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"The past is like smoke, let's not talk about it."

The Pope gently shook his head, interrupting Yi Junze's question, clearly not wanting to discuss past personal matters further, and steered the conversation back on track: "I have taken the liberty of requesting an audience with Your Highness today because of the current situation of the Ancient Church and the promise I made to His Majesty years ago, which compels me to come."

"Oh?"

Yi Junze's expression turned serious: "Your Excellency, please speak."

The Pope's gaze swept over the two rows of disciples standing solemnly in the hall, and he slowly said, "Your Highness must have seen that among my disciples are people from various ethnic groups in the Western Regions, as well as people from the Central Plains. The rise of this ancient religion originated from fragments of ancient wisdom from Persia, India, and even further west. During my travels in the Western Regions, I had the opportunity to organize and compile these fragments, incorporating some of the profound principles of Taoism and Buddhism from China, thus forming our own lineage. The doctrine aims to explore the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, harmonize body and mind, and alleviate suffering; it has no intention of seeking supremacy or interfering in worldly affairs."

He paused, then continued, "The purpose of establishing this religion, recruiting disciples, and imparting knowledge and cultivation methods is twofold: first, to inherit ancient wisdom, and second, to... fulfill the promise made to His Majesty Emperor Hua."

"An agreement?" Yi Junze's gaze sharpened slightly.

"Yes."

The Pope nodded, his gaze distant: "His Majesty once said that after the world is at peace, to usher in an era of lasting peace, it is not enough for martial prowess to be strong; it is also necessary for culture and education to flourish and for wisdom to be passed down. However, the traditions of the Central Plains are already firmly established, and the transition between the old and the new is bound to be turbulent. His Majesty knew that I was devoted to the transmission of knowledge and disliked court intrigues, so he made an agreement with me: if I wish to leave the Central Plains and establish a lineage in the Western Regions or even further west, embracing both East and West, educating the people and guiding them toward goodness, His Majesty promised that as long as the ancient religion does not engage in rebellion, violate the law, or leak secrets, the Empire will not interfere, and may even... provide some protection, allowing me to find a place to settle down and spread my ideas on this new land of the Empire."

Yi Junze understood perfectly; this was very much in line with his father's style of doing things. For those special talents who were capable and had ideals, but were not necessarily suitable to remain in the core system of the empire, they were often "placed" and "utilized" in this way. This way, they could both fulfill their obligations and guide their power to the periphery of the empire's expansion, allowing them to play a unique role, while keeping them within a controllable range.

"So, the Ancient Cult wants to establish itself in Suyab?"

Yi Junze asked.

"Yes, not all."

The Pope sighed softly: "Suyab is a newly emerging central hub in the western border of the Empire, a place where East and West converge, indeed a good place to spread our ideas and accept disciples. However, the tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. The ancient religion's practice of embracing both East and West, especially its acceptance of disciples from the Central Plains, has aroused suspicion and hostility from certain old forces in the Western Regions, as well as... certain religious extremist factions in the West. Recently, disciples traveling outside the church have been repeatedly harassed, and some young disciples have even mysteriously disappeared. Although I have tried my best to restrain my disciples and live a secluded life of cultivation, I fear this is not a long-term solution."

She looked at Yi Junze, her gaze clear and frank: "I have come here for two reasons. First, to inform Your Highness of the origins and stance of the Ancient Sect, to reiterate the agreement I made with His Majesty, and to state that the Ancient Sect has no intention of being an enemy of the Empire and is willing to abide by the Imperial Law and accept the supervision of the government. Second... I earnestly request Your Highness, in consideration of our past friendship and agreement, to grant the Ancient Sect some protection, at least... to ensure the safety of the Ancient Sect in Suyab City, and to allow me to continue to fulfill my agreement with His Majesty here, to teach my disciples, and to pass on wisdom."

Her request was reasonable and humble; she did not ask for special privileges, but only for basic survival and the environment to fulfill the agreement.

