The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Tang Xixue instructed Mu Liang to thoroughly investigate which force the attackers came from, while she had lunch with Xie Jinlian in Liuying Palace.

Yun Boyan prepared a table of food, so exquisite it looked as if it had been brought out of a painting.

On the exquisite round table, bowls and cups are scattered about, with wisps of steam rising from them.

The first thing that catches the eye is a plate of white rabbit-shaped snacks.

A cute, snow-white rabbit lies in a celadon dish, its round body, long ears, and black, shiny eyes made of sesame seeds.

Tang Xixue's eyes lit up, filled with delight.

Seeing this, Yun Boyan gently picked up one with his chopsticks and placed it in the bowl in front of her.

"Eat it while it's hot."

She took a bite.

The outer skin is soft, chewy, and bouncy, while the filling is a delicate red bean paste that is sweet but not cloying, with a subtle floral fragrance.

"This little white rabbit dessert is so beautiful and delicious that it's almost too beautiful to eat."

Yun Boyan's lips curled up slightly.

"Sister-in-law, try this."

Next to it was a bowl of plum blossom-shaped pastry.

In the white porcelain bowl, the cream cheese was as white as snow, with a thin layer of milk skin on the surface.

A few plum blossoms dot the scene, their red and white colors complementing each other beautifully.

A few golden osmanthus blossoms were sprinkled on the cheese, shimmering with tiny sparkles in the light.

Tangxi Xue scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth.

The cream cheese melts in your mouth, with a rich milky aroma, yet it's not greasy.

Every bite tasted like it was made of clouds.

The delicate fragrance of plum blossoms gently spreads across the tip of the tongue, like the first spring breeze after a snowfall brushing across an icy surface.

"This is made with fresh milk."

Yun Boyan said calmly.

"It's because plum juice was added that it solidified like this."

Tang Xixue nodded, then scooped up another spoonful and naturally brought it to Xie Jinlian's lips.

"Little Lotus, try this too, it's especially delicious."

Xie Jinlian tilted her head slightly and gently took the spoonful of cheese into her mouth.

"Um."

He responded.

"Ayan did a good job."

"Yes, yes, Ayan is really amazing!"

Tang Xixue nodded.

"Whoever marries Ayan in the future will be living the dream."

Yun Boyan lowered his eyes, but a blush crept onto the tips of his ears.

Next up was a dish of boiled cabbage in clear broth.

In the white porcelain soup bowl, the clear broth was crystal clear, without a trace of oil.

A chrysanthemum carved from the heart of a cabbage lies in the soup, its roots connected and its delicate tendrils unfurling, slowly blooming in the soup like a white chrysanthemum suddenly blooming in the snow.

"Wow, Ayan can even make boiled cabbage in clear broth. This dish looks simple, but it actually takes the most effort to make."

Tang Xixue said in surprise.

"Then, sister-in-law, have some soup. The clear broth is the essence of this dish."

Yun Boyan gently pushed the soup bowl in front of her.

"The soup is made by simmering old hen and dried scallops, and then repeatedly filtering it with chicken mousse to obtain this clear soup."

Tangxi Snow lowered its head and took a small sip.

The soup was refreshingly cool, yet incredibly rich and flavorful.

The umami flavor unfolds layer by layer on the tip of the tongue, like a mountain spring flowing over stones, or a gentle breeze blowing through a pine forest.

After swallowing, a faint, lingering sweetness remained in the throat.

She looked up at Yun Boyan, her eyes filled with amazement.

"It tastes really good."

"Little Lotus, your brother's skills are truly the best in the world."

Xie Jinlian simply smiled faintly upon hearing this.

Yun Boyan did not respond.

But the tips of her ears turned even redder.

The peony crystal cake is displayed on the table.

Each piece is shaped like a peony, with layers of petals that are crystal clear and shimmer with a faint pink hue under the light.

A single golden osmanthus blossom adorns the center of the flower, like a tiny pearl.

"This is made with lotus root starch."

Yun Boyan's voice was very soft.

The most important thing when steaming is controlling the heat; too much heat and it will become tough, too little and it won't take shape.

Tangxi Xue picked up a piece and took a gentle bite.

The pastry was soft and chewy, with the unique fragrance of lotus root starch and a subtle sweetness.

As it slowly melts in your mouth, it feels as if you are holding a real peony in your mouth.

