The concealed side gate of Wang Temple leading to the Beast Garden and Sand Garden suddenly swung open. Over a dozen swift riders galloped out, their heads wrapped in cloth, clad in light blue robes and silver light armor, draped in snow-white brocade robes. They carried long sabers and short daggers at their waists, with exquisitely embroidered colored silk slung over their shoulders. Like arrows shot from bows, they sped through the narrow path beneath the cliff, charging swiftly into the boundless snowy plains.
Simultaneously, commanders of the central army guarding various posts in the city received orders and began to act separately.
On the main avenue before the royal palace, carriages and horses flowed like a stream, bustling with activity.
Leading noble families—the Kang, Xue, An, and Meng families, who controlled military forces—either rode tall steeds or traveled in luxurious jeweled carriages. Surrounded by their private guards, they departed from their respective mansions and converged toward the palace in an imposing procession.
Chieftains of thirty-seven nomadic tribes allied with the Royal Court were also invited to the palace.
Crowds gathered at the outskirts of the long street. The noble families ignored one another, each deliberately slowing their carriages to display their status, none willing to appear the most impatient.
The neighing of horses, the rumbling of wheels, and the snapping of flags in the cold wind merged into a roaring wave of sound that echoed through every street and alley of the Holy City.
The atmosphere was heavy, poised to erupt at any moment.
The Royal Court had a tradition of regents assisting in governance, and every deliberation to appoint a Regent was inevitably accompanied by bloodshed. The noble families were bound to engage in a life-and-death struggle, ranging from minor casualties to full-scale military clashes, leaving rivers of blood in their wake.
During the last deliberation for a Regent, the Kang and Xue families had suffered complete defeat. Before internal strife could erupt, Su Dan Gu had seized control of the situation, resulting in a rare instance without casualties.
This time, four armies were already stationed outside the Holy City. The Grand Chancellor and others made their ambitions plain for all to see, making clashes between the armies unavoidable.
The citizens of the Holy City hid in their homes, peering through cracks in their windows, trembling as they silently prayed that the four armies outside the city would not breach the Holy City.
People prostrated themselves toward Wang Temple, chanting scriptures and offering devout prayers.
No matter how fiercely the noble families fought, as long as the Buddha Prince remained their ruler, they could continue to live in peace and tranquility.
...
Tanmoroqie returned to the Zen room.
In the tent, wisps of residual smoke lingered. Yaoying was still in a deep slumber, her breathing faint, cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.
Tanmoroqie stood before her, gazing down intently.
He understood why someone would attempt to abduct her at this critical moment. His question to Bi Suo was merely to confirm the answer from Bi Suo’s own lips.
The moment Bi Suo reported her abduction, Tanmoroqie had comprehended everything.
A single deluded thought.
The wind did not stir, the banners did not sway—it was the human heart that moved.
He worried for the future of the Royal Court, for whether his subjects could live in peace and escape the sufferings of a chaotic world. This time, he was anxious for the safety of a woman.
Princess Wenzhao was not one of his subjects.
Joy, anger, worry, contemplation, sorrow, fear, shock.
The seven emotions and five desires are inherent to human nature.
Yet, those who cultivate themselves must purify their conduct, subdue the five desires, sever the seven emotions, to attain pure conduct and the tranquility of Nirvana.
All phenomena are illusory.
Every attachment is like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow, sand slipping through fingers.
Tanmoroqie bent down, picked up the scripture scroll from the desk, lowered the felt curtain, and retreated to a short table by the window in the adjoining room. Sitting cross-legged with his back to the curtain, he smoothed the paper, picked up his brush, and continued silently transcribing scriptures.
The wind blows, the clouds move, but the sky remains still.
The water pushes, the boat shifts, but the shore does not move.
If the heart is unmoved, then neither wind nor banners stir.A soft rustle of wings sounded by the window, a dark shadow flickered, and the falcon swooped before the low desk, its feathers ruffled. It picked up the leather tether with its beak and approached him ingratiatingly.
Tanmoroqie did not look up, waving his hand dismissively as he said calmly, "Redeem yourself through merit today. You shall not be punished."
The falcon called twice, dropped the leather tether, flapped its wings, and settled on the eagle scaffold, closing its eyes.
The Zen room was as silent as still water, the gilt acanthus incense burner quietly emitting tendrils of blue smoke.
Tanmoroqie wrote the scriptures unhurriedly, his brows and eyes tranquil, his expression detached.
The soft scratching of the brush tip on paper continued until afternoon.
After writing the final line, Tanmoroqie set down the brush, lifted the scripture scroll, and placed it before the Buddha statue. Pressing his palms together, his full lips moved silently as he recited.
To stop killing with killing is not acceptable.
Yet in these turbulent times, excessive leniency and indecision would only plunge more innocent people into the suffering of war, leaving them without means to live.
Footsteps sounded beyond the curtain as Yuanjue entered the Zen room and whispered, "Your Majesty, the carriage and horses are ready. The nobles and ministers will soon enter the palace."
Tanmoroqie opened his eyes.
The timing matched his expectations.
