After the Princess left, since Xuanzang couldn’t leave, he sat quietly on the ground in the lotus position, fingering his prayer beads and silently reciting sutras. Fortunately, there was a hot spring under the bathroom floor, so the ground wasn’t cold. Ashu, however, loved the hot spring. Being young, he didn’t care about the two maids nearby. Seeing Xuanzang with his eyes closed, he quickly stripped naked and dove into the bath.
Xuanzang opened his eyes in surprise, but it was too late to stop him. The two maids didn’t try to stop him either and seemed quite interested in watching the child swim back and forth.
The royal palace of Gaochang was small, so the bathroom wasn’t far from the bedchamber. The voices of the Princess and Qu Wentai could be faintly heard. The Princess was saying, “Your Majesty, did the talk with Long Tuqizhi not go well?”
“Hmph.” Qu Wentai didn’t answer. Suddenly there was a loud clattering of cups and plates falling to the ground. He shouted angrily, “Why is there so much salt in this tea? Are you trying to kill me with salt?”
The Princess didn’t respond. Suddenly there was a scream of pain, followed by the sound of porcelain shattering, as if something heavy was stepping on broken shards. Qu Wentai sneered, “Why do you smell so fragrant? Are you trying to seduce men again?”
“Your Majesty—” the Princess cried out indignantly.
“Is that not the case?” Qu Wentai roared. There was a thud of a body falling to the ground. “If it weren’t for Gaochang’s reputation, I would truly want to slash that face of yours!”
“This face of mine has long been defiled in Your Majesty’s eyes,” the Princess’s voice sounded strange as if coming from the floor, with a hint of suppression and unclear enunciation. “If Your Majesty is dissatisfied, you might as well slash it.”
Xuanzang felt immense sympathy. What the Princess of the Yuwen family had said earlier was indeed not exaggerated at all. When they first met, Qu Wentai’s piety, compassion, and benevolence truly moved Xuanzang. But was a believer in Buddha necessarily a good person? Buddha said: All phenomena are illusory. He still lacked the divine eye to see through all beings!
Seeing that he intended to stand up, the two maids immediately stepped forward and said softly, “Please forgive us, Master. If you go out, we’ll have to tear off our clothes too.”
Xuanzang fell silent.
At that moment, Qu Wentai in the bedchamber suddenly cried out in panic: “Madwoman! You’re a madwoman—”
The Princess laughed hysterically and shouted, “Buddha said, the lotus grows in water, but is not stained by it; I am truly Buddha, untainted by the world. Haha, no one can defile me anymore!”
“Madwoman—” Qu Wentai roared. There was a dull thud as if a foot had kicked someone hard. Then came the sound of hurried footsteps, rapidly fading away.
Xuanzang stood up abruptly. The two maids, loyal to their duty, watched him warily, their hands on their collars. Xuanzang hurriedly said, “Something seems to have happened to the Princess. Go check quickly.”
“No need to look…” As the two maids hesitated, the curtain was slowly lifted, and the Princess walked in with disheveled hair. She was covered in blood, her face especially drenched. She had barely taken a step when she suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed.
Xuanzang leaped up to support her, his heart sinking. The Princess smiled miserably, but there was a deep gash on her left cheek, from the cheekbone to the corner of her mouth. Her entire face was disfigured!
Her hands were also covered in wounds, with pieces of broken porcelain embedded in her slender fingers and arms. On her chest, her white clothes bore a wet footprint.
“Princess—” Xuanzang burst into tears.
The Princess laughed bitterly: “Master, you are from my home and my fellow countryman. Could you call me Princess?”
“Princess, what exactly happened?” Xuanzang hurriedly tore off his cassock. Ashu came over and silently removed the porcelain shards from her hands, beginning to bandage her.
“It’s nothing,” the Princess seemed comforted by being called “Princess” and spoke nonchalantly, “He knocked over the teacup. When I went to pick it up, he stepped on my hand, grinding it into the broken porcelain. Hehe, don’t worry, Master. I’m used to it, I don’t even feel the pain anymore.”
“Princess!” The maids began to cry, “Your face…”
“I cut it myself with a porcelain shard,” the Princess said calmly. “Bring me a bronze mirror.”
“Princess, you should…” Xuanzang saw her face with flesh turned over and blood streaming, feeling immensely distressed, “not look at it.”
The Princess sternly ordered the maid: “Bring the bronze mirror!”
A maid ran crying to fetch the bronze mirror and placed it before her. The Princess stared at her reflection in the mirror, then suddenly smiled: “Master, only at this moment do I truly feel beautiful.”
Xuanzang and Ashu exchanged a glance, worried that the pain of disfigurement might have affected her mental state.
