The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Your Majesty, please."

Xingyu stood to the side of the main seat, her silver-blue robe shimmering like deep sea waves in the hall.

He stretched out his hand, palm up, his posture respectful and composed, like guiding a crescent moon into the heart of the sea.

Tang Xixue smiled and glanced at Xingyu.

"Zhizhi, the entire Zhiyue Sea Kingdom is yours! Your father, mother, and brother are your strongest support."

Yuehao said solemnly.

"Yu'er, from now on, you must serve His Majesty well."

He looked at Poseidon Star Encounter, who was standing to the side.

"Father, please rest assured, your son will certainly live up to your expectations."

Xingyu solemnly assured him.

Fengxue Yinlong Xingmi perched on Tangxi Xue's shoulder, her bright eyes gazing excitedly at Xingyu, feeling that her older brother was indeed domineering and reliable.

Tang Xixue rested at Thin Moon Peak for a month, and only after her soul was completely stabilized did she return to the Weaving Moon Sea Kingdom.

After little Xingmi made a huge fuss, Xingyu finally accepted him so as not to disturb his younger sister.

Of course, Tang Xixue also deserves credit for this. She said she didn't mind, so he reluctantly accepted this crybaby brother.

Before Tang Xixue returned, Xingyu had already made ample preparations for her coronation ceremony.

Even her imperial robes were designed by him personally.

The crown she wore was made by him.

"Little Pearl, your brother will always be by your side."

Xingyu said to her.

"Thank you, brother."

Tang Xixue nodded slightly.

"Let's go now, let's receive the worship of all people, and let the whole of the Nine Provinces see our Sea Kingdom's Moon Weaver Empress."

Xingyu stepped back half a step and escorted Tangxi Xue to the throne.

The throne is formed from ancient coral and starlight, with crimson and silver-blue hues intertwined, like frozen tides and eternal night.

The base is entwined with patterns of a sleeping dragon, its eyes slightly closed and whiskers drooping, as if it is guarding the sea kingdom in a dream.

He helped her sit down, his left hand resting on the armrest, his fingertips touching the warm, smooth coral, as if he could hear the ancient sound of the ocean tides.

She slightly raised her eyes, her gaze slowly sweeping over the faces of everyone in the hall.

The figures stood silently in the sunlight, as if the mountains and rivers of the entire land had been invited into this palace, waiting for her first word.

"Zhizhi, congratulations!"

Xie Jinlian sat not far away, the Butterfly Departure Sword that he never parted with resting quietly against the side of the chair, like a crane that had finally folded its wings.

Looking into her eyes, one could see the longest wait in the world, finally waiting for the flowers to bloom.

The snow in the entire Kunlun Mountains melted into warmth.

"You've been on this journey for a long time."

"But I always knew you would reach the top."

When Tang Xixue met his gaze, the curve of her lips softened naturally.

"I remember every word Master said. You said I could do it."

Yun Boyan stood quietly in the corner, not disturbing her, but silently protecting her along with her bodyguards.

He Lichen sat on the other side, stroking the astrolabe that had been with him for many years.

He didn't look up; his gaze remained fixed on the shimmering light patterns on the plate.

"Weaving."

"Look, your star is shining."

He slightly turned the astrolabe so that the sunlight fell precisely on one spot.

The star hung in the center of the disk, its silvery-white surface tinged with gold, silently rotating its light.

"That star didn't suddenly light up."

"It accumulates its light little by little every time you don't give up."

Tang Xixue gazed at the star, her eyes welling up slightly.

She didn't speak, but simply blinked gently, letting the warmth that welled up inside her return to her heart.

Si Xingxuan sat at the table, looking at her. Her eyes, which were always misty and shrouded in illness, now seemed to be washed by moonlight.

"Zhizhi. I've come to keep my appointment."

He called out, his voice softer than usual.

His lips slowly curved into a soft arc.

"At this spring banquet, may I be your flower?"

He lowered his eyes after speaking, his heart filled with trepidation.

"Ah Xue, I... I've come to marry you, but I don't know if I'll ever have that chance again..."

Feng Zhuo was still standing there when Chu Qiao pulled him down to sit down again.

His bright red outfit stood out starkly among the magnificent robes in the hall, like a flame that refused to go out.

After being dragged down, he was only obedient for a moment before raising his head again, his eyes staring straight at Tang Xixue on the throne, so intense it seemed to burn through the elaborate rituals of the entire hall.

