The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 73 The Ceremony is Complete (Bonus Chapter)

Fusu walked slowly, wanting to accompany his great-grandfather.

Many people have been busy since last night preparing for this coming-of-age ceremony, and haven't slept all night, including my great-grandfather.

Ying Xi noticed that the young master had slowed down and said in a low voice, "Young master, you don't need to wait for this old man."

Fusu said, "I'm not in a hurry."

"Hmm..." Ying Xi pondered for a moment, then remained silent.

As you walk along the main street and turn south, people from Yongcheng begin to appear on both sides of the street, although the armored soldiers still stand on both sides.

Fusu felt that everyone's eyes were on him, but he continued to walk with firm steps.

Before even reaching the high platform, Fusu heard people on the platform reciting a sacrificial text.

Just as they were about to reach the high platform, someone stepped forward and tied a gold and jade belt around Prince Fusu's neck.

Ying Xi said in a low voice, "Sometimes, things have to change with the circumstances. Logically speaking, there should be members of the royal family, important ministers and relatives of the empress, as well as envoys from various feudal lords attending the ceremony. However, now that Qin has unified the six states, the former states have become bones in the soil."

"Actually, that night, the Prime Minister came to see me. The Prime Minister is a very wise man, and he also thought of this matter. Fortunately, there are still nobles from the six kingdoms living in Xianyang."

The old man paused for a moment, then said, "Although the envoys from the six states have not arrived, the fact that all the envoys from the six states are still alive means they can be considered envoys. Fortunately, the King of Chu is still alive."

As he spoke, Fusu looked into the distance and saw King Fuchu of Chu in the crowd. The king was standing there blankly, motionless, with an empty gaze.

Fusu withdrew his gaze, still holding the sword hilt with one hand, and walked towards the altar.

As he drew closer, Fusu saw his teacher, many important officials of the court, and the scholars from Shandong.

Fusu noticed that each of the Qilu doctors had a strange expression. Of course, they could only watch the ceremony conclude, and they had no choice but to watch, as everyone present hoped the ceremony would succeed.

Whether they exist or not is not important; what matters is the witness. But who is witnessing is not important.

As they approached the altar, Ying Xi whispered, "Once the young master has completed his coming-of-age ceremony, he can rightfully oversee state affairs and succeed to the throne."

Fusu understood his great-grandfather's meaning and continued walking forward until he arrived at the foot of the altar.

At this moment, Fusu felt even more gazes upon him.

Two children came carrying wooden trays, on which were placed two large pieces of white jade.

Li Si stepped forward and said, "Young Master."

Fusu nodded and followed Li Si onto the altar.

Ying Xi, leaning on his cane, lagged behind by two steps.

Two young boys carrying white jade followed behind.

Li You stood below the stage, watching his father lead Prince Fusu. This was an immense honor for his father, as it meant that when Prince Fusu became the Qin Emperor, the Qin Dynasty would reward his father even more.

However, Li You thought again, his father was already the prime minister, what else could he be?
Actually, the altar is not very high, only slightly higher than the city wall.

A cold wind blew, and the young master's black robes fluttered in the wind.

After Ying Xi also went up to the altar and stood still, the sound of the chime bells being struck came.

The old minister who came to Xianyang to explain the rites and laws stood here, solemnly proclaiming: "Wearing black caps and cloth hats, he was entrusted with the responsibility of governing the people and inheriting the patriarchal system."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ying Xi picked up a plain cloth and draped it over Prince Fusu, then put a black cloth crown on him.

The old man read again: "Add the cap of a wandering scholar, and grant him the privilege of participating in government and political affairs."

Ying Xi removed his previous black cloth crown and put on a black travel crown.

The old man read again: "Add nine tassels, he is the heir apparent, the ceremony is complete."

Ying Xi took the nine-tasseled crown and slowly placed it on Prince Fusu's head, saying in a low voice, "Prince, that's enough."

Adding nine tassels was actually a ritual for establishing a crown prince since the Zhou Dynasty established the feudal lords.

The Qin state had already unified the six states. Although a crown prince had not yet been formally appointed, everyone present knew that Prince Fusu was the de facto crown prince, only lacking the title.

After all, the First Emperor's descendants could not have two sons with nine tassels.

As long as Prince Fusu is still alive, according to the rules of etiquette, his descendants cannot be given the nine-tasseled hat.

Unless Prince Fusu is no longer alive.

The children in the audience sang loudly, "Honoring Gifts to the Guests."

Below the steps were rows of earthenware bowls, into which wine was poured in one by one. The people took turns picking up their bowls and toasting Prince Fusu, who had just completed his coming-of-age ceremony.

