Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted like boiling water.

"Li Tingwei, what a magnificent achievement! More than three thousand characters transformed from Qin seal script, truly remarkable!" An official who was further back couldn't help but stand up and crane his neck forward.

"Tsk tsk tsk," someone drawled, "Is Li Tingwei planning to become the teacher of writing for all ages?"

The bearded official beside him glanced at him sideways and slammed down his wine cup: "Is this an easy task? Everyone knows that Li Tingwei has excellent handwriting. If you have the ability, you can do it too. Stop being so sour."

The man immediately blushed: "What nonsense are you talking about? I didn't say anything. I was just remarking that Li Tingwei's transformed characters look really good and are much more convenient."

"Unifying the written language is a good thing!" Zouyan stroked his gray beard, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"It saves me from having to spend half a day reading every memorial sent from below. Some characters I don't recognize, and some characters I recognize but don't look right. It's like solving a riddle. My old bones can't take that kind of torture."

The people around nodded in agreement, and some even started planning what they would do once the book was officially published.

"Unifying the written language is good," said an official in a blue robe, raising his chin slightly with a hint of arrogance.

"But the form of characters is so precious. Simplifying it is not a good idea. In my opinion, the more intricate and ornate the better. Otherwise, anyone could pick up a pen and write, which would be a bit..."

"Hush! Be careful what you say!"

The person sitting next to him suddenly changed his expression, instinctively shrank back, and hurriedly reminded him in a low voice.

The man seemed not to hear, his face even showing a hint of resentment, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something.

Upon seeing this, the person next to him, without saying a word, quietly pulled up his seat and moved it three feet to the side.

"What are you doing?" the man asked, somewhat annoyed. "Am I wrong?"

Yes, yes, there are probably quite a few people in the hall who think this way right now.

But the Prime Minister didn't react, yet he jumped out to speak up; it was far too foolish.

The man lowered his eyes, as if he hadn't heard anything. He simply turned his body to the side, turned his back to him, picked up his wine cup, and took a sip by himself.

The officials in black robes at the head of the table remained silent, quietly observing how many fools like them there were.

They silently memorized a few faces, intending to tell their children to stay away from them when they got back.

To avoid not only getting into trouble themselves in the future, but also implicating their families. It wasn't easy for them to climb to that position.

A second after Li Si finished speaking, Zhou Wenqing observed the reactions around him.

After letting them ferment for several dozen breaths, he stood up, his movements unhurried and deliberate.

"Li Tingwei's etiquette is indeed extraordinary."

He bowed slightly in Li Si's direction, his smile gentle and composed.

"Your subject admires you and concedes defeat."

He truly admired him.

In such a short period of time, nearly three thousand characters were created, and that was the Small Seal script! It combines practicality with pictographic beauty, exhibiting both rigorous standardization and artistic spirit.

With such mastery of language, Li Si fully deserves the posthumous title of "Chief Architect of the Chinese Character Project".

The sincerity in Zhou Wenqing's eyes was almost overflowing.

Li Si was slightly taken aback by his gaze.

Brother Zicheng... this is... eating the wrong thing, cough! Is it... being suffocated by the smoke from his medicine stove?

Having been used to joking around, he suddenly felt a little uncomfortable being bowed to so solemnly.

His ears burned for a fleeting moment, but he quickly composed himself, nodded slightly, and returned the greeting frankly:

"You flatter me. Your knowledge of artifacts is also quite exquisite. I will discuss this with you again another day."

"Alright, it's a deal." Zhou Wenqing's smile deepened. "Wenqing is very willing to be the first person to learn this book."

The two sang in perfect harmony, their coordination was impeccable, and they performed the play exceptionally well, undisturbed by anyone in the hall.

It's not that I don't want to bother you—it's that I can't.

Although Lord Changping dared not make a move, the leaders were all shrewd individuals. They maintained polite smiles, but their eyes subtly glanced at their subordinates.

They exchanged a glance and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Some people, defying the odds, decided to commit the crime.

Unfortunately, the moment someone moved their lips and showed even the slightest intention to interrupt, a large, iron-like hand would reach out from the side and, under the pretext of being "too drunk to stand steadily," would accurately push them back down.

General Wang Jian, hiccuping from the alcohol, swayed unsteadily, his hands busy as if having a great time.

He would pat one person's shoulder on the left and press another's head on the right, trying his best to steady himself with the help of those around him, completely disregarding whether the people he was "borrowing" were slumped under the table, their faces buried in their wine cups.

Those officials who were forced to prostrate themselves peeked half their faces out from under the desks. When they looked up and saw that it was General Wang, they dared not speak out in anger. Their expressions were quite interesting.

General Meng Wu wasn't that "drunk".

He was just exceptionally enthusiastic.

If anyone showed any sign of interest, he would go up and put his arm around their neck, lean in and call them "brother," his old face almost touching theirs, muttering "good brother" and "another drink."

While speaking, he tightened his grip, making the person's eyes roll back, unable to utter a single word.

The officials, who were being forcefully "suppressed," turned a deep purplish-red with anger. They tried to struggle but couldn't break free, they tried to speak but couldn't, they tried to ask for help... but no one dared to answer them!

They could only watch helplessly as the play continued.

From his throne, Ying Zheng took in the entire scene.

His gaze swept over the heads buried under the table, then over the faces of the unfortunate souls whose eyes were rolling back in their heads from being strangled, and finally landed on Zhou Wenqing and Li Si.

The two men relaxed, clearly quite satisfied with their performance, their lips curving upwards in smiles.

Ying Zheng's lips curled slightly, and then he slammed his hand on the table—

"good!"

The crisp sound drew everyone's attention.

"Why are you two so modest, my dear ministers? In my opinion, your gifts today are equally lavish, and I will reward you both handsomely!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" the two responded in unison.

The next second, Zhou Wenqing turned to the throne, smiled, cupped his hands, and raised his voice:

"Your subject, Zhou Wenqing, congratulates the Great Qin Dynasty on its flourishing culture, its unification by assimilation, and its enduring lineage!"

Before the words were even finished, Wei Liao, who had been silent all along, had already stood up.

Without any hesitation, he followed immediately, his voice as steady as a rock:

"Your subject, Wei Liao, congratulates the Great Qin Dynasty on its flourishing culture, unified rule, and eternal lineage!"

The two high-ranking officials, one in front and one behind, made their stances clear.

The key point is that the emperor was overjoyed at that moment.

Even if there are a thousand opinions, that's a matter for later; for now, we must suppress them and agree with them.

First came the officials in black robes, then those in dark blue robes, and then those who were originally sitting on the edge... one after another, row after row, surging like a tide.

The rustling of fabrics blended together, and the figures bowing in greeting formed a series of undulating waves.

"Congratulations to our Great Qin Dynasty, its culture flourishes, its people are united, and its lineage endures for ten thousand generations!"

Ying Zheng sat upright on his throne, the candlelight flickering, reflecting a burning brilliance in his eyes—the fervor of witnessing the initial unfolding of his grand plan.

A moment later, he raised his hand and gently pressed down, and the hall instantly fell silent.

"From this day forward, the Cangjie Pian shall be circulated throughout the land as the official script of the Qin Dynasty. All official documents and reports from prefectures and counties shall be changed to the new script. The old script shall be temporarily preserved. The deadline is ten months."

His gaze slowly swept across the hall, and he spoke each word with resounding force:

"From this day forward, within the Great Qin, all writing shall be standardized."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wenqing and Li Si exchanged a glance.

Become!