In the Moonlight

Mobi Duo's embrace came so suddenly that Yaoying was caught off guard.

His embrace was scorching and taut, carrying a hint of nervous apprehension, yet also a touch of youthful fearlessness—like a freshly forged blade, sparks flying, igniting raging flames wherever it touched.

Before Yaoying could react, Mobi Duo released his arms, took a large step back, rubbed the tip of his nose, and flashed a radiant smile.

"I couldn't help myself—I've offended you, Princess. Wait for my return, and I'll surely make amends, accepting any punishment you decree!"

He bowed deeply to Yaoying, then turned and ran off with a laugh, leaping onto his horse. With a tug of the reins, he galloped to catch up with his tribal cavalry.

Yaoying stood in place, watching as the lone rider merged into the army breaking camp under the vast azure sky.

Her guards rushed over in a panic, swords drawn, exchanging bewildered glances. They hadn't decided whether to drive off Prince Mobi Duo or simply stand by as silent observers when the prince had already vanished from sight!

Yaoying smiled faintly and shook her head at the guards. "It's nothing."

The guards sheathed their swords and returned to their positions.

One guard whispered to the others, "Does the Princess fancy Prince Mobi Duo?"

Another replied, "Even if she doesn't fancy him, she certainly doesn't dislike him. Back in Chang'an, so many young lords admired the Princess, yet she never smiled at any of them..."

"You're overthinking it. If the master were here, he would never agree to the Princess marrying a foreign prince..."

"Right! The master would never allow it! Had he been here just now, he would've drawn his sword and chopped off Prince Mobi Duo's hand!"

...

The horn calls faded away. Thousands of cavalry charged down the slope, raising clouds of dust several zhang high, yet not a single whisper could be heard—only the rhythmic drumming of hooves like rainfall.

The guards' conversation drifted on the wind. Though not too close, every word was clear.

Tanmoroqie's expression remained unchanged as he turned his horse. The wind lifted his robes, revealing the gleaming long sword at his side.

Bi Suo followed him, hesitating as if wanting to speak but holding back. After a long pause, he finally said, "Mobi Duo is spirited and heroic—he will surely achieve great things in the future."

Tanmoroqie gave a noncommittal hum.

Youth has its own audacity—a sharp blade unsheathed, revealing its edge.

Mobi Duo was only a few years older than her. When she stood beside him, her smile was bright and clear.

When she smiled, it was as if heavenly winds stirred, scattering blossoms like rain.

As the two rode down the slope, Bi Suo couldn't resist asking softly, "Should the Regent bid farewell to the Princess?"

Tanmoroqie shot him a glance and adjusted his face covering.

Bi Suo broke into a cold sweat under his gaze, loosened his reins, dismounted, and knelt on one knee.

Tanmoroqie tightened his reins. "Bi Suo, this is the last reminder—do not test me."

"This general acknowledges his offense."

Bi Suo pressed his forehead to the ground.

Tanmoroqie gazed at the majestic mountain range on the horizon. "The Royal Court's alliance with the Wei Kingdom involves matters concerning the Western Regions. The Royal Court will not interfere, but every document must bear the seals of both the Crown Prince of Wei and Princess Wenzhao. If either is missing, the Royal Court will not respond. I have already drafted the orders—send them first to the Holy City, then distribute them to the troops."

Bi Suo was taken aback for a moment before assenting.

Guards holding military banners gathered around, escorting Tanmoroqie as he departed.

He urged his horse into a gallop, his posture straight and upright, without looking back.

Several vanguard units spurred their horses and swiftly followed him.

Bi Suo rose to his feet, watching Tanmoroqie's receding figure with a tumult of emotions.

Given Tanmoroqie's temperament, if he wished to accomplish something or keep someone by his side, no one could stop him.

All Bi Suo could do was persistently remind and counsel him.This was exactly the outcome Bi Suo had hoped for.

