Gold, precious jade, jewels, and rarities filled the room. Coral trees several feet tall and exquisitely carved crystal cups scattered light in all directions, creating a dazzling display. The treasure chests strewn across the floor reflected brilliant rays that nearly blinded Yao Ying’s eyes.

Bisuo stood to the side and made a welcoming gesture: “Princess, please choose freely. We have prepared several large carts outside. Whatever the Princess likes, you may take.”

Yao Ying came to her senses and thought: Since Tanmoluojia is so wealthy, she wouldn’t stand in the ceremony with him.

She looked around the room until her gaze fell upon a precious box. She froze for a moment, her heart suddenly churning. Walking over, she picked up the box, her nose tingling and eyes rimming slightly red.

“I’ll take this one,” she said, her voice soft and hoarse.

Bisuo was stunned for a moment, seemed about to speak but held back, and returned to the inner hall to report.

The hall was silent save for the lingering fragrance of incense. Tanmoluojia sat bathed in cold light, absorbed in reading Buddhist scriptures, saying nothing.

Bisuo waited a while, and seeing him deeply engrossed in his reading, didn’t dare disturb him and withdrew.

Bo Re blocked the hall entrance, anxiously asking: “How many items did Princess Wenzhao take?”

Bisuo looked back at Tanmoluojia on his precious couch, expression thoughtful, and replied carelessly: “Princess Wenzhao only took one item.”

Bo Re was so anxious he was nearly smoking, pressing: “What did the Princess take?”

Bisuo turned his head and said: “A night-luminous pearl. The Princess seemed to like it.”

Bo Re stamped his foot: “Why did she take the night-luminous pearl?”

Bisuo gave him a cold look: “What, you think the Princess took too much?”

Bo Re beat his chest in distress: “I think she took too little! Just those medicinal ingredients were worth more than one night-luminous pearl! Why didn’t she take more!”

Bisuo broke into a laugh: “She took less and you’re angry about it? I thought you disliked Princess Wenzhao.”

Bo Re gave him a resentful glare: “How can the General still laugh? Princess Wenzhao’s dowry was all sent to the Buddhist temple, and now the city is full of rumors that the Princess has given her heart completely to the King, surrendering all worldly possessions just to follow him! She has another excuse to cling to the King!”

Bisuo smiled, “What are you afraid of? No matter how devoted Princess Wenzhao is, as long as the King’s heart isn’t moved, she’ll leave after a year. She’s someone who keeps her word and won’t obsessively pursue the King.”

Matanga Woman had been willing to practice Buddhism for a year to marry Ananda. Li Yao Ying had sworn to follow the Matanga Woman’s example and stay in the royal court for only one year.

Unless Tanmoluojia’s heart was moved by her.

Bo Re lifted his chin: “The King certainly won’t be moved!”

The King was Ananda’s reincarnation, and when he was born, the holy city was filled with ethereal clouds and the palace echoed with the sound of Buddhist scriptures. The King was noble and sacred, pure and free from desire – how could he be seduced by a Han Chinese princess? Even though she had the beauty to topple nations…

Bisuo glanced at him: “Then what are you afraid of?”

Bo Re was struck dumb.

…

Yao Ying returned to her courtyard with the precious box and sat in the cool corridor, staring absently at the night-luminous pearl within.

Xie Qing was practicing martial arts in the courtyard. Seeing her red eyes, he quickly climbed the stone steps, frowning: “Princess, who has upset you?”

Yao Ying came back to herself, smiled, and wiped her eyes: “No one. I just miss my brother.”

The royal court’s night-luminous pearl was rich in color and larger than the one Li Zhong Qian had given her, but she still preferred the one from her brother most.

That night-luminous pearl – who knew whose hands it had fallen into now?

As always, Xie Qing comforted Yao Ying with an expressionless face: “Princess will certainly return safely to the Central Plains and reunite with the Qin King.”

“Brother isn’t the Qin King anymore, he’s the Duke of Wei.”

