Teasing the First Dragon at the Start

Hu Yu recalled how he often lost to Fu Su during exams, and a look of displeasure appeared on his face.

Her gaze followed Fu Su's dignified and beautiful face, slowly moving downwards. The thin silk scholar's robe clung to her skin, and the jade belt tightly bound her waist, outlining her curvaceous figure.

Especially Fu Su's bulging clothes revealed her broad chest, which, although not quite as large as Zheng Jie's, was still quite impressive.

Hu Yu looked at his sister's heart full of love, then lowered his head and touched his own chest, feeling his palm press down on his clothes and the air squeezed out from his collar.

Her body suddenly stiffened, and her mood immediately became even more unpleasant.

Damn it, we're only a year apart, why is she so much older than me?!

We're eating the same things, so what went wrong?

Faced with Hu Yu's hostile gaze, Fu Su tilted her head, a hint of confusion flashing in her almond-shaped eyes, as if she didn't know what she had done wrong to upset her younger sister.

After a moment of contemplation, she turned her gaze to Bai Su beside her: "I've heard that you're from the Ghost Valley School, young master?"

Bai Su took a sip of wine and said, "I guess I'd call myself half a disciple of Guigu."

A hint of surprise appeared on Fu Suqiao's face, and then she sighed, "It is said that the Guiguzi of all ages, though he was alone, was stronger than a million soldiers. When he was angry, the feudal lords were afraid, and when he was at peace, the world was at ease. I lost to you... It's not unfair."

Bai Su rubbed her nose: "Your Highness is too kind. I was just lucky for a moment."

Fu Su shook his head: "Being able to defeat me and my teacher one after another cannot be explained by simply being lucky."

After a moment of silence, she asked, "May I ask you a question, young master?"

Bai Su was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, please speak freely. I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

Looking at the young man before her with his open and honest gaze, Fu Su couldn't help but bite her lower lip and asked, "It is said that the Ghost Valley School is proficient in the teachings of all schools of thought. Since you are unwilling to join my ranks, it is clear that you do not agree with the Confucian ideals."

"Then what are the ideals that you, sir, uphold?"

"Should we support Confucianism, Legalism, or Mohism... or Taoism?"

After the various schools of thought of the Hundred Schools of Thought, four main ideas are prevalent in governing the country today.

These are the Confucian "rites," which emphasize the inherent goodness of human nature. The core of these rites is the word "benevolence." From the goodness of human nature, four principles—benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and trustworthiness—are selected as the foundation. People of high moral character are chosen as sages to govern the country with virtue and to educate people through rites, thus creating a society governed by people.

The Mohists and Confucians, however, do not have different levels of understanding of goodness.

The Mohists advocated universal love for all beings, believing that love should be equal for everyone, and that no one should be treated differently based on class, birth, or bloodline. They championed a fair and ideal society.

Legalists, on the other hand, believed that human nature is inherently selfish, and that avoiding harm is a natural instinct. They argued that harsh laws could deter evildoers from repeating their offenses, while generous rewards could encourage people to obey the law.

This would enable the government to punish evil and promote good, and establish a stable, law-based society with the imperial court at its core, forming a unified society.

Taoism, on the other hand, believes that everything in the universe follows certain laws and has the same commonalities. We cannot forcibly go against the way of nature; we should follow nature and return to simplicity.

In Fu Su's view, of these four philosophies, only the Confucian philosophy was most suitable for the Great Xia.

After all, the Mohist school advocated universal love for all living beings, but this was merely a beautiful dream that could not last.

Without distinctions based on birth, bloodline, or social class, there would be no emotional bond between parents and children, nor the friendship between fellow villagers.

Even the cohesion of a nation can be completely diluted, leaving it without a sense of belonging and turning it into a disorganized mess.

As for Taoism, it was clearly unsuitable for this era of global unification and urgent need for great order.

The Legalists, on the other hand, emphasized agriculture and warfare, as well as military education. Their primary goal was to enhance the nation's war mobilization capabilities, making them essentially a war machine.

Of these four philosophies, Fu Su felt that only Confucianism, with its hierarchical distinctions, governing the country with virtue, and restraining the people with propriety, was most suitable for this era that needed great order and could stabilize the world.

Bai Su took a sip of her drink and said with a smile, "You could say that I agree with all of these ideas, and at the same time, I disagree with all of them."

Fu Su was taken aback, unable to figure out what Bai Su was up to, what he meant by agreeing yet disagreeing.

She couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by that, young master?"

Bai Su said with a smile, "It's like the blind men and the elephant. Some people think the elephant is a round pillar, some think it has a long trunk, and some think it has two big fans."

"The ideas of the Hundred Schools of Thought originated from the seven Warring States, one of the nine provinces of the world, just like a part of the body of this elephant."

"Now that His Majesty has swept across the six kingdoms and unified the world, with all the lands of the Nine Provinces now under Xianyang's control, it is inappropriate for you to treat a whole elephant with only a part of your thinking."

Fu Su was taken aback, clearly not expecting Bai Su to give such an answer.

Seeing that Bai Su was her enemy, she thought that Bai Su would be a staunch supporter of Legalist ideals like Li Si, but she did not expect that she had completely misunderstood.

Bai Su smiled and said, "Haven't you always been curious about what my philosophy is?"

"Then let me ask Your Highness a question. There are three ancestors of Chinese civilization: Chi You, who invented the bronze sword; Huangdi Xuanyuan, who invented the wheeled chariot; and Yandi, who developed agriculture."

"These three things have a significant impact on China, so why did Yu the Great choose to cast nine tripods as national treasures after controlling the floods, instead of nine chariots or nine swords?"

