HNYWEF -Chapter 66 The Center of Attention

The old civil official was helped away.

But the matter wasn’t over.

At the surrounding tables, people kept glancing this way. The sound of whispered conversations rolled over in waves like a rising tide.

“Who’s that?”

“Never seen him before…”

“How did he get in here?”

“I heard His Majesty invited him…”

“His Majesty invited him? What’s his background?”

The voices weren’t loud, but there were too many of them.

Zhou Xiong sat there holding his bowl of wine.

There wasn’t a trace of expression on his face.

But he could hear everything.

Every sentence drilled straight into his ears.

Cheng Yaojin’s expression grew uglier and uglier.

He stood up, about to say something.

Qin Qiong tugged at him.

“Sit down.”

Cheng Yaojin didn’t sit.

He stood there glaring at the people whispering amongst themselves.

Those people restrained themselves a little under his stare, their voices lowering.

But they didn’t stop.

If anything, there were even more whispers now.

Several men dressed like civil officials had already risen to their feet, pointing and talking in this direction.

One of them, wearing a crimson robe, walked straight over.

“Duke Cheng, forgive this subordinate’s boldness, but may I ask—”

Cheng Yaojin looked at him.

“Ask what?”

The crimson-robed official glanced at Zhou Xiong.

“This gentleman… who is he? And why is he present at the palace banquet?”

The fire in Cheng Yaojin flared up again.

“You damn—”

“Zhijie.”

A voice came from behind them.

Not loud.

But the entire courtyard fell silent.

Everyone turned to look.

Li Shimin stood in the middle of the courtyard, his expression calm.

He looked this way.

For three breaths.

Then he spoke.

“This is a family banquet.”

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

“Zhou Xiong is a friend invited by me.”

He paused.

“You could say he’s family to me.”

The courtyard became even quieter.

The officials standing there exchanged uneasy looks.

Li Shimin’s gaze swept across them.

“You people from the Ministry of Rites—”

He paused again.

“Are you trying to meddle in my family affairs as well?”

The faces of those officials instantly turned pale.

The leader hurriedly bowed.

“This subject would not dare.”

Li Shimin nodded.

“Good.”

He glanced around the courtyard.

“If anyone has objections, leave now.”

No one moved.

“Don’t ruin my mood.”

After saying that, he turned around and walked back to his original seat.

Sat down.

Picked up his wine cup and continued talking to the people beside him.

As though nothing had happened at all.

The courtyard stayed silent for several breaths.

Then the noise slowly returned.

But this time, no one looked this way anymore.

Those gazes all withdrew.

The whispers disappeared too.

Zhou Xiong sat there holding his wine bowl.

He looked in Li Shimin’s direction.

For a long time.

Has Li Er gone mad?

Is he helping me or harming me by saying all that?

Cheng Yaojin sat back down beside him and cursed under his breath.

“Damn those sour scholars…”

Qin Qiong said nothing.

He glanced at Zhou Xiong.

Zhou Xiong lowered his wine bowl.

He looked at the wine inside.

Half a bowl remained.

He didn’t dare drink it.

There was only one thought in his mind—

Damn it. I came to watch the show and ended up dragging myself into it.

The Zhou family smithy won’t stay peaceful anymore.

Li Shimin’s words were meant for those people to hear.

But they were also meant for everyone else.

Zhou Xiong was a friend personally invited by him.

Part of his family.

From this day on, everyone in court would know about it.

They would all know there was a man named Zhou Xiong in Chang’an.

In the future, they would also know he was a blacksmith.

A blacksmith who was the Emperor’s friend.

What did that mean?

It meant that from now on, no one would dare provoke him casually again.

But it also meant—

No one would ever treat him as an ordinary blacksmith again.

Those who wanted to curry favor would come.

Those who wanted to probe him would come.

Those who wanted to know why he deserved such treatment would come too.

The door to the Zhou family smithy would never again be as quiet as before.

Zhou Xiong lifted his wine bowl.

Hardened his heart.

And downed it in one gulp.

The wine was fiery.

As it went down his throat, it burned all the way to his stomach.

He set the bowl down.

Raised his head.

Cheng Yaojin was watching him from the side.

“Bear?”

Zhou Xiong didn’t answer.

He looked toward the middle of the courtyard.

Li Shimin was talking with the people beside him, smiling.

As though nothing had happened just now.

Zhou Xiong withdrew his gaze.

Then poured himself another bowl of wine.

Qin Qiong finally spoke.

His voice was very soft.

“After you go back…”

Zhou Xiong nodded.

Just once.

Qin Qiong looked at him.

“As long as you understand the situation.”

Zhou Xiong said nothing.

He raised the wine bowl and drained it in another gulp.

Cheng Yaojin scratched his head beside him.

“How about… I send a few men to guard your door?”

Zhou Xiong glanced at him.

That look—

Cheng Yaojin froze for a moment.

Then he laughed.

“Alright, alright, no guards, no guards.”

He lifted his wine bowl and clinked it against Zhou Xiong’s.

“Drink.”

Zhou Xiong said nothing.

He drank the wine.

The banquet continued.

But Zhou Xiong knew that some things—

Had been ruined by himself.

And by Li Shimin.