The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Inside the Hall of Suspended Kings, Emperor Xingze, Si Xingzhou, was reviewing a memorial sent from Yuepo City via express courier.

The vermilion brush pauses, the ink lingering with fragrance.

He didn't have to come to Suspended Star City.

In Xingze Imperial Capital, Moon Soul City, government affairs are as heavy as mountains, and memorials are as numerous as snowflakes. Every day, countless court matters require his personal approval.

He could easily sit on the dragon throne in the imperial study in the capital, receiving the homage of all officials and managing the affairs of the world.

But he still came.

They quietly moved half of the imperial study to Xuanxing City, setting up a temporary review room in the warm pavilion deepest in the Xuanwang Palace.

Chu Yi, the emperor's trusted advisor, carefully placed a stack of important documents on the table.

"Your Majesty, shall we return to Moonsoul City for the Lantern Festival?"

He asked cautiously, his gaze fixed on the emperor's slightly furrowed brow.

"For the Lantern Festival banquet in Moon Soul City, all the major families have submitted their invitations this year. The Ministry of Rites has urged them several times, just waiting for His Majesty's word."

Countless noble ladies awaited this opportunity, hoping only to gain the favor of the young emperor.

After all, Emperor Xingze has never taken in a large harem, and countless eyes are eyeing the empress's position.

"I won't reply."

Si Xingzhou didn't even look up, but wrote a line of annotations on the memorial with his vermilion brush.

His handwriting was as sharp and precise as if carved by a knife and axe, each stroke exuding imperial majesty.

"I once lived in the City of Suspended Stars."

The pen tip hovered in mid-air for a moment.

A myriad of thoughts raced through my mind.

When he put pen to paper again, the handwriting was three times softer than before.

"It's rare for Ah Zhe to be happy, so I'll keep him company."

Chu Yi lowered his head, not daring to reply, and even his breathing became soft.

His Highness Prince Xuan was unusually happy.

If these words were to reach the ears of the court officials in Moonsoul City, probably no one would believe them.

That prince was always gloomy, like a solitary orchid growing in a poisonous swamp.

She was beautiful and stunning, but the sinister and ruthless nature that emanated from her very being made all the officials in the court turn pale at the mere mention of her name.

But in front of His Majesty, Prince Xuan is a completely different person.

Chu Yi had seen it once.

That day, Prince Xuan entered the palace. His Majesty was reviewing memorials, and Prince Xuan was lounging on the soft couch beside His Majesty, chatting idly.

His Majesty would occasionally respond with a sound, and occasionally raise his hand to touch the top of his head.

At that moment, Chu Yi felt as if he had witnessed the most incredible scene in the world.

His Majesty is indeed a brother-doting fanatic.

Despite being overwhelmed with official duties and so busy that he had to squeeze in time for meals, he still moved half of the imperial study to Xuanxing City, just to spend the Lantern Festival with His Highness Prince Xuan.

"Set up the observatory in the Hall of Suspended Kings for me."

Si Xingzhou put down his vermilion brush and picked up his teacup.

Junshan Yinzhen tea has a clear, amber-like liquor and a refreshing, lingering aroma. The rising white mist blurs the weariness between the emperor's brows.

"On the Lantern Festival, I would like to invite distinguished guests to the stage to enjoy the lanterns."

Chu Yi's heart skipped a beat.

Observatory.

The highest point of the Suspended King's Palace offers the best view of the entire Suspended Star City.

From the platform, one can overlook the city lights that stretch as far as the eye can see, and look up at the starry sky.

Throughout history, strict rules have been in place, and only emperors and empresses of Xingze were allowed to ascend this platform during major festivals.

Ordinary people are not even qualified to step onto the steps; those who ascend the platform without authorization are considered to have overstepped their bounds—at best, they will be stripped of their titles, and at worst, beheaded.

This rule has never been broken since the founding of Xingze Kingdom.

"Your Majesty, the rules of the observatory..."

Chu Yi spoke cautiously, but swallowed his words halfway through.

Because he saw Si Xingzhou's eyes.

Calm as water, yet unfathomable.

