Father, for what purpose did you unite the six states?

"Practice hard!"
"Don't slack off..."

Not far away, Wang Ruonan was eating a tangerine, pacing around Fusu and reminding him, "Right now, you need to make up for your shortcomings through diligence and master the fundamentals!"
"As for setting out the porridge, Mother and the others are already taking care of it. Why do you need to meddle in that?"
"Remember to follow the rhythm of breathing I taught you, clear your mind, and let your spiritual platform remain untainted!"
"Practicing martial arts without mastering the inner breathing leaves you with nothing in your old age!"
"Contemplate deeply, and experience it with your heart!"

Fusu nodded. In this regard, he did not slack off in the slightest.

It was only then that Wang Ruonan realized that although Fusu was somewhat fond of women and loved to boast, he also possessed a remarkable tenacity.
Whenever he said he would hold a horse stance for a certain duration, he would stick to it completely without a single instance of laziness.
This made Wang Ruonan quite satisfied.

"Ding."
"Congratulations to the host for successfully following Wang Ruonan in learning martial arts and earning her recognition. Rewarded with a set of the modified Supreme Mystery Scripture mental cultivation method!"

Fusu opened his eyes in an instant.
He got it!

Immediately, he began browsing through the Supreme Mystery Scripture mental cultivation method, located the section concerning breathing and vital energy regulation, and started deliberate training according to the techniques described within.

The First Emperor watched this scene, and the reminiscent look in his eyes gradually faded.
Looking at the young man and woman basking in the sunlight, a warm, paternal smile appeared on his face.

"Meng Yi!"
"Your humble servant is here!"
"Look, how wonderful!"

Meng Yi was taken aback and looked around, wondering what was so wonderful about it.
Nevertheless, he nodded and said, "Yes, it is very nice!"
"Let's go, we should head over too!"

The First Emperor walked forward and paused for a moment beside Huayang.
It was only then that the others noticed his arrival and hurriedly prepared to pay their respects with pale faces.

The First Emperor waved a hand to stop them.
He picked up a ladle himself and began ladling porridge for the crowd.

After being busy for a long time, as the distribution of today's porridge came to an end, the sun climbed high into the sky.
Watching the men and women who had received their bowls of rice porridge and were beaming with joy, the First Emperor felt his mood brighten even further.
He hadn't felt this happy in many years.

The First Emperor sat down at a temporarily assembled table, picked up a bowl of porridge, and asked, "Huayang, why did you personally get involved in serving porridge?"

Huayang felt a bit nervous upon seeing the First Emperor, but she still replied with poise and grace, "Father, Younger Brother said that there is much suffering in the world, and many people still cannot fill their stomachs."
"Since we have earned some money, we should give back to the people."
"Besides, Ruonan often used to distribute porridge in the past, and since all of us happened to come along, we prepared a bit more than usual."

The First Emperor nodded and looked towards Fusu and Wang Ruonan, who were walking over.
Then, with a smile, he looked at Wang Jian and said, "Marquis Wucheng, look at this. Didn't I say these two young people were a match made in heaven?"
"At first, you were even reluctant."
"Look at them walking together—a handsome young man and a beautiful maiden, how harmonious!"

Wang Jian smiled and nodded, "Your Majesty is right. It was this old subject who almost played the role of the mandarin duck-separating villain and committed a grave mistake!"

Nowadays, Wang Jian was growing increasingly fond of Fusu as his prospective grandson-in-law. What a golden son-in-law he turned out to be!
Every time he saw those piles of gleaming silver entering his coffers, Wang Jian felt that his granddaughter had indeed found a good match.
As for Fusu's fondness for beauty—what man was not fond of beauty?
What man did not have a household of wives and concubines?
This was entirely understandable!

The First Emperor nodded, displaying a rare look of satisfaction, and waved his hand. "Fusu, come over here!"

Fusu had spotted his old man from afar and had deliberately pretended not to see him, simply wanting to avoid approaching.
However, seeing that the First Emperor had singled him out by name, he had no choice but to walk over and bow, saying, "This son pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

Watching Fusu's reluctant demeanor, the First Emperor chuckled half-angrily, "What?"
"What kind of attitude is that?"

Fusu cupped his hands and deliberately retorted, "Father, you reside deep within the palace and occupy a lofty position; how could you possibly understand the hardships of the common people?"
"What wind blew you out here today of all days?"

"Hmph!" The First Emperor let out a cold snort. "Isn't it all because of you!"

Seeing how Fusu had ruined the First Emperor's good mood with just a few words, Meng Yi and Feng Jie felt a secret surge of alarm.
Just what kind of game was His Highness Fusu trying to play?
Not only were they clueless, but Wang Jian and his family were also completely bewildered.
Why pick a fight and deliberately provoke his anger for no good reason?

The First Emperor stood up and asked with a mix of exasperation and high expectations, "Did you buy up grain in massive quantities just to relieve the common people?"

Fusu did not answer.
"Speak!" the First Emperor said in a deep voice.

Only then did Fusu shake his head and reply, "No, this son has ulterior motives and harbors treacherous intentions!"

The First Emperor was amused.
With a smile, he asked, "And what do you expect to achieve with just this little bit of grain?"

Fusu pointed toward the dispersing crowd and said, "I can win their approval!"
"At the very least, right now, I am giving them food, and they will remember this kindness of mine!"
"When people across the entire realm all remember my kindness, won't I become the one whom the hearts of the world truly follow?"

The First Emperor frowned and fell into deep thought.
A moment later, the First Emperor spoke, "I know your governing philosophy differs from that of Li Si and the others, but do you know how many people in the imperial court oppose your policies?"

Fusu paid no heed to this and instead stared intently at the First Emperor, saying, "Father!"
"Since you were able to step out of the deep palace courtyards today and come here to distribute porridge to the common people,"
"Then this son will no longer hold anything back!"
"This son has never cared how many people in the court oppose him; what this son cares about is how many people in this realm can eat their fill every day without having to worry about starving!"

Fusu dropped directly to his knees and said with utmost earnestness, "Father, this son dares to ask you: for what purpose did you unify the six states?"

The First Emperor was startled and froze in place.
Did he unify the six states for the sake of power?
Or to fulfill the long-cherished ambition of his ancestors, or perhaps...

Seeing the First Emperor remain silent, Fusu continued, "If your only purpose was to enjoy the pinnacle of power, to relish the glory of being the sovereign of all under heaven, or something else of the sort!"
"Then just pretend this son said nothing, and continue on this path to see just how far our Great Qin can go!"

The First Emperor narrowed his eyes, recalling the prophecy Fusu had previously mentioned—that Great Qin would perish within five years.
Looking at Fusu kneeling on the ground, he asked, "Do you think I am fond of grand undertakings and attached to power, and that every time I go on an inspection tour, I carve stone tablets just to flaunt my own achievements?"

"Father, those are your own words, not this son's!"

"Audacious!" Wang Jian could no longer bear it.
With a stern reprimand, he handed a stick to the First Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, a son like this deserves a beating!"
"Hit him hard!"
"This old subject has given that boy Wang Ben plenty of beatings!"

Looking at the stick handed to him by Wang Jian, the First Emperor was amused once again.
This old fellow was simply afraid that he might genuinely punish Fusu and implicate the Wang family, and was thus using this method to help him vent his frustration!
Yet the First Emperor was not angry at all.
All the stern expressions on his face had merely been an act.

At this moment, the First Emperor looked at Fusu again and said, "Fusu, since you insist on your philosophy, you must produce something that can convince me!"
"My coming out today is precisely to give you a chance to prove yourself!"
"Of course, empty words will not convince me!"