Ying Fusu

When the officials and ministers received Fusu and the late Emperor Qinshi outside Xianyang, it was afternoon.

The coffin was then escorted into the city and placed in the side hall of Xianyang Palace, where a court meeting was held...

When Right Chancellor Feng Quji "applied" to the First Emperor's coffin to establish the eldest son, Fusu, as the heir to the Great Qin Dynasty, it was already dusk.

The court meeting adjourned.

Feng Quji's "application" naturally failed to receive a reply from the First Emperor.

There has been no response yet from the person involved—the eldest son, Fusu.

As Feng Quji said: Wait until the country is in mourning.

After the national mourning period ends...

...

After the court session concluded, all officials and ministers withdrew from Xianyang Palace.

Fusu naturally stayed behind.

—As an heir and the eldest son in charge of the funeral arrangements, he remained in the side hall of the central palace to guard the First Emperor's spirit.

Naturally, the other princes and princesses also gathered in the side hall that night.

Fusu finally met his younger brother and sister, who existed only in the original owner's memories but had almost no trace in history books.

"Brother."

The first person to enter the hall was a tall, strong man with a rough voice.

A voice called "Brother" came from behind him, and Fusu, who was kneeling before the spirit tablet, turned his head slightly.

Upon seeing who it was, and then retrieving the person's file from the original owner's remaining memories, he nodded slightly.

"The fourth brother is here..."

As he spoke, Fusu was about to get up and exchange pleasantries with his fourth brother, whom he hadn't seen for many years;

Then, outside the palace gate, another gentle and refined figure appeared, walking with an inexplicable solemnity.

"Second brother..."

...

He rose, cupped his hands in greeting, and exchanged pleasantries with his two younger brothers. Fusu's gaze then fell first on the figure who looked like a 'warrior': his fourth brother, Gongzi Gao.

The original owner's remaining memories told Fusu that Gongzi Gao was brave, upright, and intolerant of injustice.

The information that Fusu obtained from historical records in his previous life also corroborated this point.

Historically, Prince Gao, like every descendant of the First Emperor, was persecuted by the paranoid Second Emperor, Hu Hai.

In the end, in order to protect his wife and children, he took the initiative to say to Huhai: "Your Majesty, you don't need to go to such lengths to fabricate charges against me. I will commit suicide."

I hope that after my death, Your Majesty will spare my wife and children.

Just when he was worried about not finding a crime or excuse to execute Prince Gao, Hu Hai, the second emperor, happily agreed to this request.

After Prince Gao committed suicide, the emperor bestowed 100,000 coins upon him and gave him a grand funeral.

In the words that the people of Qin often used in this era: Gongzi Gao was a truly upright and honorable man.

Whether it's his temperament or his large, robust, and imposing physique and appearance, it's all the same.

...

[He's got the makings of a formidable warrior...]

Thinking this, Fusu sighed softly with a sorrowful expression and patted Gongzi Gao's shoulder.

Then he turned to look at his other younger brother: Gongzi Jianglu.

If the fourth son, Gao, is an upright and unyielding "warrior," then the second son, Jianglu, is a gentle and refined gentleman.

He's not particularly talented;

Saying that someone is "neither good at academics nor at martial arts" might be an exaggeration;

However, using the word "moderation" to describe Gongzi Jianglu is indeed a fair assessment.

The clearest impression the Xianyang court had of this second son of the First Emperor was that of Prince Jianglu, who had almost harsh personal requirements for himself.

—This is a nitpicker, someone who is so meticulous that you can't find any fault with him at all.

Whether it is meeting one's father, mother, brothers, or officials in the palace or ministers in the outer court;

His manners and etiquette were so impeccable that he seemed to have jumped out of a book, a moral exemplar dedicated to setting an example for the world.

Historically, when the Second Emperor Huhai persecuted Prince Gao, he was only troubled by not knowing what charges to fabricate to convince the court.

However, Hu Hai had no way to deal with Prince Jianglu.

This is because Hu Hai knew that no matter what crime was charged with, it would be seen as a complete fabrication and frame-up on the head of this "moral gentleman".

Therefore, Hu Hai had no choice but to use force to imprison Prince Jianglu's two elder brothers, who shared the same mother, along with Prince Jianglu himself, in the palace.

After imprisoning him for several months, Hu Hai still couldn't find any flaws in Gongzi Jianglu—or even his two older brothers—and completely lost patience.

I might as well stop pretending.

He sent someone directly to tell Liu Jianglu: "Your Highness is disloyal and deserves death."

Gongzi Jianglu argued forcefully, claiming that he had never been impolite, dishonest, or inappropriate in his speech, so what crime had he committed?

What constitutes disloyalty?

I am willing to die upon hearing the truth.

Completely out of options, Hu Hai no longer cared about maintaining the last shred of pretense of dignity.

He sent someone directly to reply to Prince Jianglu: "Your subject is not authorized to discuss matters with you; I am acting in accordance with the written instructions."

