Incense smoke curled before the hall as prayer flags fluttered gently.

The temple supervisor slowly stepped forward to welcome Li Yaoying, pressing his palms together: “This humble monk failed to properly receive the Princess’s esteemed presence.”

He gestured for monks to prepare ceremonial matters and invited her to the main hall.

Li Yaoying smiled and shook her head: “Venerable monk, no need for ceremony. I wouldn’t disturb your peace without cause.”

In these chaotic times, common people were displaced and uncertain of surviving till the next morning, turning to Buddhism and Daoism for comfort and liberation.

Noble families revered Buddhism—Uncle Xie and Consort Xie’s names came from Sanskrit, one meaning “Infinite” and the other “Fulfilled Wishes.”

The Li family didn’t have this tradition. Yaoying didn’t understand Buddhist doctrine; her only knowledge of monastics came from a popular novel from later times.

She hadn’t come today to offer incense and prayers.

After exchanging pleasantries, she directly stated her purpose.

The supervisor relaxed and smiled: “Please wait a moment, Princess. Master Munda Deva happens to be in the temple today.”

Yaoying smiled, “In that case, please trouble the venerable monk to have a bhikshu introduce me.”

The supervisor was startled, then smiled.

These days he had received many nobles. The royal family and aristocrats of the new dynasty were arrogant and overbearing, making him extremely anxious. He had thought the Seventh Princess would be difficult too, but unexpectedly, though she didn’t believe in Buddhism, she was humble and courteous—truly rare.

The supervisor found a guest-receiving monk to lead Li Yaoying to meet Munda Deva.

The receptionist monk went in first to announce her and present Li Yaoying’s personally written visiting card.

Soon after, Munda Deva’s servant came out from inside and respectfully invited Li Yaoying to enter.

Munda Deva had just finished his morning practice and sat on a meditation cushion to greet Li Yaoying.

He was from Tianzhu, with a high nose and deep-set eyes, a broad face, and a square mouth. Judging by his appearance, he was around fifty years old. His light brown eyes sparkled with gentle light. He wore a patched robe and had a distinguished bearing, speaking perfect Chinese.

Yaoying rarely dealt with monks, and he was a foreigner, so she hesitated for a moment.

Munda Deva asked: “Is the Princess worried about your mother?”

Having walked through chaotic times, he often associated with officials and nobles and was not unfamiliar with worldly affairs.

Yaoying nodded—her card had already explained the reason for her visit: “I’ve heard of your excellent medical skills, Master. Please come examine my mother’s pulse.”

Xie Wuliang and the other Xie family members couldn’t be brought back to life, and Consort Xie’s heart sickness had no cure. She was seeking medical help for another matter.

Munda Deva smiled: “The Buddha is compassionate. I dare not refuse the Princess’s request.”

A great weight lifted from Yaoying’s heart. She arranged with Munda Deva to send someone to Great Ci’en Temple tomorrow to escort him to the palace, left generous gifts, and took her leave.

One of Munda Deva’s Han Chinese disciples escorted Li Yaoying out of the Great Ci’en Temple, several times seeming about to speak but stopping himself.

Yaoying’s gaze swept across the disciple’s face, and she smiled lightly: “I’m deeply grateful for the Master making time to treat my mother. If there’s anything I can do to ease the Master’s concerns, please let me know.”

The disciple looked relieved and pressed his palms together: “To be honest with the Princess, the Master will soon journey westward. This visit to the Capital Prefecture, besides viewing the relics, was also to obtain travel documents.”

Yaoying suddenly understood.

No wonder Munda Deva was so courteous—he needed something.

With the Wei Dynasty established, the borders were strictly controlled. If Munda Deva wanted to safely embark on his westward journey, he needed travel documents. Otherwise, he would be shot dead by border guards as soon as he left Jincheng.

She smiled: “That’s not difficult. I’ll have someone deliver the documents the Master needs tomorrow.”

Obtaining travel papers was merely a trivial matter for her.

The disciple repeatedly bowed in thanks.

Yaoying asked curiously: “Why does the Master want to go to the Western Regions?”

The Western Regions had been in chaos for decades—Tibet, Turks, Xianbei, Uyghurs, Khitans, Tatars… Large and small tribal powers were interlocked in conflict, waging war against each other. The word “chaos” barely describes it.

The once-prosperous Silk Road was now littered with bones. Even merchants who valued money over life dared not set foot in the Western Regions.

Wasn’t Munda Deva afraid of dying at the hands of bandits as soon as he left the Central Plains?

The disciple answered: “In the Western Regions, there is a Buddhist kingdom with tens of thousands of sutras and over a hundred monasteries. From the ruler to the common people, all are Buddhist devotees. It’s said their current monarch is both king and high monk, precocious from youth—recognizing writing at age three, mastering scriptures at seven, and giving dharma talks by his early teens, renowned throughout the Western Regions. The Master has long wished to journey there and discuss Buddhism with that high monk. The Master says with his heart set on Buddha, Buddha will surely protect him from harm.”

