Ashina Bisuo strode up to Yao Ying. Having just dismounted, his face was pale and his body carried a chill from travel. Though road-worn and dusty, his smile remained brilliant.

“Princess, I trust you’ve been well.”

Yao Ying removed her mask, using her soft whip to brush the snow from her boots as her gaze fell on Bisuo’s injured leg. When she left the Holy City, he had still been limping. The shaman doctor had ordered him to rest for several months – how could he already ride horses again so soon?

“Has the General’s injury healed?”

Bisuo smiled, playfully kicking his long leg in a show of bravado, “Thanks for your concern, Princess. It’s almost completely better.”

He looked at Yao Ying, his jade-colored eyes filled with tender mirth: “I was worried about you, Princess. As soon as my injury healed, I hurried over specifically to escort you back to the royal court. I heard the young nobles of Gaochang are all handsome and accomplished, skilled in song and dance – you haven’t forgotten about me, have you?”

Yao Ying raised her eyes, her jet-black bright eyes staring at Bisuo for a long moment before she smiled.

“It’s bitterly cold, and the General’s leg injury hasn’t fully healed. Let’s talk inside.”

Her voice remained gentle.

Bisuo was momentarily lost for words, watching as Yao Ying decisively turned and entered the building without hesitation. He slowly dropped his smile.

Yuanjue, who had been left on the sidelines, seized the opportunity to dash forward, asking in a low voice: “General, did you receive the letter?”

Bisuo nodded, looking around: “I set out three days ago and happened to receive your letter on the way. Where is the Regent?”

Since Yao Ying’s group had departed, he had been restless and unable to eat or sleep properly, wanting several times to head to Gaochang but being stopped by Chima and the shaman doctor. Three days ago when guests arrived at the Holy City, Chima was busy entertaining them, giving him the chance to secretly slip away. Upon reaching Sand City, he saw the letter brought by the grey eagle and grew even more anxious, rushing here at full speed, fortunately meeting them at this relay station.

Yuanjue’s expression was tense as he spoke very quietly in Sanskrit: “The Regent has been coming and going alone these days, often disappearing during daylight hours but returning at night. I didn’t dare get too close. This morning the Regent went east and hasn’t returned yet.”

Bisuo’s brows furrowed tightly as he asked: “Has the Regent harmed anyone?”

Yuanjue shook his head: “The Regent hasn’t harmed anyone. Only that night when the Regent was dispersing his inner force, I got too close in my anxiety and was struck by the energy, suffering minor injuries that healed after taking some medicine.”

Bisuo studied Yuanjue’s complexion, his expression grave.

Yuanjue patted his head: “Also… these past few days when Princess Wenzhao speaks to the Regent, he ignores her. But the Princess doesn’t seem to mind at all – she asks me every day where the Regent has gone, instructs the personal guards to leave hot food and hot bread for the Regent, every single day without fail.”

Bisuo’s pupils suddenly contracted: “The Regent ignores Princess Wenzhao? How does he ignore her? How does Princess Wenzhao react? Tell me in detail.”

Yuanjue slowly recounted the events of the past few days while recalling them.

“No matter what Princess Wenzhao says to the Regent, he remains completely silent, while the Princess continues as usual. These past few days the Regent hasn’t even been seen, only returning at night after the Princess has already retired.”

Bisuo frowned in deep thought.

No one knew better than he how terrifying Su Dangu could be when unable to suppress his power. Why wasn’t Princess Wenzhao afraid at all?

And why hadn’t Su Dangu… become angry with the Princess?

…

Inside the room, Yao Ying removed her cloak and fur gloves, shaking off the flying snow from her body as she gazed outside through a small gap in the felt curtain.

Bisuo and Yuanjue huddled together speaking quietly – she couldn’t hear what they were discussing, and even if she could hear, she probably wouldn’t understand.

The fire in the hall’s furnace crackled and popped as Xie Qing cleaned the sitting platform and invited Yao Ying over to warm herself by the fire.

Yao Ying’s legs were nearly numb from the cold. After leaning by the furnace for a while, the soles of her feet slowly warmed up, soon followed by an aching, itchy sensation.

Last year her hands and legs had developed chilblains. After these days in the wind and snow, her hands and feet were itching again.

Yao Ying resisted scratching her hands, holding a bowl of steaming hot mutton soup to warm her ice-cold hands as she looked up at the thick felt curtain at the entrance.

Wind crept in through the gaps, with a puddle of wet snow on the ground by the door.

In this freezing weather, where had Su Dangu gone?

Staying out in the wind and snow all day – wasn’t he cold?

