In the Moonlight

Gold, fine jade, rare pearls and treasures, coral trees several feet tall, exquisitely crafted glass cups—all shimmered with dazzling brilliance, a feast for the eyes.

The scattered treasure chests on the floor refracted dazzling rays of light, nearly blinding Yaoying.

Bi Suo stood nearby, making an inviting gesture: "Princess, feel free to choose. Several large carts are prepared outside. Whatever you fancy, you may take."

Yaoying snapped out of her daze, thinking to herself: Since Tanmoroqie is so wealthy, she wouldn’t stand on ceremony with him.

She scanned the room, her gaze settling on a jeweled box. She froze for a moment, her heart suddenly churning with emotion. She walked over, picked up the box, her nose tingling and eyes slightly reddening.

"Just this."

Her voice sounded soft and slightly hoarse.

Bi Suo was taken aback, hesitating as if to speak, then turned to report back to the inner hall.

The hall was silent, incense smoke curling gently. Tanmoroqie bathed in a cool beam of light, remaining silent.

Bi Suo waited a while but, seeing him absorbed in reading scriptures, dared not disturb him and withdrew.

Bore was waiting anxiously outside the hall, his face tense: "How much did Princess Wenzhao take?"

Bi Suo glanced back at Tanmoroqie on the jeweled couch, lost in thought, and replied casually: "Princess Wenzhao took only one item."

Bore was nearly frantic with impatience, pressing urgently: "What did the princess take?"

Bi Suo turned to him: "A luminous pearl. The princess seemed to like it very much."

Bore stamped his foot: "Why did she take the luminous pearl?"

Bi Suo shot him a cold glance: "What, do you think she took too much?"

Bore beat his chest in frustration: "I think she took too little! The medicinal herbs alone are worth more than one luminous pearl! Why didn’t she take more?"

Bi Suo chuckled: "She took less, so why are you angry? I recall you didn’t like Princess Wenzhao much."

Bore glared at him resentfully: "How can you still laugh, General? The princess’s dowry was entirely donated to the Buddhist temple. Now the whole city is spreading rumors that the princess is deeply infatuated with the King, abandoning all worldly possessions just to follow him! She has another excuse to cling to the King!"

Bi Suo smiled faintly, "What are you afraid of? No matter how infatuated Princess Wenzhao is, as long as the King remains unmoved, she will leave after a year. She is a woman of her word and won’t cling to him obstinately."

The Girl of Matanga was willing to practice asceticism for a year to marry Ananda. Li Yaoying had vowed to emulate the Girl of Matanga, staying in the Royal Court for only one year.

Unless Tanmoroqie developed feelings for her.

Bore lifted his chin proudly: "The King would never be moved!"

The King is the reincarnation of Ananda. At his birth, the Holy City was bathed in radiant clouds, and the palace echoed with faint Buddhist chants. The King is noble and sacred, pure and detached from desire—how could he be tempted by a Han princess? Even if she possesses breathtaking beauty…

Bi Suo glanced at him sideways: "Then what are you afraid of?"

Bore was speechless.

…

Yaoying returned to her courtyard with the jeweled box, sitting in the cool, shaded corridor, gazing absently at the luminous pearl inside.

Xie Qing was practicing martial arts in the courtyard. Noticing Yaoying’s reddened eyes, she quickly ascended the stone steps, frowning deeply: "Princess, who has troubled you?"

Yaoying snapped out of her reverie, smiled, and brushed the corner of her eye: "No one. I was thinking of my elder brother."

The luminous pearl from the Royal Court was richly colored and larger than the one Li Zhongqian had given her, yet she still cherished the one from her brother the most.

She wondered whose hands that luminous pearl had fallen into now.As usual, Xie Qing comforted Yaoying with an expressionless face: "The princess will surely return safely to the Central Plains and reunite with the Prince of Qin."

"Elder brother is no longer the Prince of Qin—he is now the Duke of Wei."

Her elder brother must be very worried about her; she needed to return soon.

Yaoying let out a long sigh, set aside her melancholy, and rallied her spirits. She summoned her personal guards and instructed them: "After the Dharma assembly concludes, Xie Peng, Xie Chong, and A-Qing will accompany me to Gaochang."

The guards acknowledged the order. Xie Qing asked, "Will the King of Gaochang assist the princess?"

Yaoying replied, "We won’t know until we go."

The guards fell into silence.

Noticing their dejected expressions, Yaoying raised her voice: "During the Han dynasty, Ban Chao was sent as an envoy to the Western Regions. With only thirty-six soldiers, he left the frontier and, without costing the court a single soldier, reclaimed over sixty states in the Western Regions."

