Under the azure sky, snow-capped peaks pierced the clouds with a silvery glow, while deep valleys concealed the city walls at the mountain's base, where faint blue wisps of cooking smoke curled upward.
The air was crisp and clear.
Tanmoroqie stood at the cliff's edge, regulating his breath through meditation. After a long while, the wind whipped his robes fiercely. He looked down and realized he was wearing a pale cyan brocade robe with a fur-trimmed lapel and wide, flared sleeves. As the wind brushed past, the folds rippled like shimmering water.
These were not his clothes.
His body felt dry and comfortable, with no sticky sensation of ointment or pus from wounds. Even his inner garments had been changed.
During the night, when he alternated between fever and chills, a pair of warm, soft hands had occasionally pressed against him, wiping away his sweat.
It was as if he were in the tranquil gardens of a monastery, serene and elegant, with a faint fragrance lingering at his nostrils.
Later, he had drawn that warm, sweet scent into his embrace.
Tanmoroqie stood at the cliff's edge, palms pressed together in prayer.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded behind him.
Tanmoroqie turned.
The stacked felt blankets in front of the tent were pushed aside as Yaoying rushed out, her disheveled braids draped over her shoulders, clothes in disarray, the front of her robe crumpled. A faint blush tinged her snow-white cheeks, her eyes drowsy, with a delicate pink hue at the corners—like a spring blossom in slumber.
Her face was full of anxiety as she glanced around, searching for something.
Tanmoroqie turned and walked toward her, his jade-green eyes fixed intently on hers.
Yaoying’s gaze settled on him. She rubbed her eyes, confirming he hadn’t slipped away unnoticed, and let out a slow, relieved sigh.
Under the pouring dawn light, Tanmoroqie watched Yaoying.
Forcing her to share his bedding, though done in a haze of consciousness, had been an offense to her.
Yaoying met his gaze without reproach, fear, questioning, or shyness. Her braids loose, the corners of her eyes damp, she exhaled in relief: "General Su, I’m glad you didn’t leave."
Flipping her braid, she turned and pointed to the earthen pot buried near the bonfire for warmth. "General, remember to drink some Medicinal Soup and eat something."
With that, she turned back into the tent, removed her long boots, pulled a wool blanket over herself, and with a soft thud, dropped into the soft felt bedding.
Last night, Tanmoroqie had gripped her hand tightly, leaving her unable to move. She had slept leaning against his arm, half-awake and careful not to touch his wounds, resulting in an uncomfortable rest and soreness all over.
After a while, Yaoying’s breathing steadied, and she actually fell back asleep.
Tanmoroqie: …
She seemed completely unbothered.
…
Yaoying woke after only the time it takes a stick of incense to burn. This time, she could toss and turn in the warm felt blankets, sleeping quite contentedly.
As the morning wind beat against the tent, she opened her eyes, fully awake, threw on her cloak, and stepped out.
Tanmoroqie sat cross-legged by the bonfire, deep in meditation, an almost imperceptible tension surrounding him.
The Medicinal Soup in the earthen pot was empty.
Not daring to disturb him, Yaoying quietly gathered the clothes removed from him the night before, folded the felt blankets, ate some dried rations, found the mount tethered in the sheltered spot from last night, fed it a few grass cakes, and packed their belongings.
Once finished, she returned to the rocky outcrop and sat beneath another large boulder, glancing at Tanmoroqie from time to time.
His eyes were closed, his expression calm, but fine beads of sweat slowly formed at his temples.Yaoying gazed at him in a daze, unaware of how long she had been watching, when several distant, clear cries echoed from high above. Against the azure sky, the agile figure of a falcon appeared.
She stood up and moved forward to greet it. The falcon beat its wings and swooped down, its sharp eyes scanning her briefly without any intention of stopping, heading straight for Tanmoroqie instead.
Fearing it might disturb Tanmoroqie, Yaoying quickly took out the prepared dried meat.
The falcon flapped its wings and landed on a protruding, oddly shaped rock beside her, its sharp claws leaving several scratches. It pecked fiercely at her arm, snatched the dried meat, and flew off.
Yaoying looked down at her sleeve, shook her head with a wry smile, and took the opportunity to untie the cloth strip tied to the falcon’s leg. She then returned to the rock.
After a while, Tanmoroqie slowly opened his eyes.
Yaoying immediately handed him the cloth strip.
Without asking any questions, Tanmoroqie reached out, took it, unfolded it carefully, and then tossed it into the campfire.
He pondered for a moment, glanced up at the clear sky overhead to estimate the time, and said, “Let’s descend the mountain and enter the city before dark.”
Yaoying acknowledged with a sound and stood up to pack their belongings. As she coiled the taut leather rope, it snapped back like an arrow, striking the back of her left hand.
Smack!
Even though she wore warm fur gloves, Yaoying gasped in pain, shaking her hand before continuing her task.
