Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Breakfast was a simple millet porridge with a few side dishes. The two sat facing each other and ate in silence. Li Si ate politely, but his movements were not slow at all.

He might get to eat this snowflake salt even before the king! Li Si thought to himself, and then shoveled two more mouthfuls of food into his mouth.

After dinner, the two moved to the yard. Li Yi hadn't returned yet. The yard was quiet, with only a few sparrows hopping on the wall. The sun was shining brightly, making everyone feel lazy.

Zhou Wenqing nestled in his personal rocking chair, swaying idly, while Li Si moved a stool and sat not far away from him, relaxed, like a guest who had truly settled down temporarily to enjoy a moment of peace.

"These things in Brother Zicheng's yard are really novel!"

Li Si picked up the bamboo dragonfly from the low table and curiously fiddled with the thin bamboo stick.

"What is this, and what is it for?"

Zhou Wenqing waved his hand: "It's just a little toy to coax a child, not worth mentioning."

He took the bamboo dragonfly from Li Si, held the bamboo pole between his hands, and deftly twisted his wrists—the bamboo dragonfly "whooshed" away, spinning and flying off.

Li Si's gaze followed the bamboo dragonfly, and he clapped his hands with great interest, exclaiming, "Brilliant!"

He got up, picked up the bamboo dragonfly that had flown away, and stood in the middle of the yard, looking around the small courtyard.

"Brother Zicheng, it seems that such 'ingenious ideas' can be seen everywhere in this courtyard. The bed in the room is so comfortable to lie on; and this table is much more convenient for eating and writing than kneeling. Brother Zicheng, are you perhaps skilled in this art?"

He casually mentioned it, then jokingly pointed at Zhou Wenqing with his bamboo dragonfly: "And that rocking chair under Brother Zicheng is truly something else! Quick, quick, let me sit down and experience this novelty!"

Zhou Wenqing was amused by him and stood up with a smile to give up his seat:

"It's just wishful thinking. If lying down is uncomfortable, then think about how to lie down more comfortably. If sitting is uncomfortable, then think about how to sit comfortably. These are all lazy methods forced upon us, and they're not exactly sophisticated."

Li Si sat down in the rocking chair with a smug look, swaying back and forth like Zhou Wenqing. He immediately squinted his eyes and drawled, "Hmm... it's a bit lazy, but... it's definitely comfortable!"

"Hahahaha!" Zhou Wenqing burst into laughter at his appearance. "If Brother Gu'an likes it, when A-Yi comes back, let him play another round. We can all laze around in this courtyard together!"

"That's great!" Li Si sat up, tilting his head jokingly and pointing at Zhou Wenqing:

"But Brother Zicheng, you'd better think it over. If you really give me a beating like that, I'm really going to stay here and be so comfortable I won't want to leave! Don't think I'm annoying then! Hahahaha!"

Zhou Wenqing smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, half-jokingly and half-seriously replying, "That is indeed my wish, but I dare not ask!"

The two looked at each other and smiled, the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant.

Li Si leaned back in his chair, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the corners of the courtyard filled with toys, his tone still relaxed.

"Brother Zicheng, do you like children? Perhaps you want to become a teacher and stay in this village for a while longer?"

Zhou Wenqing was taking a small handful of pine nuts out of his sleeve pocket and spreading them out on the low table to snack on when he heard this. He raised an eyebrow and looked at him:

"Brother Gu'an, why do you say 'stay longer'? Maybe I'm planning to settle down here and live a peaceful and prosperous life."

"Brother Zicheng, don't try to fool me." Li Si shook his head with a smile, and casually picked up a pine nut, peeling it with elegant movements.

"This small, rural town, though its people are simple and honest, is ultimately shallow. How can it long accommodate someone like Brother Zicheng... well, a 'thousand-mile horse' with a broad mind!"

"I just wonder, what are your plans for the future, Brother Zicheng?"

His tone was tinged with a smile, as if it were a casual joke or expression of concern between friends, but his eyes were secretly watching Zhou Wenqing's reaction.

Zhou Wenqing paused in his pine nut-eating motion. He had been lounging lazily in his chair, but suddenly sat up straight, his gaze fixed intently on Li Si.

"Speaking of plans, I remember... Brother Gu'an mentioned the other day that you came from the west intending to serve the King of Qin, is that true?"

Li Si's heart skipped a beat; the pine nut he had just tossed into his mouth almost slid straight into his trachea.

"Cough cough cough... cough cough!" He suddenly bent over and coughed violently, his face turning red.

"Oops! You're stuck? You really were careless. Don't worry, I'll get you some water!" Seeing this, Zhou Wenqing didn't bother to ask any questions and quickly got up and ran into the house.

Li Si bent over and lowered his head, his eyes filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Taking advantage of the break, he pretended to cover his mouth to catch his breath while carefully going over the conversation he had just heard.

Was it something he said that revealed his intentions, or was it his overly eager expression that gave him away?

No, there isn't any. So why did Zhou Wenqing suddenly ask this?

