Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Gongshu Yu was filled with unbearable regret!

He lost his beloved son in middle age, and his daughter-in-law also passed away early. Only his little granddaughter, Gongshuli, remained, carrying on his bloodline and providing him with all the hopes and joys for the rest of his life.

From a young age, this little girl showed extraordinary intelligence. When she began to walk, she developed an almost instinctive fascination with the gears, connecting rods, tenons, and mechanisms that most people would consider cold and boring.

She disliked needlework and playing, but was only fond of intricate objects that could mesh, rotate, and generate force. She grasped these concepts instantly and could even apply them to other situations. At the tender age of eight, she could come up with ingenious ideas that would amaze even seasoned craftsmen who had been immersed in the craft for decades.

In particular, his deep-rooted love and focus on "skillful tools" is exactly the same as when he was young, and his talent is even greater than his. It is only natural that Gongshu Yu regards him as the divinely bestowed successor of his life's skills and an irreplaceable treasure in his heart!

Her fellow disciples at home pitied her lonely background and loved her intelligence, wit, and captivating spirit. They indulged her in almost everything, spoiling her to the point of having no principles.

She wanted to play with carving knives, so they found the most suitable small knives, carefully sharpened the edges, and handed them to her. She wanted to figure out the door lock mechanism, and her fellow apprentices actually disassembled the door and brought it over, letting her take it apart and play with it. As long as she wanted it, they would do it for her.

Under such boundless pampering and indulgence, this exceptionally talented little girl was unknowingly raised to be a lawless and reckless person who had nothing but machines.

Worldly customs and etiquette? In her eyes, they were far less interesting than a mortise and tenon joint. When she got bold, she was truly arrogant and thought that all the exquisite things in the world should be explored by her, without any sense of "taboo".

Moreover, the Gongshu family was an extremely important branch of the Mohist school. Although they were quite marginalized because they were too obsessed with these physical creations that were criticized as "strange skills and frivolous crafts," and did not understand or were unwilling to understand those profound principles of "universal love" and "non-aggression."

But in their circle of artisans who focus on practical skills, a child like Gongshu Li, who is obsessed with mechanics and full of talent, is not an anomaly, but is regarded as a rare gem and a hope for the future.

When her uncles and senior brothers saw her bright eyes and focused expression as she fiddled with the mechanism, they felt only gratified and happy, and they didn't think there was anything wrong with it at all.

They went to great lengths to find novel objects for her to "study," cherishing her and fearing that they might stifle her "spirit."

Gongshu Yu was not without worries, especially when his granddaughter was repeatedly tricked and suffered in silence in the internal strife of the Mohist school because of her temperament. He once plucked a piece of his beard and sighed deeply under the lamp late at night, feeling that he should harden his heart and teach the child some manners and social skills.

But whenever this thought arose, just one glance at Xiao A Li's completely absorbed expression as she fiddled with the mechanism would instantly soften Gongshu Yu's heart, making it impossible for him to harden even a little.

This is his successor, the continuation of the Gongshu family's bloodline and craftsmanship!

He was determined not to let this little girl marry someone else—he, Gongshu Yu, could afford to support her!

If that's the case, why bind her with those complicated formalities and worldly perspectives? Why stifle this "spirit" bestowed by heaven and earth?

Therefore, rather than being ostracized at the Mohist headquarters in Qi, having his disciples constrained, and his granddaughter wronged, he chose to travel far away and bring his willing disciples to the Qin state, which valued practical matters and rewarded merit.

On this new land, his biggest worry was still Xiao Ali. He knew the child well; apart from being mechanical, she was simple-minded and would never intentionally hurt anyone. But he feared that she was naive and might suffer if she got into a fight with someone.

After much thought, he specially asked someone to teach her some practical self-defense skills. He didn't expect her to become an expert, but only hoped that if something happened, she would at least have the ability to protect herself and not be bullied.

As for that "spirituality" and "obsession," he ultimately couldn't bear to part with them, nor was he willing to forcibly reverse them.

He thought that the child was not bad by nature. She was very filial to her grandfather and also protected her uncles and aunts who loved her. She just didn't understand those formalities and customs. She was not a great villain, so why be so harsh on her?

He believed that with his skills, once he gained a certain status in Qin, he could protect this special place and give her a space to grow freely.

Now it's all good...

They've really caused a catastrophe!

Gongshu Yu knelt on the cold blue bricks, looking at his granddaughter's appearance and feeling the king's icy gaze, which seemed to have a physical presence. In his heart, there was only endless regret and lingering fear.

He was well aware of the strict rules governing the construction of secret government buildings, especially since the Zhou residence was a place of great importance personally overseen by the King. Therefore, he never revealed a single detail about the design of the residence, the layout of secret passages, or other top-secret matters to anyone, not even his most beloved granddaughter.

