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墨書 Inktalez
The palace maids were somewhat puzzled. The usually cleanliness-loving Wencheng Princess had not bathed or changed her clothes tonight and had simply gone to bed. However, they did not see that the princess was quietly lying on the couch, unable to fall asleep.
She instinctively touched the mole on her wrist, a bitter smile appearing on her lips.
She was not Li Wushuang; she was Zhang Suling!
Since arriving at Tuguhun over a year ago, she had been very clear about her role. Now, she could imitate Li Wushuang's demeanor perfectly, and for several months, the Wencheng Princess seen in public was actually her, Zhang Suling, not Li Wushuang!
Like Caesar and the others, she had chosen to dedicate this precious time to Xu Zhen and Li Wushuang. It was only after coming to Tuguhun that they truly understood how difficult life was for Li Wushuang here.
Li Wushuang quietly followed Xu Zhen back to the Post House. The two sat in silence, tears streaming down their faces.
Xu Zhen embraced Li Wushuang, whispering softly in her ear. Her fuller body trembled gently as the cold wind howled outside, yet the room was already filled with the scent of spring.
That night was filled with warmth from their long-awaited reunion and the sorrow of being worlds apart. The emotional turmoil within them was ultimately released through intimate moments akin to fierce storms.
Li Wushuang was not a selfish person; she never thought of monopolizing Xu Zhen. She understood that her identity was different and felt content just to have such a beautiful night and the gift from Xu Zhen over a year ago.
Thus, by the next night, Caesar and Zhang Suling entered the Post House.
A brief separation felt sweeter than a new marriage; the experience of being embraced from both sides was something too intimate to share with outsiders.
On the third day, Great Lord Galdonzan personally visited the Post House, taking Xu Zhen to admire the grandeur of Lhasa and experience the Tubo people's reverence for the Tang Envoy.
Xu Zhen's deeds in India had already transformed into almost mythical tales through word of mouth. Riding on the Golden Armored White Elephant King, wherever he went, there were cheers lining the streets.
Galdonzan had deep ties with the Tang Dynasty and was among the nine ministers known for his wisdom and popularity among the people. He sensed the severe situation within his country and hoped to gain support from the Tang Empire. He had also made preparations by sending his son Gerlqinlin to Nepal for covert operations.
Some matters could not be explicitly stated, but Xu Zhen was no fool; she just did not understand why Galdonzan—known to the Tang people as Lu Dongzan—would set aside past grievances to befriend him.
It wasn't until he arrived at Lu Dongzan's residence and met Lu Dongzan's newly adopted son that he finally understood.
The newborn was not yet six months old, staring with big eyes, observing this unfamiliar world. When Xu Zhen saw the baby's gaze, her heart tightened, and then began to race. She held the baby in her arms, feeling the rapid heartbeat, and gently kissed the baby's forehead.
"Thank you."
Xu Zhen spoke to Lu Dongzan in Tibetan. He merely smiled slightly. He had a timely understanding of the situation in the Tang Dynasty and knew that Xu Zhen was acting on behalf of a secret edict from a trusted minister. Receiving a thank you from Xu Zhen gave him enough confidence regarding the upcoming situation for Tuguhun.
Lu Dongzan set up a banquet and invited Xu Zhen, Caesar, and others. It was not until sunset that he escorted everyone back to the Post House. Afterward, he gathered his close confidants to discuss important matters overnight.
The timing of Xu Zhen's arrival was crucial; this Tang envoy held the power to change the dynamics of Tuguhun. However, few could see this point clearly. After all, not everyone was like Lu Dongzan, who had planted spies in Tang to gather timely intelligence about its situation.
Individuals like Anqiao did not pay enough attention to the situation in Tang but began to focus on Xu Zhen because he had already regarded her as an enemy.
If it weren't for Xu Zhen, he would not have suffered defeat in the Battle of Songzhou and would not have become a laughingstock. If it weren't for Xu Zhen, Li Wushuang would not have risked offending the Qiang Bang Se tribe just to drive Anqiao out of the palace without mercy.
All of this was simply due to Xu Zhen's appearance. Therefore, he needed to closely monitor every move she made in Tuguhun. If necessary, he would spare no effort to ensure that Xu Zhen remained in Tuguhun permanently.
His father, Qiang Bang Se, was one of the Nine Ministers of State and held great favor with Zanpu; otherwise, Anqiao would not have been chosen as one of Zanpu's incarnations.
However, he also understood that Great Minister was not his father's ultimate goal. Thus, when Qizong Nongsan had already begun to lie bedridden, his father returned to his fiefdom among Tibetan Nobility.
Now Tuguhun's forces were stirring restlessly. To this day, perhaps only Luo Dongzan and Kang Zhuo of the Sahak Tribe remained loyal to the king.
Both were motivated by their clan's honor, bestowed by Qizong Nongsan. The Sahak Tribe's strength was not formidable; although Lu Dongzan had some connections, his son, Tuguhun's fierce general Gerlqinlin, was not in the country. According to intelligence reports, he should be escorting a high monk back to India.
In such circumstances, Anqiao and his father Qiang Bang Se increasingly felt that great opportunities lay ahead. Therefore, while keeping an eye on Xu Zhen, they also began intensive preparations.
