The room was bathed in a soft, hazy daylight, and the charcoal furnace crackled and popped.
Sultan Gu had not yet awakened.
Next to the bed lay the demon mask he typically wore.
Yao Ying gently lifted the bedding and knelt beside Sultan Gu, studying his face up close.
The scars are crisscrossed on his skin, like traces of marks left by fire.
Yaoying held her breath nervously and leaned forward.
As long as she raised her hand, she could feel the scars on Sultan Gu's face to determine whether this hideous and terrifying face was real.
She reached out her hand cautiously.
But instead of touching Sultangu's face, she picked up the Persian thin blanket piled haphazardly at the foot of the bed.
She had been making a fuss last night, kicking off the quilt while dispensing the medicine. Sultan Gu pressed the thin blanket on her legs again and again, so that it would not be too heavy to make her uncomfortable and prevent her from catching a cold.
Yaoying smiled, shook off the thin blanket and covered Sultan Gu with gentle movements, for fear of waking him up.
He was on guard almost day and night along the way, and she didn't know how many hours he could sleep every day.
Yaoying stared at Sultan Gu for a while, and then looked away and quietly got out of bed.
She didn't care whether his face was real or fake.
The clothes she had changed out of had been tidied away. On the table sat two bowls of cold vegetarian soup and cakes, the broth congealed, the cakes having soaked all night, swelling and turning snowy white.
Yao Ying, who's padding barefoot on the carpet, hold her shoes and stocking and cautiously made her way to the outer room. She tied up her long hair, put on her socks and shoes, and fastened her leather belt. In the past, she had been pampered, with three or four maids solely responsible for combing her hair. Now, she was able to skillfully put her hair into a bun on her own, in both women's and men's hairstyles.
There was a rustling sound of footsteps outside the house, and someone knocked on the door.
Yaoying opens the door.
The soldier stood outside the door with a respectful expression. His eyes fell on the threshold. When he saw a pair of exquisite deerskin boots that obviously did not look like men's boots, he was stunned for a moment and raised his head.
Yao Ying stood handsomely in front of the door, with her hair tied on top. She was wearing a half-sleeved brocade robe with beaded patterns and a lapel that he found last night. She had fastened a belt around her waist and carried a dagger. Her complexion was pale and her features look beautiful. She smiled at the soldier.
The soldier came back to his senses and whispered: "Is the princess feeling better?"
Yao Ying nodded and said: "General Su is not awake yet, but do you have something important to report to him? If it is not urgent, just wait for half an hour."
The soldier scratched his scalp and said, "It's not an important matter. Last night, the regent ordered Alanruo to get the medicine. The city was under martial law and he couldn't go out. This morning, he attempted to go with the prescription but was turned back by the city patrol. The city is still under strict surveillance."
Yaoying's heart moved as she stepped out of the threshold, closed the door, and asked the soldiers to show her the prescription.
The soldier brought the prescription, and she took it and looked at it carefully. It was written in two versions: one in Hu language, the other is in Sanskrit. She could understand some Hu language, and the herbs listed were precisely what was needed for soothing medicinal effects.
This prescription was meant for her.
Yaoying was lost in thought for a while, then lowered her head to look at the prescription again.
Sultan Gu's handwriting was bold and strict, his strokes were sharp and forceful, penetrating the back of the paper. Mirroring his imposing and powerful nature.
She had seen Tumoroga's handwriting in the Buddhist temple. It was clear, graceful and ethereal, resembling a flying swan or a gliding dragon. Whether in Sanskrit, Hu language, or Chinese characters, it was all graceful, just like the man himself. Seeming to be a banished immortal on the verge of departing with the wind.
Yao Ying shook her head with a smile, dispelling the doubts that had flashed through her mind in her dazed state the previous night. She had many speculations, this particular one being the most far-fetched.
"This prescription is meant for me." Yao Ying handed back the prescription to the soldier. "We still don't know what has happened in the palace. Don't let Alanruo take any risks going out. I'm feeling much better now; I don't need to take the medicine."
