"Wow, you've heard about it too! So have I. Young Lord Fu Su is truly incredible!
He's reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining at just seven years old. He's a genius among geniuses!
And His Majesty and the empress have deliberately held back his cultivation, fearing that advancing too quickly would leave his foundations unstable and his control over his power incomplete.
Without those restrictions, Young Lord Fu Su would probably have reached Foundation Establishment or even higher long ago!
With talent like that, he has the makings of a Great Emperor! It's truly terrifying!"
Another palace maid hastened to agree:
"Exactly!
I've also heard the imperial guard instructors say that Young Lord Fu Su's combat prowess is unmatched. He has no rivals at his own level and can even fight opponents above his realm!
Even more astonishing, some say he's broken through to the legendary thirteenth level of Qi Refining. That's something scarcely seen anywhere in the world!
So many of Heaven's Chosen, even with tremendous opportunities and great fortune on their side, struggle to reach the thirteenth level of Qi Refining.
The twelfth level is already the pinnacle for Heaven's Chosen, yet Young Lord Fu Su broke through to the thirteenth with ease. He's a prodigy unmatched throughout the ages!"
The leading palace maid turned around and sternly rebuked them:
"Are such matters for the likes of you to discuss so recklessly?
If the steward learns that you dared gossip about the young lord in private, you'll each receive ten slaps across the mouth. You'll have plenty of suffering then."
At her words, they all turned deathly pale and trembled, not daring to speak again as they lowered their heads and silently walked on!
In the Study in the eastern wing of the Palace of Nurturing Celebration sat a handsome little boy of seven or eight.
Even from a distance, the child was strikingly handsome, his face like polished jade, his skin fair and soft, and his eyes bright as stars. His whole bearing radiated carefree ease.
At that moment, he was engrossed in the Record of Strange Encounters, occasionally swaying his head as he read. He could hardly have been more adorable.
This little boy was "Young Lord Fu Su," the eldest son of the reigning emperor and Empress Zhao, and the first prince of the Great Qin Dynasty, "Qin Fu Su"!
Suddenly, the door eased open as though brushed by a spring breeze, and a maid in a blue-green palace dress drifted inside like a light-winged butterfly.
She gently set a cup of tea on the desk as though tending a priceless treasure and said softly:
"Young lord, please have some tea. It will refresh your mind."
Fu Su seemed not to hear, still absorbed in his book, and asked without turning his head:
"What lessons are scheduled for this afternoon, Green Bamboo?"
Green Bamboo dipped into a curtsy like a lotus in bloom and began,
"For this afternoon's lessons, you must go to the Martial Training Ground and study martial arts and combat with Instructor Lin, Instructor Wang, Instructor Zhang, and the others for two hours.
Then you'll spend half an hour observing and studying in the Hall of Weapons before going to the Hall of Literary Splendor to study history, geography, and other subjects.
When your lessons finish, it will be just in time for dinner. You must go to the Eternal Spring Palace to pay your respects to the empress and dine with her!"
At this, ripples stirred through Fu Su like a disturbed pond, and he asked,
"Don't I have to study the arts-zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting-or go to the Pill Hall and the Hall of Medicine today?!"
Green Bamboo lowered her head and arranged the four treasures of the study on the desk. Her slender, scallion-like fingertips brushed over the rice paper, and her voice was warm and composed, like fresh rain beneath the eaves:
"The grand preceptor mentioned yesterday that pursuing knowledge is like climbing a mountain: each step must be secure." Green Bamboo's voice flowed like a murmuring stream,
"Learning must proceed step by step, like climbing a mountain. You mustn't bite off more than you can chew, but accumulate knowledge slowly, like bees making honey."
Hearing this, Fu Su shook his head like an eggplant wilted by frost, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
Fu Su slowly rose and remarked casually, "I'm craving Dongpo Pork."
Green Bamboo followed closely as he headed outside and answered, "Yes."
As he stepped through the doorway, Red Jade, the maid waiting beside it, softly greeted him. "Young lord."
Fu Su walked at an unhurried pace, the cloud patterns on his turned-back cuffs swaying gently with his steps.
Red Jade silently raised a plain oil-paper umbrella to shield him from the slanting sunlight, while Green Bamboo remained half a step away, her gaze occasionally sweeping their surroundings to ensure no one approached to disturb him.
The three of them, one master and two servants, slowly made their way through the midday sunshine.
Green Bamboo and Red Jade were among the personal maids his mother had chosen for him herself, chiefly responsible for his daily needs and schedule.
Unlike other palace maids, they answered only to Young Lord Fu Su, the emperor, and the empress, and could disregard anyone else's orders outright. Their standing spoke for itself!
