Candles flickered on a pair of bodhi lanterns, and the candlelight poured down through the gilded copper leaves, illuminating the open books and scrolls on the table.

Yaoying sat at her desk, reviewed a pile of documents, put down her pen, rubbed her shoulders, and put aside the documents on which she was undecided and had not written down detailed instructions.

All states have been devastated by wars and are in need of restoration. However, the terrain in the Western Regions is complex and transportation is inconvenient. It is extremely complicated to restore production as soon as possible. Just implementing a simple policy to set up schools and allow children of civilians to attend school has encountered many obstacles. In addition, there are still many small tribes that have not yet submitted. We must always be vigilant against the counterattack of the remaining forces. She is exhausted from reading documents every day.

In comparison, caravans are much easier to manage because they pursue profits. As long as they are sure that it is profitable, everyone in the caravan will support every order issued.

Fortunately, all states are now full of vitality, refugees are being resettled one after another, and people's hearts are stable. Once the promoted officials become familiar with their duties, they should be able to get back on track quickly.

Yao Ying heaved a long sigh and just as she picked up the pen, she heard footsteps and Yuan Jue poked half of his body out from behind the curtain.

"Princess, the king is having a fit!"

Yaoying immediately put down her pen, stood up, and hurried out of the room.

Bi Suo had just gone in to deliver medicine when she was injured by the true energy. She stood by the entrance, holding her chest with her hands. Her face was pale, her brows were furrowed, and she took a breath for a moment. Then he handed her a bottle of medicine and watched her walk into the secret passage.

"Princess, be careful. If anything happens, ring the bell. I can hear it from here."

Yao Ying nodded in agreement and stumbled for a while in the pitch-dark alley. When she saw a light ahead, she quickened her pace.

A golden arc flashed in the afterglow, and a pair of beast's eyes emitted a frightening cold light in the darkness.

Yao Ying was startled and stopped in her tracks.

The leopard stepped out from the corner, walked gracefully to her feet, and sniffed.

Yaoying's palms were sweating, but her movements were still.

The leopard's breath ruffled the hem of her skirt, and it circled around her before turning around and walking back inside.

Yao Ying breathed a sigh of relief and walked into the entrance.

The cave was filled with steam, the light was dim, the hot spring water was gurgling, and fine foam like pearl bubbles was emerging.

A figure sat cross-legged next to the stone platform, with a snow-white face and a slightly red frown between his frowning eyebrows. His whole body seemed to be faintly exuding a cold and murderous aura. The muscles under his bare shoulders and cassock were tense, and his skin was shiny and shiny. It was not clear whether it was sweat or moistening moisture.

He is suffering.

Yao Ying held her breath and tiptoed towards him. After she took a few steps, he suddenly opened his eyes, and two cold and ruthless gazes pierced through the hazy mist and fell on her face. His deep eyes were filled with spider-web-like bloodshot, and in the dim light, he looked really scary.

The Vajra has angry eyes and the Bodhisattva has kind brows. At this moment, he is Sultan Kumarajiva and Tanmaragha.

Yaoying's heart trembled and a surge of bitterness surged. He had a rough life and had suffered pain that others could not endure for many years, and he also had to suffer because of his emotions.

She would rather he had never fallen in love with her than to see him struggle between his beliefs and his selfish desires.

Yao Ying walked up to the stone platform facing his gaze as cold as ice and snow, leaned over, poured out a few pills, and put them to his lips.

"Master, it's me."

She suppressed her sadness and spoke softly.

Tanmarajiva stared at her for a long time with a frown and a blank look in his eyes. A cold and dark light flashed across his eyes. He suddenly raised his hand, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her down to squat.

His face was pale, but his fingers were as hot as coals.

Yao Ying was caught off guard and fell into his arms, looking up and looking into his eyes.

He lowered his eyes to look at her, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and his gaze was fixed on her face.

Her pupils were as clear as autumn water, reflecting his cold face.

"All illusions, nothing is real."

He recited each word with a cold voice, and his eyes were like a pool of deep water, without any ripples.

"Yes, Master, I am just your illusion."

