Qu Zhisheng opened his mouth, looked at Dragon Frost Moon, then at the coffin in the great hall, and hesitated no longer: “Father, let’s begin! After Second Brother is revived, I hope you’ll keep your promise and let us leave.”
“Of course! Of course!” Qu Wentai was overjoyed. “I’ll have the Grand General personally escort you to Guazhou. San’er, where is King David’s Bottle?”
Qu Zhisheng sighed deeply: “I’ll go get it now.”
He took Dragon Frost Moon’s hand and was about to leave when Zhu Gui suddenly said in a low voice: “Third Prince, perhaps the Princess should wait here.”
Dragon Frost Moon glared at him angrily and violently shook off Qu Zhisheng’s hand. Qu Zhisheng said nothing, gave her a lingering look, then turned and left the ancestral temple.
Everyone waited in the great hall in silence. Qu Wentai gently caressed Qu Deyong’s body, his grief beyond words.
After a while, Qu Zhisheng returned with King David’s Bottle. The bottle was very heavy, carried by two guards who placed it in the center of the hall. To Xuanzang’s surprise, Ashu had also come with Qu Zhisheng.
After Xuanzang had gone to Wang Xuance’s lodgings, Ashu had left on his own, saying he was looking for familiar Sogdian people. With so much happening, Xuanzang hadn’t had time to worry about him. Seeing Ashu return, Xuanzang felt relieved and said softly: “Ashu, why are you here?”
“Master,” Ashu said happily, “I finally found you. I’ve been waiting for you at the lodgings, but you didn’t return. Seeing how late it was, I went to the Third Prince’s palace to look for you, and happened to meet the Third Prince, who told me you were here.”
“Good boy,” Xuanzang patted his head.
At this moment, Qu Wentai tugged at Xuanzang and said softly: “Venerable One, we can begin now.”
Xuanzang felt tense, and everyone’s gaze fell on King David’s Bottle, which was covered with black silk. Qu Zhisheng pulled off the cover, revealing the bottle’s bewitching glow to everyone’s eyes.
At this moment, everyone held their breath.
At this moment, the wind stopped, and the sun lost its light as if it had stolen the colors from heaven and earth.
At this moment, there seemed to be faint cries of spirits and ghosts, as if countless specters were kneeling in worship…
At this moment, in an ordinary farmhouse in the royal city, a wooden slip in Wang Xuance’s hand snapped. He looked down at the words on the slip and sighed: “The Western Regions will now be plunged into blood and fire!”
At this moment, in the most luxurious guest house in the royal city, Mohè Dùshè was cutting roasted lamb with a silver knife. He suddenly flew into a rage, stabbing the knife into the meat and shouting, “Come here!”
A Fùlí soldier entered and saluted: “Great Shè!”
Mohè Dùshè ordered: “All Fùlí soldiers mobilize and surround the royal palace for me!”
“Yes, sir!”
Moments later, the entire guest house was in chaos. The Turkic cavalry was one of the most powerful armies of the era, with unmatched individual soldier quality. At Mohè Dùshè’s command, a thousand Fùlí soldiers began donning armor, saddling horses, and preparing weapons.
Mohè Dùshè, with a piece of lamb in his mouth and silver knife in hand, strode out of the guest house surrounded by Fùlí soldiers. Seeing the situation, the head of the Gaochang Ministry of Rites ran over with a fawning smile: “Great Shè, if you have any orders, just command me directly. Why mobilize the troops?”
Mohè Dùshè glanced at him and ordered: “Open your mouth!”
The official was bewildered but obediently opened his mouth. Mohè Dùshè stuffed the lamb into his mouth and plunged the knife into his throat. The official’s eyes widened as he clutched his throat, blood gushing.
Mohè Dùshè kicked him down and shouted: “Move out!”
The Fùlí soldiers mounted their horses, their savagery and bloodlust immediately evident, as if drunk on strong wine. Each held a torch as they galloped through the streets. In the darkness, they resembled a giant fire dragon speeding through the narrow streets.
At the royal ancestral temple, the ritual was beginning.
Qu Wentai, Xuanzang, Dragon Frost Moon, Zhu Gui, and others stood to the side, each with a solemn expression, even tinged with fear. Qu Zhisheng stood beside King David’s Bottle, caressing its surface, and said slowly: “Bring Second Brother out.”
