The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"The Chronicles of the Nine Provinces records a strange phenomenon that occurred. All the living beings in a certain city of the Dream Flower Empire suddenly fell into a deep slumber, and red flowers bloomed on their bodies."

Tangxi Qingyuan read it aloud word by word, his voice gradually deepening.

"The day the flowers bloom all over the body is the day it is too late to save it."

Bai Yining suddenly looked up.

"The Chronicles of the Nine Provinces?"

"Yes."

Tangxi Qingyuan nodded, her fingertips slowly moving down along the line of secret words.

"This book records many strange events that are not recorded in official history."

Bai Yining immediately stood up, strode towards the palace gate, and instructed the eunuchs waiting outside to immediately convey this message to Grand Tutor Yan Xun.

The Wenhua Hall was the core of the search for a solution. Yan Xun was stationed there, directing scholars from all over the country to search through classic texts day and night.

She returned to her desk, her brow furrowed.

"Is there any record of a method to remove the curse?"

Tang Xi Qingyuan's gaze searched the pages for a moment before he slowly shook his head.

"No."

He raised his eyes and met Bai Yining's gaze.

"But... Menghua should know more."

Presumably Yan Xun will contact the Menghua Empire; these details are none of their concern.

Tangxi Qingyuan has now returned to secular life.

Emperor Shengchen issued an edict to the world, recognizing him as the Retired Emperor.

When the news spread, there were some dissenting opinions from both the court and the public, but Tang Xiye suppressed all objections with an iron fist.

The young emperor who holds power in the Beichen Empire is someone no one dares to criticize to his face.

If it weren't for the fact that Tangxi Xue hadn't agreed.

He had already issued an imperial edict, officially making her his empress.

He would never let his precious Zhizhi be nameless and without status, nor would he ever let her suffer the slightest grievance.

He wanted the whole world to know that she was the most precious treasure he held in the palm of his hand.

But she never agreed.

He didn't make the decision on his own, for fear of upsetting her.

Inside Chengtian Hall, Tang Xiye held the communication jade talisman she had taken from the Empress Dowager.

The moon-white talisman gleamed faintly in his palm, like a small piece of moonlight that had been plucked from the sky.

He looked down at it.

There are so many things I want to say.

"Zhizhi, are you doing well out there?"

"Is your body still able to handle it?"

"Has Huai Xian taken good care of you?"

When are you coming back?

"Brother misses you."

A thousand words welled up in her throat, but in the end, Tang Xiye simply held the jade talisman and softly transmitted a single sentence.

"Zhizhi, come home early. Your brother is waiting for you."

Tang Xixue sat alone by the window, moonlight filtering through the branches of the jacaranda tree, casting dappled shadows on her white dress.

The communication talisman in his palm glowed slightly.

She lowered her head and watched as the line of words slowly appeared on the surface of the talisman.

"Huh? How did the communication talisman end up in my brother's hands?"

At that moment, her expression became incredibly gentle.

The eyes, sparkling with starlight, rippled with a soft light.

She reached out, her fingertips gently touching the jade talisman. The touch was slightly cool, and a faint spiritual light flickered beneath her fingertips.

She only replied with one word.

"it is good."

The communication talisman in Tangxi Ye's hand lit up briefly.

He looked at the word; it was simple and straightforward.

But the corners of his lips still gradually turned up.

Under the moonlight, the cold, hard lines on the young emperor's handsome face melted away like ice and snow, and the expression in his eyes softened.

The somber mood that had been weighing on his brow while he was reviewing the memorials vanished completely at this moment.

He carefully put the communication talisman close to his body and looked towards the north, where the Yun Chuan Empire was located.

"Zhizhi is still young."

"It's common for people to misjudge others."

"Those madmen outside are just trying to please her for a moment..."

Tang Xiye withdrew her gaze, her eyes revealing unfathomable certainty and patience.

"It's alright, I can wait."

"She'll find out sooner or later that none of them are good enough for her! Only her brother is the best."

He turned and walked back to the imperial desk.

