A soft, clear daylight shimmered in the room, accompanied by the crackling sound of the charcoal stove.
Su Dan Gu had not yet awakened.
Beside the bed lay the Yaksa mask he usually wore.
Yaoying gently lifted the quilt, knelt before Su Dan Gu, and leaned in to study his face.
Scars crisscrossed it like traces left by fire.
Holding her breath nervously, she leaned closer.
With just a lift of her hand, she could touch the scars on Su Dan Gu’s face and determine whether this fearsome, terrifying visage was real or not.
She cautiously extended her hand.
But instead of reaching for his face, she picked up a carelessly folded Persian throw blanket at the foot of the bed.
Last night, she had been restless, kicking off the covers repeatedly while taking her medicine. Time and again, Su Dan Gu had tucked this thin blanket over her legs—not so heavy as to cause discomfort, yet enough to keep her from catching a chill.
Yaoying smiled softly, shook out the blanket, and draped it over Su Dan Gu with gentle movements, careful not to wake him.
Throughout their journey, he had remained vigilant day and night. She wondered how many hours of sleep he managed each day.
After gazing at Su Dan Gu for a while, she withdrew her gaze and quietly slipped out of bed.
Whether his face was real or not, she didn’t care.
The clothes she had changed out of earlier had already been cleared away. On the long table sat two bowls of cold vegetarian Soup Noodles, the broth congealed, the noodles soaked overnight and swollen to a snowy white.
Carrying her shoes and socks, Yaoying padded barefoot across the carpet, tiptoed to the outer room, gathered her long hair, put on her socks and shoes, and fastened her leather belt. Once accustomed to a life of luxury, with three or four maids solely dedicated to styling her hair, she could now deftly arrange her own hair into various styles—both women’s and men’s coiffures.
Outside, faint footsteps rustled, followed by a soft knock at the door.
Yaoying opened it.
A guard stood outside, his demeanor respectful, his gaze fixed just beyond the threshold. When he noticed a pair of delicate deerskin boots clearly not meant for a man, he froze momentarily before looking up.
Yaoying stood gracefully at the door, her hair tied up high, wearing the pearl-patterned, half-sleeved, lapel-collared brocade robe he had found for her the previous night. A dagger was tucked at her waist, her fair skin like snow, her features elegant and refined. She offered him a pale-faced smile.
The guard collected himself and asked quietly, "Is the Princess feeling better?"
Yaoying nodded and said, "General Su hasn’t woken yet. Is there urgent business to report? If it’s not pressing, perhaps wait another half-hour."
Scratching his head, the guard replied, "It’s nothing too urgent. Last night, the Regent instructed Alan Ruo to fetch medicine, but the city is under strict curfew—he couldn’t leave. This morning, he tried again with the prescription but was turned back by the patrol guards. The lockdown is still in effect."
A thought stirred in Yaoying’s mind. She stepped over the threshold, closed the door behind her, and asked the guard to show her the prescription.
He brought it to her, and she examined it carefully. The prescription was written in two versions: one in the Hu language and one in Brahmi. She could understand some of the Hu script and recognized that the listed ingredients were precisely those needed to soothe the effects of the medicine.
This prescription had been written for her.
Yaoying was lost in thought for a moment before looking down at the prescription again.
Su Dan Gu’s handwriting was stern and disciplined, the strokes forceful and penetrating—much like the man himself, imposing and formidable.
She had seen Tanmoroqie’s calligraphy in the Buddhist temple: clear, elegant, dignified, and ethereal, flowing like a startled swan or a soaring dragon. Whether in Brahmi, Hu script, or Chinese characters, his writing was exquisite, reflecting his persona—like an immortal poised to ride the wind and return to the heavens.
Shaking her head with a wry smile, Yaoying dismissed the fleeting suspicion that had crossed her mind in her drowsy state the night before.Her mind was filled with many speculations, and this one was by far the most far-fetched.
"This prescription was written for me," Yaoying said, returning the prescription to the guard. "We still don’t know exactly what happened in the palace, so let’s not send Alan Ruo out to take risks. I’m already much better and don’t need medicine."