Next to it is a bowl of eight-treasure rice.

The glutinous rice was steamed until it was translucent and each grain was distinct.

Eight colorful ingredients, including red dates, lotus seeds, longan, raisins, walnuts, melon seeds, and candied fruit peel, are laid out on top, resembling a miniature landscape painting.

A spoonful of golden osmanthus syrup was poured on top, glistening enticingly in the light.

"This smells so good!"

Tangxi Xue scooped up a spoonful.

The glutinous rice is soft and sticky, the ingredients are sweet, and the aroma of osmanthus flowers slowly unfolds in your mouth.

Sweet but not cloying, just right.

Sweet and sour crystal pork is placed on the other side.

The slices of meat were cut so thin that the celadon patterns underneath could be seen through them.

Each slice is crystal clear, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, and drizzled with amber-colored sweet and sour sauce.

It is sprinkled with fine white sesame seeds, which shimmer with tiny sparkles in the light.

Tangxi Xue picked up a piece and put it in her mouth.

The meat melts in your mouth, has a perfect balance of sweet and sour, and is rich but not greasy.

The aroma of meat spreads across the tongue, mixed with the refreshing sweet and sour flavor, making it irresistible to take another slice.

The last dish was tofu with egg white.

In the white porcelain bowl, the tofu is as smooth as solidified cream, topped with a layer of egg white custard, as white as clouds.

A few bright red goji berries and a few tender green cilantro leaves are scattered among them, creating a beautiful contrast of red, green and white, as elegant as a painting.

"This dish is the lightest."

Yun Boyan gently pushed the bowl in front of her.

"The tofu is simmered in chicken broth, and the egg white is made only with egg white, without any seasoning."

Tangxi Xue scooped up a spoonful.

The tofu melted in your mouth, and the umami flavor of the chicken soup spread across your tongue.

The hibiscus was as light as a cloud, and its flavor lingered on the tip of the tongue for a moment before reluctantly sliding down.

After finishing her meal, she put down her chopsticks with satisfaction, picked up a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup, and slowly drank a few mouthfuls.

"Looks like our sister-in-law is in for a treat from now on."

She said with a smile.

Yun Boyan was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

"There won't be any sister-in-law."

"I cultivate the path of ruthlessness; only my sister-in-law has the good fortune to enjoy this food."

Tang Xixue blinked, about to say something, but Xie Jinlian spoke calmly:

"If Zhizhi wants to eat this, I'll make it for you next time."

"Ayan will do it—I will do even better."

Xie Jinlian's voice was deep and resonant, neither hurried nor slow.

The words fell.

The room was completely silent.

Qingdai lowered her eyes, staring at the tips of her shoes, as if there was some extraordinary scenery there.

Wen Song and Wu Ya exchanged a silent glance before quickly looking away.

One is looking towards the window to the left, the other towards the plum branch to the right.

The air was distinctly filled with the warm, homey atmosphere of cooking.

But they could clearly smell the jealousy lurking beneath the surface.

"Alright, then after Little Lotus regains her sight..."

Tang Xixue's soft voice was filled with anticipation.

"Make it for me every day."

Xie Jinlian was just recovering from her silent confrontation with her younger brother when she suddenly heard this soft sentence.

do?

"What are you doing?"

He was slightly startled.

Immediately—a blush spread and settled, seeping into her collar and into her heart, which had been cold and desolate for over twenty years.

"you guess……"

Tang Xixue turned slightly to the side and leaned close to his ear.

The voice was as light as a feather, carrying laughter and warmth, gently brushing against his ear.

It was originally a very serious topic.

It's just three meals a day, just the everyday life of ordinary people.

But after she said that, leaned on me like that, and smiled like that...

He felt like his whole body was on fire.

It felt like a small flame starting from the tip of my ear, spreading like wildfire into my chest and burning my wildly beating heart.

"Your teacher—"

He spoke, his voice low and hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against sandalwood.

He paused for a moment.

It was as if they had made up their minds about something.

"I'll do anything for Zhizhi."

The voice was soft, yet it carried a hint of shyness and indulgence.

That's how much he liked her.

Open and honest, upright and honest, with a sincere willingness to give everything.

Yun Boyan stood to the side and clicked his tongue softly upon hearing this.

He turned his head to look at the falling plum blossoms outside the window, silently thinking to himself:

"Brother, you really are—useless."