The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Ran Zhi's name is definitely fitting; he's always so energetic and lively, absolutely adorable!"

Tang Xixue smiled slightly, handed the written prescription to Yan Ci, her fingertips still carrying a faint scent of herbs.

"These past few days... when I was in Baiyujing, A-Ce remembered to secretly come to see me. I still need to give you acupuncture a few more times."

"Your chronic illness has been going on for too long. If it's not cured soon, you'll suffer greatly in the future."

Tang Xixue added another sentence, her tone serious and leaving no room for refusal.

"Also, remember to get the medicine according to the prescription, decoct it, and drink it, understand? Ah Ce, don't take it lightly."

"Yes. Thank you, Your Highness! I will remember this."

Yan Ci accepted the prescription with both hands, holding it with the solemnity of someone receiving a marriage certificate for a vow of love.

His long, silver-gray hair swayed slightly in the morning breeze, and his insightful eyes were lowered considerably at that moment.

The family only cares about whether he is successful or what value he has, and never asks whether he is in pain or tired.

Only the young prince.

That little prince, so noble and precious.

The person who should have been cherished only remembered a casual remark he made.

That day, he only mentioned in a moment of panic that he had a cold and could not be punished by kneeling, so as to tell the young prince not to get too close.

He thought she would be angry and look at him coldly. After all, who in the entire court didn't know that the strategist Yan Ci was the most shrewd and worldly-wise?

But she didn't blame him.

Not only did he not, but he also condescended to treat him personally.

As the silver needles were applied, he clearly felt the coldness that had lingered deep in his leg bones for many years melt away little by little, like winter snow meeting spring.

The effect was so remarkable that it far surpassed all the herbal decoctions he had used over the years.

What can be dissolved... is not just cold-related illnesses.

"Liu Fengchun's medical skills are indeed far inferior to Zhe Yue's. If Zhe Yue had taken action, A Ce's cold illness wouldn't have progressed to such a severe stage."

Tangxi Xue frowned slightly.

She had read the medical books written by Si Xingxuan himself; that man was truly gifted in the art of medicine.

Using medicine is like commanding troops, and acupuncture is like deploying troops; every step is taken with remarkable precision and skill.

Liu Fengchun, as a military doctor, always stayed by Yan Ci's side.

So many years have passed, and the cold illness has not only failed to improve, but has also caused Yan Ci to suffer for so long in vain.

"I clearly saw that Liu Fengchun had a very good talent for medicine when he was young, so how come he can't even cure a cold? What use is he!"

Tang Xixue has never liked gossiping about others, but when she thought of the suffering Yan Ci has endured over the years, she couldn't help but feel a little sad.

Instead of blaming yourself for not discovering it sooner, it's better to blame others for not doing their best.

With her personality, she would never allow herself to suffer any internal strife.

"It's not Fengchun's fault."

Yan Ci calmly straightened his white robe with ink patterns, and gently twirled the ink-colored folding fan in his hand, drawing a smooth arc in his palm.

"He's just too cautious. He does have medical skills, but he learned ancestral life-saving techniques, and his prescriptions and acupuncture are all done with the air of an imperial physician."

"It can't be cured, but it won't kill you either. Most importantly... it won't implicate the entire clan."

He lowered his eyes, the curve of his lips faint, as if he were talking about something utterly ordinary.

He may not understand medicine, but he understands people's hearts.

Liu Fengchun knew he couldn't bear the blame for the death of the strategist, so he always used the "peaceful" method.

"Feng Chun does have talent in medicine and is capable of making small contributions. But when it comes to taking a gamble and risking his life, he has neither the courage nor the need to."

"Where in the world is there another divine physician like Zheyue, who can consult the heavens with his healing potion? Where is there another celestial physician like Zhiming, whose miraculous hands can ignite the lamp of destiny?"

Yan Ci looked up at Tang Xixue, his eyes filled with admiration and respect.

"Most of them are just average doctors like Liu Fengchun."

