In the Moonlight

On the day before the Buddha Procession Festival, Ashina Bisha returned the jewelry and gemstones Yaoying had sent to be appraised by Hu merchants.

"They were also at fault for killing slaves without cause. The market authorities have clarified the matter, but since Xie Peng injured people, the fine cannot be refunded."

Yaoying was somewhat surprised and thanked Bisha.

Bisha shrugged at her and said, "The laws of the Royal Court are not as rigorous and detailed as those of the Central Plains. Merchants can arbitrarily beat and kill slaves. The King has issued several prohibitions, but this evil practice still persists. It was only after the Regent executed several nobles who took pleasure in torturing slaves that they became somewhat restrained. And this is in the Royal Court, where the King's teachings prevail. In other city-states, human life is worth less than a sheep."

Yaoying sighed softly.

In these troubled times, whether in the Central Plains or beyond, it has always been this way—human life is as cheap as grass.

In the Western Regions, it is not only the Han people who are oppressed. Tribes annex one another, and many clans are enslaved and driven by others, living no better than livestock.

The Central Plains need a strong, unified dynasty, and so do the Western Regions.

Bisha clapped his hands, and two maidservants entered the courtyard carrying gift boxes.

"That day, I was inconsiderate, and your gowns were soiled and damaged. These are specially prepared for you, Princess."

Bisha pointed to the boxes and said with a smile.

Yaoying politely declined, "General, you have been running around for me, and I have yet to thank you. I dare not let you spend more."

Bisha waved his hand, interrupting her, "If you wish to thank me, tomorrow is the Buddha Procession Festival. Everyone in the city, young and old, will dress in their finest to pay homage to the Buddha. How about accompanying me to the temple for the Dharma assembly? You haven’t yet explored the Holy City, have you? This would be a perfect opportunity for me to fulfill my duties as a host."

Yaoying hesitated for a moment. Ashina Bisha had been tirelessly assisting her these days, and she felt she ought to express her gratitude. Moreover, after the Dharma assembly, they were to embark on a diplomatic mission to Gaochang together. She nodded in agreement. Since it was inconvenient for her to move about freely, having Bisha, a noble of the Royal Court, by her side would likely deter Xue Yanna from provoking her.

Bisha’s face immediately lit up with a radiant smile. "The attire I had the maids prepare for you is precisely for the festival. Try it on, and if it doesn’t fit, they can make adjustments."

He added, "The garments were tailored to your measurements, so please don’t stand on ceremony. As the King’s guest, you are my guest as well."

Seeing Yaoying lower her gaze as if searching for a reason to refuse, he raised his thick eyebrows and deliberately put on a stern expression. "Do you truly wish to see me heartbroken and sad?"

Yaoying smiled, thanked him, and signaled her guards to accept the boxes. However, she did not immediately return to her room to change into the new clothes. Instead, she brought up another matter.

"Is the Regent Su Dan Gu, whom I saw on the city tower that day, a close attendant of the Buddha Prince?"

Bisha’s eyes flickered briefly. He nodded and replied with a smile, "Did the Regent frighten you, Princess? There’s no need to fear him. He is fair in rewards and punishments, and he is deeply loyal to the King."

Yaoying had indeed been frightened by Su Dan Gu. For several nights, she had dreamed of him decapitating the bandits with a single stroke of his blade. That lean, upright figure was filled with fierce brutality and a chilling aura, like a Yaksa.

Waking from her dreams in alarm, a question arose in her mind: After Tanmoroqie’s illness and death, when the Royal Court fell, what became of Su Dan Gu, the Regent? He held military and political power, so why did he vanish without a trace?

Could he have been assassinated by the nobles and officials?

Yaoying pondered this but could find no answer.Su Dan Gu was far too mysterious, his movements elusive and rarely making public appearances. When his hideous, ferocious face appeared before the crowd, it signaled a time of ruthless slaughter.

She tentatively asked, "How old is the Regent?"

Bi Suo rubbed his chin, pondering for a moment before replying, "The Regent is a few years older than the King and me. He is our senior brother."

So Su Dan Gu was Tanmoroqie's senior brother.

Yaoying fell into thought, then exclaimed in surprise upon hearing the latter part, "General, you and the Buddha Prince were once fellow disciples? Were you also a follower of Buddhism?"

Ashina Bisha was a descendant of the Turkic royal family. His name Bi Suo was derived from Sogdian, meaning "colorful person." His mother practiced Zoroastrianism—why hadn't he followed her faith?

Bi Suo chuckled, spreading his hands toward Yaoying with a roguish demeanor. "I don’t look the least bit like a Buddhist disciple, do I? Actually, I was sent to study Buddhist Dharma as a child. All the noble youths of the Royal Court did the same, studying scriptures under their elders from a young age. Only the brightest and most spiritually gifted were qualified to continue training under our master. The King was the most brilliant among us—his innate talent was extraordinary. Our master said that compared to him, the rest of us were like lambs who could only bleat all day."

At this, Bi Suo laughed softly.

