Only after Steward Wang steadied his breathing did Mu Xueshi notice that Madam Mu was still wiping away tears.
Perhaps it was the handkerchief in her hand—or perhaps he had watched too many television dramas—but Mu Xueshi could not shake the feeling that her crying looked rather forced.
Just moments earlier, when he first entered, she had been smiling. Now tears were already flowing.
While he was still thinking about this, Madam Mu gently wrapped an arm around his shoulders and hugged him, sobbing softly.
“Xue’er… Xue’er…”
She called his name again and again.
The sound made Mu Xueshi’s scalp tingle. It felt both embarrassingly sentimental and faintly frightening.
Steward Wang had completely regained his composure by then.
Bowing to Madam Mu, he said,
“Madam, you are with child. It would be unwise to grow too emotional. Please return and rest. Young Master Xue has traveled a long way and should rest as well. This old servant will have the kitchen prepare the midday meal and invite His Highness and the Young Master to the main hall to rest for a while.”
Madam Mu nodded.
Just as she was about to leave, she happened to meet the Third Prince’s gaze.
Her heart instantly jolted with fear.
Her elder sister—Consort Mu—had already died. Before her death, Madam Mu had not even managed to see her one last time.
Though the official report claimed illness, who could truly know the real cause?
Now, facing the Third Prince, the unease in her heart only deepened.
The prince did not even glance at her, yet she could clearly feel the intense killing intent emanating from him.
Hurriedly she bowed and withdrew. As she turned away, she nearly stumbled—only maintaining her composure thanks to a servant supporting her.
The four people present all harbored their own thoughts.
No one paid much attention to Mu Xueshi.
As for the Third Prince, he had already grown accustomed to Mu Xueshi’s strange behavior these past days and no longer bothered to question his actions.
“Time to eat!” Mu Xueshi suddenly shouted.
Like a runaway cart, he dashed straight toward the kitchen.
The Third Prince lightly leapt ahead and landed directly in his path.
Mu Xueshi slammed into his chest, his vision spinning before finally clearing.
“Why’d you block me?” he complained. “I’m starving!”
The Third Prince shot him a cold glare.
Mu Xueshi immediately behaved himself.
“Why were you running toward the kitchen?” the prince demanded.
“I was hungry. I’m used to it. Back in your courtyard, whenever they cooked something, I’d often sneak over and steal a bite.”
“Why steal?”
Mu Xueshi answered candidly,
“I don’t know. It just feels exciting to stand in the kitchen and grab food from the plates with my hands. Back when my mom—uh—never mind.”
He quickly realized he shouldn’t reveal too much about his previous life, or the prince might start questioning whether his amnesia was real.
After hearing him, the Third Prince said coldly,
“If you steal food again, you will receive fifty strokes to the palms.”
“You’re even controlling that?” Mu Xueshi protested. “I won’t be able to do it for many more days anyway. You’re really heartless.”
The Third Prince snorted.
“If you truly clear your name, then your days here will have no end.”
Even if I clear my name… my days will still end eventually, Mu Xueshi thought.
You just don’t know it yet.
He gazed at the prince’s handsome profile and sighed deeply before trudging toward the main hall with drooping shoulders.
After lunch, neither of them rested.
Instead, they went to another hall within the courtyard.
The buildings on the north and south sides were symmetrical, with a courtyard between them. There were two main halls and four side chambers.
The room where they had eaten earlier was one of the main halls.
The one they had just entered—
was the place where Grand Tutor Mu had been killed.
At the center of the room stood a large table bearing the Grand Tutor’s memorial tablet.
Since Mu Xueshi had originally been declared the culprit, countless people had entered and exited the hall. Some came to pay respects, others to clean.
The crime scene had long been disturbed beyond recognition.
Finding clues now was nearly impossible.
Since Mu Xueshi had taken on the responsibility, he listened carefully as the Third Prince recounted everything that had happened on the night of the incident.
According to the servants, it was Wu Cai who had entered the Grand Tutor’s chamber that night.
There he saw Mu Xueshi standing expressionless, staring at the burned remains of the Grand Tutor on the floor.
Wu Cai immediately accused him.
Mu Xueshi had offered no defense afterward.
“That’s all?” Mu Xueshi asked, sounding almost disappointed.
The Third Prince nodded.
Mu Xueshi slammed his hand onto the table and sprang to his feet with righteous indignation.
“I knew that guy named Cai wasn’t a good person! Sneaking into my father’s room in the middle of the night. Just because he says he saw me burn him means it was me? I’m not stupid! If I’d done it, why would I stay there waiting to be caught? I was definitely framed!”
The Third Prince cast him a glance.
Mu Xueshi immediately realized he had become too emotional and quickly sat down again.
“When the case was first investigated,” the prince said calmly, “you offered no defense.”
Mu Xueshi leapt up again.
“I must’ve been forced!”
The Third Prince suddenly reached out and pushed him back down, frowning deeply.
“I was the one assigned to your case,” he said coldly. “Before I even questioned you, you had already confessed to every charge.”
Mu Xueshi swallowed nervously.
“Then… why investigate again? Do you want me to fabricate some evidence? Shift the blame onto someone else?”
Futile Devices Scans 
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