Qi Mingyue took the dagger: "I like it very much, thank you, General."

Halfway through the banquet, Yao Xiuyan suddenly stood up: "Today is Mingyue's birthday, I will play a piece to add to the festivities."

Everyone was stunned. The prince actually wanted to play music?

Then Yao Xiuyan took out a huqin (a type of reed pipe) and began to play a tune from the Western Regions. The sound of the huqin was desolate and far-reaching, as if it carried the image of lone smoke rising from the desert and the setting sun over a long river.

Qi Mingyue listened intently. She had never seen Yao Xiuyan like this before—no longer a proud prince, but a general imbued with the spirit of the frontier.

When the music ended, the hall was completely silent. After a long while, Lin Qiuyan murmured, "Brother Xiuyan has never played music for anyone before..."

Yao Xiuyan put down the huqin and walked up to Qi Mingyue: "There is a folk song from the Western Regions called 'The Bright Moon Rises Over the Tianshan Mountains.' I will play it for you today."

Qi Mingyue's eyes filled with tears: "It sounds beautiful."

After the banquet, the two admired the moon side by side. The moon over the border region was exceptionally bright, illuminating the Gobi Desert as if it were covered in silver frost.

"When did Brother Xiuyan learn to play the hujia?"

"I learned it from an old soldier when I was young at the border," Yao Xiuyan said, gazing at the moon. "He said the sound of the Huqin can travel thousands of miles, allowing people far away to hear and feel longing."

Qi Mingyue's heart trembled slightly: "Who has Brother Xiuyan ever missed?"

Yao Xiuyan turned to look at her: "Not before." His voice was deep, "Maybe in the future."

Qi Mingyue lowered her head, the moonstone bracelet gleaming on her wrist.

…………

On the eve of her departure, Qi Mingyue packed her bags until late at night. When Yao Xiuyan arrived, she was looking at a box of books with a troubled expression.

"Bring these?" Yao Xiuyan raised an eyebrow.

Qi Mingyue sighed helplessly, "They're all Western Region texts..."

Yao Xiuyan took out several books: "Dunhuang has all of these." He picked up the book "Records of Customs and Things in the Western Regions," "You can take this one."

Qi Mingyue noticed the dark circles under his eyes: "Brother Xiuyan, have you been staying up late again?"

Yao Xiuyan didn't care: "Just some military business." He suddenly said, "Mingyue, this trip might be dangerous. It's not too late to back out now."

Qi Mingyue shook her head: "I'm not afraid."

Yao Xiuyan gazed at her for a long time, then whispered, "I'm scared." He stroked her hair, "scared that I can't protect you."

Qi Mingyue smiled: "Then Brother Xiuyan must protect me even more."

Yao Xiuyan suddenly pulled her into his arms. The embrace came suddenly, yet it was warm and firm.

“Mingyue,” he said in a low voice, “there are some things we should talk about after we return from the Western Regions.”

Qi Mingyue nestled in his arms, hearing his heart pounding like a drum: "Okay."

The wind howled outside the window, but it couldn't drown out certain stirrings of emotion.

The next day, they set off before dawn. The group was small, consisting of Yao Xiuyan, Qi Mingyue, twenty personal guards, and Chen Yu—who had volunteered to be the clerk.

Lin Qiuyan came to see Qi Mingyue off and handed her a water pouch: "The water in the Western Regions is bitter, so this is filled with honey." She then said to Yao Xiuyan, "Brother Xiuyan...return soon."

Yao Xiuyan patted her shoulder: "I'm leaving the interior of the pass to you."

The camel caravan set off, slowly heading west. Qi Mingyue looked back and saw that Yumen Pass still stood majestically in the morning light, while Lin Qiuyan's figure gradually shrank.

Yao Xiuyan urged the camel closer: "Look ahead."

Qi Mingyue turned her head and saw the rising sun leaping over the horizon, dyeing the sea of ​​sand golden red. The vastness of heaven and earth was breathtaking.

“The Western Regions are vast,” Yao Xiuyan’s voice carried on the wind. “Stay close to me.”

Qi Mingyue gripped the reins tightly: "Mm."

The camel bells jingled, shattering the morning light. The journey to the Western Regions had only just begun.

And some emotions, like underground rivers beneath the sands, flow quietly, waiting to break through the soil.

Chapter Twenty-Two: A Song of the Desert

After three days of westward travel, the scenery gradually changed. The Gobi Desert was replaced by rolling sand dunes, the heat distorted the horizon, and only yellow sand and blue sky remained between heaven and earth. Qi Mingyue wrapped her veil tightly around her face, yet she still felt the sand hitting her face.

Yao Xiuyan urged the camel closer: "Are you getting used to it?"

Qi Mingyue nodded, her voice muffled behind her veil: "It's hotter than I expected."

"There's an oasis ahead where you can rest for a bit," Yao Xiuyan said, handing over a water bag. "Drink small amounts frequently."

The water was warm, carrying the scent of sand. Qi Mingyue took small sips, when suddenly she saw a dark shadow moving on a distant sand dune.

"Brother Xiuyan..."

“I saw it.” Yao Xiuyan’s expression remained unchanged. “It’s a caravan.”

Sure enough, the approaching dark figures turned out to be a caravan of dozens of camels. Leading them was an elderly man with white hair and beard, who, upon seeing Yao Xiuyan, bowed from afar: "General Yao!"

Yao Xiuyan nodded: "Elder An, are you heading to Khotan?"

The old man chuckled, "Indeed. General, what is this..." His gaze drifted toward Qi Mingyue.

"Take my wife to the Western Regions for a trip," Yao Xiu said naturally.

Qi Mingyue's ears burned. His wife… he actually introduced her like that.

The old man suddenly realized: "So that's how it is! The sandstorm just passed ahead, the road is difficult to travel, General, please be careful."

The two groups passed each other. Qi Mingyue asked in a low voice, "Does Brother Xiuyan know them?"

“Old An is a famous tea merchant in the Western Regions.” Yao Xiuyan watched the caravan leave. “He travels back and forth several times a year and is well-informed.”

They arrived at the oasis in the afternoon. Calling it an oasis was a stretch; it was really just a few poplar trees surrounding a pool of muddy water. The soldiers skillfully set up camp and fetched water, while Yao Xiuyan led Qi Mingyue to inspect the water source.

"The water level is low." He frowned. "It's three fingers lower than last month."

Qi Mingyue squatted down to examine it closely: "Is it due to drought?"

“The waterways of the Western Regions are inherently unpredictable.” Yao Xiuyan took a sip of the water and said, “It’s still drinkable.”

While camping for the night, Qi Mingyue was awakened by a scorpion sting. Amidst her cries of pain, Yao Xiuyan rushed into the tent, sword in hand: "What happened?"

“There are… there are scorpions…” Qi Mingyue pointed to the corner of the tent.

Yao Xiuyan swiftly slashed the scorpion and then examined her wrist. The wound was already red and swollen.

"Don't move." He bent down, sucked out the poisonous blood, and spat it aside. The movements were swift and decisive, without any hesitation.

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