A deathly stillness hung in the air.
Candle flames flickered throughout the hall.
Li Zhongqian advanced step by step under the scrutinizing gazes of the assembly, his footsteps slightly unsteady.
The Golden Guard on duty hesitated, uncertain whether to intercept him, and collectively turned their eyes toward Li De at the main banquet table.
Li De, slightly intoxicated with a flushed face, set down his wine cup and narrowed his eyes, watching the pale-faced Li Zhongqian without uttering a word.
Exchanging glances, the Golden Guard remained in position, hands resting on their sword hilts as they vigilantly watched Li Zhongqian.
The civil and military officials present looked at one another in dismay.
After a moment of contemplation, Zheng Prime Minister sighed, rose from his seat, and approached Li Zhongqian with a gilded silver wine pot in hand.
Wearing a smile, he poured a cup of wine and handed it to Li Zhongqian, lowering his voice to say, "Princess Wenzhao served the state with merit, yet heaven envied her beauty. This cup of wine should be drunk by you, her own brother. Zhongqian, before Princess Wenzhao left to marry, you were her greatest concern."
These final words, spoken with profound meaning, were sincere.
Princess Wenzhao was dead. She had traded a marriage for the security of her mother and brother in their later years. If Li Zhongqian acted foolishly now, would her sacrifice not be in vain?
But Li Zhongqian showed no appreciation. Lifting his eyelids, his phoenix eyes glinted coldly as he glanced at Zheng Prime Minister, as if looking at a dead man.
Zheng Prime Minister felt a chill run down his spine.
Li Zhongqian brushed past him and staggered toward Li Xuanzhen’s seat.
Li Xuanzhen looked up and met his gaze, unmoving.
Both brothers had phoenix eyes. As their eyes locked, one held numbness, the other gloom.
An official from the Crown Prince's Palace leaped up and blocked Li Zhongqian. "Duke of Wei, your seat is not here."
Li Xuanzhen waved a hand, signaling the official to stand down.
The officials frowned and exchanged uncertain looks.
Li Xuanzhen’s expression turned cold. "Stand down!" he ordered sharply.
Reluctantly, they withdrew.
Li Zhongqian’s face twitched, and he swung a palm toward Li Xuanzhen.
Gasps arose, and the Golden Guard rushed forward.
With a clatter, Li Zhongqian’s fist grazed past Li Xuanzhen. Unable to control his momentum, he collapsed onto the felt mat.
The Golden Guard froze in place. The crowd rose in astonishment, watching Li Zhongqian struggle to get up. They shook their heads and sighed, their eyes filled with pity and sympathy.
They had all seen it: Li Xuanzhen hadn’t even flinched. At such close range, Li Zhongqian had failed to land a blow and had fallen instead. It seemed Li Zhongqian was truly broken—this was the same Li Zhongqian who had once been sharp-edged and fearless in storming cities and seizing territories!
Officials from the Crown Prince's Palace stepped forward again.
Li Xuanzhen shot them a warning glance.
Clenching their fists, they gritted their teeth and retreated.
Li Zhongqian struggled to his feet and lunged at Li Xuanzhen again, throwing a punch.
The blow held little force, yet Li Xuanzhen still did not evade, allowing his head to tilt slightly from the impact. Li Zhongqian continued to swing his fists, but Li Xuanzhen remained motionless as blows rained down upon his face and body.
Li De had been closely watching the two brothers. Seeing this, he frowned slightly and signaled the Golden Guard to separate them.
The guards pulled the brothers apart. Li Zhongqian, having completely lost his martial skills, was dragged directly from the seat. Li Xuanzhen’s face showed not a single bruise.
The crowd sighed: Li Zhongqian was only bringing humiliation upon himself.
"Your Majesty!" Li Zhongqian suddenly cried out as he was dragged away. "What did you promise my uncle when the Xie and Li families formed their alliance?"
