Before dawn, Yaoying was awakened by Xie Qing.

She remembered that today was the day when Tanmarajiva was giving a lecture, so she got up, washed, put on a plain cloth robe, ate a sesame seed cake, read the sutra by the flickering light, and memorized silently in her heart.

The sound of the bell came from outside the flower wall, and it sounded deep and distant through the layers of overlapping branches.

At dawn, Yuanjue came over and led Yaoying to the main hall. Seeing that she was dressed simply, with her long black hair tied up with a simple jade hairpin, and she was not wearing any other gold or jade ornaments, he nodded with satisfaction.

The courtyard where Yaoying lived was in the northeast of the temple, far from the main hall, and on the way there were several long corridors. She pointed at several courtyards and asked curiously, "What are those places?"

These days she discovered that there were many palaces and mansions of varying heights surrounding the Buddhist temple. Some were government offices, some were post houses, some were hotels, and some were places for royal nobles to practice meditation. The courtyard where she lived belonged to the latter, so strictly speaking she was not living in the Buddhist temple and could come and go freely.

The Buddhist temple is the place where the kings of all dynasties practiced. It covers a large area and is crowded with monks. Soldiers guarding the temple can be seen everywhere. Many people come to worship and pay their respects every day. It is very lively. However, there is a courtyard in the temple that has been vacant. It is quiet and deserted, and few people go in and out.

It was the yard right under her feet.

Yuanjue followed Yaoying's line of sight and whispered, "That's the torture hall."

Yao Ying didn't ask any further questions.

She vaguely remembered that Tanmaraka had been imprisoned in a Buddhist temple since birth. The princes and nobles wanted to scare him and wear down his ambition, so they deliberately locked him up in the torture hall until he was thirteen years old.

The execution hall was a level that was dug out. The morning light poured down and fell into the dark courtyards, as if falling into an ancient well with no bottom. There was no light at all, and it was dark and cold.

How miserable would it be to live in a place like that for ten years?

As she approached the main hall, noisy voices reached Yao Ying's ears.

Tanmarajiva allowed common people to enter the temple to listen to the lectures, regardless of whether they were rich or poor, male or female. In the early morning, devout common people gathered at the foot of the temple. There was a hustle and bustle on the steps, and even though everyone tried to speak in a low voice, there was still a buzz of conversation.

The sermon is about to begin.

The main hall was built on Taiwan. Unlike the Buddhist temples in the Central Plains, it was not surrounded by fireworks. It was obvious that the Buddhism of the royal court, like the Buddhism of the Central Plains, had integrated many local traditions in the process of its spread. The walls on all four sides were covered with exquisite murals, and the dome was covered with large areas of elegant blue flowers. The hall was empty and clean, with a magnificent aura, and there were narrow passages built around it that could accommodate two people walking side by side.

There was a high platform in the hall, and below the platform were monks. On the front left seats were a golden glow, and were a group of nobles in luxurious clothing. There were monk soldiers guarding the corridor, and the common people on the steps would tiptoe to look inside from time to time.

Yuanjue led Yaoying to sit in a corner. Countless eyes looked at her, but she remained calm and looked back with a smile.

The expressions on those people's faces froze.

Yaoying sat down and looked around. Most of those who looked at her were princes, nobles and common people. The monks were much more focused and only glanced at her for a moment before silently looking away.

The ladies looked at Yaoying sideways and made faces at each other.

Yaoying looked at her nose with her eyes and her heart with her nose. Her nonsense was not yet good enough to understand the noble ladies' whispers, but it was just right for her ears to be clear.

After a while, the monks came with Tanmaragha.

Yao Ying's eyes widened, and she didn't react for a moment.

Tanmaragha came over, wearing a wide crimson cassock, holding a string of beads in his hand, walking calmly, with a celestial look in his eyes, without a trace of worldly airs.

This was the first time Yaoying saw Tanmarajiva walking. She couldn't help but feel a very strange feeling in her heart, and her eyes were fixed on him.

He is tall and straight, with eyes like cold stars and a refined temperament.

Yaoying thought of his legs that had been swollen and black not long ago, and the wide monk's robes that covered his body. She wondered how his legs had recovered.

Judging from his graceful steps, he should be almost well now.

Mundadeva returned to India. No one knows what disease he suffered from. Water hyacinth is completely a method of fighting poison with poison. Long-term use will definitely cause hidden dangers.

There were a few coughs and chuckles from the side, and Yuanjue reminded Yaoying in a low voice: "Princess..."

She was looking at Tanmaraka too intently.

Yao Ying came to her senses and found that all the women in the hall were looking at her. She realized her mistake and looked away.

Tanmarajiva stood on the high steps of the hall, ascended the throne, sat down, and led the monks in chanting sutras with a solemn appearance.

The princes, nobles and common people outside the palace all sat upright with calm expressions, reciting the scriptures together. The crowds were shoulder to shoulder, and all looked pious.

The sound of Sanskrit is clear, solemn and dignified, which is truly touching.

Yaoying couldn't help but hold her breath, sit up straight, and chant along with Yuanjue. After she had recited the sutras she had memorized three or five times, the chanting stopped.

