Chapter 108 Qin Shi Huang was not a soft-hearted man...
If a ready-made throne were placed in front of Qin Shi Huang, would he sit on it?
He definitely will.
Not only that, but if you're given the chance and you don't sit on it, he'll turn around and lecture you. "Look at how hard it was for me to fight Lü Buwei and deal with Lao Ai back then, to secure my throne! Now, the dragon throne is right in front of you, are you a fool not to sit on it?"
Based on Fusu's understanding of his father, Qin Shi Huang would definitely answer in this way. He would feel guilty for his own suicide and be even more puzzled by his own inner conflict: "Why don't you just sit down first? Can't we talk about it later if things change?"
It is difficult for people to understand each other. Fusu did not expect his father to understand him, so he never confided in the First Emperor.
In other words, the Emperor was unaware that he and the Emperor had reached an agreement regarding the position of Crown Prince. If he knew that his repeated answers and advice to his eldest son in his dreams had all benefited a stranger... Fusu couldn't help but shudder.
Father will definitely be furious in his dreams and give him a good beating first!
So you can't say it, you absolutely can't say it!
Fusu thought to himself.
But he forgot one thing: Qin Shi Huang's plane of existence was far higher than his own. He could even travel back in time through projections, like watching a movie. So, when Qin Shi Huang discovered that his eldest son, whom he had longed for, was clearly troubled by worries, he immediately retrieved recent video clips to try and find out what was going on.
To be honest, Qin Shi Huang initially thought the problem lay with Emperor Renzong of Song. From an emperor's perspective, he and Emperor Renzong were complete opposites. He had always been averse to Renzong's respectful attitude, but because Renzong was a blood relative of Fusu and genuinely cared for him, Qin Shi Huang reluctantly accepted it.
However, once a problem arises, he can't help but wonder if that person mistreated his son.
The more he looked, the more shocked he became.
What does "You still don't want to be the crown prince" mean? What does "Your Majesty, you promised me before" mean? What is this foolish son doing? He is personally pushing the throne away.
Qin Shi Huang suddenly looked up, staring intently at Fusu through the blazing campfire: "You want to be emperor? Why?"
The young man opposite him seemed to be burned by his gaze and instinctively tried to look away. He moved his lips, shook his head, and didn't say anything.
"..."
In the dream, everything remained as it was in the past. Fusu was no longer a four-year-old toddler, but a tall and handsome young man. It was as if he had dreamt of more than twenty years ago. But even then, Qin Shi Huang had not seen his eldest son, who was guarding the border, for several years, and his appearance was already significantly different from what he remembered.
In fact, Qin Shi Huang knew why.
"Fusu, you still resent me, but you don't even want to say why. Because saying it would just be complaining... You think I'm beyond communication, is that it?"
Fusu suddenly turned his head: "Of course not!"
Of course, there was resentment.
Not becoming emperor was a shadow from a past life, and it's true.
But what's past cannot be undone, and what's to come cannot be changed. Since he knew the imperial edict ordering suicide was a misunderstanding, and their meeting in a dream was an extremely rare and precious fate, why should he bring up this topic that would embarrass both of them, since every meeting would be one less?
"If you don't resent me, why don't you become emperor? Is it because you're dissatisfied with your father, the emperor on your side?"
No, not at all.
The government treats him so well, it's almost overflowing.
Qin Shi Huang then asked, "Then why is that?"
You have to cover up the lie you told yourself. After thinking for a long time, Fusu could only come up with a ridiculous reason: "Couldn't it be that you think being emperor is too tiring and you're just trying to be lazy?"
"Oh." Qin Shi Huang's expression remained indifferent: "Being seen as a thorn in the side by the new emperor, you can only pretend to be stupid and avoid suspicion to get by. Don't you feel tired? Is that it?"
Fusu: "..." Father, you have a better life.
Let him think about how to refute it.
Fusu hadn't expected that Qin Shi Huang would deliver another heavy blow: "If I were the new emperor, I would solve this problem once and for all. Of course, it would be most reassuring to deal with the legitimate son of the previous dynasty."
Fusu: "..."
He could only weakly say, "The Song Dynasty rarely killed members of the imperial family."
However, this rebuttal lacks sufficient grounds. After Emperor Taizong ascended the throne, the causes of death of Emperor Taizu's two sons remained the subject of numerous conspiracy theories in later generations.
"If you don't kill the imperial family, what about the ministers? The ministers who are on good terms with you, can you bear to see them have no future in the new emperor's reign?"
This was a move that Fusu truly had no way to counter. A new emperor brings a new court; the new emperor, upon ascending the throne, was bound to draw a line between himself and the previous dynasty. Su Shi and Fan Chunren, who were close to him as the late emperor's eldest son, became among the most disliked.
But what did they do wrong? Did associating with this prince, who was dressed as a white dragon and a fish, mean that their official careers would be cut short for life?
Fusu's expression shifted several times, his fingers clenching tightly. Qin Shi Huang took in this scene, a slight smile playing on his lips, before letting out a long sigh.
His eldest son, he can talk about himself without batting an eye. But the moment someone else is mentioned, he starts blaming himself, unable to even refute them. Three lifetimes later, is he still so soft-hearted?
But Qin Shi Huang was not a soft-hearted man.
Even if it's to fulfill a regret from his past life, Fusu must sit on the dragon throne, unshakable by anyone. Of course, he doesn't expect to change Fusu's mind with a few words, knowing that the will is the easiest thing in the world to fabricate.
We need to think of another way.
