The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

On the top floor of the Seventh Pavilion, on the Star Gazing Platform.

The night breeze blew through the openwork star-carved window, lifting the wide sleeves of the long, dark blue star-patterned robe.

Si Xingzhou stood with his hands behind his back beside the huge astronomical instrument, gazing at the rows of glazed tile roofs and flying eaves outside the window and the hazy outline of the imperial city in the distance. The deep eyes of the emperor reflected the dim lights.

Footsteps sounded from behind, light and steady.

"His Majesty."

His voice was clear and bright, with a youthful clarity that was unique to him.

Si Xingzhou didn't need to turn around to know who was coming.

Qizhu approached silently and stopped five steps away from the king.

In the candlelight, he wore a light blue gauze robe with bamboo leaf patterns, covered with a thin gauze overcoat of the same color. The hem of the robe flowed slightly with his steps, like the swaying shadows of bamboo under the moon.

Her black hair was partially tied up with a light green ribbon that matched her clothes, while the rest of her hair flowed smoothly over her shoulders. A jade-colored brocade headband, about the width of a finger, was tied around her forehead.

On her delicate oval face, with clean features, her eyelids were slightly lowered, and her long eyelashes cast a light shadow beneath her eyes. Her expression was respectful and calm.

He held a scroll of secret reports, treated with a special solution, the writing of which was sometimes visible and sometimes hidden. His fingertips were neatly trimmed, revealing the cleanliness of someone who had been tending to medicinal herbs for many years.

Si Xingzhou didn't turn around, but only stretched out one hand.

The intelligence report was obtained; it felt slightly cool to the touch.

He unfolded it, his gaze quickly sweeping over the concise yet encapsulating text that summed up a failed operation.

A moment later, those sharp, star-like eyes slowly narrowed.

"It failed?"

His voice was not loud, even calm, yet it seemed to carry the chill of the deepest glaciers in the far north, echoing across the empty observatory.

"An entire squad of Star Abyss Guards, my elite Dark Blades, personally trained and crafted with countless resources, couldn't even take down... a mere Princess Mirror?"

He slowly turned around, his deep blue star-patterned robe trailing on the ground, its luster flowing like a starry night sky with his movements.

That incomparably handsome emperor's face, which always carried a hint of aloofness in its smile, was now completely somber, with a layer of cold frost between his brows.

An invisible pressure emanated from him, and even the ever-burning candles in the observatory seemed to dim for a moment.

"Are you telling me," he took a step forward, his boots landing crisply on the smooth, mirror-like black jade floor, each step feeling like a blow to the heart, "that all these years I've raised a bunch of... good-looking but useless trash?"

Qi Zhu lowered his head even further, but his handsome, youthful face didn't show much fear; his tone was simply more respectful and cautious:

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This setback is probably not due to the Star Abyss Guard's lack of combat strength, but rather... due to incorrect intelligence."

"Is the intelligence incorrect?"

Si Xingzhou stopped and glanced down at Qi Zhu, a cold smile curving his lips.

"What could be wrong? Doesn't she live in the 'Mirror Night Snow Lodge' by Mirror Moon Lake? Could Emperor Shengchen possibly conjure up an impregnable fortress for her overnight?"

"Your Majesty, the Star Abyss Guards... were unable to get close to that mansion."

Qi Zhu's voice was steady, and each word was clear.

"They were captured when they were still a hundred paces away from the mansion... without a single one escaping."

Si Xingzhou's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

"Unable to get close?" He repeated, the coldness in his voice almost tangible. "Even if Emperor Shengchen dotes on his sister, can the guards he assigns to her be stronger than my Star Abyss Guards?"

Qi Zhu took a deep breath, raised her eyes to meet Si Xingzhou's scrutinizing gaze, and lowered her voice further:

"The guards around Princess Mirror are not ordinary royal guards. The ones who stopped and captured the Star Abyss Guards were... the Nightblade Legion of the War Hall."

"The War Hall?" Si Xingzhou's brows furrowed suddenly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "The Nightblade Legion? What does this have to do with the War Hall? When did Bei Chenji extend his reach into the protection of the imperial family's inner circle?"

He was well aware of the power distribution in the Nine Provinces. Although the War Hall was powerful, it had always maintained a delicate balance with the royal family. His direct intervention in the princess's guards was by no means unusual.