The entire hall fell into silence.The civil and military officials inwardly groaned in distress. Though they wished to retreat, they dared not voice it, lowering their heads instead and pretending not to hear Li Zhongqian’s interrogation.
Li De stood up, his expression dark.
Li Zhongqian sneered, his voice hoarse and sharp: "When His Majesty married my mother, Empress Tang stormed into the wedding hall. My uncle wanted to take my mother away. At that time, what did His Majesty say to my mother?"
As these words were spoken, the ministers in the hall lowered their heads even further.
Only Li Xuanzhen raised his head.
Li Zhongqian looked at Li Xuanzhen, a mocking smile on his lips: "In front of Empress Tang, His Majesty said eight words to my mother: 'The covenant is sealed, never to be broken.'"
These eight words had once made Xie Manyuan believe Li De held affection for her.
Li Xuanzhen’s pupils abruptly contracted. He rose and walked up to Li Zhongqian: "Say that again."
Intimidated by his presence, the Golden Guard released Li Zhongqian.
Li Zhongqian collapsed to the floor, let out a few cold laughs, and met Li Xuanzhen’s gaze, enunciating each word: "The covenant is sealed, never to be broken."
Li Xuanzhen’s arm muscles bulged, fury surging between his brows. He turned and glared at Li De with a gaze sharp as a blade, stepping forward as if to charge at him.
His subordinates immediately grabbed his arms, restraining his rage.
Li De watched Li Zhongqian coldly, silent. His graying temples shimmered with a cold gleam in the candlelight. He raised his hand and made a gesture.
The ministers in the hall, eager for an excuse, quickly rose and hastily retreated.
Li Xuanzhen tried to rush toward the inner hall, but his subordinates dared not release him. Several of them worked together to restrain him, urging him to remain calm, and dragged him away.
The Golden Guard drew their swords and stood before Li De, wary of Li Xuanzhen. Meanwhile, several other guards stepped forward, seized Li Zhongqian, and dragged him to Li De’s feet.
Li De looked down at Li Zhongqian and said calmly, "Wenzhao is dead. You must now carry on the Xie family line. Do not let your sister’s death be in vain."
His voice was as composed and rational as ever, without a trace of emotion.
Li Zhongqian lay collapsed on the ground. Hearing this, he lifted his head. His hair had come loose during the struggle, his face contorted with rage.
Zheng Prime Minister was retreating from the inner hall with the others when his gaze fell upon Li Zhongqian, who was being forced to his knees. Suddenly recalling the chilling glare Li Zhongqian had given earlier, his heart shuddered violently. He halted and shouted, "Your Majesty—"
But the warning came too late.
A sudden turn of events erupted.
Li Zhongqian, who had been lying on the ground, abruptly sprang up and lunged at Li De. His movements were swift as lightning, carrying the force of a raging tidal wave—nothing like someone whose martial arts had been completely crippled.
Everyone had assumed he was powerless and had focused their vigilance on Li Xuanzhen, leaving them momentarily off guard. Li Xuanzhen was too far away, restrained by his subordinates and unable to move. The other civil and military officials, unwilling to involve themselves in the emperor’s family affairs, had wisely slipped away unnoticed.
In the inner hall, aside from the father and his sons, only the Golden Guard and attendants remained.
Li De felt a sudden tightness around his wrist, his entire body stumbling forward from the immense force as a cold hand clamped around his throat.
In that split second, the nearest guard reacted, raising his sword and striking down with overwhelming force.
Li Zhongqian showed no panic. He pushed Li De forward, using him as a shield to block several slashes. Instantly, his flesh split open, blood gushing forth.
As if feeling no pain, he advanced through the storm of blades, drenched in blood, his hands still firmly gripping Li De’s throat.The imperial guards dared not strike to kill. In the chaos, a blade nearly grazed Li De's arm. Stricken with fear upon seeing Li Zhongqian's frenzied state, their assault faltered, and all movement ceased.
Silence engulfed both the inner and outer halls.