Through the half-wet cassock, his heartbeat was steady and calm. Yaoying came to her senses, sat up in his arms, and whispered, opening her hand that was tightly holding the pill and bringing it to his lips.

"have eaten."

Tanmaraka looked at her without blinking, his eyes deep, his pale lips opened, and he swallowed the pill.

His lips were plump and soft, and they rubbed against Yaoying's palm. She felt a slight shudder all over her body. She withdrew her hand and tried to sit up, but he held her down firmly.

He looked at her, dignified and cold, like a Buddha, but his hands held Yaoying tightly.

Yaoying didn’t know what he was thinking before, so she didn’t feel anything. But now she knows. Even though she knows he doesn’t recognize her, she still feels hot lying in his arms, and his heartbeat echoes in her ears.

He did not take any other action but just held her quietly and recited scriptures in a low voice.

Yaoying listened carefully for a while and found that he was reading in Sanskrit, which she could not understand.

After a while, he stopped and looked at her.

The silvery moonlight poured down from the top of the cave, and his emerald eyes seemed to be soaked in water vapor and filled with mist.

Yaoying felt soft-hearted and smiled.

"I'm here. I'm accompanying the mage."

He closed his eyes and continued to practice, the Qi in his body surging.

Yao Ying sat up from his arms, stayed by his side, wiped the sweat off his face, and when she saw that he looked unwell, she immediately woke him up and fed him a pill. When she saw that his lips were chapped, she poured him a bowl of water to drink.

Before she knew it, two hours had passed. His breathing gradually became calmer. Yao Ying heaved a sigh of relief, leaned against him, dozed off with her head resting on the stone wall, and fell into a drowsy sleep.

When Tanmarajiva woke up, his arms were slightly numb. Yaoying was sleeping beside him, her eyelashes trembling slightly, her fingers grasping the sleeve of his cassock.

The night was dark and the moonlight was soft. She looked even more beautiful through the mist. Her slightly pouty lips were full, rosy and charming.

Tanmaragupta suddenly thought of the thorn honey she had given him, which was crystal clear and sweet.

He looked at her for a moment, raised his right hand, and slowly moved it closer to her face. When he was about to touch her face, he stopped and pulled his arm away.

Yaoying was awakened and her body slid down.

Tanmarajiva subconsciously reached out and held her shoulders, helping her sit up.

Yao Ying rubbed her eyes and murmured, "Master, are you feeling better?"

Having just woken up, her voice was soft and lingering, touching one's heartstrings.

Tanmaraka released her hand and said, "I'm much better now. Princess, please go out."

Yao Ying paused, raised her eyes and looked at him, "Master, monks don't tell lies."

Tanmaraka remained silent.

"You wanted me to stay with you. I remember everything you said."

Yao Ying said, in a brisk tone, standing up and holding his arm, "Okay, leave me alone, it's time for the mage to soak in the hot springs."

Tanmarajiva gently pushed her hand away, indicating that he did not need her help, and stood up and stepped into the hot spring.

Yao Ying looked at the monk's robes on him and asked, "Aren't you going to take them off?"

His back stiffened for a moment and he sat down with his back to her.

In the past, she didn't know what he was thinking, so he could take off his clothes in front of her calmly. But now it's no longer possible.

He closed his eyes, then opened them again after a while and looked towards the stone platform.

Yaoying spread out a blanket beside the stone platform, sat cross-legged, supported her chin with her hands, stared at him, and when she saw him looking at her, she blinked at him.

Tanmaraka said, "Go out."

She shook her head, turned her back to him, and hugged the blanket tightly: "I won't disturb the wizard."

Tanmaraka looked at her back without saying a word.

There was a rustling sound, and Yaoying suddenly turned around, her eyes clear and tightly grasping his gaze on her.

He was indeed looking at her.

Tanmaraka looked at her, their eyes met, and he slowly closed his eyes.

The mind is like a gongcao. If the gongcao stops, the followers will all stop. Desire arises from your mind, and the mind arises from thoughts. The two minds are each quiet and still, neither form nor action.

Yes, he wanted her to stay.

