In the Moonlight

The merchant caravan traveling along the main road consisted of over two hundred people.

At the forefront rode Hu merchants clad in fur coats and felt hats, followed by two orderly rows of fine horse-drawn carriages in the middle. A camel train brought up the rear, while guards with curved sabers at their waists flanked the procession. Several swift horses patrolled back and forth between the head and tail of the column, maintaining vigilance.

When clouds of dust suddenly billowed from the south, the guards reacted instantly—issuing sharp whistles, drawing their sabers, and forming defensive ranks. Accustomed to fighting on horseback in the perilous desert, they were seasoned veterans. Yet this time, they faced not ordinary bandits but the fiercest cavalry of the Yelu Tribe.

Yaoying descended from her carriage, mounted a horse, and galloped to the highest point of the slope, where she witnessed a bloody massacre unfold on the plains.

The First Prince tore through the caravan’s defenses effortlessly, his blade rising and falling as he cut down men like melons and vegetables. In less than half an hour, the Yelu Tribe had concluded the battle.

The caravan lay in disarray. Guards fell one by one under the cavalry’s sabers. The Hu merchants, forced to abandon their goods in anguish, scattered in flight—only to be mercilessly hunted down and slain within dozens of paces. Desperate screams and shrieks carried on the wind.

The First Prince cleaved off a head, drenched in blood from head to toe, and galloped back up the slope. Dismounting, he wiped the thick blood from his face and strode to the carriage, clutching several gory heads.

"Princess, these are my gifts to you…" He laughed heartily, raising the heads, only to freeze in surprise at the empty carriage.

The sound of hoofbeats came from behind.

The First Prince turned. Beside the slope, the wind howled. Yaoying sat astride her horse, still adorned in the ceremonial attire of a Dawei princess—hairpins, golden ornaments, and delicate tassels—her face veiled in sheer gauze. Her robes billowed in the wind, the resplendent gown shimmering with golden brilliance and vibrant hues, radiant against the vast wilderness. Under the faint sunlight piercing the gloomy sky, she held the reins calmly, casting a placid glance at the First Prince and the heads he carried.

Noble and dignified, she seemed like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.

It appeared the brutal slaughter had not shaken this delicate Han princess.

Narrowing his eyes, the First Prince tossed the heads aside casually and roared at his followers, "Make camp here!" With that, he mounted his horse and rode back to the main road.

All the caravan guards had been slaughtered, the Hu merchants decapitated. Even teenage boys and white-haired elders could not escape the cavalry’s long blades. Only over twenty beautiful Hu women survived, kneeling trembling before the horses.

The First Prince circled on horseback, arbitrarily selected one of the women, and hauled her onto his saddle. A dozen other cavalrymen followed suit, each choosing a Hu woman to claim as spoils of war.

Yaoying averted her gaze.

The Hu maidservant Tali stood beside the Wusun horse, her eyes red-rimmed and her body trembling slightly.

Yaoying said softly, "If you’re afraid, go sit in the carriage."

Tali wiped her eyes and shook her head, a bleak smile touching her pale lips. "Princess, when I was twelve, my uncle sold me to merchants. At that time, I was just like them…" She pointed at the Hu maidservants kneeling in the cold wind.

"The merchants led us across the desert to Helong, intending to sell us to wealthy families in Liangzhou. Along the way, we encountered bandits. Many in the caravan died, and I was resold three or four times before finally ending up in the Central Plains."Whether in the Central Plains or the Gobi Desert, in times of chaos, common people can only be trampled upon.

Yaoying felt a pang of emotion and asked, "Where is your homeland?"

Tali pointed westward: "This slave has traveled too far to remember clearly. I only recall that merchants once led us across the Eight Hundred Li of Vast Sea."

Yaoying: "Your homeland is in the Western Regions?"

The Eight Hundred Li of Vast Sea referred to the Moheyan Desert between Lop Nur and Yumen Pass—a stretch of shifting sands spanning Yi Province and Gua Province. With its arid climate, howling winds throughout the seasons, and barren ground devoid of vegetation, it was also known as the "Flowing Sands River."

To the Han people, the Flowing Sands River marked the starting point of the Western Regions.

Yaoying said, "Tali, the Yelu Tribe will not cross the Eight Hundred Li of Vast Sea. If you follow me, you may never return to your homeland."

