Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Both were laughing heartily, but Liu Bang was much more "carefree" than Xiao He. He not only showed no discomfort, but also joined in the laughter with a smirk.

What is face? It's a renewable resource!

Losing things to gain benefits, using those benefits to make more money, and then exchanging them again, in an endless cycle, Liu Bang took it all in stride, and even had time to share this "open-mindedness" with his two brothers.

"What are you laughing at?"

He strode up behind Lu Wan and slapped his uninjured right shoulder with a light but firm touch, making a crisp "smack" sound.

"I'm telling the truth! Wan, don't you agree?"

Lu Wan straightened up when she was slapped, grinned, and nodded with a forced smile on her face.

"Yes, yes, Brother Ji is right! I, Lu Wan, have long admired you, sir. It would be our honor to be able to help you!"

"Ah, and there's Kuai too! We brothers are destined to share your burdens, it's a tremendous honor!"

As he spoke, he turned to look at Fan Kuai: Kuai, it's your turn, hurry up and say a few words!

Fan Kuai: "..."

Thanks for thinking of me, guys, but don't drag me into this when you're making a fool of yourself!

His expression froze slightly, his mouth opened and closed repeatedly, unsure of how to begin.

Although Pei County was remote and not officially part of Qin territory, it had still received a lot of favors from the Zhou Inner Historian. How could he not be grateful?

I wanted to express my admiration, but when the words came to my lips, I felt that at this moment, after the two of them had been joking around, it would seem a bit inappropriate to speak seriously.

He couldn't say anything, nor could he remain silent. Fan Kuai struggled for a long time without uttering a single word. His expression shifted from stiff to conflicted, and then from conflicted to utterly hopeless.

"Look!" Liu Bang pointed decisively at Fan Kuai, speaking with righteous indignation, "I have long admired you, sir, and am so honored that I am speechless!"

Fan Kuai: "..."

Fan Kuai's lips twitched violently twice, and he mumbled, "Brother Ji is right." Then he continued to look up at the roof beam, looking as if to say, "As long as you're happy, I have no desires."

That's it. Anyway, he's bad with words, and Fan Kuai has completely given up.

It has to be said that the amount of admiration today was a bit excessive. Instead of feeling excited as before, Zhou Wenqing was somewhat amused and exasperated.

"In that case, it's a deal this time, Liu Tingzhang, you'll come with me to the State of Qi?"

"Yes, yes, yes, you're absolutely right!" Liu Bang beamed, nodding vigorously. "Thank you so much, sir! Thank you so much, sir!"

Seeing this, Xiao He slightly raised his chin, glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, and said with just the right amount of teasing in his tone:

"Alas! I wonder who was it that just now so confidently swore, saying something like, 'Brother Cao and I are still recovering from our injuries. With the county in dire straits, it would be too unjust for someone to just pack up and leave?'"

He mimicked Liu Bang's tone, deliberately raising the pitch at the end, then shook his head in feigned sorrow and sighed, "How could you have forgotten what you said so soon?"

Xiao He looked at Liu Bang with a half-smile, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes that suggested "a gentleman takes revenge without delay."

—You finally got your revenge for exposing my secrets.

Liu Bang awkwardly touched his nose, coughed twice, and a rare blush rose to his face.

But this mood obviously couldn't last long. Soon, in just two breaths, his eyes darted around, and he immediately straightened his back and shouted confidently:

"Who? Who said that? That's utter nonsense, complete rubbish!"

As he spoke, he nudged Lu Wan beside him with his elbow: "Did you hear that? Didn't you say it?!"

Lu Wan shrank back from the bump, and muttered in a low voice, looking aggrieved, "Brother Ji, it's not that I can't say it, but could you please stop poking me like that..."

"Shut up!"

Liu Bang decisively cut him off, approaching Xiao He with a beaming smile and a tone that was somewhat ingratiating and warm:

"Brother Xiao, look at you! Who are you and Brother Cao? You're both men who are destined for great things! Calm, capable, and meticulous, you're more than capable of handling the aftermath of the crisis in Chen County. With your talents, it's only a matter of time before you both rise to high positions in Xianyang!"

He abruptly changed the subject, patting his chest with an air of righteous indignation, as if he weren't the one who had just turned around and vehemently denied his previous statement:

"But if I, Liu Ji, were to hide behind you and rely on your brothers' protection to get by, that would be truly unjust! I would be letting down our life-or-death friendship!"

He straightened his back, his tone unusually earnest: "I'm accompanying you to Qi this time because I want to earn some merit through my own abilities. You two will establish yourselves in the prefecture, and I'll also make some contributions outside. When we arrive in Xianyang, we brothers will rely on each other and look after one another. That's what true glory and loyalty are all about!"

His words were generous, forthright, and righteous, moving Cao Can slightly. He looked up at his fellow villager, who was always joking and unserious, and a touch of heartfelt emotion rose in his eyes. He sighed softly:

"Brother Liu's willingness to rely on others and forge his own path demonstrates a noble character and is truly the act of a gentleman. I, Cao, have been disrespectful and underestimated you."

Liu Bang maintained a serious demeanor, bowing in return and saying, "Not at all, not at all," and "Brother Cao, you're too kind." He did indeed have the air of a humble gentleman.

But Xiao He, standing to the side, squinted.

Although... the reasoning was sound, and he believed Liu Bang genuinely had that intention, but...

Based on his understanding of this kid, he didn't think Liu Ji would think there was anything wrong with taking advantage of his brother's presence. The fact that he was speaking so righteously probably meant he had some other purpose behind it.

Sure enough, the next second, Liu Bang changed the subject, looking at Zhou Wenqing with a sincere expression:

"Sir, I am determined to achieve great things this time, and naturally I also hope that my brothers will strive together and pursue the future together. So you see, it is certain that I will go to the State of Qi with you, but you cannot leave my two brothers behind!"

He stepped aside, making way for Lu Wan and Fan Kuai behind him, and placed his two "bear paws" on their shoulders, grinning from ear to ear:

"Look at him, Lu Wan, that lad is quick-witted! Running errands, relaying messages, gathering information—he's got it all figured out! With him around, you can relax a lot, sir!"

Lu Wan quickly straightened her back and tried her best to look "clever".

"As for Fan Kuai, needless to say! He is incredibly brave and skilled in martial arts, and a hundred men would be no match for him! With him by your side, whatever petty thieves or roadside robbers come, they will be taken down one by one, and two by two!"

This time, Fan Kuai didn't remain silent and withdrawn; instead, he looked at Zhou Wenqing with a solemn expression.

"If you need me, sir, I will gladly die for you."

Zhou Wenqing pondered for a moment and then hesitated for a while.