An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

The first snow of the second year of the Da Kang era came exceptionally early. Fine snowflakes fell on the glazed tiles of the East Palace, making the vermilion palace walls appear even more solemn.

Xu Li sat upright at his rosewood desk, his small body ramrod straight, as he copied his father's handwritten "Strategies for Governing the Country." Today was his and his younger brother Xu Yi's tenth birthday, but the memorials piled up on his desk were 30% more than usual.

"Li'er, today is your birthday..." Jing Chunxi felt heartbroken.

"Your subject knows." Xu Li raised his head, his youthful face displaying a composure beyond his years. "Father Emperor said that a ruler should prioritize the affairs of the state."

Xu Zize stood outside the palace, gazing at his eldest son's focused profile through the carved wooden window, a complex mix of emotions welling up within him. Three days prior, he had formally issued an edict appointing Xu Li as Crown Prince. This decision caused quite a stir in the court—after all, princes were young, and historically, the appointment of a Crown Prince was usually done after he came of age.

"Has Your Majesty truly made up your mind?" Jing Chunxi asked, her voice filled with worry as she helped him change his clothes that night. "Li'er is only ten years old..."

Xu Zize grasped his wife's hand: "Precisely because he is only ten years old, I must begin sooner. Do you remember when your father..."

The words trailed off, but Jing Chunxi already understood. The late emperor had been confined to a wheelchair in his later years; had Xu Zize not been involved in politics for many years, the court would have been in turmoil. This lesson had solidified Xu Zize's resolve to cultivate an heir as early as possible, but she had never considered that her husband might have other ideas.

“But Li’er is still so young…” Jing Chunxi looked at the snowflakes falling outside the window, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

The following morning, Xu Li attended the morning court session for the first time as the Crown Prince. He wore a specially made small court robe, stood below the dragon throne, and listened attentively to the court officials' discussions.

"Your Majesty, the Jiangbei region has experienced heavy snowfall this winter, which may lead to a snow disaster..." The Minister of Revenue stepped forward to report.

Xu Zize did not make a decision immediately, but turned to Xu Li: "What does the Crown Prince think should be done?"

After a moment's thought, Xu Li calmly replied, "Your subject believes that we should immediately issue a decree instructing the people to repair their houses and cut down coal for firewood in order to save themselves."

The imperial court should prepare to open granaries and distribute grain as relief, and should order local officials and wealthy merchants to vacate their vacant residences to properly resettle the disaster victims.

"What do you think of what the Crown Prince said?" Xu Zize asked, glancing at the assembled officials.

A moment of silence fell over the hall, followed by a chorus of praise. Only the seasoned and prudent prime minister frowned slightly: "The Crown Prince is benevolent and his words are indeed true, but the national treasury..."

“The Prime Minister’s concerns are very valid.” Xu Li looked at his father, the Emperor, and only after receiving his nod did he calmly continue, “I believe that the affected prefectures and counties should first open their local granaries to provide relief, and then supplement the funds once the imperial court’s allocation arrives. This way, we can avoid delaying the process and also alleviate the pressure on the national treasury.”

This response drew a flash of approval from Xu Zize. After the court session, he summoned Xu Li to the Imperial Study and personally explained the key points of the day's political affairs.

"A ruler must not only be compassionate towards the people's plight but also know how to weigh the pros and cons," Xu Zize said, pointing to the map of Jiangbei. "Your suggestion today is excellent, but you need to consider something deeper—an epidemic is bound to follow the snow disaster, so the Imperial Hospital should prepare medicines in advance; gatherings of disaster victims are prone to causing trouble, so more soldiers need to be deployed to maintain order..."

Xu Li listened attentively, occasionally asking questions. Snowflakes fluttered outside the window, and the candles in the imperial study remained lit until late at night.

Such days soon became the norm. Every day at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), Xu Li would first practice martial arts with his younger brother to strengthen his body, then study and practice calligraphy. After the morning court session, he would also follow his father, the emperor, to learn how to handle state affairs. Jing Chunxi looked at his son's increasingly thin face and felt an overwhelming pang of heartache.

Xu Li caught a cold that day, but still insisted on going to court. Jing Chunxi couldn't help but stop him at the palace gate: "Today, the Empress Dowager has made the decision. You should rest well for the day."

“Mother,” Xu Li said gently but firmly, “Now that I am the Crown Prince, I cannot let a minor illness interfere with state affairs. My father said that the well-being of the people depends on the king’s single thought.”

Jing Chunxi was about to persuade him again when Xu Zize's voice came from behind: "Let him go. Li'er is right, it's his responsibility."

Watching her son's departing figure, Jing Chunxi couldn't help but shed tears: "He's only ten years old! While other children are still playing and having fun, Li'er has to shoulder such a heavy burden..."

Xu Zize gently put his arm around his wife's shoulder: "How could I not feel sorry for him? But you must know, Empress, it is precisely because he is intelligent and has a calm temperament that I must nurture him with even greater care. The throne of Dakang will eventually be handed over to him."

Xu Zize went to great lengths to help Xu Li mature quickly. He commissioned a special "children's version" of memorials, simplifying real-world government cases for Xu Li to review. Every night, the father and son would discuss these memorials, with Xu Zize explaining in detail the considerations behind each decision.

"Father, I don't understand." That evening, Xu Li pointed to one of the memorials, "Why should merchants be allowed to raise salt prices? Isn't this competing with the people for profit?"

Xu Zize smiled with satisfaction: "It's good that you thought of this. But you must understand that if the price of salt is too low, merchants will not make a profit, and no one will transport salt. People in remote areas will not be able to buy salt and will suffer instead. A moderate price increase will allow merchants to make a profit, ensure smooth salt transportation, and increase tax revenue for the national treasury. This is the long-term solution."

Xu Li suddenly understood and immediately wrote annotations on the memorial. Xu Zize looked at his son's neat handwriting and was filled with emotion. He recalled how, when he was young, the Empress Dowager and his father had taught him the way of governing the country in the same way. Now it was his turn to teach his son, and this inheritance made him feel a great sense of responsibility.

Besides political affairs, Xu Zize also attached great importance to the Crown Prince's martial arts training. He personally selected a martial arts teacher for Xu Li and checked his riding and archery skills every ten days.

"His Highness the Crown Prince's bow-drawing posture is very standard," Master Wu praised. "Given time, he will surely become a great talent."

Xu Li shook his head: "Master, you flatter me. I still need to practice more." With that, he drew back the bowstring and aimed at the target in the distance.

Jing Chunxi stood outside the training ground, watching her son practice in the cold wind. His little hands were red from the cold, but he refused to rest. She couldn't help but want to go over to him again, but Xu Zize pulled her back.

"Let him practice," Xu Zize said softly. "You must trust our son."

What pained Jing Chunxi the most was the difference between Xu Li and his twin brother Xu Yi. Xu Yi was lively and cheerful, able to play in the Imperial Garden after school every day, pester the palace servants to tell him stories, and go to bed early. Xu Li, on the other hand, had to study late into the night in the Imperial Study, dealing with political affairs that even adults found difficult.