Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and the delegation's carriages and horses finally rolled through the dust, about to arrive at the gates of Luoyang.

The sun was high in the sky, at midday, and the roads leading to Luoyang were already packed with people.

Merchants carrying goods and pushing wooden carts, ordinary people with their families carrying bags and leading children, and locals returning from business trips—all sorts of people crowded together, lined up along the fence in front of the city gate.

Despite the noise, people moved slowly and in an orderly fashion, without any chaotic scrambling or fighting.

Meanwhile, Zhou Wenqing was sitting in the carriage, staring at Lü Yiling.

After a long silence, Zhou Wenqing finally couldn't hold back any longer. He forced a smile and said:

"Doctor Lü, look, we're about to enter the city. The weather is so nice, sunny, birds are singing, flowers are blooming, it's a peaceful scene. Why don't we go out for a walk and get some fresh air?"

Physician Lü didn't even lift his eyelids, his hands tucked into his sleeves, sitting upright like a pine tree, his voice as calm as if he were chanting scriptures:

"If Zhou, the Imperial Secretary, finds the medicine unpleasant, he can simply drink it. Why go through the trouble of escaping outside for some fresh air?"

Zhou Wenqing's lips twitched slightly, and he lowered his head.

The bowl of medicine sat on a small table between the two of them. It was dark, with wisps of steam rising from it, carrying an indescribable odor that could kill someone on the spot.

That's easy for you to say. Do you know how awful the medicine you two prescribe tastes?!

If Xia Wuqie's medicine is "bitter," then Lü Yiling's medicine is "bitter in all shapes and sizes." The former makes life seem meaningless, while the latter makes people question the meaning of life.

Even Han Fei and Yao Jia put aside their hostility and, at the moment when Physician Lü began to brew the medicine, they got off the carriage one after the other in a rare moment of tacit agreement. One made an excuse to "go to the front team to check the route," and the other claimed to "go to the rear team to check the supplies," and they slipped away faster than rabbits.

Fusu was left alone, curled up into a small ball, clutching the corner of the carriage curtain, desperately sticking his nose out to breathe in the fresh air.

Looking at Fusu's desperate attempt to survive, Zhou Wenqing felt both angry and amused: That's going too far!

You're already so disgusted just because I let you smell it? I'm supposed to drink it anyway. By the way—why don't you just open the curtains completely? Do you really expect me to drink it because of the smell of the medicine?

Impossible! I've already marinated it thoroughly and assimilated it!

Even so, Zhou Wenqing still silently reached out and completely lifted the carriage curtain.

Luoyang truly lives up to its reputation as the center of the world, the capital of the Three Rivers Prefecture, a bustling metropolis where all kinds of crafts compete in skill, and a place of extraordinary liveliness.

Their caravans did not mingle with ordinary people. Officials and envoys took the main road through the main gate, while ordinary people took the side road through the side gate. Merchants entered through the city gate, each going their own way, clearly separated.

Therefore, Zhou Wenqing could only see a few scattered people heading towards the side path; there were quite a few, but...

"What happened in Luoyang?" Zhou Wenqing frowned slightly, turning to look at Fusu beside him, his tone filled with doubt. "Why are so many people dressed in plain clothes with white belts around their waists? Has some important person died?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Fusu and Physician Lü turned their heads at the same time, their eyes falling on him.

Zhou Wenqing was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized.

Ah, it's me!

For days he had been busy traveling, and his carriage had been traveling through the countryside. He rarely encountered ordinary people. Although he knew that the news of his faked death had spread, he was not particularly moved.

Stepping into Luoyang at this moment, seeing the common people of the city spontaneously wearing white mourning clothes, the real feeling of "already being dead" finally hit me hard.

He gazed at the plain white cloth fluttering in the wind outside the window, his expression becoming somewhat dazed. He sighed softly, "The elders of Xianyang have treated Wenqing very well."

"Sir, it's not just Xianyang!" Fusu immediately replied, his tone urgent and full of emotion, his eyes brimming with admiration.

"Since the tragic news of your assassination spread to all places, the people of all counties and prefectures of the Great Qin have been filled with grief and sorrow. It is said that many ordinary families have quietly erected memorial tablets for you, burning incense and praying for your soul to rest in peace every day."

Uh... isn't that unnecessary?

Zhou Wenqing's expression froze, and a sense of embarrassment instantly rose in his heart.

He'll be resurrected soon, and then... how will we handle that?!

