The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

The moonlight was soft and gentle as the carriage moved slowly along.

The jade bells tinkled in the wind, like shattered jade striking ice, clear and melodious yet lonely.

It was like someone gently knocking on the door in the distance, or like moonlight falling on the water and creating ripples.

Tang Xixue casually glanced out the car window as the night wind blew the curtains.

Silver Sky curled up into a ball, its fur as soft as clouds, gleaming with a faint, cold light in the dark night.

It made a satisfied "purring" sound, nuzzled its little head against her palm, and gently swished its tail.

She gently stroked its fur with one hand, her gaze falling on the moonlight streaming in through the car window.

The moonlight was cold and clear.

Like a piece of white silk left behind in the world, it was spread on her knees and between her brows.

The water soaked into half of her profile, outlining a refined yet gentle silhouette.

She thought of Kong Sangyu.

That boy...

When I first saw him, he was surrounded by white snow, half of him bright and half of him dark.

Her long, silver-blue hair cascaded like a spring, and her delicate features were like those of a figure in a painting.

When he smiles, his eyes seem to hold a pool of spring water, so gentle that it makes you want to get closer.

But beneath those spring waters lie unfathomable undercurrents, impossible to fathom or fathom.

He possesses a gentleness that can melt even the coldest heart.

There are also schemes, schemes that even the wind cannot detect.

There is kindness, the kind that quietly picks up a fallen leaf or releases a trapped butterfly when no one is around.

They can also be ruthless, the kind of ruthlessness that can decide life and death with a few words.

She had seen many sides of him, each one like light refracted through a prism, colorful and elusive.

But every time she got a little closer to him, she would discover new surprises.

It's like walking on the beach and suddenly picking up a seashell, opening it casually, and finding a small, lustrous pearl inside.

Because of the transmigrated woman's evil deeds, Kong Sangyu had a stereotype of her, thinking she was extremely vicious and rejecting her to the extreme.

And didn't she also conclude from the beginning that he was a wicked and malicious person?

She always felt that everything he did was a scheme against her.

Looking back now, it seems that everyone had their own prejudices and their own stubbornness.

The corners of her lips lifted slightly, her smile so faint it was like a fallen petal on the water's surface.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has sent word that the Heavenly Frost Orchid in the Imperial Garden has bloomed. Its elegant and refined beauty is a perfect match for Your Highness. He would like to ask if Your Highness is free tomorrow. If so, we would like to have dinner together in the Imperial Garden, admire the flowers, and have a chat."

A cool voice came from outside the car, pulling her back from her thoughts.

"Okay. I understand."

Tang Xixue lowered her gaze.

"The flowers are in full bloom; we should go see them."

Her voice was like rock candy melting in the snow, clear and melodious, drifting in the night breeze.

"How did you handle Shen Yan, my brother?"

"His Majesty only granted her the title of princess; everything else was done according to royal protocol."

Mu Liang's voice came through the carriage curtain, carrying his usual respect.

"Your Majesty is busy with state affairs and has no time to spare."

"Um."

Tang Xixue responded softly, her gaze falling on her fingertips, as if she were thinking about something.

After a moment, she asked again:

"Have the Hidden Dragon Guards withdrawn?"

"Most of them have already left; only a few remain."

Mu Liang's voice carried a hint of helpless laughter.

The smile drifted in through the carriage curtain, like ripples spreading in the moonlight.

"His Majesty said that those weak ones, if left by His Highness's side, would only be a hindrance."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xixue smiled gently.

The remaining Hidden Dragon Guards were no match for her either. Were they left in the shadows to protect her, or to keep an eye on her?

She knew perfectly well what was going on.

But she absolutely loved her brother's impenetrable protection.

That made her feel that even though he was in the inner palace, surrounded by palace walls and political affairs, his gaze was always on her and never looked away for a moment.

Those five years...

Those five years of darkness were far too long.

Even now, when she closes her eyes, she can still feel the loneliness and fear she felt back then.

Now, her elder brother, the emperor, is so anxious and insecure that he wishes he could keep her by his side and never leave her side.

But wasn't she the same?

She was also afraid of being alone.