Yi Junze remained silent for a moment. The existence of the ancient religion had its value—it could integrate East and West, and civilize those on the fringes, perhaps serving as a gentle supplement to the empire's governance of the Western Regions. The connection between this pope and his father also meant that this matter needed to be handled with caution. However, on the other hand, any organization in the Western Regions must be strictly under the empire's control.

"I understand the Emperor's meaning."

Yi Junze slowly spoke: "Since the Pope has a prior agreement with the Emperor, and his principles do not contradict the Empire, I should act impartially. Suyab City is Imperial territory, and all those who abide by the law and behave themselves are protected by the Empire. The Ancient Church may continue to exist in the Vermilion Bird District of the city, recruit disciples, and spread its doctrines, but it must register with the Anxi Protectorate and the Xuanwei Envoy's branch office. The list of disciples, major activities, and financial income and expenditure must be reported regularly and subject to periodic audits. The doctrines and scriptures must be reviewed by the government and must not contain content that incites resistance against the Empire, undermines the defense between Chinese and barbarians, or contradicts the Empire's established policies."

As he spoke, his tone turned slightly cold: "As for protection... Imperial law is the greatest protection. If any foreign forces or local villains dare to infringe upon a registered legal sect under the Empire's rule without cause, the government and the garrison will handle it. However, if the ancient sect itself behaves improperly, or its disciples are involved in illegal activities... the Empire will never show favoritism because of the old treaty."

This is a combination of kindness and severity, and also a way of drawing clear lines.

Upon hearing this, the Pope was not disappointed; instead, a look of relief and gratitude appeared in her eyes. What she sought was not a privilege, but simply a relatively fair and safe living space, and a clear non-hostile attitude from the imperial authorities.

"Your Highness is wise. The entire Ancient Religion will strictly abide by the laws of the Empire, fulfill our duties, report regularly, and accept inspections. We would never dare to cause trouble for the Empire, nor would we dare to break our promise to His Majesty."

The Pope rose again and bowed respectfully.

Yi Junze nodded slightly, which was considered as approval.

With the main objective of the meeting achieved, the atmosphere eased slightly.

Looking at the Pope's exquisitely beautiful yet calm face, Yi Junze suddenly asked, "Your cultivation is profound, and you possess the art of preserving your youth. May I ask... how old are you now?"

This question was a bit abrupt, but he was genuinely curious and wanted to indirectly confirm some of his guesses.

The Pope paused slightly, seemingly surprised that the Crown Prince would ask such a question. A faint ripple crossed her beautiful eyes before she regained her composure, and a slight smile appeared on her lips: "In the mountains, there is no calendar, and the passing of winter is unknown. Those who cultivate themselves do not count the years. If we speak of worldly age... this humble nun is probably a few years older than Your Highness's mother."

She didn't give a specific number, but the answer was enough.

Yi Junze understood and asked no further questions.

"If there is nothing else, the Sect Master may take his disciples back. The relevant filing matters will be handled by someone from your sect."

"Thank you, Your Highness. This humble nun takes her leave."

Shi Feixuan covered her face with her veil again, bowed once more, and then quietly withdrew from the side hall with two rows of disciples.

The hall returned to silence.

Yi Junze sat alone for a while, his fingers unconsciously tapping the back of the chair.

...My father's confidante back then?

Only a handful of people possess such beauty and cultivation. Is it Shi Feixuan, the successor of Cihang Jingzhai, or Li Xiuning, the third daughter of the Li family, or that one from the Song family...? However, she calls herself a poor nun, so she should be from a Buddhist family.

Was her decision to establish an ancient religion in the Western Regions truly to fulfill a promise, or... was there a deeper scheme behind it?
Thinking about it, Yi Junze chuckled and shook his head.

As long as it doesn't infringe upon the empire's core interests or violate the law, its existence is permissible. It might even serve as a window for observing the Western Regions and even further west.

"Master Bai,"

Yi Junze suddenly spoke up, "Have someone investigate the specific origins of those Central Plains disciples of the Ancient Sect. Also, what exactly happened to Cihang Jingzhai back then...?"

"Yes."

