Elaborate felt tents were set up before the great hall, with golden carpets covering the ground and curtains swaying gently. Snow-white banners with gold patterns fluttered in the wind. Court officials in magnificent attire stood before the steps, watching Mopido ride into the palace in armor. Behind him, Northern Rong princes led by Jinbo carried surrender documents, treasures, and maps, entering the tent to pay respects to Tanmoluojia.

After the ceremonies concluded, Jinbo presented the surrender documents. The ritual officials accepted the offerings and read out the decree conferring their titles as kings.

The front hall was filled with laughter and joy, drums and music reaching the heavens.

The ministers gathered around the noble-born generals in animated conversation. Mopido, finding little common ground with them, drank a few cups of wine and headed toward the inner hall under the guidance of the guards.

Water-submerged incense burned in the inner hall, wisps of green smoke floating.

Bisuo and Yuanjue stood before the hall.

After exchanging pleasantries with them, Mopido entered the inner hall and knelt on one knee in salute.

Tanmoluojia sat formally before the hall, head lowered as he wrote a decree, dignified in his kasaya.

Mopido held his breath, not daring to make a sound.

Bisuo and Yuanjue, who had entered after him, stood solemnly, also silent.

With a soft sound, Tanmoluojia set down his brush and raised his eyes, glancing at Yuanjue.

Yuanjue hurriedly stepped forward, took up the newly written decree, and handed it to Mopido.

Reading its contents, Mopido’s eyes widened in undisguised surprise.

Tanmoluojia looked at him: “Can you shoulder this responsibility?”

Mopido straightened his chest and said loudly: “I can!”

“Good.” Tanmoluojia nodded slightly, his deep jade eyes looking down at him. “From today, you are promoted to General of the Military Commission, overseeing Sazhou Province.”

Blood rushed to Mopido’s head as he kowtowed: “Your subject will serve faithfully and not betray Your Majesty’s trust!”

As a member of the Ujiri tribe, neither noble-born nor Buddhist, he had been ineligible for the Military Commission and thus couldn’t stay long in the holy city, remaining always an outside tribal prince. When he led the army back victoriously, the noble-born generals received flattery and favor from officials along the way while he was ignored. Now the king had promoted him despite convention – he could stay in the holy city!

Bisuo and Yuanjue exchanged smiles, congratulating Mopido, who stood up beaming, his eyes bright.

Tanmoluojia lowered his gaze to continue reviewing the memorials.

As the group withdrew, Mopido suddenly scratched his head, turned back into the hall, and said softly: “Your Majesty, your subject has a private matter to report.”

“Speak.”

Mopido said: “Your subject previously requested marriage with Princess Wenzhao, seeking Your Majesty’s permission… Princess Wenzhao has already rejected me.”

Tanmoluojia raised his eyes.

Mopido continued: “The day after I made my request, Princess Wenzhao wrote to reject it, but I hadn’t received the letter then. The day before I left for Gaochang, the Princess explained to me in person that she already had someone in her heart and couldn’t accept my feelings.”

Tanmoluojia gripped the memorial tightly.

When she left the holy city with Li Zhongqian, she also rejected Mopido at the same time.

Having finished speaking, Mopido withdrew.

Tanmoluojia sat lost in thought for a while.

Shortly after, Bisuo entered the hall. “Your Majesty’s appointment of Mopido as General of the Military Commission may invite criticism.”

Tanmoluojia said indifferently: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Mopido is neither noble-born nor from an established family – the military needs such men. You are a princess’s grandson, too entangled with the great families. With Mopido in the military and you commanding the imperial guards, one public and one private, one external and one internal.”

“Troubled times require methods for troubled times. That was then, this is now. The Northern Rong is defeated, and only Haidu Aling remains. We must plan for the future.”

Bisuo felt a chill in his heart and respectfully agreed.

