The Destroyer of Qin, Hu

Zhu Dijun's sigh dissipated in the cool mountain breeze of Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.

He ended his outdoor live stream for the day and returned to his booked guesthouse.

This is a courtyard with a strong traditional style, featuring blue bricks and gray tiles, a small bridge and flowing water, which complements the atmosphere of the daytime live broadcast.

Zhu Dijun opened his laptop in the study and reconnected to the live stream.

The viewers in front of the screen had been waiting for a long time, and the barrage of comments was densely packed.

"The streamer is finally back! I've been waiting forever!"

"Don't rush him, don't rush him. The host has a lot of information to share today, he needs to catch his breath."

"Tell me about the four tragic princes! I can't wait to hear the rest of their stories!"

Zhu Dijun smiled as he looked at the enthusiastic comments on the screen and adjusted his camera.

"Family members, thank you for waiting."

His voice, transmitted through the heavens, once again resounded throughout the ages.

"Today, let's pick up where we left off and continue our discussion about the 'Four Tragic Princes' of feudal dynasties."

"We have already told the story of Crown Prince Biao. His tragedy lay in his untimely death and in his overly kind and innocent heart, which ultimately prevented him from living to inherit the throne."

"So next, let's rewind the timeline to an even earlier era."

Zhu Dijun tapped a few keys on the keyboard, and the background of the sky instantly switched to an ancient map of the pre-Qin territory.

"The first one we're talking about, or rather the zeroth one, is because he wasn't officially named the crown prince, but he was the first emperor's de facto successor."

"Prince Fusu of the Great Qin Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, all eyes in the Qin Dynasty's Xianyang Palace turned to the eldest prince, Fusu.

Fusu himself was startled and involuntarily straightened his back.

Above the sky, Zhu Dijun's voice continued to ring out.

"Speaking of this Prince Fusu, the historical records speak highly of him. He is described as resolute and brave, trustworthy and inspiring, and kind-hearted—he is practically the perfect model for a successor."

"But..." Judy Jun changed the subject, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"In my opinion, this Prince Fusu, to use our modern terms, is a bit... foolish."

傻？

The Qin Dynasty, Xianyang Palace.

"Pfft!"

Several young noblemen and princesses couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The way they looked at their elder brother Fusu was full of mockery.

Fusu's face flushed red instantly, both angry and annoyed, yet he couldn't lash out.

He was the emperor's eldest son and the undisputed heir apparent by all the officials. How did he become known as a "fool" in the mouths of later generations?

The First Emperor Ying Zheng's brows furrowed instantly.

His imposing gaze swept over Fusu, his eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny and displeasure.

Look at you, called a fool by later generations, how shameful! You've disgraced the Great Qin Dynasty!

"Why do you say he's stupid?" Judy Jun's voice seemed to see right through people, giving the answer directly.

"Because of his benevolence, he has become so indiscriminate in his behavior, ignorant of politics, and even, one could say, pedantic!"

"Let's set aside the question of whether the First Emperor's burning of books and burying of scholars alive was right or wrong. But as the heir to the empire, Fusu's public opposition was a grave taboo!"

"He doesn't understand that his father did this to unify thought and for the long-term stability of the empire! He only saw the cruelty, but not the political logic behind it."

"Therefore, in a fit of anger, the First Emperor sent him to Shangjun to assist General Meng Tian in building the Great Wall, ostensibly for supervision, but in reality for training. He hoped the emperor would understand that governing a vast empire requires far more than just benevolence and morality!"

Ying Zheng's pupils suddenly contracted!

People of later generations were able to understand his thoughts perfectly!

That's exactly what he thought! He hoped that Fusu could be more ruthless and less sentimental!

"It's a pity that Prince Fusu obviously failed to understand his father's good intentions."

Zhu Dijun sighed.

"After the First Emperor died in Shaqiu, a conspiracy to overthrow the fate of the Qin Dynasty began."

"Zhao Gao, the head of the Imperial Carriage Office, conspired with Prime Minister Li Si to withhold the First Emperor's edict ordering Fusu to return to Xianyang to preside over the funeral, and instead forged an edict and sent it to Shangjun."

"The edict, written in the voice of the First Emperor, listed various 'crimes' of Fusu and Meng Tian, ​​and finally ordered them to... commit suicide!"

boom!

Inside Xianyang Palace, it was as if a thunderclap had resounded!

