After applying the medicine, Yaoying lowered her head and put down her sleeves. In her peripheral vision, she could feel Tanmaragha staring at her.

In the flickering candlelight, the gaze that fell on her was as cold as ice and snow, clear and faint, like the starry sky in the desert at night, too deep and vast, and eternal, so there was no such thing as sadness or joy.

He has long seen through birth, old age, sickness, death, greed, anger and delusion, and has no desires or requests.

Therefore, in front of him, Yao Ying had almost no taboos, and there was no need to be on guard or play tricks. Her joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were all natural.

She looked up at him.

He looked away expressionlessly, his movements were natural and it didn't seem like he was trying to avoid it at all.

Yao Ying lowered her eyes, suppressed her thoughts, stood up and took the silk medicine bag on the table, "Master, is it time to change the medicine on your leg?"

Tanmarajika shook his head: "Don't bother Princess, I'll ask someone to come in."

Yao Ying said softly, "Let me do it. I have taken care of a mage before and I know what to do."

She washed her hands, lifted the thin blanket on his legs, rolled up his gauze trouser legs, untied the tied medicine bag, and first used a hot towel to gently press a few times on the tied marks to prevent bruises caused by poor blood circulation, and then tied a new medicine bag.

During the whole process, she lowered her head and moved very carefully. A few strands of hair slipped from her temples, brushing against her nose and lips from time to time, making her feel a little itchy. She would use the back of her hand to brush away those naughty strands of hair every once in a while.

Tanmarajiva looked at Yaoying and suddenly wanted to lift those strands of hair for her. His fingers moved and touched the Buddhist beads, and he felt a coolness on his fingertips.

He remained motionless.

Yao Ying changed the medicine for him, covered him with a thin blanket, and looked at him carefully, "Master, do you want to lie down?"

Tanmaraka held the Buddhist beads and shook his head: "No..."

Yao Ying groaned, then suddenly leaned over and pressed down on him.

It was just a momentary movement, but in Tanmaraka's eyes, it was exceptionally slow and long. She slowly approached him, her pretty face was within reach, her curled eyelashes outlined with ink trembled slightly, and a faint fragrance spread.

She supported her body with one hand and reached inside with the other hand, pulled out the soft pillow from the corner, patted it, and stuffed it next to him so that he could sit back and lean against it.

"Master, do you feel better now?"

After Yaoying finished her work, she stood up, raised her hand to brush her hair, and asked.

Tanmarajava lowered her green eyes and nodded.

"Excuse me, Princess. It's late at night. I'm not in any serious trouble. Please go to bed early."

Yaoying smiled, turned and left.

The footsteps faded away.

The room was deserted.

Tanmaraka looked at his stiff legs and twirled the Buddhist beads with his fingers.

A dark shadow loomed over.

He raised his eyes and looked over. Yao Ying, who was supposed to leave, came back at some point, holding a small stool in her hand. She put it beside the couch, sat down, and looked at him with her hands on her chin.

"Are you feeling sleepy now, Master?"

He looked calm and shook his head.

Yao Ying said: "It's just right, I'm not sleepy. The master lives deep in the Wang Temple, and I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to see him in the future. When I came out of the main hall today, I wanted to ask to see the master, but I was afraid of disturbing him, so I could only write a letter..."

She suddenly changed the subject, "General Ashina just told me that the Master has been depressed lately. I wonder why the Master is unhappy? If there is anything I can help with, please just let me know. Don't be polite with me."

Tanmo Luojia said calmly: "It's just a small matter, Princess, don't worry about it."

Yao Ying looked at him, was silent for a while, and asked, "Is it because of the recent conflict between the royal army and the people of Beirong?"

Tanmarajika was well aware that the royal court was facing internal and external troubles, and that he must first use thunder-like means to shock the aristocratic families, weaken the Northern Rong, and then gradually resolve the internal problems to clear the obstacles for the next generation of monarchs, rather than directly annexing the Northern Rong, which would only drag the royal court into the quagmire. However, the Northern Rong was now divided into pieces, and everyone in the royal court, from the aristocratic families to the common people, was immersed in the frenzy of defeating the Wakhan Khan. They believed that the Northern Rong's territory had become the royal court's meal and that no one else should be allowed to get involved.

