On the way from the palace to the Buddhist temple, one must pass through the city's busiest market streets, where crowds surge and traffic flows in an endless stream.
As Yaoying's carriage departed the palace surrounded by knights in blue robes and white coats, even through the thick felt curtain, she could hear the roaring waves of discussion from the roadside.
Sitting cross-legged, the image of Bore's horrified and devastated face surfaced before her eyes.
Before, it was just rumors and gossip. Now, not only had she defiled their revered deity, but she was also going to live under the same roof as their god.
This was not what she had expected.
Yaoying rested her chin in her hands, still unable to process it all.
Tanmoroqie's tacit permission for her to stay in the palace had already been the best protection she could hope for. Now, with his public acknowledgment of her status, not only were Bore and the others shocked and terrified, but she too was caught completely off guard.
She had shamelessly attached herself to him, and the people of the Royal Court saw her only as a lovesick, resentful woman. But Tanmoroqie allowing her to reside in the Buddhist temple carried a completely different significance.
Of course, this was good for her, but it would undoubtedly damage Tanmoroqie's reputation—yesterday, after Yuanjue read the edict at the posthouse, the envoys and nobles from various countries present were abuzz with discussion. Bore was on the verge of tears, and even the usually warm and generous Bi Suo looked grim.
Yaoying recalled the last time she saw Tanmoroqie—during the Dharma assembly, he appeared transcendent and pure, casting all worldly impurities into shadow.
Tanmoroqie was saving her.
Haidu Aling refused to let the matter rest, and she had been on guard day and night. His recent daring nighttime intrusion into the palace made her realize that even the Royal Court was no longer safe. Just as she was worrying, Tanmoroqie came to her aid.
When they first met, she had made her request to emulate the Girl of Matanga before the entire army. Tanmoroqie reined in his horse at the front lines, his jade-green eyes sweeping over her indifferently, neither approving nor refusing.
Now, he had given his answer.
He had agreed.
Though months had passed, he acted decisively. The night before last, Haidu Aling broke into the palace; yesterday, Tanmoroqie publicly announced his decision; today, he sent someone to escort her to the Buddhist temple—without the slightest delay.
When the carriage arrived at the temple, it entered through a concealed side gate. The knights led Yaoying inside.
Her legs felt weak, as if she were floating on clouds, everything seeming unreal.
The Holy City's Buddhist temple, ancient and venerable, was built against a cliff. It was solemn and majestic, with pagodas and grottoes everywhere, towering pavilions and grand halls, bustling with incense and the resonant chants of sutras.
Following the knights through the stone-pillared corridors, Yaoying saw murals adorning the walls and ceilings everywhere—depicting Buddhist stories, mountains and pavilions, and celestial beings dancing in flight. The paintings shimmered with gold, rich and vibrant, their lines bold and fluid, the figures robust and vigorous, all rendered in a lavish and unrestrained style.
The courtyards were bright and spacious, with forests of pagodas. The deeper they went, the cooler and quieter it became, and the murals and carvings on the walls grew even more exquisite. Vast expanses of intense azure and gold created an atmosphere of grandeur and boundless majesty.
Yaoying was dazzled.
Pigments like ultramarine and vermilion were extremely expensive. Even the most renowned painters in Chang'an could not use ultramarine so freely. Yet the temple was filled with murals in azure, green, and vermilion, shimmering with gold leaf—a testament to the Royal Court's wealth.
Yuanjue and Bore escorted Yaoying, one calm and composed, the other looking as if in mourning. They led her to a secluded courtyard far from the main hall and directed the knights to help move her belongings.The courtyard was small, yet several rare trees and flowers of the Royal Court were planted within. The garden was deep and secluded, with the main house built on elevated ground. The surrounding corridors were coated in a layer of clean white clay, making the courtyard appear spacious and tidy. A grape trellis stood beside the yellow earthen flower wall, covered in vines that cast a broad, dense shade.
The walls of the main room were also plastered with white clay. The interior was simply furnished: wool carpets covered the floor, with a sleeping couch, seating desk, writing desk, and a screen arranged throughout. A curtain hung before the couch, and there were no other decorations.
