The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Inside the Hall of Flowing Fireflies, a warm fragrance filled the air.

Sunlight streamed obliquely through the carved white jade window, casting dappled golden shadows on the ground.

An unknown calming incense burner on the table emitted wisps of white smoke, filling the room with an even more tranquil and gentle atmosphere.

"Sister-in-law, all the medicinal herbs are in the hall, and everything is prepared."

Yun Boyan stood to the side of the hall, watching the busy red figure, a faint warmth spreading in his eyes.

He felt it clearly.

From the moment Tang Xixue stepped into this palace, her elder brother Xie Jinlian had been in a rare state of joy.

The pleasure was subtle, as light as a spring breeze across a lake, yet it was undeniably real, bringing with it a strange sweetness that welled up in his heart.

That's the emotion conveyed through empathy.

Brother's heartbeat, brother's palpitations, brother's tender thoughts that he tries to hide deep but cannot conceal.

He could feel it all.

"Thank you for your hard work, Ayan. It must have taken a lot of effort."

Tang Xixue came to Xie Jinlian's side, bent down, reached out and gently placed her hand on his wrist.

Her movements were extremely light and gentle, full of tenderness.

"It's not hard work."

Yun Boyan shook his head, his voice calm and composed:

"As long as my brother can get better."

He didn't mention his own contributions.

None of that matters.

"Oh, right, that withered tree that has come back to life is also in the Flowing Firefly Palace." He suddenly remembered something and said, "But in case the Divine Physician Zheyue has any backup plans, I sealed it away in another room."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xixue withdrew her hand and stood up.

"Then I'll go take a look first."

She lowered her eyes and looked at the snow-white figure in the wheelchair.

Her eyes were filled with tenderness and pity, soft like the warm sun in spring.

"Master, please wait here for a moment."

"Um."

Xie Jinlian nodded slightly.

"We will weave for you, Master."

He didn't ask her who she had been with, nor did he ask who the person holding her hand was.

He will send someone to investigate himself.

He suppressed all those emotions and surging thoughts.

He was always gentle and kind to her, like a spring breeze.

It is always about unconditional tolerance.

After Tang Xixue left with Yun Boyan, the hall returned to silence.

Wen Song leaned down, whispered in Xie Jinlian's ear:

"Your Majesty, I have investigated the man who was with Princess Jing earlier—it is the Imperial Preceptor, He Lichen. That man is suspected to be…"

He paused, carefully considering his words:

"Your Highness's devoted servant."

Upon hearing this, Xie Jinlian's fingers paused slightly.

After a moment, he spoke softly, his tone still as calm as ever:

"He Huaixian is quite clean."

"He has a close relationship with Zhizhi since childhood and is a person who values ​​relationships and loyalty."

Although he had lived in seclusion in Kunlun Ruins for many years, he knew of He Lichen's name.

The revered national advisor of the Nine Provinces, who controls the celestial orbits and understands the secrets of heaven, possesses a cool and aloof temperament and is never tainted by the filth of the world.

"Feiming told me before," he continued, his voice still clear and cold, "that Zhizhi's destiny star is being protected by him."

He turned his head slightly, and beneath the white veil, his unseen eyes seemed to be gazing in a certain direction:

"They are friends, not enemies. There's no need to make things difficult for them."

He initially thought it was some reckless madman who dared to covet his precious disciple.

Now that he knew it was that upright and virtuous Imperial Advisor, he no longer held a grudge.

"Your Majesty," Wen Song asked, somewhat puzzled, "are you just letting him go like that?"

How could they tolerate this when their own lord cares so much about Princess Jing?

Xie Jinlian's lips curled slightly upward, a faint smile that carried a profound sense of composure:

"If he's hurt, who will protect Zhizhi's destiny?"

Wen Song was taken aback.

Then, it dawned on me.

His lord would tolerate anything as long as it benefited Princess Jing.

She clearly gets jealous.

Even though I have inexplicable emotions churning inside me.

But he can adjust.

It can be suppressed.

In front of that person, you can always maintain that gentle, composed, and unhurried demeanor.

"Your Majesty is right."

