Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

who is it?

Fusu's pupils suddenly contracted, his confusion completely vanished, and a flame suddenly rose in his eyes, so bright it was almost scorching.

All the clues, all the scenes, all the words, all converge at this moment, pointing to that one and only, majestic answer.

That answer, the figure that accompanied him day and night, teaching him, expecting of him, and often making him feel both awe and distance...

He is his father.

He was the Lord of Zhangtai in Xianyang, who aspired to conquer the world and swallow up all wastelands.

It was his father!

Fusu's hands had clenched into fists without him even realizing it. His small body trembled slightly from the turmoil churning within him. It wasn't fear, but a completely new and overwhelming understanding that was washing over his existing world.

What I saw and heard today, and what the gentleman said, was as if another door had been suddenly pushed open in front of him.

Beyond the gate lies not the elaborate and somewhat impractical gentlemanly etiquette and the way of benevolence and righteousness that the Confucian scholars used to preach all day long, but a much broader, more difficult, and more real and cruel path.

That was a path that used the world as a chessboard, cared for the people, and used iron and fire as a pen to write a truly peaceful and prosperous era.

Kingly way!

It is precisely in his future that he is destined to embark on, to understand, and to shoulder the responsibility.

Fusu may not be fully aware of it at this moment, but he has already gained a clear understanding.

"gentlemen."

Fusu suddenly stopped and turned around to face Zhou Wenqing. The light slanted across his eyebrows and eyes, illuminating his still-childish face in half-light and half-shadow.

He slowly raised his hands, gradually brought them together, and then bent down, performing a salute that was no different from his usual one, but exceptionally solemn.

"Student, I understand."

"I hereby swear an oath today." The boy's voice was not loud, but it was firm and resolute.

"In this life, I will never forget the great principle of peace and tranquility for the people of the world because of trivial courtesy, nor will I betray the great principle of stopping war, stabilizing the country, and creating lasting peace because of impractical and petty benevolence."

He paused, took a deep breath, and his eyes were more determined and bright than ever before.

"The students will remember this moment and strive to give back to the world a truly great gift!"

Fusu was by no means dull-witted; at this moment, he fully understood the intention behind his teacher's decision to bring him here today.

"Okay, okay, okay!"

Zhou Wenqing said "good" three times in a row. The stone that had been hanging in his heart for a long time finally fell to the ground, turning into a heart full of indescribable joy and complex emotions.

This perilous and nerve-wracking journey was ultimately worthwhile.

Yesterday, Fusu's intentions were good, but at such a young age, he already prioritized Confucian etiquette and naturally used the "rules" to measure and shape those around him. This made him feel both heartache and vigilance.

He feared that the child would be prematurely tamed by that sophisticated framework, losing his childlike innocence to perceive the joys and sorrows of real life, and also losing the more expansive and appropriate criteria for judging the world.

It now appears that the "ruler" was not distorted and its scale has been recalibrated.

Zhou Wenqing stepped forward, steadily helped Fusu up, pressed his hands on Fusu's still thin shoulders, and looked at him with a smile: "If you can understand these things, then this trip has not been in vain."

Zhou Wenqing thought for a moment and then added:

"However, I said yesterday that you were right to teach Ah-zhu to be polite, and that statement still stands today. The etiquette of a gentleman is about self-discipline and self-cultivation, and it is not just empty rhetoric that can be completely discarded."

"When you are young, use these rules to cultivate your upright character. Just like a newly planted seedling needs a bamboo frame to support it so that it can grow tall and strong. Once you have a solid foundation and have seen the vastness of the world, you will truly understand what is important. Then, your actions, sitting and lying down will naturally be upright and honest, without shame before others or your own conscience."

"But the balance and degree of this, how to uphold propriety without being rigid, and to be upright without being pedantic, you have to slowly understand and grasp it yourself, Qiaosong..."

Looking at the boy's face, which suddenly tensed up and looked unusually serious, Zhou Wenqing couldn't help but smile and gently ruffle his hair, making his neatly combed hair slightly messy.

"I believe you are a sensible child. From now on, I entrust Ah-Zhu's upbringing in terms of manners and etiquette to you. I'm sure you can guide him well, right?"

"Yes, sir!" Fusu straightened his back, nodded vigorously, his eyes shining, as if he had accepted some important military order.