Everyone stood frozen, cold dread creeping through their veins.
None had imagined that Li Zhongqian, arriving alone at the Hall of Auspicious Virtue, intended assassination!
Though he had been adopted out, he remained Li De's biological son! Could he truly mean to kill his own father?
The hall was filled with highly skilled Golden Guards, while layers of imperial guards secured the exterior. Alone and trapped, how dared he defy heaven and earth to commit patricide and regicide?
The crowd trembled in horror.
Golden Guards from both halls converged in overlapping formations. Li Zhongqian tightened his grip, and Li De's face contorted in agony.
Eyes burning crimson as if bleeding, Li Zhongqian glared at the advancing guards: "What? Do you wish to witness your sovereign drenched in blood?"
None had ever seen Li Zhongqian so deranged. Scalps prickling, they stood paralyzed.
"Zhongqian!"
"Duke of Wei!"
"Prince of Qin!"
"Second Young Master!"
Ministers who had been retreating from the inner hall rushed back in terror, screaming hysterically: "Don't be rash! Release His Majesty! He is your own father!"
Li Zhongqian sneered: "My father? He is unworthy!"
Frantic, the crowd turned to Crown Prince Li Xuanzhen.
Li Xuanzhen stood aside, his expression devoid of anger or panic, only icy detachment.
Beside themselves, officials alternated between furious curses and desperate pleas at Li Zhongqian.
He seemed not to hear.
"Duke of Wei!" A young voice cried out as Zheng Jing stumbled into the inner hall. "Think of Empress Xie! Her Majesty relies solely on you! Would you have Princess Wenzhao restless in her grave?"
Li Zhongqian laughed coldly: "No egg remains unbroken when the nest overturns. Better to die with clarity than linger in delusion."
Zheng Jing's face drained of color.
Amidst trampling footsteps, archers flooded the inner hall from all directions, cramming every corner with arrows aimed squarely at Li Zhongqian.
Clutching Li De's throat, Li Zhongqian rasped: "My uncle taught me to serve you as sovereign—to prioritize the greater good, disregard personal grievances, and pursue what benefits the realm... I tried. I contended for nothing. I fought on battlefields. I expanded Wei's territories. All I wanted was to care for my mother and sister. Yet you let Li Xuanzhen hound me relentlessly."
His pupils dilated wildly. "Father and son, sovereign and subject—this flesh and bone you gave me. If you wish me dead, then kill me. I ceased caring for life long ago... But why target Bright Moon Slave? Why? What wrong did she commit? She was only fourteen when sent away!"
"Fourteen! She could never cease her medicines since childhood. I couldn't bear her suffering the slightest hardship. I only wished her to marry well, sever ties with me, and avoid my misfortunes... I only wanted her safe and happy... Yet you wouldn't spare even her! Not even her!"
No one answered.
Seeing the blood-red madness in Li Zhongqian's eyes, Zheng Jing felt icy terror shoot up from his soles. He collapsed to the floor, stammering in stunned disbelief: "You're mad! You're mad! Li Zhongqian, you've gone mad!"When Li Zhongqian stepped down from the carriage, he suspected the other was feigning weakness to conceal his strength. Without exposing this, he even exaggerated Li Zhongqian’s condition when reporting to his superior. But he never expected that Li Zhongqian’s goal wasn’t to blend in and bide his time—he intended to strike a desperate blow. He had completely lost his sanity and no longer cared about anything!
“Erlang, you’ve truly gone mad!”
A ghostly smirk curled Li Zhongqian’s lips as his phoenix eyes slanted upward. “Yes, I’ve gone mad.”
From the moment the Xie family was wiped out, he should have lost his mind. His father only had eyes for Li Xuanzhen as his son; his uncle was dead; his mother had gone insane and no longer recognized him. Overnight, he lost everything, kneeling before the spirit hall without eating or drinking.
His uncle was a hero, yet heroes were always betrayed and forgotten. Lost and uncertain of the path ahead, he wandered in confusion.