The Yelu Tribe roamed around Gua Province year-round. With the powerful Tubo and Northern Rong coveting the routes of the Western Regions, the various states there were unable to resist. Only a legendary Buddhist kingdom still held on desperately, but its monk-king would not live much longer. The Yelu Tribe would not rashly cross the Flowing Sands River to venture further west.

Tali smiled faintly: "Princess, my homeland was but a small city-state. Having left for so many years, it may have long perished. I am willing to follow you not to reach the Western Regions, but to escape slavery and draw closer to my homeland. Perhaps I might even find my scattered clansmen."

She let out a long sigh, turned around, and gently stroked the Wusun horse, whispering: "Princess, the Yelu Tribe people are different from the refined Central Plains folk who value poetry and etiquette. They plunder everything they can. When they raid merchant caravans or tribes, they slaughter all the men—even children—leaving only the women, livestock, and possessions. In their eyes, women are no different from livestock or treasure—they are property... You must never stop The First Prince out of pity for those caravans. In the Yelu Tribe, women can never restrain men!"

Yaoying smiled faintly: "Tali, thank you for your advice. I understand my circumstances. Once we reach the Yelu Tribe, I will no longer be a princess of Great Wei, but the Khatun of the Yelu Tribe."

In her current precarious position, she lacked the ability to save anyone.

Moreover, if she were to plead with The First Prince, he would not show mercy but would instead intensify his cruelty, slaughtering those pitiful women before her very eyes.

Tali’s face flushed slightly. As a lowly Hu woman, no noble had ever thanked her before.

"Princess, you need not worry too much. You are as beautiful as a flower, peerless in elegance. Yelu Khan will surely heed your every word."

Yaoying recalled Yelu Khan’s graying braided hair and aged face, closing her eyes briefly.

She must not fear.

As they spoke, the attendants had already set up the tents.

Yaoying understood the intention behind The First Prince’s deliberate arrangements but showed no fear, retiring to her tent to rest.

That night, the hills echoed with the terrifying howls of wolves.

By the next morning, the main road was littered with corpses, torn apart and devoured by wild beasts.

The captured Hu women trailed at the rear of the procession. Seeing the remains, they covered their faces and wept softly.

Just yesterday, they had been seated on camelback, singing cheerful Liangzhou tunes.

Overnight, their world had turned upside down.

Sitting in her carriage, Yaoying thought: When the Yelu Tribe falls, her fate would be no better than these Hu women.

Li De would not send troops to rescue her.When he needed the Yelu Tribe, he could offer his daughter in marriage. But once he reclaimed Liangzhou, the Yelu Tribe became insignificant to him. He wasn’t arrogant enough to believe that the current strength of Great Wei could reclaim the Western Regions. The situation in Liangzhou was complex—he was busy purging the remaining forces within Liangzhou to prepare for a future concentrated effort to march south and attack Southern Chu. For the time being, he wouldn’t send more troops to Helong.

Without external support, she had only Xie Qing, her attendants, and her personal guards by her side. When the Yelu Tribe fell, how could their mere few dozen people escape unscathed?

Yaoying didn’t know how the Yelu Tribe declined.

Tribes on the grasslands could rise to power swiftly, like the Northern Rong, expanding their influence across vast territories in just a few years, or they could vanish overnight, disappearing without a trace.

She could only adapt to the circumstances as they unfolded.

During the journey that followed, the First Prince continued to occasionally reveal his greedy, covetous gaze in front of Yaoying.

He was brutal and savage. Whenever they encountered merchant caravans or migrating tribes, his eyes would gleam with excitement as he gathered his men to plunder.

Sometimes, he wouldn’t even spare a few sheep from the herders.

Tali and Ayi, who spoke Turkic, quickly befriended the people of the Yelu Tribe and gathered a great deal of information.

Yelu Khan had seven sons in total, three of whom were adults, along with six adopted sons.

"The First Prince is brave and skilled in battle, highly favored by Yelu Khan. However, he is extremely greedy and often clashes with the other princes over spoils of war."

"The Second Prince resents the First Prince’s claim to inherit the Yelu Tribe and has secretly allied with other tribesmen, urging Yelu Khan to expel the First Prince."

