“The man who moves a mountain begins…”

“…by carrying away small stones.” Tian Jin answered, puffing out his chest.

“Good, very good. Alright, another one. Studying without reflection is a waste of time…” Scholar Qin Wen said strolling back, eyeing Prince Tian Jin.

“…reflection without study is dangerous.”

“Correct again, you’ve been reading Young Prince,”

Tian Jin smiled and nodded, feeling as though his hard work has finally paid off.

Scholar Wen wasn’t a man to give out compliments easily, so attaining his praise was the highlight of the lessons he’d been receiving these past few months.

“Alright,” Scholar Wen said softly, “Final one. It does not matter how slowly you go…”

“…as long as you accomplish your task.”

A sharp clap willowed across the room, startling Jin for a moment. He sucked his teeth in annoyance because he knew what that clap meant. I messed up again, He complained, slowly turning to his left. “It seems you haven’t been studying as hard as I hoped.” Scholar Wen said, shaking his showing his disappointment.

He clapped his fan into his palm once more and began strolling back and forth in front of Prince Jin. A few seconds before stopped and stroked the bottom of his chin with the tip of his fan. He then began nodding his head slowly as if he came to an answer to an unknown question. “This won’t do. This won’t do at all,” He repeated.

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. What are your thoughts when you hear these words?”

Prince Tian Jin furrowed his brow and felt the windmill in his mind churn as he hunted for an answer. He opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words.

“So…you have no thoughts?” Scholar Wen asked curiously, flicking his fan open.

“I do Teacher but…”

“No buts Young Prince, enlighten me.”

Tian Jin licked his lips and began fiddling with his fingers, trying to help his brain. “Stop it…” Scholar Wen said calmly. “As a Prince of Huaxia, you can’t show weakness when you’re unable to find solutions to your peoples problem. That will bite you in the back.” He said.

A small cough rang out, making Prince Jin chuckle softly. Scholar Wen turned to the prince’s bodyguard and eyed him pensively. “Coughing isn’t helping him. How many Emperors were overthrown because they couldn’t find such answers? Any sign of weakness is considered a chink in their armour, which is seen as strength to your enemies.”

“The Emperor has enemies?” Prince Jin asked, confused.

“Of course, isn’t water wet?”

Prince Jin ground his teeth, feeling as though he was talking to a wall. He hated talking with Scholar Wen, he would always find a way to make things difficult for him to understand. “Yes Teacher, water is wet,”

“Then expect anyone to take what you want.”

“But isn’t being Emperor a duty,”

“It is a duty, but most people think of the luxury that comes with it. Do you think your father wanted to be Emperor?”

“Of course!”

“Young Prince, the Emperor wasn’t the first choice to become Emperor, he wasn’t even considered a candidate for Crown Prince.”

“What?” Prince Jin asked confused, “that doesn’t make any sense.”

“Life is simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”

I don’t understand, Jin thought annoyed, what does he mean, father wasn’t first choice to be Emperor?

“Scholar Wen speaks truth Jin’er. Life is simple, but we, make things difficult for ourselves, by complicating things.” The Emperor said firmly.

“Father!” Jin celebrated.

Scholar Wen and Prince Jin’s dropped to the ground, bowing reverently. Jin caught himself and looked up at his father with shame. He did as the rest did and kept his eyes from his father’s gaze. “No need for the formalities. I just wanted to spend some time with my Jin’er.”

Scholar Qin Wen pushed himself from off the ground and bowed once more. “Your Majesty, it is an honour to have you join us for this lesson.”

“No Scholar Wen, the honour is mine. I know you have retired from teaching hard headed Princes such as me, but I want to thank you for taking the time out to teach Jin.”

“He’s much like you when you were young, your majesty,”

“That’s not good,” The Emperor said, turning to Jin, which made him feel uneasy.

“Yet, you’re still the Emperor.” Scholar Wen said softly.

“A duty I did not request,”

“We don’t get to choose our callings, Your Majesty. You are the Emperor, whilst I am teacher of Emperor’s son.”

“Hooo…you sound burdened!”