The young monk walked to the platform respectfully holding the scroll. Tanmarajika casually pulled out a scroll from the scroll and read out a person's name aloud.

A monk in the audience stood up, bowed to Tanmaragha, and began to ask questions.

Tanmarajiva answered a few words, and the monk frowned and thought, then put his hands together and sat down.

Then Tanmarajapāla pulled out another scroll of scriptures. The young monk looked at the name written on the cloth and read it out. The monk stood up excitedly and asked questions loudly and quickly. Tanmarajapāla looked calm, but his answers were not slow at all. The monk kept asking questions, even in an aggressive manner, but he answered them one by one without changing his expression.

Finally, the monk clasped his hands together, looked at him with admiration, and returned to his seat.

The young monk continued to call out the names, and every monk who was called out looked excited and asked questions to Tanmarajiva continuously. Tanmarajiva answered them one by one in a calm voice.

Yao Ying was completely confused.

Yuanjue explained to her in a low voice that this was similar to a Buddhist debate. The monks would write their questions on a leather scroll and hand it in. Whoever Tanmaraka picked would get to debate with him in a short Buddhist debate. The debate could involve everything, Buddhist teachings, from nothing to something, even the clouds in the sky and the grass on the ground.

Yao Ying was shocked, but she continued to listen. The monks and Luo Jia were debating in Sanskrit, which she could not understand. However, both sides debated very quickly, and it was very interesting to just look at the monks' expressions, whether they were embarrassed, secretly happy, disappointed, or racking their brains in deep thought.

After Tanmarajiva drew ten volumes of scriptures, the young monk removed the tray, the expressions on the faces of the monks below the stage returned to peace, the atmosphere in the hall became much more relaxed, and Raja began to preach.

He spoke first in Sanskrit, then changed to Mandarin, occasionally mixing in another Mandarin. His voice was clear and his tone was gentle, like jade beads falling on a plate, with a soothing rhythm.

Everyone inside and outside the hall listened as if they were crazy or drunk, and from time to time there were women lowering their heads to wipe away their tears.

Yaoying heard that Tanmarajiva was talking about the cause and effect of good and evil, but she didn't understand much after hearing it. She sat on her knees for a long time with her back straight, and her whole body ached. She couldn't help but secretly change her posture.

A cold gaze swept over.

Soft, yet with a kind of strength that is not too sharp.

Yaoying couldn't help but shudder, and immediately became quiet, not moving at all, and continued to listen.

Tanmarajiva took a look at her dark and shiny hair and looked away.

Yao Ying did not dare to move this time and sat for another quarter of an hour. The crowd exclaimed and chanted Buddha's name one after another. Everyone stood up, clasped their hands respectfully towards Tanmarajiva, and watched him walk down the platform and leave surrounded by the monks.

When his thin figure disappeared at the palace gate, Yao Ying felt relieved: Is that the end? He won't check her homework?

It turns out that all she needs to do is sit still and listen to the morning class.

Yao Ying stood up and was about to leave when several figures approached her.

Prajna and several monks stood in front of her, looking serious. They held out several Buddhist scriptures with a sneer and asked, "Princess, have you gained anything from studying Buddhism?"

Yaoying's mouth twitched: It was too early to be happy just now, the person who was going to check her homework was waiting here!

Prajna stood in front of Yaoying, with her back as straight as a poplar tree, and began to recite the contents of Yaoying's scriptures.

He was asking about the part where Tanmarajiva asked Yuanjue to remind Yaoying.

Yao Ying was stunned for a moment, then laughed secretly: The monk actually helped her cheat.

Although she could not understand the profound meaning of the book, she was not troubled by memorizing it and could answer questions fluently.

Prajna frowned, opened another book and continued asking.

Yaoying can still recite it fluently.

After asking several questions in a row, Yao Ying was not stumped. Prajna could not help but feel a little annoyed and asked, "Do you understand the meaning?"

Yao Ying narrowed her eyes slightly and said with a smile, "No."

Without waiting for Prajna to say anything, she asked, "Do you understand everything?"

Prajna wanted to retort, but when he met Yaoying's smiling eyes, his face turned red. He was not a monk, but just a bodyguard following Tanmaraka. How could he dare to say that he could understand the meaning of the scriptures in the book? If he gave an affirmative answer, he would definitely be pursued!

He could only shake his head.

Yaoying smiled.

Prajna refused to admit defeat and asked, "Is this all you have memorized in these few days, Princess?"

Yao Ying coughed lightly and said seriously, "I have been studying a scripture these days."

Prajna looked at her with doubt in her eyes: "What scripture?"

Yao Ying recited the Heart Sutra word by word.

The Heart Sutra, also known as the Mahaprajnaparamita Heart Sutra, is short and concise. The translation by Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty has only more than 300 words in total. It is concise and clear, but full of meaning, because it is the essence extracted from hundreds of Buddhist scriptures, condensed from the vast Buddhist classics of millions of words.

Yaoying thought about it and decided that this scripture, which was widely circulated in the Central Plains, would be enough for her to cope with the spot checks in the next few months, without any hassle.

She recited fluently, but Prajna looked confused: "What are you reciting?"

