Although Mu Xueshi settled down after making a fuss for a while, his mouth still would not stop. The Third Prince finally reached the end of his patience and began to suspect that Mu Xueshi truly was not pretending. If his mind were still normal, not a single thing he had done today would have been possible for the Mu Xueshi of the past.
There was no time to disguise Mu Xueshi’s face, so the Third Prince pushed him behind the beaded curtain and drew the gauze screen shut, leaving only one wrist exposed. Imperial Physician Li rested his fingers on Mu Xueshi’s pulse and examined him carefully, his expression gradually turning grave.
The sight of that small, jade-pale hand left Imperial Physician Li momentarily distracted. In all his years of practicing medicine, he had never seen fingers so beautifully formed. The joints made it obvious that the patient was a man, yet he could only imagine that the face hidden behind the curtain must be peerlessly beautiful.
“I don’t have anything contagious. You don’t need to take my pulse…” Mu Xueshi said, sneaking two grapes into his mouth as he spoke.
The Third Prince held Mu Xueshi still behind the beaded curtain and cleared his throat. Imperial Physician Li immediately said, “Your Highness, there appears to be nothing seriously wrong with this person…”
“Holy crap!” Mu Xueshi cut him off. His bright eyes widened as he stared excitedly at the Third Prince. “You’re a prince? Is that why people here call you ‘Your Highness’? I remember… it was… mmph…”
Before he could finish, the Third Prince clamped a hand over his mouth. Mu Xueshi’s restless lips kept moving against his palm, sending a faint tingling sensation through it.
The Third Prince’s brows knotted. “Say one more word and you will be beheaded immediately.”
Imperial Physician Li dropped to his knees at once, hardly daring to breathe. The Third Prince almost never lost his temper. Unless something had truly enraged him, it was difficult to provoke such anger. The thought left Imperial Physician Li trembling, terrified that there might be some flaw in his diagnosis.
Mu Xueshi was frightened too. The face that had been glowing with excitement only moments earlier immediately wilted, like a newly opened flower scorched beneath the noon sun.
The Third Prince continued staring at him without moving. Mu Xueshi’s large eyes fluttered several times. He stole two quick glances at the Third Prince, only to shrink back the instant their eyes met. At last, he simply lowered his head and silently fiddled with the ornament at his waist.
Don’t make him angry. It would be ridiculously unfair to survive all that only to get beheaded now. Mu Xueshi reminded himself. As long as he stayed alive, he still had a chance to find the silver coin. Once he found it, he could go home. The thought made him smile to himself.
The Third Prince froze when he saw that smile, warm enough to melt snow. It was painfully familiar. Had he not once happened upon that very smile, Mu Xueshi’s head would already have fallen today. Yet now he was showing it so freely again. What was he trying to achieve? If he had not truly lost his mind, had he simply decided to cast aside all dignity?
Trying to charm me into sparing your life, Mu Xueshi? If this is what you’ve become, I’ll show you even less mercy.
Seeing the faint disgust in the Third Prince’s expression, Mu Xueshi remembered the revolting face reflected in the pond. He probably looked even worse now. He quickly wiped the smile from his face and bowed his head, trying to hide it.