Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

"No, Brother Ji, I'm already very light!"

Lu Wan felt wronged; it turned out that Brother Ji knew that changing his dressings was pure torture.

With his mind wandering, he became even more reckless, and his hand slipped, causing the wooden stick wrapped in medicated cloth to stab hard into the bruised spot on his forehead.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" Liu Bang jerked back, glaring at Lu Wan with his eyes swollen shut, "You still say you didn't?!"

Lu Wan hurriedly pulled the wooden stick back, apologizing repeatedly, "No, no! Brother Ji, I was wrong! I really didn't mean to, I'll be gentle this time!"

"Hiss—you're doing it again!"

Liu Bang cried out even more pitifully, and the three young generals didn't dare to raise their heads. Their faces were filled with shame, and their eyes darted away, staring at the tips of their shoes.

Zhang Han quietly raised his eyes and looked at Fusu for help.

Fusu hurriedly stood up: "Sir, I remember I still have a bottle of wound medicine that my father bestowed upon me, which is specially used to treat these kinds of external injuries. I'll go and get it."

After saying that, he ran away without looking back.

I'm sorry, my three brothers. Although I genuinely want to plead for you, Liu Tingzhang is just too pitiful. I'd better stay out of the way for now.

Seeing this, Zhou Wenqing was both annoyed and amused. He picked up his folding fan and knocked on each of them once.

"Look at you all, you're all veterans of battle, how come you're still so impetuous and lack composure?"

His gaze swept across the scene, catching sight of Liu Bang's wretched face—bruised and swollen, covered in grime and dirt, a truly pitiful sight. He turned to the three young generals and sternly reprimanded them:

"You guys! You'd already tied him up, so you could have just questioned him, but instead you beat him up on the side? That's pure nonsense!"

He shook his head slightly and ordered helplessly, "Go quickly and apologize to Liu Tingzhang."

Wang Ben, Meng Yi, and Zhang Han instantly straightened up, stood at attention, and answered in unison, "Yes," before turning to apologize to Liu Bang.

Actually, they didn't intend to beat him up like that; they just wanted to leave him alive. When they were arresting him, Liu Bang was really unruly, as slippery as a big mudfish. As soon as they grabbed his arm, he would twist and break free; as soon as they grabbed the back of his collar, he would crouch and leap away again.

The guys got really angry from his antics and couldn't hold back for a moment, so they lost their temper and, cough! Or rather, they deliberately changed direction and beat him up like this.

Looking at Liu Bang's weathered face, the three of them felt a little uneasy.

Wang Ben was the first to walk over, respectfully clasped his hands in a bow, and sincerely said:

"Director Liu, we were very rude just now. We acted rashly and hope you will forgive us!"

Meng Yi and Zhang Han followed closely behind.

Meng Yi also took the medicine from Lu Wan and personally applied it to the wound to show his sincerity in apologizing.

Zhang Han stood aside, a step behind, but his posture was extremely humble, his apology was upright, and his sincerity was clear.

Since things had come to this, Liu Bang couldn't say much. Firstly, his own image at the time was indeed suspicious, and secondly, considering the other person's status and the fact that he had been so humble, he was a straightforward person who was easily swayed by gentleness but not by force. Now that the misunderstanding had been cleared up, most of his anger had subsided.

I can only blame myself for having such bad luck today.

If I had known that going out for some fresh air would end up like this, I would have been better off staying in the train carriage.

His handsome and dashing face!

Feeling both frustrated and embarrassed, with a stinging pain in his facial wound and weak legs, he forced a bold wave of his hand:

"It's alright, it's all a misunderstanding, young generals, please don't take it to heart."

As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly lowered his head, deliberately avoiding the gazes of the three people.

It's not that I'm still angry, it's just that I'm embarrassed.

My family's reputation is completely ruined today!

Seeing his appearance, Wang Ben and the other two assumed he was being hypocritical and was still angry, but they couldn't show it because of their status.

This is a bit tricky.

Zhang Han glanced at Meng Yi discreetly.

They were not the type to bully others by virtue of their power; it was truly an accident. They felt guilty, especially after learning that they were righteous men who had come to the aid of Chen County to help the gentleman, which made them even more embarrassed.

Meng Yi looked helpless and turned his gaze to Wang Ben.

You're the oldest, the eldest brother, so you should handle this.

That's when they realized I was the eldest brother!

Wang Ben gritted his teeth, thought for a moment, and said, "Chief Liu, this is truly our rudeness. How about this: I know Chief Liu is chivalrous and righteous, but it's a pity you have no fine steed to ride. In the future, I, Wang Ben, will personally select a gentle and virtuous horse to present to Chief Liu!"

docile?!

This completely hit Liu Bang's sore spot.

What does it mean to pick a docile horse? Doesn't that just confirm that he's a bad rider and can't control a wild horse?

Do I, Liu Ji, have no pride?

"Need not!"

Liu Bang stiffened his neck, raised his voice several octaves, forgot the pain from the wound on the corner of his mouth, and spoke with a righteous and stern expression.

"I love that horse. It's like we're destined to be together. If I need a good steed, it has to be this one. If you young generals really want to apologize, why not give it to me?"

Wang Ben, Meng Yi, and Zhang Han looked at him with subtle expressions.

No way, brother, you've been rejected by that horse so badly, yet you still insist on having it!

The undisguised disbelief, suppressed laughter, and subtle emotions in the three men's eyes were clearly seen by Liu Bang, like fine needles precisely piercing his most sensitive nerve.

The already humiliated pride instantly shattered!

"Don't you believe me? That was an accident! It really was an accident!"

He jumped to his feet, both ashamed and angry. A bluish-purple flush crept onto his face, as if every hair on his body had stood on end.

"I... I was simply unfamiliar with the horse's temperament this time, and the training wasn't done properly. It's not that my riding skills are lacking. If we're talking about riding ability, I've ridden many wild horses, and every one of them is obedient in my hands. How could I not be able to control a mere pony?"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, spitting as he desperately tried to salvage what little dignity he had left.

Seeing that things were going badly, Zhang Han quickly suppressed his smile and tried to smooth things over:

"The village head misunderstands. We had no intention of looking down on you, it's just that..."

He paused for a moment, unable to find a suitable reason.

Meng Yi stepped forward, pushing Zhang Han aside, and said, "It's just that the horse doesn't belong to us, so we can't very well agree to give it to Liu Tingzhang."

Liu Bang calmed down a bit, his face wasn't as bad, but his neck was still stiff, his chin was still raised, and he stubbornly refused to lower his head.

"That was quick," Zhang Han secretly gave Meng Yi an admiring look.

Zhou Wenqing stood aside, having witnessed the whole farce clearly. He shook his head, both amused and exasperated, and walked over.

He only thought that with Wang, Meng, and Zhang around, Liu Bang wouldn't be able to get far and would have to slink back. So he didn't send anyone to warn them, but he overlooked the fact that these three people didn't know each other, which led to a misunderstanding.

In a way, he also bears some responsibility.

Zhou Wenqing first tapped Zhang Han, who was looking slyly at Meng Yi, and then looked at Liu Bang.

"Director Liu, I apologize to you on behalf of my nephews. They were just children and acted rashly. I hope you will forgive them. I will give the horse to you, Director Liu."