[Various] The Deposed Crown Prince's Survival Story

The biggest news in Xianyang recently is that Princess Huayang, the eldest princess of the Qin Dynasty and the emperor's beloved daughter, has married Chen Ping, the newly appointed third-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations. (From a novel)

You ask what "Tanhua" means? It's a title that the clever and witty eldest son came up with. The eldest son said, "The Emperor's disciple..." The term "Emperor's disciple" was also conceived by the brilliant eldest son.

The emperor's students had their own unique titles to highlight their distinction, so the first place was called "Zhuangyuan" (状元), the second place was called "Bangyan" (榜眼), and the third place was called "Tanhua" (探花).

At first, the people of Xianyang were puzzled when they heard that Princess Hehua had married the third-ranked scholar, Tanhua. They couldn't understand why His Majesty hadn't bestowed the princess upon the top three scholars, but instead chose Tanhua. However, when the top three scholars rode through the streets together on horseback, the onlookers suddenly understood. They were astonished by the comparison; compared to the ugly top scholar and the old second scholar, Tanhua was truly beautiful and young, a true "stunning beauty." No wonder His Majesty betrothed the princess to him at first sight.

It's not easy! Xianyang City has finally produced a handsome man who can rival the eldest son in looks!

Although he's a little less handsome than the eldest son, he's still an extremely rare and handsome man.

In an instant, Chen Ping became the most envied and resented man in the world. Not only did he catch the emperor's eye at a young age, but he also married the emperor's little princess. He was definitely a winner in life.

At the same time, Chen Ping's past was also dug up. Of course, what was dug up was not the time he spent with Fusu, but how his family was so poor before he became successful that he couldn't afford to get married and had to chip away at his neighbor's wall to read books.

What was the secret to Chen Ping's success, going from being penniless to becoming famous overnight? Of course, it was passing the imperial examinations to become an official!

Upon hearing that there would be a second selection exam for officials next year, the students immediately fell silent—not because they had any objections, but because they were too busy studying to offer any.

The selection of officials for this examination was done in a hurry. From the issuance of the official document to the start of the examination, there was less than a month. Students from far away could not go at all, so only five thousand people came.

Next year, haha, with students from far away, students who are being observed this year, and new students year after year, the number of test takers will definitely be more than now. If the number of selected students remains the same, how brutal will the selection process be next year?

Ugh! Just thinking about it is terrifying! Chen Ping is such a role model, and you're not even reading his example properly, instead of babbling on and on about anti-Qin sentiments. Do you want to die?

Therefore, the students were as quiet as chickens and began to study diligently for the rise of the Qin Dynasty. Even if they were not good at studying, they would urge their children to study hard and tell them that only by studying hard now could they become officials when they grew up.

Suddenly, a great enthusiasm for reading arose among the people.

Of course, some people are unhappy about this situation, such as a Korean surnamed Zhang who is hiding in the Chu region.

"Damn it! Damn it! These people are truly despicable! Just for the sake of becoming officials, they've forgotten the hatred of their country's subjugation. Are they even human?"

He was once a descendant of the prime minister of Han. If Qin hadn't destroyed Han, he would have become a prime minister of Han himself, a person surnamed Zhang. He has no idea what the hearts of the vast number of poor students are like.

"No! This cannot continue like this. How can we allow that scoundrel Ying Zheng to win over the hearts of all the wise men in the world?"

Meanwhile, in Xianyang Palace, Ying Zheng, that scoundrel, was looking at his son with a headache.

"What are you doing?" Ying Zheng looked at his chubby son, who was pouting and glaring at him angrily. "Nineteen years old...almost twenty years old, and you're still acting like a child? Do you think you're still Da Bao?"

By the way, the five children of the Fusu family are, in order, Da Bao, Er Bao, San Bao, Si Bao, and Wu Bao.

Why don't these children have names yet? Well, recently Ying Zheng has become obsessed with feudal superstitions. Some sorcerer told him that this year is unlucky, and children born this year should not be named until they are ten years old. They can just be given nicknames when they are young.

Thus, the five poor children continued to be called "Bao" in this way, starting with the first two, then the third, fourth, and fifth.

"Hmph! Five treasures, I'm still a fresh-faced and handsome young man." Fu Su snorted angrily. You bad guys, don't think I don't know that you call me "Young Master" in front of others, but "Uncle" behind my back.

You're the old man! Your whole family are old men! You stinking Hu Hai! I'll kill you!

"Very well! You're a handsome young man! A fresh-faced and youthful handsome young man!" Ying Zheng said perfunctorily, waving his sleeve and saying, "Handsome young man, what do you want from me? Do you want me to point out a few beautiful girls for you?"

Father, please stop having such vulgar and violent thoughts! Do you think you're some kind of emperor? All you think about are girls. Everywhere you go, you accept the beauties offered by local officials. You leave without a single woman, but come back with several large carts full.

