In the Moonlight

Yaoying stood outside the tent, letting the wind blow against her for a while.

The wind, mixed with sand, fiercely whipped against the battle flags, filling the tent with a roaring sound.

She called her guards to take care of Li Xuanzhen and went to the main tent to find Tanmoroqie and Bi Suo, informing them that Wahan Khan's main forces might be heading toward Samu Valley.

After hearing her report, both men looked grave.

"The Crown Prince is trustworthy," Yaoying said. "But what he saw might have been a deception. We still need scouts to confirm the actual situation."

Tanmoroqie stared at the sand table in silence.

Not wanting to disturb his contemplation, Bi Suo led Yaoying to a corner, shook his head, and whispered, "We had previously considered where Wahan Khan might choose to engage us in a decisive battle and suspected it could be Samu Valley. We sent scouts to investigate, but they reported everything was normal, so I didn’t deploy additional troops. The Regent and I discussed that if Wahan Khan marched overnight, they could reach the foot of Kushan and ambush the Royal Court there. They would have the advantage—able to attack or retreat easily, with no concerns about water supply. That’s why we planned to position our vanguard and rear guard before they reached Kushan..."

"However, the Crown Prince mentioned that Wahan Khan is plagued by conflicts with the nobles, and the Northern Rong tribes are constantly feuding. If that’s the case, Wahan Khan’s march wouldn’t be so swift, and his main forces might indeed be hiding in Samu Valley."

Bi Suo wiped his forehead, shuddering with fear. "Fortunately, we prepared in advance... No matter where the Northern Rong’s main forces are, we can adapt immediately."

As the two whispered, Tanmoroqie pondered for a moment, then lifted his head, glanced at Bi Suo, and let his gaze linger on Yaoying.

Yaoying smiled at him and withdrew from the main tent.

Bi Suo hurried forward, but Tanmoroqie was still looking toward the felt curtain.

"Regent?" Bi Suo called out.

Tanmoroqie withdrew his gaze, and after a brief discussion, they dispatched more scouts and summoned the generals for a meeting.

Advisors and generals arrived one after another, and soon the main tent was filled with heated discussions, the atmosphere tense.

Yaoying rode to visit Yang Nianxiang and the others. Though severely injured, their spirits were high, eager to join Yang Qian on the battlefield to reclaim their homeland.

In the afternoon, she returned to her tent, where her guards informed her that Li Xuanzhen had been unconscious all day, and the military physician had visited to change his dressings.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is covered in wounds—his arms, legs, waist... all gashes down to the bone. The physician said he must rest and recover these next few days and should not be moved."

The guard’s tone was full of admiration. Li Xuanzhen was resilient, always leading from the front in battles, fair in rewards and punishments, and strict in military discipline, earning the deep respect of the Wei army soldiers.

It was precisely because he seemed like a man of principle—because at their first meeting, he appeared silent and stern but was actually a righteous and courageous man—that she had placed her hopes in him.

If she had only seen him as a character from a book from the start, she wouldn’t have tried again after repeated setbacks.

Because she had once given him her sincere heart, her disappointment later was all the more profound.

Yaoying hummed in acknowledgment, lifted the curtain, and entered the tent. The air inside was thick with the mingled smells of blood and medicine.

She glanced at the unconscious Li Xuanzhen, then sat at the desk to handle documents.

After a while, Li Xuanzhen woke up and seemed to try moving, but his arm bumped against a small table nearby, causing him to groan in pain.

Yaoying watched coldly, then raised her voice to call the guards into the tent.The guard asked, "What does the Crown Prince need?"

Li Xuanzhen struggled to sit up, his gaze dark and heavy as he looked toward Yaoying, who remained seated by the long table, head bowed as she flipped through scrolls. He said softly, "Water."

The guard helped Li Xuanzhen drink a few sips of water and asked if he needed anything else. He shook his head, and the guard withdrew.

Yaoying bent over the table, writing. Li Xuanzhen watched her silently. She despised him so much that she wouldn’t even pour a bowl of water for him in his severely injured state.

