[Various] The Deposed Crown Prince's Survival Story

Ying Zheng was heartbroken, but Fusu was particularly oblivious. Seeing Ying Zheng's dark expression, he asked, quite unceremoniously, "Why does Father look so pale?"

Haha, you little rascal, what do you think?

"I know it must be bad people bullying you."

Not a bad person, but a bad bear.

"Father, tell Su'er who bullied you, Su'er will go and settle the score with him." Fusu said, then let out a loud shout, waving his little fists and saying seriously, "Su'er will beat him until his face is covered in blood, so that he will know that Su'er's father is not someone to be bullied."

I couldn't let anyone bully me, so I got bullied by the bear.

Ying Zheng inwardly grumbled, but looking at his chubby son's serious and earnest expression, he couldn't bring himself to complain. He could only nod perfunctorily and change the subject, saying, "Su'er, does that mean you can read?"

“You can read, what’s so difficult about it? It’s so simple, just read it once and look at it again and you’ll know it.” Fusu’s words made Ying Zheng even more heartbroken.

"Hmph! One should be more humble and not speak too confidently, lest the wind blows." Ying Zheng glanced at Fusu and said.

"Oh...but...didn't Father say that one should be honest? Su'er clearly knows how, so why say you don't? Isn't that lying?" Fusu scratched his head, looking puzzled.

That innocent and carefree appearance made Ying Zheng unable to bear to criticize it.

"Don't talk about this..." Ying Zheng waved his hand, signaling Fusu to stop talking. If he continued, he would disregard their father-son relationship. "Tell your father, how did you learn to read? Was someone teaching you?"

“Father, learning to read is such a simple thing, Su’er doesn’t need anyone to teach him.” Fu Su interrupted Ying Zheng angrily, his fair face flushed red, his big eyes filled with indignation, as if Ying Zheng’s words had just insulted him greatly. “If…if…if someone has to teach Su’er to read, that person is Father.”

"Your Majesty? When did I ever teach you to read, Su'er?" Ying Zheng was taken aback, then asked in confusion.

“It’s you, Father…” Fusu began to explain.

It turns out that although Ying Zheng was busy with official duties, he still loved his son Fusu quite a bit. Even if he didn't have time to go to the harem, he would order someone to bring Fusu to the study to play.

Fusu was a well-behaved child who was obedient and sensible from a young age. When Ying Zheng was busy with official duties, he would play quietly by himself without crying or making a fuss. When Ying Zheng had free time to play with him, he would happily accompany him with a smile, using his childlike voice to wash away Ying Zheng's busyness. Therefore, Ying Zheng liked to bring Fusu to the study to play whenever he had free time, which also allowed Fusu to develop a good habit of listening to government affairs from a young age.

Ying Zheng had a quirk: whenever he saw a memorial or article that he liked or disliked, he would unconsciously read it aloud, and while he was reading, Fusu would often be eating chicken legs next to him.

Besides eating chicken legs, Fusu would occasionally glance at Ying Zheng. Over time, Fusu learned almost all the commonly used characters in Qin.

"I don't believe it!" Ying Zheng said somewhat inappropriately, picking up a scroll from the long table.

Fusu smiled without saying a word, but simply made a "please" gesture.

Looking at Fusu's arrogant and irritating demeanor, Ying Zheng opened the bamboo slips and quickly read aloud: "The world all regards the principles of filial piety, brotherly love, loyalty, and obedience as correct, yet no one knows how to examine and properly practice these principles, hence the chaos in the world..."

To put the unruly child in his place, Ying Zheng didn't recite the text in the usual way, swaying his head and chanting. Instead, he read it like a machine gun, taking advantage of the fact that classical Chinese texts have no punctuation, bouncing and jumping as he finished the nearly two thousand-word article in one breath without pausing at all.

After finishing reading, Ying Zheng, without even bothering to drink water to moisten his throat, handed the book to Fusu with a slightly childish air and said angrily, "You do it!"

Fusu glanced helplessly at Ying Zheng, whose sighing appearance seemed somewhat familiar to Ying Zheng.

Hmm? Isn't this how I always shake my head and sigh helplessly when this brat makes a mistake? How did this brat learn it and use it against me?

Ying Zheng felt like he couldn't breathe.

"Don't look at me, read it quickly!" Ying Zheng gritted his teeth and looked at Fusu, saying, "Delaying time is useless."

Fusu sighed again. Why were the people of Blue Star always so suspicious? His boss didn't even believe what he said? What about the trust between father and son? Wasn't it said that on Blue Star, the blood relationship between parents and children was the closest relationship?

Those big assholes on the forum!

If that's the case, then Father, please don't blame Su'er for not showing filial piety.

Fusu looked sympathetically at Ying Zheng, whose face was full of "never giving up until hitting a brick wall," and said, "Alas, if we use external measures to govern internally, and instead observe and follow the enemy without achieving hegemony..."

Fusu began to recite at length, leaving Ying Zheng completely bewildered. He tried several times to interrupt Fusu, but the mischievous boy silenced him with a look that seemed to say, "Shut up and feel it with your heart."

Alright, for the sake of my son's physical and mental development, I will reluctantly continue listening.