Brother must be very worried about her; she needed to return soon.

Yao Ying let out a long breath, put aside her melancholy thoughts, rallied her spirits, and gathered her guards to give orders: “After the Buddhist ceremony ends, Xie Peng, Xie Chong, and A Qing will accompany me to Gaochang.”

The guards acknowledged the order, and Xie Qing asked: “Will the King of Gaochang help the Princess?”

Yao Ying replied: “We’ll only know when we get there.”

The guards fell silent.

Yao Ying looked at her dejected guards and raised her voice: “During the Han Dynasty, Ban Chao went as envoy to the Western Regions with only thirty-six men, without using a single soldier from the court, and recovered over sixty kingdoms in the Western Regions.”

“During the Tang Dynasty, when the imperial envoy Wang Xuance went to India, his delegation was captured. He managed to escape, borrowed troops from Tibet, led an army to attack India, beheaded three thousand enemies, captured the Indian King Aluonashun and his followers alive, and his name thundered through foreign lands. Over five hundred Indian cities surrendered.”

She paused, her gaze sweeping across each guard’s face, “Although we are now trapped in the Western Regions, escape may not be impossible. The court has always hoped to restore communication with the Western Regions, and the various Western Region kingdoms also long to return to the east. This mission to Gaochang is your opportunity to display your talents!”

Far from the Central Plains in foreign lands, with an uncertain path ahead and language barriers, the guards’ morale had been low. Hearing these words, they suddenly felt their minds clear and blood surge with excitement. If they could help the court recover the Western Regions like Ban Chao and Wang Xuance, wouldn’t they all be recorded in history and bring glory to their families?

Everyone looked at their princess, flames of determination gradually rising in their eyes.

Yao Ying stood on the steps, her expression solemn: “The Northern Nomads are eyeing the Central Plains like a tiger watching its prey. We will eventually face them in battle. Even if we can’t get any help from the King of Gaochang on this journey, we can at least gather military intelligence. Only by knowing both ourselves and our enemy can we have a better chance of victory.”

Everyone responded loudly in agreement, eager to set out for Gaochang immediately.

Yao Ying saw their enthusiasm and smiled.

Six months of imprisonment had left her guards listless and demoralized. Only now could she see in them some of that hot-blooded spirit asking “why not carry a sword?” No matter whether they could achieve immortal merit, having this ambition and spirit first would help them regain confidence and calmly face all dangers.

The more imprisoned they were, the more they couldn’t lose their fighting spirit.

“The royal court has been able to resist the Northern Nomads’ great armies multiple times – they must have their winning methods. On the way to Gaochang, you must observe the royal court’s army and learn from their strengths.”

The guards responded in unison, watching as Yao Ying returned to her room. They winked at the wooden-faced Xie Qing: “Why aren’t you following?”

Xie Qing looked confused.

Xie Chong sighed and said: “The Princess misses the Duke of Wei and is in low spirits. You should go comfort her, tell the Princess not to be sad – we will escort her back to court!”

Xie Qing’s expression darkened: “Why should I be the one to go comfort the Princess?”

The guards didn’t know where her anger came from and looked at each other in confusion.

Xie Qing picked up her practice sword, flipped her wrist, and pointed the sword tip at the guards.

“Because you know I’m a woman, so when the Princess is sad and troubled, I must go console her? Should I also change into women’s clothes and embroider with the Princess, drink tea, sit together, and cry to relieve her melancholy?”

The guards howled in pain, clutching their heads while dodging and begging for mercy.

“Big brother! Big sister! Auntie! We were wrong! We were wrong!”

Xie Qing continued chasing and hitting the guards, sneering: “You don’t think you did anything wrong!”

“Let me tell you, although I’m a woman, I’m still the Princess’s guard! I’m your captain! I can beat you fools without you being able to defend yourselves!”

