After sending off Li Xuanzhen, Yao Ying had one less worry on her mind. The trade negotiations between Li Zhongqian and the Royal Court were nearly complete, with documents being drafted.

Her eyes had not yet healed, so she couldn’t read or write letters. She had to rely on her guards to read them to her. For official documents requiring her seal, she temporarily had to use a stamp instead. Li Zhongqian wouldn’t let her leave the guest house, insisting she stay and recover properly.

Every day she had General Jin deliver letters to the Royal Temple. The letters were written by her maid, containing only mundane details about her daily activities – what she did that day, whether her eyes were improving, what she ate, and other such trivial matters. Tanmoluojia’s replies were equally ordinary, knowing she couldn’t read them herself. They mostly contained brief greetings and reminders to change her medicine – nothing that would reveal their true relationship if seen by others.

Letters flew back and forth daily.

That day, Yao Ying was sitting in the corridor by the hawk perch waiting for General Jin’s return when she heard footsteps approaching from outside the courtyard.

“Princess, people from the Royal Temple have come to escort you.”

After Yao Ying moved back to the courtyard and just entered the room, she caught a familiar scent of agarwood approaching. She reached out to grab the person’s sleeve, giving it a gentle tug with a smile.

“Master.”

These past few nights, Tanmoluojia had been coming to visit her. Somehow he had discussed it with Li Zhongqian, who surprisingly permitted it without preventing him from entering her quarters. Today when Bamir came to escort her, Li Zhongqian knew but didn’t rush back to stop it, only sending his guard with a few instructions.

Tanmoluojia remained silent, slowing his pace.

Yao Ying continued walking while holding his sleeve.

Shortly after, Tanmoluojia stopped and said, “Princess, please sit here. Munda Deva has come to examine your eyes.”

She had only claimed her eyes hurt to frighten Li Zhongqian, expecting them to heal in a few days. But several days had passed and she still couldn’t see. He was worried and obtained Li Zhongqian’s permission to bring her back for treatment. Yuanjue had made it sound very serious as if she might go blind. Fearing her eyes would be permanently damaged, Li Zhongqian agreed with a stern face.

Yao Ying sat down as instructed. Tanmoluojia bent down, his robes rustling softly as his breath fell upon her forehead.

He untied the cloth covering her eyes, his brows furrowing slightly.

Munda Deva came at the summons to examine Yao Ying’s eyes. After reviewing the physician’s prescription and smelling the medicinal salve she had been using, he said, “This salve is mild and the prescription is appropriate. Continue using this external medicine along with one additional internal medicine and it should suffice. Your Majesty need not worry – the Princess should regain her sight in about half a month.”

Tanmoluojia gazed at Yao Ying in silence.

Suddenly Bisuo appeared at the doorway, out of breath, and exchanged a meaningful look with him. Leaving Yuanjue to care for Yao Ying, he went out.

Munda Deva continued applying medicine for Yao Ying.

After sending her people away, Yao Ying asked, “Master, has the Buddha Son’s health improved?”

Munda Deva and Yuanjue exchanged glances, looking at the hopeful Yao Ying who could see nothing clearly, and said, “Princess, based on the Buddha Son’s pulse these past few days, the new prescription is working.”

Yao Ying was overjoyed.

Munda Deva continued, “Though this medicine causes unbearable pain when taken, it can activate the effects of the water mang grass and reduce its toxicity. As long as the Buddha Son no longer uses his powers and takes care in recovery, he should be fine for the next few years.”

Yao Ying was ecstatic.

Now that Tanmoluojia no longer needed to personally enter battle, he wouldn’t have to use his powers. Since the new prescription was working, as long as he didn’t use his powers again, he would surely recover his health!

“Master, your medical skills are miraculous! Thank you for your efforts.”

“Princess, you flatter me.”

Munda Deva’s eyes flickered briefly before he took his leave. Soon after, the Indian medical official brought medicine.

Yuanjue accepted it and handed it to Yao Ying, who carefully felt for the bowl and sipped slowly.

Footsteps sounded at the door as Bamir entered and spoke to Yuanjue: “The King has urgent matters to attend to. Since the Princess’s eye injury hasn’t healed, he instructed you to stay by her side and ensure someone is always with her.”

Yuanjue acknowledged and asked, “Why did General Ashina rush off in such a hurry earlier?”

“Princess Chima requested an audience, so the King went back to see her.”

At these words, both Yuanjue and Yao Ying who was drinking medicine paused in surprise.

It had been a long time since Yao Ying had heard the news of Princess Chima.

