The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Little Xue'er, you are the most dazzling."

A male voice, domineering yet resolute.

Bei Chenji knew he shouldn't have come.

Xiao Xue'er didn't need his protection, and she never knew he was watching her.

But he still came; he happened to be free at this grand medical ceremony.

I didn't come here on purpose.

I just happened to have some free time.

"Sir, didn't you say you had to handle military affairs of the War Hall today?"

Qian Su asked cautiously in a low voice.

"Shut up."

"……yes."

"Zhizhi..."

Another voice, like an invisible thread, cut through the noise and landed precisely in her ear.

That voice held a thousand words, all hidden in those two words, like a jar of wine buried for too long, so mellow that one dared not easily uncover it.

He Lichen sat upright in the main seat, his expression still calm and composed.

But in his eyes, there was only her.

"Sir, your tea."

Songjun silently handed over a cup of tea, which was covered with goji berries.

"Sir, what are you looking at?"

"Observe the timing of the weather."

Songjun looked up at the sky.

The sky was clear and cloudless.

Observe the weather.

Fine.

Whatever the Imperial Advisor says goes!

None of these people are allowed to enter the competition area.

Given their status, their unauthorized entry into the examination hall constitutes interference with the trial and is a blatant provocation against the millennia-old rules of the Divine Medicine Valley.

So they could only watch her from afar, separated by the crowd.

But their eyes were all on Tang Xixue.

The way she lowered her eyes as she wrote, the way her fingertips hovered over the cauldron as she controlled the fire, the way she casually brushed the dust off her robe after putting away the Snow Soul Fan—all of these were captured by eyes hidden in every corner.

Then all those gazes converged on Si Xingxuan.

That guy was sitting next to Tang Xixue, less than half an inch away from her.

His knees were so close together, his shoulders were tilting towards her intentionally or unintentionally, and there was a very suspicious smile on his lips.

"Look... isn't that guy standing a little too close?"

"Don't say it out loud. Saying it out loud will make us seem like we care too much."

"We do care a lot."

The scrutiny, vigilance, and gritted teeth in those eyes almost turned into ice shards falling on Si Xingxuan.

If those gazes were swords, he would probably be riddled with holes by now.

"He definitely did it on purpose. He even smiled at us just now... Did you see that? That smile was clearly a provocation."

"I saw it. I even saw the tip of his canine tooth."

"That kid... he's clearly taking advantage of his weak health to feign pitifulness and gain sympathy."

"There's nothing we can do. He's genuinely frail. You can't compare who's more pitiful to someone who gets out of breath after just a few steps."

"It's so annoying to watch... I really want to poison him."

"He's a poison master. He eats poison like it's candy. I advise you to think positively."

"Think positive? I just want to kill him!"

Si Xingxuan didn't care at all.

He even moved closer to Tang Xixue, his shoulder almost touching hers.

Then he raised his face and gave those directions an innocent, soft smile.

"Junior Uncle."

He spoke, his voice soft and gentle, carrying a hint of frailty and pitifulness.

He has already left everyone else far behind in this race of sickly beauties.

"My health isn't good. If I enter the Glazed Heaven, can I come with you?"

He gazed at her with teary eyes, like a kitten abandoned in the snow, finally finding someone willing to bend down for him.

Those eyelashes were incredibly long, trembling slightly, casting two soft shadows that made one's heart soften.

"Who knows if there are any terrifying beasts inside... The secret realm is different every time it opens."

His breathing was very light, and his face was indeed somewhat sickly pale.

This isn't an act; he is genuinely frail.

But he used his physical weakness in the most crucial way: feigning weakness to gain an advantage.

He knew she fell for that.

In fact, she ate it.

"Okay. Zheyue will come with me then."

Tang Xixue couldn't help but feel sorry for him when she saw his pitiful appearance.

After all, he was her junior apprentice, and his health was weak. Who knew what dangers lurked in this Glazed Heaven? With her there, at least she could protect him for a while.

She couldn't just leave him alone in the desolate wilderness.

"Junior Uncle is so kind."

A gentle smile spread across Si Xingxuan's wet eyes.

