“It was Old Zhao, a military household member.” Lin Qiuyan’s eyes were red. “He was stabbed to death while protecting the grain…”
Qi Mingyue's heart sank: "But...the one who made the spinning wheels for us?"
Lin Qiuyan nodded.
Yao Xiuyan's face was icy: "Have you found out who it is?"
"We caught one," General Li said. "He bit his tongue and committed suicide."
Qi Mingyue suddenly said, "Take me to see the body."
Inside the morgue, the deceased indeed had a flame tattoo on his arm. Qi Mingyue examined the wound closely and suddenly said, "This wasn't done by the military."
Everyone was taken aback: "How do you know?"
“The angle of the wound,” Qi Mingyue gestured. “A military knife usually slashes, but this was a straight thrust—it was done with a dagger.” She looked at Yao Xiuyan. “Doesn’t it look like that night in the Western Regions?”
Yao Xiuyan's eyes narrowed: "They are their people."
Upon re-inspection of the granary, some fragments of spices from the Western Regions were indeed found. Yao Xiuyan immediately ordered a state of emergency and a search of all suspicious persons.
Qi Mingyue then went to visit Old Zhao's widow. The woman was crying her heart out, "My husband died unjustly..."
Qi Mingyue grasped her hand: "Don't worry, Sister-in-law Zhao, we will definitely get justice."
The woman suddenly knelt down: "Miss Qi! Before he died, my master said... that there was something under the granary..."
Before she could finish speaking, a commotion arose outside. A guard rushed in to report, "Miss Qi! The Zhao family's house is on fire!"
Qi Mingyue rushed out, only to see flames shooting into the sky from the Zhao family's tent. She was about to go further when Yao Xiuyan stopped her: "Danger!"
After the fire was extinguished, Sister-in-law Zhao had perished in the flames. Qi Mingyue stared blankly at the charred corpse: "She was about to say..."
Yao Xiuyan's eyes were icy: "Someone is trying to silence you."
That night, Yao Xiuyan mobilized troops to thoroughly search the granary. Sure enough, a secret passage was discovered under the ruins, leading directly to the outside of the pass.
"What a traitor!" General Li was furious.
Yao Xiuyan said, "They may not be from inside the pass." He pointed to the traces of the secret passage, "It was recently dug, no more than half a month ago."
Qi Mingyue thought of the assassins from the Western Regions: "They've had their eyes on the granaries for a long time."
Yao Xiuyan nodded: "Firstly, to disrupt the border, and secondly..." He looked at Qi Mingyue, "to stall us."
Three days later, an urgent message arrived from the capital. The emperor was seriously ill and summoned Yao Xiuyan to return immediately.
After receiving the imperial decree, Yao Xiuyan sat alone for a long time. Qi Mingyue brought in tea and saw him stroking the flying jade pendant.
“Mingyue,” he suddenly said, “this return to the capital may bring about a major change.”
Qi Mingyue sat down: "I'll stay with Brother Xiuyan."
“No.” Yao Xiuyan shook his head. “You stay at the border.”
Qi Mingyue was taken aback: "Why?"
“The capital is more dangerous than the border right now.” Yao Xiuyan stared at her. “Besides, the border needs someone to be stationed there.”
Qi Mingyue understood: "Brother Xiuyan wants me..."
“General Li is loyal and brave, but lacks strategy; Qiu Yan is skilled in battle, but lacks composure.” Yao Xiuyan took out the tiger tally. “I can only entrust it to you with peace of mind.”
Qi Mingyue took the tiger tally, feeling as if it weighed a thousand pounds: "When will Brother Xiuyan return?"
"As soon as possible." Yao Xiuyan tidied her hair. "I have something to tell you when I get back."
The following day, Yao Xiuyan, traveling light, hurried back to the capital. Qi Mingyue stood on the city wall, watching until the dust settled.
The tiger tally in my hand was icy cold, but a fire burned in my heart.
She turned to the generals and said, "From this day forward, conduct a closed-door investigation. Anyone suspected of being suspicious shall be detained temporarily."
Orders are issued with absolute authority. The border region is undergoing its most stringent rectification campaign yet. Some are dissatisfied, some are questioning, but Qi Mingyue remains unwavering.
In the stillness of the night, she sighed softly to the bright moon, "Brother Xiuyan, I'll be waiting for you."
A thousand miles away, Yao Xiuyan reined in his horse and looked back. The border had already disappeared into the night, leaving only a lonely moon on the horizon.
He gently stroked the jade hairpin in his bosom, a coming-of-age gift he had prepared for her—a gift that was many years overdue.
"Bright Moon," he whispered to the wind, "wait for me."
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