Ya She

Chapter 37 Qingzhen Gui

Fusu's eyes were fixed on the bamboo slips in his hand, but his mind was not on them at all.

He looked up again at the silent palace gate, trying his best to suppress his fluctuating emotions.

Today is the day that boy comes to pay his respects to him.

Although his father said nothing, Fusu understood that this was a capable and trusted advisor whom his father had chosen, and that he was prepared for him.

But since that young man had already been appointed as a high-ranking official, and then quietly sent here to serve as a tutor, this back-and-forth might cause resentment in the young man.

Fusu lowered his head, stroking the bamboo slip in his hand, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Yes, this is another test from Father. If he can win over this young man, he will gain an extra ally. If he cannot, Father will deem him unfit to inherit the throne. To be a king, one must have the ability to manage one's subjects; otherwise, how can one be worthy of the title "king"?
You should know that his brothers have always been eyeing him covetously.

"Young Master, Minister Gan has arrived." The deep, gentle voice of the eunuch Gu Cun came from outside the palace gate.

Before Gu Cun spoke, Fu Su did not hear the slightest sound of clothes rustling, which meant that Gu Cun had been standing outside for a long time, deliberately delaying his announcement.

"Very good. As expected of the eunuch who took care of him since childhood, he perfectly understood his meaning." Fu Su lowered his eyes, hiding the smile in them. He laid out the bamboo slips on the table, lifted his sleeve, reached for a writing brush given to him by General Meng, dipped it in some black plaster, and slowly began to write on the bamboo slips.

Unlike the stiff and obscure writing on bamboo strips dipped in lacquer, the writing with rabbit hair brushes flowed smoothly and effortlessly. Fusu had already foreseen the revolutionary changes this brush would bring to the history of calligraphy. The style of writing he was now producing was already different from the uniform thickness of seal script; instead, it exhibited various variations depending on the direction of the brushstrokes.

In a good mood, Fusu wrote a few lines from the "Zhou Ji: Grand Minister of Rites" before slowly saying, "Announce."

"Yes, sir." Gu Cun responded and left outside the hall.

Before long, Fusu heard the clear, tinkling sound of jade rings coming from outside the palace.

The Book of Rites states: "When walking, one hears the sound of jade pendants; when riding in a carriage, one hears the sound of phoenix bells." A gentleman of high status would wear jade. The sound of jade pendants approaching from outside the palace indicates that the person is moving at a steady pace, clearly not showing any impatience or anxiety despite the long wait.

Fusu paused in his grip on the pen, but did not put it down. Even after the person entered the hall and bowed deeply to him, he did not respond.

The sounds in the hall fell silent again as the newcomer stood still. The tinkling of jade pendants ceased, and Fusu, listening to the other's steady breathing, calmly lowered the bamboo scroll.

Very good, he likes smart people the most.

Fusu stopped writing only after the last bamboo slip was filled with characters. He looked at his handwriting with satisfaction and then slowly raised his head.

The boy standing ramrod straight in the hall was now reflected in his curtain. Though called a boy, he wasn't quite there yet; his height was only slightly taller than a child with down-cut hair, and he looked about eighteen or nineteen. This boy, not yet of marriageable age, was dressed in the magnificent robes of a high-ranking official, like a child who had stolen an adult's clothes. Yet, his childish face was filled with composure and pride, making one want to laugh.

Fusu rubbed his temples, using the gesture to conceal the smile on his face. This boy certainly had reason to be proud; at only twelve years old, he had single-handedly traveled to the State of Zhao, allowing Qin to acquire the land of Hejian without firing a single shot. Even he, with his high self-esteem, couldn't guarantee he could achieve such a feat.

"Sit." Fu Su gestured to the table beside him, and the young man bowed slightly and sat down with neither arrogance nor servility.

"Minister Gan, do you harbor any resentment towards me?" Fusu asked bluntly, a smirk playing on the young man's lips. The boy's grandfather, Gan Mao, had been the Left Chancellor of Qin, but due to being ostracized, he fled Qin and eventually died in Wei. He was eager to know what kind of feelings this young man held towards Qin.

He needed to find out if the boy could be raised tame. If he was an ungrateful wolf cub, he wouldn't have the time to serve him.

"I have no complaints," the young man said calmly, keeping his eyes down.

"Then starting tomorrow, every day at dawn, you will enter the palace to serve as a tutor. Do you have any objections?" Fusu's voice slowed down. He wasn't actually much older than the boy. After his enlightenment, the person who influenced him the most was naturally his father. Therefore, in every aspect, he consciously or unconsciously imitated his father. Although there was no harshness in his voice, he gave people an unspeakable sense of pressure and authority.

"I will obey your command, young master." The young man replied in a measured tone, without the slightest reluctance. After readily agreeing, he straightened up, walked to Fusu's side, and respectfully said, "I may begin my studies today. Your handwriting is excellent, young master." His seemingly flattering words came out extremely naturally. He then sat down beside Fusu as if they were old friends, picked up the bamboo slips on the table, and carefully examined and admired them.

