Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

The cool bamboo felt heavy in his hand, with clear and hard texture. Zhou Wenqing subtly turned his wrist to test its weight and immediately understood its quality.

With this one-foot stroke, it would likely leave a distinct red mark without much effort, with remarkable results.

This child is ruthless to himself, but how could he bear to punish such a bright and sensible disciple?

His gaze fell on Fusu's upright figure, as straight as a bamboo shoot. "Qiaosong, you have admitted that you failed to teach and discipline your younger brother in time, which is indeed the fault of an elder brother."

His voice was gentle, and he raised his wrist, the ruler drawing a short, clean arc in the air, creating a slight whooshing sound, before finally hovering above Fusu's open palm.

It was not shot down.

He simply touched the center of the boy's palm with one end of the cold ruler, as lightly as a dragonfly skimming the water.

"despair."

A soft, almost inaudible, crisp sound, like a jade bead falling onto a porcelain plate.

Fusu's fingertips twitched involuntarily for a moment, then he immediately forced them to unfold, but...

The expected burning pain did not come; instead, there was only a fleeting coolness and a slight... itch?

He looked up in surprise and met the man's smiling eyes.

"The punishment has been carried out, and the mistake has been made clear."

Zhou Wenqing looked into the boy's eyes with warm approval.

"With this ruler here, the rules are established. I hope that in the future you will remember this moment, be cautious in your conduct, and guide your younger brother well, so as not to fail this self-reflection and responsibility you have shown today."

After saying that, he deftly turned his wrist and steadily placed the ruler, whose symbolic meaning far outweighed its practical function, back into Fusu's hand.

"Good boy." His tone softened, carrying the expectation unique to a teacher, as well as some slightly complicated emotions. "You can keep this ruler for me for the time being."

"On the day you formally complete your studies and become my disciple, present this along with your sincere heart before me. At that time..."

He paused briefly, his smile undiminished but now tinged with seriousness, his gaze sweeping over the heavy ruler.

"If you make any mistakes, don't blame me for using this ruler to correct you; I won't show any mercy."

Fusu received the bamboo ruler steadily with both hands, as if it had instantly gained a thousand pounds. He took a step back, his robes fluttering slightly, and bowed deeply to the ground with a clear and firm voice:

"Your disciple Fusu will remember your teachings!"

"Very good." Zhou Wenqing nodded with satisfaction, but his gaze had already turned to the side. "As for what you just said about taking the blame for your brother... I know your intentions, but it is not up to you to decide who should bear the punishment."

His gaze calmly fell upon Hu Hai, who was still sitting on the ground, his face covered in smears like a kitten's.

"Zhao Hai, do you see clearly now? Your elder brother, in order to make you understand what responsibility and sincerity are, did not hesitate to set an example by taking the blame himself. This is what a man should be like in this world."

"Do you... still need your brother to take the blame for you?"

Hu Hai stared blankly up at Zhou Wenqing, whose expression was calm but whose eyes were sharp, and then at his elder brother, who had put away the ruler and was standing quietly beside his teacher.

In the morning light, his elder brother's figure seemed inexplicably tall. The gesture of him proactively opening his palm and waiting for the ruler to fall was like a silent yet incredibly powerful beam of light, abruptly cleaving through the tangled mess of fear, grievance, and resentment in his mind.

So... admitting mistakes and accepting punishment doesn't have to be such a shameful or terrible thing. At least Ah Xing isn't afraid. He took the initiative to ask for punishment, and... it even seems a bit... admirable?

Brother, you were so valiant just now!

A huge sense of shame belatedly washed over him, burning his cheeks, mixed with a bewildered admiration for his elder brother, and a little bit of competitive spirit that didn't want to appear too weak or immature in front of his brother.

Hu Hai suddenly wiped his face hard with the back of his hand, sniffed, and scrambled to his feet. He straightened his small chest, his face still bearing traces of tears, but his eyes had become urgent and determined.

"I...I understand!" His voice was a little hoarse from his earlier cries, but he tried to speak loudly, "I can do it myself! I don't need my brother to help me!"

But he immediately encountered a real problem, and in his anxiety, he turned around halfway around, searching his surroundings.

A ruler...he didn't have one!

This unfamiliar courtyard was so clean that it was hard to find even a single extra leaf. Where could I find something to "apologize" for? I couldn't very well just snatch the one from my brother's hand!

