The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

The Starry Valley of Divine Medicines is shrouded in mist.

In the distance, the mountains rise in layers like a screen, while nearby, the medicinal herb fields are arranged in a pleasing and orderly fashion.

Various spiritual plants unfurl their branches and leaves before the morning dew dries, emitting a refreshing medicinal fragrance.

The medicine hut was very quiet, with only the occasional chime of a wind chime under the eaves.

"bite--"

Inside the central bronze cauldron, the flames were languishing, and a wisp of extremely thin blue smoke rose gently from the openwork of the lid.

The aromas are layered upon layered: the deep fragrance of cloud-borne branches, the mellow aroma of snow-white lingzhi, the clear aroma of ice-jade ginseng, and the subtle aroma of nine-leaf grass, weaving an invisible brocade in the air.

"Ah Zhe, you're frail and still recovering from a serious illness. Why are you already making medicine so soon after you get back?"

Si Xingzhou stood to the side, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with worry.

He finally managed to bring his younger brother back from Baiyujing, and carefully escorted him all the way, fearing that something might happen to him on the way.

Upon arriving at the Divine Medicine Valley, he originally intended to stay for a few more days to personally witness his younger brother settle down and ensure his health before returning to the palace to handle the mountain of official business.

No sooner had he stepped into the medicine hut than he saw Si Xingxuan already starting to refine medicine.

"I just love making medicine, don't worry about it, brother."

Si Xing stood before the furnace, his cloud-silk robes glowing with a soft, warm light from the fire.

The fabric was as light and thin as water, shimmering and colorful, making him look as if he had stepped out of a painting.

His tone was somewhat sharp, and he didn't even turn his head, his gaze remaining fixed on the furnace.

"Fine, fine, I don't care, I don't care."

Si Xingzhou quickly waved his hand, his tone so soft it didn't sound like that of a monarch.

"What medicinal herbs does A-Zhe need? I will go and find them for you."

"From the ends of the earth to the farthest reaches of the sea, as long as you can name it, I can find it."

He didn't know what was wrong with his younger brother.

Si Xingxuan remained sullen throughout the entire journey.

When asked, he won't answer; when coaxed, he turns his head away; when ignored, he sulks.

Si Xingzhou sighed inwardly, but still patiently coaxed him.

"Didn't A-Zhe say last time he wanted your master's little ice snake? How about I find you one just like it?"

My younger brother has been frail since childhood and gets sick all the time. As his older brother, what can he do but indulge and coax him?

His gaze fell on the furnace, then swept over the brocade box spread out on the table.

The entire row of jade and silver boxes contained rare treasures that were hard to find anywhere else in the world.

Each ingredient is priceless, enough for an ordinary doctor to spend their entire life seeking, yet here it is merely a medicinal herb that Si Xingxuan casually picks up.

"No need! I can prepare whatever I want myself."

Si Xingxuan's tone was somewhat impulsive, but the way he twisted the medicine in his hands remained perfectly steady.

He couldn't shake the feeling of resentment when he thought about his brother secretly stealing the girl he loved.

If it were anyone else, he would have already sent them a packet of poison, clean and efficient, leaving no future trouble.

But it just so happens to be the older brother.

He was the brother who loved and cared for him the most, and who always gave in to him from childhood to adulthood.

He couldn't poison, scold, or hit; he could only sulk alone.

I held this breath in my chest, and it hurt so much my heart ached.

"Ah Zhe, why are you so angry?"

Si Xingzhou didn't know what he was angry about, so he could only helplessly try to persuade him.

"Then brother should go find a deflated younger brother! My Seven Generations Pavilion has everything."

Si Xingxuan replied sarcastically, but his movements became even more steady, as if he were turning all his resentment into a fire in a furnace, burning brightly.

"Ah Zhe, did someone bully you? Tell me."

Si Xingzhou's voice deepened, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

He knows his younger brother too well.

Although Si Xingxuan is cold-hearted, she would never speak to him so coldly.

This person clearly looks like they've been wronged, but they won't say it.

"No matter who it is, your brother will stand up for you, don't be afraid."