Princess Chima and Tanmoluojia’s relationship had grown distant. When the Royal Court was in crisis, she had retreated to a private estate with her guards, avoiding all affairs. After the army’s triumphant return, she immediately came back to the Holy City, spending her days drinking and making merry with noble youths while Bisuo often went to see her.

Yuanjue asked Bamir, “Why did Princess Chima request to see the King? Was it about Prince Mobituo’s matter?”

“I don’t know about that.”

Yuanjue frowned.

Yao Ying turned to him, “What about Mobituo?”

Yuanjue replied, “Since Prince Mobituo isn’t from an aristocratic family when he entered the Military Commissioner’s office, the court officials were all discussing it. Princess Chima had sought an audience with the King about this… The Princess said the King was showing favoritism and being unfair to General Ashina.”

Yao Ying frowned.

Several years ago, Princess Chima had severed ties with Tanmoluojia after he prevented her from massacring innocents. Since then she had directed all her hatred for the Zhang family towards him, finding fault with everything he did.

Footsteps approached along the corridor from afar. A guard bowed and reported, “Princess, Queen Manda requests an audience.”

Princess Manda had been confined for several days until the Indian medical officials pleaded on her behalf. After guards searched her residence and confiscated another batch of items, she was released.

Yao Ying considered for a moment, then placed her hand on Yuanjue’s arm and said, “Please escort her to next door.”

She always received visitors in the neighboring compound, which connected to this residence but appeared as two separate mansions from the outside.

These past few days, Princess Manda had been crying out in vain to heaven and earth, filled with resentment. As soon as she entered the room she complained loudly: “Not only did the Buddha Son have people search my belongings, he even ordered the diplomatic mission to return home quickly. I have to leave tomorrow! Last time I left the Royal Court in such a sorry state, and now I’m being treated so dismissively again!”

The last time she left the Royal Court, she had been ridiculed and harbored deep resentment. This time when she came to the Royal Court, she had deliberately dressed beautifully and rode an elephant into the city, just to redeem herself and make a grand entrance. But the Buddha Son was driving her away again!

Just from Princess Manda’s tone of indignant fury, one could tell how angry she was.

Yao Ying could offer no help. She had already exchanged diplomatic letters with the Malu Kingdom’s envoys. Princess Manda had come with the diplomatic mission to present credentials – there was truly no other reason for her to stay longer. If she were going to Gaochang, Yao Ying could have kept her for a while longer.

“I am indisposed, so tomorrow I will have my guards see Queen off. You need not worry about my affairs anymore. If Queen encounters any difficulties in Malu in the future, simply visit the local merchant house and they will certainly do their best to help resolve your troubles.”

Princess Manda looked at Yao Ying. Though her eyes were covered with cloth, her lips held a smile and her face glowed softly like a luminous pearl – she was genuinely happy.

The Buddha Son couldn’t give her status, but she didn’t care at all.

“I don’t understand.”

Princess Manda sat beside Yao Ying, recalling how she had unhesitatingly stepped into the fire altar, and said puzzledly, “Princess harbors such deep feelings for the Buddha Son, and he has feelings for Princess too, yet he dares not join in cloud and rain with Princess due to too many concerns. Is Princess content to associate with the Buddha Son without any proper status? Even I feel drawn to the Princess’s beauty upon seeing her, yet the Buddha Son can remain unmoved. If Princess doesn’t employ some small tricks, when will your wishes ever be fulfilled?”

She continued earnestly: “Princess, when you love someone, you should use whatever means necessary, without too many scruples! Life is short – seize pleasure while you can.”

Yao Ying smiled, “I appreciate Queen’s kind intentions. But the fulfillment I seek is not what Queen imagines.”

“Is Princess only seeking the Buddha Son’s heart?” Princess Manda’s lips curled, “If you have his heart, why not get the whole person too? Having just the heart without the person is no fun!”

Yao Ying’s lips curved slightly as she said lightly, “Master is a monk. That he can give me half the heart he gives to Buddha is already enough.”

Princess Manda was stunned for a moment, feeling her teeth ache.

“Queen need not trouble yourself further with this matter.”

Yao Ying said with a gentle smile, her tone soft but emanating a distinctly different dignified air.

Princess Manda often saw such bearing in those who held power over life and death. She shuddered involuntarily, remembering Yao Ying’s current status, and sat up straighter, saying, “I was presumptuous.”

…

At the Royal Temple.

Princess Chima entered the brightly lit front hall in magnificent attire, wearing a crown adorned with pearls and jade flowers, her face wreathed in smiles.

