The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Xie Jinlian took the letter, her long, jade-like fingers stroking every corner of the envelope with an almost reverent seriousness.

Her fingertips traced the texture of the paper, feeling the unique slightly rough texture of the gold-flecked paper, and the lingering scent of her own unique begonia fragrance mixed with the aroma of ink.

He opened the letter slowly but steadily.

He pulled out the letter and gently ran his fingertips over the lines of ink.

After losing his sight, his sense of touch became exceptionally acute. He could sketch the shape of each character in his mind by observing the varying shades of ink and the pauses and turns of the strokes.

The letter was very short.

There was only one line: "Master... Zhizhi misses you."

His fingertips lingered on the last trace of ink, remaining motionless for a long time.

My heart felt like it had been unexpectedly and gently bumped by the softest feather. It didn't hurt, but it was incredibly sore. A warm, damp feeling welled up in my eyes without warning, but I forced it back down.

Yun Boyan stood to the side, watching his elder brother read the letter with such difficulty, seeing his slightly trembling fingertips and tightly pursed lips, his nose suddenly stung and his eyes instantly reddened.

He turned his face away, his fingers curled tightly under his wide sleeves, his nails digging deep into his palms, leaving crescent-shaped marks.

We must find a way.

He made a vow in his heart again, his surging emotions almost bursting out of his chest.

Whether it's the Divine Physician Zheyue or the elusive Heavenly Physician Zhiming, even if he has to search the entire Nine Provinces and traverse the Yellow Springs, he will definitely make his brother see the light again and hold the sword once more!

His exceptionally handsome and talented elder brother...

He was once a brilliant and talented man, his sword illuminating the entire era, but now...

The ruthless and desireless Holy Son of the Moon, almost all his obsessions and desires in this life are tied to his only blood relative, his elder brother.

"Ayan," Xie Jinlian suddenly spoke, his voice now calm, even carrying a faint, comforting warmth, "Don't be sad... you're making your brother happy."

He could clearly feel the grief and pain surging in his twin brother's heart.

Even when he was mired in his own misery, he still instinctively wanted to soothe the pain of those close to him.

Xie Jinlian said no more and turned her attention back to the gifts from her little apprentice on the table.

He reached out, touching each item carefully with a sense of novelty and reverence:

The cool, lustrous jade plum blossom box contains plum branches with vigorous shapes and delicate petals.

The thick, warm snow down fur coat is soft and smooth in every inch.

He even touched the covers of the storybooks she found "funny and entertaining"...

However, he suddenly stopped when his fingers brushed over a few of the storybooks.

My fingertips lingered on the cover of a book for a moment, then traced the raised lines of ink more carefully, trying to discern the shapes of the characters.

However, as he touched them, his usually steady fingers stiffened slightly.

"...Ayan."

Xie Jinlian spoke slowly, her tone carrying a rare hint of confusion and hesitation.

The aloof and serene swordsman, so pure and untouched by worldly dust, seemed to be burned by the words emanating from his fingertips, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"What is this book... 'The Cold and Aloof Saint, Seeking Pleasure Night After Night'?"

He paused, his voice filled with even greater doubt, and even a subtle hint of disbelief:

"Zhizhi... wants me to see... this?"

Even without seeing the contents, the title alone was enough for Xie Jinlian to judge that this was probably... definitely not a proper collection of classics or travelogues.

"Um?"

Yun Boyan was lost in thought about how to find a doctor for his brother when he heard the voice. He responded instinctively, then followed his brother's gaze to the pile of storybooks.

A book with a dark blue and silver floral cover and a bold title was conspicuously mixed in!

It was that haunting book, "The Cold and Aloof Saint, Seeking Pleasure Night After Night."

Yun Boyan was instantly struck dumb, frozen in place.

His neck seemed to rust; he turned his head extremely slowly, one page at a time, staring intently at the culprit.

A sudden "boom" went through my mind, as if a snow-capped mountain had collapsed.

Which blind Mist Feather Twelve Silver Wings is it?!

Did they accidentally bring this forbidden book along with their things while packing?!

The forbidden books in his possession had long since turned to ashes, but in Tang Xixue's study, there were still many rare editions that Qingdai and the others had specially copied for His Highness to see.

In particular, when he saw his ethereal older brother, already curiously turning the pages of the book by touch, his slender fingers about to touch the words on the inner pages.

Yun Boyan felt a chill run down his spine, his scalp tingling instantly!

Almost out of some kind of instinct to destroy evidence, without thinking, he pounced like lightning and reached out to snatch the book.

However, it was still a moment too late.

Xie Jinlian's fingertips had already gently brushed over a passage of text on the page.

The undulating lines, seen through his sensitive fingertips, clearly outlined the following words in his mind:

The lotus throne is cold, but the prayer beads are hot.

His silver hair trailed around the sash around her waist, his breath mingling with the scent of sandalwood: "Ah Xue, do you know... what crime is blasphemy?"

Her fingertips brushed against his slightly open collar, her dimples reflecting the moonlight sneaking in from the window: "Then, Holy Son... punish me."

The candlelight went out abruptly, leaving only the tinkling of jade bells, and scriptures scattered all over the ground.

"Tonight... I will properly ferry you across."

Her fingertips traced the corner of her lips as she murmured a sigh:

"Wow! This little bodhisattva... she's sweeter than honey."

Xie Jinlian: "..."

Even through the ice silk, Yun Boyan could almost see that a very faint blush suddenly rose on his brother's handsome face, which was always sculpted like ice and snow, and spread all the way to his jade-like ears.

"Brother! This book...this book is mine! You've taken the wrong one!"

Taking advantage of Xie Jinlian's momentary daze, Yun Boyan snatched the hot potato-like book away.

The speed was so fast that it left a blur in the air, and it was tightly gripped behind him, his fingertips so hard that he almost crushed the pages.

His usually aloof and expressionless face was now flushed red with shame and indignation. He wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into or perform a ritual to send all those who knew the truth to the afterlife, especially the Twelve Silver Wings.

"Ayan..."

Xie Jinlian remained silent for a moment, seemingly still processing the impactful words that had just been transmitted from her fingertips.

He tilted his head slightly toward his younger brother, his expression beneath the veil somewhat unfathomable, but his tone remained as gentle as ever, even carrying a hint of inquiry.

"So you practice Buddhism... specifically this Joyful Meditation?"

Yun Boyan: "..."

His fingers, gripping the Snow Soul Buddhist beads, were white at the knuckles.

At this moment, all I want to do is rush out immediately and punish all twelve Silver Wings of Mist to sweep the ten-thousand-foot snow-covered path to heaven in Kunlun Ruins!

No, let's just break it and rebuild it!

In his elder brother's heart, he was the pure and untainted Holy Son of the Moon...

It has completely collapsed, shattered into pieces, and cannot be picked up at all.

"Ayan. I respect your... way of cultivation."

Xie Jinlian seemed to sense her younger brother's near-collapse of shame and frustration, and even thoughtfully added in a comforting tone.

"Personal opportunities are something you can't force. Don't get upset about it anymore."

Yun Boyan: "..."

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and his fingers, which were holding the prayer beads, trembled slightly.

Right now, I just want to be quiet, or for the world to be destroyed immediately.