"During the Tang dynasty, the imperial envoy Wang Xuance was sent to the Land of Brahma. His delegation was captured, but he managed to escape. He borrowed troops from Tubo, led an army to attack the Land of Brahma, beheaded three thousand enemies, captured King Arunasun of Brahma and his followers, and his fame spread across foreign lands. Over five hundred cities in the Land of Brahma surrendered."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across each guard’s face. "Though we are currently trapped in the Western Regions, it doesn’t mean there’s no chance of escape. The court has long hoped to restore communication with the Western Regions, and the states here also yearn to return east. This mission to Gaochang is your opportunity to prove your worth!"

Far from the Central Plains, with an uncertain future and a language barrier, the guards had been disheartened. But upon hearing these words, they suddenly felt a surge of clarity and fervor. If they, like Ban Chao and Wang Xuance, could help the court reclaim the Western Regions, wouldn’t they earn a place in history and bring honor to their families?

As they looked at their princess, flames of determination ignited in their eyes.

Standing before the steps, Yaoying spoke solemnly: "The Northern Rong covet the Central Plains, and sooner or later, we will clash with them. Even if we gain no assistance from the King of Gaochang on this journey, we can at least gather military intelligence. Knowing both ourselves and the enemy increases our chances of victory."

The guards responded with enthusiastic shouts, eager to set off for Gaochang immediately.

Seeing their fervor, Yaoying smiled.

Half a year of captivity had left her guards dispirited and demoralized. Only now could she glimpse the heroic passion of men ready to take up arms. Whether they could achieve extraordinary feats or not, this newfound ambition and spirit would help them regain confidence and calmly face all dangers.

The more trapped they felt, the more crucial it was not to lose their fighting spirit.

"The Royal Court has repeatedly repelled the Northern Rong armies—they must have winning strategies. On the way to Gaochang, pay close attention to the Royal Court’s central forces and learn from their strengths."

The guards chorused their agreement and watched as Yaoying returned to her room. They then turned to the stoic Xie Qing, winking: "Why aren’t you following her?"

Xie Qing looked bewildered.

Xie Chong exclaimed, "The princess misses the Duke of Wei and is feeling down. Go comfort her, so she doesn’t grieve. We will definitely escort the princess back to the court!"

Xie Qing’s face darkened. "Why should I be the one to follow and comfort the princess?"

The guards exchanged puzzled glances, unsure where her anger came from.

Xie Qing picked up her wooden practice sword, flicked her wrist, and swung the tip toward the guards."Since you all know I'm a woman, the princess is upset and troubled, so I must go comfort her. Should I also change into women's clothing, embroider with the princess, drink tea together, and sit weeping face-to-face to relieve her sorrow?"

The guards howled in pain, dodging blows while clutching their heads and begging for mercy.

"Brother! Sister! Auntie! We were wrong! We were wrong!"

Xie Qing continued chasing and beating them, sneering, "You don't actually think you're wrong at all!"

"Let me tell you, although I'm a woman, I'm still the princess's guard! Your captain! And I can beat you fools senseless!"

Cornered with nowhere to retreat, the guards simply collapsed on the ground, wailing and pleading through their tears: "Yes! Yes! We're fools!"

Xie Qing swung her wooden sword down, slicing off a lock of a guard's hair.

Xie Peng and Xie Chong clung to each other, trembling.

Xie Qing twirled her sword, kicking away a guard groveling at her feet: "Regardless of whether I'm male or female, the princess sees me as her guard, and I regard her as my liege. Remember this well: I am your captain, not the princess's maid! How I serve and show loyalty to the princess is none of your business!"

The men were bruised and battered, filled with grievance.

Xie Chong cried out: "Brother! Sir! Ancestor! We truly never meant to belittle or mock you! The princess has always been close to you, so we thought of having you comfort her. The princess is noble—when we rough men see her, we can't even speak properly. We genuinely didn't know how to console her..."

The others hastily chimed in agreement.

Xie Qing's expression softened slightly as she sheathed her wooden sword. "Don't try to order me around in the future!"

The men lay prostrate on the ground, nodding vigorously like pounding garlic.

When the pleas and commotion outside finally quieted, Yaoying peeked out from the doorway, her face radiant with a smile, eyes slightly upturned, exuding delicate charm.

Xie Qing stood stiffly, her tall build and stern features making it hard to believe she was a woman.

