The cheerful and melodious music came to a halt. The dancer on the stage slightly bowed, her robe slipping to reveal snow-white fragrant shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with charm as she retreated with a soft, enchanting laugh.
After the dancer withdrew, the music shifted to a vigorous and powerful rhythm. A group of male dancers, bare-chested and wearing only wide-legged pants, ascended the high platform. They danced in imitation of combat stances, accompanied by intense drumbeats—a performance of the martial dance.
The audience erupted in thunderous cheers.
Yaoying watched with great interest. When the music ended, she glanced back at Tanmoroqie, hesitating to speak, her smile fading slightly.
He was a monk—she couldn’t pull him into discussing how delightful the song and dance were. That he had accompanied her on this outing in such a manner was already surprising enough.
Tanmoroqie sat with his back to the carriage window, fully absorbed in handling administrative affairs. All his sharp edges were concealed within a gentle, dignified composure—his aura solemn and his demeanor sacred. Light filtering through the gaps in the carriage curtain cut across his profile, outlining deep and striking features. From a distance, a faint fuzz of light hair was visible on his head; up close, the stubble was so sparse it was almost imperceptible.
Yaoying gazed at him distractedly, a question surfacing in her mind: Did he have to shave his stubble every few days?
Tanmoroqie lifted his eyes to meet hers, a questioning look in his gaze.
Why have you stopped watching?
Snapping out of her reverie, Yaoying masked her thoughts with a smile. "Venerable One, I’d like to step down to buy a few things."
Tanmoroqie nodded. "Let Bā mǐ ěr and the others accompany you."
She hummed in agreement and alighted from the carriage. The marketplace was filled with many masked individuals, and she and her guards blended seamlessly into the crowd.
It was the final day of the grand festival, and the market was livelier than in previous days. Merchants from various nations hawked their wares in different tongues, selling just about everything.
As Yaoying shopped along the way, she noticed guards patrolling back and forth every dozen steps or so. After the incident with the martial assassins a few days prior, the imperial guards must have increased their presence.
Several herders were hawking thorn honey. Yaoying approached and bought all of it.
The season for harvesting thorn honey had passed, and it was rare to find pieces as large as grapes. Whenever she spotted good ones, she purchased them entirely.
After making her rounds, Yaoying glanced back. The carriage was parked in a corner, its curtains drawn low.
Inside, Tanmoroqie was surely still reviewing documents.
Even amid the bustling mortal world, he remained the exalted Buddha Prince, out of place in the lively marketplace.
Yaoying couldn’t help but wonder: As the Buddha Prince, he lived in seclusion, typically only appearing at important dharma assemblies and ceremonies. Was this his first time leaving Wang Temple privately in his capacity as the Buddha Prince?
A figure approached her, and Bā mǐ ěr immediately stepped forward to block the way.
The newcomer removed his mask, revealing the smiling face of a young man. He bowed to Yaoying and made an inviting gesture.
Bā mǐ ěr relaxed his guard and whispered to Yaoying, "He wishes to invite you to dance."
Yaoying shook her head.
Disappointment flickered across the young man’s face. He straightened up, stretching his posture to display his tall and robust physique.
Yaoying still declined.
Sighing wistfully, the young man smiled, plucked a flower, and offered it to Yaoying.
Bā mǐ ěr said, "It’s the last day of the festival. People exchange flowers and splash water for blessings and fun. It would be fine to accept."
Yaoying looked toward the carriage. The curtains were tightly drawn, obscuring the view inside. After a moment’s thought, she shook her head once more.The young man showed a surprised expression, quickly put away his playful demeanor, cupped his hands in apology to Bā mǐ ěr, and left with the flower.
Yaoying looked up at Bā mǐ ěr.
Bā mǐ ěr stood rigid, awkwardly explaining: "Today, young people can express admiration by giving flowers to the lady or gentleman they admire. Regardless of status, anyone can give flowers. No matter how many flowers you receive, you can accept them all—unless your heart already belongs to someone. Since you firmly refused just now, he thought you already had a sweetheart."
Standing beside the princess with a vigilant expression, the young man had mistaken him for her sweetheart.
Sweetheart?
Yaoying silently repeated the word in her heart, a smile unconsciously curling at the corners of her lips.
Bā mǐ ěr dared not smile. He cautiously glanced back at the carriage, feeling as if two gazes were fixed on him, breaking out in a cold sweat. Instinctively, he stepped further away from Yaoying.
