In the Moonlight

Before reaching Sand City, Yaoying spotted Yuanjue catching up with them.

"Why are you here?"

Yuanjue grinned sheepishly, "The King ordered me to accompany the Queen to Xizhou and escort her back by month's end."

He understood his true mission: should the Queen grow too comfortable in Xizhou and delay her return, he must urge her to promptly depart for the Royal Court.

Yaoying clearly grasped Tanmoroqie's intention—she had only been gone for a day! Amused yet exasperated, she didn't send Yuanjue back nor immediately write to Tanmoroqie, instead commanding the procession to continue westward. She planned to return to Xizhou every summer and winter from now on, and this being the first year, she couldn't let sentimentality soften her resolve.

Yuanjue felt somewhat disappointed but dared not complain, joining the procession.

The next day, heavy snow fell as they rested at a courier station. A large pot of mutton stewed over a bonfire, and when the broth boiled, paper-thin white dough slices were added.

While savoring the delicious lamb noodle soup, Yuanjue suddenly remarked, "I wonder what the King is doing now, and whether he's had his meal."

Yaoying pretended not to hear.

Beyond Sand City, blizzards raged. The group donned windproof masks and traversed the uninhabited Gobi desert. When they paused to rest near colossal wind-eroded rock formations, Yuanjue spoke again, "The King brought me and General Ashina here once."

He then launched into a detailed account of how Tanmoroqie led the Imperial Guards to pacify the trade routes years ago.

"Your Majesty, if you're feeling bored, I can also tell you stories about the King's childhood martial arts training! He was exceptionally gifted and learned everything swiftly!"

Yaoying recalled Tanmoroqie standing by the window watching her depart, suddenly regretting not having sent Yuanjue back to the Holy City.

She missed him too.

Within days, the procession reached Xizhou. Li Zhongqian personally came to the courier station outside the city to greet them. Spotting Yuanjue, he sneered, "What did King Tanmo send you here for?"

Yuanjue quickly dismounted and explained, "The King worries about the Queen and commanded me to serve Her Majesty and follow her orders."

Li Zhongqian gave a meaningless smile, helped Yaoying dismount, and studied her carefully. "You've gained some weight."

Yaoying brushed snow off her shoulders and asked cheerfully, "Is that a bad thing?"

Naturally beautiful, she remained lovely even with extra weight.

Li Zhongqian chuckled, "It's good to have some weight."

Seeing her travel-worn yet radiant with rosy cheeks, he felt satisfied and didn't trouble Yuanjue further. After exchanging pleasantries, they entered the city together.

Damo and Yang Qian had prepared a banquet to welcome the travelers.

During the feast, Young Prince Jin Bo competed with Yang Qian in drinking contests—the loser had to perform sword dances. Their attendants cheered loudly as Northern Rong tribesmen, Royal Court officials, Han Chinese, and various Hu people mingled boisterously. Former battlefield enemies now clinked cups merrily, past grievances forgotten.

Yaoying received various chieftains, inquiring about their tribes' harvests and whether their livestock could survive the winter safely. She drank several bowls of wine during these exchanges.

Yuanjue remained dutifully by her side throughout, not participating in the drinking games.

From Yang Qian's direction, bursts of laughter erupted periodically. Soon, young men shouted and cheered as tables overturned and wine bowls shattered. The flushed Young Prince Jin Bo, having consumed three entire jars of wine, staggered to the courtyard front. He wobbled unsteadily before Yaoying, bowed with a loud thump, puffed out his chest, and began spinning in circles.At first he spun slowly, leisurely and carefree, as if ready to throw himself to the ground at any moment. Several captains plucked the strings of their lutes, and as the music quickened, so did his movements. He spun faster and faster, his woven gold brocade robe billowing high, creating a dazzling spectacle of shimmering golden light.

The guards behind Yaoying rubbed their hands in excitement: "We get to see Prince Jin Bo dance again!"

"Look, he really does resemble a peacock!"

The guards marveled in awe: "Such a burly man can actually dance..."

Yaoying held her wine bowl and glanced at Xie Qing.

Xie Qing stood by her side, clad in silver armor and a crimson robe, her hand resting on her sword hilt. Her expression was impassive as she meticulously scanned their surroundings, guarding Yaoying with unwavering focus.

Yaoying took a sip of wine.

On the day of her wedding banquet, young men and women could invite their beloveds to dance. That night, Xie Qing was off duty. The next day, the guards told her that Xie Qing had beaten up Prince Jin Bo.

"Prince Jin Bo tried to pull Xie Qing into dancing—of course she refused! So the prince started dancing around her in that spinning dance. Don’t let his burly build fool you—he’s incredibly nimble when he dances, and quite skilled! Xie Qing ignored him, but he was drunk and insisted on dragging her to join the dance. He even said something about repaying a life-saving favor, offering himself in marriage and begging for Xie Qing’s affection. The whole affair became public knowledge. Xie Qing finally lost her patience, grabbed him by the collar, dragged him outside, drew her sword, and fought him."

Xie Qing showed no mercy. Prince Jin Bo had to recuperate at home for half a month before daring to show his face again.

