The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Si Xingxuan leaned against the tree trunk, the silver thread of the epiphyllum on the collar of her plain velvet cloak shimmering faintly. She looked so frail that she seemed about to melt into the wind at any moment, yet the words she spoke were as sharp as knives.

Even if the Divine Medicine Valley were to face mountains and seas... it would never know how to write the word "fear".

"Then, Divine Physician Zheyue, you should first consider how to explain—you are not an examinee, yet you trespassed into the Royal Hunting Grounds?"

Kong Sangyu's gaze shifted slightly; the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from afar was already imminent.

"If he is suspected of being the culprit in today's ambush... that would be truly fascinating."

Si Xingxuan's smile froze.

The figures in the distance had already pierced through the forest mist, and the sound of the guards' armor rubbing together could be clearly heard.

He gave Kong Sangyu a deep look, then suddenly flicked his sleeve.

With her white cloak billowing like butterfly wings in a startled flight, the figure had already retreated, disappearing into the deep forest and snow in an instant, leaving only a few very shallow footprints on the snow, which were quickly covered by the new snow.

In the end, I... got involved in this mess.

Si Xingxuan hurried through the dense forest, but his steps grew heavier and heavier.

The cold air felt like needles, piercing into the lungs and internal organs.

The medicine I didn't take today seems like a death warrant, and every part of my body is screaming in weakness.

A few strands of her dark blue hair slipped from between her silver hairpins, and the hem of her rain-washed sky-blue robe brushed against the withered branches and lingering snow.

His skin was so white it was almost translucent, and the last trace of color had faded from his lips. Only his eyes remained strikingly bright, like cold stars about to fall.

"I'm going crazy..."

He leaned against an old tree, his whispers carried on the wind, seemingly mocking someone.

Just as he staggered out and barely managed to grab a green plum tree covered with ice crystals, he lowered his head and suppressed his broken breathing.

From afar, the sound of horses' hooves clattering through the snow echoed through the forest.

The sound was unhurried and clear, like the tapping of jade, each step taken in the fading twilight.

Si Xingxuan raised his eyes.

Amidst the dappled light and shadow of the snow-covered forest, a figure rides slowly, breaking through the vast expanse of white.

Tang Xixue wore a snow-white cloak, the hood half-fallen down, revealing her flowing white clothes underneath.

The dark silver snow pattern on the hem of her dress rose and fell with the horse's back, like ripples on a still lake.

The snowflake tassel hairpin in her hair shimmered like starlight in the sparse sunlight, and the ice crystal earrings swayed gently, refracting delicate, dreamlike halos.

At that moment, all was silent.

She needs no words; she is already the third kind of stunning beauty between the moonlight and the snow.

"Divine Physician Zheyue, may I give you a ride?"

She reined in her horse and stopped in front of him, her voice soft and melodious.

Si Xingxuan leaned against the plum tree, her curled eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her pale face.

He gazed at her, his eyes as dark and deep as a pool.

"Didn't you... leave with your little white flower?"

His voice was low and hoarse, with a slight tremor from unsteady breathing.

"You've come looking for me, aren't you afraid I might poison you on a whim?"

He tugged at his pale, bloodless lips.

"This place is deserted, making it the perfect spot to dispose of the body and cover up the crime."

Tang Xixue blinked, her long eyelashes glistening with fine snowflakes.

"The Divine Physician Zheyue just accepted those rare medical books from me, and now he wants to poison the person who presented them to him?"

"Then I'm really... terrified."

This legendary doctor, who spends lavishly, is truly generous when buying books.

Even the old things in her Hall of Longevity were taken away by his Seven Generations Pavilion.

This seemingly fragile, crystal-clear Divine Physician is actually the most secretive and wealthiest man in the Nine Provinces.

The Divine Medicine Valley is a place where doctors heal the sick and the Seven Generations Pavilion is as wealthy as a country; both are within his grasp.

"Are you leaving?"

"If you don't leave, I'm really leaving."

"……want."

Si Xingxuan remained silent for a moment before finally uttering this word.

He desperately wanted to be defiant, but the weakness in his limbs prevented him from doing so.

"Take me to the foot of Liuyun Cliff," he said in a barely audible voice, "and someone will meet you there."

The area is currently under martial law, so it would be unwise for him to summon the people from Divine Medicine Valley, as it would only cause more trouble.

Tangxi Xue reached out her hand.

