The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Tang Xixue instructed Qingdai to go to the library and gave only one instruction: "Make a separate job for Madam Mei of the Plum Blossom Courtyard and Snow-Covered Residence to copy classic texts."

There was no such precedent in the library, but since she said there was, then it was.

Rules that didn't exist before, she will now establish.

A talented person is always worth her extra effort.

Moreover, she has always been generous and protective of her own people.

The carriage slowly drove out, passing through the plum grove path on the west side of Lintai.

The wheels crunched over the thin snow, making a soft, rustling sound.

Outside the curtain, the fragrance of plum blossoms wafted in like a tide, its crispness tinged with a sweet softness, seeping into the carriage in waves, almost soaking the person inside.

"parking."

Tangxi Xue suddenly spoke.

The carriage stopped immediately.

She lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage, her moon-white cloak blooming like a pale night-blooming cereus in the snow.

As the morning light slanted in, the snow shimmered with tiny silver sparkles. Plum branches lay askew, their crimson plum blossoms contrasting sharply against the pristine white snow, a breathtaking spectacle.

She stretched out her fair hand, her fingertips brushing against the snow on the branches, and gently broke off a branch of the most beautifully blooming red plum.

Unmelted frost crystals still clung to the plum petals, trembling slightly between her fingers like a trembling, bright red heart.

She looked down at the plum blossom, a slight smile playing on her lips, and a soft curve spreading across her eyes.

Just then, she heard footsteps.

Descending the steps, my footsteps left no trace in the snow.

She looked up.

Deep within the snow-covered plum grove, a figure in white slowly approached.

Crane Dust.

The national advisor revered by all of China, a banished immortal who holds the mandate of heaven.

Today he did not wear the elaborate star-patterned sacrificial robe, but only a plain white wide-sleeved long robe, with a crane cloak of the same color over it. His dark hair was half-tied up with a simple white jade hairpin, and the rest flowed down his shoulders like water.

Her eyebrows and eyes were as clear as frost and snow, so pure and untouched by the world that it seemed as if even glancing at the human world would be a desecration.

His attendant, Songyun, followed half a step beside him, holding a scroll of star charts in her hands.

The moment Songjun caught a glimpse of Tangxi Snow, his steps faltered almost imperceptibly, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"What bad luck! To run into this troublemaker first thing in the morning!"

His peaceful and uneventful days are likely to be disrupted again.

He Lichen had already looked up.

A fleeting, icy glint flashed across his frosty eyes. His gaze swept over the cinnabar plum in her hand, over her slightly reddened fingertips, and finally settled on her waist.

The icy snowflake tassel he had once given her was hanging from the hem of her moon-white dress, swaying gently with her movements and reflecting the dappled morning light.

The icy look in his eyes melted away silently.

"Your Highness." He paused, his voice clear and crisp like snow water flowing over a jade chime, each word carrying a strange warmth.

Songjun was so startled that he almost dropped the star chart.

The adult actually spoke to her first? And so... gently?

Tangxi Xue stood leaning against the plum blossoms, the vermilion plum branch twirling lightly between her fingers. She smiled at him, a smile that, reflected in the snow and plum blossom shadows, was dazzling:

"Is the Imperial Advisor about to descend the mountain?"

"Hmm." He Lichen nodded, his gaze still fixed on her face. "Go down the mountain to Shanheque to prepare for the upcoming sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, and—"

He paused, as if considering his words, and finally said frankly:

"The Nine Extremes Alliance of the Emperors of the Nine Provinces".

Songjun gasped.

Why would an adult tell her about such an important trip so easily?

What is this? Reporting it?

But... why did you need to report to Princess Jing, sir?!

Song Jun's heart was in turmoil, but he dared not show it on his face. He just lowered his head and stared at the snow on the tips of his shoes, as if flowers could grow from the snow.

Tang Xixue's eyes flickered slightly, and her smile deepened:

"Then...would the Imperial Preceptor like to ride with me? I'll see you off."