The three-year-old Yaoying clung to him all day, keeping him company as he mourned for Xie Wuliang. Back then, she couldn’t even walk yet, always nestling by his side, demanding to be held—a small, chubby bundle curled in his arms. She would pull out a piece of sesame flatbread and offer it to his lips: “Brother, eat.”
Li Zhongqian looked down at his sister leaning against his chest and the bread in her hand, tears streaming down his face as he ate it through his sobs.
Yaoying brought him back to his senses and gave him a reason to live. Relying on each other for survival, they kept him from descending into madness.
But now, his Little Seven was gone.
She had resolved the crisis, but to save him, she had no choice but to strike a deal with Li Xuanzhen.
Little Seven was timid by nature, lazy and delicate, fond of acting spoiled with him. While he lay unconscious, she shouldered everything alone. She went to the Yelu Tribe, married a sixty-year-old chieftain, and died at the hands of the Northern Rong…
When the Chief Clerk tearfully revealed the truth to him, it felt like a rusty knife was slowly carving out his flesh.
Li Zhongqian was in agony.
His heart had been torn out; from skin to organs, limbs to bones, every part of him ached.
Was Yaoying afraid? So fragile, so far from the Central Plains… He didn’t even have the courage to imagine how much suffering she must have endured!
Li Zhongqian had once thought that if he died, his mother and Yaoying would be safe.
But with Little Seven by his side, he couldn’t bear to die!
He wanted to take good care of her, watch her grow up, and see her married. His Little Seven deserved the very best in this world.
But Little Seven was gone.
No one could stop him from going mad now.
Li Zhongqian’s eyes grew increasingly bloodshot.
Zheng Jing roared hoarsely: “Duke of Wei! You bear the Xie family name! If you make a single misstep today, it will become an eternal regret! The century-old reputation of the Xie family will be ruined by your hands! What will become of Great Wei? What will become of the common people?”
Li Zhongqian responded with a mocking smile.
“The common people? The nation? What do they matter to me?”
He stood impassively within the tightly encircled formation.
“My Little Seven is gone. I care about nothing now.”
He was not his uncle, nor was he Yaoying. He didn’t care about others’ lives—he only wanted to take good care of his sister.
Li Zhongqian sneered, tightening his grip.
“Even if all of Great Wei must be buried with Bright Moon Slave, so what?”
Hearing this, Prime Minister Zheng knew Li Zhongqian had descended into utter madness. He gestured to the Golden Guard and slowly closed his eyes, his expression heavy with sorrow.
Archers drew their bows, ready to unleash a volley of arrows, but the Golden Guard had already noticed Li Zhongqian was unarmed. Seizing the moment, they swarmed forward.Shouts and clamors erupted into chaos.
The archers, fearing accidental injuries, hastily retreated.
Prime Minister Zheng rushed to Li De's side, finding him strangled until his eyes rolled back, unconscious and trembling, uncertain if he were alive or dead.
The Crown Prince was distraught—Duke Weiguo had openly attempted patricide! If the Emperor were to pass away at this moment, Great Wei would surely descend into turmoil!
The ministers nearby were frantic with anxiety.
Imperial physicians hurried over, examined Li De's injuries, and patted his chest a few times. Li De made gurgling sounds in his throat, gradually regained consciousness, and with the support of the Golden Guard, sat up.
Everyone, still shaken, knelt and kowtowed, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" Some wept with joy, sobbing uncontrollably.
Li De's face was as dark as storm clouds—he had weathered countless storms, yet nearly capsized in a shallow ditch.
He hadn't expected Li Zhongqian, injured as he was, to dare make a public move.
The turmoil erupted and subsided in an instant. Low-ranking officials outside the hall hadn't even grasped what happened, and some ministers had just withdrawn from the main hall, unable to inquire before it ended.