Fusu was quite taken aback by the boy's actions. He had intended to give the boy a hard time, but it was clear that the boy understood the situation better than he did.

"What you wrote, young master, is the 'Da Zong Bo' chapter of the Zhou Li (Rites of Zhou)." The young man was clearly knowledgeable and had a good memory; he guessed the source after only reading a few sentences. He then changed the subject, "Young master, did you write this because you were moved by something?"

Fusu looked up and found the young man's gaze fixed on the cabinet behind him. Fusu didn't need to turn around to know what the young man cared about. Lying quietly in the brocade box on the noble black silk was a blue jade tablet.

"Use the jade tablet to pay homage to the East." The boy's youthful voice read aloud the words on the bamboo slips: "Use jade to make a rough stone, to represent the states. The king holds the jade tablet. Zhen means peace, so that the four directions are at peace."

Fusu stopped writing only after the last bamboo slip was filled with characters. He looked at his handwriting with satisfaction and then slowly raised his head.

The boy standing ramrod straight in the hall was now reflected in his curtain. Though called a boy, he wasn't quite there yet; his height was only slightly taller than a child with down-cut hair, and he looked about eighteen or nineteen. This boy, not yet of marriageable age, was dressed in the magnificent robes of a high-ranking official, like a child who had stolen an adult's clothes. Yet, his childish face was filled with composure and pride, making one want to laugh.

Fusu rubbed his temples, using the gesture to conceal the smile on his face. This boy certainly had reason to be proud; at only twelve years old, he had single-handedly traveled to the State of Zhao, allowing Qin to acquire the land of Hejian without firing a single shot. Even he, with his high self-esteem, couldn't guarantee he could achieve such a feat.

"Sit." Fu Su gestured to the table beside him, and the young man bowed slightly and sat down with neither arrogance nor servility.

"Minister Gan, do you harbor any resentment towards me?" Fusu asked bluntly, a smirk playing on the young man's lips. The boy's grandfather, Gan Mao, had been the Left Chancellor of Qin, but due to being ostracized, he fled Qin and eventually died in Wei. He was eager to know what kind of feelings this young man held towards Qin.

He needed to find out if the boy could be raised tame. If he was an ungrateful wolf cub, he wouldn't have the time to serve him.

"I have no complaints," the young man said calmly, keeping his eyes down.

"Then starting tomorrow, every day at dawn, you will enter the palace to serve as a tutor. Do you have any objections?" Fusu's voice slowed down. He wasn't actually much older than the boy. After his enlightenment, the person who influenced him the most was naturally his father. Therefore, in every aspect, he consciously or unconsciously imitated his father. Although there was no harshness in his voice, he gave people an unspeakable sense of pressure and authority.

"I will obey your command, young master." The young man replied in a measured tone, without the slightest reluctance. After readily agreeing, he straightened up, walked to Fusu's side, and respectfully said, "I may begin my studies today. Your handwriting is excellent, young master." His seemingly flattering words came out extremely naturally. He then sat down beside Fusu as if they were old friends, picked up the bamboo slips on the table, and carefully examined and admired them.

Fusu was quite taken aback by the boy's actions. He had intended to give the boy a hard time, but it was clear that the boy understood the situation better than he did.

"What you wrote, young master, is the 'Da Zong Bo' chapter of the Zhou Li (Rites of Zhou)." The young man was clearly knowledgeable and had a good memory; he guessed the source after only reading a few sentences. He then changed the subject, "Young master, did you write this because you were moved by something?"

Fusu looked up and found that the boy's gaze was fixed on the cabinet behind him. Fusu didn't need to turn around to know what the boy was concerned about.

Lying quietly in the brocade box on that piece of noble black silk was a blue jade tablet.

"Use the jade tablet to pay homage to the East." The boy's youthful voice read aloud the words on the bamboo slips: "Use jade to make a rough stone, to represent the states. The king holds the jade tablet. Zhen means peace, so that the four directions are at peace."

The Zhen Gui (镇圭) is decorated with the four sacred mountains (the character cannot be typed in a dictionary and is not found to have the "王" radical, not the "竹" radical) on its surface. The gui is one foot and two feet long. The emperor wears his crown and holds the Zhen Gui, also to pacify and secure the four directions. The blue Zhen Gui can be said to represent the emperor's ceremonial duties.

The boy's gaze irresistibly shifted from the bamboo slips to the Qingzhen Gui, which he could almost identify from the seal script patterns on it as the Qingzhen Gui passed down through generations of Zhou Dynasty emperors.

Why would such an important jade tablet be with Prince Fusu? Did the King of Qin obtain it from somewhere and then bestow it upon him as a reward?
The boy's clear pupils narrowed slightly as he considered this. Did this mean that the King of Qin had already chosen his successor?
Fusu did not turn around, nor did he look at the expression on the boy's face. He had deliberately placed this Qingzhen jade tablet here, as a way of showing the boy his rightful and bright future.

