The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

As the morning light grew stronger, it bathed the entire courtyard in a soft golden glow.

Tang Xixue stood in the courtyard, her fair hand gently holding a compass, letting the light and shadow spread across the twenty-four directions of the intricately engraved bronze on the surface.

Her fingertips gently traced the outer edge of the Heavenly Pool, causing the gleaming white magnetic needle to tremble slightly, as delicate as the subtle vibration of a zither string in the wind.

"A dwelling takes its form from its surroundings and its essence from its natural energy flow."

Her voice was light and clear, like ice spring water splashing on jade, spreading throughout the tranquil courtyard.

"The meridian (子午) determines north and south, while the east and west (卯酉) divide east and west."

Her gaze followed the rise and fall of the compass needle, and she moved with light steps, her moon-white skirt brushing against the newly paved bluestone slabs. In just a moment, she had subtly taken in the energy of the courtyard from all directions.

"The way of Feng Shui is not about changing the world or forcing things against the natural order. It is about making subtle adjustments in accordance with the natural order and guiding things in accordance with reason."

She paused, gazing at the plum blossom in the courtyard, its buds still in bloom, a knowing smile spreading across her lips.

"Just like playing the zither and tuning the strings, when the strings are in harmony, a clear and melodious sound naturally arises; just like painting with blank space, leaving blank space reveals the flow of energy and rhythm."

Reaching the southeast corner, she gazed at the newly built, snow-white wall and suddenly let out a soft exclamation.

"A deficiency in the Xun position is like a boat without oars."

She pointed to a spot on the wall with her slender finger.

"A latticed window should be opened here."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Li Shuang immediately took out the plain paper and charcoal pencil she always carried with her and carefully wrote it down.

"To resolve this piercing evil influence that runs through the entire house, the primary method is to block the evil influence."

Tang Xixue turned around and looked towards the gate of the mansion.

"At the entrance, a carved sandalwood screen should be built. The screen should be nine-folded and brocade-like, so that the shadows can enter the corridor and the wind can be hidden away—in this way, the direct force will be blocked and its sharpness will be reduced by three-tenths."

As she spoke, she walked towards the west corridor, observing the excessively wide spacing between the pillars.

"The corridor, like an arrow, runs straight through the central courtyard; this is the second layer of negative energy."

She drew a straight line with her fingertip.

"Add a moon gate here, with a gauze curtain hanging above it. The wind-blown curtain and the green screen, layered and partially obscuring each other, will cause the air to circulate around the curtain and flow in, transforming its rapid momentum into a gentle, murmuring stream."

She paused, sunlight filtering through the eaves, casting dappled shadows on her delicate profile.

"This is the second method to turn misfortune into good fortune: transforming evil influences."

"Your Highness, is there anything else that needs to be changed?"

Qingdai also took out her notebook and approached, asking softly.

She worried that Li Shuang, being impulsive, might not have remembered all the places His Highness had mentioned.

"The courtyard needs some modifications."

Tang Xixue turned and walked towards the slightly stiff, straight stone ditch in the courtyard. Dressed in white, she touched it lightly with her jade-like fingers.

"Transform this stone canal into a winding, exquisite stream."

Her eyes sparkled, as if she had already drawn up a blueprint in her mind.

"Under each bend, a consecrated Taiping Tongbao coin is buried, with the coin's eye locking in energy and the copper and gold used to suppress evil."

"The bottom of the stream is paved with black and white pebbles, arranged in the shape of the yin and yang fish of Tai Chi, so that the water turns over the stones, with yin within yang and yang within yin."

As she walked to the entrance of the waterway, she took out a palm-sized jade Pixiu from her sleeve, which she had specially brought with her when she left the palace.

"Finally, this jade Pixiu was erected here, with its mouth facing the direction from which the evil energy came."

She placed the Pixiu in the chosen location; the jade was warm and lustrous, shimmering with a restrained brilliance in the morning light.

"Straight streams rush like arrows, harming people invisibly; meandering streams, winding like ribbons, can protect homes and bring wealth."

Tang Xixue straightened up, her clothes fluttering in the wind. The morning light fell into her clear eyes, spreading a confident and composed smile that seemed to melt the ice and snow of winter.

