Fu Su's interview

My interview with Fu Su, eldest son of Emperor Qin.

Q: How was it like growing up in a palace and being the crowned prince?

A: It was great. Living in a palace was every kid’s dream. Ever since I can remember being taught how to rule and what proper manners a prince should have. The only bad part about being heir to the throne was that it took time away from being a kid. I didn’t play many games or have all the adventures a child would normally have. 

Q: When you found out about what Emperor Qin was doing to the scholars what was your immediate reaction?

A: When I first heard about it, I didn’t know what to believe. I didn’t think my father was that cruel of a man to order innocent people to be buried alive. I begged him to show mercy to the scholars and because of my compassion I was sent away to work on the Great Wall. My father even gave me a deadline for when I had to finish it. I was given ten years.

Q: What did Emperor Qin say or do when he told you that you were banished?

A: Well for one thing he was furious. Just like with the scholars, he showed me no mercy. I was surprised he didn’t kill me on the spot. He just went and said it, not even for a second was there a slight hesitation in his voice.

Q: How was your first day working on the Great Wall like?
A: After living all my life in a palace and always having people to do things for me I wasn’t used to having to do hard labor. It was very hard for me. I had never even touched a shovel or picked up a slab of rock before. My muscles were all sore; the pain from my back was unbearable.

Q: When your Hu Hai, took over the empire, what were your thoughts?
A: Sine I was the original crowned prince, I was upset at first because that should have been me ruling the empire. I had been the one who grew up learning how to rule and all the important political matters, not Hu Hai. After a while I got over it but I still think about it and it still upsets me.