The guard quickly glanced at her face. She still looked somewhat weak, her voice was faint, but her demeanor was composed, her eyes clear and bright—nothing like someone who was ill. Recalling how she couldn’t even walk last night, he secretly admired her resilience but did not voice his agreement.
Yaoying inquired about the inn.
The guard recounted the events of the previous night in detail and concluded, "Yuanjue and those who left the city last night haven’t sent any messages back. But rest assured, Princess, Xie Qing and the others have safely left the city. Alan Ruo found out that today’s city lockdown was ordered by the palace and has nothing to do with the inn. The market officials don’t know the Northern Rong prince has arrived in Gaochang—they believe the deaths at the inn last night were due to internal conflict over robbing a merchant convoy."
Relieved to hear that Xie Qing and the others had safely evacuated the inn, Yaoying relaxed a little.
When Alan Ruo learned she was awake, she brought her a large bowl of well-stewed meat broth.
The broth was clear but carried a strong, gamey smell. Yaoying had little appetite, but after the exhausting events of the previous night, her limbs felt weak, and she needed to replenish her strength. Forcing herself, she took a few sips, but the broth churned in her stomach.
She picked up the spoon to continue eating when footsteps sounded at the door. A figure stood silhouetted against the light, casting a shadow over her and the bowl of broth.
Holding the silver spoon, Yaoying looked up at the person in the doorway.
Su Dan Gu stood at the steps, looking down at her, the Yaksa mask once again covering his face. Tall and straight, his leather belt cinched tightly at his waist, his narrow-sleeved robe accentuating his lean, powerful frame—he resembled a fully drawn bow, every movement brimming with latent strength.
"Last night, because of me, General Su was put through trouble..." Yaoying said, gesturing to the large pot of broth on the table. "Would you care to join me for breakfast?"
Su Dan Gu remained silent.
Yaoying straightened up, ladled a bowl of broth for him, and placed several pieces of Sesame Flatbread on an empty tray.
The sound of long boots echoed outside as the guard hurried over from the other end of the corridor, approached Su Dan Gu, and whispered a few words.
Su Dan Gu turned and left.
Watching his retreating figure, Yaoying shrugged and resumed her meal.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Su Dan Gu finished his conversation with the guard and returned to the hall. Yaoying had already finished breakfast and returned to her room. On the long table sat a bowl and plate, with another plate inverted over the bowl.
The guard lifted the plate—the broth was still warm, steam rising in delicate wisps. The Sesame Flatbread was toasted crisp and soft by the charcoal stove.
"The Princess is very thoughtful," the guard remarked with a smile.
Su Dan Gu said nothing.
Back in her room, Yaoying found the bed clean and tidy, likely tidied by Alan Ruo. Her head still felt a bit dizzy, so she lay down to rest and dozed off briefly before a soft knock sounded at the door.
Rubbing her eyes, she got up and opened the door. A cool gaze fell upon her.
"General Su? Is there news of A Qing and the others?"
Su Dan Gu didn’t answer but entered the room directly. Yaoying followed him. His eyes swept over the sitting couch, and understanding his meaning, she obediently sat down, waiting for him to speak. He took a seat as well and extended his hand—this time, he wasn’t wearing his usual leather gloves.
A look of confusion crossed Yaoying’s face.
Su Dan Gu’s gaze settled on her wrist.Yaoying was taken aback. She glanced down at her wrist, then looked up at him. After a long moment of silent eye contact, she suddenly understood. She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a fair, frost-white wrist, and extended it to Su Dan Gu.
Su Dan Gu lowered his gaze and took her pulse. "How many times has the Princess delayed taking her medicine?"
Yaoying quickly replied, "I usually take the medicine once a month. Counting this time, I've probably delayed by a few days three or four times."
That was back at the Northern Rong camp. She feared Haidu Aling would discover her weakness and deliberately torment her, so she didn't dare let him notice anything amiss. She only took the medicine when he was away from the camp. Once, Haidu Aling returned right after she had taken the medicine. At the time, she was extremely nervous, forcing herself not to show any abnormality, her clothes soaked through with sweat.
Su Dan Gu continued, "Was the dispersal of the medicine each time like last night's?"
