In the Moonlight

Yaoying emerged from the Zen room and headed straight back to her courtyard.

Her personal guards stepped forward to salute her and reported on the events of the past two days. They had followed her instructions, and both inside and outside the city, everyone had strictly adhered to the rules without causing any trouble.

Xie Chong clasped his fists and said, "Princess, after the situation in the city stabilized, the Northern Rong envoy submitted a state letter and is eager to leave. I’ve heard that the Royal Court has already released them. Xie Yan just sent back a message asking for instructions on what to do next."

Yaoying sat at her desk, frowning thoughtfully. She tapped her fingers lightly twice and said, "Tell him to find a way to continue following Zhu Lvyun and adapt to the situation as it unfolds."

Xie Chong acknowledged the order and withdrew.

As Yaoying lowered her head to write a letter, a shadow fell over her. Xie Qing walked to the desk, sat down cross-legged, and stared directly at her with an expressionless face.

Yaoying smiled faintly and continued writing. "A-Qing, how are your injuries?"

Xie Qing replied, "Just a few scratches."

After saying this, she continued to stare at Yaoying, her face tense.

Yaoying set down her brush. "A-Qing, what do you want to say to me?"

Xie Qing looked at her and said, "Princess, you slept in the Buddha Prince’s Zen room for two nights."

Yaoying nodded. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Now that the crisis is over, I’ve returned."

Xie Qing’s brow furrowed slightly. "Princess, why did the Royal Court ministers think of kidnapping you to threaten the Buddha Prince?"

Yaoying kept her head down as she wrote. "They all see me as the Buddha Prince’s Girl of Matanga. General Ashina mentioned to his subordinates that he would send additional guards to protect me. His subordinates assumed I was as important as Princess Chima, so they decided to strike before the reinforcements arrived."

Whenever the city’s situation became unstable, Bi Suo would go to protect Princess Chima. This time, when Bi Suo and his subordinates discussed protecting Yaoying, the Royal Court ministers seized the opportunity to kidnap her.

Xie Qing’s expression remained unchanged. "Princess, does the Buddha Prince know that you hold no romantic feelings for him?"

Yaoying chuckled. "Of course, the Dharma Master knows."

Tanmoroqie had never believed her nonsensical words from the very beginning.

Xie Qing fell silent for a moment, then said, "Princess, you and the Buddha Prince shared a room for two days... You are young and beautiful..."

Yaoying guessed what she was implying and was momentarily taken aback before letting out a soft laugh, cutting her off. "A-Qing, don’t worry. The Dharma Master is a highly accomplished monk, devoted to the world and untouched by worldly desires. In his eyes, there is no distinction between men and women."

How could someone as noble and pure as Tanmoroqie entertain such thoughts? To him, she was no different from Yuanjue or Bore.

Xie Qing said nothing more.

Yaoying finished writing the letter and set down her brush. "A-Qing, you’ve never cared about such matters before. Why are you bringing this up today?"

Given Xie Qing’s temperament, even if Yaoying were to keep ten or eight male companions, indulge in lavish pleasures every day, or deliberately seduce a monk, Xie Qing wouldn’t bat an eye.

Xie Qing replied, "Princesses from various kingdoms have arrived in the Holy City and are sending people to inquire about your affairs. The rumors in the city are spreading, and I’ve heard some of them."

Judging by her tone, the rumors were far from complimentary.

Yaoying pondered for a moment. "It’s all because of me that the Dharma Master’s reputation has been tarnished."

She drifted into thought for a while before handing the letter to Xie Qing.

"A-Qing, I’ve asked you to study military texts and learn from the Royal Court officers these past few days. What have you learned?"Xie Qing replied, "I've learned some things about troop formations, battle arrays, and military discipline."

"How well have you learned them?"

Xie Qing thought for a moment and said, "I've memorized all the military texts the princess gave me, but I've never had actual combat experience, so I dare not claim to have truly mastered them."

