In the Moonlight

A year ago in Chang'an, Yaoying sought medical help for her mother and met Mengda Ti Po at the Daci'en Temple.

At that time, she was an esteemed princess, and thousands of apricot blossoms in the temple were in full bloom, lush and resplendent, a magnificent sight.

A year later in the Western Regions, Yaoying sought refuge and reunited with Mengda Ti Po at the Royal Court of the Holy City.

Now, she was stranded in a foreign land, struggling to survive eight thousand eight hundred li from her homeland, uncertain when she could return to reunite with Li Zhongqian.

The passing of more than ten months felt like a lifetime.

All her anxieties and torments slowly receded like the tide. Yaoying smiled, suppressing the sudden surge of sorrow that had welled up when she recognized Mengda Ti Po. Standing at the foot of the steps, she remained as noble as the Seventh Princess of the Li family he had first met.

"Congratulations, Venerable One, on fulfilling your wish."

Her eyes bright, she spoke with a warm smile.

Mengda Ti Po gazed at Yaoying for a long moment with his light brown eyes, his face revealing a sigh of emotion.

In these turbulent times, his footsteps had traversed the Central Plains and the Western Regions, and he had seen too many fallen nobles. He expected this delicate princess, who had endured so much suffering, to weep bitterly and throw herself at his feet for help.

Yet she did not.

She stood there, smiling, her eyes clear and bright as stars, sincerely congratulating him on achieving his goal.

The hardships of the past seemed to her nothing more than trials—beneath this fragile and beautiful exterior lay the most resilient soul.

Mengda Ti Po slowly said, "All things arise from causes, all are bound by karma. The gathering and parting of fates are like clouds and mist; life, separation, and death follow the natural way of heaven. That the Princess and this humble monk met in Chang'an and now reunite in this Royal Court must be the will of fate."

Yaoying did not fully understand his Buddhist verse, but she grasped his intent to comfort her:

This is all destiny, Princess, do not grieve.

Yaoying smiled. "Perhaps."

She believed in fate—after all, Li Xuanzhen and Zhu Lvyun kept bouncing back, seemingly impossible to kill! And whenever she tried to change her mother and brother's destinies, she was punished.

But so what?

Believing was one thing; resigning to fate was another!

She would grit her teeth and persevere.

With a breath of noble spirit, ride the swift wind for a thousand li. Seize the wind to soar, across the vast sky, straight to the highest clouds.

If she could not be a roc soaring on the whirlwind, she would still strive to flap her wings and fly high.

If there truly came a time with no way out, she might as well follow the example of Liu Ling from the Jin dynasty—bury me when I die!

So the Venerable One's words offered her little comfort.

After sighing with emotion for a while, Mengda Ti Po turned to the round-faced guard standing nearby, who wore a wary expression: "Bore, the Seventh Princess is a guest of the Buddha Prince. You must take good care of her and not neglect her."

Bore exclaimed in the Hu language, "Venerable One, you don't know what this Han woman did to the King!"

Remembering that Yaoying understood the Hu language, he switched to Brahmi and continued loudly, chattering about how Yaoying had publicly proposed marriage that day.

"This Han woman dared to profane the King in public! She even said she would be his Girl of Matanga! She... she..."

Bore stammered for a moment, then stamped his foot. "She is wanton! She is shameless! If the Regent had been there, he would have chopped off her head long ago!"

Mengda Ti Po's face showed surprise.Although Yaoying couldn't understand Brahmi, she could tell from the resentful, teeth-gritting expression of the personal guard that he was lodging a complaint against her. A faint look of embarrassment crossed her face as she smiled at Mengda Ti Po. "During that critical moment, I had no choice but to disrespect the Buddha Prince. Fortunately, the Buddha Prince showed great compassion and still extended his aid. I wish to meet the Buddha Prince in person to explain the circumstances clearly. I hope the Master can mediate for me."

Mengda Ti Po seemed not yet recovered from his shock. His brown eyes blinked in the night as he replied gently, "Princess, there's no need to worry. If the Buddha Prince hadn't mentioned your arrival at the Royal Court to me earlier, I wouldn't have known you were here."

Before Yaoying could respond, Bore widened his eyes in disbelief. "What? Was it the King who sent the Master to find this Han woman? How could the King remember a Han woman! Has the King been swayed by this shameless Han woman?"

Mengda Ti Po nodded. "Indeed, the Buddha Prince has instructed that no one in the Royal Court should neglect the Princess of Wei."

