Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Zhou Wenqing: "!!!"

Is that even possible?!

Not long ago, he was secretly worrying about how to subtly sow discord among Zhao Gao, the cunning and trusted advisor to the King of Qin, and gradually eliminate him.

Unfortunately, that fellow is very good at hiding his true intentions and has excellent patience. After being warned once, he will probably be more cautious. I wonder when he will reveal his fatal flaw on his own. I'm even considering framing him!

To his utter surprise, the art of judging character that he had casually made up was brought up by Ying Zheng at this moment, and even accurately applied to Zhao Gao!

This is simply... like someone handing you a pillow just as you're about to doze off, and it's even the kind that's inlaid with gold and jade!

Zhou Wenqing was overjoyed. It was truly a case of Heaven wanting to destroy Zhao Gao, and no one else was to blame!

This time, the heavens finally did something decent.

He was delighted inside, but his face remained impassive. Instead, as Ying Zheng spoke, his expression became increasingly solemn and dignified, as he carefully maintained the appropriate demeanor for his enigmatic persona.

After Ying Zheng finished speaking, Zhou Wenqing did not answer immediately. Instead, he lowered his eyes slightly, as if he was carefully considering his words. He tapped his knee with his fingertips. After a moment, he did not answer directly, but asked a question.

"Your Majesty, Wenqing has heard of something that is unclear to me, and I would like to ask Your Majesty for clarification."

"I've heard of wild dogs, vicious dogs, of lowly breed, born in filth, raised in ravines, enduring biting cold and hunger, and piercingly cold stares. From a young age, they swallow all the coldness of the world, brewing a heart full of poisonous fire. This fire burns away their cowardice and sears their liver and intestines, leaving only one thought—to climb, to climb upwards, to climb to the highest place!"

"Not just to shed the filth, but also to one day stand at the summit, trampling all those who once looked down on me and despised me under my claws, drinking their blood, swallowing their bones, and devouring their flesh. Their twisted hearts have long been filled with poisonous fire, which can only be stopped by flesh and blood!"

He spoke at a steady pace, but every word he uttered was startling.

"But this dog is clever and cunning, adept at reading people's expressions, knowing when to wag its tail and beg for mercy, and when to bare its teeth and show its strength. It actually found a master who could give it flesh and blood, and also keep it tightly bound by its collar and chain!"

"In front of its master, it hides all its sharp teeth, bows its head and listens obediently, worries about what its master worries about, is anxious about what its master is anxious about, and is always right in understanding what its master wants. When driven, it is more effective than the most docile domestic dog, and gradually becomes a particularly useful sharp blade in its master's hands."

Zhou Wenqing's voice gradually turned serious, and his gaze was fixed on Ying Zheng as if it were a physical object.

"However, poisonous fire is still poisonous fire. Greed has long since eroded its bones. It cannot bear the thought that after its master passes away, the young master, who may not like its sinister nature, will take control of the chain that binds its throat. It fears losing everything it has gained, and is terrified of falling back into the dust and into the abyss."

"Therefore, a crazy idea gnawed at his heart day and night: why not turn against the young master and instead please the seemingly easier-to-control young son?"

"With just a few barks, some obsequious flattery, wagging tail and begging, and the arrival of jewels and beauties, in time, it might just be able to control this young master. At that time, it will no longer be a dog, but... the chain-wielder hidden behind the scenes!"

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze intense, his voice as soft as a sigh, yet his question was as heavy as a mountain.

"Your Majesty, if you... were that master, and while you still firmly grasped the chains, you already vaguely foresaw the treacherous intent hidden within this blade, and its future trajectory of turning against your master and overthrowing your foundation, what do you think... should be done?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the courtyard seemed deserted.

Zhou Wenqing did not directly name Zhao Gao, but the words "a despicable person, born in filth, good at reading faces, turning against the young master, manipulating the young master"... each word was like a poisoned silver needle, piercing the always submissive figure in front of the emperor with perfect precision.

This is almost beyond the art of physiognomy; it's nearly a complete understanding of the trajectory of a person's entire life.

Zhou Wenqing knew perfectly well that the initial impressions based on physiognomy were utterly insufficient to support such a specific and clearly defined judgment, especially since... the phrase "a hundred years later" was quite...

hiss--!

However, the harm caused by Zhao Gao had to be made clear, so he chose the most dangerous, but also possibly the most effective, path, using the metaphor of a vicious dog.

He hoped that this insightful monarch would heed the warning bells emanating from this bloody metaphor and believe that the most docile and effective hound at present could very well bring about the downfall of the empire with its fangs pointed at it!

