The day before the Festival of Sacred Images, Ashina Bisuo returned after escorting Yao Ying to handle matters with the Hu merchants’ jewelry and jade stones.
“Though they wrongfully killed a slave, which was indeed a transgression, the market officials have investigated the cause. However, since Xie Peng injured someone, the fine cannot be recovered,” he explained.
Yao Ying was somewhat surprised and thanked Bisuo.
Bisuo shrugged at her, saying: “The laws of the royal court aren’t as rigorous and detailed as those in the Central Plains. Merchants can kill slaves at will. Though the King issued several prohibitions, these evil acts couldn’t be stopped until the Regent killed several nobles who took pleasure in torturing slaves to death. Only then did they show some restraint. This is still in the royal court, under the King’s guidance. In other city-states, a human life is worth less than a sheep.”
Yao Ying let out a soft sigh.
In times of chaos, whether in the Central Plains or beyond, it had always been thus – human life was as worthless as weeds.
In the Western Regions, not only were Han people oppressed, but tribes also consumed one another. Many tribes were enslaved and driven by others, living worse than pigs and dogs.
Just as the Central Plains needed a strong unified dynasty, so did the Western Regions.
Bisuo clapped his hands, and two maids promptly entered the courtyard carrying gift boxes.
“I didn’t think things through that day, and the Princess’s clothes were soiled. These are specially prepared for the Princess,” Bisuo said, pointing to the boxes with a smile.
Yao Ying declined gracefully: “General has gone to such trouble for me, and I haven’t even thanked you yet. I couldn’t let you spend more.”
Bisuo waved his hand, interrupting her: “If the Princess wishes to thank me, tomorrow is the Festival of Sacred Images. All the city’s men, women, old and young will dress in their finest to pay homage to Buddha. Would the Princess accompany me to the temple for the dharma assembly? You haven’t toured the Holy City yet, have you? It would be my pleasure to serve as your host.”
Yao Ying hesitated briefly. Ashina Bisuo had been working diligently on her behalf these past days, and she ought to thank him. Moreover, they would be traveling together to Gaochang after the dharma assembly. She nodded in agreement. She wasn’t comfortable moving about freely, but with Bisuo, a royal court noble, as a company, Xue Yanna probably wouldn’t dare to provoke her.
Bisuo’s face immediately lit up with a brilliant smile: “I had the maids prepare festival attire for the Princess. Please try them on, and if they don’t fit, they can make alterations.”
He continued, “The clothes were tailored to the Princess’s measurements, please don’t stand on ceremony with me. The Princess is the King’s guest, which makes you my guest as well.”
Seeing Yao Ying’s downcast eyes, seemingly searching for a reason to decline, he raised his thick eyebrows and deliberately put on a stern face: “Does the Princess truly wish to see me sad and upset?”
Yao Ying smiled slightly and thanked him, gesturing for her guard to accept the gift boxes. However, instead of immediately returning to her room to change into the new clothes, she inquired about another matter.
“Was Su Dan Gu, the Regent whom I saw on the city wall that day, the Buddha Prince’s attendant?”
Bisuo’s eyes flickered slightly as he nodded, saying with a smile: “Did the Regent frighten the Princess? You needn’t fear him. He’s fair in rewards and punishments, and very loyal to the King.”
Yao Ying had indeed been frightened by Su Dan Gu. These past few nights, she kept dreaming of him beheading the bandits. That tall, lean figure had been filled with fierce killing intent, like a Yaksha demon.
Awakening from these dreams, a question arose in her mind: After Dharmārāga’s death and the royal court’s collapse, where did Su Dan Gu, as Regent, go? Having held military and political power, why did he vanish without a trace?
Could he have been assassinated by the ministers and nobles?
Yao Ying couldn’t figure it out.
Su Dan Gu was too mysterious. His movements were secretive, and he rarely showed himself. When his ugly, fierce face appeared before people, it was time for his killing spree.
She probed carefully: “How old is the Regent?”
Bisuo stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and said: “The Regent is a few years older than the King and me. He was our senior brother in discipleship.”
So Su Dan Gu was Dharmārāga’s senior brother in discipleship.
Yao Ying pondered this, then heard the latter half and asked in surprise: “The General and the Buddha Prince were brother disciples? Was the General also a Buddhist?”
Ashina Bisuo was a descendant of the Türk royal family. His name, Bisuo, came from the Sogdian language, meaning “colorful person.” His mother believed in Zoroastrianism – why hadn’t he followed his mother’s faith?
Bisuo smiled and spread his hands toward Yao Ying in a casual manner: “I don’t look anything like a Buddhist disciple, do I? I was sent to study Buddhist teachings as a child. All royal court noble children were the same, studying scriptures with their elders from a young age. Only the smartest, those with the greatest potential, are qualified to continue studying under the Master. The King was the smartest among us. He was extraordinarily gifted. Master said that compared to him, we were just a bunch of sheep that could only bleat.”
