The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Originally, I wanted to keep him until Yin'er was fully grown up."

"But now, we can't let him live."

Bai Yining spoke these words in a flat and cold tone.

It was as if she had simply removed something unsightly and dirty.

Bei Chenji originally thought that his murder of the emperor was a capital offense, and that he was destined to meet a bad end from the moment he decided to take action.

But he didn't expect that neither Empress Bai Yining nor Crown Prince Tang Xiye would be involved.

These two, who were the most powerful people besides the late emperor, did not take this opportunity to eliminate him as well.

After the late emperor's death, Bai Yining, as the Empress Dowager, ruled from behind the curtain, supported the young Crown Prince Tang Xi to ascend the throne at night, and granted the young Prince Beichen real power.

On the day the new emperor ascended the throne, all the civil and military officials knelt in the Chengtian Hall.

The Empress Dowager sat behind the curtain.

The beaded curtain swayed gently, reflecting the candlelight inside the hall, flickering and obscuring the faces behind it.

But the figure sat upright like a pine tree, motionless, and just by sitting there, an invisible pressure enveloped the entire hall.

"Even when the late emperor was alive, I was not someone to be trifled with."

"Now that the late emperor is no longer here—"

"I am even more formidable."

She leaned forward slightly, her phoenix eyes peering through the gap in the beaded curtain.

Wherever that gaze fell, everyone involuntarily lowered their heads, a chill running down their spines.

"You may disobey me."

"But you have to kneel and protest."

The hall was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.

No one dared to look up, no one dared to utter a sound.

Those ministers who were usually so passionate and eloquent in court were now as if they had been choked, and dared not even breathe too heavily.

Everyone in the Northern Chen Empire knows that the Empress Dowager is the most untouchable person in the world.

But they didn't know that.

The Empress Dowager, whom the entire Beichen Empire feared, had a beloved little princess.

She sheltered her from the wind and rain, eliminated all threats for her, and was willing to be a vicious woman for her.

All she wanted was for her little princess to grow up carefree, like the brightest flower in spring, oblivious to wind and rain.

But even her smallest wish couldn't be fulfilled.

When she discovered that the soul inside Zhizhi's body was not hers.

For the first time, she realized that even she, as a mother, had times when she couldn't protect her.

That was a pain more intense than having your heart ripped out with a knife.

It is the pain of watching helplessly as the treasure you hold dear is forcibly taken away.

That night, the Empress Dowager did not close her eyes.

She knelt before the Buddha, praying to the gods for the first time.

She used to believe only in the power she held, only in the game she had carefully laid out, and only in that she could control everything.

She never believed in any gods or Buddhas, nor in karma.

She only trusts herself.

But at that moment, she knelt on the cold prayer mat, clasped her hands together, closed her eyes and bowed her head.

She wanted to pray to all the gods and Buddhas to grant her a miracle.

Give her daughter back.

"I hope my weaving will return soon."

Now, her daughter has finally returned.

The Empress Dowager held her, stroked her hair, and called her name.

"Weaving...weaving..."

That voice held five years of longing.

Tang Xixue nestled in her arms, tilting her little face up, as bright as the spring sunshine in March, as radiant as the crabapple blossoms on the branches.

"Mother, Zhizhi is here."

She reached out and gently wiped away the tears from the Empress Dowager's eyes.

The tears were scalding hot, making her heart ache.

"It's all your brother's fault for being so useless; he couldn't even protect you."

The Empress Dowager suddenly spoke, her tone carrying a hint of childish reproach.

Tang Xixue blinked.

Those peach blossom eyes were filled with a serious light.

"Mother Empress."

"My imperial brother is a first-rate person in the world, a wise ruler who is rare throughout the ages."

She paused, then tilted her head back, looked at the Empress Dowager, and smiled, her eyes crinkling:

"It is the bright rising sun in Zhizhi's heart."

"That's not what you're saying..."

"He is exceptionally good."

Her long, curled eyelashes trembled gently as she spoke, like two adorable little butterflies fluttering their wings.

Her jet-black hair cascaded down like an ink-black spring, with a few stray strands brushing against her cheeks, adding a touch of languidness and a hint of coquettishness.

The Empress Dowager looked at her with a mixture of helplessness and affection, and gently tapped the tip of her nose:

"Zhizhi, all you do is protect him. I only scolded him once, and you're already defending him like this."

She sighed and shook her head:

"You've always protected him since he was little; he's bound to be spoiled by you sooner or later."

"Mother is right."

A deep voice came from the palace gate.

Tang Xi stepped forward, her black robe with gold patterns shimmering with a cold, dark luster in the light.

He stopped beside Tang Xixue, raised his hand, and gently rubbed the top of her head.

The movements were extremely light and gentle, as if handling some rare treasure.

"It's because my elder brother is useless."

He spoke softly, his tone tinged with tenderness and self-reproach.

Tang Xixue raised her head and looked at him.

She was dressed in a red dress today, looking radiant and flamboyant.

Like a crabapple tree in full bloom in spring, its beauty is dazzling and beyond compare.

Her eyebrows and eyes were beautiful, her lips were naturally red, and her smile was like a peony in full bloom.

If it were after a kiss, it would surely be even more vibrant and alluring.

Tang Xiye's gaze lingered on her face for a moment.

That glance was so brief that no one would notice it.

But in that glance, there was something as deep as a pool.

"Red suits Zhizhi very well."

