Yao Ying followed after Tanmoluojia.

Bisuo trailed behind her.

After a night of cold wind, the courtyard was covered in soft snow. As the three walked across the snowy ground, their footsteps made crisp crunching sounds.

Tanmoluojia walked unhurriedly with an elegant gait. Though not walking fast, his tall figure and long legs carried him swiftly forward, his kasaya robes fluttering as he quickly covered some distance.

Yao Ying hurried to catch up when suddenly she felt her feet sink and found herself completely stuck in place, unable to move.

Looking down, she discovered her boots had sunk halfway into the accumulated snow.

The weather had turned warmer recently, and the snow wasn’t as firmly frozen as it had been in deep winter.

Yao Ying tried to pull her boots free but remained stuck despite several attempts.

Bisuo, following closely behind, couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the sight. He walked forward, reaching out to help her while chuckling, “Don’t worry, Princess, let me help you…”

As he extended his hand toward Yao Ying, he caught a glimpse of white kasaya robes from the corner of his eye, and his smile slightly stiffened.

Yao Ying tugged at her boots several times, her body swaying unsteadily. Two shadows fell over her, and she looked up, instinctively reaching out to lightly grasp one person’s sleeve.

All three remained silent.

Bisuo lowered his gaze to Yao Ying’s slender fingers, his expression somewhat strange.

Yao Ying also looked at her hand, feeling slightly nervous. She slowly raised her eyes to meet Tanmoluojia’s cool, composed gaze.

He stood before her, his features handsome and refined, his face nearly expressionless, carrying an otherworldly dignity.

Somehow, in her panic, she had grabbed his sleeve.

The kasaya had intricate gold patterns that tickled her fingertips as they brushed across the fabric.

Yao Ying came to her senses and smiled apologetically at Tanmoluojia, about to release her grip when he slightly raised his arm, indicating she should maintain her hold.

Understanding his meaning, she gripped his sleeve tightly and used it to pull herself free from the snow.

“Just like pulling out a bamboo shoot…”

Yao Ying laughed softly, releasing her grip and brushing the snow from her boot tops.

Tanmoluojia said nothing, waiting until she was steady before turning to walk away.

Yao Ying followed him and, noticing Bisuo’s bewildered expression, asked, “Has the General never seen bamboo shoots?”

Bisuo smiled at her and shook his head, saying, “Never. I often hear that the Han territories are vast and rich in resources, with many things we don’t have here…”

He changed the subject, “Princess, having been away from home for so long, you must miss your homeland dearly?”

Yao Ying felt melancholy thinking of her homeland, separated by tens of thousands of miles from the royal court.

Bisuo stared unblinkingly at Tanmoluojia’s back, raising his voice slightly, “I’ve made the Princess sad. Don’t be upset, Princess. With the current chaos in the Northern Rong, perhaps your relatives have already come looking for you. Believe that before long, Princess, you’ll surely return home and reunite with your family.”

Yao Ying nodded, “Thank you for your kind words, General.”

The three crossed the courtyard and climbed the stone steps. A guard lifted the felt curtain, and Tanmoluojia entered, pointing to a rolled parchment on the table: “Bisuo, take this to the main camp.”

Bisuo suddenly looked up at Tanmoluojia, his expression rigid.

This kind of errand didn’t require his attention.

Tanmoluojia’s expression remained calm.

Bisuo dared not say anything, silently sighed, responded with a deep “Yes,” and left with the parchment.

Tanmoluojia looked at Yao Ying: “Sit.”

Yao Ying looked down at the Persian wool carpet, hesitating about where to sit.

Tanmoluojia raised his eyes, glancing toward the edge of the long table.

Yao Ying understood his meaning and walked over, sitting cross-legged.

In the corner, the brazier glowed red, emitting soft crackling sounds, making the tent as warm as spring.

Tanmoluojia took a letter from the table and handed it to Yao Ying.

Yao Ying accepted the letter, showing surprise at seeing the elegant Han characters. Upon opening it, a smile appeared on her face: “It’s a letter from Master Mondadipa.”

After leaving the royal court, Mondadipa first traveled west to Kang country, then south through Huo country, Hexina, and Gandhara before returning to India. The letter was written while he was in Huo country, describing his journey and assuring her of his well-being.

Yao Ying quickly finished reading the letter.

“Mondadipa is doing well. He also asked about Master’s health, urging you to be careful when taking medicine and not to rely too heavily on pills.”

Tanmoluojia nodded, saying, “Mondadipa met the king of Piluomoluo in Huo country, who helped deliver the letter through the Indian delegation. Among the delegation is an Indian physician skilled in medicine. Mondadipa asked him to come to the royal court.”

Yao Ying straightened up instinctively: “Is he coming to treat you? Since Mondadipa invited him, he must be able to cure you!”

Tanmoluojia lowered his eyes to look at her.

