The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Suddenly, the sounds of a zither and a flute drifted from the depths of the high pavilion.

On the top of the Star-Picking Tower, the Imperial Preceptor He Lichen, dressed in a white crane-feather cloak, sat alone, playing the zither.

When fingertips glide across the strings, the sound is clear and melodious, carrying the ethereal feeling of the Milky Way.

On the viewing platform outside the Flowing Firefly Palace, Xie Jinlian stood in the wind, his silver-white robe billowing in the breeze.

He picked up the glass flute, which seemed to burn with dreams, and lightly touched the hole with his thin lips.

The melodious sound of the flute, like a breeze echoing through an empty valley, carried the chill of frost and snow from Kunlun Mountain, and slowly poured down.

The ethereal music lingered and intertwined.

The zither's sound is clear and cool like the moon, while the flute's sound is warm and gentle like jade; they intertwine and compete.

Below, the sound of the flute continued.

The sound of Kong Sangyu's flute flowed silently, intertwining with the qin and xiao above to create a heavenly melody.

On the high platform, Hua Rongshi's dance had not yet ended.

His smoky-colored, wide-sleeved robe fluttered like a butterfly, and the flowing gauze danced with his twirls, finally soaring into the air under the moonlight.

The sounds of the zither, the flute, the pipe, and the dance blend together to create an unparalleled feast for the eyes.

Everyone present was astonished.

"The sound of this flute is so beautiful..."

"The flute music is beautiful, like hearing celestial music."

"The music is even more exquisite! Only the Imperial Preceptor could play such a pure and ethereal melody."

"The dance of Prince Qimeng is so captivating that it is truly better to see it for yourself than to hear about it a hundred times."

"This is simply an abundance, a feast! A true feast!"

"Absolutely top-notch! They're all absolutely top-notch!"

The princesses from various countries were in turmoil, their eyes darting back and forth between the figures, unsure of where to look.

"This is truly a battle of gods, it's hard to say who's the best."

Even among the snow-covered hills of Tangxi, it's hard to tell which is the best.

I just thought it sounded great, looked great, and was a wonderful audio-visual feast.

Wow, what a show!

A clear, crisp voice suddenly rang in her ear.

Tang Xixue glanced to the side and saw that Yunmian had slipped in at some point and was sitting down next to her, holding a plate of snacks in her hands, eating them with relish.

"Everyone's fighting and grabbing for it!"

Yunmian lowered her voice, her eyes sparkling with mischievous anticipation of a good show.

"What are you robbing?"

Tang Xixue blinked, not quite understanding.

Looking at her bewildered expression, Yunmian couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Haha, of course it's about winning someone's heart!"

She leaned close to Tang Xixue's ear and whispered with a laugh.

"It was worth coming all this way to keep watch; there really was a good show to watch."

Tang Xixue was slightly taken aback.

"Thank you for standing up for me, sister."

She spoke softly, with gratitude.

Yunmian waved her hand dismissively.

"We're family, no need to be so polite."

"I'll pamper my two icy younger brothers more from now on, as a way of thanking their older sister."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xixue's cheeks flushed slightly.

"Enjoy life to the fullest when you're successful; why be bound by worldly views? A woman's passion is also a form of charm."

Seeing her like this, Yunmian laughed even more heartily.

She popped the last piece of pastry into her mouth and clapped her hands.

"I snuck over here quietly, so I can't stay too long and cause you trouble."

She stood up and waved to Tang Xixue.

"Take your time choosing, let's go watch the show somewhere else."

Before she finished speaking, her figure had already vanished into the night like a wisp of smoke, appearing and disappearing without a trace.

"Little Pearl, have you chosen?"

Xingyu spoke leisurely, her tone carrying a hint of languid anticipation.

Tang Xixue pursed her lips, a sly glint in her eyes.

"You've made your choice."

She stood up and straightened her sleeves.

"I'm going to find my husband now."

The North Star represents the eastern route, and the presence of the Holy Emperor at the banquet demonstrates imperial bearing.

The starlight illuminated the night, and Tang Xi sat at the head of the table, his brows and eyes deep and thoughtful, like distant mountains covered in snow, exuding an innate nobility and aloofness.

He came with ease and left as casually as he could, quietly listening to one piece of music before putting down the jade cup in his hand.

"Enjoy yourselves, everyone."

Having said that, he flicked his sleeve, and the white robe with gold patterns disappeared into the dim light.

That silhouette was as sparse as a distant mountain, exuding the unique confidence of an emperor.

