Chapter 41
◎The Meng family and Lord Changping.◎
After leaving Li Si's house, Fusu got a secret recipe for making snacks and a box of snacks.
Fusu smiled and said, "Li You and Madam Li are both very good."
Ying Zheng said unhappily, "They are all good, except Li Si, right?"
Fusu thought for a moment and said, "Father, we've already discussed this matter. Whether Li Tingwei is good or not has nothing to do with me."
"How is it none of your business?" Ying Zheng bluntly stated, "You will inevitably enter the court in the future. Li Si is an important official of mine, and you and he will undoubtedly come into contact. If you still dislike him then, won't you be hindering your career?"
Fusu recalled his past life. Although he and Li Si were father-in-law and son-in-law, he spent more time working with Meng Tian and his political views were more in line with Meng Tian's, so their relationship was indeed not very harmonious.
However, his father obviously wanted to see his beloved minister and son get along well with each other... Fusu held his chin and thought for a moment, to make an inappropriate analogy, his father, who was caught between him and Li Si, was like the man in the conflict between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law.
Thinking of this, Fusu couldn't help laughing out loud: "Puchi!"
Ying Zheng looked at his eldest son in confusion. Seeing that he looked at him with a rather strange expression, he asked, "What are you making up in your mind about me?"
Fusu immediately shook his head: "No, no, I didn't think of anything!"
Ying Zheng became even more certain of his suspicions. He reached out and grabbed Fusu, pinning him down and saying, "Tell me now, or I'll punish you."
Fusu shook his head again: "Father, no matter how many times you ask, there's still nothing."
"You little brat, do you think I can't do anything to you?" Ying Zheng said, pressing Fusu onto his lap and raising his arm as if to hit him. "If you don't tell me, I'm going to hit you."
Fusu had never been spanked by his own father in his entire life. His face immediately turned red and he begged for mercy: "I was wrong! I was wrong, father!"
"I thought you would hold on a little longer." Ying Zheng said regretfully. He patted Fusu on the butt and then supported Fusu's back to help him sit up.
Fusu's cheeks flushed red, and he kicked his legs unwillingly: "Father! I... I was wrong!"
Why are you still hitting people?! Although the force you used can't be called beating, but... it's very embarrassing!
Ying Zheng said confidently, "Are you admitting your mistake? I haven't heard anything yet."
Fusu puffed up his lips and said angrily, "I won't say anything, my father is bullying me!"
"Wow." Ying Zheng poked Fusu's cheek curiously. "You look a lot like the tofu puffs I asked the chef to make last month."
Fusu snorted angrily, "Father, I have a temper worse than tofu."
"Yeah." Ying Zheng nodded perfunctorily, leisurely admiring his eldest son's angry expression. "Noodles don't have the same temper as you."
Fusu: “…”
Fusu, who was bullied by his father to the point of being speechless, remained silent until he arrived at the Meng family. Ying Zheng carried him out of the carriage, waved at Meng Hua, and said with a smile: "Meng Hua, come here and comfort your eldest son. He is angry with me."
Fusu's face immediately turned red again. He argued in a low voice: "It was my father who bullied me."
Ying Zheng put him on the ground and said with a smile, "Yes, I bullied you, but I couldn't comfort you, so I had to let Meng Hua comfort you. Don't you like him the most?"
The Meng family was stunned. This, this, this...
Even though Meng Yi knew that their king was a kind father, he couldn't help but be shocked again when he saw this scene.
Seeing this, Fusu was determined to maintain his father's majestic image in front of his ministers, so he just said: "Father, I will go and talk to Meng Hua."
"Go." Ying Zheng rubbed his head.
Meng Hua's mind was still buzzing until Fusu walked to his side. Your Majesty... He really refreshed Meng Hua's cognition again and again!
Fusu patted Meng Hua's arm and reminded him, "Let's go into the palace."
Meng Hua finally came to his senses. When he looked up, he saw that his grandfather had already walked more than ten steps with the king.
Meng Hua's heart was still pounding as he asked tremblingly, "Young Master, what...what's wrong with you and the King?"
Fusu explained: "It was my father who bullied me first."
Meng Hua swallowed and asked, "Then...how did the king bully you?"
Fusu: “…”
Could he tell his good friend about the spanking by his father?
Of course not!
Fusu looked at his father's figure in front of him and said vaguely: "Anyway...you are bullying me."
Meng Hua hesitated for a moment and said, "Ah..."
Is the eldest master being arrogant because of his favor?
This sound was very spiritual. Fusu turned to look at him and asked, "Menghua, don't you believe me?"
Meng Hua scratched his ear. After being influenced by Fusu for many days, he had at least learned some art of speaking. After thinking for a moment, he tried to say sincerely, "Your Majesty is always right."
Fusu: “…”
Fusu patted Meng Hua on the shoulder and said with relief: "Meng Hua, keep it up. Try not to think for so long next time."
Meng Hua rarely failed to accept Fusu's encouragement. He sighed and asked politely, "Don't worry about me, young master. Just... did I complete the king's order?"
Fusu didn't have the heart to embarrass the child, so he nodded cheerfully and said, "You've done it. It's New Year's Day, don't sigh. I asked you to come play, not to give you problems. Let's talk about something happy."
