HNYWEF -Chapter 85 Illusion

In the third year of the Zhenguan era, fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Lantern Festival.

Even at midday, the streets were already lively.

Hawkers selling flower lanterns walked along the roads, calling out their wares. Children ran about holding rabbit lanterns and lotus lanterns, their laughter bursting through the streets.

Red silk decorations hung at shop entrances. The banners of taverns had been replaced with new ones. The air carried the sweet scent of fried tangyuan.

The door of the Zhou blacksmith shop was open.

The furnace burned fiercely, and the rhythmic sound of hammering echoed from inside.

“Clang.”

“Clang.”

“Clang.”

Footsteps came from the end of the alley.

Not just one person.

The one leading the group wore a dark robe, a faint smile on his face.

Emperor Taizong of Tang.

Behind him were four others—Cheng Yaojin, Qin Qiong, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui.

Before long, Li Shimin had already reached the doorway.

He glanced inside, smiling as if about to speak—

Then he froze.

The words caught in his throat.

Behind him, Cheng Yaojin tried to squeeze forward but bumped straight into Li Shimin.

He stuck his head in to look as well—and also froze.

Qin Qiong stood at the back, unable to see inside, but noticing their reactions, his brows twitched slightly.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui exchanged a glance, unsure what was going on.

Inside the shop, the furnace burned brightly.

At the long workbench stood a man, hammer in hand, striking iron.

“Clang.”

“Clang.”

Beside him, another man squatted, working the bellows rhythmically.

Li Shimin stood at the doorway, staring at the two inside.

He blinked.

Then blinked again.

No change.

Still two people.

One standing, forging iron.

One squatting, pumping the bellows.

Their faces were like they had been carved from the same mold.

Not identical—but strikingly similar in a way that made one’s mind blur. Eyebrows, eyes, nose bridge, mouth—everything matched too closely, almost disorienting.

Li Shimin stood there, wondering if he was hallucinating.

He turned to look at Cheng Yaojin.

Cheng Yaojin looked back at him.

They exchanged a silent stare.

Cheng Yaojin finally spoke, his voice very low.

“…Am I seeing things?”

Li Shimin said nothing.

He turned back again to look inside.

The two men were still working, neither of them looking toward the door.

At that moment, Zhou Yi ran over and stood in front of Li Shimin.

“Uncle Li!”

Li Shimin looked down at him.

Zhou Yi’s face was natural, smiling as usual.

Li Shimin opened his mouth.

Then pointed toward the workshop.

“That… who is that?”

Zhou Yi followed his finger and looked over.

He saw his father forging iron.

He saw his second uncle working the bellows.

He turned back to Li Shimin.

“Oh, that’s my second uncle.”

Li Shimin paused slightly.

“Second uncle?”

Zhou Yi nodded.

“He came a few days ago.”

Cheng Yaojin leaned in immediately.

“A few days ago? When?”

Zhou Yi thought for a moment.

“The twelfth day of the first month.”

Cheng Yaojin opened his mouth.

He looked at the man working the bellows, then at the man forging iron, then at Zhou Yi.

“Your… second uncle? By blood?”

Zhou Yi nodded again.

“Mm. My father’s younger brother.”

Cheng Yaojin froze in place.

Qin Qiong stepped forward from behind and looked inside the workshop.

He also froze.

Just for a moment.

Then he withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhou Yi.

“What’s his name?”

“Zhou Hong,” Zhou Yi said.

Qin Qiong nodded.

He asked no further.

Li Shimin stood at the doorway, looking at the two men inside.

One standing. One squatting.

One forging iron. One pumping the bellows.

Neither spoke.

They just worked.

Fang Xuanling quietly asked,

“Your Majesty?”

Li Shimin snapped back to himself.

He stepped forward, crossing the threshold.

The hammering stopped.

Zhou Xiong raised his head and looked at him.

Zhou Hong also raised his head and looked at him.

Two faces turned toward the door—at the same time.

Li Shimin stood there, slightly dazed as those two faces looked at him.

He steadied himself.

