The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

His Highness Prince Xuan's entourage returned to his fiefdom in a grand procession as he left Moon Soul City.

The carriage was extremely ornate, with sandalwood as its frame and silver gauze as its canopy. Multi-tiered palace lanterns with shimmering starlight hung from the four corners. As it traveled on the Cloud Road, the ride was as smooth as being in a quiet room.

The interior of the car is even more of a hidden gem.

On a small table made of starstone, various delicacies from the Starry Palace were laid out.

"Zhizhi, eat something first. My cooking skills are terrible, but he's quite good at finding chefs."

Si Xingxuan sat opposite Tang Xixue, talking to her while enthusiastically introducing the delicious food on the table.

"This is Star Marrow Dew, made from the nectar of star marrow flowers from the edge of Tianxing Pool. It melts in your mouth, is refreshingly sweet and not cloying. You can't find this anywhere else but here."

He scooped a small dish with a silver spoon and pushed it in front of Tang Xixue.

The star marrow condensation was completely transparent, with a very pale silver-blue color. Under the candlelight, it shimmered with tiny starlight, as if the starry sky had been sealed and solidified.

"Yes, this dew is indeed extraordinary."

It has a slightly cool taste upon entry, and the sweetness melts on the tip of the tongue, carrying a faint floral fragrance, as if you are holding a mouthful of starlight.

"What about this one?"

Tang Xixue pointed to another plate of golden pastries.

"This is Moon Soul Pastry. The outer crust is made from finely ground wheat flour, and the filling is Moon Soul Spirit Flower. It's so flaky it crumbles, and the sweetness is just right."

Si Xingxuan picked up a piece and handed it to her, then picked up another piece for himself, took a bite, and squinted his eyes in satisfaction.

"If Zhizhi likes it, I can do it too. I learn everything quickly."

"Hmm, not bad."

Tang Xixue took a bite and found it to be crispy, sweet, and fragrant.

"And this dish, Jade Scale Fish Boiled in Star River Water. The fish is raised in the Star River Waterfall of Suspended Star City. Its flesh is tender and boneless. It is boiled directly in Star River water with only a little Star Salt added to preserve its original flavor."

Si Xingxuan lifted a white jade soup bowl, and steam rose up. The soup was milky white like jade, and the fish meat trembled slightly in the soup, as tender as tofu.

He scooped up a bowl, carefully blew on it, and then handed it to her.

"This food container has a small, temperature-controlled plate inside. The fish soup is still hot, so be careful not to burn yourself."

"This fish soup is delicious. And what kind of fruit is that made from?"

Tang Xixue pointed to a small dish of bright red candied fruit on the corner of the table.

"Star Sand Candied Fruit is made from Star Sand Fruit, which is unique to Xuanxing City. It is sweet and sour, and can stimulate the appetite and aid digestion."

Si Xingxuan picked up a piece and popped it into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out like a little squirrel that had successfully stolen a bite—she was incredibly cute.

Tang Xixue couldn't help but laugh when she saw him like this.

"I didn't expect Zhe Yue to know so much about these foods."

"Of course. As for me, my life is as fragile as paper, so I never wrong myself. There are more delicious foods in Suspended Star City than in Moon Soul City. I'll take you around when we get there."

As Si Xingxuan spoke, he placed another piece of flower pastry on her plate. It was pale purple in color and decorated with tiny silver star-shaped flowers. It was soft, sweet, and melted in her mouth.

"Oh, by the way, I have a surprise for you when we get to Suspended Star City."

"What surprise?"

Tang Xixue asked curiously, taking a bite of pastry, a little starlight dappling her lips.

"secret."

Si Xingxuan reached out and casually wiped away the speck of stardust from the corner of her lips, his fingertips lightly brushing against her lips before quickly withdrawing them, pretending nothing had happened.

Tang Xixue glanced at him, but didn't expose him; instead, the corners of her lips turned up slightly.

It must be said that when Si Xingxuan pretends to be well-behaved, he is quite deceptive, making people almost forget his true, sickly, and crazy nature.

If you really think of him as a harmless little puppy, you'd be making a big mistake.

He is a highly poisonous orchid.

The car moved slowly, and the Milky Way flowed gently outside the window.

"Zhizhi, are you going to Xuanxing City to look for something?"

Si Xingxuan asked.

"Yes, something very important."

Tang Xixue lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked out at the sea of ​​clouds rushing by.

The soul lamp rested in her palm, its tiny flame steadily pointing southeast, without ever veering off course.

Only one thought kept running through her mind.

What exactly is hidden in Suspended Star City?

