After Yao Xiuyan left, the border was like a still pond touched by a spring breeze. Qi Mingyue held the tiger tally, which, though heavy as a thousand pounds, gradually became steady in her grip. She was no longer the noble lady from the capital who needed Yao Xiuyan's constant protection, but the "Miss Qi" respected by the border soldiers.
In the depths of spring, the pear tree that Qi Mingyue planted in front of the window of the villa finally blossomed. The tree was covered in pure white blossoms, like snow covering the branches, which seemed especially precious in this border region where yellow sand filled the sky. She tended to it every day, watering and fertilizing it, as if an unspoken expectation was buried beneath the tree.
That day, she was teaching her young daughter to read when she suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves outside the city. A scout reported that barbarian tracks had been spotted fifty miles away, and they seemed to be planning to rob a caravan.
General Li immediately volunteered for battle: "This humble general is willing to go!"
Qi Mingyue shook her head: "Wait a minute." She asked the scout, "Can you see the caravan's flag?"
The scout recalled, "It seems to be... the Third Princess's phoenix flag."
Qi Mingyue's expression hardened: "It's Cousin Chengyu's caravan!" She immediately mustered her troops, "I'll go and meet them myself."
Lin Qiuyan stopped her, saying, "It's too dangerous! Let me go!"
Qi Mingyue, already armored and sword at her side, declared, "I've known Cousin Chengyu since childhood; I cannot abandon her." She mounted her horse with a dashing air, "General Li is guarding the city; Miss Lin, come with me!"
As they traversed the Gobi Desert, Qi Mingyue was filled with anxiety. How could Xiao Chengyu's caravan have arrived here? Could something have happened in the capital?
Upon reaching Black Wind Gorge, they indeed found the caravan surrounded. The barbarians were fierce, and the caravan's guards were gradually becoming overwhelmed. Qi Mingyue immediately ordered, "Form a wild goose formation! Break through their ranks!"
This tactic was taught to me by Yao Xiuyan and was specifically designed to counter barbarian cavalry. It proved effective, and the barbarians were routed.
Qi Mingyue rushed straight to the heart of the caravan: "Cousin Chengyu!"
The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing the personal maid of the Third Princess, Xiao Chengyu: "Miss Qi! The princess is not in the carriage!"
It turned out that this was an envoy sent by Xiao Chengyu to the Western Regions, returning with an important letter of state. The female official wept, saying, "The barbarians pursued us for three days just to steal this letter of state!"
Qi Mingyue escorted the delegation back to the pass. Along the way, the barbarians launched several sneak attacks, all of which she skillfully deflected. During one attack, a hail of arrows struck her, and while protecting the female official, she was struck in the arm by an arrow.
Upon returning to the pass, the military medics, while treating the wounded, exclaimed in alarm: "The arrow was poisoned!"
It was the rare poison from the Western Regions, "Heartbreak of Longing." Lin Qiuyan cried out urgently, "How could this be..."
Qi Mingyue remained calm: "Not fatal for now." She examined the arrow closely, "This is not something ordinary barbarians would use."
The female official recognized it: "These are poisoned arrows made by the Western Region rebels! They've colluded with the barbarians!"
Qi Mingyue immediately wrote two letters. One was sent to the governor of Dunhuang to request assistance, and the other was sent to Yao Xiuyan in the capital to deliver the message.
The delegation rested inside the pass. Seeing Qi Mingyue's effective governance and the soldiers' loyalty, the female official couldn't help but sigh, "The princess often thinks of Miss Qi's delicate appearance; if she could see her today's splendor, she would surely be pleased."
Qi Mingyue smiled: "The border is tough, but we have no choice but to persevere."
She led the female officials on a tour of the school. The children's clear reading voices and the women's spinning and weaving created a rare scene of tranquility on the frontier.
The female official was moved: "The young lady has actually set up a school on the frontier!"
“It was Brother Xiuyan who gave the permission.” Qi Mingyue’s gaze was gentle. “He said that the border should not only have swords and spears.”
Mentioning Yao Xiuyan, the female official suddenly said, "The young master is doing well in the capital, but he is worried about Miss. This time, the delegation brought back fine breeds from the Western Regions, and the young master specifically instructed that they be given to Miss."
Qi Mingyue felt a warmth in her heart. It turned out that although he was thousands of miles away, he was always thinking of her.
Three days later, the barbarian army pressed in. Dark clouds covered the sun, and they claimed they would "flatten the Jade Gate Pass."
Panic gripped the people within the pass. Some generals advocated abandoning the pass and retreating, but Qi Mingyue sternly rejected their arguments: "Yumen Pass is the gateway to the Central Plains; how can we abandon it so easily!"
She climbed the city wall and saw that there were even Western Region rebel flags among the barbarian troops. She realized that this was a carefully planned invasion.
"General Li guards the east gate, and Miss Lin patrols the west gate." She calmly gave the order, "The arrow towers must be manned at all times, and the granaries must be guarded three times more."
He then said to the female official, "Please write a letter to the capital immediately to report the military situation."
That night, Qi Mingyue sat alone in her military tent, studying maps by lamplight. Her arm injury throbbed faintly, but she was oblivious. Suddenly, she heard a maid's cry outside the tent: "Miss Qi! Mother is ill!"
Qi Mingyue rushed to the military quarters and found the young maidservant with a persistent high fever. The army doctor shook his head: "It's the plague!"
It turns out the barbarians were throwing their diseased and dead livestock into the upstream water source! Many people inside the pass have developed fevers.
Qi Mingyue immediately ordered: isolate the patients, boil drinking water, and disinfect the entire area with lime. She also personally prepared medicine and visited the patients.
Lin Qiuyan stopped her: "It's too dangerous!"
Qi Mingyue replied, "I am the commander-in-chief, so it is only right."
For three consecutive days, she worked day and night without rest. On the morning of the fourth day, she herself developed a fever.
The military doctor's expression changed after taking her pulse: "Miss has also been infected!"
At the height of the barbarian siege, Qi Mingyue, despite her illness, donned a cloak and climbed the city walls to oversee the battle.
Seeing that she remained unyielding despite her pale face, the soldiers were all moved and inspired: "We are willing to fight to the death for our lady!"
The fierce battle raged until dusk, at which point the barbarians temporarily retreated. Qi Mingyue, however, collapsed on the city wall.
In a daze, she seemed to see Yao Xiuyan return, holding her hand and calling, "Mingyue..."
When he opened his eyes again, it was real! Yao Xiuyan sat down on the bed, travel-worn and bloodshot: "Silly girl...why don't you know how to take care of yourself?"
Qi Mingyue burst into tears: "Brother Xiuyan... is he really back?"
When the letter from the female official arrived, Yao Xiuyan was on an imperial inspection tour of Hexi. Upon receiving the letter, he immediately requested permission to lead his elite cavalry to provide assistance day and night.
He brought imperial physicians and medicines, and the epidemic gradually came under control. He also personally supervised the battle, breaking through seven barbarian formations in succession.
The area inside the pass was filled with jubilation, but Qi Mingyue was worried: "Brother Xiuyan has left the jurisdiction without permission, and I'm afraid he will be criticized."
Yao Xiuyan fed her the medicine: "Your Majesty is wise and knows my loyalty." He chuckled, "Besides... I said I would come back to save the future Crown Princess."
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