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

As the last rays of sunlight faded, it was in the Imperial Study.

Eunuch Hou instructed the palace servants to light the imperial candles.

The orange-red flames, like solidified amber, burned silently and quietly, without a trace of smoke, coating the room's furnishings with a warm, gentle hue.

After the palace servants who lit the candles left, Emperor Qing put down the secret letter in his hand.

He folded the secret letter, placed it under the paperweight, and looked up at the figure kneeling before the imperial desk.

"Gong Dian, do you think the third brother did it on purpose, or was it an accident?"

Gong Dian lowered his head even further.

He knew, of course, that Emperor Qing was referring to the time when Zhou Cheng pushed the crown prince.

Whether it was intentional or accidental, it's not something he can comment on.

In a sense, as a witness, seeing that scene was already a sin.

How could he dare to make any rash comments at this moment?

"Your Majesty, I do not know," he said loudly.

Emperor Qing chuckled softly and shook his head slightly. The laughter was very soft, revealing neither joy nor anger. Soon, the smile on his face also disappeared.

He tapped his knuckles on the imperial desk, once, once...

After a while, he spoke, seemingly to Gong Dian, yet also to himself.

"Whether it was intentional or accidental, such behavior should never happen in the royal family, especially between these brothers. This third son, after being confined for three days, showed no remorse whatsoever; on the contrary, he became even more unruly. It seems I have been too lenient, allowing him to grow increasingly arrogant!"

The further he spoke, the sterner Emperor Qing's tone became, until finally it turned icy cold.

Gong Dian kept his head down, not daring to breathe, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He still didn't dare to move an inch.

As Emperor Qing's personal bodyguard, having served him for many years, he knew that Emperor Qing wouldn't say these things to him without reason.

Since Emperor Qing spoke to him, it meant he wanted to send a signal to the outside world through him.

As for what the signal was, Emperor Qing's words were already quite clear!

"Alright, you may leave now."

Seeing that Gong Dian seemed to understand his meaning, Emperor Qing waved his hand.

Gong Dian kowtowed and bowed, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon. Yet his movements remained respectful and steady. He stood up, backed away to the door, and then turned and pushed the door open, leaving no room for error.

The door closed softly, isolating the inside from the outside.

Emperor Qing leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. The candlelight cast a shadow on his face, a play of light and dark.

"It's a pity about this palace ceremony..." Emperor Qing sighed softly.

Gong Dian and Ye Zhong were fellow disciples of Ye Liuyun, and their fates were intertwined.

Logically speaking, since the Ye family and Zhou Cheng are united by marriage, Gong Dian should naturally stand on Zhou Cheng's side.

However, he did not detect any bias in Gong Dian's report, and other secret letters also proved this point.

Gong Dian was absolutely loyal to him. This comforted him.

However, he had already decided to weaken the Ye family's influence in the capital and relocate Ye Zhong to Dingzhou. To do this legitimately, he needed to work on Gong Dian.

"Without Ye Zhong and Gong Dian, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince are now in a more balanced position in court. Next step..."

Emperor Qing was pondering something, his hand pressed against his brow, when footsteps sounded, and Eunuch Hou approached quickly, bowing low.

"What's wrong?" Emperor Qing raised his eyelids slightly.

Eunuch Hou whispered, "Your Majesty, the Princess just sent a message saying that she has suddenly caught a cold. The illness came on quickly, and she is weak and powerless. She cannot go to high places or be exposed to cold winds. I'm afraid she will have to miss the chrysanthemum appreciation event at the Hanging Temple tomorrow."

"Suddenly caught a cold? What a coincidence?"

Emperor Qing frowned, his gaze becoming deep and unfathomable.

Li Yunrui has always favored viewing chrysanthemums at the Hanging Temple.

Over the years, Li Yunrui has never missed a single one.

He announced the chrysanthemum appreciation event a few days in advance, and tomorrow is the main day. Li Yunrui suddenly caught a cold today, which made him quite suspicious.

Thinking of Li Yunrui, Emperor Qing suddenly remembered something.

He then realized that Li Yunrui had been unusually quiet lately.

Several months ago, when Ye Liuyun intercepted Fan Xian on his way to Northern Qi, he knew that it was Li Yunrui who was behind it.

At that time, he sent someone to deliver an oral message to reprimand her.

Given Li Yunrui's personality, being reprimanded by him would indeed make him behave for a while.

But now that Fan Xian has returned to the capital, the Second Prince is under his confinement, while Li Yunrui remains completely silent...

This is extremely unusual.

His younger sister always thought herself clever and that she had calculated everything perfectly, but in reality, she was incredibly stupid and easily manipulated by others.

