When Yao Ying awoke, she was back at the courier station. The sky was dark, and no lamps were lit in the room. It was pitch black, with only the swaying lamplight from the corridor filtering through the windows, accompanied by the desolate howling of the wind.

She sat up dizzily, remembering what had happened before she fainted, wondering if her constant thoughts had conjured up a beautiful dream.

The night wind gently rattled the wooden windows with continuous creaking sounds.

Yao Ying put on clothes and got up, opening the door.

At the end of the corridor, amidst flickering lights, a tall, robust man sat facing away from her on a windowsill dozens of zhang high. His long legs dangled over the narrow ledge, his clothes billowing in the wind, a leather wine skin in his hand as he drank.

“Elder Brother, drink less wine.”

Yao Ying stood dazed for a moment before saying joyfully, walking quickly toward him.

Hearing her voice, Li Zhongqian immediately turned around, jumped down, hastily tucked away the wineskin, and reached out to support her.

“It’s not wine,” he said, steadying Yao Ying and pinching her cheek. “Elder Brother has listened to Mingyue Nu and hasn’t touched wine for a long time.”

Since waking from his injury and learning she had been sent away in a political marriage, he hadn’t touched a drop of wine.

Yao Ying didn’t believe him. She grabbed his hand holding the wineskin, pulled out the stopper, and sniffed it closely. Indeed, there was no smell of wine, only a sour fragrance – he was drinking fermented milk.

She said with satisfaction, “Elder Brother is injured and should drink less wine.”

This earnest, caring manner was just like her from before they parted.

The cold night wind filled the corridor. A dim moon hung in the ink-black sky. Below the tall building was a frontier city utterly different from Chang’an, with domed towers and earthen fortresses standing tall, and Buddhist temples everywhere. Day and night, sand and stones flew through the air, mud falling from building walls. From the high floor of the courier station, one could see the tents of diplomatic missions and merchant caravans from various countries spread across the plain.

The food, customs, clothing, and accessories were worlds apart from the Central Plains.

She had drifted to such a distant place, enduring countless hardships.

Li Zhongqian’s phoenix eyes lowered, concealing deep pain and sorrow, while his lips curled up as he smiled and patted Yao Ying’s head. “Little housewife.”

Yao Ying trembled slightly.

Li Zhongqian tensed, took off his cloak, and draped it over her shoulders, leading her back to the room, his tone urgent: “You’re sick, don’t get up, go back and lie down.”

Yao Ying was happy inside, holding his arm, her slightly feverish forehead rubbing against his arm.

“I’m fine, I’ll be better after taking medicine.”

Li Zhongqian remained silent. She had been unconscious for almost an entire day. He had summoned every physician in the city, watched the imperial guards brew medicine, fed it to her, and spent the day in busy confusion, meeting all the imperial guards and asking all his questions before she finally woke.

His heart burned with anxiety, but he couldn’t bear to wake her – the imperial guards had said she hadn’t slept for several nights.

Back in the room, Yao Ying took off her shoes and got on the couch but refused to lie down. Though still looking wan, her mood was bright now, her spirit vigorous, her eyes shining. She insisted on sitting up to talk with Li Zhongqian.

Li Zhongqian had no choice but to wrap her in a thin blanket and call the traveling physician to check her pulse. He went to the kitchen to get hot soup, hot flatbread, vegetables, and fried meatballs, urging her to eat.

Yao Ying’s appetite opened up. After eating the soup, bread, and meatballs, she sat cross-legged on the couch, expression joyful. Then, remembering something, worry crossed her face, and she insisted the physician check Li Zhongqian’s pulse as well.

“Elder Brother, how are your injuries? Have you gotten new ones these days?”

Li Zhongqian shook his head: “Don’t worry, I’m a martial artist. They’re just surface wounds, much better now.”

Yao Ying stared unblinkingly at the physician.

The physician checked Li Zhongqian’s pulse and smiled at her, shaking his head to indicate there was nothing serious.

