The Third Prince had almost begun to believe that every word Mu Xueshi said came straight from the heart. Then Mu Xueshi asked that question, neatly exposing what had really been occupying his mind. The Third Prince stared at his eager, teasing face and, for once, had no response.
Ever since Mu Xueshi “lost his memory,” he sometimes seemed less calculating than a child only a few years old. Keeping someone like that nearby certainly made him easy to control, but it created another problem: Mu Xueshi failed to recognize any of the Third Prince’s threats, enticements, mockery, or deliberate attempts to make life difficult for him. None of the Third Prince’s carefully chosen methods produced anything close to the intended result.
From the way Mu Xueshi spoke, the Third Prince had also realized that he had forgotten even the most basic etiquette of the Yunxi Kingdom. Worse still, his manner of speaking seemed to follow an entire system of his own invention.
While the Third Prince was still thinking, Mu Xueshi had already turned all his attention back to the three maidservants.
The admiration in his eyes was far too obvious. The Third Prince’s mood immediately soured.
“Someone!”
Eunuch Tai’an entered at once and stood with his head lowered, awaiting orders.
The Third Prince spoke unusually slowly and clearly, as though making certain Mu Xueshi heard every word.
“Take these three maidservants to the back mountain. Skin them alive and feed their flesh to the dogs.”
The color drained from all three women’s faces. They dropped to their knees together, terror written across their features, yet none dared make a sound.
Mu Xueshi froze as well. Once he recovered, he whipped around toward the Third Prince. “Why? What did they even… do… to offend you?”
The Third Prince smiled coldly. “Nothing. You paid too much attention to them just now, and it made me want to kill them.”
Mu Xueshi did not even stop to question how absurd that reason was.
“You’re Hitler reincarnated!”
Even Eunuch Tai’an was stunned. He had never imagined that in his lifetime he would hear anyone roar like that inside Qinyi Courtyard, much less while standing directly in front of the Third Prince.
The Third Prince had no idea who Hitler was, but judging from Mu Xueshi’s furious, grief-stricken tone, whoever he was could not have been a good man.
The Third Prince’s eyes turned dangerous.
Mu Xueshi, still furious himself, immediately stepped in front of the three maidservants like some heroic protector. The Third Prince did not speak or move. He simply stared at him.
Eventually, Mu Xueshi wilted beneath that dark gaze. His anger slowly became helplessness, and helplessness finally became cowardice. He shuffled up to the Third Prince, took his hand, and pleaded, “Don’t punish them. Please spare them for my sake. They haven’t exactly had an easy life either.”
The Third Prince glanced at him. “They are being punished because of you.”
“Huh?” Mu Xueshi stared. “Why?”
The Third Prince gestured for Eunuch Tai’an to explain.
Eunuch Tai’an immediately stepped forward. “Young Master, today His Highness bestowed upon you three maidservants, two personal guards, a cook, and superior private quarters. His Highness regards you as someone of his inner household, one of his own intimates. Naturally, he hopes Young Master will regard him in the same way and will not devote your attention to irrelevant people besides His Highness…”
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