Ashina Bisha strode up to Yao Ying. He had just dismounted from his horse. His face was pale, he looked cold, and he was covered in dust. But his smile was still bright.

"Princess, how are you?"

Yaoying took off her mask, used a whip to brush off the snow and mud on her boots, and her eyes fell on Bisuo's injured leg. When she left the holy city, he was still limping, and the witch doctor asked him to rest for a few months. How could he be able to ride a horse so quickly?

"Is the general's injury healed?"

Bisa smiled and kicked her long legs pretentiously, "Thank you for your concern, Princess. I am almost well now."

He looked at Yaoying, his emerald eyes filled with a gentle smile: "I was worried about the princess, so I just recovered from my injury and rushed over to take her back to the royal court. I heard that the young men in Gaochang are all handsome and good at singing and dancing. I guess the princess hasn't forgotten me?"

Yaoying raised her eyes, stared at Bi Suo with her dark and bright eyes for a long time, and then smiled.

"It's freezing cold, and the general's leg injury hasn't healed yet, so let's go inside and talk."

Her voice was still soft.

Bi Su was speechless for a moment. She looked at Yao Ying's back as she turned around and walked into the house without hesitation, and slowly put away her smile.

Yuan Jue, who was left out, seized the opportunity, rushed forward in a few steps, and asked in a low voice: "General, did you receive the letter?"

Bi Su nodded and looked around: "I set out three days ago and just happened to receive your letter on the way. Where is the Regent?"

Since Yao Ying and his party set out, he has been restless and unable to sleep or eat. He wanted to leave for Gaochang several times, but was stopped by Chi Ma and the witch doctor. Three days ago, guests came to the Holy City, and Chi Ma was busy entertaining the guests. He found an opportunity to sneak out of the Holy City. As soon as he arrived in Sand City, he saw the letter brought back by Cangying. He was even more anxious and rode all the way. He happened to meet them at this posthouse.

Yuan Jue looked nervous and spoke in a low voice in Sanskrit: "The Regent has been alone these days. He is rarely seen during the day, but he will definitely come back at night. I dare not get too close to him. This morning, the Regent went east and has not returned yet."

Bi Suo frowned and asked, "Did the Regent hurt anyone?"

Yuan Jue shook his head: "The Regent King didn't hurt anyone. It was only that night when the Regent King dispersed his power, I was anxious and got too close to him. I was shocked by his internal force and suffered minor injuries. I took a pill and it's fine."

Bi Su looked at Yuan Jue's face with a serious expression.

Yuan Jue patted his head and said, "Also... Princess Wen Zhao talked to the Regent King these past two days, but the Regent King ignored her. However, Princess Wen Zhao didn't seem to care at all. She would ask me where the Regent King went every day and order her personal soldiers to leave hot rice and hot cakes for the Regent King. This happened every day."

Bi Suo's pupils shrank suddenly: "The Regent Prince ignored Princess Wen Zhao? Why did he ignore her? What was Princess Wen Zhao's reaction? Tell me in detail."

Yuanjue recalled and slowly recounted what had happened on the road over the past few days.

"No matter what Princess Wen Zhao said to the Prince Regent, the Prince Regent remained silent, and Princess Wen Zhao remained the same. The Prince Regent was nowhere to be seen these past two days, and only came back at night, when Princess Wen Zhao had already gone to bed."

Bi Suo frowned and pondered.

No one knew better than him how terrifying Sultan Gu was when he couldn't suppress his power. Why wasn't Princess Wen Zhao afraid at all?

Why... wasn't Sultan angry with the princess?

…

Inside the house, Yao Ying took off her coat and animal-skin gloves, shook off the snow on her body, and looked out the door through a small slit in the felt curtain.

Bisu and Yuanjue were talking together in a low voice. She couldn't hear what they were discussing, and even if she did, she probably wouldn't understand.

A fire in the stove in the hall was burning loudly. Xie Qing cleaned himself up, sat on the couch, and invited Yao Ying to come over and warm herself by the fire.

Yaoying's legs were frozen to the point of being almost numb. She leaned against the fire for a while, and the soles of her feet gradually warmed up. Soon, she began to feel a soreness, pain, and itchiness.

Last year she developed frostbite on her hands and legs, and these days after being out in the wind and snow, her hands and feet are itching again.

Yao Ying resisted the urge to hold back her cold hands, holding a bowl of boiling mutton soup to warm them up. She raised her head and glanced at the thick felt curtain at the door.

The wind blew into the house through the cracks, and a puddle of wet snow water formed on the ground outside the door.

In this freezing weather, where is Sultan Gu?