Yao Ying finally set down her worried heart, sighing in relief. After the physician left, her gaze fell on the sword scar between Li Zhongqian’s brows.

“Elder Brother, why were you with those bandits?”

Li Zhongqian said casually: “A group of bandits and rebel troops occupied Wuquan, blocking my path. I waited several days, but eager to see you, I killed their leader. They followed me after that. I couldn’t be bothered with them and let them follow.”

After learning where Li Yao Ying was, he feared she might run into trouble trying to find him. Wishing he had wings to fly to the Royal Court overnight, he had urged her to wait for him, traveling cautiously, ignoring everything else to press on. With the Northern Rong in chaos and rebel troops everywhere, for safety’s sake, he had to avoid busy towns and take detours to Sha City. Finally reaching Wuquan, he had been impatient, only to find it occupied by rebels and bandits, both sides at a stalemate, cut off from communication, no one able to leave.

Li Zhongqian hadn’t wanted to be rash, patiently waiting several days for an opportunity. Unexpectedly, the bandits and rebels had lingered. Worried about Li Yao Ying’s anxiety, in a moment of anger, he had risked killing their leaders. With both sides in chaos, he seized a horse and rushed toward Sha City.

The bandits, leaderless, had shamelessly pursued him, electing him as their new leader and swearing loyalty.

He had only wanted to reunite with Li Yao Ying, paying attention to nothing else, not eating or drinking, riding madly onward.

The bandits had followed behind him, and seeing Yao Ying’s group, had rejoiced, shouting about robbing them to please him.

Li Zhongqian, focused only on reaching Sha City, hadn’t wanted to deal with trivial matters and had continued riding. Glancing casually at the hills, he had spotted the Han imperial guards, his heart leaping. Seeing those flying banners, he immediately realized Li Yao Ying had come out of the city to find him.

Thinking of this, Li Zhongqian’s face darkened, his gaze at Yao Ying stern and imposing: “Didn’t I tell you to wait at the Royal Court? It’s so chaotic outside, why did you leave the city?”

Yao Ying had never feared him and said: “I was worried something had happened to you. Wuquan isn’t far, I brought several hundred men, and we could make the round trip in a day. Nothing serious would happen.”

Li Zhongqian’s brows furrowed tightly: “What if you had encountered Haidu Aling? The Northern Rong is in such chaos, with the old Khan and several princes fleeing from the Royal Court army’s pursuit. Only Haidu Aling led his elite troops away from the battlefield – he could appear at any time.”

He had already heard from Yang Qian and others that Haidu Aling was determined to have her.

Yao Ying shook her head: “Elder Brother, Haidu Aling absolutely won’t appear near Sha City. I’m completely certain of this, that’s why I dared to leave the city.”

Li Zhongqian’s expression softened somewhat. “Don’t take risks next time. Wait for Elder Brother.”

And… don’t sacrifice yourself for him again. He had been living in a daze, indulging recklessly, wanting nothing else except for her to live safely and happily.

Yao Ying made a sound of agreement, hugging her knees, chin resting on them, smiling as she gazed at Li Zhongqian sitting on the edge of the couch as if she couldn’t look enough.

Li Zhongqian’s throat constricted.

He had thought that when he found her, he would scold her severely, and make her swear never to do such foolish things again. Whether she cried or acted coy, he wouldn’t soften.

But now that he had truly found her, lost and regained, his heart was full only of tender love, fearing she might suffer even the slightest grievance. How could he harden his heart to reproach her?

Li Zhongqian sighed, closing his eyes briefly, and glancing at the dark circles under Yao Ying’s eyes.

“Be good, sleep now. Elder Brother won’t leave, I’ll stay here with you.”

Yao Ying made a soft sound of agreement but didn’t move.

“Elder Brother.”

She called to him softly, her eyes full of smiles.

“Mm?”

Li Zhongqian responded with a smile, his expression gentle.

Yao Ying said: “Elder Brother has gotten so thin, you need to eat more nourishing food.”

“Mm.”

“Has Elder Brother’s martial arts recovered?”

