In the Yichun Palace, when he received the order that the king was about to arrive, Fu Su was bewildered and had the same doubts as the other ministers: What's wrong with the king lately?
It's incredible that he visited him twice in less than half a month.
Is this also the work of the mysterious person living in the royal palace?
It seems that this person is not entirely a sycophant; he also has a good side!
Although there are conflicts with the king, Fu Su still hopes that the king will come to visit him. Any normal son would hope to see his father!
The king's visit this time is probably because of the bamboo slips he sent a few days ago. I don't know if he came to scold him or if he agreed with his ideas and wanted to ask him.
It should be mostly the former, considering the king's stubborn and strong personality. He wouldn't easily be convinced by him. It looks like he's in for a scolding today!
Fu Su smiled faintly and quickly ordered the palace eunuchs and maids to make preparations for welcoming Ying Zheng's arrival.
In terms of stubbornness, the father-son duo of Qin Shi Huang and Fu Su are quite alike. Qin Shi Huang thought Fu Su was stubborn, and Fu Su thought the same of his father. The two were like bulls in a field, neither giving an inch, and there was no figure like Ma Zhuang or Changsheng to mediate between them.
However, speaking of it, Emperor Qin Shi Huang is not of the same type as Hongwu and the Second Phoenix; it's not likely that there would be such a queen. So the question arises, why didn't Emperor Qin Shi Huang appoint a queen?
Shortly, under the protection of numerous guards, Ying Zheng arrived at the Yichun Palace. Fu Su quickly stepped forward and kowtowed respectfully, saying: "My son Fu Su greets his father!"
Ying Zheng looked at him for a moment and nodded, "Rise up. Let's discuss inside the palace."
The father and son entered the Yichun Palace. Although it was Fu Su's palace, as the father and the ruler, Ying Zheng naturally sat in the main seat, with Fu Su sitting beside him on the left.
Fu Su felt that the king today was quite strange. He didn't ask him about the book he was reading or his insights as soon as he arrived, then scold him unceremoniously. Instead, there was a sense of fatherly affection.
Like now that he has taken his seat, the eunuchs accompanying the king immediately serve him food. Is the king going to have a meal with him?
Looking at the dishes on the table in front of him, Fu Su couldn't help but recall when was the last time he ate with his father. If it's about court banquets, it hasn't been long, but for just him and his father to dine together, it must have been a long time ago.
After the eunuchs served the food, Ying Zheng said, "Retire!"
Apart from the guards protecting his safety, all the eunuchs and maids inside the Yichun Palace retreated. Only the father and son were left in the hall.
Ying Zheng looked at Fu Su and said, "It's been a long time since we've eaten like this together. Go ahead and eat!"
Fu Su is his eldest son. When Fu Su was born, he had not yet assumed the throne personally. When he saw this newborn son, the sense of continuity and joy that came from seeing his bloodline continue was one of the few bright spots in those difficult times.
This is his first son, the continuation of his bloodline, and the continuation of the Great Qin Dynasty. Therefore, he likes this son so much that he names him Fu Su and always reserves the throne for him.
In the history as spoken by that little fellow Li Nian, he was still most inclined to Fu Su as his preferred heir even until his death!
Fu Su doesn't understand what the king wants to do today, but it's obvious that the king isn't here to scold him. He also sighs and says, "It has indeed been a long time."
Ying Zheng said, "I am different from you. When I was young, your grandfather was often not around, so he did not often teach me. I also didn't learn from your grandfather how to raise children."
Ying Zheng said this not just to Fu Su, but also to his other children, because according to the history spoken by Li Nian, he, as the First Emperor, was rather unsuccessful in educating his children.
His daughters were relatively well-behaved, but his son's, Fu Su was raised to be stubborn and corrupt, while the younger son Huai was nurtured into a ferocious beast, and the other sons were all ordinary people.
Fu Su stopped his chopsticks, and Ying Zheng continued, "When I was thirteen years old, your grandfather died, and I have never experienced the situation of having a father after the age of thirteen. Naturally, I don't understand your views on me at this age."
"Some have told me that at your current age, there is something called 'rebellious psychology,' where you would think what I think is wrong, and what I think is right, you would think is wrong. You would often also think that the other person does not know what's good for them, how stubborn you are! I have given it much thought, and I believe their words are not without merit!"
"Fu Su, how do you see me?"
This sentence startled Fu Su so much that he put down his chopsticks and wanted to admit his mistake to Ying Zheng. However, he heard Ying Zheng say, "I'm not here today to discuss right and wrong with you. Even if I point out your mistakes, how can you take them to heart? It's just 'in one ear, out the other,' and you will still hold onto your own thoughts."
Fu Su said, "I dare not!"
Ying Zheng looked at Fu Su for a moment and didn't ask if he was truly or falsely afraid. He picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and slowly chewed it before asking, " haven't you heard about the matters in the palace today?"
Fu Su bowed his head and how could the matters in the palace not have reached his ears?
As the eldest son of the Qin king and the most likely heir to the throne of the Great Qin, he would naturally gather a group of people around him. These people would proactively seek out information for him and inform him accordingly.
Without waiting for Fu Su to answer, Ying Zheng asked again, "Many people are willing to make you the prince-regent. What do you think?"
Fu Su said, "It's entirely up to Father to decide!"
Upon hearing this answer, Ying Zheng's eyes flickered with a hint of disapproval: "It's entirely up to the sovereign to decide," "It's entirely up to the sovereign to decide"—have you never thought of fighting for it actively? No wonder in Li Nian's account of history, you committed suicide over a false edict!
Even if there were messengers who were forcing it upon you, with the thirty million troops of Meng Tian at your disposal, would they be able to force you to die if you didn't want to? And with your Fu Su's widespread reputation for good deeds throughout the world, even if that edict was genuine, many people would probably believe that it was false.
The Chen and Wu brothers were even using your name when they were plotting to rebel!
If it were him, he would definitely answer: "The ministers have excellent eyesight indeed. I am indeed capable of being the prince-regent. Father, you can rest assured that if you pass the throne to me as the prince-regent."
But Ying Zheng suppressed the desire to scold Fu Su, as he was his own son and the one he loved most. Moreover, from another perspective, Fu Su was still loyal to him as his father.
Suppressing his resentment, Ying Zheng said again, "If I also want to make you the prince-regent?"
Fu Su was somewhat taken aback; this was the first time the king had publicly expressed his intention to make him the prince-regent. He was about to speak.
However, seeing Fu Su move slowly, Ying Zheng's dissatisfaction resurfaced, and he threw his chopsticks onto the table before Fu Su and said, "Let me tell you the truth. I do indeed have the intention of making you the prince-regent, but whether you can be a prince-regent is not necessarily certain. Don't you believe in advocating for benevolent governance to rule the world?"
"I will appoint you as a local official, for you to govern directly. However, you must not use the title of a prince or the name of Fu Su. You should not let anyone know that you are my son. Will you agree?"
Fu Su, also stubborn in nature, agreed immediately: "I am willing!"
He insisted on doing a good job in governing that place and showing his father who was right and who was wrong.
Ying Zheng nodded and picked up his chopsticks to continue eating. He not only wanted to throw Fu Su out, but also wanted to throw all other sons who were of suitable age. However, these other sons would not be treated the same as Fu Su.