Yuanjue pointed to the main room and said, "Princess, during the transition between spring and summer, strong winds rage and the nights grow cold. The rooms here have no side windows, only front windows. There is no well in the courtyard, but someone will bring you clean water daily. Please let me know if you need anything else, and I will arrange for it to be delivered."
He added, "As you are here for cultivation, you need not strictly adhere to the rules of the monks in the temple. However, you cannot remain idle. The monks will bring scriptures later and explain the daily morning and evening rituals to you."
Yaoying thanked him and, after a moment's thought, asked, "Is it convenient for the Buddha Prince to see me?"
Beside her, Bore immediately widened his eyes and glared at her fiercely. His lips trembled, but he dared not reprimand her aloud. Swallowing his anger, he turned and strode out.
Since Yaoying had been brought here by Tanmoroqie's orders, he could not speak harshly to her.
Yuanjue nodded and said, "The King has instructed me to take you to his meditation room once you have settled in."
Yaoying left Xie Qing and the others to unpack the luggage and followed Yuanjue to see Tanmoroqie.
Tanmoroqie's meditation room had blue brick floors and an atmosphere of deep solemnity. The archways, corridor domes, and stone pillars were adorned with paintings of blue flowers and green leaves, bordered by intricate patterns of pomegranate vines, camellia vines, and honeysuckle—elegant, graceful, and opulently flowing. Before the corridor, pine and cypress trees stood rugged and resilient, while poplars rose tall and straight. In the innermost part of the courtyard, a silverberry tree grew heavy with clusters of silvery-white blossoms, filling the air with their fragrance.
The courtyard was utterly silent, with guards standing motionless like clay statues, their hands at their sides.
Tanmoroqie sat at the desk in the meditation hall, writing something, his back slender and austere.
Yuanjue entered to announce their arrival, while Yaoying waited in the corridor. Her gaze fell upon Tanmoroqie, and she froze in surprise.
It was the hottest part of the day, and Tanmoroqie wore Monk's robes that exposed his right shoulder. The skin of his right shoulder was a honeyed hue, with well-defined muscles that gleamed softly under the light.
Yaoying averted her eyes, focusing instead on the flower branches swaying in the breeze in the courtyard. She recalled the night before last, when Su Dan Gu had staggered back into the silverberry bushes, scattering silvery-white blossoms across the ground.
Under the moonlight, in that brief moment when her eyes met Su Dan Gu's, a strange feeling had stirred within her.
For some reason, she felt certain that something lay hidden beneath Su Dan Gu's ferocious appearance. There had even been a fleeting moment when she thought he resembled Tanmoroqie.
But Tanmoroqie was confined to his sickbed, needing his guards' support even to dismount from a horse, while Su Dan Gu was fierce and heroic, his sword techniques domineering and ruthless. One was the compassionate Buddha Prince, the other a merciless Regent.
Yaoying's suspicions were utterly unfounded.
Moreover, when Su Dan Gu had saved her, she had pressed tightly against his chest and could feel the strength in his arms. The muscles of his body, wrapped around her, were solid and brimming with tension.
The only similarity lay in their jade-green eyes.
Come to think of it, Bi Suo also had green eyes...
Yaoying snapped out of her reverie, shaking her head with a wry smile.She was truly letting her imagination run wild. When Tanmoroqie was critically ill, Su Dan Gu had appeared and frightened Xue Yanna away. How could the ethereal, otherworldly Tanmoroqie and the bloodthirsty Su Dan Gu possibly be the same person?
Yuanjue emerged from the inner hall and gestured for Yaoying to enter.
Yaoying composed her thoughts, gathered her skirts, and stepped into the Zen room.
The room was tidy and bright, without any incense. The desk was piled high with Scripture Scrolls. Tanmoroqie was still writing with his head bowed, his fingers long and slender. Though thin, they gave a sense of strength.
Yaoying knelt opposite him, instinctively straightening her back and sitting properly. She got straight to the point: "The Northern Rong prince is persistently haunting me. I am deeply grateful that you issued the decree to protect me and allowed me to stay in the monastery. But won’t this harm your reputation?"