Li Zhongqian said calmly: “There’s more than one type of martial art in this world. Without the golden hammers, Elder Brother can practice others…”

He could have abandoned martial arts for scholarship before, then abandoned scholarship for martial arts, unafraid to start over. Though the martial arts he had practiced for years were ruined, the foundation remained. He knew he could never wield dual hammers again in this life and had decisively switched to sword and blade instead.

“…Mingyue Nu, don’t worry about me.”

Yao Ying made a sound of acknowledgment, then asked curiously: “Elder Brother, how did you drive a wedge between Khan Wakhan and the Crown Prince when you were with the Northern Rong? You nearly killed the old Khan with an arrow? You were injured – how did you recover? Really no internal injuries?”

She looked at Li Zhongqian, asking a stream of questions just as she had whenever he returned from campaigns in her childhood.

As if she had never suffered at all.

Li Zhongqian lowered his gaze, patting her head. “The day I reached Yizhou, Princess Imperial Yiqing detained us…”

Outside, the wind howled furiously. Inside, the lamplight was dim.

Li Zhongqian softened his voice, relating his experiences since leaving the capital. All the dangerous moments, thinking back now seemed nothing more than trivial matters.

Yao Ying listened, occasionally letting out a small exclamation, concern and worry flashing across her face.

Time passed unknowingly. The candlewick crackled twice, a wisp of smoke rising.

Li Zhongqian looked down.

Yao Ying had curled up into a small ball beside him, fallen asleep, holding a silk pouch in her arms.

Just like when she was little.

He had raised her himself. No matter how much she grew, in his eyes, she would always be a child.

“Mingyue Nu…” his fingers gently stroked her head, “Were you afraid when you were sent to the Yelu tribe?”

Yao Ying mumbled drowsily, “A little afraid.”

Li Zhongqian slowly closed his eyes.

During his time recovering in the Northern Rong, Tali had told him everything.

Yao Ying said she was only a little afraid.

Tali said she hadn’t dared close her eyes all night, constantly gripping a blade.

“Did the Crown Prince frighten you every day?”

Yao Ying murmured hazily: “Elder Brother, it’s fine, I had imperial guards protecting me, he didn’t dare act rashly.”

What Tali had said was that the Crown Prince was unrestrained, brazenly dragging slave girls into his tent in broad daylight, the sounds heard throughout almost the entire camp. Several times he had deliberately invaded her tent, pretending to be drunk, once even touching the hem of her skirt.

“Did you suffer much on the way to the Yelu tribe?”

Yao Ying denied reflexively: “No…”

Tali had told him that she wasn’t used to riding horses on treacherous mountain paths, her legs streaming with blood, unable to move when dismounting, needing two maids to support her just to stand.

“Did Haidu Aling torment you?”

Yao Ying shook her head. “Elder Brother, I’m fine… he kept me confined, but I found a way to escape…”

Tali had said: “The prince was polite at first. When the princess remained unmoved, he made her brand the horses… Every spring, the tribe’s foals must be branded to show which tribe owns them. The herdsmen would corral all the horses, and the tribe’s most skilled and experienced warriors would brand the foals…”

“When the red-hot iron brands touched the horses’ flesh, they would struggle, easily kicking and injuring people. That’s why only men did the branding. The prince made the princess do it to frighten her. She rolled up her sleeves and went to work. Every day was filled with the horses’ agonized screams, and the princess’s hands were covered in burns and bruises…”

“After the branding was done, the princess still wouldn’t submit. The prince grew angry and wouldn’t let her ride with the army anymore. He made her walk with the slaves. Her shoes wore through, and her feet were raw…”

“The guards wouldn’t give the princess food. She was starving and had to dig for roots with the slaves… Whenever she found something edible, she would be so happy, trying to hide some on her person…”

“The prince had no patience with women. Those he liked, he kept in his tent. Those he didn’t, he gave to his subordinates. The princess never bowed her head… and still found a way to escape…”

Every word, every sentence Tali had spoken, Li Zhongqian remembered with perfect clarity.