Yaoying called softly, "A-Qing, don't be angry."

Xie Qing remained silent.

Leaning by the window, Yaoying murmured, "Xie Peng and the others have been listless all day. It's good you gave them a beating—they seem much more spirited now."

Seeing that Yaoying wasn't upset, Xie Qing's expression remained stoic, but she subtly straightened her posture, her back becoming even more rigid.

After the beating, the guards, seemingly ashamed of losing face before Yaoying, became eager to prove themselves. As if revitalized by divine medicine, they rose before dawn to practice martial arts and boxing.

Yaoying, awakened every morning by the noise, thought: ...

She just wanted a good night's sleep.

As the Image Procession Festival approached, the city's celebratory atmosphere grew increasingly lively. The guards, bursting with untapped energy, grew curious and wanted to go see the grand spectacle of the Buddhist assembly.

Xie Chong pleaded with Yaoying: "Princess, come with us to see it."

The princess, born of noble lineage, had been confined in Haidu Aling's camp for half a year—a sight that pained them. Now that they were in the Royal Court and the Northern Rong didn't dare cause trouble, the princess could go out for some fresh air.

Yaoying also found staying confined to one part of the palace stifling, but as they were living under someone else's roof, she didn't want to encounter Xue Yanna outside. Smiling, she said, "You go have fun."

She had Xie Qing distribute several silver coins to each guard. Silver coins circulated widely in the Western Regions, and one could buy quite a lot.Xie Qing reminded the guards: "Stay alert, don't cause trouble for the princess."

The guards cheerfully accepted the silver coins, giving repeated assurances before heading out of the palace together. When they returned that evening, they brought back a pile of novel trinkets they'd never seen before to amuse Yaoying.

That day, the guards rose before dawn as usual to practice martial arts. After a meal of naan bread, they left the palace to see the festivities.

Yaoying was busy preparing for her trip to Gaochang—packing belongings and checking account books—when Xie Chong suddenly rushed into the courtyard: "Princess, Xie Peng and the others have been arrested!"

Xie Qing stepped out first: "What happened? Who arrested them? Did you cause trouble?"

Xie Chong, disheveled and covered in wounds, bowed toward Yaoying as she emerged from her room, speaking remorsefully: "Princess, Xie Peng and the others accidentally violated Royal Court laws and were taken to the Regent."

Yaoying's face paled.

While Buddha Prince Tanmoroqie was revered by all for his benevolence, Regent Su Dan Gu ruled through fear and executions. Ruthless and merciless, he wielded absolute power over life and death, personally executing numerous nobles and officials. Court ministers trembled at his name, while common people feared him like a vicious beast.

Even devoted followers of Tanmoroqie like Bore and Yuanjue dreaded Su Dan Gu, considering him cold-blooded and murderous, burdened with heavy sins. Though they occasionally used Su Dan Gu's name to intimidate Xue Yanna, they usually avoided mentioning him.

Throughout the Royal Court, no one dared associate with Su Dan Gu.

His name was only invoked when intimidation was needed.

With Xie Peng and the others in Su Dan Gu's hands, their chances were slim.

Years ago, when Xue Yanna's uncle plotted a rebellion, pressuring ministers to support his claim to the throne, this Regent had marched into the Royal Court hall alone—without any guards—carrying only his blade. Before all the civil and military officials, he beheaded Xue Yanna's uncle, then carried the head to the palace gates, roaring at the left army commanded by the Xue family to surrender. His ferocious demeanor and overwhelming presence resembled a wrathful deity.

Xue Yanna had been so terrified his legs gave way, and ever since, merely hearing Su Dan Gu's name would drench him in cold sweat.

How could Xie Peng have violated Royal Court laws and fallen into Su Dan Gu's clutches?

Steadying herself, Yaoying asked Xie Chong: "What exactly did Xie Peng and the others do?"

The guards were utterly loyal, having endured countless hardships with her. She couldn't stand by while Su Dan Gu executed them. Still, they were guests in the Royal Court and should respect local customs—Xie Peng's group was clearly at fault here. Only by understanding the full situation could she find a solution.

Xie Chong gnashed his teeth in fury: "The city's been lively lately, with many merchants entering for the festival. We heard southern horse traders had good stock and went to check, but that place didn't just sell horses..."

His eyes reddened, "They were selling people! All Han Chinese!"

Yaoying sighed inwardly.

Human trafficking was among the most profitable trades along the Western Regions merchant routes, with nearly every Western Regions merchant dealing in female slaves. While exotic beauties were typically sold to the Central Plains, here in the Western Regions, those tied with straw ropes and traded like livestock were mostly captives seized from various tribes—including large numbers of Han Chinese.

