People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 362, A Condition No Man Can Refuse

Xianyang, the residence of Lord Weiyang.

Led by the guards, Xu Qing and Xia Wuqie passed through the corridor and arrived at Lord Weiyang's bedroom, where they successfully met this virtuous elder of the royal family who had been injured by Lao Ai.

Lord Weiyang lay on the bed, wearing a simple undershirt and a white veil over his head. His complexion was as rosy as usual, but his gaze toward Xu Qing and Xia Wuqie carried a hint of displeasure and distance.

Lord Jingyang, who had been sitting beside him, had already left.

"Greetings, Lord Weiyang. We have come on the orders of His Majesty to treat your injuries," Xu Qing said, bowing to Lord Weiyang.

"I am already aware of this matter. I am grateful that the Grand Chancellor has come in person. I am injured and unable to perform the proper etiquette, so please forgive me." Lord Weiyang did not show any displeasure and spoke in a calm tone.

If anyone else had come, Lord Weiyang would naturally not have given them a warm welcome. Although he had not personally attended court to discuss matters, he had learned from Lord Jingyang's account how Ying Zheng openly protected Lao Ai, and how Lao Ai acted with impunity.

He was naturally furious about this. He didn't care about the physical injury; what he cared about was the reputation of the royal family and Ying Zheng's betrayal of them.

However, Xu Qing was a Grand Master of Ceremonies and represented the medical community entering Qin. No matter how unhappy he was, Lord Weiyang did not show it on his face, for fear that Xu Qing would feel slighted and thus have a grudge against Qin, which would affect the medical community's grand plan to enter Qin.

Seeing that Lord Weiyang wasn't too angry, Xu Qing felt a little relieved. Regardless of what the other party was thinking, as long as he could speak politely on the surface, it would be beneficial for the conversation to continue.

"I am acting under orders and dare not complain of hardship. Please allow me, Lord Weiyang, to examine my wound and see how it is."

Xu Qing put down the medicine box and said to Lord Weiyang.

"No problem, bring seats for the Grand Chancellor and Imperial Physician Xia," Lord Weiyang said to the guards standing at the door.

"Yes, sir," the guard replied.

Seeing that Lord Weiyang agreed, Xu Qing stepped forward and removed the gauze from his head. Seeing that it was just a superficial wound, Xu Qing took out a medicine bottle from his medicine box.

"This is a medicine I prepared myself for treating external injuries. It has remarkable effects. If Lord Weiyang doesn't mind, please accept it." Xu Qing placed the medicine bottle on the table and said with a peaceful smile.

Weiyang Jun glanced at the medicine bottle on the table, the external injury medicine personally prepared by the divine doctor Xu Qing. He was about to refuse, but then swallowed the words back down his throat.

"Well then, thank you very much, Grand Master of Ceremonies," Lord Weiyang nodded and said.

"Lord Weiyang's external injury is not serious, but the wound on his forehead might affect his brain. Please allow me to take his pulse," Xu Qing said to Lord Weiyang as he sat on the seat brought by the guards.

A hint of doubt flashed in Weiyang Jun's eyes. He knew his own situation; the wound on his forehead was not serious and would heal in a few days. Xu Qing should have been able to see it too. He didn't understand why the other party was going to such lengths.

However, Xu Qing was ultimately thinking of him, so it wouldn't hurt to let him take his pulse, which would also allow him to check if there were any other problems with his health.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Your Excellency," said Lord Weiyang, extending his hand.

Xia Wuqie watched as Xu Qing took Weiyang Jun's pulse, observing Xu Qing's actions intently, wondering if he could secretly learn a few tricks.

Although the methods of pulse diagnosis are largely similar, many famous doctors have their own unique methods, which can easily reveal problems that other doctors cannot detect from the pulse.

However, Xia Wuqie was ultimately disappointed because Xu Qing's method of taking the pulse was the most ordinary pulse-taking technique.

Xu Qing felt Wei Yangjun's pulse, his brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes narrowed.

Weiyang Jun immediately tensed up. He wasn't afraid of the doctor's smiling face, but he was afraid of the doctor's frown. His pupils dilated slightly, and he nervously licked his dry lips.

"Lord Liangzao, is there anything wrong with my body?" Lord Weiyang asked anxiously.

Xu Qing glanced at Wei Yangjun but didn't say anything. Instead, he continued taking Wei Yangjun's pulse. Judging from the pulse, Wei Yangjun's body was fine, except for some kidney deficiency.

However, it's normal for him to be this age. With wives and concubines on one side and heavy political and royal affairs on the other, it's understandable that he wouldn't have the energy to keep up.

A short while later, Xu Qing opened his eyes and withdrew his hand, glancing at Lord Weiyang with a dark look before speaking in a deep voice.
"Your health is generally fine, just a few minor ailments, but..."