Bai Qing'er responded softly from the shadows, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes. She naturally recognized Shi Feixuan, but she hadn't expected the Crown Prince to guess it before she could even report it.

...............

After seeing off the group from the Ancient Sect, Yi Junze strolled back to the inner courtyard study that Xue Rengui had prepared for him.

This place is more private and elegant than the main hall and side hall. Outside the window, a small, meticulously tended courtyard can be seen, planted with several bamboo stalks and clumps of hardy autumn chrysanthemums, exuding tranquility in the afternoon sun. These plants represent a considerable effort by Xue Rengui to establish themselves in this Western Region. If converted to gold, they would be worth at least tens of thousands—enough to support hundreds of ordinary families.

Of course, for Xue Rengui at this point, this is just a salary for one or two years.

Bai Qing'er silently followed her in, closed the door behind her, and turned to look at Yi Junze, who was leaning against the soft couch by the window, gazing absently at the bamboo shadows outside.

"Your Highness seems quite interested in that ancient cult's pope?"

Bai Qing'er spoke, her voice still cool and aloof, but lacking the absolute respect she displayed in formal settings, and instead carrying a hint of the gentle concern befitting an elder.

Yi Junze withdrew his gaze and looked at Bai Qing'er. The dignified composure on his face had faded considerably, revealing a hint of laziness and casualness. He rubbed his temples and sighed, "How could I not care? Suddenly, someone appears who might have a past connection with the Emperor, whose cultivation is unfathomable, and who has even started this sect in the Western Regions. Moreover... Aunt, you recognized her long ago, didn't you? She's Shi Feixuan from Cihang Jingzhai, isn't she? Just as Aunt Wan said, she's as beautiful as a celestial being, and her temperament is otherworldly."

Bai Qing'er nodded slightly: "It's her. Although her temperament has changed a lot, she is more ethereal and otherworldly, but she has lost that obsession from back then. Back then, she and His Majesty did have some connection. After His Majesty established his rule, Cihang Jingzhai was disbanded, and she disappeared without a trace. I didn't expect her to come to the Western Regions and become the head of some 'ancient religion'."

Yi Junze smiled: "No wonder her calligraphy is so good. As a descendant of Cihang Jingzhai, she must have been a master of the arts. But... did she really establish the ancient sect and recruit so many disciples just to fulfill that vague 'promise' with my father? To enlighten the people?"

"At least on the surface, the ancient religion's doctrines are peaceful, and in recent years it has indeed taken in scattered children, treated the sick and provided medicine, and has some reputation among the lower classes in the Western Regions. It has never had any conflict with the empire or local forces."

Bai Qing'er objectively analyzed: "As for the deeper purpose... perhaps there is a genuine desire to pass on knowledge, or perhaps, it is to find a place to survive in the new era. As long as it does not cross the line, it may not be a bad thing for the empire."

Yi Junze nodded, no longer dwelling on the matter. With Bai Qing'er and the Imperial City Guard keeping an eye on her, he figured she couldn't cause any real trouble. He changed the subject, his tone slightly joking: "Speaking of which, Aunt, back then, didn't you and Aunt Wan also... not get along well with this Fairy Master?"

Bai Qing'er's usually cold face revealed a rare hint of helplessness: "The Yin Gui Sect and Cihang Jingzhai have different paths and cannot work together, so conflict is inevitable. These are all old stories. Now that she has gone to the Western Regions and we are following His Majesty, we each have our own place to go, so there is no need to bring up the past again."

Yi Junze wisely stopped asking questions, instead stretching and loosening his stiff neck. He then sank more relaxed into the soft couch, staring at the ceiling, and suddenly asked, "Master Aunt, it's been two years and nine months since we came out, hasn't it?"

A hint of understanding flashed in Bai Qing'er's eyes as she calmly replied, "Yes, it has been two years, nine months, and thirteen days since I left the capital after the Heaven-worshiping ceremony on the fifth day of the fifth month of the twenty-fourth year of the Dingding era. Your Highness's three-year training period is about to end."

"Almost full..."

