Mu Xueshi dropped to his knees with a thud, his mind going completely blank. Then he began explaining incoherently, “Your Highness the Third Prince, while you were gone, someone really did break into your bedchamber. I even heard a series of crashes and bangs. But you told me that I couldn’t allow other people to see my face, so I had no choice but to hide under the quilt as best I could. I didn’t dare stick my head out.”
The Third Prince nodded as though everything had suddenly become clear. “According to you, then, an outsider was responsible for the state of my room?”
Mu Xueshi nodded repeatedly and raised his thumb. “Congratulations, Your Highness. You’ve even learned how to answer your own question.”
Although the Third Prince did not understand the gesture, he knew Mu Xueshi must be praising him in an attempt to please him. He decided not to pursue the matter just yet, curious to hear what else Mu Xueshi could invent.
Seeing that the Third Prince still appeared doubtful, Mu Xueshi secretly encouraged himself, then said with a deeply concerned expression, “Your Highness, since this person broke into your private chamber in broad daylight and then fled in a panic, it must have been one of the servants in the courtyard. He probably wanted to steal a few valuables while you were away and sell them to support his entire family. When you think about it, he must have had the best of intentions. He risked his life merely so that his elderly parents, wife, and children could eat a full meal. Such filial devotion is truly enough to move Heaven and Earth. Therefore, this commoner boldly begs Your Highness not to investigate the matter—or at least to punish him leniently. Afterward, you should also distribute more silver to the servants so that the elderly members of their families may live out their remaining years in comfort.”
Throughout this speech, Mu Xueshi wore an expression of such solemn righteousness that he truly seemed to be speaking out of concern for the courtyard servants.
The Third Prince sighed. “Rise. I shall accept your suggestion. Should the culprit be discovered later, I will not take his life. I will also deal with him leniently—fifty strokes of the cane will suffice.”
Mu Xueshi’s earlier composure immediately vanished. Forgetting his position in his anxiety, he walked straight up to the Third Prince, took his hand, and pleaded, “Your Highness, I know you possess the compassionate heart of a Bodhisattva. Who else in this palace could possibly be as magnanimous as you? You were even kind enough to rescue a criminal like me. That person merely stole a few things from your room, so why bother pursuing the matter?”
The Third Prince was surprised that Mu Xueshi had taken his hand so casually and was now wearing a rare, ingratiating expression. Although he deeply despised those who compromised their dignity merely to preserve themselves, the sight of Mu Xueshi’s pitiful face unexpectedly made his resolve waver. He studied Mu Xueshi, then asked in the same unyielding tone, “From what you have said, it seems you already know who the culprit is. If you tell me truthfully, I can pardon you for concealing his crime.”
“If I tell you, there won’t be any punishment?” Mu Xueshi asked eagerly.
The Third Prince gave a soft laugh. “You will not be punished. The person who committed the offense, however, must still receive punishment.”
Mu Xueshi instantly deflated like a punctured ball, his face full of dejection. If he confessed now that he had caused the mess, the consequences would probably be even worse than before. Had he known, he would never have tried to conceal it in the first place. But would the Third Prince believe him if he blamed another servant? Since the Third Prince was asking this way, he must already believe that Mu Xueshi had seen the culprit.
After turning the matter over repeatedly, Mu Xueshi finally compromised and said, “Fine, I’ll tell you. It was the man shouting outside earlier. He was dissatisfied with the way you treat your servants, so he came into your room to vent his anger.”
The Third Prince had already expected that Mu Xueshi would never admit responsibility himself. He therefore called toward the doorway, “Guards. Take Ning Yue to the center of the courtyard and administer fifty strokes of the cane. Have every servant gather to watch, so they may take warning from his example.”
After issuing the order, the Third Prince deliberately added to Mu Xueshi, “You will watch as well.”
Mu Xueshi was suddenly startled. He had merely shifted the blame onto someone else, so when he heard the man’s name, guilt and reluctance immediately appeared on his face.
The Third Prince, however, naturally interpreted his reaction as proof that Ning Yue held some special significance to Mu Xueshi. That was precisely why he had deliberately spoken the man’s name—to test him. After all, no one would ordinarily pay such close attention to a mere servant.
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