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

Fan Xian practically hopped back to the poetry gathering, stepping on the light spots on the bluestone ground.

Under the watchful eyes of the entire audience, Fan Xian, a smile on his lips, returned to his seat, his eyes and face radiating the unique light of youth.

His thoughts drifted away, secretly grateful to Zhou Cheng, and eagerly awaiting news from the "chicken leg girl."

Little did he know that it was precisely because of the interference of the person he was grateful to that he missed the opportunity to reunite with the girl he longed for in the backyard.

After saying goodbye to Zhou Cheng, Lin Wan'er quietly slipped away to the poetry gathering. She didn't see Fan Xian, but she did see the poem "Ascending the Heights" that Fan Xian had left behind.

Fearing being recognized and causing gossip, she only glanced at the person briefly before turning and leaving.

As soon as Lin Wan'er left, Fan Xian stepped into the palace gate.

Inside the Yin'an Hall, a group of talented scholars once again surrounded him, showering him with praise and asking for his guidance.

Fan Xian felt somewhat embarrassed by the scholars' enthusiasm. His smile was forced, and his ears burned. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he seized an opportunity to drag Fan Ruoruo away from the poetry gathering as if they were fleeing.

Fan Xian had just returned to the Si Nan Marquis's residence when it was still early. He encountered Wang Qinian scaling the wall and delivering Teng Zijing's files as promised.

Fan Xian's initial high spirits were completely shattered when the dossier was opened.

The file was covered in stark black ink, bearing the news that Teng Zijing's wife and children had been brutally murdered by Guo Baokun.

Fan Xian's first reaction was disbelief.

He met Guo Baokun twice, and his impression of the man was that he was a bit dim-witted.

Although he was somewhat arrogant and spoiled, he didn't seem like the kind of person who would ruthlessly wipe out an entire family at the drop of a hat.

Fan Xian's solemn expression gave Teng Zijing, who was standing to the side, an ominous premonition.

Teng Zijing snatched the file away abruptly. After just one glance, his eyes turned bloodshot, veins bulged on his forehead, and his hand gripping the pages trembled uncontrollably.

"Teng Zijing, calm down! I think there's something fishy going on here!" Fan Xian said urgently, pressing down on his shoulder.

But Teng Zijing wouldn't listen to any of that.

"Calm down? How can I calm down?"

He abruptly pushed Fan Xian's hand away and forced him back with a palm strike. Seeing that Fan Xian still wanted to move forward after the force was released, he directly threw two throwing knives to block his path.

Teng Zijing turned and left the Si Nan Marquis's mansion, preparing to kill Guo Baokun to avenge his wife and children.

Fan Xian knew that Teng Zijing was now blinded by hatred and there was no way to stop him.

He guessed that the other party couldn't hold back and would definitely take action tonight, so he quickly called Fan Ruoruo to inquire about Guo Baokun's whereabouts.

From their first meeting downstairs at Yishi Residence, Fan Ruoruo could tell that Guo Baokun was deliberately targeting Fan Xian.

So, at today's poetry gathering, they had already privately inquired about the matter.

Fan Ruoruo told Fan Xian: Guo Baokun is a womanizer by nature and spends most of his time on the brothels and pleasure boats along the Liujing River. However, Guo Baokun is raised with very strict discipline and dares not stay out overnight; he always returns home before midnight.

"Strict family discipline... they don't even dare to stay overnight?" Fan Xian murmured repeatedly, his doubts deepening.

Do such spoiled brats really have the guts to kill people at the drop of a hat?

Fan Xian was worried that Teng Zijing was being used, so he decided to help him investigate the truth.

He also knew that there were countless eyes secretly watching him in Kyoto.

Just as he was worrying about how to avoid being seen at night, the gatekeeper suddenly came to report.

"What? The Prince Jing's heir has invited me to cruise the Crystal River tonight?"

Fan Xian blinked as he listened to the news from the visitor.

"This is just like someone handing you a pillow when you're sleepy..." he thought to himself, and quickly came up with a plan.

