Religious ceremonies were being conducted in the main hall, with monks sitting in circles chanting sutras. Shadows flickered as sacred chants filled the air.

Tanmoluojia was not in the main hall.

Prajñā led Yao Ying through the corridor and into a quiet courtyard.

Yao Ying’s gaze swept around the surroundings. The main hall was heavily guarded, with crowds moving through the corridors. Warrior monks and imperial guards formed multiple layers of security outside the hall, packed densely together.

When news of Su Dangu’s death reached the capital, Ashina Bisuo was “ordered” to verify it and bring back Su Dangu’s “remains.” Everyone deeply believed Su Dangu had perished. In recent days, the nobles and ministers had become increasingly aggressive, growing bolder with each passing day. All the warrior monks were withdrawn to the Royal Temple to intimidate the nobles and ministers.

It was said that several main roads in the city had already been taken over by the four armies controlled by noble families. Rumors that the Buddha’s Son was once again confined to the Royal Temple were spreading widely.

There was still no news from the Northern Rong. No one knew whether the Khan of Wakhan or Haidu Aling had emerged victorious, while the court ministers were already busy fighting for power.

Internal turmoil and external threats loomed like storm clouds.

In the book, Tanmoluojia shouldered such a tottering nation alone through sheer willpower, until he finally burned out and died.

Born to be king, he had dedicated his entire life to the court.

Yao Ying’s brows furrowed slightly.

Prajñā, who was guiding her, glared at her and coughed lightly, saying, “With the King here, Princess need not worry.”

Yao Ying looked at him puzzled.

Prajñā held his chest high, glancing at her from the corner of his eye: “The King is wise and resourceful, beloved by the people. Even with the Regent gone, no one would dare disrespect the King! Princess shouldn’t look so worried. Rest assured, no matter what happens, Princess is now part of the Royal Temple – General Xue Yanna wouldn’t dare do anything to you.”

With Su Dangu “dead,” General Xue Yanna, who had once invaded the palace, was now speaking boldly, declaring he would become the new Regent. Some vulgar rumors had also begun circulating, which all the temple monks had heard about.

Yao Ying made a sound of acknowledgment and nodded. She hadn’t been worried about Xue Yanna just now, but rather concerned about Tanmoluojia.

The two passed through a dim narrow passage and entered the courtyard.

A tall figure stood before the courtyard, head raised to gaze at the scattered snow falling from the eaves. Snow filled the sky while the courtyard steps remained silent. He stood motionless as if in meditation, his silhouette ethereal like a Chinese ink painting.

Prajñā gestured for Yao Ying to approach, then withdrew.

Yao Ying held the letter sent by Zhu Lüyun and walked softly to Tanmoluojia’s side, leaning forward slightly to look at his face, her braided hair falling loose with red and green gems tinkling.

A cold gaze swept over, lingering on Yao Ying’s face for an instant before quickly moving away.

Like a bird flying across clear skies, leaving no trace behind.

Seeing he didn’t appear to be meditating, Yao Ying stepped forward and directly stated her purpose, handing him the letter: “Master, the Northern Rong Princess sent me a letter.”

Tanmoluojia took the letter.

“Though I don’t know Zhu Lüyun well, I can be certain this letter wasn’t written of her own will. I suspect the writer is either Princess Imperial Yiqing or the Northern Rong minister who brought her to court. They want to use me to get close to Master, or to probe the Royal Temple’s secrets.”

Yao Ying continued slowly, “I want to meet with Zhu Lüyun and clarify her true intentions, to prevent them from causing trouble.”

As she wasn’t from the royal court, she was better suited to probe the Northern Rong delegation and uncover their true purpose for the diplomatic mission.

Tanmoluojia made a sound of acknowledgment and returned the letter to Yao Ying: “Princess may act as she sees fit.”

Yao Ying told him her plans.

After listening to her speak, Tanmoluojia nodded.

His eyes were downcast, he hadn’t looked at Yao Ying once from start to finish.

Yao Ying heard the coldness and distance in his tone, and blinked her eyes, looking somewhat bewildered. She put away the letter, raised her gaze, and stared at him directly for a long while.

Tanmoluojia gazed at the quiet courtyard, saying nothing.

Yao Ying’s bright black eyes were filled with confusion. She couldn’t help rising on her toes, trying to meet Tanmoluojia’s eyes.

He saw her figure moving in his peripheral vision but remained motionless.

Yao Ying stood on tiptoe and made a small circle around Tanmoluojia, like a lively little bird circling a solemn Buddha statue.

Tanmoluojia remained silent.

Yao Ying looked puzzled. After thinking for a moment, she pressed her palms together in front of him, bowed, and said softly: “Pardon my disturbance, Master.”

With that, she turned to leave.

Before entering the passage, Yao Ying looked back.

Tanmoluojia wore a broad crimson kasaya, standing in the early spring morning as snow fell abundantly. His complexion was like spring dawn, pure and transcendent. A few rays of pale daylight filtered through the blue-pink-gold murals covering the walls, their interweaving shadows falling across his face, making his features appear even more profound.

If he were a secular person, who knows how many maidens would have fallen for him?

