On the third day after Ashina Bisuo returned to the Holy City, the royal palace announced that a grand Image Procession Festival would be held at the beginning of next month, where Tanmoluojia would appear at the dharma assembly.
Having just established an alliance with the Northern Rong and now anticipating the upcoming festival, the city’s people were overjoyed. Even before the official date, from the royal palace to common households, everyone began preparing for the dharma assembly – sweeping courtyards, setting up curtains, creating an especially lively atmosphere.
The young novice monk teaching Yaoying Sanskrit told her that during the annual Image Procession Festival, the Holy City’s streets would be packed with people, crowded to the point where people sometimes got trampled to death.
“Viewing the procession can eliminate sins and gain merit. Princess, you can also attend the dharma assembly. Making wishes before the procession then is more effective than usual!”
Yaoying recalled last year’s Buddha’s Birthday dharma assembly at Taiji Palace and felt disinterested.
The novice’s eyes burned with fervor: “On the day of the festival, the Buddha’s Son will return to the temple, establish an altar for sutra lectures, and debate dharma with high monks from Kucha, Gaochang, and Kashgar. This is a once-in-a-century grand occasion! I’ve already arranged with my senior brother who sweeps the temple to help me secure a good spot!”
Yaoying showed surprise: “The Buddha’s Son will establish an altar to preach?”
Though the Water Mang grass Ashina Bisuo brought back had eased Tanmoluojia’s pain, it had only been three days! In such a short time, having just barely recovered some vitality from the brink of death, he was already preparing to debate sutras with many high monks. This would test not only his physical strength but even more so his mental prowess.
The Western Region’s high monks were all skilled debaters – could he handle it?
The novice nodded, looking at Yaoying, “Princess, do you want to see the Buddha’s Son debate sutras?”
Yaoying’s lips twitched slightly. Since Tanmoluojia would debate with the high monks in either Sanskrit or foreign languages, she wouldn’t understand a word and naturally didn’t want to go. She was only amazed by Tanmoluojia’s determination.
As one crisis dissipated into nothing, the royal court’s people eagerly anticipated the festival’s arrival, never knowing their Buddha’s Son had narrowly escaped death and was enduring torment every moment.
Her expression turned contemplative. The novice glanced at her several times, his eyes rolling: the Central Plains princess was indeed infatuated with the Buddha’s Son, already becoming absent-minded.
That evening, rumors spread throughout the palace that Yaoying was pining away for Tanmoluojia, unable to eat or sleep, washing her face with tears.
Yaoying ignored these rumors. Hearing from Mondatiba that the central army riders had brought back her dowry, she took her guards to receive it.
Ashina Bisuo had taken the Water Mang grass directly to the palace. The large carts carrying silk fabrics, books and classics, Buddha statues, and jewels arrived at the Holy City four days later, with Prajña in charge of the convoy.
He handed the register to Yaoying, patting his chest saying: “Please check everything against the register, Princess. Everything except the Water Mang grass is here.”
Yaoying thanked him but didn’t check against the list, directly asking the riders to take the large carts to the palace warehouse.
Having completed the handover, Prajña immediately returned to the royal palace. Seeing Tanmoluojia had indeed improved, he chanted Buddha’s name repeatedly.
The next day, the rumors reached his ears.
Prajña was both angry and anxious. He found Yaoying and pointed at her, trembling all over.
Yaoying looked puzzled, asking: “Is something wrong with the Buddha’s Son?”
The Water Mang grass was highly toxic – while it could save people, too much would be harmful. The reason her Condensed Dew Pills were so expensive was that many medicines were needed to reduce the Water Mang grass’s toxicity.
The concern on Yaoying’s face didn’t seem fake. Prajña was taken aback, remembering Tanmoluojia’s instructions, and swallowed the reproach that had been fermenting in his heart for a long time.
Never mind – although this princess was shameless, she truly admired the King’s bearing. If not for her dowry, how could the King have escaped danger?
Prajña said sternly: “The King is much better.”
Yaoying looked bewildered, making a small sound of acknowledgment, saying: “The Dharma Master is blessed by heaven.”
Prajña glared at her: “I heard you’ve been pestering monks daily asking about the King’s condition… Don’t go around asking about the King’s affairs. It’s bad for his reputation if word gets out. If you have any questions in the future, come ask me!”