A dark glint flashed in Qin Shi Huang's eyes: "Fusu, how are the preparations for the Northern Expedition you mentioned?"
Fusu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking that his father had deliberately changed the subject to avoid embarrassing him, he immediately began to recount the progress in detail, and finally concluded: "Everything is going smoothly except for the grain. The grain supply depends on the weather in the next few years. If there is a drought or flood, everything will be in vain, and the delay could be several years."
This made even a materialist like him want to burn incense and pray for good weather and a bountiful harvest in the coming years. There's no way around it; in an agrarian society, you're at the mercy of the weather—that's just how cruel it is.
Qin Shi Huang stroked his beard: "Grain..."
He was momentarily stunned when he heard it. In the interstellar era, everyone drinks nutrient solutions and practices fasting. It had been a long time since he had heard such simple and unadorned words.
But then there's a solution.
"Three days later, go to a place fifty miles east of your capital. Remember to bring your father and all the civil and military officials with you."
Qin Shi Huang said, "If you can't do it, don't come to see me in my dreams again."
Fusu: "...What?"
"Don't come to see me," Qin Shi Huang repeated. He and Fusu were fundamentally different. Fusu would never say "Don't come to see me" to anyone in his three lifetimes, but he did it as simply as eating and drinking. And he knew that Fusu would come.
After saying this, Qin Shi Huang hardened his heart and left his dream, leaving Fusu alone in the Shangzhou camp, bewildered. What did his father mean by that? Did he just ask about the grain, say that, and then run away? Did he expect a huge amount of grain to fall from the sky?
...Could it be that he prayed to immortality his whole life, and now that he has the ability, he wants to cosplay as an immortal to satisfy his craving?
If Qin Shi Huang knew that his eldest son was criticizing him in his heart, he would be furious: "I painstakingly planned for you to ascend the throne, and this is how you complain about me?!"
But being furious won't help; he still has to do what he's supposed to do.
When Fusu woke up the next day, he was still in a daze, muttering to himself, "Fifty li east of Bianjing city, fifty li east of Bianjing city, fifty li east of the city..."
What exactly is it?
He scratched his head in disbelief, got dressed, washed up, and headed out of the palace. He almost stepped into the Chui Gong Hall, but then stopped himself. "Oh well," he thought, "there are still a few days left. I'll wait and see."
Fusu's destination was the Privy Council.
He was fortunate enough to have a small room there, in his capacity as Privy Councilor, set aside as the editorial office for the "Seeking Knowledge Daily".
When Fusu pushed open the door, the room was already full of people. He was immediately filled with doubt about life, and went outside to check the sun's position.
“Junior brother, you didn’t misremember the time.” Fan Chunren stood up and pulled him back with a smile: “We were just so excited that we all arrived early.”
Fusu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He quickly glanced around the room: Su Shi, Wang Anshi, Fan Chunren, Zeng Gong, Zhang Zai, Yan Jidao… Li Guanlan’s ranking in the imperial examinations wasn’t high enough to stay in the capital, so he went to serve as a county magistrate. The rest of the people who had advised him, along with Wang Anshi, the deputy editor he had personally selected, were all gathered together.
My father's argument about the pros and cons from last night suddenly echoed in my ears: You may be shirking your duties, but what about the ministers who are on good terms with you? Aren't their futures also futures?
Yes, they deserve a bright future, and they want one. Everyone in the government knows now that being an editor at the *Seeking Knowledge Daily* is a desirable job. Don't they also understand why they were so excited about winning the lottery that they arrived at their posts early?
If it were you... then they...
Fusu suddenly shook his head, and the next moment he revealed a smile without any gloom: "You all know each other, so I won't introduce you. This is my senior, the top scholar, Lord Wang Anshi."
Su Shi smiled and said, "I recognize this person too."
Wang Anshi: "..."
Thinking about the mental pollution he experienced yesterday, he would rather not recognize it.
But he was the most senior person present, and with his straightforward temperament, he quickly introduced himself. Fan Chunren, Zeng Gong, Zhang Zai, and others were also very modest: to be personally invited by Prince Zhao (Prince Cheng) to be the deputy editor-in-chief, he must be someone not to be underestimated.
Apart from Su Shi, none of those present were talkative. After exchanging pleasantries, they quickly got down to work and discussed the content for the second issue. Fu Su took notes and made the final decision.
Unsurprisingly, Wang Anshi lived up to his reputation as a "stubborn prime minister," arguing with Zhang Zai over a minor detail. Fan Chunren and Zeng Gong tried to mediate, while Su Shi fanned the flames, but Fusu remained uninvolved, idly scribbling on paper.
Soon, Su Shi was discovered to be a troublemaker and was kicked out of the discussion group by the others. He then approached Fu Su to see what he had written and read it aloud.
"Fifty li east of Bianjing City... Fifty li east of the city? Zhao Xiaolang, why are you writing this? What happened?"
"...!"
Fusu suddenly realized that he had unconsciously written those words.
"It's nothing, I just wrote it down casually." Fusu avoided Su Shi's suspicious gaze, and with a flourish of his brush, covered the traces of the writing with ink. In his heart, he thought to himself: Damn it, tonight I will tell the Emperor to take everyone to the outskirts of Bianjing City, fifty miles away.
We'll see what kind of thing Father Emperor is using as leverage to threaten us with a future meeting.
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Author's Note: The previously mentioned derivative romance novel, "After Starting a Romance with Hagiwara and Abandoning Her," is now available for pre-order. If you're interested, please add it to your favorites in my author page. Thank you! [starry-eyed emoji]
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