"Fu Su, you are now our nation's heir apparent. Every word you say, every move you make, whether openly or in secret, has countless eyes watching it."
Empress Zhao looked at her son with worry on her face and spoke with earnest concern.
"You must understand how many people secretly resent your position. They are all waiting for you to make a mistake.
The slightest carelessness, and they will pounce like starving wolves, trampling you underfoot..."
Empress Zhao's tone grew heavier, as though she could see those enemies hidden in the shadows eyeing her son like tigers stalking their prey.
Fu Su listened quietly. His expression remained calm, but his heart was like a vast sea surging with waves.
He knew his mother was not raising a false alarm. This was the stark reality.
"I understand, Mother."
Fu Su took a deep breath and answered slowly.
A trace of relief flickered in Empress Zhao's eyes as she looked at her son. She continued:
"Only a heart as broad as the sea can embrace a hundred rivers; only a heart as vast as the heavens can smile at the gathering winds and clouds.
Now that you hold the exalted position of crown prince, you must have an even broader mind and a loftier vision.
Do not confine yourself to the little gains before your eyes. Look to the entire world, and do not become mired in trifles."
Her son nodded slightly, showing that he understood her meaning.
Empress Zhao went on:
"You must welcome counsel with humility, listen modestly to others' opinions and advice, and learn to recognize talented people and put them to use.
At the same time, you must understand how to balance the various factions. You cannot allow any one of them to grow too powerful, lest it threaten the nation."
Her son listened thoughtfully. Though he understood all these principles, putting them into practice was no easy task.
"Also, the people are the foundation of a nation. Just as water can carry a boat, it can also overturn it. You must cherish your people and care about their lives.
Only by winning the people's love can you sit securely upon the throne as ruler of this world..."
Empress Zhao's words struck her son's heart like a heavy hammer.
The emperor watched from beside them, his expression solemn and grave.
Once Empress Zhao finished, he spoke:
"The empress is absolutely right. Fu Su, you must remember these principles and never take them lightly."
Fu Su smiled faintly, his features revealing steadiness and humility. Bowing slightly, he said,
"I am still young. There is much about conducting myself and dealing with others that I must learn from you both, Father and Mother.
I will humbly seek guidance from my teachers and the ministers, better myself, and live up to your expectations."
He recalled how his father had campaigned east and west over the years, wiping out numerous dynastic powers and even sweeping away, one by one, the sects that had entrenched themselves for untold ages. Through sheer determination, he had raised the Great Qin Dynasty to unprecedented heights.
A surge of heroic pride rose in Fu Su's heart, and he declared in a ringing voice:
"Father, you are in the prime of your life, unrivaled in this age in both civil governance and military achievement. I wish to take you as my example and follow in the footsteps of an enlightened sovereign.
One day, I will sweep across the eight wildernesses and pacify the world, making the might of Great Qin shake the four seas!"
The emperor suddenly burst into hearty laughter that echoed through the palace like a great bell.
A gleam of pride shone in his eyes.
The emperor continued:
"Though governing the world is a matter of utmost importance, your own strength is what matters most.
Only when you are so powerful that your enemies cannot contend with you, when you make them feel despair, will you possess the foundation of everything.
Fu Su, your talent for cultivation is unmatched throughout the ages. How many people dream of such a gift!
Those so-called Heaven's Chosen can only gaze at the dust in your wake and sink into despair."
The emperor paused, then continued:
"However, the path of cultivation does not depend on talent alone. Talent is certainly important, but it is not the sole factor determining how high someone may rise.
Some people possess only ordinary talent, yet they put in a hundred, a thousand, even ten thousand times the effort of others.
Their character, opportunities, fortune, experience, and more may all help them reach greater heights."
At that moment, Empress Zhao smiled and picked up a large piece of pork knuckle with her chopsticks. She gently placed it in Fu Su's bowl and said tenderly:
"My son, your father is right. Throughout history, how many of Heaven's Chosen possessed extraordinary talent, far surpassing their peers? Their brilliance dazzled, yet proved as fleeting as a meteor streaking across the sky.
By contrast, many who placed little importance on talent ultimately reached heights others could scarcely attain through tireless effort and advantages in other areas."
Remember this well, remember it well: never lightly look down on anyone!
This was a fundamental truth of life, and Fu Su naturally engraved it firmly in his heart.
He grabbed a large pork knuckle with his left hand while his right kept stuffing meat into his mouth. He mumbled,
"Thank you, Mother. I will remember your teachings, Father and Mother!"
He looked every bit a gluttonous child.
"I have never neglected my cultivation. I have studied the various cultivation methods, heart sutras, and martial techniques in the palace."
Fu Su spoke as he ate, his words somewhat muffled.
At this, the emperor's expression immediately turned serious, and he asked:
"Fu Su, have you reached the introductory stage in the cultivation methods that form our imperial family's foundation, which I taught you?"