Yaoying nodded. "It's easy to discuss strategies on paper and debate theories while seated, but the battlefield is entirely different."

Xie Qing gripped her sword hilt, straightened her back, and stood ramrod straight.

"Princess, since my great-grandfather's generation, my family has served the Xie family for generations. The men of our household have followed the young masters into battle through the ages. Although I haven't inherited the family's military teachings, if the princess gives the order, I can march to the battlefield immediately!"

A warm current surged in Yaoying's heart. "Mm."

"Ah Qing, deliver this letter personally to Yang Qian. Take Xie Chong and the others with you and set off immediately. The letter sent by messenger hawk earlier should have reached Yang Qian by now. He'll be waiting for you near the Sheep and Horse City."

She composed her expression and bowed solemnly to Xie Qing.

"Ah Qing, during our days in exile, we've experienced many things. As you've seen, if we want to return to the Central Plains, we'll inevitably have to battle the Northern Rong in the future. You must train well under Yang Qian's guidance."

Xie Qing stood up, returned a military salute to Yaoying, accepted the letter. Her face remained expressionless as ever, but an unusual spark burned in her eyes, her gaze resolute.

She was born with exceptional strength, her aptitude far surpassing her brothers in the family. Yet her father never taught her military strategy, simply because she was a woman who supposedly couldn't go to the battlefield to kill enemies.

Now, she would fight for her princess, and for herself.

Yaoying cautioned Xie Qing: "Yang Qian is fiercely loyal and brave in battle, but he's unrestrained and somewhat reckless. He has always believed the Northern Rong are barbarians who rely solely on brute force in warfare, understanding nothing of strategy. He thinks that with forces comparable to the Northern Rong and soldiers fearless of death, victory can be easily achieved. When you reach the Sheep and Horse City, remind him to conceal their movements. Recruiting volunteer soldiers is difficult—if discovered by the Northern Rong, they'll be in danger."

Xie Qing acknowledged the order.

Yaoying gathered the other personal guards and assigned several tasks. The guards accepted their orders and returned to their rooms to pack.

Xie Peng hesitated, expressing his concern: "If we all leave, what will happen to the princess? I should stay behind."

Yaoying shook her head. "I have enough people remaining with me. Each of you has important responsibilities—you must be careful and avoid acting rashly."

Those skilled in accounting stayed to manage the books; those suited for commerce had already joined merchant caravans. She had carefully selected each assignment—keeping everyone by her side for protection would waste these personal guards' talents.

She needed protectors, but even more, she needed military commanders.

The personal guards responded in unison, then mounted their horses and departed.

After seeing off Xie Qing and the others, Yaoying returned to her room and began reviewing the account books Old Qi had sent. A personal guard came to report that Ashina Bisha had arrived.

Yaoying set down the account books and went out to greet him.

Bisha smiled at Yaoying, still as dashing and elegant as ever, though a deep melancholy lingered between his brows, his thoughts seeming distracted, his golden hair appearing duller than usual.

He came to apologize to Yaoying—previously, his subordinates had attempted to abduct her. Now that the matter had settled, he had dealt with those subordinates.

"It was my negligence. I beg the princess's forgiveness."

Yaoying indicated it was nothing, her gaze studying Bisha's face.

"General, are we friends?"

Bisha grinned. "Of course we are."

Yaoying looked up at the sky beyond the courtyard. The sunlight was bright and clear, distant cliffs covered in thick snow, the azure sky vast as the sea."I wonder if the general has time for a horseback ride outside the city to clear our minds?"

Bi Suo was momentarily taken aback, then nodded.

They rode out from Wang Temple. The city was gradually restoring order, with the long streets blanketed in pristine snow and towering city walls standing imposingly—no traces of the recent turmoil remained.

Beyond the city walls stretched an endless expanse of snowy plains. The river remained frozen. In the Central Plains, this would be the season of warm spring blossoms, but spring had not yet arrived at the Royal Court, with occasional snowfalls still occurring these days.

