The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

According to the destiny chart arranged by the Book of Fate, Shen Yan was clearly the leading lady who was the center of attention.

The vicious female supporting character, Tang Xixue, can only serve as a foil for her.

The sparrow that usurped the nest was destined to have its identity exposed, lose all its support, and be crushed into dust.

When the great villain, Emperor Shengchen, made the world his enemy for the sake of Tang Xixue, she put righteousness before family. After Emperor Shengchen's death, she became the most dazzling existence.

The stars in the sky should pave the way for her.

Holding the Heavenly Physician Token of Destiny obtained from the ashes of the Hall of Longevity, she will become a symbol of faith, win the hearts of the people of the Nine Provinces, and be worshipped as a deity by countless people.

But why is it different from the prophecy in the book now?

How did Tangxi Xuezhi's identity as the Heavenly Physician become public knowledge?

In particular, Pei Yanchuan's "Ode to the Moon in a Mirror" became widely circulated and praised.

"One needle can determine life or death, and ten thousand medicines can bring peace to the nine provinces."

Springtime stretches across the land, a lantern illuminates the night.

Weaving fate to mend the heavens' deficiencies, hanging a gourd to ferry the world across.

His achievements will endure for a thousand years; why ask his name?

The path to replacing the Heavenly Physician of Fate has been blocked by that bastard Pei Yanchuan!

The reputation of Princess Mirror, which had been so painstakingly ruined, was actually restored by Pei Yanchuan.

Who would have thought that this unassuming, frail scholar would wield his pen like a sword, his inkstrokes calming the storm and catching Guixu Palace completely off guard.

A gust of cold wind blew by, pulling Shen Yan back to reality.

"Yunhua, we never expected that Tangxiye would be so heartless, treating you like this without finding any evidence."

Yin Shi sat down next to Shen Yan and draped his cloak over her shoulders.

The cloak was jet black, with dark red cloud patterns embroidered along the edges, and it still carried his body heat, but it couldn't warm the coldness in her eyes.

He wasn't particularly handsome; he was the kind of person who would blend into a crowd and go unnoticed.

But if you look closely, you'll notice those eyes.

The corners of his eyes are slightly upturned, and his pupils are extremely dark, like a bottomless well.

His former name was Shiyin.

Ten sounds, ambushed from all sides, no news at all.

No one knew that beneath that unassuming face lay another name.

Yin Shi, the head of the Imperial World Pavilion.

"Brother Yin, Cousin Sang is injured, we can only rely on you."

Shen Yan spoke softly and gently, appearing pitiful and endearing, but a hidden ambition simmered in her eyes, burning fiercely.

"Although we have dealt with the Black-Clad Envoy of the Execution Platform, the Prince of Beichen is still tracking us, and I am really worried."

She always knew.

Things in this world don't just fall into your hands on their own.

Glory and wealth will not, power will not, and the hearts of the people will not.

If you want something, you have to go and get it yourself. If you can get it, it's yours.

If you can't grasp it, then it's nothing.

"Don't worry, Yunhua. You are the daughter of a meritorious official. Our Guixu Palace never mistreats any meritorious official. Beichen Ji has been poisoned by me and is about to die. There's nothing to fear."

Yin Shi spoke slowly, his eyes filled with a determined look of certainty.

"Our people are everywhere, even the heavens are on our side. Since Bei Chenji cannot be used by us, then let him become a pawn to incite war."

"Does our Sang family truly have a blood feud with Prince Beichen?"

Shen Yan thought of Bei Chenji.

Such a cold and handsome dark king, no one would not want to conquer him and make him bow down at their feet.

Those violet eyes were like a galaxy beneath an abyss, captivating all who beheld them.

"The destruction of the Beichen clan was orchestrated by the Sang family."

Yin Shi replied, adding a few more pieces of firewood to the campfire.

"After all, the Sang family were originally from the Heavenly Punishment Hall."

"But no one expected that the Prince of Beichen would be so ruthless at such a young age, almost wiping out the Sang family in the capital."

Sang Tingke's voice came from the shadows, as somber as ink that could not be dissolved.

"Bei Chenji deserves to die. Our Sang family could have soared to great heights. We were the ones who helped the late emperor rise to power; that was a meritorious service in supporting the emperor's rise."

He was wearing a black cloak, was injured, and sat to one side with a sinister expression.

"If our Sang family were still alive, how could we allow Tang Xiye to ascend the throne?"

The firelight fell on his face, flickering uncertainly, as if he might be swallowed by darkness at any moment.

