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

In the readers' vote for the best novel in the "Infinite Heavens" series, "Film and Television: The Villain's Life Begins with Joy of Life" ranked among the top!

Deep within the palace walls, twilight surged in from all directions, staining the vermilion walls a dark, blood-red hue.

The vast Taiji Hall was completely silent.

Empress Dowager Qing, who had served three emperors, was supported by Eunuch Hou as she coldly walked step by step to the dragon throne. Her phoenix robe gleamed with a ghostly red light, exuding an imposing and awe-inspiring presence that made everyone in the hall afraid to raise their heads.

After the first White Turban Knight, two more White Turban Knights followed, riding into the capital with all their might.

The Empress Dowager was unwilling to believe the horrifying news, but now that things had come to this, she had no choice but to believe it.

Your Highness, the concubines were all crying, their voices rising and falling, which disturbed her peace of mind.

Her already extremely sad and distressed emotions were amplified, causing her to suffer from a splitting headache.

His kind and benevolent expression, which had remained unchanged for decades, turned fierce at this moment.

She snapped at him in a chilling tone, "Shut up, all of you!"

Upon hearing this, the concubines who were weeping incessantly in the palace jolted awake and immediately stopped crying.

The Empress Dowager's cold gaze swept over them, and no one dared to meet her eyes.

If she had to consider the impact on other people's emotions, she would have loved to drag all these women who only knew how to cry and cause trouble to their deaths.

The Empress Dowager took a deep breath and, with the help of Eunuch Hou, sat down on the chair next to the dragon throne.

The wrinkles on her forehead deepened as she pondered, then squinted and gave the order:

"From this moment forward, close the palace gates. The First Prince Chengru will oversee the defense of the imperial city. Anyone who disobeys will be executed, anyone who acts recklessly will be executed, and anyone who undermines the morale of the army will be executed!"

"yes!"

A chorus of responses erupted from the hall.

The eldest prince, his face filled with grief, also clasped his hands in acceptance of the order.

Although he was not favored by the Empress Dowager because of his background, Emperor Qing had already put him in command of the Imperial Guards before leaving the capital.

The Empress Dowager's decision to have him guard the imperial city is in accordance with Emperor Qing's previous wishes, maximizing his role in maintaining order within the palace.

He did not resist this mission, but felt that the burden on his shoulders had become even heavier.

The Empress Dowager's orders continued unabated, emphasizing that stability within the palace was just as important as stability in the capital.

She continued, "The commander of the Xuancheng Gate Guard shall enter the palace! The four gates of the capital shall be closed immediately. No one shall open them without my decree."

"yes!"

A jumble of names flashed through the old woman's mind. She rubbed her temples, looking rather uncomfortable, and after a moment's thought, slowly spoke:

"Prince Xuanjing, Minister of Revenue Fan Jian, and Privy Councilor Qin Heng, enter the palace."

These three individuals are considered destabilizing factors in Beijing today.

Despite his decades-long low profile, news of Emperor Qing's assassination has reached the capital, coupled with rumors of a change in the crown prince and an unstable position. If Prince Jing were to harbor any ambitions, it could lead to chaos. Therefore, she must keep her son, Prince Jing, by her side, under her watchful eye, never letting him out of her sight.

As for Fan Jian, the position of Minister of Revenue is nothing special; the key lies in the guards under his command.

Emperor Qing took over a hundred guards with him on his trip to Mount Dadong, but she didn't know how many Tiger Guards remained in the capital.

But she knew it was definitely not a small number.

The Tiger Guard force was far too dangerous; she couldn't feel at ease until she had Fan Jian under control.

The reason Qin Heng, a councilor of the Privy Council, was allowed to enter the palace was because Qin Heng's father was Qin Ye, the chief envoy of the Privy Council.

Qin Ye is widely recognized as the top military figure in the Qing Kingdom, holding a position on par with Prime Minister Lin Ruofu.

Lin Ruofu's power was mainly reflected in the imperial court, while Qin Ye's power was entirely in the army.

He possessed supreme command and decision-making authority over the national army, and was in charge of many core military and political affairs, including military and state secrets, military defense, border defense, and military horses.

It can be said that with the throne vacant and the country leaderless, Qin Ye could, if not overthrow the state, do so in a single moment.

Therefore, she had no choice but to use Qin Heng as a check and balance.

After dealing with these most dangerous threats of war, the next step is to deal with those related to the throne.