—Those who serve should not ask so many questions; they should just follow orders and do their jobs.

Knowing he could not escape death, Prince Jianglu finally looked up to the sky and cried out: "Heavens! I am innocent!"

Then, weeping, he and his two younger brothers drew their swords and committed suicide, leaving behind the historical anecdote of "Jianglu looking up at the sky".

...

It was able to drive the infamous tyrant Hu Hai, who would be remembered throughout history, to a point where he had absolutely no other choice.

This demonstrates the true value of Gongzi Jianglu as a "moral exemplar".

The wronged souls of Jianglu weep in the Qin palace; their hatred, born of a slashed neck, is boundless…

Looking at his younger brother, who exuded a gentle and refined temperament from the inside out, Fusu couldn't help but think of this poem.

Knowing his younger brother's temperament, he didn't do anything that might be considered impolite or inappropriate, like patting his shoulder.

She simply pursed her lips and nodded slightly, her eyes filled with sorrow.

Then, together with his two younger brothers, he knelt before the coffin for a while, trying to show his filial piety.

When the other younger siblings arrived one after another, the three of them got up from in front of the coffin and exchanged quiet greetings in front of the pillars on the side of the hall.

"My brother seems to have lost some weight in the past two years in Shangjun."

"He's gotten quite muscular too."

As always, Gongzi Gao was straightforward, expressing his longing for his elder brother Fusu in the most frank words.

"It's been years, brother, how have you been..."

Gongzi Jianglu remained the same as always—perfect in manners, cautious in speech, and without a single fault.

However, compared to Gongzi Gao's genuine nature, Gongzi Jianglu's words always lacked a certain warmth.

Fusu showed no sign of anything amiss, and with the same familiar warmth and affability, inquired about the wives and children of his two younger brothers, as well as their situation over the past two years.

—As the second and fourth sons of the First Emperor, Prince Gao and Prince Jianglu had both come of age, married and had children for many years.

What's even more interesting is that their children look exactly like their fathers.

Gongzi Gao's offspring, whether male or female, all behave like warriors!

Gongzi Jianglu's offspring, whether male or female, all resembled 'little gentlemen'.

I wonder if it's the lingering memories of the original owner that are causing this;

When talking about his nephews and nieces, Fusu suddenly felt a pang of longing...

"Brother."

"Has your wife sent anyone to deliver a message?"

Just as Fusu was lost in thought and longing, Gongzi Gao made a seemingly casual remark that startled Fusu.

After regaining his senses, he couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile.

—It was clear that his two younger brothers, Gongzi Gao and Gongzi Jianglu, were already of marriageable age and had established their own careers.

I never imagined that I, as the older brother, would already be approaching thirty and already married with children...

"Cough, cough..."

"I had a lot to do today, so I might have forgotten for a moment..."

After offering an explanation that barely concealed his embarrassment, Fusu's thoughts were finally able to turn to the memory scroll titled "Family".

His wife, Lady Li, was the eldest daughter of Li Xin, a famous general of the Qin Dynasty and Marquis of Longxi.

She is not as gentle and virtuous as the women of Wu, nor as graceful as the women of Zhao;

Instead, she exudes a more heroic and straightforward air, like a female general on the frontier.

The eldest son, Ying Piao, was just ten years old.

She was born well-behaved, but seemed somewhat timid.

There was also the young girl Ying Yao—she was just learning to speak when Fusu was exiled to Shangjun…

"You can't blame me, can you?"

"The historical records make no mention whatsoever of Prince Fusu's wife and children."

"Who could possibly remember that?"

As he defended himself, Fusu finally pulled his scattered thoughts back to the side hall—or rather, the mourning hall—where he was.

Almost everyone has arrived.

The First Emperor had twenty-four sons and ten princesses. Except for the eighteenth son, Huhai, all thirty-three others were present.

Upon entering the side hall, everyone first paid their respects to Fusu, as well as Prince Gao and Prince Jianglu, before obediently finding a place to kneel before the spirit tablet.

The older ones, such as the third young master Ruxi, were about the same age as Fusu and the other two.

Those who were younger were naturally even younger than Hu Hai, who had just come of age;

But they are always around seven or eight years old.

Fusu secretly calculated the time;

The youngest siblings were all conceived by their respective mothers within two or three years after the First Emperor unified China.

"It seems that not long after the unification, the late emperor's health had already..."

Thinking this, Fusu let out a slight sigh.

Then, he shifted his gaze from his younger siblings in the hall back to Prince Gao and Prince Jianglu in front of him.

"Judging by their appearance, they're all terrified?"

A casual remark caused Gongzi Gao's expression to freeze.

Even Gongzi Jianglu took a deep breath with inexplicable trepidation and silently cupped his hands to Fusu.

After a long while, it was the bolder young master Gao who stepped forward.

"Brother."

"I don't know if it's eighteen..."

With just these words, Fusu immediately understood.