He spoke, his voice deep and magnetic, like aged wine:

"Zhizhi wore that outfit during the Heaven Worship Ceremony—"

"The Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Skirt"

The words fell.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Empress Dowager Bai Yining looked at her son with disbelief in her eyes.

She turned to Granny Lan beside her and said:

"Go to Xuanliu Academy and have His Majesty examine his head."

"Mother!" Tang Xiye's handsome face stiffened, and a faint blush rose to his ears. "I am unharmed."

The Empress Dowager clearly did not believe it.

Why would her son act as if nothing was wrong and let Zhizhi wear the Empress's phoenix robe to the sacrificial ceremony?

If this isn't a head injury, what is it?

"Zhizhi, don't listen to his nonsense."

The Empress Dowager withdrew her gaze, took Tang Xixue's hand, and gently patted the back of her hand:

"I have already prepared a long robe for you to wear to the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven."

"My mother is so kind!"

Tang Xixue's eyes lit up, her peach blossom eyes filled with anticipation, sparkling like scattered starlight:

"What you prepare for Zhizhi will definitely be the most beautiful!"

"That's natural."

The Empress Dowager smiled, her eyes full of affection:

"My beloved Zhizhi will naturally wear the most beautiful priestess robe to participate in the sacrificial ceremony."

Tangxi frowned at night.

"What priest's robe?"

he asks.

There was a hint of wariness in his tone.

Before the Empress Dowager could answer, Granny Lan stepped forward and whispered:

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Preceptor has arrived."

The Empress Dowager's brows and eyes relaxed:

"Please come quickly."

The eaves bells tap lightly.

A few clear, tinkling sounds drifted in the winter wind, like shattered jade falling onto an ice plate.

Soon, a figure in a snow-white robe entered the hall, accompanied by the sound of bells.

Along with him came the faint, chilly fragrance of snow-covered pines and plum blossoms carried on the wind.

His figure was as lofty and elegant as a solitary pine tree on a snowy mountain, draped in a moon-white crane cloak. His movements were like flowing clouds brushing across a cold pool, untouched by any dust.

Her face was like an ice sculpture, her eyebrows and eyes like distant mountains shrouded in frost, as if forever separated by a thin layer of distant mist.

He was a painting just by standing there.

A landscape painting with light brushstrokes and a profound artistic conception.

"Your subject greets the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty."

He Lichen spoke, his voice clear and cold like a jade chime, neither hurried nor slow.

He stood still, simply nodding slightly as a greeting.

As the national advisor revered by all of China, he had no need to bow to anyone.

A polite nod is sufficient.

The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded:

"Please have a seat, Your Excellency, Grand Preceptor."

Tang Xiye's gaze, however, fell on the tray in He Lichen's hands.

On the tray lay a set of snow-white robes.

Snow-white.

Priest's robe.

It was clearly made of the same material and style as the moon-white crane cloak that He Lichen was wearing.

It's obvious to anyone that these two would make a perfect couple when they stand together.

The emperor's face instantly darkened.

He originally wanted Zhizhi to wear the "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" dress.

He originally wanted Zhizhi to stand beside him at the sacrificial ceremony, receiving the worship of all people in the most honorable manner.

He originally wanted everyone to know that his Zhizhi was the apple of his eye, the precious treasure he held in his heart.

But now—

She actually wants to wear the same priest's robe as He Lichen?

Standing together?

Standing side by side?

The entire court of officials watched?

Are the envoys from various countries watching?

Are all the people of the world watching?

Tang Xiye's eyes darkened, and her hand in her sleeve tightened slightly.

But before he could speak, a soft, clear voice rang out:

"Why is it that you only greeted the Empress Dowager and my elder brother, Grand Preceptor, but not me? Did you not see me?"

Tang Xixue sat on the soft couch, tilted her head, and blinked.

Those peach blossom eyes were filled with a sly smile.

He Lichen was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Immediately, a very faint smile appeared in his eyes.

The smile was faint, as faint as a mark on the snow, which would dissipate with a gust of wind.

But there was light in that smile.

"Your Highness."

He spoke, his voice still clear and cold, but within that coldness lay a hint of inexplicable gentleness:

"Your subject greets you."

He simply didn't know how to properly address her in front of her mother and brother.

He was simply delighted to see her.

Joyful arrival—

Even the greeting was a bit awkward.

Tang Xixue looked at him.

Her dark hair was half-tied with a silver crown, with the rest falling over her shoulders and back. Occasionally, a few strands of white hair could be seen in her hair, like snow falling on a crow's feather.

Her lips were very pale, and when she pursed them, they resembled cherry blossoms covered in snow in early spring. Only when she was moved by emotion would a faint red hue appear.

She suddenly smiled.

That smile was as bright as the March sunshine, as radiant as the crabapple blossoms on a branch.

"Greetings, Imperial Advisor."

She curved her eyebrows and eyes, her tone lively, like a deer leaping in the mountains.

He Lichen looked at her.

Looking at her curved eyebrows, upturned lips, and bright eyes.

He suddenly felt that the ice and snow that had accumulated over the years were melting little by little.

"I have come to deliver the priest's robe that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager requested."

He paused, then lowered his eyes.

His voice remained clear and cold, aloof, and untouched by worldly dust.

But only he himself knew—

This is a trivial matter; he shouldn't have needed to do it.

But he knew she would be here.

So, he came.