In the carriage, Yao Ying was awakened by the guard’s voice, her long eyelashes trembling lightly. “General Su wants to see me?”
She sat up, raising her hand to smooth the disheveled strands of hair at her temples. Fresh from her shallow sleep, her cheeks were flushed, and the peach blossom rouge at her brow tips had faded slightly, making her appear even more alluring, like a flower bud about to bloom, its petals trembling as they opened to reveal tender stamens within.
The courtyard lanterns cast their light, the flickering candlelight wreathing her face in a hazy glow. Viewing a beauty by lamplight was truly stirring to the heart.
Yuan Jue’s heart quivered sharply, instinctively feeling that the Regent shouldn’t see the Princess in her current state. Nevertheless, he quickly set down the footstool, secretly grateful that at least the Princess had changed out of her formal ceremonial robes and ornate hairpins.
Yao Ying descended from the carriage, crossed the courtyard, and mounted the stone steps, her footsteps slightly unsteady.
Yuan Jue considered for a moment, then lifted his foot to follow, matching her pace step by step.
Inside the hall burned a brazier. Outside, heavy snow was falling. Within the room came soft crackling sounds as Su Dangu sat before the fire, his back to the door, his figure motionless.
Yao Ying entered, saying, “General Su.”
Su Dangu didn’t turn around, but pointed to a letter on the table, his hand still wearing those black beast-hide gloves.
Yao Ying brushed the snow from her shoulders, walked to his side, and sat cross-legged. She picked up the letter and read it carefully, her lips curling slightly.
“We can go see Yuchi Damo now,” she said softly, her voice husky.
Su Dangu watched the blue flames leap up in the brazier as he calmly said, “Haidu Aling has come to Gaochang. Today, the hunting eagles spotted his white falcon on the Great Sea Road.”
Yao Ying’s heartbeat quickened, her brows furrowing slightly.
Haidu Aling had arrived. She needed to handle matters here quickly and return to the royal court soon, to avoid running into him.
“Yang Qian told me that Lady Yina holds banquets in the palace every day. He can help us slip into one of the banquets… Time is of the essence. Let’s go see Yuchi Damo tomorrow.”
Yao Ying looked toward Su Dangu.
Su Dangu wore his mask, the firelight dancing on that demonic face with its green complexion and protruding fangs. Behind the mask, his jade-green eyes flickered with twin flames.
When he was silent, he was ice-cold, his whole being radiating a murderous air that was truly frightening.
Yet this was the same man who would sit by her bedside and recite sutras when she was unwell.
When he mentioned Haidu Aling’s arrival, her first reaction had been panic and unease, but his tone was so calm that it dispelled her anxiety. Thinking of him beside her, protecting her, she wasn’t so nervous anymore.
Yao Ying asked softly, “What does the General think?”
Su Dangu’s martial arts were exceptional – even with Lady Yina’s guards stationed throughout, he could enter and exit the palace at will.
At the temple, the young novice had told her about a time when a tribe had attacked the royal court from behind while the Northern Rong army was pressing the border. At the time, all five of the royal court’s armies were engaged in frontal combat, and they couldn’t spare any forces to counter this attack. The tribe advanced unopposed, with civilians fleeing back to the Holy City with their families. Other small tribes coveting the royal court’s wealth also wanted to take advantage of the chaos, and seeing others taste success, they eagerly gathered their forces to attack the royal court.
When the battle reports reached Tanmolouqie’s desk, the court was in panic, but Tanmolouqie remained calm in the crisis, sending just one person to resolve the emergency.
That person was Su Dangu.
He went alone, without taking a single guard, infiltrating the enemy camp in his black robes with a single sword. Among tens of thousands of troops, he beheaded their leader and escaped unscathed.
The leader’s son succeeded as chief but didn’t withdraw the troops. The next night, Su Dangu appeared again in the tribal headquarters and took the new chief’s head.
One night, one death, only targeting leaders.
Ten days passed, and ten leaders’ heads fell.
