HNYWEF -Chapter 68 Taking Shelter

No one knew how long Li Shimin had been thinking.

He waved a hand at Fang Xuanling. Fang Xuanling bent down, and Li Shimin spoke to him in a low voice.

“Xuanling, first you… then…”

Fang Xuanling nodded as he listened.

When Li Shimin finished, Fang Xuanling gave a bow and left.

No one knew how much time passed after that.

Then Fang Xuanling came back carrying a bundle.

Zhou Xiong heard the clinking of metal from inside.

Li Shimin handed the bundle to him.

“Take it.”

Zhou Xiong accepted it.

It wasn’t heavy.

He opened it and took a glance.

Inside were two neatly stacked strings of copper coins. On top of the money were papers with writing on them—travel permits.

Two of them.

Zhou Xiong lifted his head and looked at Li Shimin.

Li Shimin said, “Ten guan. Enough for you and the boy to live on for a while.”

Zhou Xiong said nothing.

Li Shimin continued, “The travel permits are done too. Registered as traveling merchants. You can stay outside as long as you want.”

Still, Zhou Xiong said nothing.

Li Shimin looked at him.

Looked for a while.

Then he spoke again.

“Go lie low somewhere.”

Zhou Xiong’s eyes moved slightly.

Just once.

Li Shimin continued, “Come back after things settle down here.”

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

For three breaths.

Then he tied the bundle shut.

Held it in one hand.

With the other, he pointed at Li Shimin while nodding.

Then he turned around and walked back.

After two steps, he stopped.

Without turning around.

Li Shimin stood up and watched that departing figure.

Watched for a while.

Back at the smithy.

Zhou Xiong placed the bundle on the table.

He sat down on the bench.

Looked at the bundle.

For a while.

Then he suddenly spoke.

“You heard?”

The curtain to the inner room shifted.

Zhou Yi poked half his head out.

His eyes were still hazy from sleep.

“Dad, you’re back?”

Zhou Xiong nodded.

“Pack your things.”

Zhou Yi froze for a moment.

Pack their things? Why?

“I got into trouble.”

Zhou Yi became even more confused. Didn’t his father go to some full-month banquet? How did that become—

“Really?”

Zhou Xiong nodded again.

Zhou Yi sprang out of the inner room, barefoot on the floor.

“When are we leaving?”

Zhou Xiong said, “As soon as you finish packing.”

Zhou Yi froze briefly.

Then he turned and ran.

“I’ll be done right away!”

Zhou Xiong sat there, watching the figure run off.

Watched for a while.

Then he lowered his head.

Looked at the bundle.

Ten guan of money.

Two travel permits.

Suddenly, he lifted his head again and glanced toward the doorway.

The doorway was empty.

The carriage that had brought him back had long since left.

He watched for a while.

Even he didn’t know what he was looking at.

Then he stood up.

Walked to the window and picked up the gourd.

Pulled out the stopper and took a drink.

The liquor slid down his throat, burning all the way into his stomach.

He closed his eyes and swallowed.

Then he opened them again and looked outside.

The sky beyond was gradually brightening.

People had started moving through the alley.

He watched for a while.

Then set the gourd down.

Turned around.

Zhou Yi had already run back out, his clothes a complete mess, a tiny bundle in his hand.

“Dad, I’m ready!”

Zhou Xiong looked at him like that.

Looked for three breaths.

Then he spoke.

“Your clothes are inside out.”

Zhou Yi froze.

Lowered his head to look.

His face turned red.

Zhou Xiong said nothing.

He walked past him, lifted the curtain, and entered the inner room.

Zhou Yi stood there fumbling frantically with his clothes.

Zhou Xiong’s voice came from inside.

“No rush.”

Just two words.

Zhou Yi’s hands paused for a moment.

No rush?

Now Zhou Yi was completely lost.

Wasn’t his father taking him on the run because he’d gotten into trouble? How was there “no rush”?

Outside, the sun rose higher.

Its light shone into the courtyard, onto the windowsill, onto the wine gourd.

Bright and dazzling.