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

The warm, pungent smell of blood mingled with the aroma of medicine and alcohol, creating a suffocating atmosphere in the solemn and spacious courtroom, even though the smell wasn't particularly strong.

The Prefect of Kyoto, ranked among the Nine Ministers, was in charge of criminal matters in the capital region—a high-ranking and powerful official of the court! In Kyoto, where nobles and princes were as numerous as dogs, he was definitely a figure of importance.

This seasoned official, who had been navigating the political landscape for many years and held a high position of power, was so ruthless and reckless that he didn't even dare to confront Emperor Qing directly, and instead committed suicide in court because of a few hurtful words from Zhou Cheng.

For a moment, a chill ran through everyone in the hall. They couldn't tell whether it was because Prince Cheng's methods were too shocking and unpredictable, or... because the Emperor sitting high on the dragon throne had accumulated such power that his subjects would rather kill themselves than face him.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian closed his eyes, and the fingers that were tightly clenched in his sleeve loosened slightly.

Mei Zhili's death finally brought him a sense of relief.

Zhou Cheng's question, "Does Your Majesty find it too long to sit?" was so malicious that even the Crown Prince felt a chill run down his spine.

With Mei Zhili dead, many things can no longer be verified.

Regret is inevitable, after all, he had put in a lot of effort to win over such an important pawn. But at the moment, he felt more relieved.

Fan Xian frowned, strode to Mei Zhili's collapsed body, knelt down, checked his pulse, and examined the gruesome wound on his head. He quickly straightened up, shook his head at the crowd.

Mei Zhili's obsequiousness and even aiding and abetting of the powerful were certainly despicable to him.

But at this moment, the fact that the other party could end his own life in such a tragic way, this resoluteness and... the last bit of protection for his family, made Fan Xian feel a complex respect, which diluted some of his previous contempt.

"Lord Mei is dead." Fan Xian hesitated. "But this case... isn't closed yet!"

At this moment, Eunuch Hou coughed lightly, walked forward, looked at the corpse on the ground, and sighed deeply: "The presiding official who was handling the case is dead. What's the point of investigating this case? After this, everyone can go home."

He paused, then turned to Zhou Cheng, a perfectly measured hint of helplessness on his face: "His Majesty originally had another imperial edict, instructing this old servant to secretly tell Lord Mei to enter the palace for an audience immediately after the trial of this case. Now... Your Highness's words have made it impossible for this old servant to complete this mission."

"And a metaphor?!"

Upon hearing this, the crown prince felt a pang of anxiety, followed by even greater relief.

Why would Emperor Qing secretly summon Mei Zhili? It must be because he discovered his relationship with Mei Zhili.

Fortunately, he gave Mei Zhili a meaningful look, which dashed Mei's last hope. Otherwise, if Mei had actually entered the palace to meet the emperor, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

Mei Zhili died here, what a good thing he died!

Although Mei Zhili is dead, the Crown Prince still cannot escape a lot of trouble.

Now that things had come to this, there was no need to seal off the courtroom any longer, so Zhou Cheng directly raised his voice and gave orders to the outside.

"Chen Quan, open the door!"

The heavy courtroom doors creaked open from the outside, and Chen Quan strode in. Closely following behind him was Xie Bi'an, the personal bodyguard of the Second Prince, Li Chengze!

Xie Bi'an's face was extremely ugly at this moment. He had tried to break into the courtroom when it was sealed off, but Chen Quan stopped him.

Both were eighth-rank masters, making it difficult to determine a winner. Furthermore, this was the capital city, an unsuitable place for fighting, so they remained locked in a standoff outside until this moment.

As Xie Bi'an stepped into the courtroom, his sharp gaze swept across the entire room. First, he saw Mei Zhili lying on the ground, his head bleeding and already dead. Then, his pupils suddenly contracted as he stared intently at the clear, bright red handprint on Li Chengze's face!

His head buzzed, and it felt like it was about to explode!

My first reaction was that Mei Zhili, that old scoundrel, was incredibly audacious to attack a prince and was killed on the spot! But then, I felt something was wrong.

But he didn't have time to think about those things.

As the Second Prince's personal guard, he was not by his side when his lord was threatened, which was a fatal dereliction of duty.

Xie Bi'an's face turned ashen, and his right hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword at his waist. He was about to ask what had happened when he saw Li Chengze shake his head at him.

Li Chengze has now completely calmed down. Being slapped was already a great humiliation, and he really didn't want to bring it up again in front of everyone.

