The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

As dawn broke through the clouds, the frost and snow on both sides of the main road of the Mountain and River Palace had not yet melted, and the plum blossoms, like clouds and mist, reflected the golden light flowing on the glazed tiles of the Nine Palaces of Heaven.

The chariots of various nations lined up like dragons, their banners fluttering gently in the breeze, yet at this moment, all sounds froze.

"My goodness!"

Someone gasped first, their voice barely audible, yet the trembling echo lingered in their throat.

"Who...who would dare to object to this?"

"Even if I did, I wouldn't dare say so, would I?"

"Really...I never would have guessed!"

The envoys exchanged horrified glances, their hands clenching involuntarily in their sleeves.

The revered Master of the Palace of Fate, the aloof and serene Imperial Preceptor He Lichen, who was as clear and cold as the bright moon in the heavens, actually stepped out of Princess Chenyao's carriage.

Her dark hair was slightly disheveled, and a hint of dark red was faintly visible at the collar of her white dress. Anyone could guess what kind of romantic scene had just unfolded in the carriage.

"Our Imperial Advisor is playing such a wild game—"

"Tsk, this is so exciting."

Whispers spread like ripples through the delegation. Everyone tried their best to maintain a calm demeanor, but their shifty eyes and tense shoulders betrayed the turmoil in their hearts.

"Is this something we can see?"

"Did we... stumble upon something we shouldn't have known?"

"..."

Countless gazes lingered between He Lichen and the magnificent carriage, only to quickly lower themselves when they met the Grand Preceptor's cold, clear eyes.

He was a figure who truly held the power of the Nine Extremes and stood at the pinnacle of the Nine Provinces. With just a casual glance, he made the surrounding air feel heavier.

Kong Sangyu was already frozen in place, his earlier provocative thoughts completely gone.

Who would have thought!

Inside was actually their Director of Studies!

"Shh—keep your voice down...Are you out of your mind?"

An experienced envoy quietly reprimanded the restless young men beside him.

"This is the chief officiant presiding over the Nine Extremes Alliance! Do you think just anyone can sit comfortably in the main seat when nine emperors gather?"

But can the curiosity of young people be easily suppressed?

Some people couldn't help but gasp in amazement:

"Just who is this deity who could possibly drag that bright moon, hanging high in the heavens, down to the mortal realm?"

"Could it really be Princess Mirror, as the Crown Prince of Kongsang said?"

"How could that be... She's a notorious simp..."

"In the end, all that licking was for naught; not a single one was successfully licked..."

"I wonder just how ugly that princess is, that she's so lowly and despicable... I'd rather not associate with her."

"Don't mention her... How could she possibly deserve the favor of such a celestial being as the Imperial Preceptor?"

The agonizing speculation and probing almost materialized.

The sounds that came from inside the carriage just now—the soft rustling of fabric and the low, indistinct whispers—were all too familiar.

Who among those present wasn't a powerful expert with considerable cultivation?

With keen senses, they can pick up on things they should and shouldn't hear.

"Have we... disturbed your enjoyment, sir?"

The thought sent chills down many people's spines.

"With so many people present, surely the Imperial Preceptor wouldn't go so far as to... kill them to silence them?"

Even so, when He Lichen's gaze swept over them indifferently, everyone held their breath in unison.

The gaze finally landed on Bei Chenji, calm and undisturbed, yet it gave one a sense of impending storm.

Bei Chenji met that gaze, but instead, a playful smile appeared on his lips.

He straightened the cuffs of his crimson brocade robe, his demeanor calm and composed, a confidence cultivated from long years at the pinnacle of power.

"It's a misunderstanding." He spoke slowly and clearly, "What the Grand Preceptor did, although... a bit wild, he can hardly be considered a disreputable person."

He appeared calm, but his heart was in turmoil.

This extraordinary and peerless imperial advisor, revered throughout the land, actually bowed down to his unruly little niece.

If this news gets out, it will probably shake half of the Nine Provinces.

He glanced at the familiar gilded carriage out of the corner of his eye, his expression complex.

Tangxi Xue, truly... has excellent skills.

"Wow, it's quite lively here—"

Just then, a soft laugh, like the tinkling of silver bells in the wind, broke the tense atmosphere.

A delicate hand lifted the crystal curtain of the carriage, and Tang Xixue, draped in a cloak trimmed with snowflakes, lazily leaned out.

As the morning light shone down, her moon-white dress, adorned with subtle silver threads, made it seem as if she were draped in the Milky Way.

Her long hair wasn't carefully tied up; she simply wore a snowflake tassel hairpin, and the rest of her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, making her face appear even whiter and more translucent.

The lingering springtime glow in her eyes and brows, the redness at the corners of her eyes, and her moist, rosy lips made her resemble a rose suddenly blooming in the snow, breathtakingly beautiful.

She held the curtain, her eyes sparkling with a smile, as if filled with scattered stars.

"You have come from afar, and I welcome you here."

The sound wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Ahhh—cousin, she...she's so beautiful!"

Hua Rongshi clutched her chest, so excited she almost fainted, and tugged at Bei Chenji's sleeve, babbling incoherently.

I have fallen deeply in love.

"My wife...why did she reward the Imperial Advisor?"

Bei Chenji shook off his hand with a dark expression.

"Her actions are so absurd, yet you remain stubbornly unrepentant?"

The Imperial Preceptor had just gotten off her bed!

Cousin, don't be delusional! Wake up!

She hadn't seen her before, yet she accused others of defaming her.

Goodness, now that he's seen the person, he's even more excited.

When he was in a daze, he was truly—mad!

A series of suppressed gasps filled the air.

