Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

I don't know how much time passed—

"Brother Zicheng!"

A familiar voice came from the doorway, panting, as if someone had run out of breath.

Zhou Wenqing raised his eyes.

Li Si practically stumbled in, his robe smeared with snow and mud, and he slipped and nearly fell on the threshold.

Behind him followed a string of figures—five or six doctors carrying medicine chests, running erratically, and... Doctor Lü.

The old man with gray hair and beard walked much faster than he had imagined, carrying a medicine box, and almost bumped into Li Si at the door.

As soon as he entered, he waved his hand, and the doctors behind him immediately scattered, like a net being cast out, and "pounced" on the group of lying and curled-up figures.

Then Lu Yiling's gaze turned and instantly fixed on the figure sitting in the corner.

He strode forward and, without saying a word, grabbed Zhou Wenqing's wrist, placing three fingers on it.

"teacher!"

"Sir, how are you?!"

Two childish voices rang out almost simultaneously. Fusu and Azhu squeezed in from the back of the crowd. One of them was running so fast that his robe was askew, and his little face was red from the cold, his eyes filled with panic.

"Why are you here? Didn't I tell you not to come?"

Zhou Wenqing leaned against the wall, struggling with his wrists twice but failing, so he gave up. His voice was soft and hoarse, as if squeezed out from his throat: "I'm fine, Mr. Lü, please treat the injured first."

Li Si slowly squatted down beside him.

As soon as he squatted down, the soreness that had been building up for so long suddenly surged up from his chest and rushed to his eyes. Zhou Wenqing lowered his eyes and forcefully suppressed the tears, making his eyes red.

It's all because of...me.

This thought was like a dull knife, grinding back and forth in my heart.

It hurts when you grind it, and it hurts again when you grind it again.

If he hadn't stayed home...

If he were to station some of his own men here to guard the area...

If he had considered those despicable methods more thoroughly...

These people might not be targeted.

He knew that thinking like this was useless. He knew that the worst thing he could do at that moment was to get stuck in self-blame and not be able to get out. He knew that there were still too many things waiting for him to deal with, to question, and to seek justice.

But he couldn't control himself.

He couldn't stop himself from thinking that way.

He couldn't control himself from maintaining what he called "rationality".

He watched helplessly as the person he had personally helped up was lifted up.

The old man who leaned on his shoulder, his body ice-cold, his lips trembling as he said, "I won't go... I can't go."

He lay there motionless, covered with an old robe that someone had handed him.

His face was ashen.

His mouth was slightly open.

It was as if there was still something left to say.

Zhou Wenqing closed his eyes. It felt like there was a wad of cotton stuck in his throat. He couldn't swallow it or spit it out. He had to exert himself to get a breath through the gaps in that wad of cotton.

"Mr. Lü..."

He opened his eyes, his voice even softer than before, so soft it seemed to dissipate in the wind.

"I'm fine. Let's check on them first, let's... save them."

He paused, his lips moved, and the last few words seemed to be forced out from the depths of his throat:

"They...are innocent."

Doctor Lü did not respond. His fingers remained pressed firmly, his eyes fixed on the man's face, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper into a deep frown.

Don't worry too much.

Physician Lü finally spoke, "I must take good care of my patients before I can go see them. Does Historian Zhou understand?"

Zhou Wenqing opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

Li Yi rushed forward, sweat beading on his forehead, "Doctor Lü, please examine my husband carefully. He just took two pills, is it...?"

"Don't rush," Physician Lü said without looking up, his voice steady. "Don't all crowd around here. Let this old man take a closer look."

Fusu and Azhu were so anxious that they stomped their feet on the spot.

The two little heads turned back and forth, looking at Zhou Wenqing's pale face, and then at the people lying or curled up, and tears almost fell.

Finally, the two children exchanged a glance and vied to speak first:

"Sir, don't worry, we'll go help too."

"Don't worry, sir, everyone will get better!"

Before Zhou Wenqing could answer, the two small figures had already turned and run out. One of them ran so fast that the hem of his robe flew up and plunged into the group of busy doctors, helping to carry hot water and wring out hot towels. The two small figures moved through the hall.

"Alas! Brother Zicheng."

Li Si squatted down and let out a long sigh. Only when he got closer could one see that his face was almost pale, his lips were bloodless, and fine beads of sweat were seeping from his forehead.

Li Si's heart skipped a beat, and his voice involuntarily became even softer:

"These past few days, there have been some movements from the Department of Hundreds of Items. If it weren't for Young Master Fusu informing me, I wouldn't have noticed. This is my fault."

He paused, looked at Zhou Wenqing's face, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"Leave it to me, don't try to tough it out."

Zhou Wenqing gave a bitter smile, his lips twitching awkwardly. His gaze involuntarily drifted to the side, toward the group of people being carried in.