Thinking about it calmly, although he was the one who was beaten and lost face, ... upon careful consideration, his own losses might not be the greatest.

Not only did he lose Mei Zhili, an important pawn, but he also cannot escape blame for colluding with court officials and making arrangements in advance. When he returns, Emperor Qing alone will be enough to give him a lot of trouble.

Secondly, Zhou Cheng slapped his elder brother, which is an act of insubordination and a grave offense. His father, the Emperor, will definitely investigate and punish him severely.

As for himself, as long as he keeps the matter of being slapped a secret and doesn't spread it, the so-called "loss" is merely the pain on his face.

If he could, he wouldn't mind taking a slap himself in every fight to ensure the Crown Prince suffered heavy losses...

He doesn't need many times, just two or three times, and he'll probably be able to become the unshakeable crown prince.

"Your Highness," Fan Xian said, seeing the gate open, unwilling to linger a second longer in this vortex of bloodshed and royal intrigue, he quickly bowed to Zhou Cheng, "Now... can this humble subject leave?"

A group of princes and their descendants gathered here, and the scene was filled with open and covert attacks, making him feel an unprecedented sense of great danger.

This danger is not directed at him personally, but rather that being on the edge of this vortex, merely "hearing," "seeing," or "knowing" things he shouldn't know could lead to his death.

Fan Xian only wanted to live a carefree life and had no ambition or interest in getting involved in the ruthless affairs of the imperial family.

"Young Master Fan, don't rush off. There's something you need to explain, isn't there?" Zhou Cheng's face hardened, feigning indifference.

He has already drained the Crown Prince and Li Chengze of their negative emotions. Now, Fan Xian is the fattest piece of meat, the most lucrative. How can he let him go so easily?

Fan Xian's eyelids twitched suddenly, and he inwardly groaned, realizing that he still couldn't escape this fate.

He really wanted to play dumb and get away with it, but recalling Zhou Cheng's ability to manipulate events so easily, he didn't dare to show off his cleverness.

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and force a smile, saying, "Your Highness... there is some misunderstanding here."

"Misunderstanding?" Zhou Cheng snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping meaningfully over Si Lili, who stood silently with her head down to the side.

"What a misunderstanding! Young Master Fan just asked me to inquire about the 'Chicken Leg Girl' a moment ago, and then he went to deliver a poem to the woman I've taken a liking to... Young Master Fan, you've got some nerve!"

"Your Highness, please understand! This is a huge misunderstanding! I've been set up!" Fan Xian hurriedly cried out his innocence. "I had no idea beforehand that Miss Si Lili had this kind of relationship with Your Highness! Moreover, I swear to God, Miss Si and I are completely innocent. That night, we only had a few drinks and recited a poem. Nothing else... nothing at all happened!"

Li Hongcheng, who was hiding in the background, subconsciously shrank his neck.

Zhou Cheng's lips curled into a cold smile: "Is that so? All you did on this romantic night was drink? Could it be... Young Master Fan, you're not a man?"

[Fan Xian's negative emotions +66!]

Fan Xian felt speechless and frustrated: Why does everyone have to bring up "whether or not someone is a man"?

Si Lili had been putting him down in court before, and now Zhou Cheng was doing it again! He suppressed the urge to complain and explained, "Your Highness, of course I am a man! But at that time... I did have something more important and urgent to do."

"Oh?" Zhou Cheng deliberately raised an eyebrow. "What could be so important that you'd be willing to give up a beauty like Si Lili?"

Fan Xian smiled somewhat embarrassedly and touched his nose: "Well... I went to beat up Guo Baokun. I'm a petty person. I clearly won the poetry gathering yesterday, but he slunk away with his tail between his legs. I was unhappy about it, so I went to... to 'argue' with him last night."

Zhou Cheng nodded as if suddenly realizing something: "So Young Master Fan is the kind of person who holds grudges. I thought Young Master Fan was a kind and generous man, who went out of his way to help Brother Teng Zijing inquire about the whereabouts of his family overnight!"

[Fan Xian's negative emotions +120!]

Upon hearing the words "good person," Fan Xian felt a conditioned reflex, as if pricked by a needle, and his lips twitched involuntarily. He forced an awkward smile, cursing Zhou Cheng eight hundred times in his heart, but had to endure it on the surface.

On the other side, Guo Baokun, who had been lying on the stretcher and wisely choosing to play dead, couldn't help but shed two lines of tears when he heard Fan Xian admit to beating him.

See? He said he didn't wrong anyone! It was that bastard Fan Xian who did the beating!