Xu Zhen could not afford to be careless. Since Lu Dongzan had helped her significantly and concealed this matter, she needed to show sufficient sincerity. Moreover, she understood that in the near future, Tuguhun would engage in several major battles with Tang. Establishing good relations with Lu Dongzan now would undoubtedly be beneficial in the long run.
Thus, after attending a banquet hosted by Sangbuzha and Kang Zhuo of the Sahak Tribe, Xu Zhen ordered Zhou Cang to return quietly to Tang alone.
At this time in Tuguhun, Buddhism was flourishing while the indigenous Bon Religion coexisted harmoniously with it. There were also Zoroastrian Apostles present in Tuguhun. Consequently, for several consecutive days, Xu Zhen was invited to various temples for rituals and blessings where she lit the Holy Fire.
Anqiao no longer harassed Li Wushuang, but instead turned to trouble Xu Zhen.
One day, Xu Zhen was out exploring the market with Li Mingda, accompanied by an interpreter and guide sent by Kang Zhuo, as well as several maidservants.
Suddenly, someone recognized Xu Zhen and performed a Zoroastrian ritual, politely inviting her to visit their temple.
Xu Zhen was somewhat accustomed to this; after all, she was Yarbo and it would be impolite to refuse. Thus, she had no choice but to head to the temple with her entourage.
The temple was quite large and did not pale in comparison to a magnificent Buddhist Temple located to the left!
Inside the temple, Xu Zhen sang from the scriptures and lit the Holy Fire. Just as she was about to leave, the Temple Master warmly insisted that she stay. Being a guest in a foreign place, Xu Zhen felt it inappropriate to refuse and sat down for a feast.
Halfway through the banquet, a faint burnt smell suddenly filled the air, followed by thick black smoke wafting from the back hall. When everyone stepped outside to check, they were shocked to find that the entire back hall was on fire!
The temple contained many drapes and similar items that fueled the flames, making it impossible to control the fire. Not only did it ignite the temple, but it also began spreading towards the nearby Buddhist Temple!
Monks and local residents rushed in to extinguish the fire, creating a cacophony of voices as people shouted for help. Being in a bustling area, crowds quickly gathered water to fight the flames.
However, the fire grew increasingly fierce and uncontrollable. Suddenly, chaos erupted among the crowd; people were pushed and trampled in a stampede, turning the scene into utter turmoil!
Xu Zhen tightly protected Li Mingda, while her maidservants turned pale with fear. She witnessed an elderly woman being knocked down and trampled into a pool of blood by the panicking crowd, unable to break free to help!
The monks quickly notified the authorities, who began demolishing surrounding buildings to create a firebreak and prevent further spread. Yet, neither the temple nor the Buddhist Temple could be saved.
Both the crowd and the monks were deeply devout; seeing the Treasure Hall consumed by flames filled them with grief and anger, leading them to direct their ire at the Temple Master of the Zoroastrian Temple!
Just as Xu Zhen intended to plead for this Temple Master, she was taken aback when he shifted blame for starting the fire onto her!
He claimed that Xu Zhen's soul had been tainted by evil spirits, provoking the wrath of Fire God Ahura, which led to the inferno. A few monks even stepped forward, accusing her of igniting the Holy Fire for Zoroastrianism everywhere, misleading and dividing people's faith with ulterior motives!
Although the officials feared Xu Zhen's status, they felt compelled by public pressure to detain her and her companions. If they failed to do so, those with malicious intent in the crowd would incite others to violently attack and potentially kill them!
Xu Zhen glared angrily at the Temple Master, who shamefully lowered his head, unable to meet her gaze.
The officials ultimately escorted Xu Zhen and her companions back to the Yamen, where the Chief Officer took them into the palace. Zanpu personally intervened in this matter, as it involved foreign envoys and was no longer a problem that the ordinary Yamen could resolve.
Xu Zhen was well aware that if there was no one manipulating events behind the scenes, she would never believe it, even if she were killed. After entering the palace, Anqiao's father, Qiang Bang Se, soon arrived.
The appearance of this former Grand Chancellor, who had been living in retirement in his fiefdom, made Xu Zhen suddenly understand that she had been set up by Anqiao and his father!
She never expected these people to be so audacious as to dare to set fire in the royal city, destroying a temple and inciting a large commotion among the crowd, resulting in over sixty casualties due to pushing and trampling!
As Xu Zhen was taken into the palace, Anqiao revealed a triumphant smile. The next steps would be left to his father, Qiang Bang Se!
Meanwhile, upon receiving the news, Lu Dongzan rushed to the palace anxiously. His brows were tightly furrowed as he seemed to sense that a massive storm was about to descend!
Li Wushuang understood what was happening. Such a significant incident was certainly not accidental. The person with a motive to frame Xu Zhen was too obvious. However, this blatant act only highlighted the severe situation behind it.
Although Qizong Nongsan did not pay much attention to her and there had been little interaction between them—most of their exchanges were merely political influence and public relations—she still resolutely stepped out of the Inner Palace for the sake of Xu Zhen and headed towards the Council Chamber.
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