Bore was struck dumb with astonishment.

Yaoying was equally surprised. She had assumed the sacred and aloof Buddha Prince had no memory of someone like her, never expecting he would issue such an order immediately upon returning to the Royal Court.

Bore trembled with rage, pointing a finger at Yaoying. "Sorceress! Even dressed in slave's attire, she bewitches men! On the journey to the Royal Court, from officers and soldiers to slaves, none dared look at her directly. If she were to dress in finery, wouldn't she turn the world upside down?"

Yaoying blinked innocently, her eyes shimmering with a captivating charm that appeared particularly alluring in the darkness.

Bore felt as if a cat were scratching at his heart. His round face flushed red with anger, then turned purple and pale. Suddenly, he spun around and dashed toward the palace. This Han woman was a demon sent to ruin the Buddha Prince's cultivation! He must stop the Buddha Prince!

Mengda Ti Po shook his head and motioned for Yaoying to follow him. "The Buddha Prince returned to the palace in haste tonight and has no time to meet you. Let me take you to your accommodations first."

Yaoying followed him to a spacious courtyard. In the darkness, she could make out the shapes of trees but couldn't identify them, though she caught a faint, refreshing fragrance.

The guards brought Xie Qing and the others over as well. Yaoying was immensely grateful. After a few comforting words from Mengda Ti Po, he took his leave.

Having survived the ordeal and reunited with old acquaintances, the personal guards cheered softly. The exhaustion of the past days washed over them, and they were soon snoring soundly after lying down.

Yaoying obtained some medicine from the guards and applied it to Xie Qing's wounds. Relieved to see her sleeping more peacefully than in previous days, she sighed in contentment.

Under the window, a chorus of snores rose and fell.

Rubbing her sore shoulders, Yaoying leaned against the windowsill and smiled. For the first time in many days, she felt a sense of relaxation.

Tanmoroqie was truly a compassionate and good man.

Yaoying closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.

Suddenly, a series of shouts and chaotic footsteps pierced the tranquil, water-like stillness of the night.

Yaoying broke into a cold sweat, jolting upright and gripping the dagger hidden on her person. She listened intently and, realizing the commotion wasn't headed her way, slowly exhaled in relief.

Haidu Aling was usually busy with military affairs, but in his leisure, he took pleasure in tormenting her, delighting in forcing her into a state of panic. Every night before sleep, she had to remain vigilant for his sudden appearances, and the slightest noise would startle her awake.

From next door came shouts: "Master! Master!"

So they were here for Mengda Ti Po.Yaoying went back to sleep, but shortly after dozing off, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the courtyard—this time it was her own gate being knocked on.

"Seventh Princess! The Dharma Master requests your presence!"

Yaoying rose to answer the door. Mengda Ti Po’s disciple led her directly to the main hall. The main doors were tightly shut, so they entered through a side path into the rear garden of the hall. In the dim light, a rich fragrance filled the air—the garden seemed to be planted with many flowers and trees.

The Royal Court palace stood on high ground, with all its buildings constructed atop elevated platforms. Yaoying followed the disciple up a long flight of stone steps.

A flickering lantern light awaited at the top of the stairs. Mengda Ti Po stood under the corridor, his expression anxious. "This humble monk has a matter to inquire of the Princess, and I hope you will answer truthfully."

Yaoying nodded.

Mengda Ti Po was drenched in sweat. "When this humble monk departed from Chang’an, the Princess gifted me several bottles of medicinal pills. Among them was one called Anxi Pills. Your attendant mentioned that this medicine has the effect of reducing swelling and relieving pain... Does the Princess know the formula for Anxi Pills?"

Yaoying was taken aback. Her thoughts raced, and after a moment of contemplation, her gaze drifted past the shadowy corridor toward the tightly shut doors of the main hall. She asked softly, "Has the Buddha Prince fallen ill?"

Mengda Ti Po’s expression stiffened briefly before he sighed. "Since the Princess has guessed, I shall speak truthfully. When I first arrived at the Royal Court, the Buddha Prince was gravely ill. I tried many prescriptions, and by chance, I had him take a few Anxi Pills."

At that time, the Northern Rong cavalry was advancing fiercely, allied with other tribes to attack the Holy City. Tanmoroqie knew his days were numbered and understood that if news of his severe illness spread, the Royal Court would surely fall. In desperation, he tried every possible remedy.

Miraculously, after taking the Anxi Pills, his condition improved.