Upon hearing the words "only two words," Wei Yangjun's heart, which had been at ease, began to pound again. Just as he was about to ask what the problem was, he saw Xu Qing glance at the others and immediately understood what Xu Qing meant.

"You may all leave now. I need to speak with the Grand Chancellor privately for a few moments," Lord Weiyang said to his guards and maids.

"promise."

The guards and maids bowed and left the room, and Xia Wuqie, after seeing Xu Qing's gaze, also bowed and left.

"pat~"

After the door was closed, Lord Weiyang no longer concealed his true feelings and asked nervously.

"Daiyoshi, now it's just the two of us in the room. Please tell me if there's anything wrong with my health. I can handle anything."

"It's nothing serious, but recently Lord Weiyang must have been feeling soreness in his lower back and knees, aversion to cold, and frequent urination at night, right?" Xu Qing asked.

When Xu Qing asked him this question, Lord Weiyang blushed and looked somewhat unnatural. He naturally knew what illness Xu Qing was referring to.

The biggest taboo for a man is being told he is incapable, especially of having kidney deficiency.

"Well... ever since the old clan leader went to Yongcheng to serve the ancestors, all the affairs of the clan, big and small, have been handed over to me. I've been dealing with government affairs, which has left me somewhat exhausted," Lord Weiyang said, his eyes darting around as he awkwardly tried to cover up his predicament.

However, before he could finish speaking, Xu Qing spoke again.
"I can cure it."

Lord Weiyang's expression turned serious. He grasped Xu Qing's hand and said with a mixture of excitement and anticipation.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Master."

Seeing Wei Yangjun's change of expression, Xu Qing almost didn't react. Sure enough, men never admit to having kidney deficiency, but they'll change their expressions if they hear about treatment.

"However, apart from the physical problems, your pulse indicates that you have stagnant qi and a burning sensation in your heart. There must be something on your mind that's troubling you, right?" Xu Qing looked at Weiyang Jun with a half-smile and withdrew his hand as he spoke.

Upon hearing this, Lord Weiyang's expression turned solemn. After glancing at Xu Qing, he said in a deep voice...

"Your Majesty probably sent you here not only to treat my illness, but also because Your Majesty thinks the royal family will be unhappy about Lao Ai injuring me, so you were specially sent to persuade me?"

Even if Lord Weiyang's talent was mediocre, after hearing things to this point, even a fool would see through Xu Qing's true intentions—it must be about the court proceedings. Xu Qing maintained his smile, not answering Lord Weiyang's question, but instead asking...

"Do you really think of the King as such an irresponsible and timid person?"

"Then what are you doing here?" Lord Weiyang asked in a deep voice.

“His Majesty did send me here for other purposes, and it is indeed related to Lao Ai, but it is not what Lord Weiyang thinks,” Xu Qing said.

Lord Weiyang looked at Xu Qing with a puzzled expression, a hint of impatience flashing across his face. Xu Qing's roundabout way of doing things was making him a little anxious.

"It's just the two of us here. If Your Majesty has any other instructions or orders, Grand Chancellor can speak frankly. There's no need to beat around the bush with me," Lord Weiyang said, frowning.

Seeing that Lord Weiyang was getting impatient, Xu Qing didn't intend to reveal his true purpose. Instead, he decided to test the waters further and spoke up.

"Before that, please answer one question for me, Lord Weiyang."

"Are you truly loyal to the Qin state and the King? Are you willing to pay any price for the Qin state and the King?"

Xu Qing's eyes sharpened as he stared intently at Lord Weiyang. His expression turned serious, and his aura surged as he pressed down on Lord Weiyang.

Upon hearing Xu Qing's words, Lord Weiyang's eyes blazed with anger. His cheeks trembled with rage as he spoke in a furious voice.
"You are insulting me! If Your Majesty thinks I am disloyal, you can say so directly. There is no need for you to humiliate me!"

"Since Your Majesty does not trust me and is worried that I will continue to cause trouble for Lao Ai, then I will prove my loyalty with my death. A scholar can be killed but not humiliated!"

Lord Weiyang angrily got off the bed and headed toward the shelf where the swords were displayed, ready to prove his innocence with his death.

Loyalty was a virtue that Lord Weiyang was proud of. As the eldest son of King Xiaowen of Qin, even when he lost his throne due to Ying Yiren's use of the harem, his loyalty to the Qin state remained unwavering.

After Ying Zheng ascended the throne, he worked even more diligently, daring not to be careless in the slightest, for fear that Empress Dowager Zhao Ji and Lü Buwei would join forces to humiliate him and delay the Qin state.

Even though Ying Zheng publicly favored Lao Ai, he was angry, but not for himself. He was angry that the royal family's reputation had been humiliated. He did not resent Ying Zheng, but only felt guilty for his own incompetence in not being able to support Ying Zheng in ruling personally.