He went to the inner chamber to change into a kasaya. Before leaving, he glanced back at the felt curtain.
Yuanjue knew Li Yaoying was sleeping behind the felt curtain and kept his eyes lowered, not daring to make a sound.
"If Princess Wenzhao awakens, request her to stay and ensure her safety. Do not relax vigilance unless General Ashina comes personally," Tanmoroqie instructed his guard Balmi, withdrawing his gaze.
Balmi responded respectfully, "This subordinate will definitely protect the princess."
The wind howled, dark clouds gathering at the horizon.
Monk soldiers surrounded Tanmoroqie as he stepped out of the Zen room. Standing at the top of the steps in a snow-white kasaya embroidered with gold patterns, his robes fluttered in the wind. His profound eyes swept across the scene—majestic in demeanor, aloof and transcendent.
The clouds hung low, the wind growing increasingly biting. The courtyard was densely packed with people, yet not a single cough could be heard.
Guards and monk soldiers, fully armed, knelt on one knee in the snow below the steps. One hand gripped their swords, the other pressed in a fist against their chests, gazing up at Tanmoroqie with fervent devotion.
Tanmoroqie looked down upon the crowd and declared, "The Four Armies have deployed outside the city walls. Follow me to the royal palace. Our fates are uncertain—those who fear need not accompany us."
The guards immediately responded, "We do not fear death!"
Bi Suo, kneeling at the front of the formation, stood and drew his sword, proclaiming loudly, "The Central Army guards remain Your Majesty's most loyal protectors, the Buddha Prince's most courageous servants. With the Four Armies in rebellion and the court in turmoil, the Buddha Prince embodies the people's hearts and their hopes. We are willing to be shattered to pieces for the Buddha Prince, undeterred even by ten thousand deaths!"
Other guards followed him in taking the oath, their voices resounding like great bells.
Amid the soldiers' roars, thunderous crashes echoed from outside Wang Temple as the gates were forced open by impatient Four Armies cavalry. A commander from the Xue family led his subordinates directly into the temple.
The monks had gathered in the main hall, sitting cross-legged and chanting scriptures, allowing the Four Armies cavalry to advance unimpeded.
The commander stood before the hall, scanning the monks contemptuously. Grasping his long sword with an arrogant demeanor, he said, "All the lords have assembled. We request the King to proceed to the palace for discussions promptly—do not delay the timing!"
A guard rushed out from the corridor, demanding sharply, "Who are you to speak loudly in Wang Temple?! Are you not afraid of disturbing the King?!"
The commander smirked without warmth. "I am merely following orders. The King surely will not blame me."As the words fell, a chilling, foul wind swept past, accompanied by a flash of silver light. The commander, startled, dodged aside.
With a sharp, piercing clang, a dagger embedded itself where he had just stood, its hilt quivering slightly.
Had that blade struck him, the wound would surely have been deep enough to reveal bone.
Cold sweat drenched the commander as he looked up.
The blue-robed, white-clad guards descended the stone steps slowly, dozens of eyes fixed on him in unison. Behind the crowd, the Buddha Prince Tanmoroqie, clad in a Kasaya, emerged with measured steps, his gaze wise and his demeanor elegant and composed.
Many of the four-army knights were of common birth and rarely had the chance to pay respects to the Buddha Prince. At this moment, gazing up at the legendary figure, they felt their hearts stir, rooted to the spot in awe.
The guards escorted Tanmoroqie away from the Wang Temple.
As the news spread, the commoners lingering outside the Wang Temple gathered, kneeling on both sides of the long street, prostrating in reverence.
Someone took the lead, and one by one, the four-army knights also knelt, their expressions reverent as they chanted Buddhist prayers.
The commander had not expected the Buddha Prince to remain so composed even after Su Dan Gu’s death. Witnessing the deep affection and respect the people and soldiers held for him, he realized his attempt to intimidate had failed. Stunned, his arrogant demeanor deflated like a punctured balloon, vanishing without a trace.
His eyes darting, he forced a broad smile and hurried after the guards.
"Your Majesty, this humble general was sent by General Xue Yanna to escort you."
The guards sneered coldly, blocking the commander.
Fuming but not daring to speak out, the commander had no choice but to follow alongside the procession. From the Wang Temple to the palace, he racked his brains to get closer but couldn’t even touch the hem of Tanmoroqie’s Kasaya.
...
In the main hall of the palace, the Felt Curtains hung high.
The officials and tribal chieftains who had already arrived sat within the tent. After a short wait, they heard the synchronized tolling of bells at the front of the hall, signaling Tanmoroqie’s arrival, and rose to greet him.
It had been since last year that Tanmoroqie last appeared publicly. Peeking at him through the lowered brocade curtains, everyone noted his calm expression and began to ponder privately.
The tribal chieftains exchanged worried glances.
At this time, in the Holy City, aside from the Wang Temple, all other areas had fallen into the hands of powerful families. The palace was tightly surrounded by the imperial guards controlled by these families. Although the Buddha Prince had loyal guards by his side, he had brought only a few dozen men to the palace. With just this handful, if the families decided to cause trouble, how could the Buddha Prince possibly escape?