Tears streamed from the Princess’s eyes as she choked, “Master, the lotus grows in water with thirty-two petals, each beautiful, always tempting someone to pluck and defile it. But what if it’s broken? Damaged? Wouldn’t it be truly beautiful if it were free, unstained by mud, unpolluted by stagnant water?”
“Princess…” Xuanzang’s tears flowed as he spoke with a choked voice, gazing at her admiringly, “You are truly beautiful, like the golden Baluohua flower between Buddha’s fingers. No worldly appearance could surpass your grace.”
The Princess smiled gratefully, but her breath was weak. Xuanzang worriedly looked at the footprint on her chest, fearing that a heavy kick might have injured her internal organs.
The Princess slowly closed her eyes, murmuring: “My family married me off to a distant land, entrusting me to the Wusun king. A yurt for a room felt for walls, meat for food, and kumiss for drink. I constantly think of home, my heart aching within, wishing to be a swan goose to return to my homeland…”
Qu Wentai had intended to return to the harem to calm down but was frightened by the Princess’s mad scene. As he walked out, he cursed, “Mad! Mad! This woman has truly gone mad…”
“Your Majesty!” Before he had gone far, Zhu Gui came running.
“What are you shouting about!” Qu Wentai roared angrily, about to kick him.
Zhu Gui quickly knelt: “Your Majesty, Long Tuqizhi has come again, saying he wants to take Shueyue Zhi back to their country.”
Qu Wentai paused, thinking of Qu Zhisheng gave him a headache. He waved his hand: “Let him find Qu Zhisheng himself. If he can take him away, I’d be delighted.”
“But…” Zhu Gui frowned, whispering, “But the Third Prince lives in the harem.”
Qu Wentai shook his head, realizing he had truly been frightened by that mad woman. Indeed, how could they let Yanqi people run amok in the harem? He thought for a moment: “Go invite Long Tuqizhi here. I’ll personally take him to see Qu Zhisheng.”
Zhu Gui agreed and hurried off. Qu Wentai returned to the main hall, tidied his appearance, and ordered Qu Deyong to bring a hundred guards for protection. He was truly somewhat afraid of this unfilial son Qu Zhisheng. He did not doubt that terrifying Great David Bottle, for a simple reason – after hearing about the bottle’s mystical powers, he had also been trying to make a pact with the devil but never imagined Qu Zhisheng would beat him to it. That day, hiding in the shadows, he had personally witnessed the horrifying scene when that devil appeared!
“If the Yanqi people could force that unfilial son to use up his three wishes, wouldn’t I be able to get the bottle?” As this thought occurred to him, Qu Wentai’s heart began to race.
At this moment, Zhu Gui arrived with Long Tuqizhi. Long Tuqizhi brought sixteen dragon riders, fully armed, into the palace. Qu Deyong was somewhat displeased and whispered, “Father, this Long Tuqizhi is too disrespectful, bringing so many people into the harem.”
Qu Wentai smiled coldly: “Let him bring them. Hmph, the more the better.”
Qu Deyong didn’t know his thoughts and dared not say more. The two groups combined, neither bothering with the other and followed directly behind Qu Wentai to the rear palace where Qu Zhisheng lived alone.
The main gate of Qu Zhisheng’s rear palace was now unobstructed. He had removed the mud bricks that day to welcome Xuanzang and hadn’t had time to block it up again. As the group entered the courtyard, they heard laughter coming from the chamber – Qu Zhisheng and Shueyue Zhi flirting. The two were extremely happy, laughing and joking without any restraint.
Qu Wentai looked at Long Tuqizhi and smiled: “It seems the Princess Dragon Frost and my son are well-matched, quite reluctant to part!”
Long Tuqizhi had naturally heard his daughter’s voice and his face darkened. He walked into the courtyard first. As he entered, he ran straight into Qu Zhisheng, who was running out with melon rinds on his head and grape wine stains on his clothes, looking disheveled. As he ran, he called back into the room: “Shueyue Zhi, you cheated—”
Seeing so many people, the smile on Qu Zhisheng’s face instantly vanished, and he looked stunned. He didn’t recognize Long Tuqizhi but was familiar with his attire. His heart sank immediately, and he bowed to Qu Wentai: “Father, who are these people? Why have you brought so many?”
Qu Wentai said coldly: “This is the King of Yanqi, Shueyue Zhi’s father. He has come, naturally, to take Shueyue Zhi back.”
Qu Zhisheng’s face contorted, glaring darkly at Long Tuqizhi. Dragon Shueyue Zhi, hearing something was wrong outside, quickly ran out. Seeing Long Tuqizhi, she was startled and bowed formally: “Shueyue Zhi greets Father.”
