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

The door creaked open gently.

Manager Hong entered first, her face beaming with smiles, followed by a group of about six or seven girls carrying pipa (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument).

They were all dressed in different colored gauze dresses, their sleeves fluttering, and filed into the private room.

Manager Hong stepped forward, stopped three steps away from the table, bowed deeply, and spoke in a voice full of trepidation and obsequiousness:

"Your Highness, please forgive me... You are of noble birth and have a magnanimous heart. That Si Li Li is unfortunate and ignorant. We must not let her spoil our enjoyment."

If you wish to hear the pipa, I have summoned all the skilled girls in the brothel; each one is a courtesan, and their skills are exceptional.

If you like it, just take it. Consider it... consider it Zuixianju's apology to you!

Zhou Cheng leaned back on the sandalwood chair covered with soft brocade, toying with a white jade cup in his hand. Upon hearing this, he only raised his eyes and glanced at Steward Hong before looking past her and down at the row of women behind him with their heads bowed.

They stood quietly, holding pipa, their clothes either pale yellow, light green, or light purple, and their appearance and demeanor were all above average.

The candlelight in the room shone through the gauze curtains, casting a soft glow that elongated their shadows onto the carpeted floor.

The girl on the far right, dressed in a light pink dress, was the most striking.

Unlike the others who gazed at her with eager eyes, she stood quietly at the intersection of light and shadow, her profile slender and delicate, like a peach blossom just beginning to bloom in the morning mist, her beauty tinged with a touch of shyness.

As if sensing the gaze, she cautiously looked up, but after just one glance, she quickly lowered her head again.

Zhou Cheng withdrew his gaze, completely ignoring Manager Hong, and simply said to the row of girls, "Let them state their names one by one."

Upon hearing this, the women curtsied in turn, their voices either clear or gentle.

"This humble servant is Yinghong."

"This humble servant is Qinlan."

"This humble servant is Ziqing."

……

When it was finally the woman in pink's turn, she slightly bent her knees and said in a calm and light voice, "This servant is Sang Wen."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Cheng showed no further expression. He simply put down the white jade cup in his hand, nodded slightly, and casually pointed with his finger:

"Sang Wen, stay. Everyone else, get out."

Upon hearing this, Sang Wen was clearly taken aback, while the other girls could not hide their disappointment.

They had already noticed the red steward's unease and caution, especially the way he addressed the young master as "Your Highness," which further highlighted the noble background of the young man before them.

If one could gain the favor of such a person, even if one were to instantly rise to prominence and become a phoenix, simply being able to escape this place of worldly affairs would be an immense stroke of luck.

Unfortunately, the other party didn't think much of them.

The women dared not linger, and respectfully bowed as instructed. Holding their pipa, they gracefully withdrew from the private room one by one, leaving behind only a faint scent of perfume.

When Manager Hong saw that Zhou Cheng had left Sang Wen behind, his smile widened. He was about to step forward and offer a few more words of flattery when Zhou Cheng waved his hand and pointed to the door: "You go out too."

Manager Hong's smile froze, but she dared not disobey in the slightest. She hurriedly bowed and replied "Yes," then backed away towards the door.

As he passed Sang Wen, he paused slightly and whispered urgently, "Serve this esteemed guest well, be extremely careful!"

Sang Wen held the pipa, her body slightly tense, and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Even without being told what to do, she knew what to do.

Before true royalty, she was but a courtesan, nothing more than a floating ant. What choice did she have but to obey and pander?

Manager Hong gently closed the carved wooden door, the soft sound shutting out the faint sounds of music from outside.

The private room fell silent suddenly, with only the flickering candlelight and the faint shadows dancing in the air.

Zhou Cheng leaned back in his chair, his gaze unabashedly fixed on Sang Wen.

The girl's appearance gradually overlapped with Sang Wen's in the drama, only younger and more beautiful.

The timid look between her brows resembled that of a frightened fawn, and her lowered eyes held a hint of unspoken tenderness.

He beckoned: "Come here." Seeing Sang Wen look up, he patted his leg again, "Sit here."

Sang Wen pursed her lips slightly, and unconsciously tightened her grip on the pipa with her fingertips.

