The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Inside the imperial study, the candlelight flickered dimly.

The light was warm and serene, like a warmth seeping from the depths of time.

It fell on Tang Xiye's face, outlining his stunningly handsome profile.

High brow bone, slightly upturned corners of the eyes.

At this moment, however, the sharpness of the daytime has been concealed, leaving only a hint of weariness unseen by anyone.

He leaned back on the dragon throne, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest.

Once, twice, three times.

The sound was very soft, yet it was exceptionally clear in the silent hall.

"Strategies and advice."

He spoke, his voice low and magnetic, revealing neither joy nor anger:

"You know, I don't want to be estranged from Zhizhi."

Yan Ci stood beside the table and slightly raised his eyes upon hearing this.

He looked at the young emperor, at the deep-seated helplessness in his eyes, and suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

His Majesty cares about the young prince even more than he imagined.

"His Majesty."

He hesitated before speaking, his tone tinged with a hint of probing:

"How about we let Prince Menghua and the others fight it out themselves?"

He paused, and seeing that Tang Xiye did not interrupt, he continued:

"That Prince Yu of Kongsang is a heartless man. If they fight each other, it will surely be a life-or-death struggle, so there's no need to dirty His Majesty's hands."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xiye's eyes clearly held a hint of coldness.

"Those guys are still a bit lacking in skill when they fight."

He spoke slowly, his fingertips ceasing their tapping:

"A bunch of hot-blooded young lads—it's just child's play."

He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes:

"Si Xingzhou has attempted to abduct my Zhizhi. This matter is not over."

Yan Ci lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting understanding that crossed his mind.

"Si Xing Zhe Yue seems to have a fondness for Zhi Ming Tian Yi."

He reminded him softly.

"I heard that he copied all of his junior uncle's medical books and studied them day and night as if they were priceless treasures."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xiye's lips curled up even more.

This time, there was a deeper meaning in that smile.

"With this venomous snake, their fight will be so deadly that every strike draws blood."

Yan Ci nodded:

"Your subject understands."

He sighed silently to himself.

It's already remarkable that he was able to refrain from participating.

He thought His Majesty was going crazy and would do anything to keep the young prince by his side.

Unexpectedly, His Majesty was even more composed than he had imagined.

The harder Your Majesty suppresses things now, the more uncontrollable the backlash will be when it comes in the future.

He thought of Pei Yanchuan, he thought of Feng Zhuo...

"Young Master Pei, Young General Feng, this is all I can do to help you..."

If he were to offer advice, it would be a deadly, bloodless act.

But whenever he thought of Tang Xixue's sad face, he couldn't bring himself to say those ruthless plans.

Pei Yanchuan and Feng Zhuo were both deeply liked by her.

One moved into the Mirror Night Snow Lodge; the other received her token and wore the sword tassel that she had personally hung around his waist.

How could he bear to hurt the person she loves?

Now that she has grown up, her eyes possess a captivating charm.

He should stay away.

We must never again be like before, letting her sway us onto that turbulent little pirate ship with just a few words, indulging her reckless behavior.

But he couldn't help but think of her.

I couldn't help but protect those she cared about.

Yan bid farewell and his footsteps faded into the distance.

Tang Xiye watched his departing figure, her gaze deep and unreadable.

After the figure disappeared outside the palace gate, he slowly unfolded another report on the table.

That was a secret report sent by the Hidden Dragon Guard.

He has three reports here. One is from Shen Cuo, one is from Yan Ci, and the third is his own secret plan.

As an emperor, he would never blindly trust anyone, nor would he entrust all his intelligence to one side.

This was the most important lesson he learned from the late emperor.

He lowered his eyes, gazing at the handwriting on the secret report.

a long time.

He spoke softly, his voice so low that only he could hear it:

"Words of advice..."

You'd better behave yourself.

"Don't cross the line."

Meanwhile, in front of a small courtyard in the west of Baiyujing City.

The bright lights cast a long shadow of the withered tree in front of the door.

Shen Yan stood at the courtyard gate, looking angrily at the figure in front of her amidst the fresh rain in the empty mountains.

Today she wore a royal blue brocade dress, with newly made pearls and jade in her hair, making her look more radiant than before.

"Is it interesting for Prince Yu to play such a trick on people?"

Her voice was shrill, particularly jarring in the quiet night.

"I'm no longer renting this yard. Take all your cats with you immediately—"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the small figures huddled together in the courtyard, her eyes devoid of any warmth:

"Otherwise, I don't mind having someone drive them away. If they get hurt, don't blame my men for being reckless."

Kong Sangyu stood in front of the door, her long, silver-blue hair gently swaying in the night breeze.

The boy's delicate face still wore that gentle, harmless smile.

But the smile seemed somewhat stiff.

"Sister Yan, it's so cold, they have nowhere to stay and they'll freeze to death."

His voice remained clear and pleasant, carrying a touch of youthful innocence.

Behind him, a group of kittens of various colors huddled together, shivering.

Some hid under the pillars, others huddled together beside the stone steps, their small bodies clustered together, emitting faint sobs.

Kong Sangling stood beside him, and upon hearing Shen Yan's words, her bright almond-shaped eyes widened instantly.

"Sister Yan, you should at least give my brother some time!"

She stared at Shen Yan in disbelief.

The kind and gentle Sister Yan from before, the Sister Yan who always brought them food with a smile, the Sister Yan who said she loved small animals the most.

Why are you turning your back on me like this?

Upon hearing this, Shen Yan let out a cold laugh.

"I'll only give you the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

She raised her chin, a gesture tinged with a triumphant smugness.

"I was too naive before, and you really took advantage of me."

"that is!"

Her maid, Li'er, chimed in, glaring angrily at Kong Sangyu:

"You are despicable! How dare you deceive our young lady like this!"

Upon hearing this, Kong Sangyu's smile finally faded.

He looked at Shen Yan, and something in her deep blue eyes, as blue as the sea, was slowly growing colder.

"Didn't Miss Shen used to pride herself on being kind?"

His voice was still clear and melodious, but it had a hint of coolness in it:

"It was clearly a consensual transaction, so how did it become deception?"

Shen Yan felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, but she still stubbornly refused to back down.

Kong Sangyu did not speak again.

He simply took out the beast-taming flute from his waist and placed it to his lips.

The sound of a flute began.

Clear and melodious, like the wind in the forest, like a spring in the mountain stream.

The moment the flute music ended, those tiny, huddled figures poked their heads out.

One, two, three...

Kittens of various colors and patterns peeked out from under the door, jumped down from the windowsill, and ran out from the corner.

They shook off the snow dust from their bodies, obediently gathered at Kong Sangyu's feet, and looked up at him with their little heads tilted up.

Kong Sangyu put down his imperial flute and bent down to gently stroke the head of the little orange cat that was closest to him.

"I'm gone."

He spoke softly, his voice carrying a gentle, comforting tone:

"Let's find a new home."

He straightened up and nodded to Shen Yan.

The gestures were still gentle and polite, but the smile in those blue eyes was long gone.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Shen, for your kindness."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Behind him, a group of kittens followed obediently, lined up in a row, trudging through the snow step by step.

Shen Yan watched the receding figure, her chest heaving with anger.

"Kongsang Feather—!"

She was practically gritting her teeth.

She had never suffered such a big setback in all these years.

Who would have thought that the seemingly harmless, innocent, and adorable boy was actually a wicked glutinous rice ball?

He didn't covet such a beautiful woman as Shen Yan.

He was after her money!

Is this...is this even acceptable?

It made her a complete laughingstock!