The guard quickly glanced at her face and noticed she was still somewhat weak, her voice lacking energy. Yet, her composure remained calm, her eyes bright and clear, showing no signs of sickness. Recalling how she couldn't even walk properly last night, he silently admired her fortitude.
Yao Ying inquired about the situation at the inn. The guard then detailed the events of the previous night, concluding, "Neither Yuanjue nor the people who left the city last night have sent any messages back. However, please rest assured, Princess, Xie Qing and the others have safely left the inn. Alanruo also found out that today's lockdown in the city was ordered by the palace. It has nothing to do with the inn. The people at the city office don't know about the arrival of the northern Rong's little prince in Gaochang. They think the conflict that happened at the inn last night was just an internal brawl over robbing the caravan's goods."
Knowing that Xie Qing and the others had safely left the inn, Yao Ying felt relieved.
Alanruo, upon learning she had woken up, had sent her a large bowl of stewed meat soup.
The simmered meat soup emitted a strong, pungent aroma, and Yao Ying had little appetite. However, after the turmoil of the night before, feeling weak, she needed to replenish her strength. So, she forced herself to take a few sips. However, the stew induced a nauseating feeling.
As she continued to eat, she heard footsteps outside the door. A figure stood against the light, casting a shadow over her and the bowl of soup in front of her.
Yaoying held the silver spoon in her hand, raised her head and looked at the person in front of the door.
Sultan Gu stood in front of the steps, looking down at her. He put on the demon mask on his face again. He stood tall and straight, his leather belt tightly fastened around his waist. The narrow-sleeved robe outlining his lean figure, like a taut bow, exuding strength with every move.
"Because of me, General Su suffered last night..." Yao Ying said, pointing to the large pot of meat soup on the table. "Would you care to join me for breakfast, General?"
Sultan Gu remained silent.
Yao Ying stood up and served him a bowl of soup, accompanied by a few Hu cakes, placing them on the vacant table.
Outside the door, the sound of long boots hitting the ground echoed as the soldier ran from the other end of the long corridor and whispered a few words to Sultan Gu.
Sultan Gu turned and left.
Yao Ying watched his retreating figure and then proceeded to eat her breakfast.
By the time a pot of tea had been consumed, Sultan Gu finished his discussion with the guard and returned to the hall. Yao Ying had already finished her meal and returned to her room. The table was set with soup bowls and plates, covering the dish in the bowls. The guard uncovered the dishes, revealing the hot soup steaming and bread buns baking by the charcoal stove, crunchy outside and soft inside.
"The princess is very thoughtful," the guard said, smiling. Sultan Gu remained silent.
Yaoying returned to the room. The bed was clean and tidy. Alan Ruo must have come in and cleaned it up. She was still a little dizzy, so she lay down to rest for a while and took a nap.
There were a few soft knocks on the door. She rubbed her eyes, stood up and opened the door, and a cold gaze fell on her.
"General Su? Do you have news about Ah Qing and the others?"
Sultangu didn't answer and went straight into the room. Yaoying followed him. He glanced at the couch and Yaoying understood and sat down obediently waiting for him to speak. He also sat down and stretched out his hands without wearing his usual pair of leather gloves.
Yaoying's face looked a little confused. Sultan Gu's eyes fell on her wrist.
Yao Ying was startled, looking down at her wrist, then back at him. After staring at each other wordlessly for a while, she suddenly reacted, rolling up her sleeves and revealing a part of her fair, frosty wrist to Sultan Gu.
Sultan Gu lowered his eyes and felt her pulse. "How many times has the princess delayed taking her medicine?"
Yao Ying hastily replied, "I usually take the medicine once a month, but including this time, I've delayed it three or four times."
That was during their time at the Northern Rong camp. She was afraid that Haidu Aling would discover her weakness and intentionally torment her, so she dared not reveal any clues until he was away from the camp. One time, she had just taken the medicine when Haidu Aling returned. She was very nervous at that time, forcing herself not to show any abnormality, and her clothes were soaked through.
Sultan Gu continued, "Is the dose the same every time, just like last night?"