Several imperial physicians were ordered to reexamine Li Zhongqian's pulse. After a hushed discussion, they reported to Li De: Li Zhongqian's martial arts were indeed crippled.
His earlier display wasn't entirely an act.
The prime ministers remained silent.
In recent years, many had attempted to assassinate Li De, but none had truly harmed him. Yet Li Zhongqian, with his martial arts utterly destroyed, dared to try—staking everything on one desperate move!
He knew it was doomed to fail but still risked his life. That sudden burst of ferocity wasn't from prior restraint but an eruption of all his remaining potential—he was gambling with his life!
After all, Princess Wenzhao was his own sister!
Prime Minister Zheng sighed deeply, signaling with his eyes for the Golden Guard to quickly remove Li Zhongqian.
Other ministers cast reproachful glances at him: How could he shield Duke Weiguo, who dared to commit regicide?
Prime Minister Zheng looked at the crowd and silently mouthed two names.
Xie Wuliang, Li Yaoying.
For the Xie family, for Princess Wenzhao, spare Li Zhongqian's life.
The crowd fell silent, averted their eyes, and tacitly allowed his discreet intervention.
Their gazes shifted to Crown Prince Li Xuanzhen.
Li Xuanzhen stood aside, wearing an expression of detached indifference from start to finish, as if he cared nothing for Li De's survival.
Everyone sighed quietly, lost in their own thoughts.
...
Li De did not punish Li Zhongqian on the spot.
Li Zhongqian was taken away by the Golden Guard and thrown into the Imperial Prison.
Two days later, Zheng Jing came to see him: "Many court ministers have pleaded for leniency on your behalf."
The Xie family had given their all for the nation, Princess Wenzhao had perished tragically, and Li Zhongqian had campaigned south and north for Great Wei, now left with ruined martial skills. The ministers urged Li De to show mercy, arguing that his momentary loss of control was understandable due to his sister's death.
The Crown Prince's Palace remained unusually quiet this time, refraining from adding insult to injury.
Zheng Jing dismissed the jailers and voiced his doubt: "Erlang, did you truly intend to assassinate the Emperor then?"
He could no longer even lift his golden hammers, had been searched before entering the palace banquet, and carried no weapons—how could he dare such an act? If the archers had loosed their arrows, he would have been riddled with holes in an instant! Moreover, Li De possessed martial skills—a single twist would have thrown him off.
Li Zhongqian lay on the haystack, his face expressionless: "If it had succeeded, we would have perished together."
His tone was flat, utterly indifferent to the earth-shattering consequences his success would have brought.
Zheng Jing drew a sharp breath—Li Zhongqian had truly intended patricide!He remained silent for a long moment before saying, "But you failed."
Li Zhongqian sneered, "Third Brother, do you truly believe that if I concealed my abilities and bided my time, they would let me be?"
Zheng Jing's eyes flickered uncertainly.
The imperial family is the most heartless of all.
Princess Wenzhao was dead. Li De knew Li Zhongqian would never let go of his hatred. Whether Li Zhongqian lay low or raged like he did the night before, Li De would not allow such a threat to remain. Suspicious by nature, the emperor would spare no expense to clear all obstacles for Li Xuanzhen, ensuring no turmoil would disrupt his ascension to the throne.
Li Zhongqian understood Li De's ruthlessness all too well, and Li De was equally aware of his temperament. If Li Zhongqian truly concealed his ambitions, Li De would not only remain wary but grow even more vigilant, moving swiftly to eliminate him.
Though Li Xuanzhen was a man of his word and in no hurry to harm him, Li De remained uneasy, urgently summoning him back to the capital to test his intentions.
So he might as well take the gamble.
After all, the worst outcome was merely losing his life.
He had nothing left to lose now.
Zheng Jing sighed softly, "You've already tried. Don't entertain such thoughts again. Since His Majesty dared to let you return to the capital, he isn't afraid of another assassination attempt. Princess Wenzhao's memorial shrine has only just been built... for now, His Majesty won't dare take your life... Second Brother, what do you plan to do from now on?"