Hu Hai was so anxious that beads of sweat appeared on his nose. He looked pleadingly at the only person present who might be able to help him, and his voice unconsciously carried a hint of his usual coquettishness: "Father... I... I don't have a ruler..."

Ying Zheng's eyebrows twitched, but before he could make a move, his little daughter in his arms, who loved watching the drama unfold, suddenly lit up.

Yin Man, like a slippery little silver fish, nimbly slipped out of her father's arms, landed firmly, and her little hand reached for her waist without hesitation—

There lay her most beloved toy, a beautiful soft whip woven with fine gold thread and adorned with a small jade bead at the end.

"Here! This is for you!" She pulled out the soft whip and handed it to Hu Hai without hesitation. Her voice was clear and cheerful, full of eagerness, and her eyes seemed to say: Take it, take it!

Don't underestimate this golden silk whip; it's Yin Man's favorite thing lately.

She was young and lacked wrist strength. She admired her brothers' dashing sword dance skills but couldn't learn them herself. She made a fuss with her father for a long time, wanting a majestic little sword.

Fearing that this little ancestor, who was not even as tall as a sword, might hurt him, Ying Zheng found all sorts of soft whips for her to play with. The whips were quite light, and Yin Man didn't need much strength to make them rustle, which was quite intimidating. Moreover, they were safer than sharp sword blades.

This gold thread is the most beautiful and graceful, and when it moves, it shimmers with golden light, which is quite impressive. It is deeply loved by the little princess, otherwise she would not have tied it around her waist, and she would not allow anyone else to touch it.

But at this moment... if this precious whip could openly "help" lash Hu Hai... Yin Man felt that its existence had gained unprecedented significance at this moment!

She only complained that the whip was too soft and not sturdy enough, and regretted that she should have brought her own sturdier black cowhide whip with her!

Hu Hai looked at the golden whip handed to him, then at Yin Man's malicious eyes. His face stiffened, and half of the courage he had just mustered almost vanished.

He glared at Yin Man and snorted.

I don't want her things. If I use her whip, I don't know how much I'll be laughed at. I'll definitely have to be inferior to her every day!

Besides, how painful is it to whip someone like that? He's not stupid!

Hu Hai twisted his neck, stubbornly looked away, and continued to search anxiously on the ground.

Suddenly, an inconspicuous patch of withered brown near the corner of the wall caught his eye—a thin branch, about two fingers wide and just the right length, was sticking out from there.

Hu Hai's eyes lit up, and he ran over, bent down, grabbed the small section that was sticking out with his little hands, and pulled it out with considerable effort. After pulling it out, he even tapped it twice on a nearby stone to shake off the dirt and dust.

Then, puffing out her chest, she was about to imitate her elder brother's heroic demeanor and proudly present the gift to Mr. Zhou with both hands.

He too wanted to be as brave as his brother!

However... before they could even firmly grasp each other's hands—

Huh?

The texture seems a bit off.

Hu Hai lowered his head and stared intently. His face froze instantly, and his eyes widened in shock.

That wasn't a smooth tree branch at all; beneath its dry bark, it was covered with countless sharp thorns—clearly a thorny thorn!

Hu Hai stared at the thing, stunned for several breaths, his cheeks puffing out. Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, he decisively, with a hint of disdain, raised his little hand—

"call out!"

The withered thorn branch traced a short arc before being precisely tossed back into the corner.

Immediately afterwards, the small figure took short steps and backed up to Yin Man's side. While the little princess was still holding the soft whip and hadn't had time to wrap it around her waist, a small hand quickly reached out and "took" the soft whip with flowing gold threads.

"Thank you so much, sister."

A mumbled, unclear, and slightly uneasy mutter drifted past his ear. Hu Hai, already holding the soft yet resilient weapon, turned and walked straight to Zhou Wenqing.

He held the whip high with both hands, trying his best to look serious and solemn, but the tips of his ears honestly revealed the lingering redness.

Yin Man: "...?"

She stared blankly at her suddenly empty hands, then looked up at the back of the man who was holding "her" whip and walking up to him. After a long while, she slowly blinked and opened her small mouth slightly.

That works too.

Yin Man pursed her lips, quietly put her hands behind her back, and unconsciously twirled her fingertips together.

He's asking for a beating... but he's quite polite.