Behind him, through the wide-open doorway, a large group of the Emperor’s personal guards came flooding in with a clatter. Among their swaying figures, Jin Yun’s face was vaguely visible, pale as death.

Qin Chang Ge squinted, her gaze dropping downward to examine the remarkably steady hand gripping her throat… Hmm, not very old, many calluses at the tiger’s mouth from sword practice… no, wait, there were also external martial arts palm techniques… and decent internal energy too… Each generation of martial artists produces new talents – in just a few short years, such a young hero had already emerged.

However, her face showed nothing but shock and terror, her teeth chattering as she looked at Xiao Jue, her voice hoarse: “Your… Your… Your Majesty…”

But Xiao Jue didn’t look at her, only directing his gaze toward the ground.

A yellowed sutra lay fallen in the spilled tea, its ink already blurred by the water stains, but the aged cover was still visible.

The Avatamsaka Sutra.

At this moment, Concubine Rou also noticed the sutra. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes as she scolded sharply: “You clumsy servant, your hands and feet are far too careless! Drag her away!”

She commanded sternly, but the person gripping Qin Chang Ge’s throat paid no attention, only watching Xiao Jue.

Xiao Jue stared at the sutra, as if thinking of something. He raised his eyes and asked Qin Chang Ge: “How do you come to have a sutra on your person?”

Her throat was slightly loosened to allow Qin Chang Ge to answer the Emperor’s inquiry.

Qin Chang Ge respectfully prostrated herself on the ground, her voice trembling: “Your Majesty… this servant was often ill in youth. My father, in order to accumulate merit and extend this servant’s life, made me a nominal disciple of the Buddhist sect from childhood. I am counted as a lay practitioner. The sutra is something this servant always carries and recites. Today, having offended Your Majesty’s presence, I deserve death ten thousand times over. I beg Your Majesty to consider that this servant’s transgression was unintentional and spare this servant’s life.”

Xiao Jue remained silent, his gaze fixed deeply on Qin Chang Ge, as if trying to discern how much truth lay in her words. Qin Chang Ge cursed silently in her heart – this boy had become increasingly inscrutable in the years since she’d last seen him… Yet her body prostrated even lower.

Xiao Jue looked at the woman prostrated at his feet – her neck white as snow, a glimpse of cloud-like shoulders, delicate and elegant like a summer flower unable to withstand autumn frost in the cold wind. His heart stirred slightly with a rare moment of compassion, and he waved his hand: “Rise.”

As soon as the words fell, that blue shadow disappeared like a streak of flowing light.

Qin Chang Ge displayed an appropriately surprised expression at the right moment.

Xiao Jue paid no attention to this. His gaze swept around and he pointed to the sutra on the ground, saying: “Since you claim to be well-versed in sutras, let me test you. What does the eightieth scroll, twelfth chapter of the Avatamsaka Sutra discuss?”

Qin Chang Ge blinked and said curiously: “Your Majesty, our dynasty has two translated versions of the Avatamsaka Sutra. One is the anonymous translation from Emperor Yuan Xiaojing’s reign, forty scrolls in eighteen chapters, called the ‘Forty Avatamsaka.’ The other is Tuoba Luotuo’s translation from Emperor Yuan Feidi’s reign, sixty scrolls, also called the ‘Sixty Avatamsaka.’ How can there be an eightieth scroll?”

Xiao Jue made an “oh” sound and said: “I remembered incorrectly… As a sutra for transcendence, the Avatamsaka Sutra’s text is still quite refined.”

“Your Majesty is wrong again,” Qin Chang Ge smiled slightly. “The Avatamsaka Sutra is the dharma of the dharma realm, perfectly harmonious and wonderful. With great wisdom it expounds the bodhisattvas’ ten faiths, ten abodes, ten practices, ten dedications of merit, and ten grounds – all these dharma gates and their characteristics. It elucidates that all dharmas of the dharma realm are of the same flavor, that one is all and all is one, with infinite interdependent origination revolving around one mind.”

“Infinite interdependent origination, revolving around one mind…” Xiao Jue’s gaze flickered slightly. Suddenly he laughed coldly, said no more, and stood up tall: “You are pardoned without guilt… Concubine Rou, do not make things difficult for her.”

Having spoken, he left without looking back.

That evening, as Qin Chang Ge had expected, she received a eunuch’s imperial decree commanding her to serve at Jin’Ou Palace, with Princess Wen Chang to decide whether to select her to accompany the entrance into the convent.

Qin Chang Ge calmly expressed her gratitude and went to pack her belongings. Jin Yun hurried over, grasped her hands, and said: “Ming Shuang, what happened to you today… you scared me to death.”

Qin Chang Ge grasped her hands in return and said: “Auntie, I’ve troubled you with worry. In any case, there was danger but no disaster – I was fortunate.”

Jin Yun looked her up and down, then suddenly said: “Ming Shuang, I don’t know what your plan was today, but auntie must remind you of something. In this palace, every step is perilous, every moment holds killing intent. You are clever, so you must see clearly for yourself. Some things are too risky – you may succeed once, but you may not succeed a second time. Moreover, His Majesty is not one to be deceived. You… weigh this carefully yourself.”

Qin Chang Ge smiled slightly. Jin Yun had trained in the palace for many years and could be considered shrewd, but she was still thinking incorrectly, assuming she was trying to win imperial favor. Xiao Jue’s favor? Better forget about that – it would be good enough if she didn’t want his life.

“I’m just tired of the constantly frightening days in Cuiwei Palace, afraid of that master’s capricious nature.” Qin Chang Ge pursed her lips toward the front hall, grasping Jin Yun’s hand in return. “I hear the Grand Princess is benevolent by nature. Even becoming a nun with her would be better than these days of constant worry, always in danger of losing one’s life. Auntie, I have no other intentions. Please don’t worry.”

“Very well,” Jin Yun said helplessly. “You are a rare child who sees things clearly. This is good too. When there’s opportunity, I’ll come see you.”

Qin Chang Ge looked into her eyes and said slowly: “Auntie, these past few days, thank you. When there’s opportunity, I hope to repay you.”

“Silly child, what repayment?” Jin Yun’s eyes reddened slightly. “You also saved my life back then. All this is only proper.”

Qin Chang Ge smiled without answering, gently embraced her, and turned to leave.

Jin Yun stood dazedly in the long corridor, watching her slender figure turn around the corner. After a long while, she muttered: “This child, what kind of etiquette is this?”

She suddenly felt somewhat cold, the chill penetrating her body. She couldn’t help but shiver, raising her head to look at the garden ahead. The autumn wind was harsh and killing, destroying the brilliant purples and reds on the branches. In just a brief moment, the ground was covered in colorful layers – one layer red, one layer purple, one layer yellow.

There was a startling beauty in the bleakness.

Jin Yun slowly crouched down and picked up a half-withered chrysanthemum leaf. The thin flower petal trembled pitifully at her fingertips, and she suddenly felt desolate.

“The wind is rising…”