"How do you feel here?"
Di Xin patted the empty space beside him. Yin Jiao glanced at Yin Hong, who was still being held by Empress Jiang. Knowing that things on that side would not be over anytime soon, he sat down without hesitation.
"It's exhausting, but I've gained a lot as well.
"When I first arrived, I resented Father King for being so heartless. I thought this was merely a place of punishment, but after a few days, I realized that Father King had sent us here to temper ourselves. However, there is one thing I don't understand. I ask Father King to enlighten me!"
"You want to ask why I haven't issued an order to free these slaves, right?" Di Xin asked confidently.
"Yes!"
Yin Jiao nodded and spoke again:
"Since Father King knows how these slaves suffer, why not simply free them?"
"You'll understand once you return to Chaoge."
Hearing Empress Jiang's sobs subside slightly, Di Xin did not want to force Yin Jiao's growth any further. He rose and went to the stone table and stools the guards had brought over. The table was already covered with exquisite food that Empress Jiang had carefully prepared.
At that moment, Empress Jiang also led Yin Hong over and sat down. Holding jade chopsticks, she kept putting food into the bowls and plates before the two boys.
"Jiao'er, Hong'er, you've suffered here. Come, these are all your favorite foods that Mother Queen specially chose. Eat more."
"Yes! Thank you, Mother Queen!"
Yin Hong picked up his chopsticks and began wolfing down the food. Dishes that had once been perfectly ordinary to him now seemed like the most exquisite delicacies, unbelievably delicious.
"Gurgle!"
Yin Jiao looked at the food before him and swallowed, but he still did not lift his chopsticks.
"Jiao'er, are these dishes not to your liking?"
Seeing her eldest son look as though he wanted to eat but did not dare to, Empress Jiang shot Di Xin a reproachful glance, and her dried-up tears began flowing again.
"Don't look at me like that. I specifically had you prepare these things. How could I not let him eat?"
Di Xin instantly bristled. That look made it seem as though this was not his own son and he had been abusing him.
Although he really wasn't my own son, and I did abuse him...
Ahem, that was tempering him! How could he be tempered without suffering?
"Brother, why aren't you eating?"
Seeing that Yin Jiao had not touched his chopsticks, Yin Hong suddenly found the food in his mouth tasteless as well. He stared blankly at Yin Jiao, at a loss.
"Father King, Mother Queen, I was just thinking about something."
Yin Jiao forced a smile, then suddenly stood and pointed at the surrounding thatched huts.
"I'm Father King and Mother Queen's son. I've only been here for a month to temper myself and experience their hardships. When we grew tired halfway through, Father King and Mother Queen even came to visit us. Father King himself even went against his original words and had Mother Queen bring us so much food.
"But what about them?"
Among these slaves, there are many who are our age. They have worked since childhood. The hardships we find so difficult are the freest sweetness they have ever known. They don't dare speak with us, play with us, or even approach us, for fear that if we become unhappy, they will lose the only lives they have.
"Father King, you once said that we were to eat and live together with them. A ruler's word cannot be taken back. I still want to carry out your words."
"Good! As expected of my son, Di Xin! Hahaha!"
Di Xin slapped the table and rose, his face filled with delight. He had originally planned to test Yin Jiao's resolve by letting him return to Chaoge early, but it seemed there was no need now!
This child had far exceeded his expectations!
"Then... then I won't eat either."
Yin Hong's eyes sparkled as he listened. He pushed the food before him away with both hands and stared intently at Yin Jiao, etching his brother's figure at that moment firmly into his heart.
"This... sigh!"
Empress Jiang sighed and quietly sat to the side, dutifully carrying out her role as a tool person.
Children could only become braver, more persevering, and more responsible in front of their mother. This was the meaning behind Di Xin having her come here!
"Good! Good! Good!"
Di Xin placed one hand on each of their little heads, completely taking on the role of a father. This gratifying feeling also allowed his taut nerves to relax completely.
"Originally, I wanted the two of you to return to the palace early, but it seems that won't be necessary now. Jiao'er, Hong'er, can you complete the task I've given you here?"
"Yes!"
"I can too!"
The two little ones nodded hard. Their eyes were clear and transparent, filled with determination.
Looking at Yin Hong, who advanced and retreated together with Yin Jiao, Di Xin suddenly had an ominous feeling.
This little fellow hadn't become a stubborn fool after all the ripening I'd put him through, had he?
"Ahem! Hong'er, I have no worries about your brother. He's older than you and more steady, and he knows how to adapt. You're still young, so Father King will test you. How can you eat the food on the table without disobeying Father King's order?"
As Di Xin spoke, his heart was pounding. Would he ruin the boy by teaching him this? After all, put nicely, this behavior was called adaptability. Put less nicely, it was cheating, shirking, and taking advantage of loopholes.
"This..."
Yin Hong tilted his head and thought for a while, but in the end, he shook it.
"Father King, I can't think of anything."
"Ahem!"
Di Xin coughed twice, and the guards on both sides immediately retreated thirty yards. They were exceptionally perceptive.
Seeing this, Di Xin nodded in satisfaction and leaned close to Yin Hong's ear.
"Eat and live together? Think about it again."
"Eat and live together? Eat together? Father King, do you mean I should share the food with them? Then I can eat too?"
Yin Hong's eyes widened, as though the gates to a new world had opened before him.
"Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
"Ahem. If your heart is upright, then you are kind. There's no such thing as appropriate or inappropriate. What matters is how you do it and how you maintain control over your heart."
Di Xin coughed dryly twice, then gave Empress Jiang a little more time before returning to the palace, bringing this highly rewarding "family visit" to an end.
On the way back to the palace, Empress Jiang looked at Di Xin several times, each time wanting to speak but stopping herself. The man who now lay beside her pillow felt extremely unfamiliar to her, as though... as though he had become a completely different person.
"Say whatever you want to say."
Di Xin sighed and turned to look at Empress Jiang. He was now even more decisive and forceful than his predecessor, so there were bound to be some cracks.
"Great King, I want to know how you intend to arrange things for Jiao'er and Hong'er."
"After twenty days, I will summon the two of them back to the palace. They will attend morning court and listen in on the handling of state affairs. And, while they're at it..."
Di Xin paused, then finally gritted his teeth and said:
"I will appoint Jiao'er as Crown Prince! This will stabilize the foundation of the nation, and it will also be an explanation to you!"
Appointing a Crown Prince was a major matter for the nation. With storms brewing, Di Xin had originally been unwilling to act so aggressively.
When dynasties changed, Heaven naturally wanted to raise Zhou. There would certainly be people unwilling to let Yin Shang's fortune increase further, and they would interfere by every means. Once circumstances changed and broke free from the original script, it would be extremely disadvantageous for Di Xin!
However, if nothing changed, the final outcome would be difficult to change as well. Thus, Di Xin wanted to take a gamble—to provoke certain people into making a move, then strike them a devastating blow!
E Lai, are my bows and arrows here yet?
Before you continue