The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Later, Yan Ci did indeed accompany her to pick the celestial light.

That day was the third day of the third lunar month in late spring, the Shangsi Festival, and Tangxi Xue's birthday.

"Brother A-Ce, it rained last night, did you hear thunder?"

Snowflakes from Tangxi tread on the mountain path.

Before the morning dew had dried, tiny beads of light clung to the tips of the grass.

Each one is crystal clear, like a box of broken glass that someone accidentally spilled.

"I heard it, the spring thunder rumbled, like a drum sounding to announce a great news."

Yan Ci spoke slowly and deliberately, taking her hand and leading her up the steps.

At this moment, his heartbeat was like thunder and the sound of drums.

Yan Ci led her to the highest cliff of Dieyun Peak on the west side of Baiyujing Imperial Capital.

Standing here, you can overlook the entire Baiyujing.

With thousands of eaves and tiles spread out before your eyes, those usually majestic palaces and pavilions have shrunk to tiny chess pieces, laid out on the huge chessboard of heaven and earth.

The sky was just beginning to lighten with a faint, fish-belly white, like someone gently dabbing a stroke of clear water on a dark blue-green rice paper, spreading out a small patch of light.

The mountain mist had not yet dissipated, like a moon-white veil, flowing slowly among the dark peaks, casting a hazy, soft light on the distant mountains and nearby trees.

"Your Highness, are you cold?"

Yan Ci asked gently, his gaze falling on the slightly reddened tip of her nose.

"I'm not cold. Didn't Brother A-Ce give me all his clothes? How could I be cold?"

Tang Xixue shrank even further into his slightly oversized black-patterned white outer robe, revealing only her delicate little face.

Her skin was as white as snow, and her features were exquisite.

Still sleepy, with hazy eyes and a soft, sweet voice, as if she had been pulled out of a dream.

"Brother A-Ce, when will the sun... finally come out?"

She leaned on his shoulder.

A mountain breeze swept across the cliff top, and mist swirled at our feet.

Yan Ci's gaze fell on the chaotic dark blue of the east.

"If it refuses, I will agree for it."

Tang Xixue was taken aback, and then heard him say softly:

"Just kidding. The sun will naturally come out when it gets light. But if it dares to be late... I'll go and find out for you."

"Okay, then I'll wait for Brother A-Ce to ask for me."

Tang Xixue couldn't help but laugh. Her laughter was clear and crisp, like morning dew sliding across flower petals, startling a lark perched on the cliff edge.

"I already asked."

Yan Ci continued.

"It said it wasn't that it refused, but that it was waiting."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Wait for the clouds to disperse, wait for the wind to rise, wait for heaven and earth to no longer be able to suppress it."

He turned his head to look at her, his eyes clear and bright.

"Like waiting for a victory—it can't be rushed, but it will definitely come."

"The best light in the world will only show itself when everything is ready."

Yan Ci's voice was very soft, as if he were telling a secret that had been kept for a long time.

"Your Highness, however long the night, the more worthwhile the dawn will be. Even the darkest hour is but the prelude to daybreak."

"That's...something to look forward to."

Tang Xixue snuggled closer into his arms and waited quietly.

"I will wait... until it comes."

Just like every time she waited for an answer in the past, he was there to gently tell her—wait a little longer, it will be soon.

"Yes, I'll wait with Your Highness."

The wind was strong at the top of the cliff, so Yan Ci held her even tighter and used his sleeve to shield her from the cool morning breeze.

His sleeves fluttered in the wind, but his shoulder remained steady and unmoving, shielding her from the wind.

"Your Highness, you can sleep for a while. I'll wake you up when the sun rises."

He spoke in a low voice, deep and resonant, like the deepest pool of water in a mountain stream.

"Okay, then Brother A-Ce, you must wake me up!"

Tang Xixue followed him out to climb the mountain in the middle of the night, and now she is so sleepy that her eyelids are drooping.

