The night was deep and dark, the front corridor of the rock caves pitch-black. Occasionally, a faint, dim yellow light seeped from one or two caves, casting sharp outlines on the murals adorning the pillars under the hazy glow.
Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps shattered the silence.
Bore, a close guard of the Royal Court's central army, hastily climbed to the highest level of the rock caves. A shadow flickered from the side as a hidden guard leaped out from the corner, pressing a cold, long blade against his throat.
"The King is in seclusion. Those who force their way in will be executed without mercy."
Bore quickly produced a bronze token. "I am Bore, the personal guard. This bronze token was bestowed by the King. I have urgent matters to report to him."
The hidden guard took the token, examined it carefully for a moment, then lifted a lantern to shine it on Bore's face. Sheathing the long blade, the guard swiftly vanished back into the darkness.
Bore passed through the empty front corridor and arrived at the innermost cave. Halting his steps, he gently knocked on the stone wall and whispered, "Personal guard Bore requests an audience with the Buddha Prince."
There was no response for a long time.
Bore dared not press further and stood waiting outside.
During Tanmoroqie's seclusion, only one close guard remained in the cave to protect him, while all others were forbidden to approach. Even the monks delivering food and water left the baskets at the base of the mountain wall to avoid disturbing the Buddha Prince's meditation. As Tanmoroqie's personal guard, Bore adhered to this rule strictly. Had it not been for the dire news of the Regent's death, he would never have dared to disturb the Buddha Prince.
After a long while, the voice of the close guard echoed from within: "The King is already aware of the matter you wish to report."
Bore's face showed anxiety. "News of the Regent's death has spread throughout the Holy City. The people are panicked, and the nobles and ministers will surely seize this opportunity to cause trouble. Today, young novices noticed many suspicious slaves from powerful families lurking around the Wang Temple, along with private soldiers from the Kang, Xue, An, and Meng families. Will the King emerge from seclusion tomorrow?"
Footsteps sounded from within as the close guard seemed to go to the Zen room to relay the message. After a while, the footsteps returned, and the guard said, "The King will emerge tomorrow. Pass the order: from tomorrow onward, no monks in the temple are to leave, and the temple master and Zen masters are included in this rule. If anyone dares to force their way into the Wang Temple, arrest them immediately."
Bore, filled with worry, acknowledged the order and went to inform the temple master.
The death of Su Dan Gu meant a new Regent had to be selected to govern in his stead. That night, both inside and outside the Holy City, from nobles to common soldiers, many would lie awake, unable to sleep.
Inside the cave, the close guard sent Bore away and returned to the innermost Zen room.
The cave was spacious, with niches carved into the walls leading to the square hall, densely packed like a honeycomb, each dedicated to enshrining various Buddhas.
Tanmoroqie, having removed his black robes and gloves, walked slowly along the cave wall, holding a gilded candlestick. His emerald eyes lowered, his expression serene, he lit the candles one by one to honor the Buddhas.
On the felt rug beneath the southern wall of the Zen room, Yaoying sat cross-legged, her face still covered with a black cloth. The soft, warm yellow glow fell upon her, making the dark strands of her hair shimmer with a dazzling golden light.
The close guard looked embarrassed, averting his gaze, not daring to look at her again.
Whenever the Buddha Prince needed to leave or was too ill to appear in public, this guard was the one who remained in the cave to maintain the facade. The secret passage in the cave led to the Beast Garden, known only to a few of the Buddha Prince's most trusted confidants.
Even Bore was unaware of it.
Tonight, the Buddha Prince had unexpectedly brought Princess Wenzhao back through the secret passage. The close guard was so shocked that he had yet to fully regain his composure.
Unable to see the guard's flushed face, Yaoying sat quietly, waiting for Su Dan Gu to call her.A faint, swaying glow filtered through the black cloth. She sensed she must have already entered Wang Temple, as the air carried a delicate fragrance mingled with the scent of spices—not incense, but the aroma of paper and books. The temple used fragrant Central Plains paper and parchment for copying Scriptures, a scent she remembered well.
Yaoying waited for a long while but heard no voices, only an atmosphere of profound solemnity. Afraid to speak and disturb Su Dan Gu, she remained silent.
