Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight - Chapter 152.2
Yaoying smiled sweetly and asked, “General Su, you’ve served as an envoy to Gaochang before, so you must be familiar with the different markets here. Tomorrow, I plan to take Old Qi and the others to sell the goods we brought. Do you know which market has the most fair-minded merchants?”
Sultan Gu did not hesitate. He replied coolly, “Gaochang has only one market where Hu merchants gather. Tomorrow, Yuanjue will act as your guide, Princess.”
Yaoying nodded, her gaze lingering on the terrifying mask covering his face.
Judging by his reaction, it seemed he truly had been to Gaochang…
Sultan Gu closed the window again.
Yaoying’s lips twitched slightly.
At that moment, soft rustling sounds came from the front door. Xie Qing pushed the door open and entered, her expression tense. Seeing Yaoying standing by the window, she frowned. They had been travelling non-stop for days, and Yaoying hadn’t let her stand watch tonight for fear she’d wear herself out. Xie Qing had been resting in the adjacent room but, hearing voices from this side, had come quietly to check on her.
“A’Qing, I’m fine. I just got up for some water.”
Yaoying waved Xie Qing off with a yawn and lay back down to sleep.
That night, she didn’t have any more nightmares, even though she knew Haidu Aling might be nearby.
The next morning, Yaoying rose early and, accompanied by her personal guards and Yuanjue, went out to stroll through the busiest market in Gaochang.
The young prince Jin Bo was still asleep. Yuanjue left a few men behind to keep an eye on him and investigate his purpose in Gaochang, while the others dispersed to different areas to collect information.
As Yaoying passed by Sultan Gu’s room, she paused and listened closely for a moment. Not a single sound came from within. She thought to herself: his face is covered in scars, so he has to wear a mask to hide them, he’s far too conspicuous to move about in the day. Besides, who knows how long he stood watch last night, so he must be resting now.
She instructed the guards remaining at the posthouse not to disturb Sultan Gu. They all agreed.
Yuanjue’s eyes flickered subtly when he heard Yaoying’s orders.
Yaoying gave him a brief glance and he immediately looked away, pretending nothing had happened.
The group exited the inn through the side door. Qi Nian and the others followed at a distance, pulling the heavy cart.
Gaochang’s only market was a long street barely wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side. Compared to the royal court’s markets, it was much smaller, but it bustled with life. The shops crowded close together, throngs of people, hawkers shouting in a cacophony of languages that filled the air.
Along the way, Yuanjue enthusiastically pointed out each shop’s wares to Yaoying. She listened attentively, occasionally pointing at rare or unfamiliar items to ask questions, and Yuanjue patiently explained them.
By the roadside stood a small stall selling hubing. They stopped to wait for the next batch to come fresh from the oven.
Suddenly, Yaoying asked casually, “Is the Regent also, like you, a lay disciple?”
Yuanjue was momentarily stunned.
Yaoying kept smiling as she looked at him. “The Regent never eats with others. You always bring his food to him. It looks to me like he’s keeping a vegetarian fast.”
She had been observing this for many days.
Yuanjue’s expression stiffened. He gathered himself and smiled, replying, “All the close guards at the King’s side are either warrior monks or lay disciples. The same is true for the Regent.”
Yaoying pressed further, “So is the Regent a warrior monk or a lay disciple?”
Yuanjue answered, “A lay disciple.”
Yaoying continued without pause, “The Regent’s martial arts are formidable. Who did he learn them from? General Ashina said they were fellow disciples, but their fighting styles look nothing alike. Are they not trained in the same discipline? When did the Regent begin his martial arts training?”
A thin sheen of sweat appeared on Yuanjue’s forehead. He replied, “The Regent’s master is a highly skilled expert. I heard he once served as commander of the palace guards. None of us have ever seen him. Though General Ashina and the Regent are technically fellow disciples, they trained in different techniques, so their styles are different. General Ashina learned martial arts from a young age, and so did the Regent…”
Just then, the hubing came out of the oven, filling the air with the rich aroma of sesame. The deep-set, high-nosed bread seller shouted loudly to attract customers.
Yuanjue, abandoned his explanations to answer Yaoying’s questions and hurried forward with the others to snatch up the hot bread as if he feared missing out.
Yaoying stood watching his retreating figure, her mind quietly turning over thoughts.
Qi Nian drove the cart to the market office first to pay the required taxes, then went into the market to trade with the merchants.
Yaoying didn’t bother with the business of selling goods. Instead, she and her guards wandered through the market, deliberately lingering in front of shops selling silks, jewellery, and precious stones. She took the opportunity to ask discreetly about the current trends among Gaochang’s noblewomen, the latest palace fashions, and whether Yuchi Damo and the Turkic princess were living harmoniously.
Before sunset, she and Yuanjue returned to the inn ahead of the others.
The guards informed her that although Prince Jin Bo was arrogant and unruly, he had not made a grand entrance at the palace. Like them, he was keeping his identity hidden and had not gone out all day, merely summoning some singing and dancing Hu girls to drink and make merry.
“That’s strange,” Yaoying murmured. “He’s used to a life of luxury. Why not stay at the palace?”
Gaochang was currently a vassal of Northern Rong. If Jin Bo revealed his identity, even Yuchi Damo would have to treat him with deference. Besides, he was cousins with the Turkic princess residing in the palace.
Yuanjue whispered, “The young prince must have some secret motive!”
Yaoying’s heart stirred at the thought. She went to knock on Sultan Gu’s door.
“General Su, it’s me.”
Footsteps sounded quickly within. Sultan Gu pulled open the door. His eyes landed on Yaoying’s face, and he froze for a moment.
Yaoying stood before him dressed in a Hu girl’s attire: a pale-green top, pomegranate-red skirt, her braided hair decked with pearls and jade, hanging over her shoulders. In her hand, she held a mask, covering her small face.
The mask depicted the kindly face of an old man, one half green, the other red, like two different faces fused together.
Sultan Gu remained speechless for a long time.
Yaoying removed the mask, her cheeks dimpling with a smile. She ducked playfully under his arm and into the room, lowering her voice to ask, “General Su, could you pass a message to Tanmoroga for me?”
Sultan Gu did not drive her out. He asked coolly, “What message?”
Yaoying’s voice dropped to a near whisper. “Jin Bo has come to Gaochang. Haidu Aling is here too. I fear Northern Rong is about to fall into chaos. They’re both here for the same reason we are. For Yuchi Damo.”
Sultan Gu’s body shifted slightly. After a moment, he said, “We’ll meet Yuchi Damo tonight at the palace temple.”
Yaoying nodded, lifting her eyes to gaze at the mask covering his face.
Such quick thinking, such decisive action… Why had he vanished without a trace after Tumoroga’s death?