Although his father's act of bestowing the Qingzhen Gui upon him was largely one of the emperor's tests, such as making his younger brothers envious and anxious, to the point that they tried to trip him up, this did not prevent him from using this ritual object to act arrogantly and powerfully.

Fusu picked up another blank bamboo scroll, slowly spread it out on the table, picked up the rabbit hair brush again, and asked in a low voice, "What is a gui and what is a niece?"

"The gui (圭) is composed of two earthen stones. The nie (臬) is composed of two wooden stones. The method of using the earth gui and water nie is to measure the depth of the soil, measure the shadow of the sun, determine the four seasons, and find the center of the earth. Setting up the gui and nie, observing the stars and measuring the earth, is the foundation of establishing a country."

After a moment of surprise, the boy answered methodically. The jade tablet and the golden gui (圭) were once commonplace objects, but they were essential tools used to survey and measure land before building a city. Over time, they acquired supreme symbolism and significance, even giving rise to the saying "jade tablet and golden gui."

Fusu's pen began to fall on the bamboo slips, but that didn't stop him from multitasking. He continued to ask, "Then what is a standard?"

The boy didn't answer immediately this time, because a word doesn't just have a literal meaning; for example, measurement, balance, and plumb line. He watched Fusu write elegantly, pondered for a moment, and then cautiously and slowly said, "Laws, rules."

Fusu didn't even blink, continuing his relentless questioning: "Then what are laws and regulations? What are rules? Are they the words of the ruler? The words of the wise? Or the words of the sage?"

The young man was stunned by the question, never expecting to be asked such a tricky one. Even if he could talk about it for more than half an hour, he knew that what the young master wanted was not such a perfunctory answer.

After a long silence, Fusu was satisfied with the boy's reaction. He still didn't look up, but simply instructed, "You may return today, Minister. Please be on time at dawn tomorrow."

These words were spoken lightly, yet they carried an irresistible force.

The boy then realized he had overstepped his bounds. The young master had just explained that he would be entering the palace for a trial reading the following day, and he was not qualified to sit here today.

He was immediately drenched in cold sweat inside his brocade robe, and respectfully bowed his head to take his leave.

Even as the young man retreated to the outside of the hall, Fusu did not raise his head to look at him once. Only after writing the last page on the bamboo slip on the table did Fusu put down his pen and let out a long sigh.

You really did a great job planting a seed of doubt in the other person's heart today.

Sooner or later, this seed will take root, sprout, and eventually grow into a towering tree, never to be uprooted from my heart.

Fu Su touched his smooth chin, and the composure he had been feigning on his still youthful and handsome face completely crumbled, revealing a smug expression.

No wonder he rehearsed so many times!
Although Fusu was looking at military intelligence, most of his attention was on the boy beside him who was arranging bamboo slips.

This outwardly respectful but inwardly incredibly arrogant young man had been his tutor for some time. The more Fusu interacted with him, the more astonished he became by his profound knowledge, and the more curious he became about his teacher. Thinking of the recent rumors circulating in the palace, even knowing that someone had ulterior motives, Fusu still felt uneasy.

Ultimately, if you truly want to make someone your confidant, there's no need to hide your thoughts from them.

But how do I ask that question?

Fusu then pretended to peruse the military intelligence in his hands. This intelligence was delivered to King Zheng of Qin by fast horse, who would then order a copy to be sent to him immediately. The purpose was not to cultivate any extraordinary insights in this still-unmarried prince Fusu, but rather to subtly nurture his governing abilities.

Just as Fusu couldn't help but shift his gaze from the bamboo scroll filled with intelligence to the boy beside him, he suddenly noticed that the boy had turned his head, and their eyes met. Fusu resisted the urge to look away and stared intently at him.

The boy's still-childish face remained calm as he spoke indifferently, "If you wish to inquire about the rumors circulating in the palace, please feel free to ask."

Fusu naturally coveted such an opportunity. He put down the bamboo slips in his hand and asked in a deep voice, "I have heard that you were once a retainer of the criminal Lü Buwei. Is this true?"

The young man's thin lips curled into a disdainful smile as he slowly said, "You actually believe that, young master? How old was I when Prime Minister Lü left? How could there be any talk of me being a retainer?"

Fusu naturally knew that such rumors were absurd, but there's no smoke without fire. He seized the opportunity to continue asking the question that had been bothering him: "Your grandfather once left the Qin state and his fief was taken away. Where did you live then?" Fusu carefully chose each word, afraid of offending anyone.

Despite being so cautious, the boy's expression stiffened slightly upon hearing this. His hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists, and he lowered his eyes, concealing his emotions. "After my grandfather passed away, the Gan family was like a collapsing building, doomed to ruin. I was fortunate to be taken in by my master, which is why I am where I am today."

"Master?" Fusu raised an eyebrow, making no attempt to hide his interest in the master the boy spoke of. To be able to train a child into a high-ranking official in Qin, one must be incredibly talented.

