Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

As soon as Hou Sheng finished speaking, the attendant beside the carriage immediately bent down, rolled up the curtain, and Fu Su slowly stepped out of the carriage.

He was dressed in a dark black robe with a white jade pendant at his waist. His posture was upright and dignified. Although he did not wear a crown or tie his hair up, he did not show the slightest fear. On the contrary, he appeared exceptionally calm and composed.

As he stood atop the carriage shaft, Fusu subtly shifted his body slightly, clearly blocking the unseen figure inside. He merely nodded slightly, his voice clear and calm:

"Qin envoy Fusu has been sent to Qi on the king's orders. Thank you for your help, Prime Minister of Qi."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yao Jia quickly came to stand beside Fusu and bowed respectfully.

"Qin Deputy Envoy Yao Jia has met with the Qi Chancellor."

The two of them stood there, completely blocking the view of the carriage behind them. Of course, no one noticed that the carriage, which "theoretically" should have been empty, was actually occupied by Fusu and Yao Jia.

Hou Sheng glanced at Yao Jia subtly, his smile remaining warm, and nodded slightly before speaking:

"Gentlemen, you have come from afar and must be tired from your journey. His Majesty has ordered me to set up a pavilion with music, wine, sacrificial animals, and silk as gifts, all for the sake of the delegation's soldiers to rest and reward them. May I invite you, young master and Minister Yao, to ascend the pavilion and take a seat to rest from your journey?"

Fusu nodded slightly and replied gently, "The King of Qi's gifts are generous, and the Prime Minister of Qi's kindness is profound. Fusu thanks you."

After speaking, the group followed etiquette, ascended the steps to the pavilion, and slowly entered.

It was called a reward and rest, but it was actually an essential preliminary procedure for diplomatic relations between the two countries. Both sides walked into the pavilion to verify the tally, the copy of the official letter, and exchange diplomatic salutations. Only after everything was confirmed to be correct could ceremonial carriages lead the way to escort the delegation into the city and settle the foreign embassy for a day's rest. The main event was the next day.

Soon, the ceremony was completed, and Hou Sheng personally escorted Fusu to the carriage, all smiles and with impeccable manners.

With the Qi state's ceremonial guard leading the way, accompanied by drums and trumpets, and banners waving, the convoy made its grand and imposing journey toward Linzi City.

Hou Sheng also turned and stepped into his own Prime Minister's carriage. As the attendants on both sides lowered the curtains and closed them, blocking all outside sight, the warm smile on his face vanished instantly, as if it had been peeled away.

The interior of the carriage was dimly lit, and the atmosphere suddenly became somber and cold.

Hou Sheng leaned lazily against the soft cushion, his knuckles tapping lightly on the carriage wall in rhythm with the music playing outside, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Seeing this, a trusted confidant from the same clan quickly moved closer and lowered his voice, saying:

"Prime Minister, I have observed that Prince Fusu of Qin is polite and has a decent demeanor. However, he is still young and inexperienced, and his naivety has not yet faded. I have heard that he was appointed to this mission in a time of crisis to fulfill his duty to his master."

"In my opinion, the King of Qin sent him on this mission merely to take advantage of the situation and use the pretext of visiting foreign countries to give his son some experience and build up his reputation both in and out of the court. The one who is really in charge should be the deputy envoy Yao Jia."

After seeing that Hou Sheng remained silent, the clansman's trusted confidant paused, then continued:

"I have inquired about this deputy envoy, Yao Jia. He was once an envoy to the State of Han. His words are quite sharp, and he may not be easy to fool."

Hou Sheng finally reacted, frowning slightly, stopping what he was doing, and glancing at him.

"What, what else do you think you can fool the Qin envoy about?"

His confidant was taken aback, a look of astonishment flashing across his face.

What else could they possibly be trying to fool? Of course, they wanted to use this opportunity to facilitate trade between the two countries, and incidentally... to get a piece of the "fat meat" for the Empress Dowager and the Prime Minister's residence!

You should know that the Prime Minister had been extremely concerned about this matter, drafting regulations and assigning people to handle it, keeping himself very busy, as if large sums of money had already been "pouring" into his pocket.

Why have you suddenly changed your attitude to "it's better to avoid trouble"?

He tentatively began, "Didn't the Prime Minister previously focus solely on planning the trade between Qi and Qin...?"

"Times have changed; how can we generalize?"

Hou Sheng glanced at him sideways, leaned back slightly, his slightly plump body moving forward, before slowly speaking:

"At that time, the person in charge of the Qin envoy was Zhou Wenqing, the Minister of the State. He was in charge of the Bureau of All Things and held real power over the circulation of goods. It would not be unreasonable to set aside the official business of the mission and chat with him about trade matters."

"If the negotiations go well, when he returns to Xianyang, he can say a few good words to the King of Qin and then send another envoy to facilitate the deal. It would be a win-win situation, and the King of Qin might even be happy to see it happen."

The confidant nodded repeatedly, deeply agreeing.

