In the Moonlight

Beyond Sand City stretched a vast, boundless desert.

Under the scorching sun, with heat waves shimmering, caravan after caravan laden with goods made their way toward the prosperous Holy City. The gentle chimes of camel bells and the spirited strains of pipa music drifted and echoed across the sea of sand.

Li Zhongqian turned in his saddle to gaze back at Sand City, standing firm amidst the yellow sands. On the battlements, the heavy armor of the garrison soldiers glinted brilliantly under the fierce sun.

Outside the city gates, the fog of war lingered, with various major forces locked in a jagged, intricate struggle, chaos unceasing.

Inside the city gates, music and revelry filled the air, merchants gathered like spokes to a hub, and trade flourished.

A single city gate separated two entirely different worlds.

In nearly every town they passed, towering pagodas were a common sight, with the common people devoutly making offerings, regarding the Buddha Prince as a deity.

Li Zhongqian lost himself in thought for a long moment. In these turbulent times, for Bright Moon Slave to leave her homeland behind, flee to a foreign land, and gain the protection of the Royal Court's Buddha Prince was no small feat.

He did not believe in fate, nor in gods or spirits, placing his faith only in the survival of the fittest. Yet at this moment, his heart softened just a little.

He could only hope the world would treat her gently, sparing her from too much hardship.

Li Yaoying wore her hair in braids, adorned with pearls and jade ornaments cascading over her shoulders. Her narrow-sleeved, sheer gown was so radiantly beautiful it seemed to dim the very sunlight. A veil covered her face as she rode, discussing with Old Qi the matter of ransoming slaves and prisoners of war.

After listening for a while, Li Zhongqian frowned and asked, "You want to ransom Northern Rong prisoners too?"

Yaoying explained, "Many among the Northern Rong captives were commoners forcibly conscripted from various tribes, unwilling to fight for the Northern Rong. When we ransom them, we won't send them home immediately. Instead, we'll have them guide us, helping us reclaim the scattered oases across the desert before finding ways to settle them. By ransoming more people, we gain more allies and fewer enemies."

"I've already ransomed several groups. Those who wish to continue soldiering join the Western Army; those who want to return home are allowed to travel back together to tend sheep or farm in peace."

The Western Army's numbers were still too small, and the terrain of the Western Regions made it difficult to completely pacify all conflicts in a short time. The only way was to first capture key strongholds and then stabilize the situation. After seizing these strongholds, to prevent future Northern Rong counterattacks, the soldiers must garrison the land, farming to support themselves—resting and recuperating, restoring production to supply the army's needs—while maintaining training and readiness for battle.

As the Western Army gradually reclaimed lost territories, large-scale population relocations would soon follow. At such a time, every laborer was precious—quelling the chaos was, after all, for the people's sake. If everyone could live and work in peace, warfare would naturally diminish.

After Gaochang was retaken, Yaoying had instructed Old Qi to compile registers and begin preparing for the settlement of prisoners of war and refugees, to avoid future haste and errors.

Li Zhongqian nodded slightly.

He was thinking of the future.

The situation in the Western Regions was complex. The Western Army could not rely on the imperial court, nor could it fall into Li De's hands. It had to take root locally to adapt flexibly. Thus, provisions and weapons had to be procured by the Western Army itself. Garrison farming could alleviate the pressure on military supplies, solving the major challenge of long-distance transport, bypassing multiple checkpoints, and avoiding embezzlement. However, soldiers engaged in farming and busy with agricultural work might see their combat effectiveness decline.

Ransoming people to populate the borders and support garrison farming was a sound strategy.

"Are the funds sufficient?"Old Qi stood by with a beaming smile. "Young Master need not worry about that—we have more than enough. Not only do we earn a fortune daily, but we also have no shortage of funds. The Western Army has won the people's hearts. When General Yang first raised the banner of rebellion, both noble families and commoners competed to offer wealth and supplies. Before the uprising, the princess sought out some Sogdian merchants, explained the stakes to them, and they too generously opened their purses, contributing large sums to the Western Army."

