately recommending their preferred candidates. The Censorate, the Hanlin Academy, the Court of State Ceremonies... one name after another was proposed, and one by one they were rejected.

Emperor Qing hesitated to make a decision.

During this time, while Yan Xiaoyi was on duty, Li Yunrui secretly left the palace at night to visit Prince Cheng's residence.

Meeting in a secluded place outside Guangxin Palace made her feel even more excited.

She wore a plain white cloak and, accompanied by her female attendant, quietly slipped in through the back door.

After a night of pleasure, she slumped into Zhou Cheng's arms.

"Cheng'er," her voice was languid and alluring, "recommend Fan Xian to be my envoy to Northern Qi."

Zhou Cheng looked down at her.

"I can help, but what you just did wasn't enough."

Li Yunrui raised her eyes, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

She smiled alluringly, her long hair cascading down like a waterfall, obscuring both of their faces.

That night, Li Yunrui used every trick in the book.

From the moon reaching its zenith to the dawn breaking in the east.

Li Yunrui stayed at Prince Cheng's residence all day, and didn't even go back to Guangxin Palace.

……

The following day, Zhou Cheng unusually attended court.

Inside the Daqing Hall, civil and military officials stood on both sides. The Crown Prince and the Second Prince each stood on one side, their gazes occasionally meeting, sparks flying.

Zhou Cheng stepped out of the queue and bowed to Emperor Qing on the throne.

"Father, I have something to report."

Emperor Qing raised an eyebrow slightly and nodded.

Zhou Cheng straightened up and said loudly:

"Your subject recommends Fan Xian to lead the mission to Northern Qi."

"Since the Northern Qi has sent Zhuang Mohan to Qing, then our Qing state should send back literary masters to demonstrate the flourishing of our great Qing's literary style. This is not only for the sake of a complete handover, but also to promote our great Qing culture and suppress the arrogance of the Qi state."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the civil and military officials in the hall.

"Let the people of Qi see for themselves what kind of talent our Great Qing's 'Poet Immortal' truly is, so as to change the prejudice of the people of Qi against the State of Qing, and prevent them from thinking that our Great Qing is only good at winning by force and has nothing to offer in literature."

Zhou Cheng's words silenced the entire hall.

No one stood up to object.

This was the first time Emperor Qing had allowed him to speak and recommend someone in court after granting him permission to participate in central government affairs.

To object at this point would be tantamount to slapping him in the face. No one wanted to risk offending the benevolent King Cheng.

The Crown Prince and the Second Prince exchanged a glance, but neither spoke for a moment.

After hearing this, Emperor Qing pondered for a moment but did not make a decision immediately.

"I will consider this matter further."

……

The next day, an imperial edict was issued from the palace.

When Zhou Cheng received the imperial decree, he also learned from the eunuch who delivered it that he wasn't the only one who had received a decree to enter the palace. The Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and Fan Xian had all received it.

……

In the courtyard behind the Imperial Study, the afternoon sun shines through the eaves, spreading a warm patch of light on the ground.

The lotus pond in the courtyard shimmered, and several koi carp leisurely swayed their tails, occasionally leaping out of the water and creating ripples. The wind chimes in the pavilion occasionally tinkled, their clear and melodious sounds adding a touch of life to the tranquil courtyard.

A square table was placed in the courtyard, and three people sat around it.

Zhou Cheng, the Crown Prince, and the Second Prince each occupied one side.

The atmosphere was as gloomy as a stagnant pool.

The last time the three of them sat together like this was because of Lin Gong's death.

Back then, we were sparring, exchanging barbs and seemingly wanting to crush each other. Now, facing each other again, we have nothing to say.

Amidst this awkward atmosphere, Eunuch Hou led Fan Xian in.

"Young Master Fan, please take a seat." Eunuch Hou smiled and pointed to the empty seat.

Fan Xian was a little confused. He looked at the seat—it was right opposite Zhou Cheng, the empty seat between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.

He subconsciously looked at Zhou Cheng, then at the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, unsure of what to do.

