At 9 PM, Ming Shuiyun opened the dorm room door.

A female classmate's voice came from behind: "See you tomorrow at Shuiyun Palace!"

Ming Shuiyun forced a smile and waved goodbye: "See you tomorrow."

After closing the dorm room door, Ming Shuiyun's eyes revealed deep fatigue. Ming Qingyun curiously asked, "Who was that? Why is she still at school so late?"

"She's the classmate Zong Lafei who lives on the third floor!" Ming Taolang, who was swinging in the chair at the desk, said: "I chatted with her while running earlier! A second-year senior in the Natural Disaster Department! She's pretty, cute, and gets good grades!"

Besides the Radiant Celestial Maiden, others naturally reside in the student dormitory too—and they're mostly women—considering the harsh conditions of the student dormitory, not many female students are willing to live here, unless they have unspeakable issues like the Radiant Celestial Maiden.

"Taolang, if you don't do your homework, it'll be lights out soon." Ming Dailan reminded, then looked at Ming Shuiyun with sympathy: "Shuiyun, you... it seems like you've had a rather busy day today."

"Yeah." Ming Shuiyun slumped onto the desk, feeling even too tired to speak: "Can't I just skip the bath..."

"Shuiyun, why did you come back so late?" Ming Chaoyan, lying on the bed, swung her legs: "I still wanted to play Battle Card with you."

"Senior Zong was tutoring me outside, we just got back now."

"Shuiyun, you're so diligent!"

"But I don't actually want to be this diligent!"

"Then refuse them." Ming Yueyan said while writing: "Why exhaust yourself like this?"

"Shuiyun, she doesn't dare." Ming Shuangli chuckled: "Besides, tutoring is a perfectly legitimate reason, and Shuiyun's grades are indeed average; how could she refuse? Should she say she doesn't want to study?"

"Now, she's the most likely person to become the Emperor. Everyone wants to help her with good intentions, but if she refuses out of laziness, what will others think of her? Wouldn't the Imperial Academy's students and teachers be disappointed in her?"

Ming Shuiyun's mind wavered, and she couldn't help but ask: "Sister Shuangli, have you... have you ever been in a situation like this?"

"Of course, I've encountered more eager people wanting to 'relieve my worries' than all you met today."

"So how did you handle it?"

"I kicked them all out."

"What?"

"I insist on waking up after nine in the morning, eating delicious food and having fun, studying at most two hours a day—one more minute and I'll lose—and if anyone dares to nag me, I'll have Niruo throw them out! I live how I want, they have no say!"

"But won't they be disappointed?"

"Sure, that's why those around me are 'joyful companions' and not 'worry relievers'. They're there to eat, play, and skip classes with me. Haven't you seen the bulletin board? Now everyone says Shuangli Palace is going downhill, surrounded by a bunch of flatterers, showing the traits of a foolish ruler."

Ming Shuangli walked over and hugged Ming Shuiyun, whispering in her ear: "My dear sister, don't join in those students' antics. They're just fooling you. The Emperor doesn't need to learn that much; all the work's delegated, and they only need to steer the direction..."

"Plus, they have you study today, and learn tomorrow. Once you're Emperor, they'll demand you live frugally, do everything for the country. Have a bit of fun, and you're a Tyrant; relax a bit, and you're a foolish ruler... Do you really want to live like that in the future?"

"No Emperor can satisfy everyone—not Taizu, nor Taizong, nor Lie Sect. Besides, you're not guaranteed to be Emperor, why suffer such hardships?"

Feeling stirred, Ming Shuiyun listened as Ming Qingyun bluntly spoke: "Shuiyun may not become an Emperor that satisfies everyone, but Sister Shuangli, you sure could become a Tyrant—at least your historical reputation wouldn't be any good."

"I don't care how they tarnish me after my death, as long as they sing my praises while I'm alive." Ming Shuangli exuded the arrogance befitting a female Tyrant.

"Don't follow Sister Shuangli's domineering approach, she has her thoughts, but Shuiyun you need to make your own choices." Ming Qingyun said: "The Imperial Academy students' support is definitely not a bad thing—not just because they are the future pillars, but also because their parents are the pillars of the Imperial Court. If you can rise to fame in the Imperial Academy, gain the support of many, and earn a reputable name, then once you ascend, it would be an anticipated event, with the Imperial Court submitted to you, the true path to power."

"Why are you all giving such serious advice?" Ming Yueyan teased: "Aren't we competitors? Shouldn't you be messing with Shuiyun's mindset now?"

"Because I know I have little hope, so I'll please Shuiyun first, then later get to eat and drink at the Imperial Court." Ming Qingyun laughed.

"It starts again—showing weakness. Each of you claims to have no chance, but during the Eye of Omniscience, you all vie with vigor, hmph!" Ming Dailan pouted.

"Shuiyun, want to play cards?" Ming Chaoyan asked.

Though feeling tired, the thought of having no entertainment the whole day surged energy within Ming Shuiyun: "Let's play!"

...

The next day, after freshening up and leaving the dormitory, Ming Shuiyun saw Senior Zong Lafei waiting outside.

"Let's have breakfast together." She smiled.

Ming Shuiyun remembered Ming Shuangli's tyrant path and Ming Qingyun's noble path. She wanted to say something, but in the end, nodded: "Alright."

Morning classes.

Lunchtime.

During the lunchtime garden study session, Ming Shuiyun suddenly took out a stack of Battle Cards from her bag: "Uh... how about we play some Battle Cards at lunch?"