At this, Bisuo laughed lightly.
“The King learned everything quickly. When he could speak four languages, we were just beginning to learn Sogdian. When he discussed Buddhist principles with Master, it was like we were listening to celestial books.”
Yao Ying recalled the legends she had heard these past days: “I heard from young novice monks that when the Buddha Prince was born, the Holy City witnessed divine phenomena. Everyone in the city saw it.”
Bisuo fell silent for a moment, then grinned: “Yes, that day the city was covered in clouds and auras. Above the palace, it seemed there were Buddha images and light, with faint sounds of Buddhist chanting. Master said it was because the world was in chaos, so divine Buddhas reincarnated in mortal form, descending to experience tribulations, teach the people, and save all beings.”
Yao Ying smiled slightly.
Whether what Bisuo said was true or false, the royal court’s people certainly believed it deeply.
That night, Yao Ying changed into the fine clothes Bisuo had sent. The garments were indeed tailored to her measurements and fit perfectly. She wondered how Bisuo had learned her size.
In the middle of the night, while she was dozing, the sound of people and horses moving about outside her window startled her awake.
Xie Qing entered from outside and said softly: “Princess, the commotion is from the main hall. The Buddha Prince has moved to the temple.”
Dharmārāga usually lived in the temple, but for some unknown reason, he had been staying in the palace to recuperate. With tomorrow’s dharma assembly at the temple, he had to return.
Yao Ying lay back down to sleep, thinking: monks always seemed to move house in the middle of the night.
The next morning early, Bisuo appeared at the courtyard gate in crisp military attire, his waist bound with a brocade belt, cutting a vigorous figure. He carried a large bouquet of fresh flowers, his golden hair gleaming brightly.
Yao Ying had changed into the dress of a royal court lady, her black hair braided into many small plaits adorned with colorful silk ribbons and various precious stones. She wore a red-ground robe with paired deer patterns among connected pearl and flower tree medallions, the sleeves decorated with pearl clusters. On her feet were gold-threaded boots. Following local custom, she had a jewel-encrusted dagger at her waist. As she descended the stone steps and looked up with a slight smile, it was as if all the brilliant stars in the heavens had fallen from the clouds and gathered upon her.
Bisuo stared at Yao Ying in amazement, lost in a daze until she approached and waved her hand before him, finally bringing him back to his senses.
“The Princess is truly beautiful.”
He racked his brains but couldn’t think of words adequate to praise the princess, suddenly becoming tongue-tied.
Yao Ying’s lips curved in a smile as she covered her face with a veil. Looking at the fidgeting Bisuo before her, she suddenly remembered the young nobles who used to chase her on horseback in Chang’an.
Thinking back to those days in Chang’an now felt like a different lifetime.
The Festival of Sacred Images began early in the morning. The city streets were swept clean, and curtains were hung from the city gates and gate towers, with fresh decorations everywhere.
Exquisite Buddha statues were placed on twenty massive four-wheeled carriages, each three to four zhang high, which paraded along the city’s main streets. Each carriage was magnificently adorned, and decorated with gold, silver, vaidurya, sphatika, musaragalva, red pearls, and asmagarbha. Hanging curtains and parasols accompanied them, making each look like a mobile miniature palace. The Buddha statues were carved in gold and silver, adorned with precious necklaces, standing tall and dignified.
The city’s people poured out in full force – men and women, old and young, from gray-haired elders to small children. All wore new clothes and jubilantly followed the giant wheeled carriages toward the city gates, chanting Buddha’s name.
Bisuo led Yao Ying out of the royal palace. The main street was packed with surging crowds, shoulder to shoulder.
Xie Qing and Xie Chong frowned, worried about being separated by the crowd, and stayed close to Yao Ying.
Along the way, Ashina Bisuo explained each ritual to Yao Ying with thoughtful detail and enthusiastic patience. People in the crowd frequently greeted him, and he responded with smiles, clearly well-liked.
Infected by his mood, Yao Ying temporarily set aside her worries and immersed herself in the royal court’s grand celebration.
Felt carpets were laid on the long street under the city gate. The twenty giant wheeled carriages slowly drove to the platform below the gate tower. On the platform stood an incense altar, surrounded by jewels and emeralds, gleaming with golden light. The richly dressed ministers and nobles descended from the platform, removed their felt hats, and approached barefoot.
Clear, melodious music drifted over from the south. The excited crowd suddenly fell silent. Everyone held their breath, instinctively retreating to both sides of the road, lifting their heads to gaze reverently and fervently toward the other end of the long street.
Yao Ying followed their gaze.
Led by two rows of monks in dharma robes carrying incense burners, a large elephant adorned with colorful curtains and jewels slowly approached from the south. On its back was a throne where sat a figure with a face like the cold moon and eyes like lotus flowers. In one hand he held a lotus branch, in the other a lotus flower. Wearing a snow-white kasaya with golden patterns, his eyes slightly lowered as if in meditation, he seemed surrounded by a faint Buddhist halo, like a deity.