Isn't he cold after being in the snow all day?

…

Bisu talked with Yuanjue for a while, then mounted his strong horse and headed east according to the instructions of his personal soldiers.

He followed the tracks left by the caravan's carts but found nothing. As it was getting dark and the sky was overcast, he could only sigh, spur his horse and turn back to the inn.

The courtyard was silent, as the guards had worked hard all day and were resting. Only the light was still on in the hall where the stove was burning. On the stove was a large pot filled with bubbling soup.

Yaoying was sitting in front of the stove. When she heard footsteps, she scooped a bowl of soup and handed it to Bisa.

"General, drink some hot soup to warm yourself up."

Bisa was stunned for a long moment, then strode over and took the bowl of soup. Her stiff fingers were burned and the pain was as sharp as a needle prick.

"What about them?"

He took a sip of soup, inhaled due to the scalding heat, blew on the soup bowl, and asked casually.

"I've arranged for them to stay, and Ah Qing is keeping watch." Yao Ying used a fire tong to fiddle with the charcoal in the stove. The red flames reflected on her face, which was gorgeous. "Did the general just go to see the Regent?"

Bi Suo hummed, then remembered something and his eyes moved around Yao Ying's slim and graceful profile.

"Princess, why haven't you gone to bed yet so late? Are you waiting for the Regent?"

Yaoying raised her eyes, looked directly into Bisa's green eyes, nodded, and shook her head.

"I am also waiting for General Ashina."

Bisha was stunned.

Yao Ying looked at him and asked, "General, when you said during the day that you came to Gaochang regardless of the loss of your life in order to take me back to the royal court, was that your true words or were you just trying to fool me?"

Her eyes were clear and gentle, and she did not mean to interrogate him. However, Bisa felt that this was more unbearable for him than questioning him harshly.

He could hardly hold the bowl of soup in his hands and looked away guiltily.

Yaoying smiled and looked away.

"I understand that the general came to Gaochang for the regent and the royal court, not for me."

Bisa hesitated and her face turned red.

Yao Ying looked at the flickering flames in the stove and said slowly: "I was stranded in the royal court. In addition to the Buddhist disciples, the general also took good care of me. The people in the royal court hated the Han people, but the general said that he regarded me as a friend. He rushed back and forth to save my personal soldiers. I am very grateful to the general. I believe that the general has no ill intentions towards me, and I also regard the general as a friend. I know that the general is romantic and suave. He is used to joking with the young lady. His confidantes can line up from the gate of the palace to the gate of the city. These sweet words to please the young lady come out casually..."

There was a crackling sound in the stove.

Bisu's handsome face became redder and redder.

Yao Ying turned to look at him with a serious expression and asked, "Please forgive me for being so rude, General. I would like to ask you, General, do you have any feelings for me?"

Bi Suo had met many women, some bold and unrestrained, some shy and graceful, some fierce and unruly, and he flirted with all of them, causing a lot of romantic debts and causing chaos several times. The most outrageous time was when he was cornered by four or five women and asked why he had let them down.

But that time was not as embarrassing as the current situation.

Facing Yaoying's sparkling eyes, Bisa felt embarrassed and ashamed.

He deceived the princess.

Yao Ying smiled faintly, "I know the general's answer. You don't have to worry. I was just overthinking. It has nothing to do with you."

There was a buzzing in Bi Suo's head, and he almost wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Obviously, he was the one who deceived the princess with sweet words, but the princess said that she was too suspicious. This was meant to be a reminder to him, but also to give him a way out. She made light of the matter so lightly. Such a demeanor really made him ashamed.

From then on, he never dared to tease the princess again.

Bisa felt guilty and defeated. She sat in front of the stove holding a bowl of soup, her head drooping and looking listless.

Yaoying glanced at him and added a spoonful of hot soup to his bowl.

Bi Suo immediately regained his spirits, took a sip of soup, rolled his eyes, and asked with a smile: "I would also like to ask the princess a question."

"Just ask the general."

Bisha straightened her chest and smiled: "I am handsome, tall and good-looking, and I am an excellent archer. There are countless young ladies in the royal court who admire me. During the days when I was with the princess, was the princess really not moved at all?"

Yaoying laughed and shook her head.

A hint of disappointment flashed across Bi Su's face: "Did the princess really never fall in love?"

He had never been so patient in trying to please a young lady before!

Yao Ying looked at the stove and said softly, "General, you know my situation. My hometown is thousands of miles away... I want to return home as soon as possible and reunite with my brother..."

She was afraid that Li Zhongqian would meet A Ling in Shanghai.