She coldly ordered, "The Empress and the Crown Prince shall temporarily reside in Hanguang Palace. Consort Ning, Noble Consort Shu, Noble Consort Li... Consort Li, Noble Consort Yi, and that child Chengping shall also move here."

The eldest prince felt a pang of anxiety upon hearing his mother's name.

He knew that the Empress Dowager didn't trust him or any of the princes, but there was nothing he could do, and he couldn't say anything.

Compared to the slight fear I might feel, overall stability is the most important thing.

After issuing the order, the Empress Dowager hesitated, feeling that something was missing.

She counted them carefully again and finally remembered her granddaughter whom she had neglected.

She sighed inwardly, feeling increasingly old and confused.

In the early years, Lin Wan'er was always by her side, but in recent years she has seen her less often, and she has neglected her.

She added another order: "Please also invite Princess Chen to the palace. Arrange for her to stay in Guangxin Palace. Chengru, His Majesty previously ordered that no one from Guangxin Palace was allowed to leave. Now that Wan'er has been arranged to go in, have someone keep an eye on her and make sure she is not stopped."

"yes!"

The eldest prince responded.

The Empress Dowager nodded, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

She knew that Li Yunrui and Lin Wan'er hadn't spent much time together and their relationship wasn't deep. Now, she arranged for Lin Wan'er to enter Guangxin Palace, which provided an opportunity for the mother and daughter to ease their tension.

Now that Lin Ruofu is gone, Fan Xian has been taken to Mount Dadong by Emperor Qing, where he is likely to face dire straits.

In a short period of time, Lin Wan'er lost her loved ones one after another, which must have been a great blow to her.

She felt great pity for her granddaughter, who was sensible and obedient since childhood, but was also frail, sickly, and had a bad fate.

Giving the mother and daughter more opportunities to interact now is only to bring some comfort to Lin Wan'er.

After arranging things for Lin Wan'er, the Empress Dowager thought of Li Yunrui.

Li Yunrui is at Guangxin Palace, so there's no need for her to make arrangements.

The only thing that puzzled her was that she still didn't understand how her daughter had angered Emperor Qing to the point that he had issued an edict to place her under house arrest.

However, she couldn't worry about that for the time being.

Although the Empress Dowager had been out of the public eye for a long time, she displayed ruthless decisiveness when she finally took action.

She brought all the potentially unruly individuals under control in the shortest possible time.

As dusk fell, the entire city of Kyoto began to operate according to her will.

As the palace maids lit the candles in the Taiji Hall and left, leaving no one else around, the Empress Dowager's straight back suddenly hunched over. Tears welled in her eyes, and her trembling hands gripped the armrest of the dragon throne beside her.

"You just died like that? Leaving behind a huge mess! Who gave you permission to die like this?"

........

"Father has passed away?"

When news of the emperor's death reached the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince, with sunken eyes and a haggard face, could hardly believe it.

His eyes widened, and he grabbed the man's collar, pulling him until he stumbled.

The little eunuch was being strangled and could barely breathe, but he dared not struggle and could only nod desperately.

The crown prince pressed for an answer, but the response remained the same.

He wasn't hallucinating!

"Father!"

The prince released his grip, immediately let out a wail, knelt on the ground, facing east, and wept bitterly.

The voice was so shrill and sorrowful that it was enough to break the hearts of anyone who heard it and bring tears to their eyes.

The prince repeatedly banged his head on the ground, his forehead visibly red and swollen.

His actions were not entirely a performance.

He was naturally saddened by the death of Emperor Qing, who was, after all, his biological father. Although Emperor Qing often upset him, the bond between father and son was genuine.

After a long while, the crown prince wiped away his tears and stood up.

His eyes were red from crying, but a strange light gradually emerged in them.

"Father, it's good you died!"

He felt a mixture of self-loathing and sorrow.

Emperor Qing died before he could announce the abolition of the crown prince to the world, but he was still the legal heir apparent.

The Ye family's involvement in the assassination of Emperor Qing gave him an opportunity to bring down Zhou Cheng.

He thought he would never be able to hold that position again in his life.

Unexpectedly, with the death of Emperor Qing, everything took an unexpected turn.

How could he not feel both grief and immense relief?

The eunuch sent by the Empress Dowager was still shaken, but he remained waiting to escort the Empress and the Crown Prince to Hanguang Palace.

The Empress also received the news and came to the East Palace in a daze, looking like a walking corpse.

