The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

The wind whistled past his ears, and Si Xingzhou remained silent for a long time.

He thought that with his unparalleled beauty and the power to rule the country, how could any woman in the world not be moved?

But in fact—Tang Xixue, she truly has a heart of iron and a soul carved from jade.

It wasn't until Zhu Xing traversed a rugged mountain path, his horse's hooves swaying slightly among the gravel, that the real swaying seemed to awaken him from a daze.

He regained his voice, a voice containing a barely perceptible hint of hardness, yet forcibly concealed by the innate pride of an emperor:

"Xie Jinlian... He is such a person, with unparalleled talent and elegance, I understand why you admire him."

He paused, speaking slowly, as if trying to persuade her, but more like trying to persuade his own still-burning heart:

"But he is the cloud of the heavens, the snow that never melts on the mountaintop, the divine sword that, once unsheathed, astounds the world and chills the nine provinces..."

"His gaze is destined to forever rest on the higher and farther path of enlightenment, overlooking the vast landscape and the timeless essence of Taoism. How could he easily linger for a wisp of smoke in the mortal world, or show pity for even the slightest bit of human affection?"

He unconsciously tightened his arms, stubbornly pulling her closer to his warm chest.

I tried to use this real touch and warmth to counteract the unreachable coldness in her words.

The words carried the promises of an emperor to reality and an almost seductive allure:

"Kyoko, instead of wasting your energy chasing the cold moon that can never be touched on the horizon, why not grasp the warmth and real power that are within your reach?"

"What I can give you is unparalleled brilliance, the emperor's exclusive favor, the honor of being an empress revered by all under heaven, and a life of unparalleled splendor and peaceful years."

A cold wind swept up a few remaining snowflakes, brushing past the light veil of Tangxi's snow-covered hat.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Your Majesty." Her voice was clear and distant, like moonlight flowing over stones in a stream: "However—I must decline."

She even casually shook the Star Token in her hand, which drove the world mad with desire; the light and shadow swirled, reflecting the undying starlight in her eyes.

"The supreme honor that His Majesty has promised is nothing more than a beautifully decorated cage to me."

"Me—"

"In this life, I may have admirers at my feet, and I may behold countless beauties, but who will I marry, and where will I be confined in my golden cage and jade palace..."

She smiled softly, a laugh like the sudden ringing of wind chimes under the eaves, piercing through the wind and snow, carrying a carefree and unrestrained spirit:

"It is absolutely impossible."

Having said that, she casually stuffed the Star Token, which countless people dreamed of, back into Si Xingzhou's slightly stiff arms without any hesitation.

It feels slightly heavy in the hand, and the coolness seeps through the fabric, reaching straight to the heart.

Before he could respond, she flicked the reins:

"Let's go, Star Chaser!"

The black steed raised its head and neighed loudly, its voice shaking the surrounding fields like a dragon's roar breaking through the snow.

With its four hooves tumbling, it seemed to be riding the clouds and the wind.

In an instant, the horse's hooves shattered the jade, and its figure flashed like lightning, galloping straight towards the distant mountains.

The cold wind suddenly became as sharp as a knife, swirling up the accumulated snow and withered plum blossoms, scattering them all over the sky, like a spring snow falling in reverse.

Her veil fluttered, her black hair danced wildly, yet her figure remained as steady as a bamboo shoot, rising and falling freely with the rhythm of chasing the stars, moving freely between the white snow and the bright red plum blossoms.

"A righteous spirit resides within my heart, and the vast天地 (heaven and earth) are filled with the exhilarating breeze."

A clear shout drifted down with the wind, and the figure galloping on horseback was as bright as a flame and as flamboyant as a sword, possessing a kind of ethereal beauty that seemed to break free from all constraints and shatter countless shackles.

Si Xingzhou was momentarily stunned.

The sense of defeat lingered in my heart, but was infused with an even stronger sense of enlightenment and an almost uncontrollable surge of emotion.

It turns out that the snow in the sky that you can't have, once you've seen it, will only turn you dust.

Like a fleeting shadow in the wind, it is impossible to grasp, yet it captivates the soul.

He watched the receding figure, then suddenly chuckled softly, a dark flame burning in his eyes:

"Oh no... I think I love you even more."