Yao Ying stared at him for a while, and seeing that he was no longer able to close his eyes, she lay down on the edge of the stone platform, stretched out her hand to touch the warm spring water, her fingertips were wet.

"Mage..."

She said softly, "There is Buddha in your heart, and Buddha is everywhere. The body is just a shell. The way the master adheres to is different from that of others. Why don't you treat me as a practice? When the master gets better, I will leave and will not affect his practice."

"For me, I am very happy to meet someone like the Master, and I am even happier to be able to help the Master."

There was a splashing sound, the water ripples, and the Tanmaragha in the water suddenly moved.

Yaoying's hand that was splashing water was held.

He held her tightly, his fingers even hotter than before, and exerted force with his hands, pulling her up straight, his eyes stern and majestic.

She was stunned for a moment.

Tanmarajiva raised his eyes to look at her, then closed his eyes with restraint, suppressing the anger that had been bubbling in his heart for the past few days.

He didn't want to scare her.

She shouldn't think of herself as a medicine to cure diseases, coming to him when she's useful, and being thrown away like a worn-out shoe when she's no longer useful.

He would not treat her so lightly.

Besides, she thought too highly of him.

He is a monk and also the monarch of the royal court, managing the entire country and making decisive decisions on killing. Does she think that as long as she accompanies him in eliminating his inner demons, she can leave?

Greed comes from pleasure, and desire comes from love. He knew that he was greedy. Emotions and desires are normal. It is not something shameful. He can restrain himself and endure it.

But the evil thoughts and all the evil ideas will not stop.

Once he indulges his desires, he will have her trapped by his side forever, and no one can stop him.

As a Buddhist, he cannot enter the world of mortals, but he wants to keep her, who is in the world of mortals, by his side.

She shouldn't have gotten into this mess.

Once you get in, you may not be able to escape.

His muscles tensed up, his aura changed, his inner energy surged outward, and his pair of blue eyes looked straight at Yao Ying without a trace of tenderness.

Yao Ying had never seen him in this state as Tanmaragha, and was stunned.

Before she could come to her senses, he suddenly let go of her hand and turned his back.

The cave fell into an eerie silence.

After a while, Tanmarajiva turned around, his complexion had returned to normal and his eyes were clear.

"I still need to regulate my breathing, Princess, please take a nap."

He spoke softly, his tone gentle.

Yao Ying's mind raced, wondering if her words just now had irritated him. After thinking for a while, she let out a soft "oh", lay down with her arms around the blanket, and listened carefully to his movements with her ears perked up.

He leaned against the stone wall, his eyes closed, and did not move.

Her mind was full of his fierce look just now, her heart was still pounding, and she slowly fell asleep.

A night passed and Tanmaraka did not speak again.

When Yao Ying woke up in the morning, the spring was empty. She looked around and looked into the eyes of the leopard lying in the corner. The leopard lazily swung its tail.

She got up and walked into the corridor. Immediately, she heard footsteps from the other end and Yuanjue came out holding a lamp.

"Princess, you're awake! The king just asked me to wait here, and said that when the princess wakes up, he will take you back to the market."

Yao Ying thought about last night and was absent-minded for a while. She asked, "Is the Master feeling better?"

"Better!" Yuan Jue's voice was filled with joy. "General Ashina told me to accompany the princess and escort you here in the evening. Can you come over tonight?"

Yaoying nodded. She had agreed with Bisu before that she would go back to the shop to take care of some chores during the day, meet Li Zhongqian, and come back in the afternoon.

Yuanjue escorted her out of the temple and returned to the shop. Not long after, Li Zhongqian came to see her. Yesterday, he met with Bamir, who was disguised as a Buddhist, through a screen and handed over the letter of credence. The next step was to negotiate with the officials of the royal court.

"Where's your friend?"

After finishing the business, Li Zhongqian looked around for a while and asked.

Yao Ying said: "He went back to his house first."

A gleam of light flashed in Li Zhongqianfeng's eyes.