......

Time passed quickly, and the sky darkened completely.

As the lights along the Liujing River gradually come on, the water reflects a continuous stream of colorful lights, and the sounds of music and laughter drift from the exquisite painted boats.

Fan Ruoruo, disguised as a young scholar, excitedly looked around, exclaiming repeatedly, "This is the night view of the Liujing River? It's even more beautiful than the legends say!"

"You've never been here before?"

"Of course not," Fan Ruoruo lowered her voice, "How could someone of my status come here? This time, I'm only here because of my brother."

"It's a place of pleasure, take a look and go back quickly." Fan Xian patted her back lightly, "A young lady like you shouldn't stay here for long."

"No! I want to see the most beautiful courtesan at Zuixianju! I heard that the newly crowned most beautiful courtesan here is Lian Cheng..." Fan Ruoruo was interrupted by Fan Xian before she could finish speaking.

"What do you mean by 'can't' or 'can't'? Alright, alright!" He had already seen Li Hongcheng and his guards not far away.

"Ruoruo, you should go back to the manor first. I have important business to attend to tonight, and your presence here will distract me."

"Okay, okay."

Fan Ruoruo pouted, but seeing her brother's serious expression, she could only nod.

After seeing Fan Ruoruo off, Fan Xian soon met up with Li Hongcheng, who warmly led Fan Xian into Zuixianju.

The Drunken Immortal Abode was filled with a rich fragrance, and red sleeves fluttered in the breeze. Although Fan Xian remained outwardly calm, he was secretly amazed and gained a great deal of knowledge.

At this moment, Li Hongcheng suddenly laughed and said, "Brother Fan's poem 'Ascending the Heights' has already been delivered to the painted boat."

Fan Xian asked in confusion, "A pleasure boat?"

"Miss Si Lili, the newly crowned courtesan, is quite famous and loves the poems of talented men." Li Hongcheng gave him a meaningful look but said nothing more.

Inside the painted boat, Si Lili was lost in thought, staring at a poem titled "Ascending the Heights." It was a masterpiece, a truly exceptional poem, but she was unsure whether to accept it or not.

As everyone knows, she was the woman whom Prince Cheng had his eye on.

If she accepts now, she will offend Zhou Cheng.

However, if she doesn't accept the offer, her carefully crafted "Mu Shi" persona will be shattered, and she will also offend Zhou Cheng.

She dug her fingertips into her palms, paced a few steps in the cabin, a bitter smile on her face: "This poet is practically trying to kill me!"

After hesitating for a long time, she decided to meet him anyway.

"Since they dare to send someone to deliver a poem, they must not be afraid of offending the Third Prince! If they're not even afraid of the Third Prince, I reckon they can't afford to offend him..."

Si Lili sighed, feeling helpless, and sent a small boat to the shore to pick up the person.

This time, she didn't make a public appearance as in the original story; she simply sent a small boat to pick up Fan Xian.

Her idea was that as long as the pleasure boat remained still, the impact would be much smaller. By keeping a low profile, she could still decide whether or not to have sex with the guest, thus preserving as much leeway as possible.

Fan Xian, of course, knew nothing of this; he simply followed the instructions of the visitors and boarded the painted boat.

As soon as he left, Li Hongcheng gave a wink to the guards behind him.

The guards immediately retreated to a secluded spot and released the prepared carrier pigeons into the night sky.

Inside the Prince Cheng's residence, the candlelight flickered red in the sleeping quarters.

Chen Quan knocked on the door, left a secret letter, and retreated to a distance.

Zhou Cheng leaned against the couch, and by the candlelight, unfolded the letter. He glanced at the words "Fan Xian enters Zuixianju and delivers a poem to Si Lili." The letter was not fully signed at the end, only bearing the character "Cheng."

Sang Wen, whose face still had a strong flush of sweat, wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Zhou Cheng handed her the letter directly, chuckled, and said, "This Hongcheng is quite interesting; he only left half of his name. He can recognize the letter with me, but he probably won't recognize it with someone else."