Countless nights, he saw her in his dreams.

Dreamed of her wiping tears away on horseback.

Dreaming of her huddled in a tent corner, trembling.

Dreamed of her, disheveled and dirty, crouching in the wasteland with slaves, digging for roots.

Dreamed of her bound and tied behind the convoy, her feet raw and bleeding.

In his dreams, she endured countless abuses, crying out to him: “Elder Brother, I’m scared.”

Each time he woke, Li Zhongqian suffered more than his dream self who had witnessed her ordeal, because he knew everything Tali had told him had happened.

Yao Ying had been sensible and good since childhood, had never done anything wrong, had saved countless people, yet had to endure such torments.

Tang had died by self-immolation, and Li De and Li Xuanzhen were displeased. He knew such emotional knots were hard to untie and was willing to give up everything just to live in seclusion with his mother and sister, but Li De wouldn’t leave them alone.

Had he known this would happen, that year when he was eleven, he would have died together with the father and son, ending everything.

Only by killing Li De and Li Xuanzhen could she avoid being drawn into the vortex again.

Li Zhongqian opened his eyes, his pupils radiating an icy light in the night, fierce and terrifying.

He pulled up the thin blanket to cover Yao Ying, who was sleeping on her side and tucked a pillow under her neck to make her more comfortable.

Yao Ying’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she looked up, half-asleep, clutching Li Zhongqian’s sleeve.

“Elder Brother… I met someone later…”

Li Zhongqian bent down. “Who?”

“A very good person…” Yao Ying’s tone was gentle. “He’s a monk, he was very kind to me.”

Li Zhongqian made a noncommittal sound.

The monk she spoke of was undoubtedly the Royal Court’s Buddha’s Son.

In the Northern Rong, unable to understand the language, he couldn’t comprehend what the barbarians were saying. But in Gaochang it was different – there were many Han people, and he heard too many rumors. When the foreign merchants gathered to chat, they loved to discuss the romance between the Buddha’s Son and the Han princess, their words lewd and vulgar, describing Yao Ying as someone without shame or dignity. He had held back again and again, but several times he couldn’t contain himself and had flipped tables, knocking down those who spoke such nonsense with his fists, causing trouble for himself.

Later, when he heard merchants discussing the Buddha’s Son, he would avoid them to prevent himself from losing control and hurting people, delaying his journey.

Today he had asked the imperial guards, and they all said the Buddha’s Son took good care of Yao Ying, and that as an enlightened high monk, he stayed away from women and had never acted improperly toward Yao Ying. Only then did he feel relieved.

A monk was indeed different.

“Elder Brother… the Master knows I’ve found you… he’ll surely be happy for me…”

Yao Ying’s voice was hoarse. “Can we go to the Holy City to see him?”

“Of course. The Buddha’s Son saved you. By all rights, Elder Brother should thank him in person.”

Li Zhongqian’s face showed a slight smile.

Then, he could take Mingyue Nu home.

Li Zhongqian tucked the thin blanket around Yao Ying, pushing her arm under the cover, his fingers touching something hard, like a string of prayer beads.

He didn’t think much of it and stood up, going to sleep on the couch in the adjacent room.

…

The next morning, Li Zhongqian woke first.

He had been traveling for too long and had developed the habit of waking at the slightest sound. He quickly put on clothes and first went to check on Li Yao Ying in the adjacent room.

She was sleeping soundly, her brow relaxed.

Li Zhongqian pulled the blanket higher, left the room, went downstairs, and asked the imperial guards with furrowed brows: “What’s that noise outside?”

The guard answered: “My Lord, those bandits who traveled with you have all surrendered… They’re making a fuss about seeing you.”

The bandits, seeing Li Zhongqian return to the city with Yao Ying, immediately laid down their weapons and surrendered, following them into the city, refusing to leave despite being driven away.

Li Zhongqian said coldly: “Anyone who comes to make trouble, don’t be polite – drive them away directly.”

The guard acknowledged the order.

