In the Moonlight

In the heat of summer, the sun blazed like fire outside, scorching the yellow sand.

Li Zhongqian, dressed in a brown brocade robe with narrow sleeves and a double-bird-and-ribbon pattern, his disheveled long hair tied up and wrapped in a headscarf, sat in a cool cave dwelling reading military reports.

Sand City endured harsh winters and sweltering summers with raging winds, so locals built their homes by digging downward into cave-like structures—cool in summer, warm in winter, and resistant to sandstorms.

He had been reading since morning until afternoon, his brow furrowed tightly, having only eaten a few pieces of dry naan bread in between.

A servant brought him a plate of crystal-clear, frozen milk curd shaped like snow-capped mountains, eagerly saying, "Sir, this is a great remedy for the heat—sour, sweet, and icy cold. It's called Princess's Drunkenness. Please try it."

At the mention of "Princess's Drunkenness," Li Zhongqian's eyelids twitched. He glanced at the mountains in the plate, shimmering in snowy white, bright red, and bluish-green, set down the reports, and lightly tapped the desk with his fingers.

"What's the story behind it?"

The servant placed the tray down and smiled. "I heard that Princess's Drunkenness originated from the Royal Court. They say during the hot weather, the Buddha Prince lost his appetite and ate poorly. After half a month of sutra lectures, he fell ill and couldn't keep anything down. Princess Wenzhao saw this, feeling both distressed and anxious. She searched the markets for fruits and, after much effort, created this soft, sweet, and icy milk curd. After the Buddha Prince ate it, his appetite improved significantly. Later, whenever the nobles in the Holy City held banquets, they would serve a large plate of this milk curd. Because it looks white with a blush of red, like a beauty who's had too much to drink, everyone calls it Princess's Drunkenness."

Li Zhongqian's expression darkened.

Had the people of the Royal Court seen Li Yaoying drunk?

The servant then brought out a plate of colorful, fragrant pilaf, each grain of rice glistening with golden oil. "This pilaf was made by Princess Wenzhao, inspired by the vegetarian pilaf of monks from the Land of Brahma. It's rich with meat broth, tangy, spicy, sweet, and even includes raisins only found in Old Qi's estate. It's refreshing and tender to eat in hot weather, sir. Please have some."

Li Zhongqian's lips twitched.

He had heard many such tales along the way—the women's bold fashionable makeup, exquisite silks, the wines men clamored for, the scripture papers praised by monks, painters, and scholars, a soft, warm cotton robe that quickly became popular among the people, innovative irrigation tools for farming... all had stories behind them of "the Han Princess Wenzhao going to great lengths to please and seduce the Buddha Prince."

Many of these were far-fetched tales and gimmicks by foreign merchants, yet the common people recounted them as if they had witnessed them firsthand. After hearing so many, Li Zhongqian sometimes couldn't help but wonder if they were true.

He had asked Yaoying, but she always shared only the good news and minor details, keeping the rest to herself. All her personal guards obeyed her and wouldn't tell him the full story either.

Li Zhongqian glanced at the servant, who was from the merchant caravan, traveling back and forth between the Royal Court and Gaochang with Old Qi, running errands and doing manual labor.

He took out a few silver coins, casually patted the long sword resting by the desk, his arm muscles tensing, his gaze grim.

"I have a few questions for you. Answer truthfully, without holding anything back."

The servant hurriedly replied, "I would never dare deceive you, sir."

Li Zhongqian's phoenix eyes slanted sharply, his gaze sharper than the scorching sun outside. "How do the people of the Royal Court truly view the princess?"

The servant broke out in a cold sweat.

...

Half an hour later, the servant emerged drenched in sweat, carrying the untouched milk curd.Li Zhongqian closed his eyes briefly, facing the stacked military reports.

In the Royal Court, the Buddha Prince was revered by all, while the people here regarded Yaoying as nothing but a complete joke.

Light footsteps echoed from the staircase as Yaoying descended from the cave dwelling to organize her letters. Noticing the barely touched dry naan bread beside the desk, she said, "Elder Brother, you should eat something before continuing."

Li Zhongqian suppressed his gloomy expression and waved his hand, indicating he was fine.

Last night, Yaoying had explained in detail the formation of the Western Army and the intricate connections among the noble families across various regions. This morning, he began reading the military reports sent to her from all sides. Only after going through most of them did he understand what the vast circle she had drawn on the sand yesterday represented.