"But things are different now." Hou Sheng's tone shifted, becoming more cautious.

"The King of Qin has sent an envoy this time, making it clear that his purpose is solely for academic exchange at the Jixia Academy. Even though the eldest son, Fusu, is the crown prince, he is still just a child. How dare he overstep the King of Qin and make decisions on his own? I'm afraid he'll avoid us as much as possible."

"Even assuming he was young and ignorant enough to agree, what monarch in his prime would tolerate such an overreach of authority?"

"When the King of Qin is enraged, and in order to save face, he will not blame Prince Fusu, but instead blame us for instigating and inciting him, thus antagonizing the State of Qi. That would be a truly disastrous outcome!"

The confidant stood to the side with his hands at his sides, seemingly listening respectfully, but secretly he was not impressed.

Isn't this a bit too cautious?

That's a huge profit! Why not take the meat that's practically handed to you? Is the Prime Minister getting senile?

This timid and hesitant behavior makes it seem as if my Great Qi is utterly vulnerable, fearing Qin like a tiger. It's truly a pity. Perhaps...

He was secretly calculating in his heart, but when Hou Sheng glanced at him, he quickly lowered his head and said, "Prime Minister, you have great foresight. It was my oversight."

Hou Sheng had been navigating the political landscape for decades; he was incredibly shrewd and saw right through the resentment and disdain in Hou Sheng's heart.

He didn't get angry, but just sneered coldly, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Mind your own business, or else..."

The confidant felt a chill run down his spine, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees in the carriage with a thud, his voice trembling.

"Uncle, I didn't, I wouldn't dare."

"Hmph, it's best if there isn't one."

Hou Sheng withdrew his gaze, leaned back against the cushion, and spoke in a slow, deliberate tone, carrying an undeniable air of authority:

"When you get back, tell your men to treat that Qin envoy with the utmost care, providing him with fine wine, delicacies, and fine clothes. Make sure he's treated with the utmost courtesy. Arrange for him to finish his business at the Jixia Academy as soon as possible so he can leave quickly. Don't cause any trouble. Understand?"

"Yes, yes, I understand." The confidant kowtowed repeatedly, a layer of fine sweat beading on his forehead.

"Also, keep a close eye on Tian Zhong and his men. If the Qin envoys stay in Linzi for even a day, they are not allowed to approach the outer pavilions or banquets, and they are absolutely forbidden from publicly discussing the Qin court's affairs, otherwise..."

Hou Sheng slightly raised his long, narrow eyelashes, and a cold, indifferent gaze swept over him. "I'm going to hold you accountable."

The confidant quickly responded, bowing his head even lower: "Prime Minister, rest assured, I will make arrangements as soon as I get back. I will keep a close eye on things and will not dare to make the slightest mistake."

Hou Sheng grunted in response, leaned back against the cushion, closed his eyes, and sighed inwardly.

The descendants of our own clan are truly getting worse with each generation, even worse than the women; they are all short-sighted and narrow-minded.

After much deliberation, this one is the only one I have right now. He's fairly obedient, so I'll keep him around and train him a bit. He'll be usable, but he's still better than those who think they're clever on their own.

Alas, what a pity, Zhou Neishi died at the worst possible time.

Otherwise, wouldn't he also be envious of that lucrative business?

------

At the same moment, the atmosphere inside the four-horse carriage of the Qin delegation ahead was completely different.

Zhou Wenqing sat beside Fusu, his gaze warm and full of satisfaction, fixed on Fusu for a moment, until Fusu felt a little uncomfortable and lowered his eyes slightly.

"Sir," Fusu said, his tone tinged with uncertainty, "was there something I did wrong just now?"

"No." Zhou Wenqing shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips, his tone gentle. "You did very well."

Even if he were in charge, he couldn't do any better.

A subtle emotion flickered in Zhou Wenqing's eyes.

In his presence, Fusu was always gentle, humble, obedient, and considerate. But just now, standing before Qi Chen, the young man was dressed in a deep robe, dignified and aloof, exuding the solemn demeanor of the heir apparent of Qin. This was the first time Zhou Wenqing had ever seen him like this, and he found it quite novel.

Seeing that his master didn't say anything more, Fusu breathed a sigh of relief. He carefully considered his words, a hint of disappointment hidden in his eyes, and asked softly:

"Sir, why are you no longer using the identity of Guest Elder Yao? Are you not planning to show up at the banquet tomorrow?"

Although he had grown a lot along the way eastward, Fusu believed that he had indeed grown a lot. Along the way, he followed his teacher to investigate the people's conditions and learn principles. Later, he gradually became more and more adept at handling government affairs, appeasing the people, and rectifying officialdom. Compared with the naivety and immaturity when he first left Xianyang, he had become much more calm and restrained.

He knew that he was now capable of handling things on his own, and that even if he faced the ruler and ministers of Qi, he would never lose his composure or disgrace the Qin court.

But if my husband isn't standing behind me, I always feel a strange lack of confidence deep down.

