Qi Mingyue established a special school and hired teachers from various ethnic groups. Children from the Central Plains learned the languages of the Hu people, while children from the Western Regions studied Chinese classics, creating a harmonious and joyful atmosphere.
Suddenly, an urgent report arrived: Kucha has detained a caravan and is demanding heavy taxes on its passage!
Yao Xiuyan wanted to send troops, but Qi Mingyue stopped him, saying, "I have a plan."
She wrote a letter to the King of Kucha, along with the "Trade Decree" of the new city—tax reduction and exemption from inspection, and preferential treatment for Kucha merchants and travelers.
The King of Kucha was skeptical, but sent an envoy to investigate. The envoy saw that the new city was prosperous and bustling with merchants, and returned to report: "If we refuse this order, we may lose business opportunities."
The King of Kucha then allowed the caravan to pass and presented them with generous gifts as an apology.
Yao Xiuyan exclaimed with delight: "Madam has subdued the enemy without a fight!"
Qi Mingyue smiled, patting her belly: "The way of business is mutual benefit and win-win."
But the crisis eventually arrived. On the night of the summer solstice, a sudden fire broke out in the granary of the new city! Fueled by the wind, the fire instantly engulfed half the city.
Qi Mingyue, who was pregnant and feeling unwell, rushed to help upon hearing the news. Yao Xiuyan quickly stopped her, saying, "The smoke and fire will harm your health!"
She insisted on climbing the tower: "How can I sit idly by when the people are in flames?"
He directed the firefighting efforts until dawn, when the fire was finally brought under control. An inventory of the losses revealed that the granary was completely destroyed, but fortunately, there were no casualties.
Yao Xiuyan conducted a thorough investigation and discovered traces of arson: "It was kerosene from the Western Regions!"
Qi Mingyue suddenly remembered: "Could it be a remnant of the Flame Tattoo?"
Sure enough, the captured arsonist had flame marks on his arm. Under strict interrogation, he confessed: he was acting on the orders of a powerful figure in the capital!
Yao Xiuyan's face turned ashen: "They've actually colluded to this extent!"
Qi Mingyue remained calm: "Reconstruction is the way to go." She took out her savings, "This is my dowry, to be used for reconstruction."
Moved by the sacrifices, the soldiers donated their own funds. The common people contributed their labor, and people of all ethnic groups offered assistance. In less than half a month, the granary was rebuilt and was even stronger than before.
Upon hearing the news, the Emperor specially allocated ten thousand shi of imperial grain. The Crown Prince sent a private letter: "...I am deeply moved by your great righteousness, sister. I will personally settle accounts with the villains in the court..."
Qi Mingyue stroked the letter and sighed softly, "Why bother?"
Her fetal movements became increasingly obvious, yet she still insisted on making rounds throughout the city. One day, she arrived at the clinic and saw Physician Hu arguing with a doctor from the Central Plains.
The foreign doctor insisted on using Western Region remedies, which were dismissed as "barbaric" by doctors from the Central Plains. Qi Mingyue inquired further and learned that it was a prescription for treating the plague.
"We should learn from each other's strengths and make up for our weaknesses." She ordered medical books from both places to be retrieved so they could jointly develop new prescriptions. "It's just about saving lives; why distinguish between ourselves?"
Sure enough, they developed a good remedy that cured the epidemic. The physician Hu was deeply impressed and offered his family's secret recipe; the doctors from the Central Plains felt ashamed and set up a school to teach.
Upon seeing this, Yao Xiuyan suddenly said, "We should build a large medical clinic."
So the new city added "Anji Fang," which brought together medical expertise from both regions and provided free medical consultations. People from the Western Regions came to seek her out, all calling Qi Mingyue a "living bodhisattva."
On Mid-Autumn Festival night, the new city held its first lantern festival. Various ethnic groups performed songs and dances, acrobatics, and other entertainment, creating a lively and festive atmosphere. Qi Mingyue and Yao Xiuyan released river lanterns together, praying for lasting peace on the border.
As the light faded into the distance, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen—she was going into labor!
Outside the delivery room, Yao Xiuyan paced anxiously. Suddenly, the sound of approaching hooves filled the air, and a special envoy from the capital arrived with an imperial edict: "His Majesty urgently summons the general back to the capital!"
Yao Xiuyan angrily retorted, "Didn't you see the lady was about to give birth?"
The envoy sneered: "Something may happen at the border. General, do not let personal feelings get in the way!"
Just as they were arguing, a cry came from the delivery room—it was a boy!
