Summer arrives swiftly at the border. The Gobi Desert swelters in waves of heat, yet the pear trees Qi Mingyue planted bear green fruit, growing tenaciously under the blazing sun. She checks on them daily, carefully watering them, as if the fruit on the trees represents not just fruit, but some kind of expectation.
Yao Xiuyan had been in Dunhuang for two months, and his correspondence had become increasingly infrequent. His last letter read: "The tribute missions of the various tribes in the Western Regions are numerous and complicated, and my return date is uncertain." The handwriting was hurried and the ink was hasty, clearly written amidst his busy schedule.
Qi Mingyue carefully put the letter away and continued to handle military affairs daily. The border gradually stabilized, and the barbarian tribes, weakened by internal strife, were no longer able to invade. Instead, merchant caravans increased daily. She reopened the markets, appointed tax officials, and established regulations, managing Yumen Pass with remarkable efficiency.
On this day, an envoy from Dunhuang suddenly arrived, presenting Yao Xiuyan's written order: "The Western Regions delegation is about to arrive; make proper arrangements."
Qi Mingyue made preparations immediately. The delegation arrived at the border three days later, with a steady stream of camels and horses, and a dazzling array of treasures. Leading the group was the Prince of Khotan, who bowed to Qi Mingyue upon seeing her: "I have long admired the name of the Protector of the Nation."
The banquet was held in a separate courtyard. The Prince of Khotan presented treasures, and Qi Mingyue took a packet of seeds: "What is this?"
"A rare flower from the Western Regions, named 'Bright Moonlight'," the prince said with a smile. "It blooms like the moon and releases a delicate fragrance at night. It was specially prepared for my lady."
Qi Mingyue expressed her gratitude and ordered that the pear tree be planted under it.
During the meal, the prince suddenly said, "General Yao asked me to pass on a message: He will return as soon as the matter in Dunhuang is settled, and hopes that his wife will take care of herself."
Qi Mingyue paused slightly as she raised her glass: "Has the prince met Brother Xiuyan?"
“It was in Dunhuang half a month ago,” the prince sighed. “The general has worked hard and lost a lot of weight.”
Qi Mingyue's heart clenched, but she smiled faintly: "The soldiers on the border are all like this."
After the banquet, she sat alone under the pear tree until the moon was high in the sky. Lin Qiuyan came looking for her and handed her a cloak: "The night is deep and the dew is heavy."
Qi Mingyue looked up at the moon and said, "Qiuyan, I want to go to Dunhuang."
Lin Qiuyan exclaimed in surprise, "No! How can the border be without a master!"
"Go and return quickly." Qi Mingyue's gaze was firm. "Three days will be enough."
She temporarily handed the tiger tally to Lin Qiuyan, and with only ten light cavalry, she left the pass overnight.
Traveling through the Gobi Desert at night, the wind was like a knife cutting through the air. A guard advised, "Miss, please reconsider! If the general finds out, he will surely blame you."
Qi Mingyue spurred her horse forward at full speed: "Then don't let him know."
She arrived in Dunhuang at dawn. The city guard, seeing her, was greatly surprised: "Madam, what brings you here?"
Qi Mingyue didn't answer and went straight to the government office. She had barely reached the gate when she heard Yao Xiuyan's stern voice: "...Without provisions, how can we set out on the campaign!"
She pushed open the door, startling everyone in the room. Yao Xiuyan turned around, his eyes dark and swollen, and he was clearly taken aback when he saw her: "Mingyue?"
Qi Mingyue curtsied and said, "I heard that the general is unwell, so I came to visit you."
The generals wisely withdrew. Yao Xiuyan rubbed his forehead: "Nonsense! How can we leave the border so easily!"
Qi Mingyue didn't answer, but stepped forward to check his forehead temperature: "You have a fever."
Yao Xiuyan tilted his head: "A minor illness..."
Before he could finish speaking, Qi Mingyue pressed him into a chair. She took out silver needles: "The acupuncture taught by the old monk of Shule is the most effective for reducing fever."
As the needle entered the acupoint, Yao Xiuyan's brows relaxed: "When did you learn medicine?"
“When the general is not here,” Qi Mingyue lowered her eyes, “there are many illnesses on the border, and we can’t rely on military doctors for everything.”
After the acupuncture was finished, she fed him his medicine. Yao Xiuyan smiled wryly, "You're the one taking care of me."
Qi Mingyue then asked, "Why did you hide the matter of the grain supplies from me?"
Yao Xiuyan was stunned: "You..."
"The Prince of Khotan said that the tribute missions from the Western Regions were a pretense; their real purpose was to borrow grain." Qi Mingyue stared at him. "Brother Xiuyan, do you intend to launch a campaign to collect grain?"
Yao Xiuyan sighed, "The border's grain reserves are insufficient; if not..."
“I have grain.” Qi Mingyue took out the account book. “This spring’s land reclamation yielded a bumper harvest, and the stored grain can last for three months.”
Yao Xiuyan looked through the accounts and was stunned: "You...when..."
"When the general is patrolling the border," Qi Mingyue said with a slight smile, "he can't just be the wife of the protector of the nation for nothing."
Yao Xiuyan suddenly pulled her into his arms: "Mingyue... my Mingyue..."
The hug came suddenly, yet it was warm and reassuring. Qi Mingyue nestled on his shoulder, smelling the familiar scent of soapberry mixed with the aroma of medicine.
Suddenly, a commotion arose outside the window. A personal guard rushed in to report: "General! The provisions have arrived!"
A long camel caravan stretched out, laden with provisions. And the escort was none other than Lin Qiuyan!
She dismounted, travel-worn, and said, "Sister Qi's provisions have been prepared long ago! We're just waiting for the right time to send them over!"
It turned out that Qi Mingyue had anticipated the food shortage and secretly ordered Lin Qiuyan to prepare it. This visit, ostensibly to check on someone's health, was actually a pretext to deliver food.
Yao Xiuyan glanced at the grain convoy, then at Qi Mingyue, and suddenly burst into laughter: "What a fine Lady Protector of the Nation!"
With the food crisis resolved, Dunhuang rejoiced. Yao Xiuyan, however, asked with a grim face: "What is the punishment for leaving the pass without permission?"
Qi Mingyue lowered her head: "I'll leave it to the general to decide."
"I'll punish you..." A smile flashed in Yao Xiuyan's eyes, "...by having you admire the moon with me."
The moonlight over Dunhuang was indeed different from that at the border. The desert was like silver, and the distant mountains were like dark eyebrows. The two of them stood side by side on the city tower, as if in a dream.
Yao Xiuyan suddenly asked, "Mingyue, do you still remember our childhood promise?"
Qi Mingyue was taken aback: "What Brother Xiuyan said is true..."
“You were eight years old that year, and you said you would marry me if I could pluck the moon from the sky.” He chuckled. “Now I can’t pluck the moon, but I want to pluck a pear blossom for you.”
Qi Mingyue's ears burned: "Childish words..."
“But I took it seriously.” Yao Xiuyan took out a brocade box from his bosom. “The coming-of-age ceremony was three years late, so the betrothal gifts cannot be delayed any longer.”
Inside the box was a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, adorned with dazzling pearls.
Qi Mingyue was stunned: "Brother Xiuyan..."
"The border is our witness, the stars and moon our matchmaker." Yao Xiuyan knelt on one knee. "Qi Mingyue, will you marry me?"
A commotion suddenly arose in the distance. A personal guard rushed in to report: "General! The pear trees have borne fruit!"
But then he saw that the pear tree in the other courtyard was laden with fruit. The largest one landed perfectly in his palm, as round as the moon.
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