“Now that the Northern Rong has surrendered, the world is at peace. I want to get married, Luojia.” She gestured for the Chief Secretary to take out the wedding invitation and hand it to the guard, saying, “The Prince Consort is called Akelie, a commander in the Imperial Guard. He’s not from the Kang, Xue, An, or Meng families – you can rest easy now, can’t you?”

Tanmoluojia said blandly, “As long as the person is upright, any family name would be suitable for Prince Consort.”

Princess Chima sneered, “I’ve already chosen the person and set the wedding date. Though you’re my brother and completely detached from worldly affairs, cold and indifferent, never caring about these things, I still need to inform you.”

With that, she stormed out.

Bisuo, who had heard this at the door, frowned deeply and was about to follow her when Tanmoluojia called out: “Whose subordinate is Akelie?”

Bisuo quickly turned back, saying, “He’s from the Right Guard. I know him – his family has served as Imperial Guard officers for generations. He’s honest and steady by nature, married at fifteen, but his wife passed away from illness a few years ago leaving no children. When Haidu Aling launched a surprise attack on the Holy City, he was in charge of protecting the Princess’s residence.”

Tanmoluojia made a sound of acknowledgment and put down the invitation, asking, “Mobituo entered the Military Commissioner’s office the day before yesterday?”

Bisuo came back to his senses and said, “On his first day reporting to the military department, he had some minor conflicts with several commanders. Someone mocked his heavy accent and they argued briefly, but nothing serious happened.”

Everyone knew the accent was just an excuse. Even if Mobituo were perfect without any flaws, he would still face an uphill battle in the military department.

The noble families couldn’t be overthrown in a day or two – they were deeply entrenched, like a barnacle that couldn’t be scraped off.

The candlelight flickered as incense smoke curled through the hall.

Tanmoluojia opened a memorial – it was the document requesting trade relations with the Wei Dynasty. Once he signed and issued it to the various departments, Li Zhongqian could return to Gaochang.

He looked at the memorial but didn’t write anything for a long time.

“Your Majesty.” Prajña knelt outside the hall door, holding a stack of sutras. “At the Dharma assembly in ten days, several visiting monks wish to debate scriptures with the temple monks. The temple monks cannot determine if the sutras they brought are heterodox teachings and request Your Majesty’s judgment.”

The wind blew into the inner hall, making the felt curtains sway.

“Bring them in.”

Tanmoluojia said blandly, picking up his brush to write his reply on the memorial before handing it to his guard with orders to distribute it. After sitting lost in thought for a moment, he picked up the wedding invitation beside him, looked at it briefly, then rose and left the inner hall.

Bamir waited in the corridor.

“Has the Princess changed her medicine?” he asked.

Bamir replied, “Yes, she has. Queen Manda came by earlier – she’s leaving tomorrow. Princess Wenzhao took her medicine and talked with her for a while to bid her farewell.”

Tanmoluojia’s brows furrowed slightly as he returned to the courtyard. The room was brightly lit but empty.

His residence should be like this – quiet and unencumbered.

Her shadow shouldn’t appear here.

“Princess Wenzhao hasn’t returned?”

Tanmoluojia asked.

“She’s in the neighboring residence. Yuanjue accompanied the Princess over there. The Princess said she would rest there tonight and not return, so the King need not worry.”

Tanmoluojia glanced at the empty room and walked toward the corridor leading to the neighboring residence.

The vast sky stretched endlessly, a silver disk hung high, and all around was silent except for occasional night bird calls. Moonlight poured down like frost and snow, illuminating the outlines of grass, trees, and bushes outside the corridor. A cold breeze stirred, rustling the tree shadows as silver light flowed and danced in the darkness.

Tanmoluojia brushed aside the vines entangled before the arched doorway when suddenly, the melodious sound of a pipa drifted over.

The flickering light of the courtyard lamps fell upon his face, highlighting his handsome, distinguished features.

He instinctively started to step back, his gaze passing through the quiet corridor to drift toward the courtyard, when his footsteps suddenly halted.

Felt curtains hung high in front of the courtyard where a tent had been set up. In the clear moonlight, some unknown flowering trees had been planted in the courtyard, their fragrance rich and intense, stealing through the night in wisps that seemed even sweeter.

Shadows moved within the tent as several maids sat on the ground, some holding pipes and drums, others with flutes and golden bells, playing music whose gentle, rounded notes broke through the night’s stillness, spiraling through the heavy darkness.

The gauze curtains billowed high in the light breeze, revealing glimpses of a graceful figure. Lotus-like arms raised lightly as she spun and moved slowly with the music. Her supple waist swayed gently, emanating an ineffable charm that flowed through the night, like flower petals unfurling layer upon layer, making all the moonlight in the courtyard pale in comparison.

