The world spun before her eyes. The first sensation was dizziness, followed by an overwhelming pressure squeezing Xia Lianqiao from all sides, making it almost impossible to breathe. It felt as if she had been stuffed into a washing machine.
Then, her feet suddenly felt weightless, and a sense of freefalling overwhelmed her. The moment she landed, Xia Lianqiao gasped for air, drenched in cold sweat, as if she had just been pulled out of water.
The scene before her had completely changed from the Crystal Palace she had just been in.
Lush greenery, white walls with green tiles, and winding corridors connected on both sides. The deep courtyard resembled the inner residence of a wealthy family.
She stood there, holding up her skirt, mid-step on a staircase, facing a tightly shut door.
Xia Lianqiao widened her eyes slightly. Where had the mirror transported her?
Before she could take in her surroundings, a woman’s voice reached her ears, sounding both close and distant, as if chanting a mantra.
It took Xia Lianqiao a while to make out what the woman was saying, “Mistress need not worry. Just do as the matron taught you…”
What matron?
Was this some kind of historical drama set in a wealthy household?
Xia Lianqiao’s gaze fell on the woman speaking. She was dressed as a maid, young with a long face and large eyes, but her expression was filled with calculation.
The long-faced maid continued to offer reassurances, but the information was too much for Xia Lianqiao to process. Before she could even respond, the maid pushed her into the room.
Stumbling like a duck being herded, Xia Lianqiao stumbled into the room, and what she saw filled her with a sense of foreboding.
Red candles burned brightly, jade incense burners emitted curling smoke, painted screens reflected the candlelight, and the character for “double happiness” hung prominently.
This was clearly a bridal chamber!
But strangely, the room was eerily quiet, unlike the lively atmosphere of a typical wedding.
In the distance stood a massive canopy bed, its curtains already drawn. Through the layers of sheer fabric, she could vaguely make out a human figure.
Xia Lianqiao glanced at her own sleeves and realized she was also wearing a bright red wedding gown.
If she was the bride, then the figure behind the curtains must be her groom.
But what kind of groom waits for his bride lying in bed on their wedding night?
Where was the ceremonial wine?
Where were the wedding rituals?
To make matters worse, the room was filled with a strong medicinal smell, adding to the strangeness of the situation.
The long-faced maid’s attitude was far from respectful, her tone more akin to that of a caretaker. “Mistress, please take good care of the young master today. We’ll be waiting outside. If anything happens, just call for us. Don’t act on your own.”
As soon as the maid left, Xia Lianqiao walked over to the canopy bed and unceremoniously pulled back the curtains, determined to figure out who her groom was.
The next moment, she slowly closed the curtains, her limbs stiff as she walked back to the table and sat down, her eyes dazed and unfocused.
Sorry to disturb.
Behind the curtains was a young man dressed in wedding attire, his eyes tightly closed, clearly still unconscious.
But the problem was—Xia Lianqiao buried her face in her hands, her expression crumbling—
This young man had the face of Ling Chongxiao!!
Her mind raced with the fleeting glimpse she had just caught.
The young man’s face was as pale as snow, with a high nose and thin lips. His brows were slightly furrowed, exuding a cold, almost frosty aura. His dark hair spilled across the red pillow, creating a striking contrast that was both breathtaking and unsettling.
He looked like a delicate, out-of-season plum blossom blooming in the midst of a snowy landscape—beautiful yet out of place.
But no matter how beautiful he was, this was Ling Chongxiao!
And he was wearing a wedding gown. Ling. Chong. Xiao.
She was doomed!
In an instant, Xia Lianqiao, a devoted fan of romance novels, realized what was happening.
This was the most common trope in xianxia cultivation stories—a large-scale illusionary realm.
Thinking back, she vaguely remembered that in the original novel, there was indeed a scene where Ling Chongxiao was drawn into an illusion.
After all, *The Path of Cultivation* was a male-oriented cultivation novel. Ling Chongxiao’s combat prowess was so overpowering that it risked overshadowing the protagonist. While he could handle minor enemies, the final battle against Xiao Lingbo had to exclude him to give Bai Ji'an the spotlight.
Since this part of the plot wasn’t crucial, the author had only briefly mentioned it.
The feeling was surreal. Xia Lianqiao took a deep breath and, almost as if compelled by some force, walked back to the canopy bed and lifted the curtains again. She stared at the unconscious Ling Chongxiao, a strange and tender emotion welling up inside her.
Unease, confusion, and shyness.
Since this mirror belonged to Xiao Lingbo, this was likely a fragment of her memories.
The moment this thought crossed her mind, Xia Lianqiao felt as if she had become Xiao Lingbo herself. Flashes of memories, like a montage, raced through her mind.
A young girl from a poor family, spending her days washing and sewing with her mother.
One day, when the girl returned to their dilapidated thatched cottage with a wooden basin, she found a strange woman dressed in luxurious clothing waiting for her. The woman smiled and took her hand, saying she was incredibly fortunate and that her life was about to change forever.
It turned out that her birthdate perfectly matched that of the young master of Chen Manor, who was gravely ill. The Chen family had sent a matchmaker to propose a marriage to bring him good fortune.
At this moment, it felt as if two souls coexisted within her—Xia Lianqiao and Xiao Lingbo.
Xiao Lingbo’s soul was trembling, cautious, and utterly bewildered.
But Xia Lianqiao’s soul was struck as if by lightning, her scalp tingling, her body drenched in cold sweat.
Heavens, marrying Ling Chongxiao? What kind of horror story was this!
He was still unconscious now, but what was she supposed to do when he woke up?
As if hearing her silent scream, the young man’s eyelashes fluttered, showing signs of waking.
Xia Lianqiao: “…”
Adopting the mindset that if she wasn’t embarrassed, then the embarrassment would fall on someone else, she decided to take the initiative. After all, she had already teased the aloof and cold-hearted young man before—might as well go all the way.
Watching as his narrow, deep-set eyes slowly opened, revealing those familiar cold, dark pupils, Xia Lianqiao steeled herself and greeted him with a forced smile, “Hi, wife. You’re awake? Want to get up and take your medicine?”
Ling Chongxiao: “…”
!