Doctors are also human beings; they must first live for themselves and their families.

A cautious and prudent approach is the proper way for a doctor.

Si Xing Zhe Yue's medicine was remarkably effective because he never cared about the lives of others.

In his eyes, patients were merely instruments to test the prescription; whether they were cured or not was fate, and he did not hesitate for a moment.

The Heavenly Physician of Destiny has absolute confidence in taking action.

Heaven did not grant her longevity, but she wove her own destiny.

Acupuncture can cure chronic illnesses, and medicine can heal the common people.

"Of course, I am worthy of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. I will praise you as much as I want, and I love to hear it."

Tang Xixue smiled, her eyebrows curving like the mountains painted by the setting sun, outlining a golden arc.

Those bright, starry eyes curved into crescent moons when they smiled, clear and dazzling.

"Ce is not good at speaking."

Yan Ci, holding a dark folding fan, solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

His long, silver-gray hair swayed gently in the wind, making his handsome face appear even more otherworldly.

"We can only pray for Your Highness..."

"Where spring returns, all things come to life. Traverse the long night, embrace the light of heaven. With a single thought, the sun and moon shine eternally."

"If our A-Ce is not good with words, then I'm afraid no one in this world can be described as having a silver tongue."

Tang Xixue smiled and spoke, while draping a fox fur cloak over her pink dress, the snow-white fur making her face look like a lotus flower.

"Someone as intelligent as our A-Ce should be carefully protected and not allowed to suffer the ravages of wind and snow."

Feng Yi stood aside, silent for a long time, before finally speaking, his voice filled with a deep sense of guilt.

"If I had been there five years ago, Yan Ce wouldn't have had to go to the battlefield. It was my fault."

At that time, Feng Zhuo was the head coach for the first time. He believed that his younger brother could stand on his own, so he did not stay by his side.

But it was just a momentary lapse in attention. No one could have imagined that his foolish younger brother would be assassinated in the commander's tent.

"Wasn't it five years ago when Ran was assassinated? That has nothing to do with me."

Tang Xixue guessed it instantly.

Aside from the fact that the head coach was in trouble, she couldn't understand what kind of situation would force Yan Ci, the strategist, to the front line.

It should be noted that everyone, whether in the Northern Frontier Army or the Eastern Navy, cherished and protected Yan Ci, the strategist.

A strategist is of utmost importance; his skill lies in strategy, not in warfare.

"I examine myself three times a day—I am not wrong, I am fine, I am right in everything."

Tang Xixue said matter-of-factly, "It wasn't her fault, so why should she blame herself?"

"If you didn't recognize that it wasn't me, and you got tricked, you should reflect on whether you weren't a bit too smart."

Her gaze swept over everyone.

Of all those people, Feng Zhuo was the one who suffered the most.

Given how familiar she was with Feng Zhuo, he shouldn't have failed to recognize her.

Even though he recognized her, he still held onto hope, deceiving himself into thinking that it was her.

All I can say is that the innocent little dog is both pitiful and adorable.

"Xingyun, your younger brother doesn't look like he's been to school."

Yan Ci raised an eyebrow, gently tapped the direction of the wind with his folding fan, and spoke with a hint of mockery in his tone.

"Otherwise, why would the strategist think... Ah Zhuo would become a military general?"

Feng Yi wasn't annoyed; instead, he nodded in deep agreement.

If his brother had any sense at all, the family wouldn't have sent him to the battlefield.

The Northern Garrison already has enough military officers; one more or one less won't make a difference.

Unfortunately, Feng Zhuo's personality was such that he was good at nothing but wielding swords and spears.

"Hey—you guys, you've gone too far! I'm still here!"

Feng Zhuo peeked out from outside the door, his handsome face flushed red.

He had clearly run away, but he couldn't resist and came back.

So, you could say you ran, but you didn't run the whole thing.

Hearing everyone subtly implying that he was stupid, he immediately became anxious, like a little wolfhound whose tail had been stepped on.