The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

The flower hall was filled with a warm fragrance and wisps of tea smoke.

Tang Xixue simply sipped her tea, her posture languid and leisurely, seemingly completely unaware of the undercurrents of swordplay swirling before her.

She held the teacup, oblivious to everything around her, focusing only on the clear tea in the cup.

"Your Highness, it's cold. Would you like a light blanket?"

A gentle voice softly rang out, like a spring breeze caressing the water's surface.

Pei Yanchuan had gotten up at some point and taken a soft, thin blanket from the sandalwood shelf next to him.

The blanket was specially prepared by him; he chose the lightest snowflake material and embroidered it with delicate magnolia flower patterns.

It is understated yet perfectly appropriate.

He stood beside her, asking in a low voice, his eyes gentle and refined.

Without vying or competing, he quietly prepared everything, waiting for the moment she needed him.

"Ah Lin is so considerate; he warms my heart."

Tang Xixue looked up and smiled slightly at him.

That smile was gentle, yet like a light breeze and a gentle rain, it touched his heart.

"It is my great fortune that Yinglin can relieve Your Highness's worries."

Pei Yanchuan's heart melted.

Looking at her is like drinking fresh snow; seeing her is like seeing spring water.

He bent down and personally draped the thin blanket over her shoulders, his movements as light as if touching a butterfly's wing.

When I looked down, I saw that her hair was still wet, with a few strands of dark hair sticking to the side of her neck.

"Your Highness, your hair is still wet at the ends, you might catch a cold. Let me dry it for you."

He then turned around, took a clean cotton cloth, stood behind her, and carefully wiped her clean.

"Your Highness, is this force just right?"

"Hmm, Ah Lin's hands are so soft."

Tang Xixue narrowed her eyes, like a raccoon dog being stroked.

"So soft...like a white magnolia in spring."

She paused, her eyes glancing towards the door.

"Unlike A-Liang, who's as stiff as a block of wood and truly lacks any sense of romance."

Pei Yanchuan's lips curved slightly, his voice remaining gentle.

"Commander Mu Liang is too concerned about His Highness, so he's a bit too nervous."

In the shadows outside the door, Mu Liang's cold face instantly turned red, as if she wanted to hide herself in a pillar.

Is he really like a block of wood, completely oblivious to romance?

"And what about you?"

Tangxi Xue turned her head to look at Pei Yanchuan.

"Are you nervous, Ah Lin?"

Pei Yanchuan paused slightly in his movements, and a faint blush crept onto the tips of his ears.

"A mere speck of dust, my lifelong wish is nothing more than to be touched by snow. Now that snow has fallen on my shoulder, how can Ying Lin not be filled with trepidation?"

In the flower hall, the other two, sitting upright like pine trees on a high mountain, exchanged a silent glance.

Xie Jinlian put down his teacup and spoke calmly:

"Nervous? I see Young Master Pei's hands are quite steady; he truly is a confidant!"

He Lichen replied leisurely, her tone filled with the aroma of tea:

"At the tender age of eighteen, she was a delicate and beautiful flower, unlike some wooden plants that never bloom."

His gaze drifted almost imperceptibly toward the door.

"Right, Commander Muliang?"

Mu Liang stood under the eaves, wishing she could disappear on the spot.

How did the fire end up here?

Instead of improving oneself, why not slander others?

Tang Xixue slowly sipped her tea, her lips curving slightly, like a spectator engrossed in watching a play.

Don't stop, she hasn't seen enough yet.

The kitten Silver Sky jumped into her arms, followed by a little white kitten that nestled at her feet.

She was somewhat surprised, but did not chase them away.

Xie Jinlian glanced at He Lichen:

"I never imagined that our Imperial Preceptor, Siming, was not only skilled in astrology and divination, but also in the principles of Yin and Yang."

"Same to you."

He Lichen picked up the teacup and gently blew on the tea foam.

"The Kunlun Sword Immortal is not only sharp in swordsmanship, but also in words. It's a shame he doesn't use them to peel sugarcane."

Their eyes met, and in the blink of an eye, they had exchanged countless blows.

Xingyu silently moved her chair back half an inch.

He's just an innocent older brother, don't hurt him!