Dharmaraga’s aura was restrained, yet he carried an overwhelming sense of omniscience. In his presence, there was no need for pretense or beating around the bush—she could speak her mind openly, as there was no hiding anything from him anyway.
After speaking, Yaoying widened her eyes, staring unblinkingly at Tanmoroqie.
Tanmoroqie set down his brush and looked up, his gaze cool yet gentle. "Princess, there is no need to worry. It is merely a matter of facing some criticism. Once you leave safely in a year, the criticism will naturally fade."
His tone was calm and unruffled.
Yaoying immediately felt that the words of gratitude she had rehearsed all night were unnecessary.
Tanmoroqie was intelligent and had never taken her words at face value. He didn’t need her gratitude, nor did he expect anything in return. He helped her simply because she was one among the multitude in need of aid, and because she had once saved him. Seeing her in danger, he had extended his hand.
She had encountered a truly good person.
Yaoying smiled, her entire body relaxing completely, as if the lingering gloom in her heart had been swept away.
Her eyes curved slightly, sparkling brightly as she said softly, "Thank you."
At fifteen, in the bloom of youth, she had temporarily set down her burdens. Her radiance began to shine, vibrant and spirited.
The entire Zen room seemed to brighten, brimming with the shimmering colors of spring.
Tanmoroqie put down his brush and picked up several Scripture Scrolls, handing them to Yaoying.
Yaoying straightened up and accepted the books, discovering they were Chinese translations of texts like the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, Mahāyāna-saṃgraha, and Abhidharma Treatises.
Her head instantly began to ache.
Well, monks do not speak falsely. Since Tanmoroqie had issued a decree stating that she was to study Buddhist Dharma at the monastery, he truly intended for her to diligently delve into Buddhist teachings. Not only had he scheduled her morning and evening lessons, but he had even prepared the Scripture Scrolls in advance.
This man was so earnest.
Holding the heavy Scripture Scrolls, Yaoying thought of the tedious tasks involved in establishing a merchant caravan and now having to study these texts as well. Her scalp tingled with apprehension. Suddenly, she remembered something else and looked up, her gaze intense as she stared at Tanmoroqie.
"Venerable One..." she asked seriously, "Do I also need to shave my head?"
For a moment, Tanmoroqie looked taken aback.
Yaoying’s expression turned bashful.
The Girl of Matanga had shaved her head to pursue spiritual practice in hopes of marrying Ananda. Did she, too, need to shave her head? Though compared to her life, her hair was insignificant and not worth hesitating over, if she could avoid shaving it, she would prefer to. Her hair was thick and lush, nurtured carefully all these years!
In the sweltering heat of midsummer, sunlight streamed like molten gold through the skylight into the Zen room, illuminating the side of Yaoying’s dark, luxuriant hair. Her skin was like snow, and she wore a pale green long skirt with crimson half-sleeves, blooming as brilliantly and vibrantly as a flower branch swaying in the spring breeze.Tanmoroqie lowered his gaze and said, "The Princess has not yet taken refuge in the Buddha, so she may practice with her hair unshorn."
Yaoying breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Tanmoroqie with eyes full of reverence and trust, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Dharma Master."
Her voice was clear and lively, much more natural than when she had first entered the room.
Tanmoroqie said nothing more, glancing toward Yuanjue standing guard outside the door.
Understanding the cue, Yuanjue escorted Yaoying back to her courtyard.
The maiden's pale green skirt swept across the felt carpet, leaving a fleeting, radiant impression, while a faint, delicate fragrance lingered in the air.
Tanmoroqie then lowered his head and continued writing.
Before long, footsteps echoed in the corridor, and the tall figure of Ashina Bisha appeared outside the door.
"Your Majesty just met with Princess Wenzhao?"
Tanmoroqie hummed in acknowledgment without looking up.
Bisha entered the Zen room, bowed to Tanmoroqie, and sat cross-legged. "Your Majesty, why are you helping Princess Wenzhao to this extent? Allowing her to reside in the palace was already an exception, and now you’ve moved her into the Buddhist temple. The city is abuzz with gossip. In all these years, she is the first woman to step into your Zen room."
