Read Novel Full Chapter 103
Chapter 103
This chapter was sponsored by KaiEn!
Gold and fine jade, rare gemstones, several feet high coral trees, exquisitely made ceramic glazed jars, brilliant and vibrant colors of dazzling jewels that delighted the eyes.
The messily piled-up treasure trunks on the floor reflected a gleam of splendid light, almost blinding Yaoying.
Bisha stood aside and made an inviting gesture: “Feel free to choose, Princess. There are several large carts prepared outside, so as long as the princess likes it, you can take it.”
Yaoying returned to her senses and inwardly thought: Since Tumoroga was so rich, she wouldn’t be polite with him.
She looked around, her eyes falling on a treasure box. Her heart suddenly turned upside down, stunned. Walking over, she picked up the small box, the tip of her nose sore and eyes slightly red.
“This is it.”
Her voice sounded soft and hoarse.
Bisha froze for a moment, wanting to say something, but in the end, he returned to the inner hall to resume orders.
The hall was absolutely silent, the fragrance rising in spirals. Tumoroga was bathed in a cool ray of light, not speaking.
Bisha waited for a while. Seeing him immersed in reading his scriptures, he did not dare to disturb him and retreated.
Banruo was waiting outside the hall, asking with a tensed expression, “How many things did Princess Wenzhao take?”
Bisha looked back at Tumoroga on the jeweled couch. Looking thoughtful, he said carelessly, “Princess Wenzhao only took one thing.”
Banruo was so anxious that smoke was coming out of his head. He questioned loudly, “What did the princess take?”
Bisha turned his head back and said, “A night pearl. The princess seemed to like it very much.”
Banruo stomped his foot, saying, “Why did she take the night pearl?”
Bisha glanced at him, his eyes cold: “What, you think the princess took too much?”
Banruo was so anxious that he beat his chest: “I think the princess took too little! The medicinal herbs alone are more than one night pearl! Why didn’t she take more!”
Bisha grinned, “Taking less, why are you angry? I remember that you dislike Princess Wenzhao very much.”
Banruo glared at him, aggrieved, “General can still laugh? All of Princess Wenzhao’s dowry was sent to the Buddhist temple, and now there are rumors in the city that the princess is so devoted to the king that she gave up all her personal belongings just to follow him! She now has an excuse to continue pestering the king!”
Bisha laughed, “What are you afraid of? No matter how infatuated Princess Wenzhao is, as long as the king is not moved, after a year, Princess Wenzhao will leave. She is a person who keeps her promise and would not obsessively bother the king.”
The Mordenga maiden was willing to practice for one year in order to marry Ananda. Li Yaoying took a vow to follow the example of the Mordenga maiden and would only remain in the Royal Court for a year.
Unless Tumoroga’s heart moved for her.
Banruo’s chin lifted: “Of course the king will not be moved!”
The king was Ananda’s reincarnation, born when the rose-tinted sky of the Holy City was full of clouds, the royal palace immersed in the Buddhist sound. The king was noble and holy, pure and free from desire. How could he be seduced by a Han princess? Even if she was born with a beauty that could cause the downfall of a city…
Bisha looked at him in askance, “Then what are you afraid of?”
Banruo was frozen.
…
Yaoying took the treasure box back to her courtyard. Sitting in the secluded and cool corridor, she stared at the night pearl on the box, lost in thought.
Xie Qing was practicing martial arts in the courtyard. Seeing that her eyes were red, she took a few steps up the stone stairs and frowned: “Princess, who has given you a hard time?”
Yaoying returned to her senses, smiling and wiping the corners of her eyes, “No, I miss my elder brother.”
The night pearl of the Royal Court was rich in color and luster, even bigger than the one Li Zhongqian had given her, but she still liked the one elder brother had given her the most.
That night pearl was now in the hands of someone else.
As usual, Xie Qing comforted Yaoying expressionlessly, “Princess will certainly be able to return to the Central Plains safe and soundly and reunite with Qin wang.”
“Elder brother is not Qin wang anymore; he is the Duke of Wei.”
Elder brother must be very worried about her. She had to go back sooner.
Yaoying exhaled a long breath. Putting away her sorrowful thoughts, she pulled herself together, gathered her personal soldiers, and ordered, “When the puja is over, Xie Peng, Xie Chong, and Ah Qing will follow me to Gaochang.”
The soldiers responded yes. Xie Qing asked, “Will Gaochang’s monarch help the princess?”
Yaoying said, “We won’t know until we go.”
The soldiers were silent.
Yaoying glanced at the dispirited soldiers and raised her voice: “In the Han Dynasty, Ban Chao was sent to the Western Regions, bringing 36 soldiers out of the pass. Without costing the empire a single soldier or servant, he recovered more than 60 countries in the Western Regions.
“The Tang Dynasty’s Wang Xuance went to Tianzhu as an ambassador. The group was captured, but he was fortunately able to escape. Borrowing troops from Tubo, he led an army to attack Tianzhu. Beheading three thousand, he captured the king of the Tianzhu, Arunasva, and his troops alive. His fame spread outside the country, and more than five hundred cities of Tianzhu were surrendered.”
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the faces of every soldier, “Although we are now trapped in the Western Regions, there is not necessarily no possibility of escape; the empire has always hoped to restore communication with the Western Regions, and the Western Regions’ countries are also looking forward to rejoining the East as soon as possible. Going to Gaochang as ambassadors, this is precisely the best time to show your skills!”
Being so far away from the Central Plains, the road ahead was uncertain, the language was incomprehensible, and the soldiers’ morale was low. But after listening to these words, they suddenly felt that they’d been enlightened and their blood was boiling. If they could be like Ban Chao or Wang Xuance and help the empire recover territory from the Western Regions, wouldn’t they be written down in the records and bring their clans glory?
Everyone looked at their princess, and two raging flames gradually rose in their eyes.
Yaoying stood in front of the steps and looked solemn: “The Northern Rong is eyeing the Central Plains. Sooner or later, we and the Northern Rong will meet each other on the battlefield. On this trip to Gaochang, even if we cannot get any help from the monarch of Gaochang, at least we can get more information about the military situation. Know yourself, know your enemy, in order to have a better chance of winning.”
All of them shouted in agreement, rubbing their fists together, eager to leave for Gaochang immediately.
Yaoying smiled as she watched their passion rise.
Half a year of captivity had left her personal soldiers depressed and demoralized. Now, she could see from them some of the valiance and zeal of men carrying Wugou1. Regardless of whether they could accomplish unparalleled feats, they could first use this ambition and drive to regain their confidence to calmly meet with all the dangers.
The more they were in prison, the more they couldn’t lose their fighting spirit.
“The Royal Court has been able to withstand the Northern Rong army many times, so they must have their own strategies to obtain victory. On the way to Gaochang, you should pay attention and observe the Royal Court’s Central Army and learn from their strengths.”
The personal soldiers answered in unison. Watching Yaoying return to her room, they blinked at the mute Xie Qing: “Why didn’t you go with?”
Xie Qing looked bewildered.
Xie Chong gave a cry and said, “The princess misses the Duke of Wei so she is not in a good mood. Go with her and comfort her so that she doesn’t have to be sad and upset. We will definitely escort her back to the empire!”
Xie Qing’s face sank: “Why should I go comfort the princess?”