Chapter 18: Father and Son (Huhai)

Ying Zheng continued, "In the future, distance yourself from men like Chunyu Yue. Taking such a person as your mentor will only lead you astray."

Although Li Nian had not explicitly detailed Chunyu Yue’s historical actions, anything recorded on those bamboo slips was surely problematic. Ying Zheng planned to find a time to summon Li Nian and question him thoroughly.

Fusu opened his mouth, wanting to defend his teacher, but seeing the sternness on Ying Zheng’s face, he dared not speak.

As he thought of Li Nian, a sudden idea occurred to Ying Zheng: why not entrust this son of his—who had grown somewhat warped—to Li Nian?

The more Ying Zheng considered it, the more he felt it was worth a try. He said to Fusu, "I have found you a new teacher. His vision and scholarship far surpass those of Chunyu Yue!"

Fusu was filled with disbelief, but constrained by Ying Zheng’s majesty, he dared not refute him. He buried his resentment deep within, thinking that once this person his father spoke of arrived, he would surely test his mettle.

Though the thought of making Li Nian his son’s mentor was still just a notion, Ying Zheng knew he had to confirm that Li Nian truly posed no threat to the Great Qin, and he would need to observe the man’s character and scholarship before truly proceeding. Otherwise, he would never hand Fusu over to him.

Observing his eldest son’s clear defiance, Ying Zheng felt a sense of helplessness, yet found it amusing. In his "stubbornness," his eldest son was indeed much like him.

However, his own stubbornness meant that once he decided on a goal, he would strive to achieve it, even if it meant taking a detour. His son’s stubbornness, conversely, was a refusal to turn back once a path was set, leading to a foolish rigidity. Just as in the history Li Nian had revealed, Fusu had committed suicide over a forged imperial edict.

If it had been him, he would never have taken his own life over such a decree. Even if the decree were genuine, he would not have done so; he would have led his army to confront Hu Hai and Zhao Gao to verify its authenticity.

Yet Fusu did not. He and Meng Tian truly believed that edict and both perished, never stopping to consider if his father would truly have him killed, or if the edict might be a fabrication.

The decree arrived, and without even a hint of suspicion, he followed its instructions to his death. Did they lack even that shred of trust between father and son? Furthermore, his competence was also lacking; he failed to detain the messenger to clarify the situation, to understand how the order was issued, or if the messenger harbored ulterior motives.

With even a sliver of intellect, the worst-case scenario could have been avoided, yet Fusu lacked it entirely.

At this thought, Ying Zheng left him with a cold "See that you behave accordingly!" and turned to leave.

"Respectfully sending off my father!"

Watching Ying Zheng’s retreating figure, Fusu felt his father was strange today. It seemed as though he held expectations for him, yet was deeply disappointed, and by the time he left, he appeared weary and spiritless.

***

After Ying Zheng’s figure vanished, Fusu asked the attendant at his side, "What happened in the palace today? Who has visited the King?"

Li Nian’s existence had been strictly sealed by Ying Zheng. While some sensed that something was afoot, no one knew the specifics.

The attendant shook his head, "Young Master, we do not know."

Fusu frowned, recalling recent rumors of a mysterious person living in the palace, whose quarters were under heavy guard and required strict inspections for entry. He had previously guessed it might be some beauty his father had collected, but now he suspected it was the "teacher" his father had mentioned.

*To be treated thus by my father, this man’s background must be significant. When the time comes, I shall see if his scholarship is truly as great as my father claims.*

He decided to prepare several questions to pose to this "teacher."

A teacher is meant to impart the Way, teach skills, and resolve doubts!

*Surely, teacher, you cannot fail to answer even these minor questions?*

After parting with Fusu, Ying Zheng did not return to his own palace but headed toward another part of the royal grounds.

Seeing the direction Ying Zheng was heading, Meng Yi thought to himself: *Is the King going to see Prince Hu Hai?*

Regarding Hu Hai, Meng Yi had originally felt neither love nor hatred, only the respect due to the King’s son. But after learning those facts from Li Nian, a natural aversion took root in his heart.

Hu Hai had colluded with Zhao Gao and Li Si to plot against his brother, Meng Tian. Although his ultimate fate had not been revealed by Li Nian, it was surely grim. Moreover, Meng Yi now knew that after Hu Hai ascended the throne, he would cruelly slaughter his own siblings.

Under these circumstances, even knowing Li Nian’s words might not be absolute truth, Meng Yi felt a deep loathing, even hatred, for Hu Hai. Thus, when the King asked for his opinion on the veracity of Li Nian’s claims, he had answered that he believed them to be true. His seemingly impartial analysis had, in fact, been biased toward Li Nian.

This was human nature: to seek good fortune and avoid disaster, to loathe what is harmful. Even if Meng Yi was loyal to Ying Zheng, his loyalty was to the King—what did that have to do with Hu Hai?

When Ying Zheng arrived at Hu Hai’s palace, just like Fusu, Hu Hai had been waiting outside. Seeing Ying Zheng approach, he hurried over with a beaming smile, putting on the appearance of a son overjoyed to see his father.

In the past, whenever Ying Zheng visited, he would do the same, and it would always please the King. After all, what father does not want to see his son so fond of him?

***

If Li Nian were here to witness Hu Hai’s joyous welcome of Ying Zheng, he would surely sneer: *Kid, you are happy far too early; when a father sees his son still alive after learning of his future betrayal, he is bound to reach for the rod!*

Hu Hai ran to Ying Zheng and bowed, "Hu Hai greets my father!" His face held a sweet smile, brimming with the surprise and delight of seeing his father.

In the past, Ying Zheng had been pleased by this, but today, he merely emitted a calm, nasal grunt. "Rise."

Ying Zheng’s reaction left Hu Hai stunned. Why did his father seem displeased to see him?

But Hu Hai was clever; he immediately acted aggrieved and said cautiously, "Father, have I done something wrong to displease you? Please tell me, and I shall certainly correct it!"

Looking at the aggrieved Hu Hai, Ying Zheng found it hard to imagine that this boy, not yet ten, would one day drive the Great Qin to ruin and cruelly slaughter his own siblings.

At the mere thought of the Qin falling in the second generation and this boy slaughtering his brothers and sisters, a surge of anger rose in Ying Zheng. If he did not vent this frustration today, he would choke on it. And who better to vent upon than the source of the grievance himself?

Ignoring Hu Hai’s pathetic, aggrieved display, Ying Zheng asked, "What have you been doing lately?"

"I have been busy with so much..."

Hu Hai quickly listed everything he had been doing: eating well, studying diligently, sleeping soundly, and treating his servants kindly. He painted himself as a perfectly obedient child, concluding with, "It is just that you have not come to visit me, and I have missed you dearly!"

Hu Hai expected these words to please Ying Zheng, but to his surprise, Ying Zheng glared at him: "Not studying properly, and thinking of me instead? You deserve to be punished!"

*The script is wrong,* Hu Hai thought, bewildered. Shouldn't his father be praising his filial piety? Why was he being punished instead?

*What villain is whispering slanders in my father’s ear? Do not let me find out, or I will make you suffer the same fate as those birds...*