The soft sound of long boots approaching grew nearer, and Tanmoroqie walked over.
Yaoying looked up.
Tanmoroqie took the brocade bag from her hand and gestured for her to raise her hand.
Yaoying understood but waved dismissively.
Tanmoroqie’s brow furrowed slightly. “Princess, raise your hand.”
His tone was gentle but carried an undeniable authority, an innate sense of command.
Yaoying had no choice but to comply.
Tanmoroqie lowered his gaze and gently removed the fur glove from her hand.
On Yaoying’s jade-like hand, a swollen, purplish bruise had already formed. Her delicate fingers, tinged with the pink of peach blossoms, made the mark appear even more startling.
His movements were exceedingly gentle, but as the glove brushed against the swollen area, Yaoying still winced and inhaled sharply.
She hadn’t expected the injury to be this severe even with gloves on.
Tanmoroqie released her hand, fetched some medicinal ointment, and handed it to her.
Yaoying didn’t take it. Instead, she held out her uninjured right hand and waved it playfully in front of him.
Tanmoroqie was momentarily taken aback.
Yaoying continued waving her hand and said, “General, help me take this off.”
Understanding her meaning, Tanmoroqie helped her remove the glove from her right hand and opened the medicine box.
Yaoying leaned closer, scooped a coin-sized amount of ointment from the box in his palm, and applied it to the back of her hand. She hissed softly under her breath, murmuring, “It doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t hurt. With the medicine, it’ll be better soon.”
As she comforted herself quietly and finished applying the ointment, she looked up to find Tanmoroqie watching her intently, his emerald eyes deep and profound.
Noticing her gaze, he averted his eyes.
Yaoying didn’t dwell on it. She raised her hands and stepped in front of Tanmoroqie, fluttering her long eyelashes as she extended her hands toward him. “General, I’ve applied the medicine. Could you help me put the gloves back on?”
Her tone was light and playful, carrying a natural intimacy that suggested she knew he wouldn’t refuse.
Did she still regard him as Su Dan Gu? Would she care about what had happened last night?
He ought to clarify things with her.
Tanmoroqie remained silent, putting away the ointment. He first helped Yaoying put on the glove for her right hand, then her left, his movements even gentler than before, carefully avoiding any contact with her skin throughout.Yaoying stood motionless before him, obedient as a lamb.
"I offended you last night, Princess."
Tanmoroqie helped her adjust her gloves and spoke softly.
Yaoying had been blowing air through the glove seams toward her wound. At his words, she lifted her head, eyes curving into crescents, and waved a hand dismissively. "It's nothing. The General didn't mean it. I also offended you last time when I scattered the medicine."
When he first held her, she had struggled slightly, but then realized he wasn't making any other moves and showed no unusual behavior—he probably just treated her like a cooling pillow.
Yaoying's dark eyes sparkled bright and clear, her smiling expression showing she clearly didn't mind what happened last night at all.
Tanmoroqie's gaze met hers, and he suddenly said: "Princess needn't be impatient. Though the wound is shallow, you should still be careful."
Yaoying stared blankly.
Tanmoroqie gestured for her to wait under the snowdrift. "The Princess has helped me greatly. I won't abandon you and leave alone."
Reassured by his promise, Yaoying relaxed. She had been afraid he would silently hide away alone to heal his wounds, and if he couldn't endure it like last night...
After thinking for a moment, she helped gather scattered stones to bury the campfire.
"My injury is nothing compared to yours, General. I can help you pack up."
A hand clad in black leather gloves reached over and took the small stones from Yaoying's palm.
"I have martial training. The Princess is different." Tanmoroqie's tone was gentle yet brooked no argument. "Let me do it."
Yaoying glanced up at his face, noting his bright eyes, restored lip color, and how his speech no longer sounded weak like last night. She nodded.
The mountain path was rugged. When Yaoying had returned alone last night, it was already dark and she couldn't bring a spare saddle horse, riding only one horse up the mountain. After packing, the saddle was hung full on both sides, with a bundled felt blanket piled on the horse's back.
The sturdy horse snorted in dissatisfaction several times.
Yaoying pulled the reins, gently soothing her mount and feeding it fruits.
When Tanmoroqie finished packing and approached, before he could speak, Yaoying used his arm for support to mount the saddle, waving her left hand at him.
Her hand was injured and couldn't grip the reins tightly.
Tanmoroqie swung onto the horse behind her and took up the reins.
The sturdy horse broke into a slow walk, leaving winding hoofprints in the snow.
...
When they reached the mountain foot, the path stood empty beneath a fresh blanket of pure white snow.
After traveling about a mile, the horse reached the main road leading to the nearest town. A merchant caravan had just passed, leaving neat camel hoofprints along the way.
Tanmoroqie asked about Yaoying's personal guards.
Yaoying quickly replied: "Don't worry, General. They followed General Ashina back to the Holy City. Only I know you didn't return to the city."