With the decline of the Central Plains dynasty, the status of Han people in the Western Regions had plummeted to that of despised commoners. Forced to sever all connections with their homeland, they now spoke foreign tongues, followed Non-Han Customs, braided their hair and wore left-lapelled clothing, submitting to others' commands.Xie Chong knelt before Yaoying, his fierce eyes brimming with tears: "Princess, Xie Peng and I understood our current predicament and didn’t want to meddle. We originally planned to slip away quietly... but an old man overheard us speaking and suddenly rushed forward, weeping..."

The old man had white hair, was gaunt and emaciated, like a skeleton draped in human skin. He threw himself at Xie Peng’s feet, his bony fingers clutching tightly at the hem of his robe. When he spoke, it was in flawless Central Plains Mandarin: "Heaven has eyes! Heaven has eyes! Before I, Zhang Song, die, I can actually hear my native tongue again!"

Xie Chong and Xie Peng helped the old man to his feet.

The old man asked where they were from. Upon learning they had come from the Central Plains, he stared blankly for a long moment before suddenly bursting into loud, heart-wrenching sobs.

"Does the Central Plains emperor still remember us common folk? We’ve waited decades for the imperial army to reclaim our homeland!"

Xie Chong and Xie Peng’s eyes reddened, but they had no words to offer.

When the previous Zhu dynasty was founded, there had been plans to reclaim the Western Regions, but they lacked sufficient military strength, and court conflicts were intense. The dynasty fell within a few generations. The current emperor Li De and Crown Prince Li Xuanzhen both wished to reclaim the Hexi region, but the Great Wei dynasty was still newly established, plagued by internal and external troubles, and unfamiliar with the situation in the Western Regions. They dared not hastily dispatch troops for now.

The two men didn’t know how to respond to the old man, and the old man hadn’t expected a positive answer either. He wept in despair.

Just then, the Hu merchant who traded in Han people lashed out with a whip, striking the old man and sending him tumbling to the ground.

Xie Peng couldn’t bear to see the old man humiliated and wanted to buy his freedom, but the Hu merchant, because they were Han people, deliberately made things difficult. He ended up beating the old man to death right in front of them!

That old man, who came from a prominent Hexi family, had been captured and taken to the Western Regions in his youth. After decades of slavery, he had never forgotten his native tongue, still hoping the imperial army would reclaim Hexi one day—and just like that, he was beaten to death!

At this point, Xie Chong clenched his fists, his whole body trembling as he struggled to contain his rage and grief. "Xie Peng tried to save the old man and got into a conflict with the Hu merchant. He accidentally injured the merchant, and the market guards arrested Xie Peng and the others. They said they violated the laws and should be executed according to the code! They’ve already been taken to the Regent!"

Yaoying sighed.

Xie Peng and Xie Chong had been too impulsive.

Her mind raced as she summoned the other guards and gave them instructions: "Go quickly to the storeroom, take some cloth, silk, jewels, and jade, and deliver them to that Hu merchant’s family. Ask someone to mediate on our behalf. Also, bribe the market officials and ask if they can commute the punishment with silver."

The guards acknowledged the orders and went their separate ways.

Yaoying took Xie Qing to the main hall, but as they approached the corridor, she paused.

Would someone as noble and aloof as Tanmoroqie bother with such trivial matters? He had been preparing for the Buddhist debate assembly these days and was said to be in seclusion, seeing no one.

Yaoying hesitated for a moment, then returned to the courtyard and asked the guards on duty: "Is General Ashina on duty today?"

The guard immediately replied, "Princess, please wait. I’ll go fetch General Ashina at once."

Yaoying was taken aback.

Another guard explained: "General Ashina gave orders that if the Princess asked for him, we were to inform him immediately, whether he was on duty or not."

Ashina Bisha’s tall, sturdy figure soon appeared at the courtyard gate, his golden braids so bright they seemed to dim the sunlight.

"Did the Princess ask for me?" he asked with a grin.Yaoying stepped forward and told him about Xie Peng's assault: "My personal guards have violated your kingdom's laws and should be punished accordingly. However, they have remained fiercely loyal through countless hardships with me. I cannot bear to see them die in a foreign land, especially since no lives were taken—their crimes don't warrant execution. Is there any possible leniency?"

Bi Suo's playful expression vanished, his brow furrowing slightly. "Were they sent to Su Dan Gu?"