She hesitated for only a moment, then held her breath slightly, held the pipa, and slowly approached.

The soft hem of her skirt brushed against the smooth ground almost silently.

She sat down on Zhou Cheng's lap with extreme care, her posture slightly stiff but her body very supple, and a thin blush spreading visibly from the base of her ears.

Almost simultaneously, Zhou Cheng heard a system notification:

[Negative emotion value from Sang Wen +15!]

The value is not high.

It was clear that although she wasn't entirely willing, she had largely accepted her fate.

Who among the courtesans who could establish themselves in a top-tier entertainment venue like Zuixianju in the capital wouldn't have some awareness of using their beauty to entertain others?

In comparison, people like Si Lili who dare to directly refuse the prince are extremely rare.

After all, she was once a member of the royal family. Even though she had fallen to the Northern Qi and returned to the Southern Qing as a spy, even if she used the name of a courtesan to cover up her identity, deep down, Si Lili did not consider herself a person of the world.

Zhou Cheng's hand naturally rested on his waist, and he could clearly feel the slight trembling and warmth through the fabric in his palm.

He chuckled softly and patted the back of his head twice: "I can tell you're nervous. Anyway, sit over there and play one of your best pieces first."

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness." Sang Wen breathed a sigh of relief and quickly got up. He retreated to the embroidered stool next to him with slightly hurried movements, glanced at Zhou Cheng, hesitated for a moment, and then sat down gracefully.

He held the pipa firmly in his arms.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and focused her mind to compose herself.

A moment later, when he opened his eyes again, the panic in his eyes had subsided, replaced by a more focused expression befitting a musician.

"I will offer Your Highness a piece of music, 'Moonlit Night in Xunyang,'" she said softly, her fingertips then touching the silk strings.

Zhou Cheng nodded slightly, closed his eyes, and listened quietly.

The gurgling arpeggios then flowed out, initially like moonlight spreading across the river, clear and tranquil, gradually turning into a melancholy and gentle melody, as if endless thoughts were about to be expressed but remained unspoken.

Sang Wen's singing followed, her clear voice carrying just the right amount of etherealness and melancholy, blending perfectly with the sound of the pipa.

The candlelight danced on her lowered profile, casting soft shadows on her long eyelashes. In that moment, she seemed to have temporarily forgotten her surroundings, immersed in her own world of music.

Soon, the music ended, and the lingering melody slowly dissipated in the air.

Zhou Cheng opened his eyes, and with his level of appreciation, he felt that Sang Wen's pipa singing was no less impressive than Si Lili's zither music.

Sang Wen looked over with a hint of trepidation, as if waiting for an evaluation.

Before he could speak, Chen Quan's voice rang out from outside the door:

"Your Highness, the Heir Apparent of Prince Jing requests an audience."

Then came a clear, cheerful voice, full of familiarity: "Third Brother, it's me, Hongcheng."

"Come in," Zhou Cheng replied.

With his Grandmaster cultivation, he had already sensed that someone was waiting outside the door. He didn't want to disturb them while they were listening to the music, so he asked Chen Quan to announce their arrival first now that the music had stopped.

The door opened, and a figure strode in.

The newcomer was dressed in a royal blue brocade robe with cloud patterns, a jade belt around his waist, and a silver crown on his head. He had a handsome and approachable face and was none other than Li Hongcheng, the heir apparent of Prince Jing.

As soon as Li Hongcheng entered, Sang Wen immediately stood up, holding her pipa, and bowed as she retreated to a corner.

She naturally knew the identity of the Prince Jing's heir, but this person whom the dignified heir addressed as "Third Brother"...

His identity is now obvious.

Li Hongcheng's gaze swept quickly across the private room, passing over Sang Wen without lingering.

He immediately stepped forward and bowed.

Zhou Cheng waved his hand casually: "In private, brothers don't need to stand on ceremony like this. Sit down."

After Li Hongcheng settled into the chair opposite him, he asked, "Hongcheng, how did you know I was here?"

Li Hongcheng explained somewhat embarrassedly:

"Third Brother may not know, but I am a regular at this Drunken Immortal Abode, and I often book the top-class private room."