Upon seeing Shueyue Zhi, the gloom on Qu Zhisheng’s face instantly dissipated. He pulled her close and sincerely bowed to Long Tuqizhi: “Father-in-law, Shueyue Zhi is very happy here. I did not abduct her as rumored; we are truly in love. Please, Father-in-law, do not separate us.”
Long Tuqizhi’s nose nearly twisted with anger. He raged, “Who is your father-in-law? You little beast, you abducted my daughter, insulting Yanqi. We are now mortal enemies! We’ll settle this account later. Shueyue Zhi, come with me!”
The words “little beast” truly stung Qu Wentai. He felt secretly annoyed but didn’t show it, watching coldly.
Long Tuqizhi reached out to grab Dragon Shueyue Zhi, but Qu Zhisheng’s reaction was unexpected to all. He suddenly yanked her away and ran into the chamber! Long Tuqizhi hadn’t expected Qu Zhisheng to run, his hand grasping air. He was stunned for a moment before reacting and chasing after them. But Qu Zhisheng had planned, shoving Dragon Shueyue Zhi into the palace and quickly pushing the main door shut. Long Tuqizhi was focused only on the chase, and suddenly seeing a large door swinging towards him, he panicked. He quickly raised his head but was hit squarely by the door.
The palace doors were made of red willow wood with copper nails. Long Tuqizhi’s head smashed right into a copper nail. With a bang, he fell on his backside, a lump immediately swelling on his forehead, his nose bridge caved in, blood gushing. Everyone was stunned by this turn of events. Zhu Gui hurried forward to help him up. The crowd nearly burst out laughing – the King of Yanqi before them now had a face flattened like a plane, with a single horn growing from his forehead…
“You little beast!” Long Tuqizhi was nearly driven mad, kicking and pounding on the door. “Open up! I’ll chop you to pieces!”
“Father-in-law, don’t force me!” Qu Zhisheng sounded even angrier than him. “You are Shueyue Zhi’s royal father, so you are also my royal father. Know that I do not fear you – I show you respect as a junior, treating you with courtesy… I will not let Shueyue Zhi go back with you. If you push me further, don’t blame me for being merciless!”
Long Tuqizhi stood swaying, feeling pain all over his nose and forehead. He wiped his face, smearing blood everywhere. He angrily smeared the blood on the door and shouted, “Is this your idea of courtesy? Bah! You little beast, if you don’t hand her over today, we’ll be enemies for life! Men!” He wiped the blood from his face and yelled at the dragon riders, “Break it down for me!”
The dragon riders looked at each other. Unlike Long Tuqizhi who was physically and mentally wounded and had lost his reason, they were hesitant about breaking down palace doors in someone else’s country of Gaochang… was that okay? But seeing their king’s furious expression, and noticing that Qu Wentai didn’t object, they boldly took action. There were no battering rams in the palace, but there were plenty of mud bricks. Qu Zhisheng had brought a large pile to seal the door, all stacked nearby. Each dragon rider grabbed a brick and with a heave, smashed it against the door.
The palace bricks were made to the same specifications as the city wall bricks – one foot long, seven inches wide, and five inches thick, weighing no less than twenty or thirty catties each. With a thud against the door, it shook and dust flew. These dragon riders were all valiant warriors of Yanqi, with amazing strength. As the sixteen men each smashed a brick against it, the door hinges cracked and the two-door panels began to sway precariously.
As the door crashed down with a thunderous boom, Dragon Tuqi rushed into the great hall, curved sword in hand. Sunlight streamed through the dome above, illuminating swirling dust. He paused, taking in the scene before him. To his shock, he saw Qu Zhisheng and Dragon Shuangyue standing hand-in-hand at the far end of the corridor, their faces etched with despair.
“You little beast,” Dragon Tuqi snarled, a cruel smile twisting his features. “Where do you think you can run? Let go of Shuangyue!”
Qu Zhisheng gazed sorrowfully at Dragon Shuangyue. “Your father has come for you.”
“Father,” Dragon Shuangyue pleaded, gripping Qu Zhisheng’s hand tightly as tears filled her eyes. “Please, let us be! I’ve truly fallen in love with Zhisheng. I won’t let the enmity between our nations stand in the way of our love. Forget you ever had a daughter – we’d rather leave the Western Regions forever than be parted!”
The princess’s acting talents were remarkable. Her tearful appeal would have softened even the hardest of hearts. Qu Zhisheng was moved to tears himself, overcome with grief.