Yaoying was momentarily speechless: when had she been going around asking about Tanmoluojia? Everyone in the palace worshipped Tanmoluojia, barely speaking a sentence without mentioning the Buddha’s Son. She hadn’t deliberately inquired.
But Prajña was convinced Yaoying was scheming to get close to Tanmoluojia and warned her: “Don’t think you can take this chance to get close to the King. Your medicine saved the King, and he’s grateful to you, but he won’t be moved by you!”
Just as he finished speaking, Yuanjue’s figure appeared at the courtyard gate.
“Princess, the King requests your presence in the main hall.”
Prajña was dumbfounded.
Yaoying spread her hands at him, “It’s your King who’s asking for me.”
Prajña was speechless, turning his neck away without a word.
Yaoying walked past him, following Yuanjue to the main hall.
Passing through the front courtyard, a golden arc flashed silently in the quiet corridor as a colorful leopard leaped down from the wall, pressing its paw against the intertwining vines on the steps.
Yuanjue stopped, gesturing to Yaoying not to panic.
Having often seen this still-wild leopard these past few days, Yaoying wasn’t as afraid anymore. She withdrew her gaze, remaining motionless.
The leopard’s eyes narrowed slightly as it jumped onto the corridor, its tail hanging low, suddenly walking toward Yaoying.
Yuanjue’s expression changed slightly.
“Ali!”
A voice filled with laughter rang out as the golden-haired, green-eyed central army general strode quickly from the inner hall, blocking Yaoying’s path, waving at the leopard, “Don’t frighten Princess Wenzhao!”
The leopard gave him a seemingly disdainful look, turned around, jumped down the stone steps, and lazily lay down to doze in the shadows of the vines.
Ashina Bisuo turned back to smile at Yaoying: “Princess, I hope you weren’t frightened?”
Yaoying looked at his emerald eyes and shook her head.
Ashina Bisuo’s mother was a Turkic princess, and his father a royal court noble. He stood tall with handsome features. That day’s brief glimpse had made her think his eyes resembled Tanmoluojia’s, but looking closely now, they weren’t alike – only their eye color was similar.
Bisuo smiled, his smile as bright and brilliant as the golden light outside the corridor. Though his manner seemed flirtatious and unrestrained, his tone was sincere to the point of seeming naive: “If not for the Princess’s Water Mang grass, the King would hardly have escaped this calamity. The princess is the royal court’s honored guest. If Xue Yanna dares offend you again in the future, Princess need not fear – just send someone to inform me.”
Yaoying thanked him and entered the inner hall.
Bisuo stood in the corridor, gazing at her retreating figure, lost in thought for a moment before scratching his head, shaking it with a smile, and returning to his guard duty.
The inner hall was spacious and clear, with the Buddha statues of gold and jade and incense tables all removed, though a faint fragrance still lingered in the air.
Tanmoluojia sat cross-legged on a felt carpet, wearing snow-white kasaya robes with gold patterns, and a string of prayer beads beside his hand, appearing clear and otherworldly.
Two attendants knelt nearby, offering medicine soup. He lifted the bowl and drank it all in one go – his movements were quick yet elegant.
The attendants withdrew with the empty bowl.
Yaoying’s gaze fell on Tanmoluojia’s face. His complexion had improved greatly, face like the cold moon, eyes clear and bright. Or perhaps it was his extreme serenity that made it difficult to see from his expression that he was enduring the torment of illness.
Tanmoluojia raised his eyelids, gesturing for Yaoying to sit.
Yaoying knelt opposite him. Though usually casual, facing this Buddha before her, she unconsciously straightened her back, sitting properly and formally.
Tanmoluojia lowered his gaze slightly: “Why didn’t the Princess go to India?”
His tone was calm, and it was precisely this emotionless, desireless calmness that carried a faint pressure. Yaoying sat even more properly, answering his question with another: “Please forgive my presumption, but why did the Dharma Master send Regent Su Dan Gu to Gaochang?”
Tanmoluojia remained silent.
Yaoying asked softly: “Is the Dharma Master hoping to ally with Gaochang?”
Tanmoluojia’s gaze fell on her.
Yaoying met his eyes, speaking slowly: “Most of Gaochang’s rulers and nobles are prominent Hexi families – they are Han people. Gaochang follows the Central Plains dynasty’s ritual system, Confucian learning flourishes there, and their customs and etiquette are just like the Central Plains. Since the royal court is hostile to the Han people, the Dharma Master can only secretly send the Regent to sound out the Gaochang ruler’s intentions.”
