The morning sun swept across the polished pavilion floor in golden strokes as Tianyu woke up. For a moment, he blinked in confusion at the silk ceiling above him before realizing—this luxurious room was now his.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Young Master," came Mother Lian's voice through the door, "His Majesty requests your presence for breakfast before the welcoming ceremony."
Tianyu rubbed his sleepy eyes. "Alright, Mother Lian. I'll be ready soon," he replied, trying to untangle himself from the soft silk blanket.
His private bathroom—something he had never even imagined before—was already filled with warm water scented with jasmine flowers. Tianyu wrinkled his small nose as he dipped a finger into the marble bath.
"Excessive," he thought. Though his family had lived comfortably, such luxury felt unearned to him. He quickly cleaned himself, trying to ignore the gold-embroidered towel hanging beside the tub.
He swiftly donned his new academy uniform—a deep blue fabric trimmed with gold. On the left side of his chest, a silver-threaded dragon emblem shimmered in the morning light.
Xu Jiujiu was already seated at the long dining table when Tianyu arrived. The morning light bathed her perfectly flowing blonde hair. Her usually calm gaze shifted as she spotted Tianyu.
"Tianyu," she said as she stood and walked over, "what is this?" Her finger pointed at the messy knot of his tie.
"Ah, sorry, I'm not used to—"
Without another word, Xu Jiujiu gently fixed his tie. "You need to learn to be independent," she whispered, but her eyes sparkled warmly. "But for today, let big sister help."
Tianyu stared at her in awe. Beneath her status as a princess, there was something sincere in Xu Jiujiu's demeanor that made him feel a little more at ease.
The breakfast table was filled with a variety of dishes, neatly arranged and pleasing both in appearance and aroma.
A bowl of pearl porridge topped with red beans released a soft warmth, tempting with its chewy texture and natural sweetness.
Beside it, warm toast was served with fragrant seasonal fruit preserves, blending perfectly in every bite.
A cup of floral tea completed the morning atmosphere, releasing a gentle scent that calmed the mind and brought peace before the day began.
The attendants filled Tianyu's and Xu Jiujiu's plates according to their usual portions.
Tianyu looked at the food before him and felt it wasn't enough. His appetite had always been far above average—since childhood, he could finish meals equal to those of dozens of adults. But in a place this luxurious, he felt too embarrassed to show it.
Xu Jiujiu, sitting beside him, noticed his expression. "Is the portion too small?"
Tianyu flinched, his cheeks instantly flushing red. "Eh… n-no, I'm fine. This is enough, really…"
"It's okay, don't be shy." Xu Jiujiu waved at one of the attendants. "Bring a few more servings for Tianyu. Twelve bowls of porridge, eight slices of toast, and some fresh fruits, please."
The attendant looked briefly shocked but bowed and quickly went off. Xu Jiujiu simply smiled serenely. "If you need more, just let me know anytime."
Tianyu stared at the growing stack of dishes. He briefly wanted to stop the next attendant, but though guilt crept in, his grumbling stomach couldn't be denied.
"Thank you, Sister Jiujiu," he said softly.
Xu Jiujiu looked at him warmly. "Your mother told me you have a very big appetite. You're growing, Tianyu. Eat as much as you need. No one will judge you here."
Tianyu nodded, then began eating the extra servings enthusiastically. The sweet and savory red bean porridge filled his mouth, while the warm toast with fruity preserves gave a refreshing taste in every bite.
"Are you nervous about the ceremony later?" Xu Jiujiu asked while sipping her floral tea.
Tianyu chewed slowly, thinking about his answer. "A little. I don't know what to expect."
Xu Jiujiu smiled. "Don't worry. Today is just introductions and orientation. Tomorrow is when the placement tests begin."
Tianyu nodded, but his thoughts drifted to what the day might bring. Before him, the plates were slowly emptying one by one.
Xu Jiujiu only smiled faintly, then added teasingly, "If you eat like this every day, the palace kitchen might need to double its supplies."
Tianyu nearly choked. "T-that… I do eat a bit much…"
"You don't have to be embarrassed. I'm actually impressed. Eat proudly, Tianyu. Who knows—maybe your huge appetite is a sign of great strength in the future."