Before Qu Wentai could order it, Zhu Gui led several young eunuchs to lift the coffin lid. As the body was still lying in state, the lid wasn’t nailed shut. The young eunuchs, standing on stools, leaned down to lift Qu Deyong’s body out and place it on a wooden board in the center of the hall.
Qu Deyong had only been dead for three days, and in the severe winter cold, his body was stiff but his face was still lifelike. When he committed suicide, a short dagger had been plunged into his chest. The Royal Consort had pulled it out that day, leaving a deep knife wound. His clothes were soaked with blood, now turned brownish-red.
Looking at Qu Deyong’s body, Qu Wentai couldn’t help but weep. He wiped his eyes, full of expectation. Just then, a guard rushed in and whispered something in his ear. Qu Wentai smiled coldly: “I see. Leave these matters to the Grand General!”
The guard acknowledged and retreated with a bow. Seeing Qu Zhisheng still hesitating, Qu Wentai couldn’t help but say: “San’er, hurry! Mohè Dùshè’s army has surrounded the palace. If we delay too long, you and Frost Moon won’t be able to leave!”
Startled, Qu Zhisheng hesitated no longer. He drew a short knife from his waist and cut his finger. As blood flowed, he placed the wound at the bottle’s mouth. The blood dripped down, instantly absorbed by the tin seal at the bottle’s mouth, seeping into the bottle along the lines of the Star of David. The Star of David seemed to devour the blood with relish, and the crowd thought they heard a gurgling sound, sending chills down their spines.
After a moment, blood suddenly surged through the bottle’s openwork body, as if it had come alive. Bloodlines covered the bottle’s surface, resembling human blood vessels that seemed to pulse and expand. The entire King David’s Bottle now looked like a freshly excavated heart, beating with vibrant life!
Witnessing this strange phenomenon, Xuanzang glanced at Zhu Gui. Zhu Gui was staring blankly, his eyes filled with terror, looking lost.
“Akamana, come forth! I need you!” Qu Zhisheng called out loudly.
As soon as he spoke, smoke began to rise from the bottle’s body, curling around it like a living thing. Soon the smoke grew thicker, enveloping the entire bottle. It slowly rose, reaching seven feet high, forming a giant mushroom cloud before everyone’s eyes. The cloud shifted constantly, seeming to contain rolling creatures, utterly bizarre.
“My Prince, Akamana pays his respects to you,” a muffled voice suddenly sounded from within the smoke.
Iron hooves thundered, shaking the earth.
Mohè Dùshè’s Fùlí iron cavalry galloped along the streets to the palace gates. At his command, they split to either side, tightly surrounding the palace entrance.
Mohè Dùshè rode to the gates and shouted: “Qu Wentai, come out and see me!”
Suddenly, drums began to beat on the palace walls, their thunderous sound shaking hearts. As the drums sounded, torches blazed on the walls, revealing a sea of soldiers, each with a bow drawn, aimed at those below. General Zhang Xiong stood on the wall and cupped his hands towards those below: “Mohè Dùshè Shè, what is the meaning of this? Why have you brought troops to violate our royal palace?”
Surprised, Mohè Dùshè laughed: “So it’s Zhang Xiong! You were prepared? Very good, very good! This saves me the trouble of explaining. Zhang Xiong, tell Qu Wentai to come out and see me!”
Zhang Xiong smiled: “Great Shè, the King of Gaochang is unwell, as you know. He’s currently recuperating and cannot receive guests. Moreover, you’ve brought an army to surround the palace. What if His Majesty is frightened?”
“Bullshit!” Mohè Dùshè cursed, “Do you think I don’t know? That old fox Qu Wentai is using King David’s Bottle right now! Damn it, I’ve hinted at this for so long, and he pretends not to understand? I want King David’s Bottle, understand?”
Zhang Xiong feigned surprise: “Great Shè, if you want the royal bottle, go ask the Third Prince! The Gaochang royal palace isn’t like Tong Yabgu Qaghan’s great tent. You can come if you wish! Why bring so many troops?”
“Zhang Xiong! Good, good, good!” Mohè Dùshè raged, “Are you playing games with me? Let me tell you this: if Qu Wentai dares to use the bottle to make the last wish and release that demon, I will lead the Fùlí iron cavalry to trample your Gaochang royal city!”