Gaochang was merely a small stronghold. Noble families from Shazhou and Guazhou had also begun revolting while the Northern Rong were in turmoil. Li Xuanzhen's Liangzhou army coordinated with the Western Army, while the Royal Court pursued the Northern Rong Khan. This enormous web stretched from east to west and south to north, spanning thousands of miles and involving countless oases, large and small.

If the military campaign proceeded smoothly, they could join forces with the Royal Court to attack the Northern Rong from both sides, completely eradicating this formidable enemy.

By then, the Hexi and Longyou regions could return to their homeland, displaced refugees would fulfill their long-cherished wish to return east, and the Western Regions—which had lost contact with the Central Plains dynasty for decades—would end years of chaos, warfare, and fragmentation, reuniting in peace and stability.

Meanwhile, the Central Plains' Wei Kingdom would regain vast pastures, secure a stable source of excellent warhorses, and eliminate the northern threat. With these advantages, what could prevent them from unifying the realm?

In a few years, the Central Plains would be stable and prosperous, the routes through the Western Regions would be unobstructed, the ancient desert post roads would regain their bustle, inns would stand row upon row, camel bells would echo melodiously, and merchant caravans would jostle shoulder to shoulder.

All people, whether Hu or Han, would be spared from war and live in peace.

Sitting in the cool cave dwelling, Li Zhongqian clutched the military reports, unable to calm himself for a long time.

He could see the far-reaching intentions behind Yaoying, Li Xuanzhen, and the Royal Court's Buddha Prince forming an alliance and understood the tremendous changes this alliance would bring.

Precisely because of this, he hoped Yaoying could extricate herself early.

The Northern Rong tribes would inevitably retaliate in the future. The complex scheming among the Western Regions' noble families, the Royal Court's hostility toward Han people, and the heartless Li De in the Wei Kingdom... all were troublesome matters.

The Xie family had served the nation and its people for generations, but by her uncle Xie Wuliang's time, they were nearly extinct.

The world praised Xie Wuliang and sighed over the Xie family's fate, yet when faced with the wrath of Li De and Li Xuanzhen, no one had cared whether she and her mother and siblings lived or died.

Such was the way of the world.

Li Zhongqian had long recognized the fickleness of human relationships. He only had this one younger sister, Li Yaoying, and did not want her to shoulder such heavy responsibilities or follow in Xie Wuliang's footsteps.

But Yaoying had already made up her mind, and he could not dissuade her.

He could only proceed gradually.

Li Zhongqian set down the military reports and looked up at Yaoying, who was writing letters beside him.

"Before going to the Holy City, I want to write a letter to the Buddha Prince."

Yaoying lifted her head. "I'm actually writing to the Buddha Prince right now..."

Li Zhongqian shook his head, walked over to her, took the paper from under her brush, and crumpled it into a ball. "This letter must be written in my own hand to show sincerity. Does the Buddha Prince understand Han script?"

Yaoying murmured, "His Han script is excellent."

Li Zhongqian picked up his brush and smoothed a new sheet of paper. "I've heard many stories about you two."

Yaoying quickly said, "Elder Brother, those rumors are all slander. It's because of me that the Buddha Prince's reputation has suffered."

"I understand. I will apologize to the Buddha Prince on your behalf." Li Zhongqian wrote a few characters. "Has the one-year period arrived?"Yaoying thought for a moment and nodded.

She had tried to discuss this matter with Tanmoroqie before, but he appeared completely indifferent. It seemed he didn't care about such trivial matters, so she hadn't pressed him.

Li Zhongqian asked, "What are your plans?"

Yaoying looked serious, pondered for a long while, and said softly, "I don't want to trouble the Buddha Prince any further."

Li Zhongqian nodded. "Don't worry about it. Leave this matter to me."

He wrote a letter and summoned the guard knight Bayi.

"Please deliver this to the Buddha Prince."

Bayi immediately took the letter and returned to the Holy City.

Shortly after he left, several eagle cries echoed into the cave dwelling. The black eagle General Jin returned with military intelligence.

Yaoying couldn't wait. Lifting the hem of her dress, she rushed out of the cave dwelling, took the copper tube handed by the guard, read the letter, and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Brother, you asked me yesterday where A Qing went..."

She handed the letter to Li Zhongqian, who had followed her out.

"She's guarding White City for me."