Could it be that the coffin lid couldn't hold him down?

How embarrassing!

Zhou Wenqing couldn't help but touch his nose, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

Physician Lü seemed to know what he was thinking. He raised his eyelids slightly and said slowly, "Minister Zhou, there's no need to worry. Once I pull you back from the brink of death, those memorial tablets should be replaced with my name and used as merit tablets. They won't go to waste."

Zhou Wenqing: "..."

His conscience, which he had long since buried deep inside, seemed to ache for no reason.

Zhou Wenqing lowered his head, looking at the medicine bowl with a bitter and resentful expression.

Finally, gritting his teeth, holding his breath, he picked up the bowl, tilted his head back, and gulped it down.

"Gulp, gulp—"

The bitter medicine instantly swept through his mouth and into his nasal cavity, choking him until his whole body stiffened. He couldn't help but feel nauseous, and after only drinking half a bowl, he couldn't help but vomit.

"teacher!"

Seeing this, Fusu hurriedly bent down, quickly handed over water and candied fruit with one hand, and gently patted Zhou Wenqing's back with the other, helping him to catch his breath.

It took Zhou Wenqing a long time to recover from the choking sensation. His face was contorted in pain, his eyebrows, eyes, and nose all scrunched up together. He looked at Lü Yiling across from him with accusatory eyes and spoke weakly:

"Physician Lü, this medicine of yours just can't..."

"Another bowl? Sure!" Physician Lü said with a smile.

No, that's not what he meant!

Zhou Wenqing decisively shut his mouth, turned his head away, and resolutely refused to speak again.

Just then, Li Yi rode his horse to the window, reined in his horse, and announced, "Sir, young master, the caravan has reached the Jieguan Pavilion five miles outside the city. We can see in the distance that the Prefect of Luoyang is leading his officials out of the city to welcome us."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wenqing straightened his clothes and tidied his collar, but quietly shrank deeper into the carriage, deliberately hiding most of his body.

Fusu nodded slightly to Li Yi: "I understand."

The carriage slowed down, and Li Yi rode forward to make contact with the scouts sent by the prefect. After verifying the tally and documents, he turned around and signaled the convoy to continue.

Outside the carriage, a tall and imposing figure stepped forward, stopping firmly three steps in front of Fusu's carriage. He bowed deeply, his voice booming like a bell: "Prefect Wang Wu of Sanchuan County welcomes the eldest son!"

The newcomer was dressed in a black official robe, with a bronze seal hanging at his waist. His face was resolute, and his eyes and brows conveyed the solemnity and majesty unique to officials.

Behind him followed the prefectural magistrate, the military commander, and a host of subordinate officials, all dressed in official robes, standing in neat rows, silent and respectful.

Fusu gently lifted the carriage curtain, revealing half of his face. He nodded slightly, his voice low but his demeanor composed: "Prefect Wang, there's no need for such formalities."

Wang Wu straightened up, turned to the side and gestured "please," his tone respectful: "The guesthouse for the delegation is ready. Please, eldest son and all the envoys, enter the city."

Fusu nodded in acknowledgment and lowered the carriage curtain.

The prefect mounted his horse and led the way in front of the convoy, while the captain led a troop of cavalry scattered on both sides to escort the convoy toward the city gate. The gate guards had already received orders and, upon seeing the convoy arrive, immediately cleared the passage and stood at attention on both sides, with no one daring to step forward to check.

"This time it must be safe," Zhou Wenqing thought. He leaned back slightly, but then he seemed to hear a series of muffled and chaotic sounds coming from the east, mixed with the clanging of armor plates colliding.

It was faint and indistinct. He twitched his ear, tilted his head to listen for a moment, frowned slightly, and gently touched Fusu's sleeve.

Fusu understood, lifted the carriage curtain, and asked Prefect Wang Wu, who was riding alongside the carriage, "Prefect Wang, what is that sound in the distance? Is there a troop movement?"

It sounds like a large-scale operation, but it's somewhat disorganized and doesn't resemble the usual Qin army.

Wang Wu reined in his horse and took a half step closer, cupping his hands in greeting as he replied, "Young Master, do not worry. It is a merchant caravan that came here today, escorting goods into the city. There are about two hundred people, and the commotion is a bit loud. However, I have already ordered people to make arrangements in advance, so that they can enter the city through a side road, bypassing the main street, and will not get too close to or bump into the delegation."