The guards were forced into a corner with nowhere to hide. They simply fell to the ground, wailing continuously and crying for mercy: “Yes! Yes! We’re fools!”

Xie Qing’s sword came down, cutting off some of the guards’ hair.

Xie Peng and Xie Chong hugged each other, trembling.

Xie Qing flourished her sword and kicked away the guard sprawled at her feet: “Whether I’m male or female, the Princess sees me as her guard, and I see the Princess as my lord. Remember this well – I am your captain, not the Princess’s lady-in-waiting! How I serve and show loyalty to the Princess is not for you to direct!”

Everyone was bruised and feeling wronged.

Xie Chong cried: “Big brother! Master! Ancestor! We didn’t mean to look down on or mock you! The Princess has always been close to you, that’s why we thought of having you comfort her. The Princess is noble – we rough fellows can barely speak a word in front of her, we don’t know how to console the Princess…”

The others quickly agreed.

Xie Qing’s expression softened somewhat as she put away her wooden sword, “Stop trying to command me in the future!”

Everyone sprawled on the ground, nodding their heads like pounding pestles.

After the shouting and begging outside quieted down, Yao Ying leaned halfway out to look down the corridor, her face full of smiles, the corners of her eyes slightly raised, exuding charm and delicate beauty.

Xie Qing maintained a stern face, with a tall build and proper features that didn’t look feminine at all.

Yao Ying called to her softly: “A Qing, don’t be angry anymore.”

Xie Qing remained silent.

Yao Ying leaned on the window, speaking softly: “Xie Peng and the others have been listless lately. It’s good that you gave them a beating – I can see their spirits are much better now.”

Seeing that she wasn’t blaming her, Xie Qing’s face remained expressionless, but she silently thrust out her chest, her back becoming even straighter.

After being beaten, the guards seemed to feel they had lost face in front of Yao Ying and were eager to prove themselves. They suddenly became excited as if they had taken some magical elixir, getting up before dawn to practice martial arts and boxing.

Yao Ying, being woken up every morning: …

She just wanted to sleep well.

As the Festival of the Sacred Image drew near, the celebratory atmosphere in the city grew stronger. The guards, full of excess energy with nowhere to expend it, became curious and wanted to go see the grandeur of the Buddhist kingdom’s ceremony.

Xie Chong begged before Yao Ying: “Princess, please come with us to see it.”

The Princess was as precious as gold and jade. She had been confined in the Haidun Aling camp for half a year, which pained them to see. Now that they were in the royal court where the Northern Nomads wouldn’t dare act rashly, the Princess could go out for some fresh air.

Yao Ying was also tired of being cooped up in one corner of the palace, but since they were currently dependent on others’ hospitality, she didn’t want to encounter Xue Yanna outside. She smiled and said: “You all go have fun.”

She had Xie Qing give each person several silver coins, which circulated in the Western Regions and could buy quite a lot.

Xie Qing instructed the guards: “Stay alert, don’t cause trouble for the Princess.”

The guards accepted the silver coins with broad smiles, making promises before heading out of the palace together. When they returned at night, they brought back many novel curiosities they had never seen before to entertain Yao Ying.

On this day, the guards again rose before dawn to practice boxing, ate some nang bread, and went out to see the festivities.

Yao Ying was preparing for the journey to Gaochang, packing luggage and checking accounts. She was busy until the afternoon when Xie Chong suddenly burst into the courtyard: “Princess, Xie Peng, and the others have been arrested!”

Xie Qing went out to meet him first: “What happened? Who arrested them? Did you cause trouble?”

Xie Chong’s clothes were disheveled and he was covered in injuries. He bowed to Yao Ying as she walked out of the room and said guiltily: “Princess, Xie Peng, and the others accidentally violated the royal court’s laws and have been sent to the Regent.”

Yao Ying’s expression changed.

