The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Shh-"

Tang Xixue keenly sensed the subtle fluctuations in Yuan Qi's aura, raised her eyes to glance at the shadowy spot where he was hiding, and gently shook her head, signaling him with her eyes and gestures to remain quiet.

She carefully and gently withdrew her hand from his still loosely clenched but now relaxed palm, making sure not to disturb him in the slightest.

Then, she gestured to Qingdai, who was waiting nearby, to bring a thick, soft, snow-white velvet blanket. She took it herself, unfolded it, and carefully covered him, tucking in even the corners neatly.

Poor little prince...

She gazed at his face, which, even in his deep sleep, betrayed profound weariness beneath the blanket, and sighed silently in her heart.

Over the years, he probably hasn't had a single night of true restful sleep.

The chilling poison gnawed at his bones, his heart was tormented by illness, and he carried the weight of the survival of the Beichen Prince's Mansion, the power of the Dark Realm War Hall, and the deep-seated hatred he harbored for the royal family...

All these burdens, like countless shackles, imprisoned him in a state of lucid pain and vigilance, which consumed him day and night.

If this continues, he will only become more and more dangerous.

Once the raging iceberg suppressed beneath the surface of the sea fully emerges, it may overturn not only the enemies, but also the fragile balance upon which the entire Chenyao Dynasty depends.

"Back then... perhaps if she hadn't been sent to the palace, my illness could have been cured long ago."

Yuan Qi stood in the shadows, gazing at his master's unusually peaceful sleeping state. A myriad of thoughts churned within him, ultimately culminating in a heavy sigh.

But this thought was quickly suppressed by an even deeper sense of helplessness:

"But back then, the young master... was barely able to protect himself, let alone ensure her safe upbringing..."

"He himself has struggled to survive in the darkness all these years, climbing to the top over mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Just surviving has exhausted all his strength and luck..."

The child who once smiled brightly at her mother's knees, stained her hands with blood for the first time, clearing away any obstacles that might threaten her survival for the handful of snow she had accidentally picked up.

Later, he personally sent her to the palace, where she was able to grow up in the sunlight.

But the moment he saw her off, he turned and stepped into an even deeper, dark quagmire.

They sank deeper and deeper into depravity, with no one to save them.

Even he himself gradually grew to loathe this blood-stained, cold-hearted self amidst the daily killings and scheming.

Many times, even he doubted what was so special about this world that he could cherish.

"When she's asleep... she seems quite well-behaved."

Tang Xixue murmured to herself, her lips curving slightly, a smile tinged with a complex and indescribable pity.

At least for this one night, in this little world imbued with her scent, he could temporarily escape the torment of nightmares and pain, and sink into a deep, peaceful sleep.

The burning emptiness and intense pain beneath his skin seemed to temporarily subside and recede as his consciousness sank.

Only the comfort and peace that had just reached the depths of his soul were deeply imprinted on his exhausted body and mind.

Yuan Qi quietly emerged from the shadows and bowed deeply to Tang Xixue in a silent and solemn manner.

His gaze returned with a complex mix of emotions to his master sleeping peacefully on the bed, and he understood:

"My lord, you have always only allowed her to get close, and you only recognize her as the antidote."

He couldn't help but recall the last time when the Prince of Beichen personally went to the execution platform to rescue Shen Yan.

The fox fur coat bestowed by the late emperor was only draped over Shen Yan's shoulders for a moment before the prince turned around and discarded it like worn-out shoes.

He wore spotless rhinoceros-hide gloves throughout the entire journey, even a slight touch was done through the solid leather, and upon his return, he ordered all his clothes, inside and out, to be burned and replaced.

What appears to be a gesture of concern actually reveals a cold distance and...

Subtle rejection.

That brat Qian Su actually naively suggested that I try using Shen Yan as a "medicinal ingredient" to alleviate my symptoms. It's utterly absurd.

I fear that when the master is delirious from his illness, his first instinctive reaction will be to snap Miss Shen's neck.

Young people simply cannot understand that the more a prince truly cares about something, the deeper he hides it and the more carefully he protects it.

They even use indifference and alienation as a shield.

Those who are pushed to the forefront and seem to enjoy all the glory are often the targets and decoys that attract the most attention.