Xie Chong nodded beside them.

Bi Suo sighed, smiling wryly. "The Regent's temper... I'm afraid this won't be easy."

Yaoying's heart tightened.

Bi Suo looked down at her—pale-faced with lightly knitted brows, her luminous eyes fixed intently on him, features delicate as a painting—and felt his resolve soften. Scratching his head, he gentled his tone: "Since no one was killed, it's not truly a grave matter. Princess, come with me. I'll plead with the Regent."

Then, fearing he'd frightened her, added, "Don't be afraid, Princess. You have me!"

Yaoying quietly exhaled in relief, thanked him gratefully, and followed him out of the royal palace.

The execution ground was at the city gate—the mandatory passage for all merchants entering or leaving the Holy City, always bustling with activity. Whenever the Regent carried out executions, spectators would pack the area below the gate until it was impenetrably crowded.

Today, Su Dan Gu was to oversee the execution of bandits who had brutally massacred an entire tribe. Notices had been posted in advance, and the main road beneath the gate was already filled with a boisterous crowd.

Yaoying followed Bi Suo on horseback out of the palace. The gate guards recognized Bi Suo, exchanged a few words with him, and allowed them into the gate tunnel.

Below the gate tower knelt a group of tightly bound prisoners, guarded by soldiers.

A whistle sounded before the gate, and sudden silence fell outside. Two soldiers stepped forward, hauled two burly bandits from among the prisoners, and escorted them up the tower.

The atmosphere grew heavy and solemn. Soon, a roaring cheer erupted outside the tunnel.

The two bandits had been executed.

Yaoying's heart pounded wildly. Scanning the area, she spotted Xie Peng and the others among the crowd, her face pale.

Xie Peng also saw her. His expression shifted dramatically, lips trembling briefly before he hung his head in shame. Then he jerked it up again, shaking it at her.

Princess, don't save me.

Yaoying didn't approach. Steadying herself, she hurried up the stairs after Bi Suo.

Several guards halted them, brandishing long swords and demanding sharply, "Who goes there?"

Bi Suo lifted his face. "It's me. I need to see the Regent."

The guard replied coldly, "The Regent is executing prisoners! Return in half an hour, General!"

Bi Suo smiled patiently. "Go announce that Bi Suo is here with urgent business. The Regent will see me."

The guard hesitated briefly, then turned to deliver the message. Moments later, he returned, stepped aside, and cupped his hands in salute.

Bi Suo led Yaoying hastily up the gate tower. As they rounded the watchtower, a thick, metallic scent assaulted them.

Yaoying choked back her nausea, forcing herself forward.

Splat— something splattered, spraying across her veil, robes, and pomegranate-red skirt, soaking through the fabric before dripping steadily downward.

An icy chill shot up her spine. Yaoying froze rigid, staring down at her feet.A severed head rolled to a stop by her long boots, tangled hair splayed wildly, features contorted in a grotesque grimace with the tongue protruding, the ground smeared with crimson blood and pale matter.

After a deathly stillness, thunderous cheers erupted from below the city tower as the common people clapped and shouted.

Su Dan Gu had just executed a bandit.

Bi Suo started in alarm. Turning, he saw Yaoying splattered all over with blood, even her veil stained red. Torn between fury, pity, and guilt, he hastily reached out to support her while glancing back to scold Su Dan Gu in a low voice: "Regent, you've frightened Princess Wenzhao!"

Yaoying’s limbs felt weak as she leaned on Bi Suo’s support, slowly moving forward.

At the front of the city tower stood a man in a black brocade robe, holding a blood-stained blade. His posture was tall and slender, thinner than Bi Suo, yet his entire being resembled a fully drawn bow, brimming with immense tension. His aura was cold and fierce, with long arms and a sash cinched at his waist, accentuating his muscular frame—clearly a master of archery and horsemanship.

This was Su Dan Gu, the Regent who held military and political power over the Royal Court, the Yaksa spoken of by the common folk as a merciless killer who hailed from the Asura's Realm.

He held a long blade in his hand, glanced back at Bi Suo and Yaoying, his eyes icy and hollow like a misty winter dawn, where even the most blazing sunlight could not penetrate the thick, impenetrable gloom.

A sliver of evening light cut across his face, illuminating it—just as the legends described, hideous and terrifying, covered with gruesome scars that obscured his original features.

A living Yaksa.