Sang Wen took the letter and frowned immediately: "The young master took Fan Xian to Zuixianju? And what's going on with Fan Xian? He asked His Highness to find 'Chicken Leg Girl' at noon, and then he went to the pleasure boat to deliver a poem that evening? Who doesn't know that Miss Si Lili is the one His Highness has taken a liking to?"

Zhou Cheng said calmly, "I suspect Fan Xian is being used as a pawn; someone wants to use him to slap me in the face!"

Sang Wen's expression was very unpleasant: "If Fan Xian were to deliver the poem 'Ascending the Heights' to the painted boat, Miss Si Lili would likely have no reason not to meet him. But if Si Lili were to meet Fan Xian... wouldn't that damage His Highness's reputation?"

"So what if it's a loss?" Zhou Cheng said indifferently. "My reputation is already ridiculous enough, and there are many more outrageous ones out there. This is nothing."

"But all of that is fake!" Sang Wen knew that Zhou Cheng didn't care about what others thought, but as Zhou Cheng's woman, she couldn't help but care about her man's reputation.

But Zhou Cheng remained too calm.

She looked up at Zhou Cheng, puzzled, and asked, "But that's Miss Si Lili. Does Your Highness really not care?"

Zhou Cheng pulled Sang Wen close, kneading her soft skin in his hands: "I've only met Si Lili once, how much could I care?"

He smiled and said, "What I want more is the Northern Qi intelligence network behind her, and only secondarily her body. Besides, if anyone else were on Si Lili's pleasure boat, I might worry a bit, but Fan Xian, we can just wash up and go to sleep."

Sang Wen vaguely sensed Zhou Cheng's implied meaning, but still didn't quite understand: "Why isn't Your Highness worried about Fan Xian? Although Fan Xian is fond of the chicken leg girl, he's still a man, isn't he?"

Zhou Cheng smiled and shook his head: "He is a man, that's true, but more importantly, he's a good person. Sometimes, this kind of good person makes me feel more at ease than the eunuchs in the palace!"

Sang Wen was speechless. He felt that not only were good people being insulted by his own prince, but they were also being equated with eunuchs. This was truly an insult to good people...

Just as the two were speculating about who was using Fan Xian, on the other side, our "good guy" finally met Si Lili.

With just one glance, Fan Xian had to admit that Si Lili, the courtesan highly praised by the Prince of Jing, was in no way inferior to his chicken leg girl in terms of looks.

After sizing up the newcomer, Si Lili guessed Fan Xian's background while inviting him to sit down.

Si Lili started the conversation subtly, but Fan Xian was more concerned about Teng Zijing's matter and answered absentmindedly, constantly changing the subject.

After several attempts, Si Lili saw that Fan Xian was unmoved by her words, so she simply raised her cup to urge him to drink, hoping that he would reveal the truth after drinking.

Unexpectedly, this was exactly what Fan Xian wanted to do.

With his superb poisoning skills, he subtly flicked his finger while pouring wine, secretly adding a sleeping potion to the drink without anyone noticing.

Si Lili only drank two cups before suddenly feeling dizzy.

As a spy for Northern Qi, she was no stranger to sleeping pills and had even undergone rigorous drug resistance training.

Upon noticing something amiss, she immediately realized that Fan Xian had drugged her drink.

Unaware of Fan Xian's purpose, she could only tilt her wine cup to the side, then fall to the ground, feigning unconsciousness, to see what he intended to do.

To everyone's surprise, Fan Xian simply helped her to the couch and, without doing anything else, quietly left the cabin.

As soon as Fan Xian left, Si Lili opened her eyes and sat up, looking at the slightly swaying beaded curtain, completely puzzled and unable to understand what was going on with Fan Xian.

Meanwhile, Fan Xian slipped out of the pleasure boat under the cover of night and changed into his prepared night clothes in a secluded alley.

He was like a shadow, swiftly moving through the night.

Soon, they intercepted Teng Zijing on the only way Guo Baokun could take back to his residence.

