Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Once they reached a consensus, they turned around together and began to grope their way forward in the opposite direction from the cliff.

As Li Si walked, he inwardly groaned.

He had woven a whole bunch of lies and disguised his identity convincingly, but this Mr. Zhou clearly hadn't opened up to him yet, glossing over his own predicament when asked about it.

It seems there's no way to bring the person to the king's side immediately. The only option is to slowly wear them down and gently guide them with this fabricated identity that's deliberately similar to his.

He was pondering how to subtly showcase his talent and insights.

This way, you can not only get a feel for the person's inner thoughts and feelings, but also hopefully make them consider you a confidant, while subtly instilling the principle that "a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on"...

My mind was racing, and my pace unconsciously quickened.

Zhou Wenqing already had a fever, and apart from breakfast, he hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day, so his stomach was completely empty. When Li Si suddenly sped up, he found it difficult to keep up.

Telling people to slow down? What a joke! He's a grown man, just moments ago he was righteously advising people, all high and mighty, and now he's the one who's faltering?!

Doesn't he have any pride?!

Zhou Wenqing gritted his teeth and continued walking forward with his head down.

He remembered that there was a flat area not far ahead where he could make a fire and find shelter from the wind to rest for a while. He thought that if he could hold on for a little longer, he would be fine.

Unexpectedly, as I walked, my vision suddenly went black, and it sounded like a thousand cicadas had entered my ears, buzzing incessantly.

Oh no! I overestimated myself!

"plum……"

He only managed to squeeze out that faint, indistinct sound from his throat.

Immediately afterwards, the last blurry light in front of him was completely swallowed by darkness, his body went limp, and he fell straight forward.

He hoped the rumors of wild beasts roaming the mountains were false—this was his last clear yet powerless thought before his consciousness was completely swallowed by darkness.

Is Zhou Wenqing really going to die today?!

"Zhou Wenqing?!"

Li Si was startled, but fortunately, he was quick-witted and nimble-fingered. Before the man could fall completely to the ground, he reached out and grabbed his arm, while his other hand quickly supported his back.

Upon touching Zhou Wenqing, Li Si felt his body was burning hot, but his hands were covered in cold sweat, which made Li Si's heart skip a beat.

High fever from typhoid fever in this desolate wilderness could be fatal!

All the plans to probe, guide, and proceed gradually were completely overturned at this moment.

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Si bent down and carefully but quickly carried the unconscious Zhou Wenqing on his back. Trying to remember the direction he came from, he strode forward, taking a deep breath at the same time.

"Someone come quick! Someone come to provide backup—!"

------

Zhou Wenqing was awakened by thirst. In his dazed state, he subconsciously murmured something, his voice hoarse and his throat sore:

"Ah-yi... water..."

"Young master, you're awake? How are you feeling?"

A familiar voice rang in his ears. Zhou Wenqing struggled to open his heavy eyelids, and his blurry vision gradually focused.

Li Yi was standing guard by the bed, holding a ceramic bowl in her hand, scooping a spoonful and bringing it to his lips.

"Water, young master, please have some water to calm down."

I moistened my throat, and it felt better. My memories gradually returned...

Zhou Wenqing's eyes widened suddenly.

"Ah-yi, how come... I'm back?"

"Young master, you really are... I've been looking for you everywhere!"

Li Yi's expression was somewhat complicated. He lowered his head, gently placed the empty bowl on the low table beside him, and said in a muffled voice:

"Yesterday, thanks to Young Master Li, who carried you out of the woods, you happened to run into me and I brought you back."

As he spoke, he stepped aside, making way for the old doctor behind him.

The old doctor still had that lean and wiry appearance, carrying his signature old medicine box. He took two steps forward, sat down by the couch, and without saying much, gently placed three fingers on Zhou Wenqing's wrist.

He pondered for a moment, observed carefully, and then withdrew his hand, giving a slight nod to Li Yi, who was standing to the side.

"Although the pulse is still weak, it has stabilized considerably. The fever has subsided, but you still need to rest and recuperate. Do not overexert yourself."

Li Yi immediately nodded in agreement.

Zhou Wenqing then noticed the old doctor and asked in surprise, "Old sir? Didn't you say you went on a traveling medical journey? Why are you back?"

"this……"

The old doctor paused in packing his medicine box, unsure how to answer.

Fortunately, Li Yi stepped forward in time, handing Zhou Wenqing a bowl of porridge and taking over the conversation at just the right moment:

"Young master, you have been asleep all day, and it is already past midnight. Have some hot porridge to warm your stomach and then get a good night's sleep. If there is anything, we can talk about it tomorrow morning when you are well-rested."

"No rush, I'm not hungry yet."