Zhang Xiong also flew into a rage, slamming the wall: “Mohè Dùshè! Don’t push your luck! Is King David’s Bottle your family heirloom? As a vassal state of the Western Turkic Khaganate, hasn’t Gaochang paid taxes every year for decades? We pay taxes to you Turks for protection; this is the iron rule of the Western Regions. Now you see we have a treasure and bring troops to seize it? Do you respect the rules of the steppe? Do you respect Tong Yabgu Qaghan?”
Mohè Dùshè was stunned for a moment, then laughed: “Haha, Zhang Xiong, you’re certainly loyal to Qu Wentai. Let me ask you this: after he revives Qu Deyong, given your relationship with Qu Deyong, will there be any place for you in Gaochang?”
A flash of grief passed through Zhang Xiong’s eyes, but his expression remained unchanged: “This is Gaochang’s internal affair, none of your concern. Great Shè, we absolutely cannot give you the royal bottle. Please withdraw quickly! Your troops are not enough to take the royal palace!”
“Is that so? I’ll have to test that!” Mohè Dùshè shouted, “Men, bring the battering ram!”
The Fùlí soldiers were prepared. Two large carts carrying a battering ram as thick as a man’s embrace slowly pushed toward the palace gates. Those pushing the ram were not Fùlí soldiers, but nearby civilians and merchants who had been seized. These people cried out as they pushed desperately under the Fùlí soldiers’ whips.
Zhang Xiong’s expression remained unchanged. He waved his hand, and horns began to sound from the city walls. As the horns blared, a rumbling suddenly came from the streets and alleys within the royal city. Mohè Dùshè was shocked to see torches blazing as countless cavalry poured forth, with archers on the rooftops drawing their bows, all aimed at his forces.
Mohè Dùshè raged: “So, the Tiger of the Western Regions, I underestimated you! Zhang Xiong, I’m right here. If you have the guts, shoot me dead. Otherwise, I will break this palace! Men, ram it!”
Qu Zhisheng stared blankly at the smoke before him and slowly said: “Akamana, I’m ready to make my third wish.”
The smoke roiled as a thunderous laugh rang out, seemingly delighted: “Beloved Prince, you are the most trustworthy person in heaven and earth. I have waited for this day for a long time. Speak, Prince, speak your wish.”
Qu Zhisheng began his final struggle, his expression changing rapidly as everyone stared at him tensely. Qu Wentai was sweating profusely, his body trembling. Xuanzang calmly watched Qu Wentai, who sensed his gaze and nodded to him, finally relaxing.
“Revive my Second Brother. Can you do it?” Qu Zhisheng finally spoke these words.
“Hahaha,” Akamana laughed, “Prince, I told you, I possess all-powerful abilities in heaven and earth. Reviving the dead is the simplest thing.”
“Really?” Qu Zhisheng silently looked at the corpse on the ground, then glanced at Qu Wentai before resolutely saying, “Then revive my Second Brother! My father misses him dearly! Everyone needs him… they don’t need me…”
His voice became bitter towards the end.
“Prince, are you sure?” Akamana asked, “This is your last wish. After the dead are revived, you must break the tin seal and release me!”
“I’m sure,” Qu Zhisheng said expressionlessly, “I will release you.”
The demon fell silent, but the smoke churned more violently. Suddenly, everyone saw a flash as several smoke tendrils as thick as fingers shot out from the cloud, swift as lightning and silent, striking Qu Deyong’s corpse in the eyes, nostrils, mouth, and wound.
In this instant, the scene became utterly bizarre. The five smoke tendrils were like five long tentacles. Though made of smoke, they seemed to have solidified into physical form. It wasn’t until much later that the connection between the tentacles and the smoke cloud began to fade, slowly breaking off as the five tentacles disappeared into the air.
“Akamana, what’s going on?” Qu Zhisheng asked in surprise.
But Akamana no longer answered, and the smoke surrounding King David’s Bottle slowly dissipated. The great hall returned to its normal appearance. Everyone looked at each other as if they had just experienced a bizarre nightmare.
Qu Wentai rushed to Qu Deyong’s body, gently calling out: “Deyong, Deyong!”
Everyone held their breath, hearts pounding, silently watching for any changes in the corpse. After a long while, Ashu suddenly cried out: “He moved! His finger moved—”
By this time, the palace gates had become a living hell.
Mohè Dùshè’s men had broken through the gates, but Zhang Xiong hadn’t ordered his archers to fire. Mohè Dùshè’s special status meant that if he were harmed, regardless of the reason, Gaochang would face the Turks’ wrath. Even Gaochang’s cavalry hadn’t engaged, merely drawing bows and guarding the surroundings, effectively surrounding the Fùlí soldiers.