Li Zhongqian raised an eyebrow, recalling the accumulated wealth of the Xie family over generations.

From the moment she learned to manage accounts, she had handled the Xie family's finances for him. Back then, to save him, she had used half of it to bribe court officials. The remaining undisclosed assets were more than enough to ensure his comfort for the rest of his life.

Yaoying sent the radiant Old Qi away and turned to Li Zhongqian with a wry smile, whispering, "Elder Brother, it's true that the common people voluntarily sent money and grain, but the noble families and Sogdian merchants are the shrewdest. They offered wealth with an eye toward the future—these favors will have to be repaid later."

The noble families and Sogdian merchants hoped that once trade routes were open, they could control them and reap immense profits—a venture with minimal risk and maximum gain. When the Northern Rong were powerful, they aligned with them; as soon as the Northern Rong lost influence, they immediately curried favor with the Western Army. These people must be won over, but we must also guard against being manipulated by them in the future.

Li Zhongqian looked at Yaoying, her face glistening with sweat, his expression complex. "No one rises early without a motive—that's human nature. It's good that you understand this. Don't be like Yang Qian, whose head is filled only with grand ideals."

Yang Qian was a hotheaded youth, full of courage but lacking tact and caution. He believed that with just a sword, he could uphold justice and fulfill his ambitions. If not for people like Yaoying and the King of Yutian maneuvering behind the scenes, he would have long been betrayed by other noble families.

Yaoying chuckled. "Yang Qian is brimming with courage. I think he's quite admirable."

Li Zhongqian arched his brows, lost in thought. "Yang Qian hasn't married yet. He's only a few years older than you—quite suitable. His looks aren't bad either, handsome and dignified... He comes from a Hexi noble family, so his status matches yours..."

Yaoying couldn't hold back a laugh. "Elder Brother, do you think I need to rush into marriage now?"

Li Zhongqian fell silent.

Yaoying urged her horse forward, riding alongside him. "Elder Brother, you used to worry that Li De would marry me off hastily to win over other factions. Now he can't force me anymore—I can decide my own marriage. Elder Brother, you don't need to keep trying to find me a good match like before. Yang Qian and I are just friends."

Li Zhongqian lifted his gaze to her, his eyes profound. "If you were married, I'd feel more at ease."

Yaoying snorted lightly and wrinkled her nose. "Are you so eager to see me married? Will marriage guarantee a worry-free life? What if my husband and I don't get along, and he treats me poorly?"

Li Zhongqian's face darkened.

"Then I'd dig out his heart and liver to accompany your wine."

Yaoying burst out laughing. "Then it's better not to marry at all! I don't want to marry right now."

She put on a stern face and glared at Li Zhongqian. "Elder Brother, you've never married, and I've never nagged you about it."

From the age of fifteen, the old servants of the Xie family had urged Li Zhongqian to marry soon, even arranging matches with noblewomen of suitable status, but he had firmly refused.

"With my status, disaster could strike at any moment. What kind of life would my wife have? Why bring harm to others?"The old servant had advised him several times, but he remained unmoved, preferring to indulge in pleasure-seeking and reckless behavior, mingling with courtesans who cared only for money and possessions. He moved through countless beauties without forming any attachments.

Most of the concubines in his residence were from humble backgrounds. Knowing he had no intention of marrying, they begged to be taken into his household. He said, "While I live, you may leave whenever you wish. If something happens to me, you should all find your own way out."

Thus, when misfortune befell him, Yaoying gave each of his concubines a sum of silver for their security and allowed them to leave freely to avoid implication. They departed without hesitation.

"Age dictates precedence. Since Elder Brother has not yet married, I am in no hurry to wed."

Yaoying spoke word by word, her tone carrying a hint of threat.

Li Zhongqian glanced at Yaoying, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Alright, let's not speak of this today."

With so many young men from noble families in the Western Army, surely a few would catch her eye.

They continued their journey.

