Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Don't be angry, don't be angry. Zicheng isn't like this for the first time. He's just recovered from a serious illness, so he can't be angered or provoked...

Looking at the person on the bed, whose will was as firm as iron and who refused to back down even a step, Wei Liao repeatedly consoled herself in her heart, forcibly suppressing the surging helplessness.

It's normal for someone with great talent to have some flaws. Thinking about it carefully, Zicheng's temperament is already quite admirable. If I were in my early twenties, I would be even more unruly and stubborn, and even more troublesome than him.

He cannot be led by the tide. In terms of "seeking the greater good and establishing a justification", he is no match for Zicheng. However, as long as he wanders and faces dangers outside, his heart will not be at ease for a day.

A glint flashed in Wei Liao's eyes—since forceful persuasion was useless, he could only resort to gentle coaxing.

After several attempts to reassure himself, he finally suppressed all his frustration, shedding his earlier anxiety and anger, and regained his usual composure. His gaze fixed on Zhou Wenqing, he slowly spoke:

"Zicheng, are you truly determined not to return to Xianyang with me?"

Alarm bells rang in Zhou Wenqing's mind.

Why has this person withdrawn their momentum? Something's not right. Could it be... they're going to stab me in the back?

It has to be said that Zhou Wenqing has become experienced in doing this kind of thing many times. When he hears phrases like "Are you really not coming with me?", his first thought is to knock him out and take him away.

He stared warily at Wei Liao, his body unconsciously shrinking back, even his grip on the blankets tightening. His brows and eyes were full of defensiveness, yet his words remained firm and resolute:

"I won't reply."

Wei Liao had no idea about his inner thoughts. She simply thought he was afraid of being scolded, so she remained calm and composed as she carefully considered her next line of reasoning.

Fusu and Li Yi, who were standing to the side, saw everything clearly, and their lips twitched involuntarily as they secretly complained to themselves.

Sir, what are you guarding against? Not everyone's idea of ​​"proper etiquette" means physically binding someone.

At least not with Mr. Wei Liao!

Wei Liao remained oblivious and continued speaking calmly:

"Even though the turmoil in the Xianyang court has just subsided, with everything needing to be rebuilt and numerous internal and external affairs piling up, and everyone in the Bureau of General Affairs and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices waiting for you to return and take charge, you still insist on not going back?"

Phew~ thankfully, it's clear they want to persuade him, which makes things easier.

Zhou Wenqing shook his head: "It's still the same old saying: if the roots are not cut, the branches and leaves will flourish. But that only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. It would be better if I returned to Qin from Qi and brought in fresh water from the source, solving the problem once and for all."

Wei Liao nodded, then asked, "Even if His Majesty issues an edict, will you not reply?"

Zhou Wenqing paused slightly, then straightened his back: "Your Majesty trusts me, uses me, and cherishes me. I dare not betray Your Majesty's kindness in the slightest. This trip to Qi is precisely to share Your Majesty's burdens. I believe Your Majesty understands my intentions and will not blame me."

His words were impeccable, fully demonstrating his loyalty to the emperor and his sense of national duty.

Han Fei and Yao Jia had actually gotten used to it, and the slightest ripple in their hearts did not stir up any emotion.

Looking at his stubborn and unyielding demeanor, which seemed to be righteous and could not be persuaded by anyone, Wei Liao sighed inwardly. Then, she finally unleashed her trump card, which she had been holding back for a long time. Her tone was light and leisurely, with a hint of seemingly unintentional but actually precisely controlled melancholy:

"So, even though Li Tingwei is exhausted from his paperwork and falls ill, and even faints in court after hearing the news of your attack, you still don't return?"

"I already said, never... huh?!"

The resolute words that Zhou Wenqing blurted out suddenly caught on the tip of his tongue, and the rest of his words were swallowed back down into his stomach.

His straight back suddenly froze, and the confidence and composure in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a look of utter astonishment.

"What did you say?" His voice was hoarse, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Brother Gu'an... he vomited blood and fainted?"

Wei Liao's expression was indifferent, without any exaggerated gestures. He simply nodded slightly, his tone carrying a heavy sense of helplessness:

"You know Li Tingwei's temperament best. He is used to being busy with paperwork and working diligently day and night. Since you left, most of the thorny issues in the court have required his consideration and handling. He has also taken over the responsibilities that were originally on your shoulders, working tirelessly day and night without daring to slack off in the slightest."

"When the news came that you were attacked at Hangu Pass and your fate was unknown, he was immediately overcome with anger and his blood surged. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot. Physician Lü examined him personally and knew about this. It is absolutely true and cannot be faked."

Zhou Wenqing was speechless for a moment, feeling both guilty and warm inside. He remained silent for a long time, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Brother Gu'an, you are so worried about me, I...

