Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

"What do you mean by doing absolutely nothing? Brother Gu'an, that's quite a departure from your usual style!"

Zhou Wenqing's eyes darted around, his face instantly hardening into a serious expression, and he said in a stern tone:

"Wenqing's arrangements and plans are precisely for your long-term benefit, Brother Gu'an; his intentions are truly commendable!"

"Nonsense!"

Li Si's eyes widened in disbelief as he pointed to his dark circles under his eyes and said, "After days of working tirelessly on paper, the dark circles under my eyes look like I've been punched in the face. And you say it's for my own good?!"

"Exactly!" Zhou Wenqing nodded confidently, leaning forward slightly, his eyes shining with heartfelt sincerity.

"Brother Gu'an, think about it. If today's strategy succeeds, it will create an unprecedented advantage. How could it not be recorded in history with great detail?"

"That's only natural." Li Si slightly raised his chin, completely convinced.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have worked so hard, not allowing himself to make the slightest mistake.

"However, the crux of the matter lies precisely here!" Zhou Wenqing slapped his thigh, his expression serious.

"This strategy was first proposed by Wenqing, and his name will undoubtedly be recorded in history in the future. But what about you, Brother Gu'an?"

He paused, then looked intently at Li Si: "If you, brother, merely assist him and deliver documents, the historians will likely only record the four words 'Li Si assisted him,' a light and insignificant mention. Wouldn't that be like casting pearls before swine, leaving only regret?"

Li Si's eyes flickered slightly, his Adam's apple bobbed up and down, but he remained noncommittal.

Seeing this, Zhou Wenqing moved even closer, lowering his voice, yet it carried a seductive power.

"Brother Gu'an, you are wise. With the advent of paper, the transmission of classics is far superior to that of bamboo slips in the past. It can truly be passed down for thousands of generations and remain immortal! Just imagine, a thousand years from now, when future generations unfold the scrolls and see the names of Li Si and Zhou Wenqing listed side by side, having jointly contributed to this great cause that benefits the country and its people for millennia to come, what a glorious sight that would be!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, his voice filled with passion and fervor, his eyes almost sparkling with light:

"Such a golden opportunity to achieve lasting fame is right before our eyes!"

"This... how could I, Si, be the kind of person who covets posthumous fame?" Li Si's voice trailed off, his confidence waning. "Besides, this is Wen Qing's achievement; how could I possibly steal it..."

"Brother Gu'an," Zhou Wenqing sighed softly, his sigh carrying a knowing understanding of the world and a perfectly measured weakness.

"When it comes to great achievements, it's not about 'grabbing' but about 'success.' Whoever can accomplish it, make it solid, and make it stable will have their name truly engraved on bronze vessels and bamboo slips, and be admired by future generations."

"Besides, you should at least be understanding of Wenqing, look at him..."

Zhou Wenqing took out his porcelain medicine bottle from his sleeve, shook it, and the pills inside jingled. His smile was bitter.

"Brother knows Wenqing's health condition. If he insists on taking on all these complicated tasks, he might collapse before achieving anything, which would ruin the overall situation. It's hard to say who will ultimately get the credit that was so easily within his grasp."

He raised his eyes, his gaze sincere: "Rather than letting those who sit idly by and talk the talk, gain an advantage for nothing, why don't we join hands? Brother, your strategies are outstanding, and your actions are decisive. You are perfectly suited for practical tasks. When this great achievement is accomplished, the annals of history will record not only the merits of my strategy, Zhou Wenqing, but also the efforts of you, Li Si, alone—"

He leaned slightly forward, his words soft and gentle, yet each one struck a chord in Li Si's heart:

"Instead, our names will be inscribed on bamboo and silk, like the friendship between Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya, or the harmony between Lian Po and Lin Xiangru, creating a timeless tale for future generations to sing about."

The four words "a timeless tale" seemed to carry a scorching heat, warming the very depths of Li Si's blood!

Li Si came from a humble background, and all he ever wanted was to get rid of the ever-present feeling of being a "toilet rat," to hold power, to make achievements, and to have his name etched into history in a grand and glorious way!

"Therefore, elder brother, you must bear with me more." Zhou Wenqing softened his tone, coaxing him gently, and continued as he took advantage of his excited state of mind.

"Our division of labor and cooperation, with Wenqing providing the ideas and Brother Gu'an making pragmatic progress and implementing everything thoroughly with swift and decisive measures, is a perfect match and complements each other."

"When the day of success arrives, how can history not record a significant chapter in our names?"

Seeing Li Si's fist gradually clench and his eyes grow brighter, he pressed his advantage and continued to increase the stakes.

"Brother Gu'an, imagine if you could use this achievement to make future generations use you as a yardstick to measure what constitutes a truly loyal and capable minister... Only those whose conduct and style are similar to yours would be worthy of being called 'virtuous and wise.' How could ordinary fame and fortune possibly reach such a level?"

Only by setting an example for others can one be considered virtuous!

These words struck Li Si like a thunderbolt, piercing the very depths of his soul.

In an instant, he felt his blood surge and his heart pound with uncontrollable emotion; even his fingertips trembled slightly with excitement.

In a daze, Li Si seemed to have already seen his name and Zhou Wenqing's name listed side by side on the new history book, the ink flowing freely and shining brightly, illuminating thousands of generations!