Li Zhongqian unrolled the parchment scroll, where a line of bold, flowing characters read: Qing has repelled the enemy forces and fulfilled her mission.

...

Several days earlier.

White City, a thousand miles away.

Clouds surged and the scorching sun blazed.

In the desert, cliffs eroded by years of wind and sand stood under the blazing sun, row upon row, like coiling dragons and crouching tigers.

Intense beams of light poured down through the clouds, creating shifting patterns of light and shadow. The dark shadows cast by the strangely shaped hills slowly drifted, as if alive.

Howling winds swept through, filling the air with eerie whistles.

Amid the shifting, menacing shadows, a massive force of several thousand cavalry and ten thousand infantry raced along the rugged, winding path beneath the hills, resembling a flowing black tide.

Each soldier carried two bows, curved swords, lassos, and leather pouches. Their demeanor was fierce, composed, stern, and courageous.

This was an elite force forged in blood, with every soldier exceptionally brave. Their commander had light yellow hawk-like eyes that gleamed with golden light when he scanned his surroundings—none other than Haidu Aling, the Northern Rong prince who had recently escaped from the Royal Court.

With Northern Rong fragmented, Haidu Aling found no supplies along the way. He resorted to burning, killing, and plundering, sustaining his campaign through warfare. Gathering remnants from various tribes, he assembled a force of twenty thousand men and headed toward Gaochang.

He had previously sent scouts to Gaochang to gather intelligence. Everything appeared normal there; Lady Yina remained the king's consort. He promised King Yuchi that he would kill Lady Yina for him, and in return, King Yuchi immediately supplied him with a batch of warhorses and weapons.

Haidu Aling sneered. He intended to kill Lady Yina, but he also wanted Gaochang for himself.

A wolf would never spare a fat sheep, no matter how loyal or submissive it might be.

He first cautiously eliminated several tribes and encountered little significant resistance along the way. Meanwhile, the fleeing Wahan Khan issued orders to all tribes, demanding they march east with their troops to help him shake off the Royal Court's pursuit, so he could lead his remnants back to the grasslands. He also promoted Haidu Aling to the rank of commander.

Haidu Aling weighed his options. Although the remnants he had gathered totaled twenty thousand men, distant water couldn't quench immediate thirst. Leading these troops on a long march to rescue Wahan Khan would likely leave him isolated and unsupported. It would be better to first seize Gaochang, then summon nearby tribes to form a coalition and attack the Royal Court, thereby alleviating the pressure on Wahan Khan.

But before that, he had to capture White City.They had recently appeared at another oasis, besieging a city with such overwhelming force that everyone thought they intended to capture it. In reality, it was a diversion—their true target was White City.

Dust billowed ahead as several scouts galloped toward them. "Commander, White City's defenses are lax. There are no ballistas in the city, and their arrows are likely only enough for seven or eight volleys!"

Haidu Aling reined in his horse, ordering all soldiers to halt and rest. They drank deeply and prepared their combinable wooden shields.

The weather was stiflingly hot. They were about to engage in a major battle and needed to replenish their fluids now.

Once the soldiers had drunk their fill, Haidu Aling drew his blade: "No one can stand in our way!"

The soldiers' spirits soared as they roared in response, their battle cries echoing to the heavens.

The troops pressed onward, and soon a fortress city surrounded by earthen walls several zhang high appeared before them at the mountain's base.

Under a cloudless azure sky, with majestic rolling hills stretching into the distance, Haidu Aling charged up the slope on horseback, waving his arm. Thunderous war drums boomed in unison, their momentum overwhelming, like a crushing tidal wave or a devastating thunderbolt.

When the black tide of soldiers surged over the ridge, the defenders of White City panicked. Those stationed outside the walls who couldn't retreat into the city in time fell in waves.

Blood stained the curved blades in the soldiers' hands.

White City's archers rushed onto the battlements, hurriedly nocking arrows.

Before the Northern Rong soldiers could draw near, the first volley of arrows had already descended.

Haidu Aling sneered. They hadn't even entered the defenders' effective range, yet the garrison was already firing arrows. It was clear they were completely unprepared. The vanguard was in disarray, and the entire army's morale had already shattered.

The army continued its advance. Within White City, urgent and piercing horn blasts and war drums sounded. Several men who appeared to be commanders ascended the battlements, waving flags. The archers gradually calmed, waiting for the commanders' flags to drop before unleashing their arrows in unison.