Now that Ying Zheng and Xu Qing doubt his loyalty, he cannot bear it and would rather die than bear such a stigma.

Just as Lord Weiyang was about to pick up his sword, his hand was suddenly grabbed by Xu Qing.

"Release me! I would rather die than suffer this humiliation," Lord Weiyang said coldly.

"Lord Weiyang, please wait and let me finish. The King has no doubt about your loyalty. What I said just now was merely a personal test of you, because what I am about to say concerns the King's life and death as well as the great cause of Qin's unification of the world, so I must be cautious."

"I apologize for my rudeness earlier."

Xu Qing withdrew his hand and bowed solemnly to Lord Weiyang.

Lord Weiyang glared at Xu Qing, his anger subsiding slightly because of Xu Qing's words. Since it concerned Ying Zheng's life and death and the great cause of the Qin state, he had to listen to the whole thing, no matter how angry he was.

"What exactly does the King want with you?" Lord Weiyang asked in a low voice.

"Please sit down, Lord Weiyang, and let's talk slowly," Xu Qing said, straightening up.

Lord Weiyang grunted, stepped back onto the bed, and stared intently at Xu Qing, waiting for him to continue.

Seeing that Lord Weiyang had calmed down, Xu Qing decided not to probe any further. Lord Weiyang's actions and expression had shown no abnormality, so he spoke.

"The King sent me to treat your illness, but that's just a pretext. The real reason is for me to explain to you why I showed favoritism towards Lao Ai in court."

"Hmm!? What does this have to do with His Majesty's life or death and the great cause of the Qin state?" Lord Weiyang asked with a frown.

"Of course there is a connection. The current situation in the court is complicated. Many people seem to be loyal to the King and the Qin State, but in reality, they have ulterior motives. Not to mention others, just take Lao Ai. Relying on the King's trust, he has repeatedly sought power for himself and secretly colluded with the six states."

"But he was deeply trusted by the Queen Mother, and the King had not yet come of age and was in power. The Queen Mother held the reins of power, and no one could touch him while she was in office."

"Moreover, Your Majesty is a man of great loyalty and righteousness, and he would not fall out with the Empress Dowager for the sake of Lao Ai."

Lord Weiyang fell silent, the anger on his face completely gone, and he looked at Xu Qing with deep eyes.

Having said all that, Lord Weiyang naturally understood that Ying Zheng didn't not want to get rid of Lao Ai, but rather had too many concerns to eliminate him for the time being, though he was already making plans to take action.

"What does Your Majesty mean?" Lord Weiyang asked in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty means to wait. The reason why Your Majesty favored Lao Ai in the court meeting and pretended to be forced to let Lao Ai go because of the Empress Dowager's pressure was to spoil Lao Ai."

“What others teach, I will also teach. The violent and tyrannical will not die a natural death, and I will take this as my teaching. Your Majesty’s purpose is to take the initiative to make Lao Ai a violent and tyrannical person, to make him more and more arrogant, thereby attracting those in the court who have ulterior motives.”

"Once these people are gathered together, and the time is ripe, Your Majesty can suppress them all at once and pacify the world."

Xu Qing then revealed his and Ying Zheng's plan, and explained to Lord Weiyang why they needed to clean up the court, letting him know that everything Ying Zheng did was for the great cause of Qin's unification of the world.

As Lord Weiyang listened to Xu Qing's words, his expression changed constantly, but his gaze became resolute.

Now that he knew Ying Zheng's purpose, he naturally had no more objections to Ying Zheng.

Lord Weiyang naturally understood the principle of enduring minor humiliations to plan for the long term, and that short-sighted anger leads to profound long-term benefits. Moreover, Ying Zheng had Xu Qing tell him these things in order to draw him into the plan. In addition to excitement, he felt a heavy heart.

"I understand what Your Majesty means. Your Majesty has it not easy. It is truly not easy for someone so young to endure humiliation and bear such a heavy burden. If Your Majesty can do this, why can't I?"

"Please convey to His Majesty that I will keep the royal family in check so that they will not cause trouble because of me and affect His Majesty's plans," Lord Weiyang said solemnly to Xu Qing.

Upon seeing Lord Weiyang's attitude, Xu Qing smiled easily, but then said...
"No, you should not only fail to restrain the imperial clan, but also encourage them to cause trouble. Only in this way can you make Lao Ai more and more arrogant. The more complacent Lao Ai becomes, the more those in the court with ulterior motives will be drawn to him."

"However, you must also be careful not to let the royal family cause any major trouble, lest it become unmanageable in the end."

After thinking for a moment, Lord Weiyang realized that Xu Qing was right. If the imperial clan was so humiliated and there was no reaction, it would only arouse suspicion from others.

(End of this chapter)