Yao Ying returned to her courtyard with General Jin, delighted to find that Xie Qing and the others had returned.

The group greeted each other warmly. When Xie Chong and the others saw the messenger hawk, they could barely contain their excitement, gathering around to admire it and competing to feed it.

General Jin was in high spirits, his talons gripping the perch firmly.

More than ten guards stretched out their arms offering meat pieces, looking at him expectantly.

General Jin swept his gaze around haughtily before snatching a piece of meat offered by one of the guards – a far cry from his weakened state when Garuda had attacked him earlier.

That night, Yuanjue brought a falconer to teach the guards how to train messenger hawks.

The next morning, Yao Ying was awakened by a series of crashing sounds, followed by something slamming hard against the door panel with a loud thud.

Footsteps scattered in chaos as guards called out anxiously.

Sharp, urgent bird cries pierced through the commotion.

Yao Ying jolted awake, hurriedly threw on a fur coat, and pulled open the door.

Two black shapes were entangled in mid-air, sharp talons mercilessly striking at each other as feathers scattered.

Yao Ying’s mouth twitched: why was Garuda fighting with General Jin again?

Unable to match Garuda, General Jin suddenly folded his wings and dove down, lunging toward Yao Ying.

The arriving falconer whistled sharply and raised his arm wearing a falconer’s gauntlet to draw General Jin away from Yao Ying – she had just gotten up and wasn’t wearing protective gear; the talons would have injured her.

The falconer led General Jin away while Garuda beat its wings, its graceful figure disappearing behind the snow-covered courtyard walls.

Yao Ying pulled her fur coat tight, torn between laughter and tears: was the entire temple Garuda’s territory?

It seemed they would have to send General Jin outside the city.

As she pondered this, turning back to her room, she casually glanced down. Her toes touched something soft, sending a chill down her spine.

A pile of dead rats lay scattered in front of her door.

“These rats were brought by the Buddha’s Son’s falcon,” said Xie Chong, who had just finished practicing martial arts and was catching his breath by the doorway, drenched in sweat. “Seven or eight of them!”

Yao Ying was stunned.

Could Garuda be apologizing to her?

Yao Ying looked at the dead rats, shaking her head with a smile. She called someone to clean them up, then summoned the guards to discuss Zhu Lüyun’s group.

She needed to select someone to monitor the Northern Rong embassy at the guesthouse.

Xie Chong immediately volunteered, making a throat-slitting gesture: “Princess, I can kill her without anyone knowing.”

Yao Ying shook her head.

Xie Chong looked deeply disappointed.

Yao Ying pointed to another guard: “Xie Yan, your Hu language is the best. You go watch the Northern Rong embassy.”

Xie Yan was tall, and among the guards, he had learned the Hu language the fastest. Moreover, his mother was a Hu woman, and he had inherited her features – dressed in a short robe and boots, he looked no different from the Hu people.

“Remember, you’re not going there to kill anyone.”

Xie Yan acknowledged this, asking: “Princess, what should I do then?”

“Watch them, follow them, and whatever happens, don’t alert them to your presence,” Yao Ying instructed.

The Princess Imperial understood Zhu Lüyun and knew she couldn’t accomplish much. Yet she still sent her as an envoy – there must be other reasons.

Xie Yan nodded: “I understand.”

After breakfast, Yao Ying wrote letters to Yang Qian, Yuchi Damo, and the merchant caravans outside the city.

A guard informed her that the letters couldn’t be delivered anymore: “The royal court’s four armies are acting tyrannically, using martial law as an excuse to guard all city gates. Starting today, the temple’s monks cannot go out, let alone leave the Holy City. All letters will be confiscated by them.”

Xie Chong lowered his voice, worried: “Will their Buddha’s Son completely lose power? Princess, should we make preparations early?”

The others joined in the concern – outside the city, the noble houses’ private armies were packed densely in layers. The Buddha’s Son only had the Central Army. If the new Regent turned out to be someone like Dong Zhuo, wouldn’t the Buddha’s Son become merely a puppet?