Despite the beating, Prince Jin Bo was not discouraged. Once healed, he was full of energy and requested to escort Yaoying back to Xizhou. She happened to be considering bringing him along to meet the various chieftains and reassure the tribes who feared the Western Army, so she agreed to his request and brought him on this journey.

After finishing his dance, Jin Bo caught the sword Yang Qian tossed to him and began dancing with it, his movements powerful and vigorous.

The atmosphere grew lively, with everyone clapping and singing along to cheer him on.

Jin Bo repeatedly glanced at Xie Qing, winking and flashing an ingratiating smile.

Xie Qing remained expressionless.

The singing and dancing continued until the banquet ended. Xie Qing escorted Yaoying back to her chambers and suddenly said, "Princess, should I marry Prince Jin Bo?"

Yaoying paused and looked up: "A-Qing, do you like Prince Jin Bo?"

Xie Qing avoided the question and replied, "I am a woman, commanding thousands of troops, and I am not yet married. Jin Bo’s antics are known throughout the army."

Yaoying smiled: "A-Qing, you can accept Prince Jin Bo or refuse him. Pay no mind to what others say. You are Xie Qing. Whether you marry or not, and no matter whom you marry, you will always be Xie Qing—my General Xie."

The wind howled as she stood by the pillar, watching Yaoying enter the hall, motionless and unwavering.

Just like many years ago, when she stood by the flower pond, watching Li Zhongqian carry Yaoying away, standing there unmoving for a long time until her mother came to take her away.

…

Xie Qing was born with extraordinary strength. Even before she could walk, she could push over older brothers.

Unfortunately, she was a girl.

Her mother sighed more than once in her presence: "If only you were a boy, you could follow your elder brother and serve the lord, bringing honor to the Xie family. Why did you have to be born a girl?"

As she grew older, her appearance grew plain and her build robust. She looked nothing like a delicate young lady—she was the very image of a boy.Relatives whispered behind her back that she had been born into the wrong body—she ought to have been a boy, but some celestial mischief had made her a girl instead.

Her mother wept bitterly: "How will my daughter ever marry when she’s so homely? Even her elder brothers are more delicate-looking than she is!"

Xie Qing was forced to learn needlework, master cooking and soups, and manage household affairs.

Her mother insisted that since she was born with masculine features, she must excel at domestic skills to have any hope of finding a match and serving her future husband properly.

Xie Qing attended lessons with the other girls in the clan. In a room full of young maidens, she stood out uncomfortably.

They ostracized her, mocking her for her boyish appearance.

That spring, when the clan head returned with his seventh daughter to pay respects at the ancestral temple, relatives affiliated with the Xie family helped organize the ceremonies and banquets.

Xie Qing attended the feast with her mother. While the matrons drank by the pond, the young ladies gathered in the rear garden to admire flowers, play floral games, and swing on swings.

No one invited Xie Qing to join. She wandered alone by the flower beds, picking blossoms. Suddenly, several girls approached and pulled her into their floral competition. Overwhelmed by this unexpected attention, she played several rounds—only to have them deck her head and shoulders with flowers while circling her with mocking laughter.

"Look, look! Xie Qing is actually wearing flowers!"

They laughed until tears streamed down their faces.

Xie Qing suddenly understood: in their eyes, she was a laughingstock.

She stood, tore the flowers from her hair, and hurled them at the girls.

Her face darkened with rage, features hardening into grim severity.

Her mother trembled with fury, weeping as she pointed at Xie Qing: "What sin did I commit in my past life to be cursed with such a monstrous child!"

Expressionless, Xie Qing shoved aside the maids trying to restrain her and stormed off, retreating to a secluded courtyard.

She ripped flowers from the beds, stomped them into the dirt, and—still unsatisfied—began hurling stones in frustration.

A delicate "Aiyo!" echoed from the corridor.

Though framed as a question, the tone was light and playful, almost teasing.

Xie Qing sensed this girl was different from the others, but after being mocked, she refused to be fooled again. Snorting coldly, she turned away, scanned the area, then leaped into the flower bed, wrapped her arms around a flowering tree, and wrenched it from the earth.

The tree crashed to the ground, roots and all.

Xie Qing dusted her hands and glared coldly at the girl.

She expected to frighten her away.

But when she looked up, she met an ardent gaze.

The girl stared in awe at the gaping hole in the flower bed, her eyes shining: "Elder sister, you’re truly remarkable!"

Unlike the sarcastic clan girls, her admiration felt genuine.

Xie Qing froze.

The girl’s eyes brimmed with envy: "If I were as strong and healthy as you, I could practice martial arts with my elder brother!"

Xie Qing felt inexplicably irritated: "You’re a girl—how can you practice martial arts?"

She had never seen such a beautiful maiden. Shouldn’t lovely girls be demure and graceful, as her mother always said? How could this one dream of wielding weapons?

The girl smiled patiently: "Why can’t girls practice martial arts? Anyone—male or female—can train if they’re fit. With war everywhere, learning self-protection ensures we won’t be easily bullied."

