Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Zhou Wenqing pulled his hand away and patted Fusu's shoulder, looking at him with a smile.

"Fusu, you seem tired these past few days. Why are you looking so downcast?"

My child sent a message this morning saying the task went very smoothly, so why is he so sullen and listless now?

"Have you encountered some difficulties? You can talk to your husband about it; perhaps he can give you some advice."

"Sir, I..." Fusu opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment, and then stopped himself from speaking.

His gaze fell on Zhou Wenqing—the thick fur coat wrapped him up tightly, but the chin exposed above the collar was still pale, and his lips were bloodless, as if the chill could not be dispelled no matter what.

He swallowed the words he was about to say and shook his head:

"Sir, it's just a small matter. I've already taken care of it. You don't need to worry."

Zhou Wenqing frowned slightly.

It seems like this child is genuinely facing some problem, but I'm hesitant to speak to him because I'm worried...

In short, let's test the waters.

"Fusu," he said, his tone softening, his voice filled with admiration.

"The sir read the message you sent and learned that you have become skilled at building kang (heated brick beds), and that you have completed the verification of the situation of the Li people's homes in the suburbs of Xianyang, and are even gradually starting to help them build kang."

He paused, a smile spreading across his eyes: "I'm very pleased. You did a great job, very efficiently, and exceptionally well in fulfilling your promise. I'm proud of you!"

"teacher!"

Fusu was stunned by what he heard. He couldn't suppress his joy, and his body trembled. He was about to smile, but then he remembered something and forced himself to suppress it. His thin lips were pressed tightly together, and his eyes were even slightly red.

He gritted his teeth before speaking with difficulty:

"Sir, but... but I may have disappointed you. I didn't do a good job... I... I..." His voice lowered, tinged with guilt. "So many people... they were unwilling... I could only..."

As expected, something was amiss, and Zhou Wenqing's gaze darkened slightly.

"No rush, go sit over there, we'll talk slowly."

He pointed to the small pavilion in the distance and patted Fusu on the back reassuringly.

"Yes." Fusu nodded vigorously.

The pavilion is not far from the corner of the palace wall. It has four pointed corners and several silk lanterns hanging under the eaves, which emit a dim yellow light in the twilight.

Thick cotton cushions were laid on the stone benches, presumably prepared by the palace servants in advance because of the cold weather these past few days, which made things convenient for them.

Zhou Wenqing pulled his fur coat tighter, sat down on the stone bench, and casually placed the hand warmer on his lap.

Fusu sat opposite him, his eyes lowered, his hands gripping the hem of his robe, his knuckles turning white. After a moment, he took a deep breath and raised his head.

"Master, your disciple... went outside the city again today."

"Um."

"There was an old man who had difficulty walking. His house was small and dilapidated. His son had passed away, and his daughter-in-law had also passed away last winter. He was left with only his seven-year-old grandson."

Fusu's voice was very low, almost like he was talking to himself, "I think the first thing to do is to build a kang (heated brick bed) in his house, so I'll have the village head arrange for craftsmen to do it."

The old man refused.

Zhou Wenqing didn't speak, but listened quietly.

"I know what he's afraid of." Fusu frowned. "The kang (heated brick bed) has to be kept burning all night. He's afraid there won't be enough firewood to last through the winter. I tried to explain to him that the court would allocate firewood and do its best to help families like his. The dung cakes and fuel stones that you mentioned will be provided soon. I told him all that."

His voice lowered, carrying an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.

"But I just can't get through to them."

"There are many families like this. They don't want a heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed). They just want to save firewood and grit their teeth to get through the winter."

Fusu suddenly raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed, his gaze filled with both anxiety and sorrow:

"Sir, it's not their fault. They didn't even dare to resist. They just knelt down and begged me, kneeling in the snow, begging me not to build them a heated kang or force them to use firewood."

"Disciple understands. Disciple should explain things clearly to them. As long as they believe that the imperial court has a way to help them stay warm through this winter without having to grit their teeth and endure it, they won't be so afraid. But... but..."

His clenched knuckles turned even whiter.

"But it's too difficult! Sir, they don't believe it, and they dare not believe it."

"When I told them that the imperial court would provide firewood, they lowered their heads and remained silent; when I told them that dung cakes could be burned, they thought I was too young and was just talking nonsense; when I told them that there was a kind of combustible stone that burned warmer than wood, and that I would give it to them once I had researched it, they didn't even look up!"

"They...only believe in the winters they endured by gritting their teeth..."

Fusu's voice was so low it almost dissipated in the wind, "Firewood is their lifeline in winter. They dare not burn it day and night, so they can only grit their teeth and save it little by little, using it bit by bit to get through the winter and survive."