Before the words were even finished, the person had already leaned over in a daze, their breathing gradually becoming even and long.

"must."

Yan Ci responded.

Time flowed by in the silent waiting.

As the sky gradually changed color, the outlines of the distant mountains became clearer little by little.

It's as if someone used extremely light ink to outline the ridge of a mountain stroke by stroke on rice paper.

"It's dawn... Your Highness."

The fog began to dissipate, changing from a thick white mist to a thin, translucent veil, and then transforming into wisps of smoke that drifted along the mountainside.

It brushes past the wildflowers growing in the cracks of the rocks, and past the hem of her drooping dress.

"Zhizhi, wake up, don't sleep."

Yan Ci gently shook her, his fingertips touching her shoulder with a touch as light as if he were touching a flower that was about to bloom.

"Ugh—"

Tang Xixue opened her eyes drowsily, her eyelashes still heavy with sleepiness.

"Brother A-Ce, can we see the sunrise?"

"Your Highness, don't look at me. Just look ahead. The world is vast, and the landscape is like a painting."

Yan Ci smiled slightly.

Tang Xixue looked up and instantly held her breath.

At the thinnest point of the thick cloud cover on the horizon, a very fine and bright golden line suddenly burst forth.

It was as if a deity had wielded a brush, dipped it in the hottest molten gold, and with one stroke, parted the heavy sky.

Tang Xixue instantly woke up from her drowsiness, broke free from Yan Ci's embrace, excitedly stood up, and ran to the edge of the cliff ahead.

"The sea of ​​clouds seemed to be on fire. It was so dazzling! Its intense heat and brightness made everything shine."

The thick sea of ​​clouds was ignited by this light, its edges edged with flowing gold, surging and vast.

Thousands of rays of light pierced through the clouds with unstoppable force, turning the entire sky into a magnificent, dreamlike tapestry.

"Yes, so... Your Highness, don't be afraid of the dark, for there is always light at the end of the long night," Yan Ci said.

"Once it has accumulated enough power, when it is time to rise, no one can stop it."

Tang Xixue gazed at the red sun struggling to leap out of the clouds, her eyes filled with the glow of the sunset.

"Brother A-Ce, look—the waning moon sinks into the abyss, the rising sun shines down, and thousands of mountains are dyed red."

She reached out her hand, made a grasping motion towards the magnificent light source, turned her head, and smiled radiantly.

Her dimples were filled with the morning light.

Her long, jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, flying wildly in the wind.

She held the sunrise behind her with one hand, the red sun hanging right above her palm as if she were supporting it, and she herself was also gilded.

"Brother A-Ce, look! I picked it!"

The mountain wind howled, blowing up her wide, black-patterned white robe. The hem of the robe fluttered, and the snow-white ribbons danced in the air, as if she were about to ride the wind away.

Its light, falling into my palm, is mine.

Tang Xixue's voice was clear and resolute.

"No matter how dark it gets from now on, I will remember—it came, and I received it."

At this moment, the world is vast, the sea of ​​clouds is churning, and the golden sun is bursting forth.

"The sun and moon are but objects in the palm of one's hand, and mountains and rivers are but dust beneath one's feet."

She was like a goddess holding the sun and moon in her hands, both graceful and proud.

The palm holds the sun and moon in their rotation, the sleeves hold the dawn and dusk of mountains and rivers.

"Yes, Zhizhi picked it."

Yan Ci was somewhat lost in thought, and after a long while, he responded in a low voice.

She actually picked it.

A blazing, red sun.

"Brother A-Ce, have you grasped the light too?"

Tang Xixue turned around and looked at him, asking a question. The morning light spread out behind her like a golden sea.

But none of this can compare to her brilliance.

She's radiant too!

"I... I held on to it too."

Yan Ci opened his palm, and the young man's hand was pointing in her direction, his five fingers slightly curled up, as if he were holding her in his hand.

My palms are empty.

But he felt very satisfied.