Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

"That's wonderful, sir!"

Fusu, unable to maintain his mature demeanor for so long, smiled and cheered, instinctively clutching his master's sleeve and shaking it, his eyes filled with undisguised joy and excitement.

Zhang Han couldn't help but raise his fist and swing it in the air, as if to send out this excitement through the wind of his fist, and then exhaled a long breath.

Wang Ben strode forward, reached out his hand, and without a word, pulled Jiang An up from his bowing position. He then punched Jiang An in the chest with his fist and laughed loudly:

"Good lad! Loyal and principled, I like him!"

Jiang An was already deeply shaken and unable to calm down. After years of suppressing his long-cherished wish, he had just made the vow on instinct. He was still in a dreamlike daze, feeling light as a feather.

Suddenly struck in the chest by a solid punch, Jiang An snapped back to reality. Before he could even feel a surge of joy, a tightness gripped his chest, and he coughed softly twice.

The next second—

"Thump!"

A dull, solid stomping sound rang out.

"hiss--!"

Wang Ben instantly grimaced, gasping in pain as his face contorted in agony.

He looked down and saw Meng Yi calmly withdrawing his foot from his boot, looking up to meet his gaze. Meng Yi showed no guilt, but instead glared at him with disdain, his eyes practically overflowing with contempt.

"Could you learn from me to be more composed and steady? Don't always act so recklessly. If you accidentally hurt our main debater in three days, can you take the responsibility?"

"Why are you glaring at me? Do you think you're blind? Apologize right now!"

Wang Ben felt the pain in his instep almost go numb, his face alternating between pale and flushed, his expression switching repeatedly between pain, anger, and guilt. Before he could decide whether to confront that bastard who was clearly taking revenge on his behalf or apologize to Jiang An, Jiang An had already caught his breath.

He waved his hands repeatedly, a barely suppressed, light and relaxed smile appearing on his lips, his voice cheerful, with a hint of lingering hoarseness.

"It's alright, it's nothing. It's I who should thank the generals and everyone else for standing up for me and being so trustworthy. I am truly grateful and have no way to repay you..."

"Sigh~"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Han, whose wine glass was slightly behind him, raised his voice to interrupt.

He deftly pushed aside his two unreliable brothers, slipped between them, placed a hand on Jiang An's shoulder, a glint of gold in his eyes, and said with a beaming smile:

"We're brothers, so let's not talk about reporting or anything like that. Just make sure you take on the job at the Court of Justice when you go to Xianyang."

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Two more muffled thuds followed, and Wang Ben and Meng Yi simultaneously withdrew their fists.

"You wish!" Meng Yi laughed and scolded. "I might as well take care of all your military duties for you!"

Wang Ben raised an eyebrow: "I'm just afraid you'll be lucky enough to slack off, but if my father finds out later, you won't live to enjoy yourself!"

Zhang Han cried out "Ouch!" and rubbed his back. He glanced left at the uncivilized Wang Ben and right at the smiling but treacherous Meng Yi. He couldn't afford to offend either of them, so he could only grit his teeth and mutter under his breath:

"...Schadenfreude, just wait and see. If I'm ever dragged into being a scribe again, I'll throw a tantrum and demand that Uncle Zhou drag you all into the pile of documents at the Court of Justice."

"Hey, what did you say?!" Wang Ben glared and rolled up his sleeves, ready to step forward.

Zhang Han quickly jumped back several steps, grabbed Jiang An and pulled him in front of him to shield him, his tone self-righteous:

"Good brother, your time to repay me has come!"

After saying that, he half-hid behind Jiang An, only peeking out half his head, and gave Wang Ben a provocative look.

"Come on, try and make a move! If you accidentally hurt Brother Jiang, the main debater in three days, Uncle Zhou will tear you apart!"

"you--!"

Wang Ben burst into laughter in anger, his five fingers clenched together, his knuckles cracking, and he spoke with a sinister grin:

"Good junior brother, it's been a long time since we sparred. Today is the perfect day. Come out and let your senior brother give you some pointers!"

"Wait, everyone, don't fight, let's talk this out..."

Jiang An staggered a couple of steps after being pulled, her mind still reeling from what was happening, but she had already instinctively started trying to mediate the fight.

However, the two men's auras were too strong, and Jiang An swallowed nervously, casting a pleading look at Meng Yi beside her.

Unexpectedly, Meng Yi crossed his arms in front of his chest, took two steps back with a half-smile, looking like he was enjoying the show, and even deliberately tried to provoke him:

"What a coincidence! I was just looking forward to seeing what General Wang's skills were all about. I want to see if his son truly inherited his skills, or if his apprentice is more capable. I'm betting on the son. Jiang An, which side are you betting on?"

"Huh? This... I..."

Is that correct?

