Yaoying said something to Yuanjue and went to Qisipu to meet the envoy from Malu.
She knew that the envoy from Malu was coming, but she didn't know the exact date or who they would send.
Judging from the messenger's message, the person who came was most likely an old acquaintance.
The Hu merchants in the shop were entertaining guests. In the elegant rooms on the second floor, all kinds of embroidered cloth, light yarn, Sichuan brocade, round nests, broken branches, shining colors, lotus patterns, coiled dragon patterns, fairy crane and grass patterns, swastika double victory patterns and brocade satin were hung on poles. The colors were rich and gorgeous, and the patterns were large and bright. When placed under the windows and let in the sunlight, the room was colorful and shining with golden light.
The distinguished guest held a piece of gauze in his hand, and was dazzled by it. He exclaimed: "The Chinese craftsmen are really skillful. The flowers, birds, insects and animals on the gauze and brocade seem to be alive, and the landscapes and pavilions seem to be right in front of me. How much do you want for these silks?"
Yao Ying stepped forward amidst the escort of her personal guards, and upon hearing this, she said, "If Princess Manda likes these, I'll give them to her."
The woman sitting by the window turned her head, revealing a face of incomparable brightness. She was wrapped in a light gauze, with a gold-woven silk draped over her shoulders. Her head was covered with pearls and gems, and her arms and wrists were adorned with strings of engraved and inlaid gold bracelets. Her pair of grey-green eyes glowed amber in the sunlight.
She looked at Yaoying for a moment, and the corners of her mouth curled up: "Princess, I am no longer the princess of Virama."
Yao Ying smiled. She had asked the guards downstairs, "Then how should I address you as Princess?"
Princess Manda smiled and stood up to greet Yaoying.
"Thanks to the princess, I am now the queen of Maru."
As soon as Princess Manda said this, the bitterness and humiliation of the past years came to her mind.
…
Although she was called a princess, she was the daughter of a geisha and had a low status. She was raised by the queen as a geisha and served the king with her beauty. At first, she wanted to seduce the Buddhist son with her beauty and get rid of Vimala's control, but the Buddhist son was unmoved. In anger, she started with Princess Wen Zhao and wanted to use the princess to achieve her goal, but was flatly rejected by the princess.
Princess Manda left the royal court in a panic.
Before leaving the city, Princess Wen Zhao found her and negotiated a deal with her.
The princess helped her realize her ambition. She helped the princess promote trade between Malu and the various states in the Western Regions and protect the Wei Dynasty's caravans. The two signed an alliance and each got what they needed.
At first, Princess Manda suspected that Princess Wen Zhao was teasing her, but she was desperate at the time and did not want to return to Virama and be humiliated, so she agreed to Princess Wen Zhao's proposal with a try-it attitude.
She went to Maru.
That day, the caravan members reminded Princess Manda to change into the dress Yaoying had given her. When she appeared outside the city of Malu wearing a veil, the officials of Malu were stunned.
"The goddess appears!"
Malu was just a small oasis country, and the news soon reached the ears of the king. The king was ecstatic. He ordered people to lay the ground with golden carpets and personally went out of the city to welcome Princess Manda.
The caravan leader smiled at the puzzled Princess Manda and said, "Princess Wen Zhao has arranged everything. The king has seen your beautiful dancing posture in paintings and has long been fascinated by you. Princess, when we return to the palace, you can dance for the king."
The king of Malu was obsessed with dancing. After seeing the paintings of Princess Manda dancing sent by the caravan, he thought about her day and night, but he regretted that the beauty in the paintings was a goddess and mortals had no chance to see her.
At this time, the caravan arranged for a wizard to advise the king that as long as he prayed devoutly, the gods would be moved and the goddess of his dream would be born.
When everything was almost ready, the caravan appeared with Princess Manda.
The king was overjoyed.
Princess Manda's blood boiled when she heard the caravan's explanation of their various arrangements: the royal court's Buddhist disciples had hearts of stone, they were just a piece of wood that didn't understand romance, a stone Buddha statue, an iceberg that hadn't melted for thousands of years, and the Kingdom of Malu was the place where she could display her abilities!
She danced in the palace of the King of Malu, and everyone from the king to the noble officials were crazy about her. With Yaoying's arrangement, she was given the title of "Goddess", and she soon became the king's favorite concubine.