Mohè Dùshè, seeing that Zhang Xiong dared not shoot, brazenly stood at the gate himself, ordering the battering ram forward. Zhang Xiong didn’t stop him, just watching coldly. No matter how thick the palace gates were, they couldn’t withstand the battering ram. After about a dozen strikes, the gates shattered with a crash, and the Fùlí soldiers cheered.
However, just as the Fùlí cavalry were about to charge into the palace, they discovered several layers of chevaux de frise and barricades in the gateway! Countless spearmen crouched behind the barricades, ready for battle. Each had a shield-bearer in front, holding a large shield for protection!
“Is this all you’ve got?” Mohè Dùshè laughed loudly, ordering the charge.
But what happened next left him dumbfounded. The chevaux de frise’s sharp points forced the Fùlí cavalry to slow down. The front line dismounted to move the barricades, but the spearmen thrust their long spears, extending and retracting with deadly precision. The sound of steel piercing flesh was accompanied by the Fùlí soldiers’ screams as they fell.
The Fùlí soldiers suddenly realized that while the enemy might not dare to kill Mohè Dùshè, they had no such reservations about killing them. They began to draw their bows and shoot. The Gaochang shield-bearers raised their large shields, and most of the arrows bounced off with a rapid patter of impacts. Enraged, Mohè Dùshè ordered the attack, and a brutal melee ensued in the gateway.
The Fùlí soldiers were far more elite than Gaochang’s palace guards and outnumbered them, but Zhang Xiong had chosen the narrow gateway as the battleground, negating their numerical advantage. Even the most elite warriors couldn’t avoid the forest of spear thrusts in such a confined space. Remarkably, just over a hundred palace guards were holding off over a thousand Fùlí cavalry outside the palace!
“Kill! Kill! Kill them all—” Mohè Dùshè shouted, his eyes red with rage.
The Fùlí cavalry became frenzied. Many charged their horses at full speed, leaping over the chevaux de frise, only to be impaled along with their mounts. This suicidal charge nearly broke through the spear and shield formation. But the Gaochang guards were well-trained; as one layer fell, another surged forward to engage the Fùlí soldiers in close combat. In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the gateway was piled with corpses of men and horses, almost a man’s height deep.
Mohè Dùshè was livid but helpless. At this moment, Zhang Xiong suddenly laughed loudly: “Mohè Dùshè Shè, let me tell you some good news. The last wish of King David’s Bottle has been made. Our Second Prince has been revived!”
Mohè Dùshè was stunned, as were the fighting soldiers, frozen like a petrified wave. The night seemed to die silently, with only the flickering light of torches trembling.
In the palace’s ancestral temple, everyone was gripped by a spiritual tremor and fear. Even Qu Wentai was shocked by the revival of the dead, staring in terror at Qu Deyong’s body, unable to approach. Rather than joy at regaining what was lost, an indescribable fear made his whole body tremble.
Xuanzang was the only calm one. After a brief moment of shock, his meditative mind quickly regained its tranquility. He began reciting the Heart Sutra: “When Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva was practicing the profound Prajñāpāramitā, he illuminated the Five Skandhas and saw they are all empty, and he crossed beyond all suffering and difficulty. Śāriputra, form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. The form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself is formed. So too are feeling, cognition, formation, and consciousness…”
Xuanzang’s chanting grew louder, filling the entire hall with deep, mysterious Sanskrit. Gradually, everyone’s minds began to settle. At this moment, Qu Deyong’s entire arm began to move, and his eyelids started to twitch as if trying to open, but seemed held down by some netherworld force.
The great hall was chilly, yet everyone was sweating profusely. Even Qu Wentai, who should have been the most joyful, dared not approach. Xuanzang’s chanting grew more urgent: “Śāriputra, all dharmas are marked by emptiness; they neither arise nor cease, are neither defiled nor pure, neither increase nor decrease. Therefore, in emptiness: no form, no feeling, no cognition, no formation, no consciousness; no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind; no sight, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no dharmas; no eye dhatu up to no mind consciousness dhatu; no ignorance and also no ending of ignorance, up to no old age and death and also no ending of old age and death…”
As he uttered the word “ending,” Qu Deyong’s body suddenly arched upwards, his mouth opening to spew a mouthful of black blood before falling back onto the wooden board, motionless.