He used the momentum to mount his horse and landed behind her.

Xuanju Zhuxing let out a soft neigh, as steady as a mountain.

"drive--"

She gently spurred the horse's belly, and the divine steed spread its four hooves, but not galloping wildly; it simply passed through the forest at a steady pace.

Si Xingxuan instinctively put his arm around her waist—

Too thin, too soft.

The delicate fragrance of crabapple blossoms wafted towards him, and a few strands of hair brushed against his cheek in the wind, bringing a subtle, tingling itch.

His body stiffened, his fingertips hovering at her waist, unsure where to place them.

This time, he took the initiative to put his arms around her.

The bitter scent of medicine seeped from his sleeves and collar, silently entwining her fragrance like vines.

Her back was warm, and a reassuring feeling emanated from her through her clothes.

The horse moved very steadily, clearly slowing down intentionally to accommodate his ailing frame, which was susceptible to jolts.

"...avoid some people."

He spoke softly, his breath brushing against her ear.

Tang Xixue gave a soft "hmm," and slightly turned the reins to avoid the firelight of the patrolling guards in the distance.

"The Divine Physician Zheyue says this..." she suddenly chuckled, a hint of amusement in her voice, "It makes it seem as if you and I are... having a secret tryst."

Si Xingxuan's breathing became slightly sluggish.

"If you don't want to be poisoned and rendered mute, speak properly."

She didn't turn around, but he seemed to see the sly curve of her lips.

Chasing stars, we trudged through the snow, the sound of our hooves fading into the depths of the forest, leaving only the rustling of the wind through the bare branches.

Si Xingxuan's hand was still loosely wrapped around her waist.

With the slight swaying of the horse's back, my fingertips unconsciously tightened for a moment, then relaxed as if burned.

"Afraid of falling?"

Tang Xixue suddenly spoke, her voice containing a faint smile.

He didn't respond, but simply moved his palm slightly upwards, draping it lightly over the side of her cloak's tie.

This posture remains restrained.

As the horse reached a gentle slope, she leaned back slightly, her back inadvertently brushing against his chest.

"Don't move."

Si Xingxuan's breath hitched, and he instinctively wanted to retreat, but found that he had nowhere to retreat.

She seemed completely unaware, even turning her face slightly to the side, the tassels in her hair brushing against his chin.

"How far is Liuyun Cliff?" she asked, her warm breath brushing against his neck.

"...To the west, just pass through this forest of red maple trees."

His voice was a little hoarse, and his gaze fell on the icy crystal pendant on her earlobe.

The refracted light shimmered slightly, like sparks dancing in the snow.

She spurred her horse and turned.

As he moved, the velvet edge of the cloak lightly brushed against the inside of his wrist.

The skin there was extremely thin, with barely visible blue veins. The sensation of her unintentionally brushing against it was exceptionally clear, like a feather tickling the tip of my heart.

Si Xing closed his eyes.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the branches, spreading a layer of cold, silvery frost over her shoulders.

This speed made each hoofbeat a long, drawn-out process, and each breath an unavoidable, intertwined moment.

He could feel her body temperature seeping through the fabric of her clothes.

This temperature, which should be most familiar to doctors, made his fingertips feel slightly numb at this moment.

Why have you come to the hunting grounds today?

She suddenly asked.

Si Xingxuan remained silent for a moment.

"Let's come see the eagle," he finally said, his gaze falling on the dappled shadows of trees on the snow ahead. "The eagles tamed by the mountains and seas are rare; I want to see how they died."

"and then?"

"Then I discovered," he said slowly, "that the man who shoots the eagle is more interesting than the eagle itself."

Then, a soft sigh of realization rang out.

"oh--"

The sound of snow rising from Tangxi.

"I didn't realize that the Divine Physician Zheyue was interested in... Young Master Pei."

"No wonder he always speaks coldly to me; it's because we're the wrong genders."

"..."

The air suddenly froze.

Si Xing's hand, which was wrapped around her waist, froze.

"Tang, Xi, Xue"

He pronounced her full name slowly and deliberately, each word sounding as if it were being ground out from between his teeth.

A flush of almost frantic red rose on his pale face, even tinging the corners of his eyes with a faint red—he was simply choked by these distorted words.

"Calling me won't do any good. I was the one who chose Yanchuan first, so don't try to take her from me."

Tang Xixue curved her lips into a smile.