In the Moonlight

Snowflakes filled the sky, swirling and drifting down.

Within just one month, numerous people had met violent deaths, all under gruesome circumstances. Rumors ran rampant throughout the Holy City, with various speculations growing increasingly loud.

All evidence pointed to Regent Su Dan Gu.

Bi Suo and Mobi Duo conducted both overt and covert investigations but could never pinpoint the true culprit. Each time they found some clues and followed the trail, the leads would inevitably break off midway. Both men were burning with anxiety.

The city was seized with panic. Commoners dared not venture out after dark, jumping at the slightest sound and seeing danger everywhere.

One day, a monk rushed into the main hall in terror: "Your Majesty, the temple master has passed away in meditation!"

Shocked, Bi Suo personally went to inspect the temple master's quarters.

The room showed no signs of struggle. The temple master's body lay before the Buddha statue, his face peaceful, with no external wounds.

Yuanjue stepped forward to examine the body and whispered, "He was killed by Internal Force that shattered his heart meridian and internal organs..."

Exchanging a grave look, the two returned to the main hall to report.

As the guards lifted the Felt Curtain, they saw Tanmoroqie leaning weakly against his couch, his face pale. After hearing their report, he covered his mouth and coughed.

Ever since he asked the physician how much time he had left, he had known his days were numbered. When Yaoying was here, he had tried his best to conceal his condition, obediently taking medicine and applying treatments while suppressing his pain. During the days when her eyes were injured, he had rapidly grown thinner and more haggard. Fortunately, she couldn't see, unaware that Mengda Ti Po's words were merely meant to comfort her.

He had forced himself to stay standing before, but after she left, it felt as if a supporting bone had been ripped from his body. He soon took to his bed, and these days had delegated all government affairs to his ministers.

He was tired.

"Have you investigated those around him?" he asked weakly, frowning.

Bi Suo sighed inwardly. "We're conducting interrogations now. The young novice said the temple master had been going out frequently recently and had close contact with outsiders. It's likely he attracted enemies from outside."

Tanmoroqie shook his head.

These incidents were all targeting Su Dan Gu. The deaths of merchant caravan members, the noble youths, and those who had conflicts with Su Dan Gu all dying suddenly - that was one thing. But why would the temple master, a monk who had left worldly affairs, also meet such a fate?

"Only if the Regent appears will they stop," he said calmly.

Bi Suo looked up. "Your Majesty, let me go!"

Tanmoroqie was already this ill and couldn't withstand any further strain. Moreover, he couldn't reveal himself.

"You're not suitable. They would detain you... Send Bā mǐ ěr."

That afternoon, Bā mǐ ěr donned the Regent's robes and appeared at the palace in Tanmoroqie's stead.

Since there had been a death at Wang Temple, and people kept stepping forward claiming they had witnessed Su Dan Gu committing the murders - including several highly respected monks who remained firm during interrogations and repeatedly swore they weren't lying - court ministers demanded that Su Dan Gu undergo questioning. Given his strict enforcement of laws, now that he had become a suspect, he should naturally recuse himself and let others handle these major cases.

Bā mǐ ěr was placed under house arrest.

Mobi Duo thought of a plan: "If we fabricate a few cases ourselves, wouldn't the Regent be cleared of suspicion?"

Bi Suo considered this, then shook his head. "They're deliberately creating difficulties. Even if our fabrications are perfect, they won't release Bā mǐ ěr. And where would we find corpses on such short notice? We can't just kill innocent people... We must find conclusive evidence as soon as possible."

Finding evidence would also reveal who was behind these schemes.

After discussing for a while, the two went their separate ways to take action.In Wang Temple, Yuanjue stayed by Tanmoroqie's side, unfolding a letter sent from Gaochang and reading it aloud to him. The letter had arrived two days prior, and he had already read it.

Yaoying wrote in the letter that the weather was growing colder, and since his health was poor, he should remember to add more layers. She also told him that on her birthday, Li Zhongqian had personally cooked longevity noodles for her.

Tanmoroqie reclined halfway, listening until the end, then took the letter and ran his fingers over the paper.

Outside the window, the wind howled. Suddenly, a rapid, drum-like patter of footsteps echoed as a guard hurried through the corridor and knelt outside the door, saying, "Your Majesty, the central army guards are acting suspiciously!"

Tanmoroqie lifted his gaze.

He had ordered the guards to monitor the military camps to guard against several armies originally controlled by noble families.

The central army guards were loyal to the royal family, and nearly all of his personal guards came from their ranks—they were his most trusted subordinates.

Yuanjue stood up, his face filled with shock and his body trembling: How could the central army guards betray the king?

Outside the Holy City.

Mobi Duo galloped swiftly with his attendants, pursuing several suspicious individuals. He had been suspicious of these people for days and, lying in wait, finally seized the opportunity to capture them all and uncover the mastermind behind their actions!