Yao Ying didn’t explain anything to them, only instructing everyone not to go out in the coming days.

Amid this chaos, someone came to report: “Princess, Ashina General’s attendant has arrived.”

The visitor wore the Central Army’s blue robes with a white cloak and produced Bisuo’s bronze token. “Princess, General Ashina requests your presence at the Scripture Cave to discuss something – the matter the General mentioned to you yesterday.”

Yao Ying remembered this, took the letters she had written, and followed the guards out of the courtyard.

The temple atmosphere was heavy and solemn. Monks gathered in the front hall chanting sutras, while the corridors and courtyards were empty, barely a person in sight.

Following behind the guards, Yao Ying walked for a long time, her brows furrowing slightly. The Scripture Cave was in the northern part of the temple – shouldn’t they be climbing higher? Why did it feel like they were heading south?

She glanced at the guards, confirming that one was indeed Bisuo’s attendant, but remained puzzled. She exchanged a look with Xie Qing.

After silently communicating with their eyes for a moment, Xie Qing’s face turned cold as she gripped her sword handle.

Yao Ying maintained her composure while scanning their surroundings. All was silent, but their opponents were four large, imposing men – too many for Xie Qing to handle alone.

Her mind raced through possible escape plans, but before she could think of one, the guard suddenly stopped without warning. His figure swayed as he turned, fingers spread wide, throwing a cloud of powder at her.

Yao Ying had been watching the guard’s movements carefully. She immediately held her breath, covered her nose and mouth with her sleeve, and quickly retreated, turning to run without a moment’s hesitation.

She couldn’t help Xie Qing – staying would only be a burden. She had to run as far as she could.

The guard hadn’t expected Yao Ying to react so quickly. He froze for a moment before lunging forward, but Xie Qing drew her sword to meet him. Two other guards slashed at her with their blades, but she dodged, maintaining a tight defense.

The fourth guard seized the opportunity to chase after Yao Ying.

Xie Qing felt desperate inside and turned to try to block him, but the other three immediately spread out to block her path. Unable to break free, she could only grit her teeth and fight back.

Yao Ying ran toward the distant towering pagoda caves, but behind her, rapid footsteps approached. The guard had caught up, his large shadow looming over her as his fan-like hand reached for her braid.

A rush of air swept past the back of her head as cold fingers firmly gripped her shoulder.

…

After Yao Ying left, Xie Chong and the others continued their martial arts practice.

Footsteps sounded at the door as several armed Central Army guards entered the courtyard, saying: “Where is Princess Wenzhao? General Ashina requests her presence at the Scripture Cave.”

Xie Chong and the others looked bewildered: “Didn’t you just come earlier with this message? The Princess has already gone to the Scripture Cave.”

The guards exchanged alarmed looks before immediately turning to give chase. They searched the Scripture Cave but found no sign of Yao Ying’s group, causing great alarm.

“Quickly report to the General!”

Bisuo was standing guard at the hall when the guards found him and reported the situation. His expression changed drastically.

“Don’t alarm the King.”

Bisuo quickly collected himself and commanded the guards in a deep voice.

“Take two squadrons and search thoroughly from south to north. The security is tight everywhere – no one can take the Princess out of the temple. They must still be hiding inside.”

A guard anxiously said: “General, they have your bronze token – they might have already left the temple! We must have the monk soldiers help search, find them quickly, but the monk soldiers only take orders from the King…”

Bisuo’s face turned dark as water.

The assembly to establish the new Regent was imminent – he didn’t want Tanmoluojia to be distracted.

But if Princess Wenzhao had been taken and hidden away, if something happened to her… his conscience wouldn’t rest easy.

The Princess had called him a friend.

Bisuo closed his eyes briefly before turning to enter the hall.

Tanmoluojia sat cross-legged before the Buddha statue with his back turned, his breathing barely perceptible, as if in deep meditation.

