Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Looking at the shocked, suspicious, and somewhat accusatory gazes cast upon him by everyone in the room, Zhou Wenqing felt his ears burning and a sense of embarrassment rising in his heart.

Well! Wasn't that just the right amount of atmosphere?

When the blunder was exposed, he was indeed both surprised and furious.

The consequences of this information discrepancy are truly devastating!

He had previously secretly admired Yao Jia for his confident and eloquent demeanor at the palace banquet, where he publicly pledged to participate in the Jixia Academy of Daoist teachings, appearing as if he had everything under control.

He appeared confident that he could debate with a group of scholars and crush all schools of thought.

He truly deserves to be called a renowned strategist and diplomat in history; he certainly has great courage and vision!

Unexpectedly, after all that fuss, it turned out that Yao Jia had no real confidence on his own.

He clearly placed all his bets and all his chips on himself, tacitly acknowledging that Zhou Wenqing could easily crush all the learned and talented scholars of Jixia with his own strength.

That's...outrageous!

Realizing this, and recalling that moment—all the admiration, appreciation, and praise vanished.

All that remained was fear and trepidation.

Zhou Wenqing felt the veins on his forehead throbbing.

Who gave him the courage?

Oh, it's me~ Well... things are even bigger now!

Once again, I cried out in my heart, "What kind of image do I have in the eyes of these people?!"

Even a saint cannot be proficient in everything and take it for granted that he has no shortcomings.

Hmph, they deserved to be scared!

But upon reflection, it's clear that Yao Jia's initial entry into power cannot be entirely blamed.

After all, he also bears some responsibility for this.

Who would have thought that the teacher chosen by the King of Qin to educate his eldest son, Fusu, harbored a cognitive bias that spanned thousands of years, and in a sense, was half "illiterate" in the context of pre-Qin classical studies?

Even though they inherited the original memories of this body, the language habits of later generations, which are ingrained in their bones, are difficult to completely change in a short period of time.

Countless idioms and proverbs that are familiar to later generations have been interpreted out of context and lost over thousands of years. By the time they reached the pre-Qin period, their original meanings had been completely reversed.

Even now, recalling that "suffocating" afternoon, Zhou Wenqing still feels his scalp tingle, his toes grip the ground, and he is so embarrassed that he wishes he could dig a hole and bury himself on the spot.

Japan had clear skies, gentle breezes, and leisurely clouds – perfect weather.

After finishing his official business at the Su Neishi Temple, he returned to his residence. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw that the Zhou residence was unusually lively today.

Li Si, the most competitive person in the Qin Dynasty, instead of returning to his own residence to continue reviewing papers, came to this place, leaned back in a rocking chair, and leisurely swayed a folding fan in his hand, looking quite carefree.

Not far away, at a bluestone table, the two old generals, Wang Jian and Meng Wu, were frequent visitors. They sat on opposite sides, with two jars of fine wine still sealed with mud on their hands, and their laughter was hearty.

Zhou Wenqing paused for a moment before stepping forward, giving a casual nod to the two old generals, and then turning his gaze to Li Si.

Zhou Wenqing raised an eyebrow, stepped forward, first bowed to the two old generals as a greeting, then turned his gaze and accurately landed on Li Si.

Seeing his leisurely demeanor as if he were the master of the house, Zhou Wenqing didn't stand on ceremony. He reached out and snatched the folding fan from the other man's hand, which he was waving enthusiastically. He shook it and said sarcastically:

"Oh, isn't this the dignified Li Tingwei, who is always busy with affairs of state? What brings you here today? Have the time to condescend to my humble courtyard to enjoy the cool air?"

His hand suddenly went empty, but Li Si wasn't annoyed. He simply shook his head, raised his hand and gestured towards the empty rocking chair beside him, teasingly remarking:

"It just so happens that the new tea has just come in. Knowing you like it, I, the 'busy Li Tingwei,' couldn't resist sending it over to 'Zhou Neishi'."

"Sit down and have a taste, don't waste this fine tea."

Zhou Wenqing's gaze swept suspiciously across Li Si's face before settling back on the cup of freshly brewed tea on the table.

The tea soup is clear and bright, and the tea buds are fully unfurled; it is undoubtedly a good tea.

He put down his folding fan, sat down in the rocking chair, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip. The tea was refreshing and had a sweet aftertaste.

He pursed his lips, took another sip, and then spoke slowly and deliberately:

"The tea is good, but usually Fusu brings this new tea along, so why did you make the trip yourself today?"

Li Si's eyes darted around, and he was about to speak when a loud voice from the side cut him off.

"Because he's weak!"

When this topic came up, General Wang seemed to suddenly become excited. He slammed his hand on the table, causing a few drops of wine to spill from his bowl. He winked at Zhou Wenqing and said teasingly:

"Zicheng, you missed a good show yesterday since you had the day off!"