This reckless move would actually ease Li De's suspicions toward Li Zhongqian—an impulsive prince was easier to handle than a scheming one—though he still couldn't let his guard down completely.
Li Zhongqian gazed at the damp brick ceiling of the prison cell. "Third Brother, prepare provisions and horses for me."
Zheng Jing stared in disbelief. "Where are you going?"
Li Zhongqian replied calmly, "To Helong. I will submit a memorial requesting to be stationed there."
Li De would readily agree.
Zheng Jing frowned. "Second Brother... Princess Wenzhao is gone. The barbarians witnessed it themselves. Helong is now occupied by the Northern Rong, and the situation is dire."
Li Zhongqian said softly, "Even if she's dead, I will bring her back. She was always timid and afraid of being alone. I must bring her home. I promised her that no matter where she was, I would find her."
Zheng Jing thought Li Zhongqian was being utterly delusional: how could anyone hope to find a single set of remains in the vast frontier?
He didn't know how to dissuade Li Zhongqian. Thinking of the Seventh Princess who died beyond the borders, his heart ached as if pierced by countless needles. Li Zhongqian was her blood brother; his pain must be even greater.
But how could Li Zhongqian possibly find her?
"Your martial skills..." Zheng Jing trailed off, unable to continue.
Li Zhongqian's expression remained unchanged. "If I can no longer wield the golden hammers, I can switch to long blades, short swords, or spears... I once abandoned martial arts for scholarship, then gave up scholarship for martial arts again. A few poisoned arrows won't destroy me."
He would not fall until he found Little Seven.
Zheng Jing let out a long sigh.
No matter how many arguments he raised, Li Zhongqian would not listen. He could not stop him from going to the frontier.
Li Zhongqian's petition of remorse was soon submitted. When the common people heard he intended to retrieve Li Yaoying's remains from Helong, they gathered ten thousand signatures within days, requesting to accompany him.
Li De had originally summoned Li Zhongqian back to the capital to imprison him, but seeing the public outcry, he reconsidered and abandoned the plan.
"Is he truly going to Helong?" Li De asked, half-convinced.
Zheng Prime Minister replied, "Beyond any doubt."Li De gazed at the Piyong inkstone on his desk, lost in thought for a moment, then said, "So be it."
A few days later, Li Zhongqian, accompanied by a few personal guards, departed from Chang'an under military escort.
The Chief Clerk saw him off, weeping as he said, "This old servant will surely take good care of your wife. Second Young Master, you must return soon! Whether you find Seventh Lady or not, you must come back! This old servant will be waiting for you!"
Li Zhongqian dismissed the chief steward, reined in his horse at the mountain path, and glanced back at the towering palace walls to the northeast.
What a pity his body hadn’t fully recovered yet—otherwise, he could have strangled Li De that night.
If he hadn’t acted that night and continued to lie low, he might have found a more opportune moment. But he couldn’t wait any longer. It had already been far too long since he awoke.
Xiao Qi was out there all alone. He had to bring her home first.
Once he found Xiao Qi, he would return for revenge.
He had already shattered the facade of fatherly affection and filial piety between Li De and Li Xuanzhen. Let them suspect each other, let father and son turn against one another. When he returned, he would make them all pay!
Li Zhongqian whipped his horse across the Ba Bridge, where willows brushed lightly through the mist, and rode westward without looking back.
Xiao Qi, don’t be afraid. Your elder brother is coming for you.
...
Eight thousand li away, in the Royal Court.
Having encountered Haidu Aling at the Buddhist temple during the day, Yaoying had a restless night.
In her dream, a young man in silver armor and a white cloak galloped down the slope, charging without hesitation into the ranks of the Northern Rong soldiers clad in black armor.
Surrounded and overwhelmed, the young man fought to his last breath, his battle robe torn and tattered.
