The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Night fell, and a cold wind howled.

Kong Sangling followed behind her brother, her eyes reddening as she looked at the group of kittens shivering in the snow.

"Brother, it's freezing cold here, where are we going to find them a home?"

Her voice trembled with a hint of tears:

"We can't exactly take it to the Mountain and River Palace, can we?"

The area is inhabited by envoys from various countries; how could they possibly take in these stray cats?

The place is heavily guarded; they probably won't be able to get in.

Kong Sangyu remained silent.

He simply stared at the vast darkness ahead, his blue eyes swirling with complex emotions.

He knew his sister was right.

But what could he do?

In those years, almost all of the Shan Hai Organization's harvest was invested in the Zhi Yue Ting.

He cared for homeless orphans, abandoned animals, and all the misfortunes he encountered.

He himself was so poor that he was practically a nuisance.

He thought Shen Yan was easy to fool and kind, and that she could help him raise these little creatures.

Kong Sangyu lowered her eyes, a self-deprecating smile appearing on her lips.

He was, after all, just an eighteen-year-old boy.

Just like when he was in the Azure Cloud Continent of the East Sea, he once thought he was omnipotent.

But he later realized that there were many things in this world that he was powerless to change.

Just like right now.

He wanted to give these little creatures a home, but found that he couldn't even afford to give them a place to keep warm.

"I remember there was an abandoned haunted house next to Mirror Moon Lake."

He spoke, his voice a little hoarse:

"Let's take them there to escape the cold first."

He paused, then said:

"Tomorrow, I'll take on a few jobs, earn some money, and then find them a place to live."

Upon hearing this, Kong Sangling's eyes reddened even more.

She knew how difficult it was for her brother.

Despite his extraordinary talent and ability to communicate with all spirits, he was pushed into the sea by his own brothers because they saw him as a threat.

He struggled in the water, relentlessly swept away by the ocean's waves.

Even though his clan was naturally adept at water, he almost drowned in the deep sea.

At that time, the Coral Plague of Azure Clouds was spreading, everyone was in danger, the royal family was in chaos, and no one came to his rescue.

He drifted at sea for a long time.

His fear of water was deeply ingrained in his soul.

He thought he had no hope left.

He was rescued by a passing ship.

The coral plague, which caused strange, coral-like scabs to grow on the bodies of the living, was something all doctors avoided.

No one dared to approach the patients, and no one dared to set foot in that sea area.

The Heavenly Physician of Destiny has appeared.

She personally sailed out to sea to search for the source and the antidote.

They casually pulled him up.

He had clearly faced life and death, and he had clearly been betrayed by his loved ones.

Yet, because of that person, he still retained a sense of kindness in his heart.

Because he was once pulled out of despair.

He saw that beauty and warmth still existed in this world.

There is darkness, there is light; this is the true nature of humanity.

"Meow—"

A faint meow drew Kong Sangling's attention.

She looked down and saw a little orange cat rubbing its head against her brother's ankle, its round eyes full of dependence.

Kong Sangyu bent down and picked it up.

The little thing immediately snuggled into his arms, making a comfortable purring sound.

"Hang in there a little longer."

He spoke softly, it was unclear whether he was speaking to the kitten or to himself:

"You can find shelter from the cold up ahead."

He paused, then gave a bitter laugh:

"It was my fault for misjudging people. I chose an unreliable, penniless wretch to deceive. I should have chosen Si Xing Zhe Yue in the first place..."

If you want to rob the rich to help the poor, you should choose someone with money.

Who would have thought that the Prime Minister's daughter would be so stingy?

"elder brother."

Kong Sangling suddenly stopped and pointed ahead:

"That haunted house you mentioned? Is it that one?"

Kong Sangyu looked up.

In the darkness of night, a mansion stands quietly.

Above the courtyard gate hangs a plaque with four large characters written on it—

Snow cottage in the mirror night.

The lights were bright, illuminating the stone steps in front of the door and the red plum tree peeking out from inside the courtyard wall.

The light was warm and soft, like a cluster of fire in winter.

"It seems like this place has been taken."

Kong Sangyu murmured, his handsome face instantly crumbling.

He turned his head and glanced at the group of kittens shivering in the cold wind behind him, and suddenly felt a little powerless.

They huddled together, their tiny bodies trembling, emitting faint whimpers.

The sound, falling into his ears, was like fine needles pricking his heart.

He lowered his eyes.

"Or, let's look around... see if there's anywhere we can take them in..."

Before he could finish speaking...

"Squeak—"

The door opened.

Warm light shone from inside to outside.

Kong Sangyu suddenly looked up.

A snow-white figure stood inside the door.

Tang Xixue was carrying a lantern and holding a small white cat in her arms.

The light shone on her, casting a soft halo around her.

She stood there, looked at Kong Sangyu, then at the group of trembling kittens behind him, her eyes showing surprise, and then a touch of tenderness.

"There are some empty rooms in the backyard, all of which have been renovated. They can still be used to avoid the cold."

She spoke, her voice soft and gentle, like a warm breeze on a snowy night:

"If you don't mind, they can live here."

Kong Yusang stood there, stunned.

He looked at her.

Looking at that lamp, looking at that light, looking at that warm and bright face.

Memories flooded back like a tide.

At that time, he was also like that, adrift at sea.

In his hazy state, he saw a ship cutting through the waves.

A figure stood at the bow of the ship, radiating a warm glow.

Just like tonight.

Just like now.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But it felt like something was blocking his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Only those two words echoed in my heart again and again.

sister.

Kong Sangling stood aside, looking at her brother's stunned expression and then at Tang Xixue's gentle face, and suddenly felt like laughing.

Her brother, who is usually very cunning, was as still as a block of wood at this moment.

"Meow--"

A cat's meow broke the silence.

Yin Kong, nestled in Tang Xixue's arms, peeked out and curiously looked at the group of new friends.

It tilted its head and let out a friendly call.

The kittens all raised their heads when they heard the meow.

They gazed at the silver sky, at the warm light, and at the snow-white figure holding the cat.

Then, a little orange cat took the first step and walked towards her.

Then came the second one, the third one...

They surrounded her feet, tilting their little heads back and making weak chirps.

In that cry, there was dependence, trust, and—the joy of finding a home.

Tang Xixue lowered her head, looked at the group of little creatures at her feet, and smiled slightly.

She looked up and gazed at Kong Sangyu.

"What are you still standing there for?"

Her voice was soft and pleasant to listen to:

"If we don't come in soon, they'll freeze to death."

Kong Yusang gazed at her gentle face under the lamplight, his blue eyes filled with undisguised surprise.

"Okay. Thank you, Sister Xue."

He responded softly.

Take a step and cross that threshold.

Leading a group of homeless kittens, I stepped into that warm, cozy light.

Kong Sangling felt a lump in her throat and her eyes welled up with tears. She thought the night was dark and hopeless, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better. These little ones had finally met a kind-hearted god.