In the Moonlight

Beaded curtains shimmered with sunlight streaming into the inner hall, the space before the desk as still as deep waters.

For a moment, Li Zhongqian thought Tanmoroqie had given a negative response, for his expression was too composed, his gaze too tranquil, without a trace of the shame or anger one might expect when having their hidden feelings exposed.

Such calmness precisely indicated he had long been aware of his own emotions yet had restrained himself—proof of his disciplined boundaries.

But Yaoying remained unaware, completely unguarded in her private interactions with him!

Li Zhongqian snapped back to reality, his face darkening: "The Dharma Master is an eminent monk who has attained enlightenment and should uphold the precepts. My sister speaks of you daily with overflowing admiration and trust—how could you disregard ethics and harbor romantic feelings for her?"

"Could it be because she entered the temple under the identity of the Girl of Matanga that you misunderstood?"

Tanmoroqie shook his head: "Desire arising from joy... is due to my failure in upholding the precepts. It has nothing to do with the Princess. She clarified from the beginning that the identity of the Girl of Matanga was merely a pretext."

Unconsciously, he had allowed himself to indulge in her companionship and permitted her closeness. Were it not for the one-year deadline, he would have continued to indulge.

All conditioned things are impermanent, all is suffering. All phenomena are without self, nirvana is peace... As a practitioner, he could recite such Scriptures effortlessly and had long comprehended their meaning, knowing that love is but an illusory bubble, fleeting in an instant. Yet even aware it was a quagmire of suffering, he still permitted himself to sink deeper.

Li Zhongqian felt slightly surprised, narrowing his phoenix eyes as he glanced at Tanmoroqie.

He had deliberately provoked him with words, yet Tanmoroqie showed no anger or shame, nor did he attempt to justify himself by claiming Yaoying had deliberately drawn close to sway his resolve. He simply admitted his own failure in discipline—this showed considerable integrity.

Unfortunately, his identity as the Buddha Prince of the Royal Court destined him to have no entanglement with women.

No matter how responsible he might be, he was not a suitable match for Yaoying.

"The Dharma Master possesses outstanding elegance, vast knowledge, and noble status—a true dragon among men...Li Zhongqian pondered briefly before setting aside his hesitation and speaking directly, "However, you are a monk who has left the secular world, and the Buddha Prince in the hearts of the Royal Court's people. My sister is young, and as her elder brother, I naturally have many concerns. May I ask what your intentions are?"

Tanmoroqie lowered his gaze, fingers slowly turning his rosary.

Li Zhongqian pressed bluntly: "Does the Dharma Master intend to keep concealing this indefinitely?"

"Or will you confess the truth to my sister and meet her in secret, forcing her to visit the temple under cover of darkness like last night for clandestine encounters? Do you plan to make her a hidden lover kept in the shadows by a monk for life? Should she spend her remaining years hiding, constantly guarding against the exposure of your affair?"

Tanmoroqie's fingers twitched slightly.

Li Zhongqian continued: "She is my sister, treasured like a pearl in my palm. I cannot bear to see her suffer the slightest grievance. You must be aware of our experiences—I will never watch her repeat such tragedies. After enduring so much hardship, she must never compromise in marriage. Her future husband need not be an extraordinary hero or a monarch; he only needs to understand warmth and affection, treat her well, earn her affection, and live with her in mutual devotion—that would be enough."Xie Manyuan was like a moth flying into the flame, retreating step by step until her heart turned to ashes, leaving her deranged. When Yaoying loved someone, she loved with her whole heart, regardless of the outcome. She would sacrifice herself to save him, her elder brother; if she fell in love with someone, she would surely do the same.

Li Zhongqian did not want to see Yaoying wounded by love like Xie Manyuan.

He hoped her husband would be a good man—not necessarily outstanding, from a simple family, who genuinely respected and cherished her, and would always treat her well. Even if their affection waned over time, they could still support each other.

Not a monk with a special status who would plunge her into endless troubles.

Tanmoroqie gazed at the incense burner wreathed in blue smoke beneath the curtain, remaining silent.

Li Zhongqian smiled grimly and said darkly, "Or perhaps, Venerable One, your affection for Seventh Lady has grown so deep that you would renounce monastic life for her? Forgive my bluntness, but even if you did, you could not offer Seventh Lady a stable life. The people of the Royal Court hold you in the highest esteem. If you were to renounce your vows for her, Seventh Lady would be condemned and reviled by all. Everyone would call her a temptress. Even if you married, you would never know peace."

"When passion burns fiercely, you might abandon your practice for her. But when beauty fades and love cools, when affection turns to resentment, and you grow weary of each other, will you still treat her as you do now, remembering that you gave up your noble status and lifelong learning for her?"