Xie Qing sneered: "If a girl learns martial arts, everyone will laugh at you."The young lady leaned over the railing, tilting her head. "I want to! If I knew martial arts, I’d beat up anyone who dared laugh at me—until they didn’t dare anymore."

Xie Qing was speechless for a long moment.

The young lady’s gaze lingered on her, as if she wished she could come down and pinch her cheeks, yet she remained leaning against the railing without moving.

Just as Xie Qing was wondering why, a voice came from the other end of the corridor. Young Master Li Zhongqian had come looking for her. Spotting the young lady, he hurried over and picked her up. "Why are you here alone? Who left you here unattended?"

Xie Qing stared blankly at the young lady.

So this was the young mistress.

Her mother had mentioned that the young mistress had been frail since childhood and had even been stranded on a battlefield last year. She had been recovering, but after this fright, she could no longer walk. The young master was trying to find a miracle doctor who could heal her legs.

Xie Qing took a long time to process this.

When Xie Qing returned home, she waited for her father to punish her. She had caused a scene at the banquet, injured her cousins, uprooted the young mistress’s tree, and even hit the young mistress. Her mother had wept all the way home.

Her father called her to the front courtyard, his expression grave.

She knelt, but his slap never came.

"Ah Qing, do you want to train in martial arts?"

Xie Qing looked up in surprise.

Her father sighed. "Our family has practiced martial arts for generations. With your innate strength, it would be a waste not to train. Since you don’t get along with the other young ladies in the clan, you don’t need to learn those things anymore. Follow your elder brother and train in martial arts. Today, the young master mentioned he wants to select a few guards for the young mistress. As a girl, if you’re chosen, you could serve as her personal guard."

Become the young mistress’s guard?

Xie Qing recalled the young mistress leaning against the railing, speaking to her.

The young mistress had looked at her with admiration and envy: "Sister, you’re amazing!"

Her father spoke earnestly. "Ah Qing, think carefully. If you choose this path, no one may dare marry you. Training in martial arts is grueling—three hundred sixty days a year, you’ll have to endure hardship without slacking off. I won’t go easy on you. I’ll scold and punish you as needed, without pity. Do you truly want to train?"

Xie Qing pulled the hairpin from her hair and threw it to the ground, clenching her fists. "I want to train!"

She no longer needed to feel ashamed of being different—it was her gift, not a sin. She would train in martial arts and pass the selection to become the young mistress’s guard!

…

The night wind in Xizhou was like a blade, howling and piercing to the bone. It hurt.

Xie Qing snapped back to reality.

When she returned to the Central Plains with the princess, she visited her elderly parents.

The couple wept at the sight of her in armor, riding at the head of her guards into the city. Her mother followed the procession, watching her, wiping tears as she listened to the commoners cheer her name and acclaim her.

A figure swayed on the steps, stumbling toward her.

She tightened her grip on her long blade.

…

The next day, Yaoying rose and prepared for the day.

She gazed at the tall, slender, sharply outlined snowman in the courtyard, lost in thought for a moment.

A guard approached with a chuckle. "Princess, last night Xie Qing beat up Young Prince Jin Bo again!"

Jin Bo had danced publicly, then pestered Xie Qing late at night, demanding to know what kind of man she liked so he could challenge him to a duel. Xie Qing had hoisted him over her shoulder and tossed him into the snow to sober up, leaving him bruised and battered.

Yaoying shook her head with a smile, draped her cloak over her shoulders, and went to find Li Zhongqian.The attendants looked tense as they clustered around her, guiding her inside. When they passed through the corridor, they deliberately or unintentionally blocked her path, smiling as they said, "The wind is strong here, Princess. We wouldn’t want you to catch a chill."

Yaoying raised an eyebrow. "Step aside. What is it that you don’t want me to see?"

Li Zhongqian was unrestrained and dissolute—what hadn’t she seen before? Why bother hiding things from her?

The attendants awkwardly stepped back.

Yaoying walked down the corridor, her gaze sweeping over the snowy ground.

A tall figure stood in the courtyard amidst the snow, a thin layer of frost covering her felt coat. She was shivering from the cold, clearly having stood there for a long time.

"Princess Banar?"

The woman hugging her arms turned around. When she saw Yaoying, a gleam lit up her eyes. "Ayi!"

Yaoying led Princess Banar into the front courtyard and had her sit by the stove to warm herself. "How long have you been waiting here?"

Princess Banar counted the hours on her fingers. "Li Zhongqian refused to see me. I came here late last night, and I’ll wait until he comes out to meet me!"

Yaoying signaled the attendants to bring hot mare’s milk wine to warm her up. Stepping out of the front courtyard, she asked quietly, "What happened?"

An attendant coughed lightly. "During last night’s banquet, several tribal girls performed dances for the young master. Princess Banar chased them all away. When the young master returned, he went straight to bed. Princess Banar insisted on seeing him, but he forbade us from opening the door. She’s been waiting outside ever since—no amount of persuasion could make her leave."

Yaoying thought for a moment, then ordered someone to fetch a physician to check on Princess Banar. Turning around, she went to see Li Zhongqian.