Su Dan Gu went to Gaochang alone, surely carrying secret orders. At that time, the Northern Rong was launching a major invasion of the royal court. Yaoying guessed Tanmoluojia might have known his days were numbered and wanted to leave the royal court a backup plan, so he sent Su Dan Gu to seek aid from Gaochang.
Tanmoluojia’s expression confirmed Yaoying’s speculation.
She changed course: “I guess Gaochang rejected the Regent.”
Tanmoluojia remained silent, a faint unusual color flashing in the depths of his deep green eyes.
Yaoying met his gaze, saying: “A small country with few people, Gaochang’s way of survival is to accommodate all sides, exchanging subservience to every powerful dynasty for survival. Now that the Northern Rong is strong, Gaochang claims vassalage to them. Though the royal court is prosperous, its military strength is ultimately limited. Gaochang won’t risk offending the Northern Rong to ally with the royal court.”
Gaochang connects to the Central Plains in the east, communicates with the Western Regions in the west, controls the Silk Road in the south, and oversees the grasslands in the north. With intersecting roads and mixed tribal residents, its geographical position makes it easy to attack but hard to defend. From ancient times to the present, this oasis country on the ancient Silk Road has struggled, always striving to survive in the gaps between various political powers and forces.
The Central Plains dynasty once established prefectures and counties in Gaochang, leaving troops to guard it. Later, when the Central Plains fell into chaos with no attention to spare for the West, the Western Regions descended into turmoil. Gaochang and other small Western Region countries could not communicate with the Central Plains and had to govern themselves.
Yaoying had already inquired – the current Gaochang ruler’s surname was Yuchi, a descendant of a prominent Longxi family. Gaochang submitted to the Northern Rong, and two years ago, Ruler Yuchi married the niece of the Northern Rong’s Wakhan Khan as his consort.
She looked at Tanmoluojia, smiled slightly, and finally began answering his earlier question: “Dharma Master, I remain in the royal court so I can serve as envoy to Gaochang for the royal court.”
Some unknown incense burned in the hall, its faint fragrance drifting gently.
Tanmoluojia gazed at Yaoying, his eyes deep, slightly dazed.
Yaoying’s expression grew solemn: “Gaochang was once a prefecture and county under Central Plains rule. Its ruler and nobles still yearn for the Central Plains. I am a Great Wei princess – my chances as envoy to Gaochang are better than the Regent’s.”
Gaochang is unwilling to offend the Northern Rong, but they will never truly submit to them either. Their ruler and nobles always hope to restore connections with the Central Plains dynasty. As a Great Wei princess, if she serves as an envoy to Gaochang, this time the Gaochang ruler might consider Tanmoluojia’s proposal.
Yaoying paused briefly, then continued: “Perhaps I cannot convince the Gaochang ruler, but at least Gaochang won’t become an enemy of the royal court. Right now, from the Liao Sea in the east to the Western Sea in the west, from the He-Long region in the south to the Northern Sea in the north, all submit to the Northern Rong. The royal court alone cannot match the Northern Rong’s strength. Regardless of Gaochang’s answer, Great Wei is willing to ally with the royal court to jointly resist the Northern Rong.”
Tanmoluojia gazed at Yaoying for a long time.
The young woman’s voice was delicate and graceful, her tone peaceful, as if completely unaware of what her words represented.
From east to west – Great Wei, the royal court, Gaochang… and more small countries wanted to return east. If this alliance truly formed, it would change not just the royal court’s fate, nor just the Western Regions’ situation, but the destiny of the world.
Tanmoluojia recalled that year when he was thirteen when Northern Rong cavalry attacked the Holy City, that sky full of swirling yellow sand. He recited sutras in his heart as he led the central army to meet the enemy forces that came like a flood covering heaven and earth.
From that moment on, he was destined to bear the burden of this nation until death.
He was the Buddha’s Son, the ruler, yet the princess before him was just a delicate and beautiful young woman, adrift in foreign lands with an uncertain future.
Tanmoluojia’s prayer beads swayed slightly as he asked softly: “Why does the Princess wish to ally with the royal court?”
Yaoying’s lips curved slightly, her eyes fixed steadily on Tanmoluojia as she smiled and said: “Because of you.”
Tanmoluojia was stunned.