The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Are all emperors this paranoid?"

The sound of Tangxi Snow was immersed in the warm candlelight, like melting honey.

"Brother, you must have confidence in yourself."

Her fingertips brushed against the begonia embroidered in gold thread on her cuff. As she looked up, the candlelight fell into her eyes, creating shimmering ripples.

"In Zhizhi's heart, her imperial brother is unparalleled."

She suddenly looked up, and the wisps of smoke from the incense burner deep in the bedroom curled up and clung to her loose hair.

"Brother, it's so late, why aren't you leaving yet—"

Her voice trailed off softly, like a spider's silk glistening with dew on a spring night.

"Could it be that... you intend to spend the night at the Palace of Eternal Life?"

Instead of retreating, she leaned forward slightly.

The neckline of her plain white nightgown slipped open slightly with this movement, revealing a small section of her slender collarbone, which gleamed like thin porcelain under the candlelight.

His long, black hair cascaded over his shoulders, a few strands slipping down with each lean, gently brushing against his dark dragon-patterned cuffs—

The dragon embroidered on the fabric was hidden in the shadows, but its scales and claws seemed to come alive, slightly rough.

"Just like when you were a child?"

"Is my brother going to stay here... with me?"

She was too close.

When you get close enough to Tangxi at night, you can see the tiny candlelight shadows on her eyelashes, like a cluster of trembling gold dust.

The faint, lingering scent of spring snow and crabapple blossoms emanating from her suddenly became clear and rich, seeping from the warmth of her skin and lingering around his nostrils.

Nearby—

Her lips, as soft and moist as cherry blossoms, almost touched his.

A warm breath brushed against his chin, carrying a slightly moist, sweet scent unique to young girls.

Tangxi's breathing suddenly stopped.

Almost instinctively, he took two steps back, his boots embroidered with dark gold dragons scraping against the smooth, mirror-like gold bricks with a slightly messy sound that echoed abruptly in the silent hall.

The wide sleeves of his robe pulled down a jade teacup on the edge of the table.

"Clang—"

With a crisp sound, tea spilled all over the floor, shattering into tiny pieces that reflected the flickering candlelight like stars suddenly scattering.

"Nonsense!"

He abruptly turned his face away, his voice taut and strained, like a fully drawn bowstring that would snap at the slightest pressure.

The usually composed emperor now had an unnatural blush creeping up his ears, which was clearly visible in the dim candlelight.

His hands, hanging at his sides, clenched unconsciously, his knuckles turning slightly white.

"Oh……"

Tang Xixue looked at his unusually flustered appearance, and the corners of her lips curved up little by little.

"Brother, what's the panic?"

She slowly straightened up, raised her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against her slightly warm earlobe:

"What, you think Zhizhi would...eat you up?"

"Be good."

Tang Xiye took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly, forcing herself to calm her suddenly erratic heartbeat, but her voice still carried a lingering hoarseness.

"How dare you even mock me?"

He turned away, no longer looking at her, leaving her only a tense, dark silhouette.

Against the backdrop of heavy curtains and candlelight, that figure appeared exceptionally solitary and stiff, like a black pine tree suddenly frozen solid.

"Zhizhi," he said, his voice lowering and blending into the dripping of the water clock, "go to sleep early."

Before he finished speaking, he had already strode out of the hall.

His steps were so fast they were almost hurried, his dark robes billowing like night clouds as he walked, and the jade pendant at his waist made a series of sharp, cold clinking sounds.

When he reached the vermilion and gold-painted palace gate, he almost tripped over the slightly high threshold.

Although he quickly regained his balance, the hem of his robe had already brushed against the fine snow piled up on the threshold.

That usually dignified imperial demeanor was like a crack appearing on a perfect jade disc.

Shen Cuo, who was waiting outside the hall, looked up and happened to see him walking out quickly.

"His Majesty?"

Shen Cuo keenly noticed that his complexion was unusual; the thin blush hadn't faded, and his breathing was slightly rapid. He couldn't help but take half a step forward and ask in a low voice:

"You...have a fever?"

"eventful."

Tang Xiye gave him a cold glance, her gaze filled with lingering fear and anger at being exposed, like an icy blade.

He didn't want to say anything more and walked straight into the swirling snow under the eaves.

"I was just worried about you," Shen Cuo murmured helplessly, watching his retreating figure. "What have I done to offend you again..."

Outside the carved window, the sky is like a splash of ink, ground to its thickest point in an inkstone, pressing down heavily.

The snow became the only flowing blank space in this ink-black landscape.

Sparse and dense, they fall from the depths of the void.

Tang Xixue leaned against the warm couch, watching the dark figure disappear outside the vermilion gate as if fleeing in panic. Finally, she couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The laughter was light and airy, creating a playful ripple.

"Your Highness, in this whole world, I'm afraid only you would dare to treat His Majesty like this."

The personal maid, Li Shuang, stepped forward with a pot of simmered ginseng tea.

"I've heard that His Majesty is averse to women, and any woman who dares to climb onto his bed is beaten to death."

"In Chengtian Palace, you can't even see a palace maid. It's all guards with swords, cold and intimidating."

She moved closer, with a mixture of curiosity and boldness:

"There are whispers outside saying that our Emperor...could he be dating Commander Shen?"

"puff--"

Tang Xixue almost coughed up the tea she had just sipped, and quickly covered her lips with a silk handkerchief.

"Shen Wujiu? He is no match for my imperial brother."

She gently placed the teacup back on the tray in Li Shuang's hands.

"If Commander Shen is not qualified, there are other candidates..."

Seeing that she wasn't angry, Li Shuang became bolder and continued to chatter on about the secrets she had heard.

"Shuang'er, do you dare say that again in front of your brother?"

Tang Xixue stretched out her slender finger and tapped Li Shuang's forehead, a playful smile on her lips.

Li Shuang immediately shrank her neck and waved her hands repeatedly, like a frightened sparrow:

"No, no! Your Highness, spare my life! I'd rather have my head on my neck for a few more years!"

She blinked, looking aggrieved.

"This...this isn't just something I made up; it's been circulating both inside and outside the palace, in private..."

"There are even more outrageous claims—like the Prince of Beichen..."

"That's outrageous. Prince Beichen is the little imperial uncle."

Tang Xixue's fingertips paused slightly on the warm brocade.

Little Imperial Uncle.

The powerful Prince Beichen of the Chenyao Dynasty was no longer the little royal uncle who would occasionally bring her novelties from outside the palace in her memory.

He was a sharp edge that no one dared to look directly at in the imperial court, a towering figure who held military power and could determine the fate of the nation.

It is also the most unpredictable and dangerous blade hanging over the heads of emperors and the entire dynasty.

Extreme power and influence come with extreme danger.

The handsome and elegant young imperial uncle had taken good care of her when she was young.

Until the time-traveling woman's target became the Prince of Beichen, and she truly offended him.

Now, among those who want to kill her, there must be one of her little royal uncles.

"It's fine to talk about it here in our Hall of Longevity, but once you leave this door, not a single word of it is allowed to leak out."

"Yes, yes! This servant knows what's important, let's talk quietly."

Li Shuang nodded hurriedly and then changed the subject.

"Your Highness, it's getting late. Would you like to wash up and rest?"

Tang Xixue shook her head.

"Change your clothes and leave the palace."