"Arong, it's your turn." Shen Qingmang said, "What wishes does Yao Yi reflect about you?"
"Master, I am the second in command. You should ask the eldest brother first." Si Rong blinked.
"Yes, Master. Don't you want to hear your disciple's analysis?" Gu Sui Han said.
Shen Qingmang held his forehead, feeling a little headache.
She shouldn't have indulged her desires. Now, she has become the youngest in the illusion. One of her disciples has become her teacher, and the other has become her husband. Their awe of her has been greatly reduced.
"Okay, okay, you go ahead."
"The disciple wants to become a strong enough person to stand shoulder to shoulder with the master."
"I thought Xin would be the one most eager to win. It seems I don't know you well enough."
Upon hearing this, Hao Xin said, "I also want to become powerful, but this dynasty really limits my potential. Why can't men be officials when women are in power? If it were a society dominated by men, I would have been promoted to a general long ago!"
"I see you're enjoying being a little husband." Si Rong teased him.
Hao Xin glared at her. "It's because you can't do anything. I have to learn everything. Otherwise, we'd both starve to death."
"Who said I can't do anything? I'm very capable!" Si Rong said, "It's because you always think I can't do anything that I became Yao Yi."
Shen Qingmang leaned forward slightly, moving closer to Si Rong. "Why would you think that, Ah Rong? Master has always thought you were excellent."
"Master, do you think I'm as good as my elder brother and younger brother?" Si Rong said with a look of grievance. "In your eyes, as long as I'm good enough, I'm good enough. You don't hold me to the same standards as you hold my brothers and younger brothers. Do you think, like Father, that I'm not smart enough and that I'm lucky to have made it this far?"
Shen Qingmang was stunned and carefully recalled his past requests to Si Rong.
Influenced by the original novel's plot, she preconceived that Si Rong, if left unchecked, would eventually become a complete love-sick person. Therefore, when training her, she placed the greatest emphasis on her sense of independence, using various methods to remind her not to rely on others and not to focus solely on love. The requirements for her skills and techniques were not as high.
But that doesn't mean she doesn't care about her grades.
"Ah Rong," Shen Qingmang said, "Do you remember when I asked you what the Dao in your heart was? You said it was freedom and ease. So when I taught you the technique, I tried my best to preserve your true freedom and didn't demand that your progress match others."
"But Master, my pursuit of freedom and ease doesn't mean I don't want to work hard." Si Rong said, "Didn't you also say that the weak have fewer choices in the world than the strong? I listened to you. I believe that only by becoming stronger can I be freer."
"But what does this have to do with you becoming Yao Yi?" said Hao Xin.
"When I was teaching my outer disciples how to read and write, I felt my strongest. They truly admired my knowledge. I also deeply admired our Master, believing him to be the most powerful being. I also wanted to be like him, benefiting all living beings." Si Rong looked at him. "So I became Yao Yi. Yao Yi possesses both knowledge and political prowess. Many of his students later became pillars of the court. Oh, and I'm also the Emperor's Preceptor! In short, I'm the most powerful teacher!"
"I think you are a master of daydreaming." said Hao Xin.
"Haha, that's not what you said when you were Zhuo Huanqing. You said I was great and praised me countless times. I remember it all!"
"That was Zhuo Huanqing, not me!" Hao Xin defended, "I'm not as unlucky as Zhuo Huanqing. He only started to make progress in his career when he was old. I became the champion of the sect competition at a young age."
"Pah, pah, pah, shame on you."
"It's better to be humble than for someone to boast about being 'powerful'."
"Alright, alright," Shen Qingmang interrupted the brawl. "Whether you consider the character in the fantasy world to be yourself or someone else, remember that she is your ideal self, and you must strive towards that goal."
"Disciple understands." Gu Sui Han said.
Shen Qingmang nodded with satisfaction when she suddenly realized that Gu Suihan's ideal was to walk side by side with her. If she told him to work hard, wouldn't that be tantamount to tacitly allowing him to continue to like her despite the world's disapproval?
"Sui Han, there are some things you can work hard for, but there are some things you should not force." She tried to make amends.
"I believe even more that where there is a will, there is a way." Gu Suihan said, "Master has asked the three of us, and I would like to ask you as well. Since the most prominent feature of the Love Test Platform is the test of love, is Your Majesty sincere to me?"
"Of course Jiang Cenyun likes Li Xiwei. They're childhood sweethearts, and Li Xiwei is gentle and reliable. Who wouldn't be moved? But that doesn't mean I'll be moved in real life. Haven't you all read the rules of the Love Trial Arena? Falling in love in fantasy doesn't mean falling in love in reality."
"But this at least shows that Master likes young men like Li Xiang." Si Rong said with a smile.
"What about you three?" Shen Qingmang regained the initiative. "What kind of love do you yearn for?"
"Love is not important. What's important is that I am the teacher of the world!" Si Rong showed a proud expression.
"Yes, Master Yao is devoted to the country and the people. I am about to be kicked out of the house, and you don't even look at me." Hao Xin said angrily: "Then love in my eyes is just an embellishment."
Si Rong refused to give in. "Come on, who climbed up the wall and recited 'Pick the Plum Blossoms' to me, urging me to marry him?"
"Isn't that because you're the only one closest to me? If your role was someone else, I would like her too."
"Then go ahead and flirt with someone else!" Si Rong stood up. "Master, I've told you everything I can. I'm going back to my room to rest. I'm so tired."
"Okay, go ahead." Shen Qingmang waved his hand.
Si Rong left decisively, leaving Hao Xin somewhat bewildered. Shen Qingmang, seeing how uneasy he felt, said, "Alright, if you really like Ah Rong, I won't interfere. There's no need to hide it."
"I, I'll go find her." Hao Xin blushed, bowed to Shen Qingmang, and ran away.
Suddenly, only the master and the disciple were left in the courtyard.
Shen Qingmang looked at Gu Suihan and asked, "What about you? Suihan, what kind of love do you yearn for?"
"I have spent my whole life trying to answer this question. Your Majesty still doesn't know the answer?" said Gu Sui Han.
"I..." As he spoke, Shen Qingmang recalled the moments the Emperor and Empress had shared in the illusion. Two people with the same ideals and aspirations, walking side by side on the same path, this was actually the relationship she longed for most.
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