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

In front of the suspended temple gate, imperial guards stood in rows, their presence imposing.

Gong Dian, the deputy commander of the imperial guards, dressed in black armor and carrying a sword, had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing Zhou Cheng and his group approaching, he quickly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and the armor plates clashed together, producing a crisp metallic sound.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince! Your Highness Prince Cheng! Lord Fan!"

"Commander Gong, please rise quickly!"

The Crown Prince put on a warm smile, stepped forward, and bent down to help Gong Dian.

Gong Dian reacted as if he had been electrocuted. Before the Crown Prince's hand could touch him, he suddenly stood up, clasped his hands in apology, and took a small half-step back, subtly avoiding the Crown Prince's support.

The prince stretched out his hands and froze for a moment in mid-air.

However, he quickly withdrew his hand, casually dusted off the corner of his clothes, as if nothing had happened.

His smile remained unchanged.

Gong Dian was an old acquaintance of his.

Two years ago, he had investigated Gong Dian's preferences and sent him many famous paintings and calligraphies.

At that time, the two had a very close personal relationship and often visited each other.

Unfortunately, their relationship was discovered by Emperor Qing.

When Fan Xian first arrived in the capital, Emperor Qing took the opportunity to give Gong Dian a severe dressing down.

In his panic, Gong Dian had no choice but to return all the paintings and calligraphy and sever all ties with him from then on.

When they met again, the other person acted as if they were strangers, and she subconsciously kept her distance from him.

The Crown Prince sighed inwardly, but did not blame Gong Dian.

Emperor Qing's majesty was such that even a palace attendant, let alone the Crown Prince, would be trembling with fear.

He then asked, "I wonder what brings Commander Gong here?"

"Your Highness, this is His Majesty's decree." Gong Dian clasped his hands in greeting, "He instructed me to remain here and give instructions to His Highness the Crown Prince, His Highness Prince Cheng, and Lord Fan."

Fan Xian had guessed that Emperor Qing's summons to the Hanging Temple wasn't just for flower viewing. Hearing Gong Dian's words, he asked:

"What are His Majesty's instructions?"

Gong Dian did not answer immediately, but instead made a gesture to the guard beside him.

Two teams of imperial guards, clad in silver armor, filed out, each carrying a pot of golden chrysanthemums in full bloom.

The petals are layered upon layered, golden and radiant, gleaming with a warm glow under the autumn sun.

The guards stood in neat rows, their footsteps steady and rhythmic on the bluestone ground.

"His Majesty said," the palace official explained, "that the Crown Prince and Prince Cheng each carry a pot of golden chrysanthemums to the rooftop observation deck."

Zhou Cheng had anticipated this, and said nothing, only nodding. The Crown Prince did the same, his expression revealing nothing.

Only Fan Xian paused, then couldn't help but ask, "What about me?"

Gong Dian lowered his eyes: "The rest belong to Lord Fan."

"Huh?" Fan Xian pointed to his nose, then looked at the chrysanthemums in the hands of the dozen or so guards, his eyes widening in surprise. "Me? Bring them all up?"

Gong Dian nodded: "That's what His Majesty instructed."

Fan Xian's face immediately darkened.

He felt that he was being treated differently by Emperor Qing!

They're all sons, so why did Zhou Cheng and the Crown Prince only receive one potted plant, while he had to receive a whole bunch?

Just because he's an illegitimate child?

No matter how dissatisfied Fan Xian was, he had no choice but to accept it at this point.

Zhou Cheng looked at Fan Xian with a smile, seemingly gloating. Fan Xian glanced over, and their eyes met. At that moment, a notification sound rang in his ear.

[Fan Xian's negative emotions +66!]

"I wonder if His Majesty has given any instructions on whether we may help Lord Fan deliver the flowers?" the Crown Prince asked Gong Dian.

His mind raced. He sensed that Emperor Qing's invitation for the three of them to come to the Hanging Temple was not simply to send flowers. He suspected that Emperor Qing was using the flowers to test their brotherly bond.

He thought that if that were the case, he wouldn't mind helping Fan Xian and taking the opportunity to improve his chances with Fan Xian.

Gong Dian clasped his hands in a fist salute: "His Majesty has not given any instructions. However, in my opinion, Your Highness should simply do as His Majesty says."

The crown prince thanked him, seemingly realizing what had happened.

However, he still harbored doubts and was unsure of Emperor Qing's thoughts.

At that moment, he resembled one of those job seekers in later short videos who was about to be late for their interview but encountered an old man who had fallen downstairs...

What if?

What if this is a test?

Zhou Cheng was unaware of the Crown Prince's mental whirlwind. He simply waved his hand, signaling the guard at the front of the procession to come forward, take the pot of golden chrysanthemums, and hold it in his arms.