I'm afraid I'll wake up to find myself all alone.

I fear that when dusk falls and all is silent.

She feared that the darkness would engulf her once the lights went out.

Fortunately, Mu Liang was always there.

They are inseparable, always by each other's side.

Her uneasy heart found some peace because of him.

The carriage continued on its way.

The wheels rolled over the ancient road, making a soft, rustling sound.

The moonlight spread along the way, as if guiding the way home.

Tang Xixue had already sent warm clothing to Zhiyue Pavilion in advance, and now she just wanted to go and see it for herself.

Look at the children she once took in, see if they've grown taller or fatter, see what they look like now that they're grown up.

The night grew deeper.

The carriage had long since left Baiyujing and was now traveling on an ancient road in the countryside.

On both sides were barren fields, and in the distance were the shadows of rolling mountains. The moonlight fell on those undulating outlines, sketching a vast and desolate scene.

suddenly.

A sharp whistling sound suddenly shattered the tranquility of the night!

The sound came so suddenly, as if someone had sliced ​​open the night with a sharp blade.

A sharp whistling sound ripped through the sky, sending a shiver down one's spine.

"Shuashuashua——"

Immediately afterwards, countless arrows rained down from all directions!

The arrow pierced the night sky, leaving a trail of crimson flame, turning the darkness into daylight.

The arrows were as dense as locusts, covering the sky and the earth, each one carrying enough force to pierce through iron armor.

"Your Highness, be careful!"

Mu Liang's voice suddenly tightened, like a bowstring stretched to its limit.

He suddenly pulled on the reins, startling the horse, which let out a shrill neigh and reared up on its hind legs, almost overturning the carriage!

The next moment, Mu Liang and Fu Yi drew their swords simultaneously.

The sword light spread out like a bolt of lightning, knocking down the rain of arrows aimed at the carriage.

"Ding ding—"

The sword light clashed with the arrow, producing a metallic clang and sparks flying, blooming into tiny flowers in the night.

However, there were too many arrows.

There were so many that it was like a torrential downpour, dense and overwhelming!

Shoot down a batch, and more come pouring in, seemingly endless.

The Hidden Dragon Guards, who were lurking in the shadows, also made their move.

"Shuashua——"

One after another, figures emerged from the darkness, their swords flashing like rainbows, intercepting the rain of arrows in mid-air.

Their movements were as fast as lightning, but the rain of arrows was even faster, denser, and more ruthless.

At the same time, a signal flare shot into the sky and exploded in mid-air.

That was the most urgent distress signal; the fireworks were dazzling, yet tinged with a blinding crimson.

The crimson light illuminated half the sky.

"They're after me."

Tang Xixue carried Yin Kong out of the carriage.

She glanced up at the rain of arrows filling the sky, her gaze calm and undisturbed, without a trace of fear.

"Meow—"

Yin Kong in his arms was already in a state of agitation.

Its small body was taut, surrounded by a silvery-white halo, and it emitted low breaths.

That's the instinct of a spirit beast to protect its master, and also a warning of danger.

She pressed one hand on the silver sky and picked up the Snow Soul Fan with the other.

With a flick of the fan, a cold glint flashed out, severing the ropes securing the horses to the carriage.

The frightened horse, now free, neighed and galloped away, the sound of its hooves fading into the distance and soon disappearing into the night.

At this moment, Tang Xixue suddenly sensed extreme danger, which made her hair stand on end.

"Your Highness! Let's go!"

Mu Liang's voice suddenly turned terrified, as if she had seen something horrible.

His voice was sharp and trembling; it was a loss of composure he had never shown before.

Fu Yi turned around and his expression changed instantly.

Her voice rose, filled with panic, and even her usual composure vanished without a trace.

That voice was filled with despair.

"Your Highness, run—!"

Tang Xixue suddenly looked up.

For a moment, her pupils contracted slightly.

Above her, a massive killing formation appeared out of nowhere.

The killing formation was so vast and complex that it almost covered half the sky.

The array patterns shimmered with crimson-gold light, each line exuding an aura of destruction.

Those arrows just now were merely a cover for the existence of this Heavenly Fire Killing Array.

And now—the real killer move has arrived.