However, even the best-laid plans can go awry. He left early and returned late, busy supervising the construction, and his granddaughter was exceptionally intelligent. Somehow, she noticed his unusual behavior and may have even secretly followed him during one of his site inspections, using her skills to sneak in.

Not only did she see the emergency passage designed for unforeseen circumstances, but she also developed a strong curiosity about the novel furniture in the mansion that she had never seen before, especially the rocking chair that she had never seen before. So much so that she was so audacious as to sneak in again just to take it apart and find out what it was all about!

He didn't pay much attention when he discovered that his granddaughter had left early this morning and hadn't returned home. It wasn't until a familiar neighbor mentioned that they seemed to have seen a small figure that looked like A-Li in the neighborhood that he realized something was wrong and immediately went out to look for her himself.

As they searched, they found the girl, covered in dust and dressed in suspicious black clothes, at the entrance of an alley not far away. Seeing her attire and evasive eyes, their hearts sank to the bottom.

But this little devil was completely oblivious to the impending disaster. Upon seeing him, instead of hiding, his eyes lit up, and he rushed over excitedly. He was a little scared, but more excited to show him how he had explored that day, how he had almost been captured by a fierce-looking man, and how he had cleverly used the secret passage he already knew to escape successfully...

Upon hearing this, Gongshu Yu felt his vision go black, his ears ring, as if struck by lightning, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his clothes.

He immediately realized just how serious the situation had become—it was far beyond what could be concealed by childish mischief; it was a colossal disaster that could lead to the annihilation of his family and clan, and even implicate his sect!

Gongshu Yu disregarded everything else and immediately grabbed his granddaughter, rushing over to apologize, hoping to find a way to turn things around before things got out of control.

But his worst fears came true—the king had arrived in person and was clearly aware of the situation. At this moment, the king was furious, and his icy gaze almost froze him to death on the spot.

It's over... completely over... decades of caution, all destroyed in one day. Not only is his own life in danger, but he's also likely to implicate not only his ignorant granddaughter, but also all the disciples who followed him to Qin...

Gongshu Yu closed his eyes in despair, a metallic taste rising in his throat, as if he could already see the impending doom.

Just as he was heartbroken and utterly despondent, waiting for the king's final words before offering his neck for execution—

A clear and gentle voice, unlike that of a monarch, came from behind.

"Your surname is Gongshu?"

Gongshu Yu raised his head blankly, his consciousness still immersed in the abyss of despair. For a moment, he did not realize that the question was being asked to him. His eyes stared blankly at the source of the voice—the young nobleman in a blue robe with a gentle face, Zhou Neishi.

Ying Zheng immediately frowned, glancing at him impatiently, his tone displeased: "Didn't you hear Minister Zhou's question? Are you deaf or mute?! Answer me!"

"Ah?! Yes! Yes!" Gongshu Yu was startled by the rebuke, as if his soul had just returned to its place. He quickly kowtowed again, his voice urgent: "This humble subject...this humble subject's surname is indeed Gongshu."

"Gongshu..." Zhou Wenqing repeated thoughtfully, then continued, "What is your connection with that 'Sage of Craftsmen,' Gongshu Ban?"

Gongshu Yu dared not be negligent and replied cautiously: "The legacy of Master Ban is something that no craftsman in later generations dares to forget. I, a humble person, have indeed inherited some of Master Ban's skills and insights. I am honored to be among his disciples and strive to 'carry on his legacy'. I dare not disgrace the name of my sage."

"So, you must be quite proficient in mechanisms and ingenious construction techniques?"

"I dare not claim to be an expert," Gongshu Yu said, having calmed down a bit. "I have only been immersed in this art since childhood and have a slight understanding of the ancestral techniques. In addition, I have gained some rudimentary insights over the years... I am not worthy of the title 'expert'."

A little knowledge? Some crude insights?

Zhou Wenqing's eyes lit up instantly after hearing these standard, self-deprecating replies!

This is a living, breathing talent in ancient mechanical engineering and applied physics, with a profound family tradition of learning and top-notch innovative potential! He is also a descendant of Gongshu Ban.

He had been pondering how, once the "continuation of cultural heritage" was brought out, he could subtly spread the word and lay the groundwork to attract all those hidden, unsung geniuses and skilled craftsmen in the world who might be unsuccessful for various reasons, and bring them under his wing—no, to the Qin Dynasty.

This is really bad!

Before he could even prepare the bait, the king, quick-witted and nimble, had already snatched Gongshu's top "technical backbone" into Xianyang's bowl without a word!

Not only did they manage to rescue the person, but now, by some twist of fate, they've had someone hand over this enormous piece of leverage right in front of them.