Yi Junze drawled out his words, his tone devoid of expectation, but rather carrying a faint sense of melancholy: "Time flies. Mulu City, Qiyade, Suyab City... In the blink of an eye, almost three years have passed."

He sat up and looked at Bai Qing'er, his deep, dignified eyes revealing a youthful innocence and... a hint of dependence and coquetry: "Master Aunt, do you think... we could go back a little later? Or, could we visit a few more places? I've heard there's a great city in the far west called 'Constantinople,' with magnificent architecture, quite different from the Central Plains; to the south, India is said to be a place where Buddhism flourishes and has a unique charm; and beyond Liaodong, I've heard there's a land of ice and snow..."

Bai Qing'er looked at the Crown Prince, who rarely showed such an expression, and her heart softened. She had watched Yi Junze grow up, from an infant in swaddling clothes to a toddler, and now to the powerful and unfathomable Crown Prince of the Empire, who commanded respect throughout the Western Regions. In front of outsiders and even most of his ministers, he was the perfect Crown Prince: calm, wise, decisive, and unfathomable. Only in front of her, the Empress, the Emperor, and a very few of his closest confidants would he occasionally reveal such genuine emotions befitting his age.

Bai Qing'er walked to the small table beside the couch, personally poured a cup of tea at a comfortable temperature, and handed it to Yi Junze. Her voice softened slightly: "Your Highness wishes to travel the world and broaden your horizons, which is certainly a good thing. His Majesty also traveled extensively in the past. However... the three-year period was set by His Majesty, and everyone in the court and the public knows it. If you do not return when the period expires, it may cause controversy. Moreover, His Majesty and the Empress must miss Your Highness very much."

Yi Junze took the tea but didn't drink it; he simply held it, feeling the warmth emanating from the porcelain cup through his fingertips. After a moment of silence, his demeanor changed; the previous melancholy and coquettishness faded, replaced by a complex expression.

“It’s true that I miss him, and it’s also true that I want to go back and ‘take over’. But you know, Aunt, what would I do if I went back? Father Emperor is in his prime, and his cultivation is extraordinary. I think he could live another hundred or two hundred years without any problem, and he might even outlive me. He manages the court like an iron barrel, with the six ministries and nine ministers each fulfilling their duties, the Council of State operating smoothly, the borders stable, and the world at peace… If I go back, I’ll just sit in the Eastern Palace and look at those memorials that have been processed by the subordinates and are now just formalized replies, or listen to those old men repeating the same old things over and over in court discussions, or be dragged by Father Emperor to familiarize myself with those imperial secrets and future plans that I already know by heart.”

He paused, a rare hint of complaint in his voice: "Sometimes I really feel that I'm a bit... superfluous as the Crown Prince. Father has arranged everything; the empire is like an incredibly precise machine, rumbling forward along the track he set. If I go back, my biggest role might be as a 'backup,' or... a symbol?"

Bai Qing'er listened quietly without interrupting. She knew that the Crown Prince's words were not rebellious or dissatisfied, but rather an extremely calm analysis of his own situation, something he would perhaps only say so frankly in front of her.

Yi Junze looked out the window, his gaze seemingly piercing through the walls of Suyab City and reaching towards the distant east. His voice lowered.

“It’s not that I don’t want to take responsibility. It’s just that I feel… the time isn’t right yet. My father’s world is too vast; his chessboard encompasses the entire universe, and his gaze is fixed on the future, hundreds or even thousands of years from now. What I have learned and seen so far, though I have gained some knowledge, is still like a frog at the bottom of a well compared to my father. Rather than going back to Luoyang and being confined, I should travel more and see more in this vast world, experience more of the storms and choices that my father went through, and perhaps… only then can I truly understand how to govern such an unprecedented empire.”

Turning her head to look at Bai Qing'er, her eyes regained their clarity: "Master Aunt, don't you think so?"

Bai Qing'er stared at him for a moment, then suddenly shook her head slightly, a faint, helpless smile appearing on her lips.

