The Qin Dynasty perished after only two generations? My Great Qin also needs an Emperor Taizong!

After a brief exchange, Ying Mu could roughly judge that although Fusu was quite familiar with the sayings in Confucian classics, at most he only knew the facts but not the reasons behind them.

Ying Mu was somewhat surprised by this.

There was no other reason than that this was somewhat different from the gentle and refined image of Fusu that he had imagined. However, upon closer reflection, it was understandable. After all, the Qin state ruled by law, and Fusu, as a pure-blooded Qin native, would be like a cotton ball popping out of a gutter if he were to truly be fond of Confucianism after being influenced by his family since childhood.

Perhaps... the so-called affinity for Confucianism was just a persona that the King of Qin gave to Fusu.

When faced with Ying Mu's question, Fu Su tilted his head and thought for a moment, then finally brushed it off with the excuse that his father had personally arranged it. The conversation ended, and Ying Mu gradually lost interest in communicating.

At this moment, they were still some distance from Ying Mu's courtyard, and the two fell into an eerie silence once again.

Fusu had been holding Ying Mu for a long time, and his arms finally started to go numb. To distract himself, he started a conversation: "Little brother, how old are you this year?"

"Three years old."

"Three years old...?"

Fusu looked Ying Mu up and down and nodded to himself. Judging from his younger brother's physique, if he were in an ordinary farming family, he would believe that he was five or six years old. Even in the old Ying family, he would definitely not be seen like this.

It should be noted that among the dukes and marquises of various states, the management of the age at which their children began their education was relatively lenient, with most children starting between the ages of six and eight. However, after the father ascended the throne, he felt this was inappropriate, believing that six or seven years old was too late. Based on his own legendary experience of knowing five or seven hundred characters at the age of four, he directly changed the age for starting education to four.

Therefore, even at this age, Ying Mu truly stands out among the royal children who are participating in the enlightenment program.

Upon realizing this, Fusu couldn't help but think more highly of Ying Mu.

"My younger brother started his formal education at the age of three?"

"This was decided by my father himself," Ying Mu said, putting his newfound knowledge into practice.

Fusu was somewhat skeptical. His father was too busy with state affairs to bother with such matters, so why would he personally set up a curriculum for a three-year-old child?

"Brother, don't you believe it?"

Ying Mu keenly sensed Fu Su's emotions and stared at him with wide eyes.

He hadn't bothered to explain, but when he thought about the reasons, he couldn't help but talk more. "My eighteenth brother, Hu Hai, is also three years old this year, but he can already recognize several dozen characters and recite a little bit of Qin law. My younger brother and Prince Hu Hai are close in age, so Father decided on the spur of the moment and also sent an old clan elder to tutor the two of us."

At this point, Ying Mu gritted his teeth.

Fusu's eyes widened. He hadn't expected his younger brother to be telling the truth, but the story was so complicated. However, upon reflection, he couldn't help but find it amusing.

From what you're saying, it seems that at eighteen, he indulged in more fun to gain more resources, which caused me to start school a full year early.

Seeing the child in his arms with a face full of resentment, Fusu suddenly felt much better.

Ying Mu rolled his eyes, his mood even worsening, and decided to ask Fu Su in an attempt to steer the conversation: "What bothers you most, elder brother?"

"I hate being taken care of the most."

"Is it annoying to be taken care of, or is it annoying to take care of others?"

"Yes, we have them all."

Fusu turned his head and looked into the distance, as if he could see the outer perimeter of the palace under construction. His expression was inexplicably somewhat desolate. "Anyway, it's almost done... Oh, by the way, when it comes to my education, will you be studying with me, or have you already decided on something? If you have already decided, I can make arrangements in advance."

Ying Mu shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either. After a moment of silence, he couldn't help but ask again, "What does elder brother like to do most?"

"Reading and riding archery."

Another child from someone else's family... Ying Mu felt a slight unease in her heart, but on the surface, she managed to remain calm.

"If you don't count eating and sleeping, that's all I do all day." Fusu paused, then added before asking, "Could the old clan elders teach you to read and make judgments?"

"No, the old clansmen only taught him to read."

"Oh? How many do you know?"

"I'm not good at it. I only know a little over a hundred characters."

Ying Mu did not actually reveal the truth. Even though his thinking and perception patterns were more childlike due to his hormones, his knowledge from his previous life was still engraved in his soul. His talent of knowing five or six hundred characters at the age of three was too astonishing. Although he was in the royal family, being too ordinary would easily make him blend into the crowd; but being too flamboyant would make him more likely to cause big problems.

Even though Ying Mu had concealed the truth, Fu Su still let out a slight surprise upon hearing the number, followed by a sincere compliment from Ying Mu:

"My little brother is truly clever!"

Ying Mu waved his hands modestly, completely unaware that in just a few words, the initiative in the conversation had been subtly returned to Fu Su's hands.

On the other side, looking at the smug-looking young master, Fusu's lips also curled up slightly. Just as his father said, although his younger brother was just a child, he was quick-witted and truly a rare talent... He took the opportunity to put Ying Mu down, and the two walked forward hand in hand, their words beginning to show some intimacy.

Ying Mu could tell, and was happy to agree.

The two exchanged pleasantries, and surprisingly, they actually developed a sense of brotherly affection.

By the time they could vaguely see the outline of Ying Mu's residence, the two felt they had a general understanding of each other's personalities and their relationship had become much closer.

When they were only a few hundred meters away from the courtyard, Fusu picked him up again and teased him, a rare occurrence for him, "Little brother, you're so dashing; I wonder which young lady will be blessed with good fortune in the future?"

"I don't know about that."

For the first time ever, Fusu smiled, his long, narrow peach blossom eyes sparkling with a strange light. He looked directly at Ying Mu and, in a manner very much in keeping with his style, offered his blessing: "My younger brother is highly regarded by Father King, and he will surely be able to marry a virtuous wife in the future."

Ying Mu thanked him softly, but secretly thought to herself: Where did you get the idea that I'm valued?

Turning his head to glance at the distant, high branches of a tree, Ying Mu suddenly looked at Fu Su, smiled, and asked softly, "Brother, have you ever seen the Black Bird?"

Fusu shook his head in confusion, "I've heard of it, but I've never seen it with my own eyes."

Ying Mu smiled mysteriously, and under Fu Su's surprised gaze, he reached out and lifted Fu Su's right forearm horizontally, then took a piece of felt cloth from his sleeve and wrapped it around it, before skillfully whistling a clear tune.

Fusu felt somewhat confused, but soon realized something was wrong.

He looked up sharply and saw a hawk-like bird fly overhead like an arrow, then circle around the two of them as if searching for a place to land.

Looking at the giant black creature spreading its wings in the moonlight, a hint of amazement flashed in Fusu's eyes.

What a magnificent and majestic black bird!

"Big Black! Over here!"

Ying Mu reached out and patted Fu Su's right arm, calling out softly.

Big Black tilted its head and cried out a few times, as if in protest. Its wings fluttered, and it suddenly took off, circling above the two of them a few times. Then, at Ying Mu's urging call, it reluctantly folded its wings and slowly landed...