Yaoying was still in a daze when a fast horse galloped up. Guard Bā mǐ ěr rolled off the saddle and clasped his hands toward her: "Princess, please return to Wang Temple immediately."
Yuanjue, who was leading others in packing the treasure boxes and volumes on the table, turned back and asked: "What happened?"
Bā mǐ ěr signaled for everyone else to leave and whispered: "The King has summoned the Princess."
Yuanjue's eyes widened in surprise.
This morning, Tanmoroqie had already entered seclusion. Except for Bā mǐ ěr and Bi Suo, no one else could enter the cave. When Li Yaoying went to the sheepskin shop, he and Bi Suo had discussed countermeasures and acted separately to find the physician. Because the matter was urgent and they feared disturbing Tanmoroqie, they only left a brief message. Luojia should have been in seclusion...
How did the King emerge and why was he summoning the Princess immediately?
Yaoying, still somewhat disoriented, acknowledged and hurried back to Wang Temple with Bā mǐ ěr. Bā mǐ ěr had her put on a white robe to conceal her figure and led her through a hidden passage into the temple. They climbed the long stone steps to the door of a secluded hall.
Voices could be heard from inside. Yaoying entered and saw Bi Suo was also in the room, nodding to her in greeting.
"Is the Princess alright?"
Yaoying smiled in return, then lifted her gaze to Tanmoroqie.
She hadn't seen Tanmoroqie since that night of prayers at the pagoda cave. During the martial arts competition, she was below the stage while he was in the grand tent above, too far away for her to clearly see his figure.
For some reason, after just a few days apart, seeing him again felt strangely distant, as if lifetimes had passed.
It was as if the Tanmoroqie who held the lantern and prayed for her had remained in that night, never to return.
Tanmoroqie wasn't looking at Yaoying, his expression cold and detached.
Yaoying stared at him, lost in thought.
He was sometimes aloof and dignified, unapproachable; other times gentle and considerate. Like a snow-capped peak shrouded in clouds and mist year-round, his full form remained elusive. Only occasionally, when the weather cleared and brilliant golden light poured down from azure skies, could one glimpse the majestic grandeur of the mountain.
Yaoying remained silent for a long while. Tanmoroqie glanced at her, his gaze cool and distant.
Bi Suo frowned slightly and asked: "Princess, what does Princess Manda know?"
Yaoying snapped back to reality.
"Princess Manda doesn't know about the Dharma Master's illness. She..."
She briefly explained what had happened.
"Princess Manda thought the physician was here to treat me and wanted to use that to threaten me."
Bi Suo breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."
The guards had been vague in their report, making him think Princess Manda had obtained crucial leverage to threaten them. It turned out to be a false alarm.
Tanmoroqie's brows slightly furrowed as he looked at Yaoying, his gaze cold and authoritative: "Princess, don't be so impulsive next time. Wait for Yuanjue to come and inform you first."
His tone was stern, carrying implicit criticism.
Bi Suo didn't dare speak for a moment.
Yaoying pressed her lips together and nodded in agreement.
The air grew still, the atmosphere becoming somewhat awkward.
Bi Suo's eyes shifted, he coughed lightly, and smiled as he defended Yaoying: "Your Majesty, that sheepskin shop next to the embassy is under my name. We have people monitoring the embassy there every day. Princess Manda is an envoy - she only dared to detain her physician, not take any other actions. If it had been anyone else or the meeting place was elsewhere, the Princess definitely wouldn't have gone."
Tanmoroqie remained silent.
Bi Suo touched the tip of his nose, changed the subject, and said: "Your Majesty, can we trust the physician from the Land of Brahma? Since his medical skills are exceptional, perhaps we should take this opportunity to offer him high positions and generous rewards to make him stay."Tanmoroqie withdrew his gaze and shook his head: "No need. He is a physician and has already left the prescription. Do not force him to stay. Go to the guesthouse and inform the Piluo Mo Luo delegation to return to Piluo Mo Luo immediately tomorrow. You personally see them out of the city tomorrow."
Bi Suo understood his meaning and cupped his hands in acknowledgment. His sending them off would be a forceful demand for Piluo Mo Luo to leave. He waited a moment longer, and seeing that Luojia had no further instructions, withdrew.
As soon as he left, the room fell into a heavy silence, the atmosphere even more awkward than before.
Tanmoroqie lowered his head to look at Yaoying.
She stood before him, her mind wandering, her cheeks pale as if somewhat dejected, her eyes dim and listless.
Tanmoroqie remained silent for a while. As long as she was unharmed, that was what mattered.
"If there is a next time, do not act rashly."
This time, his tone had softened slightly.
Yaoying looked up, thought for a moment, and still replied truthfully: "If the Dharma Master had told me the truth earlier, I would not have acted rashly."
In fact, had she thought more carefully at the time, she could have noticed the clues—the physician from the Land of Brahma had come to the Holy City, and Luojia happened to have found new medicine for her. His illness could not be revealed, and as an external envoy, the physician's identity was sensitive. How could Bi Suo let the physician stay in the crowded and gossip-prone guesthouse?
It was only because she had never doubted Tanmoroqie that she did not investigate further, fearing something might happen to the physician. In her mind, Luojia would not deliberately hide anything.
Tanmoroqie lowered his eyes. "It was my negligence for not informing the Princess."
Yaoying shook her head: "The Dharma Master does not make such mistakes. Why didn't you tell me the truth?"
Tanmoroqie averted his gaze and said indifferently, "It was unnecessary."
Yaoying choked up. He had answered so lightly that she found herself unable to press further.
Yes, to him, many things were unnecessary.
Neither of them spoke.
After a while, Tanmoroqie asked: "If I had told the Princess the truth, would you not have acted rashly today?"
Yaoying nodded without hesitation: "If it weren't for my concern for the Dharma Master, why would I bother with Princess Manda?"
Had she known the truth earlier, she would have calmly discussed countermeasures with Bi Suo before taking action, instead of rushing off in fear that Princess Manda might kill the physician.
Tanmoroqie's jade-green eyes fixed on Yaoying.
Threatening her with her own life, she could remain composed... but threatening with him, she was so urgent...
Yaoying met his gaze, feeling his eyes were unusually profound, and thought he was still angry. She said softly, "Dharma Master, I will not act rashly next time."
Tanmoroqie looked at Yaoying, his face devoid of expression.
Yet in his mind, there was the faint sound of fluttering banners in the wind.
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