The candle flame had burned down to almost nothing, its tears as red as coral.

He sat down, lifted his robe, dipped his brush in ink, and began to review each urgent memorial.

The sound of the vermilion pen falling on the paper was delicate and steady, like rain pattering on banana leaves.

Upon seeing the folded paper handed to him by Grand Tutor Yan, he put down his pen and took out the communication talisman again.

He passed on the record he found in the "Chronicles of the Nine Provinces".

Tang Xixue sat alone by the window, the communication talisman in her hand flashing for a moment. She lowered her eyes and read the message sent by Tang Xiye, lost in thought.

"Oh?"

Her eyebrows lifted slightly.

"The last time the Crimson Dust Gu appeared was in the Dream Flower Empire."

She put down the communication talisman and reached into her sleeve. After searching for a moment, her fingertips touched a peach blossom-shaped communication talisman.

The gift that Hua Rongshi had slipped into the pile of gifts for her back then has come in handy now.

"Young Master Fuzui, is there a way to deal with the Crimson Dust Gu? Or is there any way to buy some time?"

She sent a message.

The peach blossom charm lit up briefly.

He replied almost instantly.

Hua Rongshi's voice came from the talisman, carrying his usual lazy tone, but the nonchalant air in his tone had lessened, and a rare seriousness had appeared.

"We at Qimeng seem to have some records, but the scrolls are all in the royal family's secret vault, not on my hands."

"I have to go back to Huadu in person."

"Xue, wait for my message."

Before Tang Xixue could reply, the peach blossom charm lit up again.

"I'll set off tonight."

Hua Rong replied.

Tang Xixue responded:

"Yes. Thank you."

She put away the peach blossom charm.

Li Shuang brought in a cup of hot tea and saw that she was still sitting by the window, so she gently advised her.

"Your Highness, aren't you going to rest? It's getting late."

Tang Xixue shook her head.

"No."

"I'm going to see Regent Yun Chuan. You don't need to come with me, you can all go and rest."

She stood up, her snow-white robes flowing like clouds.

"Mu Liang can accompany him secretly by himself."

"Yes." Li Shuang withdrew upon hearing this.

The Qi Clan possesses an extremely powerful lineage of Gu Masters, which is no secret in the Nine Provinces.

The Yun Chuan Empire was founded on the use of Gu (a type of magical artifact), and the Qi clan was one of the most prominent among them, with its lineage continuing unbroken for hundreds of years.

As the direct descendant of the Qi clan and a powerful figure in the court, Regent Qi Si must know far more than ordinary people.

The reason why Guixu Palace was so eager to take action against him was probably not just to seize power for Qi Zhan.

She needed to meet the regent.

Qi Wang learned of her purpose.

"Young Master Yue wishes to see my Imperial Uncle?"

The silver bells in the young war god's hair swayed gently in the wind.

"He's awake. I'll take you there."

The two walked through several corridors. The War King's mansion covered a vast area, with sparse lights and lush flowers and trees in the night.

The jacaranda trees had fallen a carpet of purple-blue petals, which felt soft and fluffy underfoot, like walking on clouds.

Before we even got close to the warm pavilion, we could hear sounds coming from inside.

Tang Xixue paused slightly in her steps.

Those were the voices of two men.

A low, cold sound, like ice cracking in the dead of winter.

The other was calm and restrained, like someone accustomed to walking on the edge of a knife, speaking with great tact in every word.

"When did I have an heir?"

It was Qi Si's voice.

His tone was neither hurried nor slow, yet it carried an undeniable coldness, like a knife without emotion.

Another voice rang out; it was Mo Jian, the commander of the Cloud Scale Guard.

"Your Highness, this is absolutely true. Your subordinate would not dare to deceive you."

"Mei Ruohuan?"

Qi Si pronounced the name as if it were a strange symbol.

The tone was devoid of any extra emotion, leaving only unfamiliarity.

"I do not remember this person."

"Mo Jian. If you dare to deceive me—you should know the consequences."

The air in the warm room seemed to freeze, and the candlelight cast two tense shadows.