The young man pursed his lips, as if hesitating about something, and after a long while he said with difficulty, "My master was once a guest of Prime Minister Lü, but he was just a casual person who sought elixirs and medicines."

Fusu was taken aback, only then realizing that the rumor actually had some basis in reality. He then noticed that the young man consistently referred to Lü Buwei as "Prime Minister Lü," indicating that although there was no direct connection between them, the young man was definitely not the type to belittle the weak and flatter the strong.

Seeing the boy's blank expression, which couldn't hide his nervousness, Fusu couldn't help but laugh and say, "It's alright. Back then, most of the three thousand retainers under Prime Minister Lü were just mediocre people." After saying that, he felt something was off. Wasn't he implying that the boy's master was a mediocre person?

As expected, seeing the boy's face darken, Fusu knew better than to ask about his master anymore. However, knowing that such a person existed was enough; he could report it to his father, and they would eventually find him. Fusu shamelessly pretended that his previous words were meaningless. After all, his father's countless teachings had taught him that those in power needed to be thick-skinned.

"Your master only has one disciple, you?" Fusu swore that he had only asked casually because he couldn't stand the suffocating atmosphere in the hall, and he definitely didn't want to trick anyone into revealing information.

The boy's expression had returned to normal, and he answered respectfully and methodically, "Before my master came to Qin, he had a disciple. I have heard my master mention him several times, but I have never met him. That senior brother should be in the State of Zhao."

Fusu caught a glimpse of the military intelligence in his hand out of the corner of his eye and chuckled, "The Zhao state is now history." With that, he handed the bamboo slips to the boy.

Taking advantage of Zhao's consecutive years of natural disasters, Qin launched another attack. Li Mu, the Marquis of Wu'an, led troops to meet them. Having guarded the border for many years and defeated Qin several times, Wang Jian, instead of directly confronting him, used a divisive tactic against King Qian of Zhao. Li Mu's achievements overshadowed the king's, and King Qian had long harbored suspicion towards him. With the divisive tactic in place, King Qian stripped Li Mu of his military command. Li Mu, burdened by the Qin army pressing at the front, refused to relinquish command, believing that a general in the field could sometimes disobey orders. This further unsettled King Qian, who ordered Li Mu's secret arrest and the seizure of his tiger tally.

"King Qian of Zhao has crippled himself! Lord Wu'an is foolishly loyal." Fusu tapped the table lightly with his index finger, beginning to consider whether to save Li Mu, the peerless general. But this was a question his father had likely considered as well. Of the four great generals of the Warring States period, Bai Qi, Wang Jian, Lian Po, and Li Mu, Qin and Zhao each possessed two. But Bai Qi was dead, and Lian Po was old, leaving only Wang Jian and Li Mu. Now, it was probably too late. Li Mu's prestige in Zhao was likely higher than King Qian's. If King Qian didn't act, he wouldn't act rashly; but if he did, it would be with overwhelming force.

Even someone as foolish as King Qian of Zhao would probably understand the principle that things can change quickly.

Fusu's gaze fell on the boy beside him. He saw that the boy had just finished reading the bamboo slip and looked up. The moment their eyes met, they knew that they had thought about the same thing and fell silent about the end of this generation's famous general.

No one would call Wang Jian despicable. The art of sowing discord has been used with masterful skill since ancient times. They were on opposing sides, and Wang Jian merely bribed the treacherous minister Guo Kai with gold and silver, thus sparing the Qin soldiers from battle—a great achievement. Moreover, if King Zhao had trusted Li Mu as much as King Zheng of Qin trusted Wang Jian, this situation likely wouldn't have occurred.

The boy was somewhat dejected. He stroked the patterns on the bamboo slips and sighed softly, "What are laws? What are rules? Are they the words of kings? The words of wise men? Or the words of sages?"

Fusu was taken aback by what he heard. He hadn't expected that the boy would remember the words he had spoken when they first met.

"Rules are divided into the rules of Heaven and the rules of humanity. Clear springs flow from high to low, and the sun, moon, and stars rise in the east and set in the west. These are the rules of Heaven, which are beyond human power to achieve. We do not dare to hope for them."

Fusu turned around, picked up the box containing the Qingzhen jade from behind him, and placed it on the table. He wanted to touch the jade's surface, but restrained himself and withdrew his hand, clenching it into a fist. He was not yet the king, so he had no right to pick up that Qingzhen jade.

"How much military power, how much tax, how much coinage—these are the rules of humanity."

Therefore, the rules should be those spoken by the ruler and father.

Fusu took a deep breath, looked down at Qing Zhengui in front of him, and said calmly, "This world has been in chaos for too long, and someone should establish new rules."

He didn't say it aloud, but the boy understood what he meant.

With the fall of Han and the imminent collapse of Zhao, the unification of the six states by Qin is just around the corner.

The rules of this world should be set by the most supreme person!

Fusu sat calmly in the palace, awaiting the latest battle reports. Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin, though not with his full strength, had enraged the king and shaken the world. King Zheng of Qin dispatched General Wang Jian to lead an army to attack Yan. The day when the Yan capital, Ji, would fall was imminent.

