Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Upon hearing this, Fusu was taken aback, subconsciously biting his lower lip. His worried gaze lingered on Zhou Wenqing's figure for a moment, but in the end, he still stood up as instructed and respectfully cupped his hands, saying, "Yes, Father."

He reached out and took Ah-zhu's hand, who was still clueless and somewhat bewildered. He whispered, "Let's go back inside first," and led him away from the yard.

As Fusu closed the door, he couldn't help but peek through the crack again. His master's figure in the courtyard looked even more frail in the afternoon light.

Father... he shouldn't do anything, right? He forced himself to suppress the unease in his heart.

He believed in his father.

However, Zhou Wenqing was somewhat skeptical.

He knew that what he said today was too risky. Right now, it was the time when the King of Qin was thoroughly purging Lü Buwei and the aftermath was not yet over. Although the prime minister had been dismissed and everyone had been banished from Xianyang, the once powerful Marquis Wenxin was still alive!

Lü Buwei's influence on the Qin court and the public was profound after years of maneuvering. Even after losing power, his influence remained. It should be noted that even Li Si was once a guest of his!

And how similar was his own argument of "drawing on the strengths of many" to the "inclusiveness" approach of the *Lüshi Chunqiu*? Even though he had tried his best to explain using the ladder Li Si offered, ...

This is practically walking into the line of fire!

No monarch wants to see their power slip away and be controlled by others, let alone Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China with great talent and ambition.

His obsession with strengthening imperial power will only intensify!

You can tell just by looking at how deeply he loved Han Feizi.

It is important to understand that the core of Han Fei's thought is the supremacy of monarchical power—"The affairs are in all directions, but the key lies in the center. When the sage grasps the key, all directions will follow suit."

So... even if he was wearing a disguise, did he still offend the dragon's wrath? Zhou Wenqing felt bitter.

His hand silently touched his chest, his fingertips could feel his slightly rapid heartbeat beneath the fabric, his eyes filled with doubt and uncertainty as he pondered whether he should have a fit.

I'm not feeling well, Your Majesty, as you know. Even if you said something, please don't hold it against me, considering I'm a patient.

They just poured me tea a moment ago; people can't be so fickle!

Li Si had already subtly moved forward half a step, his body slightly tense, his mind racing. If the king were to become enraged, he would have to step in and try to buy his brother Zicheng some room to plead for mercy.

Brother Zicheng, you have really gone too far this time. If I had known that you set up this stage to put on this show, why would I have cooperated with you like this?

You should at least have given us a heads-up beforehand!

Even a hint would have been helpful if they hadn't intended to overturn the table! Otherwise, we wouldn't have been so passive and caught off guard.

Despite the turmoil and unease in their hearts, Ying Zheng remained calm, watching Fusu lead Azhu away until the door was firmly closed, isolating the sounds from inside and outside. Only then did he slowly turn his gaze back to Zhou Wenqing.

"This," Ying Zheng began, his voice steady, revealing neither joy nor anger, yet carrying a terrifying majesty.

"Is this... Brother Zicheng's real concern?"

"What?" Zhou Wenqing was taken aback and didn't understand for a moment.

Ying Zheng sighed softly, stepped forward, and steadily supported Zhou Wenqing's arm, gently pressing him back into the rocking chair covered with a thick carpet, watching him settle down.

After all, she's still weak; I hope she doesn't get startled and fall again.

After watching Zhou Wenqing sink into the chair cushions and blankets and be properly settled, Ying Zheng looked down at him, one hand slipping into his sleeve, his gaze as deep as a still pool as he looked into Zhou's eyes, and asked again, word by word, clearly and slowly:

"I am asking, is this—is this the real reason why you, Lord Zhou, would rather 'leave a letter seeking death' than go to Xianyang?"

"boom!"

It was as if a thunderbolt had exploded in Zhou Wenqing's mind; his pupils suddenly contracted, and the blood in his body seemed to freeze in that instant.

He no longer needed to pretend. His fingers, gripping the fabric of his chest, tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning white. His face instantly drained of color, turning deathly pale. He couldn't help but lower his head, his chest heaving violently, his breathing becoming short and labored, and fine beads of cold sweat instantly appearing on his forehead.

"Ugh—!" A suppressed groan escaped her lips.

"Medicine!" Ying Zheng seemed to have been prepared for this. He took out a small ceramic bottle from his sleeve, uncorked it, poured out a brown pill that emitted a faint bitter smell, and swiftly but gently placed it into Zhou Wenqing's mouth, which was slightly open in pain.

With one hand, he steadily supported Zhou Wenqing's shoulder, which was slightly tilted back due to exhaustion, and with the other hand, he quickly picked up the warm water prepared on the table next to him and brought it to his lips.

"Be careful not to choke."

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Li Si, who was standing nearby, was already dumbfounded and speechless, his hands trembling.

No! Huh? This...

What's wrong with you all today? Didn't you even consult me?!

Zhou Wenqing subconsciously swallowed the pill. As the bitter and spicy taste of the medicine filled his mouth, the excruciating pain and suffocation that felt like his heart was being squeezed slowly receded like the tide. Although palpitations and weakness remained, the most dangerous moment seemed to have passed.