Hooves thundered, splashing mud and snow as the two groups passed through a gorge. Suddenly, a troop of riders leaped out from both sides of the mountain path, all dressed in the blue shirts and white robes of the central army guards.

They effortlessly intercepted the people Mobi Duo was chasing, bound their hands and feet, and dragged them before him.

"Prince, we've been lying in ambush here all day. Are you also investigating these people?"

Mobi Duo nodded in affirmation, greeted the captain of the guards, dismounted, and approached the captives.

A sinister gust of wind swept from behind.

Mobi Duo reacted swiftly, immediately drawing his sword to block. A sharp clang rang out as the captain's blade met his, sparks flying.

With a thud, a dagger stabbed into his arm.

Mobi Duo lost strength in his hand, his sword falling to the ground. The other guard knights pounced, slipping ropes from their sleeves to bind his limbs and forcefully pin him to the snowy ground.

"Prince, my apologies."

The captain sighed, lifted his head, and gazed back toward the direction of the Holy City.

A blizzard raged.

...

For several days in a row, heavy snow fell, blanketing the earth in silver. The vast wilderness and Gobi stretched endlessly white, with snow-covered forests and plains extending to the horizon as fierce winds roared and howled.

Under the gloomy sky, the majestic snow peaks stood silent and imposing, grand and immense.

Yaoying did not return to Gaochang but instead went directly to a garrison town near the state of Ghazi. Upon entering the city, she ordered the defenders to reinforce the fortifications and dig trenches.

Within a few days, Yang Qian arrived with his troops, rubbing his hands eagerly and impatiently: "Once I lead the troops to conquer Ghazi, let's see if they still refuse to release our people!"

Yaoying stopped him and asked, "How many tribes like Ghazi are there?"

Yang Qian calmed down and replied, "There are at least several dozen, if not hundreds, of such small tribes and states. Unlike us, they still operate under a feudal tribal system, paying tribute to us while also being dependent on other powerful suzerain states, regularly paying taxes to them and sometimes sending troops to join their campaigns. These small states have loose systems and remain uncivilized; when faced with a powerful external enemy, they often surrender en masse."

Yaoying pondered deeply.Large nations have their ways of survival, and small states have their means of existence. Ghazi was merely a small tribe, unburdened by scruples, leveraging its geographical advantages to carve out a comfortable niche and perfecting a set of shameless tactics. Major powers would not go to great lengths to attack them: with too many troops, supplies would be insufficient; with too few, Ghazi could not be conquered.

Such small tribes would pay tribute regularly while feigning compliance. If an army were sent to subdue them, they would immediately surrender en masse, cunningly denying any involvement in the raids. Yet once the army withdrew, they would revert to their old ways. The Western Army, now short on troops, could not afford to station soldiers along the trade routes.

"Send a few more decrees to Ghazi. We can double the silver and gold for redeeming the captives..." Yaoying frowned and said, "As long as they release the people."

Yang Qian fumed, "The King of Ghazi is infatuated with his Wizard and insatiably greedy. When we previously sent envoys to request the redemption of captives, he agreed outright but reneged after taking the money and goods! They condone the Rong people plundering our caravans and force subordinate tribes to offer all their young women to him and the Wizard. Many tribes, fleeing his tyranny, have been forced to migrate, only to be captured and enslaved upon their return. Ghazi imposes exorbitant taxes, its king is brutal, and his word cannot be trusted. If we increase the ransom, he will only grow more voracious!"

Yaoying smiled faintly, "Send another delegation to Ghazi and raise the ransom."

Yang Qian was puzzled, "Wouldn’t that be letting Ghazi off too easily?"

Yaoying shook her head, "After the delegation sets out, spread the news far and wide. Issue decrees extensively, ensuring every tribe and state along the trade routes learns of this. Let the scouts in the caravans handle the dissemination—the more widespread, the better."

Yang Qian fell silent.

Hearing his rapid breathing, a clear sign of suppressed rage, Yaoying explained, "Courtesy before force minimizes casualties. Today it’s Ghazi; tomorrow it could be another state. We cannot conquer every tribe one by one. We must find a way to resolve this permanently."

Yang Qian gritted his teeth until they creaked, then responded in a low voice, "Understood."

Half an hour later, dozens of lightly armed scouts, bearing the Western Army’s decrees requesting the redemption of displaced people from various tribes, charged into the vast, snow-swept wilderness, heading in different directions.

The Western Army’s decrees soon spread across all states, large and small. True to Yang Qian’s description, the King of Ghazi proved insatiably greedy and short-sighted. Not only did he demand double the ransom and return only the elderly, weak, and infirm, but he also insisted on levying a full half of all taxes from passing caravans.