Why did the fragments of her soul end up there?

She originally thought that the Divine Medicine Valley was where the opportunity lay when she came to Xingze.

The inheritance of the Medicine God, the Secret Realm of Glazed Glass, and the Three Lives Tree—all these places where cause and effect converge should be the opportunity for the soul to return to its rightful place.

However, the Soul Lamp in the Valley of Divine Medicine showed no reaction.

Instead, it was in this Starry City, a place she had never set foot in before and which was completely unfamiliar to her, that the lights came on.

"Life is like a game of chess; only after making a move do you realize the depth of the situation."

She murmured softly, looked away, and gently traced the warm edge of the lamp with her fingertips.

If that's the case, then let's go take a look.

Let's see what move this game has left for her.

Si Xingxuan's magnificent carriage arrived at Xuanxing City, where Tang Xixue saw the twin cities.

Although Suspended Star City is not as magnificent as Moon Soul City, it has its own unique charm of tranquility and elegance.

The city was built against the mountain, with layers of white walls and black tiles spiraling up the mountainside. The city lights were like stars scattered among the mountains, reflecting the real Milky Way in the night sky, making it impossible to distinguish which were lights and which were stars.

A waterfall cascades down the mountain, its spray shimmering silvery-white in the moonlight, resembling a silver river suspended in the sky when viewed from afar.

"This is my residence, the Moon-Folding Palace."

Si Xingxuan's palace is built atop the clouds at the highest point of Xuanxing City, overlooking the entire city.

The palace is predominantly silver-blue, with elegant buildings, lush flowers and trees, and shimmering lake, all reflecting the owner's refined taste.

In front of the palace is a plaza paved with stardust, which emits tiny starlight when stepped on, making it feel like walking on a galaxy.

However, Tang Xixue's gaze was firmly drawn to a building next to her.

"Zheyue, what is that?"

Tang Xixue held the Soul Lamp in her hands, and the flame pointed to a magnificent palace next to the Zheyue Palace.

It was an exquisite light purple palace.

It is exactly the same as her Palace of Eternal Life.

The nine-tiered steps in front of the hall are made of white jade, and the pillars are engraved with golden cloud patterns that she designed herself, with every curve perfectly executed.

The glazed tiles on the roof are a beautiful moonlight white, a color she chose after searching through countless ancient books.

"Is this a surprise you prepared?"

Tang Xixue gazed at the Hall of Longevity, the flame of the Soul Lamp dancing brighter in her palm than ever before.

"Yes! Zhizhi, this is the place I prepared for you. Do you like it?"

Si Xingxuan stood beside her and asked.

Tang Xixue nodded slightly, her gaze falling on the light purple palace.

"Um."

She turned around, her peach blossom eyes clear as water.

"So... why is it exactly the same as my Palace of Eternal Life?"

Si Xingxuan felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, his eyes darted around before finally settling on her face.

"I...I just think the design of this palace is beautiful."

His voice grew softer and softer, the tips of his ears turning as red as the autumn sunset, and his hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched the cuff tightly.

In public, he is a cold and ruthless mad doctor, a high and mighty seventh-generation pavilion master who can spend thousands of dollars without batting an eye.

But in her presence, all his shrewdness and calculation vanished, leaving only a heart full of sincerity.

"It—it just happens to be exactly the same as your Palace of Eternal Life."

"It's probably... a case of matching blueprints."

He realized how ridiculous and clumsy his excuse was, and lowered his head, not daring to look at her, only staring at the tips of his boots.

Tang Xixue looked at his bright red ears and curled her lips into a smile.

"Did they use the same blueprints?"

She repeated it softly.

"Then why did you have to run into my Palace of Longevity? Of all the palaces in this world, is this the only one you've set your sights on?"

"It's just... I think it's the best looking."

Si Xingxuan steeled his resolve, raised his head, and met her gaze directly.

His eyes were filled with an utterly clumsy sincerity and an unreserved joy.

"Okay, let's just say it's purely coincidental."

Tang Xixue turned around and stepped onto the white jade steps of the Hall of Longevity. Her skirt trailed on the ground, and she walked with ease, but she couldn't hide the smile on her lips.

"However, I also like this coincidence."

She is the gentlest twilight in the Nine Provinces, and also the most deadly net of eternal night.

He had already walked right into the trap.

Si Xingxuan stood there, staring at her retreating figure, stunned for a moment.

Then he quickly followed, his steps as light as if he were walking on clouds, and the smile on his lips was so radiant that it could make all the stars in the entire Starry City pale in comparison.

"Zhizhi likes it..."

"Very good!"