The Anxi Pills had come from Yaoying, but Mengda Ti Po did not know the formula. As the bottle was nearly empty, he had no choice but to send someone to Central Plains to seek more medicine while trying other methods to stabilize Tanmoroqie’s condition. However, the war was intense, and it was impossible for Tanmoroqie to remain in the Holy City to recuperate.

He endured the pain to lead the troops into battle, persisting until a treaty was signed with the Northern Rong and Haidu Aling was driven back. Upon returning to the Holy City, he could hold on no longer.

After finishing his account, Mengda Ti Po sighed. "Just now, the Buddha Prince had another attack... The Anxi Pills I brought from the Central Plains are all gone..."

Suddenly, the doubts in Yaoying’s heart cleared.

She never imagined that an unintentional act of hers a year ago would influence a military situation eight thousand miles away.

Tanmoroqie had saved her not because he was moved by her, but because she revealed her identity as the Princess of Great Wei. After he improved from taking the Anxi Pills, Mengda Ti Po must have mentioned her to him.

So this was the opportunity Mengda Ti Po had spoken of.

Many things became clear to Yaoying.

No wonder Tanmoroqie had been in such a hurry to return to the Holy City and insisted on entering only after dark. He was ill—gravely ill—and afraid of being discovered.

That explained why she hadn’t seen any major cities or tribes along the way: Tanmoroqie had deliberately chosen a route back to the Holy City that avoided populated areas.

His original plan might have been to bring her to the Holy City first and then gradually inquire about the formula for the Anxi Pills.

But now, with his sudden relapse and his life hanging by a thread, Mengda Ti Po had no choice but to summon her in the dead of night and risk revealing the truth about his critical condition.Tanmoroqie's worries were not unfounded. He was a god in the hearts of the people of the Western Regions. As long as he lived one more day, the Royal Court would prosper and remain stable. After his death from illness, the Royal Court immediately collapsed, submitting to the Northern Rong within just a month. This vast Buddhist kingdom vanished completely from the river of history.

Once the news spread, the Royal Court would surely fall into chaos.

Yaoying sighed. "Venerable Monk, I know the prescription for Anxi Pills, but all the medicinal ingredients are native to the Central Plains. Even if you know the formula, it's impossible to prepare the medicine now."

The anxiety in Mengda Ti Po's brown eyes slowly faded as he stood at the steps and let out a long sigh.

"Princess, please excuse my lack of composure. The Buddha Prince is exceptionally gifted, possessing innate talent and noble character. He has thoroughly studied the classics and, given time, would surely become a great vessel of Buddhism, promoting the Buddhist Dharma and delivering all living beings. I cannot bear to see him fall into the suffering of reincarnation before achieving his great path."

Yaoying also didn't wish for Tanmoroqie to die so soon... After a moment's thought, she said, "Venerable Monk, I can write down the general prescription. Perhaps there are substitutes among the medicinal herbs of the Western Regions?"

Mengda Ti Po, being a monk, viewed life and death with detachment. Had it not been for his genuine admiration of Tanmoroqie's talent and qualifications, he wouldn't have spoken so much with Yaoying. Just as he was about to give up, her words revived his spirits.

Chang'an was eight thousand li away from the Holy City, yet the medicine the Seventh Princess had given him happened to alleviate Tanmoroqie's suffering. Now, the Seventh Princess had appeared in the Holy City by chance—perhaps all of this was the arrangement of the Buddha.

Mengda Ti Po led Yaoying through a long corridor and entered the inner chamber through a side door.

Layer upon layer of heavy golden silk curtains hung densely, making the inner hall appear pitch-black from the outside.

When the attendant lifted the curtains, brilliant golden light suddenly poured out.

Yaoying raised her hand to shield her eyes, slowly adjusting to the light.

Hundreds of candles burned fiercely in the hall, their flames so bright it seemed like daylight. The floor was covered with Persian carpets embroidered with beast patterns, so soft underfoot it felt like stepping on clouds. Jewel-encrusted bead curtains swayed gently on all sides, dazzling and magnificent, with shimmering colors. The walls were adorned with exquisitely carved gold-lacquered murals that seemed to float and ripple in the flickering golden light.

Yaoying felt dizzy from the glare—having entered the Holy City in darkness, she hadn't seen the full grandeur of the palace. She had assumed the palace would be as majestic and austere as the earthen cliffs she saw at dusk, never expecting the main hall to be so extravagantly beautiful.