What do you call this? This is what you call someone providing a pillow when you're sleepy, or offering you a map of the mine along with yourself when you want to mine!

Well then... don't blame Zhou Wenqing for "accepting" them with a smile and making the best use of them, letting them fully develop their craftsmanship and dedicate themselves to the great cause of "revitalizing all crafts" in the Great Qin Dynasty, even unto death... no, I mean, to shine brightly and give full play to their life's talents!

Zhou Wenqing tried hard to suppress the corners of his mouth that were almost upturned to his ears, and turned his gaze to the confused and frightened little girl.

Now, looking at her again, she seems pleasing to the eye no matter how you look at her—

This isn't some troublemaker at all! This is clearly a rare "thoughtful" little one who proactively packages and delivers to your door, even with a top-tier mentor attached to him. He's the perfect hostage... cough, no, a "strategic cooperation guarantee" that the tech guru, Mr. Gongshu Yu, would willingly, wholeheartedly, and have to exhaust all his knowledge for!

Zhou Wenqing straightened his clothes, faced Ying Zheng on the throne, and solemnly bowed, his tone earnest:

"Your Majesty, this matter involves the privacy of Wenqing's residence, and the items disturbed are also Wenqing's personal belongings. These two, grandfather and grandson... could you please leave them to Wenqing's discretion? Wenqing will certainly handle it properly and give Your Majesty and this matter an explanation."

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng frowned and looked at Zhou Wenqing with a hint of worry in his eyes.

He knew this Minister Zhou well; he was excellent in both talent and character, but sometimes... he seemed a little too kind? Especially when dealing with the elderly, the weak, women, and children.

He feared that Minister Zhou might be too lenient and let such a confidential matter go unpunished, but if he rejected it outright, it would be a loss of face for Minister Zhou and a violation of the authority he had just been granted...

"Enough, enough," Ying Zheng thought to himself. Since Minister Zhou had already spoken, he could simply deal with him privately if he was too lenient and it wasn't enough to deter others. After all, Zhao Gao, that sharp blade, had been idle for quite some time.

After a moment's hesitation, Ying Zheng finally nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "Since this involves your private residence, I will follow your wishes. I hope you will... make a fair judgment and not betray my trust."

With the king's approval, Zhou Wenqing felt much more at ease.

He turned around leisurely, facing Gongshu Yu, who was still lying on the ground as if nailed to the ground, not daring to move an inch, and even his breathing was cautious. He cleared his throat slowly, his face still carrying the gentle lingering charm from when he had just persuaded the king.

Seeing this, Li Si frowned. He knew that although the king had agreed to let Zicheng handle the situation, if the punishment was too lenient, it would not only fail to establish authority, but also leave the impression that "the Zhou family is easy to bully" and "new nobles are soft-hearted", which would cause endless trouble in the future.

He was about to subtly take half a step forward and quietly nudge Zhou Wenqing's back with his elbow, intending to whisper a reminder, "Brother Zicheng, you should establish your authority to intimidate..."

Unexpectedly, just as Li Si's fingertips were about to touch his fabric, Zhou Wenqing spoke—

"Gongshu Yu, are your nine generations—no, ten generations—all residing in Qin territory?"

Everyone: "???!!!"

"hiss--!"

Upon hearing this, not only did Li Si's pupils shrink to pinpoints, but his outstretched hand recoiled as if burned by a hot iron, his face filled with disbelief, but a chorus of gasps of astonishment also filled the courtyard!

Ying Zheng was taken aback, a rare look of astonishment flashing across his face; General Wang Jian's arm, which was holding the wine jar, trembled, and he almost dropped the precious wine; Wei Liao's fingers, which were stroking his beard, suddenly stopped, and he didn't even realize that his beard had been torn off; Zhang Han and A Zhu under the corridor were so frightened that they trembled and grabbed each other's arms.

Especially Gongshu Yu himself!

He suddenly raised his head, and the last trace of color in his face vanished in an instant, leaving him as pale as a dead man. The tiny flame of hope that had been rekindled in his eyes because of Zhou Wenqing's words was blown away by that light and casual remark, leaving not even ashes!

They thought that this seemingly gentle and refined Mr. Zhou would be more kind and benevolent than the imposing and dignified King, and that he was their only hope for survival. That's why he rushed over to apologize with his granddaughter before the King found out.

I never expected this...

This young nobleman, who appeared refined and kind, asked no questions about the reasons, losses, or punishments, and only spoke once—

The policy of "exterminating three clans" has been changed to "exterminating ten clans"!

Ten clans!

Is this...this week's censor sent by the King of Hell to bring about death?! He's even more ruthless than the King!