They threatened to send troops to take over all the tribes of Beirong and make them slaves. During this period, the royal army repeatedly clashed with local tribes while chasing the remnants of Beirong.

In the eyes of the people in the royal court, they were simply using the same methods they had used against the Northern Rong people. It was only natural to give them a taste of their own medicine.

Little did they know that this would only lead to a more fierce resistance from the Northern Rong people, and that many tribes that were originally affiliated with the Northern Rong did not participate in the war, but were watching the war and preparing to surrender. Now that the royal court army was retaliating against the Northern Rong people, they, who had once attacked the royal court, were greatly worried, fearing that the royal court families would enslave them like the Northern Rong nobles, so they simply helped the remnants of the Northern Rong resist the royal court army.

Tanmarajiva's leniency towards the Northern Rong tribes was regarded by his subjects as soft-heartedness, and they could not understand why he pardoned the Northern Rong people.

Yao Ying slowly recited the article she had memorized before: "In ancient times, people took benevolence as the foundation and ruled with righteousness as the basis. If righteousness does not satisfy people, then they resort to discretion. Dispute arises from war, not from neutral people. Therefore, if you want to kill people to comfort them, then you can kill them. If you want to attack a country and love its people, then you can attack it. If you want to end war with war, then you can fight... The master did nothing wrong."

It sounds simple in the book, but governing a country is extremely complicated. Every policy and every action will affect the fate of millions of people.

The decision that Tanmarajaka made after balancing the interests of all parties and weighing the pros and cons may not be supported by everyone. His goal is to stop the war, but human desires are endless. Now the royal court and the nobles are ready to make moves, and public opinion is boiling. He issued several decrees in succession in just a few days, but still could not curb the ambitions of the royal court and the nobles.

Tanmarajiva was slightly startled, his eyes fixed on Yaoying's face. He stared at her for a long time, his face moved and his eyes seemed to flash with lightning, so bright that it was shocking.

"Thank you, Princess, for your understanding and comfort."

Yao Ying knew that he had strong beliefs and would not be disturbed by the world, but she still felt sad for him when she saw him exhausted and not understood by others.

She thought for a moment and asked, "Master, do you believe that there is a pure land in this world where there is no war, no distinction between noble and humble, and no one can live in harmony with others?"

Tanmarajika nodded.

Yao Ying laughed. He was a cultivator, so he would naturally believe this. Isn't the legendary Western Paradise a paradise? The scriptures say that the people in that country have no suffering, but only happiness.

"Master, I once had a dream of living in a country." She spoke sincerely and slowly, "The country in my dream is not like the paradise with golden sands and fairyland everywhere, but the people are not divided into noble and poor, and everyone lives and works in peace and contentment. Although there are still wars and various injustices in the world, more people insist on justice and fight with their own hands. People of all tribes get along like friends... and don't kill each other at will..."

She had never mentioned these words to anyone else, but now she said them all to Tanmaraka.

Tanmarajiva looked at Yaoying who was telling the story, her green eyes shining like stars in the dim candlelight.

Yao Ying finished speaking and smiled: "Master, do you believe me?"

Tanmaraka stared at her without blinking, "I believe it."

Separated by mountains and seas, thousands of miles away, she came to his side when he was dying... Even if she said she was a goddess sent by Buddha to test him, he would believe it.

His eyes were so deep that Yao Ying's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

"Master, the world in my dream is a thousand years later."

Tanmaraka holds a bead in his hand and says: "It may take tens of thousands of years for the Buddha to save sentient beings, but a thousand years is but a moment."

Such a world will surely come, and even though he cannot see it, it will not frustrate his will.

Yaoying felt emotional, and then became more and more confused.

Judging from the conversation just now, Tanmarajiva was not worried about his subjects' misunderstanding.

It has nothing to do with state affairs... Then what else in this world could make him, a Buddhist, so depressed?