He found her constant antics annoying, but when she actually quieted down, he felt uneasy, fearing that she might be brewing something big without making a sound.

During this period, his attention was focused on his sons, and he really neglected her.

After thinking about this, Emperor Qing pondered for a moment and said to Eunuch Hou:

"Send a royal physician to Guangxin Palace to see what's wrong. Tell the Princess that I understand. Since she is unwell, she should rest well. She doesn't need to go to the chrysanthemum appreciation gathering tomorrow if she doesn't want to."

Eunuch Hou accepted the order and immediately began making arrangements.

Emperor Qing withdrew his gaze.

Whether Li Yunrui attends tomorrow's conference or not will have no impact, since he hasn't arranged any scenes for her anyway.

The only thing he cares about now is whether Li Yunrui is really sick or faking it.

If that's true, then so be it.

If it's fake, then what's the point?

He merely glanced at Li Yunrui's unusual behavior in his mind before returning to the Hanging Temple.

He didn't think Li Yunrui could cause any more trouble.

In his view, being able to persuade Ye Liuyun was already the limit of Li Yunrui's ability.

With him in Kyoto, Li Yunrui is even less likely to cause any trouble.

Now, only the game at the Hanging Temple makes him look forward to it.

Compared to previous years, this year's chrysanthemum appreciation event has left considerable loopholes in its defenses.

He wondered how many people would come to play this game of chess with him tomorrow.

......

The next day.

The morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting golden patches of light across the warm tent.

Tiny dust particles floated slowly within the beam of light, like countless tiny sprites dancing.

In early winter and late autumn, even though Kyoto is located in the south with a mild climate, the temperature still drops daily.

Just a few days ago, the curtains in the inner courtyard of Prince Cheng's mansion were replaced with multi-layered warm curtains instead of the thin gauze curtains, making the inside as warm as spring.

Zhou Cheng lay on his side, propping his head up with one hand, looking at Shen Wan'er who was still fast asleep.

Her eyelashes were long and slightly curled, fluttering gently with her breath like two small fans.

Her lips pursed and relaxed at times, as if she were still lost in last night's dream.

With Zhan Yuanyuan's encouragement, he still managed to win over Shen Wan'er.

Perhaps Zhan Yuanyuan did a good job with his ideological work, or perhaps he was completely heartbroken by Yan Bingyun, or perhaps he desperately needed a sense of security while living under someone else's roof.

Anyway, when he wanted her, she only offered a few symbolic resistances before letting him do as he pleased.

Shen Wan'er has delicate features and her eyes and brows are full of gentleness. She is a typical gentle woman. In terms of beauty alone, she is no less than other women.

Zhou Cheng's gaze fell on her shoulders and neck, where there were still a few faint red marks left by him last night.

The thought of Shen Wan'er's anxious, helpless, and submissive expression last night filled him with a sense of conquest that stirred within him, making him eager to take action.

Perhaps it was his gaze that was too aggressive, possessing a tangible power, that made Shen Wan'er's eyelashes tremble and her breathing rhythm change, but she did not open her eyes and was still pretending to be asleep.

Zhou Cheng's hand slowly slid along her waistline. Her body trembled slightly, then she slowly opened her eyes, her gaze darting away, somewhat afraid to look at Zhou Cheng.

"How are you feeling, Wan'er?" Zhou Cheng leaned close to her ear, his voice low and slightly mischievous.

Feel?

What kind of feeling?

She experienced so many unprecedented sensations last night.

But regardless of which one...

"Your Highness..." Shen Wan'er lowered her head forcefully, her voice barely audible, her fair hands gripping the blanket on her chest tightly, her ears turning bright red at a visible speed.

Zhou Cheng chuckled, "What's there to be shy about now that things are like this?"

Back then, Zhan Yuanyuan was now riding on his back.

Shen Wan'er was speechless; she was too embarrassed to speak.

Now that she was Zhou Cheng's woman completely, inside and out, she couldn't help but feel uneasy thinking about her performance last night.

"Your Highness, I'm so sorry..."

"Sorry for what?"

"I, I..."

Shen Wan'er was really embarrassed to say that she hadn't performed well last night and hadn't satisfied Zhou Cheng's expectations.

She stammered for a long time before finally managing to utter a sentence.

"I...I used to like someone else..."

Before Shen Wan'er could even process what she had just said, her eyes widened and her face turned pale as she looked completely flustered.

Even if she is inexperienced or slow-witted, she knows that she shouldn't mention other men in front of her own man.

Her body had been taken by Zhou Cheng, and she was now completely his, so her thoughts naturally changed.

Yan Bingyun, whom she used to love to the point of obsession, is now her dark history.