His tone was icy, carrying an intimidating pressure that left no room for evasion. Yaoying had always been afraid of physicians since childhood, so she answered honestly, "More or less, but it wasn't as unbearable as last night."
Su Dan Gu said nothing, his two fingers resting on Yaoying's wrist as he pondered with downcast eyes.
Yaoying couldn't help but ask, "General Su, these past few years, as long as I took the medicine on time, I never had an episode. Why did it happen early this time?"
Su Dan Gu withdrew his fingers. "The Princess was born with a weak constitution. The exhaustion from days of travel, coupled with inner anxiety and fear, has led to insufficient qi and blood, causing the episode to occur prematurely."
Yaoying hummed in acknowledgment. She was worried that Li Zhongqian might act impulsively and get into trouble, so she was eager to return to the Central Plains to reunite with him. At the same time, she didn't want to burden her guards. Sometimes, even when she felt unwell, she dismissed it and pushed through. This early episode was likely due to how utterly exhausted she had been these past few days.
Su Dan Gu said, "If the Princess feels unwell in the future, she must take the medicine immediately and should not delay."
Delaying too often could lead to a severe condition.
Yaoying snapped back to reality and nodded, saying apologetically, "I'll remember that. I'm sorry for troubling you, General."
Su Dan Gu looked down at her.
She knelt on the sitting couch, her head slightly bowed, her hair dark and lush, her cheeks snow-white, her eyelashes fluttering lightly, her expression uneasy.
She was a graceful princess who had grown up pampered and surrounded by luxury—she should not have been stranded in foreign lands.
Su Dan Gu stood up.
Yaoying rose as well and saw him to the door.
Su Dan Gu turned and said, "If the Princess is unwell, she should tell me truthfully. There is no need to hide it, no need to tough it out, and certainly no need to delay taking the medicine."
Yaoying felt a warmth in her heart and replied, "Thank you for the reminder, General. I will remember."
An hour later, a guard appeared at Yaoying's door with a steaming bowl of medicine.
"Alan Ruo took advantage of lax surveillance to go out and gather the herbs. This was just brewed. Please drink it while it's hot, Princess. The Regent said the Princess hasn't fully recovered yet and needs to take this medicine."
Yaoying was stunned. She took the medicine and said, "Please tell the Regent that I'm fine. Alan Ruo shouldn't take such risks."
They weren't out of danger yet, and she didn't want to cause trouble for Su Dan Gu because of her own condition.
The guard smiled and said, "Princess, you're a patient. Don't worry about these matters—focus on recovering. Alan Ruo has been in Gaochang for many years. It's just going out to gather herbs—nothing will happen!"
He paused, thought for a moment, and glanced at Yaoying."Princess, during the days we were away from the Royal Court, General Ashina conveyed the King's orders to us. The King said that on this journey to Gaochang, we must all follow the Regent's commands. Moreover, our mission is to ensure the Princess's safety—we need not concern ourselves with other matters."
Yaoying was taken aback for a moment.
The guard chuckled awkwardly, somewhat embarrassed. "The Princess fell ill due to our inadequate care. You must focus on recovering properly."
Otherwise, how would they explain themselves to the King upon their return?
Yaoying held the steaming bowl of medicine, lost in thought for a while before smiling faintly. She thanked the guard and returned to her room to drink the medicine.
That afternoon, the city's strict curfew was slightly relaxed. Alan Ruo went out to gather information, while the guard followed Su Dan Gu's instructions to head to another rendezvous point in the city.
Yaoying asked the guard to make a trip to the market district. She had previously agreed with Xie Qing and the others that if they were separated, they would leave messages for each other at the market.
By nightfall, the guard and Alan Ruo returned to the courtyard one after the other.
The guard was not alone—he had met Yuanjue at the other rendezvous point, and the two returned together.
Yaoying immediately went to see Yuanjue.
Yuanjue was injured, his face pale, one arm hanging limply at his side. Upon entering the room, he first paid his respects to Su Dan Gu and said in a low voice, "Regent, King Yuchi did not break his promise. The ambush that night was not aimed at us."
"Those men were Princess Yi Na's personal guards."
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