While the Buddhist Prince Tanmoluojia was revered by all people for his benevolence and virtue, Regent Su Dan Gu relied on killing to strike fear into people’s hearts. He was ruthless, wielding the power of life and death, personally executing one noble official after another. Court officials’ hearts would pound at the mere mention of his name, trembling in fear, while common people feared him like a wolf or tiger.

Even Bo Re, Yuan Jue, and others loyal to Tanmoluojia were very afraid of Su Dan Gu, feeling he was cold-blooded and murderous with too heavy a burden of sin. Although they often used Su Dan Gu to frighten Xue Yanna, they usually avoided mentioning him, unwilling to speak of him much.

Throughout the royal court, no one dared to get close to Su Dan Gu.

Only when they needed to frighten someone would they mention Su Dan Gu’s name?

With Xie Peng and the others in Su Dan Gu’s hands, their chances were grim.

Years ago, when Xue Yanna’s uncle had plotted rebellion, forcing officials to support him as emperor, this Regent had gone into the royal court hall alone with just a sword, without bringing a single guard. In front of all the civil and military officials, he had beheaded Xue Yanna’s uncle, carried the head to the palace gates, and ordered the left army commanded by the Xue family to surrender. His fierce and evil presence, and overwhelming momentum, were like that of an Asura.

Xue Yanna’s legs had gone weak with fear right then, and from that time on, he would break out in a cold sweat just hearing Su Dan Gu’s name.

How had Xie Peng come to violate the royal court’s laws and fall into Su Dan Gu’s hands?

Yao Ying steadied herself and asked Xie Chong: “What crime exactly did Xie Peng and the others commit?”

The guards were all utterly loyal, having gone through hardships with her. She couldn’t watch them be executed by Su Dan Gu. However, they were in the royal court and should have followed local customs – this matter was indeed Xie Peng and the others’ fault first. Only by understanding the situation clearly, could she find a solution.

Xie Chong gritted his teeth in anger and said: “The city has been very lively lately, with many merchants coming to sell goods for the festival. We heard the horse traders in the south of the city had good horses, so we went to look, but we didn’t know that place wasn’t just selling horses…”

His eyes were bloodshot, “They were also selling people! All Han Chinese people!”

Yao Ying sighed softly to herself.

Human trafficking was one of the most profitable businesses on the Western Region trade routes, and almost all Western Region merchants dealt with female slaves. Usually, they sold beautiful foreign women to the Central Plains, but here in the Western Regions, those bound with grass ropes and sold like livestock were captives from various tribes, including many Han Chinese.

With the decline of the Central Plains dynasties, the status of Han Chinese in the Western Regions plummeted. They became lower-class citizens, forced to cut all ties with the Central Plains, speak foreign languages, adopt foreign customs, braid their hair on the left, and submit to others’ bidding.

Xie Chong knelt before Yao Ying, tears in his tiger-like eyes: “Princess, Xie Peng and I understood our current situation and didn’t want to interfere. We were planning to quietly leave… but an old man heard us speaking and suddenly rushed over crying…”

The old man was white-haired and skeletal like a skull with skin stretched over it. He fell at Xie Peng’s feet, his bony fingers clutching tightly at his robe hem. When he spoke, it was in perfect Central Plains official language: “Heaven has eyes! Heaven has eyes! I, Zhang Song, before death, can hear the sound of home again!”

Xie Chong and Xie Peng helped the old man up.

The old man asked where they were from, and upon learning they had come from the Central Plains, he froze for a moment before suddenly breaking into loud sobs.

“Does the Central Plains Emperor still remember our subjects? We’ve waited decades for the royal army to recover these lands!”

Xie Chong and Xie Peng’s eyes reddened, speechless.

When the previous Zhu dynasty was established, they had thought about recovering the Western Regions, but lacking military strength and faced with sharp internal contradictions, they fell within a few generations. The current Emperor Li De and Crown Prince Li Xuanzhen both wanted to recover Hexi and Long, but the Great Wei dynasty was still young, faced both internal and external troubles, and didn’t understand the situation in the Western Regions, so they dared not rashly send troops for now.

