On the way back to the courtyard, Yao Ying removed her yaksha demon mask, recalling Su Dangu’s gaze when she had deliberately shown him her mask before entering the palace.

Did he know about this customary rule at Gaochang palace banquets?

If he did know, would he think she had done it on purpose?

When he had looked at her intently for a moment then, was he perhaps hesitating whether to remind her to change her mask?

Yao Ying had indeed done it deliberately—but she truly didn’t know about this custom, she had only wanted to tell him she’d bought the same mask as his.

Should she explain it clearly to him?

This thought had barely surfaced before Yao Ying suppressed it. Su Dangu had only glanced at her a few times then, with no other reaction. He probably hadn’t given it much thought at all—it would be more awkward if she deliberately explained.

Someone like him, unburdened by worldly concerns, wouldn’t care about a mask on her face.

So there was no need for an explanation.

Having figured this out, Yao Ying didn’t hide her mask. After dismounting from the carriage, she was about to find Su Dangu to discuss Yuchi Datmo and Haidu Aling’s meeting when she caught sight of a figure approaching in the long corridor. She froze, then immediately broke into a delighted smile.

“A’Qing!”

Xie Qing stepped forward and bowed formally to Yao Ying, her face expressionless, respectful, and solemn.

Yao Ying’s eyes and brows were full of smiles as she quickly walked into the corridor, holding onto her to examine her carefully: “Have your wounds healed?”

Xie Qing answered: “Princess need not worry, I’m much better.”

Yao Ying was still concerned. She rose on tiptoe to look more closely at her complexion.

Xie Qing was stubborn by nature, never complaining of hardship or fatigue, practicing her sword forms every morning regardless of wind or rain, her hands covered in thick calluses. This time she had been gravely wounded saving Jin Bo, forced to flee the city to recover. Xie Chong and the others said she had taken a sword blow meant for Jin Bo, was covered in blood, and remained unconscious for a day after. They had feared the worst—how could such serious injuries heal so quickly?

In the dim lamplight, Xie Qing’s face was composed, her back straight. Yao Ying couldn’t tell if her wounds had truly healed.

“A’Qing, I’m very safe now. With General Su here, nothing will happen to me. You should focus on recovering properly and not force yourself—it would be terrible if you developed chronic problems. Aren’t martial artists most wary of injuries and illness?”

Xie Qing’s face remained wooden as she said solemnly: “I’ve recovered and can return to protect the Princess.”

Knowing she couldn’t be persuaded, Yao Ying sighed and looked around, wanting to consult Su Dangu, but couldn’t see him anywhere after scanning the area.

He seemed to have walked past her earlier, but she had been too focused on Xie Qing to notice.

Yao Ying turned back to continue speaking quietly with Xie Qing.

As the two talked, guards and attendants moved back and forth in the courtyard. A gaze fell upon them, lingering for a long time on Yao Ying’s hand gripping Xie Qing’s.

Yao Ying sensed something odd and looked up.

Yuanjue stood in the depths of the corridor corner, his gray-brown eyes staring eerily at her hand, a cold smile on his lips, his face showing traces of anger.

Seeing her look back, he suddenly came to his senses. Looking annoyed, he turned away with a sharp movement and left.

Yao Ying was completely bewildered: why was Yuanjue angry about her talking with Xie Qing?

Among Tan Moluo Jia’s guards, several led by Bore looked at her as if she were a naked demoness trying to seduce the Buddha in the “Subduing Demons Sutra,” making no effort to hide their deep disgust. Only Ashina Bisuo and Yuanjue had been polite to her from the start. Over these days of interaction, Yuanjue had grown increasingly familiar with her, treating her with growing respect—why had he suddenly changed his attitude?

Could he have quarreled with Xie Qing?

Unable to figure it out, Yao Ying set the matter aside for now and asked Xie Qing in detail about what had happened at the relay station that day.

Xie Qing’s voice was hoarse as she said: “When the Princess warned me to protect Jin Bo that day, I kept watch over his situation. The assassins among the dancers were the first wave of attackers. After his guards and I dealt with those assassins, we didn’t expect his guards would be the real killers. Jin Bo was caught off guard and they nearly succeeded. I saved him, but our commotion was too loud and we feared drawing others, so we had to withdraw from the city first. The city was under martial law these past few days with checkpoints everywhere, and Old Qi and the others couldn’t contact the Princess. These days the guard isn’t as strict, and I was worried about the Princess’s safety, so I entered the city as soon as my wounds healed.”

Yao Ying asked: “What about Prince Jin Bo? Were his injuries serious?”

A trace of disgust crossed Xie Qing’s face as she said: “He only suffered some flesh wounds. The Royal Court’s people escorted him back to Northern Rong. He was overwhelmed with gratitude, saying he would repay the Buddhist Prince’s life-saving kindness in the future.”

She seemed unwilling to say more about Jin Bo, so Yao Ying didn’t press further.

Jin Bo was the Wahan Khan’s most beloved youngest son. Having nearly died in Gaochang, he would certainly suspect Haidu Aling first. He had returned to the Tooth Palace to report this—what would the Wahan Khan do?