The enemy general rode to the front of the formation. Under the sunlight, his narrow eyes gleamed with a faint golden light.
"Elder brother! Don’t go, don’t go... Don’t encounter Haidu Aling..."
Yaoying jolted awake, trembling all over.
She had altered Li Zhongqian’s fate. Two years ago, he was supposed to die in battle against Haidu Aling. Back then, she had found a way to keep him away from the frontier.
Now, her elder brother must be searching for her. Would he think she was still in Haidu Aling’s camp and head straight for the Northern Rong to find her?
Yaoying rose and washed her face.
She needed to send word of her whereabouts in the Royal Court as soon as possible and return to the Central Plains.
Outside her window, chattering voices filled the air—her guards were up early practicing martial arts.
Listening to their lively banter, Yaoying smiled and pushed the window open.
Xie Peng and Xie Chong rushed onto the corridor in a flurry, talking over each other: "Princess, at yesterday’s Buddhist debate assembly, the Dharma Master won!"
Yaoying had expected Tanmoroqie to win and wasn’t surprised in the least.
Xie Chong clapped his hands and laughed. "Haidu Aling of the Northern Rong brought over a dozen eminent monks with him. From noon till dusk, they took turns debating the Dharma Master, but he still emerged victorious!"
They hadn’t attended the debate themselves but had heard the results from others. Yet they recounted each match’s outcome to Yaoying as if they had witnessed it firsthand.
Leaning by the window, Yaoying listened to their vivid descriptions of the grand assembly, her heart gradually calming.
This was Tanmoroqie’s Royal Court. She had nothing to fear.
Refreshed, Yaoying asked Xie Chong, "Has anyone inquired about the monks’ robes?"
Xie Chong scratched his head. "Not yet."
Xie Peng leaned in. "Princess, should we try another approach?"
Yaoying smiled. "No rush. The debate assembly has only just ended."
The guards responded enthusiastically, eager to continue discussing the event with Yaoying, but when they caught sight of Xie Qing’s tall figure approaching the corridor, they swiftly leaped into the courtyard to resume their training, filling the air with shouts.
Yaoying shook her head in amusement and asked Xie Qing, "Did you find out?"
Xie Qing nodded. "Haidu Aling is the deputy envoy of the Northern Rong delegation. They’re staying at the posthouse in the southern part of the city. The delegation has thirty-two members, and they came to attend the Buddhist debate assembly. The original deputy envoy was someone else—they made a last-minute change."
Yaoying frowned slightly.No wonder Ashina Bisha didn’t know Haidu Aling would appear at the Buddhist temple.
Xie Qing continued, “Haidu Aling is always accompanied when coming and going. He hasn’t moved alone, nor has he behaved strangely.”
Yaoying pressed her lips together and decided not to leave the palace as long as the Northern Rong mission remained.
Bi Suo visited her every day, inviting her to go out and enjoy herself. She explained her reasons, and Bi Suo had no choice but to drop the matter. Two days later, he returned excitedly: “The Northern Rong people have left!”
Yaoying still wasn’t reassured.
Did Haidu Aling come all the way to Northern Rong just to test Tanmoroqie’s knowledge of Buddhism?
She then sent Xie Qing out to gather information. Only when there were no more signs of Northern Rong people in the Holy City did she dare to occasionally leave the palace, accompanied by Ashina Bisha.
That day, the person Yaoying had been waiting for finally arrived.
Xie Chong, so excited he stumbled over his own feet, rushed into the courtyard and shouted, “Today, someone asked about the monastic robes worn by the monks at the temple that day!”
Yaoying let out a sigh of relief. “Good. All the remaining bolts of silk and satin in the palace storerooms can now be sold.”
The Buddhist debate assembly drew crowds of spectators and was a major event in the Holy City. The robes worn by the monks during the ceremony were gifts from her. When nobles from various city-states saw those dazzling, exquisite golden robes, they were bound to ask how they were made.
Today was exactly what Yaoying had been waiting for.
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