Li Si collapsed to the ground with a thud, his face ashen, his whole body trembling like a leaf.

He couldn't believe it! How could his future self have done something so rebellious and incredibly foolish!

Zhao Gao was so terrified that he lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to lift his head, his body trembling like a leaf.

exposed!

My deepest ambitions were laid bare!

Finished!

Fusu, on the other hand, was struck dumb, frozen in place, his face filled with disbelief.

My father...will order my death?

Do not!impossible!

"Family members, guess what our benevolent Prince Fusu did after receiving this flawed and fabricated imperial edict?"

Judy's voice carried a hint of sarcasm.

"He didn't have the slightest doubt whatsoever! He didn't even send anyone back to Xianyang to verify!"

"General Meng Tian advised him, saying that His Majesty is away and has not yet established a crown prince, and has sent us, the supervisors of 300,000 troops, on a weighty responsibility for the entire realm! Now that a mere envoy has come, how can you be sure there isn't a trap? I beg you to appeal to His Majesty; it's not too late to die after you've appealed!"

"What perfect logic! Anyone with a normal brain would think the same way, right?"

"But what about our Prince Fusu? Holding the forged imperial edict, he cried and said, 'My father has ordered my death, what right do I have to plead?'—My father has ordered my death, what's the point of my pleading!"

After saying that, he drew his sword and committed suicide!

"Isn't he stupid?! Don't you think he's stupid?!"

Zhu Dijun's voice was like a series of heavy hammer blows, striking Fusu's heart hard.

Fusu's face went from flushed red to deathly pale, and finally turned ashen.

Did he... really do that?

Is he really... that stupid?

Ying Zheng looked at his eldest son, his face, which exuded an air of authority even without anger, revealing his obvious disappointment.

He closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently.

waste!

How could my son be such a useless piece of trash who doesn't even have basic judgment!

"Who was happiest when Fusu died?"

"Of course, it's the heir appointed on the forged edict, Fusu's foolish and wicked younger brother, Huhai!"

On the sky, Hu Hai's somewhat childish face flashed by.

Inside the Xianyang Palace, the eighteenth prince, Hu Hai, trembled, and the gloating smile that had just been on his face froze instantly.

"This Hu Hai successfully ascended the throne and became known as Qin Er Shi."

"And the first thing he did after ascending the throne was, at the instigation of the treacherous minister Zhao Gao, to raise the butcher's knife against his own brothers and sisters!"

Judy's voice suddenly turned cold.

"Prince Jianglu, Prince Gao, and ten other princes were beheaded in Du County! The twelve princesses were dismembered alive in Xianyang!"

"The three brothers, Gongzi Jianglu, were forced to draw their swords and commit suicide! Before their deaths, they looked up to the sky and roared: 'What crime have we committed against Heaven to deserve this?'"

"Tell me, what crime have they committed?"

"Their crime was being born into an imperial family, which meant they blocked Huhai's path!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a deathly silence fell over Xianyang Palace.

Those princes and princesses who had been secretly laughing at Fusu just moments before now had all the color drain from their faces.

They looked at their eighteenth brother, Hu Hai, with horror, as if they were looking at a demon crawling out of hell.

Gongzi Gao clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms. He stared intently at Hu Hai, the rage in his eyes almost burning him to ashes!

Hu Hai felt a chill run down his spine under the gazes of his older siblings. His legs went weak, and he collapsed to his knees, crying out, "Father! I didn't! I wouldn't dare! This is slander! It is people from later generations who are slandering me!"

However, no one paid any attention to his cries.

Ying Zheng slowly opened his eyes.

Those eyes, which once looked down upon the world, now held no anger, no roar.

There was only a bottomless, cold... murderous intent!

He finally understood.

He understood the long-standing prophecy.

"The one who destroyed Qin was Hu."

So, they weren't Hu people after all.

Instead... it was Hu Hai!

It was his own son, the one he had never taken seriously, the foolish, cowardly, yet extremely vicious... Hu Hai!

"Well...well said...the one who destroyed Qin was Hu..."

Ying Zheng's voice was hoarse, like metal rubbing against stone, and every word carried a chilling coldness.

He slowly raised his hand and pointed to the eunuch who was slumped on the ground, trembling.

"Zhao Gao."

"And you, Li Si."

"as well as……"

His gaze finally fell on his own son, who was already terrified.

"Hu Hai!"

"You are all very good."