Li Zhongqian had met with Yao Ying in the afternoon, discussing troop withdrawal briefly. In the evening, he had discussed matters with his subordinates, eaten some nang bread, and had just laid down when his guard reported that Tanmolouqie had sent many items over.
He put on his clothes and rose.
Yuanjue, wearing a broad smile, led attendants into the tent. Soon the tent floor was filled with boxes and treasure chests of various sizes. In the flickering candlelight, the precious items gave off a dazzling glow that made one’s eyes swim.
Li Zhongqian wore a half-smile.
He had long heard of the royal court’s wealth, and indeed it was so. Haidu Aling had promised to let soldiers plunder the royal court, which was how he had persuaded those tribal chiefs to follow him in attacking the holy city.
Li Zhongqian hadn’t been idle today. Bami’er and several Imperial Guard commanders had accompanied him on a long tour of the holy city. The people were enthusiastically clearing rubble under officials’ guidance. Although devastation was everywhere, after the great upheaval, most of the troublemaking noble families had died in the fighting. Those who survived, fearing implication, were more cautious than ever. Everything showed signs of prosperity and vitality. The tribal chiefs truly revered Tanmolouqie, royal authority was consolidated, everyone worked in unity—surely a prosperous capital would soon be rebuilt.
Tanmolouqie had indeed put great thought into this. During the day, he had left the monastic life, letting him see that the royal court would not easily fall into turmoil again. At night, he sent people carrying boxes of priceless treasures.
Li Zhongqian’s expression remained neutral as he cast a casual glance at the treasure boxes covering the ground. When his gaze passed over an opened black box, it suddenly froze. After a moment, a strange look flashed through his phoenix eyes—shock, surprise, melancholy, disbelief.
“Why send these things?” he asked after a long silence.
Yuanjue answered with a smile: “Because these are all things the Princess likes. Whatever the Princess likes, our King remembers.”
Li Zhongqian was lost in thought for a while.
The felt curtain moved as a guard reported: “My Lord, the King has arrived.”
Li Zhongqian came back to himself and said coolly: “Show him in.”
The felt curtain lifted and Tanmolouqie entered the tent surrounded by guards, wearing a red-collared knee-length narrow-sleeved brocade robe with gold and silver embroidery and decorative edges, cinched with a leather belt studded with various gemstones, carrying a dagger, short sword, and long sword. He wore boots, and his collar, front, and cuffs were embroidered with magnificent beast patterns, dazzling to behold.
Everyone in the tent bowed to him.
This was Li Zhongqian’s first time seeing Tanmolouqie in royal court riding clothes, and he couldn’t help but look at him several times.
Tanmolouqie carried himself with composure. Though wearing magnificent brocade, he still maintained his otherworldly coolness, noble and dignified, without a trace of worldliness, beyond others’ reach—only now with added strength and martial bearing.
Li Zhongqian maintained his composure, walked to the long table, and sat down boldly with one leg bent: “What brings the King here so late?”
Tanmolouqie gestured for others to withdraw and said: “Tonight I come to visit the Duke of Weiguo not as the royal court’s monarch, but simply as Tanmolouqie.”
Li Zhongqian’s lips curved as his phoenix eyes narrowed, looking him over before waving: “Then please sit.”
Tanmolouqie sat opposite him, adjusting his clothes and sitting formally, completely solemn.
Li Zhongqian poured himself a bowl of wine, “What matter brings you?”
Tanmolouqie said: “The Duke once asked me several questions which I could not answer at the time.”
Li Zhongqian took a drink of wine, thinking back, “Oh? What did I ask you?”
“The Duke asked if I had developed romantic feelings for the Princess.”
“Whether I planned to keep deceiving her, only meeting her in secret.”
“If I left the monastic life for her, would I regret it later?”
“If I married her, could I keep her away from trouble, peaceful and happy?”
Tanmolouqie stated each point one by one.
Li Zhongqian hadn’t expected him to remember his words so clearly. He put down his wine bowl, his expression growing serious.
Tanmolouqie gazed at him, candlelight reflecting in his eyes, his brows like gathered mountains, his eyes like flowing stars: “At that time, circumstances were different, I dared not keep the Princess. However, the Princess showed me pure sincerity. In my time of danger, she disregarded her safety to accompany me through hardship. I know I cannot let go. Now, I can answer the Duke’s questions anew. I do have romantic feelings for the Princess, not just temporary passion. I hope the Princess can always stay by my side. I want to face each dawn and dusk with her, to spend a lifetime together. When I don’t see the Princess for even a day, my heart knows no peace.”
He paused briefly, his gaze firm, “I wish to ask for the Princess’s hand in marriage, to be her husband.”
His voice was clear and crisp, each word ringing with determination.
Li Zhongqian’s eyes widened.
Tanmolouqie’s expression remained normal as he continued: “The Princess is the Western Army’s leader. An alliance marriage between two countries should not be so hasty. Tomorrow the royal court will officially send envoys to the Wei Dynasty with a marriage proposal. The imperial edict has already been drafted. The Duke is the Princess’s elder brother, like a father to her. The Princess deeply respects the Duke. I come here first seeking the Duke’s permission, hoping for your blessing.”
