HNYWEF -Chapter 86 Fate

Fifth year of the Zhenguan era, first month, fifteenth day. Hour of You (around 5–7 PM).

The sky had not fully darkened yet, but Zhuque Avenue was already lit up.

A ten-mile-long street, glowing like daylight with lanterns. Rabbit lanterns, lotus lanterns, revolving lanterns—hung under eaves, raised on poles, packed so densely they formed a continuous sea of light. The flickering glow spilled across the blue stone pavement, tinting the entire street in warm hues.

Crowds pressed in from every direction.

Li Yu stood at the street entrance, his eyes unable to take it all in.

He had never seen so many people in his life, nor so many lanterns.

Beside him, Li Hong was equally stunned.

At the edge of the crowd stood Zhou Xiong. His expression was unreadable as his eyes scanned the surroundings, as if searching for something.

The family of Li Shimin had arrived.

Just a family, blending into the crowd, strolling through the lantern festival like ordinary citizens.

Empress Zhangsun walked in front, holding a young girl’s hand—Li Lizhi.

Li Chengqian followed behind, standing upright. Li Tai was already darting back and forth ahead of everyone. At the very end walked Changsun Wuji, keeping a measured distance.

Zhou Xiong noticed them.

Li Shimin walked over.

“You’re here.”

Zhou Xiong nodded.

The two groups merged and continued forward.

Zhou Yu followed behind, still overwhelmed by everything around him—looking at lanterns, at people, at street performances.

And then he saw her.

Just ahead, beneath a lotus lantern.

A pale green jacket. Hair neatly tied.

She stood there, head tilted up, watching the lantern above. The shifting light flickered across her face, making it glow in alternating brightness and shadow.

Zhou Yu froze.

It was her.

The girl he had seen outside the tavern that day.

He stood still, unmoving.

Li Lizhi seemed to sense something and turned around.

She saw him.

She froze as well.

Their eyes met across a few steps of distance.

Lantern light flickered. The crowd roared with noise. Yet Zhou Yu heard nothing.

He only saw her standing there.

And she only saw him standing there.

Then Li Lizhi’s lips moved slightly.

She raised a hand to cover her mouth and gave a soft, restrained smile.

Very small. Very light.

Zhou Yu’s face turned instantly red.

From his neck all the way up to his ears.

He wanted to look away—but couldn’t.

Li Lizhi didn’t look away either.

She just kept watching him, still smiling behind her hand.

Zhou Xiong noticed.

He had originally been watching the lanterns ahead, but his gaze shifted—and stopped.

He saw Zhou Yu’s completely flushed face.

Then followed his line of sight.

And saw the girl smiling behind her hand.

Then he looked at the woman beside her—

Empress Zhangsun.

Zhou Xiong’s brows tightened slightly.

He turned to look at Li Shimin.

Li Shimin was also looking in that direction.

He saw it too.

Zhou Yu’s red face. Li Lizhi’s quiet smile. The two children standing among the crowd, staring at each other without moving.

Li Shimin froze.

He blinked.

Then looked at Zhou Xiong.

Zhou Xiong was also looking at him.

They exchanged a glance.

The same thought was written clearly in both their eyes—

“What exactly is going on with these two kids?”

Zhou Xiong frowned.

Li Shimin’s lips twitched, unsure what expression he should have.

Empress Zhangsun also saw it.

She lowered her gaze and looked at Li Lizhi.

Li Lizhi had already turned back, standing quietly beside her as if nothing had happened—but the corners of her lips were still lifted, impossible to hide.

The Empress said nothing.

She only watched with a faint smile.

Cheng Yaojin squeezed through from behind and slapped Zhou Yu hard on the shoulder.

“Kid, what are you standing there for? Let’s go, there’s a performance ahead!”

Zhou Yu stumbled from the blow and snapped back to his senses.

“Oh—oh.”

He lowered his head and followed Cheng Yaojin forward.

After a few steps, he couldn’t help but glance back again.

Li Lizhi was still there.

Lantern light flickered across her face. She wasn’t looking at him anymore—but the faint smile still lingered at her lips.

Zhou Yu quickly turned back and walked faster.

Cheng Yaojin glanced at him, then back at Li Lizhi, and suddenly grinned.

A grin like he had just found treasure.

He said nothing—but his expression said everything.

The group moved on.

The performance area was packed tightly with people, drumbeats shaking the air.

Cheng Yaojin dragged Zhou Yu into the crowd to watch. Qin Qiong followed behind, and Yuchi Gong somehow joined them as well.

Zhou Xiong stood outside the crowd and did not push in.

He remained still, looking at the lanterns.

There were so many of them. So bright. So dazzling they almost hurt the eyes.

But he wasn’t really seeing them.

His mind was still on what had just happened.

Zhou Yu’s red face.

The girl’s smile.

Li Shimin’s stunned expression.

Zhou Xiong suddenly felt a strange mess in his thoughts.

He remembered Li Shimin’s earlier proposal.

About betrothing Zhou Yu to Li Lizhi.

He had refused.

At the time, it was because he didn’t want to pull Zhou Yu into the imperial court.

But now—

Those two children…

He stood there amid the crowd, suddenly unsure what to think.

Zhou Hong walked over and stood beside him.

“Brother, why aren’t you going in?”

Zhou Xiong said nothing.

Zhou Hong looked at him, then at the crowd, and didn’t ask further.

The two brothers stood there silently, each lost in their own thoughts.

Li Shimin also didn’t join the crowd.

He stood on the other side, looking at the lanterns—but not really seeing them.

He had seen it too.

Zhou Yu’s expression. Li Lizhi’s smile.

And he also remembered the proposal from that day.

Empress Zhangsun walked over and stood beside him.

She didn’t speak, only gently took his arm.

Li Shimin turned to look at her.

She smiled softly.

“Let’s go. There are lantern riddles ahead.”

Li Shimin nodded.

They walked forward together.

Li Lizhi followed behind, holding her mother’s hand, quiet and composed.

But the smile at the corner of her lips never faded.

Zhou Yu finished watching the performance after being dragged around by Cheng Yaojin. When he finally squeezed out of the crowd, his face was still red.

Cheng Yaojin glanced at him and laughed again.

Zhou Yu felt deeply uncomfortable.

“Uncle Cheng… what are you laughing at?”

Cheng Yaojin waved his hand.

“Nothing, nothing.”

But he laughed even louder.

Zhou Yu lowered his head, unsure what to say.

Yet in his mind, that scene kept replaying—

Pale green jacket.

Lotus lantern light.

That soft, hidden smile.