Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

"wrong."

Zhou Wenqing casually slapped Hu Hai's raised forehead and said irritably.

"You shouldn't talk nonsense if you don't understand. What do you mean by 'not a boy' or 'not a boy'? What skill in the world can't be learned by doing? If you spend your days indulging in eating and playing, and don't learn anything, you'll achieve nothing when you grow up and will inevitably be laughed at by others."

"Mr. Zhou, why did you hit my head again?" Hu Hai immediately deflated, clutching his forehead and saying pitifully, "What if you make me stupid from hitting me?"

"Don't worry, you won't get any dumber." Yin Man immediately added insult to injury, her tone light: "You're already dumber than you can possibly be."

"you--"

Hu Hai was so angry that his face turned red. He stomped his feet and turned to Zhou Wenqing to complain.

"Mr. Zhou, look at her! Didn't you say that an older brother should give way to his younger brother? She's always bullying me!"

"You're stupid, but you won't admit it."

Yin Man stood with her hands on her hips and her chin raised.

"Am I your brother? I'm clearly your sister!"

"You're awful!" Hu Hai, tongue-tied and unable to out-argue Yin Man, immediately invoked his powerful backer, "I'll go back and tell my father, and he'll teach you a lesson!"

"Go ahead! Go ahead! Father loves me the most, he won't scold me because of you, hehehe!" Yin Man stuck out her tongue, her face full of pride and disdain.

"You're lying! You, you, you liar! Just wait, I'll tell my father..."

Zhou Wenqing sighed as he watched the two bickering lovers about to start fighting again, and looked at Fusu with a hint of helplessness: "Are they like this in front of your father too?"

Fusu smiled bitterly and rubbed his forehead, feeling that all the family's dirty laundry was about to be exposed.

He stepped forward and stood between the two men: "Hu Hai, stop making a scene. Why are you always acting like a child?"

Hu Hai pouted, snorted defiantly, and turned his head to the side.

Fusu then turned to Yin Man: "And you, Yin Man, stop teasing Hu Hai all the time."

"I didn't, he's just stupid," Yinman muttered defiantly.

"I'm not stupid, you're talking nonsense! I hate you, I'm going to make Father marry you off to the farthest place!"

Hu Hai, his eyes red with anger, blurted out.

"Huhai!" Fusu's voice suddenly turned cold. "What nonsense are you spouting!"

This shout was heavier than any of the previous ones. Hu Hai trembled, his arrogance instantly extinguished, and he shrank back half a step, not daring to speak.

Yin Man's smile froze, she pouted, looked up with a wronged expression, walked closer to Zhou Wenqing, and tugged at his clothes.

Zhou Wenqing frowned slightly, took half a step forward, and soothingly rubbed Yin Man's hair, but didn't say anything. He wanted to see how Fusu would handle the situation.

Fusu's expression darkened, and a hint of seriousness appeared in his usually gentle eyes:

"Marriage is a serious matter, not something you can casually discuss in a fit of pique. Such words are hurtful and impolite. Even if your father were here, he wouldn't tolerate such nonsense!"

He paused, then squatted down, looking directly into Hu Hai's eyes, his tone still stern:

"A man should respect his ruler and elders, and love his brothers and sisters. Today you speak of your sister's marriage in anger; will you joke about your brother's life tomorrow?!"

Hu Hai's face turned deathly pale. He lunged forward and grabbed his elder brother's sleeve, his voice trembling as he cried, "I didn't! I wouldn't hurt my elder brother!"

Fusu didn't shake off his hand, but stared into his eyes and asked, word by word:

"If you don't hurt me, are the other brothers and sisters okay?"

Hu Hai was terrified. He opened his mouth but couldn't speak. He just kept shaking his head, tears streaming down his face and onto his clothes. He didn't even dare to sob loudly. He just clutched Fu Su's sleeve tightly, his eyes filled with fear.

He really spoke recklessly in a fit of anger, never expecting his elder brother to speak so seriously.

