The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Tang Xixue stood still, looked down at the little white cat in her arms that was wagging its tail in dissatisfaction.

Yin Kong tilted his head back and meowed at her. His little head tilted to the side, and his round eyes were filled with accusation.

It's as if it's saying: That clumsy little general just now bumped into me!

She gently stroked its back.

The movement was very light and gentle, sliding down the snow-white fur one stroke at a time.

The little white cat buried its head in her arms, but its tail was still swishing back and forth in protest.

A slight smile played on her lips.

The smile deepened even further.

"Silly boy."

She said softly.

Her voice was soft and sweet, like melted sugar.

It held a warmth and joy that only she knew.

Her childhood sweetheart is so cute!

How could she not like it?

Not far away, deep in the bamboo forest.

Yan Ci leaned against a tall bamboo pole, gazing at this scene from afar.

His gaze fell on the crimson sword—the sword at Feng Zhuo's waist, with a newly tied gilded rose jade tassel on its hilt.

The jade pendant was exquisitely crafted, with layers of rose petals unfolding and ice and snow patterns engraved on the back, shimmering with a warm and lustrous light under the snow.

That was tied on by Tang Xixue herself.

Just now.

She tiptoed, her fingertips looping around the silver chain at the hilt of the longsword, and tightened the jade pendant tassel.

The movements were slow and deliberate, as if they were performing some extremely solemn ceremony.

Feng Zhuo stood there, her ears burning red, not daring to move an inch.

Yan Ci saw it clearly.

That sword tassel is her mark.

It is a declaration.

The words "taken" were engraved in the most gentle way before everyone's eyes.

flagrant.

Without any attempt to conceal it.

Yan Ci sighed softly.

The sigh was faint, as faint as snowflakes falling on a lake, blown away by the wind in the blink of an eye.

"Good luck, General Feng."

He murmured to himself, silently lighting three incense sticks for Feng Zhuo in his heart.

He remembered that his emperor had said last time that he would order Feng Zhuo and Hua Rongshi to be executed together.

His Majesty has not made a move so far, only because he is thinking of Tangxi Xue.

After all, Tang Xixue's favoritism towards Feng Zhuo was equally blatant.

That sword tassel is the best proof.

When this news reached His Majesty's ears...

Will it save Feng Zhuo's life, or become his death warrant?

Yan Ci did not know.

Unlike Hua Rongshi, Feng Zhuo held a much heavier place in Tang Xixue's heart.

If His Majesty truly intends to harm him, he will inevitably turn against her.

"After all, they're childhood sweethearts..."

A bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"Let's see what His Majesty's attitude is... In this situation, who will ultimately prevail?"

"If I move further away, it won't burn."

From a young age, he had been completely under the thumb of the young prince.

She was still a little girl then, a soft and cuddly bundle, running from the other end of the corridor, her skirt fluttering, like a little butterfly that had wandered into the deep palace.

"Brother A-Ce—"

She called him that, her voice sweet and soft, like honey melting in spring.

He then inexplicably followed along with her foolish antics.

They dare to agree to any absurd thing and are willing to bear any despicable reputation.

In those years, apricot blossoms bloomed in the light rain, and the spring mountains seemed to smile.

When she came to Lintai for class with Crown Prince Tangxi at night, she secretly turned around and winked at him.

He immediately understood and, taking advantage of the moment when the Grand Tutor turned around to write, handed over the pastries he had hidden in his sleeve.

A piece of osmanthus cake was passed from three people to her.

With her back to the Grand Tutor, she secretly took a bite, her cheeks puffing out slightly, her eyebrows and eyes curving into crescents.

He lowered his head, pretending to be copying the book carefully.

But she just couldn't suppress the urge to smile.

"Brother A-Ce, I heard there are lots of delicious things to eat outside the palace... Zhizhi really wants to go out and play..."

She said she wanted to go out of the palace to take a look, so he figured out the time when the guards changed shifts, calculated which route was the safest, and even prepared an excuse in advance to deal with any emergencies.

She was like a bird just released from its cage, looking around curiously at everything.

He followed behind, neither too fast nor too slow, always keeping a step away from her—too close, and he feared she would feel constrained; too far, and he feared he couldn't protect her.

She said she wanted to go to the military camp to watch a martial arts demonstration, so he risked having his leg broken by his father and secretly took her into the Northern Army camp.

On the training ground, amidst the clanging of weapons and the deafening roar of battle, she watched intently, her eyes shining with an astonishing light.

Suddenly a startled warhorse charged toward them, and he instinctively stepped in front of her to shield her.

He was later recognized and received a severe scolding.

But afterwards, she hid behind him, peeked out, and said, "Brother A-Ce is so brave."

Just that one sentence made him feel that everything was worth it.

She said she wanted to study military strategy and wanted to be as smart as him.

He then led her into the Yan family's library and explained everything to her, page by page, line by line.

It was late at night, and she was sleepy; her head drooped little by little.

He gently held her forehead, without waking her.

He simply dimmed the candlelight a little, draped his own robe over her, and sat there, letting her lean against him, until dawn broke.

He thought: She doesn't need to know that he had three more policy proposals to write tonight.

I'll just stay up all night tomorrow.

She said she wanted to watch the sunrise from the highest mountaintop, so he took her to climb the most precipitous peak.

At dawn, they sat on the edge of the cliff, watching the rosy dawn gradually break on the horizon.

She turned her head, smiled at him, and said, "Brother A-Ce, look—the waning moon sinks into the abyss, the rising sun shines brightly, and thousands of mountains are dyed red."

He did not look at the sun.

He was looking at her.

It seems like he was always watching her all those years.

