It was a deep night, and the front corridor of the cave was dark. Occasionally, one or two caves could emit a dim light. Against the backdrop of the light, the murals on the corridor columns appeared sharp and angular.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps broke the silence.

Prajna, a guard of the royal court, climbed up to the highest level of the cave in a hurry. A dark shadow flashed in the corner, and the secret guard in the corner suddenly swooped forward and put a cold long knife to his throat.

"When the king is in seclusion, anyone who breaks into the palace will be killed without mercy."

Prajna quickly held out a copper talisman, "I am the personal guard Prajna, this copper talisman was given by the king, I have something important to report to the king."

The secret guard took the copper talisman and looked at it carefully for a while, then took off the lantern and shone it on his face, put away his long sword, and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Prajna walked through the empty front corridor and came to the innermost cave. She stopped and knocked lightly on the stone wall. She whispered, "Prajna, the personal guard, wants to see the Buddha."

There was no response for a long time.

Prajna didn't dare to urge him and stood outside waiting.

During the period of Tanmarajya's retreat, only one guard was in the cave to protect the Dharma. Others were not allowed to approach. Even the monks who brought food and water only put the food baskets under the cliff to avoid disturbing the Buddhists' meditation. Prajna was Tanmarajya's guard and also followed this rule. If it weren't for the bad news of the regent king, he would never come to disturb the Buddhists.

After a while, a guard's voice came from inside: "The king already knows what you want to report."

Prajna looked anxious: "The news of the Regent King's death has spread throughout the Holy City. The people in the city are in a panic. The princes and ministers will definitely take the opportunity to cause trouble. Today, I found many suspicious slaves of wealthy families wandering around the royal temple, as well as private soldiers from the Kang, Xue, An, and Meng families. Will the king leave tomorrow?"

There were footsteps coming from inside. It seemed that the guards went to the meditation room to report. After a while, the footsteps returned and the guards said, "The king will leave the temple tomorrow. Pass the order down. The monks in the temple are not allowed to go out from tomorrow onwards. The temple master and the meditation master are also subject to the same rules. If anyone dares to break into the king's temple, they will be arrested directly."

Prajna was worried, so she responded and went to tell the temple master the news.

The death of the Sultan meant that a new regent would be chosen to govern the country. That night, many people inside and outside the holy city, from the royal family to the common people and soldiers, would stay awake all night.

In the grotto, the guards sent Prajna away and returned to the innermost meditation room.

This cave is very large. On the wall leading to the square hall, there are niches for enshrining Buddhas, which are as dense as a beehive.

Tanmarajiva, who had already taken off his black robe and black gloves, walked slowly along the wall of the cave, holding a gilded candlestick in his hand. With his green eyes lowered and his expression calm, he lit the candles for offering to the Buddha one by one.

On the felt carpet under the south wall of the meditation room, Yao Ying sat cross-legged, her face still covered with a black cloth. The soft warm yellow light fell on her, and her dark hair flickered with dazzling golden light.

The guard looked embarrassed and looked away, not daring to look at her again.

Whenever the Buddhist disciple needs to go out or is too ill to show up in public, he is the guardian who stays in the cave to conceal his whereabouts. This secret passage in the cave leads to the zoo, and only a few people the Buddhist disciple trusts the most know about it.

Even Prajna didn't know about it.

Tonight, the Buddhist disciple actually brought Princess Wen Zhao back from the secret passage. The guards were so shocked that they haven't recovered yet.

Yaoying couldn't see the guard's blushing face, so she sat cross-legged quietly, waiting for Sultan Ku to call her.

There was a faint flickering light lingering on the black cloth. She felt that she should have entered the royal temple. The air was filled with a faint fragrance mixed with spices. It was not the smell of incense, but the smell of books and papers. The paper used for copying scriptures in the temple was scented Central Plains paper and parchment. She remembered this smell.

Yaoying waited for a long time but heard no voice. She only felt that the atmosphere was extremely solemn and serious. She was afraid that asking questions would disturb the Sultan, so she did not dare to speak.