Even though almost a year has passed, Fusu still feels lingering fear whenever he recalls that perilous moment in the main hall of Xianyang Palace.

Jing Ke presented Fan Yuqi's head and a map of the Dukang region of Yan to his father, the king. No one expected that the map would reveal a dagger. The king's decree forbade ministers from carrying weapons to court, leading to utter chaos. Although the king had a sword and many ministers desperately tried to stop him, Jing Ke was slashed eight times before finally collapsing to the ground.

Fusu touched his right wrist. He had reflexively tried to rush out, but the person behind him held his wrist tightly. He had never imagined that such a small body could contain such great strength.

Even after Jing Ke was dismembered, the other man never let go of his hand. Fusu smiled bitterly; perhaps he was the most despicable one. How much strength could a teenager possibly have? If he truly wanted to break free, how could he not?
He overthought things in a moment of reflection.

If his father were truly assassinated, then he would ascend the throne—was that what the boy thought of in that instant? That's why he was unwilling to let him take the risk.

Afterwards, the boy went to his father to apologize, taking full responsibility for not standing up to protect him and willingly accepting punishment.

He couldn't explain or say anything.

The only option is to remain silent.

The familiar, clear sound of jade pendants clinking came from outside the palace gate. Before the other person could speak, Fusu said first, "Bizhi, come in."

"Young Master, the capital of Yan, Jijing, has fallen. King Xi of Yan and Crown Prince Dan have fled to Liaodong and are hiding behind the Yan River. King Xi of Yan has beheaded Crown Prince Dan and presented him to the King of Qin." Before they even entered the palace, the young man's clear voice rang out, clearly eager to speak.

Fusu frowned upon hearing this. Although he hated Crown Prince Dan to the core, they served different masters and held different positions, so he didn't find anything wrong with the other's actions. Assassinating the most important person in the enemy's ranks to defuse the crisis was the simplest and most brutal political solution. If Crown Prince Dan had succeeded in his attack, then even if he had ascended the throne, the Qin state would have been in complete disarray.

After all, he was too young, and the Qin state had become a target of public criticism due to its great power. If his father really went west, even the states that had already been destroyed would immediately rise up and rise again.

It is truly lamentable that such a discerning and talented individual would die at the hands of his own father, King Xi of Yan. Fusu recalled that many years ago, he had had several encounters with Prince Dan of Qin, who was a hostage there, but now everything had changed, and his gaze darkened slightly.

Everyone will die, but who wouldn't cherish such a beautiful and vibrant world?

Fusu sighed as he thought about how his father had started summoning alchemists in recent years. He had never imagined that his tutor was actually an alchemist. Although the alchemist had only stayed in the palace for a year before going on a spiritual journey, perhaps his unintentional introduction back then had led to the current and even future situation that was on the verge of getting out of control.

Although it was only a moment of distraction, a thousand thoughts had already raced through Fusu's mind, and the expression on his handsome face remained unchanged.

He had become accustomed to hiding his thoughts from others; it had gradually become an instinct, even when facing his closest attendants.

The boy before him was also gradually transforming as he grew up. He no longer wore a stern face, stubbornly clinging to his pride. Instead, his features softened, replaced by a kind smile. Anyone who saw him for the first time would perceive him as a handsome young man, giving off an incredibly approachable feeling. However, Fusu knew that the boy, like him, had also learned to wear a mask, carefully burying his thoughts deep within his heart.

Taking the bamboo slip from the boy, Fusu carefully examined it again. When he looked up, he noticed the boy staring intently at the Qingzhen jade tablet on the table. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Bizhi, is there something wrong?"

Since Qing Zhengui placed the box on the table last time, he has never returned it. Now, when no one is around, he has secretly touched the cold surface of the box a few times.

The young man bit his lower lip, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke: "According to Qin law, officials attending the emperor in the palace are not allowed to carry any weapons. All the palace guards carrying weapons must be placed below the emperor and may not approach without an imperial edict. The rule established by the King of Qin almost killed him. How exactly should this rule be established?"

Fusu put down the bamboo slip in his hand and quietly pondered amidst the rising smoke from the incense burner.

This question had clearly been on the young man's mind for a long time. Now that he had started, he continued speaking eloquently: "According to the military report, all the ministers and nobles of Yan, except for Crown Prince Dan, were spared. There was no killing during the conquest of Han, Zhao, Wei, and Chu; King Qin's actions were benevolent. Now, only Qi remains of the six states, and unification of the world is just around the corner. However, I fear that the nobles of the six states will not be content with this and will surely become a source of trouble in the future." He paused, then said firmly, "The throne is stained with blood. King Qin should let those people know that it's either submission or death."