Tangxi Xue remained calm and composed throughout, continuing to drink her tea.

Occasionally, he would glance up at the two of them, a hint of amusement in his eyes, as if he were watching some interesting excerpt from a traditional opera.

"Ah Lin is the most comforting; he never makes things difficult for anyone."

Upon hearing her soft praise, the two jealous people immediately straightened their clothes and regained their composure.

Each one of them sat up straighter than the last.

Each one was more nonchalant than the last.

It was as if those people who had been subtly competing, speaking sarcastically and engaging in cryptic banter just moments before were not them.

"Zhizhi, your teacher has prepared a spring flower feast for you."

Xie Jinlian got up and walked to the kitchen. Soon after, she brought out the spring flower banquet that she had prepared herself.

Plum blossom porridge, plum blossom shortbread, cherry crystal cake, flower cake, snow cloud soup, and wind chime flower crystal fruit.

Flower-shaped cakes, shaped like flower petals, are layered upon each other, each piece as thin as a cicada's wing.

Each dish is exquisitely crafted.

One of a kind in the world.

It was something he had painstakingly prepared for her.

"All the spring light is poured into the cup."

Tangxi Xue picked up a piece of flower-shaped cake, as thin as a cicada's wing, and examined it in the light.

"Little Lotus, did you perhaps cut all the spring blossoms into this table of splendor?"

Tang Xixue picked up the spoon again and tasted a mouthful of plum blossom porridge, her eyes crinkling with joy.

"Hmm, the congee base is cooked until smooth and soft, and the fragrance of plum blossoms has permeated it—it's even more exquisite than the imperial kitchen's cooking."

"The Imperial Kitchen?"

Xie Jinlian raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Does what they make even deserve to be compared to what I, their teacher, have?"

Tang Xixue couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Yes, yes, yes, my master is the best in the world."

Her voice was soft and sweet.

"To be pampered by Master like this, Zhizhi is truly blessed."

Looking at her like this, Xie Jinlian's bitterness had long since vanished.

"If you like it, I'll make it for you for the rest of my life. I'll make a different one every day until you get tired of it."

"Master is wrong."

Tang Xixue shook her head seriously.

"I could eat Master's cooking for a lifetime and never get tired of it."

He Lichen coughed softly from the side.

"Zhizhi, I'll remember those words. I'll have Brother Xie copy them down and frame them in the kitchen later."

Xie Jinlian glanced at him:

"The Imperial Advisor's skill in embellishing things is truly masterful; his culinary skills must be quite impressive, right? What, has the Palace of Fate switched to running a dining hall?"

He Lichen picked up the teacup, his expression calm.

"So Brother Xie's swordsmanship was honed by chopping vegetables."

Xie Jinlian replied calmly:

"Ha, chopping vegetables? My forte isn't chopping vegetables... I'm much better at chopping melons..."

He Lichen's lips curled slightly as she glanced meaningfully at Xingyu:

"Then Brother Xie must be quite skilled at slicing melons with impure intentions."

Xingyu looked completely innocent.

No?

What does this have to do with him?

Tang Xixue lowered her head and drank her porridge, but did not neglect the dishes made by Lishuang.

Occasionally, she would pick up a few pieces of food with her chopsticks and take a bite, which made Li Shuang, who was waiting on the side, so happy that she almost jumped up.

"Ahhh! His Highness tasted it! He actually tasted it!"

Although compared to what His Highness and his master made, her skills were really not up to par.

But His Highness tasted it!

With this bite, the sentiment she had prepared for His Highness was fulfilled.

Li Shuang stood there, her eyes red, but the corners of her mouth were turned up so high she couldn't suppress them.

"Weaving."

He Lichen's voice rang out, clear and melodious, like shattered jade falling onto a plate.

He gently placed a communication talisman and a protective charm beside her hand.

The communication talisman was woven with gold thread, and a faint glow flowed across it, making it clear at a glance that it was no ordinary item.

"No matter where you are in the future, you can contact me anytime."

He paused, then lightly tapped the amulet with his fingertip.

"This amulet was personally drawn for you. Wearing it will protect you from one calamity."

Tang Xixue lowered her eyes to look at the amulet.

