The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Feed—"

"Snow in Tangxi".

A figure in a fiery red dress leaned against the window.

Shen Nian casually twirled a strand of curly hair that fell across her chest with her fingertips. When she saw Tang Xixue walk into the classroom, she raised her bright eyebrows and curled her lips into a playful smile.

"I heard you punished Shen Yan with twenty lashes yesterday?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for the several ears around her to hear clearly.

"Right now, her group of protectors are furious and wish they could tear you apart."

She and her adopted daughter Shen Yan had never gotten along. Seeing Tang Xixue act so decisively, she was in a particularly good mood and, for the first time ever, took the initiative to inform her.

"You yourself—you'd better take it easy."

Shen Nian blinked, her smile carrying a hint of mischievous amusement.

"What does their anger have to do with me?"

Tang Xixue continued walking without stopping, heading straight to her seat, her voice calm and even.

She raised her eyes, her clear gaze sweeping over the several subtle, resentful stares cast upon her from within the room. A slight smile played on her lips, but her tone held no hint of amusement.

"Does he dare to lay a hand on me at Lintai?"

As soon as he finished speaking, those gazes abruptly shifted away as if they had been burned.

In a corner, Shen Yan, dressed in plain blue, with a pale and delicate face, was being gently comforted by three or five people.

Her eyelashes were lowered, but her fingers under her sleeves tightened slightly.

"Who would dare?"

Shen Nian chuckled, her red dress trailing on the ground, and walked to the seat next to Tang Xixue to sit down.

"The group that ambushed you yesterday were dragged to the execution ground and beheaded before dawn."

She leaned closer, lowered her voice, but her eyes gleamed with excitement.

"You don't know yet? Several groups of people have been mobilized, both inside and outside the palace—the Hidden Dragon Guard, the Marquis of Zhenbei's residence, and even the Court of Justice have arrested people overnight. The scene was truly one of thunderous fury."

She looked Tang Xixue up and down, as if she were seeing her for the first time:

"I thought you'd fallen out of favor... but I didn't expect you to have fallen for it."

"Please, you've always been the one who's not favored."

Tang Xixue spoke the harsh truth.

Shen Nian, the legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Shen, was not favored in the Shen family because of her outspoken and fiery personality, unlike her adopted daughter Shen Yan who was obedient and gentle.

This is a straightforward statement, but it is an indisputable fact.

Shen Nian was taken aback, but instead of being annoyed, she burst out laughing:

"It's not necessary to...tell the whole truth."

She truly never expected that Tang Xixue, who used to be ridiculed behind her back for being unpresentable, would now become so dashing and radiant.

His words and actions naturally exude an air of authority that makes people dare not look him in the eye, as if he was born to stand on the clouds and look down on all living beings.

Not far away, more and more people gathered around Shen Yan.

"Miss Yunhua, she's just jealous of you. She's afraid you'll do too well on the exam today and steal her thunder."

"That's right! She's hopeless herself, so she wants to drag you down with her!"

"I really feel sorry for you... You're injured like this and you still have to take the exam."

"Princess Mirror is clearly abusing her power; this is outrageous!"

Amidst the chorus of comforting voices, Shen Yan raised her pale face, gently shook her head, and spoke in a weak voice:

"Please don't say that... Her Highness... she definitely didn't do it on purpose. She... she tried her best..."

"No matter how hard she tries, it's a joke!"

Someone immediately scoffed.

"How can anyone compare to Miss Yunhua's unparalleled talent? Even if you do well in the Xuanke exam, it's just luck; you have no substance whatsoever. How can you be worthy of being compared to Miss Yunhua?"

"Sister Yan, I heard you were injured."

A clear and gentle young voice suddenly broke through.

Kong Sangyu walked over at some point, his eyes, as blue as a clear sky, filled with worry, and his beautiful face was full of concern.

"Are you alright? Are you able to participate in today's annual examination?"