"The love between men and women blazes like fire but vanishes like the wind. I speak from experience."

Had Li De not married into the Xie family to strengthen his power, despite all his desperate passions for Tang Ying over the years?

Love was unreliable.

Li Zhongqian looked directly at Tanmoroqie: "Moreover, the Royal Court is thousands of miles from Seventh Lady's homeland. The geography and customs are different, the language unfamiliar. She was forced to drift here and had no choice but to adapt. You are the ruler of the Royal Court and cannot abandon it to follow her home. She is Han, and the Royal Court looks down on Han people. Even if you overcome countless hardships and she stays, there will be endless troubles."

Even if Yaoying did not return to Chang'an, she would never remain in the Royal Court forever. Once the Western Army recaptured Guazhou and Shazhou, she would surely stay in Guazhou to handle Western Army affairs, far from Li De and Li Xuanzhen. The remaining forces of the Southern Xie family could relocate to Guazhou.

Thus, whether Tanmoroqie renounced his vows or not, he could not offer Yaoying a bright and stable future.

The hall fell silent.

The two men sat facing each other in prolonged silence.

After a long while, Li Zhongqian curled his lips and shifted his tone: "You are a high monk. Though you have developed feelings for my sister, it must be a fleeting passion that will soon fade, far from the stage of marriage. My earlier words were an overanxious worry... I must have amused you."

He lifted his gaze to Tanmoroqie.

"Seventh Lady has endured countless hardships and suffered greatly. I am deeply grateful for your protection and will surely repay your kindness. But I will not stand by and watch her sink into a mire out of gratitude."

"Please promise me one thing."

A flicker passed through Tanmoroqie's eyes: "What does the Duke of Wei wish me to promise?"Li Zhongqian's expression was solemn: "The Dharma Master cannot abandon the Royal Court, nor do I intend to force the Dharma Master to forsake everything. Since there will be no outcome, I hope the Dharma Master will maintain proper boundaries henceforth and keep a distance from Qiniang, lest she misunderstand and become too deeply immersed to extricate herself. I will also remind Qiniang to mind her conduct, so her childish temperament does not disturb the Dharma Master's cultivation."

Tanmoroqie tightened his grip on the Buddhist Beads.

He had foreseen all that Li Zhongqian said. As a cultivator, he should not selfishly cling to Yaoying's closeness when she knew nothing of his feelings.

Li Zhongqian was right—to Yaoying, he was a quagmire.

"Alright," he replied, his voice hoarse.

...

Outside the side hall.

Bi Suo stood tense and anxious, hand on his sword hilt, straining to hear any movement inside, ready to rush in and mediate at any moment. But behind the curtain, there was only the murmur of conversation. After a long wait without any signs of argument or fighting, he frowned in confusion. Then, a series of footsteps emerged.

Bi Suo quickly straightened up and watched as Li Zhongqian strode out of the inner hall and left.

They didn't fight?

Bi Suo turned and entered the hall, his gaze falling on Tanmoroqie's face. His heart tightened.

Tanmoroqie's eyes were lowered, his complexion unusually pale.

"In the future, when I fall ill, do not disturb Princess Wenzhao. Do not summon her to the temple late at night."

Bi Suo was stunned: "Your Majesty..."

Tanmoroqie lowered his head to review memorials, his presence heavy and still.

Bi Suo dared not argue, sighing inwardly.

Tanmoroqie picked up a brush to write.

After a moment's thought, Bi Suo cautiously said, "Your Majesty, Princess Wenzhao truly cares about your health... When she heard you were ill, she came to see you without hesitation."

Tanmoroqie shook his head. "Do not exploit her."

A flash of shame crossed Bi Suo's face.

Tanmoroqie said no more.

He could not blame Bi Suo for acting on his own initiative—it was his own repeated tacit approvals that had led Bi Suo to invite her to care for him.

In the end, it was his fault.

The Scriptures contained a phrase: Do not meet, do not converse... If he were truly resolved to sever his attachment, he need only avoid seeing Yaoying and speaking with her to calm his mind in meditation...

Over time, even if attachment remained, it would not affect her.

He had made resolutions, yet repeatedly indulged in seeing her and talking to her. When she came to care for him, he showed nothing on the surface, but in his heart, he was joyful, wishing to keep her by his side always.

Once attachment took root, desire would endlessly expand until it completely consumed his reason.

Not only did he harbor greedy desires, but he also selfishly wanted to possess her entirely.

If this continued, he would inevitably lose control and force himself upon her.

Tanmoroqie steadied his mind and focused on reviewing the memorials. When he unrolled an exquisitely crafted parchment, his brush suddenly halted.

