The Female Psychology PhD Who Time Traveled to the Royal Harem - Chapter 196: The Empress Lü committed suicide out of fear of punishment

Childhood, upbringing, family background, social relations, traumatic experiences…

We keep reviewing and seeking out the motives of criminals, exploring the subtlest emotions driving them. It’s not to put ourselves in their shoes and sympathize, or even forgive them; it’s not to find some reasons to exculpate their crimes; it’s not to kneel down before the so-called “complexity of human nature”; nor to introspect social conflicts, much less to alienate ourselves into monsters.

We just want to have a fair trial – for ourselves and for those who still have hope for the world.

A seme thug specialized in dealing with various kinds of disobedience vs. a cowardly and dissolute uke descended from a rich family

- Description from Novelupdates

What is the meaning of living hundreds of lives?Is it a curse or a hope? Murai grapples with the notion that his endless cycle of death and rebirth is an eternal torment. With no choice or voice, he finds himself like yet another pebble in a vast river of lives.Each death brings a new beginning—a new world awaiting. But this time, he awakens as a duck, complete with wings, a strange beak, and a little stature that doesn't please him.His Cursed Living has led him to this odd form, and though it seems bizarre, he is determined to discover what his tiny legs can achieve and how his mighty wings can confront the challenges ahead. Perhaps even the Gods who condemned him to this fate? Nay. They aren't everything and he knows it.Survival is paramount; the world wants his little life for numerous reasons, but every one of them is the same. He destroys. A strange voice echoes in his mind, whispering levels and abilities or rules about this world called the Battleworld. He accepts that, yet he yearns for revenge—a chance to reclaim his purpose amidst this silly absurdity of walking on two little flat feet.This world will witness his journey as a duck. All shall see his ascension!What can you expect from this novel that sounds ridiculous, as a duck sounds?- A stoic and long-term survival adventure in a high fantasy world with a non-human MC. - Fights, abilities, attributes, and skills and softer litrpg elements. There are 100 levels to beat, with a lot of systems underneath.- Gods and a big world that Boosts and plays with its citizens or almost anything alive, blessings or tricking them.- Some numbers go up. Xianxia and Progression Fantasy elements like magic, techniques, swordsmanship, and world-building. Cultivation and a big world full of mysteries.- MC, Murai, is a weird entity in the overall story. He is a numerous-time reincarnator so expect some shenanigans with it. Discover what he is on about, or who he is or used to be. I wouldn't necessarily call him OP. Sometimes he is, while other times not so much. So much for a duck...This will be a very long series of books, with 1st drafts in November 2023 going up to the 10th book which marks no end in view.

Ethan Blackwood wasn’t used to being defied. As the CEO of a global empire, he crushed obstacles with a single glance. But when Lily Anderson stood before him, her chin lifted in quiet defiance, and something in him snapped. “Sign the contract,” he said, his voice like ice. “30 days. You’ll obey every command. After that, you’re free.”She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she gripped the pen. “And if I refuse?”His smirk was cold, but his eyes burned. “Then you’ll spend the rest of your life paying off your father’s debts. Your choice.”Trapped, Lily signed. But she vowed one thing: she wouldn’t let him break her.From the first day, their clash was electric. He demanded perfection; she gave him rebellion. “You think you can control me?” she spat, after he criticized her for being late.Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “I don’t just control you. Lily, I own you.”But as the days passed, the lines between them blurred. Late nights in his penthouse turned into whispered conversations. His cold demeanor cracked, revealing glimpses of a man haunted by his past. One night, after a heated argument, he pinned her against the wall, his breath hot against her ear. “Why do you fight me so much?”Her voice trembled. “Because I’m afraid if I stop, I’ll lose myself to you.”Their connection deepened, but danger loomed. Secrets from Ethan’s past resurfaced, threatening to destroy everything. When Lily discovered the truth behind his obsession with her, she confronted him. “Was I just a pawn in your game? A way to settle an old score?”His eyes darkened with pain. “You were never just a game, Lily. You’re the only thing that’s ever felt real.”As the final days of their contract approached, their bond was tested like never before. Enemies closed in, and trust hung by a thread. Could they overcome the shadows of their pasts, or would their love crumble under the weight of secrets and pride?