While Yaoying was still in a daze, a swift horse galloped up. Guard Bamir rolled off the saddle and saluted her: “Princess, please return to the Royal Temple immediately.”

Yuanjue, who was leading people to collect those treasure boxes and books from the table, heard this and turned to ask: “What’s wrong?”

Bamir gestured for others to leave and said quietly: “The King summons the Princess.”

Yuanjue’s eyes widened in surprise.

This morning, Tanmoraka had gone into seclusion. Except for Bamir and Bisuo, no one else could enter the stone cave. When Li Yaoying went to the leather shop, he and Bisuo discussed countermeasures and split up to find the physician. Because of the urgency, fearing to disturb Tanmoraka, they had only left a message. Raka should have been in seclusion…

Why had the King come out and wanted to see the Princess immediately?

Yaoying was still somewhat dazed as she agreed and hurried back to the Royal Temple with Bamir. Bamir had her put on a white robe to conceal her form and led her through a hidden corridor into the temple. They climbed long stone steps and arrived before a secluded hall door.

Voices came from inside. Yaoying entered, and Bisuo was also there, nodding in greeting to her.

“Is the Princess alright?”

Yaoying returned a smile, raising her eyes to look at Tanmoraka.

Since that night of prayer in the pagoda cave, she hadn’t seen Tanmoraka again. During the martial arts competition, she was below in the crowd while he was in the tent above the platform, too far for her to see his figure.

For some unknown reason, after not seeing him for several days, looking at him now felt somewhat like being in a different world.

It was as if that Tanmoraka who held the lamp and prayed for her blessings had remained in that night, never to return.

Tanmoraka didn’t look at Yaoying, his expression cold and distant.

Yaoying stared at him, lost in thought.

He was sometimes cold and solemn, unapproachable, and sometimes gentle and considerate like a snow-capped peak shrouded in clouds and mist year-round, its full view obscured. Only occasionally, when the weather was fine and the sky bright blue, with brilliant golden light pouring down, could one be fortunate enough to see the majestic and beautiful mountain peak.

Yaoying remained silent for a long while. Tanmoraka glanced at her, his gaze light and detached.

Bisuo frowned slightly and asked: “Princess, what does Princess Manda know?”

Yaoying came back to her senses.

“Princess Manda doesn’t know about the Master’s illness. She…”

She recounted what had happened.

“Princess Manda thought the physician came to treat me and wanted to use this to threaten me.”

Bisuo said with relief: “That’s good then.”

The guard had been vague, and he had thought Princess Manda had found some important leverage to threaten them. It turned out to be a false alarm.

Tanmoraka’s brows furrowed slightly as he looked at Yaoying, his gaze cold and stern: “Princess, next time don’t be so rash. Wait for Yuanjue to report first.”

His tone was severe, with implicit criticism.

Bisuo dared not speak for a moment.

Yaoying pressed her lips together and nodded in agreement.

The air froze, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Bisuo’s eyes shifted as he coughed and smiled, defending Yaoying: “My King, that leather shop next to the embassy is my property. We have people monitoring the embassy there every day. Princess Manda is an envoy; she would only dare to confine her physician, and not take any other actions. If it were someone else or if the meeting place were elsewhere, the Princess certainly wouldn’t have agreed to go.”

Tanmoraka remained silent.

Bisuo rubbed his nose and changed the subject: “My King, can the Indian physician be trusted? Since his medical skills are superior, why not take this opportunity to offer him a high position and generous rewards to keep him here?”

Tanmoraka withdrew his gaze and shook his head: “No need. He is a healer and has already left the prescription. We cannot force him to stay. Go to the embassy and request the Viromara delegation to return to Viromara tomorrow immediately. Tomorrow you will personally escort them out of the city.”

Bisuo understood and saluted in acknowledgment. His escorting meant forcibly requiring Viromara to leave. He waited a while, and seeing Raka had no other instructions, took his leave.

As soon as he left, the room fell into a heavy silence, the atmosphere even more awkward than before.

Tanmoraka looked down at Yaoying.

Yaoying stood before him, seemingly distracted, her face pale, appearing somewhat dejected, her eyes dim and lifeless.

Tanmoraka remained silent for a while. At least she was safe.

“Next time, don’t be so rash.”

This time his tone was somewhat gentler.

Yaoying raised her eyes and, after some thought, spoke honestly: “If Master had told me the truth earlier, I wouldn’t have been rash.”

If she had thought about it more carefully, she could have seen the clues. The Indian physician had come to the Holy City, and Raka had just obtained new medicine for her. His illness couldn’t be leaked, and the physician was a foreign envoy with a sensitive identity. How could Bisuo let the physician stay in the crowded embassy?

Only because she had never doubted Tanmoraka, she hadn’t investigated further, fearing something might happen to the physician. In her heart, Raka would not deliberately conceal anything.

Tanmoraka lowered his eyes. “It was my oversight, not informing the Princess.”

Yaoying shook her head: “Master wouldn’t make such a mistake. Why didn’t Master tell me the truth?”

Tanmoraka shifted his gaze, saying flatly: “No need.”

Yaoying choked, unable to question further as he answered so lightly.

Yes, for him, many things were unnecessary.

Neither spoke.

After a while, Tanmoraka asked: “If I had told the Princess the truth, you wouldn’t have been rash today?”

Yaoying nodded, answering without hesitation: “If I hadn’t been worried about Master, why would I have paid any attention to Princess Manda?”

Had she known the truth, she would have calmly discussed strategies with Bisuo before acting, not rushing off because she feared Princess Manda might kill the physician.

Tanmoraka’s jade-colored eyes gazed at Yaoying.

When threatened with her own life, she could remain calm… but when he was used as leverage, she became so urgent…

Yaoying met his gaze, feeling his eyes particularly deep, and thinking he was still angry, said softly: “Master, I won’t be rash next time.”

Tanmoraka looked at Yaoying, his face without a trace of expression.

In his mind, however, prayer flags rustled in the wind.