Chapter 32 Qin Shi Huang: You have more than one son...
What good qualities do other people's children need?
First, being smart and having good grades is a must. But that alone is not enough.
For example, was Su Shi not smart or did poorly in school? But parents don't even dare to mention someone who has only been at the Imperial Academy for a month and can crawl through a dog hole without a teacher, for fear that their children will learn it.
Therefore, the second essential element is being obedient. But after careful consideration, Fusu didn't think he had ever been an obedient child in his life. Debating with the Western Xia envoy, speaking out as a radical advocate for war, voluntarily resigning from the position of Crown Prince… hadn't he done enough outrageous things?
Fortunately, the Emperor, Empress Cao, and Prime Minister Fu helped cover it up; otherwise, history books would have recorded Emperor Renzong lamenting, "The one who brought chaos to my family is the Crown Prince."
How embarrassing? He doesn't want to.
But then Fusu thought again, his current status was different.
He's not the designated future crown prince, Prince Cheng, but a prodigy from a fallen imperial family. With such a character, what's wrong with being a little mischievous? Take Su Shi, for example. Although he was somewhat depressed, even the favored concubine's cousin couldn't do anything to him openly. He could only ostracize him secretly, and only dared to complain to the emperor when things got out of hand.
Therefore, as long as I have thick skin, no one can do anything to me.
But this alone won't make him a catfish. Fusu felt he needed to think of other ways, and it would be best if someone could offer some advice.
The Emperor's option was immediately ruled out. After all, it was Fusu himself who boasted about reforming the Imperial Academy and took the opportunity to put forward a series of conditions. It would be too embarrassing to slink away and ask for help after making such a promise.
What about the Empress? The reason for her inappropriateness is the same as above. He made a grand vow, even citing the proverb "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?" as an example.
Su Shi? Li Qiu? Yan Jidao? Zhao Zongshi?
...Remember to bring money when you go out shopping.
So, who else can help him?
That night, Fusu saw his father again in his dream.
It was still the same snow-covered camp in the frontier prefecture; even the sound of the wind and the snowflakes remained unchanged. Was this some kind of fixed-time background?
"Fusu." Qin Shi Huang's lips curled slightly.
"Father, Father Emperor?" Fusu was a little surprised.
So the first thing I saw in my dream wasn't someone trying to cause trouble?
Was he wrong?
After all, he had crawled through a dog hole and acknowledged a new father, both of which should have enraged his father, the First Emperor. But when the First Emperor greeted him, he seemed to be in a good mood and showed no sign of anger.
Can't he see it?
Don't you know yet?
His lips parted slightly in surprise, and the First Emperor's gaze suddenly sharpened: "Fusu, why are you behaving like that? Have you done something to offend me again?"
Hmm, the word "again" is quite clever.
And sometimes we have to admit that no one knows a son better than his father.
Fusu quickly chuckled, trying to get away with it: "Father, don't you know me? I've always been very obedient."
The First Emperor raised an eyebrow: "Yes, they are very obedient. They even believed and followed the imperial edicts that were falsely conveyed by me."
Fusu: "..."
First Emperor: "..."
The sudden, horrific joke left the father and son speechless for a long while. They coughed lightly and decided to skip over this upsetting topic.
"So, Father Emperor appeared in my dream today because something good has happened, right?"
"Fusu's brows are furrowed; is something troubling you?"
Two voices, one loud and one soft, rang out simultaneously.
Qin Shi Huang: "Alright, let me speak first!"
He stated his purpose with no small amount of pride: "I have recently conquered another planet and plan to stay there for a while. The signal on that planet is not very good, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to keep the machines running at all times. If you do not see me in your dreams for a while, do not worry, I will be back in a few days."
So it turns out I came to let him know I was safe in advance.
A warm feeling welled up in Fusu's heart. He gave his father a thumbs up and sincerely praised him, "It's only been a few days? And you've expanded the territory once again. Father is truly amazing."
"Cough." Qin Shi Huang covered his lips with his fist.
Even though he didn't say a word, he couldn't help but smile.
Ever since discovering that Fusu had recognized a new father, who was also an emperor, he felt somewhat uneasy. So he secretly pulled back the timeline a bit, wanting to see how this new father, who was only recognized when Fusu was three or four years old, came about.
Is it because this father mistreated his precious son that his son refuses to acknowledge him?
That won't do!
Qin Shi Huang thought to himself: Don't think that your son only has one father!
As a result, he accidentally dragged the progress bar too far, directly to several decades ago, when the Song Dynasty had just unified the Central Plains and established its rule.
To the south lay the Dali Kingdom. To the north lay the Khitan Kingdom. To the west lay the Tangut Kingdom.
The only missing piece is the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun.
Qin Shi Huang was full of questions: What's going on? A thousand years have passed, how come the territory of Song is still not as big as that of Qin?
Looking at the map again, the natural defenses in the north are almost completely lost, the defenses are weak and lax, and the gates of the vast capital are wide open. Isn't this just waiting for someone to come and attack? What was wrong with Fusu's ancestors? Why did they leave him with this mess?
Even though he believed in Fusu's ability to handle the situation, Qin Shi Huang couldn't help but worry for his eldest son.