Tanmaraka lit up all the candles. Hundreds of candle lights crisscrossed and cast down. He was bathed in the golden light. He clasped his hands together, closed his eyes and silently recited scriptures.

The guards were so angry that they dared not utter a word.

After a full cup of tea, Tanmarajiva turned around and glanced at Yaoying.

Yao Ying sat upright, not moving a muscle. Although she was blindfolded, there was no trace of panic on her face. She exuded obedience and trust from head to toe.

He raised his eyes, signaled to the guards, and turned to face the niche.

It was the first time for the guard to encounter such a situation. He blushed and walked up to Yao Ying, untied his long sword and held it in front of her: "Princess, I am Balmi, the guard of the Buddha. Princess, hold the sword and follow me. The regent ordered me to take you back to your residence. Please don't make a sound on the way."

Yao Ying was stunned, then stood up and asked, "Where is the Regent?"

Balmi rolled his eyes and said, "The Regent Prince has gone to see the Buddha."

Yao Ying nodded, grasped the scabbard of the long sword, and followed the guards out of the cave.

The lights in the meditation room are bright, and many Buddhas stand there with solemn appearances.

Tanmarajiva stood under the niche, without looking back, her back looking lonely.

…

The long sword is cold, and holding it in the hand is far less convenient than pulling the sleeve.

Yao Ying stumbled and followed Balmi. After walking for a long time, Balmi stopped and whispered, "Princess, you can take off the cloth now."

She breathed a sigh of relief, took off the black cloth, looked around, and found herself standing in a spacious corridor. After passing a few earthen walls, she would reach her residence in the Buddhist temple.

Balmi tied his sword back to his waist and said, "During the time when the princess was away from the temple, your personal guards have been guarding the courtyard."

The few personal soldiers who stayed in the royal temple had been eagerly waiting for Yaoying and her group to return safely. Today, the news of the Regent King's death spread throughout the Holy City, and they also heard about it. They were all extremely anxious and wanted to go out of the city to find Yaoying, but they remembered her instructions and did not dare to leave the temple without permission. They could only sit there with sad faces, worrying and sighing.

Yaoying suddenly appeared at the gate of the courtyard. The guards were stunned and thought they were dreaming. They wiped their faces and went forward to kowtow to her.

"Princess, you are finally back!"

Bamir sent Yao Ying home safely and then turned back to the cave.

Yaoying watched him walk away, then stood in front of the door, gazing at the towering cliffs to the north. The night was dark, and tiny lights shone through the rock caves on the cliffs. From a distance, they looked like sky lanterns in a fairy palace floating among the clouds, cool and clear.

She was distracted for a while and returned to her room surrounded by her bodyguards.

"Princess, why did you come back alone? Where are Xie Qing and Xie Chong?"

"I heard that the regent of the royal court was besieged and killed by bandits. Is that true?"

Yao Ying said lightly: "Ah Qing and the others will be back in a few days, you don't have to worry. The regent king's affairs are the affairs of the royal court, no matter what happens next, you don't ask too much. The current situation is unstable, don't go out for the next few days."

The guards agreed and reported to her that more homeless Hexi refugees were taken in outside the city this winter. According to her instructions before she left, they dug caves for the refugees to live in. Although the snow this year was heavier than in previous years, the refugees had shelter from the cold and food to eat, so they could survive this cold winter. The refugees were very grateful to Yao Ying and vowed to work hard when the weather warmed up.

Yao Ying sat beside the candlestick, flipping through the account book while listening to the personal soldiers coming forward to report one by one, and she secretly sighed in her heart: these personal soldiers were originally rough men, but now each of them has received other tasks, some lead the refugees to build houses, some teach children martial arts, some have become teachers, some guard grape drying every day, some are good at talking and haggling with shrewd Hu merchants, and some wander around the market all day, buying horses, sheep, and cows... After a period of training, everyone will be able to stand on their own.

After the guards finished reporting, one of them remembered something, slapped his head, and said angrily with anger on his face: "Princess, Princess Fukang has also come to the Holy City!"

Yao Ying raised the curtain.

