Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Zhou Wenqing was slightly taken aback when he heard this. He had expected the new plow to be useful and the villagers to be happy, but he did not expect their gratitude to be so intense that they even blocked his door!

It's really both funny and sad.

But on second thought, it's normal. When it comes to food that's a matter of survival, even the most restrained emotions will become incredibly agitated.

The place Li Si mentioned for temporary residence was indeed not far away. The carriage soon drove into another quiet courtyard, which was clean and tidy, obviously arranged in advance.

As soon as he got off the car, Zhou Wenqing disregarded everything else and immediately ordered someone to quickly fetch a doctor to carefully examine and treat Zhang Bo. He also instructed someone to properly settle Zhang Han, who was still unconscious, and to notify him as soon as he woke up.

Seeing that someone had properly carried Zhang Han and his servant away, he felt slightly relieved.

As he entered the inner courtyard, he immediately saw Ying Zheng sitting comfortably in a bamboo rocking chair that looked quite similar to his own, appearing to be in a very good mood.

Hearing footsteps, Ying Zheng turned around, his eyes brightening with the joy he already possessed. He laughed loudly, "Brother Zicheng, hahaha, you're back! Come and sit down! You've truly given the world a generous gift!"

"Courtesy? What kind of ceremony is this?" Upon hearing this, the two children instinctively looked up.

Ying Zheng's gaze was immediately drawn to them. He thought for a moment and said, "Qiaosong, Azhu, you've both worked hard today. Go with the others to have some soup and snacks and get some rest. Your husband, Mr. Li, and I have some things to discuss."

Oh, let's not talk about etiquette!

Fusu and Azhu felt relieved. They had already experienced a day of ups and downs and were exhausted both physically and mentally. Hearing this, they felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They obediently bowed and followed the servants to leave.

Soon only three adults remained in the courtyard. Before Ying Zheng could speak, Zhou Wenqing looked around and, not seeing General Wang Jian, immediately asked, "Your Majesty, why is General Wang not here?"

"General Wang?" Ying Zheng replied, "He's helping out in front of your little courtyard right now, and while he's at it... he's probably also carefully considering your new plow."

Ying Zheng couldn't help but chuckle at the old general's eager expression, then asked curiously, "My dear minister, you inquired about General Wang as soon as you arrived. Do you perhaps have something to discuss with him?"

"Exactly!" Zhou Wenqing clapped his hands and laughed, his tone tinged with joy. "Your Majesty may not know, but my trip today has brought an unexpected surprise. I have found a rough gem for General Wang, a gem that, when polished, can become a great commander!"

"Oh?" Ying Zheng was overjoyed upon hearing this. For Zhou Wenqing to give such a high evaluation, the person must be a talented individual. "Is that so? Which family's outstanding young man has caught Zicheng's eye? Tell me quickly!"

His tone was urgent, and his eagerness to find talented people was evident in his words.

"Well……"

Zhou Wenqing paused, realizing that he had been so caught up in the excitement of finding a treasure that he had overlooked a very important issue.

At this moment, Zhang Han was just a runaway boy with nothing, no illustrious family background, no outstanding achievements, and he hadn't even found out his own origins. So how should he be introduced?

In a flash, a thought struck him, and his face suddenly adopted an extremely solemn expression.

"Your Majesty, to be honest, when I was young, I served by the side of my teachers and learned some... physiognomy."

"The art of judging character?" Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow slightly.

In this era, divination and face reading were quite popular. Although he wasn't a firm believer, he still held some reverence for fate and a sense of destiny. And then he looked at Zhou Wenqing—

The fact that Zhou Aiqing's school could produce such a person suggests that the techniques they passed down might indeed contain some mystery!

"Does my subject mean... that young man has the bearing of a general?" Ying Zheng asked, following his words, his curiosity growing stronger.

"Exactly." Zhou Wenqing nodded seriously, then put on a straight face and began to spout nonsense in a serious manner.

"Our sect has passed down a method for judging people. This person has a hidden sharpness in his appearance and a restrained spirit. There is a sense of solemnity and righteousness between his brows. He is not someone who has been trapped in the mundane world for a long time. However, he is still young and like a piece of jade covered in dust, his brilliance has not yet been revealed. If Your Majesty does not believe me, when General Wang returns, you may let him examine him personally. At that time, you will be able to tell whether Wen Qing is lying."

After hearing this, Zhou Wenqing himself was secretly amazed. He hadn't expected that he actually had a talent for it, and that his rambling had a certain flair. These four-six-eight sentences sounded just like a charlatan's!

