When they arrived at the Grand Tutor’s manor, the first person Mu Xueshi saw was Wu Cai. Wu Cai stood at the gate, as though he had been waiting there for quite some time.
After the Third Prince lifted Mu Xueshi down from the horse, Wu Cai stepped forward.
Mu Xueshi noticed the thick cotton bandage wrapped around Wu Cai’s arm. He knew that wound had been inflicted by the Third Prince the previous day—and the Prince had only injured Wu Cai because of him. In the end, the fault still lay with Mu Xueshi himself.
Wu Cai first bowed respectfully to the Third Prince. His expression seemed somewhat strange. Then he turned to Mu Xueshi and said with utmost courtesy,
“Young Master, could you spare me the time it takes half a stick of incense? There is something I wish to discuss with you.”
Mu Xueshi hesitated.
Originally he had intended to seek Wu Cai out himself, but now that Wu Cai had approached him first, he felt oddly uneasy. He owed Wu Cai an apology, yet if Wu Cai intended to secretly retaliate, Mu Xueshi would surely suffer for it.
After hesitating for a long moment, Mu Xueshi suddenly realized the Third Prince had already disappeared—leaving him alone with Wu Cai.
Though slightly irritated, Mu Xueshi forced himself to remain cordial.
“About yesterday—”
“Thank you.”
“…Huh?”
Mu Xueshi scratched his head in confusion, completely puzzled about where Wu Cai’s gratitude came from.
Wu Cai offered no explanation. He turned as if to leave.
Just as Mu Xueshi was about to call after him, Wu Cai stopped, then suddenly glanced back with a faintly alluring smile.
“However… if Young Master wishes to clear his name,” Wu Cai said slowly, “I happen to know someone who might be able to help.”
“Who? Who is it?” Mu Xueshi jumped excitedly in front of him, asking impatiently.
Wu Cai hesitated deliberately.
“Well… even if you knew, I fear the Third Prince would not approve of you meeting that person. Perhaps it’s best left unsaid. I would not dare bear such blame.”
Hearing this only made Mu Xueshi more curious. He grabbed Wu Cai’s arm and pleaded eagerly.
“Please tell me! Why wouldn’t the Third Prince approve? He also wants to help clear my name!”
Wu Cai narrowed his long eyes into thin slits and said slowly, word by word,
“Because that person is the proprietor of a pleasure house.”
“Ah!”
Mu Xueshi’s eyes widened with delight.
“Then I definitely have to go! Are there many beauties there?”
Wu Cai smiled charmingly.
“Of course. Countless beauties—enough to dazzle the eyes. It is the finest pleasure house in the imperial capital. The courtesans and young attendants are each more enchanting than the last. As for the proprietor… she must surely be a great beauty herself. Unfortunately she always hides behind gauze curtains. No one has ever seen her true face.”
“Wow!”
Mu Xueshi’s eyes shone brightly, his entire demeanor suddenly spirited with excitement.
“But the Third Prince…” Wu Cai added deliberately, feigning worry. “I fear he would not wish you to be tainted by such a place. If he were to blame me, my life might not be spared.”
Afraid Wu Cai might refuse to take him, Mu Xueshi hurried closer and draped an arm boldly over his shoulder.
“Don’t worry. As long as nothing happens to me, I’ll make sure nothing happens to you. Besides, I’m only going to take a look—mainly to handle serious matters. The Third Prince won’t mind.”
He leaned closer and grinned mischievously.
“And anyway… we can just go secretly.”
With that, Mu Xueshi shot Wu Cai a knowing look. The two exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
Mu Xueshi looked exactly like a cat that had just stolen cream.
Wu Cai stared at him in astonishment. He truly could not reconcile this lively youth with the Mu Xueshi he had once known. Yet compared to the old Mu Xueshi—always restrained and cautious—he much preferred this frank and spirited version.
Meanwhile Mu Xueshi had also begun to realize that Wu Cai was not nearly as unpleasant as he had first thought. Remembering how badly he had misunderstood him before, he felt rather guilty.
He secretly resolved that this time he would not break his word. Even if the Third Prince discovered their outing and became displeased, he would still ensure Wu Cai’s safety.
The thought of sneaking out for some fun instantly lifted Mu Xueshi’s spirits.
Only then did he remember that the Third Prince had vanished. Fortunately Wu Cai informed him that the Prince was in the study, and Mu Xueshi immediately ran in that direction.
The Third Prince sat calmly in the main hall, a faint smile curling his lips.
“You mean to say the Grand Tutor visited his wife’s chamber before the incident?”
Steward Wang stood respectfully before him and replied,
“Yes, Your Highness. That night the master returned drunk and first went to the madam’s chamber. Later he returned to his own room and never came out again. When Wu Cai entered the Grand Tutor’s inner chamber, he discovered that the master had already been reduced to ashes. Young Master Mu was standing beside him with a completely indifferent expression.”
“Did anyone see when Mu Xueshi entered the room?” the Third Prince asked.
Steward Wang sighed helplessly.
“No. The master was burned around the hour of Xu. Wu Cai discovered the young master inside the room at the hour of Zi. By then the master’s remains were almost completely gone. Whether the young master had been in the room during that time… no one knows.
“Ordinarily Ning Yue always accompanied the young master. He should have known something. Yet recently Ning Yue has disappeared entirely. This old servant does not know where he has gone.”
“Ning Yue is dead,” the Third Prince said coldly.
“Ah… this…” Steward Wang’s expression changed drastically, and he fell silent.
“I know! I know!”
Suddenly a loud shout rang out as Mu Xueshi burst into the room, brimming with excitement. He startled Steward Wang badly.
Slapping the table boldly, Mu Xueshi declared triumphantly,
“As long as I find the time gap, that will solve everything, right?”
Seeing that neither the Third Prince nor Steward Wang reacted, Mu Xueshi assumed they had not understood. He began explaining patiently.
“The reason I was accused is because I was found at the scene, correct? So if I can prove that I wasn’t there when my father died, I can clear my name.
“Since the only witness, Ning Yue, is already dead, I can only rely on physical evidence. If I can find something—anything—that left a trace during that time, I can use it to prove my innocence. Hahaha!”
Mu Xueshi continued laughing proudly, yet the atmosphere in the room remained heavy and unmoved.
The clever idea Mu Xueshi believed he had just discovered had already occurred to even the elderly Steward Wang—let alone the Third Prince, who sat as steady as a mountain.
The theory was simple enough, but to find proof of an alibi for a narrow two-hour window that had occurred more than a month ago was like searching for a needle in the ocean.
Seeing their solemn expressions, Mu Xueshi thought about it again and realized this was merely the first step.
Still, at least he now had a direction.
He scratched his head and offered them an optimistic grin.
“It’s alright… I believe the truth always comes to light eventually. I’m sure I’ll be able to find the real killer.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Mu Xueshi suddenly froze.
Only then did he realize he had spoken far too boldly.
Now that he had made such a grand declaration—while looking so confident—he had no choice but to grit his teeth and follow through with it.
Futile Devices Scans 
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