Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Hearing the rustling sound of fabric behind us, the carriage finally gained a rare moment of peace.

Zhou Wenqing was finally able to move out of the corner where he had been curled up for so long, gently leaned his back against the soft cushion, and let out a long sigh of relief.

He traveled from Chenjun to Linzi, enduring hardships of mountains and rivers, sleeping in the open, and traveling long distances. Although he was physically tired, he was full of energy and did not feel anything amiss.

But it was precisely this short journey from the side hall of Zhanghua Hall back to the outer residence that left Liu Bang so exhausted that his head was buzzing and he was physically and mentally drained. He even had the thought of jumping out of the carriage and escaping!

It is evident that Emperor Gaozu of Han's reputation for having an "inexhaustible tongue" was well-deserved.

Miscalculation, miscalculation! Zhou Wenqing gritted his teeth inwardly and vowed that from now on, he would never choose to ride with Liu Bang and Fan Kuai again; he was simply too exhausted.

Of course, Liu Bang and Lu Wan, this lovable duo, were even less suitable.

That would be more than just mentally exhausting; it could be deadly!

It's always better to have your own disciple; they're thoughtful, obedient, and even brew excellent tea.

He glanced at the cup of tea on the table, which had long since gone cold, and shook his head helplessly. He had no choice but to do it himself, pouring out the cold tea, then picking up the copper kettle and pouring in boiling water to brew a fresh cup of tea. The rising steam finally made him feel like he could catch his breath.

The carriage gradually slowed down, and the sounds of the caravan and the guards from the outer quarters exchanging greetings could be faintly heard through the carriage curtain.

Finally, they arrived. Zhou Wenqing relaxed, picked up the freshly brewed tea, and took a small sip. Just then, a shadow fell from above onto the table, blocking most of the light in front of him.

Guessing that it was Liu Bang who had changed his clothes, Zhou Wenqing looked up, about to give him a few more instructions, but the moment his gaze fell and he saw the person's appearance clearly—

"Pfft—cough cough cough cough!"

The hot tea he had just swallowed suddenly sprayed out, soaking the wooden table in front of him and even getting his sleeves wet.

"You, you're... a bit..."

Zhou Wenqing coughed repeatedly, quickly covering his mouth with a handkerchief, while pointing at Liu Bang with his other hand, unable to form a complete sentence for a long time.

"Sir, I know, please don't say anything more. Just make do with this for now. I'll change it as soon as I get back."

Liu Bang also looked utterly hopeless, looking down and tugging at the cuffs of the blue robe, as if trying to straighten it, but the fabric had already been torn to shreds and couldn't be pulled out neatly no matter how hard he tried.

Even Fan Kuai stared wide-eyed at him, his face filled with shock. His fists clenched involuntarily, his knuckles itching, and he had an urge to punch someone in the face.

Well, these clothes, how should I put it, aren't exactly ill-fitting.

After all, although Zhou Wenqing was thin, he was not short, so the length of his clothes and sleeves should have been appropriate.

The problem is that the two have vastly different bone structures and body sizes.

Zhou Wenqing has a handsome figure. The plain-colored scholar's robe he wears is smooth and fits him well, with clean lines and even a slight looseness, which makes him look more elegant, composed and gentle.

But Liu Bang had a broad frame and strong shoulders, so the clothes were not loose at all; it would be a miracle if he could even squeeze into them.

The shoulder seam of the robe stopped an inch beyond his shoulder, the fabric stretched horizontally, creating creases. His waist was tightly bound, and even the outline of his abdomen was faintly visible. When he raised his hand, the fabric pulled out a tight horizontal crease, and when he put it down, it was covered with uneven wrinkles. He was wrapped up like a freshly tied rice dumpling, and even his breathing seemed labored.

The most fatal flaw is the completely mismatched demeanor and style.

After all, these were Zhou Wenqing's spare robes. His style of dress was not entirely unrelated to Liu Bang's; it was simply worlds apart!

The intense visual dissonance was like Lu Bu taking off his beast-faced chainmail armor, discarding his halberd, and putting on Zhuge Liang's crane-feather cloak, holding a goose feather fan in his hand, his muscular waist barely restrained by the jade belt around his waist, standing open in front of you.

Of course, Liu Bang was far smaller than Lü Bu, and his disheveled clothes were simply because he was used to wearing coarse cloth and short tunics, which he could tie with a simple pull. It was the first time he had ever faced the belt, cord, and hidden buckle of a long robe, and he fumbled around for a long time, only to end up tying it crookedly. In addition, he had a roguish and cunning temperament that had long been ingrained in his bones.

He was exactly the kind of frivolous playboy you see most often in the streets, the kind who wears a long gown and pretends to be refined, who is all talk and no action, and who spends his days slick-tongued and wandering around trying to seduce girls.

It's so...it hurts my eyes to look at it.