"After court yesterday, His Majesty kept a few of us in the hall for a discussion. While Mr. Wei Liao was speaking slowly and deliberately, this fellow—" He pointed at Li Si, "tilted his head and actually slumped over the table in front of everyone!"

"That's right." Meng Wu couldn't help but add with a laugh, "The king called twice but didn't respond, which startled him. He thought the king had fainted, so he quickly ordered the eunuch to summon Physician Lü to the palace to treat him."

"Who would have thought that before the eunuch even left the hall, this fellow started snoring—it was incredibly loud, hahahahahaha!"

The two old generals, Meng Wu and Wang Jian, laughed so hard their beards trembled. Li Si's face burned with embarrassment, but he was at a loss for words with them. He could only smile wryly, raise his hands in a gesture of respect, and repeatedly beg for mercy.

"Two old generals, please stop laughing. Give me some face!"

"Oh?"

The two old generals exchanged a glance and laughed even harder.

"Brother Gu'an, have you been working on government affairs all night again?"

Zhou Wenqing glanced at Li Si with a mixture of amusement and helplessness, then shook his head.

"I imagine that if a candle merchant were to do business near your residence, he would have to burn incense to thank you—working day and night with a constant supply of lamp oil, it would be hard for his business not to thrive."

He paused, his tone a mix of teasing and sincere advice, and added, "Brother Gu'an, just so that the candle merchant doesn't actually put you on a pedestal at such a young age, you should rest early."

Li Si awkwardly touched his nose: "Definitely, definitely."

He agreed verbally, but his eyes clearly said, "This was an accident, I'll just have to get through it next time."

Zhou Wenqing knew his temperament all too well, sighed inwardly, and decided to have someone keep a closer eye on him in the future, so he didn't try to persuade him any further.

His gaze returned to the teacup in his hand, he took another sip, and then asked curiously:

"But what does it have to doze off in front of the King, Brother Gu'an, have to do with bringing me tea?"

"Don't be fooled by him!" Wang Jian immediately exposed him again. "He's not kindly bringing tea; he's clearly just coming to your house to freeload off your good tea!"

Seeing the lingering doubt in Zhou Wenqing's eyes, Meng Wu seized the opportunity to explain the situation in detail:

"Yesterday, Li Si fell asleep in front of the palace. The king was both angry and worried, and specially ordered him to take two days off, forbidding him from doing any official business and only allowing him to rest."

"This fellow couldn't sit still once he had some free time, so he immediately went to your residence, where he happened to run into the eldest son who had come to deliver new tea."

As he spoke, Meng Wu pointed towards the inner room, indicating, "Not only the eldest son, but the King is also resting inside."

Zhou Wenqing suddenly realized what was going on.

So that's how it is. What a lively day! Even the King has come!

However... Fusu...

Zhou Wenqing frowned.

It wasn't surprising that Fusu came to his residence, but it was rather strange that no one had come out even though he had been back for quite some time.

Didn't you hear anything?

Zhou Wenqing glanced at the stone table under the two generals, which was still covered with splashed wine.

That's too loud!

Li Si seemed to see through his inner confusion and explained with a gentle smile:

"The eldest son recently acquired two pieces of flawless glass and has been thinking about the telescope you made. Today, he finally managed to get the finished product you made from the King. As soon as he arrived, he went into the inner room to think about whether he could replicate it. He has been studying it for most of the day."

He paused, a barely suppressed smile playing on his lips: "I just went in for a quick look, and there hasn't been any progress so far. I'm afraid... there's little chance of progress."

"Why?" Zhou Wenqing asked instinctively.

"It's all because of the King."

Wang Jian leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously, "His Majesty is quite fond of that telescope, watching it intently, forbidding it from being touched, disassembled, or moved. He's so restrictive, even if the eldest son is clever, what can he possibly figure out?"

He leaned back in his chair, a hint of smugness in his voice, "Look at me. I watched Zhang Han take the telescope in my mansion apart, study it, and then put it back together, and it's perfectly fine."

"Stop trying to glorify yourself!" Meng Wu rolled his eyes in exasperation and called him out on the spot.

"That's because that telescope originally belonged to that brat Zhang Han. Zicheng only made two of them, the only two treasures he owned. If it really fell into your hands, you, Hun Bulin, you'd treasure it even more than the King!"

"Hey! You old scoundrel—"

When Wang Jian was exposed, his face turned red, and he immediately raised his fist as if to strike. Just then...

"I just heard a commotion in the courtyard. What amusing things are you all talking about? Let me hear it too."

However, Ying Zheng came out with Fusu.

Ying Zheng, dressed in plain white clothes and without a crown, appeared less imposing and more approachable and casual. He walked forward with steady steps.

Fusu followed beside his father, holding the brocade box containing the telescope carefully in his arms, his brows furrowed with a hint of grievance.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Everyone quickly rose to pay their respects.