When Tanmoluojia was young, he had been imprisoned by the great families while the Northern Rong threatened from the side. He needed to use his identity as Buddha’s Son to suppress the families and Sudan Gu’s ruthlessness to intimidate the ministers. Now with the Northern Rong’s surrender, the greatest threat was gone – indeed they needed to plan for the future.

After all, no one knew how many years Tanmoluojia had left… He had long been preparing in secret to ensure power could transition smoothly after his death, preventing chaos that enemies might exploit.

Footsteps thundered outside as Yuanjue ran into the hall.

“Your Majesty, Princess Wenzhao’s guard says the Princess has matters to attend to and won’t return today.”

Tanmoluojia asked: “Where has the Princess gone?”

“The Princess went to the embassy. Her guard says she and the Duke of Wei need to discuss matters. She won’t return to her quarters tonight, and possibly not tomorrow either.”

Tanmoluojia frowned.

…

At the embassy, Li Zhongqian was burning with anxiety, unable to sit still.

The physician applied medicine to Yao Ying’s eyes, wrapped them in cloth, and instructed: “Change the medicine every two hours. Avoid greasy and strong-smelling foods for a month.”

Li Zhongqian saw the physician out, then turned to look at Yao Ying with her bandaged eyes, his expression dark as water.

Unable to see anything, Yao Ying felt uneasy and reached out to touch the couch edge: “Brother?”

Li Zhongqian clenched his fists, took a deep breath to suppress his rage, and held her hand. “Do your eyes still hurt?”

Yao Ying said: “After applying the medicine, they’re better…”

Li Zhongqian raised his voice: “Do you know that if Li Xuanzhen and I had been a moment slower in pulling back, you might have lost your life? Why did you rush in?”

Yao Ying tilted her head up, saying softly: “Brother, Li Xuanzhen is the Crown Prince, you can’t kill him in the royal court…”

“He defied human ethics, having such filthy thoughts about you!”

Li Zhongqian could no longer contain himself and shouted, “I cannot let him live in this world!”

Just thinking about what Li Xuanzhen must have been thinking whenever he looked at Yao Ying made his hair stand on end with rage. He wanted to cut Li Xuanzhen into ten thousand pieces. Li Xuanzhen had the nerve to follow them to the royal court!

Yao Ying let out a breath of relief. It seemed Li Xuanzhen would rather be misunderstood by Li Zhongqian than reveal her identity.

Her letter probably hadn’t reached Du Sinan yet. Before receiving his reply confirming her identity, she didn’t want Li Zhongqian to know about this.

“Brother, he wouldn’t dare do anything to me, nor would Li De. Let’s send him back first – out of sight, out of mind.”

Li Zhongqian gripped the corner of the desk, his face growing darker, phoenix eyes red as if about to burst into flames.

Unable to see his expression, Yao Ying grabbed his arm and shook it: “Brother… killing him is too risky. Li De is the one we need to guard against… There are deep conflicts between Li De and Li Xuanzhen. Having Li Xuanzhen alive isn’t bad for us…”

Li Zhongqian came to his senses, looking at the bandage on her face. He closed his eyes briefly. “Fine, I won’t kill him now.”

Yao Ying sighed in relief.

She couldn’t tell Li Zhongqian the whole truth yet. He already had thoughts of dying together with Li De and his son. If he knew about her entanglement with Li Xuanzhen, he would unhesitatingly sacrifice himself.

After calming Li Zhongqian, Yao Ying asked the guard: “How are the Crown Prince’s injuries?”

The guard answered: “The physician just finished bandaging His Highness. His previous external injuries had almost healed. Today Young Master beat him up, adding some new injuries, but nothing vital was hurt.”

Yao Ying nodded. “Bring him here.”

Soon, footsteps sounded as the guard brought Li Xuanzhen in.

Yao Ying raised her hand to send the guard to the corner, then asked: “What did you do? How did my brother learn of your thoughts?”

Li Xuanzhen was silent for a moment.

“Do your eyes hurt?”

His face was so swollen and bruised his features were unrecognizable. He limped to her and asked, looking at the bandage on her face.