Ying Zheng leaned his head on the couch, looking at Fusu, who was sitting upright to the side, his little mouth opening and closing, making clear and melodious sounds, and his little face was extremely serious.

Just for his adorable little face when reciting his lessons, is it really so wrong to patiently listen to his ramblings?

With Lü Buwei's recent death, the last shadow on Ying Zheng's throne was also wiped away. At this time, he was in full power and riding high, while Fusu was at the age of being playful, active, and adorable. With both of them combined, Ying Zheng was extremely fond of Fusu.

Fortunately, it is now the second century BC. If it were the 21st century AD, Ying Zheng would have to post nine pictures of Fusu and his surroundings eight times a day on social media platforms such as QQ Space, Weibo, Renren, Twitter, Facebook, and forums. These pictures would be pinned to the top of the page nationwide and could not be blocked. In the end, he would have earned the title of "baby-posting maniac".

Ying Zheng's lips curled up as he continued to listen to Fusu reciting the heavenly book he couldn't understand at all in his soft, cute voice. But as he listened, Ying Zheng's expression began to change, and he became serious. He slowly sat up straight from his reclining position on the couch.

This is impossible! This is absolutely impossible!

Ying Zheng picked up the bamboo slips that Fusu had just tossed aside, pointed to the words on the slips, and listened to the sentences Fusu recited, comparing them one by one.

"It is also for the sake of following the Way, loyalty, fraternity, and filial piety, so that all may descend to Heaven... Father, there's no need to look anymore, Su'er has memorized it all, I guarantee there isn't a single mistake." Fusu looked at Ying Zheng, whose expression was as if he had seen a ghost, and said calmly.

"This is impossible! You...you actually...you actually..." Ying Zheng pointed at Fusu, his face filled with shock, and said, "This is truly...this is unbelievable. You really didn't learn this before?"

“No, Su’er, this is the first time I’ve heard this passage. Is it… difficult? It’s just reciting it backwards, what’s so difficult about that? Doesn’t Father always say that you can only truly understand a book if you can recite it backwards fluently?” Fusu looked at Ying Zheng with a blank expression.

Isn't "reciting backwards fluently" a phrase invented by Earthlings? Don't all the forum members say they can recite it backwards fluently? If Earthlings invented this idiom, shouldn't many people be able to do it? Is it really necessary for the boss to be so surprised?

"Father, Mother told me that you were an exceptionally good reader when you were young. How many books could you recite from memory? Recite one for me, please." Fusu rested his chin on his hands, looking at Ying Zheng with wide, admiring eyes.

Look how well-behaved and obedient I am! Even while reciting a book, I don't forget to find an opportunity for my boss to show off his knowledge. I even put on a show of admiration for such a low-level skill as "reciting backwards fluently," all to make my boss happy. It's not easy being a good child who loves and cares for his dad!

This baby is so tender-hearted... Is this how the phrase "tender-hearted and gentlemen" is used?

Fusu awarded himself a medal that read "Touching Qin, a Good Child of Filial Piety in Twenty-Four Seasons".

While Fusu was almost moved to tears, Ying Zheng looked embarrassed, "I can recite it backwards... this..."

You have to lie through your teeth and make up stories, even if it means crying.

"I am not testing your memorization today, so we will discuss that another day." Ying Zheng waved his hand, picked up the bamboo slip, and casually pointed to a few words on it, asking Fusu to recognize them.

Although Fusu was a little unhappy with Ying Zheng's "lack of romantic understanding," he still followed the direction Ying Zheng pointed and read out the words he pointed out one by one. As he read, he suddenly said, "Father, Su'er feels something is strange?"

"What's so strange about it?" Ying Zheng replied coldly.

That wretched brat! He actually got every single word wrong, not a single one was wrong. Even when someone said, "You've got it wrong, this isn't a certain character," he seriously retorted, saying that he was absolutely sure he hadn't misremembered, and if there was any mistake, it must be that Father had misremembered.

If I were to take advantage of Fusu's position to back down and admit my mistake, that would be fine; but if I didn't take the opportunity and insisted that Fusu had misread it, then... Fusu would... admit his mistake.

But the subtle look in his eyes when he admitted his mistake—indulgence, helplessness, pampering, "What am I going to do with you? Fine, children shouldn't argue with adults, I'll let you off this time"—made Ying Zheng laugh when he thought about it.

What a brat who deserves a beating! Mi Ji, I don't know what kind of temper you have, but you actually managed to give birth to a brat who is both annoying and lovable.

Looking at Ying Zheng's ever-changing expression, Fu Su was somewhat confused, wondering why Ying Zheng was looking at him so strangely.

But it's okay. As netizens on the forum said, Earthlings have something called menopause. Once Earthlings reach menopause, they get a problem of "I'm being unreasonable, I'm being unreasonable, so what?" This problem can't be cured, but it will heal itself after this period. Therefore, the best way for us observers is not to lower ourselves to the level of the foolish Earthlings, so as not to be infected by their irrationality.

So Ying Zheng ignored him and Fusu continued, "Father, I feel... this doesn't seem to be the script of our Qin state."

You little brat, how could you figure that out? Are you a monster?

Ying Zheng looked at Fusu with a surprised expression.