Sending flowers upstairs was not Emperor Qing's way of testing the brothers' brotherly affection.

It was purely to make them do some rough work, to get them more down-to-earth, and to warn him and the Crown Prince to behave themselves recently.

All the imperial guards and palace guards in front of this mountain gate were Emperor Qing's spies, and they would surely relay their expressions and behavior back without missing a single word.

Emperor Qing also wanted to judge whether they were obedient to or opposed to his will by observing their attitude when they moved the flowers.

As for Fan Xian, Emperor Qing's intentions ran deeper. Having him carry over a dozen pots of chrysanthemums upstairs was not only a test of his attitude, but also a way to familiarize him with the surroundings.

Tomorrow is the official chrysanthemum appreciation event, and Emperor Qing has arranged a grand spectacle for Fan Xian.

If Fan Xian doesn't familiarize himself with the environment beforehand, the effect will be greatly reduced!

"Your Highness's kindness is appreciated. Since it is His Majesty's decree, then I will obediently carry it out!" Fan Xian clasped his hands in thanks to the Crown Prince, then sighed.

If Fan Xian doesn't familiarize himself with the environment beforehand, the effect will be greatly reduced!

"Your Highness's kindness is appreciated. Since it is His Majesty's decree, then I will obediently carry it out!" Fan Xian clasped his hands in thanks to the Crown Prince, then sighed.

The crown prince nodded, seemingly with some regret.

Although he couldn't help much, he believed that his attitude was appropriate and should have earned him some favor from Fan Xian, which gave him some comfort.

The crown prince also took a pot of golden chrysanthemums from the guard and held it in his arms.

Fan Xian took two steps forward upon seeing this.

"Here, give me two pots!"

Fan Xian beckoned to the guards, took the two pots of golden chrysanthemums, and held one pot in each hand.

He muttered to himself, "Emperor Qing only told me to send up the chrysanthemums, but he didn't say that I could only send one pot at a time."

The Hanging Temple is situated in a treacherous location with rugged roads. After running up and down the stairs more than a dozen times, he was starting to feel exhausted.

Now, we deliver two pots at a time, cutting the number of trips in half and doubling the efficiency!

If it weren't for the possibility that transporting too many at once and stacking them together might damage the appearance of the flowers, he wouldn't mind transporting ten or eight pots at a time, given his abilities.

The three of them held the chrysanthemums carefully, and Gong Dian walked ahead to lead the way, and the group officially stepped into the mountain gate.

The Hanging Temple is perched alone in the mountains, backed by a cliff, and there is only one road leading up to it.

The four walked on the plank road, with Gong Dian leading the way, explaining the origins of the Hanging Temple as they went.

Of course, he was mainly telling Fan Xian about it, since Fan Xian was the only one who was visiting this place for the first time.

After rounding several bends, the altitude increased considerably, and the cliff wind became more pronounced, causing our robes to flutter.

A clanging sound of chains coming from afar, both crisp and muffled.

Before long, the group saw dozens of craftsmen dressed in thin linen clothes, wearing handcuffs and shackles, and linked together by iron chains, walking unsteadily towards them.

They dragged heavy shackles under their feet, each step accompanied by the clanking sound of the chains rubbing together.

The four imperial guards leading the group of craftsmen bowed and then turned around to acknowledge them.

All the craftsmen faced the cliff face, raised their hands as high as possible, and pressed their entire bodies against the cliff to make way for each other, like a string of withered leaves hanging on the wall.

"What are these?" Fan Xian couldn't help but ask.

Gong Dian said calmly, "They are all craftsmen of the Hanging Temple, including carpenters, stonemasons, and flower growers, who are used to repair and decorate the Hanging Temple. They all have to leave before the flower viewing festival to ensure that there are no unauthorized people on the day of the festival. They will come back after the flower viewing is over."

The Crown Prince was already used to this situation, and Zhou Cheng didn't give these craftsmen a second glance.

Tomorrow's flower viewing party can be described as a unique and extraordinary "divine gathering".

Regardless of the final outcome of this conference, these artisans cannot escape the fate of being wiped out.

These people may appear to be alive, but in reality, they are already dead.

As Fan Xian walked past the craftsmen, his gaze swept over the figures whose backs were turned to them.

It's already early winter, and the wind on the mountain is even colder, carrying a bone-chilling cold, yet the clothes worn by these craftsmen are incredibly thin and worn.

Their hands and feet had thick calluses, marks left by handcuffs and shackles over many years, showing that they had been locked up for much longer than just a day or two.

Zhou Cheng caught a glimpse of Fan Xian's eyes out of the corner of his eye; he was clearly moved with pity.