Unable to see anyone, Yao Ying sat still and said coldly: “It’s none of your concern.”

Li Xuanzhen smiled bitterly. How could it not concern him? She had rushed to stop his fight with Li Zhongqian, which was why her eyes were injured.

He bent down and took her hand.

Yao Ying instinctively pulled away. Li Xuanzhen’s face twitched in pain, but holding back his cry, he gripped her hand tightly. “Don’t move, I want to show you something.”

He took something from his sleeve and placed it in Yao Ying’s palm.

Yao Ying frowned, feeling the object but unable to guess what it was. “What is this?”

Li Xuanzhen remained silent for a long while.

Memories surfaced one by one in his mind. He had deliberately tried to forget that period, but those memories remained firmly anchored in his heart. Even as he tried to carve them out piece by piece, making his heart bleed, he couldn’t erase the memories of meeting her. He could only bury them deep inside, using hatred to fill the void.

Later he discovered that actually, he remembered everything.

“It’s a clay figurine…” Li Xuanzhen said softly, “Your clay figurine.”

While confined during his recovery, he had made several clay figurines in her likeness. Seeing the figurines that looked just like her, Li Zhongqian had understood everything.

Yao Ying’s face showed no ripple of emotion as she casually placed the figurine on the velvet rug beside her. “I will arrange to send you back to Gaochang immediately. Your subordinates must have caught up by now. Take care of yourself.”

Li Xuanzhen closed his eyes for a moment.

She didn’t remember the clay figurine.

Or perhaps she did remember but didn’t care at all.

He had exhausted all her hopes – now no matter what he did, she remained indifferent.

“Why…” his hands clenched into fists, the pain in his body far less than the ache rising in his heart. “Seven, why did you stop Li Zhongqian from killing me?”

Yao Ying said flatly: “Because I don’t want my brother to get into trouble.”

Li Xuanzhen’s lips curved in a self-mocking smile.

An expected answer, yet he had still asked. Though knowing he was just inviting humiliation, he had still held a glimmer of hope that she might feel a trace of pity for him in her heart.

Just a trace would have been enough.

“Seven, you don’t need to worry about Li Zhongqian discovering your identity…” Li Xuanzhen turned and limped out. “Until you decide to tell him the truth, I won’t reveal it.”

His voice sounded calm, even somewhat light.

What did it matter if Li Zhongqian and her guards misunderstood him – if the whole world scorned him?

He didn’t care.

Yao Ying, worried about potential complications, urged the guards to depart quickly. That evening, the guards escorted Li Xuanzhen away from the holy city.

She stayed at the embassy watching Li Zhongqian, making him change her medicine himself to prevent him from secretly leaving the city to hunt down Li Xuanzhen.

Seeing her with bandaged eyes, Li Zhongqian’s rage completely dissipated. He no longer spoke of immediately killing Li Xuanzhen.

Yao Ying sent guards to see Bisuo at the royal temple: “If there’s any urgent matter at the temple, you must report it.”

The guard returned: “General Ashina says all is well, the Princess need not worry. If anything comes up, he will certainly come to request the Princess.”

Yao Ying relaxed and prepared for bed.

In the middle of the night, Yao Ying had a nightmare, her body trembling uncontrollably.

A hand gently stroked her forehead, the fingertips slightly cool.

Half-asleep, Yao Ying caught the familiar scent, hugged the hand, and nuzzled it, murmuring: “Master…”

Her voice was drawn out, sweet, and soft.

The figure beside the couch stiffened slightly.

Yao Ying turned to her side, curling into a ball, pressing close to that figure.

The sound of scripture recitation reached her ears, the tone clear and cool.

Yao Ying clutched tightly at the sleeve, but just as she was about to fall asleep, she suddenly awakened, her hands grasping.

Empty – she caught nothing.

She sat up. The room was completely silent, without a sound. The earlier chanting seemed like her imagination.

