Final answer:
The boy's mother warns him never to say the Emperor's name out loud due to cultural beliefs. He later says it to himself out of curiosity or disobedience. He dreams about the Emperor's ships because they symbolize adventure and the possibility of escaping his current situation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the story, the boy's mother warns him never to say the Emperor's name out loud because it is considered dangerous and a taboo in their culture. Speaking the Emperor's name is believed to invite bad luck and misfortune. However, the boy later says the Emperor's name to himself out of curiosity or disobedience.
The boy dreams about the Emperor's ships because he has a desire to explore and make his true power felt. The Emperor's ships symbolize adventure, freedom, and the possibility of leaving his current situation behind and pursuing a different life.