Look at the younger brothers and sisters in the hall—even while kneeling, they couldn't help but glance sideways from time to time, secretly looking at Fusu with lingering fear;

The second and fourth brothers in front of him also looked like they wanted to say something but couldn't, yet they couldn't help but speak their minds.

Understanding the source of his younger siblings' worries, Fusu couldn't help but sigh again.

However, he did not rush to speak, but first glanced around the hall;

Once he was sure no one was paying attention to him—or rather, he had scared away the prying eyes with his eyes—he gently waved his hand, signaling his two younger brothers to move aside.

They tiptoed out of the palace gate, and the three brothers didn't go far.

Only on one side of the palace gate, within the railing twenty paces away from the gate, should one stop.

Then he saw Fusu with his hands behind his back, his gaze passing over the railing in front of him, and the palace and square below the long steps;

Finally, it landed outside the palace walls, on the scattered lights and firelight.

—The lights of every household in Xianyang will surely shine brightly tonight.

Inside the palace walls, the palace servants worked together in an orderly manner to hang mourning cloths and light mourning lamps...

"There's nothing to be ashamed of."

"I imagine that in a few days, word will spread about today's court meeting."

These words reassured his two younger brothers who were standing beside him.

Fusu then spoke frankly: "During the late emperor's eastern tour, Zhao Gao, the chief of the imperial carriage, and the eighteenth prince Huhai accompanied him."

"When the Emperor's procession reached Shaqiu, the late Emperor fell seriously ill and urgently summoned me to go there in case of any unforeseen circumstances."

Before his departure, Zhao Gao was appointed concurrently as the Imperial Seal Attendant and was temporarily entrusted by the late emperor with the power to draft and send imperial edicts.

"So, Zhao Gao, this good teacher, sent me a forged imperial edict for the sake of his student."

"It is said: General Meng Tian and Prince Fusu shall be executed."

Speaking calmly, Fusu glanced sideways at his two younger brothers beside him.

Unsurprisingly, there was no look of shock on either of their faces.

—As early as when the two entered the side hall and greeted him with a manner that was half respectful and half ingratiating, Fusu had already made a rough guess.

The news of Hu Hai's house arrest had likely already spread throughout the palace.

The content of today's court discussion has already been learned by Prince Gao and Prince Jianglu.

The princes and princesses of the late emperor were all terrified by Hu Hai's situation, fearing that they too would be punished by Fusu and become another Hu Hai.

Although Prince Gao and Prince Jianglu had a close relationship with Fusu, they had been separated for two years and were equally unable to figure out Fusu's intentions.

Furthermore, among the princes, they were the eldest and most qualified to speak with Fusu.

He then stepped forward to probe Fusu's intentions.

...

Understanding what his two younger brothers were thinking, Fusu still didn't beat around the bush.

He still calmly stated, "Zhao Gao attempted to manipulate the affairs of our Great Qin state, and his crime is unforgivable."

"Eighteen is equally to blame."

Fusu phrased it somewhat tactfully, but Gongzi Gao and Gongzi Jianglu saw through the truth at a glance.

What makes him so culpable?

In the matter of Zhao Gao forging an imperial edict to support Huhai as emperor, could Huhai, as the person involved, really stand aside and let Zhao Gao manipulate him at will?

They'll definitely get a share!

I definitely participated!

However, the focus of the two brothers—or rather, of all their siblings—was clearly not on Hu Hai's crimes.

Rather, it lies in Fusu's attitude towards Huhai and the way he dealt with him.

Is it just house arrest?

Or should he be placed under house arrest temporarily, with further action taken after the national mourning period?

If it's just house arrest, how long will it last?

Three years, five years?

Or perhaps forever...

"Among all my siblings, the second oldest is the most familiar with the rules."

After a brief silence, Fusu turned to look at his second brother, Ying Jianglu.

"Let the second son speak."

"What should be done about the eighteenth crime?"

Upon being pointed out by Fusu, Ying Jianglu couldn't help but feel a pang of panic.

He managed to maintain a composed expression, but couldn't help frowning as his brain raced to stop himself from speaking.

"This crime..."

...

"If this crime is considered 'treason,' the offender should be executed by being cut in half at the waist and then publicly executed."

"However, if we consider it as 'great disrespect' or 'rebellious'..."

"That's right..."

"That's how it should be..."

Since this concerned the fate of the nation, even a morally upright man like Ying Jianglu hesitated to continue speaking.

On the contrary, Fusu continued Ying Jianglu's words.

"He should be put to death."

"Considering the bond of blood ties, and to prevent the world from criticizing our clan for killing each other, the punishment shall be reduced by one degree."

"However, while the death penalty may be avoided, punishment is inevitable..."

Without hesitation, Fusu smiled slightly at Ying Jianglu and said, "Is that so?"

Before Ying Jianglu could react, he turned to the other side and asked, "What does Fourth Brother think?"

"But am I, as the elder brother, too harsh on my younger brother, lacking any tolerance whatsoever?"

"With the national mourning period underway, my younger siblings are already terrified, living in constant fear?"