Yao Ying knelt before the long table, meeting his gaze with a face full of joyful expectation, her bright eyes glistening.

She rarely showed such happiness.

And her current joy was entirely for his sake.

Tanmoluojia remained silent, his fingers lightly brushing his prayer beads.

Yao Ying clapped her hands together, smiling brightly: “Master’s prayers have truly been answered.”

Tanmoluojia raised his eyes: “Prayers?”

Yao Ying looked at him, nodding and smiling as she said, “This morning in the great hall when Master was chanting sutras and blessing the common people, I thought if Buddha truly showed his power, the person most deserving of blessings should be Master. When Master reached me, I was thinking how wonderful it would be if Mondadipa could quickly find a way to cure Master…”

“I never expected the Indian physician would arrive.”

Yao Ying’s eyes curved in happiness, her face as beautiful as blooming flowers.

Tanmoluojia gazed at her, completely still.

The charcoal brazier crackled softly, filling the room with warmth.

After a moment of silence, he asked, “Why didn’t the Princess pray for herself?”

Yao Ying smiled, saying casually, “I didn’t think of it at the time…”

Her gaze fell on the gilded incense staff nearby.

“Next time Master prays, I’ll come to worship again.”

She said offhandedly, then remembered something and asked curiously, “By the way, what did Master chant when touching my head with the incense staff?”

His chanting was mostly in Sanskrit or Hu language, with an elegant rhythm. Though she couldn’t understand, she had been entranced by it.

Tanmoluojia said, “Sutras.”

Yao Ying shook her head with a smile, not asking further.

Tanmoluojia sat quietly, then suddenly asked, “Has the Princess ever considered entering Buddhism?”

Yao Ying trembled, her eyes widening in shock as she shook her head repeatedly, laughing, “I’m not noble like Master. I can’t let go of the mortal world’s desires. Greed, anger, delusion – I can’t give up any of them.”

She spread her hands toward him playfully.

“Just reciting sutras daily would give me a headache.”

Besides, she couldn’t live without meat.

Tanmoluojia remained silent, fingers caressing his prayer beads.

This morning, before the Buddha statue in the hall, thick sandalwood incense filled the air as devoted followers packed the great hall, coming forward one by one to receive his blessing.

He had presided over many such ceremonies, seeing old and young, men and women, Hu people, and Han people. In his eyes, their faces had always blurred together, without distinction of status or class.

However, when she suddenly appeared, he saw her radiant, beautiful face.

She walked toward him step by step, her clear eyes reflecting his image, seemingly revering and worshipping him with sincere devotion like the other followers.

At that moment, Tanmoluojia had lowered his eyes, chanting not his usual blessing sutras.

What he chanted was:

May you be free from illness and calamity.

May you find peace and joy.

May your wisdom grow and troubles diminish.

May your wishes come true and you return home soon.

Through thousands of miles of clouds and mountains of snow, may you return to your homeland, never to wander again in this life…

In this lifetime, you will never again traverse the snowy regions thousands of miles away, nor linger in this oasis amid the desert.

Tanmoluojia had blessed many people. All living things must die, all meetings end in parting, all prosperity leads to decline, and all suffering continues without rest. People seek Buddhism’s protection to escape these sufferings. When teaching the common people and praying for them, his thoughts were of the various hardships people endured in troubled times.

But with Yao Ying… he thought of her pain.

He wanted her to find peace and joy, and also…

Tanmoluojia closed his eyes, gripping his prayer beads.

Just then, there was movement at the entrance, and the guard announced from outside the curtain: “My Lord, the Indian physician has arrived.”

Tanmoluojia opened his eyes, releasing the prayer beads, his face returning to complete composure as he made a sound of acknowledgment.

“Show the physician in.”

The felt curtain moved, and a middle-aged man entered. He had a long face with thin lips, light brown skin, and curly hair, wearing white robes. He bowed to Tanmoluojia, his gaze lingering on Yao Ying by the long table, studying her intently.

Tanmoluojia said, “This is Princess Wenzhao.”

The Indian physician bowed respectfully to her.

Yao Ying returned the bow and then turned to look at Tanmoluojia.

Tanmoluojia glanced at the lowered brocade curtain of the inner chamber and nodded.

Yao Ying had intended to take her leave but seeing his expression seemed to want her to withdraw, and carried a somewhat unquestionable meaning, she wondered why he didn’t simply let her return. She rose and retreated behind the brocade curtain.

The curtain fell, blocking the voices from outside.

The inner chamber also had a charcoal brazier, and with the curtains drawn close, it was even warmer than outside. The sitting couch where Yao Ying had slept still had her writing desk in front of it, with papers, books, and brush holders seemingly just as she had left them last time.

She walked to the writing desk and casually picked up a book, flipping through it for a while, discovering the bookmarked scroll was exactly where she had left off reading.