He'd fooled him! Zhou Wenqing was secretly delighted, but on the surface he became even more sincere, showering Li Si with heartfelt praises such as "Brother Gu'an, you are a man of great talent" and "Without you, this great undertaking could not have been accomplished." Li Si was overjoyed and restless, feeling his energy bursting forth and unable to contain himself any longer.

Finally, Chief Secretary Li abruptly stood up, rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, and, with two blazing flames of "merit" burning in his eyes, said decisively:

"No! There are still many detailed rules and regulations to be drafted, and this is all real merit! I must return to the manor immediately—I must plan this matter meticulously and handle it flawlessly!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already swept out the door like a gust of wind, his back view so imposing and proud that anyone who didn't know better would think he was going to the front lines to conquer cities and seize territory.

Excellent, very good, that's the spirit we need!

Zhou Wenqing watched him leave with a smile, and only after his hurried figure disappeared outside the courtyard gate did she slowly lean back against the soft pillow, let out a long sigh of relief, and feel completely satisfied.

Finally, the "King of Rolling" mentality was successfully instilled, making people willingly and enthusiastically go to work.

That's right. Li Si needs to be busy. It's good to be busy; you feel more at ease when you're busy.

He relaxed, but his gaze inadvertently drifted towards the direction of Zhangtai Palace. The sly smile on his lips gradually faded, and his eyes calmed down.

Zhangtai Palace —

Ying Zheng was reading through a bamboo slip presented by Zhao Gao, which detailed the entire process of Crown Prince Dan's "stealing the map and fleeing" and "resisting arrest and being executed." Every word was clear, the chain of evidence was complete, and there was not a single flaw to be found.

Ying Zheng's gaze slowly moved over the neat characters, his face expressionless, only his fingertips unconsciously stroking the edge of the bamboo slips.

Ji Dan... was pierced through the heart by a stray arrow, and even his body was burned clean.

Ying Zheng closed his eyes and then opened them again. The indescribable emotion in his heart was neither regret nor pleasure, but rather like brushing away an old, withered leaf that had fallen on his shoulder.

Zhao Gao stood with his hands clasped at the boundary of shadows, as submissive as a terracotta figurine.

"This matter was handled well."

Ying Zheng finally spoke, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.

"It is my duty to serve Your Majesty, and it is my highest honor." Zhao Gao bowed, his tone perfectly humble.

"Um."

The bamboo slips were gently placed back on the imperial desk, making a soft "tap" sound that was particularly clear in the excessively quiet hall.

Ying Zheng slowly raised his eyes, his gaze as cold as a deep pool, and fell upon him: "Zhao Gao, you should know why I value you so highly."

Without waiting for a reply, the voice continued, low and slow, yet each word clear and distinct:

"Because of all the officials in the court, only you know the 'boundaries' best, you know what to touch, what to let go; what to leave a trace of, and what... should be burned to ashes as a candle."

He paused slightly, and the air in the hall seemed to freeze.

"But what if one day you lose that sense of proportion..."

"Your Majesty—!"

Zhao Gao's knees slammed heavily to the ground, cold sweat instantly trickling down his forehead, splashing onto the cold gold bricks and creating tiny puddles. He then slammed his forehead against the ground, producing a dull thud.

"Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty, I would never forget my roots! My life, my mind, and even this meager talent at your disposal are all gifts from Your Majesty. I know only to serve you to the death, and I have no other thoughts! In my eyes, there is only Your Majesty's command; in my ears, there is only Your Majesty's voice. In this life, I am but a tool in Your Majesty's hand, and wherever Your Majesty directs me, I will not hesitate for a moment, nor dare I have the slightest thought of overstepping my bounds!"

The hall was so quiet that you could hear the soft popping of the candle wick.

After a long while, Ying Zheng raised his hand and made a very simple gesture towards the shadows.

The figure that had always stood still like a dark stone pillar took a silent half-step forward, standing exactly three feet to the side of Zhao Gao. The lamplight outlined his expressionless profile, forming a cold symmetry with Zhao Gao's prostrate posture.

Ying Zheng's gaze slowly swept between the two men, finally settling on the dark, heavy jade seal on the imperial desk.

"From this day forward, the authority of the seal shall be jointly exercised by the two of you. One shall use it and the other shall verify it; one shall issue it and the other shall receive it. Both of you must be present in all aspects."

He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze measuring Zhao Gao's bowed back as if using a measuring ruler:

"Regarding what happened a few days ago, considering your achievements today, I will not pursue the matter further."

He paused slightly, then spoke the next words so softly they were almost a whisper, yet they made Zhao Gao tense up instantly:

"But think carefully about those thoughts you shouldn't have, those people you shouldn't be scheming against."

Ying Zheng tapped lightly on the cold, sharp edge of the jade seal with his fingertips.

"despair."

That soft sound seemed to break the last remaining bone in Zhao Gao's spine.

He crouched even lower, almost blending into the ground, not daring to move an inch.

"If there's a next time," Ying Zheng's voice returned to its original flatness, even carrying a hint of weariness, "you're probably... not even as good as Ji Dan, worth all this effort."

After speaking, he stopped looking at the people on the ground and picked up the bamboo slips again.

The flickering candlelight cast his profile on the wall behind him, vast and silent, like the shadow before a mountain collapses, completely enveloping the trembling body below.