The guards sneered: "I was wrong. Princess Fukang is now the Princess of Beirong. I don't know how she became the Princess of Beirong. She came to the Holy City as an envoy to the royal court and asked to see you by name on the first day!"

Yao Ying was both amused and confused: "She wants to see me?"

The guard nodded and said, "The envoy of Beirong came to the temple in person and said that the princess was an old friend of the princess of Beirong and asked to see the princess. The temple master refused and said that you are praying for the Buddha in the main hall and no one else will be seen."

"They didn't dare to offend the Buddha, so they had to give up. But I saw the Beirong envoys hanging around outside the Wang Temple. They must want to bring Princess Fukang to see you when the princess goes out."

Yao Ying narrowed her eyes slightly.

Why does Zhu Luyun have to see her?

…

Balmi avoided the patrolling monks and returned to the cave.

Tanmaraka was still standing at the bottom of the niche. The candlelight in the room flickered. He took off his turban, tore open the scars, revealing his true face, and said, "Go and invite Master Titus."

The tone is cool.

Balmi responded, turned around and walked out. Half an hour later, he led an old man in a gray cassock into the cave and walked out.

The old man had a bony face and a pair of brown eyes that looked dull, but there was a gleam of brilliance in them. He walked tremblingly to the bottom of the niche and said softly, "The poor monk is the Vinaya master of the temple. He is in charge of the precepts and makes sure that everything is in order. The monks strictly observe the precepts. The king summoned the poor monk here. What do you want?"

Tanmo Luojia put his hands together, lifted his robe and knelt down, saying: "Disciple Luojia has violated the great precepts and should be punished."

The old monk's eyelids twitched a few times, and he put his hands together and asked, "What precepts did the king break?"

"Killing ring."

The old monk sighed, "In troubled times, it is inevitable to protect the country and the people. But the king is a monk, and since he has violated the precepts, he must be punished."

He whispered a few scriptures and raised his staff high.

…

The sound of the stick hitting the target came one after another.

Balmi was standing outside the cave, his scalp tingling as he listened, but Tanmaraka didn't say a word.

Half an hour later, the old monk left. Balmi let out a breath and walked quickly into the cave.

Tanmarajiva stood up with a calm expression on his face, walked to another living room, took off his bloodstained undershirt, took the crimson cassock from the rack and put it on, picked up a string of beads, put it around his wrist, and wrapped it around his wrist several times.

The overly large cassock wrapped around his slender and strong body, and also covered the fresh scars on his shoulders and back.

There was a slight sound, and a soft handkerchief slipped out from the sleeve of his shirt.

Bami hurriedly leaned over and picked up the soft handkerchief, and was stunned: the handkerchief was soft and smooth, the material was fine, the embroidery of the landscape was exquisite and gorgeous, the clouds were vast and misty, there was a warm and sweet fragrance, and there were square blocks of Chinese characters and poems embroidered on it. One could tell at a glance that it was not something used by Buddhists.

Princess Wen Zhao was a Han Chinese woman, so this handkerchief must have belonged to her. It was said that the princess had mastered a high-level skill and had taught it to her people. Now everyone in the royal court knew that the fabrics sold by the Han Chinese caravans were the most exquisite.

Bamir's face suddenly turned red enough to bleed, and he suddenly felt that the handkerchief in his hand weighed a thousand pounds and was burning his hands.

Tanmarajika lowered her eyes and looked at the soft handkerchief in Bamir's hand.

He was sometimes hot and sometimes cold, and Yao Ying stayed with him from morning till night, wiping the sweat off his neck with this handkerchief. When he was hot, the handkerchief was cool, and when he was cold, the handkerchief must have been warmed over the charcoal fire.

She said she couldn't help and just wanted to make him comfortable.

I don't know how this handkerchief got on him.

Tanmarajya remained silent.

Just when Bamir felt that the soft handkerchief had grown countless sharp thorns that were pricking his whole body, he suddenly felt a lightness in his palm.

Tanmaraka took the soft handkerchief away.

Bamir breathed a sigh of relief.