As Yao Ying gazed at Tanmoluojia lost in thought, a black shadow suddenly passed overhead. A hawk’s cry grew closer, its wings beating as it swooped into the courtyard, landing on a lotus stone pillar before her.

The hawk’s sharp eyes stared directly at her.

Yao Ying smiled, spreading her empty palms toward the hawk – she hadn’t brought any dried meat today.

The hawk immediately turned its head away from her.

Yao Ying laughed in exasperation: truly only interested in food!

As she laughed and raised her head, she met a gaze from the corridor and froze slightly.

Tanmoluojia had turned around at some point, his jade eyes clear and calm, quietly watching her play with the hawk.

He was probably waiting to read the reports the hawk had brought back.

Yao Ying quickly stepped back, wrinkled her nose at Tanmoluojia in apology, gestured her regret, and left smiling.

She had grown taller since first arriving at court. Her graceful figure departed, black braided hair covering her shoulders, the colorful ribbons binding her waist-length hair fluttering in the wind.

Tanmoluojia turned and entered the main room, sat cross-legged, and rotated his prayer beads between his fingers.

The hawk followed, flying into the room and landing beside the writing desk. He set down his prayer beads and glanced at the parchment twice.

Hurried footsteps sounded from the other end of the passage. Yuanjue strode into the room, kneeling on one knee in greeting: “King, everything has been arranged.”

Days ago, he had rushed to Sand City on orders, coordinating with Ashina Bisuo to prepare a corpse in advance, letting the assassins mistakenly believe the Regent was dead before quietly returning to the Holy City. When the tragic news of Su Dangu’s death arrived, Bisuo personally went to investigate as Commander of the Central Army, found the body, and confirmed the death. He had been busy rushing between the Holy City and various tribes delivering orders, his voice hoarse from exhaustion.

Tanmoluojia rolled up the parchment and said: “Accompany Princess Wenzhao to meet the Northern Rong Princess.”

Yuanjue was startled but nodded in agreement.

Tanmoluojia picked up a small box from the corner of the writing desk: “Return this to Princess Wenzhao.”

Yuanjue took the box, feeling it was surprisingly light with no weight at all, not knowing what was inside.

“After meeting the Northern Rong Princess, take Princess Wenzhao to visit Sand Garden.”

Yuanjue suddenly raised his head, eyes wide in disbelief. After a long moment, he came to his senses, respectfully acknowledged the order, and put away the box. He hesitated, then asked quietly: “King, that Northern Rong Princess is Han Chinese. Your servant heard from the Princess’s guards that Princess Wenzhao originally went to marry the barbarians in her place… If Princess Wenzhao and the Northern Rong Princess get into conflict, what should your servant do? Should I stop them?”

Tanmoluojia said calmly: “Princess Wenzhao knows her limits.”

Yuanjue understood and withdrew.

The King believed Princess Wenzhao knew her limits and wouldn’t go too far, so as long as she didn’t commit murder or arson, he needn’t intervene.

Tanmoluojia watched the blue hem of Yuanjue’s robe disappear at the doorway, his long fingers opening a sutra, his gaze serene.

Princess Wenzhao was a princess of Great Wei, and would eventually return to the Central Plains to reunite with her brother.

She didn’t belong to the royal court.

Mātaṅgī was just a lie she had casually made up.

Tanmoluojia lowered his head and began copying the sutra.

…

When Yuanjue found Yao Ying, she had just finished packing and was preparing to visit a Persian carpet shop near the Royal Temple.

She didn’t want to meet Zhu Lüyun at the temple, so they arranged to meet at the shop.

“Yuanjue, where are Ah Qing and the others now?”

Yuanjue replied: “My apologies, Princess. When General Ashina and I were trying to lead the assassins away, we had Xie Qing and the others take a long detour. They’ve entered the city now and should return to the Royal Temple by nightfall.”

Before leaving, Yao Ying sat at her dressing table, blending rouge and gently dabbing it at the corners of her eyes.

In an instant, her alluring eyes were tinged with a faint peach-blossom red, as if she had been crying bitterly.

To those unaware, Yao Ying had remained at the Royal Temple, never leaving.

To those who had sent the assassins, Su Dangu had died in an assassination while escorting her on a diplomatic mission to Gaochang. She had been rescued by Ashina Bisuo and brought back to the royal court, spending these days crying and unwilling to show her face.

Although everyone now firmly believed Su Dangu was dead, and she wouldn’t encounter outsiders on this trip, Yao Ying remained cautious.

Yuanjue nodded approvingly – the Princess still remembered to maintain the deception, so she probably wouldn’t get into a fight with the Northern Rong Princess.

“Oh right, Princess, the Regent asked me to return this to you.”

He took out the box.

Yao Ying narrowed her eyes, took the box, and opened it. Inside was a neatly folded handkerchief.

Yuanjue’s eyes widened – what the King had asked him to return to the Princess was just a handkerchief?

Yao Ying smiled and picked up the handkerchief: “I had completely forgotten about this.”

Yuanjue kept his eyes downcast, saying nothing.