"The Third Prince is sinister and cruel—he personally killed one of his younger brothers."

"Currently, Yelu Khan’s favorite is his adopted son, Bie Mutie. When Yelu Khan went to Chang’an to meet the emperor, Bie Mutie accompanied him."

Hearing this, Yaoying’s heart stirred as she recalled the foreign man she had seen at the banquet that night.

His gaze, like that of a predator sizing up its prey, had unsettled her for a long time.

"Does Bie Mutie have light yellow eyes?"

Tali nodded. "The people of the Yelu Tribe say Bie Mutie’s eyes are like those of an eagle. He has no parents—he is the son of an eagle."

Yaoying’s heart tightened abruptly, and her entire body stiffened.

Golden eyes, no parents, the son of an eagle… Was it a coincidence?

Yaoying composed herself.

Perhaps she was overthinking it. That man couldn’t possibly appear in the Yelu Tribe.

A few days later, as the subordinates sent by Yelu Khan to escort Yaoying arrived, the First Prince gradually restrained himself, no longer daring to flirt with Yaoying so brazenly.

Yaoying proposed that the captured Hu women guard the dowry she had brought from Chang’an.

"The silk and brocade I brought are the most precious and delicate fabrics from the Central Plains, worth a fortune. They must not be exposed to rain or wind."

Central Plains silk was highly sought after in the Western Regions and even further in Dashi and Fu Lin. With trade routes cut off, a single bolt of fine silk could even be exchanged for a small tribe from a ruler in the Western Regions.

The subordinates and the First Prince’s eyes gleamed with avarice, thinking that Yaoying’s dowry would soon belong to the Yelu Tribe and must not be damaged. They readily agreed.

The next day, the Hu women rode in the carriages transporting the silk, covered with thick woolen blankets, no longer forced to walk in thin clothing.

Tasked with guarding the silk, they were no longer easily dragged aside by the Yelu Tribe’s warriors to be assaulted.

When the procession stopped to rest, Yaoying’s attendants would bring them food to sustain them.The Hu women were overwhelmed with gratitude. When they saw Yaoying alighting from the carriage, they bowed to her one after another, saying in unskilled tones, "You are the most benevolent Khatun we have ever seen."

Yaoying sighed.

This was all she could do.

The weather grew increasingly cold, and soon a blizzard raged, forcing them to press onward through the snow.

The First Prince was notorious for his ruthlessness—plucking feathers from a passing goose. Caravans and tribes across the Gobi trembled at the mere mention of his name.

Thus, whenever the Yelu Tribe’s forces were spotted in the distance, whether it was a caravan, herders, or other tribes, they would immediately turn and flee. Even members of the Yelu Tribe dared not risk passing under the First Prince’s watchful eye.

Several times, before the First Prince could even launch a charge, the others had already shrewdly escaped to rugged mountain paths or slopes unfavorable for cavalry assaults.

The First Prince was furious and exasperated.

On this rare clear day, they rested in a sheltered spot by the river, allowing the horses and camels to drink their fill, when suddenly, the sound of passionate pipa music drifted across the snow.

In the distance, shadowy figures emerged—a caravan composed of camels and horses, moving from west to east toward the riverbank.

Among the group, several Hu merchants wearing felt hats cradled pipas, laughing and chatting loudly as they played, the music ringing clear and melodious.

The First Prince pricked up his ears excitedly and summoned his men. In recent days, he had only managed to seize a few old horses and a handful of slave girls. Finally, a large caravan was in sight!

Dozens of warriors roared as they mounted their warhorses and followed the First Prince, charging toward the caravan.

Snow sprayed everywhere, and the thunder of hooves echoed across the plain.

Xie Qing immediately escorted Yaoying away from the main road.

Yaoying rode up a small hill and looked back at the snow-covered plain, her brow slightly furrowed. The ground was littered with traces left by the Yelu Tribe—how could any caravan dare to approach?

She gazed into the distance. The First Prince and his warriors had already adeptly formed their battle lines, like a beast gathering strength, opening its bloody maw toward the caravan.

The caravan seemed somewhat flustered. Startled horses reared and neighed, and the Hu merchants playing pipas swiftly turned their mounts around.

Guards on both flanks stepped forward, slowly raising a banner.