Shen Yan looked up at him, her eyelashes trembling slightly, like a white lotus glistening with dew, her voice even softer:

"I can only... barely manage to participate in the chess exam."

"Ah! Poor Sister Yan!"

Kong Sangling immediately took Shen Yan's arm, her little face full of sympathy.

"Sister Yan will definitely pass smoothly."

Kong Sangyu comforted her gently, his gaze falling on Shen Yan's pale and weak profile, a cold glint flashing across his eyes.

He glanced at Tang Xixue, who was talking to Feng Zhuo not far away, and disgust spread silently like a poisonous vine.

Sister Yan is so kind and beautiful, yet she is always bullied by that vicious woman.

He will definitely seek justice for Sister Yan.

Just then, Tang Xixue seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up, meeting Sang Yu's gaze, which she hadn't had time to fully conceal.

Eyes facing each other.

Kong Sangyu paused for a moment, then a bright, sunny smile bloomed on her face, her blue eyes clear and bright.

Tang Xixue calmly withdrew her gaze.

This heartless little dumpling is Shen Yan's most loyal little fanboy, and has done countless dirty jobs for her behind the scenes.

I wonder what wicked idea he's hatching right now.

"What are you looking at?"

Feng Zhuo took a step forward and blocked Tang Xixue's path. With a flick of his crimson sleeve, his sharp eyes pierced through the air and landed squarely on Sang Yu.

"Isn't having your sister Yan enough? Why are you so fickle?"

His voice was bright and uncompromising: "Have some sense of male virtue, little brother!"

"You think you can just stare at Xue like that? You little green tea! Don't even think about trying to seduce her!"

"..."

Kong Sangyu's smile froze.

For the first time in his life, he was speechless after being insulted.

Only a masochistic madman like Feng Zhuo would treat a bad woman like Tang Xixue as a treasure.

"quiet."

A sound like a flowing spring rang out.

The handsome and refined-looking scholar, Song Jun, stepped onto the podium, his gaze calmly sweeping across the entire room. He wore a deep blue robe and exuded a composed demeanor.

The room fell silent instantly.

"The four arts assessments—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—are conducted in four separate sessions."

"You may choose one subject to take the exam and proceed to the corresponding examination room."

"The zither test will be held at Shuyu Pavilion, the chess test at Yixing Terrace, the calligraphy test at Cangmo Pavilion, and the painting test at Ranxia Studio."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the students below the stage, whose expressions varied, and slowly added:

"His Highness Prince Beichen will be the chief examiner for this examination of the Four Arts. The specific examinations in each examination hall will be conducted by the most skilled person in that art from Lintai."

"After a cup of tea, the assessment will officially begin."

After he finished speaking, Song Jun nodded slightly and stepped aside.

A murmur of discussion and the sound of people getting up immediately filled the room.

The students packed their things and headed to their chosen examination rooms, some alone and some in groups.

"Ah Xue".

Feng Zhuo moved closer to Tang Xixue, his brows furrowed, and lowered his voice.

"That chess competition is really being hosted by Shen Xian... Are you sure you don't want to go? Shen Yan has already headed to the Chess Star Platform."

Although he was extremely jealous, he was even more worried about her assessment.

If she fails the exam, will she be so sad that she cries?

"I'm not going."

Tang Xixue shook her head, her tone resolute.

"I don't need to rely on him."

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhuo's jealousy vanished instantly, replaced by a joyful smile that made him unable to resist turning up his lips.

"And who's in charge of the other subjects...?"

He was so focused on keeping an eye on Tang Xixue and guarding against his love rival that he didn't pay any attention to these things.

Pei Yanchuan, who had been standing quietly beside Tang Xixue, spoke softly at this moment.

"The music test will be presided over by the Holy Son of Yuefan, Yun Boyan."

"The written examination will be presided over by Prince Kongsang Yu of Kongsang."

"The painting test will be presided over by the Drunken Young Master Hua Rongshi."

His voice is like misty rain, and listening to it feels like a gentle spring breeze.

"Your Highness, which one would you like to choose?"