The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

As the year draws to a close and the weather grows cold, the lights of the world still shine.

The chill of winter snow seeped into the very bones of the capital, while the charcoal fires in the braziers lining both sides of the long street burned warmly.

The warm orange light spread across the bluestone slabs like spilled honey, clinging to the hems of passersby's clothes and their shadows.

"Oh, what a coincidence that I ran into His Highness..."

Pei Yanchuan, carrying the bundle of books carefully wrapped in indigo paper, hurried out of the alley, almost running.

Will she think I'm too...reckless?

The night breeze brushed against his slightly flushed cheeks, bringing with it the warm, inviting atmosphere unique to the city streets, which eased the shyness in his heart.

"Hopefully she didn't see these book titles."

"Mu Liang isn't a talkative person; surely no one knows this secret..."

He was secretly relieved that he hadn't run into any acquaintances when, unexpectedly, he bumped into another group of people at the dimly lit intersection of the alley and the main street.

"Brother, thank you for showing mercy today, which allowed me to pass the chess test smoothly."

Shen Yan was gently tugging at Shen Xian's sleeve, acting coquettishly. Her sapphire blue brocade dress shimmered like a galaxy under the bright streetlights.

The skirt was embroidered with orchids in extremely fine silver thread, shimmering and sparkling as she moved.

"Yun Hua's chess skills have improved."

Shen Xian spoke gently, his gaze falling lightly on her face.

Her makeup was exquisite today, and a sapphire crown in her hair made her skin look even whiter and more translucent.

Her eyebrows and eyes were drawn delicately and softly, and her lips were adorned with trendy cherry-red lip rouge.

At this moment, her head was slightly lowered, her long eyelashes trembled like butterfly wings, and her voice was filled with just the right amount of gentleness and timidity:

"Brother, look... isn't that Princess Jing's study companion, Young Master Pei?"

She looked up, her gaze falling on Pei Yanchuan, who had just emerged from the alley, a quick scrutiny flashing across her eyes.

"Pei Yanchuan."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian's steps faltered slightly.

He wore a dark green brocade fox fur coat, the silver-gray fur collar accentuating his handsome face, and he exuded the refined and noble air cultivated by a prominent family.

His brows, as thick as distant mountains, furrowed almost imperceptibly with a fine line.

As far as the eye could see, Pei Yanchuan was bending down to arrange the books in his arms. The title of the old book with a blue cloth cover at the top was "Husband's Model: On Serving the Wife".

"frivolous."

Shen Xian's lips pressed into a cold, straight line, and two words, sharp as ice, rolled out from his throat.

The innate sense of superiority in his eyes now transformed into tangible contempt, scraping across Pei Yanchuan like a frost blade.

Pei Yanchuan raised his head.

The warm yellow light from the streetlights flowed across his handsome profile, outlining his straight nose and well-defined jawline.

His gaze was calm and unwavering, landing directly on Shen Xian's face, his voice clear and melodious like a mountain stream tapping on a rock:

"A defeated opponent."

The four words were pronounced clearly and calmly, without a trace of anger.

But it was like a red-hot needle, precisely piercing through Shen Xian's carefully maintained facade of composure.

Shen Xian's face suddenly turned cold and sullen. The noble composure he had just displayed cracked like porcelain, revealing an embarrassing anger surging beneath.

The image of him being utterly defeated by this poor student on the chessboard in broad daylight swept over me uncontrollably.

Where is that a game of chess?

It was clearly a crushing defeat that was almost humiliating.

His chess skills, which he had been proud of since childhood, proved as fragile as a sandcastle under the opponent's subtle and ingenious strategy, crumbling at the slightest touch.

"You—" Shen Xian's Adam's apple bobbed, and his fingers clenched quietly in his sleeve.

"Brother!"

Shen Yan gently tugged at his sleeve, speaking softly but with a tone of dissatisfaction and incitement.

"He's just a poor scholar, yet he dares to speak to you like that! He's truly... utterly disrespectful and ill-mannered. He's just like everyone else..."