“If I can marry the Princess, I will respect her, love her, keep her safe and happy, far from trouble.”
The tent fell silent, only occasional sounds of horse hooves rustling outside.
Li Zhongqian remained quiet.
Tanmolouqie was now the royal court’s king. The people accepted his departure from monastic life, and religious authority was gradually separating from royal authority. Religious power would no longer override royal authority. He had turned the tide, earning the people’s reverence, showing both a monk’s compassion and an emperor’s decisive, iron-willed dignity. The questions posed that day were no longer shackles between him and Yao Ying.
Judging from his determination to keep the royal court from war, gradually implementing reforms, and strengthening royal authority for the long term, his resolve exceeded ordinary imagination. Once he decided on something, no one could stop him.
After the great battle ended, he had cleaned up the court, addressed the royal court’s troubles, and then came to seek marriage—cutting through complications decisively, showing his determination and sincerity.
Li Zhongqian thought of the time when he had deceived Yao Ying into leaving the royal court.
Even with injured eyes, she had written to Tanmolouqie every day, having maids write for her several times. The letters were all about what she had eaten, and where she had gone, urging Tanmolouqie to take his medicine properly.
Yao Ying loved this monk.
Li Zhongqian lifted his chin: “The royal court and Central Plains are separated by ten thousand li, with different customs and etiquette.”
Tanmolouqie said: “I have read Chinese classics since childhood and am familiar with Central Plains customs and etiquette. I will not force the Princess to change her preferences and lifestyle.”
“What if she misses home and wants to visit the Central Plains?”
Tanmolouqie’s brows moved slightly as he said: “I will send personal guards to protect the Princess.”
Li Zhongqian gave a light snort: “I hear previous royal court monarchs had three wives and four concubines. My Mingyue Nu won’t stand for such treatment.”
Tanmolouqie said: “Though I’ve left monastic life, I will still practice cultivation. I admire the Princess and seek only her companionship.”
Li Zhongqian gave Tanmolouqie a deep look, “Mingyue Nu dislikes constraints. When she was in my household, I never restricted her—if she wanted to go out, she went out. The Chief Secretary advised me that women should behave properly, especially Mingyue Nu with her outstanding beauty, she should be more careful in speech and action, saying I was too lenient with her. She made those young men jealous of each other, inviting ridicule.”
Tanmolouqie raised his eyes, speaking each word distinctly: “The Princess’s nature is unrestrained and pure as snow and ice. There is nothing improper about her conduct.”
These words were particularly pleasing to Li Zhongqian’s ears.
He certainly didn’t want Yao Ying to marry a rigid, pedantic monk.
Li Zhongqian thought of another difficulty: “You are the royal court’s monarch, she is the Western Army’s leader. She cannot always stay in the royal court.”
Tanmolouqie nodded, saying: “I will handle royal court affairs well so she need not worry about them. She will remain the Western Army’s leader.”
Li Zhongqian stroked his chin, “What if one-day Mingyue Nu’s heart changes, she falls in love with someone else and wants to return to the Central Plains? What would you do—let her return, or kill that man and force her to stay by your side?”
Tanmolouqie’s expression changed slightly, and he remained silent for a long while, closing his eyes for a moment.
“I don’t know.”
Even Buddha couldn’t dissolve the attachment in his heart. He had never considered this possibility.
Li Zhongqian frowned in thought. Tanmolouqie was very sincere—if he had answered without thinking that he would magnanimously let Yao Ying leave, Li Zhongqian might have suspected his proposal was false, that he planned to coax Yao Ying into following him into Buddhism.
Neither spoke, and the tent fell quiet for a moment.
Candlelight cast on Tanmolouqie’s face made his features even more profound. He broke the silence: “There is one more thing I wish to tell the Duke frankly.”
Li Zhongqian raised an eyebrow: “What is it?”
Tanmolouqie raised his eyes to meet his gaze, saying calmly: “The martial arts I practice are strange and require suppression with elixirs. After many years, the illness has entered deep into my body. Recently, I was gravely ill. To rush back to the holy city, I recklessly took several bottles of elixirs just to sustain myself until now. I’ve been holding on without dispersing my inner force, not knowing how long I can persist this time…”
Li Zhongqian was stunned, his expression grave, “You mean you don’t know how long you’ll live?”
Tanmolouqie nodded, saying calmly: “Yes.”
Li Zhongqian’s thick brows furrowed tightly: “Then you dare come propose marriage? How could I agree to marry Mingyue Nu to a dying man?”
Tanmolouqie gazed at the bright yellow candle in the tent: “I once thought the same—being a dying man, how dare I keep the Princess?”
He closed his eyes briefly.
“I once lied to the Princess, deceived her into leaving. I told Bisuo that after my death, to send me to the Princess’s side… Later, during the royal court’s upheaval, I was resigned to death. When the Princess appeared before me again, I thought she was my hallucination…”
He had rushed down from the city wall, holding her tightly, wanting to embed her into his flesh and blood. He told Yao Ying he didn’t have long to live; she said then they should cherish the remaining days well.