He looked like a newlywed husband, nestled carefully and joyfully against his wife.

But a dark glint silently flickered in the depths of his lowered eyes.

His statement just now was intentional.

He didn't lower his voice just to ask her; he controlled his volume so that it could be heard clearly from all directions.

He knew those people were listening.

He wanted them to hear... that his junior uncle had agreed to let him come along.

how?

Are you angry or not?

"You'll be so angry!"

He silently added a sentence in his heart, while his face still maintained that harmless and obedient expression.

"Click-clack".

Several crisp sounds came from above.

That was the sound of a teacup shattering, coming simultaneously from several different directions.

Si Xingxuan lowered her eyelids, concealing the fleeting triumphant smile in her eyes.

"See... I told you he'd be infuriating."

"Stop talking. I'm about to grind my teeth to dust."

"It seems these big shots have changed their teacups several times already."

"Shut up. Watch the show. Don't let your anger get the better of you."

"Why are these big shots all so short-tempered lately? Are the teacups from Divine Medicine Valley all defective products fired in the same kiln?"

A young disciple was startled by the series of shattering sounds, almost dropping his teacup. He hurriedly put it down and then looked around anxiously.

"What happened? Which big shot is venting their anger with a teacup this time?"

Everyone was a little confused.

Only those who were close and had sharp eyes could vaguely see shards of broken porcelain flying out from behind the curtain, landing on the bluestone ground, and splashing up fine powder.

But when they looked up, the people in those directions had already returned to their upright postures, their faces calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.

"What happened???"

Tang Xixue looked up.

Those gazes instantly disappeared.

The crowd that had just been glaring at Si Xingxuan immediately straightened their hats and adjusted their sleeves.

He discreetly concealed the broken teacup in his sleeve, then raised his face and gave her a calm and gentle smile.

"Zhizhi is looking at me. She's looking this way."

"Don't get cocky. She's looking at everyone."

"..."

Tang Xixue's gaze swept across their faces one by one, and the corner of her lips twitched slightly.

Very good, very good at pretending.

She looked away, lowered her head, and casually took a sip of tea.

Never mind, I won't expose them.

"Next is the third challenge."

Liu Xinyi's voice drew everyone's attention back.

She held a scroll of plain silk in her hand; it was the trial charter for the final stage.

Her gaze slowly swept over the fewer than one hundred contestants below the stage. After a moment of silence, she announced, word by word.

"Q&A Wall"

The three words fell.

A low murmur arose from the audience.

"A Q&A wall? What's that?"

Some people looked puzzled.

"This doesn't sound like an alchemy test... Could it be some kind of policy essay test?"

"What are you afraid of? A strategy discussion is better than a disaster. At least you won't end up with a face full of soot."

Someone frowned slightly.

"To solve the world's problems and answer the questions of all people."

"The Q&A wall was not created out of thin air for this year's Medicine God Trial, but rather a sacred place that has existed in Divine Medicine Valley since ancient times..."

Liu Xinyi began to slowly introduce herself to everyone.

Deep in the valley is a naturally formed green jade stone wall, about three zhang high and more than five zhang wide. The stone is warm and smooth like jade, and it gleams with a faint greenish light all year round.

Legend has it that in ancient times, the founder of Shenyao Valley carved the first question about medicine on this wall with his finger, leaving it for future generations to answer.

For the next thousand years, disciples in the valley, itinerant doctors from all directions, and even passing physicians could inscribe the difficult and complicated diseases they encountered in their lifetime on the wall.

Spiritual patterns spontaneously formed on the wall, storing countless medical problems. Over time, it became a living medical encyclopedia.

Whenever the Medicine God Trial takes place and the Glazed Heaven opens, the Question Wall will move from the depths of the valley to the examination hall, allowing participants to undergo their final trial.

This move is not just for selection, but also to show respect for passing on the torch.

Those unresolved questions may finally find an answer today.

Tangxi Xue put down her teacup.

The third stage.

finally come.

She raised her eyelids, and a bright smile appeared in her starry eyes.

They were already prepared to meet all challenges with composure.