Su Dangu was like a ghostly asura from legend – even camps fortified like walls of bronze and iron were as open spaces to him, entering and leaving at will. All the tribes besieging the royal court lost heart at the news. Before dawn, they immediately broke camp and fled back to their territories, fearing becoming the next spirits under Su Dangu’s blade.
If Su Dangu wanted to see Yuchi Damo, he could enter the palace to meet him at any time.
Yao Ying suspected Su Dangu had already met secretly with Yuchi Damo, and they were only staying in Gaochang because she hadn’t met him yet.
She needed to meet with Yuchi Damo soon to avoid delaying Su Dangu’s affairs too long. Though he usually came and went like a ghost, and the royal court seemed no different without him, she knew he couldn’t be away too long.
Others might not see it, but she understood what he meant to the royal court.
Tanmolouqie was the divine one whom the people willingly followed – noble, holy, untouched by worldly dust, revered by all. As for Su Dangu, he silently bore all the bloodshed, feared, despised, and hated, risking his life for the royal court, living by the blade, yet never seeing the light of day.
Wrathful vajra, merciful bodhisattva – all just to pacify a chaotic world.
Yao Ying added quietly, “Yang Qian’s father was Yuchi Damo’s teacher and has frequented the palace since childhood. With him there, nothing will go wrong.”
Su Dangu gazed at the coals and said, “I will escort the Princess into the palace tomorrow.”
Yao Ying nodded, feeling safer with him than anyone else.
She waited a while, and seeing he had nothing more to say, guessed he had only waited to tell her about Haidu Aling. She stood up, saying, “The night grows cold, General Su should retire early.”
Su Dangu’s seemingly frozen form moved slightly, his chin lifting as his gaze fell on her face.
Yuan Jue, standing in the corner, couldn’t help but widen his eyes and hold his breath.
Yao Ying’s footsteps halted as she met Su Dangu’s eyes, cold and without a trace of warmth. Her eyes widened as she made a puzzled expression, the rouge at her brow tips trembling with the movement, pale yet alluring. The firelight played on the petals, her fashionable makeup exquisitely captivating, like leaves heavy with fresh dew and flowers dense with fragrance, a beauty beyond compare.
“General?”
Su Dangu withdrew his gaze and gestured for Yao Ying to sit again, removing his beast-hide gloves to reveal fingers that were slender yet strong, with prominent knuckles.
Yao Ying suddenly understood, bent to sit down, and lowered her head as she rolled up her sleeve. In the firelight, she extended her snow-white wrist toward Su Dangu, looking at him expectantly.
With other men, she wouldn’t so candidly extend her arm, but Su Dangu was different. Their few tests on the way to Gaochang had shown her that he likely made no distinction between men and women – in his eyes, she was just a patient, so there was no need for shyness or reserve.
Besides, he had checked her pulse every night these past days, and she had grown accustomed to it.
Su Dangu placed two fingers on Yao Ying’s wrist and remained silent for a long while, his brows slightly furrowing behind his mask.
Yao Ying was exhausted after a long day, mentally and physically drained. Sitting by the brazier, her whole body felt limp, the heat making her cheeks flush. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier as she waited. In her drowsy state, she struggled to stay awake, her head nodding as she dozed off. After an unknown time, she suddenly jerked awake to find the demon-faced mask close before her and stared blankly.
Instinctively, she reached out her left hand, her fingers touching the mask. It was ice-cold.
Su Dangu remained motionless, his jade-green eyes behind the mask rising to meet Yao Ying’s gaze.
They were very close, their eyes locked.
Su Dangu’s eyes held a question.
Yao Ying looked up at him, her eyes moist and dreamy, her gaze misty, spring colors rippling in her eyes. The rouge at her brow tips was drawn alluringly bewitching, as if waves of subtle fragrance were emanating from her.
The room was so quiet a falling pin could be heard, the atmosphere strange.
Su Dangu was the first to look away.
