Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight

Chapter 164 - Recruitment

In the North Road of the Western Regions, when merchants encounter bandits blocking their way, they only need to take out the Buddha's flag and they can proceed unhindered. Therefore, he is deeply respected by people from all over the world and is a god in the hearts of the people. He was born into a noble family, with a face as pure as the full moon, eyes like lotus flowers, and a unique and elegance appearance that was unparalleled in the world. It was not uncommon for a women to admire him.

Several months later, the royal court suddenly issued an edict, officially informing the various city-states in the north and south of Congling that Princess Wenzhao moved into the royal court Buddhist temple and practice Buddhism for the king.

When this news reached Gaochang, it caused an uproar. Over the years, countless men and women had held strong admiration for the Buddha's son. Some city-state princesses had offered themselves in marriage, hoping to gain his favor, but the Buddha's son had always remained indifferent, detached from worldly desires. However, this time, the venerable Buddha disciple had made an exception for a Han princess!

By allowing Princess Wen Zhao to stay in the Buddhist temple, wasn't he telling the world that Princess Wen Zhao was under his protection?

This unexpected development sparked rampant speculation and discussion by everyone, and everyone was talking about this matter in all directions.

At this time, merchants from the Royal Court happened to come to Gaochang to buy wine, and the locals asked them about it one after another.

The merchants said: "Princess Wenzhao has indeed lived in the Buddhist temple. I heard that she can listen to Buddha's sermons and have meals with him every day."

　　Everyone was stunned.

A wine merchant interrupted with a smile: "Not only can the princess see the Buddha every day, the Buddha also preaches Buddhism to her alone! The Buddhist temple also specially asked the caravan for a cart of grain from the Central Plains, which must have been prepared for the princess! "

The crowd was itching with curiosity and continued to inquire.

The merchant continued: "My aunt often goes to the Royal Temple to listen to the Buddha's preaching. She heard the monks in the Royal Temple say that the princess can enter and leave the Buddha's meditation chamber. If the princess does not understand Sanskrit, the Buddha will teach it to the princess himself."

Everyone looked at each other and the shock and excitement is visible in each other's eyes.

Seeing everyone's enthusiasm, someone else interrupted: "Yes! The Buddha and the princess share a desk every day and read a book of scriptures together! The little novice saw it with his own eyes!"

Another merchant, with a sly grin, told everyone who was eager to inquire about the news: "I have met Princess Wenzhao. The princess likes glassware and moon beads. My servant have dealt with the princess's attendants. All the items used by the princess were bought from me! The princess boasted my gemstones as the most beautiful and rarest in the royal court!"

"I also sell the makeup powder, gold foil and rosette eyebrows used by the princess. The princess looks like a goddess and knows how to dress up. All the ladies in the royal court imitate her fashionable makeup."

"Whatever Princess Wenzhao wears and what hairstyle she wears, within five days, everyone from the royal court to the prime minister's wife and the courtesan will follow suit."

Everyone was originally hesitant, but after hearing the Hu merchants swear one by one and speaking persuasively, the doubts faded away and were replaced by vigorous curiosity.

Nowadays, when the women of Gaochang talk about it over tea and after dinner, they are no longer mocking Princess Wenzhao for her wishful thinking as they did before, but they are curious about how Princess Wenzhao is so magnificent that she can make the impassive Buddha make such exception for her.

Especially when the news that "Prince Haidu Aling of Northern Rong announced in public that Princess Wen Zhao would be his woman sooner or later" spread throughout the Western Regions, the people of Gaochang became even more excited when talking about this topic.

It turns out that the Buddha's message to all countries was a warning to the Northern Rong prince.

The pure and aloof Buddha from the noble royal court, and the iron-fisted conqueror from the northern barbarians - who would Princess Wenzhao end up with?

When her year of practice is complete, will the Buddha's son truly marry her?

While the people were happily discussing the love affair between Princess Wenzhao and the Buddha's son, Yang Qian and other people from Hexi were also filled with excitement. After all, Princess Wenzhao was from the Central Plains.

Yang Qian urgently wants to know what is happening in the Central Plains now. Is the Central Plains unified? Does the emperor plan to send troops to regain Hexi, Gaochang, and Yizhou?

He sent a servant to follow the merchants to the Holy City to gather information about Princess Wenzhao's origins. Half a month later, the servant returned with disappointing news: Princess Wenzhao had been abducted to the Western Regions by Prince Aling, with the dynasty still unable to reclaim Hexi and Longzhou.

Yang Qian was disappointed, but he still sold his property and saved some money, and planned to go to the royal court to meet Princess Wenzhao. In any case, she was the princess of the Central Plains, living outside the territory, with no one to rely on. As a descendant of the Yang family in Hexi, he should share the worries of the princess, see if he can help, and in the process gather information about the Central Plains from the princess.

Unexpectedly, Princess Wen Zhao came to Gaochang by herself before he set off.

Yang Qian was startled and anxious: Haidu Aling is still obsessed with the princess. In the royal court where the Buddha is sitting, the princess is safe but Gaochang surrendered to Northern Rong. If Princess Yina reports to Haidu Aling, the princess will be in danger!

He felt that the princess was really reckless, and he wanted to scare and warn her so that she could see the seriousness of the situation.

But he never expected that they had just left the market and someone was already eager to send an informant letter.

Yang Qian tightly clenched the parchment in his hand, the veins on the back of his hand pulsating with tension.

Yao Ying smiled lightly, her face showing no anger after being betrayed, and said: "This is Gaochang, not the Central Plains."

Yang Qian furrowed his brows.