Seeing Hu Hai trembling with fear and tears streaming down his face, Fu Su's expression softened slightly, but he still showed no leniency whatsoever.

He reached out and gently wiped away the tears on Hu Hai's cheeks, his tone slow and deliberate, yet every word touched the heart:

"Brothers and sisters are connected by blood. You are all your father's children and descendants of the Great Qin. You are born to support and cherish each other, not to speak ill of one another or belittle one another."

He paused, his gaze settling on Hu Hai's frightened little face. His voice softened, yet became even more solemn:

"Today you speak ill of your sister's life in anger, hurting her heart; tomorrow if you treat your siblings with contempt, you will chill the bond between blood relatives. You must know... people of our status should cherish the bond of blood above all else, and avoid any estrangement."

"If you can't even treat your closest relatives well and be tolerant of them, how can you be considerate of others and fulfill your own responsibilities in the future?"

Hu Hai's shoulders trembled as he cried, his small hands gripping Fu Su tightly. He choked out, "Elder brother... I was wrong... I'll never... hiccup, I'll never say such things again..."

Fusu didn't answer immediately, but sighed softly, pulled him closer, and said gently, "Shouldn't you apologize to me?"

Hu Hai turned his head, his eyes blurry with tears, and looked at Yin Man.

"Sister... hiccup, I was wrong... I shouldn't have said that... I'm sorry..."

Yin Man didn't speak. She turned her head away, but couldn't help turning back secretly. She saw Hu Hai's tear-streaked face, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed it back.

Seeing that she was ignoring him, Hu Hai panicked even more. He reached out to pull her sleeve, but hesitated, pulling his hand back halfway, then reaching out again, stamping his feet in frustration.

"Sister, please don't ignore me... I really know I was wrong... I'll never do it again... Waaah..."

"Who's ignoring you?"

Yin Man finally spoke, her voice soft and slightly nasal.

She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, smeared it on Hu Hai's face, and said irritably, "Stop crying, you look awful."

"Yin Man," Fu Su called out softly at the opportune moment.

Yin Man paused, then suddenly looked up at her elder brother.

"Hu Hai is young and speaks without thinking; he didn't really mean to hurt you. He made a mistake, and I've already taught him, but you also have your faults."

Fusu raised his hand and gently tidied the slightly disheveled hair at his sister's temples. His tone was slightly more serious, calm and earnest.

"As the older sister, you should be more tolerant and not always tease or belittle him with your words, or argue with him about everything, okay?"

"I understand." Yin Man lowered her eyes and nodded obediently.

Fusu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to Zhou Wenqing and bowed slightly, saying, "Sir, please forgive my rudeness."

Zhou Wenqing gently shook his head, stepped forward, and patted Fusu's shoulder with satisfaction, his eyes full of admiration: "Good child, you handled it extremely well. Even your teacher couldn't have done better."

"only……"

He paused, his gaze falling on Hu Hai's tear-stained face, then looking at the bewildered Jiming and Azhu. His smile faded, and a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.

Hu Hai is only four years old now, and should be too young to understand marriage. The two older children are still clueless, yet he blurted out this matter. In addition, regarding the needlework incident just now, Yin Man is still unclear about it, but he seems to have a vague understanding of it.

Based on his understanding of Hu Hai, he knew that the boy couldn't possibly have uttered such precise words that so accurately hit Yin Man's weak spot.

It's possible that during his daily squabbles with Yin Man, the servants around him said something, intentionally or unintentionally, such as, "Why should you take her to heart, young master? No matter how noble a princess is, she will eventually marry out of the family." This remark likely stuck in Hu Hai's mind.

Zhou Wenqing lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting coldness in them.

It's unclear whether this was Zhao Gao's doing or whether there were always some filthy people around Hu Hai causing trouble.

It would be best if the king were to know.

He looked at Fusu, his tone becoming more serious.

"Fusu, when you get back, tell your father about this in detail. Remember, do not hide anything or take it lightly."

"this……"

Fusu hesitated for a moment, but seeing the teacher's serious expression, he nodded in agreement.

"...Yes, sir, I understand."