The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

Inside the Hall of Longevity, the warmth was like brewing wine.

In the gilded brazier at the corner of the palace, silver charcoal burned silently, completely shutting out the chill from the heavy palace gates.

The air is filled with the delicate fragrance of cold plum blossoms, which mingles with the scent of ink from the pages of a book, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

Tang Xixue shed the chill of frost and snow, wearing only a plain white nightgown, and leaned against the soft couch under the window.

The nightgown was made of extremely soft brocade, with wide cuffs and hem embroidered with faint silver snowflake patterns that shimmered like moonlight under the lamplight.

Her long, black hair cascaded over her shoulders, making her profile appear even more beautiful and picturesque.

Holding an ancient book in his hand, his long eyelashes drooped, his expression focused.

"Your Highness," Li Shuang approached quietly, her voice extremely low, "Young Master Pei has arrived. Shall we summon him in?"

Tang Xixue's gaze remained fixed on the book; she merely nodded slightly: "Let him in."

The opening and closing of the palace doors created a slight breeze, which was then quickly swallowed up by the warmth.

A crisp, cold breeze from outside quietly seeped in, followed by light, steady footsteps.

Tang Xixue looked up.

The crystal tassel curtain was gently parted, revealing Pei Yanchuan's figure.

He changed out of his previous eye-catching moon-white outfit and was now wearing a worn-out pale blue Lintai school uniform.

Perhaps because he had just come from the snow and ice, his fair cheeks were slightly red from the cold wind, and the tip of his nose was also tinged with a lovely blush.

However, what is most striking is his eyes.

Her eyes, which should have been clear as spring water reflecting the sun, now had a faint, lingering red mark at the corners, as if... she had been crying.

He walked into the hall, stopped at a suitable distance, bowed his head, cupped his hands, and said in a slightly tense and hoarse voice, "Yanchuan greets Your Highness."

Tang Xixue's gaze lingered on him for a moment, noticing his changed clothes and catching the unusual red at the corner of his eye.

Li Shuang had already tactfully led the other maids away silently, and gently lowered the ice-blue crystal tassel gauze curtain that separated the inner hall from the outer room.

Even the twilight chill hidden in the shadows seemed to recede somewhat.

The hall grew increasingly quiet, filled with a warm, fragrant aroma, leaving only the two of them inside.

"Yanchuan," Tang Xixue put down the book in her hand, her soft voice breaking the silence, "Why did you change your clothes? That white dress tonight suited you perfectly, like a flawless piece of jade, elegant and refined."

As she spoke, she lightly tapped the empty spot on the soft couch beside her with her fingertip.

"Please sit down."

Pei Yanchuan's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

That praise, like the softest feather, landed precisely on the most tender spot in his heart, stirring a throbbing sensation that was a mixture of sweetness and bitterness.

He stepped forward as instructed, but did not sit down immediately. He simply stood there, his long eyelashes fluttering gently like butterfly wings, casting an uneasy shadow beneath his eyes.

"That garment..." he said softly, his voice hoarse, "is wet."

"It's wet?" Tang Xixue raised an eyebrow, her tone tinged with regret. "That's a real shame."

She sat up straight, the silver snowflakes on her nightgown shimmering with a delicate luster as she moved.

Her gaze fell calmly on him.

Then, she parted her red lips slightly, and with a voice as soft as melting snow, calmly uttered two words:

"Take it off."

The voice was so soft and gentle, like the most delicate petals of early spring, falling unexpectedly into the palm of your hand, carrying a sweetness that makes your heart tremble and an undeniable authority.

Pei Yanchuan froze.

The blood seemed to rush to my head instantly, then recede rapidly, leaving a buzzing sound in my ears.

He was so shy that he didn't know what to do.

He hasn't had time to look at the textbook yet.

His mind went blank, his fingertips were icy cold, but his body began to execute those two words uncontrollably.

The soft rustling of fabric against fabric rang out with remarkable clarity in the excessively quiet hall.