A sudden gust of cold wind swirled across the courtyard, swirling up a few withered yellow leaves and making a soft rustling sound, which made Li Si shiver.

He sat in the chair, but felt as if needles were pricking his groin, making him restless and every muscle tense to the extreme.

He had to use almost all his strength to suppress the urge to jump up immediately and run away without looking back.

But he couldn't; he didn't even dare to move, for fear of attracting the king's attention.

However, his eyes, uncontrollably, very slowly and with great difficulty, turned to the instigator beside him—Zhou Wenqing.

Zhou Wenqing lowered his head slightly, his posture still composed, as if he were just telling the children an interesting story, as usual.

Li Si stared at Zhou Wenqing's profile, his teeth clenched so tightly that his cheeks ached.

Brother Zicheng, oh Brother Zicheng! For two days in a row, are you saying that my heart is too strong, or do you think that life in the countryside is too boring and you have to seek some thrills that could cost you your head?!

If you're looking for excitement, just let me know in advance so I can go out first, okay?

If only I had known... if only I had known I shouldn't have come back today, Li Si was filled with remorse.

All he wants now is to go back to before he wakes up in the morning, knock himself unconscious, and tie himself to the bed!

Just as Li Si's mind was in turmoil and Zhou Wenqing's expression was about to break, Ying Zheng finally spoke again after a long silence.

"A sharp blade serves its master, and a vicious dog serves its lord." Ying Zheng's voice slowly spread through the silent courtyard, his tone not loud, but every word was icy.

"Having chosen one master, one serves him for life; how can one possibly change masters?"

He slightly raised his eyelids, his gaze unfocused yet sharp as a blade slicing through the air.

"Since we are stray dogs, we only get what we want when we meet a master. So we should always remember our duty. The leash around our necks must be tight, and the chain in our mouths must be secure. In front of our master, we are only fit to wag our tails and beg for mercy, waiting for the scraps that our master will give us when he is in a good mood. As for the young master..."

Ying Zheng's lips curled into a faint, extremely cold smile.

"Oh!"

A short, cold, hissing sound.

His gaze finally settled on his own hands, hands with distinct knuckles and firmly interlocked, hands that held the power of life and death, his tone as calm as if he were deciding the final fate of an object.

"The Lord is dead."

He paused, then clearly uttered two words:

"Dog sacrifice".

"To follow one's master into the netherworld is... the only way to fulfill one's loyalty and righteousness."

Ying Zheng turned his gaze to Zhou Wenqing and suddenly smiled: "Zicheng, you mustn't be soft-hearted about such matters of loyalty and righteousness!"

hiss--

Your Majesty! Why would I be soft-hearted towards that scoundrel Zhao Gao?! But...please don't smile at me like that!

Another gust of cold wind blew by, and Zhou Wenqing and Li Si beside him shivered simultaneously and very noticeably. Their movements were so synchronized that the smile on Ying Zheng's face, which had not yet fully unfolded, instantly froze at the corner of his mouth.

My soothing smile... has it failed me so badly?

A fleeting look of surprise and barely perceptible embarrassment crossed his eyes; a subtle conflict arose between his imperial majesty and his attempt to project magnanimity.

Just as this awkward and chilling silence was about to freeze again—

"Ah-choo!"

Zhou Wenqing suddenly felt an itch on the tip of his nose, and a loud, unseemly sneeze broke the stagnant air.

"..."

Ying Zheng: "..."

Li Si: "..."

Zhou Wenqing was a little confused himself. He rubbed his sore nose and gave an awkward, dry laugh: "Hehe, it's getting a bit cold today!"

Ying Zheng's stiff smile relaxed. He reached for the pottery pot warming on the small stove beside the stone table, poured himself a cup of steaming tea, and handed it to Zhou Wenqing.

"The autumn wind is chilly, my dear minister, you must take care of your health and not catch a cold." His tone returned to its usual gentleness, and his gaze finally lost its coldness as he looked at Zhou Wenqing.

"Such a vicious dog deserves no pity whatsoever, but if it were a good friend, its master would surely cherish, value, and trust it. What do you think, Brother Zicheng?"

Zhou Wenqing naturally believed this. He held the warm teacup, about to speak—

"Your Majesty is absolutely right," Li Si nodded and interjected, "To grant such a despicable creature his wish, and even to finish him well, such magnanimity and character deserve our utmost respect!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wenqing suddenly looked up at Li Si, his eyes filled with disbelief and astonishment.

No! Brother Gu'an, are you really that good with words?

You're making me sound like I don't know how to talk!