As soon as I entered the building, the steward downstairs quietly informed me that there were already distinguished guests. I asked a few more questions and learned that it was my third brother who was here.

He paused, his tone becoming more intimate.

"It's quite a coincidence. Third Brother just returned from Da Dong Mountain. I was just thinking of hosting a welcome dinner for you, but I didn't expect to run into you here."

Zhou Cheng smiled, picked up the teapot, and poured Li Hongcheng a cup:

"After spending so long in the wilderness, we had to find a place to have some fun. This Drunken Immortal Abode is truly extraordinary."

And you, a regular visitor, knew about this wonderful place all along, but why didn't you bring your third brother here to see it in previous years?

Li Hongcheng let out a sound of "Hmm," scratched his head, and chuckled sheepishly:

"Third Brother is joking. In the past, before we had even come of age, how could I have dared to lead you here?"

If those censors and officials find out, won't they impeach me? Even if my father finds out, he'll skin me alive!

The two chatted and laughed, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

Zhou Cheng wasn't exactly close to his cousin, but he also felt almost no ill will towards him.

Compared to Crown Prince Li Chengqian and Second Prince Li Chengze, Prince Jing's heir, Li Hongcheng, was indeed relatively mild-mannered and acted with less arrogance.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Hongcheng's gaze seemingly casually swept over Sang Wen beside him, as if waking from a dream, and he said:

"That melodious pipa song just now, it must have been played by this young lady, right? Her skill is indeed superb, the lingering sound is unforgettable. Third Brother has a good eye!"

"With such a beautiful lady by my side, it is my fault for being so tactless and disturbing your enjoyment, Third Brother..."

He then got up to take his leave.

Zhou Cheng was not about to let him leave so easily, and Li Hongcheng's initiative to come over was exactly what he wanted.

So he said, "Hongcheng, you're in such a hurry... I think it's a lie that you don't want to disturb my enjoyment. You're a regular here keeping a mistress, and you're just itching to meet your lover, aren't you?"

Li Hongcheng looked embarrassed.

He did have a confidante at Zuixianju, but how could he admit such a thing to her face?

He could only wave his hands repeatedly and force a dry laugh, saying, "Third Brother is joking, it's nothing like that..."

Li Hongcheng was about to take his leave when Zhou Cheng pointed at Sang Wen and said directly:

"I find this girl pleasing to the eye, and I plan to take her back to my residence. The steward here said I can take her with me."

However, given our status, it's inappropriate for us to take advantage of others for no reason. Today, I left in a hurry and didn't bring enough money.

Since you're here, please pay for it for me first. If you didn't bring enough either, then write an IOU to the building in your name.

[Negative emotion value from Lee Hong-sung +66!]

Li Hongcheng's smile suddenly turned somewhat sinister.

Write an IOU in his name?

So you don't want to take advantage of others in the building, but you want to take advantage of him instead?!

Fortunately, he didn't care about the small amount of money.

He cupped his hands and said directly, "It's just a small matter of money, no need for an IOU, just put it in my account."

After he finished speaking, he stood up and turned around, but Zhou Cheng's voice rang out again from behind him:

"Since Hongcheng is so kind, I won't refuse. By the way, I've heard that you often organize poetry gatherings, and your elegant gatherings are frequent."

We brothers haven't been close for a long time, so it's fate that we meet today. I'm also grateful that you've gone to the trouble of paying for our expenses.

If there's another such elegant occasion, feel free to send an invitation to my residence. Though I'm not well-versed in literature, I enjoy joining in the fun and will gladly go and lend my support.

"Huh?" Li Hongcheng was taken aback when he heard this, turned his head, and didn't react for a moment.

A poetry gathering?

Why would this third brother, who has always had little interest in refined pursuits, suddenly want to go to a poetry gathering?

But he reacted quickly, immediately replying, "I would be honored if Third Brother would grace us with his presence! I will certainly present you with the invitation at that time."

He agreed, then quickly thought it over and bowed as he retreated toward the door.

As he closed the door and turned around, he saw Zhou Cheng nod at him through the crack in the door.

"Could it be that Third Brother's return to Beijing has also sparked his ambition? No way..."

