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

The following day, Qin Heng, the chief envoy of the Privy Council, was summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager.

An hour later, Qin Heng left the palace and returned to his residence, where he remained secluded.

No one knew what the Empress Dowager had said to him, and no one dared to inquire.

The news of His Majesty the Emperor's passing lingered among the high-ranking officials for only a day before inevitably spreading out.

The people, who had been somewhat prepared by the closure of the palace and the capital, were still greatly shocked when they saw the official document confirming the closure of the imperial court.

Large white lanterns, each large enough for two people to encircle, were hung in the four corner towers of the imperial city, swaying heavily in the wind.

In an instant, countless people spontaneously took to the streets, crying out in anguish for the departed emperor.

Emperor Qing always cherished his reputation.

He ruled the Qing Kingdom for more than 20 years, and the people could hardly find anything to criticize about him.

While Emperor Qing was alive, people didn't think much of it, but after his death, they began to recall the good things he had done for them.

Emperor Qing was, in the eyes of the people of Qing, a truly sage ruler.

The fact that Qing Kingdom was able to transform itself from an insignificant small country into the undisputed strongest power in this land within a few decades through conquests and expansions is a testament to Emperor Qing's great talent, diligence, and tireless efforts.

It is precisely because of the unprecedented strength of the Qing Kingdom in terms of military power, economy, culture, and territory that the people of the Qing Kingdom can stand tall and not be subservient to any foreign tribes or enemies.

The reign of Emperor Qing was undoubtedly the most peaceful and happy period in the history of the Qing Kingdom.

The common people are easily satisfied. When they lost their emperor, they were surprised to find that what he had given them had far exceeded their expectations.

The younger generation, who have not experienced war, may not feel it deeply, but the elderly, who have struggled through turbulent times, recalling the hardships of their early lives, can no longer suppress their grief when they think of His Majesty.

Dark clouds loomed over the city, and the heavy snow that had been brewing for days had yet to fall, so the ground was already covered with a different kind of snow.

Even before the day of national mourning, the vast city of Kyoto had already turned into a sea of ​​white.

As far as the eye can see, there is white cloth, white paper, white lights, white decorations, white lanterns—a vast expanse of white.

From civil and military officials to ordinary citizens, everyone wore plain white mourning clothes, and the entire city was immersed in sorrow and weeping.

For three days, the common people remained dressed in white mourning clothes, while the officials in the court had already changed out of their mourning attire and into auspicious robes.

This change was not because their grief for Emperor Qing had ended, but rather because it indicated that a country cannot be without a ruler for even a day.

People yearn for stability; everyone needs a new monarch, a ruler who reigns supreme.

Otherwise they would be terrified and uneasy, like domesticated livestock suddenly stripped of their bridles. They would not feel freedom, but rather emptiness and discomfort after losing their master's guidance and whipping.

Everyone turned their attention to the dragon throne in the Taiji Hall.

There is an urgent need for a prince to quickly fill the void above, regain control and guide the fate of everyone, and stabilize the Qing Kingdom's government.

The Crown Prince is the most popular choice among the people, after all, in terms of status, he is the true heir apparent and the rightful successor.

The common people don't understand the intricacies of court politics; they only know that the crown prince is the emperor's son, and that when the emperor dies, the crown prince should become emperor—it's only natural.

Among the ministers, Zhou Cheng was quite popular. After all, quite a few officials had flocked to his side in the past few months.

In addition, as is widely known, Emperor Qing went to Mount Dadong to offer sacrifices to Heaven in order to depose the Crown Prince.

Whether out of self-interest or moral obligation, they were more inclined to support Zhou Cheng.

Of course, the support of the officials wouldn't have much effect at this moment.

After all, when a new emperor ascends the throne, he must first see the late emperor's edict, and then he must see the legal principles.

In both of these aspects, Zhou Cheng is at a disadvantage.

Inside the Taiji Hall, countless palace servants were busy amidst tension and oppression.

