The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

The ice disc rested on Jiu Fangzhi's sleeve, a silent look flashing across his vertical pupils.

No? Wasn't it the one that helped detoxify just now?

It bit the holy monk twice, injecting poison and then antidote, running around busily. And what about his master?

He just stood there and moved his lips the whole time.

Now, things have gotten really bad. He received a sachet as a return gift from his junior sister, but he won't even let her get close enough to smell it.

Does he want to hear the utter nonsense he just said?

Is that human language?

It may not be human, but its owner is not human either!

Jiu Fangzhi was completely unaware that there was anything wrong with his actions, and he paid no attention to the resentful look that Bing You cast at him.

He stepped onto the gravel path, his steps lighter than when he came.

His tall, slender figure moved with ease, heading straight for his disciple Si Xingxuan's medicine hut.

Meanwhile, Tang Xixue returned to her guest room.

Li Shuang had already carried the food box and set out two vegetarian dishes for Sheng Feiming and Liao Fan respectively, while the other maids sent several other hot dishes to He Lichen.

They had traveled a long and arduous journey to the Valley of Divine Medicine without having a proper meal. Now, with the aroma of food wafting from the table, it brought a sense of peace and tranquility.

"Your Highness!"

As soon as Li Shuang saw Tang Xixue push open the door and come in, she immediately went to greet her with small, quick steps, like a little lark.

She wore a pale yellow long dress, the hem of which was layered like the petals of a forsythia in early spring, beautiful and bright, making her look charming and cute, with the liveliness and cleverness of a young girl in her eyes.

"Your Highness, I have already sent breakfast to all your husbands and attendants. I make sure they are all well-fed and have plenty of energy..."

When she said the last few words, her eyes curved into a smile and she lowered her voice, her tone carrying a deeper meaning.

Tang Xixue was taken aback at first, then smiled and gently tapped her forehead.

"Shuang'er, you're so thoughtful."

The people in her Changsheng Palace are just that perceptive.

She didn't need to explain everything; everyone had developed a knack for reading people and making arrangements perfectly.

They knew exactly who His Highness favored and how to treat them. They had a clearer understanding of this than any ledger.

Saint Feiming was sitting at the table by the window, holding a bowl of glistening white rice, with a piece of green vegetable in his chopsticks, which he had just brought to his mouth.

Then they heard this exchange between the mistress and her servant.

His chopsticks froze in mid-air.

The expression on that delicate face froze inch by inch.

Sister Zhi's... several husbands and servants?

Did they deliver breakfast to everyone?

He looked down at the white rice in his bowl and the plate of stir-fried vegetables in front of him, and suddenly felt that the meaning of this meal had become unfathomable.

Does he count as one?

Is this really food he can eat?

Did he accidentally stumble into some kind of inescapable hell?

"Why isn't the holy monk eating?"

Li Shuang turned her head and saw Sheng Feiming holding his chopsticks without moving, the piece of green vegetable on the tip of the chopsticks hanging there for a long time without being put into his mouth. She couldn't help but ask in confusion.

"Is it not to your liking? Please write down what you would like to eat, and we will do our best to arrange it for you."

Saint Feiming snapped out of his daze and shook his head frantically.

The shaking of the head was quick and resolute, as if clarifying some huge misunderstanding.

It's as if they're saying, "It's delicious, really to my liking, I have no complaints, please don't ask any more questions."

"Feiming, eat slowly, no rush."

Tang Xixue's voice came from the desk.

"After you've eaten, rest for a while before I administer acupuncture. I'll first draft a prescription for you; your body is severely depleted and needs proper treatment to strengthen its foundation and replenish its energy."

Hearing her calm and composed tone, Sheng Feiming's previously pounding heart finally settled back into place.

He picked up his chopsticks again, lowered his head, and carefully put the food into his mouth, eating quietly and properly, though a trace of powder still lingered on the tips of his ears.

Tang Xixue sat down at her desk, spread out a sheet of plain paper, and dipped her brush in ink.

The pen tip danced across the paper, and line after line of elegant and lively medicinal names fell one by one. The fragrance of ink mingled with the scent of peach blossoms outside the window, filling the room with a rich aroma.

"Where are Master and Ayan?"

As she wrote, she casually asked a question.

"Return to your highness."

Li Shuang immediately stepped forward and reported in a crisp voice.

"The Sword Immortal and the Holy Son of Moon Brahma have gone for a medicinal bath."

Tangxi Xue paused slightly with the tip of her pen.

Xie Jinlian's body has never fully recovered. Although she can barely stand up and walk, the meridians in her legs cannot withstand prolonged standing, and she still needs to soak in medicinal baths frequently to carefully nourish them.

