The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

In the snow-covered hut at night, the warm sun shines on the golden sparrows perched among the flowers.

Deep within the Purple Palace, the cold moon congeals into frost, imprisoning the icy abyss at night.

When the strategist Yan Ci stepped into the hall, intending to report on the events of the previous night, he instantly felt a terrifying sense of impending doom.

"What's wrong now?"

He looked up in confusion, still holding a stack of memorials that needed urgent review.

The Nine Extremes Gathering has just concluded, and although there is no court assembly today, government affairs continue without pause.

He selected the most important items and sent them to Emperor Shengchen, who had not yet returned to the palace.

"His Majesty locked the Purple Palace tightly last night; what happened?"

Yan Ci skillfully placed the memorial on the table and looked up at Tang Xiye.

The next moment, he was stunned.

Take a breath.

"this?"

Yan Ci's gaze fell on Tang Xiye's neck, where the marks were extremely clear.

The hair meanders down from behind the ear, looking particularly striking against the cold, jade-like skin.

The scattered kiss marks, some deep and some shallow, resemble fallen petals or traces left by spring tides, exuding an indescribable tenderness and affection.

Above the collarbone, the marks were even more numerous, as if someone had repeatedly savored them, tenderly cherished them, and was reluctant to let go.

What exactly happened last night?

These are the marks of being deeply loved.

The man held him in his arms, again and again, never satisfied.

Tangxi Ye, the Lord of Beichen, an emperor revered by all of the nine provinces, has always been a man of integrity and never allows anyone to get close to him.

But which of the millions of young women across the land wouldn't want to pluck this noble golden iris?

Their emperor has been thoroughly exploited!

This thought crossed Yan Ci's mind.

Yan Ci spoke slowly, his voice as steady as if he were discussing politics:

"Your Majesty... has someone already tasted it?"

The other party seemed very satisfied, as if they had almost devoured His Majesty.

Tang Xiye looked up at him, her gaze so cold it could freeze someone to death.

"Yan Ce, say it again."

Yan Ci remained expressionless, only nodding slightly.

"What I mean is—who came last night?"

He lowered his voice and quickly scanned the Purple Palace.

Good guy!

The dragon bed was in disarray, with piles of brocade quilts that had not yet been tidied up.

On the crumpled bedding, one could vaguely see how the night had been filled with entanglement and tossing and turning.

Steam rises from the hot spring pool, and water trickles along the edge, overflowing the jade steps and extending all the way behind the screen.

The water rippled violently there, and the waves did not subside for a long time.

Even the desk and the window frame were littered with messy marks, a testament to the recklessness that came with intense passion.

The room was a complete mess, as if it had been swept by a strong wind.

You can imagine how fierce the battle was last night.

But His Majesty has always been chaste.

Who would have thought that he would have such a wild and unrestrained side?

"Last night I was under the influence of the Drunken Immortal."

When Tang Xiye spoke, her voice was terribly hoarse, carrying a hint of grievance and restraint, like a piece of glass about to shatter.

He actually got dirty.

He... is not clean.

He wanted to take a bath to wash away the traces, but when his gaze swept over the hot spring pool, he froze and didn't move.

In the rising steam of the pool, he could still seem to see those absurd scenes.

He once played with her in the pool.

More than once.

"Although the Drunken Immortal's potency is potent, if Your Majesty truly wishes to kill, who can get close?"

Yan Ci's voice was steady, but his gaze held a hint of scrutiny.

"Your Majesty... did it voluntarily, didn't you?"

"I thought she was Zhizhi..."

Tang Xiye sat beside the imperial desk, her hands supporting her forehead, looking as if she had been burned to ashes by anger and humiliation.

"Could it be the one who was with the Sea Emperor yesterday? It's a pity that the Sea Kingdom's ceremonial guard has already left the capital. I've sent people to chase after them, but I don't know if they can catch up."

Yan Ci made a guess, then turned to examine the Purple Extreme Palace, his gaze falling on the subtle traces.

"Someone came over last night; they were all experts."

He pointed to the almost imperceptible footprints on the ground.

"Judging from the marks, it is a man and a woman."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious.

"This was a pre-planned scheme—a scheme to seize the stars."

Yan Ci's words made Tang Xiye even angrier.

"What skill! Now that I've caught her—she's dead."

Tang Xiye's voice was as cold as a blade tempered with ice.

He now stubbornly believes that last night, in his confused state, he thought he was dreaming and being intimate with Zhizhi, but in reality, he was defiled by another woman.

"Does Your Majesty truly not know the difference?"

Yan Ci pulled up a chair and sat down beside him, his voice calm yet sharp as a needle.

"While the Drunken Immortal Elixir is potent, it wouldn't render you completely unconscious. Would you mistake someone else for Your Highness?"

Deep emotions were hidden in his eyes.

Is there another possibility?

Yan Ci's voice was filled with hope.

"The young prince is still alive. The woman who had intimate relations with you is the young prince."

"After all, we never saw the little princess's remains. Perhaps she was lucky enough to escape."

Yan Ci knew Emperor Shengchen very well.

Over the years, countless people have tried to climb into someone's bed, but how many have succeeded?

He counted silently in his mind, but there were none.

"Moreover, the Drunken Immortal only needs one dose to detoxify, and you can even do it yourself."

His voice gradually faded.

"What caused you to leave your bedchamber in this state...?"

Yan Ci glanced at the mess in the room, his gaze scrutinizing and thoughtful.

The traces of the Purple Palace now appear to be more than just a one-time occurrence.

Was it really the Drunken Immortal's fault?

"You should think carefully and not let anger cloud your judgment and cause you to lose your usual composure."

After Yan Ci finished speaking, Tang Xiye finally calmed down.

But beneath that calm surface, a deeper undercurrent was clearly surging.

"But... Zhizhi has already consummated her marriage with He Huaixian. Her other lovers include that pretty boy and Feng Xiaogou... Last night, that woman was a virgin."

Tang Xiye lowered her voice, as if admitting something she didn't want to admit.

He felt it was just his imagination that made him think it was Zhizhi.

Dreams are definitely not to be taken seriously.

"The Imperial Advisor?"

Yan Ci was slightly taken aback, then shook his head.

"Given his self-disciplined and proper nature, without proper betrothal and marriage, how could he possibly overstep his bounds with the young prince? As for the other two... I doubt they would dare to lay a finger on the young prince either."

Yan Ci looked at him, her eyes filled with deep anticipation.

"Your Majesty, you should trust your own judgment. Did she come last night, Your Highness?"

He asked the question very softly, yet it seemed as if he had used all his strength.

begging.

His little prince must live.

"Yan Ce, I only believe what I see, not what I imagine or deceive myself with."

Tangxi closed her eyes at night, her voice hoarse and deep as a night drum.

"Why doesn't Your Majesty ask the Grand Preceptor whether he and the young prince have consummated their marriage? Or perhaps he could have the Grand Preceptor examine the young prince's horoscope and predict his fortune?"

Yan Ci stood up.

"Shen Yan was rescued last night. It wasn't Sang Tingke who did it, but Yin Shi from Yu Shi Ge. He cares more about Shen Yan's life or death than the one from the Sang family."

He continued:

"We sent a signal, but His Majesty was probably busy at the time."

Tang Xiye's expression froze again.

What was he busy with last night?

Busy with the affairs of Wushan, they are oblivious to the nature of heaven and earth.

The sweeter it was then, the more frustrating it is now.