A thoughtful look crossed Fusu's eyes; he had vaguely considered this question before. However, his father's lack of widespread killing was something he, a student of the great Confucian scholar Chunyu Yue, largely agreed with. The core of Confucianism was the concept of "benevolence, righteousness, and propriety" proposed by Confucius, three words Fusu strongly agreed with. Having frequently debated with the boy, he knew this was a topic for today. Fusu pondered carefully, a smile playing on his lips; he was quite pleased that the boy had begun to learn to question.

Only by questioning all the rules that exist in this world can we establish the rules in our own hearts; this is a sign of growth.

Everyone has their own version of Cheong Jin-gyu in their heart.

Some people completely copy the appearance and shape of others, while others prefer to sculpt their own.

The eunuch Gu Cunjing quietly entered the hall, presented two bowls of still steaming lotus seed soup, placed them gently on the table, and then silently backed away.

Fusu watched the rising steam of the lotus seed soup, slowly stirring it with a spoon. Seeing the tender white lotus seeds bobbing in the lacquer bowl, Fusu smiled faintly and said, "Having finished, sit down. Do you know about the Battle of Changzhang between Bai Qi and others?"

The boy was taken aback, then nodded and sat down beside Fusu. The two of them never cared about hierarchy in private, so the boy naturally picked up another bowl of lotus seed soup, and despite the heat, tasted it himself before placing the bowl that Fusu had tasted in front of him.

This was not an act of taking advantage of favor, but rather a test of poison for Fusu.

Although the boy had done this action countless times, Fusu couldn't help but laugh at himself inwardly.

The act of serving as a tutor is actually a way of testing poison, isn't it?
Such measures had naturally been taken by other eunuchs before being presented. But the young man was always worried, and no matter how much Fusu tried to persuade him, it was no use. He always claimed that he had studied various arts and crafts with his master since childhood, and that he was quite knowledgeable in the field of herbs and poisons.

Fusu became increasingly dazed as he thought about it, until the boy had already eaten most of another bowl of lotus seed soup. Only then did he come back to his senses and continue the previous topic: "Bai Qi is ranked first among the four great generals of the Warring States period, all because of the Battle of Changping. In this battle, Bai Qi defeated the Zhao army and buried alive more than 400,000 surrendered Zhao soldiers, shocking the world. Although he greatly enhanced the prestige of Qin, he did not contribute in any way to the unification of the country."

Bai Qi led his troops to countless victories, annihilating over a million soldiers from the six states and conquering approximately ninety cities of varying sizes. He was undefeated throughout his life and revered as a god of war by the people of Qin and even other states. One could even say that Bai Qi was practically a god in Qin, surpassing even the King of Qin in some respects. For Fusu to dare question Bai Qi's strategic acumen would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar if word got out.

Seeing the boy holding the bowl and deep in thought, Fusu didn't spell it out. He knew the boy would understand.

Sure enough, not long after, the young man sighed softly, "So that's how it is."

Fusu nodded in satisfaction. Bai Qi's killing of over 400,000 surrendered soldiers certainly caused Zhao's sudden decline and stagnation after adopting the nomadic-style cavalry tactics, but it also instilled a sense of shared vulnerability and hatred in the other six states. If those 400,000 surrendered soldiers knew they were doomed, who would willingly lay down their arms and surrender? Even if they died, they would try to take someone down with them. Therefore, for a long time, Qin's attempts to conquer other states encountered extremely fierce resistance.

"No wonder," the boy murmured, and he understood why King Zheng of Qin did not kill the kings and ministers after conquering a country; it was also for the sake of the great cause of unification.

"Father's actions may pose some risks in the short term, but if our powerful Qin continues, the remaining tribes of the six states will be no threat," Fusu said calmly, his words exuding an air of nonchalant authority.

The boy's eyes still held worry, but he said nothing more. Instead, he silently finished the lotus seed soup in his bowl, then looked up and smiled at Fusu, saying, "This soup is fine, you can use it."

Fusu then picked up the spoon, took a sip of the now-cold soup, and appeared completely unconcerned, but in reality, he was extremely displeased.

Is this kid deliberately trying to prevent him from eating hot food, or is he just messing with him?
Fusu stood at the shooting range, first taking the bone thumb ring handed to him by his companion and putting it on his thumb, then taking a purple yew wood horn bow and a white falcon feather arrow. He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, turned his left shoulder to the target, and narrowed his eyes to calm his mind.

He raised his hand, nocked the arrow, drew the bow, and pulled the string. Every movement was executed with unparalleled fluidity and ease, elegant and pleasing to the eye, revealing his refined demeanor in every gesture.

"Whoosh—" The arrow shot towards the bullseye, passing right through the target. Even without checking, Fusu knew that the force should have been just enough to make the white arrowhead just appear behind the target.

"White arrows." A bunch of arrows were handed to Fusu from behind.

Fusu picked up three arrows and fired them in quick succession without stopping. Every arrow hit its mark, and the arrows flew one after another, forming a chain that looked like a single arrow.

"Company Commander." The boy's voice was tinged with praise, while his gaze swept over the timid little boy standing beside the target, his eyes carrying a cold warning.

