The day before the Xingxiang Festival, Ashina Bisha sent Yaoying back the jewels and jade that she had sent to the Hu merchants.
"They killed the slave for no reason, and they are also at fault. The city officials have investigated, but Xie Peng had injured people, so the fine can not be returned."
Yaoying was a little surprised and thanked Bisha.
Bisha shrugged his shoulders and said, "The laws of the Royal Court are not as strict and detailed as those of the Central Plains, and merchants can beat and kill slaves at will. The king has issued several injunctions but still could not stop this evil practice. It was not until the Regent killed a few nobles who killed slaves for fun that they restrained somewhat. This is still the situation in the Royal Court, within the king's jurisdiction. In other city-states, human life is less than a sheep."
Yaoying sighed softly.
In troubled times, whether in the Central Plains or beyond, it was always the same. Human life was like grass.
In the Western Regions, not only the Han Chinese were humiliated. Tribes annexed each other, and many tribes were enslaved and treated like animals by other tribes, living worse than pigs and dogs.
The Central Plains needed a strong and unified empire, and so did the Western Regions.
Bisha clapped his hands and two maids came into the courtyard in response, holding boxes in their hands.
"I was not careful that day, and Princess's clothes were completely soiled. This is what I specially prepare for the princess."
Bisha said with a smile as he pointed to the box.
Yaoying politely declined, "General has run around for me, and I have not yet thanked you. I dare not let General spend money."
Bisha waved his hand and interrupted her, "If you want to thank me, how about accompanying me to the Buddhist temple for the Xingxiang Festival tomorrow, when all the men, women, and children in the city will be dressed up to worship Buddha? You have never looked around the Holy City, right? It's a good opportunity for me to show my hospitality as a host."
Yaoying hesitated for a moment. Ashina Bisha had worked very hard for her these days, going through a lot of trouble. She should thank him, and furthermore, they were going to travel together to Gaochang after the puja, so she nodded and agreed. It was unsuitable for her to go out, but if she had Bisha, a noble of the Royal Court, with her, Xueyana should not dare to come up to provoke her.
A brilliant smile immediately spread across Bisha's face: "I asked the maids to prepare a festival dress for the princess, princess try it on. If it does not fit, have them alter it."
After saying that, he added, "This is the dress made according to the princess' measurements. By all means, do not be polite with me. As the king's guest, Princess is also my guest."
Seeing Yaoying's eyes lowered, seemingly thinking of a reason to refuse, he lightly raised his thick eyebrows and deliberately put on a solemn expression, "Does the princess really want to see me sad and upset?"
Yaoying smiled, thanked him, and gestured for her personal soldiers to take the box. She did not immediately go back to the house to change into the new clothes but asked about another matter.
"The Regent Sultan Gu, whom I saw on the city tower that day, is a close follower of Buddha's son?"
Bisha's eyes flickered slightly. Nodding, he said with a smile, "Did the Regent scare the princess? Princess need not fear him. He rewards and punishes clearly. Moreover, he is very loyal to the king."
Yaoying was indeed frightened by Sultan Gu. These days at night, she always dreamed of him cutting off the head of a bandit with a single slash. That lean and upright back was full of ruthlessness, a cold killing aura, just like a yaksha.
She was roused from her dream and had a question in her mind: after Tumoroga's death, the Royal Court was destroyed. Where did Sultan Gu, who was the Regent, go? He was in charge of the military and political power, so why did he disappear without a sound?
Could it be that he was assassinated by the nobles and the ministers?
Yaoying was puzzled no matter how she thought about it.
Sultan Gu was too mysterious. His whereabouts were secretive and he seldom showed his face. When his ugly and malevolent face appeared in front of the public, it was time for him to go on a killing spree.
She asked probingly, "How old is the Regent?"
Bisha's fingers rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment, and said, "The Regent is a few years older than the king and I. He is our senior brother."
It turned out that Sultan Gu was Tumoroga's senior brother.
Yaoying was looking pensive. When she heard the second half of the sentence, she said in astonishment, "General and Buddha's son were once fellow students? General is also a member of Buddhism?"
Ashina Bisha was a descendent of the Turkic royal family. His name Bisha was taken from the Sogdian language, meaning colorful person. His mother believed in Zoroastrianism. How come he did not believe in Zoroastrianism like his mother?
Bisha smiled and spread his hands towards Yaoying with a carefree attitude: "I don't look like a Buddhist son at all, do I? In fact, I was also sent to study Buddhism when I was a child. This was also the case for all the noble children of the Royal Court. We grew up studying the scriptures with our elders. Only the most intelligent and talented were qualified to continue to follow our master's practice, and the king was the smartest one among us. He had extraordinary talent, and master said that compared to him, we were just a bunch of lambs who merely bleated all day long."
Speaking of this, Bisha laughed lightly.
"The king learned everything quickly. He could speak four languages when we were just starting to learn the Sogdian language. When he and the master discussed Buddhist doctrines, it was like we were listening to another language."
Yaoying remembered the legends she had heard these days, "I heard the little shami say that when the Buddha's son was born, a vision came down from the sky in the Holy City and the whole city saw it."
Bisha was silent for a moment, the corners of his mouth drawn into a smile: "Yes; on that day, clouds filled the entire city's sky. The sky above the royal palace seemed to be cast in a Buddhist aura. There was also a faint chanting of the Buddha scriptures. Master said that it was because the world was in turmoil, so a divine Buddha was reincarnated as a physical mortal, descending to the world to experience calamities, enlighten the people, and universalize all beings."
Yaoying smiled.
Whether Bisha's words were true or not, the people of the Royal Court were certainly believers.
That night, Yaoying changed into the dress that Bisha sent her. The clothes were indeed made to her size and fit her well. She didn't know where Bisha got her measurements from.
In the middle of the night, she was drifting off to sleep when the sound of people moving around came from outside the window. She woke up with a start.
Xie Qing entered the room and whispered, "Princess, it's the commotion over at the main hall. Buddha's son is moving to the Buddhist temple."
Tumoroga usually lived in the Buddhist temple. This time, it was unclear why he had been staying in the royal palace to recuperate. Tomorrow, the puja would be held in the Buddhist temple, so he had to move back.
Yaoying laid down and went back to sleep, thinking: monks always seemed to move in the middle of the night.
The next morning, Bisha, dressed in a brand-new military outfit, with a brocade belt around his waist, cut a dashing figure when he came to the door. Holding a large handful of fresh flowers, he stood in front of the courtyard door, his golden hair shining.
Yaoying changed into the attire of the Royal Court. All her black hair was combed into a braid. Her braided hair was tied with colored ribbons and decorated with various gemstones. She wore a red beaded-lapel brocade robe with a nature pattern, the sleeves of the robe decorated with beads, and gold boots on her feet. Following the trends, a dagger embedded with precious gems hung from her waist. Descending the stone steps, she tilted her face, exposing a faint smile.
It was as if all the bright starlight had fallen from the clouds, all enveloping her body.
Bisha stared dumbstruck at Yaoying, in a daze for half a day. It was not until she walked up to him and waved her hand that he came back to his senses.
"Princess is so beautiful."
He racked his brain but could not think of any words to praise the princess, all of the sudden losing his eloquence.
The corner of Yaoying's lips curled lightly. Covered with a veil to hide her face, she looked at Bisha who was slightly flustered in front of her, suddenly remembering the group of playboy youths in Chang'an who spent their days chasing her on horseback.
The time in Chang'an was like a lifetime ago.