A series of heavy footsteps sounded outside the tent. The guard entered and reported, "Princess, the messenger says General Ashina and his party will arrive shortly."

Li Xuanzhen struggled to sit up straighter and said, "They want to discuss an alliance with me."

Yaoying set down her brush and instructed, "When the general arrives, invite them in."

"Wait." Li Xuanzhen stopped the guard, lifted his eyes to Yaoying, and spoke haltingly between labored breaths, "I am the Crown Prince of Wei, representing Wei in an alliance with the Royal Court. I cannot lie here while negotiating with them."

The guard looked troubled.

Li Xuanzhen wiped his temples and repeated words Yaoying had once spoken: "Diplomatic relations between two nations are no trivial matter. Even when I was alone and trapped in enemy territory, Wei could not afford to lose face. The same applies during alliance negotiations."

Yaoying told the guard, "Help the Crown Prince up and find him an outer robe to wear."

The guard assisted Li Xuanzhen, who endured the pain as he sat up, moved to the long table, tied back his hair, draped the outer robe over his shoulders, and sat upright with solemn dignity. If not for his excessively pale and haggard appearance, deeply sunken cheeks, and the pungent scent of medicine clinging to him, he would have looked like a composed and strategic envoy.

He looked up at Yaoying and asked, "Will you stay?"

Yaoying turned and left.

Li Xuanzhen watched her retreating figure, his lips trembling slightly, a bitter smile touching his mouth.

...

Tanmoroqie and Bi Suo entered the tent one after the other.

Bi Suo’s eyes quickly scanned the interior, pausing on a man’s leather belt draped over a rack and a pair of long boots drying by the charcoal brazier in the corner. His heart skipped a beat, and he sighed inwardly.

The leather belt and long boots belonged to Tanmoroqie.

He shared a tent with Princess Wenzhao every night. Though circumstances necessitated it, the Tanmoroqie of old would have preferred patrolling the camp in heavy armor all night rather than agreeing to share a tent with the princess...

Li Xuanzhen, unable to suppress his pain, coughed into his hand, masking the moment.

Bi Suo snapped back to attention and studied Li Xuanzhen carefully. Dressed in a brocade robe, he appeared pale and somewhat weary, but his eyes were sharp and penetrating, his demeanor resolute and unwavering—clearly no ordinary man.

Li Xuanzhen, in turn, assessed Bi Suo and Tanmoroqie.

Bi Suo wore silver armor, tall and handsome, while Tanmoroqie stood beside him in ordinary soldier’s attire, his face uncovered to reveal scars. Bi Suo had not glanced at Tanmoroqie since entering the tent, giving the impression that Bi Suo was in charge.

But Li Xuanzhen knew Tanmoroqie was the one calling the shots.

Bi Suo had already learned from Yaoying that Li Xuanzhen was her half-brother. After exchanging greetings, he got straight to the point: "Forgive my bluntness, Crown Prince, but with your severe injuries, how will you return to Liangzhou in time to command the Liangzhou army?"

Li Xuanzhen looked calmly at Tanmoroqie and replied, "I have already sent orders to Liangzhou. The Liangzhou army is under the command of my trusted aide, who has fought alongside me in countless campaigns. He is loyal and reliable and can issue orders on my behalf. Once my condition improves, I will depart immediately for Guazhou to reunite with my subordinates."Bi Suo nodded: "The Royal Court can contain the majority of Northern Rong's forces. We hope the Crown Prince will keep his word and intercept all reinforcements from Northern Rong's eastern territories."

Li Xuanzhen said: "I will do my utmost."

Bi Suo unrolled a map. Tanmoroqie lightly traced several marked routes with his finger, saying: "Northern Rong tribal cavalry excel at surprise attacks, while the Central Plains Wei army specializes in defensive formations. The Crown Prince should avoid dividing his forces. If Northern Rong tribes come to Wahan Khan's aid, they will likely take three routes."

"The Keji tribe will head west, the Wanglie tribe will move south through Gua Province, and the Woman tribe will cross the mountains, deploying troops from Yi Province... The Crown Prince's Liang Province army only needs to hold Gua Province and Sha Province, while setting ambushes along the main road to Yi Province. This way, you can wait at your ease while the enemy tires himself, intercepting the reinforcements."

