Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

The courtyards and corridors are quiet and secluded. The soft, gray morning light spills over the carved railings and stone steps, and all around is peaceful and serene, with only the soft rustling of the breeze through the leaves.

Zhou Wenqing walked slowly, but his mind was racing with a thousand thoughts.

Historical records often only contain a few words about a person, covering up the ups and downs of their life. This is rather thin and cannot compare to the vividness and fullness of firsthand experience.

Just as historical records describe Fusu as benevolent and virtuous, a promising heir apparent, he ultimately met a cold and hasty end with a decree of "committing suicide by imperial decree," as if this prince of the Qin dynasty was nothing more than a stereotypical symbol in the tragedy of a chaotic world.

But as he spent more time with the boy, he realized that this young man was insightful and wise, had the well-being of the people in his heart, had a vision of the world and a sense of righteousness in his mind, and was sincere and warm-hearted—far more wonderful and dazzling than any description in words.

Therefore, Zhou Wenqing was eager to meet those influential figures who would later shake the world and establish the Han dynasty.

Of course, he was also very curious about which step of his butterfly's wings had deviated from its destined trajectory.

The five members of the Han Dynasty group, who should have been hiding in Pei County, living in the countryside, and waiting for the right time, actually all ran to Chen County.

Just as I was thinking this, I had just passed through the corridor and hadn't even reached the door when a commotion of chickens and dogs burst out.

"Ouch—be gentle! Be gentle, Brother Ji! Are you changing my bandage or subjecting me to torture?"

Lu Wan sat shirtless on a low stool, gasping for breath, grimacing, and desperately shrinking back, like a live fish being pressed onto a chopping board, refusing to accept its fate and thrashing about wildly.

"Don't move! If you shake it, all the powder will spill!"

Liu Bang, sitting opposite him, was bent over, focused on competing with him, the veins on his forehead throbbing, his patience almost exhausted.

He wondered if Lu Wan was deliberately teasing him.

When we took that spear back then, there wasn't much of a commotion!

He pressed down on the right shoulder again, pulling the man back, and Liu Bang said through gritted teeth:

"Still not light enough? I've never used this little bit of force in my entire life. You should be grateful, kid. Still trying to dodge? Have you thought things through?"

"Brother Ji! How about I do it myself? You take a break!" Lu Wan looked utterly dejected, her eyes fixed on Liu Bang's hands. "Your fingers... I could doodle more accurately than you!"

On that day, Liu Bang's hands were split open at the base of his thumbs and index fingers, wrapped in thick bandages, with only half of his fingertips showing, making him look clumsy like a bear's paws.

Every time the medicine was applied, either the fingertip would poke the edge of the wound, or the cloth strip would rub against the newly scabbed skin, precisely hitting Lu Wan's sore spot every time, which was very irritating.

"Enough with the nonsense!" Liu Bang didn't back down at all, and ripped open the "obstacle" collar around his waist.

"Your injury is on your shoulder, and you only have one hand. How are you going to treat yourself? Besides, you got this injury because of me. If I just abandon you, what kind of brother would I be?"

"Then be on time!" Lu Wan shrank back again.

"Stop talking nonsense, what are you hiding for? I haven't even gone up yet!"

One insisted on treatment, while the other desperately tried to evade it, resulting in a stalemate.

On the other side, Xiao He had just finished treating the knife wound on Cao Can's back, who was lying on the couch, when he heard the commotion over here. He shook his head and looked at Cao Can with helplessness in his eyes.

Cao Can carefully turned to the side, pulled his own robe back, and with Xiao He's help, put it on. While adjusting the collar, he indicated that he was able to do it and asked Xiao He to come and help.

Xiao He sighed helplessly, turned around and slowly stepped forward, reaching out to take the medicine bottle from Liu Bang's hand.

"Let me do it. If you two keep messing around like this, you'll ruin the medicine."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Wan immediately gave him a grateful look, finally saved.

Liu Bang had the medicine bottle easily snatched away and couldn't argue. He could only glare at Lu Wan, look down at his two hands that were wrapped in bandages, and mutter, "They're wrapped up, aren't they? When I take them off, my skills will be better than his."