The music grew more enchanting as the dancing figure in the gauze curtains extended her arms, her silhouette flickering like swaying flower branches. The drum suddenly stopped, and the gauze curtain lifted to reveal a snow-white, smooth arm adorned with a gold and jade bracelet that reflected dazzling rays of light, making her skin appear even more like ice and snow.

Night breezes came in waves, lifting the gauze curtains.

The moonlight dimmed as lanterns blazed. With her eyes covered by cloth, she danced in the night, swaying with the music. Her dance was graceful and alluring, like a flower swaying gently in the wind, seemingly about to fall, touching the heartstrings and arousing tender feelings, yet also like one about to ride the wind away – light and elegant, noble and refined.

The floral fragrance in the air grew even more intense.

Tanmoluojia’s eyes deepened.

As the music reached its finale, like fine rain weaving together, the woman behind the gauze curtains moved with lotus steps. The clouds parted and a shaft of moonlight poured down, perfectly enveloping her shoulders.

Her hair was arranged in a high bun, bound with a pomegranate-red ribbon that reached her ankles. Her eyes were still covered with cloth, and she wore a light, soft Indian gown embroidered with gold and silver thread forming branching flower patterns and trimmed with golden borders. The gauze robe edged with golden leaves and silver bells, reached only to her waist, the tinkling bells revealing glimpses of her cream-like waist. The long skirt was light and thin, the gauze wrapping her legs, her figure delicate and shapely.

The gown was densely adorned with pearls and various jewels that flashed and changed colors by the thousands as she danced, as brilliant as clouds at sunset, dazzling and resplendent.

Graceful and charming, she displayed beauty in its fullest form.

The music grew slower and softer, and her movements became increasingly light and alluring, like a flower blooming to its fullest.

She turned her head with a smile, glowing with perspiration, her beauty transcendent.

All around was silent as still water, as people in the tent gazed at her in awe.

Suddenly, the music’s tone rose sharply, becoming bright and joyous. The drums thundered like sudden rain, silver bells jingling as she smiled slightly and spun with the music, turning faster and faster like tumbling grass whirling and dancing wildly. Her colored ribbons and sashes flew high, rustling, her gown’s fragments becoming a rainbow of light. Her hand movements changed countless times while her feet never left their small space, her beauty so intense it dazzled the eyes.

She was like a goddess dancing in paradise from a mural painting.

As the piece ended, she was slightly out of breath, the gauze on her shoulders half-fallen, revealing a glimpse of the snow-white shoulder with fine beads of sweat.

Princess Manda’s cheerful laughter came from the tent as she approached with a wine bowl, her face full of delight, saying something.

Yao Ying smiled and accepted the wine bowl, lifting her head to face precisely the direction where Tanmoluojia stood.

Tanmoluojia stood in the cold shadows, his figure frozen still. Though he knew the distance was far and her eyes were covered with cloth, that she had merely happened to look his way, his whole body still tensed slightly.

Princess Manda ordered the maids to continue playing and pulled Yao Ying to dance together. They performed a vigorous dance, their movements combining strength and grace, agile and bright.

Yao Ying smiled as she occasionally whispered something to Princess Manda. If her eyes hadn’t been injured, those bright pupils would surely have been filled with joyous laughter.

The fragrance was intoxicating.

Tanmoluojia had never seen her like this before.

Youthful and lively, charming and moving.

Perhaps she had always been this way, but because she was mindful that he was a monk, she never revealed this side of herself before him.

He stood there in a daze for a while, then gripped his prayer beads tightly, turned his back, and stood in the shadows, lost in thought for a long time.

The corridor was dark.

Someone knelt outside the tent urging Princess Manda to rest early as she had to travel tomorrow. Princess Manda grumbled a few words, the music stopped, and the sound of girls’ delicate laughter lingered in the night air.

Tanmoluojia stepped onto the stone stairs and had only taken a few steps when chattering voices came from behind as a group of people walked past.

“Princess, who won between you and Queen Manda?”

Yao Ying laughed lightly, “We were dancing in friendship – why speak of winning or losing?”

“Princess, that Tuozhi dance you and Queen Manda performed was so beautiful…”

The voices drew closer, then suddenly stopped.

“Forgot to bring…”

Footsteps ran away.

Tanmoluojia waited a moment, then emerged from the shadows.

“Who’s there?”

A soft question.

Tanmoluojia looked up.

Yao Ying stood before the corridor pillar, her cloud-like hair disheveled, face flushed, colored ribbons and sashes hanging low, her gown as light as clouds and mist, her graceful figure faintly visible, moonlight outlining her curved silhouette, fine sweat glistening on her snow-white skin as she questioned softly in his direction.