Yaoying was taken aback: Why were the caravan’s guards raising a banner instead of drawing their swords?

Did they know they were no match for the First Prince and had decided to surrender outright?

It was too far for Yaoying to make out the characters embroidered on the banner. Just as she was about to ask Tali, one of Yelu Khan’s subordinates behind her suddenly gasped sharply and let out a terrified cry.

"Stop!"

The subordinate’s face turned deathly pale as he shouted toward the First Prince. Realizing the prince was too far to hear, he hastily spurred his horse down the slope.

"Fuman, stop!"

He bellowed while urging the horsemen to sound the horn.

The mournful blast of the horn echoed across the sky. Ahead, dust swirled, and the sound of hooves was like a sudden downpour. The First Prince and his warriors continued their charge, blades glinting.

The caravan guards in the distance seemed completely unafraid of the First Prince. Facing the ferocious Yelu horsemen closing in from all sides, they stood tall and unwavering, holding the banner high and motionless.

The brilliant sunlight after the snowfall fell upon the fluttering banner—a snow-white flag embroidered with intricate patterns.

The guards held the banner aloft, poised and calm, as if this single pole could withstand a thousand troops and ten thousand horses.

The subordinate was terrified out of his wits. He galloped forward, snatched the horn, and blew it himself.

The long, mournful sound of the horn pierced the heavens.The warriors were well-trained. Upon hearing the warning blast of the horn, they immediately reined in their horses. Even the First Prince, who was leading the charge, pulled on his reins, frowned, and looked back.

His subordinate galloped forward, shouting at the First Prince in Turkic: "Fuman, that's the Royal Court's merchant convoy! They are the Buddha Prince's subjects!"

The First Prince's face darkened.

On the hillside, Yaoying raised her eyebrows in surprise.

The First Prince, who would normally plunder any merchant convoy or tribe he encountered, had actually released this easy prey and turned back.

He spat toward the convoy, seemingly cursing angrily, before reluctantly turning his horse around at his subordinate's urging and leading his warriors away.

The flag-bearing merchant convoy quickly regained order. The Hu merchants returned to the front of the procession, and the sound of pipa music resumed.

They seemed completely unperturbed by the brutal First Prince, continuing their journey toward the river.

As if nothing had happened.

Their composure carried a hint of condescending arrogance.

Yaoying descended the hillside and returned to the Yelu Tribe.

At the tent entrance, a subordinate was quietly advising the First Prince.

The First Prince's expression remained gloomy.

The subordinate couldn't help raising his voice: "Fuman, have you forgotten the Khan's warning?"

The First Prince cast a sinister glance toward the distant convoy before storming off in a swirl of sleeves.

Soon after, the agonized whinnies of horses could be heard—the First Prince was venting his fury by whipping the horses by the river.

The Wusun horses grew restless, snorting nervously.

Yaoying stroked her beloved steed's neck to calm it, then lifted her gaze to the arrogant merchant convoy not far away.

The convoy wasn't particularly large. Aside from a dozen Hu merchants wearing brocade robes and felt hats, the remaining thirty-plus members were guards clad in light armor, with curved sabers and quivers at their waists.

Unlike the practical riding attire of the Yelu Tribe warriors, the guards' silver light armor was exquisitely crafted and ornate—less like battlefield gear and more like ceremonial dress. Beneath the armor, they wore uniform black brocade tunics with narrow sleeves, the hems embroidered with silver scrolling vine patterns.

In Liangzhou, only tribal chieftains could afford such fine fabric.

Clearly, this was a wealthy merchant convoy.

No wonder the First Prince had been so excited upon seeing them.

But given his cruel, violent, and insatiable nature—why had he suddenly backed down?

Yaoying's eyes swept the area until they landed on the flag that had deterred the First Prince: a snow-white banner densely embroidered with lavish golden patterns in silver and gold thread.

Many in the Yelu Tribe worshipped the fire god, their war banners striking in black and red.

Yet these guards flew a white flag.

Returning to her carriage, Yaoying asked Tali: "What did the First Prince and the others say earlier? Who are those merchants?"

The subordinate and the First Prince had spoken in their tribal tongue.

Tali whispered: "This servant heard them say that convoy belongs to the private soldiers of the great clans from the Western Regions' Royal Court."