One could easily imagine how wealthy the Royal Court was.

No wonder two generations of Northern Rong Khans had been determined to conquer the Royal Court.

Bore and several other guards knelt by the couch in the inner hall, their expressions sorrowful, eyes red from crying. When they saw Yaoying being brought in, they immediately jumped up.

"Demon..."

Yaoying ignored him and walked to the nearby writing desk. With a swift brush, she wrote down the prescription she knew.

Mengda Ti Po picked it up and examined it carefully, then shook his head in disappointment. "The key ingredient in this prescription must be this Water Mang Grass... Among all the medicines I have brought, there is nothing that can substitute for Water Mang Grass."

"Water Mang Grass?" Yaoying's eyes flickered slightly.

Loud wails came from beside the couch as Bore shouted, "Venerable Monk!"

Mengda Ti Po hurried to the couch, looked at Tanmoroqie's golden-pale face on the bed, and let out another long sigh.

Yaoying peeked over his shoulder, her gaze falling on Tanmoroqie's face.By the flickering candlelight, he lay beneath golden-embroidered white quilts, dark circles shadowing his eyes, lips deathly pale. His handsome face was beaded with cold sweat, thick brows tightly furrowed—clearly enduring excruciating pain, yet not a single sound escaped him.

The corner of the quilt lifted to reveal legs swollen nearly black—had he truly been mounting and dismounting horses with these very limbs these past days, commanding armies from horseback?

Had she not witnessed it herself, Yaoying would never have believed the man hovering at death's door was the same Buddha Prince who days earlier had led vast armies to repel Haidu Aling's forces.

Amidst those flowing battle lines shifting like mountain ranges, only he stood out in crimson kasaya robes—dazzling and peerless.

His bearing remained upright and majestic.

Who could have known he was gritting his teeth against such terrible suffering?

What immense fortitude must this man possess to endure until now?

He was the king of the Holy City, a deity in the hearts of the Western Regions' people. Thus, even when agony threatened to consume him, he alone must shoulder this destined-to-fall Buddhist kingdom.

Yaoying felt a surge of compassion, stepping forward to draw back the brocade quilt.

Bore shouted: "What are you doing?!"

Without glancing at him, Yaoying lifted Tanmoroqie's kasaya, fingers gently probing his swollen legs. "Fetch hot water."

Bore yelled for guards to remove her.

Mengda Ti Po stopped Bore, asking Yaoying: "Hot water? Won't that worsen the swelling?"

Yaoying looked at Tanmoroqie. For days she'd been kept at a distance, only able to watch his transcendent figure from afar at the rear of the procession. Now up close, she found him even more magnificently noble than she'd imagined—even ill, his features remained painting-like in their perfection.

"I once saw a divine physician treat someone in similar condition at Chibi," she explained. "Hot water, acupuncture... it can temporarily ease his suffering."

Even if she couldn't save him, at least this compassionate monk might know less pain.

Mengda Ti Po had heard of acupuncture. "There's a Han Buddhist monk at the temple who practices it—summon him to the palace!"

Having exhausted all other options without the Anxi pills, they could only trust fate.

The guards exchanged glances but, trusting Mengda Ti Po, departed on the order.

Attendants soon brought hot water. Yaoying directed them to fetch medicinal herbs, first bathing Tanmoroqie's body.

Half an hour later, the Han monk arrived in haste. Yaoying recounted all the treatment verses she could recall. The monk washed his hands, sterilized the needles, and began applying acupuncture.

Candles burned quietly. Though the swelling in Tanmoroqie's legs remained, his palms felt less cold, and some color had returned to his lips.

Yaoying assisted nearby, using silk cloths to wipe cold sweat from Tanmoroqie's brow.

Deep into the night, when palace candles had burned down to stubs, exhaustion weighed her eyelids shut. Unconsciously, she slumped asleep against the bedside.

In hazy half-sleep, heavy footsteps startled her awake.

Her eyes opened, plunging into a gaze deep as abyssal waters.

A pair of serene jade-green eyes watched her steadily.

Those eyes held transcendent clarity—like fathomless mountain springs seeming to comprehend all worldly truths. Though looking up at her from below, they made her feel exposed and pressured.

As if every layer, from body to soul, had been laid bare before this man.Yaoying was momentarily dazed, then snapped back to her senses. Calmly, she wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve, rose gracefully to her feet, and woke Mengda Ti Po, who was meditating nearby with his eyes closed: "Master, the Buddha Prince has awakened."