[Various] The Deposed Crown Prince's Survival Story

Fusu recalled Chen Ping's words: when using a scale, one end should be weighted, but the other end should ideally be unweighted. (LeWen Novels)

Fusu pressed further, "If we don't use weights, what will we use?"

Chen Ping said that if the weight is too small, such a tiny lump, people will instinctively feel that 120 pounds is not much. So, if you're going to put in a weight, you should put in something large that doesn't weigh much. That way, when people see it, they will feel psychologically that you've done a lot of work, and they will be more likely to accept your explanation.

Fusu wanted to applaud Chen Ping and give him a thumbs up. Not only was he able to come up with a good idea, but he was also so insightful. He was really good... He could not be a brother-in-law, but he could be a retainer.

Fusu decided to take Chen Ping as his retainer once this matter was settled, since Chen Ping had come to Xianyang hoping to become a retainer under Li Si.

After all, figures like Li Si and Lü Buwei were legendary figures among grassroots retainers. Almost every young person with a dream had heard their stories and longed to be like them, persuading the King of Qin with a few words, making use of their talents, and then rising step by step from general to scholar.

Including the four states that existed before, among the seven states, Qin was the most likely to produce legendary figures from humble backgrounds. The King of Qin had the lowest requirements for education and background. As long as you could win over the King of Qin, a bright future was basically waiting for you.

But what Fusu wants to say is, Chen Ping, God gave you such a face, you can just sit and sell it, why are you working so hard?

Want to be my brother-in-law? No way!

Of course, Chen Ping never said that Fusu should use Huhai as a weight. It's just that Fusu couldn't think of anything "big and not suitable for weighing" at the moment, and Huhai happened to roll by at that time, so... he just grabbed it.

However, it must be said that Hu Hai, sitting on the scales like a lump of flesh, was indeed visually striking, and Ying Zheng's gaze changed when he looked at him.

“Father, when I was sorting through the memorials a few days ago, I found that there was a lot of nonsense and empty talk in them. I was thinking... if you only approve 120 catties of memorials every day from now on, will those officials learn to simplify things?” Seeing that Ying Zheng seemed to be somewhat interested, Fusu continued to persuade him.

"Oh? Fusu, you tell us." Ying Zheng said, pulling Huhai off the scale before sitting back in the main seat.

"That's easy. Just tell them that you only approve 120 catties of memorials a day, but you can't miss a single major military or political matter. If you miss one, they'll go to jail. To satisfy both requirements at the same time, they will naturally have to seriously consider the weight of a memorial. This is much more efficient than you, Father, repeatedly saying that memorials should be written in a simpler way."

"Huh? Your idea... is quite good. I approve it." Ying Zheng excitedly slammed his hand on the long table and shouted, "Zhao Gao, draft the royal edict."

Chen Ping had done Fusu such a great favor, and Fusu was very happy. He was planning to go out of the palace another day to tell Chen Ping his true identity and recruit him as his retainer... Let me reiterate, the idea of ​​him becoming his brother-in-law is impossible.

Bad news came from the Chu front: the Qin army suffered a crushing defeat, the worst it had been in decades. The Chu army pursued Li Xin's army for three days and three nights without rest, chasing them all the way to Chencheng before Chu withdrew its troops. However, few of the 200,000 Qin soldiers returned alive.

Upon hearing of this crushing defeat, Ying Zheng was furious. Without Li Si, Meng Yi, or others present, he tore up the military report and roared at the heavens and the earth.

Ying Zheng was really angry, and he even blurted out the Zhao dialect that he hated the most.

Li Si, Meng Yi, and others were alright. Although Ying Zheng had a bad temper, he was quite restrained in front of his loyal ministers. Occasionally, they would make mistakes in their work, such as forgetting a memorial, and Ying Zheng could tolerate it. However, Zhao Gao, who was kneeling the whole time, was completely unbearable. His body was trembling, and whether it was from sweat or urine, his sleeves were completely soaked.

The reason is simple: Ying Zheng tolerated his bad temper with his ministers, but he couldn't tolerate it at all with Zhao Gao. If he was slightly dissatisfied or unhappy, such as if the tea was cold or the room temperature was uncomfortable, kicking Zhao Gao would be a relatively light punishment.

That's why Zhao Gao was so afraid; he was afraid of being used as a punching bag by Ying Zheng.

Seeing how frightened Zhao Gao was, Li Si and Meng Yi dared not try to persuade him. Fusu had no choice but to order a palace servant to bring him a towel to wipe his sweat. He stepped forward, knelt before Ying Zheng, and held up the towel that he had just pulled out of the ice water, saying, "Please calm down, Father."

If anyone else had dared to say that, Ying Zheng would have kicked them long ago, but it was his own son…

Firstly, he was reluctant to kick it, fearing he might break it; secondly... *sobs*, the first reason means that Ying Zheng was afraid that if he kicked it out, he might get injured and break his own foot.

"Calm down? How can I calm down?" Ying Zheng said angrily as Fu Su took the cold towel from him, wiped his sweat, threw it on the ground, leaned against a pillar, and said angrily.

It's clear that after his outburst of anger, kicking tables and chairs, Ying Zheng is now too weak to even stand.

"Father, don't you think this is a good thing?" Fusu stepped forward and took Ying Zheng's hand, speaking with a serious expression.