The little ledger has been completely wiped clean, all traced away!

Although he always secretly complained that Li Si was rigid and nagging, in truth, among all the people in Xianyang, only Li Si knew him the earliest, had the longest friendship with him, understood his plans the best, knew his true intentions, and could see through his stubbornness and courage hidden beneath his gentle exterior.

If Wei Liao was like a kind and steady older brother to him, acting appropriately and reliably, then Li Si was a close friend among his peers, a confidant, a true friend who would discuss any outrageous ideas with him, and a frenemy who would scold him while cleaning up his messes.

The thought that he had been in danger and had caused the other person to suffer from anxiety, vomit blood, and faint had made Zhou Wenqing truly reflect on himself. Had he really been too careless with his own health?

Wei Liao took in the emotion and guilt in his expression, and seeing this, she quickly pressed her advantage, her tone becoming even more gentle and earnest:

"Zicheng, you don't need to worry too much. Li Si is fine now. I'm telling you this so that you can weigh the pros and cons in your mind."

"You yourself are a highly important minister in the court. Not only is Li Si worried about you, but the king relies on your talent, Fusu appreciates your teachings, and your colleagues and confidants in the court are all concerned about your safety at all times."

"Every day you linger outside, every ounce of danger you face, the people of Xianyang will be restless and unable to eat or sleep. You have just escaped a life-threatening illness, and your body is extremely weakened. You really cannot withstand any more of this kind of travel. Please heed my advice and come back to Xianyang with me to recuperate, shall we?"

"Brother is right."

Zhou Wenqing's face showed emotion, and he nodded sincerely, his tone softening somewhat.

Wei Liao's eyes lit up; the weight that had been hanging over her heart for so long finally lifted, and a relieved smile curved her lips—

"But that won't work."

His smile froze on his face, as if someone had poured a bucket of ice water over his head.

This kid... why is he still so stubborn?!

Seeing that he was about to get angry, Zhou Wenqing quickly smiled apologetically, "Brother, please don't be angry. What I mean is, I will think about it carefully."

He paused, his face serious: "But Chen County is not yet settled, so I cannot leave. I must wait until the case is solved and the criminals are brought to justice."

Wei Liao stared at him for a moment, then narrowed his eyes: "You mean, once the matter in Chen County is settled, you'll come back with me?"

Zhou Wenqing nodded, his eyes filled with sincerity: "I will consider it."

But that doesn't mean I'll agree.

For now, let's stabilize the situation and buy some time. If we push too hard, Wei Liao might really disregard our feelings and send someone to "escort" us back.

For now, let's just get through this hurdle. We can figure out how to handle things later.

Wei Liao didn't see through his ulterior motives at first, and assumed that he had already given in. His expression softened slightly, and he took the opportunity to talk about the chaotic mess that needed to be resolved.

"Song Yun and Xu Kun are two beasts who have committed heinous crimes and are beyond redemption. To say that they deserve to die would be too lenient. But we can't let them die yet, so I've temporarily put them in jail."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wenqing frowned slightly, a hint of caution and seriousness flashing in his eyes. He whispered, "That Song Yun is a cunning and ruthless old fox. You must keep a close watch on him and not give him any chance to escape."

"Rest assured, sir. Even if we let them escape now, they wouldn't dare to leave the prison even a step."

Fusu's face was full of righteous indignation, his eyes filled with stern hatred and disgust: "You didn't see it with your own eyes. On the day Song Yun was defeated and captured, and was escorted back, the people's resentment was boiling, and he was almost devoured alive."

"Mud, stones, and clods of earth pelted him, leaving his head bleeding profusely. Countless aggrieved parties, their eyes red with fury, rushed forward to fight and tear at him, ultimately ripping off one of his arms!"

"That's not all. Someone even blocked the road with a bucket of excrement. I was so angry I almost shoved his head in it and drowned him. If the soldiers hadn't managed to stop him, that old thief probably wouldn't have even seen the prison door; he'd have been torn to pieces on the spot!"

As Zhou Wenqing listened, his tense shoulders finally relaxed, the frost in his eyes softened a bit, and the corners of his mouth even curved slightly.

"The people of Chenjun have suffered his exploitation for so many years, it's time for them to vent their anger." He paused, his tone calm but revealing a cold decisiveness, "As long as they aren't killed, it's not a big deal, just pretend you didn't see it."

Upon hearing this, the people inside the room nodded in unison.

In fact, even the soldiers escorting Song Yun were willing to let him vent his anger; as long as he wasn't killed, they could do whatever they wanted with him.

