Chapter 6

Fusu was returning on foot, his hands still covered in mud, his boots leaving prints with every step. He walked slowly, cradling a crop in his hands, his eyes shining with excitement.

Behind him trailed a group of people—some dressed in casual clothes, as mud-splattered as Fusu himself, and others in official robes, pristine and clean. All of them kept a few steps behind, following the tall and elegant eldest prince.

It was the spring equinox, the perfect time for planting, and Fusu had been assigned by the Qin Emperor to inspect the farmlands. Recently, a farmer had reportedly discovered a new type of crop, and Fusu had gone to investigate.

The Qin state was strong in military might but suffered from an empty treasury and food shortages. If a new crop could be found to increase food production, the people and soldiers of Qin would no longer go hungry.

Just as Fusu arrived at the government office, a young boy came galloping toward him on a red pony from a distance. The boy dismounted, wiped his tears, and clung to Fusu’s leg, not minding the mud at all. His fair face rubbed against Fusu’s leg as he wailed indignantly, “Big Brother, big brother! Huhai has been bullied!”

Fusu stopped and looked down at him helplessly, chuckling as he asked, “You little rascal, who could possibly bully you? More likely, you’re the one running circles around others, leaving them with no way to cry for help.”

Huhai tilted his head up and protested, “Big Brother is biased against Huhai!”

Then he added, “Big Brother, Father has just had a new little imperial sister!”

“Father had her?”

The young boy was so upset that his words came out jumbled, making the officials behind them stifle their laughter. His face flushed red as he told them to shut up.

“It was Consort Lian! Consort Lian had her this morning. Father took her back to his palace and wouldn’t even let Huhai inside, wu wu…”

The boy’s sorrow welled up as he recalled the day’s events, and he poured out all his grievances to his gentle and reliable elder brother, heedless of the setting. Like spilling beans, he blurted out everything he had heard from the palace servants—and not just that, but also what he had seen and imagined.

Finally, he nodded decisively and concluded, “Father has changed his heart. Now he likes the imperial sister and doesn’t like Huhai anymore.”

Fusu couldn’t help but laugh at this. He tapped Huhai’s forehead lightly. “Are you sure Father ever liked you in the first place? Weren’t you always the one causing mischief, jumping around and making him angry?”

The boy stuck out his tongue and clung to his elder brother’s waist. “Big Brother, you have to stand up for Huhai! That little rascal—she’s too much! When Father scolded me today, she even gloated and gave me the middle finger!”

Fusu and the officials: “…”

One of Fusu’s attendant officials couldn’t help but interject, “Young Prince, forgive my bluntness… but the princess is still very young. A newborn wouldn’t understand such things, let alone be able to… gesture at you.”

Another official stroked his beard and added, “Lord Zhang is right. I have several children of my own. When they’re this small, their fingers move involuntarily. If they’re asleep, that’s just a natural position—it’s not meant as an insult.”

The boy refused to listen. He was convinced his wicked little sister had deliberately scorned him!

He looked up at his elder brother expectantly, hoping Fusu would join him in his righteous indignation against that detestable little imperial sister.

To his surprise, after a moment of thought, Fusu said, “Since there’s a new sister in the palace, it’s only right that I, as her elder brother, should go and meet her.”

The refined and jade-like youth, as steady and reliable as a pine tree, tilted his head to ask the person beside him, “What do you think would be an appropriate gift?”

Huhai: “…”

Brother, what happened to our deep brotherly bond?!

The official who had a wife and children—and thus ample experience—offered several suggestions. The group chatted as they entered the government office, leaving Huhai alone in the cold wind. He rubbed his arms, feeling that this year’s spring was unusually chilly.

Fortunately, Fusu, the ever-dependable elder brother, remembered his heartbroken younger sibling and turned back to offer a word of concern. “You should wipe your face. If Father sees you like this, he’ll scold you again.”

Huhai touched his face, smearing snot and tears all over his hand. “…”

The owner of the little foal rode off as briskly as he had arrived, his retreating figure radiating heartbreak.

The officials worried that the young prince might get hurt riding alone, but Fusu smiled and reassured them, “It’s fine. My little brother has always been childlike. He’ll be over it in a couple of days.”

Zhao Gao felt that since the birth of the little princess, the palace had become much livelier.

Especially the Emperor’s bedchamber.

On the first night, the Emperor frightened the little princess into tears.

On the second night, the Emperor got up in the middle of the night to feed her, and things went relatively smoothly.

On the third day, Crown Prince Fusu returned.

He was always diligent and responsible. Whenever the Emperor assigned him a task, he would complete it before returning to the palace to report. This time was no exception—even though he knew about the new imperial sister, he finished his duties before hurrying back.

First, he attended court and reported to the Qin Emperor.

The crown prince, ever concerned for his country and people, seemed troubled. “The imperial physicians tested the toxicity and found that while this substance is edible, excessive consumption can lead to poisoning. It might be useful as medicine, but further research is needed to determine its exact applications. It cannot serve as a food crop.”

The Qin Emperor showed no disappointment. Throughout history, discovering a new food crop had always been an arduous task. Most crops turned out to be of little use, and even if they were edible, they might not be as suitable as existing varieties.

He nodded to acknowledge the report.

After court, Fusu accompanied the Qin Emperor to the study.

The Emperor shot his son a disdainful glance. “What else do you want?”

The implied message was clear: if there was nothing else, scram.