However, given Zhang Han's historical achievements, even at his young age, he must possess qualities that would impress Wang Jian. This verification proves his credibility.

Moreover, if we encounter a famous historical figure again in the future, we won't even need to think of a reason to bail them out, which saves a lot of trouble.

"However..." Zhou Wenqing was satisfied, but he didn't forget to patch up his own act, deliberately showing a little shame on his face.

"The art of physiognomy is profound and unpredictable. Wenqing's knowledge is rudimentary, and he often only has a fleeting moment of inspiration when he first sees something. If he doesn't feel anything at that time, he will find it difficult to see anything at all in the future. This time, it may just be a coincidence that he managed to catch a glimpse of inspiration."

He secretly thought that if the King of Qin came to him for authentication every time he sought someone, he could easily fool those who were unknown in history with a nonsensical explanation.

"This is already quite remarkable!" Ying Zheng clapped his hands and exclaimed with great joy, his eyes shining even brighter. He looked at Zhou Wenqing as if he were looking at an inexhaustible treasure mine, a gold mine at that!

"Zicheng, Zicheng, just how many more skills do you possess that I am unaware of?"

"I naturally believe you. Where is that young man now? Quickly summon him so I can see for myself what an extraordinary appearance and bearing he possesses!"

Li Si, who had been quietly listening, finally couldn't help himself. His lips twitched slightly, and he cleared his throat to interject:

"Your Majesty, that young man... I'm afraid we can't summon him now."

"Hmm? Why?" Ying Zheng looked at him.

"That's a question for Brother Zicheng." Li Si's gaze drifted to Zhou Wenqing, who was sitting upright to the side, his expression complicated. "I wonder what that young man did that made Brother Zicheng... have to resort to extreme measures to knock him unconscious, tie him up, and bring him back."

"Knock them out! Tie them up?!"

Ying Zheng noticed these keywords, and his gaze towards Zhou Wenqing changed.

No... His Zhou Aiqing, who looks gentle and refined, has such a... uh, decisive and ruthless side in his actions?!

"Cough cough!" Zhou Wenqing touched his nose somewhat awkwardly, his eyes darting around for a moment.

Why are you all looking at me? I didn't do it! It's...it's...it's the guards who used too much force! That's right, they used too much force, that's why they haven't woken up yet!

He couldn't possibly be so inhumane as to throw a bucket of cold water on him to wake him up, could he?

That would make them sworn enemies!

"Your Majesty, this matter... is a long story."

Zhou Wenqing adjusted his posture and recounted in detail the events that unfolded: their encounter at the market, Zhang Han rescuing his servant, his own assistance, and then Zhang Han's insistence on leaving, coupled with his own fear that a talented individual might be left to die and thus suffer unforeseen consequences, forcing him to take this expedient measure.

Li Si was the first to clap his hands in praise: "So that's how it is! Brother Zicheng, your thinking is profound and your actions decisive. If what you say is true, this boy is indeed a promising talent. However, he is currently caught in a family predicament and his future is uncertain. To let him drift aimlessly would be a waste of his talent and a great regret for the country. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. I think... it's very appropriate!"

Zhou Wenqing couldn't help but glance at him.

That's perfect now, you changed your tune pretty quickly! The person who was secretly watching me with that hesitant, strange, and odd look in the carriage the whole way, wasn't it you?

"Since the person is still unconscious and General Wang has not yet returned, we may wait for now." Ying Zheng spoke after a moment of contemplation, his gaze not leaving Zhou Wenqing's face, and his tone suddenly changed.

"However, Minister Zhou is usually gentle and prudent in his actions. Yet this time, he was so decisive in keeping a complete stranger. It seems he is extremely confident in his family's ability to judge people. So, Minister Zhou..."

Ying Zheng paused slightly, leaned forward a little, and lowered his voice.

"Zhao Gao, Zhao Zhongcheling, my dear minister... have you also noticed something?"

Zhou Wenqing was stunned, completely unprepared for the topic to jump so abruptly and precisely to Zhao Gao, and was momentarily speechless.

Ying Zheng looked into Zhou Wenqing's eyes, did not urge him, but continued to speak, as if peeling back layers of an onion.

"My dear minister, you and Zhao Gao only met briefly once. Yet, upon your first meeting, it was difficult for you to conceal your wariness and suspicion. I originally thought it was because he was holding Hu Hai in his arms and his behavior was perhaps inappropriate, which aroused your suspicion. But now it seems..."

"Could it be that your ability to judge character, upon first meeting Zhao Gao, already had a flash of insight and glimpsed something... amiss?"