When her life was in danger, she had no time to think about her children.

Bi Su looked at Yao Ying, and felt pity in her heart. She slapped herself lightly and said, "It's my fault for reminding the princess of her sad memories. With the blessing of Buddha, the princess will surely be reunited with her brother. Don't be sad, princess."

Yao Ying laughed, took a long breath, and cheered up, saying: "Thanks to meeting the Buddhist, my situation is much better than before. This time I made a lot of friends in Gaochang. They are as eager as I am to return to the Central Plains. If the plan goes smoothly, the news will be sent back to Liangzhou soon."

Then she would be able to leave.

Bisa silently estimated in her heart that if everything went well, it would be almost a year since Tanmarajiva had taken Yaoying in.

Finally, Princess Modanga came to her senses and gave up her love. Princess Wen Zhao quietly left the royal court and returned to the Central Plains.

This is good for everyone.

He thought secretly in his heart.

The two men sat in front of the stove and talked in low voices. Bisa drank three bowls of meat soup in a row. The wind was howling outside the felt curtain, but the Sultan never showed up.

Yao Ying stood up, lifted the curtain and looked at the vast night sky that was like ink splashing. After thinking for a while, she said, "There are naan and hot soup in the stove. When the Regent comes back, the general should remember to remind him."

Bisa responded vaguely.

Yaoying returned to the room and blew out the lights, but did not go to sleep. Instead, she wrapped herself in bedding and dozed off against the earth wall.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but she was half asleep and half awake when she suddenly heard some noises coming from downstairs. She immediately put on her clothes, got up, tiptoed to the window facing the hall, and listened carefully to the movement downstairs.

There were voices in the hall, very low, speaking in some strange language; she didn't understand a word they said.

I only felt that one voice was low and hoarse, sounding a little tired, while the other was slightly clearer, cautious and respectful.

Yao Ying was shivering with cold. She returned to the bed and wrapped herself tightly in the quilt.

Is Sultan Kumar avoiding her?

…

Downstairs hall.

Bisha waited until the second half of the night, when only a cloud of ashes remained of the charcoal fire in the stove. The north wind blew into the room, and from time to time one or two red lights appeared from the ashes.

He remembered Yaoying's words and took out the naan and hot soup from the stove.

The earthenware jar was tightly covered and the soup and cakes were both hot.

Biso opened the soup bowl and took a look. The soup was light in color, without any scallions or ginger, and the naan had no spices or fillings.

This is different from the food served to other personal soldiers.

Bi Suo's heart beat wildly for a moment.

At this time, there was the creaking sound of long boots stepping on the snow outside the door, and then footsteps came to the door, a hand lifted the felt curtain, the wind was blowing fiercely, a gust of cold wind wrapped in snow particles rushed into the hall, the ashes were blown up, revealing the reddish charcoal at the bottom.

There was a layer of sweat on Bi Suo's back, his heart was tight, he put down the earthenware jar carefully, held the handle of the knife with his right hand, and raised the curtain.

The figure at the door stepped into the house step by step, his narrow-sleeved black robe covered with traces of wind and snow.

A tiny lamp flickered slightly, and the weak light shone on his face, reflecting the scars all over his face, and also illuminated his green eyes.

Yaksha face, compassionate eyes.

He looked at Bi Suo, without a trace of surprise in his eyes, and said lightly: "You are here."

The murderous aura was still there, but his inner strength was restrained and there was no sign of rage.

After receiving the letter, Bi Su finally let go of the worry in her heart, let go of her hand, and knelt on one knee to pay her respects.

"My leg injury has almost healed. I can escort the princess back to the royal court. The Regent can return to the Holy City first."

Sultan Gu said nothing, his eyes swept over the sword at Bisa's waist.

Bishāshā's whole body was covered with hair and sweat poured down like rain.

This knife was left to him by his master.

He calmed himself down and whispered, "Prince Regent, you have to go back. Yuan Jue said you almost had a seizure a few days ago."

Sultan looked towards the furnace.

The fire flickered, and a clay pot was thrown casually in the corner, with hot steam lingering around the mouth of the pot.

He recognized this earthenware jar.

There was no expression on his face. He turned and left, saying calmly, "It's still a few days' journey from here to Sand City. Don't take it lightly."

Bisha respectfully replied, "I will take good care of the princess."

In the quiet night, the sound of horse hooves could be heard. Sultan Gu saddled his horse and rode away into the dust.

When Bisha raised his head again, he could no longer see Sultan Gu.

The night wind tore at the rolled-up felt curtains. He stared blankly at the inky night sky, his hands clenched into fists.