…

After speaking with Yuanjue for a while, Bisuo mounted his horse and, following the personal guards’ directions headed east.

He searched along the tracks left by the merchant caravan’s large carts but found nothing. Seeing the sky growing dark with low-hanging clouds, he could only sigh and turn his horse back toward the relay station.

The courtyard was silent – the personal guards, exhausted from a full day’s journey, had all retired. Only the hall with the burning furnace still had lights on, with a large pot on the stove bubbling with soup.

Yao Ying sat by the furnace. Hearing footsteps, she ladled out a bowl of soup and handed it to Bisuo.

“General, have some hot soup to warm up.”

Bisuo stared blankly for a good while before striding over to accept the bowl. His stiff fingers were scalded, causing a needle-like pain.

“Where are Yuanjue and the others?”

He took a sip of soup, inhaling sharply at the heat, then blew on the bowl as he asked casually.

“I had them settle in, A-Qing is keeping watch.” Yao Ying used the fire tongs to adjust the charcoal in the furnace, the red glow reflecting on her face, making her features radiant. “Did the General go looking for the Regent earlier?”

Bisuo made a sound of acknowledgment, then, seeming to think of something, his gaze lingered on Yao Ying’s graceful profile.

“Princess, you haven’t retired so late – are you waiting for the Regent?”

Yao Ying raised her eyes to look directly into Bisuo’s jade-colored eyes, nodding then shaking her head.

“I was also waiting for General Ashina.”

Bisuo froze.

Yao Ying held his gaze: “Earlier today when the General said you came to Gaochang despite your injury to escort me back to the royal court – were those sincere words, or were you deceiving me?”

Her gaze was clear and gentle, without any trace of interrogation, yet Bisuo found this harder to bear than stern questioning.

He could barely hold the soup bowl, shifting his gaze away guiltily.

Yao Ying smiled slightly, withdrawing her gaze.

“I understand. The General came to Gaochang for the Regent, for the royal court, not for me.”

Bisuo stammered, his face burning.

Yao Ying gazed at the flickering flames in the furnace, speaking slowly: “Since I was stranded at the royal court, besides the Buddha’s Son, the General has also taken great care of me. Though the people of the royal court despised the Han people, the General called me a friend, busily helping my guards. I’m very grateful to the General and believe you bear me no ill will – I also consider you a friend. I know the General is romantic and dashing, accustomed to jesting with young ladies, with admirers stretching from the palace gates to the city gates. These sweet words to please young ladies come easily to your lips…”

The furnace crackled loudly.

Bisuo’s handsome face grew increasingly red.

Yao Ying turned to look at him, her expression solemn as she asked: “Please forgive my presumption, General, but I wish to ask – do you harbor romantic feelings for me?”

Bisuo had met many women – bold and unrestrained ones, shy and gentle ones, fierce and willful ones. He had been amorous everywhere, incurring many romantic debts, several times causing great chaos. The most awkward time was when four or five women had cornered him demanding to know why he had betrayed them.

But even that time wasn’t as embarrassing as the current situation.

Faced with Yao Ying’s clear, rippling gaze, Bisuo was mortified beyond words.

He had deceived the Princess.

Yao Ying smiled faintly, “I know the General’s answer now. You need not feel troubled – I was overthinking things, it has nothing to do with you.”

Bisuo’s head buzzed – he wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

He was the one who had used sweet words to deceive the Princess, yet she said she had overthought things. While this was meant as a reminder to him, it also gave him a way to save face, letting the matter pass so lightly. Such grace truly made him ashamed.

He would never dare to tease the Princess with words again.

Feeling both guilty and defeated, Bisuo sat by the fire holding his soup bowl, head hanging dejectedly.

Yao Ying glanced at him and added another ladle of hot soup to his bowl.

Bisuo immediately perked up, took a sip of soup, and with eyes rolling playfully, smiled and asked: “I’d also like to presumptuously ask the Princess something.”

“Please ask, General.”

Bisuo puffed out his chest, smiling: “I am handsome and dignified, tall and striking, excellent at riding and archery. The young ladies who admire me in the royal court are countless. During those days we spent together, did the Princess truly never feel moved at all?”

Yao Ying laughed lightly and shook her head.

A flash of disappointment crossed Bisuo’s face: “The Princess truly never felt anything?”

He had never been so patient in courting a young lady before!

Yao Ying gazed at the furnace, speaking softly: “The General knows my situation – my homeland is ten thousand li away… I want to return home soon, to reunite with my brother soon…”

She feared Li Zhongqian would encounter Haidu Aling.

With her life hanging by a thread, how could she have thoughts of romance?

