Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

No, no... I haven't done anything yet... They can't do anything to me!

Wang Ke forced himself to remain calm, opened his mouth, his mind racing with thoughts. He subconsciously pressed the unsheathed dagger at his waist back into place and hid it behind his back.

He took half a step back, bumping into the servant behind him, and then jerked away as if he had been burned.

"What are you doing?!"

Wang Ke suddenly raised his head, his voice rising several octaves, and shouted in a bluffing manner:

"Within the territory of Xianyang, why have you arbitrarily mobilized troops?!"

He pointed to Wei Liao at the very front, his finger trembling like a withered leaf in the wind:

"Wei Liao! You, you, you...are you plotting a rebellion?!"

"rebel?"

Li Si stepped half a step out from the side, looking at him with a half-smile:

"Young Master Wang, you need not worry about what we do. The soldiers are being mobilized on the king's orders. But you—"

"At this hour of curfew, instead of staying at home, you've come to this desolate place. Could it be that you've come to visit an old friend?"

He paused, a smile playing on his lips:

"They can't be here to deliver midnight snacks, can they?"

These words left Wang Ke speechless, his face turning pale and then red.

"So what if it is?"

He stiffened his neck, his voice strained and weak, yet he remained fiercely defiant, "I...I'm warning you..."

Wei Liao had no patience for wasting words with him, and waved his hand:

"Take it down!"

The soldiers moved at the command, and before the four servants could react, they were pinned to the ground with knives to their necks, too afraid to move.

They're actually serious!

Wang Ke was terrified and turned to flee, but before he could take a step, two armored soldiers pounced on him, holding him firmly on either side. The short blade at his waist, which he hadn't even had a chance to use yet, was kicked away by someone from the side as soon as he touched the hilt, and landed with a thud in the corner of the wall.

In the instant the blade flashed, Wang Ke's mind, which had been dazed by several bowls of turbid wine, finally cleared completely, and his heart turned ice-cold.

It’s over.

He knew all too well that there was a world of difference between catching someone red-handed and capturing them afterward! If he were pinned here now, he wouldn't even have a chance to defend himself!

No, he has to go back, at least to see his father!

"What right do you have to arrest me?!"

He struggled desperately, screaming at the top of his lungs, his voice shrill and piercing:

"I am the son of the Minister of Justice! My father is Wang Wan! I have distinguished myself in battle, you cannot arrest me! Let me go back!"

"The son of the Minister of Justice?" Li Si took a step forward, looking down at him with a deeper smile. "Has he rendered military service?"

He sized Wang Ke up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on the pale face, his tone filled with undisguised contempt:

"Young Master Wang, you brought a knife and men, sneaking into people's doorsteps in the dead of night. Is this how the Chief Justice taught you? Is this how military merits are used in Qin?"

"I...I'm a military drill instructor!"

In a moment of impulsiveness, Wang Ke blurted out something that even he himself found absurd. But the die was cast, so he stubbornly retorted, "What's the use of arguing about nothing?"

"Yes! I was just doing military drills, is that a problem?! I had a few drinks, got into the mood, and was just giving the guys a practice run, is that any of your business?!"

"Oh!"

Zhou Wenqing didn't even bother to look at him, and directly said to Wei Liao:

"Mr. Wei Liao, don't forget to search that house too. You might find something unexpected."

Guan Chi is definitely not stupid; everyone present knows that.

Upon hearing this, Wang Ke's body stiffened abruptly.

He watched helplessly as several armored soldiers pushed open the dilapidated wooden door and rushed inside. From inside came a woman's screams, a child's cries, and then the sound of something being ransacked.

Then, in that dilapidated mud house, box after box of gold and silver artifacts were carried out, gleaming heavily in the firelight.

"Tsk tsk tsk." Li Si kicked the box beside his feet with his toe, and the gold ingots inside rattled and made a crisp clinking sound. "Look, look! They say a cunning rabbit has three burrows, but this old man is quite willing to part with his mistress."

Wang Ke was covered in cold sweat and his face was deathly pale.

Just then, a soldier presented Wei Liao with a lacquered box that had been pried open.

Inside the box lay half a dried mud print, with clear lines and distinct characters.

Wang Ke recognized him at a glance.

The familiarity of the markings sent chills down his spine.

His legs went weak, and he could no longer support himself. His eyes rolled back, and he slid down.