When Teng Zijing saw Fan Xian arrive, and since he couldn't shake him off for the time being, he had no choice but to agree to act together.

The two lay hidden in the shadow of the eaves until nearly midnight, when they saw a sedan chair swaying and wobbling as it approached.

They acted with lightning speed, quickly knocking out the sedan bearers, and before Guo Baokun could react, they dragged him out and put him in a sack.

Fan Xian deliberately didn't muffle his voice, punching Teng Zijing several times through the sack before pressing him about his family.

As a result, Guo Baokun recognized his voice and not only refused to cooperate, but also made threatening remarks.

What followed was naturally a beating from Fan Xian.

Guo Baokun screamed repeatedly, "Stop hitting me! Stop hitting me! If you keep hitting me, I'll die!"

Fan Xian kicked him: "You think you can just say you won't fight and then you won't?"

Guo Baokun wailed and shouted, "Fan Xian, I admit it was wrong of me to run away early. But is it worth it for a bet? If you want me to kowtow, just say so! I'll make up for it with a few extra! Killing someone is against the law!"

Fan Xian squatted down and slapped him on the head: "You know it's illegal to kill someone?!"

Then came another slap. "I don't need you to kowtow, I just have something I want to ask you!"

From inside the sack, Guo Baokun's voice was muffled and trembling, almost tearful: "Then why don't you ask!"

Fan Xian then asked Guo Baokun why he killed Teng Zijing's wife and children, but Guo Baokun was agitated and refused to admit it.

After another beating, Guo Baokun burst into tears: "I really didn't do it! Even if you beat me to death, I can't bear this kind of guilt!"

Guo Baokun weakly cried out his innocence a few more times before fainting.

Teng Zijing then emerged from the shadows, her eyes still bloodshot, but now showing a hint of hesitation.

Fan Xian stood up: "He might not be lying."

"But the case file..." Teng Zijing's voice was hoarse. He had watched Guo Baokun being brutally beaten the whole time, and he vaguely felt that it was not the behavior of a spoiled brat like Guo Baokun.

His heart was breaking; he hated himself for not even knowing who his enemy was.

"The dossier might be fake," Fan Xian said suddenly, raising his eyes.

"Impossible!" Teng Zijing retorted instinctively.

But Fan Xian's next words left him speechless: "Isn't he a dead person in the Forensic Bureau's files too?"

The two exchanged a glance, realizing that if there were problems with the files, the biggest issue might lie with Wang Qinian, who had delivered them.

They ignored Guo Baokun, who was still covered by a sack, and went straight to find Wang Qinian.

Just after turning a few corners, a soft cough came from behind.

Wang Qinian emerged from around the corner, rubbing his hands together and chuckling dryly, "You two...were looking for me?"

Looking at Wang Qinian's appearance, Fan Xian really wanted to punch him. But he held back.

Afterwards, Wang Qinian explained to them with a look of shame.

It turns out that the records in the Forensic Bureau state that Xu Yunzhang was instructed to send Teng Zijing to Danzhou to assassinate Fan Xian, but he was killed instead.

Wang Qinian was unaware that Teng Zijing had faked his death. When he saw Fan Xian entering the Imperial Censorate to investigate Teng's family, he assumed that Fan Xian was ruthless and wanted to eliminate him completely.

So he took pity on him, delayed for a day to forge the case file, and deliberately shifted the blame to Guo Baokun, the son of the Vice Minister of Rites.

After listening to Wang Qinian's account, Fan Xian and Teng Zijing both breathed a sigh of relief, secretly thinking: Thankfully it was just a false alarm.

Teng Zijing then hurriedly inquired about the whereabouts of his wife and children.

Wang Qinian scratched his head and chuckled:

"If it had been a day earlier, I wouldn't have known either. But after investigating all day today, I, Wang, have finally discovered a clue!"

"Where?" Teng Zijing excitedly grabbed his wrist.

Wang Qinian hissed and gasped, enduring the pain in his wrist from being gripped, swallowed hard, and whispered:

"Prince Cheng's Mansion!"