The gaze fell upon him, neither angry nor pleased, but carrying an unquestionable imperial majesty, as imposing as a mountain, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

"Go and do it."

Si Xingzhou's voice was cold.

Chu Yi dared not ask any more questions and bowed as he withdrew.

As he exited the palace, he realized that his vest was soaked with a thin layer of sweat, and his undergarments were drenched and felt cold against his back.

As he walked down the corridor, he couldn't help but look back.

Through the half-open window, he saw the emperor turning his head to look out the window.

Outside the window, the lights of thousands of homes in Suspended Star City gradually lit up, twinkling like an inverted Milky Way.

The emperor's lips seemed to curve slightly upwards.

"Does Your Majesty have someone in your heart?"

He was startled, quickly averted his gaze, and hurried away.

The thought lingered in my mind the whole way.

"What kind of distinguished guest could make His Majesty break ancestral rules?"

"Could it be that beautiful guest from Tianxing Pool last time?"

"That's really intriguing."

As night fell, the lights of Suspended Star City lit up one by one.

One lamp, a hundred lamps, millions of lamps.

It was as if a celestial being from the clouds had raised his wide sleeves and scattered a handful of stars, which fell to earth and transformed into a city full of lights.

Si Xingxuan stood in front of the Hall of Longevity, looking up at the lamp under the eaves.

He hung the lamp himself.

The pattern resembles a begonia, with layers of pink petals.

The lamp body is covered with silk gauze, as thin as a cicada's wing, allowing light to pass through but not wind.

The candle wick is made of whale blubber from the deep sea. Once lit, the flame is as warm and smooth as jade and will not scorch the candle paper in the slightest.

He hung there for a long time.

It's not that the lamp is hard to hang.

He was too nervous.

The ladder was set up, the lamp was held in my hand, but my palms were sweaty and my fingertips trembled slightly.

He stood on the ladder for a long time, taking several deep breaths, before finally hanging the lamp steadily on the eaves.

A silver bell tinkled softly in the night breeze.

"Ding-dong."

It is crisp and melodious, like a jade bead falling into an ice plate.

"I hope Zhizhi will like it."

He murmured softly.

The lamplight fell into his eyes.

Those eyes were usually gloomy and somber, as if shrouded in a thin mist, making them impossible to see through.

But at that moment, the mist dissipated, revealing the crystal-clear light beneath.

It was filled with anticipation.

It is filled with the uncontainable joy of a young man experiencing his first crush.

As the setting sun melts into gold, and the evening sun sinks into the mountains and sea, dusk settles in, and the city of Suspended Stars lights up from the darkness.

Thousands of lanterns illuminate the city, and crabapple blossoms adorn the entire city.

The long street was as bright as day, and the lights were as numerous as the tide.

In that instant, the entire Starry City became dazzling.

Under the eaves, the begonia lanterns bloom in layers, like a dream intoxicated by spring.

Lotus lanterns float on the water beside the bridge railing, swaying with the waves, their reflections shattering in the ripples and scattering like countless fireflies.

At the treetops, jade rabbit lanterns and revolving lanterns are scattered at varying heights, the red ones as fiery as fire, the white ones as cool as frost, and the pink ones as delicate as rosy clouds.

Layer upon layer, spreading out.

Stretching from the foot of the mountain all the way to the summit, it is like a flowing galaxy, winding its way up and into the clouds.

"A thousand lanterns illuminate the night, rising to meet the clouds; ten thousand stars fall upon the jade steps."

Thousands of lanterns bloom at the same time.

Like a grand floral display, it was crushed by a fairy and scattered across the human world.

The long street paved with stardust stretches out beneath your feet, and with each step, tiny starlight ripples out from between the stones.

The starlight followed the footsteps of pedestrians, ripples blending into the night, dreamlike and ethereal.

"Weaving."

Si Xingxuan's voice rang out softly in the night breeze, gentle and tender.

"Tonight, please join me in enjoying the city's bright lights."

He stood beside Tang Xixue, his features still youthful, his steps neither hurried nor slow, just shoulder to shoulder with her.

This was their first time meeting.

He silently repeated it countless times in his heart, until his chest felt hot and his fingertips went numb.