"I'm fine. I was just a little angry for a moment. It's nothing serious."

Li Si saw it, but simply moved his body half an inch to the side, his voice remaining steady.

"Calm your mind and don't let your body break down. Otherwise, you'll only be doing what those despicable people want."

"I know," Zhou Wenqing shook his head, his gaze shifting in a direction, "but it's so despicable... how can I possibly remain calm?"

Li Si followed his gaze.

They were those guards who were tied to the pillars, soaking wet and shivering like leaves.

His eyes narrowed, his gaze falling on those people, growing colder inch by inch.

"Is this the group?" He paused, lowering his voice even further, "They actually dared to take advantage of my loophole?"

Zhou Wenqing turned his head to look at him. This movement seemed to have taken a lot of effort from him. His shoulders moved and his whole body swayed slightly.

Li Si grabbed his arm.

He didn't loosen his grip, his aura of violence intensified, but his gaze passed over Zhou Wenqing and fixed on the guards.

"This is a perfect opportunity for Brother Zicheng to witness the methods of our Legalist school. We must find out who is backing them and dares to obstruct the King's decrees..."

"I think they're tired of living!"

At that moment, a booming voice suddenly rang out from the doorway.

"Zicheng, don't worry, I've brought men!"

General Wang Jian strode in, followed by a string of soldiers carrying charcoal braziers, hot water, and blankets. As soon as he entered, his gaze swept across the room, and his voice immediately rose three octaves:

"Put this brazier over there, over there! Make the fire bigger, don't stand so close, or you'll burn the people next to you! Where's the hot water? Bring the hot water over here, and get this old man moving quickly!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several more figures rushed in through the door.

General Meng Wu and Zhang Han, one on each side, carefully carried a door panel inside. A person lay on the panel, covered with a green official robe.

As Meng Wu walked, he shouted, "Hey General Wang, stop just standing there with your hands on your hips giving orders! These few people we brought aren't enough. Come and lend a hand!"

"Hey, you old rascal!" Wang Jian glared at him. "What do you mean by giving orders haphazardly? I'm directing the overall situation and protecting Mr. Zhou!"

As he spoke, he strode over.

Meng Wu, not bothering to argue with him, turned and shouted outside, "There are seven or eight more outside, all freezing! Hurry up!"

Zhang Han followed behind, his sleeves covered in snow and mud, and added in a low voice, "I've already had the screens inside dismantled, so we can transport a few more."

After saying that, he buried his head and rushed out again.

General Meng Wu carefully picked up a child and gently placed him on the table. The child's face was pale, his lips were purplish-black, and he lay limply. The doctor came over, pried open the child's eyelids to examine him, and his brows furrowed more and more tightly.

"Damn it! So many children, frozen like this... and all those people outside just stand by and watch, not a single one of them reporting it?!"

"Say less!" Wei Liao squeezed through the crowd, squatted down next to Zhou Wenqing, his gaze lingered on Zhou's face for a moment, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"His Majesty is already aware of what happened today, but it is not appropriate for him to come in person, since it is in front of the Imperial Household Department and we cannot allow it to escalate further."

"To avoid alerting the enemy, we didn't bring many people, but we've already rounded them up, both inside and outside the gate. Today's matter ends here. We just need to investigate thoroughly, and we'll make sure no one escapes. We will show no mercy..."

Before she could finish speaking, her wrist tightened. Wei Liao looked down and saw that Zhou Wenqing's hand was gripping her sleeve tightly.

"So many lives have been lost; this cannot be suppressed. Wenqing doesn't care about reputation, Wenqing..."

"That's natural." Wei Liao gripped Zhou Wenqing's wrist firmly with his other hand. The grip wasn't strong, but it felt like it was rooted to the spot. "Once the matter is investigated, his reputation will be known to the people."

He spoke each word clearly and distinctly, his voice cold, hard, and crisp, leaving no room for negotiation:

"This matter will not be left unresolved. Every debt must be settled, one by one. Even if Zicheng doesn't speak, Liao will not let anyone escape."

He paused, then looked directly into Zhou Wenqing's eyes.

"Your Majesty will not allow it."

Zhou Wenqing's eyes suddenly reddened.

The pent-up anger in my chest, the knife I'd been sharpening in my heart, seemed to be steadily supported by many people at this moment.

"Cough cough!" He struggled to get up. "Your Majesty, I thank you..."

Before he could finish speaking, a hand suddenly reached out from behind him.

He held a gleaming silver needle between two fingers, moving with lightning speed, and precisely pierced a spot on the side of his neck.

Zhou Wenqing felt a tingling sensation explode from the needle tip, instantly spreading throughout his body.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his vision went dark. The last thing he saw was the calm, unperturbed old face of Physician Lü, and the second needle that he had somehow found himself holding in his hand.

"Finally, I've got a chance to rest for a while. I can't stay so emotionally agitated."