Yao Ying’s face was still bandaged, unable to see anything. She felt along the couch – the brocade rug’s edge had no wrinkles.

Her lips curved slightly: “Master?”

No response.

“I know you’re here,” Yao Ying said with certainty. “How did you come? Are you feeling better?”

She waited a moment. There was a faint rustling beside the couch.

A figure sat down beside her, long fingers brushing her cheek, undoing her bandage.

Yao Ying sat perfectly still, completely trusting.

Tanmoluojia leaned closer, examining her eyes carefully, his brows tightly knitted.

Yao Ying said softly: “Master, don’t worry. I just can’t see temporarily – I’ll be fine in a few days. I pretended it hurt badly today to frighten my brother into calming down.”

She had deliberately collapsed and had the physician exaggerate her injuries.

Tanmoluojia remained silent.

She had the guards conceal the news. Only after sending his guards to investigate did he learn her eyes were injured, which was why she couldn’t return.

She had deceived him.

When he learned of her injury, he had barely restrained himself from coming to take her back personally… His attachment was growing deeper.

Tanmoluojia picked up the bandage and carefully returned it to Yao Ying. “Don’t hide things from me in the future.”

His tone was particularly stern.

Yao Ying nodded: “I’m fine, but I need to stay at the embassy for a few days so my brother can rest easy… Master, you should go back now, don’t delay important matters.”

As she spoke, her brows furrowed.

“You haven’t been using your martial energy, have you?”

The new prescription Mandadeva brought was working – he needed to stick to the medicine and couldn’t use his energy anymore.

Tanmoluojia lowered his eyes, helping her lie down. “I haven’t used it. Sleep now, I’ll leave.”

He had many matters to attend to. She didn’t know that those were his responsibilities, for which he sought nothing in return. She was his only private indulgence beyond duty.

And he could only come to see her secretly at night.

Yao Ying lay back on her pillow.

Tanmoluojia sat beside the couch. She tugged at his sleeve. “Master, what scripture were you reciting earlier?”

“The Sutra of a Hundred Buddhas… By reciting these Buddha names, one constantly sees good dreams, stays far from difficulties, and attains supreme enlightenment…”

He had been chanting in Sanskrit earlier, but knowing she couldn’t understand, he switched to Chinese. His voice remained clear and cool, like precious jade, noble and elegant.

Unable to see him, Yao Ying listened to him recite the scripture line by line, feeling utterly peaceful. She relaxed and gradually fell asleep.

Moonlight filtered through the flower-patterned window into the room. She slept on her side, her face bathed in misty light, eyes bandaged, lips moist and red like fresh flower buds, as if waiting to be tasted.

Tanmoluojia bent down, his fingers brushing aside her temple hair, drawing closer bit by bit, fingertips lightly caressing her face.

Creak.

A shadow flashed past the window.

Tanmoluojia came to his senses, tucked the brocade quilt around Yao Ying, and rose to leave.

A tall figure stood in the depths of the courtyard, turning to glance at him with phoenix eyes reflecting cold moonlight, gaze dark.

“What is your relationship with Mingyuenu?”

Li Zhongqian asked.

Worried about Yao Ying at night, he had come to check on her and saw a man sitting by her couch. He immediately drew his sword, but she had smiled and spoken softly to the man, her tone gentle, clearly very close to him.

Tanmoluojia remained silent, removing his face covering. In the moonlight, a face covered in scars.

Li Zhongqian’s brows furrowed. “Sudan Gu?”

Everything else about this man was fine, except for that scarred face… Yao Ying herself was beautiful and didn’t mind others’ appearances, but she shouldn’t choose someone so ugly… How would she present him in public after marriage?

Moreover, Sudan Gu’s enemies were all madmen. Being with him would mean Yao Ying living in constant fear.

Thinking of this, Li Zhongqian snorted coldly: “Appearing in a young woman’s chamber in the dead of night, sneaking around – it’s improper. What do you take my sister for? She’s the Western Army’s leader, she doesn’t lack for admirers without you.”