Dharmārāga had arrived.
He cast a faint glance at the crowd, as if worldly matters were beneath his notice.
The bustling crowd fell silent for a moment before erupting in cheers that reached the clouds. Everyone gazed up at him with excitement and flushed faces, throwing flowers in his direction. Some tried to touch the hem of his robe but were stopped by blue-robed military knights.
The music swelled melodiously as flowers fell like rain.
The elephant reached the platform and docilely knelt. The ministers and nobles stepped forward and knelt beside the elephant’s feet. Dharmārāga descended, stepping on their hands and shoulders to mount the platform.
Xie Qing and Xie Chong were startled and whispered, “Princess, what custom is this? Their King steps on the ministers’ shoulders!”
Yao Ying explained to them: “This is the throne-mounting ceremony, very common in India and the Western Regions.”
Her gaze fell on the ministers. Kang Mozhe and others stood properly below the platform, their expressions respectful without a trace of resentment – seeing Dharmārāga’s overwhelming prestige, how dare they show any impropriety?
A rich, gentle voice rang out from the platform as Dharmārāga began preaching in the Hu language that common people could understand.
Yao Ying listened for a while, only grasping the general meaning. He was telling the story of how Buddha witnessed life’s sorrows and consequently grew weary of the world, seeking enlightenment through meditation.
His tone was cool and melodious, carrying a clear and composed rhythm. The common people listened in rapt attention.
After half a quarter hour, Yao Ying could no longer understand. She looked up at Dharmārāga on the platform – his features were handsome, his bearing transcendent, showing no trace of his severe illness.
Yao Ying realized she had never seen Dharmārāga standing before. When he had stepped on the ministers’ shoulders to mount the platform, his tall figure had been straight and imposing, seemingly even taller than Bisuo.
What illness did he have?
The dharma assembly continued for two hours. Halfway through, Ashina Bisuo led Yao Ying away from the crowd to the temple.
A Buddhist debate was about to be held at the temple after Dharmārāga finished preaching. The senior monks had already arrived. Except for those attending the ceremony, the rest were preparing for the debate. The courtyards were crowded with monks – some sat cross-legged in meditation, while others were already arguing loudly with those nearby.
The temple atmosphere was tense yet lively. The young novices who remained all wore expectant faces, waiting to witness Dharmārāga’s verbal sparring with the assembled monks.
His early fame had been won in such debates.
Yao Ying followed Bisuo to their seats and looked around listlessly.
As Bisuo bent down to tell her some amusing stories from his childhood studies at the temple, a sharp gaze suddenly swept over them.
Yao Ying’s heart jumped violently as she met that gaze.
In a corner of the courtyard, a man in a half-sleeved robe lounged against a pagoda, talking with nearby monks while lifting his eyes to look at her. His pale golden eyes flashed with chilling light in the sunlight.
It was Haidu Aling!
Seeing that she recognized him, Haidu Aling’s lips curved as he lifted his strong, rugged chin.
Yao Ying, not wanting to share the same room with him, rose to leave her seat.
Bisuo stood up with a bewildered expression. Seeing her disturbed manner, he looked in the direction she had been watching and his gaze met Haidu Aling’s.
The two men stared at each other for a moment before Haidu Aling twisted his mouth and looked away with a sneer.
Bisuo’s face flushed red as he hurried after Yao Ying, saying shamefully: “Princess Wenzhao, the Northern Rong also sent monks to debate with the King, but I didn’t know they sent Prince Haidu Aling as their envoy!”
“Princess, don’t be afraid. This is the royal court – he wouldn’t dare act rashly!”
Yao Ying hurriedly left the temple. After slowly calming herself, she paused and turned back to smile at Bisuo: “I don’t want to see him. I’m sorry I can’t accompany the General to watch the debate.”
Bisuo quickly said: “Actually, I don’t want to watch either. Let me escort the Princess back to the palace.”
Upon returning to the palace, Yao Ying ordered her guards: “No one is to leave the palace these days. The Northern Rong people are in the Holy City.”
Everyone understood the gravity and nodded in agreement.
Yao Ying recalled Haidu Aling’s confident smirk and felt deeply unsettled.
She would not fall into his hands again. She must return to the Central Plains.
…
What Yao Ying didn’t know was that eight thousand li away in the Central Plains, someone was thinking of her too.
Several months earlier, in Chang’an.
A swift horse departed from the Pei family residence. The rider traveled day and night for three days and nights, reaching the capital. Barely catching his breath, he rushed straight to the Eastern Palace.
The eunuch announced in a shrill voice: “Your Highness, the person sent to the Pei family has returned!”
Footsteps suddenly rang out as a man in Crown Prince’s ceremonial robes strode out from the inner chamber, his phoenix eyes blazing red.