Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Zhou Wenqing couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.

It's a pity. It would have been safer to have Miss Jiang Ning take the stage herself, but judging from Ba Qing and Jiang An's attitude, this path is probably not feasible.

Jiang Ning seemed unwilling to show his face. Even his strategy discussion last night was something they had induced and probed out of him. No one knew why.

But whatever, even if Jiang Ning were willing to step in, he simply couldn't agree.

The controversy was too great; otherwise, he would have had Madam Qing intervene long ago.

Otherwise, if these two women joined forces, he wouldn't have any worries at all.

Upon thinking of this, a rather absurd idea suddenly surfaced in my mind.

—How about we dress up as men?

Nonsence!

The thought had barely crossed his mind when he suppressed it.

They've really gone mad; this isn't a play!

During the Warring States period, the distinction between men and women in terms of etiquette, clothing, manners, and demeanor was vast. The Jixia Academy was a gathering place for scholars from all over the country, with famous scholars and sons of high-ranking officials from various states constantly coming and going, making it a place where everyone had eyes and ears.

They were always eyeing him covetously, and if a new talent emerged from the lecture hall, they would be green with envy, eager to abduct him, introduce him to the officialdom, or take him as a retainer, advisor, or son-in-law... and so on, using every means possible.

What's more, this time?

They were Qin envoys, already of special status, and had made a three-day agreement in front of the Qi ruler and his ministers. It was almost certain that on the day of the debate, everyone around the platform, standing in the corridor, crowding outside the wall, and even perched on the wall, would be waiting to find fault.

Surrounded by a crowd, Jiang Ning's figure, speech, and every gesture on the podium will be under scrutiny. If she reveals even the slightest flaw and her true identity as a woman is exposed, it will immediately lead to a terrible disaster.

The Jixia Academy was thrown into turmoil, and the people of Qi laughed and mocked. When the other states heard of this, they would surely seize the opportunity to exaggerate the Qin delegation's use of women as debaters to deceive the world. Their carefully planned war of public opinion would instantly become a laughing stock, and the Qin state would lose all face.

Of course, the one who suffered the most was Jiang Ning herself.

Even if one possesses a wealth of talent, it will be completely erased by the world. Even if one has the Qin envoy as a patron and is spared from being handed over to the government for "deception" and manages to save one's life by chance—but what then?

The mere fact that she was immediately ousted from the podium and expelled from Jixia Academy, along with the spittle and criticism she received, would have drowned her eight hundred times over.

She would be pointed at and cursed by thousands, her marriage and reputation would be ruined, and there would be no place for her in the world. She would be confined to her boudoir for the rest of her life, dependent on others and despised by everyone.

This is just her alone.

Judging from the talent and ability of Jiang Ning and Jiang An, they must have inherited family traditions or received instruction from a master.

When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer. This commotion will likely tarnish the reputation of the Jiang clan as deceitful and misleading. The entire clan will be labeled as "deceitful and cunning," and future generations will face discrimination and exclusion in their pursuit of official positions, marriages, and social interactions. The future of the entire clan will be ruined, including Jiang An. No matter how outstanding his talent is, he will never be able to hold his head high in the scholarly community!

As for his mentor, there's no need to elaborate.

If a teacher fails to recognize a student's true character, and the student commits such a heretical act, it is a sign of poor teaching and discipline. The teacher will be criticized by the literati, and his lifelong reputation will be ruined overnight. The reputation of the school will also be tarnished. If he wants to take on students and teach again in the future, he will likely be condemned by the scholars of the world.

In this world, it is already difficult for women to stand on their own two feet. If they are burdened with the serious crime of implicating their clan and disgracing their sect, how is this any different from forcing them to their death?

The thought of such a terrifying ending sent chills down Zhou Wenqing's spine.

No, no, absolutely not!

He had originally planned to bring the siblings back to Qin, entrust them with important responsibilities, and cultivate them well in the future. How could he do something like smashing the livelihoods of others, their entire clan, and even their master to pieces?

It's practically equivalent to digging up someone's ancestral graves, a despicable act that will bring misfortune to eighteen generations ahead. It's absolutely unacceptable!

Zhou Wenqing's mind wandered wildly, sometimes shaking his head repeatedly, sometimes feeling a chill run down his spine, and his expression constantly changing.

But everyone's eyes were on Jiang An, listening to him recommend himself to Yao Jia and try to prove himself. No one noticed the turmoil in Zhou Wenqing's heart.

At this moment, Ba Qing couldn't help but speak up, expressing his support for Jiang An.

"Guest Yao, in my opinion, your concerns at this moment are somewhat biased."

Ba Qing turned her head to look at the straight-backed boy beside her, her eyes calm, and slowly spoke.

"Jiang An has been by Jiang Ning's side since childhood, grinding ink and practicing writing. He has been influenced by what he sees and hears. In the past, when Jiang Ning debated with others and deduced the advantages and disadvantages of the current situation, he would often listen quietly and comprehend. Over time, his vision and ability to reason have surpassed those of ordinary children of the same age. Even compared with some learned old scholars, he may not be much inferior."

She paused slightly, as if remembering something, and glanced at Jiang An with a hint of helplessness, her tone a mixture of amusement and exasperation:

"However, he was introverted and always competitive. Whenever he compared himself with his sister, he felt that he was not good enough. It was this sense of shame that spurred him to study harder and harder, honing himself day and night, not daring to slack off in the slightest, for fear of falling too far behind his sister and being disliked by her..."

"Sister Qing!"

Jiang An's ears turned bright red instantly, and she almost jumped up from her seat. She forgot all her previous thoughts about not revealing her close relationship with Ba Qing so as not to implicate her. A gasp escaped her lips, her voice filled with panic and embarrassment.

"What, did I say something wrong?" Ba Qing looked at him with a smile, her tone leisurely, "Or do you consider yourself inferior to those pedantic scholars?"

"I..." Jiang An was choked by her words, her lips moved several times, and finally she could only mutter a sentence, "It's all because of my elder sister's good teaching. I can't compare to my elder sister, so naturally I have to work harder and strive to improve."

Although the words were humble, it was clear that the speaker acknowledged that they were in no way inferior to others.

Jiang An's cheeks flushed slightly. She knew that Ba Qing was trying to create an opportunity for her, but she habitually didn't think she had anything to boast about. She was just benefiting from her older sister's fame.

Therefore, he was determined to seize this opportunity to clear his sister's name!

Thinking of this, the blush on Jiang An's face faded, the light in her eyes became more stubborn and firm, her fists clenched unconsciously, and her gaze was fixed on Yao Jia, unblinking.

Yao Jia was being watched so closely that he couldn't stand it anymore.

He awkwardly picked up his teacup to cover his mouth, secretly thinking to himself, "Birds of a feather flock together. Monsters are surrounded by monsters, and this one is clearly a monster, yet he doesn't even realize it—truly enviable."

Look at the eldest son next to me, he looks so deeply shaken. He'll definitely be even more diligent when he gets back, and won't dare to slack off anymore.