"Hiss—this…I hadn’t heard before that Princess Jingyue of Chenyao was such a stunning beauty?"

"With such a beautiful face, her mere presence speaks volumes! She's right!"

"Pah! What simp? If he were to win the goddess's favor, anyone who refused would be ungrateful!"

"Just now I thought the Imperial Advisor had been dragged down to earth... Now I just want to say—the Imperial Advisor has real skills!"

"Where did this peerless beauty come from... truly stunning! Prince Kongsang, you were right!"

"Imperial Advisor, please step aside, let me try!"

"Your Highness, look at me—"

Many of the young talents in the delegations from various countries were seeing the true face of the rumored eccentric and unruly Princess Jingyue for the first time.

With such beauty before him, all thoughts of reputation and controversy vanished, leaving only his heart pounding like a drum.

"Your Excellency, the Imperial Advisor, have excellent judgment."

Qi Si, the regent of the Yun Chuan Empire, spoke with a smile.

He was middle-aged, but his face was still handsome and dashing, and the years only added to his composure and dignity.

Beside him, a young man dressed in a dark robe embroidered with silver epiphyllum flowers exuded a chilling aura.

The young man possessed a strikingly handsome appearance with exotic features. His delicate and feminine features, along with his long, thick phoenix eyes, which should have been captivating and affectionate, were now filled with frost and undisguised disgust, fixed intently on Tang Xixue.

It was none other than Qi Wang, the young prince of the Yun Chuan Empire who had already distinguished himself in battle at the age of nineteen and was hailed as the "God of War".

"May the God of War be well."

Tang Xixue seemed oblivious to the piercing gaze. When He Lichen reached out to help her, she naturally placed her slender hand in his palm and used the support to gracefully step out of the carriage.

Her snow-white cloak swayed slightly with her movements, and she walked with ease, completely unconcerned about the gazes of the crowd.

Those with immense power naturally have the confidence to look up to others.

Why should Tangxi Xue need to be mindful of others' opinions?

They are the ones who should bow their heads.

"..."

Qi Wang's knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, and his sword hummed softly in its sheath.

He never expected that this woman would dare to appear in front of him so openly!

"Isn't it just—losing one of the God of War's swords?"

Tang Xixue leaned lazily against He Lichen's side, but the latter did not push her away. Instead, he gently supported her waist, clearly showing his indulgence and protection.

This was undoubtedly a public declaration of his stance in front of the envoys from Kyushu.

Her red lips curved slightly, her eyes sparkling with a playful glint:

"Why do you always look at me with such a resentful, mortal-like expression? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were my ex-husband who was seduced and then abandoned by me."

"Whoosh—"

A thin crack suddenly appeared in the scabbard between Qi Wang's fingers.

Sword cultivators love their swords as much as their own lives; what Tang Xixue lost was no ordinary weapon.

That was his companion whom he had nurtured with his heart and soul since childhood, whom he regarded as his own life.

That's his wife!

He suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with a murderous intent that was almost tangible.

"Order to execute."

Qi Si's cold and stern voice rang out, and a hand pressed on his shoulder.

Qi Wang shuddered, his murderous aura forcibly suppressed, but his phoenix eyes remained fixed on Tang Xixue, as if he wanted to devour her alive.

"Your Highness, that's enough." Qi Si turned to Tang Xixue, his gaze deep. "If you anger him—he might bite."

The regent, who held power over Kitagawa Cloud Court, was composed and dignified.

Both Qi Wang and the young emperor Qi Zhan were raised by him. In his presence, even this infamous war god had to restrain his sharpness.

"oh."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xixue responded softly, her gaze lingering on Qi Si's face for a moment.

She knew that the Kitagawa Yunting royal family was skilled in using witchcraft.

But the regent's features... why do they look so familiar?

It even vaguely resembled the little white flower in her home.

This discovery stirred something within her, but she showed no sign of it on her face, only offering a gentle smile:

"Thank you for the reminder, Regent. But who dares to provoke him—what if he casts a spell on me?"

"Heh." Qi Si chuckled softly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "The Qi Clan's Gu poison isn't something just anyone is qualified to be used on."

Their Qi clan's silk-stringing Gu is reserved only for their beloved.

Tang Xixue raised an eyebrow slightly: "I am not qualified. I am deeply honored."

She said no more, turned around and got back into the car.

Just before entering the carriage, he suddenly turned back and glanced at Kong Sangyu, who was sitting on the magnificent jade palanquin, with a half-smile.

That wicked little dumpling is trying to trick her again!

Very good, she has taken note.

Then the curtains fell, concealing her stunning figure.

The carriage slowly started moving, and under the watchful eyes of countless people, it turned around and drove away from Shanheque.

He Lichen didn't turn around until the carriage disappeared from sight. His snow-white sleeves fluttered lightly as his gaze calmly swept over the crowd:

"The Nine Extremes Alliance is about to convene; you have all traveled a long way and must be tired."

"Regarding today's events—I do not wish to hear any unnecessary rumors."

After speaking, he didn't look at the crowd again, turned around, stepped on the bluestone, and calmly left.

Only when that snow shadow completely disappeared did the frozen air seem to start flowing again.

The envoys from various countries looked at each other, each seeing a lingering sense of apprehension and excitement in the other's eyes.

This secret will likely become a topic of endless conversation throughout the Nine Provinces for the next decade.

Among the crowd, Qi Wang remained standing in place, his black clothes as dark as ink, and the chill emanating from him lingered.

He lowered his gaze to the crack on the scabbard, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out a barely audible utterance between his teeth:

"...Tang, Xi, Xue".

The voice was low and hoarse, carrying a kind of almost obsessive hatred.