Even today, one can still see white banners and white curtains procured by the inner court everywhere in the palace. Only the Taiji Hall has long since removed its white mourning clothes, restoring its magnificent and solemn atmosphere.

The glazed tiles on the roof of the palace were polished to a shine, gleaming with a faint golden hue under the pale sunlight.

The steps in front of the palace had been wiped clean several times, and every tile was so shiny it could reflect light.

This is the fifth day since Emperor Qing's death. Today, in this Taiji Hall, a momentous event will occur that will determine the future of the Qing Kingdom.

Beside the high dragon throne, the Empress Dowager, dressed in a crimson-gold phoenix robe, had been seated for some time. To conceal the dark circles under her eyes, her makeup was heavier than usual, making her appear deathly pale.

One after another, civil and military officials dressed in auspicious robes entered the hall, summoned by a continuous stream of summons.

Outside the palace, in the spacious square, officials of all ranks lined up and waited, a dense, imposing crowd.

Around the square, the Imperial Guards, dressed in white headscarves, holding white banners, and wearing white robes over black armor, stood solemnly and motionless.

At noon, all the officials were in place.

In the imperial court, apart from the officials who went to Da Dong Mountain with Emperor Qing, only Qin Heng, the chief envoy of the Privy Council, and Chen Pingping, the director of the Judgment Bureau, were absent.

When news of Emperor Qing's death reached the capital, Chen Pingping claimed to be unwell and remained in bed.

As for Qin Heng, no one knows why he was absent.

However, even without two important ministers, the enthronement ceremony could still proceed.

The officials chanted in unison, and the music resounded.

Eunuch Hou ascended the steps, unfurled a scroll of bright yellow silk, took a deep breath, and read aloud in a shrill voice:

"Those who have been designated as heirs must be chosen from among the surviving sons of the deceased emperor. Crown Prince Chengqian is of noble character, filial, friendly, intelligent, gentle, wise, benevolent, respectful, and capable of inheriting the great lineage. Therefore, he is hereby appointed to succeed to the throne and ascend the imperial throne..."

The voice echoed in the hall, each word clear and profound.

Standing before the dragon throne, the crown prince looked down at his brothers and ministers below.

He knew that after the edict was read and he sat down, he would become the next emperor after Emperor Qing.

The fate and fortunes of hundreds of millions of people will be in his hands.

For this goal, he had anticipated, struggled, worked hard, felt fear, fought, and despaired. He thought he was forever plunged into the abyss, but unexpectedly, in a single day, he ascended to this towering height.

He felt he should be excited, ecstatic. But standing on these steps, he was surprisingly calm.

When your identity changes, your mindset changes.

He is no longer the crown prince who was anxious about gains and losses; now he is the new Emperor Qing.

He no longer cared about the past. Before ascending the throne, all he had experienced was a little hardship.

The crown prince lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on Zhou Cheng below.

Zhou Cheng remained calm, showing not the slightest ripple of emotion.

He was probably faking it.

The Crown Prince thought to himself.

His third brother was ultimately too timid; all his preparations had been in vain.

He was pushed twice on the Hanging Temple, but he still stood steadily at the highest point.

He knew there was an element of luck involved, but he believed even more that it was destiny.

A hint of pity suddenly appeared in his eyes.

He felt sorry for his third brother, who had schemed and plotted so much, only to lose to luck in the end.

Of course, while we should feel pity, some debts still need to be settled.

Li Chengqian's gaze left Zhou Cheng and turned to the Second Prince.

His second brother's face, however, was as calm as Zhou Cheng's, even showing a kind of gentleness after giving up.

The Crown Prince believed he could understand Li Chengze's mindset very well.

After all, his second brother had already lost everything. Those who have nothing to ask for naturally have no desires.

The sound of the imperial edict being read aloud gradually faded into the distance, and he belatedly realized that he had not heard the rest of the edict.

But it doesn't matter anymore.

The imperial edict was proclaimed.