Seeing that his breathing was gradually stabilizing, Ying Zheng placed the water cup back on the table, but did not withdraw his supporting hand. Looking at his slowly recovering complexion, he said softly:

"I ordered people to search far and wide for renowned doctors in the countryside, and together with the Imperial Physician, we worked quickly to develop this pill to alleviate my heart ailment. It was completed and sent over last night. Although it cannot cure the disease, it seems to be working well for now."

No, is this the time to talk about this?!

Zhou Wenqing looked up in disbelief, the shock in her eyes not yet completely gone, and was then thrown into a daze by this completely inappropriate topic.

In that instant, his mind began to race—the King of Qin had chosen this moment, this place, and this situation to suddenly reveal everything, and he couldn't help but instinctively begin to consider the worst possible outcome.

I've almost decided where I'll be buried!

It should be noted that neither Ying Zheng nor Li Si were fools.

From initially testing Li Si in a playful manner to later offering maps and strategies almost openly, Zhou Wenqing even knew that "Li Fa" was truly good at law. Including Li Yi, since the two of them arrived, they had not urged each other to enter Xianyang, yet Zhou Wenqing had no doubts.

This made it impossible for Ying Zheng and his entourage not to know that their identities had been discovered.

However, they had already developed a tacit understanding with each other.

This tacit understanding was originally like a silent agreement: wise and capable people would pretend not to know, testing the monarch's character and paving the way for the future with their words and actions; the monarch would pretend not to notice, patiently waiting for the right time, so that everything would fall into place and the relationship between the monarch and his ministers would be harmonious.

Although Zhou Wenqing had no intention of testing him, he was simply paving the way!

But now, this thin veil has been abruptly torn down by Ying Zheng himself.

And it happened right now, just as we've touched the dragon's Achilles' heel...

How could Zhou Wenqing not suspect that he was about to be disposed of?

But at this critical juncture, instead of flying into a rage, the King of Qin brought up... medicine making?

Zhou Wenqing was confused. He looked at Ying Zheng with a complicated expression: "Why...?"

The question seemed abrupt and nonsensical, but Ying Zheng understood it.

"Because," Ying Zheng's voice was deep and clear, as if he had already thought it through, "I can't wait any longer, and I don't want to see Lord Zhou or Brother Zicheng again, and continue to suffer this humiliation."

"Humiliated...?" Zhou Wenqing's eyes widened in astonishment, almost thinking he had misheard. "What do you mean by that?"

Ying Zheng did not answer directly. He first gently placed the small ceramic bottle containing the medicine on the low table in front of Zhou Wenqing, making a soft, steady sound, before looking at him again with a deep and serious gaze.

"With your talent, Zhou Jun, you possess a wealth of wisdom and insight into the ways of the world. You should be able to speak freely and openly. However, since I met you, you have been burdened by your status and past doubts, and you have always been hesitant to speak frankly. You must first consider whether your words are appropriate and whether your actions will offend anyone. You even have to use your frail health as a shield and your clever words as a means of communication."

Zhou Wenqing's eyes flashed. He could let the rest go. Although he didn't think so, it was good that the King of Qin thought so. It made him seem very powerful.

You tried to fake illness just this once, but before you could even fake it, you actually got sick, and that was noticed?

It's a bit embarrassing.

Ying Zheng paused, his voice carrying an almost regretful solemnity: "If this is not humiliation, then what is it? It is my fault, and also the predicament of the times, that has caused the pearl to be covered in dust and the precious sword to be hidden. Now that I am aware of this, how can I sit idly by and watch the King of Zhou restrain himself so much, and struggle so hard to maneuver?"

Zhou Wenqing was stunned. He had anticipated countless possible answers, but he never expected it to be from this angle.

Ying Zheng continued, "Therefore, I cannot wait for the day when things will fall into place. I hope that Lord Zhou can see and believe in my sincerity. If the strategy I just discussed, which is based on the law and draws on the strengths of all, is indeed what Lord Zhou truly thinks, but dares not speak out because of the shadow of the Lü clan, then I can now tell Lord Zhou clearly."

Ying Zheng's tone rose slightly, each word clear and resounding.

"I am willing to listen to, accept, and implement this plan. Lord Zhou can put aside his concerns and speak frankly from now on."

His gaze suddenly sharpened, and his voice became domineering and resolute: "Of course, if you, Lord Zhou, have any other concerns, whether they concern your origins, past events, or other doubts about me or the Great Qin, please inform me as well. I am confident that I will do my utmost to clear away any worries you may have."

At this point, his tone softened strangely, taking on a tolerant and accommodating quality: "Of course, if Brother Zicheng still feels the time is not right, that's fine too. We can still get along as before, and I will cooperate, just as I promised when we substituted tea for wine."

"Zhong is willing to wait, until Brother Zicheng is willing and gives without reservation."

He looked at Zhou Wenqing one last time, his eyes filled with a profound and honest sincerity:

"What I have said and done today is simply to let Lord Zhou see with his own eyes that my desire to seek out talented people is not only to use their talents, but also to reassure them and gain their trust. I hope that Lord Zhou can understand this sincerity."

After he finished speaking, the courtyard fell silent.

Sunlight filtered through the bare branches, casting dappled shadows on the two figures, one standing and one sitting, their light and shadow flickering.

Zhou Wenqing leaned back in his chair, gazing at the monarch before him, his heart surging with unprecedented emotion, unable to express himself for a long time.

It was him... who underestimated the charisma of this emperor who would be remembered for all time...