Tanmoroqie replied indifferently, "The Northern Rong are nomadic and uncivilized. Haidu Aling is cruel and violent, unwilling to relent. This is a way to help Princess Wenzhao escape him."
Bisha looked at him. "Your Majesty, the rumors among the people are rampant."
Tanmoroqie did not lift his head. "Reputation is but an external concern. As the ruler of the Royal Court, in a year’s time, the gossip will naturally fade."
Bisha fell silent for a moment. "Will the rumors truly fade after a year?"
Tanmoroqie continued writing. "Bisha, do you think Princess Wenzhao admires me? Are you worried she will refuse to leave?"
Bisha was taken aback.
Tanmoroqie said calmly, "The Princess is stranded far from home, with no control over her circumstances. Once she finds her family, she will depart."
"And what about you, Your Majesty?" Bisha pressed. "Are you helping the Princess solely out of gratitude and compassion? She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
Tanmoroqie frowned slightly. "All things in this world are transient and impermanent. Love is like dew, beauty like a fleeting illusion."
Bisha quietly breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and knelt in a deep bow.
"This subject has overstepped."
It was good that Luojia remained unmoved.
He had feared that Luojia might be swayed by Princess Wenzhao. Her beauty was one thing, but she possessed other qualities that drew attention. Fortunately, Luojia’s resolve was firm.
"Bisha." Tanmoroqie set down his brush and looked at him. "You claimed to admire Princess Wenzhao—was that true or false?"
His gaze was gentle, without any intent to interrogate.
Yet Bisha broke into a cold sweat, too ashamed to lift his head. "Your Majesty, this subject admits his fault."
Everything he had done was merely to test Luojia’s feelings and divert Princess Wenzhao’s attention, preventing her from growing closer to him.
Tanmoroqie closed the completed edict. "Do not let it happen again. Whether I devoutly uphold the five precepts is no one else’s concern."
Bisha respectfully assented, accepting the edict. His eyes suddenly widened in shock.
It was a personal letter addressed to Wahan Khan, equivalent to a state document. In it, Luojia affirmed Princess Wenzhao’s status and demanded that Wahan Khan punish Haidu Aling.
Not only was Luojia warning his own subjects, but he was also notifying other nations and proclaiming to the world. From now on, dozens of kingdoms and city-states across the Tianshan and Congling ranges would know that a Princess Wenzhao resided in the Buddhist temple, under the King’s protection!
Bisha’s heart trembled.
"Deliver this state letter personally to the Northern Rong’s main tent," Tanmoroqie said, his tone as calm as ever.Bi Suo's hands trembled slightly as he tightly grasped the imperial edict and respectfully acknowledged the order.
Returning to his residence, he began packing his belongings.
A personal guard came to report: "General, Princess Wenzhao has sent some medicinal herbs."
Bi Suo paused in his movements. "What did the Princess say?"
The guard replied: "The Princess said these herbs are all for the Regent, requesting you to deliver them on her behalf. She also mentioned wanting to meet with you to discuss the matter of the Northern Rong prince returning to Northern Rong."
Bi Suo acknowledged with a hum and instructed the guard to deliver the herbs to the residence's witch doctor.
The witch doctor informed him that the herbs Yaoying had selected were all rare and precious varieties from the Western Regions - some for treating bruises and injuries, some for promoting blood circulation, some for alleviating internal organ damage, with several types that couldn't be found anywhere else in the Western Regions.
Bi Suo lost himself in thought for a while before ordering the guard to store the herbs in the warehouse.
The guard acknowledged and turned to leave.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded from behind as Bi Suo rushed out and grabbed the guard by the shoulder.
The guard looked bewildered while Bi Suo's face darkened with stormy emotions. After staring at the herbs in the guard's hands for a long time, he closed his eyes.
"Deliver them to the Buddhist temple and give them to Yuanjue. Tell him these medicines were brought back by a merchant caravan. Remember, don't speak of this matter to anyone else. If the Princess asks, just tell her I delivered the medicine for her."
The guard acknowledged the order and left with the herbs.
Bi Suo remained standing where he was, heaving a melancholy sigh.
He could only hope that all this was just unnecessary anxiety on his part.
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