"If others heard Your Highness's words, they would probably be astonished. Throughout history, how many emperors have wished they could hold onto power until the very last moment, and how many crown princes have been so eager to scheme and plot, even at the cost of killing their own flesh and blood, just to ascend to the throne as soon as possible. Only Your Majesty and Your Highness... seem to be doing the opposite. One seems ready to relinquish power at any moment, while the other seems to want to steal a few more years of leisure."

Yi Junze laughed too, this time his smile was much more genuine, with a hint of slyness: "So, Aunt, you have to help me. Go back and talk to Father and Mother, ask them to give me a few more years? Just say that the situation in the Western Regions is not stable, the matter of the Ancient Religion needs to be observed, and the movements of the Abbasid Caliphate in the west need to be closely monitored... It's always easy to find a reason."

Seeing his rare, somewhat roguish, pleading expression, Bai Qing'er felt both amused and sighed. She composed herself and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty's intention in sending you on this three-year training journey was to allow you to leave the capital, experience the realities of the land, and hone your character and abilities. Your journey to the Western Regions has already demonstrated your literary and military prowess, as well as your decisiveness, far exceeding expectations. His Majesty and the Empress are only gratified. However, it is not a long-term solution for the Crown Prince to be away from the central government. Although His Majesty is in charge of the court, the Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation and needs to be gradually involved in important matters, cultivating his loyal followers and establishing his authority. This is not comparable to being confined to the Eastern Palace reading memorials."

She spoke earnestly: "Your Highness thinks the imperial machine is so sophisticated that it doesn't need your intervention. Little do you know, the more sophisticated the machine, the more it needs a qualified helmsman to constantly monitor its operation and make timely adjustments in order to ensure its longevity. His Majesty's request for you to return is by no means to make you a mere 'symbol.' It is true that His Majesty is in his prime, but precisely because of this, Your Highness needs to participate deeply as soon as possible, learn how to control this machine, and understand the profound meaning behind each of Father's plans. Only in this way can you smoothly take over in the future, rather than suddenly taking over and being at a loss."

As Yi Junze listened, the playful expression on his face gradually faded, and his eyes became serious. He knew Bai Qing'er was right. Running away wasn't the solution; that position was ultimately his responsibility.

"Furthermore,"

Bai Qing'er softened her tone: "Her Majesty the Empress truly misses His Highness. Every time news of His Highness's safety arrives from the capital, Her Majesty reads it repeatedly. Although His Majesty doesn't say it, he always stands alone at Cheng Guan Terrace for a long time after receiving His Highness's report."

Yi Junze felt a slight tremor in his heart and fell silent. His mother's gentle, smiling face appeared in his mind. His carefree spirit and slight resistance to responsibility, which he had always cherished, became somewhat vulnerable in the face of family affection.

He looked down at the teacup in his hand, the rising steam blurring his features.

After a long while, he let out a long breath, as if he had made a decision.

"Never mind, never mind,"

Yi Junze waved his hand, resuming his usual calm and composed tone: "Master is right, it's time to go back. We've explored enough of Suyab City, met what we needed to meet, and taken care of what we needed to take care of. Once General Xue's affairs are settled, we... will set off back to Luoyang."

A hint of relief flashed in Bai Qing'er's eyes as she bowed and said, "Yes. Your Highness will arrange the return journey. However... if Your Highness truly wishes to see more of the world, there may be opportunities in the future."

Upon hearing this, Yi Junze raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

The autumn sun shines brightly outside the window, casting long, slanted shadows of the bamboo in the courtyard. In the distance, the faint sounds of a bustling market and the tinkling of camel bells drift in. This new land on the western edge of the empire is full of vitality and chaos, and it also carries the ambitions and dreams of countless people.

And he, the crown prince of the empire, after nearly three years of exile and hardship, is finally about to return to the center of power to face the fate and glory that he cannot escape.

For some reason, the thought of leaving this relatively free and vast world and returning to that majestic and meticulously planned imperial city stirred a subtle, almost imperceptible, sense of melancholy within Yi Junze. (End of Chapter)