“I dare not say my burdens are heavier than yours, but if I teach the young prince the wrong things, then Huaxia itself is doomed.”

The Emperor harrumphed and shook his head. “It’s like I still can’t win against you.”

“It is not a competition Your Majesty, but an understanding of your strengths…”

Stolen story; please report.

“…and weaknesses.” The Emperor added.

“You remember my lessons,” Scholar Wen said with a smile.

“How could I forget, you drilled them into my mind like a hammer!”

Scholar Wen laughed lightly and nodded. “Maybe, but look at you now. Emperor of Huaxia” He said, turning to Prince Jin and giving him a light smile.

For the first time in his life, Prince Jin felt the weight of Scholar Wen’s words, they made him feel small and insignificant. If he was the one who made his father into the man he is today, then he could also be the one to break him. He taught my father, He thought, that’s why he’s so different from my other teachers. I never realised it.

“Is the Fourth Prince taking to your lessons well?”The Emperor asked.

“Well enough, but he’s easily distracted like the second and third prince’s”

“And the first prince?”

“The First Prince is diligent, astute, but also prone to anger, in his impatience. Much like your father.”

“Understood, Thank You Scholar Wen.”

Prince Jin watched as the Emperor looked around his room, eyeing it keenly. He walked over to the pavilion and looked out into the distance of his personal yard.

After catching the sun for a second, he turned back and eyed Prince Jin’s bodyguard and Scholar Wen. “Can give me a moment with my son Scholar Wen?” He asked with a wave of his hand.

Scholar Wen bowed and left the room, ensuring not to show the Emperor his back. Jin looked at his bodyguard who gave him a slight smile and a nod. He stuck out his tongue at the bodyguard who just shook his head in response.

“How are your studies progressing?”

Prince Jin shifted uneasily in his seat. He knew he was doing okay, but he wasn’t completely satisfied with his progress over the past few months. “I’m doing my best, Father. Scholar Wen has been a great teacher,” he replied cautiously.

“I sense a but,”

“It’s not a but…but I’m not smart enough to be taught by him.”

“Hooo, is that so…tell me what makes you, ineligible for his teachings?”

“He has given me multiple quotes to remember, but has never told me what they mean.”

“Why would he?” The Emperor laughed, “You’re only seven I don’t think you’d understand. Not yet anyway.”

“Father…” Jin complained.

“Alright…alright, let me tell you why he gave you those quotes. Those quotes are aspects of life we never see or consider. Whenever there is a challenge or something unforeseen, they may come to mind. In that moment, they are meant to be a guiding light.”

“I see, then can I ask you a question?

“You can ask me anything you want, you are my son after all.”

“What does ‘A man that moves a mountain begins by carrying the first stone’ mean to you?”

Jin watched as his father lips curl into a knowing smile. To him, it felt like his father was proud of the question…or proud of know the answer, which made Jin feel dumb. “Come…” the Emperor said.

He pushed himself off the ground, feeling his legs ache. The strain of his muscles pulling, made him wince for a short second but the moment he noticed his father looking down at him he straightened his face as if nothing had ever happened.

The Emperor left the room and walked into the pavilion on the outside. Prince Jin followed, feeling the wind tickle the back of his necks.

His courtyard was like any other of the imperial family, decently sized with it’s own pond beyond the pavilion. It was littered a multitude of flowers with feint floral scent.

Its purpose was to provide tranquility and peace for the minds. That’s what Huaxian’s believed in. The peace of mind, and there was no place outside of the Dragon Palace, that was more peaceful.

That’s what people believed, but certainly not the members of the Imperial Family, it was vipers nest with family fighting against each other to rule…with the people caught in between.

The Emperor sat down and began tapping the right side of the bench. Prince Jin circled the table and sat where the Emperor tapped. He rested his hands on the table. “Hands…” The Emperor said cooly.

Prince Jin removed his hands from desk instantly and inhaled deeply, feeling the pressure of being around his father. Everything has to be done a certain way. I don’t like that, He complained.

As they sat there, Jin felt as though someone was peering into his soul. He kept his eyes fixed on the pond in front of him, but didn’t want to give into the pressure of the eyes that were watching. “Father…why are we outside? It’s hot.”