Qi Zhu's face revealed an extremely complex expression, a mixture of helplessness, disbelief, and a little bit of... absurdity.

He carefully considered the words:

"According to our subsequent investigation... the master of the Battle Hall, Bei Chenji, was staying at the Jingye Xuelu at that time."

He paused, and seeing that His Majesty's gaze was deep and he showed no intention of interrupting, he braced himself and continued:

"Ahem... We, including the previous intelligence, never expected... Princess Jing's... well, her admirers actually included someone like the Prince of Beichen."

Qi Zhu felt a mix of emotions.

He had long heard that the list of prodigies that Princess Chenyao had offended was astonishingly long.

But aren't the rumors circulating that it's just wishful thinking on her part, and that the real elites avoid her like the plague?

The results of it?

Bei Chenji, the infamous tyrant of the underworld, rumored to be indifferent to women and even averse to human contact, actually moved into her private residence without a sound.

This is even more absurd than a planetarium suddenly spinning on its own.

"Bei Chenji...and Princess Jing?"

Si Xingzhou was clearly stunned for a moment by this information, and repeated the two names that he thought were completely unrelated.

The anger between his brows was replaced by an almost absurd astonishment.

"That fiend, Prince Beichen, could actually... fall for Princess Jing, whose reputation is so tarnished?"

He recalled the rumors about Tangxi Snow and felt that his understanding was being challenged.

"Don't people say that she's just an object of amusement for those privileged individuals in their spare time?"

Qi Zhu smiled wryly: "Your Majesty, who can know what that person is really thinking?"

Si Xingzhou remained silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a sneer.

It was impossible to tell whether the laughter was mocking or something else, but the cold light in his eyes returned.

"Tsk," he shook his head, his tone tinged with amusement and scrutiny, "It's... unexpected. Someone like Bei Chenji has such... unique taste."

He walked back to the planetarium, his fingertips tracing the cold brass star rails, making a faint rubbing sound.

"With Zhan Tang Ye Feng protecting me closely, and this being the border of Chen Yao Kingdom, not my Xing Ze home ground, it will indeed be difficult to get close to her again."

Si Xingzhou regained his imperial composure and judgment, and asked in a deep voice:

"Does she have any publicly announced schedules recently?"

Qi Zhu immediately replied, "The Marquis of Zhenbei's residence will be hosting a plum blossom banquet, inviting nobles from the capital, envoys from various countries, and young talents. As a member of the royal family, Princess Jing should attend as is customary."

"The Plum Blossom Feast..."

Si Xingzhou murmured the name, his eyes gleaming, and after a moment, a look of determination flashed across his face.

"Alright. Then I'll go and join in the fun."

He turned around and looked at Qizhu:

"I will personally go and meet this Princess Jing, who has even managed to get Bei Chen Ji to stay at her home."

Upon hearing this, Qi Zhu looked up abruptly, her baby face filled with astonishment, almost unable to control her expression:

"Your Majesty? You intend to do it yourself? This...this might be beneath your dignity, and it's also risky..."

This is Chen Yao!

Your Majesty, you are the ruler of a nation, not a secret guard or assassin!

Si Xingzhou waved his hand, interrupting his attempt to dissuade him, his dark blue robe sleeves drawing an elegant yet domineering arc.

"What does face matter when it comes to avenging Ah Zhe?"

He spoke casually, as if he were talking about something trivial.

Qi Zhu opened his mouth, but seeing the Emperor's expression, he swallowed all his words of advice, letting out a helpless sigh and bowing his head respectfully.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will make the arrangements immediately to ensure that Your Majesty is fully prepared for the Plum Blossom Banquet."

He bowed respectfully, and as he turned to leave, he subtly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Stepping out of the observatory, a night breeze brushed my face, carrying the chill of the first snow.

Qi Zhu glanced back at the door carved with intricate star charts, a complex expression on her face.

Your Majesty... to avenge your brother, you've truly risked even your imperial dignity and safety.

He truly lives up to his reputation as a doting brother!

He shook his head and quickly disappeared into the shadows of the deep, winding corridors of the Seven Generations Pavilion, beginning preparations for the Plum Blossom Banquet that was destined to be anything but peaceful two days later.