But now... the presiding judge has died in court. He wished he hadn't heard or seen anything from beginning to end, let alone cried out for justice! So he could only silently swallow his tears and grievances.

Looking at Fan Xian's frustrated yet daring expression, Zhou Cheng smiled nonchalantly: "Young Master Fan and Si Lili are innocent. I've always known that. I was just teasing you earlier."

[Fan Xian's negative emotions +110!]

[Negative emotions from Si Lili +99!]

Zhou Cheng glanced at Si Lili, then lowered his head even further. He turned to Fan Xian, his face showing just the right amount of hesitation and difficulty: "Although you and Si Lili are innocent, outsiders don't know. If this gets out, it will damage my reputation, which puts me in a difficult position."

Reputation? Your Highness Prince Cheng, you actually have something called "reputation" that can be damaged?

As soon as Zhou Cheng finished speaking, everyone in the courtroom couldn't help but silently complain.

Fan Xian didn't find it particularly "difficult," as he was well-prepared for it: "Your Highness, rest assured! Miss Si is very shrewd. Considering Your Highness's reputation, she only sent a small boat to quietly pick me up and take me aboard, without making a big fuss. Apart from those who were with me that night, very few people outside know about this."

After saying that, Fan Xian's gaze drifted intentionally or unintentionally to Li Hongcheng, the heir of Prince Jing, who had been trying to keep a low profile and almost shrinking into a corner from beginning to end.

Li Hongcheng secretly glanced in the direction of the Crown Prince, and then saw Zhou Cheng's ambiguous smile looking over at him. He thought to himself, "Oh no!"

When Zhou Cheng gets angry, he even dares to slap the Second Prince. He wouldn't be surprised if Zhou Cheng came over and beat him up directly.

He dared not pretend to be deaf and dumb, so he quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply to Zhou Cheng, adopting an extremely humble posture: "It was all due to Hongcheng's lack of foresight and poor consideration that I led Young Master Fan to the Liujing River! Hongcheng apologizes to Third Brother here!"

He raised his head, his tone earnest, "Please rest assured, Third Brother! Miss Si and Young Master Fan are completely innocent. Hongcheng knows this perfectly well and would never dare to speak recklessly or spread any falsehoods that would damage Third Brother's reputation!"

Zhou Cheng nodded, stepped forward, and personally helped Li Hongcheng up: "This matter is not Hongcheng's fault. I trust you completely."

Seeing that Zhou Cheng's tone was sincere and not feigned, and that he really didn't intend to hold it against him, Li Hongcheng finally breathed a long sigh of relief after getting up.

After Li Hongcheng withdrew, Fan Xian said to Zhou Cheng, "The Crown Prince has made a guarantee, and I have also clarified the matter. As long as no one spreads rumors or causes trouble in the future, Your Highness and Miss Si's reputation will not be damaged! If anyone dares to secretly spread rumors and ruin Your Highness's reputation, that is aimed at Your Highness, and has nothing to do with me!"

Zhou Cheng nodded slightly.

Upon arriving here, Eunuch Hou, who had been smiling and silent the whole time, felt that he had seen enough of the show.

He deliberately walked to Zhou Cheng's side and whispered a reminder: "Your Highness, although Mei Zhili committed suicide out of fear of punishment, he was not tried by the three judicial departments and his crime was not clearly determined. Moreover, he died in this courtroom... If this matter gets out, it will ultimately damage the face of the court and be detrimental to the prestige of the royal family. I urge Your Highness... to handle this matter properly."

Zhou Cheng cupped his hands in a respectful gesture: "Thank you for the reminder, Father-in-law. This is easy to handle."

He turned to Chen Quan and instructed, "Have the government office find a physician, and then send someone to take Lord Mei there. Tell them that Lord Mei has worked tirelessly for the country, day and night, and is old and frail. Today, during the trial, he accidentally slipped and fell, and is now unable to get up. Have the physician do everything he can to treat him. Lord Mei is not allowed to 'die' before the government office closes for the day! Understand?"

"Understood, Your Excellency!" Chen Quan clasped his hands in obeisance, fully comprehending the order.

With just a few words from Zhou Cheng, Mei Zhili was "slipped up," and no one objected to it.

Although the process was wrong, the result was better after all.

Eunuch Hou nodded silently, a barely perceptible hint of approval flashing in his eyes. He said no more, and bowed respectfully to each of the princes present.

"Now that everything here is settled, this old servant will return to the palace to report back to His Majesty."