“What are you saying?” Dragon Tuqi asked, momentarily confused. Then, realization dawning, he softened his tone. “Shuangyue, you’ve been bewitched. Didn’t you always look down on this boy before? You’re the treasure of our Yanqi people, the acknowledged phoenix of the Western Regions. How could he ever be worthy of you? Has he threatened you? Don’t worry, once I’ve dealt with him, I’ll take you home.”
“No, Father!” Dragon Shuangyue cried out. “I truly love him.”
Ignoring her protests, Dragon Tuqi fixed his gaze on Qu Wentai. “Qu, if you don’t intervene, I’ll have to take her by force. If that little beast gets hurt in the process, don’t blame me!”
Qu Wentai replied coolly, “If he’s a beast in your eyes, no better than livestock, do as you will.”
Dragon Tuqi hesitated, sensing Qu Wentai’s anger beneath his calm exterior. His fury mounting, he barked, “Men! Escort the princess back to our country!”
As sixteen Dragon Riders rushed forward to seize Dragon Shuangyue, Qu Zhisheng gave her a pained smile. “Shuangyue…”
She gazed at him tenderly, throwing herself into his arms. “I won’t blame you,” she whispered.
“They forced my hand—” Qu Zhisheng murmured. Suddenly, he reached behind him and yanked down a curtain, revealing a gleaming brass vessel – the Vase of King David – enshrined in a Buddhist altar. In the sunlight, its intricate patterns seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly life.
The Dragon Riders froze. Dragon Tuqi drew a sharp breath, his voice low and menacing. “The Vase of King David! Well, let’s see what magic it truly holds. Men—”
Before he could finish, an arrow thudded into the ground at his feet. Startled, Dragon Tuqi heard the unmistakable sounds of battle erupting outside – arrows whistling through the air, weapons clashing, screams of pain and fury. Nearly a hundred black-clad, masked warriors had launched a surprise attack on the palace guards in the courtyard. Though the guards numbered only a hundred, they were caught off guard. The first volley of arrows felled over thirty men. Despite Qu Deyong’s bravery, he was overwhelmed and forced to retreat into the palace.
Qu Wentai stood dumbfounded. “What’s happening?” he demanded.
His answer came in the form of thundering footsteps. Warriors swarmed up the stairs to the second and third floors, their blades glinting in the dim light. Over a hundred men took control of the upper levels, bows drawn and aimed at those below. Qu Wentai’s heart sank as the gravity of the situation became clear.
“Who are you?” he shouted.
“They are your enemies, as am I.” A cold laugh echoed from the corridor.
Qu Wentai whirled around to see his queen entering, escorted by a gaunt old man and surrounded by black-clad warriors. Behind them, to his shock, were Xuanzang and Ashu!
The queen’s face bore a vicious scar stretching from cheekbone to mouth, still bleeding freely. Her hand was wrapped in a monk’s robe, also stained with blood.
Qu Wentai’s face darkened. “What… what is the meaning of this?”
The queen let out a chilling laugh. “Your Majesty, don’t you understand? I’ve rebelled.”
Qu Wentai was stunned into silence. Dragon Tuqi and Qu Zhisheng stared in disbelief, none of them had imagined the Queen of Gaochang staging a coup. Dragon Tuqi, in particular, cursed his ill fortune at stumbling into a political upheaval.
“Why?” Qu Wentai demanded harshly.
“Why?” The queen’s laughter turned shrill. “You ask me why? A princess of the great Sui, a woman who loved you deeply, tortured and humiliated endlessly for eighteen years – what else could remain between us? Did you ask ‘why’ when you held her face underwater, nearly drowning her? Did you ask ‘why’ when you lashed her body bloody with a whip? Did you ask ‘why’ when you sent her to the Turks’ tents?”
Everyone was shocked, not just by the king’s cruelty, but by the terrifying realization that they might be silenced for hearing such dark secrets of the palace.
Sweat beaded on Qu Wentai’s brow as fear finally showed in his expression. His lips trembled as he turned a bitter smile to Xuanzang. “Master… have you also turned against your disciple?”
Though his words were nonsensical, Xuanzang felt a deep pang of sorrow. He shook his head. “This humble monk is merely the queen’s captive.”
Qu Wentai sighed in relief. After a long moment of silence, he spoke: “Yubo, I know I’ve wronged you greatly. When you first came to me in the eighth year of Daye, we were truly in love. How can you say I never loved you? But in just one year, you destroyed that proud prince, that noble youth! You pushed me to reform, so I reformed. You told me to drive out the Turks, so I drove them out. You urged me to suppress dissent, so I suppressed it.
I know you were fulfilling the Sui Emperor’s mission. I loved you, I admired the Han people, and I was willing to do it all – even in the face of opposition from all of Gaochang, even facing plots and betrayals, coups, and bloodshed. For your sake, I never wavered! But you didn’t understand politics, nor the hearts of the people. Once we raised our swords and cut down our enemies, there was no turning back! In that coup, it was your mercy, your ignorance, that allowed them to seize the royal city! Yubo, you ruined me! You ruined Gaochang!”