After closing the door, Li Hongcheng frowned and paced silently upstairs.

He wasn't sure what Zhou Cheng's intentions were in showing goodwill, and he secretly groaned inwardly.

He was genuinely afraid that Zhou Cheng might suddenly decide to try and win him over because of this meeting.

The rivalry between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince is currently raging in the imperial court.

He was truly afraid that his third brother, upon returning to the capital, would also become interested in interfering in the court affairs.

He is the heir apparent of Prince Jing, and to some extent represents the stance of Prince Jing's mansion.

His close association with any prince could easily be interpreted by outsiders as a sign of support for the Prince Jing's mansion.

Although he had always had a good personal relationship with the Second Prince, he didn't want to choose either side when it came to actually taking sides!

He knew even more deeply that his father, the king, would not choose to take sides.

As members of the imperial family, the Jingwang Mansion had already reached the pinnacle of imperial status.

Even if I succeed in joining the dragon, my position will remain the same.

If you choose to fail, the consequences will be dire.

In the struggle for the crown prince position, for their lineage, maintaining absolute neutrality is the only way to ensure their survival.

He would not accept any of the princes' attempts to win him over; however, he would not dare to refuse if the princes asked him to do something.

Inside the private room, as Li Hongcheng left, the atmosphere shifted again as the candlelight flickered.

Zhou Cheng withdrew his gaze from the doorway, his expression turning indifferent.

He asked for the poetry gathering invitation, not to support Li Hongcheng, but simply to join in the fun.

Judging by the time, Fan Xian... should be heading to the capital.

The poetry gathering hosted by Li Hongcheng was a crucial moment in the original storyline when Fan Xian rose to fame.

"The Prince Jing's heir claims to be a regular here. Miss Sang Wen must recognize him, right?" Zhou Cheng turned to Sang Wen, who was standing quietly to the side, and asked.

Sang Wen quickly composed himself and answered in a low voice:

"Your Highness, I have indeed met the Crown Prince a few times. I've heard that... the previous courtesan was favored by the Crown Prince."

The women in the building sometimes gossip about the important people in their spare time.

She was careful with her words and dared not say more.

Zhou Cheng nodded casually, "In that case, I suppose you've already guessed who I am."

"You heard what I just said. Miss Sangwen suits my taste very well; she is also very talented. I intend to take you into my household as a concubine. Are you willing?"

Upon hearing this, Sang Wen tightened her grip on the pipa, a faint smile blooming on her lips as she forcefully concealed her bitterness.

"Your Highness is of noble birth, while Sangwen is merely a woman of the night. It is Sangwen's good fortune to have been favored by Your Highness."

Moreover, Your Highness has already instructed the Crown Prince to redeem me from servitude; from this day forward, Sang Wen naturally belongs to Your Highness.

Her voice was soft, as if every word came from the bottom of her heart.

Zhou Cheng listened to the fleeting negative notification sound in his ear, his expression unchanged, and said:

"In that case, you will come back to the manor with me tonight. If there are any valuables in the building that need to be packed, you can tell Chen Quan, and he will arrange for someone to fetch them."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Highness." Sang Wen bowed gracefully, her face showing forced joy, but her eyes were filled with uncertainty about the future.

Prince Cheng's reputation... is not very good in the capital.

But she had no choice...

Zhou Cheng said no more, picked up the ivory folding fan on the table, and got up to walk outside.

In this era, power is the rule. As a beneficiary of the system, he won't shout about human rights.

The carriage was already waiting downstairs at Zuixianju.

The luxurious carriage stopped at the entrance, attracting countless curious, awe-inspiring, or envious glances from inside and outside the building.

Zhou Cheng, holding an ivory folding fan, walked leisurely downstairs. Sang Wen, carrying a pipa, followed closely behind him.

As if sensing the gazes coming from all directions, she lowered her head slightly, pursed her lips, and hugged the pipa in her arms even tighter, as if it were her only support.

Amidst whispers, Zhou Cheng first boarded the carriage, then reached out his hand.

Sang Wen hesitated for a moment, then placed her slightly cool hand in his palm and used it to climb into the carriage.

Soon, the carriage curtain fell, isolating the outside world.