He had overworked himself these past few days making soul lamps for her, and now he was soaking in a medicinal bath as a way of making amends.

"Um."

She responded softly, her pen still in motion, but she had already given detailed instructions aloud.

"Make sure you prepare all the necessary medicinal herbs that your master needs, and don't run out."

"Yes."

The pear frost should be applied neatly.

Having been by His Highness's side for so long, she could naturally see that His Highness cared deeply for Xie Jianxian.

When the two were together, His Highness was completely relaxed, with a smile in his eyes, like a crabapple blossom that was finally free from the wind and rain.

How could these servants dare to neglect the person His Highness cherishes?

Meanwhile, in another medicine hut.

Si Xingxuan dripped the last drop of poison into the jade bottle. The bottle hissed and a wisp of pale blue smoke rose from the mouth of the bottle.

He nodded in satisfaction, held the jade bottle up to his eyes to examine it closely, his gaze gentle and infatuated, as if he were looking at his most prized work.

"My lord, what kind of poison is this?"

The medicine servant, Qizhu, peeked over cautiously from the side.

He had followed Si Xingxuan for so long, serving him tea and water every day, grinding poison powder, and secretly learning his skills all along.

He harbored a rebellious ambition: to one day master his skills and poison Si Xingxuan, and that would be his achievement!

Of course, the Lord seemed to know this idea as well.

"The name of this medicine is—Slaying Spring Breeze."

Si Xingxuan's lips curled slightly, her smile as gentle and warm as a spring breeze, but deep in her eyes lay a chilling depth like a bottomless abyss.

"Slay the spring breeze?"

As Qi Zhu recited these three words, she felt that although they sounded pleasant, they also carried an inexplicable killing intent.

He then remembered something and asked curiously, "Is it the same as Drunken Immortal? Your Excellency, you recently recalled and destroyed all the Drunken Immortals on the market. Did you develop an even more powerful new product?"

"Don't mention Drunken Immortal to me."

The smile on Si Xingxuan's face vanished instantly, as if someone had ripped off his mask, replacing it with an undisguised, irritated anger.

"Say one more word, and I'll use you as a test subject for my drugs right now."

Qi Zhu was so frightened that she shut her mouth tighter than a clam shell.

Life tried to chew him up, only to find that he melted in its mouth.

The Lord bullied him, but it was like bullying a soft marshmallow; there was no sense of accomplishment whatsoever.

He was suffering inside, but he didn't say it.

"My lord, your new medicine is so precious, how can you waste it on an insignificant ant like me? Right?"

"snort."

Si Xingxuan snorted coldly and turned his attention back to the jade bottle in his hand.

Long, slender, fair fingers gently caressed the cool bottle, a meaningful glint appearing in her eyes.

"That's true. Such good medicine should be offered to my master."

He specially increased the dosage, preparing it especially for his master, the Ghost Doctor.

"Oh?"

A lazy yet wicked voice drifted from the entrance of the medicine shop.

"What filial piety does Zheyue have to show to his teacher?"

The Ghost Doctor Jiu Fangzhi was already standing outside the door, seemingly out of nowhere.

The guards all recognized him, and none of them dared to stop him.

He stood with his hands behind his back between the doorways, the wind blowing in from behind, fluttering his black robes, and his gaze, hidden behind his mask, fell on his disciple with a half-smile.

Upon arrival, I heard the unprecedented words "filial piety".

Is the sun rising in the west?

Wasn't his apprentice the kind of rebellious son who caused a scene in his parents' home?

How could someone still think of showing him filial piety?

Could it be that he wants to die of filial piety?

Si Xingxuan concealed the jade bottle behind his back without changing his expression, shrugged, and said casually.

"It's just a small token of my appreciation."

Then his gaze settled on Jiu Fangzhi's waist.

His master never wore a sachet.

They find it too feminine, not masculine enough, or cumbersome... In short, there are a thousand reasons not to wear it.

But today, a snowflake-patterned sachet was adorning the waist of that dark black robe.

The blue brocade and silver-blue silk ribbons, with their fine stitches, contrasted sharply with the dark robe, making them so eye-catching that it was impossible to ignore them.

"Master."

Si Xingxuan narrowed his eyes, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry.

"Why are you wearing a sachet today?"

Jiu Fangzhi's tone was indifferent, but the curve of his lips couldn't be suppressed.

"Isn't it pretty? Do you want it?"

"It's alright, nothing special. The snowflake pattern is not bad though."

Si Xingxuan withdrew his gaze expressionlessly, his tone revealing obvious disinterest.