"The King learned everything swiftly. By the time he could speak four languages, we had only just begun learning Sogdian. When he discussed Buddhist principles with our master, it sounded like celestial scripture to us."

Yaoying recalled the legends she had heard these past few days. "I heard from the young novice that when the Buddha Prince was born, miraculous signs appeared in the Holy City, witnessed by all its inhabitants."

Bi Suo fell silent for a moment, then grinned. "Yes, that day the city was bathed in radiant clouds, and above the palace, it seemed as though Buddha’s shadow and light enveloped the sky, with faint chanting as if Buddha himself were reciting scriptures. Our master said it was because the world was in turmoil that a deity had reincarnated in mortal form, descending to endure tribulations, educate the people, and deliver all beings."

Yaoying smiled.

Whether Bi Suo’s words were true or not, the people of the Royal Court surely believed them wholeheartedly.

That evening, Yaoying changed into the splendid attire Bi Suo had sent. The garments, tailored precisely to her measurements, fit perfectly—she wondered how Bi Suo had obtained her size.

In the middle of the night, as she slept fitfully, the clamor of people and horses outside her window startled her awake.

Xie Qing entered from outside and whispered, "Princess, the commotion is from the main hall. The Buddha Prince has moved back to the Buddhist temple."

Tanmoroqie usually resided at the temple, but for some reason, he had remained at the palace to recuperate this time. With a Dharma assembly scheduled at the temple the next day, he had to return.

Yaoying lay back down to sleep, thinking: It seems monks always move in the dead of night.

Early the next morning, Bi Suo arrived at her courtyard gate dressed in brand-new military attire, a brocade belt cinched at his waist, exuding vibrant energy. He held a large bouquet of flowers, his golden hair gleaming brilliantly.

Yaoying had adopted the attire of Royal Court women, her black hair braided into numerous small plaits adorned with colorful silk ribbons and assorted gemstones. She wore a red brocade robe with rounded medallions, paired trees, and confronting deer patterns, its lapels turned down and sleeves studded with pearl clusters. On her feet were gilt-trimmed long boots, and in imitation of others, she had tucked a gem-encrusted dagger at her waist. Descending the stone steps, she lifted her face and smiled faintly.

It was as if the entire sky’s resplendent starlight had tumbled from the clouds to gather upon her.

Bi Suo stared at Yaoying, utterly dumbstruck. He remained spellbound for a long moment, only snapping back to reality when she approached and waved a hand before his eyes."The princess is truly beautiful."

He racked his brains but couldn't find the right words to praise the princess, suddenly becoming tongue-tied.

Yaoying's lips curved slightly as she covered her face with a veil. Watching the flustered Bi Suo before her, she suddenly recalled those frivolous young nobles in Chang'an who used to chase after her on horseback.

Looking back now, those days in Chang'an felt like a lifetime ago.

The Buddha Procession Festival had begun early in the morning. The city streets were swept clean, with curtains hung from the city gates and towers, and everywhere was decorated anew.

Exquisitely crafted Buddha statues from the temples were placed on twenty massive four-wheeled carts, each three to four zhang tall, parading along the main streets of the city. Every cart was magnificently adorned with gold, silver, vaidurya, sphatika, musaragalva, red pearls, and asmagarbha, draped with curtains and followed by ceremonial parasols, resembling moving miniature palaces. The Buddha statues, decorated with gold and silver, chests adorned with pearl necklaces, stood gracefully with solemn postures.

The entire city's population poured out into the streets—men and women, old and young, all dressed in new clothes—cheering and following the giant wheeled carts toward the city gates, chanting Buddhist prayers.

Bi Suo led Yaoying out of the royal palace. The main street was packed with surging crowds, shoulder to shoulder.

Xie Qing and Xie Chong frowned worriedly, afraid of being separated by the crowd, and stayed close to Yaoying.

Ashina Bisha explained each ritual to Yaoying along the way, attentive, patient, and enthusiastic. People in the crowd frequently greeted him, and he responded with smiles, showing his popularity.

Infected by his mood, Yaoying temporarily set aside her worries and immersed herself in the lively celebration of the Royal Court.

A felt carpet was laid along the long street beneath the city gate. The twenty giant four-wheeled carts slowly approached the high platform under the gate tower. The platform was set with an incense table, surrounded by pearls and emeralds, glittering with golden light. Nobles and ministers in splendid attire descended from the platform, removed their felt hats, and stepped forward barefoot.

A clear, melodious music drifted from the south. The excited crowd suddenly quieted, everyone holding their breath and instinctively moving to both sides of the road. They raised their heads, gazing reverently at the far end of the street with fervent expressions.

Yaoying followed their gaze.

Guided by two rows of monks holding incense burners and dressed in ceremonial robes, a grand elephant adorned with colorful drapes and jewels slowly approached from the south. On its back was a throne, upon which sat a man with a face like the cold moon and eyes like lotus flowers. He held a lotus branch in one hand and a lotus blossom in the other, dressed in a wide, snow-white kasaya with golden patterns. His eyes were slightly lowered as if in meditation, surrounded by a faint aura of Buddhist radiance, resembling a deity.