Bisuo looked at Yao Ying, feeling a wave of sympathy. He lightly slapped his mouth, saying: “I was wrong – I made the Princess think of painful matters. May Buddha protect you – Princess, you will certainly reunite with your brother. Please don’t be sad.”

Yao Ying couldn’t help but laugh, letting out a long breath before rallying her spirits: “Thanks to meeting the Buddha’s Son, my situation is much better than before. This time in Gaochang I’ve made many friends who, like me, long to return to Central Plains. If the plan goes smoothly, before long news can be sent back to Liangzhou.”

At that time, she would be able to set out.

Bisuo silently calculated – if everything went smoothly, that would be around the anniversary of Dharmaraksa taking in Yao Ying.

The Matangi woman ultimately achieved enlightenment, severing all romantic attachments. Princess Wenzhao would quietly leave the royal court, returning to Central Plains.

This would be best for everyone.

He thought to himself.

The two sat by the fire talking quietly. Bisuo drank three bowls of meat soup while the wind howled outside the felt curtain, but Su Dangu never appeared.

Yao Ying stood up, lifting the curtain to look at the vast ink-black night sky before saying thoughtfully: “There are flatbreads and hot soup in the kitchen. General, please remember to remind the Regent when he returns.”

Bisuo made a vague sound of acknowledgment.

Yao Ying returned to her room and extinguished the lamp, but instead of lying down, she wrapped herself in bedding and dozed while leaning against the earthen wall.

After an unknown time, half-asleep and half-awake, she suddenly heard several sounds from downstairs. She immediately put on clothes and got up, creeping to the window facing the hall to listen to the activity below.

Voices were speaking in the hall, kept very low and in some strange language she couldn’t understand a word of.

She only heard that one voice was deep and hoarse, sounding somewhat tired. The other was slightly clearer, careful, and extremely respectful.

Shivering from the cold, Yao Ying returned to her bed and wrapped herself tightly in the bedding.

Was Su Dangu avoiding her?

…

In the hall downstairs.

Bisuo waited until late in the night when only smoke and ash remained in the furnace. The north wind blew into the room, with one or two red sparks occasionally appearing in the ashes.

He remembered Yao Ying’s words and took out the flatbread and hot soup from the kitchen.

The earthen pot was tightly covered – both the soup and bread were still hot.

Bisuo lifted the soup bowl to look – the broth was light, without scallions, ginger, or strong seasonings, and the flatbread had no spices or filling.

This was different from the other guards’ food.

Bisuo’s heart skipped a beat.

At that moment, the sound of boots crunching through snow came from outside, followed by footsteps approaching the door. A hand lifted the felt curtain as the wind wailed, bringing a gust of cold air carrying snow particles into the hall. The furnace ash was blown up, revealing faintly glowing coals at the very bottom.

Sweat broke out all over Bisuo’s back as his chest tightened. He quietly set down the earthen pot, right hand gripping his sword hilt as he raised his eyes.

The figure in the doorway stepped into the room one step at a time, his dark narrow-sleeved robe covered in traces of wind and snow.

A tiny lamp flame flickered gently, its weak light falling on his face, illuminating the hideous scars covering it, also lighting up his jade-colored eyes.

A yaksha’s face, with eyes of compassion.

He looked at Bisuo without a trace of surprise in his eyes, saying flatly: “You’ve come.”

The killing intent remained, but his inner force was restrained, showing no signs of fury.

Bisuo’s heart, which had been in suspense since receiving the letter, finally returned to its place. He released his grip and knelt on one knee in greeting.

“My leg injury is almost healed – I can escort the Princess back to the royal court. The Regent can return to the Holy City first.”

Su Dangu made no sound, his gaze sweeping over the sword at Bisuo’s waist.

Bisuo’s entire body tingled, sweating profusely.

This sword had been left to him by his master.

He steadied his nerves and said quietly: “Regent, you must go back. Yuanjue said you nearly lost control a few days ago.”

Su Dangu looked toward the furnace.

The firelight flickered as steam rose from the carelessly placed earthen pot in the corner.

He recognized this pot.

His face showed no expression as he turned to leave, saying flatly: “It’s still several days’ journey to Sand City – don’t let down your guard.”

Bisuo respectfully acknowledged: “I will take good care of the Princess.”

The sound of hoofbeats rang out in the quiet night as Su Dangu mounted his horse and galloped away.

When Bisuo raised his head again, Su Dangu’s figure had already vanished.

The night wind tore at the rolled-up felt curtain as he stared blankly into the ink-stained darkness, his hands clenched tightly into fists.