The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

On the third day of the third lunar month, in late spring, crabapple blossoms covered the entire coastline of the Zhiyue Sea Kingdom.

From Yunsha Ferry to Zhiyue Palace, all the flowers along the way were in full bloom.

The pink and white petals were swept up by the sea breeze and fluttered down onto the golden sand and the shoulders of the envoys who had traveled from all over Kyushu.

The sea at Yunsha Ferry was as calm as a mirror, with no wind for thousands of miles. Even the waves seemed to be breathing softly, as if the entire Mirror Water Spirit Island was holding its breath, waiting for something.

This is perhaps the most bustling day in the history of the Moon-Weaving Sea Kingdom.

"Envoys from all nations, have arrived!"

Immortal ships from all the kingdoms of the Nine Provinces lined up outside Yunsha Ferry, their flags fluttering in the sea breeze.

"The Northern Star Empire's immortal ship has arrived."

"The Yun Chuan Empire delegation..."

Xingze's deep blue star flag, Yunchuan's silver-white snow flag, Menghua's peach blossom brocade flag, and Beichen's black gold flag—all sorts of flags spread out between the azure sea and sky, like a magnificent landscape painting stirred by the sea breeze.

"Honorable guest, please follow us this way."

Small ferry boats shuttled between the fairy boats, transporting envoys and their entourages from various countries to the landing pier at Yunsha Ferry.

Those who set foot in the Moon-Weaving Sea Kingdom for the first time were mostly stunned by the sight before them.

"This is the first empire of Mirror Water Spirit Continent, the Weaving Moon Sea Kingdom!"

"It's absolutely magnificent!"

"We were isolated from the world for a long time, but now we can finally see its true face."

The golden sand is as soft as powder, and every grain of sand glistens in the sunlight, as if a whole galaxy is laid out on the coastline.

"That's because the sea route was opened during the coronation ceremony of Emperor Zhiyue; otherwise, it wouldn't be easy to travel by sea."

In the distance, the Moon Weaving Palace is half-hidden in the sunlight, its crystal palace blending seamlessly with the sea, making it impossible to distinguish where the palace walls end and the waves begin.

Occasionally, a few silvery-white waterbirds skim across the sea, their wingtips picking up a string of tiny water droplets that shatter into countless rainbows in the sunlight.

"I have long heard that the Moon-Weaving Sea Kingdom is the country in the Nine Provinces that is closest to the moon. Seeing it today, I can see that it truly lives up to its reputation."

Someone sighed softly.

"I've heard that His Majesty the Sea Emperor Xingyu has silver hair and blue eyes, and is even more aloof than the moonlight. I wonder if I'll be able to see his true face today."

"Not just the Sea Emperor, but the eldest princess of the Moon Weaving Sea Kingdom is the real protagonist. However, I heard that she is a direct descendant of the Moon Clan who was recently found. Before that, she had been living in exile and was little known to the world. I wonder what kind of person she is."

The crowd whispered amongst themselves as they slowly moved along the golden sand towards the Moon Weaving Palace.

"This Moon-Weaving Sea Kingdom looks like a truly pristine paradise."

Liu Fengchun sighed amidst the crowd. He had arrived in Haiguo quite early, hoping to have a good vacation here.

The doors of the main hall of Zhiyue Palace were wide open, and the crystal walls refracted the sunlight into countless tiny spots of light, which filled the entire hall.

There were already quite a few people seated inside the hall.

The envoys from the various countries of the Nine Provinces took their seats according to etiquette, with the seats arranged in order from the main seat to the side.

Amidst the fragrance of clothes and the swaying of hair, some people chatted in hushed tones, some raised their cups to sip tea, and some gazed in a daze at the sea of ​​clouds slowly spreading across the horizon outside the palace.

But the most eye-catching seats in the hall were those closest to the main seat.

"Your Majesty, please have some tea."

Wen Song poured tea for Xie Jinlian, which was covered with red jade goji berries that had been purchased at great expense from the Seven Generations Pavilion. It was said that these berries were very effective in replenishing vital energy.

"..."

Xie Jinlian sat in the first seat on the left.

