The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

A corner of the crowd.

Shen Yan stood in the shadows, covering her mouth, staring at the scene in disbelief.

The sunlight couldn't reach the spot where she was standing.

Her face was also hidden in the shadows.

"How could Crown Prince Menghua like Tang Xixue?"

She murmured, her voice filled with disbelief, resentment, and a hint of barely concealed jealousy.

"Prince Yu—isn't he the one who likes me the most? Why has he never sent me flowers?"

She didn't understand, nor did she comprehend.

"They haven't even sent anything."

"Aside from constantly calling him 'Sister Cigarette,' it seems like I'm the one giving him money???"

She recalled those days when she saved every penny to raise cats for Kong Sangyu and rent a house for him.

But what about him?

He said Sister Yan is so kind! She's such a good person!

He always smiled so beautifully and brightly that she thought he cared about her.

This made her unable to resist spending more money.

But he wouldn't even let her touch the beast-taming flute.

"Is this correct?"

Is this appropriate?

"I feel like a sucker."

She stood there, like a shadow forgotten in a corner.

She used to think that spending some money would be enough to deceive a simple and kind prince of the Canglan Empire, and that it was a worthwhile deal.

She thought that Kong Sangyu was like Shen Cuo, someone who could be manipulated with small favors.

But now that she has seen how he truly loves someone, she suddenly feels like she is a complete and utter victim of injustice.

"Oh dear, what nonsense am I spouting?"

Hua Rongshi unfolded her folding fan with a "whoosh".

The peach blossoms on the fan became even more vibrant, with layers upon layers of petals, as if they were about to fly off the paper.

He looked up and gazed at Tang Xixue.

Her eyes were shimmering and sparkling, her gaze like a spring mountain.

In that gaze, there was earnestness, expectation, and a touch of desperate, reckless courage.

"Your Majesty will be the brother-in-law sooner or later, so I'm calling him that in advance as a sign of respect."

Tang Xiye was so angry that her fingertips trembled.

The tremor was very slight, so slight that it was almost imperceptible.

But he knew it himself.

His heart was tightening inch by inch.

Even when Zhizhi hadn't returned, he could still tolerate her engagement to the self-disciplined and proper Shen Xian.

At that time, he did consider imprisoning the transmigrated woman in the Hall of Longevity to protect Zhizhi's body.

The first time, the time-traveling woman was placed under house arrest by him in the Hall of Longevity.

One day he heard the imprisoned man mutter in terror to the air:

"It's over, it's over, we can't get out of here. If we don't complete the mission to win over the young general, we'll die..."

He didn't know what the mission was, nor did he know who would die.

But he saw her fall to the ground, her heart almost stopping, and she instantly lost all life.

At that moment, he was more afraid than anyone else.

The imperial physicians were urgently summoned to provide emergency treatment.

He stood outside the hall, staring at the tightly closed door, and for the first time knew what fear was.

The first transmigrated woman failed in her mission to seduce General Feng Zhuo after being imprisoned, and her soul was erased.

Later, he dared not gamble again, dared not lock her up—

He can't afford to gamble...

He feared he would never see Zhizhi again.

Now she's back.

He will never let go again.

Good flowers don't bloom forever, and good times don't last forever.

Good times never come again.

When Hua Rong spoke, her voice was clear and bright, carrying a sincere sense of sudden realization.

He closed the folding fan and gently pressed it to his lips.

His posture was elegant and charming, yet extremely attractive, while also exuding an undeniable seriousness.

He spoke each word slowly and deliberately.

"Princess Mirror, Fu Zui was so ungrateful before."

He looked up and gazed at Tang Xixue.

In those eyes, there was guilt, and there was expectation.

She harbored feelings of affection that she had kept hidden for so long, but finally dared to express them.

"Now, I want to tell you—"

"I do."

He paused.

"Whether Your Highness marries into Menghua, or—I marry Your Highness, I am willing."

"Even if it's just to be His Highness's concubine..."

In an instant, countless gazes fell upon Tang Xixue.

Some were gloating and watching the show, some were worried for her, and others came from all directions, wishing they could tear Hua Rongshi to pieces.