His questioning tone was icy, imposing a sense of unavoidable scrutiny. Yao Ying had always been afraid of the doctor since she was young, and she obediently replied, "It's almost the same, but it wasn't as uncomfortable as last night."
Sultan Gu remained silent, his fingers resting on Yao Ying's wrist as he lowered his head in thought.
Yaoying couldn't help but ask: "General Su, as long as I take the medicine on time in the past few years, I didn't get sick. What's the reason for my early onset of illness this time?"
Sultan Gu closed his fingers, "The princess was born weak and the fatigue from running around for many days, combined with worry and insufficient vital energy, the illness flared up early."
Yao Ying hummed. She was worried that something might happen to Li Zhongqian because of his impulsiveness. She was anxious to return to the Central Plains to reunite with him, but she didn't want to be a burden to the soldiers. Sometimes she didn't feel well but she didn't take it seriously. She continued to grit her teeth and persevere. This time, it happened early, probably because she had been too tired in recent days.
Sultan go advised her saying: "If the princess feels unwell in the future, she must take medicine immediately and should not delay."
Delaying the medication multiple times could lead to serious symptoms.
Yaoying came back to her senses, nodded, and said apologetically: "I made a note of it. This time I caused trouble for the general."
Sultan Gu looked down at her. She knelt on the couch, bowing her head slightly. Her glossy black hair, fair cheeks, and trembling eyelashes revealed a sense of unease.
Originally, she was a pampered princess who grew up in luxury and elegance, and she shouldn't have been stranded outside her own country.
Sultan Gu stood up, and Yao Ying followed suit to see him off.
Sultan Gu turned and said, "Princess, if you're not feeling well, just tell me the truth. There's no need to hide or endure it, and you shouldn't delay taking the medicine."
Yaoying's heart warmed slightly and she responded: "Thank you, General, for reminding me. I'll remember it."
~~~~~~~~
An hour later, a soldier appeared in front of Yaoying's room with a bowl of steaming medicine.
"Alanruo took advantage of the lax supervision and went out to grab all the medicine. The medicine has just been brewed. Princess, please drink it while it's hot. The Regent said your body hasn't fully recovered, so you need to take this medicine."
Yao Ying was taken aback. She took the medicine and said, "Please tell the Regent that I'm not a hindrance. It's better not to let Alan Ruo take such risks."
They hadn't yet escaped the danger, and she didn't want to cause trouble for Sultan Gu because of herself.
The guard smiled and said, "Princess, you're ill, so don't worry about these matters. Just focus on getting better. Alanruo has been in Gaochang for so many years, and all he did was go out to gather herbs. Nothing will happen to him!"
He paused for a moment, gave it some thought, and glanced at Yao Ying.
"Princess, on the days we left the royal court, General Ashina conveyed the king's orders to us. The king said that during our stay in Gaochang, we must follow the Regent's orders. Also, our mission is to ensure the princess's safety, and we need not concern ourselves with other matters."
Yao Ying was stunned.
The soldier chuckled, a little embarrassed: "The princess is sick because of our negligence in caring for you so Please take good care of yourself, Princess."
Otherwise, how will they explain to the king when they return?
Carrying the hot medicine bowl, Yao Ying lost her thought for a moment then smiled, thanked the soldiers, and went back to the room to drink the medicine.
In the afternoon of that day, the martial law in the city was slightly relaxed. Alanruo went out to gather information, and the soldiers followed Sultan Gu's instructions to go to another meeting place in the city.
Yao Ying asked the guard to go to the market; she had made an agreement with Xie Qing and a few others to send messages to the market if they got separated.
At night, the guard and Alan Ruo returned to the courtyard, one after the other.
The guard didn't return alone; he had met Yuan Jue at the other meeting place, and they both came back together.
Yao Ying immediately went to see Yuan Jue.
Yuanjue was injured and his face was bloodless. He put one arm softly on his waist. He entered the house and bowed to Sultan Gu first. He whispered: "Prince Regent, Lord Yuchi did not break his promise that night. The ambush was not meant for us."
"Those people are Princess Yina's personal soldiers."