"I wanted to explain to them, but once I got one right, there was another."

Before he could even finish explaining his reasoning, the next person knelt down in the snow.

"I have no time, Master. The snow this year is too heavy, heavier than in previous years. Besides Xianyang, there are other places waiting to be arranged. Xianyang is the capital, so it has to set an example and take the lead... I can't do it, Master, I really can't."

His voice trailed off, as if he were holding his breath.

"The disciple could only forcefully order his men to pull them apart and help them set up the heated kang bed first."

"I was thinking that it wouldn't be enough to talk to everyone one by one. I need to set up the kang first, and then... later we can gather everyone together and talk to them slowly."

"But several families, with their elderly and young children, have been kneeling in front of the Baiwusi (a department of goods) from afar, begging me not to force them to use firewood. Every day, different people come."

His voice trembled slightly.

"The snow was so thick, they just knelt at a distance. When they saw me coming, they crawled over on their knees and begged in hushed tones. They didn't even dare to get too close, for fear of being arrested as troublemakers. I..."

He choked up before he could finish speaking.

"I... this disciple truly cannot bear it."

Zhou Wenqing's eyes suddenly narrowed.

"So how did you deal with them?"

"I first had someone take them inside to warm themselves by the fire and calm down." Fusu lowered his eyes, his voice muffled. "Then, with a stern face, I warned them very seriously that they could not continue to act so recklessly, or they would be punished by the authorities. Then... they got scared, agreed, and left. And then, I came back."

He finally raised his head and looked at Zhou Wenqing, his eyes almost overflowing with tears.

"Sir, did I do something wrong?"

He was like a string that had been stretched for too long finally reaching its limit, and his voice trembled even more violently.

"Perhaps... I should be gentler? Perhaps..."

He paused, as if he didn't know what to say, and finally could only look to Zhou Wenqing for help, his eyes filled with confusion, guilt, and longing.

"Sir, what should I do?"

Zhou Wenqing secretly exhaled, temporarily suppressing the surging emotions in his heart.

He held Fusu's shoulders, looked directly into his eyes, and said firmly, word by word:

"Fusu, you did nothing wrong, you did a great job."

"It is truly remarkable that you can step down from that position, understand the feelings of the common people, and stand in their shoes to think about why they are afraid and why they dare not do it."

Zhou Wenqing spoke softly, yet each word was clear: "Your performance has far exceeded Mr. Zhou's expectations. Mr. Zhou is very proud of you."

Fusu's cheeks flushed red. He turned his head slightly and whispered somewhat shyly:

"No, sir... This is Ah-Zhu, it was Ah-Zhu who reminded me."

"Hmm, A-Zhu?" Zhou Wenqing raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes. "He's very good, worthy of praise, but..."

He changed the subject, his gaze settling steadily on Fusu's face:

"You were the one who decisively gave the order, pulled the villagers away, and forcibly carried out the plan, weren't you?"

Fusu pursed his lips and nodded: "Yes, sir, it was my order."

"Then you did the right thing." Zhou Wenqing's tone became more serious, leaving no room for doubt. "At this time, a tougher approach is needed. If it were me, I would have done the same. You don't need to feel guilty about it."

He paused, his gaze deepening: "This winter is too cold. Without a heated kang (traditional heated bed), even if they are extremely careful with firewood, it will be difficult for them to survive. You are helping them find a way to make a living."

"Fusu, you did nothing wrong!"

"Really, sir?"

Fusu's eyes lit up.

"Of course it's true." Zhou Wenqing tightened his grip on his shoulder and answered firmly.

"So you don't need to feel guilty, and you don't need to doubt yourself."

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Wenqing's eyes, and his voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

"The ones who should feel guilty are those scoundrels who twist the truth, those rats in the gutter, their petty tricks are truly... disgusting!"

If it were that ordinary people who couldn't even afford firewood were truly unable to understand the situation and were desperate enough to kneel down and beg Fusu, Zhou Wenqing could believe it. But to find the Baiwusi (a department in charge of supplies) so precisely, and to come every day, issue a warning, and then leave...

Ha, it would be strange if no one had instigated this.

not good!

Zhou Wenqing suddenly thought of something, his heart skipped a beat, his breath hitched for a moment, and he spoke rapidly.

"Fusu, you said they kneel in front of the Baiwusi (Baiwusi) gate every day from afar—what about your journey there and back? Was anyone blocking your way?"

Fusu was taken aback by his sudden tension and quickly shook his head:

"no."

If it wasn't aimed at Fusu, then it was aimed at him!

Oh no! Jisu Naishi-ji!

He hasn't been there for several days!