Everyone returned the greeting.

As soon as Eunuch Hou disappeared through the hall's entrance, the Crown Prince could no longer contain himself. He felt that every moment he stayed there was torture. He didn't even bother with formalities anymore; with a gloomy face, he turned to leave.

"Your Highness, please wait!"

Unexpectedly, just as he took a step, a figure stepped forward and blocked his way—it was Fan Xian!

The Crown Prince frowned and looked at Fan Xian.

Fan Xian took a deep breath: "I was assassinated in Danzhou before. I wonder if the Crown Prince is aware of this?"

Upon hearing this, the remaining people in the courtroom all looked at Fan Xian in shock.

Even Teng Zijing, who knew Fan Xian the most, felt that Fan Xian was being too arrogant and ungrateful.

Questioning the Crown Prince in court?! Asking if he's involved in the assassination attempt?!

Is Fan Xian possessed by the spirit of Prince Cheng?

"..."

The Crown Prince's eyes showed a hint of disbelief, and then he simply stared intently at Fan Xian.

He didn't answer, but stepped aside and walked right past Fan Xian.

The Second Prince, who was standing behind the Crown Prince and had a red handprint on his head, really wanted to give Fan Xian a thumbs up, but he was too embarrassed to do so because he had been in such a disheveled state earlier.

He only thought about it for a moment, glanced at Fan Xian with admiration, and then stepped out of the courtroom after the Crown Prince.

After the Crown Prince left, a group of silver-armored guards quickly rushed in and silently and swiftly "invited" Guo Baokun, who was lying on a stretcher pretending to be dead, along with his lawyer who was already terrified, out of the room.

Zhou Cheng merely glanced at it indifferently and made no attempt to interfere.

Although Guo Baokun heard a lot of things he shouldn't have heard, he was, after all, the son of the Minister of Rites, and the Crown Prince wouldn't go so far as to silence him.

As for that lawyer... well, let's just say good luck.

Then Li Hongcheng came over to say goodbye, and Zhou Cheng nodded.

As Mei Zhili was also carried away for emergency treatment, the once grand courtroom was soon filled with only a handful of people.

A playful smile returned to Zhou Cheng's face as he looked at Fan Xian: "Young Master Fan, your courage is truly commendable and extraordinary. You are the first person to dare question the Crown Prince!"

Fan Xian chuckled sheepishly and waved his hand, saying, "No, no, I'm just a country bumpkin, ignorant and fearless!"

"Haha," Zhou Cheng laughed, "Young Master Fan is being modest. I think Young Master Fan is cunning and has ulterior motives, which is why he asked such a question."

"Why do you say that, Your Highness?"

"You, you just didn't get a reputation for frequenting brothels, so you want a reputation for arrogance instead! You're really going all out to break off the engagement."

"Your Highness noticed?" Fan Xian scratched his head sheepishly.

Zhou Cheng patted Fan Xian on the shoulder: "Young Master Fan, your integrity and indifference to power are admirable. However, you asked the wrong person a question. Even if you asked the Crown Prince, he wouldn't answer. As for me, I never lie, and I especially love to help people out."

Upon hearing this, Fan Xian's eyes suddenly lit up: "Your Highness means...you know some...inside details of the Danzhou assassination case?"

Zhou Cheng nodded frankly, his tone relaxed: "Yes, I know. I not only know some things, but I know them very clearly. Very clearly."

Fan Xian's heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition creeping in: "How could Your Highness... know so much about this?"

Zhou Cheng laughed heartily, the laughter sounding somewhat abrupt in the empty courtroom: "Why would I know? Naturally... those assassinations were all 'arranged' by me."

Fan Xian's expression froze instantly.

Two or three breaths passed before he suddenly realized what had happened. His face turned extremely ugly in an instant, and his eyes were filled with shock, confusion, and anger at being played.

"It was you? Why? We have no grudge against each other. Before the marriage, His Majesty was referring to us, we were completely unrelated!"

"How could we be unrelated? You just don't know it. Our relationship is much closer than you realize. Fan Xian, I value you highly!"

Fan Xian almost laughed in anger, pointing to himself: "Get close? Value? And then send someone to assassinate me?"

"I believe you won't die," Zhou Cheng said casually.

"Heh, believe me? I'm not dead yet! But what if I am? What if I am dead?" Fan Xian raised his voice, his chest heaving.

Seeing his excited expression, Zhou Cheng's smile faded slightly: "Of course... he'll just die."

[Fan Xian's negative emotions +748!]