The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"What do you mean she can't do it after 25?"

Tang Xiye sneered, her gaze falling on He Lichen, chilled by the cold of the night, as if trying to freeze his handsome and otherworldly face into frost.

"Your Excellency, you're already twenty-four, aren't you? Does that mean your prime is over and there's nothing left to look forward to?"

His tone was languid, yet every word was like a knife, carrying the unique disdain and sharpness of an emperor.

He Lichen's expression remained unchanged, but the corners of her lips slightly lifted, and her voice still carried the ethereal, otherworldly quality of a banished immortal:

"Right now, I haven't even entered the old age group yet."

His tone was calm, yet it caused the eyes of several people present to freeze.

Tangxi Ye is truly domineering; she fears no one.

"According to your statement, even the Sword Immortal and the Sea Emperor are probably useless now."

His gaze swept casually over Xie Jinlian and Xingyu.

"After all, I'm not young anymore."

Upon hearing this, Xingyu's eyes turned cold, and his aura suddenly darkened.

"Say what you will, but why bring up killing them all?"

He's twenty-seven this year, in the prime of his life, so why was he inexplicably categorized as useless?

Excessive!

slander!

Xie Jinlian stood to one side, her long silver hair swaying gently in the night breeze, like moonlight pouring down, exuding a cool and otherworldly aura.

He didn't say anything, only glanced at He Lichen indifferently.

That glance, cold and aloof as frost, clearly conveyed:

"I'm the same age as Tang Xiye, and now I'm already being relegated to the 'old folks' group?"

What a brilliant imperial advisor!

One sentence, and three were killed.

Murder and kill!

"You are indeed older than me."

Tang Xixue was a little tired, so she let go of Tang Xiye's hand and leaned against the couch to drink tea.

Her long eyelashes fluttered gently, like butterfly wings, and she felt that what He Lichen said wasn't entirely unreasonable.

"As the medical classics say: At twenty-four, a man's muscles and bones are at their peak, and his blood and energy are vigorous, like the sun at its zenith."

A smile, like stars, appeared in Tang Xixue's eyes.

"After reaching its peak, decline follows. Just as the sun, after noon, must begin to set in the west, so too does it."

She tilted her head, looking at the group with an innocent expression, but a cunning glint was clearly hidden in her peach blossom eyes.

"The decline begins at twenty-five, that logic is sound, isn't it?"

His innocent tone, however, made the hearts of the several high-ranking men clench.

"Speaking of which, the Treatise on Sinews and Bones says: 'At eighteen, a man's sharpness is at its peak, his strength surpasses jade, and his toughness exceeds steel.'"

He Lichen mentioned it casually, as if it were just a casual remark.

"It seems that young boys are the most endearing."

All eyes in the room turned to the youngest figure in the corner.

Pei Yanchuan, dressed in white, was slender and aloof, like a solitary bamboo in the snow. He lowered his eyes and tried to shrink himself into the shadows.

Eighteen years old.

Little white flower.

It is at its most tender and moist.

"..."

Pei Yanchuan sighed silently to himself, his knuckles tightening slightly.

He Lichen's words even drew hatred from him.

The Imperial Preceptor truly lives up to his reputation as a master of tea ceremony, and the Director of Studies at Lintai is indeed worthy of his title.

His methods were extraordinary; he could kill without shedding blood.

"I've heard that Young Master Pei has his own private room at the Snow Pavilion."

Someone casually added a sentence, their tone carrying a hint of profound meaning.

"I suppose this counts as entering the inner sanctum?"

Another voice rang out, carrying a hint of scrutiny and amusement.

"We are still guests, but Young Master Pei is acting like a second host."

As soon as he finished speaking, several pairs of eyes fell on him.

In that gaze, there was scrutiny, examination, and a hint of undisguised hostility, like a knife or a sword, silently piercing.

"Ying Lin, I dare not accept such praise."

Pei Yanchuan lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting a light shadow beneath them.

He knew in his heart that these high-ranking officials had now made him their target.

He pursed his lips.

"Oh? May I ask where Young Master Pei resides?"

Tang Xiye's voice rang out, its sharpness concealed, like a sword drawn from its sheath.

Pei Yanchuan raised his eyes, his expression calm. The young man was dressed in white, like a white magnolia soaked in frost and snow, slender and stubborn.

"How does Your Majesty wish to punish me? Kneeling? Or something else? It is entirely up to you."

His tone was calm, full of scholarly air; he was quiet and well-behaved, standing neatly in the corner, yet possessing an inherent pride.

He couldn't beat this group of big shots, nor could he scold them; he could only accept the punishment.

Upon hearing his words, Tang Xixue's eyes flickered, and she immediately softened.

Unbeknownst to her, her innocent little flower had actually been punished by her imperial brother.

Although the outcome depends on their own efforts, the little white flower is truly pitiful.

Such a delicate flower, and its knee is still injured.

She felt as if she had returned to the time when she was not yet a vicious woman.

A soft, sweet voice gently rang out, like the first thaw of spring water.

"I'm tired..."

Tang Xixue leaned against the couch, her voice sounding as if it had been pulled from a dream, so soft it seemed to melt water, so sweet it could melt a thousand-year-old ice.

She looked somewhat tired and weak.

"I'll head back now, you guys continue."

As soon as he finished speaking, the tense atmosphere in the room instantly changed.

Those sharp gazes, sarcastic words, and simmering undercurrents were all dispelled by that gentle sound.

Like a gentle rain nourishing withered branches.

"It's all the fault of that hypocritical, sanctimonious man..."

Xingyu's voice was melodious, carrying the clear and gentle quality of the sea people, yet it was not difficult to detect the hostility in her tone.

He didn't seem to harbor much hostility towards others.

She was extremely hostile towards Tang Xiye, her older brother from outside the family, like oil being poured on a raging fire.

"What kind of older brother would bully his younger sister like this?"

"You're all old foxes, why are you pretending to be an innocent little rabbit? Don't talk to me about brother and sister, isn't a sister a sister? Isn't a brother a brother?"

Tang Xiye retorted to Xingyu, but her gaze had already fallen on Tang Xixue.

"Don't you have a younger sister? What are you doing staring at me all day? What, does the Sea Emperor want to eavesdrop on me in bed?"

He paused, a meaningful smile curving his lips.

"What a pity, my imperial bed can only accommodate one person."

"..."

Xingyu was speechless after being rebuked by him; his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Who knows!

Emperor Shengchen Tang Xiye was relentless, using all the sharpness he displayed in his verbal battles with the court officials on them.

His mouth was faster than his sword.

"My God, this is like a dragon crossing the river! They're going on a killing spree!"

Bai Duo, who was quietly watching from outside, gasped several times.

"If the three of you go up there, you'll probably all have no choice but to kneel on the ground in front of this man."

"..."

Yue Zhongtian had to admit that he was right.