That's why, when he heard Fusu boast that he could conquer new territories with ease, his deep-seated sense of superiority suddenly swelled up.
Will Fusu's new father hear these praises?
That's impossible.
At the same time, his gaze towards his son grew increasingly loving. Sigh, it's really not easy for his son to take on such a huge mess.
"Fusu, tell me, you've been looking so worried lately. What's bothering you? Is something causing trouble? Should your father think of a way to help you?"
Fusu was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat: "No, no, I can handle it myself."
Given that humanity has conquered the universe, what kind of weapon would be capable of traversing four-dimensional space? As early as the second life of Fusu, humanity had already created terrifying nuclear weapons, enough to destroy all life on Earth.
Centuries later, when technology is even more advanced, he fears that if his father were to fire a bullet across time and space, not only would the Song Dynasty's enemy countries be reduced to dust, but the entire planet and galaxy would likely be reduced to fragments.
This is a blessing that the Song Dynasty cannot yet enjoy.
"Then tell me what's bothering you!"
"Annoying matters?"
Fusu paused, then shook his head. He did indeed have something to discuss, but compared to his father's feat of conquering a planet in just a few days, his worries seemed insignificant, childish, and absurd. Counting the days, by the time his father returned from the desolate planet, he would already be settled and securely established at the Imperial Academy.
"Let's wait until you come back and hear my good news."
"Very well, then I will wait for Fusu!"
Qin Shi Huang raised his arm and earnestly encouraged him several more times. Fusu listened attentively to everything. Just when he thought the dream was nearing its end, Qin Shi Huang suddenly smiled in a half-smile.
"Fusu, you haven't told your father yet what you've done to offend me these past few days?"
Fusu: "..."
Oh no, this has triggered a conditioned reflex.
Seeing the expression on his father's face, his legs began to go weak.
Qin Shi Huang then cast a glance that sounded like a warning, yet also like a threat: "It's fine if you don't tell me; I can see for myself, of course." At worst, he could just move the time forward a bit.
In the interstellar age, four-dimensional space is just that capricious.
Upon hearing this, Fusu covered his eyes and wailed, "Father, you're going too far!"
Well……
Qin Shi Huang's expression suddenly became extremely strange: "Fusu, have you forgotten something? Although your physical body in this world is only three years old, you maintain the appearance of your previous life in your dreams?"
In other words, Fusu is using his first incarnation as an adult to act like a three-year-old.
"..."
Fusu lowered his head and fell silent.
His handsome face visibly flushed red, the redness spreading to his ears and neck. He raised his hands, as if trying to do something, but then awkwardly lowered them, letting them hang unnaturally at his sides.
At this moment, Fusu had only one thought in his mind—
Where can I find a way to undo my mistakes?
Where is the time machine?
Where is the exit from the dream?
The First Emperor's tone was quite meaningful: "It seems you haven't lived in vain this life."
He even has muscle memory like a child. It seems the people of this world treat Fusu quite well? He doesn't have to be so stern and worried every day, like a little adult. This shows that they truly love him like a child, which is why they can show it so unrestrainedly.
Okay, that's fine.
He looked at his son, who seemed to want to burrow into the ground, and couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "Alright, I've already forgotten everything that happened earlier. What have you done to offend me? Tell me quickly."
Fusu wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes: "Okay."
Although we all know that Father Emperor has not forgotten, let's pretend we have forgotten and let it pass.
What's the best way to ease an awkward situation? It's to have something even more awkward than what happened before.
Isn't it just about crawling through a dog hole and then putting on a disguise? With the excellent example from before, Fusu was even able to calmly recount the story.
But to the First Emperor, it was still the first time he had ever heard of such a cataclysmic event.
"What! You, a dignified young master of the Great Qin, actually crawled through a dog hole!"
-
The next morning, Fusu opened his dark, bright eyes.
Memories of last night's dream flooded his mind in an instant, and he visibly became utterly despondent. He sat blankly on the edge of the bed, and after being helped into his little clothes by the palace servants, he couldn't wait to run to the bronze mirror and look at himself in the mirror again and again.
He looked at the area between the eyebrows with particular care.
Phew... thank goodness.
Fusu breathed a sigh of relief.
The marks from his dream didn't materialize in reality; his forehead remained smooth and full.
However, seeing his father's furious state last night, he thought he was going to draw his sword and punish him, but unexpectedly, he only got a flick on the forehead.
After being singled out three times by Fu Bi, the Emperor, and his father, Fusu's mindset underwent a subtle change.
Oh, it's no big deal, it's just crawling through a dog hole.
He had completely forgotten how he and Su Shi had stood speechless facing the dog hole just a few days earlier.
After looking in the mirror, Fusu happily went to have his breakfast. It was so comfortable not having to get up early to study at Zishan Hall. He could eat Empress Cao's breakfast rations, which was much better than rushing to school by himself.
"Oh, does the Imperial Academy still have such delicious food?" Fusu scooped up a mouthful of plain porridge, put it in his mouth, and then showed a thoughtful expression.
He finalized his first step in the plan to go to prison.
-----------------------
Author's note: Moving today was exhausting. I'll be outlining things three times a day.
This chapter includes 20 red envelopes~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