Ten thousand arrows flew as one.

The Northern Rong soldiers advanced steadily, raising their wooden shields and marching in disciplined formation. Gradually, some were struck by arrows slipping through gaps in the shields, but the majority closed in on White City.

Haidu Aling waited patiently. The soldiers' shields became densely studded with arrows, and the sound of loosed arrows shifted from a downpour to sporadic shots. Archers on the walls shouted in frustration.

"Their arrows are nearly spent."

"Charge!"

War drums thundered as Northern Rong soldiers roared and charged like a sharp blade tearing through the air, driving straight toward White City, intent on shattering the fortress to pieces.

Dust choked the air, and the earth trembled. White City quaked under the Northern Rong soldiers' unstoppable assault.

Suddenly, deafening booms erupted as if the mountains were collapsing and the ground splitting. The rapidly charging cavalry plunged one after another into massive pits. Shattered stones flew, and clouds of dust blotted out the sky.

In this sudden cataclysm, half the mountainside gave way entirely. The roaring collapse shook the heavens. Countless Northern Rong soldiers, unable to react, were swept along with their horses into the overwhelming deluge of rock and debris.

Soldiers in the rear wailed in terror, while those assaulting the city ahead turned in confusion, unaware of what had happened.

For a moment, the battlefield seemed to freeze.

Haidu Aling's blood boiled, his eyes wide with fury. He spurred his horse forward, watching helplessly as his rear guard was swallowed by the cascading boulders.

How could the mountain collapse so suddenly?

Explosions continued to roar, shaking the earth and mountains. Warhorses reared in terror, whinnying wildly as they threw their riders and bolted.At the same moment, accompanied by a series of eerie whistling sounds, massive fireballs descended from the sky and crashed into the Northern Rong battle formations.

Screams erupted everywhere as the formations instantly collapsed.

"Heavenly thunder! Heavenly thunder!"

The soldiers shrieked in terror.

Haidu Aling's hair stood on end. Clenching his fists, a gust of wind swept past, chilling the cold sweat on his body as he abruptly snapped out of his shock.

Morale had collapsed—they would not take White City today.

"Full retreat! Rally the scattered troops!"

His personal guards sounded the horns. Northern Rong soldiers screamed as they retreated, all trembling with fear as they passed collapsed rubble, fleeing with their heads covered.

His subordinates, having discarded their armor and weapons, fled back to Haidu Aling's side, urging him to leave immediately.

Haidu Aling gritted his teeth, his pupils contracting as he glared coldly at the walls of White City.

He had heard of the weapon just used by White City's defenders.

When Princess Wenzhao Li Yaoying fled the Yelu Tribe, "heavenly thunder had struck," bringing divine punishment and allowing her to escape in the chaos.

He never believed in divine punishment. Li Yaoying must have used some weapon only the Han people knew—something the steppe tribes had never seen before, mistaking it for heaven's wrath.

Shattered stones flew amid the ongoing roaring explosions. A fierce wind whipped up, sending sand and pebbles scattering.

In the distance, atop White City's walls, several military banners stood between the swirling yellow dust and the vast sky, fluttering sharply in the wind.

Haidu Aling narrowed his eyes, studying those unfamiliar banners.

Which minor tribe dared to block his path?

On the wall, a tall general drew his bow, pulled it to its full draw, and released an arrow.

A sharp whistle cut through the air, and a Northern Rong banner was struck by the arrow, toppling instantly.

Northern Rong soldiers cried out in alarm.

The general drew his bow again, releasing another arrow with overwhelming force. It sliced through the air and embedded itself into the pole of a Northern Rong banner with a resonating clang.

Trembling soldiers retrieved the letter tied to the arrow and delivered it to Haidu Aling.

Haidu Aling unfolded the letter, his eyes blazing with fury.

Gaochang had submitted to the Great Wei. All prefectures in the Western Regions had been recovered. Every inch of the mountains, rivers, and territory would be defended.

From this day forward, he would no longer face resistance from minor tribes but the entire Western Army—the Central Plains' Wei Kingdom.

Haidu Aling stared at the signature at the end of the letter, rage surging through him, his blood boiling, his knuckles white with strain.

It was the Western Army blocking him.

During this time, the Western Army had already recaptured Gaochang! King Yuchi, indulging Lady Yina, had supplied him with troops and weapons. The lack of resistance along his path had all been Li Yaoying's deception!