Tanmoluojia said gravely: “The Duke speaks truly… My sensitive position has caused the Princess discomfort.”

“I come at night so she can rest easy.”

Li Zhongqian narrowed his eyes, feeling something familiar about the man’s tone.

Tanmoluojia raised his hand. “Duke, my men are outside the embassy. Please follow them somewhere.”

Li Zhongqian raised his eyes, glancing where he pointed – distant points of torchlight flickered.

“Where to?”

Tanmoluojia said: “To catch up with Li Xuanzhen.”

A flame kindled in Li Zhongqian’s eyes as he looked at Tanmoluojia with approval.

“What about you?”

“I am injured and cannot travel,” Tanmoluojia stood before the corridor, his presence grave. “Rest assured, Duke, my men should catch up to Li Xuanzhen soon. This is my doing alone, unrelated to you.”

Li Zhongqian gave him a long look, smiled, sheathed his sword, and turned to leave the corridor.

A group of guards in tight-sleeved shirts with long bows on their shoulders stood waiting outside the embassy with torches, holding a horse for him.

Wind howled. An hour later, Li Zhongqian’s group quietly left the city through the back mountain, catching up to Li Xuanzhen who had been stopped in a valley. Several advance guards had blocked their path.

Li Zhongqian wore a mask, reining his horse on the hillside.

The guards nocked arrows to their bows. Several whooshes sounded in the night as arrows rained down, all aimed at Li Xuanzhen. His guards hurriedly raised their swords to block.

Yao Ying’s guards were bewildered, not understanding why they had been stopped. They rode forward, showing their bronze tokens: “We have General Ashina’s secret orders.”

“We have the Regent’s command to send a message to the Wei Emperor through the Crown Prince! Please forgive us!”

The guards called out.

The guards looked at each other in confusion.

After speaking, the guards all drew their swords, and kicked their horses hard, and about a dozen riders charged toward Li Xuanzhen, hoofbeats like thunder. They reached Li Xuanzhen and raised their long swords.

Sword light flashed in the moonlight as the dozen riders advanced in perfect formation, their presence murderous. Li Xuanzhen’s guards paled in shock, spurring their horses to surround him. The royal guards grinned ferociously as their swords fell.

Horses neighed, screams rang out, and several men fell from their mounts.

Several long swords slashed at Li Xuanzhen from different directions.

“Your Highness!”

The guards’ eyes bulged in fury.

The next instant, hair fell from beside Li Xuanzhen’s temple.

The royal guards picked up his hair and placed it in a brocade box, handing it to Li Xuanzhen’s guards: “Please deliver this to the Wei Emperor on behalf of the Regent. Princess Wenzhao is an honored guest of the royal court. As long as Princess Wenzhao remains here, so does our alliance. The Central Plains people say that one’s body, hair, and skin are gifts from one’s parents – these locks of hair are the Crown Prince’s and should be delivered to the Wei Emperor.”

Li Xuanzhen’s guards were still shaken, dripping with sweat as they took the box.

They were in royal territory – if those sword strikes had truly aimed for the Crown Prince’s neck…

The royal guards looked at Li Xuanzhen and smiled: “Your Highness, Princess Wenzhao doesn’t wish to see you again. For the sake of relations between our nations, you’d best not set foot in the royal court again. The royal court is ten thousand li from the Central Plains – we should remain at peace.”

Li Xuanzhen’s face was too swollen and bruised to show expression. He looked back toward the holy city, his gaze cold.

She had come to the royal court for Sudan Gu. Sudan Gu had found Li De’s weakness – though he had never been to the Central Plains, he understood Wei so well.

The guards tremblingly climbed back on their horses, grabbed his mount’s reins, and escorted him away.

Not far away, Li Zhongqian watched Li Xuanzhen’s group disappear into the vast night, patting the sword at his waist.

At least Sudan Gu was better than Du Sinan and Zheng Jing.