The entire coming-of-age ceremony was not long. After the ceremony, Ying Xi removed the nine-tasseled crown, but still held it in his hands.

Then Li Si dressed Prince Fusu in a black hair crown, the same one he had chosen in Xianyang.

Ying Xi announced loudly, "Enter the ancestral temple and pay homage to our ancestors."

This process was to inform the successive Qin dukes and kings that the ceremony was complete.

Fires were burning inside several bronze cauldrons beneath the altar, and scrolls of bamboo slips and documents were being placed inside to burn.

Fusu continued walking back to Qinian Palace along the same route, this time followed by Li Si, the Imperial Censor, Ying Xi, Wang Ben, and many other officials.

As Prince Fusu approached Qinian Palace, a large group of people followed behind him, all keeping a distance from him.

Fusu stepped onto the steps of Qinian Palace and walked into the main hall.

Led by a young boy, they entered the inner hall.

The elderly man who had been chanting the rites on the altar slowly approached and proclaimed in a clear voice, "Kowtowing!"

Fusu bowed and paid his respects.

Then a scroll of silk was lit and left to burn slowly until it was completely consumed.

Fusu saw his younger brother and sister Yinman standing to the side. The two noticed their brother's gaze and quickly regained their serious expressions.

Even so, their faces couldn't hide the joy they felt for their elder brother's coming-of-age ceremony.

"Everyone, please leave. We'll leave you here alone, young master."

Everyone followed the old man out, and Fusu listened as their footsteps grew farther and farther away until they could no longer be heard.

This time, they were all really gone, leaving him alone kneeling before the memorial tablets of the Qin dukes and kings of all dynasties.

The silk scroll that had just been burned had turned to ashes and scattered when the wind blew.

This silk scroll was made of silk, and after it was burned, nothing was left.

Not knowing how long he would have to kneel there, Fusu simply closed his eyes and pondered how to plot against the Hexi Corridor.

It is unlikely that the rulers and kings of Qin throughout history would have cared about a junior like himself, who was still worrying about his great cause in such a solemn setting.

As night was about to fall, Fusu was still kneeling there.

Then I heard footsteps behind me, and the sound of my cane hitting the ground. It was my great-grandfather.

"Get up."

Hearing the words behind him, Fusu slowly stood up and said, "Grandpa, you've worked hard."

Ying Xi sat outside the door, still holding his cane, and said, "Young Master, you can return to Xianyang after one night's rest."

"Are we going back so soon?"

"Qin etiquette isn't that complicated. Your Highness has been given the Nine-Tasseled Robe, making you the Crown Prince according to etiquette. You should return to Xianyang as soon as possible."

"Grandpa, come back to Xianyang with me." When Fusu bent down, the sword at his waist swayed slightly, and the scabbard bumped against the wall, as if he was still getting used to it.

Seeing the child's somewhat embarrassed look, Ying Xi said, "Take it off. You don't need to wear a sword unless it's a formal occasion."

"Hmm." Fusu took the sword from his waist and placed it against the wall. "This city is very small and empty, isn't it?"

Fusu said, "Yes, the population isn't large either."

"When you leave, young master, please take something with you. In the past, the Qin kings always took something with them when they came here. Every time the First Emperor came, he would take a bag of millet with him when he left. The Qin kings of the past would also take gold and silver or grain seeds with them, as if they were a reward from their ancestors. You may take one of these things with you."

Fusu asked curiously, "Is there such a rule?"

"Ha, not all rules are written down."

After saying this, Ying Xi looked at the sky that was about to fall into night, let out a long breath, and said in a low voice, "I'm finally done with my work."

"Let's go back to Xianyang."

Ying Xi shook his head.

Seeing this, Fusu stopped trying to persuade him.

Ying Xi said, "I will stay in Yongcheng, grow old here, and die slowly here. For me, dying like this is the best way."

Fusu stood up and walked quickly toward the front hall.

Ying Xi watched the child's retreating figure with a smile and muttered to himself, "Alright, everything that needed to be done has been done."

Fusu did not leave Yongcheng immediately, but stayed there for two days.

Yin Man sat by the chessboard, watching the black and white pieces move back and forth, deep in thought. Suddenly she said, "I heard that the Prime Minister took many scholars from Shandong back with him. I heard that they were escorted back."

She added, “Brother, Confucius once said that it is difficult to spend one’s days eating one’s fill without using one’s mind. Are there not those who play games?”

Fusu nodded.

Did Confucius also enjoy playing chess?

“Perhaps they like it.” Fusu sorted through the bamboo slips.

Whether Confucius liked playing chess is debatable, but Yin Man really did love playing chess. Ever since she learned to play chess, she spent most of her time in Yongcheng playing it.

