Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

"The Yin-Yang School is now under his control, but the road ahead remains fraught with peril." The Empress's tone turned serious. "I hope you can stay by his side and keep an eye on this womanizing fellow."

Qin Chuan sighed, "I didn't..."

The Empress and Consort Yan said in unison, then smiled at each other.

Under the starlight, the two stunningly beautiful women stood together, creating a strange and harmonious scene.

Yanfei's disappointment was gradually replaced by a complex emotion—gratitude for the Empress's magnanimity, anticipation for the future, and a deeper understanding of Qin Chuan.

"I will."

Yan Fei said softly, a determined light rekindling in her eyes.

"I can only stay for one day," the Empress suddenly spoke, her fingertips trembling almost imperceptibly as she traced Qin Chuan's cheek. "The price of crossing worlds... is a time limit."

She turned to Yan Fei, the sharpness in her eyes softening:

"Therefore, from today onwards, I hope my younger sister will..."

"I understand." Yan Fei interrupted her, her chin raised, her demeanor now as arrogant as that of Dongjun. "The affairs of the Yin Yang School are complex; I'll go arrange the handover first."

As she turned, her hair billowed in an elegant arc, but she paused at the doorway: "The sunset outside Rashomon... is beautiful."

After Consort Yan left, the Empress suddenly pinched Qin Chuan's soft waist: "Your flirting skills have improved, haven't they?"

Qin Chuan winced in pain, but hugged her even tighter: "Jealous?"

The Empress gave a soft hum, then looked up, her eyes devoid of any majesty, filled only with tenderness: "Hold me tight, time... is running out."

Qin Chuan picked her up and carried her to the quiet room deep inside Luo Shengtang...

Rashomon stands quietly in the twilight, as the star map begins a new cycle of rotation.

On the highest eaves of Luosheng Hall, Yanfei sat alone, hugging her knees, gazing at the magnificent sunset in the west.

She knew that Qin Chuan did not belong to her at this moment, but in the long years to come, she would be the person closest to him.

Beneath the Rashomon, the Empress leaned on Qin Chuan's shoulder and whispered, "That girl... cares about you more than you described."

Qin Chuan remained silent, simply holding her tightly.

The Empress nodded in satisfaction, her figure beginning to fade into nothingness: "It's time. I should go back."

She looked at Qin Chuan, her eyes filled with reluctance.

Qin Chuan tried to grab her hand, but only touched a point of empty light.

He spoke softly, his eyes filled with a rare tenderness.

The empress's figure completely disappeared into the twilight, leaving only a soft laugh echoing in the night sky.

Qin Chuan stood alone for a long time, unaware that Yan Fei had appeared behind him.

"She...went back?" Yan Fei asked softly.

Qin Chuan nodded, turned to Yan Fei, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you beforehand."

Yan Fei shook her head, then suddenly laughed: "You're always like this, so unpredictable."

She took a deep breath. "But this is the real you, isn't it?"

Qin Chuan gazed at her beautiful profile in the moonlight, then suddenly reached out and stroked her cheek: "The Yin-Yang School matter is temporarily resolved, but we still need to deal with Lü Buwei's web."

"I know," Yanfei nestled into his arms, "but with you by my side, I'm not afraid."

The moonlight, as clear as water, bathed the two people embracing.

In the shadows of Rashomon, a pair of eyes as bright as the moon silently watched everything, then vanished into the darkness without a sound.

Chapter 37: A foolish woman is being fooled, and an old prime minister is going crazy.

The bronze lamps in Xianyang Palace swayed gently in the breeze, casting the shadows of Qin Chuan onto the palace walls painted with black bird patterns.

As soon as he stepped into the council hall, he saw Ying Zheng standing with his back to the gate in front of the map of the Nine Provinces, his finger pressed on the location of Xinzheng in the state of Han.

Qin Chuan bowed with his hands clasped in greeting, his dark sleeves hanging down like raven feathers.

A smile flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes as he turned around, but it subsided when he saw Yan Fei following closely behind.

He dismissed his attendants, leaving only Li Si standing beside the table.

"Perfect timing." Ying Zheng picked up a gilded bamboo scroll from the table. "The King of Han has already agreed to the marriage; Princess Honglian will enter Qin in six months."

The sound of the bamboo slips unfolding was particularly crisp in the silent hall.

Yan Fei stood half a step behind Qin Chuan, her fingernails silently digging into her palms.

She saw that the seal of the King of Han at the end of the bamboo slip was as red as blood, and Princess Honglian's birth date and time were attached next to it.

Qin Chuan frowned slightly: "Your Majesty, I am unaware of this matter."

"It was I who ordered Li Si to do it." Ying Zheng's gaze lingered for a moment on Yan Fei's pale lips. "The state of Han is now barely clinging to life; it is their good fortune to form a marriage alliance with my Great Qin."

Li Si stepped forward at the opportune moment, and a silk painting slid out from his sleeve: "Princess Honglian is known as the 'Pearl of Korea,' and she is a perfect match for you, young master."

As the scroll unfolds, the image of a girl with bright eyes and white teeth leaps vividly into view.