Everyone let out a gasp of shock. Xuanzang continued chanting, oblivious. Qu Wentai could no longer restrain himself. He rushed forward, grasping Qu Deyong’s shoulders and shaking him: “Deyong! Deyong—”
Another collective gasp rose as Qu Deyong slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was unfocused, still seeming as if his soul hadn’t fully returned. But this was enough to fill Qu Wentai with joy and tears. His voice trembling, he burst into sobs: “Deyong! You’re alive! Deyong! Deyong—”
Qu Wentai wept uncontrollably, the joy of regaining what was lost almost beyond expression. Suddenly, Qu Zhisheng cried out in alarm: “Father, be careful—”
Qu Wentai looked at him in confusion, then saw everyone staring in horror behind him. He turned and was startled to see Qu Deyong had somehow sat up, his eyes blazing with a blood-red fury, his hands clamped around Qu Wentai’s throat!
Qu Wentai’s eyes bulged, struggling to breathe. Qu Deyong’s face was contorted, his eyes blood-red, making guttural sounds as his arms, like iron, squeezed Qu Wentai’s neck. Qu Zhisheng cried out and rushed forward. Zhu Gui, Xuanzang, Dragon Frost Moon, and even Ashu ran over. Some grabbed his legs, others tried to pry his arms away, desperately trying to save Qu Wentai. Somehow, Qu Deyong possessed incredible strength, and several people couldn’t restrain him.
Finally, Qu Deyong let out a roar, his arms shaking, sending everyone flying like sacks. Qu Wentai’s neck was released, narrowly escaping death.
Everyone was badly shaken, unable to get up. The palace guards outside, sensing trouble, all rushed in, surrounding Qu Deyong. Qu Wentai quickly shouted: “Get back! Get back! Don’t hurt him—”
The guards looked at each other in confusion but obeyed, retreating to the doorway, weapons ready.
After throwing everyone off, Qu Deyong staggered to his feet. His face was still contorted as if in great pain, but he seemed unsure what to do. His eyes stared blankly at each person, his expression wooden.
Qu Wentai, both shocked and angry, asked Qu Zhisheng: “San’er, what’s going on?”
Qu Zhisheng, who was checking on Dragon Frost Moon, looked equally bewildered: “I… I don’t know! Should we ask Akamana?”
“Ask him! Quickly!” Qu Wentai urged repeatedly.
Qu Zhisheng went to King David’s Bottle and knocked on it: “Akamana, come out, come out!”
The bottle remained motionless. Qu Zhisheng was perplexed: “Do I need to give blood again?”
Qu Wentai strode over and handed him a knife. Qu Zhisheng took it, cut his finger, and let the blood drip into the Star of David at the bottle’s mouth. The blood was quickly absorbed. The bottle’s body again glowed with blood light, the strange pattern like human blood vessels beginning to shine with a blood-red radiance, but no smoke emerged.
Qu Zhisheng called out: “Akamana, come out! What’s going on? What’s happened to my Second Brother?”
King David’s Bottle remained motionless, showing no change.
Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Qu Zhisheng glanced at his father.
Zhu Gui said: “Third Prince, isn’t this your fourth wish now?”
“Huh?” Qu Zhisheng scratched his head. “Is it? No wonder it’s not responding.”
“It seems so,” Zhu Gui said. “Perhaps the Second Prince has just been revived and needs time to adjust. Your Majesty, this old servant truly can’t explain such strange occurrences.”
Qu Deyong was standing blankly, like a walking corpse. Qu Wentai looked at him worriedly, his expression showing a hint of relief: “Never mind, never mind. At least he’s alive. As long as he’s alive, no matter what, I can bring in famous doctors to treat him. We’ll surely nurse him back to health. Deyong, come, let’s go home with Father!”
As he was about to approach, there was a sudden crash from above. A large hole opened in the ancestral temple’s roof. Gaochang’s roofs were made of thick mud mixed with desert willow. As it split open, countless chunks of earth rained down. Qu Wentai, weakened by illness, couldn’t move quickly. Zhu Gui, swift and alert, grabbed him and pulled him to safety. The falling debris covered Qu Deyong’s head and face, but he just stared blankly upward, showing no reaction.
Before anyone could recover, a figure swiftly descended through the hole, landing right in front of Qu Deyong. It was the Yuwen Princess Consort, her white hair disheveled, wearing luxurious but dirty palace robes!