She trusted her guards, but they ultimately weren't from the Royal Court. If they got involved, Yuanjue and Bi Suo would definitely be concerned.
Across the vast snowy plains, the wind howled endlessly. Worried Tanmoroqie might not hear her responses, Yaoying kept lifting her head to look at him when speaking.
Her felt hat occasionally brushed against his chin—soft and fuzzy.
Tanmoroqie didn't ask further.As they drew closer to the town, signs of human activity gradually appeared along the road. Hu merchants draped in thick cloaks and wearing pointed hats rode horses and camels, escorting carts laden with goods. Herders wrapped in fur coats drove herds of cattle and sheep. The jingling of camel bells, the lowing of livestock, and the melodious strains of pipa music drifting from horseback blended together. Though the main road was desolate, snow swirled through the air, and the mountains stood solemn and majestic, the scene brimmed with vibrant life.
Suddenly, a rapid drumming of hooves echoed from the distance like a sudden downpour. Soldiers in leather armor galloped past on horseback, the curved blades at their waists glinting coldly.
Yaoying remained calm, tightening the veil over her face as she glanced at Tanmoroqie. He wore a headscarf that covered his head and face, wrapped so thoroughly that only his pair of green eyes were visible.
They dismounted and led their horses, blending into the crowd waiting to enter the city as they approached the gates.
The town wasn't large, with walls stretching only about two or three li. The fortifications weren't tall either—just a crumbling yellow earthen wall. However, being under the jurisdiction of the Royal Court, bandits dared not raid it. Moreover, with strict market management, it was the safest trading town within a hundred li, which explained the long queues of merchant caravans and herders waiting to enter.
Figures shifted restlessly at the city gates where soldiers were inspecting everyone seeking entry. The line moved slowly, stretching back half a li from the entrance.
A merchant with a thin mustache grumbled loudly, "A vicious criminal has emerged near the Holy City recently! They're conducting searches every day—we won't get in until afternoon at this rate!"
Others chimed in agreement: "Exactly! It's not just strict outside the city—they're searching inside too! Anyone traveling alone gets thrown into the dungeons!"
"Spend one night in those dungeons in this weather, and you'll freeze solid!"Another Hu merchant sneered, 'They're only being this thorough to extort and blackmail us!""
Yaoying's interest piqued, she edged closer to listen to the merchants' conversation. The more she heard, the deeper her frown became.
Though Bi Suo had diverted most of the assassins, soldiers along the route hadn't stopped inspecting passing caravans and travelers. While they might truly be using the searches as pretexts for extortion as the merchants claimed, they still couldn't afford to let their guard down.
Yaoying retreated to her horse and exchanged glances with Tanmoroqie beside her.
"These soldiers are probably targeting you, General," she whispered. "The criminal the merchants described matches your description closely."
The Royal Court had issued an arrest warrant for the criminal but didn't dare explicitly state Su Dan Gu's most distinctive features, only mentioning physical build and age—both matching Su Dan Gu closely.
"Though these men are no match for you, we should avoid conflict with them to prevent complications for Bi Suo's situation." Yaoying bent her head, rummaging through her brocade pouch to produce several stamped parchment documents. "These passage permits were issued by merchant Old Qi. We can pose as merchants to enter the city."
She had carried these parchments from the Royal Court to Gaochang and back again, precisely for situations like this.
"What do you think of this plan, General?"
Yaoying asked.
Tanmoroqie nodded at her.
If he were alone, he could wait until dark to enter the city. But with her beside him, it was better not to take risks.
Amid the grumbling complaints of the Hu merchants, the line slowly advanced until it was finally Yaoying and Tanmoroqie's turn to enter the city.
"My name is Akebayan, coming from Sheep and Horse City."Yaoying handed over the parchment and naturally hooked her arm through Tanmoroqie's beside her, leaning against him.
"He is my husband."
A faint glimmer flickered in Tanmoroqie's eyes.
Sensing his surprise, Yaoying paused and looked up to meet his gaze. Had he not understood her earlier? The plan she had proposed was to pretend to be a couple selling felt carpets!
Tanmoroqie averted his eyes.
After examining the parchment, the soldiers immediately became much more polite, though they still made a show of inspecting the felt carpet bags on the horsebacks.
Yaoying handed over a small pouch of Persian silver coins.
The soldier took the pouch, weighed it in his hand, broke into a wide smile, and promptly let them pass.
Yaoying thanked the soldiers and pulled Tanmoroqie into the city.
Tanmoroqie lowered his gaze, glanced at her hand still hooked around his arm, but said nothing.
As they passed through the city gate, a procession happened to be heading out. Several burly servants carried a sedan chair surrounded by robust attendants. The soft curtain fluttered in the wind, revealing a delicate face that flashed by.
Yaoying froze completely at the sight of that familiar face.
Why would Zhu Lvyun appear here?
Shouldn't she be in Chang'an?
The procession passed right before Yaoying's eyes.
OpenNovel