“I know Its hot, but shouldn’t we embrace the sun in such times.”

“…I guess?,” Jin asked.

He harrumphed with a chortle, “Fine…let me explain what Scholar Wen was trying to explain since you have little patience for me today.”

“That’s--“

“Enough,” The Emperor said firmly. “You want to be treated as an adult. I will treat you as such, but I will not suffer through your childish whims. Do you hear me?”

“Yes father,”

“Good…

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying the first stone’, look at the mountain over yonder,” The Emperor said, pointing toward Mount Huashan in the distance.

“It’s a massive mountain, towering over everything else. If one could move the entirety if a mountain at once. Its impossible. However, if one could carry a small stone. One at a time, eventually the mountain would move. It’s a metaphor for breaking down a seemingly insurmountable task into smaller, manageable parts.”

Jin nodded, understanding the meaning behind the quote. “So, it’s about taking things step by step?”

“Exactly,” The Emperor Replied with a smile. “It’s about not being intimidated by the enormity of a task, but instead focusing on what small steps you can take to eventually reach your goal. Remember this, my son, when faced with a challenge that seems insurmountable, take it one step at a time. It is the only way to achieve achieve greatness.”

He turned right, looking at the mountain and back his father. He couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take to build such a mountain. “Father, is building an Emperor faster than making a mountain?”

“I don’t know,” The Emperor laughed, “I’ve never made an Empire.”

“Isn’t this your Empire?”

“It is, but what do you think an Empire is son?”

Jin thought for a moment, he twiddled his fingers trying to churn the windmills in his mind into giving him an answer. After a short while, the answer came. “An Empire is Kingdom with multiple states ruled by an Emperor.”

“Very good,” The Emperor answered. “But an Empire is more than just a kingdoms and territories. It is built on the foundations of its people, its culture, its traditions, its laws, and its economy. It takes time and effort to build an Empire, just like it takes time and effort to move a mountain. But, with patience, perseverance, and the willingness to take small steps, anything is possible.”

Jin nodded in understanding, taking in the wisdom his father was imparting. “Thank you, Father.”

The Emperor placed a hand on Jin’s shoulder. “Remember, my son, the journey to greatness is not an easy one, but it is worth it. Embrace the challenges, learn from your mistakes, and never give up. You have the potential to do great things, and I believe in you.”

His father’s word were like a chord within his heart, it made him beam, hearing such words. He never thought he’d hear them, but it made him believe that he could be anything…even an Emperor.

He finally nodded solemnly, then reminisced of a promise the The Emperor had made to him. “Father, are we still going to Faizou to see Uncle Ming?

The Emperor’s expression darkened slightly, and Prince Jin could tell that something was wrong. “I’m sorry, Jin’er, but I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” He said with a sigh.

“Why not?” Prince Jin asked, heart sinking from the news.

“Uncle Ming has called General Tiexin to Faizou for assistance. Barbarians in the north have been attacking our troops and supply lines. We can’t have them doing as they please. Plus, It wouldn’t look appropriate for me to be enjoying a family vacation whilst our soldiers are at war.”

Prince Jin felt a pang of sadness at his father’s words, but he understood. He knew that duty came first, even if it meant sacrificing something he had been looking forward to.“I understand, Father,” He said, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice.

The Emperor placed a reassuring hand on Prince Jin’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Jin. When things settle down, we’ll make sure to take that trip to see Uncle Ming in Faizou. I promise.”

Jin looked up at his father and saw a look he’d never seen before. He tried to understand why he looked sad…yet angry. It confused him, almost making him speechless. “Is something wrong father?”

The Emperor turned to Jin and patted him on the cheek, vitality returned to his eyes and his lips curled into a smile. “It’s too early for you to be worrying about me Jin’er, but thank you for asking.”

“Don’t worry father, I will be turning twelve in a couple years, I will help Uncle Ming in Faizou!”

“There’s no need to rush Jin’er, live a peaceful life, until war comes, alright?”

“Alright father, I will do as you say.”

“Good.”