The voices outside came intermittently, with Tanmoluojia and the monk switching to Sanskrit.

Separated by several layers of curtains, Yao Ying couldn’t hear clearly or understand, so after browsing the scroll for a while, she grew bored. She took up a brush, spread paper, and bent over the desk to write.

She became absorbed in her drawing, not knowing how much time had passed until Tanmoluojia’s voice called from outside the curtain.

“Princess Wenzhao.”

Just four simple words, the tone clear and cool, the manner calm, like jade stones clicking together or a hidden spring flowing.

Yao Ying put down her brush and walked out of the inner chamber.

The Indian physician hadn’t left. He approached her, smiling as he studied her for a long while, then returned to the long table and spoke a few words in Sanskrit.

Tanmoluojia listened while keeping his gaze on Yao Ying, nodding.

The Indian physician’s face showed joy as he bowed repeatedly, chattering another long string of words.

Yao Ying looked somewhat bewildered.

Tanmoluojia called for Yuanjue, instructing: “Escort the Princess back.”

Yuanjue responded and escorted Yao Ying back to her courtyard.

After Yao Ying’s figure disappeared into the deep corridor, Tanmoluojia asked the Indian physician: “How confident are you?”

The physician thought for a moment, then said: “Yesterday, my Lord had someone send all the Princess’s prescriptions and pulse records. My colleagues and I have examined them thoroughly. I have served in the palace for many years and specialize in such conditions. I have some confidence. Seeing the Princess today, though I dare not boast, judging by her vitality, her illness is not difficult to treat. The Princess was born with a weak constitution, but these years of proper care have already improved her condition considerably. With further treatment, she can surely become healthy and strong, eliminating her ailments without needing to suffer the monthly medicine treatments. If my Lord commands, I will do my utmost to treat the Princess.”

Tanmoluojia’s expression remained unchanged as he said, “Then I’ll trouble the physician.”

The Indian physician hurriedly said he didn’t dare accept such courtesy, secretly glancing at him and finding him as cold as ever. He carefully asked, “Our country’s Princess Manda has revered Buddhism since childhood. This time, Princess Manda has come to pay respects on the king’s orders. Would my Lord permit Princess Manda to come to the royal temple to worship Buddha and pray for our country’s people?”

Tanmoluojia nodded.

The Indian physician secretly sighed in relief. He had agreed to treat Han Princess Wenzhao just to seek an opportunity for Princess Manda to approach the royal temple.

Since Princess Manda had arrived at the royal court, although the court officials had been perfectly courteous without any neglect, Tanmoluojia never appeared. The princess was beautiful and accomplished in dance, once famous throughout India for her Dance of the Heavenly Demon, but she couldn’t even see the Buddhist Prince’s face, let alone display her talents.

With Tanmoluojia’s permission, Princess Manda would finally have a chance to dance for the Buddhist Prince.

The Indian physician took his leave, his face unable to hide his joy.

From behind came Tanmoluojia’s voice: “Please keep this matter confidential, physician. Do not mention it to others.”

The Indian physician quickly turned around, respectfully saying: “I understand. As this concerns the Princess’s health, I will certainly keep it secret.”

An hour later, Bisuo returned from the main camp to the meditation room: “My Lord, I delivered the item.”

Tanmoluojia was bent over his desk writing and made a soft sound of acknowledgment.

Bisuo retreated to the doorway.

With several clanging sounds, the falcon returned to the meditation room, calling continuously. Yuanjue entered to add charcoal to the brazier in the corner, then went to the inner chamber to add food and water for the falcon. Seeing an unfolded drawing on the writing desk, he made a surprised sound, picked up the drawing, and brought it to Tanmoluojia’s desk.

“My Lord, this drawing seems to have been left by the Princess.”

Yuanjue’s expression was peculiar.

“Is this style of drawing popular in the Central Plains?”

Tanmoluojia stopped writing and took the paper.

On the light yellow paper, simple black lines sketched several bamboo stalks and the outline of a man. The man was tall, wearing kasaya robes with a string of prayer beads in his hand, shown pulling out a short, fat bamboo shoot.

Though the drawing was simple with seemingly crude lines, it had quite an interesting charm. The artist must have been quite pleased, as they had written a few flowing characters beside it: “Buddhist Prince Pulling Bamboo Shoots.”

So that’s what she meant about pulling bamboo shoots.

When asked to withdraw, she had drawn this.

Tanmoluojia held the drawing paper, his lips twitching slightly.

Like a green lotus branch swaying by the Three Lives Pool, creating a ripple on the water’s surface.

Faint and fleeting, gone in an instant.

Yuanjue’s eyes widened in disbelief as he turned to look at Bisuo.

Bisuo matched his expression, eyes equally wide with shock.

Neither dared to make a sound. When they looked back at Tanmoluojia, he had already put down the drawing paper, his expression serene, without a trace of ripple.