Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

After breakfast, the children should go to see Physician Lü, since they were all injured and couldn't be delayed.

After several days of terror in the dark, most of the children were still timid, huddled together quietly like a nest of frightened fledglings. Only in front of Han Fei and Yao Jia, who had saved them, did they show some signs of life.

Aruo, accompanied by the maids sent by Madam Qing, stepped forward, gently coaxing and leading the children by their little hands.

The little ones followed closely behind, but frequently stopped, turning back every few steps, gazing longingly at Han Fei and Yao Jia, their eyes filled with reluctance.

Yao Jia remained calm and composed, a gentle smile playing on his lips. He reached out and stroked each of their heads with the same warmth and familiarity one would show to one's own nephews and nieces, softly promising them:

"Mr. Yao will come to see you soon and bring you some delicious food."

With just a few words, the children's faces relaxed and they nodded obediently.

As for Han Fei... he also stood in line with a stiff face, touching his head.

As they walked away and their figures disappeared at the end of the corridor, Yao Jia's gentle smile slowly faded, and he stood by the door with a soft sigh:

"A group of poor children, we should find their parents as soon as possible so that they can be reunited with their families."

Fusu stood beside him and nodded in agreement: "Most of the children in Luoyang were sent home yesterday. The places of origin of the remaining children are still unclear. We need to check the records in the neighboring counties, which may be a bit slow. It would be good if we could get clues from the children themselves."

"Hmm." Yao Jia nodded. "Once the children have calmed down, Han Zi and I will ask them. Perhaps..."

Before the words were finished, a chilling voice drifted in from behind, each word seeming to be wrapped in shards of ice:

"Maybe what? You really don't know, Guest Master Yao is quite capable; he can even arrange my actions—?"

Fusu felt a chill run down his spine, his hair stood on end, and he shivered slightly for no reason. He instinctively took a half-step back to the side before slowly turning his head to glance at the scene out of the corner of his eye.

Han Fei approached slowly with a sullen face, his eyes brimming with long-suppressed anger. His gaze was fixed on Yao Jia like a cold blade, exuding a chilling aura that seemed to freeze the surrounding air.

"hiss--!"

Fusu gasped, and without hesitation, retreated several steps to the side, completely clearing the space where the two were facing off. He dared not touch it, for fear of being accidentally injured by their sharp confrontation.

Mr. Han was clearly using this as an excuse to make a fuss, so he stopped trying to get involved.

Good luck, Mr. Yao.

I hope you can maintain your composure when faced with the sharp and imposing questioning of the Legalist master.

They probably won't fight...

Fusu moved his feet slightly, glanced one last time at the two men who were locked in a tense standoff, and slowly turned around—

She met her husband's ambiguous, half-smiling gaze.

Fusu: "...?"

His heart skipped a beat, his throat tightened slightly, and he subconsciously swallowed, a sense of foreboding washing over him.

Why do I have this feeling that something bad is about to happen to me?

"Sir, do you need to speak with your disciple?"

Fusu quickly suppressed all distracting thoughts, his voice slightly tense, and cautiously probed the question. His feet unconsciously straightened, his back taut, and his mind raced, reviewing all his recent actions over and over:

The children were all properly settled, the injured were taken care of by doctors, the disturbed people were all comforted, and the officials involved in the case were not dealt with rashly. Instead, they were all delayed based on Mr. Han's advice. Every step was done steadily and without the slightest mistake!

Could it be... that something was missed?

He remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he had examined his actions over the past few days three times over, yet he couldn't find a single flaw.

But Zhou Wenqing, standing before him, had already narrowed his eyes, holding a folding fan and tapping it lightly against his palm, his steps slow, yet he was approaching him step by step.

Fusu felt uneasy, but dared not back down. His gaze unconsciously drifted behind his teacher, trying to find some clue from Li Yi.

Even just a glance would be enough!

Li Yi, who is usually quite easy to talk to, was unusually aloof today. He put his hands behind his back, looked up at the sky, looked down at the ground, and his gaze wandered around, but he just wouldn't make eye contact with him.

It was as if flowers had suddenly sprouted from the crossbeams of the corridor, and gold had grown from the cracks in the blue bricks!

Fusu's last glimmer of hope was gradually crushed.

Oh no, it seems he really made a big mistake. Even Guard Li is avoiding him!

Li Yi turned around, presenting the back of her head to him, and sighed silently in her heart: Young Master, I'm sorry, please pray for your own good fortune.

"Fusu..."

Zhou Wenqing finally stopped in front of him, her voice soft and unreadable.

"Yes, sir!"

Fusu immediately bowed in response, his fingertips clenching his sleeves tightly, creating several wrinkles at the hem of his robe, his palms sweating with nervousness.

Seeing his paranoid and confused expression, Zhou Wenqing knew that he had no idea what the problem was and hadn't considered the possibility of it being his fault.

The anger he had just suppressed was starting to rise again, a mixture of anger and heartache. He took a deep breath to calm himself and spoke softly:

"Have you figured it out?"

"I...this disciple knows his mistake, this disciple..."

Fusu stammered, his brows furrowed, his mind still blank. Apart from repeatedly admitting his mistake, he couldn't say anything about it.

Seeing his bewildered expression, Zhou Wenqing chuckled in exasperation. Anger surged within him, yet a pang of heartache prevailed, mingling with helplessness. His tone grew even gentler, carrying a strangely dangerous undertone.

"Alright then, let me ask you another question—Fusu, have you eaten your fill?"

Fusu was taken aback, raised his head blankly, and instinctively answered truthfully, "Reporting to Master, this disciple is full."

"That's good." Zhou Wenqing nodded, his smile as gentle as a spring breeze in March. "A-Yi!"

Li Yi immediately understood and walked a few steps to Fusu. Under Fusu's bewildered gaze, he bowed his head and clasped his hands, saying, "This subordinate has been impolite. Please forgive me, Young Master."

"what?"

Fusu didn't have time to think it through. He only felt a sharp pain in his neck, and then everything went dark. In the last moment before his consciousness faded, he heard his master's still gentle and calm voice softly in his ear:

"Now that you're full, you should get a good night's sleep..."

In a hazy, drowsy state, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Fusu, and he seemed to finally understand where he had gone wrong.

"Take him back and let him get a good night's sleep." Zhou Wenqing paused, "He's not allowed to get up until noon."

"Yes." Li Yi picked up Fusu horizontally and walked steadily towards the door. He had just stepped over the threshold—

"And you too." Zhou Wenqing's voice caught up from behind, unhurried, "The same. Sleep in his outer room, and don't come back before noon."

Li Yi stumbled, nearly throwing Fusu out of the way. He twisted his body to regain his balance and slowly turned his head, his honest face filled with disbelief.

Why do you still remember, sir?

"Sir, your subordinate..." He opened his mouth, trying to find another reason to stay, but when he met Zhou Wenqing's ambiguous smiling eyes, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Zhou Wenqing stood with his hands behind his back, not urging him, just watching him, which sent chills down Li Yi's spine.

"...Yes." He gritted his teeth, squeezed out a single word, and strode out with Fusu in his arms, his back view revealing a sense of unwillingness and grievance.

Behind him, Zhou Wenqing gave a soft hum.

Trying to fight me? You think you can handle me?

"hiss--!"

"hiss--!!!"

Two gasps of surprise came from behind him. Zhou Wenqing turned around, looked at the two people, and raised an eyebrow, saying:

"What's wrong? Do you have a toothache?"