Bi Suo sensed the sharp shift in his aura and called out worriedly, "Your Majesty?"

He had undergone Power dissipation and should not be using Internal Force now—what was happening?

Tanmoroqie remained motionless. After a long pause, he finally left his notation on the parchment.

Puzzled, Bi Suo withdrew. Later, when the reviewed memorials were sent out of the side hall, Bore and a few others gathered to transcribe the documents. Bi Suo pulled out that parchment scroll and glanced at it, his brow furrowing deeply.

When Bore came to transcribe that parchment, his eyes widened in shock: "Prince Mobi Duo of Wujili Bu has formally proposed marriage to Princess Wenzhao?!"

Bi Suo's face darkened.

No wonder Tanmoroqie had reacted that way upon seeing this memorial.Bore clicked his tongue, copying the document while muttering incessantly: "As soon as the King announced Princess Wenzhao's departure from the temple, Wujili Bu sent a marriage proposal, requesting the King's permission. Prince Mobi Duo must have been waiting for this day all along—he's truly impatient... He's a young hero, handsome too, and quite a match for Princess Wenzhao..."

A worried expression surfaced on Bi Suo's face.

Mobi Duo was the prince of Wujili Bu, highly regarded. Yaoying was now the West Army Commander, and the noble families allied with the Western Army would surely want her to maintain ties with the Royal Court. Moreover, Mobi Duo was skilled in warfare and would eventually take over Wujili Bu—the noble families would certainly advise her to marry him.

If the King were to bestow the marriage, and Princess Wenzhao, no longer infatuated with the Buddha Prince, were to wed the Royal Court's young hero, it would indeed make for a fine tale. They were of similar age and truly well-matched.

According to the Ministry of Rites, Li Yaoying was actively uniting various states and tribes, continuously strengthening her influence. Would she consider marrying Mobi Duo for the greater good?

Bi Suo glanced again at the parchment.

On this memorial, Tanmoroqie had not written any comments, only stamped it with his seal.

In other words, as the monarch, he would not prevent Wujili Bu from proposing to Li Yaoying.

What was he thinking in his heart?

The parchment was soon sent out of Wang Temple. The waiting envoy from Wujili Bu was overjoyed, holding the parchment and hurriedly departed.

...

Li Zhongqian returned to the silk shop, where his guard informed him that Li Yaoying was still asleep.

"Don't disturb her—let her sleep."

He took his sword to another courtyard to handle military affairs, urging the guards to pack their belongings.

In the innermost bedroom on the second floor, Yaoying was in a daze, clutching a silk cushion, sweating profusely in her sleep.

She dreamed of twisting cotton and pulling silk, heavy snow falling wildly, a fierce wind blowing through the small window lattice into the room, the felt curtain whipping violently. Drunk and unsteady, she wore a pomegranate-red gold-sprinkled robe with small floral patterns, a spring-green skirt with rounded motifs below, and held a white shawl embroidered with birds and flowers, swaying as she entered a quiet Zen room.

A monk in crimson kasaya sat with his back to her under the lamp, his posture upright as he read Buddhist scriptures. She walked toward him, but the further she went, the hotter she felt, her body becoming sticky with sweat. Her shawl, paired bracelets, gold armlets, outer half-sleeved jacket, hairpins, and colorful hair ribbons slipped to the floor one by one, accompanied by the gentle tinkling of ornaments.

The monk, holding a scripture scroll, glanced up at her, his sea-green eyes calm and profound.

Feeling unbearably hot, she approached him, her feverish fingers touching his face—indeed cool—and she threw herself into his embrace, sitting on his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck.

He looked down at her, expressionless.

She squirmed in his arms, disheveling his kasaya, her fingers trailing up his neck to touch his head. Drunk and dazed, she pressed close and whispered, "Master..."

Their breaths intertwined, a faint sandalwood fragrance enveloping them.

She broke into a sweat, damp and clinging to him even more. He watched her, slowly leaning closer, his arms tightening around her.

Sitting face to face, he supported her with one hand and lowered his head to kiss her neck.

A series of heavy footsteps echoed from the staircase.Yaoying jolted awake from her dream, momentarily dazed. Most of the dream faded instantly, leaving only a vague impression of herself sitting atop Tanmoroqie... exactly like the bronze statue from the Land of Brahma she had once seen...

What a sin, what a sin...

Collecting herself, Yaoying sat up, ruffled her disheveled hair, and shook her head, silently vowing: Next time, I must sell that bronze statue.

A knock sounded at the door, followed by a guard's report: "Princess, Wujili Bu has sent gifts overnight."

"Wujili Bu?"