Qu Wentai’s voice rose to a hoarse shout, tears streaming down his face as he laughed bitterly. “Yubo, you cost me my kingdom! You turned me into a homeless dog! You made me grovel under the Turks’ tents! You stripped away my dignity, shattered my confidence, and destroyed all my ambition and spirit! Yubo, I hate you, I truly hate you!”
The queen smiled faintly, but the scar and blood made her expression grotesque. “Yes! Ever since we fled our lost kingdom, we’ve hated each other like this. Love is gone, affection is gone, everything is gone. Whether I’m humiliated, tortured, or abused, I no longer care about this body. But I still have my hatred. One year of love, seventeen years of hate – Wentai, how can I let go?”
Qu Wentai wept, muttering, “Karma… this is our karma…”
“Wentai, you should go now,” the queen said mournfully. “The great Sui has fallen, our love has died, and with your death, even hatred will fade. Let our ill-fated bond, which began with a coup, end with a coup. Perhaps this is the cycle of cause and effect that Buddha ordained.”
The queen turned away silently, weakly waving her hand. “Kill him.”
As the man beside her raised his hand to strike, Xuanzang suddenly rushed forward, throwing himself in front of Qu Wentai with arms spread wide. “Amitabha Buddha! Princess, please reconsider!”
The man hesitated, but the queen seemed unsurprised. She spoke softly, “Master, I truly want to kill you. With your death, Gaochang would break completely from the Tang, becoming a pure land for us Sui refugees. But you are a great and virtuous monk, and I cannot bear the heavy sin of killing a monk. In this life, I am destined for the deepest hell, with countless sins awaiting me that I can never atone for. I don’t wish to add to my transgressions. Please, don’t force my hand.”
Xuanzang smiled gently, his face full of compassion. “Princess, this monk seeks only the Buddha. To me, swords and arrows are all manifestations of Buddha. If my death can bring you liberation, why should I fear it? But let me tell you this: The past mind cannot be grasped. The present mind cannot be grasped. The future mind cannot be grasped. Why can they not be grasped? Because what you obtain is only an illusion. The past is like a lamp – when the lamp is extinguished, what remains before your eyes is merely its afterimage. The lotus grows from the water, yet remains unstained. Since you are already a lotus, why entangle yourself in worldly dust?”
“Since you are already a lotus, why entangle yourself in worldly dust?” the queen repeated softly, seemingly in a trance. She sighed, “If he doesn’t die, how can I wash away the filth on my body?”
Xuanzang asked with a gentle smile, “If he dies, how will that wash away the filth on your body? If he lives, how is there any filth on you at all?”
The queen was visibly moved, her gaze unfocused as she fell into deep thought. Xuanzang let out a quiet sigh of relief. It was only then that Qu Wentai realized his clothes were soaked with cold sweat.
Just at that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the courtyard. Suddenly, loud crashes reverberated as windows on all sides were smashed open. Palace guards poured in through the broken windows, their bows trained on the Sui rebels.
Everyone froze, stunned by this sudden turn of events. What had seemed like a peacefully resolving coup had taken an unexpected twist?
Zhu Gui strode in with Zhang Xiong, as palace guards surrounded the rebels. Zhu Gui rushed to Qu Wentai’s side, crying, “Your Majesty, are you alright? It’s over now. Your servant managed to sneak out and alert the general. These traitors are now trapped like turtles in a jar.”
“Your Majesty,” Zhang Xiong said, his face flushed with shame, “I beg your punishment. If not for Chief Steward Zhu’s warning, I would have committed an unforgivable crime.”
“Tai’an! Tai’an…” Qu Wentai’s eyes grew moist as he felt the loyalty of Zhu Gui and Zhang Xiong. Finally able to relax, he fixed a cold gaze on the queen. “Order your people to lay down their weapons!”
The queen ignored him, instead turning to Xuanzang. “Master, you’re right. Whether he lives or dies makes no difference to me. He is merely the mud beneath the lotus, the stagnant water in the pond.”
Deep pain flashed in Qu Wentai’s eyes. Gritting his teeth, he barked, “Kill her!”
As the guards raised their bows to aim at the queen, she turned to face Qu Wentai. A mocking smile played on her lips. Qu Wentai suddenly felt uneasy, though he couldn’t pinpoint why. Before he could process this feeling, he felt a chill against his neck. A low voice spoke from behind him: “Father, we cannot kill her.”