Meng Hua shook his head: "There's nothing to be happy about, Master. I don't even want to stay at home anymore."
"What's wrong?" Fusu asked hurriedly.
The usually strict grandfather had not seen Meng Hua for the past two months, and because of the recent holidays, he had relaxed a lot and allowed him to have some fun. However, he did not expect that several children from relatives and friends would come to ask him about Fusu. Some of the older ones even showed jealousy.
Although Meng Hua was inexperienced in the world, he was still taught by his father and grandfather that he could not say a word about the affairs of the palace or Fusu.
Although Meng Hua was able to keep his mouth shut, these people kept harassing him, which made him feel annoyed. He just wanted to get the New Year over quickly so that he could return to the palace and have some peace and quiet.
Fusu frowned and asked, "Have you told your grandfather about this?"
The child’s matter is small, but I’m afraid that the adults will have some intentions later.
Meng Hua said, "Grandfather and father are both very busy, so I don't want to bother them."
That’s true. From the war to the New Year, Meng Wu and his son Meng Tian did not have much free time.
But this matter must be reported to the elders of the Meng family.
Fusu quietly walked to the front, pulled Meng Yi's sleeve, and whispered, "Meng Qing, come here."
Meng Yi quietly followed him to the back of the procession. As he watched the king and his entourage enter the main hall, he asked, "Why did you call me, young master?"
Fusu then related what Meng Hua had said, saying, "This matter is my fault. Meng Hua is upset by it, and I cannot stand by and watch. That is why I have rashly come to disturb you. Please tell your father and brother."
Meng Yi said solemnly, "My dear, it was my family's fault for being negligent. Our relatives and friends have suffered. Please rest assured that my father, brother, and I will resolve this matter properly."
Fusu bowed and said, "Thank you."
Meng Yi hurriedly returned the greeting: "I dare not. Thank you very much, young master."
Fusu said to Meng Hua again: "I'm sorry, Meng Hua, I have caused you trouble."
Meng Hua waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Don't say that, Young Master. Those people are at fault. What does it have to do with you?"
Fusu said ashamedly: "It was indeed caused by me..."
Before they could continue, Ying Zheng sent a eunuch out to ask them what they were talking about. Fusu did not intend to hide it from his father, but that had to be a private conversation between them.
Saying it in front of everyone in the Meng family now, it seems as if they are here to accuse him. Although the purpose of his father's trip was not to show favor, since it has this effect, of course it cannot be discounted because of this matter.
Besides, even if Fusu didn't say it, Meng Yi would definitely tell it after they left, and it would be different if it came from his mouth.
Fusu dealt with his father's matter by going to the main hall to get his work assignment, and hinted with his eyes that he should go back to the palace to say something. Ying Zheng did not pursue the matter, but just followed his eldest son's words and praised Meng Hua.
…
After leaving the Meng family, Ying Zheng and Fusu father and son went to the Wang family again. After a harmonious exchange between the monarch and his subjects, they finally went to the home of Changping Jun.
Like the previous three families, the mansion opened its doors and Changping Jun led the entire family to welcome them.
Ying Zheng's explanation remained unchanged: he had simply taken his son out for fun. Afterward, they did not exchange words at the door; Changping Jun invited Ying Zheng into the mansion.
Ying Zheng still held Fusu in his arms and had no intention of letting him go down to talk to Mi Qing. His attitude was completely different from that of the other three families.
Fusu realized one thing belatedly. At first, he went to Li Si's house because it was a sudden idea, but when he came to Changping Jun's house in the end, it showed his father's attitude.
He began to be dissatisfied with Changping Jun.
Fusu remembered that in his previous life, Changping Jun was exiled five years later. Why was it so early this time?
There is no war between Qin and Chu now. What did Changping Jun do to make his father start to be dissatisfied with him?
Although he had such doubts in his mind, Fusu did not look at Changping Jun frequently. He had been immersed in the court for many years and would be caught if he was not careful.
After Ying Zheng sat down, he spoke directly, "Although Qin won a victory earlier, the Lunar New Year is approaching. To allow the soldiers to return home for the holidays, I have ordered the beacon fires to be temporarily extinguished. However, now that I have a powerful weapon, the next battle is surely not far away. Prime Minister, where do you think Qin should target its sword next?"
Changping Jun seemed to have forgotten that the king had just said he was out playing with his son. Listening to him talk about government affairs, he replied calmly, "Han is weak. If the king orders an attack, it can be conquered in just a month. Since the Battle of Changping, Zhao has harbored a grudge against Qin. Qin and Zhao are neighbors, and Zhao currently has General Li Mu, who has suffered at the hands of the Qin army. If Zhao is not destroyed soon, it will become a serious threat to Qin in the future. Therefore, I believe Qin should attack Han and Zhao first."
Ying Zheng smiled slightly and said, "What the Prime Minister said is exactly what I want. First, we should destroy the Three Jins, then take Chu and Yan. As for Qi, there is nothing to be afraid of."
Changping Jun was silent for a moment, then lowered his head and said slowly, "Your Majesty is wise."
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