It would be unrealistic to say that one wouldn't feel any excitement when Yan Bingyun is mentioned, but compared to before, it's a far cry from how it used to be.

Her body and soul are now being possessed and filled by the man beside her.

She made her choice last night to say goodbye to the past, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she said something foolish without thinking.

She looked nervously at Zhou Cheng, only to find that he was looking at her too.

Surprisingly, there was no anger or blame in those deep eyes, only comfort and indifference.

"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault that you liked someone. You were just unlucky not to have met me sooner."

Zhou Cheng said softly.

To be honest, he never took Yan Bingyun seriously.

As for Shen Wan'er's so-called romantic history with Yan Bingyun, he couldn't help but laugh when he thought about it.

Despite the fact that Shen Wan'er once shielded Yan Bingyun from a knife attack, the two probably never even held hands formally.

Shen Wan'er was unaware of Zhou Cheng's thoughts. With just one sentence from Zhou Cheng, Shen Wan'er's heart was immediately at ease.

Although she had only recently become Zhou Cheng's woman, she had already heard far too much from Zhan Yuanyuan.

She knew that Zhou Cheng's most prominent characteristic was that he never lied.

When he said he didn't want her to care, he really meant it.

Shen Wan'er's eyes were slightly red, and she softly hummed in agreement.

She turned slightly to the side, reached out and hooked her arms around Zhou Cheng's neck, burying her head in his chest.

His chest was warm and firm, his heartbeat steady, each beat like a drumbeat, giving her a sense of security for the first time in this foreign land.

She had heard Zhan Yuanyuan praise Zhou Cheng before, but no matter how much she heard, it was never as real as experiencing it firsthand.

Zhou Cheng gently stroked Shen Wan'er's hair. Her hair was smooth and silky, flowing through his fingers and carrying a faint fragrance.

But soon, that hand was no longer satisfied.

It swept her long hair to one side and began to roam freely over her skin. Her skin was white and smooth, full of youthful vitality, like the finest silk.

Shen Wan'er's breathing gradually became rapid. She bit her lip, her body trembling slightly, but she did not stop Zhou Cheng's actions.

Finally, Zhou Cheng could no longer tolerate it.

Inside the warm tent, springtime was in full bloom.

After an unknown amount of time, the light outside became intense, turning the curtains a bright red.

"Your Highness, are you up? It's getting late!"

Sang Wen's voice came from outside, tinged with urgency. She had come to remind Zhou Cheng about the chrysanthemum appreciation event.

There were several snickers around her, including Zhan Yuanyuan's.

Hearing the noise outside, Shen Wan'er, who had been feeling drowsy again, suddenly snapped awake and panicked.

She then remembered that Zhou Cheng had important matters to attend to today. She wanted to help Zhou Cheng get dressed, but as soon as she moved, her face turned pale.

She managed to sit up, but Zhou Cheng immediately pushed her back down.

"You don't need to get up, just rest well," Zhou Cheng reassured him.

"But..." Shen Wan'er still felt a little guilty, glancing towards the outside of the tent before quickly looking back.

Zhou Cheng chuckled: "You can't do anything if you get up like this. Rather than being laughed at by your sisters, you'd better stay in bed."

Shen Wan'er thought about it and agreed. She really wasn't suited to be seen in public in her current state.

Then she heard Zhou Cheng say, "If you're really not feeling well, let Yuanyuan come in and take care of you. That girl is very close to you, she'll definitely be happy to."

"No! Your Highness, please don't!" Shen Wan'er sat up abruptly and waved her hands repeatedly.

No matter how good her relationship with Zhan Yuanyuan was, she couldn't bear to be seen like this by others.

She was completely disheveled and looked utterly pathetic.

"Alright, if you don't want to, I won't force you." Zhou Cheng smiled, not taking it to heart.

All the women around him started out like this; after seeing more of them and getting used to it, they gradually let go.

Humans are very adaptable, especially women.

Although Zhou Cheng explicitly said he didn't need Shen Wan'er to serve him, Shen Wan'er still forced herself to help him get dressed.

She kept her head down, her fingers clumsily tying her belt, her face flushed red to her ears.

After instructing Sang Wen and the others to take good care of Shen Wan'er, Zhou Cheng had Chen Quan drive the carriage, accompanied by two rows of guards, displaying the pomp and circumstance of a Prince Cheng, and headed towards the outskirts of the capital.

Half an hour later, in front of the gate of the Hanging Temple, rows of carriages lined up one after another, their banners fluttering in the autumn wind.

The noise of carriages and horses, and the clamor of human voices blended together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

As soon as Zhou Cheng got out of the car, countless eyes were cast his way.