Zhou Wenqing raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the people in the room, his voice deepening:

"But while we can vent our anger, we can't neglect our business. We must extract all the dirty tricks from these two people—how many more smugglers they have, how many bandits they have fattened up, and the routes for smuggling people to other countries. We can't miss a single one. Only by uprooting this cancer and wiping them out in one fell swoop can we truly close this case."

Han Fei, who was standing with his hands behind his back, nodded slightly upon hearing this, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "There's no need to worry about that. Song Yunren is in my hands. After days of interrogation, he has vomited up almost everything and has been registered in detail. He can't escape."

He paused, his tone tinged with disgust, "It's just that Physician Lü has had a hard time keeping this beast alive, and has ruined his set of silver needles for nothing."

Upon hearing this, Yao Jia slowly spoke, his expression also showing disgust and disdain.

"Song Yun is at least cunning, resourceful, and intelligent, and can be useful in his investigation. Xu Kun, on the other hand, is a complete and utter useless parasite."

"As an imperial censor, he held the power to supervise and impeach officials in the prefecture, yet he turned a blind eye to the rampant banditry, illegal immigration, and collusion between officials and criminals within his jurisdiction. He was only concerned with collecting money. No matter how much Song Yun gave him, he took it all. Gold, silver, jewels, land, and beautiful concubines—he accepted everything without question. And he still has the nerve to cry foul and claim ignorance. How absurd!"

"It's not just absurd, it's downright foolish and ridiculous."

Wei Liao snorted coldly, his brows furrowing with a deep, menacing aura. He smoothly picked up the conversation, cutting to the chase:

"In my opinion, Song Yun is vicious, cunning, and utterly wicked. Even if he were to be executed by slow slicing and have his bones crushed, it would be impossible to atone for even a fraction of his crimes. As for Xu Kun, he is even more insatiable in his greed and blinded by lust for profit, and he will not forgive even a fraction of his sins."

"He clearly knew that Song Yun harbored wolfish ambitions and committed heinous acts, yet for his own benefit and the pleasures of women, he deliberately turned a blind eye and tolerated evil, allowing the chaos to take root and spread. When the matter was exposed, he even tried to exonerate himself with a mere claim of ignorance. Such cunning and scheming is utterly shameless!"

"They brought this upon themselves, and there is no escaping it." Zhou Wenqing sighed softly, slowly lowering his eyes. "These two deserve their punishment, but the poor people of Chen County are so innocent. They have suffered exploitation, robbery, and displacement for years. It is truly pitiful and lamentable. We should give them an explanation as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, Zicheng."

Wei Liao's expression was solemn. He nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Han Fei beside him.

"Yesterday, based on what Han Zi had learned from the interrogation, I led my troops to suppress them. We wiped out several of their hideouts, burned their boats, and sealed their secret passages. Now, only a few remaining bandits have fled into the deep mountains. They escaped quickly, but they are already surrounded by a large force. Today, I will crush them one by one and will not let a single remnant escape."

Fusu stepped forward and added, "Furthermore, sir, I have already made sure all the rescued children and suffering people have been settled. Please rest assured, sir."

A hint of indignation appeared on his face: "Yesterday, in order to provide relief to the disaster victims, I specially opened the Chen County granary, hoping to obtain grain to alleviate their hunger. However, to my surprise, the huge granary was completely empty, without a single grain of rice. That damned Song Yun didn't even bother to put in some old rice to make it look like we were there!"

Zhou Wenqing, lying on the couch, listened calmly, but was not surprised at all.

Song Yun had long regarded the entire Chen County as his private domain. After acting recklessly for so long, he no longer bothered to cover it up. Moreover, he secretly raised private soldiers, bribed officials at all levels, and opened up smuggling waterways. Every single one of these things required a huge amount of money.

It would be strange if there were any grains left in the government granaries.

"Therefore, I also investigated the private treasuries of the Song and Xu families." Fusu's voice rose slightly, and his anger became more pronounced.

"Sir, you didn't see it! The millet and other grains are piled up like mountains, the granaries are overflowing, and because they've been stored for so long and are so damp and sealed, a lot of the bottom layer has turned black and moldy, just rotting away in the granaries!"

Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the road, frozen corpses lie—how ironic!

Zhou Wenqing remained outwardly calm, but his heart felt heavy, as if a stone was pressing down on it.

Fusu's anger had not subsided, but his tone gradually softened, and a hint of guilt and unease surfaced in his eyes.

"There is one more thing... I acted on my own initiative, and I hope you will forgive me, sir."

Zhou Wenqing snapped out of his thoughts, raising an eyebrow slightly: "Oh? What is it?"

"It's just that... I... misappropriated grain from the Song and Xu family granaries, so naturally it needs to be registered. This is all evidence of their crimes. And... I also had someone take inventory of the rest of their private granaries."