"It's not about beauties! I'm talking about the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, I want to go too!" Fusu said angrily.

Last time when he returned to his hometown to offer sacrifices, Ying Zheng only brought Hu Hai with him and not himself; this time when he went to Mount Tai to perform the Fengshan ceremony, he still only brought Hu Hai and not himself.

Baby is sad, baby is wronged, baby is getting easily hurt.

The Emperor only favors his younger brother, Hu Hai, and doesn't like the baby anymore.

"No! If you go, who will stay in Xianyang to handle government affairs?" Ying Zheng ignored Fusu's suggestion almost without thinking.

Are you kidding me? Of all the sons, Fusu is the most capable. He is the kind of person who can govern the country well in both literature and military affairs. He might be a little too inexperienced to handle major national affairs, but if you entrust him with a specific task, you can rest assured that Fusu will complete it quickly and well.

Just like creating a new script, Ying Zheng originally thought that the review and approval process would take at least a month, but the mischievous child completed it in ten days.

It is said that he has not been working overtime, and he eats and plays as usual every day, without missing out on enjoying himself at all.

Ying Zheng had also observed how Fusu worked. Fusu could process official documents much faster than Ying Zheng could read them. Ying Zheng had to retrieve the documents, open them, read them carefully, and give detailed replies. But what about Fusu...?

With a flick of his hand, he sent the bamboo slip rolling to the side. As the slip rolled, Fusu had already read its contents. At the same time, he quickly wrote his reply with his other hand. After finishing the reply, he flicked the end of the bamboo slip with his finger, and the slip, which had just been opened, rolled back into a ball.

Fortunately, Ying Zheng was knowledgeable and experienced. He had been subjected to various setbacks since Fusu was very young, otherwise he would have had to ask Xia Wuqie to fix his chin countless times a day.

Therefore, with such a brilliant son who could revise official documents, how could Ying Zheng bear to give him a leave?

You see, when Fusu was in Xianyang, he would definitely review the less important documents first, and only give the important ones to me, which would save me a lot of trouble.

However, if Fusu were to travel with him, this lazybones would definitely not approve the official documents.

"Huh? Father, in your heart, Su'er is just someone who handles political affairs?" Fusu pursed his lips, feeling so wronged and wanting to cry. What should he do? He wanted to be like Huhai, a cute and silly boy, so he could just stay in his father's arms, eating, drinking, and having fun.

"Of course not!" Ying Zheng immediately denied his true feelings with righteous indignation, and changed his words to say, "If the world is settled, I must travel around to awe all sides, but the country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and I am not at ease with no one in my family. Among all my sons, Su'er, you are the one I trust the most, so I left you in Xianyang City."

Some things can only be said once, not twice. Last time Ying Zheng said this, Fusu believed him, but this time he didn't want to believe it.

"No... I still want to go out and play." Fusu turned his head to the side angrily and said in a muffled voice.

That wicked father! He only takes Huhai out to play, but not Fusu. People on the forum are saying, "Your dad doesn't love you anymore, he only loves your younger brother."

"How about this, you stay home and watch the house this time, and next time... next time I will definitely take you out to play, okay?" Ying Zheng walked to Fusu's side, coaxing and persuading him for a long time, and made a lot of unequal treaties, promising to take Fusu out to play next time. Finally, he coaxed Fusu to smile at him.

Ying Zheng felt both angry and fond of Fusu, a child with a strong sense of pride and a fickle personality. He never knew what to do with him whenever he saw him.

It's not just anger; as a father, every father hopes his son will grow up to be independent and capable, so he can entrust everything to him with peace of mind. But Fusu is so childish, often mischievous like a little kid. It's not just love; as an emperor, he is growing old while Fusu is growing up. The friction between the aging emperor and the mature prince is increasing, but Fusu's childishness often just happens to temper his worries and fears about the possibility of Fusu having children.

With feelings he himself could not understand, Ying Zheng, carrying the large and small buns of Hu Hai, once again embarked on the road to the east.

After Ying Zheng left, Xianyang Palace became deserted. Fusu spent his days there, feeling extremely bored. His younger sister Hehua had gotten married, and his younger sister Baozhu was getting married soon. His mother was busy taking care of her grandson every day, and those women… well, all they ever do is send me lotus seed soup. Do they all graduate from the same culinary school? All they know how to do is send lotus seed soup! I want roast chicken!

As for his sons, they're all little devils. Why are Earthling cries so much? Can't they be quiet, handsome Earthlings like their father? He never cries!

The boring days passed one after another, and the time was spent dealing with official duties. Until one day, Fusu received a letter from Huhai, which said, "Father has been bullied. Quickly avenge him!"

Nonsense! Who dares to bully his adorable father?! This little one will kill them!

Fusu's inner universe was burning fiercely, determined to kill any villains who dared to bully his father.