If anyone should bring it up, it was him who brought it up first!

Before she could finish her thought, Zhou Wenqing had already returned quickly with a bowl of water: "Quick, drink some water to help you relax!"

Li Si took the bowl and gulped down several mouthfuls, finally suppressing the cough, though his throat was still a little itchy.

He put down the bowl, wiped away the tears that had welled up in his eyes with the back of his hand, and then looked up, his face showing just the right amount of embarrassment.

Let him test it again to see if it's a coincidence or if he's revealed a flaw.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Brother Zicheng... It's just that when I suddenly heard you bring up the old days, I was reminded of the embarrassing situation I had in Xianyang, where I was constantly turned away and had nowhere to turn. I got a little emotional and ended up choking."

He paused, his tone shifting to curiosity and caution: "But... why did Brother Zicheng suddenly ask about this? Could it be... that you also have designs on Xianyang?"

Unexpectedly, Zhou Wenqing slapped his thigh and replied crisply, "Yes!"

"yes--?!"

Li Si stood up abruptly, no longer caring about maintaining his composure. His eyes widened in shock, and his voice changed tone, almost splitting at the end.

No way... you little brat! Yesterday you left a note threatening suicide, acting all righteous and chaste, like you'd rather die than serve Qin, and today you're telling me you want to surrender to Xianyang too?!

Is it really that fickle?!

Zhou Wenqing was startled by his sudden and violent reaction. She subconsciously stood up straight, looking bewildered, and asked cautiously:

"Brother Gu'an? What's wrong? Why are you so agitated? Could it be... that Wenqing cannot serve the King of Qin?"

"Yes! Who says you can't!"

Li Si shouted again, his voice particularly sharp in the quiet courtyard.

The air froze for two seconds...

No! Were you hit so badly before that you have a stress reaction to the mere mention of the King of Qin?

Zhou Wenqing carefully stepped forward and waved his hand in front of Li Si.

"Brother Gu...Gu'an?"

Li Si then suddenly realized that he had lost his composure several times.

"Ahem!"

He quickly covered his face with his hands, cleared his throat forcefully, and used this action to quickly adjust his expression. He then sat back down, trying to make his voice sound as steady and natural as possible.

"What I mean is... if Brother Zicheng wishes to serve the King of Qin, that would be... the best possible outcome! This ambition... truly aligns with my own principles. How fortunate I am to have a like-minded brother like you to join me in this great undertaking!"

"Just now... just now I was just too surprised and excited, I was a little... a little too excited, please forgive me, Brother Zicheng."

He said "please excuse my embarrassment" but his expression was still a bit stiff. He tried to control himself but couldn't, so he simply lowered his head and pretended to be embarrassed.

My heart was ice-cold—this time there was no need to bother testing anymore, the flaws were too obvious!

Li Si secretly groaned, unsure whether Zhou Wenqing believed him or not. How could he dare to secretly observe his reaction again? He could only prick up his ears and listen to the sounds around him.

The rustling sound was the rustling of fabric, followed by the soft creaking of a bamboo chair being gently pulled open and then sat down.

Zhou Wenqing sat back down.

"It seems Brother Gu'an also thinks this is a good idea, but it's a pity that Wenqing has no one to recommend him. I'm afraid that even if he gets to Xianyang, he will run into obstacles everywhere like you, brother. I don't know what to do. Alas!"

"I..." Li Si almost blurted out, "I'll recommend you," but he stopped himself abruptly.

He now seriously suspects that Zhou Wenqing knew everything and was deliberately playing a trick on him.

He couldn't help but steal a glance, trying to find any trace of mockery on the other person's face.

But Zhou Wenqing was leaning back lazily in his chair, his posture even more relaxed than the man sitting in the rocking chair. His fingers tapped the armrest lightly, making an irregular sound.

It didn't sound like he was worried, nor did it sound like he was joking; rather, it sounded like he already had a plan in mind...

Li Si felt even more uncertain.

He composed himself, then slowly finished the sentence that had been rising in his throat, "I...I don't know what to do either, Brother Zicheng, is there anything I can do...?"

Before he finished speaking, the languid air about Zhou Wenqing receded like the tide, slowly giving way to a sharp and strange focus.

He suddenly sat up straight, no longer leaning back, but facing Li Si completely and directly, with a low table between them, only a few feet apart.

"Wenqing is not very talented or learned," he said, his voice low but clear, "but... he does have some ideas in his mind."

He paused, his gaze meeting Li Si's somewhat bewildered eyes:

"Instead of running around seeking recommendations and depending on others, only to find that you might not even gain their favor in the end," Zhou Wenqing said calmly, "it would be better to..."

Li Si's heart inexplicably raced, and he subconsciously asked, "How about... what?"

Zhou Wenqing did not answer immediately, but raised his right hand and made a slingshot gesture in the air, chuckling softly.

"How about we learn from Jiang Ziya by the Wei River?"

"what?"

"Ah~"

"ah!!!"