Eunuch Hou gestured again,

Fan Xian had no choice but to bite the bullet and walk over, then obediently took a seat.

Four chairs filled the square table perfectly.

After Fan Xian sat down, he looked around and couldn't help but speak:

"What...what's going on here?"

The crown prince glanced at him and said indifferently, "I don't know."

The second prince also shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either.

Zhou Cheng laughed.

To Fan Xian, that smile looked anything but malicious.

"I guess I got you a good job," Zhou Cheng said slowly.

Fan Xian's face darkened.

Yesterday, he heard from Fan Jian that Zhou Cheng had recommended him to be an envoy to Northern Qi.

"Your Highness," Fan Xian said with a bitter expression, his voice tinged with resentment, "I have no grudge against you, why do you have to harm me?"

Zhou Cheng raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not trying to harm you, I'm trying to help you."

He pointed to the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.

"You shouldn't be unaware of such a good position. So many people in the court are vying for it. The Crown Prince and the Second Prince's subordinates are practically fighting tooth and nail for this spot."

He turned to look at the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.

"Yes or no?"

The crown prince remained silent, turning his head away as if he hadn't heard.

The second prince remained silent, his gaze fixed on the lotus pond in the distance.

Fan Xian was speechless.

Zhou Cheng continued, "When I returned from the border region, His Majesty held a banquet, and all the officials offered their congratulations. I have been waiting for more than a month, but Lord Fan has not come to visit me."

He looked at Fan Xian with a half-smile.

"Young Master Fan's airs are comparable to those of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince."

He paused, glanced around, and clicked his tongue in amazement:

"Now that the four of us are gathered together, anyone who didn't know better would think that Lord Fan is Father Emperor's illegitimate son!"

[Fan Xian's negative emotions +111!]

Fan Xian's expression changed, and he abruptly stood up, waving his hands repeatedly:

"Your Highness, be careful what you say! Be careful what you say! You can't just say things like that!"

Zhou Cheng chuckled.

The Crown Prince and the Second Prince exchanged glances, then looked at Fan Xian with strange, scrutinizing eyes.

Fan Xian slowly sat down, cursing Zhou Cheng eight hundred times in his heart.

That jerk, he always uses this to provoke him!

He recalled his visit to the palace with Liu Ruyu a few days ago. During that visit, he met the mothers of several adult princes, except for the Empress Dowager and the Empress.

The eldest prince's mother was a martial arts fanatic, and she could talk about martial arts all the time. The second prince's mother was a bookworm, and when she heard that his poetry was famous, she insisted that he compose a poem on the spot.

Consort Li, Zhou Cheng's mother, is the most normal.

She is gentle and virtuous, speaks softly, and treats people with the grace of a spring breeze, making them feel refreshed and comfortable.

Now let's look at Zhou Cheng...

How could such a gentle and graceful woman give birth to such a thing?

As Fan Xian was secretly grumbling, a row of eunuchs entered carrying food.

They quickly laid out the dishes on the table. The dishes were light and simple, with only one meat dish in the center and the rest were all vegetarian.

Fan Xian looked at the lone meat dish, then at the surrounding green vegetables and cold dishes, and his lips twitched.

This banquet is far too shabby!

Just then, a figure walked over from the other end of the corridor.

Emperor Qing.

The four of them quickly stood up and bowed.

Emperor Qing raised his hand from afar, his tone casual:

"It's a family dinner today, so please order whatever you like."

He didn't sit down, but walked to the side and sat down on a bamboo couch covered with soft cushions.

Zhou Cheng and the other two sat down again.

Fan Xian was caught in an awkward position, unsure whether to stand or sit. He stood there, glancing at Emperor Qing, then at the seats on the table, before finally steeling himself and speaking:

"Your Majesty, since this is a family banquet, is it...appropriate for me to be here?"

Emperor Qing glanced at him.

"You're thick-skinned, it's okay."

Fan Xian: "..."

He took a deep breath and sat down obediently.

The Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and Fan Xian stared at the table full of dishes, but none of them touched their chopsticks.

Zhou Cheng, however, was different.

He picked up his chopsticks and reached out to move the meat dish to his own side.

Then, he started eating by himself.

The Crown Prince and the Second Prince were both stunned for a moment, then looked at Emperor Qing.

Emperor Qing's eyelids twitched as well.

He looked at the other three, and seeing that they didn't move, he had no choice but to speak:

"No need to look at me, finish eating first."

The crown prince then picked up his chopsticks, carefully took a bite of green vegetables, put them in his mouth and chewed them slowly, his demeanor as elegant as if he were attending a state banquet.

The second prince also started eating, constantly piling food into his dish and eating very quickly.

Fan Xian picked up a piece of green vegetable with his chopsticks, but his gaze couldn't help but drift towards Zhou Cheng.

The man had already eaten half of the meat and vegetables.

Emperor Qing sized up the four people.

His gaze fell on the crown prince, and he suddenly spoke:

"The Crown Prince has always been stiff and rigid since he was a child, and he's still a blockhead now."

The prince's chopsticks froze in mid-air, unsure whether to put them down or pick them up. He stood there, stiff, only able to force a smile.

Emperor Qing turned to the Second Prince.

"The second child, he's always had terrible table manners, pretending to be carefree, and he's still the same now!"

The second prince, his mouth full of food, froze upon hearing this. He lowered his head, expressionless, and swallowed slowly with difficulty.

Emperor Qing turned to Zhou Cheng.

"You, the third brother, are the most audacious. You're arrogant, unwilling to suffer any loss, always trying to take advantage of others, and you always manage to come out on top!"

Zhou Cheng nodded as he ate, mumbling a vague "hmm."

Then, he even moved several of his favorite vegetarian dishes in front of him and arranged them in a row.

Crown Prince: "..."

Second Prince: "..."

Fan Xian: "..."

Emperor Qing sighed.

He looked at Fan Xian.

"Of my three sons, which one do you favor the most?"

Fan Xian almost choked.

He put down his chopsticks, looked at Zhou Cheng, then at the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, and his mind was racing with countless curses.

How do I answer this question?

No matter who you choose, you'll offend the other two.

He looked distressed and said helplessly:

"Your Majesty, are you playing with me? No matter how I answer, it's the same word: death."

Emperor Qing said calmly, "A loyal minister is not afraid of death."

Fan Xian immediately replied, "If all the loyal ministers are dead, then only treacherous ministers will remain."

Emperor Qing raised an eyebrow.

"So, are you a loyal minister or a treacherous minister?"

Fan Xian blinked, looking completely innocent.

"Whatever Your Majesty requires, I will do."

Emperor Qing was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and pointed at him.

He turned to Zhou Cheng and the other two.

"And what do you three think of him?"

The Crown Prince spoke first:

"His literary talent is astounding; he is a pillar of the nation!"

The second prince pondered for a moment, then slowly said:

Loyal ministers and treacherous ministers are common, but treacherous and cunning loyal ministers are rare.

The second prince pondered for a moment, then slowly said:

Loyal ministers and treacherous ministers are common, but treacherous and cunning loyal ministers are rare.

As he said this, his gaze lingered on Fan Xian for a moment, his expression meaningful.

All eyes were on Zhou Cheng.

Zhou Cheng swallowed the food in his mouth and looked up.

He looked at Fan Xian,

"Fan Xian is a good... official, a capable minister."

Fan Xian breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

That bastard, why is he breathing so heavily when he talks!

Good officials are good!

As long as they're not good people!

He's almost overly sensitive to the word "good person"...

The others didn't seem to have any particular feelings about Zhou Cheng's evaluation.

Emperor Qing nodded.

"The three of you have a very high opinion of him."

He paused, then changed the subject:

"In that case, the three of you should protect him. No matter which of you succeeds to the throne in the future, he will be an important minister in the court."

As soon as the words were spoken, the Second Prince's expression turned strange, while the Crown Prince's face changed instantly.