His arrival was a gesture of respect; his departure was entirely at his own discretion.

As the emperor left his seat, a shadowy figure quietly rose.

On the isolated island in the middle of the lake, the majestic Shanhe Palace stands tall.

The nine palaces rise one after another along the mountainside, their flying eaves and brackets disappearing into the night mist, like a celestial palace descended to earth.

The highest building is the Tianchen Jiuque Ziji Hall.

It sits atop a snow-capped mountain, backed by the vast sky, overlooking the boundless Mirror Lake. Amidst the flickering lights, it seems as if a celestial palace in the clouds has descended to the mortal world.

Tangxi walked slowly along the snow-covered stone path into the Jade Butterfly Plum Grove.

The night was hazy, and the moonlight was soft and gentle.

Thousands of plum blossoms bloomed quietly on the branches, their petals white with a hint of blue, thin as cicada wings, so translucent that one could almost see the moonlight shining through from behind.

When the wind blows, a subtle fragrance drifts by, lingering around your clothes and not dissipating for a long time.

He walked very slowly, at a measured pace.

Ahead, a woman's figure appeared and disappeared among the plum blossoms, her clothes fluttering in the wind.

He followed silently from a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

The fragrance of plum blossoms is faint and cold, and the moonlight is lonely.

As they reached the lake, a figure suddenly darted out from the shadows and violently pushed the woman into the lake.

"Thump—"

The sound of splashing water was exceptionally clear in the still night, startling a few roosting crows.

"Help...help me!"

The woman struggled in the water, flailing her hands wildly against the ice.

The shards of ice cut my fingertip, and the crimson blood looked shocking under the cold moonlight.

"Brother! Save me—"

The cries were mournful, tinged with sobs, and rippled through the desolate night.

"Shen Yan, there's no one else here."

A figure emerged from the shadows of the plum grove; it was Xiao Yao.

He stared at the woman struggling in the lake, his eyes brimming with resentment.

"When you were sowing discord in front of me and hinting that I should deal with Princess Mirror, did you ever imagine that this day would come?"

He approached the lakeside step by step, his voice filled with coldness.

"If it weren't for your interference, my father wouldn't have been dismissed from his post. The Ministry of War's residence was destroyed overnight. The entire Xiao family has fallen to this state, all thanks to you!"

Tangxi stood silently in the shadows of the plum blossoms in the distance, watching this scene.

The cold moonlight shone on his face, making his expression gloomy.

A moment later, he turned and left.

The hem of his snow-white robe brushed against the snow-covered plum branches, startling a few petals that fluttered down and landed behind him.

The Ziji Hall was the residence of the emperor in the Shanheque Palace.

A gilded lotus incense burner held Singaporean agarwood, its white smoke curling upwards, filling the room with tranquility.

Tangxi took a seat behind the imperial desk at night and closed her eyes to rest.

From the shadows, the strategist Yan Ci appeared silently, half a step behind, standing with his hands at his sides.

"Your Majesty, the net has been cast. We are just waiting for the fish to bite."

Tang Xi did not open her eyes at night.

"Um."

Using Shen Yanyan to lure out Sang Tingke was a scheme Yan Ci had planned long ago.

That chess piece was both bait and a sacrifice.

Whether she could climb out of the frozen lake was never part of the plan.

Tangxi leaned back in her chair at night.

"Yan Ce is personally overseeing it."

"Yes."

Yan Ci accepted the order and silently retreated into the shadows.

Suddenly, Tang Xiye felt a surge of heat rising from the depths of her blood, like a tide overflowing its banks, coming on strong.

His gaze darkened slightly.

"Liu Fengchun".

His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable coldness.

"Your subject is here."

Liu Fengchun immediately darted out from the corner of the palace, ran to the emperor, and knelt on one knee.

His movements were fluid and graceful, but inside he was already groaning in agony.

Just when he was about to finish his shift and go home, this accident happened.

"Let me see it."

Tang Xiye extended her wrist, her expression indifferent, as if it were just a routine medical consultation.

Liu Fengchun stepped forward respectfully and placed three fingers on the pale wrist.

The moment he felt the pulse, he felt completely unwell.

"His Majesty……"

He spoke with difficulty, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"You've been...poisoned. You look like a drunken immortal."

He lowered his eyes, not daring to look at the emperor's expression at that moment.

"This poison... requires a woman to be summoned to serve His Majesty in bed."

As soon as he finished speaking, the temperature inside the hall plummeted.