Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

After sending the man back, Zhou Wenqing shook his head and sighed, his gaze returning to Yao Jia's feet as he gradually walked to the center of the hall.

That wolf's thigh stone fell right there.

Whether it actually protected me or not is another matter, but it was a gift from General Wang after all, and it was indeed quite handy to use, so it's a real shame to just throw it away.

Zhou Wenqing paused for a moment, then turned to look at Liu Bang, whose mood had visibly wilted after being driven away. He lowered his voice and quickly added, "Um, since it's convenient for you, remember to get it for me before the banquet ends."

Liu Bang's eyes lit up immediately. He raised his head heavily, patted his chest quickly, and assured them.

"Don't worry, sir! I've got your back!"

It really is a spirit stone!

Bah, no! It's that the gentleman truly possesses the ability of divine foresight; Liu Ji is about to rise to prominence!

On the other side, the confrontation between the leaders of the palace was already imminent.

Behind Hou Sheng, an elderly official with white hair was half-pushed and half-shoved forward by his colleagues. His smile was more like a grimace. When he stood in front of Yao Jia, a fine layer of cold sweat had already seeped from his forehead. He spoke quickly and urgently, taking the initiative to speak:

"Vice Envoy of Qin, please do not be angered! This man is foolish and arrogant, publicly offending the envoy of a superior state, intending to ruin the diplomatic relations between Qi and Qin. His crime is grave and unforgivable! This is his own selfish act, and is by no means the intention of the people of Qi!"

"Qi and Qin have always been on good terms, and my king is furious! This man will be executed and torn to pieces, to give you envoys a proper explanation!"

As he spoke, he frequently gave the guards on the side of the hall signals, urging them to quickly drag the doctor from Jimo out of the hall. He clearly intended to pin all the blame on him, kill one person to end the turmoil, and preserve the dignity of the Qi Kingdom as soon as possible.

Hou Sheng was so angry he was almost ready to take action himself. He glared fiercely at the incompetent guards, his eyes filled with urgency and malice.

Drag him away! Get him out of here right now!

The guards felt a chill run down their spines from that gaze and became even more determined. They wrapped the thick rope around Doctor Jimo's body twice more, dragging and pulling him out of the palace gate.

"Wait a moment."

Yao Jia's voice was not loud, but it was like a lock that was not too tight or too slow, gently holding back the accelerating pace in the hall.

He turned around, raised his hand to block the way, and spoke to stop them. His expression was calm, but it made the guards stop in their tracks, standing there at a loss, looking at Hou Sheng with pleading eyes.

Damn it, these few slow-moving good-for-nothings!

Hou Sheng cursed me inwardly, but put on a fawning smile. "Guest Minister Yao, this traitor is insane, ignorant of manners, and a complete madman. His words are not to be trusted. He has offended you all today. I..."

"Prime Minister, do not be anxious."

Yao Jia turned around, glanced at him indifferently, then stood in the center of the hall, straightened his sleeves, and then faced the King of Qi, gracefully bowing and speaking frankly:

"Your Majesty, I believe that such a hasty conviction and execution in court is far too rash."

He raised his head, his expression frank and his thoughts clear:

"Today in the main hall, time and again, some people have said that our Great Qin is tyrannical and oppressive. If Qi were to execute this person hastily without investigating the reasons, wouldn't the news spread to the other six states, leading to wild speculation and confirming the rumors, thus causing our Great Qin to suffer an unjust accusation!"

Yao Jia's gaze suddenly sharpened as he swept his eyes over the various Qi officials in the hall, each with a different expression. His voice was deep and resonant as he questioned them, each word deliberate and forceful:

"May I ask King Qi and his ministers, is your country's action due to folly and oversight, or is it a malicious act, a deliberate attempt to use your ministers' words to smear our Great Qin and secretly provoke us?"

A single question struck like a thunderbolt from the palace.

None of the officials dared to speak, and even the King of Qi's impotent rage abruptly ceased as he subconsciously looked at Hou Sheng.

What should we do? This diplomatic incident could be a big deal or a small deal, but if it's not handled properly, it could have far-reaching consequences.

Whether they were radical anti-Qin factions or numb pro-Qin factions focused on self-preservation, none of them wanted to start a war with the Qin Dynasty!

A cold sweat instantly soaked his back. He disregarded his excruciating back pain, quickly shook off the temple's support, stepped forward, and protested:

"You flatter me, Guest Minister Yao. Our State of Qi has absolutely no such intention!"

"That's good."

Yao Jia suddenly raised his voice, decisively cutting off his explanation.

His posture was dignified, and he once again bowed slightly to the throne, his manners impeccable, yet every word he uttered carried an unyielding sharpness:

"Your Majesty, I trust the King of Qi, and I also trust the sincerity of the people of Qi in their desire to befriend our Great Qin."

"Since that's the case, then we can't just let it go and cover it up. I urge King Qi to order this man released so we can get to the bottom of this. I'd like to know how my mighty Qin has become, in this man's words, an impudent and tyrannical state?"

Yao Jia stepped forward, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said solemnly:

"We implore King Qi to grant our request!"

The room fell silent, save for the clear and resonant final syllables of Yao Jia's voice, which lingered for a long time.

Fusu's bright eyes fell on Yao Jia, who was dressed in a dark robe that seemed to glow, right in the center of the hall.

In the grand hall of another country, he remained neither humble nor arrogant, his words resounding with power, displaying the might of our great Qin!

What about self-discipline and restraint? This must be the "great etiquette" that you mentioned!

King Jian of Qi sat on his throne, his face turning pale and then flushed, filled with anger and annoyance.

How dare a mere foreign official act in such a manner in my royal palace? Is this not a threat to me?

They've made me look so bad, and now they want me to release them? Where is my dignity and sovereign authority as the ruler of this country?

Despite his anger, when he met Yao Jia's firm, fearless, and unyielding gaze, King Qi Jian's confidence instantly crumbled, leaving him only with a heart full of fear and panic.

He couldn't afford to offend the Qin state.

King Jian of Qi's gaze darted back and forth between Hou Sheng and Yao Jia several times. After Hou Sheng repeatedly nodded in agreement, he finally managed to squeeze out a dry sentence, his resentment and resignation barely concealed:

"Then... then let's release him first, let him confess, and then I will deal with him."

"Thank you, King Qi."

Yao Jia immediately expressed his gratitude and looked back.

The guards who were holding the doctor of Jimo down tightly exchanged glances and looked at each other in bewilderment.

No, this person is harder to control than a stubborn donkey. We finally caught him, and then we let him go?

What if things don't go well after that... wouldn't we have to arrest them again?

A guard with a fist stuck in his eye looked miserable, almost on the verge of tears.

But with the emperor's command above all else, they eventually loosened their grip, though slowly, their eyes filled with vigilance, as if afraid that the person would fly away again if they let go.

Fortunately, this time the doctor from Jimo did not make things difficult. He shook his body, threw off the hemp rope, and moved his arm and wrist that were numb from being tied up.

The surrounding guards immediately surrounded them, their expressions tense and as if facing a formidable enemy.