He stood there frozen, as if struck by lightning, completely still.

He was the crown prince, yet Emperor Qing said, "No matter who succeeds you?"

What does this mean?

If this gets out, how will the world view him?

He was both anxious and resentful, his fists clenched tightly beneath his sleeves. He kept his head bowed, his body trembling slightly, but he dared not show it in the slightest.

Emperor Qing, however, seemed oblivious to the Crown Prince's unusual behavior and continued:

"Now, all the officials in the court are vying to be the leader of the delegation to Northern Qi. Chengcheng recommended Fan Xian to me, and I think he is very suitable."

He glanced at the three of them.

"This mission to Northern Qi concerns the interests and reputation of my Qing Kingdom, and cannot be compromised. I'm not asking for your help, just that you behave yourselves."

Zhou Cheng put down his chopsticks and clasped his hands in a fist salute with the Crown Prince and the Second Prince:

"Your subject dares not."

Emperor Qing nodded.

Fan Xian then realized what was happening and tentatively asked:

"Your Majesty, you wish to send me... as an envoy to Northern Qi?"

Emperor Qing looked at him.

"Yes, we're going to Northern Qi as envoys. We'll exchange Xiao En for Yan Bingyun, and you'll be the leader."

Fan Xian blinked.

"Is it okay if I don't go?"

Emperor Qing smiled, but that smile sent a chill down Fan Xian's spine.

"Okay. But we'll have to arrange another marriage."

Fan Xian was taken aback.

What is meant by "arranged marriage"?

Emperor Qing leaned back on the soft couch, speaking casually.

"Now you, Little Poet Fan, have enough talent and fame, but not enough official rank. You have neither experience nor qualifications to marry Lin Wan'er and take over the Imperial Treasury. The court officials have a lot of opinions about this."

He paused.

"There are many well-bred young ladies in the capital; it's not necessarily a bad thing to arrange a marriage between them."

Fan Xian's expression changed.

He stood up abruptly and bowed deeply:

"Your subject wishes to go to Northern Qi!"

Emperor Qing looked at him and smiled.

"Have you thought it through?"

Fan Xian gritted his teeth. Emperor Qing had already used Lin Wan'er to threaten him; what choice did he have?

"I've thought it through!"

Emperor Qing nodded.

"Alright. As for the itinerary, go ask Chen Pingping. Once you return to the capital, I will arrange your marriage."

Fan Xian, who was initially feeling down, brightened up instantly upon hearing this.

Just then, Zhou Cheng put down his chopsticks.

He finally finished eating.

Of all the dishes on the table, he was the only one who barely stopped eating from beginning to end. He even ate the entire bowl of meat and vegetables. He picked up a handkerchief from the table and wiped his mouth.

Then, he stood up and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Emperor Qing.

"Father, speaking of marriage, I happen to have a request."

Emperor Qing raised an eyebrow.

"What? Hearing about Fan Xian's engagement, you're also eager to marry the Ye family's daughter?"

Zhou Cheng shook his head.

"No, that's not it."

He paused.

"Besides Ye Ling'er, I also wish to marry another woman."

All eyes turned to him.

Fan Xian, the Crown Prince, and the Second Prince were all puzzled.

Emperor Qing frowned.

"Your marriage isn't even finalized yet, and you're already thinking about remarrying?" He stared at Zhou Cheng. "Who do you want to marry?"

Zhou Cheng glanced at Fan Xian.

That smiling look sent a chill down Fan Xian's spine.

really--

"Your subject has heard that the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Sinan, Fan Ruoruo, is well-educated, virtuous, gentle, and renowned for her talent."

Zhou Cheng clasped his hands in a respectful bow, "Your subject wishes to marry Fan Ruoruo as his secondary wife!"

Fan Xian was stunned.

Almost instinctively, I wanted to jump out and shout "No!"

But he suppressed his impulse, only a fierce glint flashing uncontrollably in his eyes.

Emperor Qing's face darkened upon hearing this.

"Get out of my way!"