Xuanzang wiped the debris from his face, smiling wryly. He was well acquainted with the Princess Consort’s fierceness. Unexpectedly, even after being confined in the palace for days, she remained unchanged.
“Wretched woman!” Qu Wentai raged.
But the Princess Consort ignored him completely. Seeing Qu Deyong revived, her pale face lit up with wild joy. She embraced him tightly: “Deyong! Deyong!”
At this moment, the palace guards outside began to swarm in, intending to seize the Princess Consort. Qu Wentai smiled coldly, waving them back, expecting to see the Princess Consort strangled by Qu Deyong. Unexpectedly, Qu Deyong looked at her blankly, his face showing a strange expression as if in pain as if struggling. He mumbled: “Yubo…”
This truly was joy for some and sorrow for others. While Qu Wentai was stunned, the Princess Consort was overjoyed, hugging Qu Deyong and crying: “Deyong, you’re alive! It’s wonderful! Wonderful!”
But Qu Deyong just stared at her blankly, muttering: “Yubo… Yubo…”
The Princess Consort realized something was wrong and turned to ask Qu Wentai: “What’s wrong with him? What did you do to him?”
“Nonsense! He’s been like this since he was revived!” Qu Wentai, both joyful and hateful, shouted, “Let him go! Men, seize her!”
The surrounding guards closed in on the Princess Consort and Qu Deyong, about to pounce. The Princess Consort laughed coldly, drawing a short knife and holding it to Qu Deyong’s throat: “Qu Wentai, don’t push me, or Deyong and I will die together!”
Qu Wentai was shocked: “You… Put it down! Put the knife down quickly!”
The Princess Consort laughed bitterly: “We’ve had enough of this world, we’re tired of living. To die with Deyong is my blessing!”
“No, no, no!” Qu Wentai was terrified. “Put the knife down quickly, let’s talk!”
“Make them all back off!” the Princess Consort shouted fiercely. “I’m taking Deyong with me!”
“You… where are you taking him?” Qu Wentai asked.
“Where else can I go?” The Princess Consort smiled desolately. “My country is gone, my family scattered, my marriage broken. This lonely palace will be my final resting place! In this world, only Deyong will stay with me. Qu Wentai, make your men back off. I’m taking him back to the inner palace!”
“Oh…” Qu Wentai finally relaxed a bit. Though reluctant, he dared not anger the Princess Consort at this moment. He waved to the guards, “Back off, let them go!”
The Princess Consort led Qu Deyong away, full of vigilance. Qu Wentai called out loudly: “Yubo if you dare take Deyong away from the palace, you’ll be killed without mercy!”
The Princess Consort ignored him, leading Qu Deyong away. Qu Wentai staggered after them, watching their retreating figures. Exhausted, he waved his hand, and the palace guards followed.
No one had expected such a turn of events, and all were at a loss. But for Qu Zhisheng, these matters were of little concern. Seeing Qu Wentai about to follow, he quickly called out: “Father, what about me? When will you let Frost Moon and me leave?”
Qu Wentai paused, turned back, and looked at him with a complex expression. He sighed softly: “San’er if you want to go, you may leave now.”
Overjoyed, Qu Zhisheng took Dragon Frost Moon’s hand, and they knelt together: “Your son bids farewell to Father!”
“Go! Go! Gaochang is on the brink of destruction. Preserve a bloodline for our Qu family!” Qu Wentai said wearily. “San’er, Mohè Dùshè has surrounded the palace, you can’t leave through the main gate. Let Zhu Gui lead you out through the underground waterways!”
Qu Zhisheng kowtowed heavily several times, then stood up with Dragon Frost Moon.
Qu Wentai added: “Zhu Gui, take as much gold and silver treasure from the palace as you can carry! It should be enough for San’er’s lifetime expenses. He doesn’t know how to farm or trade, and I fear he won’t even be able to hold an ordinary official position in the Great Tang. Make good arrangements for him!”
“Yes, this old servant understands,” Zhu Gui said, his eyes reddening.
“Ah!” Qu Wentai looked gently at his son. “Zhu Gui, you’re San’er’s maternal relative. If you want to go with him, go together! At least there’ll be someone to take care of him.”
Zhu Gui cried loudly and said, “Your Majesty, the princess’s grave is still here. I will spend my life dying in Gaochang!”
The princess he referred to was the mother of Qu Zhisheng and the second consort of Qu Wentai. Qu Wentai himself felt distressed but replied, “Do as you wish!”