Yang Qian was furious, itching to lead his troops and crush Ghazi immediately, and once again requested permission to launch an attack.

Yaoying dissuaded him once more, ordering several merchant caravans laden with goods to go to Ghazi and trade at high prices with local tribes for furs and livestock.

She specifically instructed, "Use silver coins for transactions. Ghazi collects taxes in silver coins—use them as much as possible."

The caravans proceeded to Ghazi as ordered. Soon, news returned: local tribes that had acquired silver coins from the caravans were plundered and robbed, leaving the tribal herdsmen filled with grief and indignation.

After Li Zhongqian read the letter aloud, Yaoying summoned her guards and commanded, "In my name, invite the chieftains of the various tribes. Inform them that we will hold a grand assembly in Liuhe City to discuss trade taxes."

Liuhe City was the annual trading hub for the major tribes.The Western Army now controlled over half of the trade route, and nearby tribes, regardless of their private sentiments, dared not openly offend the rising power. Various tribes arrived with their troops—some to gauge intentions and seek advantages, others out of fear of offending Yaoying, and some out of contempt.

On the day of the assembly, Liùhé City teemed with crowds, shoulder to shoulder. Chieftains from twenty-eight nearby tribes and envoys from twelve minor states gathered in the city, each bringing their elite forces, their attitudes notably arrogant and haughty.

Someone whispered, "Has the King of Jiazī Kingdom not come?"

"No, the king is too proud and only sent a favored courtier to attend."

Discussions buzzed through the crowd.

When Yaoying appeared in the main tent with a cloth strip covering her eyes, silence fell over the assembly.

Stunned by her striking beauty, the attendees froze for a moment. The envoy from Jiazī Kingdom, intending to humiliate her, stepped forward and jeered, "Princess Wenzhao is divinely beautiful, even more so than the singers our king dotes on."

Xiè Qīng drew his blade and struck with one swift cut.

The envoy clutched his bloodied face, screaming as he staggered back.

Xiè Qīng sheathed his sword, expressionless. "If anyone else speaks disrespectfully to the princess, I will cut out their tongue."

A chill ran through the crowd.

The Jiazī envoy, flushed with fury, was about to step forward when someone lifted the tent flap and delivered an urgent report: "Princess, the envoy from Jiazī Kingdom has arrived."

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances, and the Jiazī envoy looked equally confused—he was the officially appointed envoy, so who else could be coming?

A series of hurried footsteps echoed as several young men in Jiazī military attire entered the tent. They first bowed respectfully to Yaoying and presented a document, then turned to the bewildered envoy. Without a word, they unsheathed their long blades.

In an instant, cold steel flashed, blood splattered, and the Jiazī envoy fell dead.

Shocked and alarmed, the crowd drew their weapons, shouting as they surrounded the young men.

One of the youths wiped the blood from his face and clasped his hands in a salute. "Please forgive the disturbance. I am a personal guard of the King of Jiazī. This man was a treacherous villain, unworthy of representing our kingdom. The king ordered his execution to prevent him from spouting nonsense and disgracing Jiazī. A new envoy has been appointed."

With that, he withdrew respectfully.

Two opulently dressed Jiazī officials stepped forward and greeted the assembly.

Someone demanded, "Are you truly the new envoys appointed by King Pí lù?"

With solemn expressions, they replied, "King Pí lù imposed harsh taxes, was deceitful, and lost the people's support. He has died violently in the palace. The First Prince has succeeded him, restored friendly relations with the Wèi Dynasty, and agreed to pay tribute."

Stunned, the attendees exchanged rapid, calculating glances, their focus shifting to Yaoying.

She remained composed, as if unsurprised, and gestured for everyone to resume their seats. Slowly scanning the room—though her eyes were covered, all felt her gaze sweep over them—she spoke, "In the past, when the northern route was peaceful, trade flourished, and tributes from various states and tribes flowed continuously, merchants gathered like spokes to a hub. After years of turmoil, the Central Plains and the tribes were cut off. Now that the Wèi Dynasty has stabilized the realm, with a thriving population and abundant resources, we extend our benevolence to all lands. It is time to reopen the trade routes and restore commerce with the tribes. This benefits both the tribes and our Wèi Dynasty. We hope all tribes will heed the people's will and join the Western Army in safeguarding the trade routes."Yaoying spoke each word deliberately, her tone suddenly turning grave: "If there are those who plunder merchant caravans without cause or slaughter common folk, the Western Army will surely dispatch troops to demand accountability."

The assembly gazed at the corpse of the Gaz envoy on the carpet, cold sweat trickling down their backs. Remembering that the King of Gaz had already perished, they shuddered with dread, their earlier arrogance upon entering the tent utterly vanished. Each one secretly wiped their brow, grateful they hadn’t made any disrespectful remarks about Princess Wenzhao and had instead voiced their agreement.

