HNYWEF -Chapter 46 Social Death

Zhenguan Year 1, Seventh Month, 23rd Day.

At the Duke Su’s Residence.

Cheng Yaojin had just returned from the training grounds, drenched in sweat. Before he could even change clothes, the gatekeeper came to report—

“Blacksmith Zhou is here.”

Cheng Yaojin froze.

“Who?”

“Blacksmith Zhou, that one—”

Cheng Yaojin had already run out.

In the courtyard, Zhou Xiong stood there empty-handed. Zhou Yi hadn’t come with him. He was alone.

Cheng Yaojin strode over and slapped a hand onto his shoulder.

“A rare guest! What made you think of—”

Zhou Xiong spoke.

“Li Shimin wants to marry a princess to me.”

Cheng Yaojin’s hand froze midair.

He stared at Zhou Xiong.

There was no expression on Zhou Xiong’s face.

But in those eyes—

something beneath that layer of fog was moving.

Suddenly, Cheng Yaojin laughed.

“Inside. Let’s talk inside.”

He dragged Zhou Xiong into the main hall, shoved him into a chair, and plopped down opposite him.

“What happened?”

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

Then he told the whole story from that day.

From Li Shimin entering the house, to the “Li Er,” to him slamming the hammer onto the anvil.

When he finished, he picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Cheng Yaojin sat there motionless for a long time.

Then suddenly he slapped his thigh.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA—”

He laughed so hard the roof nearly came off.

Zhou Xiong ignored him.

And kept drinking tea.

After laughing enough, Cheng Yaojin wiped tears from his eyes.

“You cursed him out?”

Zhou Xiong nodded.

“Good! Curse him a couple more times!”

Zhou Xiong said nothing.

Cheng Yaojin leaned closer.

“What expression did he have?”

Zhou Xiong thought for a moment.

“He was stunned.”

Cheng Yaojin burst out laughing again.

Laughing so hard he couldn’t straighten his back.

Seventh Month, 24th Day.

At the Duke Yi’s Residence.

Qin Qiong was reading when he heard Zhou Xiong had arrived. He set the book down and went out to greet him.

Zhou Xiong stood in the courtyard, looking the same as always.

Qin Qiong looked at him.

“Something wrong?”

Zhou Xiong nodded.

“Li Shimin wants to marry a princess to me.”

Qin Qiong froze for a moment.

Then he smiled.

Very lightly.

“Come inside.”

Once inside, Zhou Xiong told the whole story again.

Qin Qiong listened without laughing.

He nodded.

“Understood.”

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

Qin Qiong said, “You were right to curse him.”

Zhou Xiong stayed silent.

Qin Qiong added, “He has been overthinking things lately.”

Zhou Xiong lifted his teacup and took a sip.

Qin Qiong looked at him.

“Whose place have you gone to?”

“Cheng Yaojin’s.”

Qin Qiong nodded.

“Going anywhere else?”

Zhou Xiong thought about it.

“Yes.”

Qin Qiong smiled.

“Go ahead.”

Seventh Month, 25th Day.

At the Duke Ying’s Residence.

Li Ji—now called Li Ji—was studying a map when he heard Zhou Xiong had arrived. He paused.

Zhou Xiong?

Which Zhou Xiong?

Then he remembered.

Bear Blind Man.

He personally went out to greet him.

Zhou Xiong stood at the entrance.

Li Ji looked at him for three breaths.

“What brings you here?”

“Something happened.”

After entering the room, Zhou Xiong once again recounted everything from that day.

Li Ji listened without speaking.

He sat there, looking at Zhou Xiong.

For a very long time.

Then suddenly he smiled.

“You called him Li Er?”

Zhou Xiong nodded.

Li Ji’s smile widened.

“And how did he react?”

“He was stunned.”

Li Ji nodded.

“As expected.”

He paused.

“It’s been many years since anyone dared call him that.”

Zhou Xiong said nothing.

Li Ji looked at him.

“Whose homes have you gone to already?”

“Cheng Yaojin. Qin Qiong.”

Li Ji nodded.

“Go on, then.”

Zhou Xiong stood and walked toward the door.

When he reached it, he stopped.

Without turning back, he said:

“If he comes again, I’ll curse him again.”

Then he pushed the door open and left.

Li Ji remained seated inside, staring at the swaying curtain.

For a long while.

Then suddenly he chuckled.

“Li Er…”

Zhou Xiong spent seven whole days making the rounds.

Every house he visited belonged to old brothers from Wagang Uprising.

And every time, he talked about the same thing—

Li Shimin wanting to marry a princess to him.

He told the story again and again.

From Li Shimin entering the house, to “Li Er,” to the hammer striking the anvil.

Every time he finished, he would lift his teacup and take a sip.

His face never showed any expression.

But those eyes—

the fog within them was growing thinner and thinner.

The old brothers listened. Some laughed, some nodded, some slapped their thighs.

And then every one of them would say the same sentence—

“If he comes again, keep cursing him.”

Zhou Xiong nodded.

Then he stood up and headed for the next house.

Eighth Month, 1st Day.

Li Shimin sat inside Liangyi Hall, feeling like something was off.

These past few days during court, the veteran officials who had come out of Wagang all looked at him strangely.

Not the kind of strange that said “Your Majesty is wise.”

A different kind.

Cheng Yaojin was smiling especially brightly.

Qin Qiong still looked the same as always, but occasionally the corners of his mouth would twitch upward.

Li Ji would glance at him, then look away, and the corner of his mouth would lift too.

Li Shimin frowned.

He stopped Cheng Yaojin.

“Zhijie, has something happened recently?”

Cheng Yaojin halted and turned around.

He was smiling.

A dazzling smile.

“Nothing at all, Your Majesty.”

Li Shimin stared at him.

Cheng Yaojin stared back.

The two men looked at each other for three breaths.

Then Cheng Yaojin turned and walked away.

After two steps, his shoulders shook once.

Li Shimin stood there, staring at his back.

Suddenly, he had a bad feeling.

But he had no idea what had happened.

He only felt that—

those old Wagang brothers looked at him with eyes full of—

amusement?

Li Shimin stood in the hall, thinking for a long time.

And still couldn’t figure it out.