Tanmaraka's eyes were calm, he casually put the soft handkerchief aside and said, "Ring the bell."

Bamir was cheered up and responded respectfully.

…

In the small courtyard, Yao Ying and her personal guards were still sitting in front of the lamp, discussing matters.

Upon learning that Yang Qian was secretly training volunteers, the soldiers were excited and volunteered to go and lend a helping hand.

Yao Ying already has a suitable candidate in mind. Yang Qian is full of ambition and will not turn back even if he hits a wall. The people sent to be with him must be tactful and humble, otherwise it will not be cooperation but enmity.

A few people were sitting opposite each other and talking, when one of the personal soldiers suddenly frowned and made a shushing gesture to everyone.

Everyone immediately quieted down.

In the quiet night, a loud and melodious bell sound came from afar. The rumbling sound reverberated and circled in the cold and windy winter night. The aftertaste was heavy and long, echoing throughout the entire royal temple.

The guard stood up, opened the door, listened carefully for a moment, and said, "The Buddhist disciple has come out of retreat!"

The whole Wang Temple was awakened by the bell. More and more people opened their doors and windows, listened to the echoing bells from afar, and recited scriptures aloud with excitement.

The news that Tanmarajava had come out of retreat quickly spread to every corner of the holy city.

The next morning, before daybreak, there was a heavy hustle and bustle in front of Wang Temple, and the long and narrow passage leading into the temple was packed with people.

Most of the people who entered the temple were dressed in gorgeous robes and were luxuriously dressed. They were ministers in the court and the sons of nobles in the royal court. The common people who came from thousands of miles away to pay homage to Luoga were blocked at the outside and could not enter the royal temple.

Tanmarajika did not meet with those noble sons. After coming out of retreat, he needed to chant scriptures in the temple for seven days to pray for the deceased Sultan.

The ministers could not wait and kept writing petitions to urge him to select a new regent, but he refused. The ministers took a step back and asked him to immediately appoint a new regent in seven days, but he did not veto this time.

As the ministers pressed on step by step, the situation in the court became more and more turbulent. Private soldiers from powerful families poured into the holy city from all directions, and the entire royal temple was surrounded.

In order to compete for the position of regent, there are constant frictions and contradictions among the noble families. The four armies that should have fought side by side are now on the verge of a war.

No matter how arrogant the ministers were, Tanmarajiva never showed up, and a rumor spread like wildfire: after losing the regent, the Buddhist son was once again sidelined by the aristocratic families.

Yao Ying heard the monks in the temple whispering privately: Are the Buddhists really being sidelined?

She knew that Tanmarajya would never sit and wait for death, unlike the monks who were so nervous.

When the situation was tense, the Northern Rong envoys took advantage of the monks' restlessness in the temple and sent a letter to Yao Ying, asking her to meet Zhu Luyun.

The letter was written in Zhu Luyun's tone, full of affection and every word was precious. He first confessed his sins and asked Yaoying for forgiveness, then said that they were both Han Chinese, wandering outside, and should support each other, and hoped that she could put aside the past grudges and reconcile with Zhu Luyun. Finally, he hinted that if she could reconcile with Zhu Luyun, Haidu A Ling would never dare to offend her again.

The bodyguards were furious and started cursing.

Yao Ying stopped the guards, smiled, crumpled up the letter, and said, "Okay, since we are old friends, we should talk about the old times."

A few days ago, she couldn't reveal her identity, so she naturally had to avoid Zhu Luyun. Now that she has returned to the Holy City, she doesn't have to worry about it anymore and can reminisce about the past with Zhu Luyun.

Yao Ying asked her guards: "Have all the princesses from other tribes arrived at the Holy City?"

The guard replied, "They are all here, and now they are all staying at the post house, except Princess Tianzhu who is staying at Princess Chima's mansion."

Yao Ying nodded, picked up a pen and wrote a letter, handed it to the monk, and asked him to pass it on to Tanmarajiva.

In the afternoon, the monk returned to the courtyard and said, "Buddhist son, please ask the princess to go to the main hall."

Yao Ying stood up and followed the monk to the main hall.