Watching her laugh, watching her play, watching her grow from a soft, chubby little dumpling into a graceful young woman.

He willingly stayed by her side, planning for her, making arrangements for her, and shielding her from unseen dangers.

His father had repeatedly instructed him to assist Crown Prince Tang Xiye.

But he always found himself unconsciously looking at her.

For this, he was subjected to a lot of family discipline.

That day, the candlelight in the ancestral hall burned dimly, illuminating the ancestral tablets with flickering light.

He knelt on the cold bluestone bricks, his back ramrod straight.

The father's voice was deep and resonant, carrying an undeniable authority:

"Yan Ce! Do you still remember what your courtesy name means?"

The ruler fell, accompanied by the sound of wind.

He knelt down, not flinching.

"Words reflect the heart! What are you thinking? Do you think your father doesn't know?"

Another one.

"Strategy is for the world! Where should your mind be focused? On the Crown Prince, or on that person you can never have?"

One more time.

"You are the hope of the family! The Yan family has already made the wrong choice once. Now, the family cannot afford even the slightest mistake! One wrong step and it will be utter ruin!"

"Do you understand?"

He gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Does it hurt?

It hurts.

My back felt burning hot, like it had been branded with a hot iron.

But he knew in his heart that this little pain was nothing compared to what he would have to endure later.

He lowered his eyes and responded softly:

"Your son will remember this."

Speech and strategy.

Speech refers to the art of persuasion and the way of offering advice.

The term "策" (cè) refers to strategies and plans, as well as the responsibility of encouragement and discipline.

These two words were like an invisible shackle, constantly reminding him—

What should be done, and what shouldn't be done.

What can be thought of, and what cannot be thought of.

He withdrew his gaze and turned to leave.

But I couldn't help but look back.

Beneath that red camellia, that snow-white figure still stood quietly.

Petals fell into her hair, onto her shoulders, and onto the lazy little white cat in her arms.

It's as beautiful as a painting.

So beautiful you can't take your eyes off her.

Yan Ci silently withdrew his gaze and quickened his pace to leave.

Don't stay here for long.

If he stayed any longer, he feared he too would be captivated by that smile—

They were blinded by greed.

On the other side of the lake, rocks are scattered about.

Hua Rongshi stared blankly at this scene, as if her soul had been ripped out.

Those peach blossom eyes were now filled with disbelief.

"cousin……"

His voice was tinged with sobs, grievance, and barely contained emotion.

"That little mad dog... he... he even hugged my wife..."

He turned his head and looked at Bei Chenji, his eyes red, as if he was about to shed tears at any moment.

"What gives him the right?"

"Because he's handsome?"

"Because he's young and promising?"

"Because they're childhood sweethearts?"

He paused, then raised his voice a few decibels.

"Cousin, tell me! What should I do?"

Bei Chenji stood still, looking at him with a calm expression.

There was not a ripple in those purple eyes.

"As someone who's been there, my advice is—"

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:

"Don't come any closer."

"You're doing no good by coming here anyway."

Hua Rongshi's eyes widened.

"Cousin, how could you hurt me like this!"

He clutched his chest, his exaggerated movements resembling a theatrical performance.

"Are you still my cousin?"

He pointed to himself, his tone tinged with aggrieved accusation:

"And what about me? What am I?"

"I didn't do anything, yet so many people want to kill me!"

Bei Chenji remained silent for a moment.

Then, he spoke calmly:

"You're just unlucky."

Hua Rong Shi: "..."

He took a deep breath.

"That's it, life slapped me in the face, but I don't think it hit as hard as last time."

Bei Chenji glanced at him.

"Cousin, you should focus on becoming stronger."

His voice remained calm, even carrying a hint of schadenfreude:

"Otherwise, there will be even more merciless slaps."

"I don't have time to be your bodyguard every day."

Hua Rong lowered her eyes, feigning a wronged expression.

"Strong people never complain about their environment."

"I am the weak one, and I not only complain about the environment, but I also complain about the strong."

He raised his eyes and looked at Bei Chenji, his peach blossom eyes filled with a pleading light.

"Father said that when in doubt, one should consult one's cousin first."

He paused, his tone carrying a pitiful pleading quality:

"Cousin, please don't abandon me..."

"I'm your cousin."

"They're really determined; they want to ruthlessly destroy me..."

Bei Chenji looked at him.

Looking at his alluring face, the cunning and grievance hidden in his peach blossom eyes, and his shameless way of clinging to her.

He suddenly had a headache.

"Let's go."

He spoke softly, then turned and left.

"Let's go back and talk about it first."

Hua Rongshi's eyes lit up, and she quickly followed.

"Cousin, what you're saying means—you'll take care of me, right?"

Bei Chenji ignored him.

"Cousin, don't walk so fast! Wait for me!"

Hua Rongshi jogged to catch up, her pink gauze dress fluttering like a beautiful peach blossom.

"Cousin, how could that mad dog accept my wife's gift? Should we go and snatch it back?"

Bei Chenji suddenly stopped.

She turned around and stared at him coldly.

"Don't mention 'my wife' again—"

He paused, his gaze as cold as a knife tempered with ice:

"I will now leave you to fend for yourself."

Hua Rongshi immediately shut her mouth.

But those peach blossom eyes were still filled with grievance.

My cousin is so fierce!

He followed silently behind Bei Chenji, turning back every step of the way to gaze in the direction of the camellia tree.

Gazing at that snow-white figure.

He recalled the sweet smile on her face that didn't belong to him.

My heart ached as if it had been stabbed.

But he couldn't help thinking—

My wife, you look so beautiful!

Really like!