She gently swayed the plum branch in her hand, and the vermilion plum blossoms reflected her fair skin and delicate bones, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

The wind rustled through the plum grove, lifting the stray hairs at her temples and carrying with it the delicate scent of crabapple blossoms emanating from her body, which intertwined with the cedar and plum fragrance that clung to his clothes.

Spring tidings amidst the snow.

He Lichen suddenly remembered this fragrance—his favorite scent, the first wisp of plum blossom spirit after the first snow, the almost elusive spring feeling that peeks out after the extreme cold.

Song Jun scoffed inwardly, "Wishful thinking! The master is notoriously fastidious and always travels only in his own Starry Sky Cloud Carriage. Why would he ride in her carriage?"

The next instant, he watched as his ethereal and otherworldly Imperial Preceptor, with a slight flick of his wide sleeves, took a step forward—

He steadily stepped into Princess Mirror's carriage.

He even... as if afraid she might change her mind, quickly lifted the curtain and went inside, sitting upright in the carriage.

Songjun: "???"

He looked up blankly at the carriage that suddenly seemed unusually heavy, and suddenly felt that the snow this morning might have fallen into his brain.

"Oh."

Tang Xixue smiled gently, bent down, and crawled into the carriage.

A warm fragrance wafted from the carriage. She placed the red plum blossom branch in her hand into the white jade vase on the small table. The red plum blossoms reflected in the white vase, instantly illuminating the dim room. She sat down opposite He Lichen, her skirt brushing against the fabric of his clothes at his knees.

"First, escort the Grand Preceptor to Shanhe Palace," she instructed outside.

The carriage moved slowly, heading towards the island in the center of Mirror Moon Lake.

The Mountain and River Palace and the Nine Kingdoms Palace Tianchen Nine Halls are both located in the heart of Mirror Moon Lake. Her destination was also the haunted house next to Mirror Moon Lake, so it was indeed on the way.

The rest of the attendants followed at a distance in the carriage behind.

Song Jun sat in the back car, holding the star map, his face pale and ashen, still unable to recover from the shock he had just experienced.

Inside the carriage, a delicate fragrance wafted through the air, and the light and shadows were soft and dappled.

He Lichen sat upright, his back as straight as bamboo, but his gaze was gentle as he looked at Tang Xixue's face.

Although she wasn't smiling, her eyes held a gentle warmth, like spring water just beginning to melt.

"Recently, the capital has been rife with unrest and turmoil. If Your Highness wishes... you may temporarily seek shelter from the wind and snow at the Observatory."

With the Nine Extremes Alliance imminent and all nations coming to pay homage, the Chenyao Dynasty, as the ruler of the Purple Extreme Heaven Continent and the number one empire in the Nine Continents, is naturally at the center of the vortex.

Tang Xixue raised an eyebrow at him, then suddenly stood up from across the room and moved to sit down next to him.

The originally spacious seats suddenly felt cramped because of her approach.

She was almost touching him, her moon-white skirt overlapping his plain white robe, making them indistinguishable.

He Lichen's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

His obsessive-compulsive instincts screamed to push him away, but the lingering scent of crabapple blossoms and the warmth of their fingertips accidentally touching under his sleeves made him suppress that impulse.

But she was so close, so close that he could see the slight trembling of her eyelashes, so close that his heart, which had been as still as water for years, suddenly lost its rhythm.

"Snowstorm?" Tang Xixue tilted her head, her breath almost brushing against his ear. "Is what the Imperial Advisor is referring to—my romantic entanglements?"

She reached out and lightly tugged at a strand of his dark hair that fell over his shoulder, twirling and playing with it between her fingers.

The hair is cool and smooth, like the finest black satin.

He Lichen's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he glanced at her sideways, his voice carrying a restrained, light rebuke:

"That's improper."

"Discretion?"

Tang Xixue leaned forward, her soft, sweet voice like honey, each word touching his heart.

"I don't know anything about etiquette... Brother Huaixian, please teach me."

She called him by his courtesy name, the words uttered from her lips with a captivating, alluring tone:

"You invited me to the observatory, where am I supposed to sleep? Surely...?"

Her eyes sparkled as she gazed into his.

"Will I sleep on Brother Huaixian's star-studded bed?"