A Buddhist kingdom in the Western Regions?

Kashgar, Kucha, Gaochang, Khotan, or Yanqi?

A monk-king renowned throughout the Western Regions…

A name flashed through Yaoying’s mind.

If she guessed correctly, the high monk Munda Deva wanted to meet should be that person.

Someone who made Li Xuanzhen unable to sleep peacefully.

Someone who died young—when news of his death reached the Central Plains, military and civil officials from more than a dozen countries and tribes including the Wei Dynasty of the Central Plains, Tibet, the Northern Golden Horde Khanate, and the Khitans all breathed sighs of relief at the same time.

On her way back to the palace, Li Yaoying made a mental calculation.

If Munda Deva departed now, he should have been able to find the Buddhist kingdom before the high monk’s death and discuss Buddhism with him.

…

The sound of voices buzzed around her, and the gentle breeze carried faint mixed fragrances of wine, cosmetics, flatbread, and butter pastries.

Vehicles and horses clogged the road, bronze bells jingling. As they approached the imperial city, there were more and more carriages, horses, and pedestrians.

The Wusun horse, well-trained and docile, gradually slowed down.

Pedestrians along both sides of the road cast surprised glances. Women riding ox-carts and mule carts ahead lifted their curtains to look back. When their eyes fell on Li Yaoying’s face, they hurriedly ordered their servants to make their way to the roadside.

Li Yaoying came to her senses, realizing she had been lost in thought and forgotten to put on her veiled hat when leaving Ci’en Temple.

Xie Qing handed her a brocade hat with clustered flower patterns. She took it, looked up at the ward walls on either side and found they had already passed Xuanyang Ward. Ahead lay Pingkang Ward, lined with pleasure houses, and Chongren Ward, where high officials resided.

Whether in times of chaos or peace, this was Chang’an’s most prosperous area.

No wonder it was so congested ahead.

Xie Qing glanced behind them: “My lady, shall we drive them away?”

Yaoying glimpsed behind her from the corner of her eye, put on the veiled hat, and lowered her head to adjust the hanging ribbons: “No need to mind them.”

Every time she left the palace, the capital’s idle rich sons who relied on their family’s protection would swarm around her like bees drawn to sweet flower nectar, eagerly following her about.

She never paid them any attention.

More than ten zhang behind them, young men in brocade robes and tall caps caught Li Yaoying’s glance before she donned her veiled hat. Their blood rushed hot as they chattered excitedly: “The Seventh Princess looked at us!”

“The Seventh Princess smiled at me!”

“Your eyes must be useless—how could the Seventh Princess smile at you? Don’t flatter yourself!”

The young men’s faces flushed with excitement.

But no one dared approach.

Nobody wanted to become the second Young Master Xue.

…

During this year’s Lantern Festival, Chang’an’s streets were empty as everyone went out to see the lanterns that lit up the night like day.

When the capital’s noble sons heard the Seventh Princess was viewing lanterns in Xuanyang Ward, and that “little tyrant” Second Prince wasn’t in the capital, they immediately rode over.

The Seventh Princess wore her hair in a round bun adorned with a golden lotus crown. She wore a pomegranate-red narrow-sleeved brocade robe with small clustered flowers woven in gold and a turned-over collar, leather boots, and a leather belt—dressed as an ordinary wealthy young man without elaborate decoration. Yet her natural beauty couldn’t be hidden. Under the brilliant lantern light, her cloudy black hair and snow-white cheeks, along with her sweet smile while chatting with her maids, added several degrees of enchanting charm.

The young men’s hearts pounded as they followed at a distance.

Who knew that the Xue family’s fifth son had drunk some Jiannanchun spirits before going out? The alcohol went to his head, and he dismounted and approached, swaying as he recited some lewd poetry to the Seventh Princess!

The young men were furious and about to rebuke Xue Five when the Seventh Princess raised her eyes and gave him a cool glance.

In the next instant, the Princess’s guards erupted into action, drawing their long sabers.

With several swift cuts, the ghost-face mask covering Xue Five’s head split down the middle, shattering into pieces.

The bright blade stopped just a finger’s width from Xue Five’s nose. He trembled like sifted chaff, stumbling and collapsing to the ground, so frightened he wet himself.

The Seventh Princess didn’t even look at Xue Five, choosing a fierce-looking yaksha mask to cover her face before continuing to view the lantern market with light steps.

The young men stared in shock, breaking out in cold sweat.

Three days later, when the Second Prince returned to the capital and heard about this, he flew into a rage. Still wearing his blood-stained battle robes, he went straight to the Xue mansion wielding twin hammers.

One hammer blow nearly took half of Xue Five’s life, yet he still had to struggle to his knees and kowtow in apology.

The Xue Grand Commandant and his wife came out to beg mercy for Xue Five.

Minister Zheng from next door rushed over to mediate.

The Second Prince wouldn’t be moved.

If the Seventh Princess hadn’t sent people to stop the Second Prince, Xue Five would have become a cripple.

…

After that, when the Seventh Princess left the palace, young men would still compete to follow her on horseback, but they never dared approach or jest with her.

If the Seventh Princess was accompanied by the Second Prince, the more timid ones wouldn’t even dare show their faces.

…

Something had happened up ahead, and the road remained congested. The drivers impatiently waved their long whips as crowds gathered at the intersection.

Passing vehicles were stuck in the middle of the road, complaints rising from all sides.

Li Yaoying waited a moment, then sent Xie Qing to see why the road was blocked.

Soon after, Xie Qing returned with an odd expression.

Yaoying asked: “What’s happening?”

Xie Qing lowered his eyes in silence.

Yaoying’s heart jumped.

Before she could ask further, the crowded masses suddenly parted, opening a path.

A heart-rending cry approached from afar. Several soldiers in black armor were driving three young women from the direction of the East Market, swaggering straight toward Chongren Ward.

The young women were all fifteen or sixteen years old. They kept looking back as they walked, crying so hard they could barely breathe.

The soldiers barked harshly, frightening the young women into trembling. They stopped crying, huddling tightly together with tears streaming down their faces.

Bystanders whispered: “What a sin! What crime did these young ladies commit?”

A cold laugh came from the crowd: “Young maidens—how could they have committed any crime?”

“Then why were they arrested by soldiers?”

The person who had laughed coldly said: “They weren’t arrested—those soldiers are the Second Prince’s guards. These girls caught the Second Prince’s eye! The soldiers seized them to be concubines for their lord.”

The crowd was furious, shouting curses: “Abducting honest families’ daughters in broad daylight—is there no law anymore?”

The person continued coldly: “Under the Son of Heaven, the nobles are the law. Who dares offend the Prince of Qin, the Emperor’s son?”

For a time, curses against Li Zhongqian filled the air.

Yaoying’s face immediately darkened.

Second Brother wasn’t in the capital, and those people in the Prince’s mansion were running wild again!

She spurred her horse, turning to pursue the soldiers.

Xie Qing hurriedly followed on horseback.

The soldiers were escorting the young women into an alley when they heard approaching hoofbeats. Thinking some busybody from the street was interfering, they opened their mouths to shout angrily.

The three young women trembled in fear.

The hoofbeats drew closer.

The soldiers frowned. Li Yaoying’s mount was a divine steed, clean-limbed and spirited at first glance. Her escort Xie Qing and the others were all broad-shouldered and strong, with imposing presence, wearing brocade robes and carrying long sabers—well-trained servants of a great noble house. Though puzzled, they relied on their status as Prince’s guards and didn’t want to show weakness. They thrust out their chests, drew their swords, and blocked the young women.

“Who comes? Do you dare offend the Prince of Qin’s mansion?”

Yaoying rode up close, saying nothing as she drew her soft whip and lashed it across a soldier’s face, then raised her hand for another strike.

The soldier was stunned by the strikes, then grew furious and raised his sword to block.

Xie Qing intercepted him, drawing his saber to strike: “The Seventh Princess is here—show some respect.”

His voice was calm and steady, but his saber technique was dominating and fierce.

The soldier felt his hands go numb and his head spin—he couldn’t hold onto his sword at all.

By the time he came to his senses, his sword had already fallen to the ground, and he and the other soldiers had been forced down by the guards.

The soldier struggled a couple of times, remembering what Xie Qing had just said… wait, the Seventh Princess?

The Prince of Qin’s full sister?

No wonder that Wusun horse looked familiar—a few years ago when the Prince of Qin led troops to destroy several small tribes near Jincheng, they had captured several divine steeds, including that Wusun horse.

The soldier looked up in shock at the veiled Li Yaoying, trembling: “Forgive us, my lady! Forgive us!”

Yaoying’s anger hadn’t subsided: “Who ordered you to abduct honest women?”

The soldier forced a smile: “My lady misunderstands. With the law of the land, how dare we openly kidnap honest women? They volunteered to sell themselves as servants—we have all the proper documents and contracts, with guarantors’ signatures…”

The three young women clutched their heads, weeping bitterly.

Before the soldier could finish, Li Yaoying lashed him with her whip again.

The soldier cowered.

Yaoying put away her soft whip and removed her veiled hat: “No need to deceive me. You’re well-practiced at this—you know the authorities don’t allow kidnapping honest women, so you force their parents to sign documents saying they voluntarily sold themselves as servants. Even if their families report to the authorities, they can do nothing against you.”

The soldier, hearing her state the truth, dared not make a sound.

Yaoying asked word by word: “Who gave the order?”

The soldier sweated profusely and prostrated himself: “Commander Xu Biao.”

A commander of the Prince’s mansion, a subordinate Li Zhongqian had personally promoted.

Yaoying’s beautiful face showed not a trace of expression: “Where is Xu Biao?”

“In… in Pingkang Ward… at the Hu tavern…”

Yaoying turned her horse around.

“To Pingkang Ward.”