Princess Wenzhao’s brother had arrived at the Royal Court and would take her away.

Tanmoroqie’s will was resolute; he had not been swayed by love or desire. Even knowing that Princess Wenzhao might leave at any moment, he remained steadfast and unrestrained. From beginning to end, he had not shown the slightest hint of abnormality in front of her.

Neither of them had crossed the line.

Yet Bi Suo felt no sense of relief.

Severing emotional ties might indeed leave Luojia without weaknesses and prevent qi deviation… but the price was that Luojia would remain forever alone.

In the past, Bi Suo had never considered Luojia lonely.

Luojia was too extraordinary; his solitude seemed more like the lofty, detached coldness of a Buddha Prince looking down upon the mortal world. He was wise and clear-minded, indifferent to others’ opinions and needing no one’s company.

Now, Bi Suo realized Luojia was lonely.

Because the Luojia who was with Li Yaoying seemed so different.

Bi Suo couldn’t help but wonder: Was it truly good for Luojia that he had gone to such lengths to prevent Li Yaoying from staying?

…

It wasn’t until nightfall that Yaoying learned Su Dan Gu and Mobi Duo had broken camp together and left, and would not return to the tent that night.

The news was delivered by Bi Suo’s trusted personal guard.

She asked in surprise, “Will the General return tomorrow?”

The guard shook his head.

Yaoying was stunned for a moment. She set down her brush, stood up, walked to the chest, rummaged through it, hastily packed a bundle, and handed it to the guard. “Please take these medicines and clothes to the General.”

The guard assented, but soon returned with the bundle and said, “Princess, my master said the General is leading the troops to Samu Valley for a decisive battle against Wahan Khan. The army is traveling without heavy supplies, moving at the fastest pace to cross the snowy mountains overnight. They should already be a hundred li away by now. Our scouts, acting alone, dare not cross the snowy mountains and would take three days to catch up even by the main road. Please keep these clothes for now.”

Yaoying was taken aback. Usually, when Su Dan Gu went to other camps, even if he was returning the next morning, he would inform her. This time, he was going to face Wahan Khan in a decisive battle, yet he had left so quietly?

“Is Yuanjue still in the camp?”

“No.”

Yaoying fell silent.

Su Dan Gu had even taken Yuanjue with him. When he was injured or suffering from cultivation backlash, Yuanjue could care for him. He had formed an alliance with Li Xuanzhen and arranged the troops—he had made all preparations before leaving.

Only she had been left out.

Yaoying sat before the lamp, lost in thought.

Her personal guard, noticing her restlessness, asked, “Princess, is something wrong?”

Yaoying snapped out of her reverie and shook her head. “No, it’s just…”

It was just that she had thought Su Dan Gu would surely come to bid her farewell before leaving.

He hadn’t, and her heart felt hollow.

Yaoying remained lost in thought for a while, then steadied herself and continued organizing the documents.

Su Dan Gu was busy with military affairs. Li Xuanzhen had brought news of the main forces of the Northern Rong Khan’s army, and he was urgently deploying troops and arranging formations. It was no surprise that he had no time for her.

After all, she was merely an outsider.

Though she thought this, when she heard the rustle of the felt curtain, she immediately looked up, half-expecting Su Dan Gu to have returned.

Li Xuanzhen, cornered and unable to move, noticed her distraction and narrowed his phoenix eyes. “Are you worried about their Regent? How did you come to know him?”

Hearing his voice, Yaoying suddenly remembered that only the two of them remained in the tent that night. She grabbed a scroll, stood up, and went out.

Li Xuanzhen, immobilized, stared at the swaying felt curtain, his gaze dark and brooding.Yaoying found Bi Suo's main tent.

Bi Suo had just finished allocating grain transport duties and was about to seek out Yaoying when he saw her enter. His eyelids twitched several times.

Yaoying handed him the processed documents and asked directly: "General, did the Regent leave any message before breaking camp?"

