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

The sun was setting over the border army camp.

The campsites stretched out in a continuous, undulating pattern, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys, blending with the golden hue of the evening sky.

The patrolling soldiers walked by in twos and threes, their iron armor gleaming darkly in the twilight.

Even after receiving orders, the soldiers guarding the camp repeatedly checked the tokens before letting people pass, their eyes following them closely the whole way.

Zhou Cheng drove the carriage slowly into the camp gate.

Guided by a special person, the carriage passed through rows of tents and finally stopped near a large tent.

Ye Wan stood outside the tent, fully armored, with his hands hanging down.

He looked at the simple carriage and watched Zhou Cheng jump down from it. The weight that had been hanging over his heart for a month finally lifted.

For the past month, he has had to deal with the battles on the front lines, arrange for the "Third Prince's" double to appear in the army, and also be on tenterhooks, fearing that something might happen to the real prince.

Now that the person was finally standing in front of him unharmed, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

But once he relaxed, the resentment that had been building up for a month began to surface.

The Third Prince personally volunteered to inspire the army, but his stand-in took all the risks throughout the entire process.

The stand-in ate and lived with the soldiers every day, sharing their joys and sorrows. Everyone said that the Third Prince was wise, brave, and considerate of his soldiers.

Those absurd reputations of the past have been completely reversed within the military.

The main character, on the other hand, didn't show up at all during the entire war; he only appeared after the war was won.

What is this?

Ye Wan took a deep breath, suppressing his displeasure. He instructed his trusted aides to keep watch around him, then stepped forward and clasped his hands in a salute.

"Your Highness, you've finally arrived."

His tone was respectful and his manners impeccable, but he didn't have much of a smile on his face.

Zhou Cheng nodded, a smile on his face.

"General Ye, you've worked hard."

Ye Wan twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a standard smile.

"Your Highness is too kind. It was all my duty." He stepped aside to lead the way. "Please, Your Highness, let's talk inside the tent."

The two entered the command tent one after the other. After the guards served tea, they withdrew, and the tent curtains were drawn, blocking the view from the outside.

With no outsiders present, Ye Wan first gave Zhou Cheng a deep look before speaking, lowering his voice to ask, "Where has Your Highness been for the past month? This humble general has sent men to search along the route, but there has been no news."

Zhou Cheng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and exhaled a breath of hot air. "Within the territory of Qi."

Ye Wan was stunned for a moment.

He instinctively wanted to say "What a joke," but he swallowed the words back.

"really?"

"really."

Seeing that Zhou Cheng's tone was frank and not fake, Ye Wan immediately thought more highly of him.

Hiding in the territory of Qi shows he understood the principle of "blind spots under the lamp," no wonder his men searched for a month without finding a single clue.

After all, even he couldn't have imagined it, let alone the assassins from Qi!

Ye Wan's tone softened somewhat, and he nodded: "Your Highness is wise. Of the dozen or so dummy troops arranged from the capital to the border army, only two have arrived safely. If Your Highness were to come here, the risk would indeed be too great. Going to Qi to take refuge and returning after the war is over would be a prudent strategy."

Ye Wan silently gave his future brother-in-law a passing grade in his heart.

In his opinion, Zhou Cheng might be a bit cowardly, but at least he had some wisdom.

The Ye family doesn't need a son-in-law who's too audacious, a little cowardly, and has some shrewdness. Zhou Cheng is just the right amount.

"Your Highness," Ye Wan began to recount the recent important events in the army, "your double has already completed all the necessary preparations. Now that you are in the army, it is inconvenient for you to show your face. Once the fake prince's trick is exposed, it will be a huge scandal. Even if we win the battle now, if His Majesty investigates, we will be in deep trouble."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "You will remain hidden by the border troops until the imperial decree summons you back to the capital. You can resume your original identity on the way. In the meantime, Your Highness, please keep a low profile."

Zhou Cheng nodded.

"clear."

Ye Wan then said, "Your two guards, Chen Quan and Chen Bao, have been staying at the border army station waiting for you. Now that you've arrived, I'd like to host a private banquet tonight, just a few of us men getting together. What do you think?"

Zhou Cheng nodded.

"That suits me perfectly. Come to think of it, it's been a while since I've seen them." He paused, "Oh, by the way, I've brought someone with me on this trip; they can come along."

Ye Wan nodded directly without giving it much thought.

In his view, Zhou Cheng was referring to his bodyguards.

Even if a prince were to hide in Northern Qi, he would still have skilled protectors by his side.

"Very well, I'll have someone prepare an extra set of bowls and chopsticks."

He got up and walked to the tent entrance, whispering to his guards to summon Chen Quan and Chen Bao.

