The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"I have something on my mind about your sister-in-law."

Si Xingzhou released his grip, his gaze sweeping lightly over his younger brother's face.

His empress, what happened to being universally disliked?

Why is it so sought after now?

During the sacrificial ceremony, countless gazes fell upon that snow-white figure, some filled with amazement, some with admiration, and some with barely concealed covetousness.

As he sat at the table, he took in all those gazes, and his emotions began to stir within him.

"Brother, don't think about sister-in-law anymore."

Si Xingxuan tugged at his sleeve, and a thin blush rose on his pale face.

The blush came suddenly, yet it revealed the shyness and panic unique to a young boy.

"Quickly, give me some advice! How can I get my junior uncle to forgive my rudeness?"

He lowered his eyes, his voice growing softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

Ever since he learned that Tang Xixue was the Weaver of Fate Physician whom he admired most, he felt extremely confused.

It felt like a million butterflies were fluttering inside my chest, and I couldn't calm down.

Looking back now, every single one of them feels like a needle pricking his heart.

How could he treat his junior uncle like that?

How dare he?

"Or, Ah Zhe, why don't you play hard to get?"

Si Xingzhou earnestly offered advice to his younger brother, his phoenix eyes filled with the confidence of someone with experience.

"Ah Zhe, don't pay any attention to her—that will make you seem unapproachable, like a flower on a high mountain, exceptionally special."

Si Xingxuan blinked, a hint of confusion appearing on his handsome face.

"Um, bro, is this really okay?"

He felt like something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Of course, Ah Zhe."

Si Xingzhou leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice, as if imparting some closely guarded secret.

"Didn't you see Crown Prince Menghua? His persistent, clingy behavior is truly annoying! But nobody likes him, right?"

"Yes, brother is right."

Si Xingxuan recalled Tang Xixue's decisive and ruthless rejection of Hua Rong, her straightforward manner and unambiguous words, and he became even more convinced of his brother's words.

Hua Rongshi's persistent pursuit only earned her her disgust.

Then he—cannot do that.

"Then I must be more reserved, so as not to make my junior uncle dislike me even more."

He nodded, his expression now showing a hint of obedience.

"Our Ah Zhe is as pure as crystal."

Seeing his younger brother's obedient appearance, Si Xingzhou finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, they managed to calm their younger brother down first.

Otherwise, if his younger brother really figured out his feelings, and since he shared common interests with Tang Xixue, coupled with his arrogance as the richest man in the Nine Provinces and his handsome face, he would definitely be a formidable rival in love.

As for his other rivals, he would deal with them slowly.

One at a time, take it slow.

The medicine servant, Qi Zhu, stood aside and listened to every word of the brothers' conversation.

He kept his eyes downcast, his face expressionless, but his heart was churning with turbulent emotions.

"Why does it feel like His Majesty is trying to fool my lord?"

He thought to himself.

His Majesty's words sound reasonable, but upon closer examination, they don't seem to make sense.

Isn't his master usually cold enough to Princess Jing?

That aloof demeanor, that indifferent tone, that deliberate avoidance—it was chilling to the bone.

If we don't try to improve our relationship soon, they'll become like strangers.

"His Majesty doesn't seem like a good person..."

He silently grumbled to himself.

His master is indeed simple-minded compared to His Majesty.

He used to naively believe that his master truly disliked Princess Mirror, but now he realizes that he was clearly being hypocritical, loving her without even realizing it.

"I must protect my master's love."

Qi Zhu clenched his fist secretly.

Leaving aside the Lord's ambiguous feelings for Princess Mirror, his worship and fanaticism for the Heavenly Physician of Fate alone is enough to prove the importance of Tang Xixue in his heart.

That's the Heavenly Physician of Destiny!

To the Lord, the Heavenly Physician is someone to be worshipped, someone to be looked up to, an untouchable idol on a divine altar.

It is not romantic love between a man and a woman.

But when the person he likes and the idol he worships are the same person.

That was absolutely a killer move.

Looking at her master's obedient face, Qi Zhu suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

The Lord was already pitiful enough, with such a weak body and always sickly. Living to this day has already exhausted all his strength.

He just likes someone, why can't we let him have his way?

He's taken so much bitter medicine, he should at least have a little bit of sweetness!

On the other side of the seats.

"Master, my sister-in-law fell to the ground, aren't you going to do anything about it?"

Pei Yanchuan glanced at Qi Wang, his tone slightly teasing.

His gaze fell on the forgotten natal sword on the ground, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.

"One cannot be a faithless man."

Qi Wang was taken aback by what he heard, but quickly came to his senses.

He bent down and picked up his natal sword, "Fellow Daoist".

He picked up a cloth and carefully wiped the sword blade with gentle, meticulous movements.

But his gaze still involuntarily fell towards Tang Xixue's direction.

The image of her wielding her sword is still vivid in my mind.

"Lord, what are you planning to do, staring at my Highness like that?"

Pei Yanchuan noticed his gaze, and his tone immediately became more wary.

Its wariness was like that of a small animal guarding its food, with all the fur on its body standing on end.

"I want to fight her..."

Qi Wang gripped the sword in his hand, a burning glint in his eyes.

That burning heat wasn't covetousness, nor was it affection; rather, it was the instinctive fighting spirit of a swordsman when encountering an opponent.

"Her swordplay... it feels so familiar..."

He muttered to himself.

The sword move was too fast, but it clearly contained something he had seen before.

"Execute him!"

Pei Yanchuan's voice rose a few decibels, tinged with exasperation.

"If you dare to lay a hand on my prince, I will tell my father."

Qi Wang: "..."

He turned his head and stared at Pei Yanchuan in disbelief.

"Ying Lin, you've changed."

His voice carried a hint of melancholy.

"You actually tattled on me..."

He has already suffered enough undeserved misfortunes.

Every time, I'm implicated; every time, I'm caught in the crossfire; every time, it's like—I'm just sitting at home when disaster strikes out of nowhere.

Now even his best friend is making things difficult for him?

"Yes. I will."

Pei Yanchuan nodded seriously, his gentle and refined face filled with unwavering determination.

Qi Wang gazed at him.

Looking at his expression that said, "If you dare touch her, I'll fight you to the death."

Suddenly, I lost my nerve.

"Fine, you win."

He waved his hand, reluctantly turning his gaze away.

"I won't spar with my younger siblings, okay?"

But deep down, I was itching unbearably.

It's like a kitten that keeps scratching.

On the seat in the Moon Weaving Sea Kingdom, layers of ice-blue gauze curtains hung down, like smoke and mist, isolating that area into an independent place.

Behind the gauze curtain, a figure sat quietly, as still as a mountain.

He never got up, never spoke, and never made any attention-grabbing movements.

It was as if he were merely a passerby watching a play, completely unrelated to the noisy sacrificial ceremony.

But he kept watching.

Through the thin, shimmering, ice-blue veil, his gaze remained fixed on one spot.

It landed on the figure in the snow-white priest's robe.

It landed on that heart of the snow-covered landscape.

The gemstone hung quietly around her neck, rising and falling gently with her breath, shimmering with a warm glow in the sunlight.

Its luster was as deep and mysterious as the sea, as if it held the secrets of the entire ocean.

His gaze fell there.

For a long, long time, it did not move.

He turned his head slightly.

"check."

He spoke.

His voice was ethereal and deep, as if it came from the depths of the sea, carrying a touch of majesty and composure.

"Yes, Your Majesty the Sea Emperor."

The person beside him bowed in response.

There were no unnecessary words, no unnecessary questions.

He simply agreed and turned to leave.