The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Leaving the palace?"

Li Shuang's eyes lit up, and she quickly walked to the rosewood carved wardrobe, her fingertips brushing over a row of brocade robes.

"Your Highness would like to relax? This servant will pick out a fine cloak for you—a white fox fur coat that was just sent from the Imperial Household Department the other day, pure white and flawless, it suits you best!"

"No need for that."

Tang Xixue stepped forward, her gaze falling into the depths of the wardrobe.

"Do you have any men's clothing that would fit me?"

"Men's clothing?" Li Shuang was taken aback, turning back to look at her prince's aloof and ethereal profile. She hesitated, "Your Highness, you have never worn men's clothing in recent years, so we haven't prepared any. If you need any, I can instruct the Imperial Wardrobe to make a few sets tomorrow, would that be alright?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Xixue simply called out:

"Ah Liang".

In the shadows of the corner, a figure almost blending into the darkness stirred slightly. The bodyguard, Mu Liang, appeared like a silent ghost, his silver, openwork mask covering his face above the bridge of his nose, revealing only his hard jawline and tightly pursed lips.

"Lend me a piece of clothing."

Tang Xixue's voice was soft and clear, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Without hesitation, Mu Liang's figure flashed like a ghost, disappearing through the side window into the vast snowy night. A moment later, he returned silently, carrying a set of neatly folded black clothes—the fabric was slightly worn, but it was starched clean and without a single wrinkle.

"Your Highness," his voice came through the mask, somewhat low and hoarse, "this is an old garment from my youth, and I fear it... is unworthy of Your Highness's status."

"It's alright." Tang Xixue reached out and took it. "Perfect."

The black robe felt slightly cool to the touch, carrying a faint, crisp scent characteristic of the twilight, along with a lingering trace of sandalwood from a long-stored chest. She turned and walked towards the depths of the bedchamber, behind the draped silk curtains.

A soft rustling sound arose, the gentle rustling of silk against cotton, like silkworms eating leaves.

Before long, the curtain was lifted by a slender, fair hand.

The one who emerged was no longer the princess with cloud-like hair and palace makeup.

Her dark robes, as black as night, clung perfectly to her slightly slender figure, with narrow sleeves and a fitted waist, giving her a neat and dashing look.

Her long, flowing black hair was all tied up and fastened to a plain silver hair crown, revealing her smooth forehead and graceful neck.

With the makeup washed away, his face was sculpted like ice and snow, and his brows revealed a hint of heroic spirit, making him look like a graceful and aloof young man.

Mu Liang stood there, stunned.

When his gaze fell upon the old clothes she was wearing, which belonged to him, his breath hitched almost imperceptibly.

The black robe perfectly outlined her slender waist and shoulder line, and surprisingly, it suited her well—it seemed that the size he chose was exactly right.

He suddenly lowered his eyes, his ears burning slightly beneath the mask.

"Ah Liang," Tang Xixue walked straight up to him, extending her palm, "Lend me your mask too."

"Your Highness..." Mu Liang subconsciously raised her hand to stop him, but her fingertips only touched the cool air.

Tang Xixue had easily removed the silver half-mask from his face.

The cold metal edge still retained the warmth of his skin. She casually placed the mask over her face—the delicate openwork pattern perfectly concealed her exquisite eyebrows and eyes, revealing only her pert nose, rosy lips, and finely shaped jawline.

Mysterious, aloof, and androgynous.

Mu Liang hurriedly turned to the side, and almost simultaneously pulled out another spare ordinary black face mask from her bosom, quickly tied it up, and covered most of her face.

"Prepare the car," Tang Xixue's voice came through the exquisite silver-threaded mask, carrying a slightly cold, metallic quality. "We need to keep a low profile."

"Fuyi and Muliang should accompany him. Chaohan's injuries have not yet healed, so he should rest well and is not allowed to come along."

