If Heaven hadn't given birth to me, I would be arrogant.

Two days later, the students who had participated in the academy trials gradually returned, and the library became more and more crowded. Zong Ze had just sat down when he heard a crisp, cool voice: "Zong Ze, I knew you'd be here!"

"You're back?" Zong Ze didn't even turn his head, but simply moved aside to make room. With Zong Ze's current strength, he could tell someone was approaching just by their voice without even looking. "Hehe, did you get anything from your trip?"

"No!" Han Li plopped down next to Zong Ze, muttering under his breath, "With such a tagalong following you around like a fly, you can't even have a good mood. How can you expect to gain anything?"

"Don't be ungrateful!" Zong Ze laughed. "He's a fifth-level martial artist, and a prince of a great empire. He shamelessly follows you around as your protector. Others would be envious, but you're the only one who's so annoying. You call him a fly!"

"Tch!" Princess Hanli, who had been clutching an apple, took a big bite, making a crunchy sound. Hanli quickly covered her mouth and looked down, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention to her unseemly eating before raising her head!

"Whoever wants it can have it!" Hanli pouted. "I don't care, so what if he's a prince? I'm still a princess! Besides, it's like everyone knows about his deeds. He's only 21 years old, and I heard he already has the title of 'stud prince' in the Dragon Empire!"

"Shh!" Zong Ze quickly whispered, "I'm telling you, you're a princess, how can you say the word 'stud' in public like that?"

"That's for sure!" Han Li's cheeks flushed slightly. "It's not just me saying this. I heard he has dozens of mistresses in the capital city of Longteng right now! I find people like that disgusting, yet they're always following me around like flies."

"You can't say that!" Zong Ze smiled calmly, glanced around, and said softly, "At least they weren't following you today!"

"Huh!" Han Li exclaimed softly, puzzled. "It really is true today! No wonder I felt so good today. Turns out, that fly wasn't following me around! Oh, great God of Light, could it be that you finally heard my prayers?"

"Zongze...Zongze!"

Suddenly, a shout came from outside the library. Looking in the direction of the sound, a chubby boy ran in, panting, and said, "Quick...hurry up...Zheng..."

"Keep your voice down!" Zong Ze frowned. Over the years, as he had been issuing orders in the Shenji Camp, Zong Ze's aura had grown stronger and stronger. This soft shout carried a heavy sense of authority: "Don't you know this is a library? How can you shout like this in a place like this?"

"Oh!" The boy, also intimidated by Zongze's imposing presence, quickly nodded. After catching his breath, he whispered, "Zongze, you need to go to the Political Education Office right away. Director Fox needs to speak with you urgently!"

"The Political Education Department? Fox?" Zong Ze looked puzzled. "How come the director of our school's Political Education Department is also from the Fox family?"

"Hehe, you!" Princess Hanli chuckled, "Only you, you're already in third grade and still don't know who the head of the school's political education office is!"

"It's true that I'm a student at the school!" Zong Ze said innocently. "But firstly, I haven't been to school much. Secondly, as a student, is it necessary for me to know who the director of political education is? A student's primary task is to study, not to engage in political maneuvering!"

"Alright, alright! You're right!" Princess Hanli rolled her eyes at Zong Ze. "But you should be careful. My first impression of the Director of the Political Education Office looking for you isn't good. It feels like trouble is coming your way!"

"Oh?" Zongze asked curiously, "How come you have this feeling?"

"Didn't you just mention that you were wondering about the name of the Director of the Political Education Department?" Princess Hanli said, "His full name is Tes Fox. He is the younger brother of our Empire's current Minister of Finance, Lord Fox, and also the uncle of the little Fox you defeated!"

"Tess Fox is not only the director of the academy's political education department, but also an official of the Imperial Foreign Affairs Department. He usually handles dealings with other countries. The reason why Long Xiaotian was able to come to our academy this time was also because of his behind-the-scenes efforts!"

"How do you know?" Zong Ze asked curiously. "I don't think your father would tell you something like this. Where did you get it from?"

"From my maid!" Han Li chuckled. "Things in the palace aren't actually as you imagine. Don't be fooled by your constant shouting in the court; it won't be long before the content of your arguments reaches the inner palace!"

"Who says I don't know?" Upon hearing Han Li mention the intrigues and backstabbing in the imperial harem, Zong Ze's initially pleasant mood instantly turned cold. He immediately recalled his dying wish from his previous life: "If there is a next life, I don't want to be born into an imperial family again!"

"You know that? No way!" Han Li failed to detect the coldness in Zong Ze's tone: "This Director Fox has never had a good impression of you. During the time you haven't been to school, he has mentioned several times that he wants to expel you from the academy!"

"Him? Fire me?" Zong Ze sneered, "Let alone whether he has the qualifications, he can't even get past my old man's approval. If he really dares to fire me, my old man will beat him senseless!"

"You think they're all like you?" Han Li rolled his eyes. "They have the title of marquis, they're nobles after all. You can't just attack them like that."

"So what if he's a marquis?" Zong Ze's tone remained icy: "If you push me too far, I'll dare to beat him up too. I'm a marquis too. Others may be afraid of gossip, saying that nobles are fighting, but I'm not!"

“That’s right!” Princess Hanli’s eyes lit up. “I almost forgot, you’re also a marquis, and even more powerful than Director Fox. Yours is a hereditary marquisate, while his is a lifelong one!”

The two were chatting quietly, which made the chubby boy beside them very anxious: "Your Highness, General, can you two please stop chatting? The Director wants General Zong Ze to come over. You, General Zong Ze, are not afraid of him, but I am! If you are late, I will be the one who suffers!"

"Hehe!" Hearing the chubby boy's words, Han Li covered his mouth and chuckled, then nudged Zong Ze: "Go quickly, my General Zong Ze, otherwise I don't know if Marquis Fox will be anxious, but this chubby boy is really going crazy with worry!"