Long Xiaoyuan and the others exchanged glances, then Long Xiaoyuan took the Battle Cards and advised earnestly, "Shuiyun Palace, try to reduce meaningless entertainment; your fundamentals are too weak, you need more time to catch up."

"Oh..."

Afternoon classes.

Afternoon reading.

Dinner.

Evening tutoring.

Exhausted, Ming Shuiyun returned to the dormitory and lay on the bed for a while, then suddenly asked: "Chaoyan, do you have any extra Biting Battle Technique cards?"

"No."

"Ladies..."

"We don't have any extras either, who would bring extra cards? You should just go buy them at the Combat Technique Department of the Imperial Academy."

...

Third day.

"Let's go have breakfast together," said Zong Lifey.

Morning class, goofing off was halted.

Lunch time.

Garden study session at noon.

Afternoon class.

Evening dinner.

Evening tutoring.

When Ming Shuiyun returned to the dormitory in the evening, Ming Chaoyan asked, "Shuiyun, did you buy the battle cards?"

"Couldn't find a chance to buy the cards... Tomorrow, I'll buy them tomorrow!"

...

Fourth day.

"Let's go have breakfast together," Zong Lifey was still waiting downstairs.

"I have urgent matters today, can't join you for breakfast!" Ming Shuiyun dashed away like the wind, taking the chance to run to the Combat Technique Department at the Imperial Academy to buy a stack of Biting Battle Technique cards, carefully hiding them in her book bag.

Morning class.

Lunch time.

Garden study session at noon, when Ming Shuiyun took a book out of her bag, she accidentally pulled out the bag of battle cards.

Before she could react and retrieve them, Zong Lifey bent down and picked them up, thoughtfully saying, "Shuiyun, you didn't go to the cafeteria for breakfast this morning just to buy battle cards...?"

Long Xiaoyuan sighed, took the battle cards from Zong Lifey's hand, and said, "Shuiyun, why buy a new set? If you ask, I would certainly return your cards to you. But battle cards are just meaningless entertainment, and we don't want you wasting too much time on them... We're doing this for your good, for Radiant's sake."

"Mhm, mhm." Ming Shuiyun obediently lowered her head, just watching Long Xiaoyuan take away the battle cards, and her previously good mood immediately plummeted.

During afternoon class, she couldn't help but think about the battle cards, and her heart grew increasingly bitter.

Battle cards... My battle cards...

At this moment, her elbow was nudged by the student next to her, who whispered, "Shuiyun, pay attention."

Just these words shattered the defenses in Ming Shuiyun's heart completely.

Almost without any thought, Ming Shuiyun immediately turned and left the front row seat, running out of the classroom without a glance back under the astonished eyes of the teacher and students.

She ran unrestrained down the hallway, her footsteps echoing throughout the faculty building, and many students who were in class saw her figure through the windows, but Ming Shuiyun simply didn't care; she only wanted to rush to the Combat Technique Department at the Imperial Academy and buy another deck of cards; she had to play cards with Ming Chaoyan tonight!

However, when she reached the stairway, she stopped.

That red-haired man who ignored her was standing against the wall in the stairway, as if waiting for someone, as if waiting for her.

She walked step by step down the stairs, deliberately avoiding his gaze.

As they passed by, Le Yu said softly, "I've heard a saying—if you desire a crown, you must bear its weight. Compared to pure malice, overwhelming expectations can be even harder to bear. After all, malice simply makes oneself sad, but failing others' expectations wounds countless hearts."

Ming Shuiyun, with red eyes, looked at him without saying a word, like a wounded animal unwilling to seek help from a hunter.

"You're different from the others—you are too weak. Everyone qualifies to guide you, everyone hopes you can become better. What's even greater is, you're not an emperor yet... Who can resist the temptation to nurture an emperor? No one."

"And you don't have the right to refuse either; you lack ability, have no accomplishments to speak of, and your prestige simply does not allow you to say 'no.' Or rather, when you say 'no,' those followers can only feel disappointed—because your judgment is negligible, you lack any achievements to support even a bit of your willfulness."

"Even the Eye of Omniscience is thanks to me."

Ming Shuiyun couldn't hold back anymore; tears flowed like a flood, crying so hard she soon looked like a little flowered cat.

"It's hard isn't it," Le Yu laughed, "If every action requires a reason, requires meaning, it suffocates people."

"I was thinking, if you can really endure and become a fair and wise king, that wouldn't be bad... But if you can't endure, I have a way to grant you freedom while making sure no one is disappointed."

"Then why didn't you say earlier!" Ming Shuiyun weakly punched Le Yu's chest.

"Unless you try it, how will you know how useless you are?"

Le Yu was blunt, "Also, my method can allow my sister... let them associate with you openly, without anyone saying 'no'."

Ming Shuiyun rubbed her eyes, "W-what method?"

"Borrowing money."

"Borrowing money?"

"Yes, when a ruler demands a subject die, the subject cannot but die. When a ruler demands a subject's money, the subject cannot but lend."

"But, what reason do we use to borrow money? And I—"

"Rest assured," Le Yu interrupted Ming Shuiyun, "I already have a detailed plan. I didn't approach you earlier not only to see if you could last, but also because..."

Tap.

Tap.

Footsteps came from the stairway; Ming Shuiyun looked over, only to see a young man, who shared seven similarities with Qin Leye, wearing a white shirt with black crosses emerge.

"...I went to the Statistical Department to find the one who borrows money best."

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