Li Xuanzhen's gaze followed his fingers, his expression shaken. The Central Plains had been plagued by internal strife for so long that the court knew little about Northern Rong. Yet the Regent of the Royal Court, thousands of miles away, understood the distribution of tribes in Northern Rong's eastern territories so thoroughly that he could accurately predict their deployment routes and had even devised strategies to intercept reinforcements!

Having spent time in the Northern Rong camp, Li Xuanzhen knew that everyone from the old Khan down to common soldiers believed the Royal Court was incapable of fighting. Little did they know the Royal Court was fully prepared, and their goal wasn't merely to win a battle—they aimed to thoroughly weaken Northern Rong so it could never threaten the Royal Court again.

The Buddha Prince of the Royal Court was truly extraordinary, using Buddhist Dharma to educate the masses and the Regent to intimidate the powerful.

Yaoying was right—the conflict between the Royal Court and Northern Rong was indeed a heaven-sent opportunity for Great Wei to reclaim the Western Regions.

The Western Regions had been in chaos for decades, with constant conflicts between tribes. The land was devastated, people lived like ants, and bleached bones littered the wilderness. During his travels deep into the Western Regions, he had witnessed too much life and death separation. Only a unified dynasty could end the warfare in the Western Regions and allow the people to live in peace.

Li Xuanzhen nodded: "I will hold Gua Province and prevent the eastern tribes of Northern Rong from reinforcing Wahan Khan."

Without delay, they quickly settled the basic alliance terms, and Bi Suo rolled up the map.

Li Xuanzhen suddenly said: "When my younger sister Princess Wenzhao was in danger, your country's Buddha Prince rescued her from Haidu Aling and showed her great kindness. As her elder brother, I am eternally grateful to the Buddha Prince. Li Zhongqian and I came to the Royal Court specifically to bring her back to Wei. Previously, I heard some rumors in Northern Rong and mistakenly believed your country wouldn't release her. When I reunited with my sister, I spoke some offensive words in my anxiety. I hope the Regent will forgive me."

Bi Suo looked at Tanmoroqie.

Tanmoroqie raised his eyes, waiting for Li Xuanzhen to continue.

Li Xuanzhen went on: "I should have gone to the Holy City personally to thank the Buddha Prince for saving her life, but circumstances don't permit it as I must hurry to Sha Province. Please convey my gratitude to the Buddha Prince. She is young and, to escape her predicament, tarnished the Buddha Prince's reputation. I apologize to the Buddha Prince on her behalf, and Wei will certainly compensate him."

Bi Suo interjected: "The Crown Prince needn't be so formal. Princess Wenzhao is the Royal Court's most honored guest."

Li Xuanzhen smiled faintly: "A guest is still a guest. Etiquette cannot be neglected."

The tent fell silent.

After a pause, Li Xuanzhen raised his phoenix eyes slightly: "I heard my sister made a one-year agreement with the Buddha Prince. Since the agreement is nearly complete, could she leave the Royal Court early?"

Bi Suo was stunned and secretly glanced at Tanmoroqie's reaction.Tanmoroqie looked at Li Xuanzhen, his expression unreadable: "When Princess Wenzhao departs has nothing to do with the Crown Prince."

Li Xuanzhen said, "I am her elder brother."

Tanmoroqie stood up, "The one who formed an alliance with the Royal Court was not Princess Wenzhao of Wei, but Li Yaoying, leader of the Western Army. She once told me she has only one elder brother, Li Zhongqian. If the Crown Prince sincerely wishes to ally with the Royal Court, do not interfere in the dealings between the Royal Court and the Western Army leader henceforth."

Li Xuanzhen's heart sank.

Su Dan Gu's words had completely rebuffed all his probing.

In terms of status, Yaoying was the Western Army leader—another ally of the Royal Court—not Princess Wenzhao of Wei. He could no longer demand the Royal Court release Yaoying as an envoy of Wei. Emotionally, Su Dan Gu clearly understood the entanglements between him, Li Zhongqian, and Yaoying. His status as an elder brother held no weight here.