In the moonlit night, with covered eyes, her lips were a brilliant red.

Tanmoluojia closed his eyes for a moment.

“Is it Yuanjue?”

When he remained silent for a long time, Yao Ying asked again, reaching out her hand and walking toward him.

She happened to be standing under an arched dome. Below the pillar painted with green leaves and branches was a step that she couldn’t see. Her foot missed it and she stumbled forward.

Tanmoluojia stepped forward and caught her arm.

Through the thin gauze, her smooth, delicate arm slid through his palm.

Yao Ying lost her balance and fell into his embrace, clutching his sleeve and lifting her face with a mischievous smile: “Master, I knew it was you.”

Tanmoluojia supported her soft body and asked, “How did you know it was me?”

“There should have been people guarding here, but they withdrew when you came…”

Yao Ying was exhausted and feeling languid. She sniffed his kasaya sleeve and said, “Besides, I could smell your fragrance.”

Suddenly, an electric current surged through his body. Tanmoluojia lowered his gaze and gripped the prayer beads in his sleeve tightly.

Yao Ying couldn’t see anything and didn’t notice his tension. She asked, “What time is it? Why did Master come over?”

Tanmoluojia looked at her.

She was breathing slightly heavily, holding his arm, her colored ribbons and sashes now entangled with him as well.

The floral fragrance mixed with sweat became even more intense.

A rush of disordered footsteps approached – her attendants had come looking for her.

Yao Ying turned her head, about to speak, when Tanmoluojia, as if possessed, raised his hand to grip her shoulders and turned her around, hiding behind the flowering vines where he had stood earlier.

Branches and leaves reached over entwined with night dew, enclosing the two of them within.

Yao Ying lifted her head in confusion, asking softly, “What’s wrong?”

Tanmoluojia remained silent. In the narrow space, they stood face to face. As she was unsteady, he held her waist, letting her lean against him. It felt like holding a piece of soft jade, as delicate as spring water – with the slightest breeze, she would melt in his arms.

Their breaths intertwined, their essences merged as she lifted her face to look at him, her red lips slightly parted.

Tanmoluojia lowered his head, drawing closer to her.

Moonlight filtered through gaps in the vines, falling upon him. His eyes were calm, his body seemingly wrapped in a faint Buddhist light.

Yao Ying felt his body seemed somewhat hot and stared at him blankly.

The next moment, his burning fingers pressed against the back of her neck, gently applying pressure to pull her into his embrace. His lips fell upon her hair, just like that time in the valley – just a light, restrained brush against her hair, touching and parting in an instant.

Yao Ying’s body gradually grew warm too as she nestled against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, trembling slightly.

“Princess! Princess?”

Yuanjue’s voice echoed in the corridor.

Tanmoluojia released Yao Ying, the tightly gripped prayer beads leaving a mark on his palm.

That night, Yao Ying still returned to sleep in this courtyard.

Tanmoluojia meditated in the quiet room.

She had been up half the night with Princess Manda and was truly tired. After washing up she felt even more exhausted, tossed and turned for a while, then fell asleep.

Hearing her breathing become long and even, Tanmoluojia opened his eyes, rose, walked around the felt curtain screen to the couch, and sat down.

She had fallen asleep like this, not at all worried about what he might do, separated by just one room.

When one considers nothing, naturally there is nothing to fear.

Tanmoluojia gazed at Yao Ying for a long time, waves of emotion stirring in his jade-green eyes as he raised his hand, his fingertips lightly brushing her lips.

Her lips were softer than clarified butter.

In the scriptures, the three demon women who tempted Buddha were bewitchingly beautiful, transforming into alluring beauties to seduce Buddha, but Buddha remained unmoved, facing them with cold indifference.

She had done nothing, yet he had already given rise to desire.

Before, his desire was merely to keep her by his side, hoping she would accompany him for a long time, with eyes only for him.

Now, his desire was mixed with a physical longing for her. Having practiced Buddhism since childhood, his nature was detached, and he had never experienced this kind of uncontrollable physical desire before – like a raging fire burning fiercely, only she could extinguish these intense flames.

Tanmoluojia didn’t sleep all night.

The next day, before she awoke, he went to the Royal Temple first.

Prajña came to collect yesterday’s sutras and asked, “Your Majesty, will you attend the scripture debate?”

Tanmoluojia closed the scripture and shook his head.

“The Dharma assembly will be presided over by other temple monks.”

The path he practiced was destined to be different from others.

Prajña withdrew in disappointment.