Fusu picked up another arrow, nocked it on the string, stared at it for a long time, and then slowly released it.

The arrow was shot upwards, with its fletching and tip not on the same horizontal plane. It traveled slowly and steadily, eventually hitting the bullseye.

"Sharpening." The boy's tone was filled with undisguised admiration. He could also do the first two archery techniques, but this sharpening was the most difficult. The previous white arrows and continuous arrows were fast enough that the wind direction was not a decisive factor. The sharpening required finding the right angle and making a correct judgment of the wind direction, and the boy admitted that he could not do it perfectly yet.

"Xiang Chi," Fu Su said calmly, glancing briefly at the little boy who had moved even closer, before looking away without lingering.

"Xiang Chi, when a subject shoots with his lord, he should not stand side by side with him, but should yield a foot." The young man stood a foot behind Fusu, drew his bow and nocked an arrow, perfectly imitating Fusu's movements. With a crisp clang of the bowstring, the arrow left the string and flew away, hitting the bullseye cleanly and precisely.

"Good," Fusu praised with a slight smile.

The young man respectfully put away his bow and stood up, then presented Fusu with four more arrows.

Archery, one of the Six Arts of the Gentleman, consists of five types: White Arrow, Continuous Shot, Sharp Arrow, Frame Shot, and Well Shot. Well Shot involves shooting four arrows in succession. Fusu puts down his bow and stands there. The young man looks at the four arrows that hit the bullseye, arranged in a pattern resembling the character "井" (well).

"Young master's archery skills are superb, I admire them greatly." After saying this, the young man waved his hand, and the guard beside him was about to run to the target and take the ten arrows from the bullseye. But before the guard could move, the little boy who had been watching from the side ran over first, laboriously stood on tiptoe and took down all the arrows, then ran back.

Seeing this, Fusu smiled slightly, took another quiver, and handed it to the boy, saying, "A gentleman does not contend. If he must, he will shoot. He will bow as he ascends and drink as he descends. Such a contest is that of a gentleman. Now that you have finished, it is your turn."

The young man pursed his lips, not bothering to remind his master that he was saying things he already knew, but instead deliberately raised his voice, clearly intending to make sure someone heard him.

Picking up the boxwood bow, the boy switched places with Fusu. Just as he was about to draw his bow and shoot an arrow, Fusu reached out and helped him adjust his posture, while also instructing him on where to apply force, where to draw the string, and how to shoot a powerful and accurate arrow.

The boy's eyebrows twitched slightly. Even if his archery skills were not as good as his young master's, he was not a beginner. Was it really necessary to be like this?
Thinking back to how Fusu always reads aloud in class recently, it must be related to the little boy who always eavesdrops under the window.

However, the young prince Hu Hai was forbidden by the King of Qin from reading, writing, and practicing martial arts. This was an unspoken understanding among everyone in the palace. Although the eldest prince's actions would not disobey the King of Qin's orders, it would be bad if someone found a pretext to use it against him.

"Young master, you have broken the rules," the young man said in a low voice as Fusu leaned over to instruct him on his posture.

"Rules? Who calls them rules?" Fusu smiled, his tone extremely sarcastic. He was past the age of idolizing his father and had begun to question every order his father issued. Although he couldn't openly disobey, he could still subtly comply. Because there were many eyes and ears in public, Fusu didn't explain much, simply saying, "He is my brother."

The boy said nothing more, his expression stiff as he allowed Fusu to manipulate him as a teaching example.

The little boy, who was standing to the side holding the arrow, secretly moved a little closer.

Fusu sat among the army commanders, wiping his bronze jade-pommel sword, which had been with him for many years, with a cloth while glancing occasionally at the young man who was deep in thought beside him.

"Bizhi, you should return to Xianyang. I am safe here under General Meng's care," Fusu said calmly, staring at the diamond-shaped pattern on the sword.

Time flies like water. Of course, the boy has grown into a young man, his father has become the emperor, and he has gone from a young master to the eldest young master. But when he is with Bi Zhi, his self-reference has changed from "I, the Lonely One" to "I, the Sovereign." Fu Su stroked the sword and smiled slightly. He knew what his companion was struggling with.

A letter arrived from Xianyang today. The Prince of Yiyang, surnamed Gan, is critically ill, and he has summoned his son back to Xianyang to attend to him. However, Bi Zhi is worried about leaving him alone in Shangjun, and is therefore in a dilemma.

Seeing that the young man was still silent, Fusu sighed and said, "This matter is still my fault. If I had followed Father Emperor, I would not have been demoted here, and you would have had to go with me."

"The eldest son has been thoroughly defeated." A bitter smile appeared on the young man's handsome face. At a banquet after the First Emperor returned to Xianyang Palace, Chunyu Yue disagreed with the prefecture-county system promoted by the First Emperor and suggested implementing a feudal system following the Zhou rites. This suggestion was refuted by Li Si and displeased the First Emperor, directly leading to Chunyu Yue's dismissal. As his disciple, Fusu submitted a memorial strongly opposing this matter and was thus sent by the First Emperor to Shangjun to serve as the supervisor of Meng Tian's army.

