The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Mountains and rivers are our promise, the Milky Way is our feast.

A thousand lanterns illuminate the night, and a subtle fragrance wafts through the air.

On a spring night in Shanheque, snow covered the steps, and the mirror-like lake was frozen like a piece of glass.

The water reflects the myriad lights of the Nine Heavenly Palaces, creating a scene that resembles a galaxy fallen to earth.

A night breeze blew by, and the copper bells on the eaves jingled softly.

Beyond the Nine Palaces of Heaven, the Milky Way and winding streams unfold in succession.

Emperors, princes, and princesses from various countries took their seats in order, amidst the fragrance of their clothes and the clinking of glasses.

Prince Rui, Tang Ximo, sat with a cup in his hand, while his brothers and sisters chatted quietly beside him.

"Tonight's banquet is reserved for emperors, princes, and princesses of all nations."

He looked around, his tone carrying a hint of pride.

"It's rare to see such neatness."

King Wu Tangxi Lie finished his wine and casually asked, "By the way, I wonder if our royal sister-in-law is coming tonight? I haven't seen her these past few days."

The news was tightly controlled, and even the royal princes were unaware of Princess Jing's attack.

The Fourth Princess, Tang Xiqian, gently shook her head, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Recently, cults have been causing a lot of trouble, and the capital city is on edge."

"My sister-in-law has always preferred quiet, so she must be resting in the Hall of Longevity."

The Seventh Princess, Tang Xiluo, added, "It could also be Chengtian Palace."

Before the words were finished, a slender figure gracefully walked over.

Shen Yan, dressed in a brocade palace gown and with exquisite makeup, bowed to them.

"Greetings to all my royal brothers and sisters."

Her voice was gentle and her posture was elegant; there was not a single flaw to be found.

Tang Xiqian looked up at her, her smile gentle: "It's my first time meeting Sister Yan, please have a seat."

Shen Yan gracefully took her seat at the end of the Tangxi royal family's table.

As her sleeve brushed against the desk, her gaze quietly drifted toward the dark-clad figure at the head of the table.

Tang Xiye sat upright on the emperor's throne, her brows furrowed and her body shrouded in a faint sense of aloofness.

She looked at him, a complex, dark glint flashing in her eyes before disappearing.

He lowered his eyes and held the cup.

"I wonder if my brothers and sisters have noticed this?"

Shen Yan's voice was soft and gentle, rising slowly.

"During the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, the holy mark on my elder brother's forehead was exactly the same as the holy mark on the abbot of the Protectorate Temple."

"Perhaps, my elder brother is not a direct descendant of the late emperor."

"Don't you, my royal brothers, want to set things right?"

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.

Wu Wang Tang Xilie jerked his wine cup around, spilling wine all over himself.

"Oh my god!"

His eyes widened, and his voice suddenly split, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Are you out of your mind, girl? You dare to say anything like that?"

"Shut up!"

The Fourth Princess, Tang Xiqian, paused for a moment, then her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Her tone remained gentle, yet it carried an undeniable air of aloofness.

"Um...you mean Shen Yan?"

She smiled slightly.

"You should sit at another table from now on."

"We're not very familiar with you."

Although the words were polite, the intention to send them away was all too clear.

Shen Yan's expression remained unchanged.

"Your sister must have misread it."

She rose gracefully and bowed again.

"I won't disturb you, my royal brothers and sisters any longer."

As soon as she finished speaking, she gracefully stepped back, her figure quickly disappearing into the dim light.

After she had walked away, Prince Rui, Tang Ximo, couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath:

"Is she out of her mind?"

He glanced in the direction where Shen Yan disappeared, his tone full of disdain.

"As long as my brother has the Holy Seal and is of royal lineage, what does it matter which family he belongs to?"

King Wu Tangxi nodded repeatedly and took a sip of wine to calm his nerves.

"It's a good thing we didn't let her grow up in the palace."

"Otherwise, with another troublemaker, there will be no peace and quiet every day."

The Fourth Princess, Tang Xiqian, gently shook her round fan, a smile spreading across her eyes.

"Speaking of which, our royal brother is so kind; it turns out there really is a connection between them."

She lowered her voice and leaned closer to her brothers.

"That one at Huguo Temple was the former legitimate crown prince."

"Upright and benevolent, pure and upright, who in the entire court doesn't speak highly of his virtues?"

"That bloodline is extremely noble."

King Wu of Tangxi scoffed.

"Yes, yes, unlike our father, who is simply a madman."

"Suspicious, mean-spirited, and ruthless; whoever gets stuck with them is doomed."

Prince Rui, Tangxi Moshen, agreed and drank the cup in one gulp.

"As expected, such a fine elder brother, even his birth is more noble than ours!"

His tone was filled with pride and honor.

"As expected of an imperial star!"

The Fourth Princess, Tang Xi, covered her lips and chuckled softly.

"I knew it! Our father, that venomous snake, couldn't have given birth to my elder brother, this divine dragon from the heavens."

The princes and princesses looked at each other and smiled, then clinked their glasses and drank heartily.

The unpleasantness from just now has long since vanished.

In the dim light, Shen Yan leaned against the shadows of a pillar in the corridor.

I had expected to hear their furious discussions, and even secretly hoped that someone would waver because of it.

But after waiting for a long time, this is what I heard?

Her fingertips tightened slightly.

The smile on her lips gradually faded.

A night breeze blew by, ruffling the stray hairs at her temples.

