The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Young Marquis, something has happened at the hunting grounds."

The guard from Lintai who came to report knelt on one knee, his armor covered with unmelted frost.

Feng Yi was on the high platform in the grassland, checking the results with a pen.

Upon hearing the news, his wolf-hair brush paused slightly, and the ink spread out in a small patch of somber cloud.

He was the eldest son of the Marquis of Zhenbei, a hereditary young marquis.

If his younger brother Feng Zhuo is a blazing flame that burns across the eight wastelands, then Feng Yi is a vast cloud that covers the entire battlefield.

"What's unusual?"

"Southeast forest ravine, ambush point. Not only are there arrow marks left by modified crossbows, but also traces of people driving away tigers..."

"The objective is clear: it's aimed at Princess Mirror."

Before the words were finished, a horse neighed loudly, tearing through the wind and snow.

Feng Yi looked up and saw a figure in red, like a blazing fire burning through the snowfield, riding into the hunting ground forest path.

The horse's hooves shattered the jade, sending it flying like mist. The figure did not hesitate for a moment—it was Feng Zhuo.

"Ah Xue—"

That call was torn apart by the north wind and scattered into the forest.

Feng Yi saw that her younger brother's usually proud and upright back showed a hint of panic as he rode the horse, and his deliberately maintained cold posture shattered at that moment.

In that instant, the air above the platform seemed to freeze instantly.

Feng Yi's white and black light armor had a matte, cold sheen, and the relief of the cloud-swallowing beast on his shoulder was solemn and lifelike. The dark blue cloak hung down from his shoulders and fluttered slightly in the wind.

"You bastard!"

He uttered two words that sent chills down the spines of the guards below the stage.

"Within the Lintai Palace, there are people who so blatantly disregard the law."

His fingertips rested on the cool scabbard at his waist, his gaze sweeping over the people below the stage, a chilling light flashing in his cold eyes.

"Investigate thoroughly. The origin of the crossbow, the path of the tiger, everyone who came into contact with that area—leave no one out."

"yes!"

Where is the rescue team that was dispatched?

He spoke again, his tone now steady, though a hint of something was amiss in his slightly taut jawline.

"How is Princess Mirror...?"

He needs to confirm.

Not only because of his duty, but also because he knew that if anything were to happen to that little darling, his younger brother, to whom he had given his whole heart, would probably lose all reason on the spot.

"Reporting to Young Marquis, reinforcements have arrived. His Highness is unharmed. We have reinforced our elite troops to defend the inner perimeter, ensuring there is no chance of further attack."

Feng Yi breathed a sigh of relief, almost imperceptibly.

"Oh."

A faint, cold smile flickered across his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"To resort to such a deadly act after being harassed a few times... truly lacking in magnanimity."

A scene from several years ago suddenly flashed before his eyes—Feng Zhuo, covered in blood, gripped his wrist tightly, barely breathing, yet still pleading with him, word by word:

"Brother... don't make a fuss, don't let anyone... make things difficult for her..."

The pain and stubbornness in the boy's eyes back then are still etched in his heart.

Feng Yi looked in the direction where his younger brother had disappeared; the dust had not yet settled.

He shook his head gently, his sigh fading into the wind:

"Ranzhi, Ranzhi... It seems that the stab she gave you didn't help you improve at all."

"The fire in your heart will probably burn only for her until the very end."

On the west side of Lintai, atop a towering cliff, the Medicine House is hidden deep in the clouds and mist, with the copper bells on the eaves ringing softly in the wind.

The Divine Physician Si Xingxuan, wrapped in a snow fox fur coat, leaned against a bamboo couch, his pale fingertips brushing against the yellowed pages of the medical book in his hand.

Below the cliff lies a vast snowfield hunting ground.

First came a mournful roar that pierced the forest and shook the mountains, tearing apart the silence.

Then, the sound of something cutting through the air grew louder as it approached—

He looked up and saw an eagle falling from the clouds, the arrow feathers tearing through the air and piercing its wing with precision.

The eagle struggled to trace an arc before finally disappearing into the snowy forest.

"interesting."

Si Xingxuan's lips curved into a very faint smile, and starlight shimmered deep within his eyes.

"A falcon trained by the mountains and seas was shot down by an arrow."

"My lord, it's time to administer the medicine."

The medicine attendant, Qizhu, arrived carrying the medicine; the young man's voice was like a clear mountain spring.

The soup in the celadon medicine bowl was a deep brown color, with wisps of steam rising and a bitter taste spreading.

A few red plum petals, blown down by the wind, drifted into the bowl, and he carefully brushed them away with a silver spoon.

Si Xingxuan stretched out his almost transparent hand and caught a falling plum blossom.

The crimson against his clearly defined, snow-white wrists was almost blindingly beautiful.

He looked down at it for a moment before taking the medicine bowl.

The bitter taste rushed straight to my throat.

His brows didn't furrow, but the already pale color of his lips faded even further.

"Yun Jue has accepted the previous bounty."

Qizhu gently reminded him.

"The recent disturbance at the hunting grounds involves a mix of forces, and Princess Mirror has made many enemies... Perhaps this will bring some peace and quiet to Your Majesty in the future."

"clatter."

The medicine bowl was gently placed on the table with a crisp sound.

Si Xingxuan slowly raised his eyes.

The casual interest from just now had completely vanished from his eyes, leaving only a deep, dark, and icy pool.

His already pale face was now completely devoid of color, and even the light brown tear mole at the corner of his eye seemed to be covered with frost.

"The bounty order has been withdrawn," he said, his voice as soft as snowflakes scattered in the wind.

"My lord?" Qi Zhu was taken aback.

Before the words were even finished, the frail figure wrapped in a fox fur coat had already stepped over the railing.

Her toes lightly touched the snow-covered eaves, her fox fur fluttered like wings, and she was like a falling feather, soaring towards the direction where the eagle had fallen.

"My lord! Your medicine—" Qi Zhu's exclamation was left behind.

Si Xingxuan treads through the snow without leaving a trace, skimming over withered branches and remaining snow.

The wind filled his wide sleeves, like a snow butterfly breaking free from its restraints.

Below the cliff, only snow and mist lingered.

The figure rose and fell a few times, disappearing into the vast forest, leaving no trace.

"What's going on? Is the Lord going to take action himself?"

Qi Zhu gazed at the desolate cliff, then looked back at the half-bowl of cold medicine on the table, and sighed softly.

"You haven't taken your medicine yet, so you don't have another attack later."

He had followed Si Xingxuan for many years and knew his master's temperament well.

That bowl of medicine, I'm afraid I won't be able to finish it today.

"Does the Lord really hate Princess Mirror that much? Does he only feel relieved when she dies at his hands?"

Qi Zhu gazed into the depths of the hunting grounds, a complex worry flashing across his eyes.

The snowstorm at Lintai is likely to intensify.