She rose and walked to the display shelf on the side of the hall. Now the shelf was mostly empty, with only a few old items she couldn't bear to part with. Her slender hand swept over it and took down a Snow Soul folding fan with a frame of cold jade and a cover of white silk.

"Your Highness, why are you using a fan on such a cold day?" Li Shuang asked, puzzled.

"This is no ordinary fan."

Tang Xixue moved her fingertips slightly, and the fan unfolded in response.

A painting titled "Plum Blossoms Braving the Cold" comes to life before your eyes. The plum blossoms are elegant and graceful, blooming with a solitary vitality on a plain white silk background.

With a slight turn of her wrist, the folding fan twirled gracefully between her slender fingers, producing a delicate yet clear sound as it cut through the air.

"Your Highness, the carriage has arrived."

Outside the side gate, a plain blue-draped carriage was quietly waiting in the snowy night.

The vehicle was plain, like that of an ordinary wealthy family, except for the two lanterns hanging in front of the shaft, which cast a dim, warm light in the wind and snow.

Mu Liang had already returned to his usual cold and austere demeanor, his black robes, devoid of any other color, almost blending into the night, as he silently leaped onto the carriage shaft.

The maidservant also put on a veil of the same color, revealing only a pair of calm eyes. She stood by the carriage with her hand on her sword, her aura almost nonexistent.

Tang Xixue stepped out of the palace gate, and the fine snow immediately clung to her clothes. Mu Liang reached out to help her into the carriage, his movements proper and restrained, his fingertips not lingering for even a moment.

"Your Highness, where are we headed?"

"Seven Generations Pavilion".

"Yes."

Mu Liang said nothing more. The tip of his whip made a very faint sound as it cut through the air, without startling the night birds.

The carriage started slowly, rolling over the newly accumulated soft snow on the palace road, and quietly disappeared, its tracks quickly covered by the fresh snow.

"Fuyi," Tang Xixue leaned against the cushions in the carriage, her eyes calm, "tell me about the current situation of the Seven Generations Pavilion."

"Your Highness, the Seven Generations Pavilion is divided into the Heavenly Palace on the ground and the Netherworld on the ground." Fu Yi's voice was low and clear. "The ground floor has seven levels, with bright halls and high pavilions, where rare treasures from all over the world and goods from all directions are traded; the underground floor also has seven levels, with hidden channels and underground currents, where people's desires and the secrets of life and death are traded."

She paused, her voice softening slightly: "By day, gold flows like water through the bright curtains; by night, lives are like dust falling into the dark book. This is the Seven Generations Pavilion—the largest open market in the Nine Provinces, and also the deepest underground cinema."

"Your Highness," Fuyi raised her eyes, "would you like to go to Ming City or Ying City tonight?"

Tang Xixue smiled slightly.

"Now that it's night, we should naturally go check out the movie theater."

The carriage passed through the quiet palace district and entered the bustling main street of Yujing City.

Tangxi Xue lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, revealing a scene outside the window that unfolded like a scroll depicting a grand nighttime tour.

Baiyujing—the undisputed central city of the Nine Provinces—still exudes vitality even on snowy nights. Towering buildings line both sides of the long street, lanterns beneath their eaves forming a warm river of light that illuminates the swirling snowflakes, making them appear as if a galaxy has been inverted.

The bustling scene, with its carriages and horses and throngs of pedestrians, exudes a powerful sense of order amidst the noise.

"It's been a long time... since I've seen you."

She sighed softly to herself. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of roasted chestnuts, the faint strains of music from the taverns, and the omnipresent, cool and refreshing fragrance of plum blossoms—Yujing was planted with plum trees of all colors, and they were in full bloom at this moment, their subtle fragrance lingering throughout the city.

"Your Highness, we have arrived."

Mu Liang quietly parked the car at the entrance of a relatively secluded alley.

He had just reached out to help when the carriage curtain was already lifted.

Tang Xixue lightly leaped down from the carriage, her toes barely touching the ground, raising a light dust of snow; her movements were clean and swift.