Tianyu smiled shyly, but there was a warmth blooming in his chest. Even though they had only met yesterday, Xu Jiujiu had treated him with such kindness.
After breakfast, the two of them got ready to head to the academy.
The fresh morning air greeted Tianyu and Xu Jiujiu as they stepped out of the pavilion. Since they were in an area that was usually off-limits to others, there weren't many students around. Only a few were visible, likely there on special errands or also residing in that part of the academy.
Once they exited the area, the number of students noticeably increased. The pathway leading to the main academy building was already filled with other students heading toward the welcoming ceremony.
Tianyu observed his surroundings with eyes that sparkled slightly. The grand buildings with marble pillars, well-manicured gardens, and statues of the academy's founders lined the path with an air of majesty. Everything seemed so vast and impressive to him.
However, it didn't take long for Tianyu to notice something else. Many eyes were on him—some filled with curiosity, others sparkling with thinly veiled interest.
"Look, that's the boy staying in the royal pavilion!"
"Is he really just an ordinary kid? He must have some special connection to the imperial family…"
Tianyu could hear the whispers, but he paid them no mind.
Xu Jiujiu initially wanted to offer him some comfort, but when she saw he remained unaffected, her opinion of Tianyu grew even more favorable. She felt he was even more worthy of being invested in.
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out from the main road. The sound of panicked horse hooves followed, accompanied by someone yelling:
"WATCH OUT!!"
Tianyu and Xu Jiujiu quickly turned their heads. A luxurious horse-drawn carriage was speeding down the narrow road, nearly hitting a female student who was walking casually while holding a book. The horses' wild eyes indicated they were either frightened or being driven too hard.
In a flash, a male student jumped forward and pulled the girl out of the way just before the carriage barreled past where they had been standing. The carriage screeched to a halt just a few meters later, nearly tipping over from the sudden stop.
The near crash broke the calm of the morning. From inside the extravagant carriage, a boy with golden hair jumped out, his face twisted in anger.
"How dare you damage my carriage!" he yelled at the student who had just saved the girl.
Tianyu studied him closely. The boy had striking features—golden hair that gleamed under the sunlight, sharp blue eyes like crystals, and a dark blue uniform adorned with a noble family crest on his chest.
Tianyu's gaze lingered on the golden-haired boy. The morning sunlight reflected perfectly off his flowing hair, while his crystalline blue eyes radiated fury. His deep blue uniform differed from the other students'—a noble insignia was pinned to the left side of his chest, indicating his elevated status.
Xu Jiujiu frowned beside him.
"You know him, Sister Jiujiu?" Tianyu asked softly.
"He's Dai Huabin," Xu Jiujiu answered with a sigh. "The second son of the White Tiger Duke. His family spoils him too much, so he's become arrogant and constantly causes trouble."
Her eyes narrowed as she watched Dai Huabin rage. "Ever since awakening his top-tier White Tiger Martial Soul and having an innate soul power of level 9, his bad attitude has only gotten worse. He's incredibly talented."
Xu Jiujiu then turned to Tianyu, a small smile forming on her lips. "But compared to you, he still falls far behind."
Dai Huabin stormed toward the student who had jumped in to help. "You think you're a hero?!" he shouted, pointing aggressively.
The student—a brown-haired teenager—replied with a flicker of fear in his eyes. "I-I was just trying to prevent an accident. Your carriage was going way too fast."
"And you dare lecture me?!" Dai Huabin roared, his hand already shifting into a claw. Soft white fur began to grow along his arm.
Tension immediately filled the area. Tianyu observed closely as the soft white fur spread along Dai Huabin's arm, while his nails lengthened into sharp claws. A fierce, beast-like aura began to radiate from his body.
The brown-haired teen wanted to release his Martial Soul as well, but he hesitated—Dai Huabin's identity made him wary.
"That's enough."
Xu Jiujiu's cold voice cut through the tension. The princess stepped forward, her robe fluttering gently. "The ceremony is about to begin. Do you really want to be punished on the first day?"
Dai Huabin trembled, realizing that Xu Jiujiu was a member of the imperial family. After awakening his Martial Soul, his mother had introduced him to many important figures in the empire—including the royal family.
Remembering that, the claws slowly withdrew, and his expression calmed.
"Fine," he growled. "I'll give the Princess face this time. But if this happens again… I'll destroy you."