Fu Su hurriedly put down the pork knuckle, wiped his mouth, and answered respectfully:
"Father, I have cultivated the Tyrant Art, Nine-Turn Emperor Art, and Dynasty Fortune Art you taught me to minor attainment."
The emperor nodded slightly in satisfaction, then asked:
"And what of the Nine Mysteries External Incarnation and the Nightmare Great Art?"
Fu Su replied:
"I have also reached the introductory stage in those two cultivation methods, but I encountered a few points of confusion while practicing them. I still need you to clear them up for me, Father!"
A flicker of surprise crossed the emperor's eyes before he said:
"Oh? Explain them in detail, and I will offer you some guidance!"
Fu Su took a deep breath, steadied himself, and said,
"Father, I have cultivated the Nine Mysteries External Incarnation to the second layer...
I have already used the treasures you bestowed upon me to successfully refine two external incarnations. What puzzles me, however, is that despite all the effort I have devoted to it, I have never managed to break through to the third layer.
Whenever I attempt a breakthrough, I feel some inexplicable resistance, as though an invisible barrier stretches before me, impossible to cross.
Moreover, there are some problems with the ordinary incarnations I have refined.
They last for relatively short periods, require a great deal of my mental effort to control, and possess very limited awareness for independent action. They can barely complete any tasks on their own.
Worse still, these incarnations seem unable to absorb spiritual qi independently to nourish themselves. This is extremely inconvenient for me."
To demonstrate these problems more clearly, Fu Su waved his right hand, instantly conjuring an incarnation.
This incarnation was almost identical to Fu Su's true body, but closer inspection revealed that its aura was markedly weaker, and its eyes appeared somewhat vacant and lifeless.
Seeing this, the emperor tapped his fingers lightly on the table, then examined Fu Su's external incarnation carefully. After a while, he slowly said:
"First, judging by your current cultivation, strength, and mastery of the method, you clearly lack what is needed to break through to the third layer.
You must understand that reaching the third layer cannot be achieved merely by burying your head in arduous cultivation.
You must also temper yourself in the mortal world and combine that experience with the Nightmare Great Art. Only then will breaking through to the third layer become easier."
"Second, ordinary external incarnations differ from those conjured directly from spiritual qi or physical objects. They are refined using natural treasures.
The length of time such an incarnation can endure increases with the grade of the natural treasures used. Its independent awareness will also become more responsive, and it may even be able to replenish its spiritual power on its own.
However, an incarnation's strength is not fixed. It depends on its user's current strength.
Generally speaking, an ordinary incarnation will be slightly weaker than the true body, but if you use special natural treasures,
you can effectively reduce the mental effort required and bring the incarnation's strength closer to that of the true body.
..."
After hearing these explanations, Fu Su pondered briefly. Then, as though the first light of dawn had broken, the fog in his heart instantly scattered.
His thoughts moved as swiftly as lightning, and inspiration welled up endlessly like spring water!
At that moment, the emperor and Empress Zhao exchanged a glance. As though their hearts were in accord, they rose together and closed the door behind them, leaving Fu Su to contemplate quietly.
Afterward, the emperor and empress strolled through the garden, admiring the beautiful scenery around them.
The emperor suddenly reached out and gently plucked a rose in full bloom, then tenderly tucked it into the empress's hair.
"This flower truly suits your grace, my empress,"
the emperor praised.
"A fresh flower adorning a beauty-a sight too lovely to take in."
The empress could not help letting out a soft laugh. With coquettish reproach, she said,
"You and your honeyed tongue. Have you no shame?"
The emperor answered with a smile:
"In my eyes, you will always be the most beautiful woman in the world."
Gently stroking the empress's delicate, jade-white hands, her fingers slender as scallion shoots, the emperor slowly said:
"Fu Su is no longer so young. It is time to let him venture out and see the world.
After all, a flower that has always been sheltered by us in a greenhouse cannot withstand the baptism of fierce winds and driving rain."
The empress's brows creased slightly. Her face full of worry, she replied softly:
"That is certainly true, but as his mother, I can never quite bear to let him go.
I will always worry about whether he is doing well out there, whether he has enough to eat and warm clothes to wear, whether life is too hard for him..."
At this point, the empress's voice suddenly became so quiet it was almost inaudible:
"And whether he might encounter some seductive vixens..."
The emperor naturally understood what the empress meant by "seductive vixens." He reassured her:
"There is no need to worry, my empress. Fu Su has already cultivated his external incarnations to the second layer and now possesses two life-bound incarnations.
This means he can leave one incarnation stationed in the Eastern Palace to handle everyday affairs,
while the other goes out to temper itself and broaden his horizons."
The empress relaxed a little upon hearing this, but still said uneasily:
"That may be so, but these life-bound incarnations share in both glory and harm.
What if..."
The emperor interrupted her. A trace of worry flashed in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it and said firmly:
"Once an eagle grows up, it must learn to fly alone.
Let us discuss where it would be most suitable for Fu Su to gain experience."
In the end, the empress let out a wistful sigh and said no more.