On the battlefield, she personally killed seven rebel soldiers.
Yao Xiuyan gently embraced her: "It's to protect those who deserve protection."
Qi Mingyue buried her face in his chest: "I'm afraid... afraid of becoming someone who only knows how to kill."
“No.” He stroked her hair. “You planted pear trees, established schools, and saved lives… Mingyue, you brought life to the border.”
Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves could be heard. An imperial envoy from the capital arrived: "The imperial edict has arrived!"
Upon hearing of the great victory at the border, the Emperor bestowed upon Yao Xiuyan a plaque inscribed with "Unparalleled Loyalty and Courage." He also appointed Yao Xiuyan as Protector-General of the Western Regions and Qi Mingyue as a first-rank imperial consort.
The messenger whispered, "The Third Princess has a private message."
In his letter, Xiao Chengyu wrote: "My dear sister Mingyue... I am very pleased to hear of your meritorious service in guarding the border. However, rumors are beginning to circulate in the capital, saying that your merits are so great that they threaten the emperor... I hope you will be cautious."
Qi Mingyue frowned: "Rumors?"
Yao Xiuyan read the letter and sneered, "Someone must be behind this." He suddenly asked, "Mingyue, would you be willing to stay with me at the border?"
Qi Mingyue was taken aback: "Brother Xiuyan..."
"The bustling capital is not as comfortable as the frontier." He gazed at the starry sky. "Here, the world is vast, and I can realize my ambitions."
Qi Mingyue smiled and said, "Wherever Brother Xiuyan is, that is my home."
......
Half a month later, the new king of Khotan ascended the throne. It was that very young prince who came to Yumen Pass to express his gratitude.
He presented a generous gift, and Qi Mingyue took a bag of seeds: "What is this?"
“The Khotanian tree is a wondrous tree, named the ‘Acacia Tree,’” the prince said. “It grows in pairs, sharing both decay and prosperity.”
Qi Mingyue and Yao Xiuyan exchanged a smile and planted the tree next to the pear tree.
That night, Yao Xiuyan suddenly took out a map: "Mingyue, look."
It turned out to be a complete map of the Western Regions, with detailed annotations. He pointed to one spot: "This place is rich in water and grass, a suitable location to build a new city."
Qi Mingyue looked closely: "Brother Xiuyan wants to..."
“Since we’re staying here permanently, we need a proper home.” His eyes gleamed. “We’ll build a city so that the people on the border can live and work in peace and contentment.”
Qi Mingyue was overwhelmed with emotion: "Great!"
The two drew a city map under the lamplight until dawn. The new city plan included schools, clinics, and markets, and also blended Central Plains gardens with Western Region styles.
Upon seeing the sketch, Lin Qiuyan exclaimed, "This is no border region! It's a paradise on earth!"
Yao Xiuyan chuckled: "Then we'll turn the border into a paradise."
The news sent shockwaves through the Western Regions. Tribal leaders flocked to surrender, eager to serve their country.
Only the old monk from Shule offered a warning: "A tall tree catches the wind; be careful, be careful."
Sure enough, another imperial envoy arrived from the capital. This time, it was a confidant of the Crown Prince, who issued an edict summoning Yao Xiuyan back to the capital to "receive his official appointment."
Yao Xiuyan accepted the imperial decree without speaking. The imperial envoy continued, "His Majesty, mindful of the general's hard work and great merit, has specially granted him a residence in the capital..."
"Your subject thanks you for your grace," Yao Xiuyan suddenly said, "but the border is not yet secure, and I dare not leave."
The imperial envoy's expression changed: "General, are you going to defy the imperial decree?"
Qi Mingyue produced the tiger tally: "No. It is in accordance with the Emperor's instruction that 'one is responsible for guarding the land.'"
The imperial envoy left dejectedly. Yao Xiuyan sighed softly, "The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease."
Qi Mingyue laughed and said, "Then I'll be a tree with firm roots, letting the wind blow as it may."
She led him to the drill ground. There they saw soldiers training, children reading, women and children weaving... the border region was full of life.
“Brother Xiuyan, look,” she said, her eyes burning, “this is the most important thing.”
Yao Xiuyan put his arm around her shoulder: "Yes..."
As autumn winds rise, pear leaves flutter down. The acacia tree has sprouted new buds, growing nestled among the pear trees.
Qi Mingyue thought that some paths are difficult, but worth taking.
Some people are worth spending a lifetime with.
Winter has returned to the border region, but the wind and snow cannot extinguish its vibrant life. Yao Xiuyan and Qi Mingyue's planned new city has broken ground and is named "Yumen New City," meaning "Spring breeze returns to Yumen Pass."
On the day construction began, leaders from all the tribes of the Western Regions arrived. The new king of Khotan personally presented the foundation soil, while an old monk from Shule chanted sutras for blessings. Qi Mingyue, dressed in plain clothes, held a shovel, and Yao Xiuyan, his battle robe stained with dust, together buried the foundation stone.
"This city is not for military purposes, but for the people's livelihood," Yao Xiuyan declared loudly. "May the border be forever peaceful and trade be unimpeded."
The leaders cheered, but one man sneered, "What arrogance!"
It was an envoy from Kucha. Kucha was a powerful state in the Western Regions, and it had a long-standing feud with Khotan. The envoy glanced at Qi Mingyue: "Women building a city? Unheard of!"
Qi Mingyue was not annoyed, but instead smiled: "Does the envoy know the saying in the Central Plains—'Women are not inferior to men'?"
She outlined the new city's vision: "Schools, clinics, markets, workshops...aren't all of these beneficial to the people?"
The envoy was speechless. Suddenly, a child ran up and presented flowers: "Madam Qi! May the new city be completed soon!"
Children from various ethnic groups were gathered together, holding hands and singing. The scene was heartwarming, and the envoy was deeply moved.
The project was massive, and Qi Mingyue supervised it every day. One day, while he was instructing the craftsmen on how to improve the waterwheel, he suddenly fainted.
The doctor examined her pulse and everyone was astonished—she was pregnant!
Upon hearing the news, Yao Xiuyan rushed over, completely at a loss: "Why...why didn't you say so sooner?"
Qi Mingyue chuckled softly, patting her belly: "I only just found out."
The good news spread, and the border region rejoiced. Soldiers donated their pay, and women and children sewed clothes, all saying, "This child is a blessing to Xincheng!"
However, undercurrents were stirring within the capital. A letter from the Crown Prince warned: "...There is much criticism in the court, with concerns that the growing power at the border might breed rebellious thoughts..."
Yao Xiuyan burned the letter and remained silent. Qi Mingyue, however, said, "The innocent will remain innocent."
She continued to supervise the construction as usual, even when her morning sickness was severe, she would suck on slices of ginger, and despite her swollen legs, she still climbed the high platform. Yao Xiuyan felt sorry for her, but she smiled and said, "It's worth it to build a better border for the children."
In early spring, the new city began to take shape. White walls and blue tiles, orderly streets and alleys, and the blend of Central Plains gardens and Western Region dome architecture created a unique charm.
The first to move in were military households. The little girl's family was allocated a small courtyard, and the mother and daughter wept uncontrollably: "We've never lived in such a nice house before!"
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