Why did Bisha ask her to persuade Tanmaragha?

A guess came to her mind, but this guess was so shocking that she dared not even think about it.

"Master." Yao Ying lifted a corner of the blanket and checked the medicine bag on Tanmarajiva's leg while casually saying, "My brother and I are reunited. From now on, I am no longer a Modanga girl... Master, I am grateful for your care for me over the past year."

The light in Tanmaraka's eyes flickered twice, then dimmed and he lowered his eyes, "The princess has also taken good care of me."

Yao Ying's lips curled up slightly, "Master, there have been a lot of things these days. I haven't told you about my future plans. Now the situation in various places is chaotic, and King Wei Chi is too busy to handle it. My brother and I will go to Gaochang in a few days..."

She raised her eyes and glanced at Tanmarajiva's face secretly.

Tanmaraka said calmly: "I will ask Bisha to escort the princess to Gaochang."

Yao Ying smiled and shook her head: "General Ashina is the mage's guard, don't bother him, someone will come to pick me up."

The room became quiet, with only the sound of candles burning quietly.

Yaoying covered her lips and yawned.

Tanmaraka immediately said, "I am much better now. Princess, go and take care of me."

Yao Ying's eyes were filled with tears. She was half asleep. She stretched her back, stood up, and walked to the side with a thin blanket. She spread the blanket and lay down on the spot. "Bisu, please send me out of the temple tomorrow morning... I will sleep here. If the master needs anything or feels uncomfortable, please wake me up."

Tanmarajiva opened his mouth, looked at her back, and finally just hummed softly.

Yaoying closed her eyes and fell asleep. In her dream she thought of Tanmarajiva and woke up suddenly. She looked back at the couch and saw him still sitting there with his eyes closed, twirling Buddhist beads with his fingers as if he was in meditation.

She breathed a sigh of relief and went back to sleep.

After a while, the candles went out and the room fell into darkness.

A dark shadow moved down from the couch, moving very lightly. It stopped for a while behind Yaoying who was sleeping on her side, then continued to move forward, enveloping her completely.

Yaoying smelled the pungent smell of medicine from the medicine bag, and seemed to realize something, and her eyes slightly opened.

The shadow stood behind her for a long time.

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound of clothes, and he raised his hand, reaching over her shoulders and towards her collar.

Yaoying dared not move, her heart pounding.

The hand reached through her collar, pulled up the thin blanket that had slipped off, covered her exposed shoulders, and pressed lightly with its fingers.

Yao Ying felt relieved.

Just when she thought the shadow was going to leave, the hand that was covering her with the quilt suddenly moved up and stopped at her cheek, not moving.

Yaoying was sweating slightly.

After a long time, the hand finally stopped touching her hair and slowly retracted.

Yao Ying held her breath and waited for a long time. She turned over, faced the couch, and opened her eyes.

Tanmaraka had already laid down quietly.

The aroma of medicine floats in the air.

…

The next morning, when Tanmarajya woke up, the figure beside the couch had disappeared.

The thin blankets were neatly piled up on the edge of the couch, showing no signs of having been used.

It seemed as if everything that happened last night was just his dream.

Tanmaraka sat up and touched the handkerchief beside the pillow. A handful of amber-glowing thorn honey came out and some of it spilled outside.

He wrapped the handkerchief.

The sound of footsteps came closer and closer, and Bisa came into the room carrying a bowl of medicine.

Tanmaraka asked, "Where is Princess Wen Zhao?"

Bi Suo said, "I just sent Princess Wen Zhao out. It will be dawn and someone will come. It is inconvenient for the princess to stay."

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"The princess said that the king had been overworked these days and should rest well. She asked me not to wake you up."

Tanmarajiva said nothing and placed the folded handkerchief beside the pillow.

…

Yaoying left Wangsi and returned to the silk shop where she lived.

Li Zhongqian sat in the lobby with a gloomy face, "Where did you go last night? Why didn't you come back all night?"

