Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Fusu stood by the bed, watching his master look at him with a gentle smile. The string that had been stretched taut in his heart for days, almost to the point of breaking, finally relaxed completely. All the bewilderment and self-blame in his heart turned into a warm and peaceful feeling.

It's so good to have you here, sir...

Wait! He's alright now, but sir, are you not tired?

Fusu hurriedly said, "Sir, you've expended so much energy, are you feeling unwell anywhere? Should I call Lü...?"

Before he could finish speaking, he met Zhou Wenqing's gaze, which suddenly turned from a smile to a sullen one, with a hint of feigned anger. He forced the rest of his sentence to be glared back at him.

"I've called... Dr. Xia, to take a look at you?" Fu Su carefully changed his address.

Why would his eldest disciple try to sabotage him as soon as he recovered his strength? Zhou Wenqing sighed inwardly.

"No need, I'm fine. Standing and waving won't tire me out." He said decisively, immediately putting an end to Fusu's idea.

Fusu blinked, then quickly found another excuse: "Then you must be hungry, sir. I'll go to the kitchen right away and fetch some warm porridge and snacks?"

Zhou Wenqing gently shook his head: "We just had breakfast, there's no need to rush."

"That……"

Fusu opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to do.

He looked at Zhou Wenqing with a slightly pitiful expression.

Having been awkward and avoiding her husband for so many days, she now understands that she wants to be close to him and do something for him, even if it's just serving him a cup of tea or handing him a handkerchief.

But the gentleman refused everything, leaving him somewhat at a loss. His gaze towards Zhou Wenqing gradually turned a bit aggrieved, like a little animal begging for shelter after making a mistake.

Looking at his aggrieved expression, as if to say, "Please let me do my part, sir," Zhou Wenqing was both amused and annoyed, and finally softened her tone:

"Alright, Fusu, even if you do nothing but chat with me for a while, would I, your master, possibly send my eldest disciple away?"

Fusu nodded upon hearing this, looking somewhat listless.

But as a disciple, with his master still recovering, he always wanted to share his master's burdens, rather than sitting idly by!

Zhou Wenqing found it amusing and beckoned, "Fusu, if you really want to help, there is something I need you to do."

"What is it?" Fusu suddenly raised his head, his eyes lighting up, almost patting his chest to assure him, "Please give me your orders, sir!"

Under his expectant gaze, Zhou Wenqing suddenly stopped smiling and raised his hand seriously, pointing to the ruler on the table.

At the same time, a quick glance out of the corner of his eye revealed that Fusu's face was furrowed, showing hesitation.

It wasn't that he was afraid of being punished with the ruler again. When the teacher punished him just now, he held back all his strength. After three strokes, there wasn't even a red mark on his palm. He was just worried about the teacher and afraid that if the teacher picked up the ruler again, he would have to expend his strength.

"Sir, how about I punish myself? Please don't..."

"Snapped!"

Zhou Wenqing casually picked up the folding fan from the couch and tapped it on his forehead.

"Haven't you had enough of being beaten?" He glared at Fusu angrily. "I told you to take the ruler back and put it away, go back to your room immediately, and get a good night's sleep. Don't get up until you've had enough rest. Do you understand?"

"Huh?" Fusu was taken aback, glancing at the bright sunlight streaming through the window. He frowned and muttered under his breath, "But it's broad daylight now, and for me to be sleeping so soundly is a bit..."

"So what if it's daytime?" Zhou Wenqing raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone carrying an air of certainty that he already knew everything.

"You study military strategy by candlelight, staying up all night is acceptable, but you rest and recuperate during the day. Why can't you take a nap?"

Upon hearing this, Fusu's cheeks flushed instantly. He lowered his head shyly, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his clothes, and said awkwardly, "Sir, so you knew all along."

He thought he had concealed his true intentions, studying quietly until late at night by the light of a single candle, but little did he know that his teacher had already seen through his deception.

"Hmph! You brat." Zhou Wenqing snorted lightly, his tone devoid of any reproach, but instead full of doting affection.

"You think a single lamp won't let the light through the window? So careless! What if you ruin your eyes? If I see you like this again, I won't let you off easily!"

Having said that, seeing that Fusu had not moved, he waved his hand and urged him with a slightly teasing tone:

"What are you standing there for? Do you have your eye on my bed and want me to lull you to sleep?"

"No, no, no! This disciple had absolutely no such intention!"

Fusu blushed instantly, his face turning bright red from his neck to his ears. He quickly took two steps back and hurriedly gave a bow.

"This disciple will now return to rest!"

This was probably the most incomplete bow he had ever given. Before he finished speaking, he turned and ran, his steps somewhat disordered, clearly fleeing in panic.

He does want to get closer to his husband, that's true, but there's no need to get this close!

Having been knocked on the head like Hu Hai, and then being called "brat" for the first time, he was already ashamed enough. If he stayed any longer, he was afraid he would be so ashamed that he would want to find a crack in the ground to crawl into!

He rushed out the door, nearly bumping into Han Fei who was standing outside. Fu Su was filled with shame and had no time to say anything. He hurriedly bowed to Han Fei and walked away without stopping.

Inside the room, Zhou Wenqing watched his disciple flee in disarray and couldn't help but chuckle softly. His eyes crinkled with relief, and he was genuinely pleased that his disciple had finally broken free from his mental block and made progress.

He was trapped in a nightmare for a long time, endlessly reincarnating, before he finally woke up. He then guarded his mind and strived upwards, which was no easy feat. I really couldn't bear to see Fusu suffer the same torment.

"It's better this way. Young people should naturally have some of the carefree spirit of youth."

"Young Master is no ordinary youth." Han Fei's voice drifted slowly in from outside the door, neither warm nor cold.

Zhou Wenqing remained noncommittal, only smiling before turning to Han Fei: "Han Zi, you've listened for so long, do you have any insights?"

Han Fei shook his head slightly. He would not offer any opinions on the matter of teaching the eldest son of Qin, and he had always disliked meddling in the private affairs of other people's teaching. Moreover... he didn't have any opinions to offer.

It would be excellent to have Zicheng as my teacher.

He pushed open the door and entered the room, slowly walking back to his original seat. He casually poured out the leftover tea that had long since gone cold, then picked up the teapot and slowly poured a cup of steaming hot tea. Only then did he take a sip and slowly say, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

Zhou Wenqing nodded slightly upon hearing this, his face serious, but a teasing smile lurked in his eyes:

"I see, so it means listening openly and honestly?"

One sentence instantly broke Han Fei's composure, causing him to pause in his actions and speak with a hint of helplessness: "Zicheng."

Zhou Wenqing finally couldn't help but burst into loud laughter. His laughter was clear and cheerful, which made Han Fei shake his head with a smile.

After laughing, Zhou Wenqing waved his hand and said, "It was just a joke, Han Zi, don't be angry. I saw you standing outside the door a long time ago, and I even signaled to you. The door was never closed tightly, so how can it be considered eavesdropping?"

He straightened his expression slightly, leaned back on the pillow, and looked at Han Fei's face, saying directly, "Now that Fusu has been sent away, does Han Fei have something to say to me?"