The New Emperor's Question

"I have read Biography of Zixu, and I would very much like to ask you, its author, a few questions!"

"Please, Your Majesty."

"I once visited your residence and asked a few questions. Let us pick up where we left off!"

The new emperor smiled.

He hoped Zhang Xuezhou could answer the question. If Zhang Xuezhou could not, he should hurry and ask the old man who had solved the last one.

"Previously, we discussed how Qin Er Shi might establish his rule," the new emperor said. "If Qin Er Shi obtained the Snake-Slaying Sword but had no way to wield it, what should he do?"

"It seems Your Majesty enjoys studying history," Zhang Xuezhou said with a smile.

"Studying history can impart wisdom. Later generations can learn from the mistakes their predecessors made by reading the histories, reducing the chance of making the same mistakes again," the new emperor said. "I have been studying Qin history recently, and I am doing my utmost to avoid becoming someone like Qin Er Shi."

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty, and the Great Han Dynasty is entirely different from Great Qin. Your Majesty will certainly not become another Qin Er Shi..."

Zhang Xuezhou offered his usual flattery, but when a trace of impatience appeared on the new emperor's face, he quickly restrained himself and began to consider the emperor's true purpose in posing this question.

Studying history was useful, but studying an imaginary history was utterly pointless.

Emperor Qin could not have lived a few years longer, Fusu could not have inherited the Great Qin Dynasty in the ordinary course of events, and Qin Er Shi could still less have defied the heavens and changed his fate.

Accordingly, the new emperor's question was either a game or very likely had some connection