Yao Ying was even more confused than him: "The Heart Sutra?"

Prajna said affirmatively, “I have never heard of this sutra.”

Yao Ying explained: "I memorized the version translated by the Central Plains monk Master Xuanzang, which may be different from what you studied."

Prajna frowned and exchanged glances with the monks around him. One of them shook his head at him. After a while of whispering, they asked, "Does the princess understand?"

Yao Ying clasped her hands together and said, "The scriptures are profound. I have not yet understood their true meaning, but after reciting them a few times, I can feel calm and peaceful."

Prajna was stunned for a moment. If Yaoying said she had gained something, he could still argue with her about the truth. But when she said that, he really couldn't find any fault with her.

A monk nearby showed admiration on his face and nodded, saying, "The princess has such an understanding, which means she has really practiced diligently."

Yaoying smiled modestly.

Prajna's eyes twitched.

The monks saluted Yao Ying and turned away.

Yaoying asked Yuanjue beside her: "Have I passed the test?"

Yuan Jue smiled and said, "The princess has performed very well. There will be fewer rumors in the city in the future. As long as the princess shows that she is practicing Buddhism, these monks will not dare to deliberately embarrass her."

Yaoying's heart moved.

Tanmaraka told her to handle the inspection well, it turned out to be to help her and make her life in the holy city easier.

It was almost time for lunch, so Yuanjue sent Yaoying back to the yard.

There were footsteps behind him, and a guard ran after him: "The king wants the princess to go to the meditation room."

Yuan Jue responded and escorted Yao Ying to the meditation room.

The courtyard was quiet, the sky was azure, clouds were floating gently, the blue flowers and leaves on the dome appeared a faint blue in the bright sunshine, and there was a faint golden glow floating between the murals.

Tanmarajiva was sitting at a long desk reading a letter. Several dusty blue-shirted guards were kneeling in front of the courtyard. One of them was a close follower of Ashina Bisha.

There's news coming back from Beirong.

Yao Ying walked quickly into the corridor and arrived outside the meditation room. She paused, held her breath subconsciously, and walked into the room.

The room was chilly. Tanmarajiva did not raise his head but raised his slender fingers, motioning Yaoying to sit down.

Yao Ying knelt opposite him, sitting upright.

After reading the letter, Tanmarajya raised his eyelids and said, "Haidu A-ling has injured his leg."

Yao Ying was stunned.

Tanmarajiva glanced at the courtyard, and Yuanjue understood what he meant, and signaled Ashina Bisha's followers to come forward.

The personal attendant knelt outside the corridor and said slowly: "When General Ashina arrived at Beirong, Prince Haidu Aling had already returned to the tent. It is said that he was attacked by bandits on the road and one of his legs was trampled by a frightened horse. The weather was hot and the wound was rotten. The witch doctor used the wrong medicine when treating him, and Prince Haidu Aling's right leg was disabled. The general said that several princes broke into the tent and personally checked Haidu Aling's injuries. His legs were infested with maggots."

Yao Ying's eyelids twitched when she heard this.

As expected, Haidu Aling still had one leg "disabled".

Those ambushing bandits must have been a trap set by the princes. He took advantage of their tricks and pretended to have a broken leg.

The personal attendant finally said, "The general remembered that Princess Wen Zhao had warned him that Haidu Aling would use a self-torture tactic, and suspected that Haidu Aling's leg was not disabled, so he sent his subordinates back to ask the king for instructions, and by the way, asked the princess a question."

Tanmarajiva looked at Yaoying.

Yao Ying suddenly felt as if he couldn't breathe and said, "I did remind General Ashina."

The attendant whispered, "The princess knows Prince Haidu Aling's character very well. The general wants to hear the princess's advice."

The whole courtyard was silent.

Yao Ying faced the expectant gaze of her followers and said with gritted teeth: "Since Haidu Aling is using a self-torture tactic, why don't you use the same tactic against him and let Prince Haidu Aling recover from his injuries."

Haidu Aling pretended to have a disabled leg, and Ashina Bisha could take advantage of the suspicion of several princes towards him and make the leg really disabled.

Several of his followers exchanged glances, and Yuan Jue, who was guarding the door, looked surprised.

Tanmarajiva didn't seem surprised at Yu Yaoying's answer at all. He said nothing and picked up the pen to write the letter.

The attendant stood up, took the letter, saluted, and left in a hurry.

Yao Ying also stood up and left the meditation room. When she walked down the corridor, several guards came in with a food tray. She casually glanced at the silver plate on the food tray and was stunned.

A plate of beef flashed past her eyes.

Yaoying turned around and followed the plate of beef.

The food tray was brought to Tanmaragha, and he picked up a piece of meat with his slender and graceful fingers.

Yao Ying was stunned.

In the room, Tanmo Luojia noticed Yaoying's gaze and looked over.

The girl stood in the courtyard, staring at him blankly, with an expression as if she had been struck by lightning.

Tanmo Luojia paused for a moment, a hint of doubt flashed across his clear blue eyes.

Is she hungry?

The author has something to say: There are different translated versions of the Heart Sutra, and the number of words in each version varies.