After all, they were childhood sweethearts, and the Empress had genuine feelings for Emperor Qing. Even though Emperor Qing disregarded her after meeting Ye Qingmei, she never changed her feelings over the years.

Upon hearing the sudden news of Emperor Qing's assassination, the Empress's mental state completely collapsed.

The Empress's eyes were vacant, her pupils unfocused. She stood blankly before the Crown Prince: "Your father is dead..."

The crown prince glanced at the messenger eunuch at the palace gate, slowly lowered his head, and whispered in his mother's ear, his voice filled with a fierce resentment:

"My father was just a mortal. Even if he hadn't been assassinated, he would have died sooner or later. Now, it's good that he died!"

The prince's expression still carried a sense of sorrow and fear. From an outsider's perspective, it looked exactly like a mother and son, both heartbroken and comforting each other.

Those treasonous words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly bringing the Empress back to her senses.

She looked at the Crown Prince in disbelief, only to hear him say with a desperate hope:

"Your son is still the Crown Prince! I haven't been deposed! I am still the rightful next Emperor of Qing! This Qing Kingdom still belongs to your son! Mother, you will be the Empress Dowager. What Father was unwilling to give us, will still be ours! His death is in our best interest!"

The Empress trembled slightly as she stared at the Crown Prince, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.

Finally, her lips moved, her voice low and hoarse: "Yes, it's good he died! He finally fulfilled his wish to see the woman he longed for. Since that's the case, everything he did while he was alive should be compensated to us, mother and child!"

The Empress, who was always dignified and graceful, now had a fierce glint in her eyes, almost like that of a wild beast.

The Crown Prince noticed the Empress's gaze and was very pleased to see his mother regain her spirits.

He continued in a low voice, "Mother, we must go to the Empress Dowager's place immediately. I've heard that Qin Heng has been summoned to the palace, and this is an opportunity. Right now, I only have the title, but lack the power to back me up. I need the Qin family; with their help, everything will be foolproof. Second son, third son, you both must kneel before me!"

......

The Second Prince's residence is located east of the palace, just one street away.

After putting on a show of unbearable grief in front of the palace messenger, Li Chengze wiped away his tears and returned to his wooden expression as soon as the messenger left.

He was shocked and saddened by Emperor Qing's death, but he wasn't exactly in pain or distress. At most, he felt a bit complicated, and even a little relieved.

Xie Bi'an appeared behind Li Chengze, his expression concealing his shock.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has been assassinated; your opportunity has arrived!"

Li Chengze glanced at Xie Bi'an, having long regarded this swordsman who had remained by his side as a true friend.

He didn't hide anything, nor did he pretend; he simply sighed and shook his head.

"There's no chance anymore. All my trump cards have been used to benefit others."

Xie Bi'an was puzzled.

The second prince did not offer any further explanation.

Back then, he accumulated a lot of experience by trading with Northern Qi through Li Yunrui.

However, as he was eliminated and confined to his residence, the forces that had supported him in the past scattered and changed sides.

Even the resources and connections he had accumulated were secretly taken over by Li Yunrui.

When he was first placed under house arrest, he hadn't quite realized what was happening. But after calming down for a while, he realized that Li Yunrui had done so much with him and landed safely. His struggle had failed, and the evidence of smuggling had been brought to light, most likely because Li Yunrui had played a role in it.

Everything he had painstakingly accumulated in the past fell into Li Yunrui's hands.

During his confinement, he sent letters to Guangxin Palace many times, but they all disappeared without a trace.

After re-examining the situation and becoming an outsider, Li Chengze actually gained a clearer understanding.

That bitch Li Yunrui outwardly supported the Crown Prince and secretly supported herself, but in reality, she ultimately supported the third son, Zhou Cheng.

Others might bet on two sides at most, but that bitch bet on three.

Most importantly, she hasn't lost yet, and it's uncertain whether she will lose in the future.

Xie Bi'an couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, don't you want to try? Are you willing to accept this?"

Li Chengze gave a bitter smile. Xie Bi'an still didn't know just how cleanly he had lost. He shook his head.

"What can I do if I'm unwilling? I no longer have the qualifications, nor the ability!"

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Even though the Emperor has passed away, the Crown Prince has not been deposed; he remains the heir apparent."

After the national mourning, the Crown Prince will ascend the throne. Before, being in the thick of it all, I couldn't see what my third brother was doing, but now I've definitely seen some of it. He won't let the Crown Prince ascend the throne smoothly; the two of them will definitely have a showdown in the capital. One has nominal support, the other has real power. To be honest, I'm very curious which of my two brothers will have the last laugh!