Zhou Cheng also got up, left the command tent, and walked towards the carriage.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Zhan Yuanyuan, who was huddled inside the carriage, immediately brightened up when she saw him return.

"Your Highness!"

Zhou Cheng reached out his hand, and she quickly grabbed it and jumped off the carriage.

Zhou Cheng led her back to the command tent.

The moment the curtain was lifted, Ye Wan was holding a teacup, ready to drink tea.

He raised his head and his gaze fell on Zhan Yuanyuan, who was dressed in red, standing next to Zhou Cheng.

This red outfit was far too conspicuous in the military camp.

His hand paused slightly, and the teacup stopped in mid-air.

A woman?

Zhou Cheng was accompanied by a woman?

He frowned subconsciously.

He put down his teacup and stood up.

"Your Highness, is this gentleman?"

Ye Wan watched as Zhan Yuanyuan stood obediently beside Zhou Cheng with her head down, her little hands still clutching Zhou Cheng's sleeve, looking timid.

He looks like an ordinary person who knows nothing about martial arts.

Before Zhou Cheng could answer, the curtain was lifted, and Chen Quan and Chen Bao walked in.

Upon seeing Zhou Cheng, the two men's eyes lit up with surprise, and they quickly stepped forward to greet him.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

Zhou Cheng raised his hand.

"No need for such formalities."

Chen Quan and Chen Bao responded and stood aside. Their gazes swept over Zhan Yuanyuan before quickly shifting away, not giving her a second look.

They were all used to the fact that there was another woman around Zhou Cheng.

Ye Wan was still staring at Zhou Cheng, waiting for his answer.

Zhou Cheng thought for a moment, but did not answer directly. He simply said, "Yuanyuan came to me in Northern Qi and is my woman."

Upon hearing Zhou Cheng's words, Ye Wan's face immediately darkened.

His younger sister, Ye Ling'er, hadn't even married Zhou Cheng yet, and Zhou Cheng was already leading other women around in front of his soon-to-be brother-in-law.

The fact that he followed Zhou Cheng from Northern Qi shows that Zhou Cheng was never short of women during his time in Northern Qi.

He had initially thought that since Zhou Cheng was his future brother-in-law, even if he wasn't entirely satisfied, he'd at least have a few drinks with him, chat about everyday things, and perhaps even get to know him better...

But now...

Looking at the meek woman beside Zhou Cheng, and then at Zhou Cheng's composed demeanor, he felt a surge of anger rising within him.

What is this?

Is this putting eye drops on Ye Wan?

Is this a slap in the face to Ye Wan? Is it a slap in the face to Ye Ling'er? Or is it a slap in the face to the Ye family?

Ye Wan's face grew increasingly grim, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged out.

He held his breath, grabbed the teacup, and smashed it on the ground with a 'thud'.

[Negative emotions from Ye Wan +233!]

Zhou Cheng looked up at him.

Ye Wan clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice stiff: "The tea was too hot, I couldn't hold it properly. Please forgive my rudeness. I still have military duties to attend to. Please enjoy the banquet yourself, Your Highness. I will take my leave now."

After saying that, he didn't even look at Zhou Cheng's reaction, turned around, lifted the tent flap, and strode away.

Inside the tent, Chen Quan and Chen Bao kept their eyes down, seemingly oblivious to everything around them, showing no reaction whatsoever.

Only Zhan Yuanyuan was completely bewildered, and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness... what's wrong with him?"

Zhou Cheng patted her hand.

"It's alright. That's just his stubbornness; we'll ignore him."

Zhan Yuanyuan blinked and nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Stubborn as a mule?

She had never seen it before.

I'd only ever seen donkeys steaming before...

I've learned something new this time!

……

Ye Wan left the commander's tent and strode back to his own camp.

The anger in his chest was so intense that he paced around the tent several times before he could barely suppress it.

Once reason regains its advantage.

He stopped and summoned his guards.

"Send men to guard the area around the second tent in the central camp," he said coldly. "Protect it strictly and don't allow anyone to get close. If the people inside have any requests, they must be fulfilled."

The guards obeyed and left.

Ye Wan stood still, turned around twice more, and then sat down, picking up the scalding hot tea that had just been brought in and gulping it down.

He told himself that this was a prince, his future brother-in-law, and he had to endure it.

As for himself, he didn't want to see him again.

……

In the days that followed, Zhou Cheng stayed at the border army camp.

Every day, he eats well, drinks well, and sleeps well. When he gets bored, he plays dominoes to pass the time.

Ye Wan listened to the report below and paced around the command tent several times in anger.

"How dare he! What does he take Ling'er for? What does he think this place is?!"