“Good thing? You have…” Considering that it was his own son, Ying Zheng ultimately did not say “you’re sick”. He just angrily shook off Fusu’s hand and kicked Zhao Gao, who was crawling over to pick up his handkerchief.

Seeing Fusu's completely genuine expression, Ying Zheng couldn't help but ask, "Why do you think this is a good thing?"

"Seven years ago, our army conquered the four kingdoms of Han, Zhao, Yan, and Wei in one battle, all easily and without difficulty. May I ask, Father, are you proud of these achievements? Have you become complacent?"

Are you pleased with yourself? Are you carried away with pride? Of course, you are both pleased with yourself and carried away with pride.

Of the six states east of the Yellow River, Han was incapable of shouldering the heavy responsibility, Wei only had Lord Xinling to offer, and only Zhao, which shared the same origin as Qin, possessed the strength to rival Qin in the world. Therefore, before conquering Zhao, Ying Zheng was extremely cautious, fearing any mistakes. After conquering Zhao, Ying Zheng excitedly went to Handan to celebrate, marking the first time he had become so proud and carried away.

Later, when dealing with Yan, if Jing Ke hadn't been an assassin rather than an envoy, he might have actually agreed to Yan's submission and allow them to retain their fiefdom as part of their state, forgetting his own policy of unifying the world and destroying the ancestral temples and altars of the six states. Instead, he thought his benevolence could truly subdue the world, which was the second time he became complacent and carried away.

After destroying Wei, he thought the world was settled and the states of Qi and Chu would be easy to conquer. Even though Su'er, Li Si, Wang Jian and others repeatedly told him that Chu was difficult to attack and that he should be careful, he never took it to heart.

Hearing his son's question now, Ying Zheng felt even more ashamed. Indeed, it was his pride and arrogance, his underestimation of his enemy and carelessness that led him to reject Wang Jian's prudent request and choose Li Xin instead.

Fusu was right. He himself was primarily responsible for this crushing defeat and regretted not heeding the advice of his old minister.

Seeing Ying Zheng's displeased expression, Fusu continued, "Some things are bound to happen. It's better for them to happen sooner rather than later, and it's better to mend things after they happen than to sit and wait for death."

“Father, the most urgent task is not to lose your temper, vent your anger, or hold people accountable, but to take stock of the losses, stop the bleeding in time, and discuss how to salvage the current situation.”

Ying Zheng was a smart man. His initial anger was just a temporary inability to accept the outcome. After his initial anger subsided and with Fusu offering him a way out, Ying Zheng quickly calmed down and began to arrange the next steps. "Li Si and Meng Yi, stay behind to handle the aftermath for now." Ying Zheng glanced at Fusu. "You come with me."

After saying this, Ying Zheng suddenly turned around and left the study.

For the next few days, Ying Zheng did not set foot in the main study. Only Li Si and Meng Yi took turns guarding Ying Zheng's study in case of emergency.

The atmosphere in the royal city was extremely oppressive. No one knew where Ying Zheng was, and no one dared to inquire about his whereabouts, except for Mi Ji.

Mi Ji was very happy. Chu had a great general named Xiang Yan guarding it, making it as solid as a rock and difficult for ordinary people to cross. And Qin, having suffered this defeat, would probably not easily dare to attack Chu again. She no longer needed to worry about peace between the two countries.

"Hehua, have you found your elder brother?" Mi Ji asked softly, looking at her daughter who had just entered the room.

Hehua shook her head, sat down next to Miji, hugged her arm, and pouted, saying angrily, "I've searched many places, but no one has seen Big Brother. Little Rabbit said that Big Brother has never gone back."

"Oh? That's strange. Where did the King take Su'er?" A hint of doubt flashed across Mi Ji's face.

At this moment, outside the town of Pinyang, Fusu tilted his head and looked at Ying Zheng, asking with a smile, "Father, are you really going to invite General Wang to come out of seclusion?"

General Wang, also known as Wang Jian, was the father of Wang Ben.

When Ying Zheng was attacking Chu, Wang Jian said that he could not win without an army of 600,000. Ying Zheng thought that the other party wanted too many people and ignored him.

Wang Jian was also a man of temper; he simply quit his post and went home to take care of his grandson.

Ying Zheng was a magnanimous king. He certainly wouldn't do anything to his subordinates just because they abandoned their duties, feeling that it would damage his reputation. However, he was also a petty king. He told Fusu many times, "Once the Chu Kingdom is destroyed, I will definitely call Wang Jian back, hmph."

While others might not know this, Fusu did. Ying Zheng firmly believed that given Wang Jian's character, as long as he sincerely invited him back after the war, Wang Jian would definitely return to court. This would not only save face for Ying Zheng but also leave him with the image of a good monarch who would be remembered in history.

But now... I originally wanted to slap someone in the face, but now I've gone all the way to get slapped in the face myself. The contrast is a bit too great.

Ying Zheng, who had been sitting upright in the royal chariot, opened his eyes and looked at Fusu, who was staring at him with curiosity. "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. What's a little slap in the face? Besides, isn't this something I learned from you?"

"What did I do now?" Fusu thought his father was talking nonsense again. He was always the one slapping others in the face. When had he ever been slapped in the face?

"It's not honorable to be spanked by someone just for a chicken leg."

"It's as if you've lost very little face for a bite to eat."