After staying in Yongcheng for three more days, and with most of the guests having left, Fusu finally set off back to Xianyang.

When he came to Yongcheng, his luggage was actually quite light, but when he returned to Xianyang, Prince Fusu brought three carts full of books.

Wearing armor and sitting on horseback, Wang Ben was puzzled. Where did the young master find so many books in such a small city as Yongcheng?

This time, Prince Fusu didn't take anything else with him, but instead took the books stored here.

These books have clearly been stored for a long time; they are covered in dust, and some of the bamboo slips are loose, as if they would fall apart if picked up.

Some of them were even moldy, with thin bamboo slips scattered haphazardly on the carriage. After taking these back, the young master might have to piece them together again.

Fusu led Prince Gao and Yin Man into the carriage.

Looking at the long queue, Wang Ben said, "Young Master, you've rested enough."

"Let's go back."

Upon hearing the young master's reply, Wang Ben said loudly, "Return to Xianyang."

Yongcheng has returned to its former appearance, with herds of horses and cattle grazing outside the city.

Yongshan Mountain is beautiful in winter, with some snow still lingering at the summit.

After the winter solstice, it gets even colder in Guanzhong.

A cold wind howled past as Li Si strode into the main hall.

Inside the main hall of Zhangtai Palace, there are always many candlesticks lit, making the entire hall very bright and warm.

Ying Zheng nodded to let Li Si in, then took a deep breath and continued to look at the political affairs before him with a serious expression.

Ying Zheng put down his pen. "Everything went smoothly?"

Li Si reported, "The news came by fast horse that the young master is on his way back."

Ying Zheng picked up a persimmon from the table, took a bite and chewed slowly, his eyes still on politics, and said, "There is a nobleman from the Han region named Zhang Liang who has recently been traveling around Luoyang."

Li Si frowned and said, "I know him."

"This person is trying to persuade the former nobles of the six states to join in the rebellion against Qin."

The First Emperor spoke calmly.

But Li Si's expression grew increasingly solemn.

“Someone went to investigate him, but he escaped.”

Upon hearing this, Li Si said, "I will immediately send people to investigate."

Ying Zheng stared at the rows of text, his voice low and deep, and said, "How many former nobles of the six states want to rebel against Qin? Can we arrest them all? Can we kill them all?"

Upon hearing this, Li Si fell silent again.

The First Emperor was right. There were so many former nobles in those six states. If we killed one today and another tomorrow, could we ever finish them all? No, we could never finish them all.

Throughout the entire conversation, the First Emperor never raised his head.

Li Si bowed and said, "Your subject is ashamed."

The First Emperor spoke slowly and without much emotion, but his voice was clear in the hall.

It was as if the great hall amplified the First Emperor's words, making them exceptionally clear in one's ears.

It is unknown what the First Emperor and the Prime Minister discussed, but the Prime Minister did not leave until night had completely fallen.

Although Weinan Prefecture is a prefecture, it has no prefectural city and only one army. There are villages and counties, each on its own land.

Zhang Han pulled up all the radishes and celery on the mountain to pickle.

He picked up a radish, took a bite, chewed it, and looked down at a group of children playing below the mountain.

Just then, Shusun Tong walked by. He put the washed radishes into the bucket and whispered, "Are there any more radishes on the mountain?"

Zhang Han, still chewing a piece, swallowed hard and said, "These are all that's left; the rest are frozen solid."

Shusun Tong sighed, "We planted too much this year; we can't eat it all."

Zhang Han was watching a group of children reciting the stories of the Qin people.

Shusun Tong asked, "Are these children really that good-looking?"

Zhang Han said, "They are the most supporters of Qin and the most loyal to Prince Fusu. How many children are like that?"

Shusun Tong pondered for a moment and replied, "There were only three hundred before, but then the children taught the children, and there were more and more of them. After the fertile land was cultivated, everyone here supported Prince Fusu."

"I don't know how many children like this there are. I've never counted them. They just pass on stories to each other, one after another, and then several more, in groups."

Zhang Han asked, "How did you do that?"

Shusun Tong laughed and said, "Prefect, what do you mean by that?"

"you're good."

Shusun Tong continued putting radishes into the bucket, muttering, "I didn't do anything, really nothing. I just told them a story as you instructed, and that's how things turned out."

Zhang Han said, "The more children like this, the better."

Noticing that Shusun Tong was looking at him, Zhang Han put the remaining piece of radish into his mouth and helped him tidy up the radish.

When Zhang Han came to help, Shusun Tong became unhappy again. He said, "What kind of prefect or assistant prefect has to go into the mud and dig out the radishes themselves?"

Zhang Han laughed heartily and said, "Isn't that you and me?"

(End of this chapter)