Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

As dawn broke, a soft light bathed the simple courtyard, and Fusu and Azhu both changed into their neat clothes.

Fusu wore a simple, unadorned deep robe, which made him appear even more upright and gave him a dignified and serene air, like a bamboo.

Ah Zhu was wearing his best piece of cloth clothing, without any patches. The sleeves were a bit short because he was tall, revealing his slender wrists. He knelt upright, focused and solemn.

Ying Zheng sat to one side, still dressed in unremarkable coarse cloth clothes, yet his composed demeanor was undeniable. When he looked at Fusu, his eyes held an unusual tenderness and expectation.

Li Si stood to the side, presiding over the ceremony, his demeanor composed and appropriate.

As a witness, General Wang Jian, unusually restrained his boisterous demeanor, stroked his beard, and revealed a hint of emotion and sigh on his rugged face.

Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu stood a little distance away, unaware of how Fusu had "tactfully informed" them last night. The two elderly people were already in tears, wiping their eyes with their sleeves. Their eyes were filled with gratitude and pride, as well as... some trepidation, as they looked at Zhou Wenqing.

Beside the gate of the courtyard, several little heads were crowded together; they were village children such as Ahua, Xiaoshitou, Shuisheng, and Manbao.

They stared wide-eyed, holding their breath, curiously observing the scene they didn't quite understand but instinctively felt was extraordinary. Occasionally, there were whispered murmurs, which were immediately silenced by the adults around them.

Looking at the two small figures kneeling in the morning light, looking up at him, Zhou Wenqing felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He looked at Fusu first, gazing into the boy's calm yet tense eyes.

"Qiaosong, from today onwards, you will officially become my disciple. You are exceptionally intelligent and have a dignified and resolute character, which is truly rare. I hope that in the future you will always maintain a humble and self-disciplined heart, not be arrogant because of your status, always retain the sincerity of a child, and never forget your roots."

"You should know that a gentleman's ambition is not limited to self-cultivation and family management, but should also include the ambition to understand principles and help the world. Your vision should encompass the vast territory of the nine provinces, and you should also be able to see the details of the fields and villages; you should have the strategies to govern the world, and you should also have the compassion to care for the suffering of the people."

"Can you remain steadfast in this aspiration and commitment?"

Fusu bowed deeply, his forehead lightly touching the ground. When he raised his head again, his eyes were filled with determination: "This disciple will certainly obey Master's orders, remain steadfast in my commitment, and live up to Master's teachings, as well as the future of the nation and the people entrusted to me."

Zhou Wenqing nodded slightly and then looked at Azhu.

"Ah Zhu, you are simple, kind and honest, and this is the most precious quality. When you come to my school, learning is secondary, and the most important thing is to establish yourself. You were born in the countryside and grew up in the fields, which is not a deficiency, but rather a foundation. It teaches you to know the hardships of people's lives and to understand how difficult it is to obtain resources."

"I hope you will always keep this in mind, never forgetting the path you came from just because the world is vast in the future, and never neglecting the importance of the fundamentals just because you have learned a lot. Always be sincere, down-to-earth, and walk your own path step by step. Can you do it?"

Ah Zhu nodded vigorously, his face flushed with excitement. He imitated Fu Su, bowing his head properly, his voice particularly loud because of the force he exerted: "Disciple Ah Zhu will never forget his roots, will keep Master's words in his heart, and will proceed cautiously."

"good!"

Zhou Wenqing looked at the two small figures before him, his gaze sweeping over the witnesses in the courtyard, and said loudly, "Today, Qiaosong and Azhu are officially accepted as disciples. You should remember your master's teachings, help and love each other. The master-disciple relationship is established, and the bond between fellow disciples has begun. From this day forward—"

"The master-disciple ceremony is complete!"

The four words fell as if a clapper had been struck.

Fusu and Azhu responded in unison, "Thank you, sir!" Then they stood up respectfully with their hands at their sides.