Qu Wentai turned his head with difficulty, only to freeze in shock. He saw Qu Deyong holding a curved sword against his neck, his cold face filled with mockery. Everyone was stunned. This coup had taken yet another unexpected turn – who could have imagined that the Second Prince was involved in the Queen’s rebellion?
Xuanzang glanced at Dragon Shuangyue, noting her calm demeanor and the faint smile on her lips. He couldn’t help but sigh softly, “Princess, I suppose this turn of events was also part of your plan?”
Dragon Shuangyue leaned close to Xuanzang’s ear and whispered, “Master, I beg your pardon. Please, continue to watch.”
Qu Zhisheng, who had been worried about Dragon Shuangyue, quickly asked, “Shuangyue, are you alright?”
Dragon Shuangyue adopted a vulnerable, girlish demeanor and nestled into his embrace. “Third Brother, I’m so scared.”
“Don’t be afraid! Don’t be afraid! I’ll protect you with the Vase of King David!” Qu Zhisheng declared boldly.
Xuanzang felt a chill run through him at this scene, growing increasingly wary of the princess.
Meanwhile, Qu Wentai stood dumbfounded, his mind in turmoil. He could understand the Queen’s opposition after seventeen years of hatred, but Deyong…
“Why are you doing this?” Qu Wentai asked numbly. “You’re my most beloved son, my closest kin… Why betray me?”
“Because you forced me to!” Qu Deyong replied calmly.
“I forced you?” Qu Wentai exploded with rage, his eyes bulging. “I gave you a father’s love, entrusted you with the palace guards, made you the Right General, and placed my life and the safety of the entire royal city in your hands! After my death, I was even going to give you the throne of Gaochang! Deyong, what haven’t I given you? How dare you say I forced you? Forced you to betray me, to rebel?”
The Queen glided over, linking her arm with Qu Deyong’s, and said mockingly, “You even gave him your queen.”
“You…” Qu Wentai finally understood their relationship, almost driven mad by the extreme humiliation. “You dogs!”
Qu Deyong seemed somewhat ashamed, but the Queen held her head high. “We’re not dogs. We’re just two pitiful souls you’ve driven to desperation! For seventeen years, you’ve tortured me daily. Without Deyong, do you think I would have had the courage to live until now?”
“I wasn’t talking to you!” Qu Wentai spat furiously, then fixed his gaze on Qu Deyong, his hatred palpable. “I’m asking him! What have I ever done to wrong you? From childhood, you’ve been my most beloved son. I’ve poured all my efforts into you. By Gaochang’s laws, the throne should pass to the eldest legitimate son, but I’ve repeatedly considered deposing Renshu to make you Crown Prince. Tell me, how have I wronged you?”
“You’ve treated me well?” Qu Deyong’s anger flared. He shouted, “My elder brother and I were once as close as hands and feet, one scholarly, one martial, working in perfect harmony. From childhood, my dream was to be a great general, helping my brother on the battlefield. I never wanted to be the King of Gaochang! But you, after I saved you from the chaos of war, you rashly promised to pass the throne to me—”
“I didn’t speak rashly!” Qu Wentai shouted back.
“It’s precisely because you didn’t speak rashly that I’ve been driven to this point!” Qu Deyong’s eyes reddened. “It was your promise that made my brother view me as an enemy! But after you regained the throne, you went back on your word, using the people’s opposition as an excuse to make my brother Crown Prince. Father, do you know? I couldn’t go back! My brother pretends to be magnanimous, but he’s narrow-minded. Once I contested the throne, he would never let me live after you passed away! And because of your promise, many military leaders saw me as a valuable asset, pushing me towards seizing the throne. Father, my rebellion today is entirely your doing!”
Qu Wentai was stunned, at a loss for words. He mumbled, “I… I was going to depose Renshu and make you heir.”
“Father,” Qu Deyong said bitterly, “The more you say such things, the more you push me towards rebellion! Elder Brother is well-versed in Han culture, while I have good relations with the Turks. Your national policy changes from dawn to dusk, and your decisions are uncertain. When you sought refuge with the Turks, you wanted to depose Elder Brother and pass the throne to me. I prepared myself mentally, but then you changed your mind and wanted to ally with the Tang, only to change again. How am I to follow your will?
You only tell me to be patient, patient, but it’s precisely my patience that you’ve worn away bit by bit. Now that you’ve welcomed Master Xuanzang, everyone in Gaochang knows you’ve decided to curry favor with the Tang, making it impossible for me to inherit the throne. But over these years, countless people have tied their fates to me. With Elder Brother’s methods, once he ascends the throne, these people will surely be purged. Father, these are my comrades who have fought beside me through death and carnage. I can only make this desperate gamble, for them and for myself, to secure a better future!”