He slammed his hand on the table, and it shattered with a loud crash.

"A nobleman of the imperial family, yet he's not even as good as a body double! A good-for-nothing! Obsessed with women! A complete idiot!"

He gritted his teeth, feeling extremely sorry for Ye Ling'er.

He really wanted to write to his father, Ye Zhong, and to his great-uncle, Ye Liuyun, asking them to refuse Ye Ling'er's marriage to Zhou Cheng.

But reason told him that his family could not break off the engagement with the prince.

After venting his frustrations, all he could do was wave his hand dismissively.

"Forget it, let him go. Just don't let him die in my camp."

……

Zhou Cheng stayed there, waiting for the imperial edict summoning him back to the capital.

Before the imperial edict arrived, the Northern Qi delegation came to negotiate peace.

On this day, a soldier under Ye Wan's command reported that the Northern Qi peace delegation had arrived at the border prefecture and requested the border army to allow them to pass.

Leading the group was none other than Zhuang Mohan, a prominent literary figure of the Northern Qi Dynasty.

Zhuang Mohan was a literary giant of the Northern Qi Dynasty, a leading figure in the Northern Qi literary world, and also the teacher of Emperor Zhan Doudou of the Northern Qi Dynasty.

He was a renowned literary figure not only in the Northern Qi literary world, but also in the Qing Kingdom.

He was destined to be posthumously honored as a literary saint.

Ye Wan frowned upon hearing this news.

The problem wasn't whether to allow the peace negotiation team to pass through, but rather that Zhuang Mohan had proposed meeting with Zhou Cheng.

"He wants to see His Highness?" Ye Wan asked the guard who had come to deliver the message.

"Yes. Zhuang Dajia said that he heard that the Third Prince volunteered to go to the border to encourage the army and share weal and woe with the soldiers, which is why the Great Qi suffered a defeat. He wants to meet this young hero."

Ye Wan's lips twitched.

A young hero? Sharing joys and sorrows with his soldiers?

He thought of the person who demanded hot water for baths, fine tea and food, and to be served by women every day, and then looked at the "praise" before him, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

However, Zhuang Mohan's words are not unreasonable.

On the border, the stand-in for the "Third Prince" was indeed impeccable.

only……

Ye Wan was in a dilemma.

Should Zhuang Mohan meet the real Zhou Cheng, or the fake Zhou Cheng?

He thought about it for a while and quickly made a decision.

After Zhuang Mohan arrives in the capital, he will inevitably meet Zhou Cheng again. If he were to meet the imposter now, the deception would be exposed, leading to even greater trouble. It would be better to let him meet the real one.

He went to Zhou Cheng's tent in person and told him about the matter with a stern face.

Zhou Cheng was leaning against the cushion, while Zhan Yuanyuan fed him green grapes beside him. After hearing Ye Wan's words, he raised an eyebrow.

"Zhuang Mohan? What does he want with me?"

Ye Wandao said, "He said he wanted to meet that young hero who 'shared weal and woe with his soldiers and inspired the entire army.'"

Zhou Cheng glanced at him, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"That sounds a bit ironic, doesn't it?"

Ye Wan lowered his eyes: "Your Highness is joking. Master Zhuang is unaware of the details; he has only come because of his reputation."

Zhou Cheng thought for a moment and nodded.

"Then let's meet."

Ye Wan then said, "Your Highness, Zhuang Mohan is a man of special status, and also a master of literature. When Your Highness meets him..."

"I know," Zhou Cheng interrupted him, "It's just a few polite words."

……

Zhuang Mohan's carriage slowly traveled through the military camp.

He lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and surveyed the military camp. The tents were neatly arranged, the soldiers stood at attention, and the military bearing was impeccable. Although they were the victors, there was no arrogance about them. He nodded to himself, feeling that the Great Qi's defeat was not unjust.

The carriage stopped in front of Zhou Cheng's tent.

Ye Wan personally came forward and bowed with clasped hands.

"Master Zhuang, please."

Zhuang Mohan was over eighty years old. He was helped out of the carriage, straightened his robes, and then slowly walked into the tent with Ye Wan.

His trip to see Zhou Cheng was his own idea.

Zhan Doudou's secret order to him only stated that he should unconditionally obey any arrangements Zhou Cheng made after arriving in Qing Kingdom, but it did not require him to take the initiative to meet Zhou Cheng.

But he still came.

He knew that for Zhan Doudou to make him obey unconditionally, she must have placed a heavy bet on Zhou Cheng.

Perhaps sensing his impending death, or perhaps simply growing old and willful, he worried about the future of the State of Qi, and about his student, Zhan Doudou.

He wanted to see as soon as possible what kind of person their emperor had placed such a heavy bet on.