Fusu was long accustomed to his father’s irritable and dismissive demeanor and paid it no mind. Smiling, he said, “I heard there’s a new Little Imperial Sister in the palace. I’d like to see her.”

Qin Emperor: “What’s it to you?”

Fusu chuckled. “Your Majesty, as the elder brother, it is my duty to visit and foster sibling affection.”

Though this son of his was often indecisive and overly compassionate, he was thorough and deeply loyal. His request didn’t surprise the Emperor.

After a moment’s thought, the Emperor decided there was no harm in letting him see the little one and snorted dismissively, saying nothing more.

This was tacit permission to follow.

The study wasn’t far from the Emperor’s bedchamber—just next to the side palace—so it didn’t take long to detour there to see the newborn.

Father and son entered the chamber one after the other.

In the center of the spacious, solemn bedchamber, thick tiger-skin rugs were spread across the floor. The pelts were two complete hides laid side by side, their fur glossy and evenly patterned. The black and yellow stripes aligned perfectly, creating a striking symmetry. Looking at these nearly identical pelts, Fusu could almost picture the two fierce and majestic tigers they had once belonged to.

On the tiger skin lay a little milk dumpling dressed in a green outfit. Still unable to walk or stand, she lay on the tiger-skin mat, clutching her tiny fists as she struggled to roll over. Nearby, her nursemaid and palace attendants continuously teased her with small toys, their faces brimming with affection.

Fusu glanced at his father with slight surprise. If he remembered correctly, the tiger skin his little imperial sister was using as a carpet was from his father’s last hunting expedition.  

The Qin Emperor was naturally formidable, and his martial prowess went without saying. While others would flee at the sight of a fierce tiger, he had casually hunted two wild tigers and brought them back.  

Upon returning to the palace, he had the skins stripped and hung in his collection room, declaring them his trophies to be admired daily.  

Even his most indulged younger brother, Huhai, had begged for one to no avail, and none of the imperial madams dared to mention it.  

Recalling this, Fusu was momentarily speechless. Though his father was no longer young, his stubborn, domineering possessiveness and hoarding tendencies were truly… He very much wanted to say it resembled the dragons from mythical tales.  

It was said that dragons were also domineering, fond of hoarding their beloved treasures.  

Of course, he wouldn’t dare say such a thing to his father’s face.  

His father had always criticized him for being timid. Once, he had seized the opportunity to lecture him: “Fusu, if your heart were as hard as iron, unafraid of death or struggle, what would you fear from a tiger? What significance would mere beasts hold?”  

Lost in thought, the two had already approached the tiger-skin rug. The nursemaids and palace maids knelt in a row and, receiving silent permission, withdrew, leaving only the little fatty lying on her back, playing with her own hands.  

Noticing their approach, she widened her eyes curiously.  

Fusu looked down at his sister, who had only been born a few days ago. She seemed remarkably alert, as if she could recognize people. While she showed no interest in their father, with whom she had spent the past few days, she was especially curious about him, a “stranger,” staring at him with wide, innocent eyes—unblinking.  

Her gaze was soft and sweet, clear and guileless, melting Fusu’s heart. Smiling gently, he whispered, “I am your elder brother, Fusu.”  

The little fatty blinked, then let out a small hum as if responding, even stretching out her arms as if asking to be held.  

Fusu pointed at himself. “Do you want your elder brother to hold you?”  

The Little Dragon Cub let out an urgent hum. Fusu chuckled and bent down to pick up his little imperial sister. She smelled sweetly of milk, soft and tiny in his arms. He held her carefully, afraid of accidentally hurting her.  

Beside them, the Qin Emperor’s face darkened.  

Before Fusu could properly hold his sister, a pair of large hands reached over, peeling the Little Dragon Cub’s arms from around her brother’s neck before scooping her up entirely.  

Fusu, now empty-handed: “…Father?”  

Ignoring him, the Qin Emperor carried the little one toward the inner hall, not even turning his head as he said, “Enough. You’ve seen your sister. Now go back.”  

Fusu: “…” His father was, as always, domineering and unreasonable.  

Only after leaving the palace did Fusu remember—he hadn’t yet given his little imperial sister the jade pendant he had personally carved.  

Shaking his head with a quiet laugh, he resigned himself to waiting until his father wasn’t around next time.  

The palace maids and eunuchs waiting outside couldn’t help but silently swoon. The eldest prince was just too handsome!  

Graceful as an orchid, gentle as jade, with a temperament second to none—his smile only made him more dashing. How they wished they could be transferred to his palace! Rumor had it that working there was the easiest, free from the daily fear for their lives. The eldest prince was the most pleasant to serve!

The Little Dragon Cub nestled in the Dragon Father’s arms, reminiscing about this father’s eldest son—a good human, a good elder brother, and a good son. It was just a pity that his final fate had been far too tragic.  

The Little Dragon Cub clenched her tiny fists, beginning to calculate just how much gold, silver, and jewels she had stashed away in her private hoard.  

Dragons had a habit of hoarding treasures, and the Little Dragon Cub was a master among them. She had transmigrated four times, and each time, she had hidden away treasures for herself. Whenever she had free time, she would collect beautiful and interesting trinkets, sometimes even casually pocketing anything that caught her eye. Over time, she had amassed quite the fortune.  

The Little Dragon Cub tapped her fingers thoughtfully. What kind of gift would be suitable for her handsome, gentle elder brother?  

She had heard that humans loved silver and gold the most?  

What did her brother like?  

The Qin Emperor grasped the cub’s hand and said coldly, “What are you scheming now?”