Last night, his personal soldiers told him that Yao Ying had left with General Ashina and left a message for him not to worry. He has been waiting until now.

Yao Ying was worried, so she pulled him upstairs and whispered, "Brother, I was at Wangsi last night."

Li Zhongqian frowned and glanced at her clothes: "What are you doing in Wangsi?"

Yao Ying looked around and lowered her voice: "I will only tell this to you, brother. Please don't tell anyone. I'm going to see the Buddha."

Li Zhongqian's face became increasingly ugly.

"Why can't I see him during the day?"

"With so many people talking, we won't be discovered at night."

Li Zhongqian stared at Yaoying for a while and said, "It's not safe for you to go alone. I will accompany you in the future."

Yao Ying hummed, absent-mindedly.

"Brother, I didn't sleep well last night. I'm going to sleep for a while."

Li Zhongqian sent Yaoying back to her room, watched her fall asleep, went downstairs, and called two personal soldiers: "Send a letter to that General Ashina, I want to see the Buddha."

After giving the order, he reminded her again, "Don't tell Qi Niang about this first."

The personal soldiers should be.

The letter was quickly delivered to Bishuo. After reading the letter, his eyes widened and he was stunned for a moment. He could not make up his mind and asked Tanmarajiva for advice.

"Your Majesty, Princess Wen Zhao's brother said he wants to see you... He wants to talk to you about Princess Wen Zhao."

Tanmaraka raised his eyes and nodded.

Half an hour later, Li Zhongqian, wearing a turban on his head, a brocade robe and a long sword at his waist, came to a side hall of the royal temple under the guidance of Bisha.

The sun was high in the sky, and the felt curtains were hung high in front of the hall. As I walked into the inner hall, I felt a sudden sense of coolness.

Tanmarajiva was sitting in front of the desk waiting for him, wearing a snow-white, gold-patterned, off-shoulder cassock, with distinct facial features and an elegant demeanor.

Li Zhongqian had seen many young men from noble families who were both talented in literature and martial arts and had extraordinary bearings, and he couldn't help but admire Tanmarajiva's outstanding demeanor in his heart. However, when he thought of the look in Tanmarajiva's eyes when he stared at Yao Ying in the hall yesterday, that bit of good impression disappeared immediately, and only vigilance and precautions remained.

He knew why he suddenly thought of Li Xuanzhen. When Li Xuanzhen looked at Yaoying, there was hatred, hostility, and repression in his eyes. Later, the two were trapped in Beirong. When Li Xuanzhen heard Tali mention Yaoying's experience, the hatred and resentment had long disappeared, replaced by unbearable pain and deeper repression.

When Tanmarajiva looked at Yaoying, he was also suppressing his emotions. His eyes were extremely restrained and his expression was calm and indifferent, so that it seemed as if there was nothing unusual.

Why should he restrain himself?

Li Zhongqian could only think of one possibility - because the Buddhist knew that he had thoughts that he shouldn't have.

He originally wanted to take Yaoying away directly, but her not coming home all night last night made him realize that he had to come and see Fozi.

After Li Zhongqian sat down, Tanmarajiva signaled the guards to leave.

When there were only two people left in the hall, Li Zhongqian got straight to the point: "I have something I don't understand. Please help me solve it. If I have offended you, please forgive me."

Tanmo Luojia said: "Duke Wei, please feel free to ask."

Li Zhongqian looked into his eyes and asked word by word, "Master, are you in love with my sister?"

A gust of wind blew into the inner hall, and the pearl curtain swayed gently, reflecting rays of precious light.

Tanmarajiva met Li Zhongqian's scrutinizing gaze, looked calm, and nodded.

"yes."

The seven emotions and six desires are normal.

His lust for Li Yaoying was not just for her company. He wanted her to stay by his side forever, with only him in her eyes and heart. He wanted to be close to her, touch her, and make her laugh.

Li Zhongqian's pupils shrank.

The author has something to say: "…end war with war…" The whole sentence is quoted from "Sima Fa".

The description of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, “…the sentient beings in that country…”, is based on the Amitabha Sutra.