Passing through barren, undulating sand dunes that stretched one after another, they arrived before a towering cliff of perilous rocks. The team traversed mountains and ridges for a day and a night until the howling winds gradually faded. Suddenly, the view opened up, revealing vast fertile fields before their eyes.

Under the vast sky, several rivers meandered, their surfaces glistening. Shaded by green trees along the banks, herds of cattle and sheep grazed, and the river valleys were lush with verdant layers of greenery. Villages and houses of varying sizes dotted the landscape, with wisps of cooking smoke rising.

The wind blowing against them turned cool.

Cotton, mulberry, and wheat covered the hills and plains. Fruit trees on the slopes were heavy with harvest, and in the grape vineyards, clusters of grapes hung abundantly from the vines, filling the air with their fragrance.

Li Zhongqian thought to himself, No wonder the Royal Court is prosperous. Despite the sprawling deserts, there are vast stretches of fertile oases here, and frequent trade with Persia, the Land of Brahma, and Fu Lin has fostered thriving commerce.

The merchant caravan stayed behind in the valley's market to trade with local merchants, but Li Yaoying and Li Zhongqian, eager to press on, parted ways with them.

A few days later, the two, along with their guards, reached the Holy City.

The weather was hot, and fruits were ripe. Vendors pushed carts through the streets, hawking sour plums, Foreign Cucumbers, apricots, and pears, their shelves brimming with a dazzling array.

Dusty and weary from travel, Yaoying and her party were hot and thirsty. Their eyes lit up at the sight of the vendor carts.

Dismounting, they surrounded a vendor.

Yaoying picked some fruits for Li Zhongqian to taste: "The fruits here are sweet and juicy, Elder Brother. Have some to quench your thirst."

As she spoke, she noticed a vine basket on the cart filled with golden, amber-like, translucent fruits. She took out silver coins and bought them.

After sating themselves with fruits, the guards let out long sighs of relief, wiped their mouths, and clasped their hands respectfully. "Princess, shall we go to the Wang Temple to send word?"

Li Zhongqian shook his head. "First, let's find a place to change clothes."

It was his first audience with the monarch of the Royal Court. He needed to express Yaoying's gratitude to the Buddha Prince and resolve the matter of the Girl of Matanga. He could not enter the palace covered in dust.

"The courtyard at Wang Temple must have been cleaned long ago. Let's go to the silk shop in the market—our people are there."

They led their horses to the market, which was unusually quiet. The foreign merchant managing the silk shop was dozing on the second floor but hurried down to greet them warmly.

Li Zhongqian carefully washed and groomed himself, changing into a brocade robe patterned with linked pearls and hunting scenes. He wrapped his hair in Soft Headwear, donned embroidered boots, and looked dashing and heroic with sharply trimmed sideburns. Dressed in vibrant attire, he wore a long sword at his waist and a short dagger studded with gems fastened to his leather belt.

He had heard from the guards that in the Royal Court, the more jewels and jade one displayed, the more impressive one appeared.Yaoying also changed her clothes. When Li Zhongqian saw her, his brows furrowed slightly: "Why are you dressed so plainly?"

She wore a gray long skirt with her hair tied up and secured with a jade hairpin. From head to toe, she was neat and clean, without any other adornments.

Yaoying said: "Since we're going to Wang Temple, it's better for me to dress modestly."

After reuniting with Li Zhongqian, she had felt relieved and cheerful, dressing brightly. But now that she had returned to the Holy City, she certainly couldn't dress as usual.

Li Zhongqian frowned: "You're no longer the Buddha Prince's Girl of Matanga, there's no need to avoid taboos. Go change your clothes."

She wasn't even eighteen yet—she should dress beautifully every day, adorned with pearls and jade, just like when she was in the Central Plains, without caring about anyone's opinions.

Yaoying thought for a moment but still shook her head: "Let it be for today. I'll wait until I've formally settled the matter of being the Girl of Matanga."

Li Zhongqian had no choice but to let her be.