Yaoying wore a narrow-sleeved lined robe embroidered with medallion patterns of linked pearls and hunting scenes, her face veiled, as she urged her horse up the hillside.

Bi Suo rode alongside her.

Their guards trailed at a distance, while the wind howled across the slope.

Reining in his horse, Bi Suo asked, "What does Princess Wenzhao wish to discuss with me?"

Yaoying tightened her grip on the reins with one hand and adjusted her veil with the other, speaking softly, "General, I am not from the Royal Court. Under the Buddha Prince's protection, I became acquainted with you. By rights, I am an outsider and should not meddle in the affairs of the Royal Court."

Bi Suo smiled. "The princess and I share similar temperaments. There's no need for such formality between us."

Yaoying looked at him. "Then I shall speak frankly."

She shifted the topic abruptly.

"Why hasn't the general sought to marry Princess Chima?"

Bi Suo stared blankly, utterly bewildered. After a long pause, he responded with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Has the princess heard some rumor? There is absolutely no such relationship between Princess Chima and me. She is older than I am—I regard her as an elder sister, and she sees me only as a younger brother."

Seeing the complete sincerity in his words, Yaoying frowned slightly and smiled. "I misunderstood you, General. Please forgive me."

Bi Suo waved his hand, indicating it was of no consequence.

Yaoying gazed into his jade-green eyes and asked, "General, do you not approve of the Buddha Prince promoting Zhang Xu?"

Bi Suo shook his head. "No, I understand the king's intentions. His actions are far-sighted."

Yaoying continued slowly, "Zhang Xu has rendered great service and deserves reward. Otherwise, the new military system would be mere empty words. His promotion will help more low-ranking soldiers understand the military reforms. When people see that even he can be elevated by the Buddha Prince, morale in the army will surely soar, remnant soldiers from other towns will surrender voluntarily, and collateral branches of noble families will compete to expose Xue Yanna. The situation will stabilize quickly..."

She paused before asking, "The general is utterly loyal to the Buddha Prince and understands his considerations. Why then did you side with Princess Chima this time?"

Bi Suo smiled wryly. "Having witnessed the brutal deaths of her clansmen, Princess Chima was deeply traumatized. Even after revenge was taken, she could not forget that past. Whenever matters related to the Zhang family or Han people arise, she flies into a rage and refuses to listen to any advice. I can only humor and coax her until her anger subsides and the matter passes. Otherwise, she would continue making trouble..."

Yaoying summarized, "Princess Chima is irritable and must be appeased, while the Buddha Prince pays no heed to such matters. He is rational, calm, and clear-headed—so you advised him to indulge the princess."

Tanmoroqie had grown up under everyone's expectations, every step carefully considered. He was powerful and rational, never making mistakes.

Princess Chima, having lost her clansmen, had a volatile temper. People sympathized with her suffering and often made concessions for her.

When conflicts arose between this sister and brother, Bi Suo and others would typically choose to indulge Princess Chima—because Tanmoroqie was sufficiently strong and, as the exalted Buddha Prince, would not concern himself with such trivial matters.Bi Suo let out a long sigh, his face etched with weariness.

The horses' hooves crunched softly on the thick snow, the sound mingling with the whistling wind.

Yaoying patted her horse's neck and said, "General, forgive my bluntness, but if such incidents occur again, Princess Chima will still be easily swayed by others."

Bi Suo's lips curved into a bitter smile. "She may cause trouble, but she's never crossed any serious lines. Everyone knows her temperament and doesn't hold it against her."

Yaoying fell silent, gently nudging her horse's flank to turn around.

After riding some distance, she looked back at Bi Suo.

"General, what exactly is Princess Chima's grudge against the Buddha Prince?"

Bi Suo stiffened, his eyelids flying open as his gaze sharpened like lightning.