If it were anyone else, they would surely fly into a rage and kill Haidu Aling to avenge their son. Then, with Northern Rong in constant internal strife, she and Yang Qian’s people would have a chance to send messages through the blockade.

Unfortunately, the Wahan Khan wasn’t that sort of person.

In his youth, the Wahan Khan had been brilliant and decisive, both wise and brave, which was why he had been able to lead an unremarkable Turkic branch tribe to rise to power, conquering the northern desert and annexing the Western Regions.

Campaigning north and south for decades, he had been unstoppable, conquering dozens of cities with few defeats. This inevitably led to arrogance and underestimating enemies, resulting in a crushing defeat at the hands of Tan Moluo Jia, whom the world saw as a puppet emperor. Not only did he lose many elite troops, but he was reduced to abandoning his position and disguising himself in soldier’s clothes to escape. This dealt him a heavy blow, leaving psychological scars that made him overcautious. Additionally, with severe contradictions within the tribe and daily military affairs plus disputes to handle from various reports, he was overwhelmed. Later, he stubbornly continued to besiege the Royal Court but gained nothing, worsening his mental state and gradually becoming more conservative.

Even so, the Wahan Khan was not to be underestimated. How he would handle the conflict between his son and Haidu Aling remained to be seen.

Yao Ying pondered for a moment before asking about the others’ injuries.

Xie Qing replied that two guards had somewhat serious injuries, but the others were fine.

Hearing the weakness in her voice, clearly showing her wounds hadn’t healed, Yao Ying sent her back to her room.

Xie Qing frowned.

Yao Ying said: “A’Qing, help me organize the things in several trunks. I’m exhausted from the day—I can barely lift my arms.”

Xie Qing immediately responded respectfully in agreement.

After eating dinner that night, instead of retiring, Yao Ying wrote several letters to Yang Qian and had Xie Chong deliver them overnight. After sitting in thought by the lamp for a while, she rose to find Su Dangu.

Su Dangu hadn’t slept either—his room was still lit, with a faint cold light showing through the window.

Yuanjue stood guard outside the door. Seeing Yao Ying approach, he jerked his chin to the side, his manner less warm than usual.

Yao Ying remembered what had happened earlier when they returned.

“Yuanjue, is there some misunderstanding between you and Xie Qing? She’s straightforward by nature and doesn’t understand the Hu language well. If she’s offended you somehow, just tell me, and I’ll apologize on her behalf.”

Yuanjue’s expression stiffened, his lips moving several times as if wanting to speak but holding back.

Yao Ying looked at him, her eyes bright and clear, her gaze sincere.

Yuanjue gave in, scratching his scalp and stammering: “It’s… it’s nothing. Xie Qing hasn’t offended me. I lost my composure for a moment—the Princess needn’t concern herself.”

He just felt the Princess shouldn’t be so close to a guard.

He couldn’t say these words aloud.

When the Princess was close to other men, shouldn’t he feel relieved that she would forget the Buddhist Prince? So why, when he saw the Princess and Xie Qing holding hands, did his heart feel like a pot of boiling water, constantly bubbling with agitation?

At that moment, a thought had flashed through his mind: since the Princess was the Buddhist Prince’s Matangi woman, she should devote herself single-mindedly to admiring the Buddhist Prince…

Yuanjue shook his head, coming back to his senses. If Bore knew he was thinking this way, he would surely want to dig out his brain.

Yao Ying’s gaze moved across Yuanjue’s face. Confirming he didn’t seem to be quarreling with Xie Qing, she smiled and stated her purpose for coming.

Yuanjue dared not let her enter directly. He went inside to announce her and soon opened the door to invite her in.

Only one candle was lit in the room, the light dim. Su Dangu sat before the couch with his ever-present black sword across his knees, an aura of cold killing intent surrounding him.

Yao Ying’s brows furrowed slightly.

In just an hour or two, she felt the killing intent around Su Dangu had suddenly grown stronger.

And colder.

This was truly the Regent she had seen on the city tower, personally executing criminals.

She looked at Su Dangu. He wasn’t wearing his mask, and his jade-green eyes lifted, sweeping briefly across her face.

“General Su?” Yao Ying stepped forward, calling out tentatively.

Su Dangu lowered his gaze, gesturing for her to sit.

Yao Ying sat opposite him and said: “I apologize for disturbing the General so late at night. General, there’s something I can’t figure out—how can Northern Rong set up layers of checkpoints to stop everyone trying to send messages to the Central Plains?”

Yang Qian and her people would soon set out on their journey east. They would have to pass through territory occupied by Northern Rong and get through Northern Rong’s checkpoints. During this time, many would certainly be discovered and killed.

She hoped to consider things more thoroughly before they departed, to help them detect danger in time.

Even one less death would be good.

Su Dangu had fought against Northern Rong before and should understand their people well, knowing their weaknesses.

Yao Ying sat perfectly straight and said: “If the General is willing to share, please don’t hesitate to instruct me.”