Yao Xiuyan rushed into the room and saw Qi Mingyue holding an infant, smiling weakly: "It looks like you."
Overjoyed, he wept, then suddenly remembered the special envoy: "In the capital..."
Qi Mingyue said softly, "Go. The child and I will wait for you."
Yao Xiuyan gritted his teeth: "I won't go! What matter is more important than you and your son!"
The special envoy revealed a secret decree: "The Third Prince is colluding with border generals and plotting a rebellion! The Emperor orders you to return to the capital immediately to defend the Emperor!"
Like a bolt from the blue. The Third Prince had actually rebelled! And he was colluding with... the Prefect of Dunhuang!
Yao Xiuyan was shocked: "He...he's one of my former subordinates!"
Qi Mingyue hurriedly sat up: "Brother Xiuyan, hurry! The capital is in danger!"
"But you..."
“The new city is impregnable; I can defend it.” Qi Mingyue’s gaze was firm. “Don’t forget, I am the Lady Protector of the Nation.”
Yao Xiuyan kissed her forehead deeply: "Wait for me to come back."
He sped out of the pass, his figure swallowed by the night. Qi Mingyue, holding the infant, leaned against the door, tears finally falling.
Lin Qiuyan's eyes were red: "Madam, don't be afraid, we'll protect you!"
As expected, the Third Prince's rebel army arrived quickly. They claimed to number 100,000, but in reality, they numbered 50,000, all of whom were elite troops.
Despite being weak after childbirth, Qi Mingyue still went to the city walls to oversee the battle. The rebels shouted, "Hand over Qi Mingyue! We'll spare the entire city!"
She sneered, "Want me? Come and get me yourself!"
She rode out of the city alone, just like before. The rebels were overjoyed and surrounded her, only to see her frantically sprinkling powder—a sleeping potion developed by Anjifang!
The rebel army collapsed, and the garrison of the new city seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack. After three days of fierce fighting, the rebel army finally retreated.
During the inventory of the battlefield, Qi Mingyue suddenly fainted. The doctor was shocked: "Madam's old injuries have relapsed, and she has developed a new ailment!"
It turned out that she was still recovering from childbirth and had been pushing herself to continue the pregnancy until she was completely exhausted.
The whole city wept, praying day and night. The little girl knelt and cried, "Please, Bodhisattva, save the lady!"
An old monk from Shule suddenly appeared and offered a miraculous medicine: "This is a medicine made from snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains. You may want to give it a try."
After the medicine was administered, Qi Mingyue gradually awoke. Seeing the city's people kneeling and praying, she couldn't help but weep, saying, "What have I done to deserve this..."
The old monk clasped his hands in prayer: "Good karma brings good results."
At this moment, good news arrived from the capital: Yao Xiuyan assisted the Crown Prince in quelling the rebellion, and the Third Prince was captured! The Emperor bestowed upon Yao Xiuyan the title of Prince of Zhenxi, to be stationed at the border forever!
Yao Xiuyan rushed back day and night, and when he saw how thin and frail Qi Mingyue was, his heart ached: "I will never let you take any more risks!"
Qi Mingyue smiled and said, "Look, the child can smile now."
The child indeed grinned, as if recognizing his father.
When the winter snow fell again, the new city was fully completed. Various ethnic groups lived together, and commerce flourished, making it a shining pearl of the Western Regions.
The Emperor personally inscribed the plaque: "Eternal Spring at Yumen Pass." The Crown Prince donated ten thousand volumes of books and established the "Xiuming Academy"—named after the two individuals.
At the full moon celebration, Yao Xiuyan publicly held his wife's hand and said, "This city and its people are all thanks to you, my wife. How fortunate I am to have such a wife."
Qi Mingyue, cradling an infant, gazed at the city with a smile. She saw countless lights illuminating the city, and the sounds of music filling the air—a scene of unparalleled prosperity.
Suddenly, a messenger arrived on horseback with news: The barbarian tribes have surrendered, presenting a letter of surrender and a pledge of allegiance!
The crowd cheered. Yao Xiuyan, however, said, "This is not my achievement, but the benefit of Xincheng."
It turns out that the barbarians, seeing the prosperity of the new city, longed for it and voluntarily assimilated.
Qi Mingyue gently stroked the child in her arms: "This is probably the... paradise on the border that Brother Xiuyan was talking about?"
Yao Xiuyan embraced his wife and children: "This is home."
Fireworks burst into the sky, illuminating the new city. The city that was once on paper has finally become a reality.
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