On the stage, a martial dance concluded. All the lavishly dressed dancers left the colorful pavilion and mingled into the crowd, singing and dancing. The common people joined them, swaying and stepping to the rhythm. Young boys and girls, hand in hand, danced together in circles, the atmosphere lively and warm.
Yaoying watched for a while before retreating from the crowd.
Not far away, cheers erupted as a group of young people, carrying several wooden buckets, ran past her, laughing heartily.
The music grew more urgent.
Bā mǐ ěr's expression changed. "This is bad! We should head back quickly."
Before Yaoying could ask why, splashing sounds echoed as several young men scooped up wooden basins and gleefully splashed water into the crowd. They were close by, and a basin of cold water drenched several people head-on.
The young men laughed uproariously, continuing to splash water toward them.
Bā mǐ ěr's face darkened, and he reached for his sword.
Yaoying stopped him: "I’ve heard of the Royal Court’s customs. This is their way of blessing—it’s harmless."
The water-splashing ritual originated from the Land of Brahma and later spread to the Royal Court with the dissemination of Buddhism. It is practiced during the Royal Court’s Buddha Bathing Festival, Cold Begging Festival, and other grand celebrations, where people playfully splash water to bless one another.
Bā mǐ ěr bowed and stepped back, shielding her as they made their way back.
After the singing and dancing ended, the common people’s revelry began. To the lively, resonant beat of drums, water carts that had long been prepared rolled into the long street. People swarmed forward, splashing water on one another. Under the sunlight, the splashing water droplets refracted into colorful rainbows.
Even though Yaoying and her party quickened their pace to leave the long street, they were still drenched by passersby along the way.
By the time they returned to the carriage, Yaoying’s clothes were soaked through, and even her hair was wet. Water droplets trickled down from her sleeves, hem, and strands of hair.
Bā mǐ ěr stood outside, apologizing.
Tanmoroqie frowned slightly.
Yaoying removed her mask and chuckled, showing no sign of anger: "It’s no trouble at all. This is all a blessing."
Tanmoroqie looked at her damp face and handed her a handkerchief: "Dry yourself."
Having read many books from the Central Plains, he knew the differences between there and the Royal Court. The tribal and feudal systems of the Royal Court were entirely distinct from those of the Central Plains, and their customs varied greatly. She adapted remarkably well to local practices.
Yaoying wiped her face and shivered slightly. The weather had turned cooler recently, and even during the day, her soaked clothes clung to her skin, bringing a chill.
Tanmoroqie’s gaze lingered on her.She huddled in the corner of the carriage, loosening her soaked hair bun. After wringing it out, her jet-black, thick long hair cascaded damply over her shoulders. Her light dress, drenched, clung tightly to her skin like delicate petals tinged with the blush of early spring—faintly pink and white, hazy and translucent. Her fair skin seemed to shimmer through the thin fabric, with rounded shoulders, softly curved bosom, and a slender, supple waist faintly visible in the dim light.
Further down, the outline of her long legs was barely discernible. Her entire body glistened with moisture.
Tanmoroqie immediately averted his gaze. He hadn’t meant to look, but with just a glance, everything was imprinted in his mind.
Within the cramped carriage, a faint, delicate fragrance lingered, permeating the space with her presence.
Tanmoroqie set down the parchment, picked up a thin blanket, and wrapped Yaoying tightly in it. "Don’t catch a cold," he said, pulling the blanket snugly around her.
Yaoying clutched the blanket and smiled at him, her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms, tinged with a soft rosy hue.
Tanmoroqie withdrew his hand, closed his eyes, and retreated to the other end of the carriage, turning his back. He lightly tapped the Felt Curtain, signaling Bā mǐ ěr to hurry back to Wang Temple.
The carriage picked up speed but slowed again after a few miles amid noisy crowds outside. Bā mǐ ěr called through the curtain, "The road is blocked ahead. An envoy group is entering the city on elephants, and half the street is immobilized."
Yaoying lifted a corner of the curtain to look and indeed saw several elephants lumbering slowly down the long street.
She wondered which envoy group it was, to have such an elaborate entrance ceremony.
Tanmoroqie handed out a bronze token.
Bā mǐ ěr took it and went to find the guards. Shortly after, the carriage turned into a narrow lane, proceeding unimpeded until it reached Wang Temple. Instead of entering the temple gates, it went straight to the deep, courtyard-lined residences outside the temple walls.