Qu Wentai’s face was filled with anguish. He looked at Xuanzang, then at Zhang Xiong, and suddenly asked, “Tai’an, is… is this true of me?”
Zhang Xiong was silent for a moment, then nodded wordlessly. “Your Majesty, I don’t know much about the Second Prince, but I do know something of the Crown Prince’s thoughts. When you implemented Han-style reforms years ago, the Crown Prince was already grown. It was under your influence that he decided to study Han culture, ultimately becoming so well-versed. But you soon abandoned the Han system, seeking refuge with the Turks, and showed nothing but disdain for the Crown Prince. There was a time when the Crown Prince considered abandoning Confucian learning to please you, but you favored Turkic customs when relying on the Turks, and Han culture when depending on the Central Plains. The Crown Prince didn’t know how to adapt, fearing he would lose the throne, so he’s remained silent on state affairs all these years.”
Qu Wentai let out a long sigh and closed his eyes. Qu Deyong said, “General, order your men to lay down their weapons! Otherwise, you’ll force me to kill His Majesty!”
Zhang Xiong broke out in a cold sweat and looked at Qu Wentai. As Qu Wentai slumped down weakly, Qu Deyong’s blade, still at his throat, sliced into his skin, nearly severing his head. Qu Wentai broke out in a cold sweat. He was frightened, and Zhang Xiong even more so, hastily ordering his soldiers to lay down their arms.
Qu Deyong ordered Zhang Xiong to lead his men out of the palace and stand unarmed in the courtyard. He then took out a horn from his robe and blew it. The deep sound echoed through the palace. From all directions came the sound of heavy footsteps and clanking armor as fully armed warriors took control of the entire palace. It was Gaochang’s elite Central Army!
In terms of military organization, Gaochang followed the Southern and Northern Dynasties system, divided into five armies: Central, Outer, Cavalry, Special, and Capital. However, in this small country, their functions differed from those in the Central Plains. The Central Army, as the name suggests, guarded the palace. Though small in number, they were the most elite and had always been under Qu Deyong’s control. The Outer Army consisted of troops stationed in other prefectures. Gaochang had only one cavalry unit, also stationed in the royal city and controlled by Qu Deyong. The Capital Army was the main force stationed in Gaochang’s capital, traditionally led by Zhang Xiong. The Special Army was negligible, essentially a reserve force.
Qu Wentai himself only controlled a personal guard of 300 men. This shows how much power Qu Deyong held and the extent of Qu Wentai’s trust in him.
As soon as Zhang Xiong heard the footsteps, he knew the entire Central Army of over a thousand men had been mobilized, and immediately abandoned any thought of resistance. Qu Deyong, triumphant, ordered Xue Xiansheng’s men to withdraw, replacing them with his own Central Army troops to control Qu Wentai, Xuanzang, Dragon Shuangyue, and the others. He then asked the Queen, “Yubo, can your people withdraw now?”
The Queen smiled. “This is your palace, your kingdom. We refugees are merely under your protection. Now that you control the situation, they can naturally lay down their weapons and become law-abiding citizens.”
With that, she waved her hand, ordering Xue Xiansheng to lead the refugees out of the hall.
Qu Deyong was satisfied. “Yubo, I will never forget your kindness to me, even when I become king.” He gazed at the Queen’s injured face, suddenly feeling a pang of sympathy. He gently pulled her into his arms and said softly, “Why were you so foolish? We’ve schemed for so many years, and just as we’re about to succeed, why did you mar your beautiful face?”
The Queen replied sorrowfully, “Deyong, beauty fades with time. It’s this face that has brought me a lifetime of misery. It’s better to destroy it. After your success, I’ll enter the imperial temple and spend the rest of my days with the ancient Buddhas and their lamps.”
“Yubo, what are you saying?” Qu Deyong’s face flushed with anger. “In those difficult days, we supported each other. Do you think I love you merely for your face? I don’t care about your past or the humiliation you’ve suffered, because I know your true worth. According to the Turkic custom of levirate marriage, you will be my future queen!”
Qu Wentai was furious, shouting, “You shameless dogs! Have you no decency?”
Qu Deyong sneered, “Before my grandfather, Gaochang practiced levirate marriage. He also married my great-grandfather’s widow. What’s wrong with me restoring the old custom?”
Qu Wentai was left speechless.
Qu Deyong summoned a general and said coldly, “By His Majesty’s order, Crown Prince Qu Renshu is found guilty of colluding with foreign ministers to plot rebellion. He is to be executed immediately. Go, send my elder brother to hell with a cup of poisoned wine, let him die with dignity!”