Bi Suo smiled and said: "I was just about to inform Your Highness—the Regent instructed me to take good care of you, as you are both an ally and honored guest of our Royal Court. The conflict at Sam Valley may stalemate for a long time, and all armies have already marched there. There's no need for Your Highness to advance further with the troops. Tomorrow, you may retreat to Sand City with the rear forces transporting supplies and assist in managing weapon distribution in the rear."

This clearly meant sending Yaoying away.

Yaoying remained silent. These words sounded exactly like Su Dan Gu's style.

Bi Suo continued: "We've now cleared Northern Rong's scattered cavalry from within a hundred-mile radius of Sand City, so the rear will be secure. If your brother reaches Gaochang, he'll certainly come to the Royal Court with Gaochang's envoys. By waiting in Sand City, you can oversee weapon coordination while handling Western Army affairs personally. Most importantly, you'll soon reunite with your brother."

Upon hearing this, Yaoying frowned in thought before suddenly understanding: while all the reasons sounded logical, she intuited the last one was the true motive. Su Dan Gu knew she longed to reunite with Li Zhongqian and had arranged everything for her.

"Why didn't the Regent tell me this himself?"

Bi Suo lowered his gaze. "The Regent is too busy."

The truth was, telling you personally would mean seeing you off himself. He feared he might waver and let you notice his reluctance. Only a hurried departure could dilute all attachment.

Though Yaoying eagerly anticipated seeing Li Zhongqian and indeed needed to discuss Western Army matters with Yang Qian and others, a faint melancholy lingered beneath her joy.

She produced a letter and handed it to Bi Suo: "Please deliver this letter to the Regent on my behalf."

Bi Suo accepted the letter with a nod. After discussing details with Yaoying and watching her leave, he picked up the letter with conflicted expression. After hesitating briefly, he casually tucked it among the stacked documents on his desk.

...

The next day, Yaoying departed with the rear forces retreating to Sand City.

Li Xuanzhen temporarily traveled with them. Once his injuries improved, he could head south via a detour to take the safer Central Route back to the Western Regions—passing through Yanqi and Five Beacon Forts to Guazhou—rather than the direct Northern Route.

Throughout the journey, Yaoying continued having guards deliver four messages daily to Li Zhongqian to ensure some would get through.

As Yang Nianxiang and others gradually recovered from their injuries, they began assisting with Western Army affairs.

One day, Yang Nianxiang complained to Yaoying that any correspondence involving Western Region territories required both her and Li Xuanzhen's seals—neither could be omitted.

Yaoying initially thought little of it until her subordinates mentioned the Royal Court's excessively strict requirements, with non-compliant documents consistently rejected. Puzzled, she asked the rear general: "Who ordered that every document must bear both seals?"

The general replied: "General Ashina consulted the King about the alliance. The order came from the Holy City bearing the King's cipher—it's the King's command, so we dare not neglect it."

Yaoying froze in surprise.Since it was an order from Tanmoroqie, there must be profound meaning behind it.

She summoned Yang Nianxiang and had him retrieve all the documents that had been submitted and returned by the Royal Court officials, examining them one by one.

Yang Nianxiang asked nervously, "Princess, have we made some mistake?"

Yaoying shook her head and asked, "Are these documents archived?"

Yang Nianxiang nodded. "The Royal Court archives them. They record documents on parchment and silk, storing them in the library. The climate here is dry, and it is said that archived documents can be preserved for a long time."

Yaoying had a conjecture in her heart.

Tanmoroqie was helping her.

As Princess Wenzhao of the Wei Kingdom, after reuniting with Li Zhongqian, they would return to the Central Plains. Even if the Western Army successfully recaptured lost territories and made Li De apprehensive, she still had to guard against Li De appointing officials to take over the Western Army.