This time, they arranged for someone to sneak into the Ziji Palace when Tangxi Ye Zuixian had an attack, and then have Shen Yan come forward, and the plan would be a great success.

But the Purple Palace was surrounded like an iron barrel. Shen Cuo was really annoying, like a stubborn rock blocking their way.

They managed to lure away a group of guards and create a breach in the defenses, but by dawn, their efforts had failed.

Xingyu happened to be there at that moment and managed to steal her own younger sister away.

"Yunhua originally had the strongest backing, but it was destroyed. Beichen Ji destroyed our Sang family, and his death is no loss."

"Heh, my cousin and I are still alive, aren't we? So the Sang family isn't considered wiped out."

Shen Yan's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, carrying an obsessive certainty.

"I want the whole world to see my light. And then, to kneel at my feet."

She remained silent for a moment, then looked up at Shen Xian, who was bound hand and foot inside the cave.

The firelight reflected on the seated figure, illuminating a face as refined and elegant as jade.

Even though he was bound, he still stood tall, his face showing no sign of dishevelment, only the integrity cultivated by his century-old family.

"Brother Xian, you're so cruel! You actually sent troops to arrest me yourself. What did I do wrong to deserve this?"

Shen Yan looked at Shen Xian. She had kept him warm for so many years, how come she couldn't warm his heart?

He actually led the black-clad envoys of the Execution Platform and the imperial guards out in all directions to capture her.

"This is His Majesty's decree. Yunhua, do not be stubborn and collude with the cult; you will not have a good end."

Shen Xian's voice was calm and even, without any ripples.

His navy blue official robe accentuated his bright features, high nose bridge, and composed and elegant demeanor.

The white jade pendant at his waist is engraved with the four characters "斯年永祚" (meaning "May this year last forever"), and is upright and understated.

"Brother Xian, what way out do I have now?"

Shen Yan tore away her usual gentle facade, revealing the darkness within.

Her gentleness is the blade, and her fragility is the sheath.

Her tears were the bait, her smile the net.

She honed every bit of her softness into the sharpest knife, hiding it in the most inconspicuous place, waiting for the right moment to strike with deadly force.

At this moment, her gaze was like vines, wrapping around and tightening, trying to drag him into the abyss.

"I'm giving you a chance. If you come with me, you can live."

Shen Yan's voice carried a hint of sarcasm.

"Otherwise... you wouldn't want to be left to rot in the wilderness, would you?"

"Kill me or torture me, it's all up to you. I, Shen, will never associate with you."

Shen Xian looked at her, his gaze filled with nothing but cold indifference.

The white moonlight of the human world, the upright and elegant gentleman orchid.

That coldness instantly enraged Shen Yan.

"Whether I'm good or bad, you can't see me, can you? What a pity, Princess Mirror, she's already turned to ashes!"

Her voice became shrill, like fingernails scratching glass.

"This is all thanks to my cousin Sang."

Cracks finally appeared on Shen Xian's calm and composed face.

It wasn't anger, it was pain.

It's a pain like a dull knife cutting into your heart.

"Shen Cuo didn't tell you? It seems that even you, the Minister of Justice, don't have His Majesty's trust."

Shen Yan looked at the fleeting hint of anger in his eyes and became even angrier.

For so many years, despite being a noblewoman from a prominent family, she never caught his attention.

He was always a virtuous gentleman, self-disciplined and respectful of propriety, and always guided by rules and regulations.

What made Tang Xixue so special that she became his fiancée?

Now that they're no longer involved, it's her turn.

"These days, Baiyujing has almost been turned upside down, but I've hidden Cousin Sang in our Shen residence. Didn't expect that, did you?"

Shen Yan couldn't help but chuckle softly as she spoke.

"Brother Xian, do you think... in this world, things that are stolen always seem especially justified?"

She approached him, her voice extremely low.

"Why? Why is it that Tang Xixue was born to be a high and mighty snowflake in the sky, while I, Shen Yan, am destined to be nothing more than smoke on the ground?"

"Since it's snow, it should fall. Fall into the mud, sink to the ground, and never see the light of day again."

"It's so cold out there, isn't it, Brother Xian?"

"Hahaha……"

"Even if she stole the life that originally belonged to me, she doesn't deserve to bear it."

Shen Yan didn't know.

If she hadn't been replaced back then, she would have died on that winter night.

That exchange saved her from disaster. It was Tang Xixue's appearance that took her life.

Bei Chenji let her go, not because she was innocent. It was because he already had someone he wanted to protect in his arms.

The misplacement she hated her whole life was actually a glimmer of hope left for her.