He pursed his lips, hesitating to speak several times.

After walking for a while, the clanging of the chains behind him lessened, and Fan Xian turned around again.

This time, he couldn't help but ask Gong Dian:

"Will these craftsmen be able to go home?"

Gong Dian looked at Fan Xian but did not answer directly. He simply said, "Young Master Fan is joking."

Fan Xian was speechless until he reached another level of the plank road, at which point he spoke in a low voice, his tone tinged with suppressed bitterness: "We get to enjoy the flowers once every three years, yet we're trapped here for a lifetime?"

Gong Dian remained unconvinced, his tone flat: "Everything is for His Majesty's safety!"

Fan Xian's breath hitched.

He looked down at the two pots of golden chrysanthemums in his arms; their petals were golden and dazzling, beautiful in the sunlight.

But for some reason, he suddenly found the flower somewhat dazzling.

Just then, the Crown Prince, who had been silent the whole way, suddenly spoke up: "Actually, I think this is a bit unreasonable. For safety's sake, just send them away; there's really no need to keep them stuck here for life."

Fan Xian turned to look at the Crown Prince, and Gong Dian also turned around, but didn't know how to respond.

The Crown Prince sighed, meeting their gazes with a helpless, bitter smile: "Of course, I'm just expressing my own thoughts. Father's safety is always paramount."

Fan Xian withdrew his gaze, his face expressionless.

He understood the meaning behind the prince's words.

They share similar ideas; for him to have the ability to change things, he needs to rise to power and needs his support.

Fan Xian remained unfazed by this attempt to win him over.

He looked at Zhou Cheng, wanting to see his reaction.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Cheng seemed not to have heard their conversation, his gaze fixed on the distance.

They had now reached the halfway point of the mountain. Although they had not yet reached the summit, they had a wide view.

Following Zhou Cheng's gaze, Fan Xian looked into the distance and was astonished to find that the mountains and fields were covered with wild chrysanthemums.

The mountains are rocky with little soil, so the quality of wild chrysanthemums is naturally inferior to that of artificially cultivated ones.

In reality, a chrysanthemum would only grow several feet apart in the mountains, but the distance between them and the mountains had increased, creating a visual illusion.

Of course, even if it's an illusion, it has a breathtaking beauty.

If the flowers are so lush and vibrant even halfway up the mountain, one can only imagine how magnificent it would be when one reaches the summit, where these delicate blossoms create a majestic spectacle!

"The view from above is breathtaking!"

Zhou Cheng exclaimed in admiration; he wasn't pretending, he genuinely appreciated the scenery.

Upon hearing Zhou Cheng's voice, the Crown Prince's eyes flickered, and he chuckled, "Is Third Brother satisfied now?"

He walked to the railing of the boardwalk, hugged the golden chrysanthemum, and looked down. "Beautiful scenery needs to be viewed from a high vantage point! Only by standing high can you see far! This isn't the highest point; it's far from it!"

Zhou Cheng glanced at the Crown Prince and found it amusing.

This guy deliberately showed off his ambitions in front of Fan Xian, truly unwilling to miss any opportunity to belittle him.

Before he could speak, Gong Dian stepped forward anxiously: "Your Highness, the wind is strong on the cliff. Don't get too close to the railing, or you'll fall!"

The crown prince gazed at the distant mountains and fields without turning his head, and said confidently, "Commander Gong, rest assured, as long as I stand firm enough, there is no way I will fall."

As he spoke, he held the golden chrysanthemums in his hands, stretched them out of the railing, and leaned over to look down into the deep valley below.

Gong Dian's eyelids twitched, and he wished he could pull him back immediately.

However, Gong Dian didn't make a move, but Zhou Cheng did.

Gong Dian wanted to pull, but he pushed!

Zhou Cheng put one arm around his own Jinju, and casually placed the other hand behind the Crown Prince, giving him a gentle push!

It wasn't very powerful, but it was terrifying!

The prince stumbled and jolted awake in an instant.

He leaned forward and instinctively threw the golden chrysanthemum in his hand, his hands reaching out to grab anything he could reach.

He used both hands to grip the railing tightly, the powerful force emanating from his fingers causing them to dig deep into the red pine wood, which even creaked under the weight.

Only then did Gong Dian and Fan Xian realize what was happening!

"Your Highness!"

Gong Dian was so frightened that his voice cracked!

He lunged forward and grabbed at the prince.

Fan Xian's mind went blank for a moment too. He tossed the two pots of chrysanthemums in his hand into the air and reached out to grab them. The flowerpots tumbled through the air.

"Clang—Smash!"

Two pots of chrysanthemums were smashed to pieces on the ground, their petals scattering everywhere.