Therefore, she proposed an alliance between the Western Army, the Wei Kingdom, and the Royal Court. Yang Qian and the Hexi aristocratic families were the first to agree, as they trusted her more under the protection of the Royal Court's Buddha Prince and did not want others to take over the Western Army. Other small tribes also demanded that she lead the Western Army because the Wei Kingdom could not yet dispatch a large army, while the nearby Royal Court could send troops to protect them. Since she was under the Buddha Prince's protection, in their eyes, she could easily borrow troops from the Royal Court.

Yaoying did this both to reassure Yang Qian, win over more wavering aristocratic families and tribes, and make the recruitment process smoother, as well as for her own personal reasons.

She had not discussed this with Tanmoroqie, but she never expected that he had already thought of it. By requiring officials to stamp every document with the Western Army's seal, he was helping her establish authority and confirm her position as the leader of the Western Army, so that Li De would have no excuse to question her status in the future.

Tanmoroqie had even anticipated the difficulties she might face upon returning to the Central Plains.

Why was he so good to her?

Yaoying sat lost in thought. Yang Nianxiang asked, "Princess, are the documents all in order?"

"No issues," Yaoying said, stacking the papers. "Follow the Royal Court's requirements."

...

After seeing Yaoying off, Bi Suo led the remaining troops on their journey and finally caught up with Tanmoroqie half a month later.

Scouts continuously sent back intelligence, confirming that Wahan Khan's main force was seizing the opportunity to occupy advantageous terrain in preparation for the major battle. Tanmoroqie ordered the army to enter the Sam Valley in batches and set up camp with their backs to the canyon.

"There is no need to conceal our movements any longer."

This order was relayed, and the Royal Court army no longer held back. Northern Rong scouts soon discovered the vanguard of the Royal Court forces and were terrified, swiftly returning to camp to report.

By then, Bi Suo and Tanmoroqie had already used ropes to quietly climb the ridge, overlooking the Northern Rong camp in the distance. The flags flying above the camp did not indicate whether it was Wahan Khan's main tent, but judging by its scale, it housed about ten thousand soldiers.

Bi Suo said, "Wahan Khan will soon send one of his sons to test our strength. How should we fight the first battle? To boost morale, should we aim for a major victory? I am willing to lead the charge!"

Tanmoroqie shook his head. "No, the first battle must be lost."

Bi Suo was stunned.

Tanmoroqie summoned Mobi Duo. "Tomorrow, you will lead three thousand vanguard troops into battle."

Mobi Duo clasped his fists and responded loudly, his eyes shining with excitement, eager for the fight.

Bi Suo watched the jubilant Mobi Duo leave, his expression dazed.

Tanmoroqie glanced at him.

"Do you think I have ulterior motives?"

Bi Suo quickly lowered his head.

Tanmoroqie stood with his hands behind his back, facing the dawn light spilling between the snow-capped peaks, his robes fluttering in the wind."I have lustful desires for Princess Wenzhao."

He whispered.

Bi Suo's heart gave a violent jump.

Tanmoroqie wore a look of utter composure as he asked: "Bi Suo, when worldly women pursue love, what do they seek?"

Bi Suo collected himself from the shock, closed his eyes briefly, and replied: "Naturally, they wish to dwell together with their beloved, to enjoy marital harmony and eternal union. The joys between men and women are generally thus..."

Tanmoroqie said calmly: "I am not of this mortal world."

Princess Wenzhao was a worldly woman who pursued earthly pleasures. He, as a practitioner who had taken Buddhist vows and bore the responsibility of the Royal Court, could offer her none of what she desired.

Since this was so, why disturb her life?

Bi Suo felt heavy-hearted.

Tanmoroqie remained so clear-headed and rational that even when lustful desires for Princess Wenzhao arose, he could restrain and endure them. Bi Suo believed Luojia wouldn't deliberately assign Mobi Duo as vanguard out of jealousy—precisely because of this, he felt even more distressed.

Luojia forbade himself from jealousy, because he knew jealousy too was a form of indulgence.

This very fact proved that he was jealous.