Moreover, there were four armies stationed outside the Holy City.
Everyone’s expressions varied.
The guards stepped forward to report that all the lords had arrived, except for the Kang family and Xue Yanna.
The An and Meng families were furious: "The King has arrived, yet they still haven’t shown themselves. They have no respect for the King!"
Tanmoroqie sat serenely on the throne, showing no emotion.
After some provocation from the An and Meng families, seeing him remain unshaken and without a ripple of disturbance on his face, they awkwardly fell silent.
A short while later, figures shifted outside the hall door.
Kang Mo Zhe and Xue Yanna entered the grand tent with great fanfare, surrounded by their entourage. They sat down boldly, scanned the room, and only then stood up to offer a hurried fist-and-palm salute toward Tanmoroqie behind the curtain: "We are late."
Behind the brocade curtain, Tanmoroqie remained silent, as if powerless against the two ministers.
Whispers spread among the crowd. With the Kang and Xue families acting so arrogantly, it seemed certain that the Regent would be chosen from one of them today.
The An and Meng families gritted their teeth in fury."Your Majesty." The Meng family leader's eyes flickered twice as he stepped forward from the crowd. "Since Regent Su Dan Gu has died, state affairs cannot be neglected. We urgently need to appoint a new Regent. Does Your Majesty have someone in mind?"
Others exchanged glances: the Meng family was actually the first to jump out and pressure the Buddha Prince.
Xue Yanna and Kang Mo Zhe immediately grew wary.
They were determined to secure the Regent's position, but too many people were eyeing this lucrative prize. Everyone wanted a piece, making each person a potential enemy—this was precisely why the four armies lingered outside the city. The Meng and An families, though less powerful than their own, were meddling in the affair. Were they planning to let others fight while they reaped the rewards?
Xue Yanna sneered, "The selection of the Regent should be decided by the court ministers! I propose a martial contest—whoever demonstrates the strongest martial prowess shall become Regent. Otherwise, how can we command respect?"
Upon hearing this, the other three families scoffed. Xue Yanna was in his prime; suggesting a martial contest was essentially declaring his ambition to become Regent!
The An family leader countered, "The Regent must not only lead troops in battle but also oversee administrative affairs and manage state matters on behalf of the Buddha Prince. A martial contest is not feasible."
Xue Yanna curled his lips, patting the sword at his waist with meaningful implication. "If we cannot hold a contest, how will the warriors of my Xue family be convinced?"
"Based on seniority and contributions to the Royal Court, I nominate the Grand Chancellor!"
"The Grand Chancellor has served as Chancellor for many years. Though he has worked hard and achieved much, he is advanced in age and not skilled in warfare. He cannot concurrently serve as Regent."
"I nominate Commander An!"
Everyone insisted on their own views, arguing until their faces turned red and veins bulged in their necks. The Kang and Xue families were particularly confrontational, tensions rising between them.
The Meng family fanned the flames: "Today, the King summoned us to decide on the Regent candidate. Since both the Grand Chancellor and General Xue are contending for the position and cannot reach agreement, I fear this may damage the harmony between your families. What should be done?"
The tent filled with noisy arguments.
Suddenly, a clap echoed from the brocade curtain.
The crowd gradually quieted, all turning their gaze toward the curtain.
Yuanjue stood before the tent, speaking solemnly, "The King says that before discussing the appointment of a new Regent, one matter must first be resolved."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across each face.
"First, we must uncover who truly assassinated the Regent."
These words caused an uproar.
Everyone looked at each other in surprise, their eyelids twitching nervously.
Who couldn't see that Su Dan Gu's death was suspicious?
Years ago, during the noble families' internal strife, Su Dan Gu had emerged unexpectedly to seize the Regent position. The noble families had never been satisfied and had continuously attempted to assassinate him—this was an open secret within and outside the court.
During the Buddha Prince's retreat, Su Dan Gu died at the hands of bandits. The Kang and Xue families had undoubtedly played some role, whether major or minor.
Now that Su Dan Gu was dead and the Buddha Prince had lost his right-hand man, emerging hastily from retreat, he had remained in the Wang Temple. He likely hadn't even fully grasped what was happening, let alone mobilized troops. Before he could react, the noble families had approached the Holy City, forcing him to quickly appoint a new Regent. The Buddha Prince was intelligent enough to recognize the situation—he wouldn't confront the noble families head-on, as he still needed their support to govern the Royal Court.
Over the years, a delicate balance had been maintained between the Buddha Prince and the noble families, and among the noble families themselves.
After all, everyone understood that once this balance was broken, no one could control the resulting chaos.
Yet today, the Buddha Prince who had always understood this balance refused to play dumb any longer, insisting on uncovering the truth behind Su Dan Gu's death.Aren't you afraid that the noble families, in their shame and rage, would directly lead troops to charge into the Holy City?
Before everyone could recover from their astonishment, Yuanjue turned to Xue Yanna and sternly demanded, "General Xue, someone has secretly reported to the King that you are the true culprit behind the assassination of the Regent. Do you confess?"
Instantly, the hall fell into complete silence, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was dumbstruck.
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