Fusu's gaze fell on the Qingzhen Gui lying quietly on the table, and he sighed as if he were feeling something, "Then what are laws? What are rules? Are they what the ruler and father say? What are the wise men say? Or what are the sages say?"

The young man remained silent, his delicate brows furrowing deeply.

Fusu snorted and said coldly, "Rules are meant to be followed by some and broken by others. But those who are incapable of breaking the rules but dare to challenge them will only end up being crushed to pieces."

The young man called out anxiously, his worry evident in his voice.

Fusu waved his hand, composed himself, and said calmly, "Bi Zhi, when you return to Xianyang this time, please also help me check on the situation there. I am trapped in Shangjun, which is extremely disadvantageous as it keeps me hidden from everyone."

A myriad of emotions flashed across the young man's face, finally settling into a sigh. He bowed his head reverently and said, "Your Highness, please take care."

Fusu nodded, knowing that the young man would only address him as "Your Highness" when his attitude was extremely solemn.

As he watched the young man back away from the military tent until his figure disappeared from his sight, Fusu couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

This companion, personally sent by his father, has been by his side for many years.

Knowing his life is already longer than not knowing his life.

Fusu curled his lips into a smile, wiped his sword, sheathed it, and casually picked up the green jade tablet on the table.

With a slight bend of his index finger, Fusu flicked the cool surface of the jade tablet, listening to the clear, crisp sound it made. He murmured to himself, "Old friend, now you're all I have left."

Fusu opened his eyes, smelling the light and elegant scent of Yue Lin Xiang, and stared at the plain white ceiling, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

Only then did he realize that the farewell in the military tent was actually the last time he and Bi Zhi would see each other.

Are rules really that hard to break? He failed, and so did Hu Hai.
"Brother, you're awake?" Hu Hai had been watching over Fusu by the bedside. Seeing him open his eyes, he immediately leaned over with concern.

"Hmm." Fusu responded briefly, then closed his eyes again before gradually regaining his senses.

Hu Hai extinguished the incense burner holding the Moon-Scale Incense, then opened the windows and turned on the air conditioner to let fresh air into the room. Looking at his elder brother's crimson eyes, he saw a hint of worry. Moon-Scale Incense was a special incense used by the Tang Dynasty emperors, made primarily with Moon-Scale Incense, plus a small amount of galangal, patchouli, and ligusticum, creating a unique fragrance that could influence dreams. However, its use could cause minor side effects, easily affecting one's mood.

Fusu took a deep breath of the cool air, feeling slightly better. He had been using Moonscale Incense to fall asleep lately, hoping to influence Bi Zhi's dreams and make him remember the past. Had Bi Zhi relived those dreams with him just now?

Fusu simply sighed and closed his eyes. No matter how much Yue Lin Xiang he used, the life he could recall was still very short.

Yes, what else could he possibly resent? Bi Zhi's life spanned over two thousand years, while the time he spent here was merely a negligible ten or so years.

"Brother Emperor?" Hu Hai pursed his lips and called out with concern.

Fusu waved his hand to indicate that he was fine. After a long while, he slowly opened his mouth and said, "Take that piece of Qingzhen jade to him."

Hu Hai was taken aback upon hearing this. Although his elder brother had not specified who "he" was, how could he possibly mistake him?

Despite having countless questions in his mind, Hu Hai nodded and said, "Yes, Your Majesty." The doctor, with his rabbit ears perked up, looked at the Qingzhen Gui in the delivery box with a puzzled expression. The shopkeeper had just told him just how precious this thing was. Recalling the matter of retrieving the Immunity Token at the auction, the doctor asked in confusion, "Sir, why do I feel like Fusu is helping you suppress the Qiankun Array? Not only is he not stopping you from getting the Immunity Token back, but he's even sent you the eleventh imperial antique!"

The shopkeeper stroked the cool, jade-like surface of the Qingzhen jade. These past few days, the memories of that distant era had repeatedly resurfaced in his dreams, making him miss this piece of Qingzhen jade terribly. He was so engrossed that he didn't even hear what the doctor was saying.

After the doctor asked again, the boss sighed and said wistfully, "Because he knows I would have a hard time making the decision to bury the twelfth imperial antique, so he simply left the rest to me."

"The twelfth imperial antique? You've found it? What is it?" the doctor asked impatiently.

The boss lowered his eyes and touched the crimson dragon robe he was wearing.

The doctor didn't understand what it meant at first, but after suddenly realizing it, he was speechless.

　small theater
　　Hu Hai: Your Majesty, why are you always sitting down when you appear in public?

　　Fusu:
　　Hu Hai: Cough, it's nothing. I'll go order takeout for my brother. What would you like to eat today?
　　Fusu: Crab roe soup dumplings, crystal shrimp dumplings, char siu buns
　　Hu Hai (taking out his phone): So it turns out my brother was a homebody all along.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)