Wen Song nodded and said no more.

Princess Mirror is indeed the most important!

That's someone His Majesty risked his life to protect!

Inside the side room on the other side.

"Sister-in-law, look, it's right here."

Yun Boyan pushed open the door, stepped aside, and revealed a simply furnished room.

On the sandalwood shelf in the center of the room, a strange plant sat quietly.

A withered, brown, gnarled branch lies obliquely in the pot, its trunk twisting and turning like a hibernating dragon, each crack etched with the marks of time.

But on those seemingly lifeless branches, new leaves unexpectedly sprouted.

That vibrant green, so tender and fresh, was like the first hint of spring stolen from the end of winter.

Three more spiritual flowers quietly bloomed.

The petals are pinkish-white like jade, so thin they are translucent, and they tremble gently in the cold air, like three butterflies with their wings folded.

Deep within the flower's heart, golden stamens shimmer with tiny rays of light, as if hiding fragments of stars.

A vibrant sense of life emanates from among the flowers.

Like mist, like haze, wisps and strands, lingering and never dissipating.

The room was filled with a chill, but this pot of withered and flourishing plants was imbued with the warmth of spring.

It is like withered trees coming back to life.

Tang Xixue approached and bent down to examine it carefully.

A moment later, she straightened up, a hint of seriousness flashing in her eyes.

"This withered tree comes back to life—it's highly poisonous."

She turned her head and looked at Yun Boyan:

"Fortunately, Ayan was cautious and did not store it with other medicinal herbs, nor did he give it to Master for his own use."

She paused, then said:

"I'll prescribe a medicine for you in a moment. Everyone who has come into contact with this withered tree that has come back to life should take the antidote. This is a highly poisonous 'entanglement silk,' which grows in the body like silk threads and invades the internal organs."

She pointed to the budding flower:

"This fragrance is poison."

Upon hearing this, Yun Boyan's expression changed slightly.

He wasn't worried about whether he had been poisoned.

His only concern was whether this could be used to treat his brother's blindness.

"Then... can this 'rejuvenated withered tree' still be used?"

Tang Xixue looked at the unconcealed worry in his eyes and suddenly smiled.

That smile was as bright as spring sunshine, soft and warm, making people feel at ease.

"Yes, it works."

She pointed to the withered tree that had come back to life, her eyes filled with admiration:

"Zheyue has nurtured this withered tree to a remarkable degree, making it incredibly vibrant. I've added some medicinal herbs to neutralize the toxicity; the highly toxic binding silk is just the right amount to reconnect the severed spiritual channels."

While she was in the Valley of Divine Medicine, she also studied poison techniques with the Ghost Doctor for a period of time.

Medicine and toxicology are inseparable.

While her skill in poisons may not be as exceptional as her medical skills, it is sufficient to handle the current situation.

"That's good."

Yun Boyan let out a long sigh of relief.

Looking at Tang Xixue's calm and composed demeanor, and at the resolute light in her eyes, he suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of security welling up in his heart.

God knows how many places he went, how many people he begged, and how many times he was turned away over the years for his brother's illness.

Every time I went out full of hope, every time I returned with disappointment.

Those so-called miracle doctors, those renowned physicians, came and went, came and went.

In the end, all that remains is a deeper despair.

Only her.

She stood there alone, looking at him with her clear eyes, and told him in her soft voice: You can use it.

At that moment, he suddenly felt that all the hardships were nothing.

All the exhaustion, all the anxiety, all the despair.

Everything vanished in that one sentence she uttered.

"Thank you, Ayan, for taking care of Master."

Tang Xixue gazed at him, her peach blossom eyes filled with tenderness:

"These days have been the hardest for you."

The voice was soft and gentle, like a warm spring breeze brushing across a lake.

Yun Boyan felt as if his heart had been immersed in warm spring water.

Crispy and crumbly.

Ma Ma.

warm.

Looking into her gentle eyes, he suddenly felt his heart beating a little faster.

It must be my brother.

My brother must be swooning over there again.

Brother, you really have no self-restraint!

He silently grumbled to himself, forgetting that his panic, his blush, and his racing heart were all his own.