The sun rises in Fusang tree, which is ten feet high. Everything in the world is as tiny as a hair.
So his father named him Nangong Fusang. Everyone said that this showed his father's high hopes for him as the eldest son.
But ever since he was old enough to understand, he never felt that his father had any high hopes for him.
The emperor had many children, but he was the least favored one among them and he was given the title of the eldest son for nothing.
His mother was injured when she gave birth to him and was bedridden ever since. She passed away when he was very young.
His father sent him to be fostered under the name of the empress, who treated him very well, taking care of his food, clothing, housing, transportation and every other matter.
But he could still clearly feel that he was not her child.
Also raised by the Queen, the Seventh Sister is the Queen’s biological daughter. The Queen would blame her for not working hard and punish her for being naughty.
But the queen was always tolerant and permissive towards him. Even if he climbed over the wall and didn't study, the queen would never blame him.
When he fought, as long as he was not hurt, the queen would pretend not to see it.
He didn't understand at first, but later he overheard his seventh sister crying and saying that the queen was partial. It was obvious that her eldest brother had also caused trouble, so why did the queen mother only punish her and never punish her eldest brother?
The queen told her earnestly that her elder brother was not her mother's son, so her mother did not dare to control him. If he got hurt, it would be her, the adoptive mother's fault, and it would only cause gossip.
From then on he understood that even though he called her mother, he was not her biological child after all.
After that, he simply stopped going to class. No one would ask him whether his grades were good or not, and no one would care whether he was a man of both moral integrity and talent.
He was idle all day long, causing trouble everywhere, and would beat up any little kid who came into the palace.
"Your Highness, today is the day when the new number one scholar enters the palace to meet the emperor. The Empress has ordered that you stay in the palace."
The young eunuch who served him spoke without any emotion.
He knew that the Queen was afraid that he would tease the new number one scholar and embarrass his father.
He had no intention of going, and he used to tease those noble children just because they were so arrogant and looked like they deserved to be beaten.
But he was the new top scholar, why was he playing tricks on him?
As he walked up the stairs, the palace servants knelt down and saluted him immediately when they saw him.
"Your Highness."
"Your Highness."
He ignored it and walked straight past.
The little palace maid behind him suddenly said, "Today is the day when the new number one scholar enters the palace to meet the emperor. I wonder what the new number one scholar looks like?"
"I heard that the new number one scholar is only 13 years old, not much older than the eldest prince. But he is already the number one scholar, but you see the eldest prince..."
"No wonder the emperor doesn't like him."
"Don't say it, His Highness will hear it soon."
"He heard it, so what? At most, he will be scolded by the Queen, just to save his face. Do you really think the Queen will be so angry about him?"
As he spoke, there was a burst of laughter.
Nangong Fusang stopped, turned around and stared at them and asked, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
The palace maids immediately fell silent.
"I'm asking you a question. Are you mute?" Nangong Fusang was a little angry.
The palace maid lowered her head and said, "Your Highness, I didn't say anything."
"You didn't say that? Do you think I'm deaf? I clearly heard you say that I'm not as good as the new champion, and that the queen wouldn't stand up for me."
Facing his anger, the palace maid was not afraid, but argued: "Your Highness, we have never said such a thing."
Nangong Fusang was about to explode when he heard someone ask, "What are you arguing about? What are you arguing about? Don't you know that His Majesty is going to receive the new number one scholar here today? What's the point of making so much noise?"
Upon hearing the voice of the person coming, the palace maids were so scared that they immediately huddled together: "Grand Steward, it was His Highness who insisted on making a noise, it has nothing to do with us servants."
The person who came was the chief eunuch. He glanced at the prince, and a trace of impatience flashed in his eyes, but his face was still respectful: "Your Highness, His Majesty is hosting a banquet today."
Nangong Fusang pointed at the group of palace maids and said, "They offended my Highness, so we're just going to let it go?"
The chief steward was a little impatient, frowning and asking them: "Have you offended His Highness?"
The maid immediately argued, "How dare we offend His Highness? We are innocent."
"You..." Nangong Fusang was so angry when he saw them confusing right and wrong that he went up to kick them.
He was stopped by the chief eunuch: "Your Highness, today is an important day, you must not act recklessly, otherwise His Majesty will be angry."
"How dare you, father, come to suppress me?" Nangong Fusang was not very angry at first, but being looked down upon by a group of servants made him very angry.
Facing his anger, the chief eunuch was not afraid, but said calmly: "Your Highness has misunderstood, I am just afraid that Your Majesty will be angry."
“You…” Nangong Fusang was so angry that he had nothing to say.
He knew that these people bullied him because he was alone and helpless, without a mother to help him, and not favored by his father. So they pretended to obey him but secretly disobeyed him. Anyway, he could do nothing about them.
"If Your Highness has nothing else to do, please return to the palace." The eunuch chief added.
Nangong Fusang gritted his teeth, but could do nothing about it.
At this moment, the chief eunuch changed his arrogance and walked quickly to the front: "Hey, isn't this the new number one scholar, Lord Liu?"
Nangong Fusang looked over and saw a handsome, tall and slender man walking towards him with a warm smile on his face.
Even when walking in the palace, he remained calm, confident and determined.
This confidence was so dazzling that it was blinding in Nangong Fusang's eyes.
"Meet your highness."
Nangong Fusang ignored him and turned to leave, but he suddenly said, "Your Highness is kind and righteous."
"Benevolence and righteousness?" Nangong Fusang stopped and looked back at him in confusion?
Liu Sheng smiled and said, "These palace servants contradicted His Majesty in public, but Your Majesty didn't beat them to death. Isn't that righteousness?"
Nangong Fusang thought he was making fun of him, as he didn't even dare to hit a group of servants. His face became even colder. Now everyone could ridicule him, the great prince.
It's such a joke to tell you.
Liu Sheng approached him and whispered, "Your Highness is kind and righteous, but I am a cunning servant. I still need to beat you. After the beating, I will go to His Majesty to receive punishment. I think His Majesty will not make it difficult for you."
"Your Highness will only be punished with confinement, but they will lose their heads."
Upon hearing this, Nangong Fusang froze in place, his face filled with horror.
Liu Sheng's words woke him up. He was the great prince of the palace. If he killed a palace maid, it might be bad for his reputation and his father would punish him. But he was his father's biological son after all, and his father would never do anything to him for a palace maid.
At most they would be confined to their homes for a few months as a punishment, but these slaves would lose their lives.
How many lives do they have to go against me?
"Thank you." Nangong Fusang replied in a low voice.
Liu Sheng smiled and said, "Then it won't hinder Your Highness from...establishing your authority."
After saying that, he followed the eunuch chief inside.