"The Princess speaks wisely."

"Our tribe has long had ties with the Han lands and has always hoped to resume trade! We dare not defy your command!"

Yaoying smiled faintly and ordered the alliance document to be brought forth, negotiating the tax rates with the assembly.

The tribes were astonished to find her terms remarkably fair. After a moment of stunned silence, they inwardly praised her judgment.

Without demanding immediate replies, Yaoying clapped her hands, signaled the musicians to play, entrusted her subordinates to entertain the guests, and withdrew from the grand tent.

The tribes hurriedly inquired about what had truly happened in Gaz. After hearing the envoy’s account, their hearts turned cold with fear.

...

Just days earlier, a civil war had erupted in Gaz.

Tribes subordinate to Gaz had long suffered under its oppression and nurtured rebellious intentions. With winter approaching and insufficient food stores to survive until spring, the king’s relentless tax hikes—snatching away their hard-earned silver coins—left them with no choice but to revolt rather than starve.

After the Western Army pacified the Western Regions, several Gaz chieftains planned to repatriate refugees to Gaochang in exchange for wealth, but the king obstructed them, allowing them to keep only a tenth of the extorted money. Resentful, they joined the rebellion when the tribes rose up.

Neighboring tribes, hearing Gaz had extorted vast sums from the Western Army, seized the opportunity to attack during the chaos, profiting from the turmoil.

War engulfed Gaz. The Gaz Wizard was beheaded by enraged herdsmen, the king hid in his palace, and the prince fled the city in disgrace, sending desperate pleas for help to their suzerain and neighboring states—all ignored.

When the Western Army received the appeals, Princess Wenzhao, setting aside past grievances, dispatched Yang Qian with troops to rescue them.

Yang Qian led several hundred elite soldiers straight to Gaz, lifting the siege in less than two days.

The rebels retreated, the king died suddenly, and the prince ascended the throne, presenting a tribute missive to the Wei court. He dispatched a tribute mission and pledged a merchant tax rate of one-twentieth.

The rebellious tribes, knowing they had no escape, surrendered en masse upon hearing the Western Army was redeeming refugees with low taxes. Yang Qian relocated and settled them properly.

...

Within a single month, Gaz was utterly transformed.

The tribes trembled with horror.

In this conflict, the Western Army suffered almost no casualties. Gaz lost a king, saw its palace looted, witnessed mass defections of herdsmen to Wei, and crumbled internally with nobles distrusting each other. The new king, indebted to the Western Army, no longer dared covert disobedience.

Yet none of this appeared linked to the Western Army—it seemed solely the result of the Gaz king’s insatiable greed leading to his own downfall.

The tribes watched in fearful trepidation.

Over the following days, Yaoying had merchants and multilingual officials guide the tribal envoys and nobles through the market fair. Dazzled by the newly arrived goods from the Central Plains, their hearts swayed with desire.

On the final day of the assembly, all tribes signed alliance treaties with Yaoying, pledging to resume trade, fix tax rates, and exchange envoys.

Henceforth, the Northern Route was fully connected.

...After finishing matters in Gaz, Yaoying's eyes had mostly recovered. The day the bandages were removed happened to be a bright, sunny day, with snowlight reflecting brilliantly in front of the hall.

She rested in the hall, picking up a brush to write a letter to Tanmoroqie.

The letters she had sent him recently were all dictated by her and written by Xie Qing on her behalf. He recognized her handwriting, so seeing her personal script would let him know her eyes had healed.

Just as the letter was sent out, Xie Qing entered the room holding a letter: "Princess, a letter from Princess Consort Manda of Maru."

Yaoying took the letter, read it, and her smile faded, her expression tightening.

"Princess, what's wrong?"

Yaoying turned and gazed at the distant snow-covered mountain ridges, saying, "Haidu Aling may be coming."

Li Zhongqian and Yang Qian hurried over. "Haidu Aling is coming?"

Yaoying nodded: "Princess Consort Manda's letter says that Haidu Aling went to Samarkand. Before his death, Wahan Khan had sent people to Samarkand to establish influence. Haidu Aling joined forces with the Northern Rong there, married a princess from a local suzerain state, borrowed a large number of troops, and vowed to lead his remaining forces east to restore their kingdom."

"Where is Haidu Aling now?"

"Princess Consort Manda isn't sure either. We need to prepare early."

Li Zhongqian nodded and ordered all areas to strengthen their vigilance. The news spread quickly, and for a time, there was widespread alarm. The gates of border towns and garrisons were tightly shut, with strict security measures in place.

Yaoying wrote another letter to Tanmoroqie.

Bullies pick on the weak. Haidu Aling, now eager to restore his kingdom, would certainly not dare to rashly attack the Royal Court. Still, it never hurts to be extra cautious.