Malu is just a small country, but it is affiliated with a powerful empire, and the emperor of the empire is very fond of the king of Malu.
She took the opportunity to get rid of Queen Viramala's control.
…
Princess Manda came to her senses and looked around, seeing everything rich and gorgeous.
Princess Wen Zhao sat in front of her, looking even more charming and beautiful than before, with a heroic look in her eyes, and she was graceful as she gave orders to her personal guards.
When she arrived in Malu, the trade route from the Central Plains to the Western Regions was still under the control of the Northern Rong. At that time, Princess Wen Zhao was preparing for the smooth flow of trade routes in the future. When she captured the king of Malu, the various states in the Western Regions were recovered, and savvy merchants soon gathered in Malu - Malu was a must-go place connecting the East and West trade routes.
Princess Manda was always shocked whenever she thought of this.
What she wanted was a support, while Princess Wen Zhao was seeking a prosperous trade route that spanned tens of thousands of miles, connected hundreds of large and small countries, and benefited all the people.
Their wants were so different, yet the princess was willing to cooperate with someone like her.
Princess Manda laughed at herself, put away her wandering thoughts, and signaled her servants with her eyes.
The attendant took out the letter of credence.
Yaoying's personal soldier stepped forward to take the letter and handed it to Yaoying. She opened the Chinese copy and read it carefully.
Princess Manda continued to select silks and satins, smiling and saying, "Princess, don't read them. The documents are just empty words about trade and sending envoys to each other. I have done everything you want. When the Wei Dynasty caravan passes through Malu, the tax will be reduced by 10%. As long as they are within the territory of Malu, Malu will ensure their safety. The king also agreed to the publication of the book list that the princess mentioned before. He has issued an edict to collect ancient books, but the princess must send a trustworthy caravan to transport those books. The control of books in various countries is very strict, and merchants are not allowed to buy and sell books privately."
Yao Ying finished reading the document, handed it to the guard, nodded, and said, "The princess is a person who keeps her promises, but I didn't expect the princess to come in person."
She kept in touch with Princess Manda, and in the last letter Manda only said that she would send an envoy to deliver the letter of credence.
Princess Manda snorted. "How can I make the princess believe my sincerity if I don't come to see her in person? Besides, I need your help, so I have to come to see you in person."
"What is it?"
Yao Ying asked in a calm tone, as if no matter what it was, she would never refuse as long as she could do it.
With her current status, she does have the confidence to do so.
Princess Manda looked at Yaoying, who was several years younger than her, and secretly admired her. To her, working with someone like Princess Wen Zhao was like adding wings to a tiger.
In the future, when the trade routes prosper, Malu can benefit from it. She has close contacts with the princess, which can give her more confidence in front of Malu officials.
She had to keep such a powerful ally in her arms and leave a way out for herself.
"Do you still have those muslins woven from paintings?"
Princess Manda draped the gauze over her shoulders, walked to the mirror in the store, and posed coquettishly. "It should be more beautiful than the ones the princess sent to Malu before."
Yao Ying raised her eyebrows. "Then we have to draw the pattern first, and then wait for the embroiderer to weave it. It will probably take half a year to go back and forth."
"I can wait." Princess Manda turned around and threw a coquettish glance at Yaoying. "The King of Malu is obsessed with me now. He won't give up on me in a few years."
The king loves dancing, and she is confident that with her dancing skills and the means she has used to save her life over the years, she can survive in Malu.
Yao Ying calculated the time and said, "In five months, the caravan will deliver the goods to Malu."
Princess Manda's lips curled up.
"The princess is really quick to act..."
She paused, then suddenly changed the subject: "The princess is in the royal court, but she can help me get what I want in Malu. Why haven't we captured the Buddha child in such a long time? After the one-year period is up, can she leave miserably? Where have all the princess's tricks gone? The princess even dared to step into the burning fire altar, how did she fail?"
Yaoying was drinking tea and was almost choked when she heard this.
Princess Manda shook her head and said angrily, "I came to the royal court this time to thank the princess in person and ask for some veils. I also came to help her fulfill her wish!"
As he spoke, he clapped his hands.
The servant came forward with the box and opened the lid.
She picked up a scroll and unfolded it, pointing at the pictures of men and women embracing and making love in various poses. "Princess, I still have a lot of these treasures. I sent people back to Vimala to search for more treasure scrolls and images, and brought them all to the royal court. Princess, you only need to do as I say and with a little trick, you will surely be able to enjoy sex with the Buddha."
