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

When Zhou Cheng stepped into the imperial study, Emperor Qing was standing by the window with his back to him.

The dark dragon robe gleamed with a somber light in the setting sun. This middle-aged man was like a silent, restrained volcano, calm on the surface but with molten lava pressing down within.

His shadow was stretched long by the setting sun, extending all the way to Zhou Cheng's feet.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Zhou Cheng respectfully observed etiquette and knelt down to pay his respects.

Emperor Qing did not turn around, nor did he tell him to get up.

Time passed second by second, and the sunlight visibly dimmed inch by inch.

Emperor Qing, standing by the window, seemed to be on the dividing line between light and shadow, with the last light in front of him and a heavy shadow behind him.

No servants or eunuchs came to light the candles, and even the emperor's closest confidant, Eunuch Hou, was nowhere to be seen.

When Zhou Cheng arrived, he had already noticed that there was not a single person in the entire Imperial Study area; it was empty and desolate.

"You are indeed more patient than the Crown Prince!"

Emperor Qing finally turned around, his expression shrouded in darkness, with only the outline of his body bathed in a dark red halo, like a sculpture just taken out of a furnace.

Just a few days ago, the Crown Prince also knelt here.

The crown prince held him in awe, but kneeling for so long made him uncomfortable, so he would make some subtle movements.

Zhou Cheng, however, did not move an inch.

Not only his physique and expression, but even the rhythm of his breathing and heartbeat remained unchanged.

This powerful inner strength surpassed that of everyone he had ever met.

Although they are both his sons, it must be admitted that Zhou Cheng's shrewdness, temperament, and skills far surpass those of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince in every aspect.

In comparison, the two seem to be completely different ages.

As his son, Zhou Cheng was deep-thinking, resolute, and ruthless in his methods.

From any perspective, he is an exceptionally outstanding prince.

But this son alone did not have enough reverence for him.

Emperor Qing took a step forward, and an imposing aura erupted from him, as if a massive mountain was falling from the sky.

Centered on him, it was as if a black hole had appeared. The pitiful embers of the twilight were captured by his presence and plunged into an endless abyss.

"Are you feeling smug?"

Emperor Qing's voice was deep and resonant, as if it came from beyond the heavens.

"You really have reason to be proud!"

He seemed to be talking to himself.

"Your clothes are spotless, your hands are clean, you defeated Chengze and the Crown Prince as if you did nothing, yet Heaven favors you. I should just seize the throne for you! Your methods are brilliant, leaving almost no trace..."

He paused slightly, then his tone turned stern.

"But you shouldn't have, absolutely shouldn't have, gotten involved with that woman and done something so immoral!"

His eyes gleamed with a sinister light, and just as he had reprimanded Li Yunrui at Guangxin Palace, he spoke in a low, menacing voice:

"Nausea!"

Zhou Cheng listened quietly to Emperor Qing's angry rebuke. He didn't say anything, and his face was expressionless.

It was as if they hadn't heard, as if they didn't understand, or even as if they didn't care.

After uttering a curse, Zhou Cheng's indifference and nonchalance made Emperor Qing feel uncomfortable.

Emperor Qing remained silent.

He thought that since he had exposed Zhou Cheng's shameful secret, no matter how much he pretended or how firm he was, he would panic and even kowtow and beg for mercy.

But Zhou Cheng's reactions always surprised him.

Emperor Qing felt as if he had punched thin air.

For a long time, he could only stare at him, as if he were seeing this son for the first time.

"You're very brave!"

After a long silence, he said coldly:

"I know about your shameful affair with Li Yunrui, and I know about that bastard child. Just for that, I can cripple you, rendering all your efforts and schemes utterly futile. Aren't you afraid?"

"I'm not afraid!" Zhou Cheng looked up, his voice calm.

Emperor Qing remained expressionless: "Why aren't you afraid? You should be! All your scheming is for that throne, isn't it?"

Zhou Cheng pondered for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts, and said, "Father, do you still remember the slap I gave my second brother back in the capital?"

Emperor Qing said calmly, "Of course I remember. I deeply regret being too lenient with you, which led to your lawlessness and recklessness!"

Zhou Cheng said very seriously, "Your subject has always firmly believed that a shameful thing is only shameful when it gets out. I am not guilty for doing it. Whoever spreads it is guilty."

Emperor Qing was speechless for a moment.

As a prince, slapping his elder brother is a grave offense of disrespect and a violation of human ethics.

The reason he didn't pursue the matter with Zhou Cheng back then, besides his intention to support Zhou Cheng, was largely due to this principle.

If the matter doesn't escalate, then it can't be considered a crime.

Emperor Qing never expected that a reason he had approved of back then would, more than half a year later, become a boomerang that would pierce him again.