Tanmoroqie lit all the lamps and candles, their hundreds of interwoven beams casting a golden radiance over him. He stood bathed in the shimmering light, palms pressed together, eyes closed as he silently recited Scriptures.
The guards dared not even breathe loudly.
After what felt like the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Tanmoroqie turned, his gaze sweeping past Yaoying.
She sat upright and motionless, her eyes covered yet showing no trace of panic. From head to toe, she exuded an air of obedience and trust.
He lifted his eyes, signaling to the guard with a glance, then turned to face the shrine chamber.
The guard, encountering such a situation for the first time, flushed crimson. He approached Yaoying, unsheathed his long blade, and extended it toward her. "Princess, I am Balmi, the Buddha Prince’s guard. The Regent has ordered me to escort you back to your quarters. Please hold the scabbard and follow me, and do not make a sound along the way."
Yaoying was taken aback, rising to her feet to ask, "Where is the Regent?"
Balmi’s eyes shifted slightly. "The Regent has gone to pay respects to the Buddha Prince."
Yaoying hummed in acknowledgment, gripped the scabbard, and followed the guard out of the stone cavern.
The Zen room was brilliantly illuminated, with numerous Buddha statues standing in solemn dignity.
Tanmoroqie stood beneath the shrine chamber, his back turned, his silhouette stark and solitary.
…
The long blade felt cold in her hand, far less convenient than tugging on a sleeve.
Stumbling along behind Balmi, Yaoying walked for what seemed an eternity before he finally halted and whispered, "Princess, you may remove the cloth now."
She sighed in relief, took off the black fabric, and scanned her surroundings. She found herself in a spacious corridor, with her residence in the temple just beyond a few earthen walls.
Balmi reattached his saber to his waist and said, "During your absence from the temple, your personal guards have remained stationed in the courtyard."
The few guards left at Wang Temple had long been eagerly awaiting Yaoying’s safe return. That day, news of the Regent’s death had spread throughout the Holy City, and they had heard it too. Anxious and restless, they wanted to venture out to find her but remembered her instructions not to leave the temple without permission. They could only sit around gloomily, sighing in distress.
When Yaoying suddenly appeared at the courtyard gate, the guards stood frozen, wondering if they were dreaming. Rubbing their faces, they hurried forward to kneel and kowtow.
"Princess, you’ve finally returned!"
Bā mǐ ěr safely delivered Yaoying and turned back toward the stone cavern.
Yaoying watched him disappear into the distance, then stood at the gate gazing northward at the towering cliffs. In the thick of night, pinpricks of light shone from the caverns dotting the precipice, resembling celestial lanterns floating among the clouds—ethereal and aloof.
Lost in thought for a moment, she returned to her room surrounded by her guards.
"Princess, why have you returned alone? Where are Xie Qing and Xie Chong?"
"We heard the Royal Court’s Regent was besieged and killed by bandits—is it true?"
Yaoying replied lightly, "Xie Qing and the others will return in a few days. There’s no need to worry. As for the Regent’s matter, it is an affair of the Royal Court. Whatever happens next, do not ask questions. The situation is unstable now—for the next few days, do not go out."The guards acknowledged and reported to her that more homeless survivors from Hexi had been taken in outside the city this winter. Following her instructions before she left, they had helped the refugees dig underground dwellings. Although this year’s snowfall was heavier than in previous years, the refugees now had shelter to ward off the cold and enough food to fill their stomachs, allowing them to survive the harsh winter. The refugees were deeply grateful to Yaoying and vowed to work diligently once the weather warmed.
Seated by the candlestand, Yaoying flipped through account books and rosters while listening to the guards report one by one. She reflected inwardly: these guards, once rough men, had now taken on various duties—some leading refugees in building houses, others teaching children martial arts, some becoming schoolteachers, some overseeing dried grapes day and night, others skilled in bargaining and haggling with shrewd Hu merchants, and some roaming the markets daily to buy horses, sheep, and cattle… With a bit more experience, each would be capable of handling responsibilities independently.
After the guards finished their lively reports, one suddenly remembered something, slapped his forehead, and flushed with anger as he exclaimed, "Princess, the Fukang Princess has also come to the Holy City!"
Yaoying lifted her gaze.
