Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Fortunately, Li Yi had made arrangements yesterday, sending scouts disguised as merchants and commoners to investigate along the way.

Another light cavalryman was dispatched with a tally to Hangu Pass to inform the gatekeepers to allow passage, so as to avoid suspicion and unnecessary delays when crossing the border.

By this time, the scouts had returned to camp and reported that the official road in front of the pass was bustling with merchants and travelers as usual, with no abnormalities. The pass officials also verified the credentials, and the journey was unimpeded.

The scout who went to contact the garrison commander and request troops to escort the delegation has not yet returned.

Li Yi silently calculated that even if the scouts arrived and the garrison commander immediately agreed, mustered his troops, prepared his armor and weapons, and then rushed to provide support, it would still take at least two hours.

Two hours, which is only half a day, was just the right time for the sky to brighten, making it convenient to set off.

But how could they afford to wait for Zhou Wenqing, who was suffering from a cold and fever in the tent and was weak and frail?

Should we grit our teeth and set off immediately, forcing our way through the treacherous Hangu Pass; or should we remain still and wait for the garrison to come and provide support?

With his husband ill, Li Yi was faced with a difficult choice when this weighty decision was handed to him.

Just as he was wavering and caught in a dilemma, a soft rustling sound of fabric came from inside the tent.

Xia Wuqie had already taken the medicine pot and personally went to oversee the decoction. Li Yi and the others immediately went in and saw Zhou Wenqing on the table struggling to sit up, half-supporting his arm.

The warmth from the back of Zhou Wenqing's neck instantly extinguished any hesitation or wavering in Li Yi's heart.

We can't wait any longer.

Two hours is too long; the pain is unbearable. His husband can't afford to wait even a moment longer. If it turns into a high fever, the consequences will be unimaginable!

Having made up his mind, Li Yi looked at Zhou Wenqing and said softly:

"Sir, how are you feeling now? If you were to walk, could you still manage?"

Zhou Wenqing waved her hand, removed the cool cloth from her forehead, and gave him a slight smile:

"I'm fine, nothing serious. I just have a low-grade fever, feel drowsy, and have no energy. I'll take some medicine and I'll be fine. Anyway, I'll be lying in the car anyway, so it's nothing."

His voice was terribly hoarse when he said this.

Fusu stood to the side, his eyes red-rimmed, his lips pressed tightly together, his fingers twisting the hem of his clothes, filled with self-reproach.

It's all his fault. He shouldn't have sought that momentary pleasure. Father said he should stay close to the teacher. How could he be so opportunistic and cause the teacher to fall ill again?

"Zicheng." Han Fei took off his water pouch and handed it to Li Yi, saying in a deep voice, "Don't say anything yet, feed him some warm water."

"I'll do it!" Fusu said hastily, making a move to take the water bag.

"No need," Zhou Wenqing said softly, his breath slightly weak. "I'm fine on my own. Fusu, please stand further away."

"Sir..." Fu Su's nose tingled, and tears almost fell on the spot.

"Listen to me, step back a bit." Zhou Wenqing's voice softened further, hoarse from illness, but still patient and gentle.

"Don't catch any illness, and don't blame yourself. It's just that I'm physically weak and can't stand the wind. It has nothing to do with you."

Upon hearing this, Fusu felt even more guilty. He raised his hand and wiped his eyes hard, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down by suppressing the bitterness in his heart.

He stepped aside, standing ramrod straight, his voice still slightly nasal:

"Sir, please don't talk, don't worry about me, save your energy, and have some water."

He didn't want his husband to worry about him while he was sick; that would be incredibly inconsiderate of him.

Zhou Wenqing nodded, took a few sips of water from Li Yi's hand, and moistened his dry throat.

In a short while, the curtain was lifted again, and a strong, bitter, and pungent medicinal smell wafted in first. Xia Wuqie quickly stepped inside, carrying a steaming bowl of medicine.

This time, without anyone needing to persuade him, Zhou Wenqing frowned slightly and drank the bitter medicine down in one gulp from the rim of the bowl without the slightest hesitation or excuse.

If I ever have trouble sleeping, I should ask these two, master and disciple, for a prescription...