He certainly didn't think he was wrong. He retorted firmly, "That was just an isolated case. I'm not punishing you, not for your sake, but to protect Chengze's reputation! You did something despicable and you can't even let people talk about it? There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

Zhou Cheng: "Your subject dares to do it, and is not afraid of what people will say. Your subject's thoughts were the same as Father's at the time, and it was also for the good of others. After all, if people like us make mistakes and it gets out, the one who will bear the consequences is not necessarily me, the person directly involved."

"What do you mean?"

Zhou Cheng: "People can say whatever they want, however they want; it's their freedom. But I believe a knife is harder than words. The knife is in my hand, and if I'm unhappy, I'll kill. Whoever speaks ill of me, I'll kill!"

"What do you mean?"

Zhou Cheng: "People can say whatever they want, however they want; it's their freedom. But I believe a knife is harder than words. The knife is in my hand, and if I'm unhappy, I'll kill. Whoever speaks ill of me, I'll kill!"

Emperor Qing sneered, "Murder? What a joke! How many people could you kill, inside and outside the palace? If killing could solve all problems, what would be the point of rules and laws? If everyone in the world spoke out, would you kill everyone in the world?"

Zhou Cheng said calmly, "The only reason people in the world dare to say this is because we haven't killed enough!"

Emperor Qing frowned: "Then tell me, how much is enough? The people in Guangxin Palace say you can kill the people in Guangxin Palace. The people in Prince Cheng's residence say you can kill the people in your own residence. What if others are still saying this? What if the entire court and the common people are all saying this?"

Zhou Cheng calmly looked at Emperor Qing: "The civil and military officials say, kill the civil and military officials. The common people say, kill the common people. Your son says, whoever says it, kill them! The people of the world say it, then kill the people of the world! Your son believes that there are very few people in this world who value a few words more than their lives."

Emperor Qing stared at him as if he were looking at a madman.

With his masterful insight, he realized that Zhou Cheng was not exaggerating; every word he spoke came from the bottom of his heart.

He truly had the resolve to kill everyone in the world!

Zhou Cheng was genuinely sincere.

He doesn't lie to others, and he certainly doesn't lie to himself.

He doesn't share Fan Xian's naive idea that everyone is equal.

He is the third prince, the Prince Cheng of Qing Kingdom, and a grandmaster who possesses the power to destroy a nation. No one in the world can make him pay for his mistakes.

When someone makes a mistake but doesn't have to pay the price, to the world he is no longer a human being, but a god!

Pure power can mold a person into a god, let alone someone who embodies both power and personal might.

He can consider himself a human being, but the rest of the world cannot.

Blasphemy against God is a capital offense!

Emperor Qing, of course, had no idea what Zhou Cheng was thinking; he only thought that Zhou Cheng had completely gone mad.

In a daze, he suddenly realized something.

He began to understand why Zhou Cheng had gotten involved with Li Yunrui.

These two lunatics are both insane; if it weren't for their incompatible identities, they would be a perfect match!

Emperor Qing lowered his head and said through gritted teeth, "Consort Li has truly given birth to a fine son! I entrusted you to her, and she raised you to be like this?"

Zhou Cheng said calmly, "Father, please don't wrong Mother. Back when I was in Qixia Palace, I was a well-behaved and sensible child."

"So you mean it's my fault? That I shouldn't have let you leave Qixia Palace, shouldn't have allowed you to establish your own residence, and shouldn't have bestowed upon you the title of Prince Cheng?"

Zhou Cheng didn't mean that, but he wasn't going to explain.

Emperor Qing sighed, his anger subsiding somewhat: "At least you still know how to protect Consort Li, so you're not entirely hopeless! I'm asking you now, regarding the assassination attempt at the Hanging Temple, did you intend to kill me, or was it purely to frame the Crown Prince!"

"Naturally, it's for the sake of the Crown Prince."

Emperor Qing received Zhou Cheng's answer and had no doubts.

Because the eunuch who tried to assassinate him was stopped by Zhou Cheng throwing a cup.

If Zhou Cheng truly intended to kill him, he wouldn't have acted; instead, he should have stood by like the Crown Prince, feigning ignorance and foolishness.

He thought Zhou Cheng was crazy and lacked respect for him, but fortunately he wasn't crazy enough to be disrespectful to his sovereign and father.

Recalling the Crown Prince's behavior back then, Emperor Qing suddenly felt that this son was not so repulsive after all.

Emperor Qing sighed inwardly: "Get up."

Zhou Cheng stood up and stood with his hands at his sides.

Emperor Qing looked at him: "You are very honest, and you have not failed the name I gave you. But that's all you have done. It was my fault for indulging you too much, allowing you to act recklessly and commit such rebellious acts. You are treacherous, framing the Crown Prince, a heinous crime. But you are still my son, and I will leave you..."