"From now on, any evil spirit entering this courtyard will soften when it encounters a curve, and stop when it meets a pi (a mythical creature), and will naturally transform into an auspicious sign of a jade belt encircling the waist."

Her voice was clear and bright, like pearls falling onto a plate.

"Only when the evil energy dissipates can wealth arise."

As she said this, she suddenly blinked, her beautiful eyes sparkling like the ripples of a lake in early spring, shimmering with bright light.

"This immense wealth, no matter what, must belong to me!"

His tone was three parts joking and seven parts serious, yet he spoke with such conviction.

No luck with money? Then she'll turn things around herself!

From this day forward, she will be the God of Wealth's most beloved only daughter.

"There are still several auspicious feng shui arrangements that need to be set up."

Tang Xixue was in high spirits, her fingertips lightly tapping in the air, as if she had already outlined the path for the future accumulation of wealth.

She used all the extraordinary skills taught to her by the Imperial Advisor to attract wealth and treasures.

Looking at her radiant appearance and her undisguised greed, she didn't seem annoying at all; instead, she exuded an indescribable vivacity and cuteness.

Even the usually composed Qingdai couldn't help but smile gently.

Mu Liang stood quietly in the shadows beside the pillar, his gaze fixed on the girl smiling brightly in the sunlight.

The sunlight gilded her with a light golden edge, and even the tips of her hair danced with tiny golden glints.

He gazed at her with such concentration that it was as if everything else in the world had faded away, and she was the only clear focus.

From childhood, his gaze had been accustomed to following her, watching her, and protecting her.

To him, she was more important than his own life; she was a faith etched into his very bones, the only deity who illuminated his dark life.

Five years ago, she suddenly fell ill and her personality changed drastically. As her closest bodyguard, how could he not notice the strangeness that had seeped into her bones?

Those unfamiliar eyes, that distinct aura, those completely different actions...

Every tiny difference felt like a needle pricking his heart.

But what could he and his brother do?

Those matters involving supernatural forces, supernatural phenomena, and the changing of souls were far beyond their comprehension and ability to cope with.

Aside from being more careful in protecting her safety and silently praying for a possible miracle when no one is around, they are powerless.

until now.

Looking at the familiar curve of her eyes when she smiled, at the unconscious tapping of her chin when she was thinking, at her vibrant and bright expression that seemed to dispel all gloom...

Every detail stirred up a storm in his heart, and as the waves subsided, they transformed into a bittersweet and burning confirmation.

He was absolutely certain.

His Highness.

His true prince has returned.

"Your Highness, all the changes that need to be made have been noted down."

Li Shuang's voice broke the silence. She handed the paper covered with writing to Qing Dai in a light and cheerful tone.

"Sister Qingdai, could you please check if there are any oversights?"

"Okay, leave it to me."

Qingdai took the stack of frosty white papers and carefully checked them with her eyes lowered.

Li Shuang turned around and summoned the craftsmen who had been waiting for her. She gave them clear instructions, her voice as crisp as the wind chimes under the eaves.

In the courtyard, the sun shines brightly and a gentle breeze blows.

"This house must have been hastily abandoned back then, leaving many layouts unfinished, which is why there are so many flaws in the feng shui that clash with each other."

Tang Xixue looked around.

"Otherwise, given the location of this site and its embrace by Mirror Lake, it should be an excellent auspicious dwelling. Why would such evil spirits accumulate here?"

Upon hearing this, Qingdai's expression hardened slightly, and she lowered her voice, saying:

"This servant vaguely remembers old stories from the palace... Twenty years ago, the Princess Consort of Beichen supervised the construction of this residence by Mirror Lake, but then she suddenly encountered an accident..."

Her words abruptly ended there; it was a taboo subject in the palace, and an unhealed wound in the heart of His Highness Prince Beichen.

"Speaking of which, His Highness had only been born not long ago at that time."

"When you were little, Your Highness and Prince Beichen had a good relationship. He would often bring you rare items from outside the palace."

Tang Xixue lowered her eyelashes slightly, concealing a complex emotion in her eyes:

"Yes... My former uncle took good care of me."

How could she have foreseen that their once warm relationship would deteriorate to such an irreconcilable state?

"I heard from my elder brother that my name was given to me by my youngest uncle."