Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight

Chapter 125: Living Together

The route from the palace to the Buddhist temple had them pass through the busiest street in the city, and the road seemed to flow with an endless stream of people and carriages.

When Yaoying's carriage left the palace surrounded by blue-shirted and white-robed soldiers, even through the thick felt curtain, she could hear the loud chattering like crashing waves on the sides of the road.

She sat cross-legged, and across from her was Banruo's horrified expression.

Before, it was just gossip. Now, she not only blasphemed their god but would also live under the same roof as their god.

This was not what she expected.

Yaoying rested her chin in both hands, still overwhelmed.

When Tumoroga acquiesced in letting her stay in the palace, in her opinion, it was the best shelter she could hope for. Now, when he openly acknowledged her identity, not to mention Banruo and his heartbreak, she was also taken aback by the turn of events.

She had the cheek to approach him, and the people of the Royal Court just thought she was a young girl driven mad with love. Tumoroga allowing her to stay at the Buddhist temple meant something else.

It was good for her, of course, but it certainly tarnished Tumoroga's reputation. After Yuanjue read out the imperial edict yesterday, the ambassadors and princes present at the post office yesterday began to speculate, Banruo was crying, and Bisha, who was always warm and generous, looked gloomy.

Yaoying thought back to the last time she saw Tumoroga. At the puja, he was so pure that it made the world pale in comparison.

Tumoroga was saving her.

Haidu Aling refused to give up, so she was on alert day and night. Through this incident, where Haidu Aling dared to break into the palace at night, she realized that the Royal Court was not safe anymore. Just as she began to worry, Tumoroga came to her aid.

When she first met him, she said before the army that she wanted to follow the example of the Mordenga Maiden. Tumoroga stopped his horse in front of the formation, his blue eyes sweeping her lightly, not expressing his opinion.

Now, he gave his answer.

He said yes.

A few months late, but swift and decisive. Two nights ago, Haidu Aling broke into the palace; yesterday, his edict was declared in public; today, he sent someone to receive her into the Buddhist temple. All of it was completed without delay.

When the carriage arrived at the Buddhist temple, it entered the temple through a hidden side door, and the Central Army soldiers led Yaoying inside.

Her legs were weak, and she had the surreal feeling as if she were freefalling through the clouds.

The Holy City's Buddhist temple was long-established, built against a cliff wall. It was simple and unadorned, solemn and serene, majestic and imposing. Pagodas, Buddhist grottoes1, towering buildings, and temple halls were everywhere. The burning joss sticks were lively, the Sanskrit reciting coming intermittently.

Yaoying followed behind the soldiers, walking through the stone pillars between the corridor. As far as her eyes could see, the corridor walls were painted with stories of Buddhist scriptures, mountains and rivers, and flying frescoes. Gleaming with golden light, rich and colorful, gorgeous and full, with bold and smooth lines, strong and robust characters, and gorgeous and exuberant style.

The courtyard was brightly lit and wide, and the pagoda looked akin to a forest. The further she went in, the cooler and quieter it was, and the more exquisite the fresco carvings on the walls were, with wide expanses of rich gold and green. The ambiance was imposing, vast, and majestic.