Aunt Liu finally couldn't hold back and covered her mouth, sobbing softly. Uncle Liu also repeatedly wiped his eyes with his rough hands, his vision blurred as he watched his son standing beside that distinguished gentleman, shoulder to shoulder with that noble young man. It felt like a dream that was too beautiful to be true, and he was afraid that he would wake up in the blink of an eye.

There were quite a few villagers who came to watch the ceremony today, and the courtyard was packed with people. At this moment, everyone's faces were filled with a mixture of joy, gratitude and deep reluctance to part.

The news of their impending departure has already begun to circulate.

Zhou Wenqing slowly stood up, first bowing solemnly to Ying Zheng, then turning to the villagers in the courtyard.

He gently placed one hand on Fusu's shoulder and stroked Azhu's hair with the other, his gaze sweeping gently over the familiar, simple faces.

"Gentlemen, although Wenqing has only been staying here for a short time, he has deeply felt the warmth and kindness of the people here. It is a great fortune for both Qiaosong and Azhu to be able to become disciples here."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu's tear-streaked faces, and over the children with their wide, curious eyes. "However, Wenqing will soon be setting off for Xianyang. Today, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your long-standing kindness, and also... to bid you farewell."

"Is Young Master Zhou really leaving..." Someone in the crowd sighed softly, filled with deep reluctance.

Upon hearing this, Ah Zhu's eyes reddened again, and he subconsciously puffed out his little chest, as if trying to prove that he was already a capable disciple.

Fusu quietly took his junior brother's hand, offering silent support.

Zhou Wenqing looked at everyone with a gentle smile on his face: "Although Wenqing is about to leave, the deep friendship here will last forever and I will never forget it. Similarly, since Azhu is my disciple, no matter where he goes in the future, his roots will always be here. One day, Wenqing will definitely bring Azhu back to visit everyone."

He then looked at the children and said in a particularly gentle tone: "Ahua, Xiaoshitou, Shuisheng, Maomao... From now on, you should also remember to visit Aunt Liu's house often and take care of each other. The key to learning is perseverance. Even without a teacher to supervise you every day, if you are willing to learn, you can test each other. Don't waste the words you have learned."

The children nodded as if they understood, some of them already sobbing softly.

That day, Zhou Wenqing couldn't remember how long he talked with the villagers, only that his eyes were always slightly hot, and his palms were held tightly, released, and then held again by pairs of rough, warm hands.

He also remembers the next morning when he pushed open the courtyard gate and was greeted by a narrow alleyway that was almost completely blocked, and the villagers carrying eggs, smoked meat, new shoe soles, and even lively chickens and ducks that they had been saving for who knows how long. They stood there in silence, their eyes filled with more affection than any words could express.

He almost fled in panic.

Seeing the villagers' eagerness to stuff all their savings into his luggage, Zhou Wenqing simply couldn't resist.

Two days in advance! We have to leave early!

If he stayed any longer, he feared he would either be overwhelmed by emotions or drowned in the chicken, duck, and millet that he simply couldn't refuse.

Unable to refuse, yet unwilling to accept their means of survival, I decided to leave as soon as possible to minimize any entanglement or sadness for both of us.

As for Ah Zhu, he is still young and it's understandable that he would feel anxious about leaving home so suddenly. Zhou Wenqing softened his heart and decided to go ahead first, letting him stay with his parents for a couple more days.

Anyway, Qu Yuanli's subsequent promotion and other matters have not been fully resolved yet, so... with the King, this "Great Buddha," sitting in the rear, the children and luggage will be delivered to Xianyang properly right away!

He himself felt that his plan was so cleverly lazi that he could justify it.

Who told him to be so confident now!

When he proposed the "I'll slip away first, and you clean up the mess" plan to Ying Zheng, the expression on Ying Zheng's face instantly became extremely interesting.

At first, there was an incredulous astonishment, which then turned into an almost overflowing smile that he couldn't suppress no matter how hard he tried.