Yaoying couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

Sensing her fear, Bi Suo removed his cloak and draped it over her shoulders, gently squeezing her shoulders. Unsure how to comfort her, he flusteredly said, “Princess, don’t be afraid! The Regent never kills innocent people. Those he executed were notorious bandits…”

Yaoying steadied her nerves and softly replied, “No, it was my recklessness.”

Bi Suo was taken aback, sighed softly, and helped Yaoying over to the watchtower. “It’s my fault—I was too careless! I shouldn’t have brought you here, Princess. Please wait a moment; I’ll go explain to the Regent.”

Yaoying looked up at him gratefully and said, “Thank you, General.”

Bi Suo’s face flushed slightly. He smiled, turned away, glanced with disgust at the severed head at his feet, and hurried over to Su Dan Gu’s side.

“Regent,” he said, pointing to the bound group below the city tower. “Those Han Chinese got into a brawl with Hu merchants and injured them. Their crimes don’t warrant death, but the Hu merchants colluded with the market officials to send them here. Please don’t mistakenly execute them.Su Dan Gu ignored Bi Suo, sheathed his blade, and descended the city tower from the opposite watchtower, his figure strong and imposing like a deep abyss or towering mountain.

Bi Suo hurried after him, calling out repeatedly, “Regent, they truly haven’t taken any lives!”

Without turning back, Su Dan Gu said in a hoarse, low voice, “Deal with them according to the law.”

Yaoying strained to listen to their conversation, and upon hearing this, her anxious heart finally settled.

Dealing with them according to the law meant they only needed to pay a fine.

Bi Suo also breathed a sigh of relief. He escorted Yaoying down the city tower, found the soldiers guarding the prisoners, and explained the situation clearly.

The soldier retrieved the documents sent by the market officials and exclaimed, “General, there’s no need to worry. Although these men were sentenced to death, all executions must be confirmed by the Regent himself before they are brought to the city tower. Today, they were brought here merely to witness the executions.”

In other words, only the bandits were executed today. All death sentences required Su Dan Gu’s personal review. Since Xie Peng and the others’ crimes did not warrant death, Su Dan Gu would not condemn them based solely on the officials’ claims.

Yaoying was completely reassured now and repeatedly thanked Bi Suo.

Bi Suo, looking at her blood-stained veil, felt deeply remorseful. As he escorted her back to the palace, he said gently, “Leave the rest to me. Just wait at ease, Princess. Xie Peng and the others will return unharmed in a few days.”Yaoying shook her head and said, "This matter was caused by Xie Peng and the others acting impulsively and recklessly. As the princess, I failed in my duty to discipline them properly and dare not trouble the general further."

Bi Suo replied earnestly, "Princess, there's no need to stand on ceremony with me. You are far from home with no one to rely on. Should anything arise, you may always come to me without hesitation. My only regret is lacking opportunities to be of service to you." His last words were deliberately softened, carrying a tender warmth.

Yaoying was momentarily taken aback.

Bi Suo smiled at her. "You've had a fright today, Princess. Rest early—I shall visit again tomorrow."

As she watched his tall figure recede into the distance, Yaoying recalled his cloak still draped over her shoulders. Shaking her head slightly, she turned back toward her chambers.

The guards returned one after another to report: they had delivered jewels and jade to smooth things over with the market authorities, who agreed to withdraw the lawsuit the next day. The foreign merchant, upon receiving the silks they sent, extorted additional silver before agreeing to a settlement.

The following day, Bi Suo indeed came to assist Yaoying with the remaining matters. With Xie Peng and the others demonstrating good repentance and Yaoying presenting the settlement agreement, they were promptly released.

Xie Qing punished Xie Peng's group by making them practice horse stance in the courtyard daily. Aware they had nearly caused a grave disaster for Yaoying, the men accepted their punishment without complaint.

Rather than scolding Xie Peng, Yaoying arranged through intermediaries to purchase all the Han Chinese from the foreign merchant and settled them in a compound outside the city walls. The deceased elder, who had been dragged beyond the city and discarded that same day, was located at her request; she provided a proper funeral.

When Xie Peng heard of this, he wiped his tears and resumed his horse stance without a word.

With the Xie Peng affair resolved, Yaoying finally enjoyed a peaceful night's rest.

That evening, she dreamed of standing atop the city gate tower when a spray of warm blood drenched her robes, crimson streams trickling down her skirt.

Drip, drip—each drop echoed distinctly.

A figure stood before her, gripping a blood-stained blade.

Yaoying stood frozen, not daring to move. The figure whirled around abruptly, revealing a Yaksa face with one exception: a pair of lucid eyes, green as lake waters.

She jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat.