Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Zhou Wenqing was completely unaware that Li Si, far away in Xianyang, had dug so many pits for his "persuasion campaign" in advance, and he secretly praised himself for his cleverness.

He didn't tell a single lie!

He truly tossed and turned all night, "deliberating" until dawn, and only then did he drowsily close his eyes. As a result, he woke up late at midday. The first thing he did upon waking was to take Li Yi to Han Fei's house to "specially" discuss this important matter concerning Han Fei's life.

As for whether they might tell a little white lie to get other "side favors" done...

Ahem! We haven't said it yet, have we? We'll decide after we do.

Under Wei Liao's scrutinizing and unwavering gaze, Zhou Wenqing suppressed the sly thoughts swirling in his mind, his expression upright and sincere. He slowly and clearly recounted the remaining hidden dangers in the situation in Korea, the dilemma Han Fei was in, and all his concerns and worries.

He laid out the pros and cons thoroughly, emphasizing the risks, before making his request:

"That's why I've come to ask my brother for help today."

"Please keep a close eye on Han Zi, brother. If news comes that he has set off for Korea, please follow him closely and protect him. Under no circumstances should he be allowed to venture out alone and encounter any further accidents."

As soon as he finished speaking, he looked up at Wei Liao with a frank and sincere gaze, filled with earnest expectation, quietly waiting for a reply, having already prepared several sets of follow-up statements in his mind.

Zhou Wenqing was completely unaware that Wei Liao's mind was not focused on analyzing the truth or falsehood of Han Fei's predicament.

He looked directly into Zhou Wenqing's eyes, tapped his fingers lightly twice on the edge of the table, and remained silent in thought.

It must be said that these words were all reasonable and clear. Han Zi's predicament was right there, undeniable, as if his personal escort was the only and best solution.

What a coincidence, it's exactly what Gu'an said before he left—

"Zicheng is a man who excels at moving people with emotions and persuading them with reason. When he left Xianyang, he relied on his sharp tongue to analyze the pros and cons, appealing to their emotions and reasoning with them, and managed to convince both me and the King. If you bring him back this time and hear any more long-winded speeches, remember, remember—do not be fooled."

The scene before him perfectly matched Li Si's prediction.

Therefore, the more sincere and impeccable Zhou Wenqing's feelings were, the deeper Wei Liao's wariness became.

"Zicheng...you're right." He spoke slowly.

Zhou Wenqing's eyes lit up.

"So Liao has decided that we should set off immediately and take Han Zi back to Xianyang. Wouldn't that be more convenient?"

Zhou Wenqing's smile froze on his face.

not good!

Wei Liao was not fooled by his words. Instead, she used a drastic measure to find a new path!

I must say, he truly lives up to his reputation as Mr. Wei Liao.

This won't do.

Fortunately, Zhou Wenqing had guessed that things wouldn't go so smoothly. Suppressing his surprise, he leaned forward slightly, feigning a troubled expression.

"I have considered your arrangement, brother."

"But now that Chen County has just been pacified, the situation is not yet stable, the remaining problems have not been cleared up, and many follow-up matters have not been properly handled. As long as I cannot see this place stabilized with my own eyes, I will be uneasy and unable to eat or sleep. I really cannot leave with peace of mind."

He paused, as if afraid that Wei Liao wouldn't notice, and deliberately emphasized the eight words "feeling uneasy and unable to eat or sleep" with extra clarity.

At the same time, Zhou Wenqing pressed his hand to his chest, subtly observing Wei Liao's expression, and continued:

"Furthermore, the soldiers accompanying the delegation have been fighting and maintaining stability for days, and are already exhausted and wounded. If we disregard their fatigue and hastily embark on another long journey back to Xianyang, they will find it difficult to sustain themselves."

His brows furrowed slightly, his tone sincere and full of compassion:

"These soldiers have risked their lives and endured hardships with me. I really can't bear to see them suffer such torment any longer. I hope you can understand, brother."

These words were sincere and truthful, and indeed one of the reasons why Zhou Wenqing hesitated to set off with Han Fei immediately after careful consideration.

Of course, when he said "departure," he meant heading to the State of Qi.

After Zhou Wenqing finished speaking, he slowly raised his hand and placed it on his knee. He gently massaged his knee with his fingertips, the movement just right. He watched as Wei Liao's gaze was once again drawn to his actions, and he lowered his eyes slightly.

—Brother, even if you don't consider anything else, you should at least take my heart ailment and these unhealed injuries into account, right?

Wei Liao was incredibly perceptive, and having been warned by Li Si beforehand, he saw through Li Si's little scheme at a glance.

But Wei Liao couldn't help but take everything he said and implied seriously, and couldn't even bring himself to point it out or criticize him.

He finally understood why Li Tingwei was so aware of Zhou Wenqing's various underhanded tactics, yet he still repeatedly yielded and compromised.

"Showing weakness to bully the strong"—Zicheng is truly something else.

Wei Liao frowned, her fingertips tapping slowly and gently on the table, the rhythm revealing her deep thought and weighing of the situation.

Zhou Wenqing lowered his eyes, adopting an extremely humble posture, perfectly portraying a weak and forbearing demeanor, but a small flame of hope had quietly ignited in his heart.

Mr. Wei Liao didn't directly refuse, so there's hope!

He suppressed the smile on his lips, silently counting his heartbeats, waiting for his brother to "let go."

The room was quiet for a moment.

Wei Liao finally spoke slowly, his words calm and measured:

"Very well, since you are not fully recovered and it is not advisable for you to travel immediately, then rest for a while and wait for news of any unusual developments in Korea and when the Korean prince will set off."

Zhou Wenqing was overjoyed, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up – it was a success!

"Once he decides to return to Han—" Wei Liao changed the subject, his gaze sharp: "I will lead the team and take you and Han Zi to Han."

What...what?

Zhou Wenqing's lips froze in mid-air.

Wei Liao leaned back in his chair, his expression calm and confident. Without the slightest hint of embarrassment, he waved his hand and said calmly and composedly:

"Don't worry, Zicheng. Not only are you currently hiding your identity and no one knows you, but even if you are accidentally recognized in Korea, Liao is here to protect you."

No, is it even possible to do this?

Zhou Wenqing was completely dumbfounded.

Why does it seem like Mr. Wei Liao is much more difficult to deal with than Brother Gu An?

What he didn't know was that Wei Liao had already absorbed all of Li Si's "blood and tears experience," and was well-prepared after much painful reflection.

Moreover, unlike the minor skirmishes of the past, after his two near-death experiences, not only would Wei Liao not be easily swayed by his words, but even Li Si himself would not be as easily persuaded as he had been before.

The script once again deviated from the trajectory of Zhou Wenqing's rehearsal.