Yaoying rose, lit a lamp, quickly washed up, changed her clothes, and hurried to the main hall.

The hall was brightly lit. Li Zhongqian was already there, watching her for a moment before handing her a gift list. "The young prince of Wujili Bu has formally proposed marriage to you."

Yaoying froze, then took the list to examine it closely. The gifts were varied—thousands of livestock, various animal hides, and ironware, following Wujili Bu's marriage customs. Additionally, there was a pair of wild deer and a pair of wild geese—clearly prepared according to Central Plains marriage traditions.

"Has Mobi Duo returned to the Holy City?" Yaoying asked in confusion, as she hadn't received any battle reports of his return.

The envoy from Wujili Bu stepped forward with a smile, explaining, "The prince is still fighting at the front... We apologize for visiting so late at night. These are the prince's prior instructions: once you left Wang Temple, we were to immediately propose marriage... The prince said you are like a goddess, and many warriors would surely wish to marry you. Fearing he might not return in time, he insisted we act quickly."

Yaoying didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

The envoy added, "You need not decide now, Princess. In our tribe, proposing marriage is a man's way of expressing his determination and sincerity to the woman he loves and her family. Our young prince truly admires you."

He continued, "Rest assured, Princess, the prince has already obtained the king's permission. Wujili Bu is free to choose our own khatun."

Yaoying's hand trembled slightly as she lifted her gaze. "The Buddha Prince agreed?"

The envoy nodded, smiling. "The marriage request was approved as soon as it was submitted."

He then presented a piece of parchment.

Yaoying took it and went straight to the section with the endorsement, recognizing the familiar seal.

It was indeed Tanmoroqie's personal approval.

She held the parchment, lost in thought for a moment.

As the candlelight flickered, Li Zhongqian reached over, took the parchment from her hand, returned it to the envoy, and fixed his gaze on her. "Bright Moon Slave, what are you thinking?"

Yaoying collected her thoughts and smiled. "Nothing."

The envoy said warmly, "Please believe in our prince's sincerity, Princess and elder brother. The night is deep, and we shall not disturb your rest further. When the prince returns, he will personally come to propose to you and your brother. We apologize for any impropriety."

Li Zhongqian gestured for the guards to escort the envoy out, then fixed his phoenix eyes intently on Yaoying. "I heard from the guards that this Mobi Duo once held you? You quite like him?"

Yaoying laughed. "No."

She knew she didn't dislike Mobi Duo, but as for romantic affection—absolutely none.

Li Zhongqian nodded. "As soon as you left Wang Temple, Mobi Duo's subordinates presented his handwritten letter, seeking the Buddha Prince's permission to propose to you... This Mobi Duo is young and capable, thoughtful too. Pity he's an outsider."

Yaoying smiled. "What's wrong with being an outsider?"Li Zhongqian frowned. "He is the heir of the Wujili Bu. If you marry him, you will become the Khatun of the Wujili Bu and live among them. They follow the water and grass, no one in the tribe speaks Chinese, and you would spend your life far from your homeland in an unfamiliar tribe. It would be too harsh on you."

As they were speaking, the Gaochang envoy, having heard the news, hurried over. Clapping his hands lightly, he chuckled and said, "Princess, Prince Mobi Duo is brave and skilled in battle, and he is also a trusted close minister of the Buddha Prince. Although the Wujili Bu is a vassal of the Royal Court, their Khan handles all affairs, big and small, independently. The prince commands ten thousand elite cavalry!"

Yaoying immediately felt overwhelmed.

The Gaochang envoy represented the noble families who were vying to align themselves with the Western Army. They knew she couldn’t stay in the Wang Temple of the Royal Court forever, and these days, they had employed every possible means to subtly propose marriage alliances. The King of Yutian had reminded her that her marriage could disrupt the balance of power within the Western Army. Whoever married her would quickly rise to prominence. Therefore, the noble families hoped she would either choose a husband from among them or marry into a powerful foreign tribe to gain support and stabilize the situation.

In short, they did not want her to marry into a Central Plains noble family.

The reason Li Zhongqian was considering selecting a man from among the Western Army generals was that he knew doing so would strengthen her ties with the noble families in the Hexi and Longyou regions. With aligned interests, her position would become more secure.

Yaoying had no desire to discuss her marriage with the Gaochang envoy and shot Li Zhongqian a meaningful glance.

Li Zhongqian cast a cold glare at the envoy.

The envoy shuddered and tactfully took his leave.

Li Zhongqian said gravely, "Bright Moon Slave, marry whomever you wish. Don’t force yourself into hardship."

Yaoying smiled. "I know."

She returned to her room and lay down, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The next day, before dawn had even broken, she rose and went to find Bi Suo.