Ying Zheng waved his hand, signaling everyone to dispense with formalities, and then turned his gaze to General Wang, who had just spoken ill of the king and was feeling extremely guilty.

The old general remained frozen in his previous posture, as if in a trance—his fist held high in the air, unsure whether to retract or release it.

Meng Wu's eyes darted around quickly, a mischievous smile flashing in them. He stepped forward first, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and raised his voice, deliberately drawing out the syllables:

"Your Majesty, just now—"

He had barely begun speaking, and before the last word had even finished, General Wang suddenly moved.

He jumped up with a start, stretched out his large hand, and quickly and accurately locked Meng Wu's neck, forcefully throwing him backward, sending him flying several steps.

He himself, however, narrowed his eyes into a wide smile, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "It's nothing important! Your Majesty, we were just joking!"

Ying Zheng had only asked the question casually, but seeing General Wang's strong reaction, he became interested instead.

"Oh? Is that really so?" He looked at Meng Wu with great interest.

Meng Wu nearly slammed his knee into the stone bench behind him. He steadied himself, clutching his burning neck, and glared fiercely at Wang Jian.

That old scoundrel really went all out!

But when the king looked over with amusement, his fierce expression froze, turning into embarrassment.

Oh no! I only wanted to play a trick on that old rascal, but I didn't expect him to react so strongly. How am I supposed to explain this now?!

Do you want to tell the truth? Actually, that old scoundrel didn't say much, it was just...

Meng Wu was on the verge of tears, filled with regret.

These two old rascals!

Seeing this, Zhou Wenqing shook his head helplessly and continued the conversation:

"Your Majesty, we were discussing whether the eldest son could replicate the telescope."

Upon hearing this, a hint of amusement flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes, and his gaze flickered subtly for a moment.

He knew perfectly well that it was thanks to him that Fusu could have successfully replicated it!

But Ying Zheng, of course, would not admit it. He merely glanced at his eldest son beside him and decisively shifted the blame onto him:

"Yes, Fusu is dull-witted and far less learned than Minister Zhou. Naturally, he cannot replicate the exquisite craftsmanship that Minister Zhou has created."

Father!

Fusu suddenly raised his head, his clear eyes filled with disbelief, and looked straight at his father, silently accusing him.

However... Ying Zheng pretended not to see it. He remained expressionless and silently reached out to press Fusu's stubbornly raised head back down.

The movements were so natural, as if he were gently stroking a kitten with its fur standing on end.

Alas! You raise a child for a thousand days, only to use him for a moment. In front of Minister Zhou, for the sake of my dignity, you should make a sacrifice.

Fusu: Waaaaah~ Father doesn't love me anymore~

Zhou Wenqing felt a pang of heartache when he saw his apprentice being forced to bow his head, pouting, looking aggrieved and unable to express his suffering.

He immediately spoke up, defending his son, and retorted, "Your Majesty is mistaken. The eldest son is exceptionally intelligent and has a down-to-earth nature. He can sit quietly for half a day, pondering deeply, in order to study something. Such perseverance and focus are rare in this world. How can he be considered dull-witted?"

He paused here, thinking that although he had to protect his disciple, he couldn't completely refute him for the sake of the king's face. So he changed the subject and pointed out Fusu's shortcomings:

"But now that you have returned to your residence, and are so close by, you can ask me for help with any problems you have. Instead of asking you, you insist on trying to figure it out on your own. This kind of closed-door approach, without any flexibility, is not the behavior of a smart child."

"Fusu, do you understand?"

His voice was clear and crisp, open and natural. Zhou Wenqing didn't feel anything was wrong with it, and his tone even carried the teaching tone of a teacher.

"...Understood?" Fusu answered hesitantly, his tone somewhat uncertain.

Huh? Why is that the reaction?

Just as he was about to nod in affirmation as usual, he noticed the hesitation in Zhou Wenqing's tone.

He leaned down slightly, bent over, and looked directly into the boy's eyes, clearly meeting Fu Su's bewildered gaze. A sense of confusion welled up in his heart.

Perhaps I explained it too obscurely, and the child didn't understand?

Can't you?

Zhou Wenqing pondered for a moment, still unable to figure it out, but upholding the duty of a teacher, he softened his tone and patiently guided her, saying, "Fusu, the teacher just said that if you have any problems, you can speak frankly without any worries."

Fusu hesitated for a moment, then, encouraged by Zhou Wenqing's gaze, finally nodded firmly and spoke loudly:

"Sir, I don't understand what you just said. Is this how the phrase 'reinventing the wheel' is used? It seems... different from what I've learned before."

The boy's clear words floated to the ground, but Zhou Wenqing's gentle smile suddenly froze.

His heart suddenly felt empty, and an extremely ominous premonition arose inexplicably.