Li Yueyao was later remembered as a tyrant.
At ten years old, she was forced to disguise herself as a boy and ascend the throne. During her forty-year reign, she never held court, acted outrageously at every turn, and casually had ministers beaten to death, leaving rivers of blood. Officials throughout the court lived in constant fear.
Looking back on her life on her deathbed, she had plenty of regrets.
Not because she had failed to govern the realm well, but because she had spent all her energy trying to outwit her ministers, and they still managed to infuriate her time and again.
When she gets a second life and is reborn at the age of ten, she has no intention of becoming a saint. Instead, she decides to sharpen her knife early and get rid of the ministers who oppose her every single day.
Many officials at court all have the same dream.
In the dream, it is all too real: the little emperor seated on the throne, with her rosy lips, fair teeth, and clever, charming face, will grow up to become a cruel and scheming tyrant.
The ministers all draw a deep breath, struggling to contain their fear.
We have to start while she's young. We absolutely cannot let Her Majesty go astray!
From then on,
The Grand Secretary lectures her on the classics from morning to night, teaching her to attend diligently to government affairs and welcome frank advice.
The Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard talks about Buddhist teachings with her all day, hinting that she should kill fewer living beings and accumulate more virtue.
Even the chief eunuch at her side takes every opportunity to tell her, "There is true affection everywhere in this world. You must always be kind."
Li Yueyao: "...?"
Under everyone's tireless, day-after-day education in love...
Has the little emperor turned evil today?
No.
Wonderful. Another beautiful and peaceful day.
Li Yueyao, the tyrant herself, ponders:
The ministers all seem to have gone mad, but not having them oppose me every day is actually rather nice.
The Minister of Personnel is in his prime, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is a strapping man, and the Grand Secretary has still got it...
Another difficult day of choices.
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