"Alright, sir, I trust you." Zhou Wenqing nodded and made the decision.

After all, if he were to teach these cumbersome formalities, he probably wouldn't be as good as Fusu. This can be considered as solving a major headache for him.

Sigh! That's why it's always good to have a senior disciple who doesn't cause you any trouble!

After Zhou Wenqing finished his reflection, he quickly glanced around at the uncomfortable environment that was not yet completely gone, and the sense of vigilance that this place was not suitable for lingering resurfaced.

He swiftly grabbed Fusu's hand with one hand, and with the other, he accurately grasped Azhu, who was looking down, seemingly lost in thought. He lowered his voice, and his speech unconsciously quickened:

"If you're moved, you can go back and think it over carefully later. The atmosphere here is gloomy and we shouldn't stay any longer. Let's leave quickly."

As he spoke, he almost without saying a word, grabbed the two children, and took long strides, much larger than when he had come.

In a sense, the impact of slavery on him was no less than that on the two children.

But... what you fear most is what happens.

The carriage was not far ahead, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Li Yibing did not notice any hostility or spying. He had already taken a few quick steps and adjusted the saddle and bridle in advance when a fierce argument suddenly broke out.

"Release him first! I've already paid double the ransom you paid. Besides, he's one of my men. Do you think I can't afford such a small sum? This is a rush, so let me take my men and leave first. I'll send someone else to you later. Don't be greedy!"

A slightly immature but forcefully suppressed voice of a young boy rang out.

"Hey! You brat!" A greasy, rough voice immediately retorted, full of shrewdness and calculation: "If you can't come up with the full price, go back and scrape it together. Once you have the money, you can take him away. Stop talking nonsense about him being yours. Look carefully! This contract is in black and white, stamped with the government seal. He's my slave now, and I can sell him for whatever price I want! What's it to you?"

"You...you've gone too far!"

"Go, go, go back and gather the money. Don't block my business. Believe me or not, I'll call the market official and accuse you of disrupting the market!"

The sound of shoving followed, and a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old was seen tearing at a burly slave owner with a fierce face.

The boy tried to pull a middle-aged man behind the slave owner, who was bound with straw rope, his face pale and covered in wounds, but the slave owner impatiently shoved him away.

The boy was pushed backward and stumbled, tripping over something and losing his balance, falling sideways towards Zhou Wenqing and the others who were passing by.

Zhou Wenqing caught a glimpse of a figure approaching out of the corner of his eye. His heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively pulled Fusu and Azhu to his side, while he himself stepped aside to let them pass.

"Thump!"

With a dull thud, the boy's shoulder grazed Zhou Wenqing's outside arm. The force was not great, but Zhou Wenqing was pulled back slightly and took a small step to the side before regaining his balance. The boy who bumped into him couldn't stop himself and fell to the ground.

"Sir!" Fusu and Azhu exclaimed at the same time. Fusu immediately stepped forward and stood in front of Zhou Wenqing, staring warily at the person who had bumped into him. Azhu nervously grabbed Zhou Wenqing's sleeve.

"Young Master!" Li Yi turned around at the sound and rushed over in a few steps. He took Zhou Wenqing's arm and his sharp eyes swept over the fallen boy and the slave owner not far away. His face was full of annoyance and vigilance.

"It's alright, it's alright," Zhou Wenqing waved his hand, telling them not to panic.

He was only lightly pulled, and his arm was a little numb, but it was nothing serious. He looked at the boy who was hurriedly getting up from the ground and sighed helplessly.

What kind of nonsense is this? It was just a bump, and the child almost fell to the ground, but he's still standing steadily. And everyone's getting so excited, as if they were the ones lying on the ground!

The boy hurriedly stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, his cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and urgency, and apologized repeatedly: "I'm so sorry! I'm really so sorry! I didn't mean to bump into you, please forgive me..."

His apology was sincere, but his gaze suddenly stopped when it swept over Zhou Wenqing's exquisite robes and the two well-dressed, elegant children beside him.

Disregarding all decorum, the young man stepped forward and bowed deeply to Zhou Wenqing, his voice earnest, a mixture of shame and urgency:

"Sir! I beg you to lend me some money so I can take my old servant with me."

He paused, raised his head, and clearly stated his name, word by word:

"I, Zhang Han, will repay you tenfold in the future!"