Halfway through the banquet, Yao Xiuyan suddenly stood up: "Today is Mingyue's birthday, I will play a piece to add to the festivities."
Everyone was stunned. The prince actually wanted to play music?
Then Yao Xiuyan took out a huqin (a type of reed pipe) and began to play a tune from the Western Regions. The sound of the huqin was desolate and far-reaching, as if it carried the image of lone smoke rising from the desert and the setting sun over a long river.
Qi Mingyue listened intently. She had never seen Yao Xiuyan like this before—no longer a proud prince, but a general imbued with the spirit of the frontier.
When the music ended, the hall was completely silent. After a long while, Lin Qiuyan murmured, "Brother Xiuyan has never played music for anyone before..."
Yao Xiuyan put down the huqin and walked up to Qi Mingyue: "There is a folk song from the Western Regions called 'The Bright Moon Rises Over the Tianshan Mountains.' I will play it for you today."
Qi Mingyue's eyes filled with tears: "It sounds beautiful."
After the banquet, the two admired the moon side by side. The moon over the border region was exceptionally bright, illuminating the Gobi Desert as if it were covered in silver frost.
"When did Brother Xiuyan learn to play the hujia?"
"I learned it from an old soldier when I was young at the border," Yao Xiuyan said, gazing at the moon. "He said the sound of the Huqin can travel thousands of miles, allowing people far away to hear and feel longing."
Qi Mingyue's heart trembled slightly: "Who has Brother Xiuyan ever missed?"
Yao Xiuyan turned to look at her: "Not before." His voice was deep, "Maybe in the future."
Qi Mingyue lowered her head, the moonstone bracelet gleaming on her wrist.
…………
On the eve of her departure, Qi Mingyue packed her bags until late at night. When Yao Xiuyan arrived, she was looking at a box of books with a troubled expression.
"Bring these?" Yao Xiuyan raised an eyebrow.
Qi Mingyue sighed helplessly, "They're all Western Region texts..."
Yao Xiuyan took out several books: "Dunhuang has all of these." He picked up the book "Records of Customs and Things in the Western Regions," "You can take this one."
Qi Mingyue noticed the dark circles under his eyes: "Brother Xiuyan, have you been staying up late again?"
Yao Xiuyan didn't care: "Just some military business." He suddenly said, "Mingyue, this trip might be dangerous. It's not too late to back out now."
Qi Mingyue shook her head: "I'm not afraid."
Yao Xiuyan gazed at her for a long time, then whispered, "I'm scared." He stroked her hair, "scared that I can't protect you."
Qi Mingyue smiled: "Then Brother Xiuyan must protect me even more."
Yao Xiuyan suddenly pulled her into his arms. The embrace came suddenly, yet it was warm and firm.
“Mingyue,” he said in a low voice, “there are some things we should talk about after we return from the Western Regions.”
Qi Mingyue nestled in his arms, hearing his heart pounding like a drum: "Okay."
The wind howled outside the window, but it couldn't drown out certain stirrings of emotion.
The next day, they set off before dawn. The group was small, consisting of Yao Xiuyan, Qi Mingyue, twenty personal guards, and Chen Yu—who had volunteered to be the clerk.
Lin Qiuyan came to see Qi Mingyue off and handed her a water pouch: "The water in the Western Regions is bitter, so this is filled with honey." She then said to Yao Xiuyan, "Brother Xiuyan...return soon."
Yao Xiuyan patted her shoulder: "I'm leaving the interior of the pass to you."
The camel caravan set off, slowly heading west. Qi Mingyue looked back and saw that Yumen Pass still stood majestically in the morning light, while Lin Qiuyan's figure gradually shrank.
Yao Xiuyan urged the camel closer: "Look ahead."
Qi Mingyue turned her head and saw the rising sun leaping over the horizon, dyeing the sea of sand golden red. The vastness of heaven and earth was breathtaking.
“The Western Regions are vast,” Yao Xiuyan’s voice carried on the wind. “Stay close to me.”
Qi Mingyue gripped the reins tightly: "Mm."
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