Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Ah Zhu rubbed his ears hard, wondering if he was hearing things, or if Mr. Li was just too busy to think straight and was starting to talk nonsense.

He was just a child, and had only been writing for a year. He had barely memorized the "Cangjie Pian" yet he was about to take up a lecture position at the Qin Academy.

This, this, this... how can this be allowed?!

"Ah Zhu, let me hear what I have to say first..."

Li Si rubbed his forehead wearily; dark circles under his eyes revealed his obvious exhaustion.

He knew that this matter was too hasty and had the appearance of forcing growth, but given the current situation, there was simply no one else available.

There's a shortage of manpower. Sometimes, Li Si would work until late at night, and when he looked up from the pile of files, dizzy and disoriented, he would stare blankly at the candlelight. He felt like he wanted to run out and dig that old bastard Wang Wan out of his grave and grind his bones to dust!

Why don't you just stay put for now? Even if you're like a grasshopper in autumn, just prolong your life for a few more days until Zicheng comes to Qi and settles accounts with you.

No way! He insisted on courting death, which led him to sit in the high positions of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, and the Court of Justice at a very young age!

If others knew, they would be furious and kick him, yelling: "If you don't want to be the one, let us do it!"

But who knew that once Zicheng left, the burden on his shoulders would more than double?

The Court of Justice is overwhelmed with cases every day, and the decisions on criminal cases cannot be made even slightly wrong; the Bureau of Materials is urgently needed to calculate the amount of materials and to expedite the promulgation of simplified Qin script; with the Chu region about to be pacified, the strategy of "the law adapts to the form" that was agreed upon with Zicheng during the "debate in the village" also needs to be planned as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, Zi Cheng took Han Fei away with him. Even if he were here, he might not necessarily agree with the "lenient punishment and strict law" approach. But now that he's gone, he doesn't even have anyone to talk to.

The king would also summon him to the palace every few days to discuss matters. He would just sit down and write a couple of lines when a eunuch would come to deliver a message; then he would have to put down his pen and rush back to the palace. Back and forth, the files on his desk only increased.

What's worse is that after Zicheng left, there was no room for error on Zuishan's side. He dared not relax for a moment, having to keep a close watch on things at all times while also avoiding being seen by anyone. He was like a thief every day, and he was exhausted both physically and mentally.

The selection of Han Jian and the dispatch of skilled craftsmen to the Qianjiang workshop are also urgent matters...

All these matters piled up together, each urgent and crucial. Based on his understanding of Zicheng, he knew that Zicheng's thoughts were far-reaching, and it was hard to guarantee that there wouldn't be subsequent plans. All of them needed to be handled as quickly as possible, and none of them could be easily delegated to others.

After much thought, he realized that everything he could use had been put to good use. He even used the spare time that Wei Liao and Yao Jia had to fill in as laborers. Doctor Wei, who was quite old, almost single-handedly took on the responsibility of most of the academy, shouldering all the affairs, which gave him a moment to catch his breath.

Now that the academy is about to be completed, he is really too busy to attend to everything. But it is absolutely impossible for the noble families of that dynasty to take advantage of the situation and plant their pawns in!

As Li Si spoke, he exhaled a long breath, patted A-Zhu on the shoulder, and looked at him expectantly:

"So... I know this is difficult, but Zicheng is not here. As his disciple, you have been influenced by him and have also been mentored by the eldest son, so you have learned a lot of new knowledge. Right now... only you can temporarily take over this position and solve this urgent problem."

"Would you be willing to accept?"

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Exams are over, exams are over! I'm exhausted. This photo was taken on the train, so it's a bit rushed. I'll catch up on sleep when I get home and then revise and update it tomorrow!