CHAPTER 214: CHAPTER 213: MIRROR DEMON HUAWU

"No one wishes for Prince Su to pass away. Fortunately, before his death, he wiped clean the line of the Empress Dowager. Now, this is the true era of peace and prosperity."

The Empress also sighed softly, smiling gently, "Don’t get too caught up in it. This top scholar, not only has talent but also looks good; he will surely be a pillar of the nation in the future."

"Your humble servant greets the Emperor and the Empress Dowager!"

A voice as cool as bamboo echoed, and Yu Nianzhao turned to see the graceful, handsome man full of youthful spirit.

His smile was gentle, truly a rare kind of handsome man.

"Rise, Liang. This is Princess Consort Su whom I mentioned before; you are of similar age and can go out to play together."

Emperor Anqing spoke frankly, and the underlying message was instantly clear.

"I am Liang Ziyu; greetings, Princess Consort."

Liang Ziyu smiled slightly at Yu Nianzhao, his eyes seeming to shimmer with a layer of broken starlight that captivates upon a glance.

"Liang Ziyu..."

Yu Nianzhao murmured his name, her eyes momentarily lost in thought.

"If the Princess Consort favors me, Ziyu could accompany her for a spring outing."

Liang Ziyu’s smile became more charming as he stepped forward, staring at Yu Nianzhao with deep affection, "Ziyu knows a place devoid of others, a very beautiful spot for viewing flowers. Would the Princess Consort be willing to go with me?"

Yu Nianzhao’s gaze grew more entranced, while Liang Ziyu’s eyes showed traces of smugness.

Just as the nearby air twisted, seemingly about to transport her into another space, Yu Nianzhao grabbed his arm. Under his surprised gaze, she grasped his neck with her other hand, slamming him onto the ground.

"You..."

Liang Ziyu groaned and lay on the ground, looking up at Yu Nianzhao, saying pitifully, "Princess Consort, what’s wrong? Was there anything inappropriate about Ziyu?"

Yu Nianzhao’s eyes were clear, her lips curling into a malicious smile, "Ha! This pretense, trying to seduce me with good looks? Truly lacks some skill!"

"I don’t understand what the Princess Consort is saying!"

Liang Ziyu’s face was innocent, slightly tilting, his expression poignant and moving, stirring compassion in anyone who saw it.

"Zhaozhao, what’s wrong with you?"

The Empress was also shocked by her actions, "You should be meeting the top scholar for the first time, right? Isn’t this inappropriate?"

"Zhaozhao, are you attempting murder?" Emperor Anqing was also stunned.

"Empress, this isn’t reality; it’s the mirror world."

Yu Nianzhao stated astonishingly, "Don’t be deceived here; otherwise, your soul would be trapped forever. Do you want to stay here for a lifetime?"

The Empress was dumbstruck, confused, "Zhaozhao, what are you talking about? Mirror world? How absurd. Is it because of Prince Su’s death that you are mentally disturbed?"

Yu Nianzhao calmly retorted, "These poor performances, did the Empress not see through them? Just speaking of the Emperor, if Xie Jiuxiao were truly dead, would he, the brother-protector, be so kind as to introduce someone for me? Let me find another one?"

The Empress froze, her body covered in goosebumps, saying hoarsely, "No... It’s impossible, the Emperor loved Prince Su so much, if Su’s princess wasn’t Zhaozhao, the Emperor might have even made her accompany him in death. How could he honestly introduce someone for remarriage? It is indeed absurd; why didn’t I realize it earlier?"

Her bewildered eyes cleared as if clouds were lifted to reveal the sky.

The Empress turned incredulously to look at Emperor Anqing, who still wore an unchanged smile, though the gaze upon her had grown sinister, making the smile chilling.

"Mother, are you abandoning me?"

The boy lowered his head sadly, causing a pang in the Empress’s heart as she asked hesitantly, "Are you truly my child? On careful thought, I have no memory of how you were born, is this a fabrication? What do you want to take from me?"

"Hehehehe..."

The boy emitted an odd laugh, tilted his head at her, and sneered, "Human emotions are truly despicable; you treasured me so dearly before, and now you disregard me at the drop of a hat?"

The gaze and laughter were utterly unlike a child, devoid of any innocence, discomforting.

The Empress felt nauseated, "You are indeed fake!"

"The mirror world is all an illusion; the so-called ’people’ are merely avatars of the mirror demon’s power. All those people are the mirror demon itself!"

Yu Nianzhao glanced down at Liang Ziyu, smiling, "Am I right, mirror demon?"

Liang Ziyu lying on the ground no longer pretended, shoving Yu Nianzhao away vigorously and leaping back.

After a mist cleared, the people in the imperial garden vanished, leaving only a seductive and charming woman clad in a red flowing skirt, casually tying her hair up, her smile vibrant and assertive, "You indeed are clever to discern my identity. Tell me, who are you? A Daoist? Or one of those annoying Heavenly Masters?"

"Neither, my name is Yu Nianzhao, and I’m just myself!"

Yu Nianzhao scanned her, a fleeting hint of amazement in her eyes, exclaiming, "I knew of the mirror demon’s existence but didn’t know it could be both male and female. So, are you male, female, or hermaphrodite like the mermen?"

Her curiosity was pure!

The woman frowned, displeased, "You certainly offend me; can’t you see with your eyes? Naturally, I am a woman."

Yu Nianzhao withdrew her gaze lazily, "Who told you to disguise as a man earlier?"

"Since you’re aware of my identity, there’s no need to hide it from you, as you’re unlikely to escape anyway."

The female mirror demon snorted lightly, "My name is Huawu; the top scholar Liang Ziyu from earlier, indeed exists. He is... my husband. Because I miss him, I often transform into his image in the mirror world."

"Do mirror demons come in pairs?"

Yu Nianzhao shrugged, "I don’t care about anything else, but dragging the Empress’s soul into the mirror world, are you intending to trap her here forever?"

"I am fulfilling a commission!"

Huawu played with her flowing hair, laughing charmingly, "Isn’t it good to live in this mirror world? Forever free and unrestrained. Whatever kind of life you desire, I can transform for you – wealth and prosperity, clusters of lovers, supreme power – I can give it all!"

"But it’s all fake!"

Yu Nianzhao scoffed, "If you see too much fake, you start believing it’s real? Then you truly are pitiful, acting so many roles alone, brainwashing yourself that it’s all real. Your life is boring to the extreme!"

Huawu’s smile froze at once, glaring at Yu Nianzhao as if she wanted to devour her.