"I don't care what your rules are, weaving moon sea kingdom."

His voice carried a reckless and domineering quality.

"Anyway, I'm here. If you don't choose me, then I'll..."

"What do you mean?"

Chu Qiao, who was standing next to her, chimed in. He was now the future strategist of the Zhiyue Sea Kingdom, responsible for assisting Her Majesty the Empress.

"You caused a scene at your sister's coronation ceremony?"

"I'm not leaving."

Feng Zhuo spoke with righteous indignation and in a clear, resonant voice.

"I'll pitch a tent on the beach at Zhiyue and fish every day. I'll write a love letter for every fish I catch, throw it into the sea, and send it to you."

Several guests who were nearby heard this and were so trying not to laugh that their shoulders trembled.

Only Tang Xiye's gaze, like a knife, scraped across his back, sending a chill down his neck. He reflexively shrank back, but still stubbornly refused to change his words.

"My wife probably wouldn't mind if another peach blossom from the south bloomed in our harem, would she?"

When Hua Rong was in a daze, she unfolded the peach blossom fan again.

The fan covered half of her face, but her peach blossom eyes were curved like crescent moons, with the corners slightly upturned.

She was like a peach blossom that had been opened by the spring breeze, as if she wanted to dye the solemnity of the entire hall with a touch of alluring spring color.

"Luckily, my cousin is holding down the fort in Beichen, otherwise he would definitely be trying to take people from me."

He lowered the fan slightly, revealing his handsome face, his eyes sparkling with captivating charm.

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, for this peach blossom of mine will bloom for a long time. Your Majesty, it's never too late to pluck it."

Tang Xixue sat upright on the throne, feeling the gazes cast upon her, some burning and some gentle and restrained.

Tang Xiye was also looking at her.

Across the banners and magnificent crowns of the nine continents, his gaze, like an anchor that had weathered all storms, settled steadily on her.

That gaze was so deep, as deep as a vast night sea, suppressing all the waves beneath the surface, leaving only a calm, deep blue.

The two looked at each other and smiled. There were no words in their smiles, yet it seemed as if they had said everything.

They gazed at each other across the distance, a brief moment, yet it felt as if they had weathered half a lifetime of storms.

"He's quite composed," Hua Rongshi muttered, covering her mouth with her fan. "If my sister were to ascend the throne, I would have rushed to the front long ago."

The newly appointed top scholar, Liang Jin, stood to the side of the hall, dressed in a scarlet court robe and holding a jade tablet.

Between those handsome features, there was a hint of tension that he was trying hard to suppress.

This was the first time he had taken on such an important responsibility.

He took a deep breath, his voice clear and melodious like a spring, steadily filling the hall.

"The new emperor of the Moon Weaving Sea Kingdom, Moon Weaving Snow, shall from this day forward inherit the foundation of the vast ocean and rule over its boundless blue waves. May the nine continents bear witness and heaven and earth bear witness."

All the court officials and envoys in the hall rose and bowed.

The soft rustling of fabrics rubbing together with the gentle clanging of armor clashing created a sound like the tide rising from the seabed.

The sound of the tide surged layer upon layer, from the front of the hall to the back, from the subjects of the Weaving Moon Sea Kingdom to the envoys from the Nine Provinces, and finally converged into a silent yet powerful force throughout the entire hall.

"Congratulations on Your Majesty's ascension to the throne!"

"The Kingdom of Xingze hereby presents a congratulatory gift—three thousand bushels of Heavenly Star Sand."

"The Kingdom of Menghua presents one hundred jars of Dew of a Hundred Flowers, wishing Your Majesty eternal youth."

"Ten thousand-year-old snow ginseng plants from Yunchuan Kingdom..."

"May the Bodhi seed be offered by the Kingdom of the Other Shore, and may the Kingdom of the Sea prosper."

"The Kingdom of Lotus Song offers water from the sacred spring, wishing Your Majesty lasting blessings."

One by one, rare and precious treasures were presented to the palace, each shimmering in the sunlight.

The celestial sand is contained in a transparent crystal bottle. When the bottle is shaken slightly, the silvery sand grains appear to flow like a galaxy within the bottle.

The Hundred Flowers Dew is sealed in a white jade jar, and its sweet fragrance can be smelled even through the jar walls.

The thousand-year-old snow ginseng was placed on a brocade cushion, its whiskers like silver threads, its appearance so perfect that it seemed otherworldly.

