The Cursed Throne of Yanxi

er chest. Zhiyuan and Mei were deep in discussion, poring over an ancient scroll spread across a stone

id, his voice betraying a hint

uby at its center pulsing with an otherworldly light.

you means your resolve is stronger than I anticipated. Still, this is only the beginning. The amule

?" Zhiyuan asked,

oments of the Empress. "The Empress's death wasn't just a political move," she said slowly. "It was an act of fear. My family feared h

ression grim. "Then the curse is

interjected. "The Empress's wrath was indiscriminate. If we're t

we do that?"

offering from the rightful heir of the throne, and the Mirror of Eternity. The mirror is said to ref

is mirror?"

place, filled with restless spirits and illusions mea

on the hilt of his sword. "Of c

" Yuelin asked, a faint

ion are not the same, Princess. I've fac

her tone final. "The longer we wait, the st

-

er the cover of darkness, avoiding patrols sent by the regent. Yuel

ei murmured spells to shield them from detection. Despite t

nt. The trees were gnarled and twisted, their branches forming a canopy that blocked out th

," Zhiyuan muttered, his h

low. "They will try to trick us, to turn us against one anothe

her heart pounding. "L

uder, and the air seemed to thicken with malevolence. Shadow

a voice hissed, echoi

d, his sword raise

and hollow eyes. She looked directly at Zhiyuan, her expression

ught in his throat.

grip firm. "It's a trick,

imming with tears. "You swore to protect me, a

elin stepped between him and the figure, her voic

solving into mist. Zhiyuan exhaled shakily, his hands

deepest regrets," Mei sa

and doubts. Yuelin saw visions of her family, accusing her of cowardice. Mei

rward, their shared determin

ng bathed in an unnatural light. In the center stood t

reflection shimmering in the gla

mirror, the forest will not

n's side, his sword dr

ers. As she lifted it from its pedestal, the forest erupted into chaos. The

asting a barrier to h

closing in around them. Zhiyuan slashed at the spir

ailing ceased, and the shadows receded. The group collap

n said, clutching

s yet to come. With the amulet and the mirror, we can summon the Emp

ly. "Then we have n

her. "The Empress may not listen," she said softly. "But I'l

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cont