The general bowed, “As you command!” He then quickly led a group of Central Army soldiers to search for and arrest Qu Renshu.
Xuanzang said sorrowfully, “Second Prince, by turning against your brother, do you wish to enter the Avici Hell?”
Qu Deyong replied coldly, “If the Emperor of the Great Tang hadn’t turned against his brothers, how would he have gained the throne?”
Xuanzang tried to step forward to intervene but was held back at swordpoint by the Central Army soldiers, unable to move. Qu Wentai sighed, tears streaming down his face.
Qu Deyong was satisfied to see the entire situation under his control, but he was uncertain how to handle the Yanqi people.
“King Dragon, do you understand my difficulties?” Qu Deyong asked Dragon Tuqi with a smile, though his voice carried a hint of menace.
Dragon Tuqi, having navigated the treacherous waters of Western Region politics for a lifetime, immediately understood despite his hot-tempered nature. He smiled and said, “Your country’s coup is none of Yanqi’s concern. I came only to negotiate with the King of Gaochang. Since the king has changed, as long as Yanqi’s conditions are met, we will naturally restore friendly relations between our countries and fully support Gaochang’s stability.”
Qu Deyong’s interest was piqued. He pondered for a moment before saying, “As for your conditions, Shuangyue will naturally be returned to you. However, Qu Zhisheng… cannot be handed over to you for punishment.” He glanced at Qu Zhisheng with a hint of apology. “He is, after all, my brother, a member of the Qu royal family. We cannot allow foreigners to humiliate him. We will execute him here in Gaochang, with a single stroke of the sword. As for moving the Silk Road south, I can agree in principle. Once Gaochang is stabilized, I’m willing to come to Yanqi personally to discuss the details. How does that sound?”
Dragon Tuqi was stunned by this unexpected windfall, his mind momentarily slow to react. He had come to negotiate, prepared to make exorbitant demands and then bargain down. But he never imagined that a coup would deliver control of the Silk Road without a drop of bloodshed! Qu Deyong’s willingness to negotiate in Yanqi showed his sincerity. How could Dragon Tuqi refuse? He immediately declared, “Your Majesty, your ascension to the throne of Gaochang is not only a blessing for the people of Gaochang but also for our Yanqi. You will surely have Yanqi’s most sincere friendship. At Your Majesty’s word, the armies of our three Yanqi states stationed at the border are willing to make every effort to ensure Gaochang’s stability.”
Qu Deyong was also overwhelmed by this unexpected good fortune. With the strong support of Yanqi, Kucha, and Shule, who in the Western Regions could challenge his position, let alone the opposition within Gaochang? Qu Wentai and Zhang Xiong’s faces turned ashen.
Having reached an agreement, Dragon Tuqi no longer wished to involve himself in the coup. He strode over to Dragon Shuangyue and grabbed her arm. “Shuangyue, come with me!”
Dragon Shuangyue clung tightly to Qu Zhisheng’s arm, her face filled with terror. “Father, I don’t… Zhisheng, save me—”
Xuanzang and Ashu watched Dragon Shuangyue’s performance coldly, puzzled as to why she continued this charade when her plan seemed to have largely succeeded.
“Let her go!” Qu Zhisheng’s eyes flashed red as he shouted hoarsely.
Dragon Tuqi’s face darkened. He drew his curved sword in a flash, swinging it towards Qu Zhisheng as he roared, “You little beast, I’ll cut you down right here!”
The blade flashed like snow, about to strike Qu Zhisheng down. Xuanzang was startled and rushed forward to shield Qu Zhisheng. “Amitabha Buddha! Your Majesty, please show mercy—”
Dragon Tuqi was shocked – he didn’t dare to slay a high monk from the Great Tang and forcibly stopped his blade. Dragon Shuangyue quickly reminded, “Third Brother, the Vase of King David!”
Qu Zhisheng came to his senses. He seized the opportunity to pull Dragon Shuangyue behind the Vase of King David. His face twisted with madness as he drew a small knife, cut his finger, and let the blood drip onto the Star of David seal at the mouth of the vase.
Everyone was stunned by this strange action. Qu Zhisheng, like a cornered wolf, his expression contorted, shouted hoarsely, “Whoever dares to take Shuangyue from me, I will curse them to never achieve salvation!”
Dragon Tuqi’s face showed mockery. “Playing with magic tricks, as if this broken vase could scare—”
Before he could finish, his face froze in astonishment. The Vase of King David suddenly underwent an eerie transformation. As the blood seeped in, a thin line of red quickly spread through the intricate patterns. The blood seemed to have a life of its own. The vase emitted a faint red glow, and between its inner and outer layers, clouds and mists swirled. A black vapor coiled around like an evil dragon struggling to break free.