…

Yao Ying hadn’t slept well for several nights, but this night she slept sweetly until well after sunrise. Opening the door, she saw Li Zhongqian practicing sword in the courtyard below and broke into a happy smile.

Thinking of the pair of golden hammers he had used since childhood, the smile faded somewhat from her face.

When she was little and Li Zhongqian practiced with his hammers, she would watch from the side, curious to try them herself. Li Zhongqian had lifted one golden hammer and handed it to her. She had reached out to take it and fallen flat on her face with a thud.

The golden hammers were too heavy – she couldn’t lift one even with both hands.

Li Zhongqian had roared with laughter and later had someone make her a pair of cloth hammers stuffed with grain husks. She had played with them for a few days before losing interest, using them to scratch itches instead.

Now his golden hammers were gone.

Yao Ying was lost in thought for a moment.

A guard came to report that more and more people were gathering outside the gate. Besides the bandits, many refugees have entered the city in recent days.

“They recognize my Lord and want to follow you.”

It turned out that Li Zhongqian had killed several bandit leaders and tyrants who were taking advantage of the chaos along his way. His solitary, fierce courage, outstanding among all others, had left an impression, and the refugees remembered the scar between his brows. He never spoke, wearing tattered clothes, and the refugees didn’t know his identity. Hearing from the bandits that he knew the Western Army, they were convinced he must be an important figure and came to join him.

These refugees weren’t Royal Court people. The Royal Court allowed them to enter the city to escape disaster, but they would eventually return to their original tribes. They hoped Li Zhongqian could lead them back.

Yao Ying’s eyes flickered thoughtfully. When Li Zhongqian finished practicing, she brought him a cup of tea and said, “Elder Brother, after things are settled here, we can meet up with A’qing. A’qing will have many things to consult you about.”

Li Zhongqian wiped his sweat and said, “We’ll discuss that later. Now with the Northern Rong in chaos, it’s the perfect time for us to return to the Central Plains. After seeing the Buddha’s Son, we’ll leave immediately.”

Yao Ying froze for a moment. “Elder Brother, we can’t return to the Central Plains now.”

Li Zhongqian’s sword-like eyebrows knitted together.

“What did you say?”

Yao Ying said seriously: “Elder Brother, I’m now the Western Army’s leader. I can’t abandon them.”

Li Zhongqian’s brows furrowed tightly: “You shouldn’t have to bear these things. How can you just take up such a heavy burden as the Western Army? Elder Brother will take you back.”

Yao Ying spoke formally: “Elder Brother, I’ve already taken up this burden. Since I’ve started this, I must fulfill my promises and responsibilities. I can’t just abandon them… Besides, the Xie family has long lost their troops. If Elder Brother and I return like this, wouldn’t we be at others’ mercy? We can’t go back this way.”

Li Zhongqian’s temple throbbed: “Where is the Western Army now? You’re alone in the Royal Court, Yang Qian is in Gaochang, and the troops in Guazhou and Shazhou are even further away.”

Yao Ying shook her head, “Elder Brother, the Western Army isn’t by my side now because they’re where they need to be.”

She picked up Li Zhongqian’s scabbard and drew several lines on the ground.

“In the east, Li Xuanzhen leads troops to intercept Northern Rong reinforcements. In the west, Yang Qian guards Gaochang.”

“A’qing guards an even more important place for me…”

“The Royal Court’s army pursues Khan Wakhan and other remnants, the Northern Rong can barely look after themselves…”

Yao Ying’s scabbard drew a large circle in the sand, encompassing a vast territory.

“Elder Brother, this isn’t the best time for us to return to the Central Plains – it’s a great opportunity to reclaim lost territory!”

“These places will be filled with Western Army banners.”

She spoke softly, her tone steady.

Several rays of sunshine poured down, enveloping her in golden light. Her expression was calm, clearly accustomed to planning such matters.

Li Zhongqian gazed at her silently, his palms growing numb.

He had once feared she would become like their mother.

Now he discovered he feared more that she would become like their uncle.