The two didn’t know how to answer the old man and the old man hadn’t expected an affirmative answer anyway, crying in despair.

Just then, the foreign merchant selling Han people lashed out with a whip, knocking the old man to the ground.

Xie Peng couldn’t bear to watch the old man be humiliated and wanted to buy his freedom, but the foreign merchant deliberately made things difficult because they were Han Chinese, actually beating the old man to death in front of them!

That old man from a prominent Hexi family, who had been captured and taken to the Western Regions in his youth, who had been a slave for decades but still hadn’t forgotten his native tongue, who only hoped the royal army would soon recover Hexi – was beaten to death just like that!

Reaching this point, Xie Chong’s hands clenched into fists, his whole body trembling as he forcibly suppressed his anger and grief, saying: “Xie Peng tried to save the old man and got into a conflict with the foreign merchant, accidentally injuring him. The marketplace soldiers arrested Xie Peng and the others, saying they had violated the precepts and should be executed according to law! They’ve already been sent to the Regent!”

Yao Ying sighed.

Xie Peng and Xie Chong had been too impulsive.

Her mind raced as she called the other guards and gave instructions: “Quickly go to the storehouse and take some cloth, silk, jewels, and jade to that foreign merchant’s home to apologize through an intermediary. Also, check with the marketplace officials if the crime can be settled with silver.”

The guards acknowledged and split up to carry out their tasks.

Yao Ying took Xie Qing to go to the main hall but hesitated when they nearly reached the long corridor.

Would someone as noble and aloof as Tanmoluojia care about such trivial matters? He had been preparing for the Buddhist debate conference these past days and was said to be in seclusion, receiving no one.

Yao Ying hesitated, returned to the courtyard, and asked the guard on duty: “Is General Ashina on duty today?”

The guard immediately replied: “Princess, please wait, I’ll go summon General Ashina right away.”

Yao Ying was stunned.

Another guard explained: “General Ashina instructed that if the Princess asks about him, we should report immediately whether he’s on duty or not.”

Ashina Bisuo’s tall, strong figure soon appeared at the courtyard gate, his golden braids making even the sunlight seem dim in comparison.

“The Princess was looking for me?” he asked with a broad smile.

Yao Ying stepped forward and told him about Xie Peng injuring someone: “My guards violated your country’s laws and should be punished according to the law, but they are utterly loyal and have gone through hardships with me. I really can’t bear to watch them die in a foreign land. Moreover, they didn’t cause any deaths – the crime doesn’t warrant execution. I wonder if there might be some way to resolve this?”

Bisuo put away his playful expression, slightly frowning: “They were sent to Su Dan Gu?”

Xie Chong nodded beside them.

Bisuo sighed and said with a bitter smile: “The Regent’s temper… I’m afraid this won’t be easy to handle.”

Yao Ying’s heart tightened.

Bisuo looked down at her and saw her slightly furrowed brows, pale face, and bright eyes fixed steadily on him, her features as delicate as a painting. He suddenly felt weak all over, scratched his head, and softened his tone: “Since no one was killed, it’s not such a serious matter. Princess, come with me, I’ll go plead with the Regent.”

Worried that Yao Ying might be frightened, he quickly added, “Don’t be afraid, Princess. You have me!”

Yao Ying quietly let out a breath of relief, thanked him gratefully, and followed him out of the palace.

The place for executing criminals was at the city gate, which all merchants had to pass through when entering or leaving the holy city. There was a constant flow of people and vehicles, and whenever the Regent executed criminals, observers would pack the area under the city gate so tightly that not even water could flow through.

Today Su Dan Gu was overseeing the execution of a group of bandits who had cruelly killed an entire tribe. The announcement had been posted early, and the main road under the city gate was already crowded with spectators, their voices thunderous.

Yao Ying followed behind Bisuo as they rode out of the palace. The city gate guards recognized Bisuo, exchanged a few words with him, and let them enter the gate tunnel.

Under the gate tower crouched a group of tightly bound prisoners, with soldiers standing guard beside them.

A whistle sounded at the city gate, and suddenly the crowd outside fell silent. Two soldiers stepped forward, pulled out two burly bandits from among the prisoners, and took them up to the gate tower.

The atmosphere was heavy and solemn. Soon, a chorus of cheers erupted from outside the gate tunnel.

Those two bandits had been executed.

Yao Ying’s heart pounded as she looked around, spotting Xie Peng and the others in the crowd, their faces pale.

Xie Peng saw her too, his expression instantly changing. His lips moved wordlessly before he lowered his head in shame. Then he suddenly lifted it again, shaking his head at her.

Princess, don’t save me.

Yao Ying didn’t approach, steadied herself, and hurriedly climbed the stairs following Bisuo.

Several guards blocked their way, brandishing their long sabers, demanding harshly: “Who goes there?”

Bisuo raised his face: “It’s me. I need to see the Regent.”

The guard said coldly: “The Regent is executing criminals! General, please come back in half an hour!”

Bisuo smiled good-naturedly, “Go report that Bisuo is here with urgent business. The Regent will see me.”

The guard hesitated for a moment, turned to report, and returned shortly after, bowing and clearing the way.

Bisuo led Yao Ying quickly up the gate tower. As they turned past the watchtower, they were hit by a strong gust of bloody wind.

Yao Ying’s breath caught, but she forced down her nausea and continued forward.

With a thud, something splattered out, spraying onto her veil, clothes, and pomegranate-colored skirt, soaking through the fabric and then dripping downward.

An icy chill ran up her spine as Yao Ying froze, looking down at her feet.

A human head had rolled next to her long boots, its long hair disheveled, features contorted, tongue protruding, with red and white blood splattered all around.

After a moment of deathly silence, thunderous cheers erupted from below the gate tower as the people clapped and shouted.

Su Dan Gu had just executed a bandit.

Bisuo was startled and turned to see Yao Ying covered in blood, even her veil stained red. Feeling angry, pitying, and guilty all at once, he quickly moved to support her while turning back to reproach Su Dan Gu: “Regent, you’ve frightened Princess Wenzhao!”

Yao Ying’s limbs had gone weak. Supported by Bisuo, she slowly stepped away.

Before the gate tower stood a man in a dark brocade robe holding a bloodied sword. His figure was tall and lean, thinner than Bisuo, but his whole person was like a fully drawn bow, filled with tremendous tension. His presence was cold and fierce, his arms long, his silk belt cinching his waist to reveal muscular lines that showed his mastery of archery and horsemanship at a glance.

This was Regent Su Dan Gu, who controlled the military and political power of the royal court – the yaksha demon from the hell of asuras who killed as easily as hemp, according to the common people.

He held his long sword and looked back at Bisuo and Yao Ying, his eyes cold and empty, like a foggy winter morning where even the most brilliant sunlight couldn’t penetrate the thick, unyielding gloom.

A ray of evening light cut across his face, illuminating it – as hideous and terrifying as the legends said, covered in grotesque scars that made his original features unrecognizable.

A living yaksha demon.

Yao Ying couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

Bisuo felt her fear, took off his cloak, and draped it over her shoulders, gently squeezing them, not knowing how to comfort her. He said anxiously: “Princess, don’t be afraid! The Regent never kills innocent people, he only executes bandits who are evil to the core…”

Yao Ying steadied herself and said softly: “No, I was rash.”

Bisuo was stunned, sighing softly as he helped Yao Ying walk to the watchtower. “I should be blamed, I was too careless! I shouldn’t have brought the Princess here. Please wait a moment, Princess, I’ll go explain everything to the Regent.”

Yao Ying looked up at him gratefully: “Thank you, General.”

Bisuo’s face reddened slightly as he smiled, then turned around, looking disgustedly at the head at his feet before jumping over to Su Dan Gu’s side.

“Regent.” He pointed at the tightly bound group below the gate tower, “Those Han people there got into a fight with foreign merchants over an argument and injured someone. The crime doesn’t warrant death, but the merchants and marketplace officials conspired to send them here deliberately. Please don’t execute them by mistake.”

Su Dan Gu ignored Bisuo, sheathed his sword, and walked down from the gate tower via another watchtower, his figure vigorous, his presence as steady as a mountain.

Bisuo hurriedly followed, calling out repeatedly: “Regent, they didn’t take any lives!”

Without turning back, Su Dan Gu said: “Handle according to the law.”

His voice was hoarse and deep.

Yao Ying listened carefully to their conversation, and hearing these words, her anxious heart finally settled back in place.

“Handle according to the law” meant they only needed to pay a fine.

Bisuo also breathed a sigh of relief, leading Yao Ying down from the gate tower to find the soldiers guarding the prisoners and explain the situation.

The soldier found the document sent from the marketplace office, made a sound of realization, and said: “General, no need to worry. Although these people have been sentenced to death, the final confirmation must come from the Regent before they’re sent up to the gate tower for execution. They were brought here today just to witness the executions.”

In other words, today only the bandits would be executed. All death sentences had to be personally reviewed by Su Dan Gu, and since Xie Peng and the others’ crimes didn’t warrant death, Su Dan Gu wouldn’t sentence them to death based solely on the officials’ one-sided account.

Yao Ying was completely relieved now and thanked Bisuo repeatedly.

Bisuo looked at her blood-stained veil, feeling very guilty. As he escorted her back to the palace, he said gently: “Leave the rest to me. Princess just needs to wait patiently – Xie Peng and the others will return safe and sound in a few days.”

Yao Ying shook her head: “This happened because Xie Peng and the others were impulsive and rash. As their princess, I failed to properly discipline them. I dare not trouble the General further.”

Bisuo said seriously: “Princess needn’t stand on ceremony with me. You’re far from home in a foreign land with no one to rely on. You can come to me with anything, without hesitation. I only worry I won’t have enough chances to help the Princess.”

The last sentence was deliberately softened, gentle, and intimate.

Yao Ying was stunned for a moment.

Bisuo smiled at her, “The Princess has had a shock today. Rest early – I’ll come check on you tomorrow.”

Yao Ying watched his tall figure disappear into the distance, remembered his cloak was still around her shoulders, shook her head, and turned back to her quarters.

The guards gradually returned to the report. They had already sent jewels and jade to smooth things over with the marketplace officials, who promised to withdraw the charges tomorrow. The foreign merchant, seeing the silk they’d brought, extorted some more silver before agreeing to settle.

The next day, Bisuo indeed came to help Yao Ying handle the remaining matters. Xie Peng and the others showed good attitudes in admitting their guilt, and with Yao Ying producing the settlement agreement, they were quickly released.

Xie Qing punished Xie Peng and the others by making them do horse stances in the courtyard every day. Knowing they had nearly caused serious trouble and implicated Yao Ying, they didn’t dare argue and accepted their punishment obediently.

Yao Ying didn’t scold Xie Peng. She had someone find that foreign merchant and buy all the Han people, settling them in a courtyard outside the city.

The dead old man had been dragged outside the city and abandoned that day. Yao Ying had people find his body and arrange his funeral.

When Xie Peng heard about this later, he wiped his tears and continued his horse stance.

Having dealt with Xie Peng’s situation, Yao Ying could finally sleep peacefully.

That night, she dreamed she was standing on the gate tower when a fountain of hot blood gushed out, splashing all over her, trickling down her skirt hem.

Drip, drip, drip, one drop at a time.

A figure stood before her, holding a bloodied sword.

Yao Ying didn’t dare move. The person suddenly turned around – a yaksha demon’s face but with eyes clear as lake water, gleaming with a green tint.

She woke with a start, covered in cold sweat.