“This is…”

Zhou Xiong glanced at Zhou Hong.

“My younger brother.”

Li Shimin nodded.

He looked at Zhou Hong again.

Zhou Hong didn’t know who he was, but seeing him standing at the front, with those people behind him, he could tell this man’s status was far from ordinary.

He stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, unsure what to say.

Li Shimin nodded to him.

Zhou Hong felt awkward, but nodded back anyway.

Cheng Yaojin squeezed in and circled Zhou Hong once.

“Looks like him. Really looks like him. Just younger… and thinner.”

Zhou Hong felt a little uneasy under that scrutiny.

Qin Qiong also stepped in and cupped his hands toward Zhou Hong in greeting.

Zhou Hong froze for a moment, then awkwardly copied the gesture.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui followed behind. After entering, they didn’t speak—just observed Zhou Hong with thoughtful eyes.

Zhou Yi ran over and stood beside Zhou Xiong.

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

“What is it?”

Only then did Li Shimin remember why he had come.

“The lantern festival tonight. Are you going?”

Zhou Xiong paused slightly.

Li Shimin continued, “It only happens once a year. It’s quite lively. Why not bring your younger brother… and your son… and go take a look together?”

Zhou Xiong didn’t answer.

Zhou Hong’s eyes lit up slightly.

But he said nothing.

Zhou Yi also looked up at his father.

Zhou Xiong glanced at him.

Then at Zhou Hong.

Finally, he spoke.

“No.”

Li Shimin froze.

Zhou Xiong said, “There’s work in the forge.”

Li Shimin opened his mouth, but Cheng Yaojin jumped in first.

“What work can there be on a festival day? Come on, let’s go, let’s have some fun!”

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

“You paying?”

Cheng Yaojin blinked.

“What?”

Zhou Xiong said, “Going to a lantern festival costs money.”

Cheng Yaojin stared blankly for a moment.

Then he laughed.

“Fine! I’ll pay! I’ll pay!”

Zhou Xiong nodded.

“Alright.”

Cheng Yaojin stood there stunned.

He had expected Zhou Xiong to refuse for a long time—but he agreed so easily?

Zhou Xiong had already turned to Zhou Hong.

“Tonight, I’ll take you out to see the world.”

Zhou Hong stood there looking at his older brother.

After a long pause.

He smiled.

A smile that looked exactly like Zhou Xiong’s.

“Alright.”

Li Shimin stood to the side, watching this scene.

Suddenly, he felt that coming here today had been the right decision.

Zhou Yi ran over and tugged at Zhou Hong’s sleeve.

“Second Uncle, the lantern festival is really lively! There are lanterns, performances, and sugar paintings!”

Zhou Hong looked down at him.

“Sugar paintings?”

Zhou Yi nodded vigorously.

“They’re delicious!”

Zhou Hong smiled.

He reached out and rubbed Zhou Yi’s head.

“Alright. Second Uncle will buy it for you.”

Li Shimin walked toward the door.

Just as he reached it, he suddenly paused.

He turned back and looked at Zhou Xiong.

“酉时 (around 5–7 p.m.), I’ll come pick you up.”

Then he pushed the door open and left.

Cheng Yaojin followed behind him, grinning like he had found treasure.

Qin Qiong was the last to leave. Before stepping out, he looked back once more at the three inside the room.

One standing, one squatting, one tugging a sleeve.

He watched for a moment, then smiled faintly.

And then he left.

Footsteps faded away.

The forge fell quiet again.

Zhou Hong stood in place, looking toward the door.

“Brother… those people…”

Zhou Xiong didn’t look up.

“Friends.”

Zhou Hong paused.

Friends?

He glanced at the door again, then back at Zhou Xiong.

So his brother had already made his name in Chang’an?

Those men… none of them looked ordinary.

But he didn’t ask further.

Zhou Xiong walked to the long workbench and picked up the hammer.

“If we’re going out tonight, finish the work first.”

Zhou Hong nodded and went back to the bellows.

Zhou Yi also ran over and squatted beside them.

“Second Uncle, I’ll help you!”