"Brother, you should go back to the palace!"

Si Xingxuan finally turned around and glanced at Si Xingzhou, her eyes filled with grievance.

"I just want to be alone for a while, don't disturb me while I'm making medicine."

After he finished speaking, he turned back to refining medicine.

Those priceless and rare medicinal herbs were far less important to him than a wisp of his beloved's soul.

Her clear, moon-like eyes were now intently focused on the flickering flames in the furnace.

Now he only has one thing left to do: to concoct the best medicine for her.

"Alright, alright, I'll go back then."

Seeing that he was unwilling to talk, Si Xingzhou did not force him.

He knew his younger brother's personality all too well; if he didn't want to talk about something, even holding a knife to his throat wouldn't make him budge.

Anyway, once he calms down and has cried enough, he'll still come to him to complain.

From childhood to adulthood, when has it never been like this?

"I'll come see you later when I'm done with my work."

Having been away from Xingze for so long, he certainly had a lot of things to take care of.

Moreover, the red snow everywhere outside makes one feel vaguely uneasy.

Emperor Xingze's grand procession departed from Divine Medicine Valley and headed along the official road towards the imperial capital, Moon Soul Star City.

After the imperial carriage departed, the valley returned to its usual tranquility.

"My lord, it's time to take your medicine."

Qi Zhu came out from the side room carrying a bowl of medicine.

The bowl was plain white porcelain, with a fine layer of water droplets condensing on its surface; the medicine was still warm.

He walked to Si Xingxuan's side, stood still, and waited quietly.

Si Xingxuan's long hair was unbound and hung loosely behind her shoulders.

A few strands fell onto her chest, making her face appear even thinner.

He stared at the flickering flames in the furnace, neither turning around nor responding.

Qi Zhuhou offered a reminder from the side.

"It'll get cold if you don't drink it now."

He kept his voice very low.

Si Xingxuan did not respond.

The wind outside the window suddenly picked up, swirling up a few petals that seemed to have drifted in from nowhere, which then fell through the window.

One of the pieces happened to fall into the medicine bowl, gently swaying on the dark brown soup, like a small, lonely boat floating in a sea of ​​bitterness.

Qi Zhu glanced down at it but didn't move.

Normally, he would carefully wipe it away with a silver spoon before respectfully handing it over.

But he didn't today.

The petal floated on the medicinal soup, its red color almost glaring.

"Today's medicine smells more bitter than usual."

Si Xingxuan's voice suddenly rang out.

Qi Zhu snapped out of her daze and quickly replied:

"Yes. Your Majesty coughed badly yesterday, so I added an extra ingredient, Coptis chinensis."

"Um."

Si Xingxuan finally turned around.

His gaze lingered on the floating petal in the bowl for a moment.

Qi Zhu followed his gaze and suddenly hesitated, "This subordinate will brush it away immediately."

"No need."

Si Xingxuan reached out and took the medicine bowl.

His fingers were long, with distinct knuckles, and the tips were pale.

He held the rim of the bowl to his lips, tilted his head back slightly, and drank the bitter medicine down in one sip, swallowing even the flower petal along with it.

The bowl is empty.

Si Xingxuan handed the bowl back to him.

"Something on your mind?"

His voice was very soft, as if it were a casual question, but it made Qizhu's heart tighten suddenly.

No, no.

Qi Zhu lowered her head, took the empty bowl with both hands, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Si Xingxuan did not ask any further questions.

He withdrew his gaze, his voice soft and gentle.

"Go down."

"Yes."

Qi Zhu held the empty bowl and turned to walk out.

As he reached the door, he couldn't help but look back.

Si Xingxuan was as thin as a medicinal herb growing in a deep valley, and at this moment it seemed that she wanted to put all her warmth into the pot of medicine she was making for her beloved.

Qi Zhu withdrew her gaze and gently closed the door.

The moment the door closed, he heard a heavy thud coming from inside.

He stood outside the door, holding the empty bowl, for a long time.

The bowl still held the warmth of the medicinal soup, which gradually cooled down, making his fingertips numb.

How can man possibly conquer nature?