The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

She has survived all these years, and her brother, the Emperor, should be credited with a great service.

After all, none of the people those time-traveling women provoked were easy to deal with.

And this Prince Yu in front of me is definitely a delicate and beautiful black-hearted dumpling.

From the memories of the transmigrated woman who had thrown the quilt into the corner, Tang Xixue finally found the whole story of what Kong Sangyu called "losing her innocence".

Even though she was prepared, the truth still took her breath away when it came out.

—It's such a ridiculous and self-destructive act.

The time-traveling woman pushed the seemingly innocent and pure Kongsang prince into the cold autumn lake.

Then, without hesitation, she jumped into the icy pool and rescued the trembling boy amidst the gasps of the crowd.

Their soaked clothes clung to each other, their breaths mingled, and their eyes met, glistening with tears...

What a well-rehearsed performance of "The Beauty's Deepest Favor".

Everything that followed was as the time-traveling woman had wished:

The boy's eyes were as clear and bright as the sea. From then on, he followed her around, calling her "sister" at every turn. His dependence on her was like vines clinging to a tree, and his sweetness was like candied plums.

That intense admiration was almost like tangible syrup, enough to drown a person in it.

Even as the system's cold pronouncement rang out, the transmigrator, on the verge of his soul dissipating, still questioned with resentment:

"Didn't I already make him fall in love with me? Why did I fail to win him over?"

Now, Tangxi Xue has read through this memory and almost bursts out laughing in anger.

Kong Sangyu was born in the Bibo Immortal Dynasty—a water kingdom with thousands of lakes and rivers flowing into the sea.

Royal children learn to swim from infancy, navigating waves as if walking on flat ground.

From beginning to end, it was nothing more than a meticulously orchestrated play.

The boy remained soberly aware as he watched others fall into ruin.

They're just making fun of her.

"Ah Xue, what he said... is it true?"

Feng Zhuo's voice came from the side, hoarse and broken, his eyes now misty, like a puppy soaked by rain.

"You and him... really..."

"If rescuing the Prince Yu from the lake is considered ruining his reputation—" Tang Xixue helplessly spread her hands, her snow-white sleeves falling like clouds, "then I truly have no way to defend myself."

"Who doesn't know that the royal family of Kongsang is as adept at swimming as fish?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhuo's vulnerable gaze instantly turned into a raging fire as he glared fiercely at the seemingly innocent and handsome young man.

"He clearly lured you into his trap on purpose! His methods are utterly despicable!"

Tangxi Xue urged her horse forward two steps, chasing stars and shattering jade.

She leaned down slightly, gazing into Kong Sangyu's still moist and clear eyes:

"Prince Yu, if you wish to attract my attention in the future, please take the proper path. Such tricks... are ultimately unworthy of respect."

"..."

Kong Sangyu's eyelashes trembled slightly, her lips parted slightly, but she couldn't utter a word for a long time.

My temples throbbed with pain, and my ears were ringing as if a thousand bees were exploding.

—If she hadn't pushed him into the water herself, he might have believed her innocence even a little.

But now...

The boy lowered his eyes, concealing the dark emotions churning within them, but his fingertips were already digging into his palms from his sleeve.

She's a complete, blatant scoundrel...

"Ah Xue, it's time to go."

Feng Zhuo urged his horse closer, and the Crimson Flame Horse trotted uneasily through the snow.

"Don't give certain people any more chance to pester you. You're so good-looking, there are always some arrogant young men who dare to try and get close to you."

His words became increasingly direct, his burning gaze almost piercing through the snow, and his deeply hidden feelings, like an undercurrent beneath the ice, could no longer be suppressed as they surged forth.

"Brother—hang in there!"

Kong Sangling cried out in surprise, and saw Kong Sangyu's figure sway.

The boy raised his hand to his forehead, his lips twitching almost imperceptibly; he was truly furious.

Who would want her?

Feng Zhuo's eyes are probably too bright; he should probably seek out the renowned physician Zhe Yue for proper treatment.

What surged in his heart was not admiration at all.

It was a chilling aura, clearly laced with poison.

That day in the icy pool, under the guise of rescuing him, she acted recklessly, her fingertips brushing against his waist and spine...

He wished he could drag her into the abyss, to be forever silenced beneath the blue waves.

"It turns out that Princess Mirror has quite a few admirers."

Si Xingxuan walked slowly closer, his fox fur brushing against the snow, the sound like ice beads falling onto a jade plate.