“At that moment, I wanted to live.”
Tanmolouqie met Li Zhongqian’s scrutinizing gaze, his lips curving slightly: “In this life, how fortunate I am to meet the Princess. Duke, I don’t know how long I can live, don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I only know I will cherish the days before me.”
Life and death are but cycles of reincarnation, everything like dream bubbles and illusions, but Yao Ying was in this life. He wanted to hold tight to this life, fighting for each day he could get.
Li Zhongqian’s expression darkened as he smiled coldly: “Why tell me the truth? Aren’t you afraid I’ll firmly oppose?”
Tanmolouqie said steadily: “The Princess once told me she grew up depending on the Duke. In this world, the Duke is her most important family. If we deceive the Duke, she’ll be caught in the middle, surely troubled.”
He didn’t want Yao Ying to be troubled by anything anymore.
Li Zhongqian gave him a cold glance, his expression softening somewhat.
Tanmolouqie raised his hand, pushing a treasure box before him and opening it.
Li Zhongqian looked down. Inside was a gold and silver crown inlaid with jewels and jade, very similar in style to the crown Tanmolouqie had worn during the day, though more delicate. The crown bore intricate patterns, decorated with strings of pearls, jade, agate, and coral beads.
“This is the royal court Queen’s crown.”
Tanmolouqie said: “Duke, while I live, the alliance between the royal court and Western Army will remain stable. Even after I’m gone, the succeeding king will follow my final edict to maintain the alliance. However, if the Wei Emperor and Crown Prince harm the Princess, the royal court cannot interfere in Wei’s internal affairs…”
Li Zhongqian frowned. Tanmolouqie had touched on one of his concerns. As long as Li De lived, he couldn’t rest easy. With Li Xuanzhen harboring such filthy thoughts, Li De would eventually know. Given Li De’s nature, he might harm Yao Ying for Li Xuanzhen’s sake. He planned to return to Chang’an once the Western Regions were stable.
Tanmolouqie changed course: “If the Princess becomes the royal court’s Queen, even after I’m gone, the entire royal court will respect and protect her well.”
Li Zhongqian suddenly raised his head, looking at Tanmolouqie in surprise, his heart stirred.
So Tanmolouqie had this consideration in his marriage proposal—once Yao Ying became his Queen, the royal court would forever shelter her. His name as Buddha’s son still spread among nations; with Yao Ying as his wife, tribes who had received his grace would not abandon her in times of need.
This man had thought of everything.
He had saved Yao Ying, saved himself. His days were numbered, so Yao Ying would never abandon him. If forced to separate, if something truly happened to him later, Yao Ying would suffer for life.
Rather than let Yao Ying regret forever, better to let her be with the one she loves.
A Queen’s crown meant another path for Yao Ying’s future.
Li Zhongqian pondered for a long while, weighing the pros and cons. His phoenix eyes swept around, moving from the boxes covering the ground to finally rest on that black lacquered box for a moment, internally heaving a long sigh.
“Mingyue Nu has grown up. Let her decide her marriage. But remember my words—she has a good nature and doesn’t like to fuss, but I won’t tolerate any slight. If you dare let her suffer even a bit of grievance, I won’t hold back because of the alliance between the royal court and Western Army.”
Li Zhongqian’s expression was stern, radiating a grim and fierce aura as he spoke each word: “If you wrong her, whether she agrees or not, no matter how ill you are, even if you’re about to breathe your last, I will take her away immediately.”
Tanmolouqie relaxed slightly, straightening up and pressing his palms together: “Thank you for your blessing, Duke.”
Li Zhongqian rolled his eyes heavenward: Still a monk!
Feeling thoroughly uncomfortable, he suddenly pointed at a black lacquered box, his tone fierce: “Why give this to Mingyue Nu?”
Tanmolouqie was about to leave but paused at this, looking at the black lacquered box and answering: “I once let the Princess freely choose what she liked from the treasury. The Princess only chose one night-luminous jade.”
Yao Ying loved collecting night-luminous jade. Every time merchant caravans returned from places like Tianzhu or Fulin, she would ask the merchants if they had found any good night-luminous jade.
Li Zhongqian snorted coldly, waving his hand impatiently.
After Tanmolouqie left, he stood up, walked to the box, and picked up a piece of night-luminous jade, complex emotions on his face.
Night-luminous jade was also called Bright Moon Pearl. This piece was one he had given to Yao Ying.
Yao Ying had treasured it, always keeping it with her. Later, when she went as a peace bride to the Yelu tribe and fell into Haidu Aling’s hands, she lost everything she had except this night-luminous jade. Finally, to escape the camp, she had given the jade to a foreign woman.
After reuniting with Yao Ying, she mentioned the night-luminous jade several times, wanting to find it again. He had consoled her, saying it was just a pearl, let it be.
Unexpectedly, after all its travels, this night-luminous jade had come into Tanmolouqie’s possession, and knowing Yao Ying loved night-luminous jade, he brought it to give to her.
The perfect jade returns to Zhao.
Perhaps this was fate indeed.