Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Zhou Wenqing snapped out of his daze and squinted at the scene.

In the center of the crowd were several long tables, on which were placed pestles, pottery jars and bundles of medicinal herbs. Several people dressed in dark robes were busy working on them.

Some of them... looked very familiar.

Who else could it be but Physician Lü, the man with gray hair and beard who was bending down to take the pulse of the woman holding a child?

The person next to him, with his sleeves rolled up, squatting on the ground pounding medicine, looked like Zhang Yicheng from the Imperial Medical Bureau.

There was another figure bent over picking through medicinal herbs, who looked even more familiar. It was Xia Wuqie, who was not on duty at his residence today.

Zhou Wenqing's lips twitched slightly, and he silently took half a step back.

"It was Physician Lü and his group!"

Fusu tiptoed to take a look and immediately recognized the people. His tone was respectful as he said, "Recently, they have been going to various clinics to provide free medical consultations on their days off. The locations are not fixed, and they do not charge a penny."

"Why change locations?" Ah-Zhu asked, looking puzzled.

"Because there are just too many people seeking medical treatment," Fusu explained patiently. "Ever since Physician Lü's reputation spread far and wide, people have been coming to see him in an endless stream. Even with soldiers helping to maintain order, it is often crowded and chaotic. That's why we don't have a fixed location, so as to avoid people crowding together and causing a disturbance."

He paused, then added, "Sometimes it's in the east of the city, sometimes in the west, and sometimes outside the city walls. Whether you run into them or not depends entirely on luck."

His luck is just too "good".

Zhou Wenqing inwardly grumbled, but turned around nimbly to walk in the opposite direction, while calling out to the children:

"Alright, alright, they're busy, let's not go and join the fun. Free clinics aren't like candy sales. Let's go look somewhere else, there seems to be a place selling little porcelain tigers up ahead."

If Physician Lü were to see him, given the old man's temperament, he would definitely drag him to have his pulse taken and force-feed him a bowl of bitter medicine that would make him wince. With so many people around, should he drink it or not?

Determined not to get close, Zhou Wenqing tried her best to coax the children to turn around like chicks, but couldn't help but glance quickly at the free clinic tent out of the corner of her eye.

Under the makeshift shed, Doctor Lü sat on a small wooden box, intently taking pulses. Behind him were more than a dozen patients, the long line stretching as far as the eye could see.

The old man was hunched over, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead. Everyone around him was busy, and there wasn't even a hand free to offer him water or wipe his sweat.

Zhou Wenqing withdrew his gaze, silently making a mental note of Li Si's actions.

Look at the mess he's made! He should be taken away and forced to apologize to the old man!

What a mess this imperial physician appointment has made! There's not even a fixed place for free clinics. People are forced to wander around Xianyang like guerrillas, hiding from debt collectors.

At your age, is it easy?!

"Mr. Zhou."

A soft voice rang out, and Zhou Wenqing looked down, meeting Ji Qing's earnest gaze.

The little girl was petite and had a soft voice, but she was very earnest: "Sir, my master is over there. I want to go help him and learn medicine from him."

Ji Ming also took a step forward, without saying a word, but his eyes clearly said: I'll go too.

Zhou Wenqing then realized that he had forgotten about the two children, one of whom was seriously studying medicine, and the other had one foot in the door of medicine.

Such free clinics are indeed learning opportunities for them, and are by no means a bad thing.

But these two little ones are so tiny, you can't even spot them in a crowd. Let them get close on their own, so they don't get stepped on!

But looking at Ji Qing's determined eyes, and glancing at the busy shed over there, he finally gritted his teeth.

"Alright, go if you want. I'll take you. Just stay close and be careful not to get pushed around."

He turned around and whispered a few words to Li Yi, telling him to take two men to help maintain order and to check what Lü Yiling needed, and lend a hand if he could.

Li nodded and told the people to go ahead first.

Zhou Wenqing led Ji Qing and Ji Ming, discreetly moving towards the crowd.

He deliberately walked at the very back, using the children as cover, occasionally turning his body to the side, pretending to look at the stalls next to him, keeping his head down the whole time, and using a folding fan to cover his face, afraid of being recognized by Doctor Lü in the shed.

When they were about ten steps away from the small shed, someone suddenly called out from the side, "Zhou Neishi?"

Zhou Wenqing froze instantly, his back tightening. He dared not turn around even slightly, inwardly groaning.

How could they recognize that? Are all medical students eagle-eyed?

He was about to say "You've mistaken me for someone else" when he looked up and saw not the smiling old face of Physician Lü, but a middle-aged man in a gray robe.

"Zhou Neishi, it really is you! I was just thinking of going to look for you, but to meet you here is such a coincidence."

Zhou Wenqing was stunned for a moment, then recognized the person who came.

Yao Jia is a highly valued diplomatic advisor to the king. He is eloquent, resourceful, and of humble origins, having risen to his current position entirely through his own abilities. He will be instrumental in implementing Wei Liao's strategy of "using large sums of money to sow discord and undermine alliances."

It was he who was sent to South Korea to question Han Fei a few days ago and brought him back to Xianyang. Now that he has just returned, why is he here instead of resting at home?

"Guest Elder Yao," Zhou Wenqing greeted with a cupped hand, his heart filled with curiosity, but his face remained impassive. "You've also come to stroll through the East Market?"

Yao Jia smiled and waved his hand, his gaze turning towards the direction of the free clinic tent, his expression becoming more urgent:

"I'm not here to just stroll around; I've come specifically to see Physician Lü. I just returned and learned that my mother's cough has been recurring lately. I was very worried and made many inquiries before finally finding this place."

He glanced at the seemingly endless queue and sighed helplessly, "I didn't expect so many people to be seeking medical help today. I'm afraid we'll have to wait a long time."

"I see." Zhou Wenqing nodded, then asked, "Just now, the guest elder said he wanted to see me. What brings you here?"

"Oh, is that so?" Yao Jia lowered his voice.

"I traveled back with Han Fei, the envoy from Korea. Han Fei had asked me about the Zhou Dynasty's Minister of Works on several occasions."

"But when I said those words, I sensed that he and Zhou, the Imperial Secretary, didn't seem to know each other. I was thinking of telling him some things that everyone knows, but I don't know if it's appropriate. I was just about to ask the Imperial Secretary for a word and also remind him."

Han Fei inquired about him?

Zhou Wenqing dug through the original owner's memories in his mind, but indeed found no trace of their interaction.

No wonder, the original owner was just a poor and destitute man in the state of Han. He traveled around studying and building his reputation. He had to be careful with his food and clothing. He finally managed to become a retainer of the King of Han and gain a foothold. Not long after, he was sent to the state of Qin. Where would he have had the time to befriend him?

Even if the original owner needed to make friends with many famous people, he would not have set his sights on people like Han Fei.

The few times they met were only when Han Fei offered his honest advice in court, and he listened from afar in the crowd. After Han Fei was completely disliked by the King of Han and was no longer summoned, even such "meetings" ceased.

He didn't really listen to his senior brother Li Si, whom he knew well, and asked him what he was doing.