Pausing briefly to ensure Yaoying understood, she continued explaining: "The Royal Court lies deep in the Western Regions, even farther than Gaochang. It is an ancient Holy City where the noble Buddha Prince resides. That's why the Western Regions' kingdoms call the Holy City the Royal Court. The Buddha Prince is their sovereign, ruling over various small kingdoms and tribes, with four powerful clans swearing fealty to him. The tribes of the Western Regions all follow Buddhism—at a single command from the Buddha Prince, everyone from monarchs to commoners must obey."

Yaoying hadn't expected to hear about the Royal Court: "Why would the Royal Court's private soldiers appear here?"

The two regions were so distant, separated by eight hundred li of quicksand rivers. Why would the Royal Court's private soldiers travel thousands of li to Helong?Tali replied, "This slave does not know the details. When I was still in my homeland, the Royal Court had already declined. At that time, the Buddha Prince was still under house arrest in the monastery, and no one heeded the Royal Court's commands..."

"The First Prince and others said that the Royal Court's private soldiers have been traveling between Helong and the Western Regions over the past two years, seemingly trading with northern grassland tribes. They fly the banner of the Buddha Prince, and the tribes in Helong dare not rob or kill them."

"They all say the Buddha Prince is an incarnation of Ananda, possessing boundless supernatural powers. Anyone who dares to rob or kill the Buddha Prince's subjects will surely face divine retribution."

Yaoying was somewhat surprised.

The ruler of the Buddhist kingdom in the Western Regions was undoubtedly Dharmaraga, whom the Northern Rong deeply feared. It was not surprising that half the states in the Western Regions believed in Buddhism and were willing to follow the Buddha Prince. But the various Hu tribes were barbaric and had diverse beliefs—how had Dharmaraga's reputation become so prominent in Helong as well?

A single banner had terrified the subordinates of Yelu Khan and forced the First Prince to swallow his anger, watching helplessly as plump targets leisurely passed before him without being able to strike...

Yaoying couldn't help but wonder: Could that monk truly possess supernatural powers?

Regardless of whether Dharmaraga had real powers, the merchant convoy flying his banner safely escaped the First Prince's clutches. After replenishing their water supply, they leisurely departed.

Joyful pipa music echoed across the barren Gobi desert.

The First Prince's face darkened. He abruptly turned, drew a saber from his attendant's waist, and swung it down.

The horse he had whipped to near-death let out one final mournful whinny. Its head rolled to the ground, blood spraying out and staining the riverbank crimson.

The Yelu Tribe continued their journey.

That night, they stopped to rest. Yaoying was sleeping in her tent when she suddenly heard the rapid sound of hoofbeats.

She immediately rose, threw on her clothes, and gripped the dagger hidden in her boot.

Xie Qing lifted the tent flap and entered, whispering, "Princess, the noise is coming from the First Prince's direction."

Fearing the First Prince might harass the princess, he had been keeping watch over the First Prince's movements throughout the night.

Yaoying frowned.

Xie Qing sat cross-legged before Yaoying. "We're nearly at the Yelu Tribe. The First Prince shouldn't dare act recklessly now. I'll keep watch here tonight—please go back to sleep, Princess."

Exhausted, Yaoying murmured an acknowledgment without further thought, lay down, and fell back asleep.

The next morning, they hastily ate some dried rations and prepared to depart, but the First Prince was nowhere to be seen.

His subordinates explained that he found the rations too coarse and had gone hunting the previous night.

Yelu Khan's men flew into a rage upon hearing this and were about to ride out after him when hoofbeats like falling rain came from the east—the First Prince and his warriors had returned.

They were all drunk, with freshly butchered meat and looted felt blankets hanging from their saddles.

His subordinates could only sigh in resignation, not daring to openly reprimand the First Prince, and ordered the procession to move out.

Two days later, they finally arrived at the Yelu Tribe's main tent.

Yaoying stepped down from the carriage and was escorted amid drumming and music to the front of the main tent. Before she could properly observe the tribe where she would live, a familiar tall and straight figure suddenly appeared before her.

Her eyes widened in astonishment.

Li Xuanzhen stood before the main tent, his face haggard and unshaven. He glanced at her indifferently, his phoenix eyes slightly lowered, fingers tightly gripping the hilt of his sword.