Translator: DragonRider

  The coachman halted the ox carriage and coughed. The apprentice physician in the cart-box drew a dagger from his waist and stabbed towards the patient on the stretcher. At that moment a big hand flew out from beneath the blanket like lightning and held the wrist of the apprentice in a vice-like grip.

  Youzheng, 14th of the first lunar month, Tianbao Year 3, Tang Dynasty.

  Yining Fang, Chang’an County, Chang’an.

  The confessional was narrow and dark. Even if there was only one person here, he or she would find this place suffocating, not to mention that currently there were two people locked inside.

  Trapped in the dark, Tanqi and Zhang Xiaojing were standing almost face against face, and there was barely any room to move. They could even feel each other breathing. Maintaining this awkward posture, Zhang Xiaojing yelled a couple times but no response came. That Deacon Es just left them like this?

  Even Zhang Xiaojing had never expected that this learned and refined Nestorian monk would turn hostile so quickly, not to mention Tanqi. He counted himself a highly sophisticated man who had dealt with numerous people, and yet, he still failed to notice what kind of man this monk named Es really was. His looks and temperament were so deceptive.

  Zhang Xiaojing hammered the door with his fists several times, but the little door held still. This wooden confessional had looked thin and vulnerable, but it was in fact made of solid and firm cedarwood, which couldn’t be broken with sheer human strength.

  “Lady Tanqi, please pardon me.”


  Zhang Xiaojing raised his upper body and leaned towards Tanqi’s face, trying to make enough room beside his waist to pull out his saber. Tanqi knew what he tried to do, but her heart still fluttered. She had never been so close to a man before. Feeling his heavy breath going straight into her nostrils, she was transfixed with fear.

  Slowly, Zhang Xiaojing managed to unsheathe his saber. He cautiously aimed the tip of the saber at the crack between the door and the frame, pushed it out a little and slid it downwards. The thin blade touched the lock-chain outside, but this room was too narrow and he couldn’t use his strength well, not to mention hacking the door open. The only way was to cut the pivot with the saber tip, but it would be too time-consuming.

  Tanqi felt that this whole thing was very absurd. Kailu Hodo’s whereabouts was unknown, Chang’an was at stake, yet here they were, trapped in this ridiculous place by a ridiculous Nestorian deacon for some ridiculous reason.

  She looked at Zhang Xiaojing, thinking, ‘This guy has to find a way out soon! Just like when we were in Praetorian Guards Department, he always knew what to do despite the circumstances.’ Zhang Xiaojing tried his best to widen his only eye under the faint light, his lips clamping tightly together, like a ferocious beast trapped in a cage. This time, it seemed like he was at his wits’ end.

  Tanqi suddenly became vigilant, ‘Since when did I begin to rely on him?’ This wastrel said that he asked her to come because of her wits. If she wait idly for him to figure things out, wouldn’t she bring shame to her master? With this thought, Tanqi painstakingly turned her neck to see if there was any chance to escape.

  As they moved at the same time, their faces accidentally touched. His coarse face irritated Tanqi’s skins. A pink color spread over Tanqi’s cheeks and neck, but she had couldn’t turn away.

  Right at this moment, footsteps came from outside. They froze at the same time.

  Es’ smug voice was heard. “I suppose the two of you must be cursing me for my mouth of honey and heart of dagger…… Oh, please forgive me. I forgot that the phrase ‘mouth of honey and heart of dagger’ is forbidden. Maybe I should say ‘beguiling with eloquence and charm’. After all, I daresay I am quite charming indeed, hah!”


  They wondered if this guy just came back, or had never left at al. Tanqi had seen a lot of men, but this guy was the only one who like to talk about his own looks.

  “Why did you pretend to be a married couple and intrude our temple?” asked Es in a tone which sounded more excited than angry.

  Tanqi was just about to mock him when Zhang Xiaojing stopped her. He unfastened his waist-seal, knocked on the door with it and said in an urgent voice, “I’m Zhang Xiaojing, a commandant working for Jing’an Department. I’m investigating into a major case concerning the safety of all residents in Chang’an. You must release us immediately. This is my waist-seal issued by Jing’an Department, which you can confirm at any government agency.”