As soon as this last thought settled, a wave of weariness washed over him. He could no longer withstand the exhaustion from days of work and illness, and slowly closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep, his brow still slightly furrowed, unable to hide his exhaustion.

Han Fei looked at the frail figure on the bed, like a leaf blown away by the wind, so thin that it made his heart tighten. This was completely different from the dashing demeanor of the person who usually joked and teased him, basking in the warm sun with his eyes half-closed. He couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Guard Li, I'll look after things here. You go outside and arrange everything."

Li Yi nodded solemnly and quietly left the tent.

The moment the curtain fell, a gust of wind rose, and morning dew rushed over him, cool and refreshing, making his robes flutter in the wind.

He stood still, took a deep breath of the chilly morning air, suppressed all the turmoil in his heart, and when he looked up again, his eyes were filled with only coldness and determination.

"Send the order: break camp and set off immediately, passing through Hangu Pass!"

------

Zhangtai Palace.

The morning assembly ended unusually early that day.

In ordinary times, discussions would range from agriculture and sericulture in the counties to matters on the eastern border, and it would take a long time to reach a decision. But today, before he could even give a few reports, Ying Zheng raised his hand to signal the end of the court session, without even leaving the officials a chance to ask a single question.

The attendant's voice still echoed in the hall when he quickly left with his attendants. The hem of his black dragon-patterned robe swept across the cold jade steps, creating a gust of wind.

The officials looked at each other, most of them bewildered. Only a few people had a glint of light in their eyes when the figure in black disappeared behind the palace gate.

Some of them lowered their eyes thoughtfully, while others exchanged meaningful glances with their colleagues before looking away.

Ying Zheng walked swiftly, heading straight into the western side of Zhangtai Palace, to the warm pavilion where he usually handled confidential matters.

Sitting at his desk, he lightly pressed his fingertips to his forehead, a nameless anxiety swirling in his heart like tangled threads, impossible to shake off.

Since Zhou Wenqing left on his mission, the court has been like a weathervane gone. The chaotic issues that could be clearly sorted out in a few words in the past have now turned into long-winded, rambling arguments with each side sticking to its own opinion.

With officials each holding their own version of events, it was nothing more than passing the buck and shirking responsibility. The endless stream of trivial matters made him, who had long been accustomed to the previous concise and efficient style, feel somewhat weary and impatient.

When will Minister Zhou return?

His gaze fell on the mountain of memorials piled on the desk, but his mind had already wandered far away. His fingertips unconsciously tapped the desk, the tapping sound particularly clear in the silent hall.

Judging by the time, Minister Zhou should have already set out from Hangu Pass in the next couple of days, right?

I don't know if it will go smoothly.

Thinking of this, his tapping fingers paused, and he looked up.

"Someone come here."

The attendant outside the hall responded and entered, bowing deeply.

"The message is sent to Li Si."

"Yes, sir." The eunuch acknowledged the order and was about to leave when footsteps sounded outside the hall.

"Your Majesty," another eunuch stepped in and bowed, "Minister Li requests an audience."

Ying Zheng's eyes narrowed slightly, and the unease in his heart surged up again. He immediately spoke in a deep voice:

"Announce."

Before long, Li Si, dressed in court robes, walked steadily into the side hall. After bowing, he noticed that the memorials on the king's desk remained untouched, and the king's aura was somber, clearly indicating his unease. He immediately understood the situation and bowed, saying:

"Your subject Li Si greets Your Majesty."

Li Si had come to pay his respects specifically for this reason—so that the king could receive the news sooner.

However, he first took out some official documents as a prelude. Seeing this, he put the documents in his sleeve and, without haste or impatience, said in a gentle and slow voice, "Is Your Majesty worried about the matter of Zhou Neishi and his entourage leaving the pass?"

Ying Zheng turned his gaze to him, and without saying a word, he had already tacitly agreed.

Li Si immediately continued to reassure him, "Zhou Neishi is meticulous in his planning, Li Huwei is alert and prudent, and with the royal seal to clear the way, the delegation is composed of elite troops and generals, and there are also secret guards along the way. There will be no mishaps, Your Majesty need not worry."

He spoke quickly and steadily, as if he had already rehearsed it in his mind several times beforehand.

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng's expression softened slightly, and he looked eastward.

"I hope everything goes well for you, Zhou Aiqing."