Xuanzang gently shook his head.
"Ruyi, having your wishes fulfilled."
"If your wishes are fulfilled, his are not; if his are fulfilled, yours are not. Everyone wants their wishes fulfilled, but where in this world does everything truly go as one wishes?"
The Queen watched him quietly.
Xuanzang pressed his palms together and slowly said, "The Buddha spoke of Dependent Origination: because this exists, that exists; because this arises, that arises. If this does not exist, that does not exist; if this ceases, that ceases."
"All things in this world arise from the coming together of causes and conditions, and pass away as those causes and conditions change. If you always want everything to follow your wishes, the deeper your longing, the heavier the fetters on your heart."
"So be content when you gain, and do not imprison yourself when you lose. Do not let the words 'wishes fulfilled' bind you. Even if life holds much suffering, you can still be free."
The Queen lowered her head and pondered for a long while. When she looked up again, her expression had grown considerably lighter. "Then today's disappointment might become tomorrow's cause and condition?"
Xuanzang gently nodded.
Looking at him, the Queen suddenly asked again, "Then this encounter between you and me-were we fated, or unfated?"
Xuanzang fell silent for a moment, then pressed his palms together and bowed.
"Fated or unfated, all is fate."
The Queen gazed into the unchanged, tranquil eyes of the man before her.
This time, she asked no more.
A moment later, she suddenly smiled.
"I like those words."
After the vegetarian meal, the Queen ordered someone to bring Xuanzang's Travel Pass.
The pass had traveled all the way from Chang'an to Western Liang and already bore the seals of several kingdoms. The Queen turned