  “Jing’an Department? I’ve never heard of it before. Are lies coming out of your lips like a river?” Es glanced through the small window at the waist-seal. “I’ll pay a visit to the Department of Religions tomorrow. Everything will be clear by then.”


  “We don’t have the time! Let us go right now!” Zhang Xiaojing jerked his back upwards and hit the roof, shaking the whole wooden confessional.

  Es stretched out his slender fingers and shook, clicking his tongue. “I’m a Nestorian deacon who’s responsible for security of this temple. Since evildoers has infiltrated our temple pretending to be good people, I need to find out the truth myself, otherwise I’ll be eating free food as I abandon my duties.”


  He spoke in idioms, which sounded exceptionally annoying to Tanqi and Zhang Xiaojing.

  Zhang Xiaojing said in a deep voice, “Listen, there’s an extremely dangerous man hiding in this Persian Temple. His existence is a threat to hundreds upon thousands of lives. If the Imperial Court’s big plan is delayed, you are responsible for all the consequences!”


  Hundreds upon thousands of lives? Extremely dangerous? Es’ eyes lit up as he heard the two phrases. “First, our temple is a Grand Qin Temple, not a Persian Temple. Secondly, if this dangerous man does exist, he should be handled by me, the deacons of our temple. Is he the eminent monk you came here to find?”


  “That’s right. He is Dignitary Yousha from the Turkic tribes He came here within the last three months. Jing’an Department believes that he disguised himself as a Nestorian monk hiding in this Persian Temple.” Zhang Xiaojing talked very fast. He couldn’t let this bookish Persian take control of the conversation.

  “I have told you it’s a Grand Qin Temple…… hmm.” Es seemed to have believed some of Zhang Xiaojing’s words. After glancing to the side, an adventurous smile lit up on his handsome face. “You two may confess while I go and find out if you’re telling the truth.”


  This time, Zhang Xiaojing really got anxious. He raised his voice and yelled, “This Turk has powerful allies. Don’t go in recklessly. Please open the door immediately and let the professionals do their job.”


  “Oh? You mean the two professionals whom I locked up in the confessional?” Es laughed and then pointed at his own eyes. “My eyes were washed by the autumn water. I can see whatever you see, only better.” Then he turned around and walked away, leaving Zhang Xiaojing yelling from behind.

  Es strode along the corridor. The look on his face was as calm as always, but a corner of his white robe fluttered higher than usual, showing his excitement.

  Nestorian monks advocated hard work and modesty, and there were barely any quarrels throughout the years. Es was proud of the fact that he had read all Central Plain classics, and he always regretted not having any chances to showcase his knowledge. Finally, an opportunity arose, and he by no means would let it slip away.

  If that man was telling the truth, this would be a great opportunity. Es walked into the main hall as his thoughts swirled. He saw the cross high up on the wall, put his palms together and prayed, “Lord up High, you have granted me an opportunity to serve. If I succeed, Nestorianism will surely find favor with the Imperial Court. Nestorianism’s reputation will be restored.”


  After the prayer, he headed directly for the residence area beside the main hall. There was a garden in which monks grew melons, fruits and vegetables. All Nestorian monks advocated farming, regardless of rank, so their dwellings were built beside the vegetable garden. The buildings all looked the same: flat-roofed, two-story and made from stones.

  As a deacon, Es was very familiar with personnel changes of the temple. There was indeed a monk who came to the temple a month ago. His name was Puzhe, from Sogdiana. He was an elder whose identifier was issued by a Nestorian temple in Samarkand. Elder Puzhe had been keeping a low profile since he arrived at this Nestorian temple in Yining Fang. He barely socialized and went out a lot. Other monks in the temple thought that he was enthusiastic Nestorian evangelist, so nobody bothered asking him questions.

  Elder Puzhe was the only one who fitted Zhang Xiaojing’s description.