Yao Ying came to her senses and realized her fingers were on Su Dangu’s face, still gripping his mask. She instantly froze, not daring to move, her face burning hotter.
Yuan Jue stood in the corner, staring at Yao Ying’s audacious hand, his face twitching, his eyes nearly popping from their sockets.
The Princess had touched him!
Yao Ying maintained her raised hand position, not daring to move, her eyes darting about. Now fully awake, she caught Yuan Jue’s horrified, reproachful glance from the corner of her eye, and her lips twitched slightly, embarrassment making her break out in a sweat.
Su Dangu remained silent.
Why wasn’t he rebuking her for her impudence?
Yao Ying’s arm was getting sore, and seeing that Su Dangu still showed no sign of speaking, she steeled herself and leaned in closer, her fingers finding the edge of the mask and applying slight pressure to remove it.
“We’re all our people here, General needn’t wear the mask all the time.”
The mask came off, revealing Su Dangu’s face.
Yuan Jue gaped, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.
Yao Ying clutched the mask tightly, her face righteous though her limbs were stiff and her heart pounding.
Su Dangu lowered his eyes without speaking, allowing her to remove the mask as he continued checking her pulse.
Like an elder indulging a child’s mischief.
Yao Ying raised her eyes to check his expression.
His expression was calm, and in the firelight, his face covered in fierce scars somehow appeared somewhat gentle.
Yao Ying quietly let out a breath of relief, releasing the demon mask, feeling that his actual face was much better looking than the mask.
Su Dangu withdrew his fingers and gestured for Yao Ying to switch hands. After checking both pulses, his brows furrowed as he said, “The Princess has a slight fever. Take two more doses of medicine tomorrow.”
Yao Ying’s face showed distress.
When seeing Yang Qian off, she had felt feverish but thought she was just tired and paid it no mind. Later she had fallen asleep, and upon waking felt somewhat better, though she had felt dizzy getting out of the carriage. She had thought a good night’s sleep would take care of it, not expecting Su Dangu to notice this minor ailment.
Su Dangu stood up and said, “Since the Princess is unwell, it’s unsuitable to go out tomorrow. We’ll enter the palace the day after instead.”
Yao Ying stood up as well, and hearing this, quickly shook her head: “There’s no need, I’ll take the medicine properly, let’s go to the palace tomorrow.”
Su Dangu glanced at her and said flatly, “The Princess was born with deficiencies and must take care to nurture her health. Concealing illness and avoiding treatment could lead to serious conditions.”
Yao Ying made a show of obediently accepting his lecture, and when he finished, smiled and said, “The General is right, but this is an old ailment of mine. After a good night’s sleep, I’ll be fine by morning. General can check my pulse again in the morning, and if I’m better, we can go to the palace right away?”
She sought his opinion, her eyes fixed steadily on him, her voice husky, her tone soft and lilting, almost sounding like she was coaxing him.
Su Dangu raised his head to look at the endless snow falling outside the courtyard, then nodded and glanced at Yuan Jue in the corner.
Yuan Jue understood, lowering his head in acknowledgment and walking to Yao Ying’s front, saying, “Princess, it’s late. Let this servant escort you back to your chambers.”
Yao Ying turned and left the hall. Shortly after she had just settled in her room, a guard brought a freshly brewed bowl of medicine, saying, “The Regent asks the Princess to take this medicine before retiring.”
She paused for a moment, thanked the guard, drank the medicine, and lay down. Lying on her pillow with closed eyes, she pondered.
Su Dangu understood medicine – who had taught him his medical skills? Why hadn’t Ashina Bisuo, who shared the same master, learned medicine?
Yao Ying became increasingly certain that Su Dangu must have cared for someone with a long-term illness, someone who, like her, needed to take medicine regularly. That’s why he was so knowledgeable about medicinal powders.
In her impression, in the palace, only Tanmolouqie took medicine regularly…
Yao Ying was truly exhausted, and before she could sort out her thoughts, she had already fallen into dreams.