The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Bei Chenji lowered his eyes, not daring to look at her again.

But her breath still drifted over in wisps.

Like vines entwining under the moon, they coiled around his breath, tightening their grip on his heart inch by inch.

My heart was beating faster and faster, almost bursting out of my chest.

"If Xue'er has nothing else to say, you may return."

He spoke, his voice lower and hoarse than usual.

"It's getting late... and the road is difficult to travel at night."

Qian Su had already lit the lamps in the hall.

The flickering candlelight cast a warm, dim glow throughout the room.

The light and shadow swayed slowly on the wall, as if time were flowing gently.

Outside the window, the streetlights were just coming on, and night had fallen.

The lights of thousands of homes are reflected on the surface of Mirror Moon Lake, shattering into a flowing expanse of gold.

The faint sound of string and wind instruments could be heard in the distance; it was unclear which household was hosting a banquet.

"But……"

Tang Xixue's voice suddenly lowered.

Her gaze fell on the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, searching them inch by inch.

Move from this bead to that bead, and look from one end to the other.

Then, his gaze instantly dimmed.

Like a lamp blown out by the wind, its light has faded, leaving only ashes.

"I didn't find what I was looking for."

Tang Xixue's voice carried an undisguised sense of loss.

She clutched the begonia jade pendant tightly, her fingertips icy cold.

They came full of joy, only to be left with nothing.

"The prayer beads and jade pendant are still here, aren't they? Nothing is missing."

Bei Chenji looked up at her, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes.

I had an urge to do something for her, but I didn't know where to start.

"Is my little uncle trying to get rid of me?"

Tang Xixue lowered her eyelashes slightly, her face growing paler.

"You hate me that much? You can't even bear to look at me?"

Her voice trembled slightly, as if she had used up her last bit of strength.

My body is getting colder and colder.

The chill did not come from the outside, but spread from the depths of one's bones and blood.

The luck she had absorbed before was no longer enough to support her being alone outside for so long.

It felt as if my whole body was being frozen inch by inch.

"Anyway, the little prince won't see me anymore, so there's no one to bother you."

Tang Xixue originally thought she could find that wisp of the main soul.

That way, you won't have to rely on other people's luck and you can hold on for longer.

We no longer need to struggle against a fading fate every moment, as we do now.

But now, the Buddhist prayer beads and the begonia jade pendant are still there, but her soul has not been found.

This vast Jade Palace is boundless; searching for its soul is like finding a needle in a haystack.

"Wasn't my wicked heart the one my little prince uncle used to despise the most? Go find your kind and gentle Yunhua!"

Tang Xixue said angrily.

His face was ashen, and the last trace of color had faded from his lips, leaving an almost transparent white.

He was swaying precariously, like a crabapple branch broken by the wind.

She turned and left.

Footsteps tapped on the blue bricks, hurried and disordered, like the sound of a heart breaking.

"no."

Bei Chenji immediately answered and strode after him.

His voice was not loud, but it was unusually firm.

"I do not dislike Xue'er, nor have I ever liked anyone else."

"Xue'er, please, don't hurt me like this!"

His tone was serious, and every word he spoke was firm and resolute.

He wasn't good at sweet talk and didn't know how to coax her.

At this moment, his eyes showed anxiety and helplessness.

Tang Xixue snorted coldly.

"Don't come any closer! Didn't my little uncle say I'm always flirting with shady men?"

She's incredibly vengeful; she writes down every single word he says in her little notebook.

When I'm in a good mood, I'm magnanimous and don't hold grudges.

When I'm in a bad mood, I bring up all the old grudges.

Bei Chenji wished he could kill his former self.

"I apologize. I was blind and spoke without thinking before."

"Xue'er, you can vent your anger however you want, just don't ignore me."

"I'm just... angry that you didn't seduce me."

He gazed at her, his eyes falling on the faint red mark on her neck.

A sudden pang of sadness struck my heart, as if I were being pricked by countless fine needles.

There was a slight, dull pain, so intense that even his breathing became shallower.

But he doesn't even have the right to be jealous.

Whose lips could linger on her snow-white skin?

Will that person take advantage of her even more?

The captivating charm she exuded today was sweet and radiant, nourished by love.

He was consumed by jealousy, but he could only swallow his bitterness and was not even worthy of asking.

Tang Xixue's eyes were red, and her voice carried a hint of grievance.

"Hmph, who wants to flirt with you!"

She glared at him angrily.

Bei Chenji was both amused and exasperated. His little darling was impossible to coax; he was truly at his wit's end.

"Or, Xue'er, you can whip me, but don't be angry, okay?"

"Who has the energy to hit you now!"

Tang Xixue said irritably.

Upon hearing this, Bei Chenji's gaze fell upon her extremely pale face, his heart clenched, and he even paused for a moment.

"Xue'er, you look terrible, what happened?"

He immediately disregarded everything else and reached out to grab Tang Xixue's hand.

His fingers were long and strong, covered with rough calluses.

When they grasp my hand, it's with an unwavering decisiveness that leaves no room for refusal.

"I don't need your help!"

Tang Xixue struggled slightly, but couldn't shake him off.

His knuckles were like iron hoops, neither too tight nor too loose, yet she couldn't break free.

The force he applied was just right—not enough to hurt her, but not enough to let her escape. He was the kind of person who, though wanting to get close, deliberately restrained himself.

Why are your hands so cold?

Bei Chenji was startled by the coldness of her palm.

The coolness felt like a piece of cold jade dug out of the snow.

The cold was so intense it evoked no life, and it made his heart clench.

"Little Xue'er, it was my fault, little royal uncle! Please forgive me, okay?"

"Can we still be like we used to be...?"

He didn't let go; instead, he gripped it even tighter.

He wanted to warm her icy hands, inch by inch.

The temperature of his palm was as hot as a raging fire, and he wished he could transfer all his heat to her.

"Tell the young prince what's on your mind."

Bei Chenji lowered his voice, with an awkward caution, as if afraid of disturbing an injured bird.

"I will help you. Xue'er, believe me."

His purple eyes reflected her face.

Her gaze was deep and focused, as if she were the only person left in the world.

"I don't believe it... I will never forgive you for yelling at me and criticizing me before."

Tang Xixue was like a cat with its fur standing on end, extremely weak, yet she didn't forget to criticize his past mistakes.

"Alright, alright, I was too harsh before. From now on... I'll listen to Xue'er and I won't be mean to you anymore, I promise."

Bei Chenji coaxed her gently, giving her all his patience and tenderness.

If any other woman dared to act like that in front of him, he wouldn't even bother with her.

"real?"

Tang Xixue swayed slightly, like a fallen flower dampened by rain.

She lost her balance and fell into his arms.

In that instant, the cool fragrance of crabapple blossoms enveloped her.

It was clear and soft, like moonlight shattering on his heart.

He froze completely, like a statue frozen in place, too afraid to move.

"Yes. I will keep your promise for life."

Bei Chenji's voice was deep and resonant, like a vow.

He held her firmly, his arms tightening around her.

In an instant, her body temperature, as hot as volcanic lava, enveloped her layer by layer.

The heat wave surged in from all directions, pushing away the chill around her inch by inch.

At the same time, his good fortune surged forth without reservation.

The immense fortune, like a celestial river pouring down, surged into her body, replenishing her fading vitality.