Many officials raised their heads slightly, not daring to look too high, their peripheral vision barely reaching the pair of dragon-patterned boots on the imperial steps.

Although they couldn't see the crown prince's figure clearly, they could see the princes in the front row and Zhou Cheng's back.

The imperial edict has been promulgated, and everything has been settled.

Seeing that Zhou Cheng didn't make any move, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

What the Qing Kingdom's court needs now is stability. Although they initially favored Zhou Cheng, they have changed their attitude now, fearing that their Prince Cheng might be unwilling to accept the situation and cause trouble.

They felt sorry for Zhou Cheng. Emperor Qing's death was too sudden. If Emperor Qing had completed the sacrificial ceremony before passing away, Zhou Cheng would have been the new emperor.

Unfortunately, Your Highness was out of luck and was just one day away from receiving the Mandate of Heaven, or even less than one day away.

The courtiers suppressed any unnecessary thoughts in their minds.

"Please, Your Majesty, ascend the throne—"

They shouted in unison, repeating it three times.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian, with a solemn expression, returned the greeting three times and bowed three times to show his reverence for heaven, earth, and humanity. Then he straightened up, looked at the kneeling officials below, turned around and respectfully bowed to the Empress Dowager before heading towards the dragon throne.

In that instant, he vaguely saw the entire world and hundreds of millions of people prostrating themselves before him, and a sense of satisfaction from controlling the world welled up within him!

However, before he could even sit down, a voice rang out in the solemn silence of the room!

"Your Highness, you mustn't!"

Li Chengqian's slightly bent body suddenly stopped, and a slight change appeared in his expression.

He recognized the voice.

That was his nominal teacher, Shu Wu, a Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion and tutor to the Crown Prince.

Upon seeing Shu Wu jump out, Zhou Cheng stood up straight with his hands in his pockets and looked over with great interest.

After Lin Ruofu, Shu Wu can be considered one of the few core figures at the forefront of the civil service group.

Emperor Qing only faked his death; he wasn't really dead.

He did not directly rebel. If the Crown Prince successfully ascends the throne, what would it matter if Emperor Qing returned to the capital safely?

A state with two emperors is a path to disaster.

Emperor Qing naturally took precautions early on, ensuring that no one would be allowed to ascend the throne smoothly.

Shu Wu shouted loudly, startling everyone in the hall, and even the Empress Dowager's face changed color.

Shu Wu straightened up and kowtowed to the Empress Dowager: "His Majesty left behind a will before his passing!"

Upon hearing this, all the officials were astonished and looked at each other in disbelief.

Upon ascending the throne, the new emperor first examines the imperial edict and then the legal principles.

Upon hearing this, all the officials were astonished and looked at each other in disbelief.

Upon ascending the throne, the new emperor first examines the imperial edict and then the legal principles.

If Emperor Qing truly left behind a will, then it should be obeyed.

The Empress Dowager's eyelids twitched; she hated Shu Wu intensely.

Originally, if the imperial power had been transferred peacefully and the state of Baoqing had remained intact, she could have completed her mission and retired successfully. However, at the last moment, she encountered unexpected setbacks.

She suppressed her anger, her tone chilling:

"His Majesty was assassinated at Mount Dadong and died suddenly. There was no such thing as a will. If there was a will, where is it? Why have I never heard of it?"

Shu Wu said with a helpless expression, "The imperial edict should now be in the hands of Fan Xian, the director of the Censorate."

"Fan Xian?"

Numerous surprised voices arose. Fan Xian had followed Emperor Qing to Mount Da Dong, and his fate was still unknown. How could there be a will in Fan Xian's hands?

The Empress Dowager frowned: "What exactly is going on? Grand Secretary Shu, please explain!"

Shu Wu began to explain:

"Before His Majesty decided to go to Mount Da Dong, he felt uneasy about the death of the High Priest and wrote a will in advance."