For they were not merely maids, but the young lord's most trusted eyes, ears, and confidantes.
Others might have a thousand words to say, but without their introduction, getting within thirty feet of Fu Su was as difficult as ascending to heaven.
The midday sunlight filtered through gaps in the maple leaves, casting dappled light and shadow over the three of them.
Beneath the umbrella, the hem of Fu Su's black robe fluttered in the breeze, while the two maids, their eyes always lowered and their bearing deferential, guarded the most exalted heir of the Great Qin empire in their own way.
The bronze gates of the Martial Training Ground slowly opened. As Fu Su walked inside, countless imperial guards dropped to one knee in unison, their earthshaking cries startling the white pigeons roosting on the archery tower:
"Welcome, Your Highness-!"
Instructor Lin, Instructor Wang, and the others knelt at the front of the ranks. Their burly bodies almost hid Fu Su from view, their rough palms still bearing calluses worn by weapons practice.
"Rise, everyone."
Fu Su stepped forward to help Instructor Lin up and said gently,
"Instructor Lin, Instructor Wang, Instructor Zhang... there's no need for such ceremony. Please, get up."
They rose, and Instructor Lin spoke in a voice like a great bell:
"May Your Highness enjoy peace and health. This courtesy cannot be neglected!"
Fu Su shook his head helplessly.
He surveyed the Martial Training Ground, where soldiers' training cries filled every corner.
Middle-aged soldiers drilled there, while children as young as Fu Su listened intently to their instructors' explanations.
The descendants of imperial relatives, princes, commandery princes, members of the imperial clan, ministers, and generals gathered here to learn martial arts, combat, physical techniques, and practical fighting experience.
The most experienced instructors taught here, with the finest teaching resources at their disposal.
Several hundred imperial relatives and young nobles came to study here as Fu Su did, the youngest five or six and the oldest eleven or twelve.
There were also several thousand boys and girls whose parents had fallen on battlefields across the realm. They had volunteered to train here, hoping to carry on their parents' aspirations when they grew up,
Whether by entering government service or the military, taking local appointments, or being chosen by imperial relatives and distinguished nobles to serve as guards.
Among them were two petite girls, charming, lovely, and lively, already budding beauties. They were only three years older than Fu Su and were twins.
His father had selected them: extraordinarily gifted daughters of heaven, charged with accompanying Fu Su as he studied various subjects, cultivated, and grew, and trained as sworn retainers ready to die for him!
The entire Martial Training Ground was divided into five major sections. Fu Su and the noble children trained in the finest, most luxurious central section, like a miniature empire partitioned by invisible iron walls.
A gilded dome covered the central dais, and twelve jade pillars carved with coiling dragons surrounded Fu Su's black-iron arena. Even the bluestone paving here was infused with fragrant balm sent as tribute from the Western Region, leaving mint-scented footprints underfoot.
The Martial Training Ground was like a boiling furnace, steaming with scorching heat beneath the midday sun.
Dull clangs of colliding heavy armor came from the northwestern corner, where several princes' heirs were fighting at close quarters in mock battles;
To the southeast, the sharp whistle of arrows cutting through the air mingled with the youngsters' cries, while the youngest sons of several commandery princes lay on haystacks, sneaking looks at the bull's-eyes.
"Put force through your elbows!"
Instructor Lin's deep, steady voice cut through the din as he supervised Fu Su and the other noble children swinging their bronze dagger-axes.
No one complained of hardship or slackened their efforts. They all swung the bronze dagger-axes in their hands with all their strength, again and again!
Anyone unable to persevere or unwilling to train hard had already been sent to the bitterest, coldest reaches of the frontier!
Time slipped silently past, and before long, two hours had passed. His personal maid Red Jade reminded him softly:
"Young lord, it's time to go to the Hall of Weapons to observe and study."
At her words, Fu Su set down his bronze dagger-axe with a look of relief. The hemp cord wrapped around its shaft suddenly snapped, and he let out a long breath.
At once, one gaze after another turned toward him!
As everyone watched Fu Su, Green Bamboo stepped forward to straighten his disheveled clothes. After bidding farewell to Instructor Lin and the others, he headed toward the Hall of Weapons with Green Bamboo and Red Jade.
Inside the Hall of Weapons, a dazzling array of weapons filled the hall, some exuding an ancient air, others radiating sharpness... after spending an hour observing and studying in the Hall of Weapons,
He headed toward the Hall of Culture with Green Bamboo and Red Jade attending him, ready to embark on a new journey of learning.
Time passed in the blink of an eye. As nightfall approached, Fu Su finished his day's studies in an especially cheerful mood.
Like a happy little bird, he skipped along, humming a lighthearted tune as he made his way toward the Eternal Spring Palace with quick little steps!