Pei Yanchuan stopped looking at them and turned to leave.

His slender figure appeared thin under the lamplight, yet he stood upright like bamboo, his steps measured and composed.

"Pei Yanchuan, remember this."

Shen Xian stared at his back, her voice low and tinged with suppressed coldness.

"On the chessboard, you may indulge in your momentary pleasure."

"But in the treacherous world of officialdom, one's rise and fall depend on family background, connections, and power. A rootless duckweed, when faced with even the slightest storm, will be... shattered to pieces."

Pei Yanchuan didn't stop, only the night breeze carried his still steady response, light as a feather, yet as heavy as a thousand pounds:

"No need for Young Master Shen to worry about it. Your future depends on your own abilities."

As soon as he finished speaking, a corner of his long gown quickly disappeared into the crowd.

"What does he mean by that? What makes him think he can be compared to his elder brother?"

Shen Yan frowned, her tone becoming increasingly sharp, as if the pent-up frustration of the past few days had finally found an outlet.

"Just because he's a little pretty and has gained some favor from Princess Mirror, does he really think he's leaped over the dragon gate?"

"Yunhua, your injuries have not yet healed. You should rest and recuperate, and do not waste your energy on irrelevant people."

Shen Xian interrupted her, his expression already calm, but the shadow in the depths of his eyes had not yet dissipated.

"The Plum Blossom Banquet at the Marquis of Zhenbei's residence is just around the corner; that's where you should be focusing your efforts."

Shen Yan's eyes flickered, carrying a hint of expectation:

"I heard that this was personally arranged by the Lady of the Marquis's Mansion, with the aim of finding suitable young ladies for Prince Fengyi and General Fengzhuo..."

"Um."

Shen Xian responded, but his thoughts drifted away.

The Zhenbei Marquis's residence... Feng Zhuo.

That unruly, wildfire-like young general seems to have been getting quite close to Tang Xixue lately.

The gentle smile on his face faded without him realizing it, replaced by a layer of vexation that he himself was unaware of.

On what grounds?

Pei Yanchuan, a poor man with nothing to his name, does he deserve her pity?

They even studied the "Treatise on Serving One's Wife"... It's utterly disgraceful and unbearable to look at.

"Then, brother, let's go back to the manor. Yunhua really likes the sapphire necklace you gave me today."

Shen Yan spoke softly, her eyes glancing at the maid Li'er standing behind her with a subtle wink.

Li'er understood and quietly retreated into the shadows. A moment later, several strong servants from the Shen family gathered from the shadows, whispered their orders, and then quickly chased after Pei Yanchuan in the direction he had left.

Shen Xian was arrogant and disdained to personally attack a poor scholar, but Shen Yan couldn't swallow this insult.

Even if I can't move Tangxi Xue, it's still a pleasure to pluck one of her "understanding flowers".

Thinking of how the impetuous young master Xiao from the Minister of War's family failed to achieve his goal and was instead expelled from Lintai, she felt a surge of shock, anger, and bewilderment.

"Why is Prince Beichen helping her? It shouldn't be like this... The prince treats me differently..."

Her nails dug deep into her palms as she suppressed the panic in her heart.

In order to get closer to the powerful and unpredictable Prince Beichen, she studied under many famous teachers, practiced her zither skills diligently, and devoted all her efforts to earning him a fleeting glance.

This delicate balance must not be disrupted by anyone else.

Night was falling on Lintai Mountain Road.

As the first snow began to fall, fine snowflakes were swept up by the cold wind and pattered against the steep stone steps and bare branches.

The mountain road was secluded and quiet, with only a few lights and a pale white glow reflected from the snow.

Pei Yanchuan, holding his book, walked alone in silence.

Their thin clothes offered little protection against the mountain chill.

He remained calm and unaware of the danger quietly approaching from behind.

As they reached a bend in the road, in a sheltered spot, several dark figures suddenly emerged from behind the jagged rocks beside the road. Holding thick wooden sticks, they silently surrounded them and pressed forward.