The guard sneered contemptuously, "My apologies—Fukang Princess is now the Northern Rong Princess. Somehow, she became a princess of Northern Rong and arrived in the Holy City as part of a diplomatic mission. On her very first day, she demanded by name to see you!"
Yaoying was caught between amusement and disbelief, "She wants to see me?"
The guard nodded, "The chief envoy of Northern Rong personally came to Wang Temple, claiming the princess was an old acquaintance of the Northern Rong Princess and requested an audience. The temple master refused, saying you were praying for the Buddha Prince in the main hall and would see no one."
"They didn’t dare offend the Buddha Prince, so they dropped the matter. However, I’ve spotted members of the Northern Rong delegation lurking near Wang Temple—they’re surely waiting for you to emerge so they can bring Fukang Princess to you."
Yaoying narrowed her eyes slightly.
Why was Zhu Lvyun so determined to meet her?
…
Balmi avoided the patrolling monk soldiers and returned to the stone cave.
Tanmoroqie still stood beneath the niche chamber. As candle flames flickered across the room, he removed his headscarf, tore off the scar disguise, and revealed his true face, saying, "Send for Venerable Tittha."
His tone was icy.
Balmi acknowledged and left, returning half an hour later with an elderly monk draped in a gray kasaya before withdrawing.
The old monk had gaunt cheekbones and seemingly dull brown eyes, yet a sharp glint flickered in their depths. Trembling, he approached the niche chamber and murmured softly, "This humble monk serves as the temple’s Karmadana, overseeing discipline to ensure order and strict adherence to precepts by all monks. What does the King summon this humble monk for?"
Tanmoroqie pressed his palms together, knelt, and stated, "Your disciple Luojia has violated a major precept and deserves punishment."
The old monk’s eyelids fluttered slightly as he joined his palms and asked, "Which precept has the King broken?"
"The precept against killing."
The old monk sighed, "In these turbulent times, protecting the kingdom and sheltering all beings is unavoidable. However, the King is a Sramana. Since a major precept has been broken, punishment is indeed necessary."
He softly recited a few lines of scripture and raised his staff high.
…
The sound of strikes fell one after another.
Standing outside the stone cave, Balmi felt his scalp prickle with each blow, yet Tanmoroqie did not utter a single groan.
Half an hour later, the old monk departed. Balmi exhaled deeply and hurried into the stone cave.Tanmoroqie rose to his feet, his expression calm as he walked to another living Zen room. He removed his blood-stained inner garment, took a crimson kasaya from the rack and put it on, then picked up a rosary and wrapped it several times around his wrist.
The overly large kasaya enveloped his tall, sturdy frame, also concealing the fresh wounds on his shoulders and back.
A soft rustle—a delicate handkerchief slipped from the sleeve of the inner garment he had taken off.
Bā mǐ ěr quickly bent down to pick up the handkerchief, then froze in surprise: the fabric was soft, smooth, and exquisitely fine, embroidered with elegant, misty landscapes and intricate cloud patterns. It carried a warm, sweet fragrance and was stitched with square-block Chinese poetry characters. At a glance, it was clearly not an item the Buddha Prince would use.
Princess Wenzhao was a Han woman—this handkerchief must be hers. It was said the princess mastered a remarkable skill which she taught to her people, and now the entire Royal Court knew that Han merchant caravans sold the most refined fabrics.
Bā mǐ ěr’s face flushed so deeply it seemed about to drip blood. Instantly, the handkerchief in his hand felt as heavy as a thousand pounds and scalding to the touch.
Tanmoroqie lowered his gaze, looking at the handkerchief in Bā mǐ ěr’s hand.
During his alternating fever and chills, Yaoying had stayed by his side from dawn till dusk, using this very handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his neck. When he burned with fever, the cloth was cool; when he shivered with cold, it had always been warmed over the charcoal fire.
She said she couldn’t offer much help—only wished to bring him some comfort.
He had no idea how the handkerchief had ended up on him.
Tanmoroqie remained silent.
Just as Bā mǐ ěr felt the handkerchief sprouting countless sharp needles, pricking him all over with discomfort, his palm suddenly lightened.
Tanmoroqie had taken the handkerchief away.
Bā mǐ ěr quietly sighed in relief.
With a serene expression, Tanmoroqie casually set the handkerchief aside and said, “Ring the bell.”