He Lichen's breath hitched.

The next moment, she actually got up and sat directly in his lap!

"hiss--"

He Lichen never expected her to be so bold. When her warm and soft body suddenly entered his arms, he froze like an ice sculpture, feeling as if every inch of his skin was being burned by her touch.

"Outrageous!" His voice tightened, his ears already flushed. "Get out!"

"The next step after such outrageous behavior... is usually family discipline."

Tang Xixue didn't back down; instead, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, tilting her head back and leaning in, her breath sweet.

"What are Brother Huaixian's family rules...?"

As she spoke, she subtly tilted her head and gently bit his white earlobe.

boom--

He Lichen's eyes suddenly darkened, and a suppressed undercurrent surged in his usually calm and indifferent eyes.

His Adam's apple bobbed heavily, his feigned composure cracking beneath the surface.

"Zhizhi..." He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his voice was terribly hoarse. "Little ancestor, stop playing around."

He sighed, with a hint of helplessness, but more so with indulgence:

"Have I spoiled you too much? Now you dare to bully me so blatantly."

She gently nuzzled against him, and he tensed up, almost losing control.

"Brother Huaixian," she blinked, her eyes both pure and mischievous, "coax me and I won't bully you anymore."

Who told him to... take the bait willingly?

Once he got into her car, he had no choice.

He Lichen remained silent for a moment, then finally reached out and intertwined his fingers with hers.

His palms were warm, his fingers long and slender, and he held her hand tightly.

He looked down at her, his gaze so deep it seemed to drown her.

"Not enough." Tang Xixue pressed her advantage, tilting her face closer.

Their breaths mingled, their lips barely touching.

He Lichen's heart pounded like a drum.

He finally lowered his head and, with utmost gentleness and restraint, placed a kiss on her slightly cool cheek.

Like a snowflake touching the skin, it leaves immediately upon contact.

Reserved, restrained, dignified, self-disciplined.

All the laws that belonged to the banished immortals collapsed in the next moment.

Tang Xixue suddenly reached out and pushed him down onto the soft couch inside the carriage.

She leaned down and kissed his lips, swallowing all his unspoken gasps.

Moist, hot, fragrant and soft.

The kiss was haphazard, yet so passionate it seemed to burn away all reason.

He Lichen's mind went blank, only feeling her breath between his lips and teeth, the sweet scent of crabapple mixed with the coldness of plum blossoms, completely overwhelming him.

He became like a banished immortal suddenly drenched by a torrential downpour, his white robes disheveled, his black hair loose, his eyes reddened, and his breathing disordered.

"Brother Huaixian..." Tang Xixue stepped back slightly, her fingertips gently tracing the corners of his eyes, which were tinged with rosy hues, her voice soft and tender, "So handsome..."

He Lichen's pupils suddenly contracted.

That string called reason snapped completely.

He gripped her slender waist, flipped her over, pinned her beneath him, and kissed her fiercely in return!

It was no longer a tentative exploration, but a conquest to seize territory.

It's not lingering, it's possession, it's plunder, it's a long-planned and complete loss of control after years of repression.

"Um...no..."

Tang Xixue never expected that the most aloof and abstinent imperial advisor would be so aggressive. She was kissed until she was breathless, and her fingertips weakly pressed against his chest.

"Be good," He Lichen stepped back slightly, his hot breath brushing against her lips, his voice husky and incredibly sexy, "Breathe..."

He looked into her hazy eyes and flushed face, and kissed her again, more fiercely and deeply than before, as if he wanted to devour her and melt her into his very bones.

"Brother Huaixian...no more..."

Her legs were so weak that her voice was trembling with sobs.

He Lichen finally stopped, propped himself up, and looked down at her.

Her white clothes were disheveled, her black hair was loose, and her eyes, which were always filled with the brilliance of frost and snow, were now as dark as the night sea, churning with desires that had never been extinguished.

He gently brushed his fingertips across her slightly swollen lips, his voice low and husky, yet carrying an irresistible force:

"Zhizhi, you've messed with me..."

"Then I'm the only one who can say stop."

"Now, you'd better endure my family discipline."