After leaving the market, the soldier sent to deliver a message to Wang Temple returned and reported: "The Buddha Prince is not at the temple. Today is the Great Dharma assembly, and the Buddha Prince has gone out."

Yaoying's brows furrowed slightly: "No wonder the market is so quiet today..."

She remembered—after the great battle, Tanmoroqie needed to preside over the Dharma assembly, reciting Scriptures to guide the souls of fallen soldiers and comfort the people.

She wondered if his leg had improved at all...

Li Zhongqian signaled the soldier to lead the way: "Where is the assembly being held? Let's go take a look."

...

The ceremony was held in the square before the palace. The group headed toward the palace direction.

As they walked, the number of pedestrians increased. When they reached the main street, the crowd was so dense it was impassable, with a dark mass of believers gathered below the high platform.

Imperial Guards in white robes and blue shirts were stationed at several entrances to the long street. Yaoying's group had arrived too late and were stopped by the guards outside the square.

They stood with other commoners who couldn't squeeze in, gazing toward the square from a distance.

The wind whistled, Prayer flags fluttered, and the atmosphere was solemn.

Though the crowd below the platform was large, everyone devoutly queued up to approach in an orderly manner. Apart from the monks chanting scriptures, not a single human voice could be heard.

Yaoying stood among the crowd, looking up at the high platform.

Over a dozen monks in magnificent ceremonial robes stood on the high platform. Among them, one wearing a crimson Kasaya with one shoulder exposed led the others in offering incense.

After the incense offering, he slowly turned to face the people, holding a rosary in his hand as he recited a passage of Scriptures in a melodious, graceful, and composed tone.

For a time, the square resonated with Sanskrit chants, accompanied by the lingering sounds of drums and music, and the curling smoke of incense. He stood tall and straight amidst it all, his expression calm and detached, handsome yet austere, as if enveloped in a Buddha's radiance—unlike any mortal being.

In this solemn and dignified atmosphere, the people below were deeply moved, pressing their palms together in unison as they chanted Buddhist prayers. Some wept softly, their voices merging into a surging torrent that lingered over the square for a long time.

Neither Li Zhongqian nor the soldiers believed in Buddhism, but witnessing this scene, they couldn't help but feel profound respect.

When the ceremony ended, the monks and Imperial Guards escorted Tanmoroqie away.

Yaoying stood on her toes to watch—his movements as he descended the high platform showed no sign of abnormality, appearing completely unaffected.

Under the direction of the guards, the believers began to exit the square in an orderly manner. Yaoying and Li Zhongqian turned to leave.

"Brother, did you see the Buddha Prince just now?"

Li Zhongqian nodded: "I saw him... Truly an extraordinary presence."

After seeing him in person, he understood why Yaoying had praised the Buddha Prince so highly throughout their journey.

Yaoying's eyes curved slightly.As the two were speaking, a dark shadow suddenly cut through the air, heading straight toward Yaoying.

Li Zhongqian reacted swiftly, grabbing Yaoying and pulling her back.

With a loud thud, a foreign cucumber smashed onto the spot where Yaoying had just been standing, splitting into several pieces, its flesh and juice splattering everywhere.

Yaoying’s ears were still ringing, and before she could regain her composure, a loud shout came from somewhere in the crowd: "She’s the Han woman who’s been pestering the Buddha Prince!"

"She’s been staring at the Buddha Prince the whole time!"

The bustling crowd immediately erupted into chaos. Countless gazes filled with either disgust or contempt turned toward Yaoying, like a volley of arrows that could pierce her into a hedgehog in an instant.

"Shameless!"

"Disgraceful!"

Soon, curses filled the air, and fruits flew everywhere. The devotees rolled up their sleeves, grabbing fruits from roadside vendors’ baskets and shelves, hurling them in Yaoying’s direction.

Li Zhongqian’s expression darkened. He spread his arms to shield Yaoying in his embrace. His guards quickly drew their swords, forming a protective circle around them and deflecting the flying fruits and vegetables.