Yanfei suddenly felt that the incense in the palace was too sweet and cloying, and a sour feeling rose in her stomach.

She noticed the hesitation in Qin Chuan's fingers as he took the scroll, and suddenly remembered the Empress's words, "flirting with women everywhere," and a bitter smile crept onto her lips.

"Brother Zheng's kindness is appreciated, Your Majesty..."

Before Qin Chuan could finish speaking, Ying Zheng raised his hand to interrupt him.

"I summoned you here today for another important matter." Ying Zheng's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Last night, Lü Buwei sent assassins to infiltrate Zhangtai Palace again."

A fine crack suddenly appeared on the bronze wine vessel on the table.

Qin Chuan noticed that the jade thumb ring on Ying Zheng's right thumb had developed a crack.

This is a small action that the King of Qin would only take when he was extremely angry.

"All seventeen assassins of the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) have been executed."

Li Si added that the bandage strips were faintly visible through the cuffs.

Yan Fei keenly sensed that Qin Chuan's aura had faltered.

She had seen this state before, the calm before the storm when facing the four elders in Luosheng Hall.

"Start with Lao Ai," Qin Chuan suddenly said.

Ying Zheng's pupils contracted slightly.

The name was like a red-hot branding iron, instantly scorching the air inside the hall.

"That fake eunuch?" Li Si lowered his voice. "Relying on the Empress Dowager's favor, he built the Ai Palace in Yongcheng, and his retainers have reached three thousand."

Qin Chuan walked to the map and drew a line from Xianyang to Yongcheng:

"Lao Ai, after drinking, once claimed to be the 'adopted father' of the King of Qin. Such outrageous words were known to all the people of Yongcheng."

"I know," Ying Zheng sneered. "That eunuch gave birth in the Ai Palace last month, and both children are hidden in a secret room."

Yan Fei gasped.

Despite such a royal scandal, Ying Zheng, as the King of Qin, has tolerated it until now.

"My mother treats me like a child," Qin Chuan suddenly changed his form of address, his tone becoming innocent and soft. "Tomorrow I'll go to Ganquan Palace to pay my respects; perhaps I'll hear some interesting stories there."

He knew how useful his brother's "mentally challenged" identity was.

Zhao Ji would never be wary of her "mentally challenged" youngest son.

"What do you need my cooperation with?"

"Spread the word that my brother intends to thoroughly investigate the inner palace." Qin Chuan tapped his finger lightly on the location of Yongcheng. "The rest is up to Lao Ai's ambition."

As we left the Hall of State Affairs, the setting sun stained the pillars of Xianyang Palace blood-red.

Yan Fei remained silent, following three steps behind Qin Chuan until they turned into a deserted alleyway, at which point she suddenly spoke:

"You really don't know anything about Princess Honglian?"

A sycamore leaf drifted down onto his shoulder, only to be brushed away by Yan Fei.

"Even the Yin-Yang School's Dongjun worries about this kind of thing?" Qin Chuan teased her deliberately, but sighed when he saw the tears welling up in Yan Fei's eyes. "If I said this was Zheng Ge's spur-of-the-moment idea, would you believe me?"

"I believe you." Yan Fei raised her chin, Dong Jun's arrogance returning to her eyes. "But you must promise me that next time you flirt, you'll inform me in advance."

He was about to respond when he suddenly sensed something and turned to look at the shadow of the palace wall.

A silver-blue hem flashed by, and the cool fragrance of laurel lingered in the air.

"The Moon Goddess is becoming increasingly unruly."

Yan Fei sneered, and a ball of orange-red flame condensed at her fingertips.

"She's always wanted to take my place," Yan Fei said calmly, but a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes, "especially... the position next to you."

Qin Chuan reached out and grasped her wrist, instantly extinguishing the flames: "You don't need to worry about anyone."

Yan Fei withdrew her hand and gave a light snort: "Who's worried?"

She stood up, her red dress billowing in the night breeze. "Just a reminder, don't be fooled by her beauty."

That night in Ganquan Palace, Zhao Ji was enjoying a dance newly choreographed by Lao Ai.

When the servants announced that the "foolish" Prince Chuan was requesting an audience, she impatiently dismissed the dancers, leaving only Lao Ai by her side.

"Mother!" Qin Chuan stumbled in, the jade pendant at his waist jingling.

He had deliberately styled his hair loosely today, and his collar was slightly askew. "Your Majesty, I saw many people in black measuring the palace walls!"

Lao Ai's hand trembled slightly as he poured the wine.

This fake eunuch was exceptionally handsome, but his eyes and brows revealed a sinister air.

He asked, feigning gentleness, "Young master, don't be afraid, speak slowly. What man in black?"

"They brought ropes and rulers, saying His Majesty wants to investigate...investigate..." Qin Chuan counted on his fingers, then suddenly pounced on Zhao Ji's lap, "to investigate how big the Queen Mother's bedchamber is! They even said they want to count how many beds there are!"

The glass cup in Zhao Ji's hand fell to the ground with a thud.

She exchanged a horrified glance with Lao Ai. If Ying Zheng really sent people to measure the palace, those hidden chambers would probably be...