Those runes may seem complicated, but upon closer inspection, you can see that every stroke is extremely neat and precise, without the slightest bit of perfunctoriness.

"If Heaven doesn't protect you, I will."

He Lichen's voice was gentle, yet as heavy as a thousand pounds.

The talisman paper is a specially made piece of jade paper, with intricate runes drawn on it in cinnabar, each stroke embodying his painstaking efforts.

It was hand-painted by him, using his own blood as ink.

That was the best way he could think of to protect her.

"Brother Huaixian's work is truly exceptional."

She smiled and carefully put the two items away, placing them close to her heart as if they were rare treasures.

"I will always carry it with me and never leave it for a moment."

Hearing her gentle words, He Lichen immediately felt as if he had been given a love potion.

That usually aloof heart was now incredibly soft.

"If Zhizhi gets lost, I'll just draw another one."

"How can that be?"

Tang Xixue shook her head seriously.

"Brother Huaixian takes so much effort to draw talismans, I can't bear to do it."

Xie Jinlian spoke calmly from the side:

"If the Imperial Preceptor is tired of painting, I can take over. I can protect Zhizhi's safety."

He Lichen smiled slightly:

"Brother Xie, you should focus on developing new dishes. I think pickled fish would be perfect for you."

Xingyu finally couldn't hold back and said coldly:

"You two... can you please calm down for a bit? Are you eating or are you jealous?"

He Lichen and Xie Jinlian both turned their gazes toward Xingyu.

"What? Are you jealous? You're being too nosy!"

Xingyu remained unfazed:

"There's nothing I can do; I live by the sea, so I can't exactly meddle."

Xie Jinlian was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"Brother-in-law, let me offer you a toast. Stop drinking seawater, look at you with nothing better to do."

He Lichen also picked up his teacup:

"I also salute you."

Xingyu: "..."

"Are you genuinely trying to honor me, or are you just trying to send me on my way?"

"Pfft."

Tang Xixue laughed out loud, her eyes crinkling as she watched the farce unfold.

"It's so lively," she thought, taking another sip of tea.

Outside the door, Bai Duo stared in disbelief.

He patted Yue Zhongtian on the shoulder, who was also on duty, and lowered his voice:

"My goodness, they're arguing so much I'm dizzy."

One was rubbing hair, one was feeding porridge, one was giving a talisman, and one was serving dishes...

It was like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their unique abilities.

Yet they all maintained that nonchalant air, as if they had everything under control.

The moon hangs in the sky, expressionless and unmoving.

"No wonder the three of you brothers want to be together."

Bai Duo shook his head, his tone tinged with emotion.

"How could I possibly compete with these two big shots in a one-on-one fight?"

Mid-Moon: "..."

He took a deep breath.

"Shut up."

But he sighed silently to himself.

Although... there is some truth to it.

One person can't win.

You really can't win.

On the other side, Song Jun and Wen Song stood side by side, both with the same look of shock on their faces.

"Even our Imperial Advisor has a day when he gets jealous."

Song Jun's usually serious face now showed an expression of disbelief.

He had been by He Lichen's side for so many years, and he had only ever seen others beg his master, never his master beg others.

"Moreover, we might not even win the argument."

Wen Songyou continued the conversation.

"Isn't that right? Even our monarch personally washed his hands and cooked the meal..."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance into the flower hall again.

That spring flower banquet was exquisitely crafted.

That's the Kunlun Sword Immortal, the number one sword cultivator in the Nine Provinces, and now he's been busy in the kitchen for a long time just to please her.

This competition is just too fierce.

Songjun silently summarized:

"In the struggle for the position of empress, the swords are not drawn, but the hearts have already clashed."

Wen Song glanced at him and added:

"In this round, Emperor Shengchen has won miserably."

That person, without saying a word, had already plucked the most beautiful crabapple blossom of spring in the Nine Provinces.

Just then, Chao Han, who was in charge of guarding, strode in.

"Your Highness, Emperor Shengchen has arrived! He is currently outside the Mirror Night Snow Pavilion."

A bright smile appeared in Tang Xixue's eyes, which sparkled like a galaxy.

They've finally arrived.

"Yes, please welcome my... dear elder brother."