HNYWEF -Chapter 149 What He Wants

Great Zhenguan Year 4, eleventh lunar month, nineteenth day.

End of the hour of Yin.

It was still before dawn, but the Taiji Hall was already lit.

Candlelight reflected off the red pillars, stretching people’s shadows long and short across the hall.

The civil and military officials stood in rank according to their official grade, holding their ritual tablets before their chests, waiting for the call to begin court.

Emperor Taizong of Tang emerged from the rear hall and took his seat on the imperial throne.

A eunuch called out, and the morning court began.

The first few matters were handled smoothly—The Ministry of Revenue reported this year’s tax collection, the Ministry of War said there was no conflict at the borders, and the Ministry of Rites mentioned arrangements for end-of-year sacrifices. Li Shimin nodded along one by one—approving what should be approved, rejecting what should be rejected.

“Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present.”

Yan Lide stepped out from the ranks and stood in the center of the hall.

Li Shimin glanced at him.

“Speak.”

Yan Lide raised his tablet and spoke in a steady voice, loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear.

“A few days ago, Marquis Zhou was ordered to take up his post at the Imperial Workshop Bureau. I requested him to instruct the craftsmen on smelting techniques. The Marquis is highly skilled in this field; everything he said revealed deep expertise. However—”

He paused.

“In my opinion, the methods the Marquis teaches come from years of personal immersion and have already become second nature to him. Asking him to explain them one by one instead restricts him and forces him into difficulty—it is asking too much.”

Li Shimin’s eyes moved slightly.

Yan Lide continued:

“I request Your Majesty’s permission that, henceforth, when the Marquis teaches at the workshop bureau, it should be practice-oriented. He should work with his own hands while the craftsmen observe and learn. This would be far more effective than verbal explanation.”

He finished speaking and knelt there, waiting.

The hall fell silent for a brief moment.

Some officials glanced toward Yan Lide, then looked away.

Others murmured quietly under their breath.

Li Shimin sat on the throne, his expression unreadable.

He understood what Yan Lide meant.

He had already heard about what happened that day—about Zhou Xiong finishing his talk and then going outside to squat in a corner smoking.

He had also heard that the craftsmen could not understand what Zhou Xiong had said.

Yan Lide’s request was, in essence, a way to give Zhou Xiong a way down from an awkward situation.

Practice-based instruction.

No explanations.

No need to face blank, confused stares.

No need to hear hushed whispers.

Li Shimin was silent for a while.

Then he spoke.

“Granted.”

Just one word.

Yan Lide bowed his head deeply.

“This minister obeys the decree.”

He stood and returned to his place in the ranks.

Someone nearby asked quietly, “Shouldn’t we ask Marquis Zhou whether this is appropriate?”

Yan Lide did not even turn his head.

“The Marquis doesn’t attend court.”

The man froze for a moment, then said nothing more.

Yes. Ever since Zhou Xiong had been granted his title, he had never once attended a court session.

The Censorate had submitted countless memorials against it, all of which were rejected.

Eventually, no one mentioned it anymore.

If he didn’t come, so be it.

As long as he stayed in his manor or at the workshop bureau and didn’t cause trouble, it was fine.

A few more matters were discussed, and Li Shimin handled them one by one.

By the time court adjourned, dawn had just begun to break.

Officials flowed out in order, footsteps echoing through the hall.

Li Shimin remained seated on the throne, unmoving.

Only after everyone had left did he finally stand.

“Summon someone.”

A eunuch hurried forward.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Prepare the carriage. Tonight, I will go to the marquis’s residence.”

The eunuch froze slightly.

“Your Majesty… tonight?”

Li Shimin nodded.

The eunuch hurried out to relay the order.

Li Shimin stood before the throne, looking out at the pale gray sky beyond the hall.

He stared for a while.

Then turned and walked toward the rear hall.

That night.

A carriage rolled through the streets.

Inside, a small lamp was lit, its dim yellow glow falling across two faces.

Empress Zhangsun sat beside him, holding a hand warmer, saying nothing.

Li Shimin leaned against the carriage wall with his eyes closed.

After a while, he suddenly opened them.

“What do you think—can that child Zhou Yi tell us something?”

The Empress thought for a moment.

“I do not know.”

Li Shimin looked at her.

The Empress continued, “But what he said during the last family banquet, I still remember. He is not ignorant of what he is doing.”

Li Shimin fell silent for a while.

“I just want to hear whether he has anything more to say.”

He paused.

“His father is like that, and he sees it every day more clearly than anyone. I agreed to Yan Lide’s proposal today, but I don’t know whether Zhou Xiong himself is willing.”

The Empress looked at him.

“Your Majesty wishes to ask Zhou Yi what his father truly wants?”

Li Shimin nodded.

“Yes.”

The carriage continued forward.

The rolling wheels were especially clear in the night.

Outside, street lanterns drifted past one by one.

Li Shimin closed his eyes again.

He remembered what Zhou Yi had once said:

“If you’re going to keep trying to force things onto my father, at least ask him whether he wants them.”

This time, he hadn’t forced anything.

He simply wanted to ask.

Ask that child one question.

What does his father truly want?