Many court officials bowed to him from afar; they were officials who supported him in court and could be considered his protégés.

They did not come closer.

Today is the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Ceremony hosted by Emperor Qing. If they all flock here, it would be seen as openly forming a faction, which would be considered as trying to sow discord between Emperor Qing and the emperor.

Few of those who manage to stay in the Kyoto officialdom are fools.

Zhou Cheng glanced around and only saw the residences of the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince; the residence of the Second Prince, Li Chengze, was not there.

He wasn't surprised, because he already knew that Li Chengze wasn't involved in this chrysanthemum appreciation event.

As expected, Emperor Qing has no intention of lifting the ban on Li Chengze until he has no other use to him.

Zhou Cheng returned the greeting to those around him, then left Chen Quan in the carriage before entering the mountain gate alone.

On the platform behind the mountain gate, Crown Prince Li Chengqian and Fourth Prince Li Chengping were prominently displayed. Beside them were Prince Jing, Prince Jing's heir, and other members of the imperial family.

The late autumn sun shone on them, making the gold and silver threads on their robes glitter and shine, giving them a magnificent appearance.

There is a strict order to entering the flower viewing area at this hanging temple.

Their royal family belonged to the first tier, and civil and military officials had to enter in order of rank.

The fourth prince, Li Chengping, is ten years old this year. He is still a child, with a touch of childishness on his face.

Upon seeing Zhou Cheng approach, he glanced at the Crown Prince, hesitated for a moment, but still took the initiative to greet him and gave a proper bow.

Zhou Cheng nodded gently to him, then smiled and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the Crown Prince.

The crown prince returned the greeting, but his smile was very forced.

[Li Chengqian's negative emotions +233!]

Zhou Cheng nodded calmly.

Great, he likes it this way!

The prince has contributed so much yesterday and continues to offer more this morning. He's got a lot of energy!

He chatted idly with Li Chengping and other relatives with whom he had business dealings.

During this time, someone asked why Princess Li Yunrui was nowhere to be seen, as she usually arrives much earlier.

Zhou Cheng's eyes flickered; he naturally knew what was going on, but he remained silent.

Then some well-informed people explained that Li Yunrui had caught a cold and was bedridden.

Soon, the time arrived.

The Imperial Guards maintained order, with princes and imperial relatives forming the first wave to enter.

Emperor Qing has not yet appeared. As the supreme ruler, his order of appearance is different from everyone else's; he will make his grand entrance last.

The fourth prince, Li Chengping, was visiting the Hanging Temple for the first time, and he was somewhat afraid of heights. The moment he stepped onto the walkway, his legs began to tremble.

Seeing this, the Crown Prince quickly reached out to support him and helped him walk forward. Many royal relatives praised the Crown Prince for his kindness and love for his younger brother.

Zhou Cheng listened without reacting or offering a helping hand, simply following behind the Crown Prince at a leisurely pace.

The Crown Prince supported Li Chengping from the front, glancing back at him from time to time, as if afraid that he might suddenly strike him again like he did yesterday.

Others, unaware of the situation, assumed that the Crown Prince was deliberately displaying brotherly affection and respect towards Prince Cheng.

The Hanging Temple has five floors, and civil and military officials were assigned to different heights and floors according to their different ranks, clearly indicating the class distinctions.

The higher the grade, the higher the floor, and the wider the view.

Zhou Cheng and the others arrived at the observation deck on the top floor.

The viewing platform is extremely spacious, surrounded by railings on all sides. Leaning on the railing, one can see the distant mountains stretching out before them. The mountain breeze blows, and the sound of the forest rustling like ocean waves rises and falls.

In the distance, golden chrysanthemums bloom all over the mountains and fields, their golden color shining brightly in the sunlight.

Zhou Cheng leaned against the railing, his hands hanging down, his gaze fixed on the distance, as if lost in thought.

Li Chengping dared not get too close to the edge. The Crown Prince patted Li Chengping on the shoulder and then walked over by himself.

He came to Zhou Cheng's side, stood shoulder to shoulder with him, held onto the railing with both hands, smiled broadly, and turned to look at him.

When Zhou Cheng looked over, he deliberately leaned over the railing, half of his body sticking out.

Zhou Cheng raised an eyebrow: "What, has the Crown Prince regained his footing? Aren't you afraid I'll give him another push?"

The crown prince's lips curled into a smile as he lowered his voice. To outsiders, it looked like two close brothers whispering to each other.

"Third brother, you really think I'm afraid of you?" His voice carried a hint of provocation and a touch of smugness.

"If you're so capable, push me again in front of all these people! I bet you won't dare!"