Outside the Royal Temple, there was a cacophony of voices beyond the carriage curtain. Yao Ying lifted a small gap and peered out.

Guards in blue robes with white cloaks and swords stood before the temple gates, facing off against cavalry from the four armies across the street, creating a tense atmosphere.

With their bronze tokens, they passed through unhindered and quickly arrived at a two-story earthen building by the street.

Tanmoluojia’s birthday was approaching, and merchant caravans were arriving from various countries. The guesthouses near the Royal Temple were full of merchants from different regions. Days ago, the main streets had been bustling with ornate carriages and precious horses, but now with the tense situation in the city, merchants dared not go out, leaving the streets empty.

Yao Ying had her guards wait downstairs, then went up to the second floor with Yuanjue, sitting by the street-facing window, watching below.

Half an hour later, the sound of wheels crushing snow came from below as a large carriage surrounded by Northern Rong guards approached grandly.

The carriage entered the courtyard. The guards lifted the curtain, and a young woman wearing a sable cloak stepped down, raised her head, and looked around.

Upstairs, Yao Ying watched Zhu Lüyun standing in the snow, her fingers tightening on the hand warmer.

After more than two years, she had almost forgotten Zhu Lüyun’s appearance, but after a few glances, she was certain the woman downstairs was indeed Zhu Lüyun.

Yuanjue stood beside her, quietly reminding them: “Princess, the Northern Rong Princess is after all their envoy. No matter how wronged you feel, you must control yourself.”

Yao Ying’s lips curved up, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Soon, the stairs creaked, and Zhu Lüyun’s graceful figure appeared on the second floor, with over a dozen guards following closely behind – both Hu and Han people, each wearing curved swords, their bearing steady.

Yao Ying’s gaze swept across the guards’ faces.

When Zhu Lüyun reached the top of the stairs, her steps faltered. She nervously looked around first, then saw only Yuanjue as a guard in the room, she relaxed and finally glanced at Yao Ying. After observing her for a moment, she showed some apprehension but forced a smile: “I trust Princess Wenzhao has been well?”

Yao Ying asked coldly: “What did you want to tell me?”

Zhu Lüyun stepped forward, “Seventh Sister, I apologize here for what happened before. I’m no longer a Princess of Great Wei. We’re both far from home and should support each other. I owe you and want to make it up to you…”

She paused and stopped walking. A Han guard behind her immediately shot her a stern look containing a warning.

Zhu Lüyun bit her lip and continued forward, inching closer to Yao Ying step by step.

“Your situation now is precarious. I sincerely want to atone for my actions, which is why I asked to meet.”

Zhu Lüyun spoke a few sentences, then looked at the Han guard.

The guard continued giving her meaningful looks.

Zhu Lüyun shuffled a few steps closer, glanced at Yuanjue, and switched to the Wei Prefecture dialect: “Seventh Sister, to be honest, my aunt Princess Imperial Yiqing married the Northern Rong’s judge. Now my uncle holds an important position and has considerable influence in the Northern Rong court. When my aunt heard that you were sent to marry in my place and ended up at the royal court, she was both furious and sympathetic – angry at me for harming you, and pitying that one so young should suffer such hardship.”

“My uncle listens to everything my aunt says, and she’s his only wife. I’ve taken refuge with my aunt and live quite well, but I often think of you and feel uneasy, unable to sleep at night. My aunt says your situation is so similar to hers back then. Seeing you stranded at the royal court, she really can’t stand by and do nothing.”

After rambling on at length, Zhu Lüyun said sincerely: “Seventh Sister, I’ve come to save you.”

Yao Ying looked at her, her lips curving up as if moved by the words.

Zhu Lüyun let out a relieved sigh and reached out to pat Yao Ying’s hand. Before she could touch it, a flash of cold steel glinted.

In the blink of an eye, Yao Ying lunged forward, grabbed Zhu Lüyun, and a dagger slid into her palm.

The cold blade brushed past her cheek. Zhu Lüyun was terrified and screamed.

Yao Ying held her, pressing the dagger against her face, saying calmly: “Princess Fukang, stay calm. This dagger has been sharpened.”

Zhu Lüyun’s face turned deathly pale, her whole body trembling.

The sudden change caught everyone off guard, leaving them dumbfounded.

Both sides had been watching each other’s guards – who could have imagined that the beautiful, delicate Princess Wenzhao, with traces of tears and a pale face, would suddenly strike and grab Zhu Lüyun herself?

Zhu Lüyun’s guards were stunned for a long moment before reacting and rushing forward. Yuanjue also reacted, drawing his sword and striking the guards heavily across their backs with the flat of the blade.

Simultaneously, shouts erupted from above and below as guards hidden in corners sprang out, wielding clubs as they charged at Zhu Lüyun’s escorts. After a brief struggle, they bound the guards trapped on the stairs and distributed them to different rooms under watch.

“We are the Northern Rong diplomatic mission…”

The guards roared, but the soldiers stuffed cloth into their mouths, silencing their angry cries.

Yuanjue watched dumbfounded as Yao Ying’s guards dragged away Zhu Lüyun’s escorts, his mouth hanging open.