The carriage traveled smoothly through the streets of Kyoto at night, the sound of the wheels rolling over the bluestone pavement regular and clear.

Not long after, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

"Your Highness, we have arrived at the Prince's residence." Chen Quan's voice rang out from outside.

Sang Wen helped Zhou Cheng out of the car and looked up. Under the night sky, a magnificent mansion stood before them.

The two stone lions in front of the gate are majestic and imposing, and the lanterns hanging high illuminate the three gilded characters "Chengwang Mansion" clearly and solemnly.

Looking at the imposing plaque, Sang Wen felt a surge of unease and helplessness in the unfamiliar environment, but he could only force himself to remain calm.

"Don't be nervous," Zhou Cheng's voice rang out from the side, gentle and calm. "In this manor, besides me, you are the most powerful. After a few days, you'll understand that I'm actually quite easy to get along with."

Sang Wen forced a smile and followed his words: "Your Highness, I naturally believe you."

The steward of the building also said that although Miss Sili refused His Highness so readily, His Highness did not make things difficult for her, which shows that His Highness is magnanimous and compassionate.

This was partly flattery and partly self-consolation.

Zhou Cheng nodded and led her over the high threshold into the palace.

Passing through the front courtyard and walking along the corridor towards the inner courtyard, the palace lanterns hanging under the corridor stretched the shadows of the two people.

Once there were no outsiders around, he suddenly said, "I can't be considered magnanimous; at most, I care a little about saving face. Si Lili used her admiration for my poetry as an excuse to ask me to compose a poem, but I couldn't, so I had to give up."

Sang Wen was clearly unaware of these things from the steward's office and was slightly surprised to hear this.

She secretly glanced at Zhou Cheng's profile and realized for the first time that the person in front of her seemed completely different from the eccentric prince in the rumors.

She said sincerely, "For Your Highness to be willing to take that step back and not force a mere courtesan is already extremely kind of you."

Zhou Cheng paused slightly, then patted the folding fan in his hand:

"A mere courtesan? No, that's not it. Si Lili was a descendant of the royal family of my Qing Kingdom. Her branch fled to Northern Qi after their power grab failed."

Now that she's back, her identity as a courtesan is nothing but a disguise; she is actually a spy from Northern Qi.

I have other plans for her, so I backed down, made a bet, and haven't touched her yet.

"Huh? Northern Qi...a spy?" Sang Wen's eyes widened in surprise. He looked at Zhou Cheng suspiciously, then quickly looked down.

She instinctively doubted the truth of these words, but could not voice her doubts.

She could only say with a bitter expression, "Your Highness... these... secrets are not something a servant should hear..."

Zhou Cheng, however, seemed completely unconcerned, continuing on his way while waving his folding fan, his tone casual:

"It's just some trivial matter, and it won't hurt to tell you."

"There are few people in my household. Now that you're with me, besides serving, you can help with some chores in your spare time." He glanced at her sideways. "Some things, once you hear about them or see them often, you get used to them and don't notice anything wrong with them."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure hurriedly came to greet him from the corner of the corridor ahead.

"Your Highness, you're back." Chen Bao bowed and glanced at Sang Wen beside Zhou Cheng, then hesitated for a moment.

"What is it? Please speak freely," Zhou Cheng said.

Chen Bao clasped his hands in a fist salute again and lowered his voice, saying, "Your Highness, the information you instructed us to investigate about Teng Zijing's family has been fully compiled."

Her family consists of only a mother and her child, who have been "invited" to the residence and are currently housed in a side courtyard in the west wing, where they are being closely guarded.

Upon hearing this, Sang Wen, who was standing to the side, looked dazed for a moment and lowered his head sharply.

These words imply both investigation and surveillance; she wouldn't naively take that "please" as a polite invitation.

At that moment, she wished she were deaf.

Having barely entered the manor and taken a few steps, he had already heard rumors of a Northern Qi spy, the veracity of which was unknown, and now he had stumbled upon the sordid scene of someone being kidnapped within the manor...

For a moment, she felt sorry for herself and wanted to cry but couldn't.

I seriously doubt whether I'll live that long, and I've become 'accustomed' to these things...