He had already inquired about it. Among the young generals in the royal court, there were only a few who could march and fight, deploy troops, and move around erratically. Among them, only the Regent King had contact with Yao Ying. He also learned one thing from his personal soldiers: the Regent King Sultan Ku was likely in love with Yao Ying, but because he did not dare to offend the Buddha, he did not express his feelings like Mobhido.

The personal soldiers said that Sultan Gu was the one who accompanied Yao Ying to and from Gaochang, and he even lived in the same tent with her.

After hearing this, Li Zhongqian's eyelids twitched.

Ashina Bisa ordered his personal guards to keep their mouths shut. No one in the royal court knew what happened between Sultan Gu and Yao Ying. He had actually never paid attention to Sultan Gu before.

Now that I think about it, Abhi could only be Sultan Gu.

It is said that the Sultan had an ugly appearance, looked like a Shura, was cruel and bloodthirsty, and could stop children from crying at night.

Li Zhongqian felt a headache just thinking about it. No wonder Api had to cover his face!

A Buddhist son of the royal court, a regent of the royal court...neither of their identities is quite suitable.

At this moment, hearing Yaoying say that Sultan Gu was not there, Li Zhongqian remained silent for the time being, gave her a few instructions, and took people back to the inn.

Yaoying went back to her room to write a letter. Yuanjue came over with a smile on his face, holding several brightly patterned clothes in his arms: "Princess, there have been celebrations every day in the city these days. It's very lively. Please change your clothes quickly. I will take you to see the vigorous dance performed by the court dancers."

"What kind of fitness dance?"

Yao Ying asked casually.

Yuan Jue said: "There are all kinds of healthy dances, Indian dance, Persian dance..."

Yaoying looked at the letter in her hand and said nothing.

Yuan Jue continued, "Princess, the king asked me to take you there."

Yao Ying was stunned for a moment and raised her head: "Master asked you to take me to see the fitness dance?"

Yuan Jue scratched his head and said, "The king said that the princess had a hard time on the journey and asked me to take her around the city."

Yaoying's fingers trembled, remembering what he had said to her.

The princess is a person of the red dust.

He remembered what she liked.

He had been acting a little strange these days. She thought he had been mad at her since she had forced him to confess that day in the canyon, but she hadn't expected him to remind Yuanjue to take her to the event.

Yao Ying felt a surge of sweet and sour emotions in her heart.

Yuan Jue urged her quietly, "Princess, there is a battle dance today. The royal court won a great victory, and dancers from all over the country have come. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Yaoying put down her pen, stood up, changed into the festive attire of a royal court lady, and left the silk shop with Yuanjue, accompanied by her personal soldiers.

Yuanjue took her to the busiest street in front of the palace to watch the fighting dance.

The long street with colorful tents stretched for several miles, with singing and dancing, and the scene was extremely lively. The dancers on the stage moved and twirled to the music, with gorgeous dance moves that dazzled the eyes. The crowd below the stage was surging, and from time to time they burst into enthusiastic applause.

Yaoying had a veil on her face and was in a trance as she watched the geishas dancing on the platform.

When entering the city, she looked at the platform from afar with great interest in the carriage, wanting to get closer to see it. But now that she was at the foot of the platform, she was distracted.

What is the monk doing now?

She couldn't help but think.

The sound of drums and music resounded through the sky. The sudden sound of blades sliding out of their sheaths was completely drowned out by the music and cheers. The long swords were unsheathed, shining with a cold light. Several figures quickly pushed aside the others, their figures like ghosts.

He rushed towards Yao Ying who was standing next to Yuan Jue.

The personal soldiers reacted, drew their swords, and rushed forward to fight with the intruders.

Screams rang out and the crowd fled in all directions like headless flies. Yaoying was pushed away by the crowd and saw a woman rushing towards her from the corner of her eye. There was a fierce light in her eyes. She pulled out a dagger hidden in her sleeve, stepped forward, and stabbed her heart with the dagger.

A tall dark figure flashed by, grabbed her waist, and turned her around.

With a "swish" sound, the dagger pierced into the flesh, and after a muffled sound, blood gushed out.

Yaoying was trembling all over, and her heart felt like it was being grabbed by someone, and her whole body was in pain.