Having not laughed and joked with people his own age for a long time, Jiang An froze, somewhat at a loss, and stammered, speechless for a moment.

Several young people of similar age gathered together. Some rolled up their sleeves, some tried to mediate the fight, and some just watched the excitement. They chatted amongst themselves and soon became a group.

Jiang An was naturally caught up in the situation, caught between several people, trying to persuade the young general not to make a move, and trying to stop them from doing so, saying "Let's talk this out." He was extremely busy.

Nobody told me that recommending myself is a physically demanding task!

Jiang An was internally devastated and wailing, but a subtle curve appeared on his eyebrows that he himself did not notice.

Not far away, Zhou Wenqing, Yao Jia, and Ba Qing were forced to move and sit around the table behind the screen. Listening to the noisy voices of the boys, they looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly.

"The younger generation is unruly and disrespectful, which has made Madam Qing laugh at us." Zhou Wenqing rubbed the fan handle with his fingertips, his tone carrying a hint of a headache that was unique to elders.

"Not at all, Mr. Zhou, you flatter me."

Ba Qing shook her head slightly, her eyes smiling, her gaze falling on the group of people playing outside the screen. She lingered for a moment longer on the simple figure who was particularly busy, her tone gentle and somewhat indulgent.

"Youth is like the rising sun, it should be unrestrained and passionate. If everyone follows the rules and acts cautiously at every step, wouldn't all that sincerity and enthusiasm be wasted?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wenqing nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Fusu, who had silently joined Jiang An's camp and was maintaining order with a serious expression. He then spoke up in agreement:

"What you say is absolutely right. The rising sun should be full of vitality."

Yao Jia, standing to the side, held the teapot handle firmly and gently turned his wrist to slowly fill the cups of the three people with clear tea.

Hearing this, he looked up at Zhou Wenqing again and felt that it was rather incongruous for him to say these words. He raised an eyebrow and slowly teased him:

"Tsk tsk tsk! Hearing Zicheng's sighs, are you also itching to join those teenagers and have some fun with them?"

He gently placed the teapot on the table, turned his head to look at Zhou Wenqing, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, and teased:

"After all, compared to me and Madam Qing, Zicheng is like the rising sun."

Zhou Wenqing lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, glanced at him indifferently, and replied casually:

"I would like to, but unfortunately, I, the rising sun, am busy patching up the huge hole burned out by the blazing midday sun. I simply don't have the time."

His words hit the nail on the head.

Yao Jia's mischievous smile instantly froze, and he felt a pang of guilt. He awkwardly raised his hand to touch the tip of his nose, gave a dry laugh, and said embarrassedly:

"This...this isn't the nature of the blazing sun, it's just that its heat is a bit too strong. Fortunately, Zicheng was farsighted enough to handle the aftermath perfectly. This is also a case of the capable doing more work. Thank you for your hard work..."

Zhou Wenqing listened with a look of considerable satisfaction, gave a light hum, slightly raised his chin, and accepted his pleas for mercy and flattery with a hint of smugness in his eyes.

Seeing this, Ba Qing finally couldn't help but raise her sleeve to cover her lips and chuckle softly.

Oh, the rising sun...

A crisp laugh reached his ears, and Yao Jia suddenly snapped out of his daze, realizing that he might have been a little too obsequious. He quickly coughed twice, stopped talking, and bowed to Ba Qing with a wry smile, saying somewhat awkwardly:

"I apologize for making you laugh, Madam."

"where."

Ba Qing lowered her hand from her lips, the smile still lingering in her eyes, and simply shook her head gently.

"Today, Qing is unusually happy. In a daze, it is as if he has returned to his childhood."

Her gaze pierced through the screen, landing on Jiang An in the hall, but her thoughts seemed to drift past the figure before her to another person. Her voice softened, tinged with a faint sense of melancholy.

"Jiang Ning and I have known each other since childhood and have a deep bond. Even as we have grown older, become burdened by worldly affairs, and experienced unpredictable separations and reunions, and faced numerous hardships and changes in our lives, we have always supported and comforted each other. Our friendship has not diminished in the slightest, but has instead grown even stronger."

"She was exceptionally talented, and in her youth she was like the rising sun breaking through the sky, dazzling and captivating. I still remember that she once sent me a letter from afar, mentioning her determination to go to Qi and do something extraordinary. I was filled with trepidation, but we were thousands of miles apart and there was nothing I could do until I finally had the opportunity to go to Qi to meet her during a business trip."

At this point, Ba Qing's eyes seemed to be ignited by the old memories, and the faint melancholy from before faded away, replaced by a clear and bright light, as if she had seen through the dust of time and witnessed that heart-stirring scene again.

"At that time, she had already tied her hair up and put on a crown. Dressed in a simple white robe, she stood proudly on the podium, engaging in heated debate with several Confucian scholars. Her words were eloquent, generous, and imposing, forcing her opponents to defend themselves in a sorry state and almost flee. This drew the attention of all the teachers present, and all the students in the hall were full of admiration!"