Yao Ying glanced around.
The red-faced guards and the Hu merchants retreated.
Princess Manda flipped through the book and said, "Princess, I can see that the Buddhist has feelings for you. Once a man has feelings for you, he will definitely have other thoughts. If you add some fuel to the fire, you can succeed."
"Find an opportunity, send the others away, put on a veil, take the booklet and go to ask the Buddhists for advice. Remember, pretend that you know nothing..."
Princess Manda smiled meaningfully.
Princess Wen Zhao had a face as beautiful as Shunhua and a graceful figure. Her gaze was both lively, innocent and charming. Just a glance of hers could convey an indescribable charm. When she stood there, others only had eyes for her.
"When the Buddhist disciple reacted, the princess would go up to him and ask, 'Master, why don't you look at me?'"
"The Buddhist didn't answer, so the princess took his hand and put it on herself..."
"Master, touch me..."
Yao Ying's eyelids twitched slightly, and she stopped Princess Manda from talking more and more obscenely, "I appreciate your kindness, but you can keep these treasures for yourself."
Princess Manda put down the booklet and said, "Princess, you fulfilled my wish for me. I also want to do something for you."
Yao Ying smiled and shook her head: "I have formed an alliance with the princess, and the princess only needs to protect the caravan."
Princess Manda rolled her eyes and said, "Princess, you are so beautiful and you know those magic tricks. I don't need to teach you. As long as you are willing to put in the effort, I will be your slave... Is there anything that the princess is worried about?"
If the rumors about Princess Wen Zhao seducing the Buddhist monk were true, she didn't believe that the Buddhist monk could resist touching the princess!
Yao Ying smiled.
Tanmaraka is the monarch of the royal court and has a heavy responsibility on her shoulders. No matter what he chooses, she will not force him. What she cares most about now is whether Mundadeva can cure him.
"Is there anything else, Princess?"
she asked.
Seeing that she was unmoved, Princess Manda narrowed her eyes and could only stop trying to seduce the Buddhist. "I heard that the princess is seeking medical treatment. I asked the doctor, but he refused to say. Did he fail to cure the princess's illness?"
Yao Ying said calmly: "Old illnesses are hard to cure."
"This time the doctor came with me to the royal court. On the way, he often discussed medicine with Mundadeva. If the princess wants to send him, she can just send someone to pass the message."
Yaoying thanked Princess Manda.
Princess Manda thought for a moment, "I've heard about the disease that Monda Deva and the doctor discussed before."
Yao Ying raised her eyelids.
Princess Manda said, "I know a secret method that you can try. This secret method is only circulated in Vimala. I am a saint in the temple, so I have seen it. If Mundadeva's prescription is useless, the princess can try my secret method."
Yao Ying was skeptical: "What secret method?"
Princess Manda clapped her hands, called her servants, found a few exquisite books, and handed them to Yaoying.
"These are the secrets I stole from the temple. I told the princess this secret out of gratitude."
Yaoying opened the book, glanced at it for a few seconds, and closed it immediately.
Princess Manda said in a serious tone, "I am not joking with you, this is really a secret method I stole from the temple. The monks in the temple practice with this method. Princess, you must accept it."
Yao Ying grinned.
Princess Manda thought of another thing and said, "Oh, by the way, the princess asked me to keep an eye on Haidu A Ling of the Northern Rong. He has not passed through the Malu Kingdom. I heard from the king that he may have fled to Samakan."
Yao Ying came to her senses and frowned.
Wakhan Khan once sent people to deal with Samakan, and Haidu Aling must have fled there to seek help.
…
At the same time.
Bisha led Mundadeva to rest, and Tanmaraka returned to the courtyard.
Yaoying's personal soldiers are not here.
He stood on the porch, his brows slightly wrinkled.
Yuan Jue said, "King, the princess has gone to meet the envoy of the Malu Kingdom. The princess has restored diplomatic relations with the Malu Kingdom on behalf of the Wei Dynasty."
Tanmo Luojia's face was indifferent, "Did Bamil go with him?"
He heard from Mundadeva about the Maru delegation.
“Yes.”
Tanmarajiva turned and went back into the house, his eyes swept across the tables next to the long desk, and paused.