He had a strong sense that the bond between Yaoying and Su Dan Gu was unusual.

In recent years, he had never seen her so close to any man other than Li Zhongqian.

Though Su Dan Gu was facially disfigured and a foreigner, he was the esteemed Regent of the Royal Court—composed and dignified, highly skilled in martial arts. His demeanor and bearing exuded an unquestionable authority, suggesting someone accustomed to giving orders since childhood...

Li Xuanzhen's mind was in turmoil, but his face remained impassive. "I overstepped. I often hear the people here praise your Buddha Prince, saying he is compassionate and benevolent. If Yaoying leaves early, the Buddha Prince surely won't stop her."

Tanmoroqie turned and left the tent.

Bi Suo followed, stealing nervous glances at him.

Tanmoroqie gave him a faint sidelong look.

Bi Suo stiffened, forcing an awkward smile. "Princess Wenzhao's brother has come. She must be very happy."

Tanmoroqie gazed at a distant figure in silence.

Bi Suo followed his gaze. Yaoying stood with her back to them on a far slope, speaking with her guards. To conceal her slender figure, she had stuffed cotton into her narrow-sleeved robe, making her appear not plump but softly padded, her silhouette charmingly naive.

Tanmoroqie watched for a while but did not approach, returning directly to the main tent.

"The armies will decamp immediately. The rear guard remains to transport supplies as support."

Bi Suo exhaled in relief, acknowledged the order, and hurried after him.

...

While Li Xuanzhen spoke with Bi Suo, Yaoying visited the eagle keeper to check for replies from Gaochang.

She wanted confirmation that Li Zhongqian had arrived safely.

The eagle keeper said, "Princess, even the fastest messenger eagle cannot make a round trip in such short time. It will take at least three days."

Yaoying could only instruct the keeper to report any news immediately.

A guard came to relay a message: "Princess, General Ashina and the others have just left."

Yaoying returned to her tent, lifted the felt curtain, and saw Li Xuanzhen collapsed on the rug, pale and breathing shallowly.

He had endured as long as he could but could hold on no longer.

Yaoying frowned, signaling the guards to help Li Xuanzhen lie down properly, then sat at the desk to continue reviewing documents.

Just as she finished one scroll, a clear, resonant horn sounded outside, followed by officers shouting commands. The orders spread rapidly through the camp, repeated by countless voices yet so unified they seemed like a single cry.A messenger came to report to Yaoying: "Wujili Bu is breaking camp. Young Master Bayan need not be alarmed."

Yaoying lifted the tent flap to look outside. The camp where Wujili Bu had been stationed was mobilizing in an orderly manner, with tribal banners moving down the mountain slope.

The clip-clop of horse hooves approached as a black horse moved against the outward-bound troops, galloping toward her tent. As it drew near, the young man on horseback leaped down and strode toward her. His features were deep-set, and the scar on his cheek did nothing to diminish his handsome, dashing appearance.

"Princess, I must break camp now."

Mobi Duo untied a short dagger from his waist and held it out levelly before Yaoying.

"Princess, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, like a goddess from a painting. In my homeland, the blessings of a goddess can protect the warriors of our tribe. This time, as I go to battle and face the elite cavalry of Northern Rong head-on, could you grant me a blessing before I depart?"

Yaoying smiled, took the short dagger, and pressed it against Mobi Duo's forehead. "The young prince is a hero, bravest among all warriors. On this campaign, you will surely crush the enemy forces and return safely."

Mobi Duo grinned broadly and extended his hand.

Yaoying lowered her head and returned the dagger to him.

The next moment, Mobi Duo's arm went around her shoulders, pulling her into a firm embrace.

Yaoying froze in surprise.

...

Not far away, watching Mobi Duo pull Yaoying into his embrace, Bi Suo, who had been waiting on horseback, let out a soft exclamation and abruptly turned his head.

Tanmoroqie was also gazing toward the tent, remaining silent.