No one glanced at him; all eyes were fixed on the half-mud print.

Wei Liao gently picked up the half of the mud seal, examined it for a moment in the firelight, then looked up, exchanged a glance with Li Si, and nodded slightly.

Li Si understood, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

The fox's tail has finally been caught.

Zhou Wenqing also stepped forward, reached out and took the half-lump of dried mud, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.

Isn't this taking advantage of the common people to tarnish my reputation...?

He slowly held the half-mud print up to his eyes, his tone carrying just the right amount of doubt:

"This looks like Wang Tingwei's personal seal, how did it end up here?"

Li Si immediately understood, his gaze sweeping over the imprint before he smiled and replied:

"This needs to be investigated carefully. Perhaps a thief has broken into the Prince's residence and stolen the seal to commit evil deeds. How can this be allowed?"

He turned to Wei Liao, his smile deepening.

"Mr. Wei Liao, shouldn't we help with this?"

"That's how it should be."

Under the cover of night, a group of armored soldiers departed to carry out their orders.

That evening, Wang Wan's residence was suddenly surrounded completely, with no room to breathe.

The incident happened suddenly and without warning. Those well-informed in the court and the public acted swiftly, sending out spies, but without exception they all met with setbacks. They only knew that it was the king's personal guards, and could not find out anything else.

With curfew in effect and limited resources, it was impossible to ascertain the truth. They could only anxiously await the morning court session the following day, their suspicions quietly forming, and they all unanimously agreed on one point:

With Your Majesty displaying such a grand display, Wang Tingwei must have committed a serious crime.

Inside the mansion's study, the candlelight flickered dimly.

Wang Wan sat in her study. Hearing the commotion outside, her hand holding the pen paused for only a moment before continuing to write the last character. Her pen strokes were steady and did not tremble in the slightest.

He put down his pen, stood up, straightened his clothes, and went out the door.

The mansion gates were wide open, the firelight was bright, and armored soldiers stood in rows, their swords and halberds like a forest, completely surrounding the mansion.

Wang Wan remained expressionless, standing with his hands behind his back before the steps. His gaze slowly swept across the faces of the expressionless armored soldiers, finally settling on the leader.

"His Majesty has summoned you." The leader bowed and said coldly, "Wang Tingwei, please."

Wang Wan didn't ask why. He simply nodded slightly, stepped down the stairs, and walked with a steady gait as if he were attending an ordinary court assembly.

The carriage rumbled through the night and came to a stop in front of Zhangtai Palace.

As Wang Wan alighted from the carriage, he glanced at the lights ahead. The palace doors were wide open, letting in light, and he could vaguely see several figures sitting inside. He looked away and stepped inside.

The hall was brightly lit by candlelight, yet it was so quiet that you could hear your own footsteps.

On his throne, Ying Zheng sat upright, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

Below the throne were the same few people he had expected.

In the center of the hall, a figure kneeling like a lump of mud was trembling all over, wishing he could bury his head in the ground and not even daring to lift it.

Wang Wan's gaze swept over her son, lingered for only a moment, and then looked away. There was no shock, no anger, and she didn't even look at him a second time.

He bowed respectfully, his movements composed, his voice so steady it was completely calm:

"Your subject, Wang Wan, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Ying Zheng did not tell him to get up.

The hall was quiet for a moment, the candlelight flickering, casting the figure's shadow long and short.

Only when Wang Wan's bent back seemed to tremble slightly did Ying Zheng finally speak:

"Get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Wang Wan slowly straightened up, her eyes still lowered, not looking at anyone.

Li Si stepped forward, came to his side, and spoke with a half-smile:

"The Minister of Justice is remarkably calm. What's wrong? Don't you even recognize your own son?"

Wang Wan remained motionless, eyes lowered and hands hanging down, not even lifting his eyelids. He simply spoke slowly, his voice still steady:

"Of course we know each other."

He finally raised his eyes and met Li Si's smiling eyes, which were as calm as a stagnant pool, unfathomable in their depths.

"But there is no father and son before the king, only the relationship between the ruler and his subjects in the court. Since I stand below the king, I should take the etiquette between the ruler and his subjects first. This is the duty of a subject and the great righteousness of a person. This has always been the case throughout history."

"at this point……"

He paused, and the corner of his lips seemed to twitch slightly.

"I hope Chief Secretary Li will remember this clearly as well."