"It was a gift from my junior sister."

Jiu Fangzhi casually added this sentence.

Just this one sentence.

Si Xingxuan felt as if he had been struck squarely on the top of his head by a bolt of lightning, and his entire body instantly lost the equivalent of a house—his defenses were broken.

"Junior Uncle Weaving Fate?!"

His face was filled with disbelief.

"Master—didn't you say that wearing a sachet isn't manly enough? Look at your dark robe, so somber and gloomy, how can it possibly go with this snowflake-scented sachet? It's so mismatched, a complete waste!"

The more he talked, the more convinced he became of his point, so he decided to lay his cards on the table and directly reach out his hand.

"Give it to me. Look, my blue robe and this sachet are a match made in heaven!"

"Oh."

Jiu Fangzhi let out a cold laugh through his nose.

"Although none of us have high hopes for you, you're the least likely to succeed."

He spoke slowly.

"Want a sachet? Go wash up and go to sleep. You can have anything in your dreams."

"???"

Si Xingxuan was nearly knocked unconscious by the knife.

"No—Master, you came all the way to my medicine hut just to show off to me?"

He felt wronged and angry, and his eyes welled up with tears.

If I had known, he shouldn't have asked that question.

"If you're not going to give it to me, then get out of here. This is so annoying."

He angrily turned his head away, flicked his wrist, and casually threw a handful of freshly baked "Spring Breeze Slash" at Jiu Fangzhi.

The poisonous powder bloomed into an invisible, ghostly blue flower in the air.

"Master, I'll see you off on your way."

Jiu Fangzhi didn't even lift his eyelids. With a flick of his sleeve, a gust of wind swept the poisonous mist back.

"Thump—"

The bamboo fell to the ground with a thud.

Si Xingxuan stared at the poisonous fog that had returned, and looked at his master who remained motionless, his handsome face filled with regret.

"Alright, I didn't send it away."

"Your disciple only wishes to see you off on your journey."

Si Xingxuan stood there, his handsome face full of innocence, as if the "Spring Breeze Slayer" he had just received was nothing more than a trivial gift.

"No need. I am not worthy of Zhe Yue's enthusiasm."

Jiu Fangzhi waved his hand without turning his head, his tone as indifferent as if he were refusing a cup of tea that didn't suit his taste.

"You'd better save your useless little apothecary. Any later and his soul will be gone."

He stepped out of the medicine hut, his figure receding into the distance, leaving only a faint, lingering scent of calming incense in the air.

Si Xingxuan looked down and saw Qi Zhu lying stiffly on the ground, her face turning from white to blue, her lips turning purple, and her breath as weak as a spider silk that might break at any moment.

He was absolutely furious.

"Qizhu, what use are you?"

"Besides embarrassing me, what else can you do?"

Si Xingxuan swiftly stepped forward and crouched down.

He grabbed Qizhu's chin with one hand and deftly dislocated it with a snap.

With his other hand, he had already inserted a pill that melted in his mouth, and then with a click, he calmly put his jaw back in place.

The whole set of movements was so smooth and fast that Qi Zhu didn't even have time to utter a sound.

The medicine worked very quickly; within a few breaths, the purplish discoloration on his face faded, and his lips gradually regained their color.

Qi Zhu recovered and touched her chin to make sure it was still on her face. Then, with tears welling up in her eyes, she spoke in a pitiful voice.

"My lord—are you always so rough when you feed me medicine? I can actually... take it myself, really."

He became more and more upset as he talked.

His lord has no heart.

There's not a shred of gentleness in her.

It's like repairing a broken mechanical puppet.

Who feeds their children medicine like this?

He's not one of the Lord's puppets! He's a living person, okay?

He simply couldn't imagine that the great demon Si Xingxuan could have a gentle side.

Gentle? These two words are probably incompatible with his master's birth chart.

"Quarrel."

As soon as Si Xingxuan uttered a single word, Qi Zhu instantly fell silent as a chicken.

This is the oppressive aura emanating from the main villain—concise, understated in its killing intent, and imposing without being angry.

Qi Zhu kept her mouth shut, but an inappropriate thought came to mind—Tang Xixue.

The one whom their lord desires, the Heavenly Physician of Destiny.

In this world, perhaps only she could subdue Zhe Yue, this wicked and insane demon.

I wonder if the Heavenly Physician can give his master a little more of the pain of love!

Meanwhile, in the guest rooms of Zhiyun Xiaozhu.

"Take off all your clothes and lie down."

Tang Xixue spoke to Sheng Feiming.

Saint Feiming froze on the edge of the bed.

Those clear eyes widened in panic.