HNYWEF -Chapter 114 The Emperor’s Promise

Zhou Xiong didn’t leave.

He turned around, took a few steps, then stopped.

He stood more than ten zhang outside the palace gate, his back facing it, completely still.

Qin Qiong stood at the gate, watching that figure, but did not go after him.

Niu Jinda looked at Qin Qiong, then at Zhou Xiong, unsure what to say.

Changsun Wuji stood inside the gate arch, his expression shifting between dark and light.

The spears of the guards had already been lowered, but their hands still rested on their sword hilts, eyes fixed in that direction.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from inside the gate.

More than one person.

Niu Jinda turned back.

A bright yellow robe—imperial dragon robes, the symbol of the emperor.

Li Shimin walked out.

Behind him followed Empress Changsun, and behind them were Li Chengqian and Li Tai.

Niu Jinda froze.

“Your Maj—”

Li Shimin didn’t stop.

He walked past Niu Jinda, past Qin Qiong, and headed toward that distant back figure.

Empress Changsun followed at a measured distance.

Li Chengqian and Li Tai came last, their expressions tense.

Zhou Xiong heard the footsteps.

He didn’t turn around.

Li Shimin stopped behind him.

The two stood separated by just a few steps.

One facing away, one facing forward.

Neither spoke.

After a long silence, Li Shimin finally spoke.

His voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear.

“Zhou Xiong.”

Zhou Xiong didn’t move.

Li Shimin waited a breath.

Then said again.

“Zhou Xiong.”

Zhou Xiong finally turned around.

When Li Shimin saw that face, his feet seemed nailed to the ground.

There was no expression on it at all.

But those eyes—

Empty.

Completely empty.

So empty that Li Shimin forgot to breathe for an instant.

He had seen this kind of gaze before.

Fourteen years ago.

Zhou Xiong had stood before him with the same eyes.

The eyes of someone demanding answers.

Exactly the same.

Li Shimin stood there, his throat feeling blocked.

He wanted to speak.

His lips moved.

No sound came out.

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

Those eyes pierced through more than a decade of time, through that rain, through all the unspeakable things, and locked onto him directly.

Li Shimin’s hands hung at his sides, fingertips slightly cold.

He suddenly remembered that year—Zhou Xiong leaving with the child in his arms.

The rain was heavy.

He had stood there and did not go after him.

Now Zhou Xiong stood before him.

More than ten years had passed.

That gaze had not changed at all.

Li Shimin stood frozen.

Sunlight fell on his face, revealing a faint paleness.

His hand clenched once, then loosened.

Clenched again, then loosened again.

Empress Changsun stood behind him, seeing his rigid back.

Li Chengqian and Li Tai stood even further back, not daring to breathe loudly.

Zhou Xiong kept looking at him.

Silent.

Just looking.

After a long time, Li Shimin finally spoke again.

His voice was softer now.

“Today, nothing happened here.”

Zhou Xiong’s eyes moved slightly.

Just slightly.

Li Shimin continued:

“The explanation you want, I will give it to you.”

He paused.

“But when I look for you, you must come. Don’t make me unable to find you.”

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

For three breaths.

Then he turned around and walked back.

His steps were neither fast nor slow, steady and measured, stepping on the blue stone path.

He walked past Li Shimin.

Li Shimin did not move.

Zhou Xiong passed him, a faint breeze trailing behind him.

That wind was light.

Li Shimin’s hands grew a degree colder.

Zhou Xiong did not look back.

Then he spat.

The spit landed on the ground, kicking up a bit of dust.

The guards’ hands tightened on their sword hilts, eyes fixed on him—but no one moved.

They had heard Li Shimin’s words.

Today, nothing happened here.

Zhou Xiong continued walking.

Past the guards, past the gate arch, without once turning his head.

His figure grew smaller, until it disappeared down the street.

Li Shimin still stood in place.

Unmoving.

He stared in that direction for a long time.

Empress Changsun walked over and stood beside him.

He didn’t look at her.

Li Chengqian and Li Tai also came forward, standing behind.

No one spoke.

After a long while, Li Shimin finally inhaled.

Softly.

As if he had just surfaced from water.

His hand clenched once, then loosened.

Then he turned and walked back.

His steps were slower than before.

One step at a time.

Empress Changsun followed.

Li Chengqian and Li Tai came behind them.

When they reached the palace gate, they passed the guards, and then Changsun Wuji.

Li Shimin walked past him without looking.

His expression had already been withdrawn.

But his face was paler than usual.

Changsun Wuji froze slightly.

He watched Li Shimin’s back disappear into the gate.

Then turned to look toward the street.

Empty. Nothing there.

Only sunlight pouring down, glaringly bright.

He stood there for a moment.

Then he turned and waved at the guards.

“Return to positions.”

Only then did the guards fully relax and return to their posts.

Changsun Wuji walked back inside.

Niu Jinda stood in place, looking left, then right.

Zhou Xiong had left.

Li Shimin had left.

Changsun Wuji had also left.

Even Qin Qiong was gone somewhere unknown.

Only he remained standing at the palace gate.

And the line of guards, standing straight, eyes forward.

He stood there blankly for a long while.

Then suddenly cursed.

“Damn it.”

No one knew who he was cursing.