Today he wore a moon-white robe, and his long silver hair was loosely tied with a silver ribbon, falling to his shoulders.

He only had a Butterfly Sword hanging at his waist.

He sat upright with composure as always, occasionally taking a sip of tea.

After all, he had spent a considerable amount of time cultivating with Tang Xixue on Bo Yue Peak for the past month, replenishing her fortune.

"Brother Xie, what a clever trick! You twin brothers almost made Zhizhi miss her birthday banquet."

He Lichen sat opposite him and made a sarcastic remark.

He wore a moon-white crane cloak, with extremely fine star trail patterns embroidered on the hem in silver thread, which shimmered like fireflies in the sunlight.

"Thank you for your concession."

Xie Jinlian's lips curled up upon hearing this. So what if they use any means necessary?

In the end, Zhizhi was willing to stay.

There was no way around it; his younger brother seemed detached from worldly desires and extremely proper, but in reality, he was quite the ladies' man.

Indeed, he achieved great success in joyful meditation.

I've read quite a few books.

I practiced everything from the book over and over again.

"You're just taking advantage of my presence on Holy Spirit Mountain to stabilize my senior brother's soul..."

He Lichen felt a surge of jealousy as he thought about how Zhizhi had been pestered by them for a month.

Unfortunately, he was at the Temple of Fate on Holy Spirit Mountain, busy fixing his senior brother's soul, which gave them an opportunity to take advantage of him.

Now that the eldest brother has regained his memory, he has become so depressed and withdrawn that he has almost given up on himself when he recalls what he said to Tang Xixue.

"Brother, when do you think Zhizhi is coming out? I've already prepared my gift."

Si Xingxuan sat in the second row on the left.

He wore a light blue silk robe with delicate orchid patterns embroidered in silver thread on the cuffs.

He sat upright, but his fingertips were always twirling a well-worn communication talisman in his sleeve.

He squeezed it again and again, as if waiting for some news.

"Don't worry, she is a princess of the Sea Kingdom, she will definitely show herself."

Si Xingzhou offered a reassuring remark to his younger brother, but his own gaze drifted into the distance.

"Where is Xue? Will she be able to find me?"

Feng Zhuo sat further back, surrounded by the Beichen delegation, his crimson outfit standing out conspicuously among the dark robes of the envoys.

He crossed his legs, twirling the tassel of a Crimson Flame Sword in his hand, his gaze sweeping around the hall as if searching for someone.

"I've already resigned. I'm staying here now, and I hope Ah Xue can take me in."

He searched around but couldn't find it, so he looked down and turned the sword tassel again.

"Oh, General Feng's idea happens to coincide with mine."

Hua Rongshi sat at the very front of the Menghua delegation, dressed in a light pink robe, a folding fan in her hand, her peach blossom eyes holding a casual smile as she looked around.

He was looking in a similar direction to Feng Zhuo, and their gazes occasionally met in mid-air before they looked away from each other.

"Today is Your Highness's birthday. I wonder if we could meet?"

Pei Yanchuan sat in the Yun Chuan delegation, dressed in a snow-white robe, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

He didn't look around, but stared at the gauze curtain hanging above the main seat, behind which a figure could be vaguely seen.

His gaze lingered on the shadow for a long time.

"Zhizhi...are you settling in well in the Sea Kingdom? Has anyone been bullying you?"

Emperor Tang Xiye of Beichen Shengchen sat further back.

He did not sit at the front of the delegation, but instead chose a seat towards the back of the middle, not wanting to attract too much attention.

After all, it was originally envoys from various countries who came to offer their congratulations, but instead, he, as the emperor, came in person.

His dark gold imperial robe gleamed with dark gold patterns in the sunlight. He held a cup of tea but didn't drink it; he simply placed it beside him.

He lowered his eyes and waited quietly.

The commotion in the hall continued for a while until the master of ceremonies announced, "The auspicious hour has arrived—please invite His Majesty the Sea Emperor to the hall."

The conversation inside the hall quieted down a bit.

Everyone knows that the current ruler of the Zhiyue Sea Kingdom is the Sea Emperor Xingyu, the legendary iron-blooded overlord.