After all, being at the center of a vortex where power and darkness intertwine, enemies are as numerous as carp crossing a river, making it impossible to guard against them all.

Only towards the Mirror Princess before him was everything different.

They may say they're distancing themselves and act coldly, but their bodies' most instinctive reactions are all too honest.

He longed for her scent, craved her touch, and even longed to sleep soundly beside her without any defenses.

This starkly different, almost contradictory treatment was perfectly clear to him, a seasoned assassin who had observed the situation for many years.

Tang Xixue naturally recognized Yuan Qi, knowing that he was Bei Chenji's most loyal and unpredictable trusted confidant.

She entrusted the sleeping Bei Chenji to his care, and then, with her maids, quietly and silently withdrew from the warm and inviting tea room.

As soon as I returned to the outer corridor of the study, I saw Mu Liang's figure fall silently like a light leaf.

"Ah Liang is back." Tang Xixue's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Have you found out where the Holy Son of Moonfire is staying?"

"Your Highness, it is located on the island in the center of Mirror Lake—the Flowing Firefly Palace within the Mountain and River Palace."

Mu Liang respectfully replied and returned the Cold Jade Snow Soul Fan with both hands.

"That person's senses are extremely sharp. I dared not get too close or stay too long, but I can confirm that he has not left since he entered the Flowing Firefly Palace."

"Shanheque...we live so close by?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Xixue subconsciously raised her eyes and looked out the window at the center of the shimmering Mirror Lake.

In the darkness, the island's outline is faintly visible, its lights shining brightly, and the Tianchen Nine Palaces stand majestically.

Her heart was suddenly stirred.

Her beloved master, always far away in the misty Kunlun Ruins, an unattainable white moonlight...

At this moment, could he really be standing just inches away from her?

This realization stirred something within her, a surge of inexplicable urgency and hope.

"Wei Yu, how's the matter I asked you to investigate going?"

She calmed herself and turned to Wei Yu, the maid standing to her side.

"Your Highness."

Wei Yu stepped forward, her voice gentle yet firm.

"Based on top-secret intelligence we obtained from Shan Hai and Qi Shi Ge respectively, and cross-referencing, the information is conclusive—Yun Boyan, the Lord of Yun Jue, and Xie Jinlian, the Celestial Sword Immortal, are indeed twin brothers born of the same mother. The credibility of this information is rated as A-level in the highest tier."

Both "Shan Hai" and "Qi Shi Ge" are the most authoritative forces in the Nine Provinces, especially known for their all-pervasive intelligence networks.

The Mountain and Sea Spirit Disciple is said to be able to communicate with birds and beasts, and the mountains and rivers are his eyes and ears.

The Seven Generations Pavilion is more adept at uncovering long-forgotten secrets and bloodline origins.

Both sides reached the same conclusion, so the matter is basically settled.

"If that's the case... it must be true."

Tang Xixue nodded slightly, her fingertips caressing the snow-white fan ribs in her sleeve. The cool touch made her thoughts clearer.

However, the doubts did not dissipate; instead, they grew stronger.

"I will personally go to Shanheque."

"I want to see why Yun Boyan would go to the trouble of impersonating my master. What secret is he hiding by concealing his whereabouts like this?"

From the moment Yun Boyan first faced her as her master, that lingering sense of unease followed her like a shadow.

He could have simply revealed his identity as a senior martial uncle; why go through all this trouble?

This is by no means the behavior expected of the legendary, aloof, and untainted Holy Son of the Moon.

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation.

And this demon—is definitely related to her master.

As night deepened, a chilly breeze swept across the new bamboo under the eaves.

Tangxi Xue gazed in the direction of the mountains and rivers, her eyes calm and serene.

She donned a black cloak, and without the slightest hesitation, lightly touched the white stone floor of the corridor with her toes, her figure rising like a wisp of mist dissolving into the night.

"In the past, when the mountains were high and the waters were far, and the snow covered a thousand mountains at dusk, it was always my master who came under the moonlight to brush the frost off my shoulders."

"Master...this time, it's my turn to see you."

"Do not ask about the road ahead, for the moon of Kunlun shines brightly."