Tanmoroqie had arrived.

He cast a casual glance over the crowd, as if nothing in the world was worthy of his attention.

The bustling crowd along the road fell silent for a moment before erupting into sky-piercing cheers. Everyone looked up at him with excited expressions and flushed faces, vying to toss flowers toward him. Some tried to approach and touch the hem of his robe but were stopped by blue-uniformed royal guards.

The music flowed smoothly, and flowers fell like rain.

The elephant knelt obediently before the high platform. The nobles and ministers stepped forward, kneeling beside the elephant's feet. Tanmoroqie lowered his feet, stepping on the hands and shoulders of the ministers to ascend the platform.

Xie Qing and Xie Chong were taken aback and whispered, "Princess, what kind of custom is this? Their king actually steps on his ministers' shoulders!"

Yaoying explained to them, "This is the Ascension Ceremony, common in the Land of Brahma and the Western Regions."Her gaze fell upon the ministers. Kang Mozhe and others stood respectfully below the high platform, their expressions deferential without a trace of resentment—how could they dare not be obedient when witnessing Tanmoroqie’s immense prestige?

A mellow and gentle voice resonated from the high platform as Tanmoroqie began his sermon, speaking in the common tongue that even ordinary people could understand.

Yaoying listened for a while but could only grasp the general meaning. He was recounting the story of how Buddha, upon witnessing the sorrows of human life, grew weary of the world and sought enlightenment through meditation.

His tone was clear and melodious, carrying a serene and composed rhythm that captivated the common folk.

After a quarter of an hour, Yaoying could no longer follow the sermon. She looked up at Tanmoroqie on the high platform. His handsome features and transcendent demeanor showed no trace of his severe illness.

Yaoying realized she had never seen Tanmoroqie standing before. Earlier, he had stepped on a minister’s shoulder to ascend the platform, standing tall and straight, seemingly even taller than Bi Suo.

What kind of illness was he suffering from?

The Dharma assembly lasted for two hours. Halfway through, Ashina Bisha guided Yaoying out of the crowd and took her to the temple.

A Buddhist debate assembly was about to be held at the temple, commencing once Tanmoroqie finished his sermon. The eminent monks had already arrived. Aside from those attending the Dharma assembly, the rest were preparing for the debate. The courtyard was filled with monks—some sitting cross-legged in meditation, others already engaged in heated arguments with those around them.

The atmosphere in the temple was tense yet lively. The young novices who remained behind were all eagerly anticipating Tanmoroqie’s legendary debating skills.

His early fame had been won through countless such debate assemblies.

Yaoying followed Bi Suo to their seats and glanced around idly.

Bi Suo leaned over to share a few amusing stories from his childhood training at the temple when a sharp gaze suddenly swept toward them.

Yaoying’s heart skipped a beat as she met the gaze.

In a corner of the courtyard, a man in a half-sleeved robe leaned lazily against a stupa, chatting with a monk beside him while glancing at her. His light golden eyes glinted with a chilling intensity under the sunlight.

It was Haidu Aling!

Recognizing him, Haidu Aling curled his lips and lifted his chin, his features rugged and resolute.

Unwilling to share the same space with him, Yaoying rose and left her seat.

Bi Suo stood up in confusion. Noticing her unease, he followed her gaze and locked eyes with Haidu Aling.

The two stared at each other for a moment before Haidu Aling smirked disdainfully and looked away.

Bi Suo’s face flushed crimson. He hurried after Yaoying, apologizing sheepishly, "Princess Wenzhao, the Northern Rong also sent monks to debate with the King, but I had no idea their envoy was Prince Haidu Aling!"

"Your Highness need not fear. This is the Royal Court—he wouldn’t dare cause trouble!"

Yaoying hurried out of the temple, gradually calming herself. She paused, turned back, and smiled at Bi Suo. "I don’t wish to see him. I’m afraid I cannot accompany you to the debate assembly."

Bi Suo quickly replied, "I’d rather not watch it either. Allow me to escort you back to the palace."

They returned to the palace, where Yaoying instructed her guards, "No one is to leave the palace these days. The Northern Rong are in the Holy City."

Understanding the gravity of the situation, everyone nodded in agreement.Yaoying recalled the triumphant smile on Haidu Aling's lips and found herself unable to eat or sleep peacefully.

She would never fall into his hands again. She must return to the Central Plains.

...

Unbeknownst to Yaoying, eight thousand li away in the Central Plains, someone was also thinking of her.

Several months earlier, in Chang'an.

A fast horse departed from the Pei residence, its rider traveling day and night for three consecutive days and nights until reaching the capital. Without even pausing to catch his breath, the messenger rushed straight to the Crown Prince's Palace.

A eunuch shrilly announced: "Your Highness, the messenger sent to the Pei family has returned!"

Footsteps sounded abruptly as a man in formal crown prince attire strode out from the inner chamber, his phoenix eyes burning crimson.