Good!

What a Li Yaoying!

A blood-soaked subordinate rushed to Haidu Aling's side, shouting, "Commander, where do we retreat to?"

Haidu Aling's face twitched, his expression savage.

The Western Regions had always been shrewd—they pledged allegiance to whichever power was strongest. The local aristocratic families had long resented the heavy taxes and levies. Even if the letter's claims weren't entirely true, they were close enough. The Royal Court and the Han princess had joined forces, trapping him outside White City. Wahan Khan's escape route to the eastern grasslands must have been cut off as well. The old khan was now a turtle in a jar, step by step falling into the final trap set by the Royal Court and the Western Army.

Once the Western Army and Royal Court forces closed their net simultaneously, the old khan would surely die.

His own forces had suffered heavy casualties and were powerless to turn the tide. Moreover, the Northern Rong nobles despised him and would not heed his commands.

Haidu Aling tugged the reins, decisively turning his horse around.

"Regroup the troops, conserve strength, and wait for the right moment.""The Great Khan is fleeing abroad, the nobles are acting on their own, and the enemy is fully prepared—who knows how many traps they have laid. We are the Great Khan’s only hope; we cannot act rashly. Once we gather more troops, we will march east immediately to rescue the sovereign!"

The previously faltering morale surged once more. The disorganized soldiers rallied around Haidu Aling and swiftly withdrew from the battlefield.

On the walls of White City, the generals watched Haidu Aling’s retreat and collectively breathed a sigh of relief. They ordered their soldiers to clear the battlefield and tend to the wounded, exchanging glances before bursting into unrestrained laughter, unable to contain their excitement.

Only the young general who had drawn his bow earlier remained stern-faced, not a trace of a smile on his lips.

Yang Nianxiang removed his helmet and turned to the grim-faced general beside him. "Xie Qing, those two arrows of yours were incredibly powerful. How long have you been practicing?"

Xie Qing replied expressionlessly, "Twelve years."

Yang Nianxiang clicked his tongue in admiration. Just then, soldiers rushed up to report military updates, and the group dispersed to attend to their duties, leaving no time for further chatter.

While the Royal Court’s forces clashed with the main Northern Rong army at Samu Valley, Yang Nianxiang and a few others had hurried back to Gaochang with Li Yaoying’s secret letter. There, they joined forces with Yang Qian, assisted King Yuchi in sidelining Lady Yina, and neutralized the Northern Rong troops stationed in Gaochang.

The King of Gaochang promptly wrote to the Wei Kingdom, requesting official recognition of Li Yaoying and the Western Army, along with military support.

Meanwhile, Yang Nianxiang and Xie Qing rushed to White City, where they mustered troops, set up equipment, and sharpened their forces for battle.

Li Yaoying had analyzed that Haidu Aling would first attack the tribes near Gaochang to consolidate his strength before targeting Gaochang itself. They had waited at White City for a long time, burying weapons secretly transported by merchant caravans across the entire mountain and spreading false intelligence to lure Northern Rong scouts—all to ensnare Haidu Aling.

Today’s engagement was merely the first clash. They had temporarily repelled Haidu Aling and weakened his forces, but they could not afford to let their guard down. Their mission was to hold the western front, preventing Haidu Aling from advancing eastward.

During this time, the Western Army would unite with local uprisings to gradually reclaim the various states of the Western Regions.

Xie Qing, gripping her longbow, led a squad of personal guards out of the city to patrol.

The Princess had repeatedly cautioned her: on the battlefield, one must never be careless—guard against arrogance and impatience.

Her current strength was still insufficient to slay Haidu Aling in direct combat, so she could not afford to be restless. But she could hold White City for the Princess, ensuring Haidu Aling could not take a single step further east.

Xie Qing sheathed her bow.

She had practiced archery for twelve years. It had been nearly twelve years since she first met the Princess.

The wind howled fiercely.

Clad in armor, Xie Qing sat astride her horse, blade in hand, gazing down at the chaotic aftermath of battle beneath her steed.

A scholar will die for one who understands him.

The Princess led the Western Army; she would become the most valiant general under the Princess’s command.

…

Sand City.

Yaoying finished reading the densely detailed battle report, confirming that Xie Qing and the others had repelled Haidu Aling. She laid out the previous strategies and plans step by step.