"It seems that General Feng is not the only one with an eye ailment. I never imagined that the Prince of Kongsang would also be such a discerning and devoted person."

He raised the corners of his lips slightly, his words laced with sarcasm.

"There's no way around it, I'm naturally beautiful and that's why my younger brothers like me so much."

Tang Xixue sighed softly, turned her horse around, and her snow-white cloak unfurled in the wind like crane wings.

She answered calmly and naturally, as if she hadn't noticed the veiled sarcasm in her words.

"cough……"

Si Xingxuan suddenly covered his lips with a handkerchief, and a soft cough escaped his throat.

His pale face instantly lost all color, and his figure was like a candle flickering in the wind.

As the plain white handkerchief was removed from the corner of her lips, a startling crimson hue spread out, like plum blossoms falling on snow.

—He came in too much of a hurry, forcing his inner strength to come through the snow, but his broken body could not hold on any longer.

"With the world in ice and snow, I won't reminisce with you."

Tang Xixue frowned, then suddenly reached out to Pei Yanchuan, who had been silent to the side.

"Yanchuan, come up here."

The young man in the blue robe was slightly taken aback. Before he could recover, she had already gently lifted him onto the horse's back.

With a long neigh, Zhuxing shattered the jade-like snow with its hooves and carried the two of them out of the forest, leaving only a misty snowscape behind.

Feng Zhuo stood frozen in place, staring at the departing figure on horseback, his back teeth clenched until they ached, his knuckles digging deep into his palms as he gripped the reins.

"That's enough."

After a long while, he murmured to himself, as if trying to convince himself.

"That little white flower kept in the Hall of Longevity is at least clean and docile... much better than those outside that are coated with deadly poison."

Rumors had long circulated in Lintai that Pei Yanchuan was Princess Jing's secret lover, pampered and kept deep in the palace like a caged bird.

"She's a princess...it's not too much to ask her to keep a well-behaved pet to keep her entertained, is it?"

The turbulent waves in Feng Zhuo's eyes had been forcefully suppressed into a dark, murky lake.

He bent down to pick up the blood-stained eagle from the ground, and with an almost fierce motion, slammed it onto his horse's back. Then, he whipped the horse and spurred it on, his red robes like a bloodstain scorching the snowy night, chasing after the figure that had already disappeared into the depths of the forest.

The snow fell silently, gradually covering the messy hoofprints.

As the sound of the group's horses' hooves faded into the distance and the last bit of noise disappeared into the depths of the snowy forest, Kong Sangyu slowly raised her eyes.

The tearful, pitiful expression she had just displayed crumbled away like a mask.

He remained standing there, snowflakes falling all over his shoulders, his eyes, beneath his lowered eyelashes, were icy and clear, like a frozen blade in a deep pool.

"Tsk—"

A very soft sneer came from my side.

Si Xingxuan leaned against a gnarled pine tree, his fox fur coat half-open, revealing a long robe of clear blue silk, its hem flowing like still water and floating clouds.

His pale face held a hint of amusement as his gaze fell on the white jade flute at Kong Sangyu's waist.

"What heinous crime did she commit...?"

His voice was weak, but every word was clear.

"To think that the Lord of Mountains and Seas would personally step into the stage to perform this play of a fallen prince! What a pity, the play was over, the eagle's wings were broken, and the beauty... didn't appreciate it at all."

"Si Xingxuan, mind your own business."

Kong Sangyu turned half of her face to the side, her eyes like arrows tempered with ice.

"ha……"

Si Xingxuan chuckled softly, his chest heaving as he coughed lightly. He covered his lips with a handkerchief, but a mocking smile curved at the corners of his eyes.

"Is this... a case of getting angry out of embarrassment? Surely he didn't actually fall for that little brat at first sight and, while acting, got himself into the role?"

"I see that Physician Zheyue is in poor health and doesn't have much time left. Why is he in such a hurry to provoke me and seek death?"

Kong Sangyu slowly turned around, and the snow shattered silently beneath his feet.

His posture was completely different now—his shoulders and back were straight as a pine tree, and the white jade flute at his fingertips suddenly stopped turning, its body reflecting the evening snow and gleaming with a cold light.

Where is even a trace of the fragile, shaky appearance she had just displayed?

"She is the puppet I have chosen."

Si Xingxuan's voice was very soft, but every word was filled with murderous intent.

"If the claws of the mountains and seas stretch too far... I wouldn't mind breaking them off one by one for you."