At first light, the Third Prince pushed open his door.
Su Ruhan and another man knelt outside. A distinct scar ran beneath the man’s neck; his head was bowed low. The Third Prince lifted his chin with a scroll. The face revealed was refined and scholarly—a youth about Mu Xueshi’s age.
“Your Highness,” Su Ruhan reported solemnly, “this man is a servant of the Grand Tutor’s manor. His name is Ning Yue. Since childhood he has served as Mu Xueshi’s personal guard, until Mu Xueshi was imprisoned.”
At the name Mu Xueshi, Ning Yue stiffened. Forgetting his own peril, he spoke urgently:
“Third Prince, I dared trespass into Qinyi Courtyard only to beg an audience. I seek justice for my young master! He has always revered the Grand Tutor—he could never have harmed him. I implore Your Highness to investigate!”
He struck his forehead to the ground three times. When he lifted his head, blood had already seeped through the skin.
The Third Prince did not respond. Instead, his gaze shifted to Su Ruhan.
Su Ruhan remained silent.
Moments later, the sword that had accompanied him for twenty years lay snapped in two upon the ground.
“What do you mean by this, Your Highness?” Su Ruhan asked—his first voluntary question in eighteen years of service. In all that time, their conversations had scarcely reached ten exchanges.
The Third Prince had chosen him for his taciturn nature and decisive hand. A single glance was enough for Su Ruhan to understand his command.
But last night, Su Ruhan had attempted to sever his own life to atone for his failure—only to be stopped mid-act by the Prince.
He did not understand why he had been spared.
Without answering, the Third Prince strode toward the Gao Wang Pavilion within the courtyard. Su Ruhan followed. Behind them, Ning Yue remained bound, kneeling outside the bedchamber, unable to move.
Ning Yue still believed Mu Xueshi was suffering forced labor in exile. The thought of his upright master unjustly accused left him sleepless.
From childhood, only Ning Yue had understood Mu Xueshi’s temperament.
Condemned as unfilial from birth because of his face, Mu Xueshi had grown up amidst scorn. It was said that when he was born, both midwife and Grand Tutor stood by. Upon seeing the infant’s face, the midwife killed herself on the spot. The Grand Tutor took one glance and never entered that room again.
The once peerless beauty of the realm had fathered a son so hideous—what greater humiliation?
Thus Mu Xueshi became solitary, cold, allowing only Ning Yue at his side. And for that reason, Ning Yue regarded him as his only confidant in this life.
Though ugly, Mu Xueshi had long since captured his heart.
Next
Futile Devices Scans 
Leave a comment