As she got excited, her speech unconsciously quickened.

"If Jiang An hadn't been by her side, I almost wouldn't have recognized her. That dashing young man was actually my close friend from back then."

Ba Qing's eyes curved into a smile, her voice pausing, her eyes filled with reminiscence, as if she couldn't help but linger in those memories for a moment before finally letting go.

"Later, I got married and was tied down, so it was inconvenient for me to travel thousands of miles to find her. But I was often worried about her, and at the same time, I was sincerely happy for her pride."

"Unfortunately, fate is fickle..." Ba Qing sighed softly.

"When the storm suddenly broke and his identity was exposed, all his glory was torn apart. The cheers in the hall turned into a barrage of curses. He had no choice but to hide his sharpness and leave the stage in despair."

Her voice was heavy, and the light in her eyes was slowly veiled by a shadow of pain.

"Qingxin was extremely anxious, but helpless. Apart from secretly providing some financial assistance, he had no other way to help. He could only watch helplessly as his once spirited friend was trampled on by thousands and criticized by tens of thousands, leaving him exhausted, worn down, and no longer the spirited person he once was."

"I also watched as Jiang An, who used to be such a pure, gentle, well-behaved and sensible child, grew up with layers of sharp thorns at a young age amidst the harshness of the world. His obsessions deepened day by day, and he became confused, trapped, and unable to break free."

At this point, Ba Qing frowned, her fingertips twitched almost imperceptibly, and she could no longer hold back. She raised her hand to her chest, took a deep breath as if her breathing was labored.

Zhou Wenqing and Yao Jia looked at her quietly, their eyes filled with complex emotions. They almost simultaneously sighed, unable to find a single word of comfort, and remained silent.

Fortunately, Ba Qing quickly adjusted her emotions, put down her hand, and when she looked at the two people in front of her again, the thin layer of moisture in her eyes had been properly concealed, leaving only a clear mind.

"I couldn't contain my emotions and rambled on for a while. I hope you two gentlemen won't take offense."

Zhou Wenqing and Yao Jia had no reason to blame them and quickly shook their heads.

"Madam, you are overthinking it. The deep affection and loyalty between you and Lady Jiang is truly rare and admirable."

Upon hearing this, Ba Qing smiled faintly and said softly:

"To me, Jiang Ning is not only a close friend with similar ideals, but also a family member who has stood by me through thick and thin and relied on me through thick and thin. Time flies and people change. Now I have established myself and run a family, and I am busy with various things. She has also put away her sharpness and kept quiet in the world, as if the storms and hardships of the past have long since disappeared without a trace."

"But I can never forget Jiang Ning, who stood on the forum, fearless and radiant."

"I thought I would never see such a scene again in my life, but I never expected to have the good fortune to meet you all, and to meet... Mr. Zhou."

Ba Qing's eyes flickered slightly, landing directly on Zhou Wenqing.

"Qing traveled to various countries and traded all over the world for many years. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he had seen all kinds of people and all walks of life."

"People treat me, a mere businesswoman, with all sorts of attitudes: some are contemptuous and disdainful, some are flattering and fawning, some are indifferent and cold, some are arrogant at first but obsequious later. I think I've long been used to all of these, and I can deal with them calmly no matter what they are. Only Mr. Zhou..."

"I have never seen a person like Mr. Zhou before..."

As for what kind of person he was, Ba Qing couldn't say for sure at the moment.

She had heard of his illustrious achievements through rumors, witnessed his integrity and upright character firsthand, and glimpsed his vivid life through Aruo's recounting...

Even though I have heard and seen so much, and have a hundred feelings welling up in my heart, when I really try to sum it up in a single sentence, I feel that no words in the world are enough to describe it.

He was very different from the rest of the world.

Therefore, Ba Qing was willing to take the gamble.

I'm betting that Zhou Wenqing has a compassionate heart and worldly wisdom, and that he won't be blinded by worldly concerns. I'm betting that he's willing to let Jiang Ning, who has been buried by rumors and shackled by the whirlpool of fate, see the light of day again.

In hindsight, she won her gamble.

------

I've been a bit busy lately, but a message popped up the day before yesterday reminding me that the audiobook has been updated to the latest chapter. To avoid disrupting the progress, please resume normal updates as soon as possible Σ(っ°Д°;) っ

Okay, then I'll put in more effort. But I really can't find the time during the day, so I can only work overtime at night.

So, my dear friends, I apologize and ask for your understanding. If you find the title says "This chapter is incomplete," please read it again the next morning. (bows in thanks)

Don't follow my example and try to get enough sleep. I'll try my best to adjust in the future. Everyone, please take good care of your health! (｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