The curtain was lifted, and Zhuang Mohan stepped inside.

The tent was brightly lit and luxuriously furnished. Behind the main table sat a man dressed in ordinary robes, with an indescribable air of nonchalance in his eyes and brows.

Their eyes met.

With just one glance, Zhuang Mohan noticed something was amiss.

Zhou Cheng's gaze toward him was far too calm.

When ordinary people face this literary master, they may feel awe, admiration, or try to appear calm; in any case, they will all have some kind of reaction.

But the person in front of me has nothing.

Those halos, those reputations, those things that would make scholars all over the world look up to them, seemed to not exist in his eyes.

He looked at himself as if he were an ordinary old man.

Zhuang Mohan has seen too many people and has long since developed the ability to judge people by their intuition.

He could sense Zhou Cheng's difference at first glance.

He looked intently at Zhou Cheng again, then casually glanced at his side.

He was stunned for a moment.

It was a young woman dressed in red, who was quietly hiding behind Zhou Cheng with her head down.

Although he was looking down, Zhuang Mohan still recognized him at a glance.

He was Zhan Doudou's teacher, and aside from public occasions such as sacrificial ceremonies, he had also seen Zhan Yuanyuan several times in private in the palace.

The eldest princess?!

Zhuang Mohan's wrinkles twitched, and he almost lost control of his expression.

He thought that his status as a literary master was already the biggest investment His Majesty had made in Zhou Cheng, but he never expected that Zhan Doudou would secretly send away the dignified eldest princess!

This……

Zhuang Mohan quickly lowered his eyes, held his breath, and suppressed the turmoil in his heart.

But that moment of shock had already been noticed by those around them.

Ye Wan stood to the side, his gaze never leaving Zhuang Mohan.

He was a ninth-rank expert with keen senses, and he saw through Zhuang Mohan's change in expression in that instant.

In those eyes, there was shock, confusion, and disbelief...

Ye Wan understood the source of Zhuang Mohan's emotional change. He turned his questioning gaze to Zhan Yuanyuan next to Zhou Cheng and realized for the first time that the girl's background was not simple.

Zhuang Mohan steadied himself, stepped forward a few paces, and bowed respectfully.

"Zhuang Mohan of Northern Qi greets His Highness the Third Prince."

Zhou Cheng stood up to return the greeting, his expression composed.

"Mr. Zhuang, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat."

Zhuang Mohan thanked him and sat down to the side.

The two exchanged a few pleasantries. Zhuang Mohan made polite remarks, praising Zhou Cheng's various deeds in the border army.

Zhou Cheng listened, mostly smiling without saying a word.

Ye Wan stood to the side, feeling increasingly uncomfortable and uneasy as he listened, as if ants were crawling all over his body.

Thinking of the soldiers' bloody sacrifices on the battlefield, and then seeing this scene before him, he felt an indescribable irony.

After finally finishing their pleasantries, Zhuang Mohan got up to take his leave.

Zhou Cheng escorted them to the tent entrance, and the two exchanged a glance, everything understood without a word.

Zhuang Mohan boarded the carriage, the curtain fell, and the carriage slowly drove away.

Ye Wan escorted him out of the camp before turning around and going to Zhou Cheng's tent.

The curtains fell.

Ye Wan took a deep breath and clasped his hands in a salute.

"Your Highness," he said in a low voice, "this humble general has a question to ask."

Zhou Cheng looked at him.

"explain."

Ye Wan raised his head and looked directly at him.

"Does Your Highness know the background of the young lady beside you?"

When Ye Wan asked about her background, Zhan Yuanyuan looked at Zhou Cheng helplessly.

"Why would the general be curious about this?"

"For Your Highness's safety."

Zhuang Mohan's visit was unexpected, and Zhou Cheng knew that it was Zhuang Mohan's behavior that aroused Ye Wan's suspicion.

He thought about it and decided that instead of letting Ye Wan investigate and draw more attention to Zhan Yuanyuan, it would be better to just tell her directly.

Zhou Cheng said, "The general needs to keep Yuanyuan's identity a secret, otherwise it will cause a lot of trouble."

Is it too troublesome?

How troublesome would that be?

After hearing this, Ye Wan was not afraid at all; on the contrary, she became even more curious.

He said, "I can vouch for this with the reputation of the Ye family."

After listening, Zhou Cheng nodded slightly and said frankly:

"She is Zhan Yuanyuan, the eldest princess of Northern Qi."

"Northern Qi? The eldest princess?"

Ye Wan didn't react for a moment.

He muttered it to himself, glanced at Zhou Cheng, and then suddenly looked at the girl who was cowering beside Zhou Cheng like a timid little wife.

"???"