  Since he was over sixty, the temple assigned him a separate room on the second floor of a corner building. Es asked a house-keeping monk to come with him. At the doorway, he knocked and called, ‘Elder Puzhe!’ but there was no response. Es pushed the door and to his surprise, it was unlocked and opened with a squeak.

  The furnitures in this small living room were no different from others. Below the window was a gilded cross, to its sides were two chests with an arched lid for keeping square kerchiefs. On the ground was a layer of thick felt blanket made of camel hair.

  Es noticed at first sight that there was an overturned Capricorn wine cup. Crimson wine flowed out from the opening and wetted a large part of the blanket. He immediately became alarmed He lifted the tail of his robe, stuffed it into his belt, and slowly walked towards the bedroom.

  The moment Es walked inside, he was greeted by Elder Puzhe’s widened eyes and his twisted face. Elder Puzhe was lying, face up, head on the threshold, a knife stuck in his mangled and bloody chest. The elder’s arm was still quivering. They didn’t know whether he was still alive or his spirit was still lingering in his body, due to his grudges towards the murderer.

  Es was taken aback. ‘Isn’t…… Isn’t he an extremely dangerous ruffian? How did he become a murder victim?

  The Nestorian monk behind him followed inside. On the sight of this gory scene, he yelled “Oh, my God!” and then collapsed to the ground with a thud. Instead of stooping down to check the body or going deeper into the bedroom, Es quickly surveyed the room around him .

  After keeping quiet for a few tanzhi, he suddenly grabbed a copper candlestick and hurled it towards the corner of the room.

  At the corner stood two small bamboo screens which covered the urinal. Thin and light, the screens were knocked down by the heavy copper candlestick with a loud bang. A masked man jumped out.

  “You think you can escape my eyes with such a petty trick?” Es yelled, half out of excitement, half trying to embolden himself.

  This second-floor window faced north, so the lantern light shone right through from the Imperial Highway. There was supposed to be a gap between the shadows of the two screens, but Es noticed a while ago that there was a moment when the two shadows met, which indicated that someone was hiding behind the screen.

  The murderer had probably just killed the elder before he was able to escape when he heard the knocks. He had no choice but to hide himself behind the screens. He didn’t expect Es to find out right away.

  After he was exposed, the masked man went for Es with his saber. Panicking a little, Es drew back, but it was too late. He suddenly realized, ‘I should have feigned ignorance and reported to authorities.”


  But regret wouldn’t help. The masked man’s saber was almost upon him. Forgetting his dignity, Es dropped to the ground and narrowly dodged this blow. Before that man could withdraw the saber for another attack, he gripped a ceramic brazier beside the bed, which was used for feet-warming, and poured its contents towards the man.

  The ceramic brazier was shaped like an iron winnowing fan. It contained red-hot charcoal to warm the room at night. Somebody probably burnt something in the brazier. When Es swung the brazier at that man, ash flew out and instantly filled up the little room. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Es crawled away from the masked man’s attack range and stood up, still holding the ceramic brazier.

  All of a sudden, a screech was heard. It was the house-keeping monk. Apparently, after his first blow missed, the masked man killed the Nestorian monk behind Es.

  Es was infuriated. This guy had intruded a Nestorian temple and killed two monks in a row, a most intolerable humiliation to a deacon. He desperately scattered the remaining ash in the ceramic brazier and jumped onto the bed.

  This was a Nestorian elder’s bedroom, so there would be a staff hanging beside his bed. The staff was made of fig wood from the Zhan Kingdom, where the Nestorian God was born and raised. Nestorian elders carried these staff to honor of the founder of their religion. The masked man might have a sharper weapon, but Es was more familiar with the layout of this room.

  Es took the staff from the wall and regained some composure. He didn’t have to win this fight. He just needed to hold on until security monks arrive. With the reach advantage of the staff, Es managed to force the masked man into a corner.

  The masked man soon realized that his opponent just trying to delay, so he turned around, jumped out of the window and escaped this prolonged fight.