One of these residences was Tanmoroqie’s dwelling, connected by secret passages to both Wang Temple and the hot spring. He had been recuperating here these past few days.
The carriage drove directly into the courtyard. Yaoying, wrapped in the blanket, stepped down, eager to wash up and change.
Her guards brought hot water for her bath. After changing into a robe, Yuanjue approached with a bowl of medicine. "The King said you caught a chill today, Princess. You must drink this Medicinal Soup. It’s sweetened with honey fruit—not bitter at all."
A wave of warmth flowed through her heart. Yaoying took the bowl and drank the Medicinal Soup in one go.
She instructed the guards to deliver the items she had bought at the market to Li Zhongqian, then entered the house.
The temple abbot had urgent matters to report, so Tanmoroqie had gone to Wang Temple.
Yaoying found a bronze vase, placed a budding flower inside, and set it on Tanmoroqie’s desk. After gazing at it for a while, she felt it was inappropriate and moved the vase to a corner. After some thought, she moved it back again.
A moment later, she finally took the vase away and placed it on the earthen ledge outside the window.
A guard came to report, "Princess, you have a letter. Several foreign envoys wish to see you. Xie Quan has brought them over."
Yaoying read the letter, disbelief mingling with surprise and joy. "Please invite the venerable monk in at once!" she exclaimed.
Unable to wait, she hurried out with the letter in hand.
Several turbaned men entered under the guard’s guidance. The leader, an elderly man with wise, gleaming eyes, smiled faintly at the sight of her and pressed his palms together in greeting.
Yaoying quickened her steps, returning the gesture with a smile. "Venerable Monk, it’s been too long."The man standing before her was none other than the monk Mengda Ti Po, whom she had first met in Chang’an, reunited with at the Royal Court, and later parted from.
Mengda Ti Po smiled. "The Princess grows ever more radiant."
Yaoying returned the smile. Having spent so much time among nobles and officials, Mengda Ti Po had yet to shed his habit of speaking pleasantries to everyone he met. "Since you’ve arrived at the Royal Court, why didn’t you inform me? I could have had the merchant convoy assist you."
Mengda Ti Po replied slowly, "I left the Royal Court earlier because Water Mang Grass could alleviate the King’s injuries, though it couldn’t cure them completely. After returning to the Land of Brahma, I traveled extensively, searching through medical texts. While I haven’t found a complete cure for the King’s ailment, I’ve made some discoveries. Moreover, I received your letter, so I returned to treat the King. Coincidentally, an envoy from one of the places I visited was heading to the Royal Court, and traveling with them spared me much trouble along the way."
Yaoying had maintained correspondence with Mengda Ti Po, inquiring about treatments for Tanmoroqie. Though she suspected his return was for Tanmoroqie’s health, she feared she might be mistaken. Now, with her suspicions confirmed, she was overjoyed and too moved to speak for a long moment.
She sent someone to deliver the news to Wang Temple.
Soon, Bi Suo, having heard the news, rushed over first and ecstatically led Mengda Ti Po to see Tanmoroqie.
When Tanmoroqie returned from Wang Temple to the courtyard and saw Mengda Ti Po, he paused briefly, his expression unreadable.
The inner chamber grew quiet, the candlelight flickering faintly.
The two regarded each other for a moment before Mengda Ti Po bowed to Tanmoroqie and began to check his pulse. After examining it, his brow furrowed deeply, and he let out a long sigh.
"Since we parted, it seems the King has continued to toil and practice his cultivation method without rest..."
Bi Suo sighed deeply and asked anxiously, "Do you have a way to cure him completely?"
Mengda Ti Po shook his head. "I haven’t found one, but I’ve discovered a few promising remedies that we can try."
Hearing the first part of his reply, Bi Suo was somewhat disappointed, but upon learning that there were remedies to test, his face lit up with hope.
Tanmoroqie remained expressionless and said calmly, "I’ve troubled you, Master."
Mengda Ti Po smiled humbly. "The King led his army to a great victory over the Northern Rong, intimidating the surrounding regions and bringing many kingdoms into submission. In these turbulent times, the King alone bears the safety of tens of thousands of people. If we can cure you completely, it would ensure decades of peace and stability, benefiting countless lives. I dare not call it a trouble."
Bi Suo chimed in cheerfully, "Your quarters have been cleaned, Master. This time, you must stay longer."
Mengda Ti Po smiled and said, "Whether the remedies prove effective or not, I will remain at the Royal Court for an extended period."