The lights flickered in her eyes.

Good guy.

That's really something—goodness.

It turns out they're a group of die-hard fans of Tangxi Night.

The plan to sow discord failed.

On the seat of the Moon Weaving Kingdom, ice-blue silk gauze hung low like smoke.

A crystal beaded curtain separated the noisy hall from the surroundings.

"Eat something first, so you'll have the energy later."

Xingyu picked up her jade chopsticks and gently placed a thin slice of Bijian Ningyun Soup, as thin as a cicada's wing, into the porcelain dish in front of Tangxi Xue.

"Little Pearl, try this. It looks delicious!"

His tone was ordinary, but his actions were extremely appropriate.

He is very good at taking care of people.

Tang Xixue smiled at him through the light veil of her veil.

"What my brother feeds me is naturally good."

Xingyu felt a slight burning sensation on the tip of her ear, but pretended not to hear.

He added another spoonful of pink sesame oil to her plate.

The pastry was shaped like a peach blossom, with layers of pink petals and a touch of pale yellow in the center.

It trembled in the candlelight, as if it had just been picked from a branch.

The jade dish also contained frost-covered berries reflecting the snow.

A few bright red berries adorn the snow-white milk pudding, like a few red plum blossoms fallen on the snow.

Cold Plum Layers are small hills made of cheese and fruit puree, topped with golden osmanthus blossoms, with a sweet and refreshing aroma.

The Starry Snow is a plain white cake, but it is carved into the shape of a double-petaled magnolia, with layers unfolding as if it could bloom at any moment.

Tang Xixue picked up a piece and took a small bite.

"tasty."

She smiled contentedly, her eyes crinkling with delight, a sliver of rice flour still clinging to the corner of her lips.

Xingyu looked at her with gentle eyes.

"Then eat more."

"Brother, you should try some too."

She naturally brought the remaining half of the piece to his lips.

Xingyu subconsciously lowered her head and opened her mouth to eat.

The sweetness of the pastry melts on the tongue, soft, chewy, and fragrant.

Only after swallowing did the two belatedly realize what had happened.

This is the piece she just took a bite of.

He paused in his chewing motion.

My ears suddenly felt like they were on fire, as if someone had lit a small flame on my earlobes.

He lowered his eyes, not daring to look at her.

Tang Xixue blinked.

"Brother, is it sweet?"

She called out softly.

Xingyu did not respond.

Her fingertips curled up involuntarily.

Her ears turned even redder.

Suddenly, the sound of a flute rose from the depths of the night.

Clear and melodious, like a mountain stream or the sound of wind in the pines under the moon.

As the flute played its melodious tune, countless shimmering moonlight butterflies gracefully descended from the sky.

As they flap their wings, they scatter tiny silver rays of light, swirling and dancing in the air, weaving a flowing sea of ​​stars.

It's so beautiful it's like a dream.

Everyone looked up.

Beneath the plum blossom tree, a young man in a light blue silk robe leaned against a branch.

A jade flute rested against her lips, and her long, silver-blue hair swayed gently in the night breeze.

A faint, clear light shone between her brows and eyes, like a celestial being banished to the moon.

Kong Sangyu played her jade flute, but her gaze secretly searched for something through the fluttering moonlight butterflies.

He wanted to use these butterflies to find his Weaver Sister.

Before the flute music had even stopped, another figure had already gracefully arrived.

Suddenly, peach blossoms bloomed atop the white jade platform.

A long, wide-sleeved pink gauze robe rippled gently like water.

The thin veil draped over her shoulders, shimmering softly in the moonlight.

The long veil hung down from the high platform, swaying gently in the night breeze, like smoke and mist, like a dream.

That person was extremely handsome, with a beautiful face that made it impossible to tell whether he was male or female.

They are dancing on the high platform now.

When the flowers are in full bloom.

As he raised his hand, the draped veil fluttered, tracing a graceful arc in the air.

As the wide sleeves fluttered, layers of gauze curtains unfolded, like surging clouds or blooming petals.

As he spun around, a light veil danced around him, enveloping him in a hazy mist.

Her dance moves carried a nonchalant languor, yet were so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.

Moonlight butterflies fluttered around him, and the sound of a flute accompanied him.

Standing amidst countless streams of light, he truly resembled a fairy descended from heaven.

This dance is not for anyone else.

Only for her.

He was completely oblivious to the countless eyes that were on him.

He was only thinking about one thing.

If she's watching, then he needs to dance even better.

She couldn't take her eyes off him.

Make her remember him.

The room was completely silent.

Countless gazes were drawn to that figure, forgetting to raise their glasses and to speak.

He just stared blankly.

Tang Xixue's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air.

Through the gauze curtain, through the fluttering moonlight butterflies, her gaze fell on the pink figure.

"It's my fault for being so blind before."

"Tonight, whose life does this butterfly wish to take?"

It was the first time she had ever seen a man dance, and he danced so alluringly.

"She really is a femme fatale..."

"With his appearance now so youthful, who would care how annoying he used to be?"

She admitted it through the gauze curtain.

For a fleeting moment, she was bewitched.

Xingyu followed her gaze and glanced indifferently at the peach blossoms in full bloom on the high platform.

"Why does he look like a peacock displaying its plumage?"

His tone was indifferent, and his gaze swept lightly over the high platform.

"Is this the one who wanted to be Little Pearl's concubine last time?"

"I wonder who he's trying to catch a glimpse of by putting on such a great show tonight."