At the critical moment, Gong Dian and Fan Xian grabbed the folds of the Crown Prince's clothes from behind.

The two exerted force simultaneously, pulling the prince backward with a sudden jerk. The prince staggered backward, bumping into Gong Dian before finally regaining his balance.

His face was deathly pale, his chest heaved violently, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

Gong Dian was also shocked and broke out in a cold sweat. After confirming that the Crown Prince was unharmed, he looked at Zhou Cheng in disbelief, unable to imagine that Zhou Cheng would dare to push the Crown Prince!

[Li Chengqian's negative emotions +999!]

[Fan Xian's negative emotions +333!]

[Negative emotions from Gong Dian +666!]

Despite being stared at by three pairs of eyes, Zhou Cheng remained unfazed, even sporting a smile on his face.

He walked up to the crown prince and patted the prince's shoulder with the hand that had just pushed him.

The prince instinctively wanted to jump back, but he held back and stood there, gritting his teeth.

Zhou Cheng gently patted his shoulder twice, speaking slowly and deliberately in an elder brother's tone:

"Your Highness, whether you fall or not depends not only on your own ability to stand firmly, but also on whether someone pushes you!"

Look, you thought you were standing firm, but I only gave you a gentle push, without even using any force, and you lost the most important thing in your hands.

So, you need to learn from your mistakes and not be so naive!

The Crown Prince's face twitched as he looked at Zhou Cheng, who was lecturing him.

He desperately wanted to slap that hateful face, and even kick the man off the stage. But he tried to calm his breathing and heartbeat, glanced at Fan Xian and Gong Dian, and finally gritted his teeth, forcing out an ugly smile:

"Thank you for your guidance, Third Brother... Chengqian has learned a great deal!"

Zhou Cheng nodded as if it were a matter of course.

After listening to their conversation, Fan Xian and Gong Dian finally recovered from their shock.

No matter how many thoughts Gong Dian had, he naturally wouldn't dare say anything to Zhou Cheng, but Fan Xian was much bolder.

With a dark expression, he said to Zhou Cheng, "Your Highness, your joke has gone a bit too far! Your push has ruined two pots of chrysanthemums. If the Crown Prince had fallen, I would have lost my life!"

Zhou Cheng glanced at him sideways: "How could the Crown Prince fall so easily? I know what I'm doing; even if he did fall, it wouldn't be that easy for him to get seriously injured!"

You have a lot of farts to give!

Fan Xian glared, about to say that Zhou Cheng was talking nonsense, when he saw Gong Dian step forward, his gaze fixed on the spot where the Crown Prince had almost fallen.

Fan Xian was taken aback, and following Gong Dian's gaze, his pupils immediately contracted.

On the railing, which was made of the finest red pine, there were two clear handprints.

The handprint was about an inch deep, with five distinct fingers, the lines on the fingertips still faintly discernible, deeply embedded in the hard wood.

Fan Xian blinked hard.

The railing is made entirely of red pine, a very hard material that would require a great deal of effort for an ordinary person to cut with a knife.

He could certainly leave such a mark if he wanted. But who is he? He is a martial arts prodigy with unparalleled talent, a ninth-rank master.

And who left these marks before our eyes?

He is the Crown Prince who is rumored to be completely ignorant of martial arts!

To leave such marks on red pine wood, one must at least possess the power of true qi penetrating the body, and must have the strength of a seventh-grade martial artist!

Seventh-rank martial artist...

If you weren't too inexperienced, you might not die if you fell from this halfway down the mountain and found one or two places to grab onto!

The Crown Prince is actually a seventh-rank expert?

Fan Xian and Gong Dian both looked at the Crown Prince, whose expression stiffened.

His martial arts skills have been exposed!

There was no other way; he had been personally taught domineering true qi by Emperor Qing since childhood. Although he was often distracted, he was still quite talented and now possessed the strength of a seventh-rank cultivator.

He may have a high level of understanding, but he lacks experience.

In the midst of that close call, it was purely an instinctive reaction; there was no time to hide it.

His knowledge of martial arts was unknown even to his birth mother, the Empress.

He always felt that his martial arts training was his last trump card. Although it might not be of much use in normal times, it might come in handy at some point.

However, the secret he had painstakingly concealed was now completely exposed by Zhou Cheng's gentle push.

The crown prince's face was ashen, and he couldn't even manage a forced smile.

In the silence, Zhou Cheng, holding his pot of golden chrysanthemums, spoke:

"The Crown Prince and Fan Xian's chrysanthemums are lost. Commander Gong, please accompany them down the mountain to retrieve them. I'm quite familiar with this area, so I'll go up first."

After saying that, he ignored the three people's reactions and turned to continue walking up the plank road.