Zhou Wenqing instinctively tried to push him away, but something felt off. He propped himself up and tried to get up.

"I'm fine now, I want to go see someone first..."

Before he could finish speaking, the aroma of rice porridge wafted to his nose, and his previously quiet stomach suddenly erupted in a series of rumbling protests.

Loud and clear, with a long echo—it stood out particularly in the quiet night.

"..."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Ahem!" Li Yi quickly clenched his fist and pressed it to his lips, trying to suppress the laughter that was about to spill out, his shoulders twitching suspiciously.

"Young master... please have some porridge first; your health is the most important thing."

That wretched belly! It's always undermining its owner!

Zhou Wenqing's ears turned bright red instantly, almost steaming. All his doubts were instantly shattered by this sudden "inner grumbling."

He was too embarrassed to ask any more questions, so he quickly sat up, almost snatched the bowl from Li Yi's hand, lowered his head, and buried his face in the bowl, leaving only a slightly red ear tip showing, and began to drink the porridge in silence.

The porridge was cooked until very soft and at the perfect temperature. The warm, sticky porridge slid down my esophagus and quickly soothed my rumbling stomach.

The bowl of porridge was quickly emptied, and a warm feeling spread from my stomach, bringing a sense of comfort and languid ease.

He had just put down the empty bowl and was hesitating about what to say when his eyelids suddenly started to droop.

Zhou Wenqing blinked hard, trying to shake off the sleepiness, but his consciousness seemed to sink into a warm swamp, quickly succumbing to it.

Seeing that his head tilted to the side and his breathing gradually became even and long, Li Yi breathed a sigh of relief, helped him lie down, tucked him in, blew out the lamp, and nodded to signal the doctor to come out together.

The front hall was brightly lit.

As soon as Li Yi and the old doctor entered, they both bowed respectfully.

"Owner."

Ying Zheng stood with his back to them, his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the deep night outside the window. Hearing the sound, he only turned his head slightly, and the two of them straightened up.

The old doctor stepped forward and respectfully reported, "Young Master Zhou's health is no longer a major concern. He has just caught a slight cold due to the invasion of pathogenic wind, and he is also somewhat weak from the previous depletion of his mental energy. I have added some calming and soothing herbs to his porridge, and he is now sleeping soundly. With proper care for a few days, he will recover."

"Oh?"

Ying Zheng turned around, the candlelight illuminating his deep eyes, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Have you noticed any signs of 'being on the verge of death' or 'erysipelas'?"

"this……"

The old doctor hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose to tell the truth.

"Your Majesty, based on my observation of his pulse and complexion... although Young Master Zhou's pulse is slightly weak, his vital energy is not exhausted, and there are no signs of organ failure, nor any signs of poisoning or injury. Perhaps... perhaps my skills are not refined enough, but indeed... I have not been able to diagnose any fatal illness in Young Master Zhou."

After he finished speaking, the front hall fell silent.

"Heh!" Ying Zheng suddenly chuckled.

"In other words, he wasn't 'extinct and dying' at all, the so-called toxicity of the elixir was completely fictitious, and that 'last letter'... was a deliberate lie!"

He slammed his hand on the table beside him, making a dull thud that shook the earthenware jar on it.

Shua Lala—

Immediately, everyone in the room knelt down.

Ying Zheng stood still for a moment, his anger surging within him, but he forcibly suppressed it. He raised his hand to rub his temples with slight irritation, and waved his sleeve, saying, "Get up, all of you."

Only then did everyone get up with trepidation.

"Since Zhou Wenqing would rather die than serve my Great Qin, and even goes so far as to fabricate such a lie to seek liberation..."

Ying Zheng's voice returned to calm.

"Then let him be. My Great Qin will not force someone whose heart is not in this place. Issue the order: do not search for him further, nor persuade him any more. He does not wish to 'linger on in vain,' so I... will grant his wish."

"Your Majesty! You mustn't!" Li Si could no longer contain himself, and rushed forward, bowing deeply to the ground.

"I spent a night with this man and have seen that Zhou Wenqing is of simple and honest character, and is by no means a cunning or treacherous person. I implore Your Majesty to reconsider and not let a moment of anger cause you to miss out on a capable ruler!"

"Guest Li, you are mistaken!"

Meng Wu, who had been unable to contain his anger, immediately retorted in a deep voice upon hearing this.

He was upright and indignant at Zhou Wenqing's "teasing" of the emperor.

"Zhou Wenqing is so arrogant and rude, he disregards the master's respect for talent and even uses lies to deceive people! What use is there in keeping such an ungrateful and disrespectful person, even if he has talent and learning, his character is questionable?"

"Besides, our Great Qin has so many talented people, do we really need another scholar from Han whose heart is not with Qin?!"