Zhou Wenqing smiled faintly upon hearing this, a sly glint in his eyes: "How could I possibly miss such a grand banquet?"

He paused, glancing through the gap in the carriage curtain at the approaching city of Linzi.

The mere act of welcoming them at the pavilion, with its abundance of fine silks, music, and precious artifacts, demonstrates the wealth and extravagance of the State of Qi. The formal banquet tomorrow will undoubtedly be even more lavish.

At that time, the civil and military officials of Linzi and the scholars of Jixia Academy will gather together, and countless talents will be present. Zhou Wenqing's purpose in coming to Qi is to recruit talents for his king. How could he miss this opportunity?

However, Yao Jia's identity is clearly inappropriate.

In the future, Yao Jia will also sow discord among the six states, travel the world to gather intelligence, and find internal agents in order to weaken the feudal lords' will to resist Qin and pave the way for the unification of Qin. Qi is a wealthy state and plays an important role among the states in the east, which is Yao Jia's key target in the future.

In particular, Hou Sheng, the prime minister of Qi, was a key figure for Yao Jia to use his strategies to win over and control others in the future.

If he were to act under Yao Jia's identity in Linzi today, leaving an impression on the Qi officials, it might sow the seeds of future problems for Yao Jia's mission, thus delaying long-term plans and resulting in more harm than good.

Anyway, this is the State of Qi. Even if the King of Qi had a hundred times the courage, he wouldn't dare let any member of the delegation make the slightest mistake in his capital. So...

Zhou Wenqing looked at Fusu: "Fusu, at the grand banquet in the Qi Palace tomorrow, I will change into a simple blue robe and serve by your side as your attendant, is that alright?"

"Shuren!"

Fusu's eyes widened, and his voice unconsciously rose a half-octave as he spoke somewhat nervously:

"W-W-Wait, isn't that a bit too unfair to you, sir?"

All the legitimate officials in the delegation were willing to step down for Zhou Wenqing. How could this mere attendant, without any rank or position, be worthy of the title of "Master"?

Zhou Wenqing smiled and waved his hand, not taking it to heart.

The Attendant is a private minister serving a nobleman. Although his position is not very high, it is extremely important. In particular, the Attendant serving Fusu is someone that no one would easily want to offend. At the same time, unlike the Chief and Deputy Envoys, he is not under constant scrutiny or guarded at all times. It can be said to be a position that allows one to both attack and defend.

Zhou Wenqing was very satisfied. He waved his hand and immediately made the decision: "It's settled then."

Seeing that Fusu still looked uneasy, Zhou Wenqing gently comforted him, "Don't worry, with you, the eldest son, standing up for me, who would dare to slight me?"

Does the gentleman trust me so much?

Upon hearing this, Fusu felt a warmth in his heart and vowed to perform well and never disappoint his teacher.

However, Zhou Wenqing changed the subject: "Furthermore, even if there is any unexpected trouble during the banquet, it will not matter. Yao Jia is present. He has experience and should be able to handle such situations without any problem. He will definitely be able to protect me."

Fusu: "..."

He was speechless for a moment, all the emotion and warmth he had felt just moments before caught in his throat.

So you didn't trust me after all!

But no matter what, at least his master could accompany him to the banquet, and Fusu was still happy.

By the time the delegation arrived at the Qi foreign legation in a grand procession and settled in, it was already dusk.

As dusk settled, the lanterns under the eaves of the building lit up one by one, their orange glow swaying gently in the evening breeze.

Fusu, Zhou Wenqing, Yao Jia, and others gathered around a table, discussing the details of tomorrow in hushed tones. The steam rising from the teacups blurred the bamboo slips spread out on the table.

Just then, Li Yi, who was guarding outside the door, suddenly knocked lightly on the door, lowered his voice, and respectfully reported, "Sir, Young Master, the secret guards have news to report."

The room suddenly fell silent.

Zhou Wenqing put down his teacup, his brows furrowed. Fusu subconsciously sat up straight, and Yao Jia also stopped twirling his pen. The three of them exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with caution.

The fact that Li Yi would be willing to interrupt them at this moment to report this news must be...

A sense of unease settled over the group.

The lights in the room flickered, and the atmosphere suddenly became heavy and tense.

Zhou Wenqing composed himself and said in a deep voice, "Come in."

The door was gently pushed open, and a dark figure slipped in silently, kneeling on one knee and presenting sealed letters sealed with wax.

The guard was covered in dust from his journey, clearly having traveled day and night at breakneck speed to deliver the secret letter.

Li Yi took it and handed it to Zhou Wenqing.

Fusu leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "Sir, is this South Korea...?"

Zhou Wenqing opened the secret letter with his fingertips and quickly scanned it, reading ten lines at a glance.

A moment later, he slowly closed his eyes, letting Yao Jia, who could no longer wait, reach out and snatch the secret letter. His voice, slightly hoarse, uttered four words:

"South Korea...is gone."