Stationed at the Royal Court, she had brought no personal troops with her. The main force of the Western Army was fighting valiantly on the front lines, reclaiming lost territory. She and the merchant caravans coordinated supplies and weapons from the rear, guiding the troops to avoid Northern Rong stragglers and minimize casualties.

During her time accompanying the Royal Court’s army, she had spent her days managing rear logistics and organizing intelligence—tasks she now handled with practiced ease.

Li Zhongqian watched Yaoying, his heart filled with complex emotions.

All his ambitions and aspirations had vanished after Xie Wuliang’s death. Now, he would rather betray the world than let the world betray him.Yaoying was different from him.

Back in the Central Plains, she had not dared to involve herself in such matters due to the suppression by Li De and Li Xuanzhen.

During these three years when he was not by her side, she had endured many hardships. In front of him, she still remained the well-behaved younger sister, but in the eyes of others, she was no longer the person she once was.

Li Zhongqian’s expression darkened.

Yaoying knew the burden on his mind. She tugged at his sleeve and said in a coaxing tone, “Elder brother, you are the bravest in the army, and your personal guards and family soldiers all admire you. I’ve asked them to seek your guidance from now on. Could you teach them how to deploy troops and arrange formations?”

He was still thinking of taking her back, so she needed to gradually involve him in these matters first.

Li Zhongqian collected his thoughts and nodded. “They have stayed by your side all these years—they are loyal and courageous men, and promising talents too. They are welcome to ask me anything.”

Yaoying responded with a cheerful “Mm.”

After talking for a while, Li Zhongqian made sure Yaoying returned to her room to take her medicine.

That night, the two packed their belongings, preparing to set off for the Holy City the next day.

The following morning, as Yaoying and Li Zhongqian rode out of the posthouse, the refugees waiting outside immediately swarmed around them.

“Warrior! Please take us in!”

“Chief, you can’t just abandon us!”

Li Zhongqian adjusted his reins and cast a cold, fierce glare at the rushing refugees, his phoenix eyes filled with menace. “Scram.”

The refugees recoiled in fear.

Yaoying rode alongside Li Zhongqian and glanced back at the refugees.

“Pay them no mind,” Li Zhongqian said. “What does their survival have to do with me?”

Yaoying thought for a moment. “Elder brother, we are in need of people right now. Why not check their backgrounds? If they were originally herders and haven’t committed any crimes, we could take them in temporarily. People from these tribes have grown up on horseback since childhood—they are skilled in archery and riding.”

Li Zhongqian frowned but ultimately yielded to Yaoying. “Very well, as you wish.”

…

While the siblings were still on the road, Bayi had already rushed back to the Holy City at full speed.

Soon, Li Zhongqian’s handwritten letter arrived at Wang Temple.

Tanmoroqie had just finished a sermon.

After the great battle, he had been holding a fortnight-long dharma assembly at the temple as usual. The swelling in his legs kept recurring, and every night he had to soothe the pain with hot springs. The leopard had been locked away, and additional guards were posted along the corridors.

This time, no one would break into the secret passage.

The letter was delivered directly to his Zen room. Dressed in a Kasaya that left one shoulder bare, drenched in sweat, and holding his Buddhist beads, he slowly sat down with Bore’s support and opened the letter sent from Sand City.

Bisuo, standing guard by the door, couldn’t help but turn around, nervously watching the letter in his hand.

After reading the letter, Tanmoroqie set it aside, lightly twirling the Buddhist beads with his fingers. His expression remained impassive, his features cool and detached.

The gilded incense burner wafted curls of blue smoke, filling the room with a subtle fragrance.

After a long silence, Bore asked curiously, “Your Majesty, what did Princess Wenzhao write in the letter?”

Tanmoroqie replied indifferently, “The letter says the Girl of Matanga has come to a realization.”

The one-year period had ended. It was time to bring this to a formal close.

Bore clapped his hands lightly and chuckled, repeatedly chanting the Buddha’s name. “That’s wonderful. The princess has found her elder brother, and the one-year term is over. Everything has turned out happily.”

Tanmoroqie lowered his gaze and opened a volume of Buddhist scriptures.

Yes, everything had turned out happily.

She must be very pleased.

The wind rustled melodiously, and the blooming oleasters in the courtyard swayed in the breeze, scattering a carpet of fallen petals on the steps.

Light and shadow shifted along the corridor.

He sat in the dim Zen room, silent.

Bisuo sighed quietly to himself.