Lu Guan tilted his head slightly, craning his neck to look at him, and couldn't help but add insult to injury: "Come on, Brother Ji, those two hands of yours, you clearly insisted on bandaging them yourself. Look at them, they're wrapped up like hooves. Only you think they look good!"

Liu Bang blushed with embarrassment, feeling utterly humiliated. He immediately grabbed another medicine bottle from the table and strode towards the bedside.

"Kuai, come here, that kid doesn't know what's good for him, let Brother Ji put some medicine on you! We're brothers, aren't we..."

Upon hearing this, Fan Kuai, who was lying on the couch waiting for Xiao He, suddenly froze and almost subconsciously moved half an inch to the side.

Zhou Wenqing, who was listening outside, found it amusing and gently knocked on the door.

Hearing the commotion, Xiao He turned around and shouted to Liu Bang, "Liu Ji, open the door quickly! Don't let Fan Kuai get into trouble!"

Liu Bang clenched the medicine bottle in his hand with a disgruntled expression, and had no choice but to give up. He muttered irritably, "Coming, coming," and casually put the medicine bottle on the table before striding towards the door.

Who is it?

He pushed open the door and immediately met the gentle and refined figure outside. He paused for a moment, then quickly reacted, stepping aside and bowing with his hands clasped in a gesture of respect.

"Sir, you've arrived! Please come in, please come in!"

Zhou Wenqing stepped over the threshold, smiled and nodded: "No need for such formalities, Pavilion Chief Liu."

His gaze shifted from Liu Bang to the mess in the room—scattered medicine bottles, crumpled bandages, Lu Wan being held down by Xiao He to wrap bandages, Cao Can lying on the couch, and Fan Kuai, who had escaped the disaster, on the opposite couch. His smile deepened.

"Looks like I've come at the right time." He turned and gestured to Li Yi behind him, "Yi, go and help Warrior Fan apply the medicine."

The words had barely left his mouth when the room erupted in a commotion.

When Xiao He heard his voice, he momentarily lost his composure, his wrist trembled, and the knotting motion became a little heavier, causing Lu Wan to hiss in pain.

However, Xiao He only had time to give him an apologetic look before turning away immediately. He wiped the medicine powder off his hands, looking somewhat disheveled, but his tone was exceptionally solemn as he cupped his hands and said:

"Xiao He greets...sir."

Upon hearing this, Cao Shen, who was on the couch, also tried his best to get up and pay his respects.

"No need for such formalities." Zhou Wenqing quickly stepped forward to support him, his voice gentle and earnest. "Just lie still and don't move around too much, lest you aggravate the injury. Has your injury improved recently?"

"Thank you for your concern, sir. Physician Lü's medical skills are superb, and Shen is now out of danger." Cao Shen said, slowly propping himself up by the edge of the bed.

Zhou Wenqing reached out to support him, her tone tinged with helplessness: "Hey, slow down, you don't need to get up."

Cao Can gently shook his head, raised his eyes to look at Zhou Wenqing, his gaze clear and solemn, his tone somewhat stubborn: "How can that be? How can we treat you so lightly and rudely, sir? Besides, I am truly fine now, sir, you need not worry."

As he spoke, he sat up straight.

On the other side, Liu Bang and Xiao He had already hurriedly cleaned up the mess on the table. The medicine bottles were gathered in the corner, the scattered bandages were rolled into a ball and stuffed into the bamboo basket, and even the few handkerchiefs on the ground that were covered with medicine powder were picked up by Liu Bang and neatly stuffed into his sleeve.

Liu Bang straightened the chair, then stepped back half a step and greeted them warmly, "Sir, Han Zi, you must be tired from your journey. Please take a seat."

"Oh?"

Zhou Wenqing paused slightly upon hearing this, glanced sideways at Han Fei who was silently following behind him with a calm expression, and smiled softly:

"It turns out that Han Zi had already visited you all beforehand. In that case, I was a step too late."