Footsteps could be heard coming from the palace gate.

Xingyu walked out from the side hall, wearing a silver-blue silk robe with continuous wave patterns embroidered on the hem, and her gradient silver-blue hair was particularly striking.

His steps were calm and steady. He walked to the front of the main seat, but instead of sitting down, he stood to the side.

All the guests in the hall thought he was about to sit on the throne.

After all, the direct line of the Moon Clan of the Moon Weaving Sea Kingdom has never officially appeared, and everyone knows that the one in charge is this Sea Emperor.

Xingyu stood in front of the main seat, turned slightly to the side, and stretched out her hand towards the curtain.

Then he spoke, his voice clear and steady: "Your Majesty, please receive the crown in court."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Then the hanging silk curtain slowly rose.

The curtain rose very lightly and slowly, yet all eyes in the hall were drawn to it at that moment.

Sunlight poured down from the dome, falling on the figure emerging from behind the curtain.

When Tang Xixue came out, all the light in the hall fell on her.

She was draped in a snow-woven silk gauze, the fabric so light it seemed to be spun from moonlight, its cold blue shimmering like glaciers in the sunlight.

The gauze is embroidered with the full picture of the ebb and flow of the tide in the finest ice silk. From the shoulders to the hem, the waves are layered and overlapping, and every line flows endlessly in the light.

With each step she took, the ripples on her clothes seemed to come alive, flowing from her shoulders to the hem and back again, as if the very place she walked was the ocean itself.

Adorning her hair are moonbeams formed from the tears of mermaids, each one shimmering with tiny rainbows in the light.

The silver crown gathered her long, dark hair, with a fine beaded curtain hanging from its edge. The curtain fell above her brow bone, casting dappled, flowing shadows in the light.

She walked to the head seat, turned slightly, and faced the guests filling the hall.

The sunlight bathed her completely.

The hall was completely silent.

Then someone gasped first, followed by a series of suppressed gasps and gasps, like the ripples on a lake when the wind sweeps across its surface.

Hua Rongshi snapped his peach blossom fan shut, leaned forward half an inch, and stared wide-eyed.

"My...wife...?"

Feng Zhuo jumped up from his seat.

His bright red outfit stood out in the crowd. He pointed to the main seat, his mouth opening and closing.

"Ah... Ah Xue?"

His voice trembled violently.

"She...she's Empress Zhiyue?"

He turned his head sharply to look at Yan Ci, who was standing next to Shen Cuo, his face half-hidden by a folding fan. His expression remained calm and composed, but Feng Zhuo could clearly see that the strategist's ear tips had turned slightly red.

He turned to look at Si Xingxuan again, and saw that the teacup in the hands of the Divine Physician Zheyue was already half-tilted, with tea dripping down between his fingers, but he was completely unaware.

He just stared intently at the direction of the main seat, his eyes, which always carried a hint of aloofness, now swirling with too many complex emotions.

"Zhizhi, she's actually the new emperor of Zhiyue!"

Pei Yanchuan's fingers tightened inside his sleeve.

"Your Highness, from now on I should address you as Your Majesty."

He didn't lose his composure like the others, but his gaze remained fixed on the figure in the main seat for a long time.

Si Xingzhou held the teacup to his lips for a long time. He looked at the person in the main seat, his eyes first showing shock, then slowly turning into an extremely complex understanding.

"I see."

He muttered to himself, a slight smile curving his lips.

"Sister Zhi has actually become Empress! She really kept it all hidden!"

The white cat in Kong Sangyu's arms poked its head out at some point, its sapphire-like eyes looking at the main seat, and meowed.

"As expected of Sister Zhi."

"She was born to stand on the clouds."

Tangxi sat further back.

He did not stand up, nor did he make a sound.

He simply gazed in the direction of the throne, at the moon-white imperial robe with its ever-flowing wave patterns in the sunlight, and at the face he had seen countless times, now seated upright on the throne.

His lips curved into a very slight smile, as if he had finally seen the lit light on the other side of a very long river.

"My beloved is like the moon in the sky, and should naturally shine throughout the four seas and eight wastelands."