A half-opened snow lotus was placed in a bronze vase on the table.
There are rarely any flowers placed in his room.
Yuan Jue hurriedly apologized: "King, this flower was brought back by the princess and placed outside. I was afraid that the flower would wilt in the sun, so I moved it into the house first..."
As he spoke, he picked up the copper vase and tried to move the flowers away.
"No need to move."
Tanmarajiva suddenly said.
Yuanjue was startled, scratched his head, and put the copper bottle back.
Tanmarajiva sat down, took out the letter from his sleeve and put it away, raised his eyelids, looked at the snow lotus in the copper bottle, and was absent-minded for a while.
When she came back, she asked her personal guard to keep something for her, and she hid it so that he wouldn't see it, so he didn't look at it much.
It turned out to be a flower.
When she was walking around the market, young men kept giving her flowers, but she refused to accept any of them.
Tanmarajiva raised his hand and lightly touched the snow lotus petals with his fingertips.
Very cool.
When Yaoying came back, it was already midnight.
The light was on in the room, and Tanmarajiva was still awake. Mundadeva came over and applied medicine to him personally.
Yao Ying sat aside and watched with a frown on her face and a worried look on her face. As soon as Mundadeva left, she immediately stepped forward and covered Tanmarajika with a blanket.
"Master, do you feel better?"
she asked softly.
Tanmaraka looked at her and nodded: "I am feeling better now. Princess, please settle down as soon as possible."
Yaoying smiled slightly, waited for him to close his eyes, stood up and went out to talk with Mundadeva in front of the corridor.
Tanmarajiva was tired and woke up from a nap. She found that she had not returned to her room yet. Just as she was about to get up, the door was pushed open with a creak. She tiptoed into the room and lit a lamp. She didn't know what she was busy with outside, but there was a rustling sound.
He lay down again and waited for a while. She returned to the inner room and fell asleep on the couch in the compartment.
The next morning, when Mondadeva was applying medicine to Tanmaraka, he looked a little strange.
Tanmaraka asked: "What did the princess say to you yesterday?"
Mengda Deva thought for a moment and said truthfully: "The princess asked me whether the dual cultivation method circulating in some sects in India is true or just an exaggeration and fabrication by others."
Bishuo on the side opened his eyes wide, but before he could say anything, Tanmarajiva had already looked at him with two stern and cold eyes.
Bi Su was sweating profusely and shaking her head like a wave drum: "King, I have never mentioned this to the princess!"
Before this, an Indian monk had suggested this method of strengthening the body to Tanmaragha, and he even presented him with several scriptures, saying that as long as he followed the methods above and found young girls to practice, all his illnesses would be cured and his life would be prolonged. However, Tanmaragha ignored him.
After Yaoying returned to the royal court, Bisu remembered the monk's suggestion and mentioned it vaguely, but was flatly rejected by Tanmarajiva. How could he dare to mention it to the princess?
Tanmarajiva looked solemn and called Yuanjue.
"Where's the princess?"
"The princess has gone to the inn. Today, the princess of Malu is hosting a banquet to entertain the Duke of Wei and the princess..."
Tanmaraka’s eyes were deep.
"When the princess returns, have her come to see me immediately."
Until dark, Yaoying still hadn't returned to the courtyard. Yuanjue lit candles everywhere and stood guard in front of the corridor for more than two hours. He dozed off against the flower wall when he suddenly heard the sound of carriages and horses, and he quickly perked up.
There were shadows swaying in front of the corridor, and Yao Ying came back accompanied by the personal soldiers. She was wearing a cloak and a hood, and her face was hidden in the hood, so her features could not be seen clearly.
Yuan Jue stepped forward and said, "Princess, the king is waiting for you."
Yao Ying walked lightly, hummed softly, signaled her personal guards to disperse, and returned to the inner room.
Tanmaraka was sitting in front of a lamp reading a Buddhist scripture. He had already heard the noise outside. He put down the scripture in his hand and raised his head: "Princess..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a faint sweet fragrance came from the breeze and penetrated into his lungs.
Yao Ying sat down in front of the long table, took off her cloak, raised her face and looked at him, her hood slipped off, her eyes were wet, "Master, why are you still awake?"
In the candlelight, her rosy face was faintly blushing and her lips were moist.
Tanmaraka remained silent for a long while.