Bisuo knelt on one knee.

“My King, Princess Wenzhao has been taken away by someone impersonating my attendant… They may have already left the temple. Please command the monk soldiers to conduct a thorough search.”

The hall was as still as deep water, completely silent.

Bisuo waited a while, thinking Tanmoluojia hadn’t heard him and wondering if he should repeat himself. He looked up and froze.

Tanmoluojia had already walked to stand before him, his steps light and composed, his face serene, his jade eyes deep and without a ripple of emotion.

Yet those thick brows, gathering the essence of mountains and rivers, were slightly furrowed.

“When did this happen?”

Bisuo came to his senses and answered: “Just now.”

Tanmoluojia’s face showed no expression as he stepped out of the inner hall and summoned the monk soldiers guarding the main hall. “Search toward the south.”

The northern side was dense with pagodas and caves beneath the rocky cliffs, with monk soldiers patrolling every half hour. The southern area was flatter and more open, with many vacant monk quarters. These days the monk soldiers had all withdrawn to the northern main hall. If someone wanted to take Yao Ying out of the temple, that route would be easier for escape.

At Tanmoluojia’s command, the monk soldiers moved swiftly, dispersing along their assigned patrol routes.

Bisuo searched anxiously with his guards.

After a while, shouts came from the south.

“Found her!”

“Found Princess Wenzhao!”

“Princess Wenzhao is safe and unharmed.”

Bisuo was overjoyed and led his men to meet them.

Shadows filled the corridor as several monk soldiers escorted Yao Ying and Xie Qing down the stone steps.

Yao Ying’s braid was loose, her clothes disheveled, her appearance rather bedraggled, her steps slightly unsteady.

Xie Qing followed half a step behind her. After the recent fight, she had several bleeding cuts on her face and neck, with minor wounds on her arms and waist. Her robes were stained with blood, her expression cold, still gripping her sword tightly.

Bisuo’s chest tightened as he stared unblinkingly at Yao Ying in the distance. Confirming she wasn’t injured, he let out a long breath, the weight lifting from his heart. He quickly went to meet them, taking off his white cloak to wrap around her, saying softly: “My negligence caused the Princess such alarm.”

Yao Ying, still shaken from nearly being taken away by the guard, said: “Your attendant escaped.”

Bisuo’s expression turned severe as he gave a cold laugh: “He won’t get far.”

He glanced at Yao Ying and said gently: “Let me escort the Princess back.”

Yao Ying nodded.

At this moment, a monk soldier hurried over, stopping them: “The King commands that Princess Wenzhao need not return yet.”

After speaking, he gestured for Yao Ying to follow him.

Yao Ying looked at Bisuo.

Bisuo’s expression froze for an instant, his mouth twitching, his gaze flickering and evasive.

Yao Ying thought for a moment, told Xie Qing to go back, and followed the monk soldier.

Bisuo followed as well.

Led by the monk soldier, they passed through corridors covered in murals. Snow light reflected in the passageways, azure, and golden shadows rippling like water, casting a layer of luminous spots on the ground. The morning wind stirred the hanging bells at the eaves, making them chime.

It was magnificent yet solemn, with the dignity of Buddhist statues.

Yao Ying suddenly realized this was another passage leading to Tanmoluojia’s meditation chamber.

Yuanjue stood guard at the door. Seeing Yao Ying, his face showed relief as he lifted the felt curtain.

Bisuo and Yao Ying entered the meditation chamber one after the other.

A cool gaze swept over them like lightning before settling on Yao Ying.

Tanmoluojia stood by the window, turning to look at her. His crimson kasaya was far too large, its folds flowing like water, making his figure appear even more lean. Sunlight slanted in through the window, falling across his profile. His elegant features were like a spreading ink painting, his features more profound, his jade eyes slightly lowered.

Meeting his gaze, Yao Ying suddenly found it difficult to breathe.