A cold smile crept across the Second Prince's lips.

The royal children fight fiercely for that position, and the struggle becomes increasingly brutal towards the end!

Losers are destined for a bad end!

He's actually quite lucky to have been kicked out halfway through the season.

Just thinking about Emperor Qing, for some reason, Li Chengze felt that something was wrong.

His father, the emperor, was more cunning than anyone he had ever seen; he always felt that Emperor Qing was hiding some unknown trump card.

He couldn't help but mutter to himself:

"Father, did you really die so easily on that eastern mountain?"

...........

Emperor Qing was of course not dead.

When the news reached Prince Cheng's residence, Zhou Cheng had just finished dinner with the women and was listening to them chattering about gossip in his study.

The fireplace inside was burning brightly, and the fragrant smoke mingled with the scents of books, ink, tea, and a touch of perfume, completely keeping out the chill of midwinter and creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

After hearing Chen Quan's report, Zhou Cheng didn't even lift his eyelids, but simply nodded slightly to indicate that he understood. However, the women around him all changed color.

Ye Ling'er, who was lying on the table, reacted the most intensely.

She stood up abruptly, the chair sliding backward with a screeching sound.

"Impossible! How could my father plot against His Majesty?"

Ye Ling'er's mind went blank, and her bright and lively eyes were now filled with fear and helplessness.

The message Chen Quan relayed, the urgent message delivered by the White Turban Knights to the palace, stated that Ye Chong of the Ye family led the Dingzhou army to surround Da Dong Mountain. Grandmaster Ye Liuyun, together with Si Gu Jian of Dongyi City and Ku He of Bei Qi, brazenly climbed Da Dong Mountain during the sacrificial ceremony and suddenly murdered the emperor!

The intelligence from the Bureau of Investigation entered Kyoto shortly after the White-Clothed Knights. The intelligence contained almost no description of the process, nor did it explicitly state that the Ye family had rebelled. It only confirmed the death of Emperor Qing, and everything else was ambiguous.

If the Ye family were to actually surround and rebel at the foot of Mount Dadong, Ye Ling'er would inevitably be branded a traitor.

She had not yet officially married Zhou Cheng, and the one who died at this moment was Emperor Qing, the supreme emperor of the Qing Kingdom, and Zhou Cheng's father.

Ye Ling'er's face was completely bloodless; she wished she could faint right then and there.

She dared not face Zhou Cheng, dared not face her man.

She had barely recovered from the blow of the Ye family being banished from the capital when she was met with even more terrible news.

"Yes, I'm sorry, I, I..."

As Ye Ling'er spoke, she couldn't speak anymore and just kept crying.

Sang Wen, Zhan Yuanyuan, and the others surrounded Ye Ling'er, trying to comfort her and advising Zhou Cheng to calm down and not to take his anger out on Ling'er.

Before they could even speak, Zhou Cheng stared at them speechlessly.

Their men, instead of being shocked or angry, smiled helplessly.

Zhou Cheng said, "Even if it were true, do you think I'm the kind of person who would easily take my anger out on others?"

The women exchanged glances and slowly shook their heads.

They followed Zhou Cheng around, and even Shen Wan'er, who came last, had a fairly deep understanding of her man's temperament.

They knew perfectly well that Zhou Cheng was absolutely protective of his own people and always reasonable.

Misplaced anger is only directed at outsiders.

Thinking of this, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

They were just confused because they were too concerned.

Now that they've calmed down, they suddenly remembered what Zhou Cheng had just said.

Si Lili asked疑惑地问道, "Your Highness, what did you mean by the fake news you just mentioned?"

"Just the literal meaning!"

Zhou Cheng pulled Ye Ling'er away from the group of women, and gently pinched her cheek in a comforting gesture.

He then explained, "The Ye family has always been His Majesty's loyalists. Even their expulsion from the capital after the Hanging Temple incident was part of His Majesty's and the Ye family's scheme."

"Huh?" The women exclaimed in surprise.

Zhou Cheng continued, "Grandmasters are transcendent, their very existence surpassing even imperial power. Do you know why the Ye family, despite having a Grandmaster, remains so devoted to the secular emperor?"

Why?

Ye Ling'er and the others, while curious, also asked the question in a very cooperative manner.

Only Zhan Yuanyuan, who was always oblivious, blinked, seemingly suddenly realizing something.

Zhou Cheng didn't mince words; he said:

"Of course..."