Bi Suo was overjoyed, rubbing his hands together in delight.
Tanmoroqie’s gaze shifted to Mengda Ti Po’s face, then to the flickering candle flame. "Life and death are impermanent; all is emptiness. One cannot force what is not meant to be. You once said that since you couldn’t cure my illness, you would not return to the Royal Court."
Though their beliefs differed, they respected each other and never criticized one another’s paths. After fulfilling his previous commitment, Mengda Ti Po had departed for the Land of Brahma, with no need to return.
Mengda Ti Po nodded. "Before I left, I truly believed I would never return to the Royal Court in this lifetime."
The path he sought was not here.
"Then why have you returned, Master?"
Mengda Ti Po looked at Tanmoroqie and replied, "For two people."
Tanmoroqie lifted his gaze.
Bi Suo looked puzzled. "Besides the King, for whom else?"
Wasn’t the Master here for Tanmoroqie?
Mengda Ti Po pressed his palms together in a reverent bow. "And for Princess Wenzhao."Tanmoroqie gazed at him, silent for a long while.
Mengda Ti Po drew several letters from his sleeve, placing them on the long table and spreading them out. The handwriting on the envelopes was elegant and graceful.
Tanmoroqie lowered his gaze and picked up the letters.
The first letter was written a year ago—he recognized Yaoying’s handwriting.
In the letter, she mentioned her worsening illness and asked Mengda Ti Po how to alleviate the pain.
The symptoms described were all his own.
He picked up another letter, this one written ten months ago, again inquiring about the illness, this time in greater detail.
At the time, she was unaware of the peculiar nature of his cultivation method and could only speculate, assuming he had used elixirs to enhance his power and was suffering from their backlash. She asked many questions about elixirs. Her mother had gone mad due to elixirs from the Land of Brahma, and she feared he was taking too many.
Tanmoroqie continued reading.
In the next letter, she clearly knew he practiced a secret Buddhist method and inquired specifically about esoteric techniques from the Land of Brahma, asking Mengda Ti Po to help investigate whether anyone there had practiced similar methods and if there was a complete cure.
After reading the final letter, Tanmoroqie closed his eyes.
She had lied to him.
She said that after their farewell, she would never return, never write to him again, never mention his name...
Yet she had written to Mengda Ti Po, discussing his condition.
Even after deciding to sever all ties with him, she still quietly cared about his health.
Although these letters were written as if describing her own ailments, with no direct mention of him or the Royal Court, Tanmoroqie knew they were all written for his sake.
She feared the letters might fall into the wrong hands and expose his secrets, so she wrote them cryptically—unless one was privy to the context, intercepting the letters would render them unintelligible.
Mengda Ti Po traveled far and wide, and to ensure the letters reached him, she must have sent multiple identical copies at intervals.
The room remained silent for a long time.
Bi Suo’s heart trembled, and he stayed wordless for a while. Though he couldn’t read Chinese characters, he could guess who had written the letters.
Mengda Ti Po spoke slowly, “Princess Wenzhao once showed me kindness, and our fates are intertwined. After I left the Royal Court, the princess often wrote to me, inquiring about the King’s condition. She even dispatched merchant caravans to the Land of Brahma to seek renowned physicians. Some of the effective prescriptions I found were recommended by those very physicians. The princess has been sending people to seek out famous doctors from various countries.”
Tanmoroqie’s fingers tightened, crumpling the letter.
…
Yaoying personally inspected the residence prepared for Mengda Ti Po and ordered the removal of several furnishings.
As she was giving instructions, a guard reported, “Princess, there is another letter, delivered by someone who came with Master Mengda Ti Po.”
Yaoying took the letter, read it, and raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“I forgot to ask—which envoy group did Master Mengda Ti Po accompany?”
“Your Highness, I believe it was called Maru Kingdom.”
Yaoying tucked the letter away.
So, the elephants she saw earlier were tributes from the Maru Kingdom. It was quite a coincidence that Mengda Ti Po traveled with them.
“Princess, the envoy from Maru Kingdom also left a verbal message.”
“What did the envoy say?”
The guard coughed lightly and whispered, “The envoy said he hadn’t expected the princess to fail in her attempt. Since the princess helped him fulfill his wish, he could ensure the princess succeeds in the shortest time. Although his treasures were confiscated by the Royal Court, he still has many left, and he is willing to share them all.”
Yaoying’s lips twitched.
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