The square was packed with devotees, and waves of people surged forward, blocking the exits. Shouts, curses, and loud questions mingled into a chaotic mess.

Li Zhongqian’s muscles tensed with rage as he drew his sword.

Yaoying quickly pressed his hand down. "Brother, don’t escalate this. Let’s leave quickly."

If things escalated, Tanmoroqie would surely face difficulties. She had indeed pursued him and tarnished his reputation. It was only natural for these devotees to resent her.

Li Zhongqian’s phoenix-like eyes swept coldly across the scene, his face as dark as storm clouds. Clutching Yaoying’s hand, he shielded her as they retreated from the crowd.

…

Deep within the long street.

A vanguard of lightly armored guards in white robes rode ahead, clearing the way. A carriage adorned with seven treasures and coral slowly made its way through the narrow alley. Amid the rumbling of wheels and the steady clip-clop of hooves, a sudden flurry of hurried footsteps approached.

A guard rushed forward and reported to Bi Suo, who was escorting the carriage, "General! Princess Wenzhao has been surrounded by devotees!"

Bi Suo shuddered, yanking sharply on the reins. "What did you say? Who’s surrounded?"

Before he could finish speaking, the carriage curtain stirred. A slender, well-defined hand pushed aside the gauze curtain, and a pair of cold, penetrating eyes fixed on the guard.

A shiver ran down the guard’s spine. He cupped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, Princess Wenzhao appeared in the square earlier to watch you preside over the Dharma assembly. The devotees recognized her and surrounded her… The square is in chaos now. The squad leader requests your instructions—should we disperse the crowd?"

Bi Suo hesitated for a moment, glancing toward the carriage. "Your Majesty, I’ll handle this personally—"

"Turn back."

The person inside the carriage spoke softly, cutting him off directly. His tone was calm, as if completely composed.

A moment later, he added, "Turn around."

Clearly, he was urging haste.

Bi Suo acknowledged the order and commanded the carriage to turn around. The carriage picked up speed, no longer moving at its previous leisurely pace.

By the time they hurried back to the square, the commotion had mostly subsided. Guard Bayi rushed over to report, "Princess Wenzhao, fearing the situation would worsen, ordered her guards to split up and lure away the most agitated devotees. The crowd has already dispersed."

Bi Suo breathed a sigh of relief, grateful nothing serious had happened. "Where is the princess?"

Bayi pointed toward a corner. "The princess is hiding over there. She said she’d wait until everyone has left to avoid further trouble…"

Before he could finish speaking, his jaw dropped in astonishment.The carriage curtain lifted, a crimson kasaya sweeping past the shaft as Tanmoroqie stepped directly out of the compartment, his brows slightly furrowed.

The crowd stared in stunned silence, hastily scrambling to fetch the golden carpets and other items meant for the ground.

Tanmoroqie remained silent, his emerald eyes scanning the surroundings.

The exit of the long street was in disarray, littered with smashed fruits.

Today’s dharma assembly had gathered thousands of devotees, and just moments ago, a crowd of thousands had surrounded her…

His fingers tightened around the Buddhist beads, his monastic shoes treading over the filth as he walked step by step in the direction Bayi had pointed.

In a corner, several guards stood watch over a young woman. Her hair was disheveled, her plain gray gown stained with fruit juice, one boot missing, and a large tear in her sleeve revealing fair skin, with faint red marks on her elbow.

Hearing the footsteps, she looked up and saw Tanmoroqie in his kasaya. Her expression shifted to surprise, and after a moment’s pause, she appeared slightly embarrassed.

“I’m sorry,” she smiled at Luojia. “I’ve caused trouble for the Dharma Master.”

Tanmoroqie gazed down at her for a long while, his eyes tracing the red marks on her hands from the impact.

Does it hurt?

He wanted to ask.

The prayer flags on the high platform, not yet taken down, fluttered noisily in the wind.

His chaotic thoughts gradually settled as he said calmly, “Get in the carriage. We’re returning to the temple.”