The pale blue outer garment slipped off her shoulders, followed by the thin inner garment...

The boy's slightly thin but well-defined body was gradually exposed to the warm and bright candlelight.

Her skin was pale and cool, but now, due to shyness and helplessness, a thin, beautiful pink hue quickly spread from her neck down to her collarbone and even further down.

The air seemed to freeze.

Tang Xixue got up and took a jade medicine box that had been prepared beforehand from the multi-treasure pavilion next to her.

Turning back, she was stunned by the sight before her, even though she was usually calm and collected.

The medicine box almost slipped from his grasp.

She blinked, her beautiful eyes widening slightly in surprise.

Two faint blushes, like peach blossoms, uncontrollably rose on her snow-white cheeks, more natural and vivid than rouge.

"Yanchuan, applying the medicine...do I need to be stripped down like this...completely?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Yanchuan froze on the spot, like a jade sculpture.

Under her gaze, the pale pink on his fair skin deepened visibly, almost as if it were burning.

He opened his mouth, his voice barely audible, filled with immense confusion and embarrassment: "N-no...it's not...serving in bed?"

Their eyes met; one was surprised, the other bewildered.

Tang Xixue took a deep breath, quickly suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, and her gaze fell on the old and new scars on his body.

Some were cracked from the cold, some were obvious bruises, and some even had thin, long bloodstains that looked like they had been cut by a sharp object.

A hint of pity appeared in her eyes.

"Alright then." She turned and tossed him a soft, thick snow blanket. "Just lie down on the couch like this."

This makes applying the medicine much easier...

She has people all around her, so there's no harm in taking a look.

This little white flower—so pretty!

"……Um."

Pei Yanchuan's voice was so low it was almost inaudible. He hurriedly took the blanket, wrapped himself in it, and then awkwardly moved to the edge of the soft couch, where he lay down stiffly.

He buried half his face deep in the snow-covered blanket that carried the faint scent of cold plum blossoms from her body, leaving only his tightly closed eyes and his ears, which were so red they were almost bleeding, visible.

A slender, jade-like hand, with fingertips gleaming with a faint pink luster, reached out and held the open jade medicine box.

The box contains a translucent, lustrous paste that exudes a cool, refreshing plum blossom fragrance.

"It might hurt a little... just bear with it."

Tang Xixue's voice is as gentle as wisps of cloud, carrying a soothing power.

"I'll be gentle."

"Sweetie, give me your hand."

Pei Yanchuan didn't open his eyes, but obediently stretched his hand out from under the blanket.

Those were the hands of a scholar, with long, slender fingers, distinct knuckles, and neatly trimmed nails.

However, at this moment, the back of his hands was covered with tiny cracks caused by the cold and hard work, some of which were even oozing blood, and there were also thin calluses on his palms.

Compared to his handsome and gentle face, his hands are filled with the real hardships and struggles of a student from a poor family.

Tang Xixue lowered her eyes, her expression focused.

She scooped out a little cool balm with her fingertips and carefully applied it to the most severely cracked part of the back of his hand.

Her warm, soft fingertips contrasted strangely with the cool, delicate scent of the balm. That warm touch felt like a tiny electric current coursing through Pei Yanchuan's body, causing him to tremble almost imperceptibly.

"In Lintai during winter, the north wind is like a knife. It's so cold that even holding a pen to write is a pain."

As she carefully applied the ointment, she spoke softly, her voice like a spring breeze rustling through silver bells under the eaves, clear and cool yet unconsciously sweet and gentle.

"You'll have to be careful to protect it from now on."

Pei Yanchuan stood stiffly, feeling the warm fingertips move, circle, and slowly melt the ointment on his skin.

The cool fragrance of plum blossoms, mixed with her unique scent, seeped into his very being.

The pounding in my chest grew stronger and stronger, almost as if it would burst out of my chest.

His Adam's apple bobbed violently, and in the end he just buried his face deeper in the blanket, letting out a muffled sound:

"Thank you... Your Highness."