The guards at the entrance opened the door for the Third Prince, then knelt in unison with solemn expressions. The Third Prince did not acknowledge them at all and stepped directly across the threshold. The murderous severity on his face made the already cold and desolate Muyan Residence feel even more bleak and oppressive.
“This son heard that Mother Consort was unwell and came especially to pay his respects. Eunuch Lu here said that Mother Consort caught a chill after residing too long in Linhan Palace, where the damp energy from the earth is especially heavy. I possess an excellent medicine specifically made to treat such ailments. I will have someone deliver it to Mother Consort shortly.”
Although the Third Prince’s words were perfectly proper, they contained almost no emotion, as though the person before him had nothing whatsoever to do with him. There was even a faint trace of contempt hidden within his tone.
Consort Mu’s expression changed drastically upon hearing this. Her already weak complexion turned deathly pale. Even so, she raised a trembling hand toward the bowing Third Prince and said, “There is no need for such ceremony, my son. Since it is an expression of your filial devotion, Mother Consort will be certain to take the medicine properly.”
“Then this son will not disturb Mother Consort any longer. Please return to bed and rest. This son takes his leave.” After completing his bow, the Third Prince turned and walked toward the door.
Consort Mu pressed a hand to her chest, her usual calm and dignified bearing completely shattered. She remained visibly shaken, her eyes fixed firmly on the Third Prince’s back as though she could not relax until she saw him leave the room entirely. There was no reluctance or affection in her gaze—only desperate impatience for him to go.
Suddenly, the Third Prince stopped at the doorway. Without turning around, he said coldly, “Does this son’s presence make Mother Consort so uneasy?”
At those words, Consort Mu became incapable of speaking altogether. Only her hurried breathing and choked sobs could be heard clearly. Not a single servant in the room dared step forward to help her. They all stood frozen to the side, scarcely daring to breathe. In the end, Consort Mu could no longer support herself. She coughed up a mouthful of bloody foam, her body sagged, and she collapsed heavily to the floor.
The Third Prince gave a cold laugh and strode out of Consort Mu’s residence.
When the Third Prince returned to Qinyi Courtyard, Mu Xueshi was already awake. He was sitting on the table, fiddling with something unknown. When the Third Prince suddenly entered the room, a trace of panic appeared on Mu Xueshi’s face.
“Why did you come in without making a sound?”
The Third Prince studied Mu Xueshi with a puzzled expression. Mu Xueshi’s eyes darted around as his left hand held down the sleeve of his right arm. Pointing toward a vase nearby with his right hand, he shouted, “Look! There’s someone over there!”
Seizing the moment, Mu Xueshi hurriedly pulled two strings of golden jade fruit from inside his sleeve and returned them to the plate. But when he looked up and saw that the Third Prince had not even turned his head in response to the distraction, he realized that every one of his movements had been observed clearly.
Mu Xueshi swallowed, his face filled with embarrassment. A blush spread across his cheeks, making him indescribably adorable and enticing. Yet while the Third Prince was momentarily distracted, Mu Xueshi suddenly complained loudly, “Why are your reactions so slow? I shouted, and you couldn’t even cooperate with me for a moment!”
The Third Prince frowned without speaking. Seeing him remain expressionless, Mu Xueshi swallowed again and pulled two pieces of red-plum cake from the small pouch at his waist. Then, beneath the Third Prince’s increasingly suspicious gaze, he continued taking out crystal sugar pearls, white-sesame soft cakes, exquisite mountain fruits, palace-brewed sweet wine… along with two silver ingots and three strings of agate hair ornaments that no one knew where he had found.
“What are you staring at? I only took a few of your things! You’re the type who acts all cold and reserved while secretly burning inside—a textbook case…” He had originally intended to tease the Third Prince and lighten the mood, but by the end, all confidence had drained from his voice.
Futile Devices Scans 
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