"Ahem," Ying Zheng coughed lightly twice, pressing his fist to his lips. "My dear minister... your considerations are indeed thorough."

Seeing Zhou Wenqing's unusually guilty yet self-righteous expression, he slowly said:

"Very well, so be it, my dear minister. I have already ordered people to prepare a mansion in Xianyang City, complete with all the necessary items. As for that child Azhu and the few belongings you left behind..."

He deliberately emphasized the word "possessions" with a hint of sarcasm, saying, "I will personally send someone to deliver them properly, so that you, my dear minister, will have no worries."

Seeing Zhou Wenqing visibly relieved, he couldn't help but add, "Your eagerness to travel light and so carefree reminds me of those stories where people who have accomplished great things flee in the dead of night."

Zhou Wenqing: "..."

Your Majesty, your analogy doesn't sound like a compliment at all!

On the day of his departure, he deliberately chose the earliest time when the sky was not yet bright and the morning mist was thick, hoping to take advantage of the fog to leave quietly and arrive at the village entrance to see the carriage that had been arranged in advance.

Without a doubt, it would be a horse-drawn carriage; such a long journey would surely shake him to pieces!

Just by pulling back the car curtain—

In the darkness of the carriage, a familiar figure leaned leisurely against the wall.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong...?!"

Ying Zheng slowly opened his eyes, his tone leisurely: "Of course I am here. I only said I would send someone to follow, but I never said that the person following would not be myself."

Li Si, left alone to deal with a pile of "family belongings" and matters, is probably in the courtyard right now, looking at the chickens, ducks and millet scattered all over the place, and sighing helplessly.

Inside the spacious carriage, Ying Zheng closed his eyes again, seemingly intending to take a nap. Zhou Wenqing leaned against the window, his mind in turmoil. As the carriage slowly started moving and drove out of the familiar place, he finally couldn't resist. He quietly reached out a finger and lifted the curtain a tiny crack.

A cool morning breeze immediately rushed in, and what came into view were the figures standing silently along both sides of the village road in the hazy mist.

Men, women, the elderly, mothers leading children... they had been waiting for who knows how long. No one made a fuss, no one stepped forward, they just stood there quietly, watching the direction the carriage had gone.

Zhou Wenqing's fingers froze on the cold silk carriage curtain. He opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound. He could only nod forcefully, and then almost hastily lowered the curtain, shutting out everything from the outside world, along with the sudden wetness that rolled down his body.

Silence returned to the carriage, broken only by the rhythmic sound of wheels rolling over the dirt road.

Ying Zheng kept his eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to what had just happened; only his fingers, resting on his knees, twitched almost imperceptibly.

The carriage slowly and steadily drove away from the village and onto a smoother road. The morning mist gradually dissipated, and dawn broke.

Zhou Wenqing leaned against the car wall, his emotions gradually calming down, leaving only a slight weariness.

"It's been so long since I've gotten up this early," he thought groggily. The swaying and rhythmic jolting of the carriage only intensified his drowsiness.

My eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and my head bobbed uncontrollably with the rise and fall of the carriage.

Just as his mind was about to completely dissipate and fall into chaos—

"Tap, tap, tap."

The outer wall of the carriage was tapped three times in a very regular manner. The sound was not loud, but it was clear and audible. Immediately afterwards, there was the faint sound of cloth rubbing against the wooden board.

Zhou Wenqing was extremely sleepy, barely managing to open his heavy eyelids a crack, and vaguely glimpsed Ying Zheng's gesture of raising his hand to receive something, as well as the fleeting outline of some folded, small silk book between his fingers.

He didn't pay any attention, taking it as just a routine report or arrangement. A heavy weariness came over him again, and he adjusted his crooked posture, preparing to continue his journey to sleep.

However, the next instant, Ying Zheng's slightly surprised voice suddenly rang out—

"Wei Liao escaped?!"

Who?

Zhou Wenqing suddenly opened his eyes.