Palace servants moved about, registering and displaying the congratulatory gifts one by one. The hall was filled with dazzling lights, like a magnificent dream.

Liang Jin quietly raised her eyes and glanced at the empress on the throne.

Previously, he only knew that the Kingdom of Zhiyuehai had a legitimate princess who had been separated from the country for many years and had only recently been found, but he did not know what the empress looked like or what her temperament was.

The Empress Dowager personally appointed him to this role of master of ceremonies, so he could not afford to make a mistake.

"Thank you, esteemed envoys, for traveling from afar to offer your congratulations."

Tang Xixue sat upright amidst the sound of the tide, her chin slightly raised.

"Gentlemen, please rise, no need for formalities."

After an unknown amount of time, the gift-giving finally came to an end.

The top scholar, Liang Jin, retreated to the side of the hall and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. All eyes in the hall once again focused on the direction of the main seat.

Empress Dowager Xiyin walked out of the side hall, wearing a dark blue long dress and pearl hair ornaments in her hair, her face dignified and gentle.

She walked to the seat below the main one, turned slightly to face the guests in the hall, and the smile on her lips was gentle yet contained a hint of mischief.

"Today is the coronation ceremony of the Empress of the Weaving Moon Sea Kingdom. All the lands celebrate and all nations rejoice."

Her voice slowly spread out.

"I have a matter on my mind, and I should take this opportunity to speak it to everyone. Her Majesty the Empress is in the prime of her life, yet she has not yet chosen a suitable husband. I see that all the talented men of the Nine Provinces are here."

She paused, the curve of her lips deepening slightly.

"Why not take this opportunity to hold a grand ceremony to select consorts for Her Majesty the Empress?"

The hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted in gasps and whispers.

"Choosing...choosing a concubine?!"

Hua Rongshi unfolded and closed her peach blossom fan repeatedly, her movements as swift as a firecracker that had been set on fire.

"Does the Empress Dowager mean... that she wants to select consorts for Her Majesty the Empress?"

Feng Zhuo suddenly sat up straight, his crimson outfit taut over his shoulders, his eyes ten times brighter than before.

Pei Yanchuan's fingers tightened and loosened, loosened and tightened again, repeating this several times before finally resting them flat on his lap.

He Lichen continued drinking tea, holding the cup for a long time without putting it down.

Xie Jinlian slightly curved the corners of her lips, remaining calm and composed.

Tang Xiye's handsome face froze instantly, and his brow twitched involuntarily.

Sitting on the throne, Tang Xixue finally understood why her mother had been smiling so happily all day.

"Mother..."

She spoke, her voice carrying a hint of helpless laughter.

"What? I'm worried for you, and you're still not happy?"

tide Yin spoke with an air of self-righteousness, and as she looked at the guests filling the hall, her smile was gentle and tender.

"Zhibao. You already hold this vast land in your hands. But there should always be someone to share the joys and sorrows of life with you."

"What do you all think of my suggestion?"

The commotion inside the hall was already overwhelming.

Hua Rongshi was the first to stand up: "I wholeheartedly agree!"

Feng Zhuo followed closely behind: "I agree too!"

Si Xingxuan silently pushed the teacup away from him, wiped his sleeves with a handkerchief, and didn't say anything, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.

Tang Xixue sat on the throne, looking at the commotion in the hall and the gazes directed at her.

She raised her hand, and the hall fell silent once more.

"The everyday joys of life should indeed be enjoyed with someone."

"Then we shall do as Mother says."

"However, the choice is mine. Whoever I want, shall come. Whoever I don't want, dare to approach?"

Her words, spoken with such clarity and precision, were like moonlight spreading across the sea, leaving no room for argument.

"In my life, I have weathered storms and walked through dark nights. When I climbed out of the abyss, I thought it was the end. But now, sitting here, I realize that it was only the beginning."

Her gaze fell upon the endless horizon where the sea met the sky.

Mountains and seas can be leveled, and years can be endured. The road we have traveled is long, and the road ahead is still long.

My journey never began on the jade steps…

"It began the moment I refused to accept my fate."

Her gaze was clear and resolute.

Tang Xixue, who had crawled back from the abyss, finally sat on the high platform, bathed in radiant light.

This bright moon, hanging alone in the sky, will never fall.

She herself rewrote this destiny.

She has already grasped this empire in her hands.

From now on, I can write freely about anything in the vast world.

[The End]