She appears gentle and delicate, like a crabapple blossom just beginning to bloom, glistening with morning dew, as if it would fall with the slightest touch.

But within lies a free spirit that laughs at fleeting fame and lets its heart roam like a wild horse.

The vastness of the world, the expanse of mountains and seas, the changing seasons, and the myriad aspects of life seem to be the places she truly wants to wander and linger in.

"If Your Majesty truly wishes to find a bird that can safely perch in the palm of your hand—"

Why not bow your head and look at this world?

"Build another fragrant nest, and seek another fine sparrow."

She will not stay for anyone; she is a phoenix soaring through the heavens.

Even if that person were an emperor who ruled over a vast land, holding supreme power and a crown, he could not build an island called belonging in the vast sea of ​​her heart.

At this moment, Si Xingzhou even asked himself in a daze:

Who exactly is the cold-hearted emperor?

How could her heart be more clear-headed and insightful than his, the emperor's?

It turns out that the most heartless are not those who are indifferent, but those whose hearts are set on the world and not on any one person.

Just as Zhu Xing was carrying the two of them at breakneck speed, passing through a grove of red plum trees blooming with an extremely intense and dazzling display, as if a celestial being had accidentally spilled a rouge box, dyeing the entire mountain valley a vibrant crimson—

An unexpected change occurred!

"boom--!!!"

A deep, thunderous roar echoed from the depths of the plum grove, as if the mountains were shaking and the earth was trembling.

Immediately afterwards, a sharp and incomparable sword aura soared into the sky, its frosty chill instantly overshadowing the fragrance of plum blossoms, startling thousands of plum trees as if they had been ravaged by a fierce wind.

It transformed into a rain of blood, falling in a breathtakingly tragic and beautiful display.

A figure in black flew out from the chaotic rain of plum blossoms and the cold light of sword energy like a lone wild goose, its body making several nimble flips in the air.

Finally, it landed steadily on the snow beside the road, leaving deep footprints.

It was none other than the God of War of Yunchuan, Qi Wang.

He gripped the Tan Hua sword tightly in his hand; the blade gleamed with a clear light, and its chill remained.

On the dark, tight-fitting outfit, silver tassels jingled, stained with specks of snow and broken plum petals.

The chilling killing intent and powerful sword intent emanating from him, forged in the crucible of battle, had not yet completely subsided, like the sea after a storm, still echoing with a chilling aftereffect.

Clearly, he had just experienced a fierce siege battle that was not evenly matched, but was still quite challenging.

With his overwhelming strength, he forcefully shattered the "Heavenly Net" battle formation formed by the Star Abyss Guards, which had trapped countless experts, and broke through the encirclement.

"Da da da".

The sound of horses' hooves approached.

Qi Wang had just stood still, adjusted his breathing slightly, and looked up to see Tang Xixue riding towards him.

And behind her, riding alongside, in a manner that could even be described as intimate, was Emperor Si Xingzhou of Xingze.

A magnificent black steed, dressed in snow-white robes and with hair as black as ink, the handsome emperor, riding together at breakneck speed...

The scene was strangely pleasing to the eye.

In an instant, an indescribable sense of suffocation, absurdity, and anger intertwined into a cold torrent.

It surged into Qi Wang's heart, almost piercing through his cold mask.

"Tang, Xi, Xue!"

He uttered the name slowly and deliberately, between his teeth.

The knuckles of the fingers gripping the sword turned slightly white from the force, and the Tanhua sword emitted a barely audible hum.

The snippets of conversation I overheard when I was inexplicably besieged by the elite Xingyuan Guards, and the scene I glimpsed deep in the plum grove behind the mountain...

Various clues flashed through my mind like lightning.

It was clearly Princess Jing who orchestrated the scheme to knock Si Xingzhou unconscious and kidnap him.

Why was it Qi Wang who was chased and hacked down half a mountain by the Xingyuan Guards, yet ended up taking the blame for this huge mistake?

What a clever scheme to shift blame and divert attention!

Good heavens, now the culprit and the victim are riding together so affectionately, hand in hand?

What a magnificent show!

Tang Xixue... This wicked woman, her methods are endless, and she's ruthless!