Meeting his scrutinizing stare, Yaoying spoke slowly, "General, in my opinion, Princess Chima's hatred for the Buddha Prince isn't simply because he stopped her from indiscriminate killing. She holds a deep-seated resentment toward him."

With the royal family in decline, without Tanmoroqie, Princess Chima would never have been able to avenge her clansmen. Her brother was her only support—why would she harbor such hostility toward him?

There must be a reason.

Bi Suo's pupils contracted, his eyes flashing with shock, fear, and suspicion.

"What does the Princess know?" he asked, his tone icy.

Yaoying shook her head. "General, I'm new here and know nothing. But I can see that you understand the source of Princess Chima's resentment."

Bi Suo remained silent for a long time.

Yaoying met his gaze frankly. "General, caught between them, you must be in a difficult position. But if this continues, the underlying problem will never be resolved."

Bi Suo averted his eyes. "Why are you telling me this, Princess?"

Yaoying looked toward the majestic Wang Temple at the foot of the distant cliffs, the pagoda spires crowned with snow, solemn and dignified.

"Because I'm worried about the Buddha Prince."

Though Tanmoroqie might not need her concern, she still wanted to do what she could for him.

Bi Suo fell into an even longer silence this time.

After what seemed like an eternity, the corners of his lips lifted slightly. The confusion that had plagued him these past few days vanished instantly, replaced by sudden clarity.

"Thank you for the reminder, Princess," Bi Suo said deliberately, his tone steady. "You can rest assured that I, Ashina Bisha, will always remain loyal to the Buddha Prince."

Golden sunlight poured down, the snow on the cliffs reflecting brilliant rays. Gazing at the temple below, his expression grew resolute, his eyes clear, a faint smile playing on his lips, his golden hair shimmering with dazzling brightness.

Yaoying let out a soft sigh of relief.

...

The two descended the mountain and returned to Wang Temple.

Yuanjue was anxiously pacing. Seeing them return together—one tall and handsome, the other radiantly beautiful—he frowned and hurried forward. "The King has matters to discuss with the General and has been waiting for some time."

After bidding farewell to Yaoying, Bi Suo immediately turned and headed for the Zen room.

Yaoying returned to her quarters.

A guard came to report, "Princess, Old Qi just sent over a treasure box, saying it's a birthday gift prepared for the Buddha Prince."

Yaoying's brow twitched slightly. "What birthday gift?"The guard replied: "The Buddha Prince's birthday is approaching. Just a few days ago, pilgrims already crowded the main roads to pay homage. Now that the Buddha Prince has consolidated military power, his prestige surpasses even before. Court ministers, tribal chieftains, along with foreign envoys and princesses, are all the more eager to curry favor with him. Old Qi said the treasures collected by Persian merchants are bound to rise in price again! So he decided to strike first and gathered rare jewels for you, Princess. He personally selected these treasures—exquisite yet elegant, exactly what the Buddha Prince appreciates. They're sure to outshine other princesses' gifts by a hundredfold!"

Yaoying grew interested. "What treasures? Let me see."

She had thought presenting a few sutras would suffice, never considering additional gifts for Tanmoroqie. He didn't seem like someone who enjoyed celebrating birthdays. When she asked Yuanjue and Bore, they confirmed that while devotees flocked from all directions to congratulate him each year, he remained indifferent and wouldn't attend the day's Dharma assembly.

But Old Qi and the others thought differently. They insisted she should seek a treasure unparalleled in the world to surpass all other princesses' offerings.

The guard turned and left, soon returning with a jewel box. He lifted the lid.

Instantly, the room shimmered with golden light, radiance swirling in the air.

The guard watched expectantly.

When Yaoying clearly saw the treasure inside, the corner of her mouth twitched.

"How many silver coins did Old Qi spend on this?"

The guard quoted a figure.

Yaoying felt a pang of distress: When she sold this bronze statue, she had only marked it up by a few dozen silver coins! Yet Old Qi bought it back at ten times the price!