Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

After returning to his residence, Xiao Mo sat in his study, recalling the conversation he had with the Sovereign of Qin in the Imperial Study.

To be honest, Xiao Mo felt that perhaps he shouldn’t have said what he did.

The reforms he had proposed were too far-reaching, and those who initiated such changes rarely met a good end.

However, Xiao Mo believed the Qin Kingdom currently had an enlightened ruler. With trust between the Sovereign and his subjects, it was the perfect time for reform. Even if the changes weren’t fully implemented, they could at least lay the groundwork.

Otherwise, if they waited for the next sovereign, the outcome would be uncertain.

As for his own safety...

’With my reputation and prestige in the Qin Kingdom, not to mention the tens of thousands of Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry, no one would dare touch me,’ Xiao Mo thought.

Still, Xiao Mo didn’t know if the Sovereign would actually implement the reforms.

But regardless, he had planted the seed in the Sovereign of Qin’s mind.

What happened next would have to wait.

”Hmph! That wretched Imperial Father! And my wretched Second Brother! I’m ignoring them! I’m never speaking to them again!”

Just as Xiao Mo was lost in thought, a young woman’s indignant voice drifted in.

A moment later, Qin Siyao stormed into Xiao Mo’s study in a huff.

”What did the Second Prince do now?” Xiao Mo asked with a smile.

Qin Siyao sat down beside Xiao Mo, her legs pressed together and her small hands resting on her thighs. Puffing out her rosy cheeks, she said, ”Just now, Big Brother sent over some books. They’re all about how to be a good wife and take care of one’s husband. He even told me himself that I need to be more magnanimous and not get upset with Imperial Father and Second Brother.”

’What is he trying to say?!’

’Big Brother is saying I don’t act like a wife, that I’m still like a little girl. He’s even calling me petty!’

”It was clearly Second Brother who stole our wedding date.”

”It’s a small matter,” Xiao Mo said with a smile. ”The Second Prince didn’t do it intentionally. After all, the marriage alliance between the Qin and Jin Kingdoms is a major affair, so it’s best to handle it as soon as possible. Besides, it doesn’t matter if we get married sooner or later. What, is Siyao planning to run away? You don’t want to marry me anymore?”

”Of course I’m not running away!” Qin Siyao scooted closer to Xiao Mo, tightly clutching the corner of his robe. ”Even if you ran to the ends of the earth, I would chase you down. You’re not getting rid of this princess!”

”Alright, alright.”

Xiao Mo smiled and tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.

Gazing at Xiao Mo’s face, Qin Siyao’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she shyly lowered her head.

They were alone and undisturbed in the study. Feeling the warmth of her beloved’s hand, the lovely blush on her cheeks gradually spread to the tips of her ears.

Qin Siyao’s heart began to race. She couldn’t help but lift her head, wanting to move closer to the man she loved.

”Siyao, it snowed again yesterday. I thought of a place, would you like to go see it with me?”

Xiao Mo spoke just as Qin Siyao’s mind was growing hazy.

”Wh-What place...?” Qin Siyao snapped back to her senses, quietly releasing the corner of Xiao Mo’s robe.

”You’ll know when we get there. Let’s go.”

Xiao Mo led Qin Siyao out of the study, and they rode a Snow-Trampling Horse out of the city.

When the Snow-Trampling Horse gradually came to a stop, Xiao Mo had brought Qin Siyao to the foot of a mountain.

”Close your eyes,” Xiao Mo said.

”Okay.” Qin Siyao nodded and obediently closed her eyes.

Xiao Mo swept her up into his arms and flew toward the mountaintop.

A moment later, Xiao Mo gently set Qin Siyao down. Her small feet made a CRUNCHING sound as they landed in the white snow.

”Alright, you can open your eyes now,” Xiao Mo said.

Qin Siyao opened her eyes.

When she saw the sight before her, her beautiful, glass-like eyes shimmered with a crystalline light.

Across the countless mountains and ravines, the pines, firs, bamboos, and cypresses were all bent low to the ground, weighed down by a thick blanket of snow, lying in silent submission.

Icicles hanging from the branches caught the light of the sky, refracting a cold, blade-like glint.