On the day the eldest prince was ordered to return to the capital, His Majesty held a family banquet in the Imperial Study. During the banquet, he handed the imperial edict to Lord Fan for safekeeping, but did not explain the details.

Before His Majesty left the capital, he privately summoned me and Grand Secretary Hu to the palace to entrust this matter to him in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances.

"I was reluctant to speak out at this time, fearing it would disrupt the stability of our Qing Kingdom, but I dare not betray Your Majesty's trust, and thus I have no choice but to presume to offer my remonstrance."

The Empress Dowager's gaze fell on the eldest prince, then turned to Grand Secretary Hu, the chief secretary of the Central Secretariat.

Is this true?

The eldest prince hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, yes, that is true. However, I do not know whether it is a will."

On the day he returned to the capital, Emperor Qing invited him and Fan Xian to a so-called family banquet.

During the banquet, Emperor Qing did indeed give Fan Xian a secret letter and instructed him not to open it.

At the time, he was curious but did not investigate further. Little did he know that it was actually a will left by Emperor Qing in advance!

Grand Secretary Hu stepped forward from the crowd, his face grave. He gave a bitter laugh: "His Majesty did indeed entrust the edict to Lord Fan. However, Lord Fan's fate is currently unknown, and the whereabouts of the edict are also unknown. Considering all this, I have not revealed it. I... have failed His Majesty's trust!"

After saying this, he knelt down on the ground, facing the direction of Dadong Mountain, and kowtowed heavily, not raising his head for a long time.

The officials whispered among themselves.

The eldest prince and Grand Secretary Hu have confirmed that the existence of the imperial edict has been confirmed.

But this will...

At this moment, an official stepped forward: "Your Majesty, since there is a will, we should act in accordance with it. Since the will is in Fan Xian's hands, our most urgent task is to confirm his life or death. If Fan Xian is alive, we should retrieve the will. If Fan Xian is dead, and we cannot verify the will's authenticity, then we should act according to the law."

The prince appeared dazed, and his hands and feet were ice-cold.

When the eldest prince and Grand Secretary Hu stepped forward, his hands, hidden in his sleeves, began to tremble slightly.

The reason why Emperor Qing went to Mount Dadong and what his will contained in his pre-existing edict are self-evident.

He never expected that Emperor Qing would be so disappointed in him.

His father, the emperor, did not trust him. Despite his desperate attempts to explain, Emperor Qing still had no trust in him and even left a will in advance to guard against him.

For a moment, he felt utterly desolate.

Zhou Cheng watched this scene indifferently.

He had long anticipated that Emperor Qing would leave behind arrangements, but he hadn't expected that Emperor Qing would have planned to this extent before leaving the capital.

He successfully calculated Shu Wu's temperament and also added the protection of the First Prince and Grand Secretary Hu.

Now that a will has been confirmed to exist, the key to succession has shifted to confirming Fan Xian's fate.

As long as Fan Xian is not confirmed and not found, no one can rightfully succeed to the throne.

This delay will only increase the uncertainty in the capital.

This gave all the restless forces time to prepare, and also gave Emperor Qing time to return from Mount Dadong.

As for the will in Fan Xian's hands, Zhou Cheng guessed that it probably didn't contain any useful information.

And his guess was indeed correct, because the secret document that Emperor Qing gave to Fan Xian contained nothing but a blank sheet of paper.

Having figured out Emperor Qing's scheme, Zhou Cheng lost interest in continuing to watch the drama unfold.

The reason he remained quietly and inactively watching the Crown Prince ascend the throne was not only to find out Emperor Qing's backup plan, but also to wait for Li Yunrui to take control of the harem.

The Empress Dowager gathered all the mothers of the princes, including him, in the Hanguang Palace, in order to make them wary.

Judging by the timeline, Li Yunrui should have taken control of Hanguang Palace by now.

Zhou Cheng patted non-existent dust off his knees and stood up.

The hem of the robe swayed gently, making a soft rustling sound.

His actions immediately drew everyone's attention.