Bā mǐ ěr straightened up, energized, and respectfully acknowledged the order.
…
In the small courtyard, Yaoying and her personal guards were still seated by the lamp, discussing matters.
Upon learning that Yang Qian was secretly training a righteous army, the guards were fired with passion, each eagerly volunteering to go and lend him a hand.
Yaoying already had suitable candidates in mind. Yang Qian, brimming with heroic fervor, would not turn back even if he hit a wall—those sent to assist him needed to be tactful and humble, lest they create enmity instead of cooperation.
As they sat conversing, one of the guards suddenly frowned and gestured for silence.
Everyone immediately quieted down.
In the stillness of the night, a resonant, melodious bell tolled from afar. Its rumbling echoes reverberated through the bleak, wintry wind, lingering heavy and prolonged, resounding across the entire Wang Temple.
The guard stood, opened the door, and listened carefully for a moment before announcing, “The Buddha Prince has ended his retreat!”
The entire Wang Temple was awakened by the bell. More and more people opened their doors and windows, listening intently to the echoing chimes, fervently reciting Scriptures in excitement.
The news of Tanmoroqie’s emergence from retreat quickly spread to every corner of the Holy City.
The next morning, before dawn had broken, the area before Wang Temple was bustling with carriages and crowds. The narrow entrance path was jam-packed.
Most of those entering the temple were dressed in luxurious brocade robes and ornate attire—court ministers and noble scions of the Royal Court. The commoners who had traveled great distances to pay homage to Luojia were barred at the outermost perimeter, unable to enter Wang Temple.
Tanmoroqie did not receive the noble youths. After ending his retreat, he needed to chant Scriptures in the hall for seven days to guide the soul of the deceased Su Dan Gu toward peace.The ministers grew increasingly impatient, submitting memorials one after another urging him to select a new Regent, but he refused. The ministers then compromised, demanding that a new Regent be appointed within seven days, and this time he did not reject the proposal.
As the ministers intensified their pressure, the court situation grew increasingly turbulent and unpredictable. Private soldiers from powerful aristocratic families poured into the Holy City from all directions, surrounding the entire Wang Temple in layers.
In the struggle for the position of Regent, conflicts and friction among the noble families escalated. The four armies, which should have stood united, now faced each other with swords drawn and bows bent, on the verge of erupting into open confrontation.
No matter how arrogantly the ministers behaved, Tanmoroqie remained out of sight. A rumor began to spread: after losing the Regent, the Buddha Prince had once again been sidelined by the noble families.
Yaoying overheard the temple monks whispering among themselves: Had the Buddha Prince truly been stripped of his power?
She knew Tanmoroqie would never sit idly by and wait for defeat, so she did not share the monks' anxiety.
Amid the tense situation, the Northern Rong envoy took advantage of the monks' unsettled state of mind and managed to deliver a letter to Yaoying, urging her to meet with Zhu Lvyun.
The letter was written in Zhu Lvyun's voice—filled with tender sentiments and eloquent words. It began with an apology for past wrongs, pleading for Yaoying's forgiveness, then emphasized that as fellow Han people stranded in a foreign land, they ought to support each other. It expressed hope that Yaoying would let bygones be bygones and reconcile with Zhu Lvyun. Finally, it hinted that if Yaoying could reconcile with her, Haidu Aling would never dare to offend her again.
The bodyguards were furious and cursed vehemently.
Yaoying stopped them, smiled, crumpled the letter, and said, "Very well. Since she is an old acquaintance, it is only right to reminisce about old times."
A few days earlier, she could not reveal her identity and had to avoid Zhu Lvyun. But now that she had returned to the Holy City, there was no need for caution—she could properly catch up with Zhu Lvyun.
Yaoying asked her bodyguards, "Have the princesses from the other tribes arrived in the Holy City?"
The bodyguards replied, "They have all arrived and are staying at the guesthouse. Only the princess from the Land of Brahma is residing at Princess Chima's residence."
Yaoying nodded, picked up a brush, wrote a letter, and handed it to a monk, instructing him to deliver it to Tanmoroqie.
In the afternoon, the monk returned to the courtyard and said, "The Buddha Prince requests the princess's presence in the main hall."
Yaoying rose and followed the monk to the main hall.
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