Believing that Mondatipa would not harm her, Yaoying followed the disciple out the door. Just after she descended the stone steps, the courtyard door in front of them was blocked by people.
Some people shouted something in the Hu language, and the monks tried their best to stop them, but those people screamed at the monks and beat the wooden door loudly.
Seeing that the door was about to be broken into, the disciple, with panic on his face, led Yaoying back to the room: The one outside the door is General Xueyana! He is rushing in with his men!"
Yaoying frowned and asked, "Why is General Xue breaking in?"
She had been staying in the side hall of the royal palace these days. Talking to the monks and inquiring about many things about the royal palace, she had heard of Xueyana.
The Royal Court has been ruled by the Tumo family since ancient times, but decades ago, the Tumo family declined and the powerful clans took over the court. When Tumoroga was five years old, the Zhang clan cruelly killed the Tumo clan, wanting to replace them. With the Royal Court people's discontent boiling, the Zhang clan had no choice but to leave a pair of siblings alive, Princess Chima and Tumoroga.
Tumoroga was ascended to the throne at a young age and was imprisoned by the Zhang clan in a Buddhist temple to practice Buddhism. When he was thirteen years old, the Northern Rong invaded. The powerful clans abandoned the city and fled, while he, the puppet emperor, headed the army to push back Wakhan Khan with his identity as Buddha's son. His name resounding through the Western Region, his prestige unprecedented, he seized this opportunity to take back the royal power.
After that, Tumoroga suppressed the powerful clans and collected the royal power, appointing his follower Sultan Gu as the regent as he practiced Buddhism while governing the people, and his reputation rose by leaps and bounds.
However, several major clans of the Royal Court were unresigned to losing their power.
Prime Minister Kang Mozhe, Great General Xueyana, the Right Army's commander Anyula, and Assistant Governer Meng Yunhan, along with their families, were dissatisfied with Tumoroga's good treatment toward other clans and often complained in private.
Tumoroga was Buddha's son, and in this life, would never marry. Only he and Princess Chima were left of the royal bloodline, and the Royal Court had no heir to succeed him. His condition was getting worse these past few years, and although great efforts were made to conceal it, rumors still spread. The powerful clans' minds became increasingly active.
Among them, Xueyana was the most rude and hot-tempered, almost never hiding his disobedient thought. This man enjoyed pleasure, often abusing female slaves, and had clashed several times with Tumoroga over his assault of Han slaves.
It was unclear from where he had heard that Yaoying was living in the palace, but a few days ago he came looking for her, shouting that he wanted to see the immortal beauty.
Fortunately, Yaoying was vigilant. From her view in the attic, when she was trying to cure her boredom, she saw a tall, strong, bear-like man taking a look around. Knowing that his presence boded nothing good, she swiftly called a monk to inform Mondatipa.
Mondatipa arrived in time, persuaded Xueyana to leave, and told all places to strengthen the guard.
Xueyana came several times later, and seeing that the monks had tightened the guard, did not break in.
Today, however, this General Xueyana broke into the inner courtyard with his men and was about to rush in.
The disciple was anxious to the point of sweating: "This little monk doesn't know how he got in!"
With a loud bang, the wooden door was knocked open, and the shouts of the Hu people were getting closer and closer.
The disciple panicked: " The Venerable Master had gone to the hidden medicine room to get medicine. It will take at least half an hour to come over!"
Yaoying made a prompt decision: "Let's go to the attic. There is a very unnoticeable room there. We can hide there for now."
Since the first day she was imprisoned, he had been walking around and familiarizing herself with the layout so that she could take shelter in case of an emergency.
The personal soldiers followed Yaoying, climbed up to the attic, and hid in the secret room, which was originally used as a sentry tower but was later abandoned. The corridor leading to these floors was hidden in a narrow corner, so ordinary people wouldn't even notice unless they looked closely.
Xie Qing guarded the door, listening carefully to the movement downstairs, fingers against the hilt of her knife.
Yaoying touched her hand: "We are now in the royal palace of the Royal Court. Don't hurt anyone until it's absolutely necessary."
Facing Xueyana, they could defend themselves, but Xueyana was an important minister of the Royal Court. Moreover, the Xue family had tens of thousands of calvary in the Left Army. They were foreigners in the Royal Court, they must not provoke trouble.
Xie Qing nodded.
Downstairs was a chaotic clamor of noise. Not long after, came Xueyana's furious roar: "Where is the Han princess?"
No one answered.
The monks stood under the corridor, palms pressed togehter, heads bowed in silent recitation of scriptures.
The Royal Court worshipped Buddhism, and Xueyana would not dare to raise the butcher's knife against the monks even if he had the guts to do so.
Xueyana searched all around the courtyard with his soldiers. When he didn't see Yaoying's figure, he became furious and split open the wooden door with a slash, yelling, "Whoever dared to hide the Han girl, I'll rip his head off!"
Up in the attic, Yaoying was feeling nervous.
They couldn't hide for long, and they didn't know when Mondatipa would come over.
Xueyana paced back and forth with his long sword, his sharp eyes scanning left and right, his line of sight resting on the attic.
The monk disciple couldn't help but shiver a little.
Xueyana grinned nastily and broke into a run to rush up to the second floor.
At this time, the sound of rapid footsteps suddenly sounded from the direction of the courtyard door.
Yuanjue, the Central Army guard who often kept watch with Banruo, walked into the courtyard with quick steps. He coldly swept a glance at the soldiers who were looking around and looked at Xueyana on the stairs.
"General Xue, the king summons you."
Xueyana continued to walk up the stairs.
Yuanjue raised his voice: "General Xue, do you remember how the Regent dealt with your uncle?"
The atmosphere suddenly froze, and the soldiers in the courtyard looked at each other.
Xueyana footsteps abruptly stalled, his dense, furious aura diminishing a bit. Turning around and going down the stairs, his eyes circled around, his gaze falling on Yuanjue.
"The Regent has returned from Gaochang?"
His tone was a bit tentative.
Yuanjue said coldly, "Is the Regent's whereabouts something we can inquire about?"
A fearful look appeared on Xueyana's face. After thinking about it, he indignantly returned his sword into its sheath: "The king, in his capacity as the Buddha's son, actually hid a beautiful Han girl in the royal palace. His heart is not sincere! I'm going to see the king and ask him to make it clear!"
With these words, he left.