Fu Su's expression suddenly froze, a hint of surprise appearing in her dark almond-shaped eyes.

She had never seriously considered this commonplace thing.

Yes, why did the Xia, Shang, and Western Zhou dynasties choose cooking tripods as national treasures, rather than swords or chariots?

After pondering for a long time, she still couldn't come up with an answer, so she shook her head, cupped her hands, and said, "Please enlighten me, young master."

Bai Su said with a smile, "Actually, the reason is very simple. It's because... the people are well-fed, and a simple meal of four dishes and a soup is more powerful than a thousand troops. My goal has always been just this."

Fu Su stared wide-eyed at Bai Su in front of her, speechless for a long time.

She had always believed that Bai Su supported Hu Yi's opposition to her because Bai Su was a staunch supporter of Legalism, which conflicted with her Confucian ideals.

But now it seems that's not the case.

It's just that my sister was lucky to meet him first. If I had been the one who met him first, given his personality, he might have helped me.

She looked at Bai Su with burning eyes, bit her lip lightly, and said, "I wonder if Young Master Bai would be willing to join my ranks and assist me? I can give you the same treatment that my sister could give you, and I can also give you things that she couldn't."

Chapter 115 You're a really bad guy

Bai Su was taken aback as she looked at Fu Su, whose eyes were filled with eagerness.

He asked with some doubt, "Your Highness... are you trying to recruit me?"

Fu Su nodded slightly, her fair hand lifting the loose strands of black hair from between her brows, revealing her fair and alluring collarbone, which looked exceptionally delicate in the sunlight.

She slowly raised her head, her face delicate and graceful, her almond-shaped eyes looking earnestly at Bai Su, and said, "Is it not allowed?"

Faced with her earnest gaze, Bai Su was momentarily at a loss for words.

After pondering for a moment, Fu Su said, "Although Hu Yu is favored by my mother, he has no real power in the court, while I am different."

"As the eldest daughter of the Great Xia Dynasty, I have been raised as the crown prince since childhood. I have always helped my mother handle government affairs and have the support of many ministers in the court."

"If you are willing to assist me, I will give you anything that Hu Yi can give you."

"If Hu Yi can't help you with your career, I can recommend you. In fact, one day you might even rise to a high position, become one of the Nine Ministers, and be appointed Prime Minister."

It must be said that the terms and conditions she proposed were indeed quite good.

If Bai Su assists Fu Su for seven or eight years, when she inherits the throne in the future, it is not impossible for her to become the second Li Si in the court by virtue of her merit in supporting the emperor.

Thus, he seized absolute power and became the head of all officials.

Such a personal recruitment by the future crown prince is like a mentor-student relationship between a ruler and his subject, and such an opportunity to get along is very rare.

If it were anyone else, they would have agreed without hesitation.

However, these things held absolutely no appeal for him.

After all, he preferred conquering the person on the throne to conquering the cold, hard power.

Before Bai Su could even speak, Hu Yu, who was standing to the side, saw that this wicked older sister dared to steal his man right in front of him.

Her delicate eyebrows shot up suddenly, and her soft, jade-like hand slammed heavily on the table: "Fu Su, stop daydreaming. Bai Su is my man, and he will never go with you, right, Bai Su?"

Bai Su looked at her, her little tiger teeth showing, as if she would bite her if she disagreed, and felt both amused and exasperated.

After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I am very grateful for His Highness Fusu's invitation, but I am sorry to decline. I have no intention of changing allegiance at the moment."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Fu Suxing's eyes, then she said, "Is that so? If you change your mind in the future, you can come to me anytime. The flower path has never been swept for guests, but the humble gate is now opened for you."

"Ahem, if I may ask, what does this 'Humble Abode' refer to?"

"Of course..."

"Let's go, ignore her."

Seeing Bai Su chatting with his sister for a few words, Hu Su felt uncomfortable. Without giving Bai Su a chance to finish speaking, he grabbed his hand and walked out of the main hall.

After leaving the main hall.

Hu Su walked angrily down the quiet corridor, not even glancing at Bai Su.

Bai Su smiled and asked, "Why are you angry?"

"No, I didn't..."

Hu Yu paused, turned around, her small face full of displeasure, and muttered, "So what if her breasts are a little bigger? Are they that pretty? Staring at her endlessly, one day I'll surpass her."

Although she said that, when she saw her own immature figure, she immediately looked like a defeated swan and became dejected.

Bai Su couldn't help but find it a little funny to see her being so stubborn.

He rolled his eyes and then said, "Actually, there is a way: to make it bigger."

Hu Yi asked with delight, "Is there really a way?"

Bai Su nodded earnestly, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Just like this..."

Hu Yu's fair face was stunned for a moment, then turned completely red.

She nervously took several steps back, her face flushed as she looked at Bai Su: "You're not lying to me, are you? How could rubbing make it bigger?"

Bai Su coughed lightly and said seriously, "This massage stimulates acupoints, which helps promote blood circulation. When the blood and qi flow smoothly, development will naturally be faster."

Hu Yu looked somewhat suspicious. She felt that something was not quite right, but she also felt that what Bai Su said made a lot of sense and she couldn't find any fault with it.

As a virgin, this was something she found difficult to talk about, but the thought of constantly losing to Fusu over the years made her even more embarrassed.

She gritted her teeth, suppressing her shame, bit her lip, and looked at Bai Su with nervous, flickering eyes: "Um... could you teach me?"

Bai Su was stunned when she heard her words. She hadn't expected that Hu Yi would have such a deep obsession with losing to her sister.

He coughed lightly and said with a serious expression, "How could I dare to refuse Your Highness's request?"

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