The nearby lake below had become a single, solid piece of blue-green jade. Fine cracks in the ice spread like the frozen veins of the earth.

The silhouettes of the mountains softened in the twilight, as if rendered in the faintest ink wash on raw silk.

The snow-covered ridges snaked up and down, connecting to the iron-gray base of the clouds on the horizon, making it impossible to tell where the mountains ended and the sky began.

A pale, cold mist had begun to rise in the mountain hollows, wisps of it ascending from the frozen lake and the shivering forests, as if enveloping this crystalline world in its hazy dream.

”That night, you took me to the lake and gave me the gift of its scenery. I’ve been thinking about how to repay you.

The last time I set out for the Northern Wilderness, I happened to pass by that lake. I explored the area and came to this mountaintop, thinking it must be beautiful here during the snowy season.

So, what do you think? Is it beautiful?”

Xiao Mo stood beside her and asked softly.

”Yes! It’s beautiful!” Looking at the majestic mountains, Qin Siyao’s eyes filled with delight.

After a moment, Qin Siyao’s eyes darted about. She pulled her gaze from the distant view, turned to Xiao Mo, and said, ”Xiao Mo, sit over there for a moment.”

”What for?” Xiao Mo asked.

”Just go sit there.”

Qin Siyao took Xiao Mo’s hand, led him back a few steps, and had him sit on a rock at the summit.

Once Xiao Mo was seated, Qin Siyao ran forward again to the edge of the cliff. She picked up a branch from the snow, cleared her throat, and gave Xiao Mo a formal salute as if holding a sword. ”With such a beautiful view, how can there not be a dance? This humble girl will now make a poor show of her skills.”

With that, Qin Siyao used the branch as a sword and began to dance gracefully in the snow.

Each time her pale pink palace dress billowed, it carried with it a spray of translucent white snow.

The snow danced like flower petals at the tip of her ”sword” before drifting slowly back down.

Above, white clouds intertwined across the azure sky.

Below, the majestic mountains were draped in a blanket of silver.

And before him, a graceful woman danced with a sword, her every move imbued with elegance and gentle beauty.

”So, what do you think? Was it beautiful?”

As the hem of her skirt finally settled, the woman in the snow smiled softly, like a snow goddess asking, ”Is winter not beautiful?”

”Beautiful,” Xiao Mo said, returning to his senses with a nod.

Hearing her beloved’s praise, the young woman walked over happily.

But soon, as if she’d thought of something, her head drooped in disappointment. She fidgeted with the corner of his robe and said:

”Xiao Mo, I know the truth.

I know that the only things I’m decent at are the four arts—playing the qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

I’m not good at much else.

I spent so long learning to cook from Aunt Zhou, but my food still tastes terrible.

I wanted to make you a pair of shoes, but they always turn out ugly no matter how I try.

And as a wife, I’m not magnanimous enough. I was angry for days just because our wedding was postponed.

But...”

The young woman lifted her head and looked into Xiao Mo’s eyes.

”But Xiao Mo, I promise I’ll learn.

I’ll keep learning how to cook.

I’ll keep trying to make shoes and clothes for you.

I’ll also try to be more magnanimous and composed, to be a proper Princess Consort Shuang who understands the bigger picture...

Xiao Mo... you...

Do you despise me for it?”

”Even if I did, it wouldn’t matter. His Majesty has already decreed our marriage,” Xiao Mo teased.

”You...” Qin Siyao pouted, and glistening teardrops welled in the corners of her eyes, looking as if they would fall at any second.

”Silly girl, I was just joking.” Xiao Mo chuckled and reached out to brush away the tears from her eyes. ”How could I ever despise you?”

”Really?” Qin Siyao blinked, gazing at Xiao Mo.

”Of course it’s real,” Xiao Mo replied. ”And who says you’re good for nothing? Your sword dance is also very beautiful.”

”But you’ll get tired of watching me dance with a sword.”

”I won’t.”

”But what if you do?”

”Then what does Siyao think we should do?”

”Well...”

Qin Siyao thought about it seriously for a moment, and then her eyes lit up.

”I’ve got it!

If you get tired of watching my sword dance...

Then you’ll just have to love me for the rest of your life, and never get tired of me.”