Both Emperor Qi Zhan of Yun Chuan and Emperor Si Xing Zhou of Xing Ze had the same shock written in their eyes.

"Um?"

Qi Zhan's voice carried a hint of disbelief.

"Who exactly is the simp?"

He paused, then completely questioned the meaning of life.

"Is it true—rumors have misled me?"

The version they heard before was not like this!

Princess Mirror was ignored, she couldn't get what she wanted, she groveled...

Now it seems that these men were the ones rushing to get close to her, one after another.

"Ying Lin, someone's trying to steal your brother's wife."

Qi Wang's voice carried a hint of schadenfreude, as if he were watching a good show.

"Should I cut him down for you, brother?"

"Then I'll have to trouble you, sister-in-law."

Pei Yanchuan's expression was gentle, his gaze fixed on Qi Wang's sword.

"rest assured."

Qi Wang replied, "Your sister-in-law is very shrewd."

A few plum blossom petals fell on Tangxi Xue's priest's robe.

The red and white colors made her appear even more ethereal and beautiful.

"I don't want to."

Her voice was clear and soft, yet crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

"We're not familiar with each other."

She slightly raised her eyes.

His gaze held a detached, condescending air, like a deity looking down upon the mortal world from the heavens.

"Please, Crown Prince Menghua, show some self-respect."

"Even if you become my concubine, I will not take you."

Upon hearing this, Hua Rongshi not only did not back down, but instead took a step forward.

Her smile grew even brighter.

"Oh, don't be so quick to refuse!"

He blinked, his peach blossom eyes gleaming with cunning.

"Your Highness, accepting me is a win-win situation; you won't lose out or be fooled."

"It's okay if we're not familiar with each other!"

He paused.

"We can—"

His words were deliberate and resounding.

"Marriage first, love later".

Everyone gasped upon hearing this.

This is absolutely amazing!

Prince Menghua publicly proposed to her, but after being rejected, he was still not giving up and actually said something like "marry first, then love"!

This is no prince, he's clearly a womanizer!

"That damn playboy! I'll fight him to the death!"

Among the crowd, a figure dressed in a striking bright red outfit stood out.

Feng Zhuo stood at the front of the guard formation, holding a long halberd, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

He was ordered to guard the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, and he should have been conscientious and focused on his duties.

But he couldn't do it.

His gaze remained fixed on Tang Xixue.

She has never left since the moment she appeared.

At this moment, he was furious with Hua Rongshi.

He looked like a fireball, ready to explode at any moment.

"I'll show him what happens when you get involved with a bad romantic interest!"

His knuckles were white as he gripped the halberd.

He rushed out to make a move, but was stopped by Feng Yi.

"Burn it!"

Feng Yi's voice was anxious and serious as she grabbed his shoulder.

"Calm down. Look at the situation!"

Feng Zhuo took a deep breath.

He took another deep breath.

He tried to appear nonchalant.

But in those eyes, a raging fire was clearly burning.

The flames were blazing, as if they were going to burn everything to ashes.

"elder brother."

He spoke, his voice a little hoarse.

That hoarse voice carried a hint of grime, a sense of suppressed emotion, and an emotion that was about to break free.

"I can't calm down."

"Don't act impulsively."

Feng Yi pressed down on his shoulder, a hint of helplessness appearing in his eyes.

He knew what his younger brother was thinking.

She also knew how difficult the silence was for Feng Zhuo.

"This is a grand ceremony to worship Heaven. You don't want to cause trouble for Princess Mirror, do you? With His Majesty present, it's not your turn."

Feng Zhuo didn't say anything more.

But the hand gripping the halberd tightened even more.

He looked at Tangxi Xue.

Through the crowds and the falling petals, his gaze met hers.

She was waving gently at herself.

The movement was extremely light and gentle.

"Ranzhi, be good."

She was saying.

He immediately bit his lip.

The gesture carried a hint of grievance, a touch of resentment, and a dash of youthful spirit that couldn't be hidden.

He stopped in his tracks, but didn't cause her any more trouble.

It just stood there, like a little wolf that had been calmed down by its owner.

The flame in his eyes, however, refused to go out.