Mu Xueshi had not been unconscious long before the Third Prince forcibly woke him again and released his acupoints. Waves of tearing pain made Mu Xueshi curl into himself. He clutched at the Third Prince’s hair, sobbed until no tears were left, and fainted again and again, yet the prince still did not stop.
“Xi… Xi…” Mu Xueshi had almost no awareness left. His lips trembled as broken pleas escaped him.
Hearing that name made the Third Prince’s heart contract violently, pain mixing with enormous jealousy. The more Mu Xueshi suffered, the more pain and hatred twisted inside him.
Even so, the aphrodisiac continued working through Mu Xueshi’s body. Powerful numb pleasure and severe pain assaulted him together. He felt he had reached the limit of his endurance, while the pressure in his body built toward release, which would finally end the punishment.
At that moment, the Third Prince bound him with a silk ribbon, preventing that release.
The resulting pain was so extreme that Mu Xueshi thought that if a knife had been within reach, he might have used it on himself simply to make the torment stop. But the Third Prince held him firmly, leaving him no choice but to endure.
Mu Xueshi no longer cared who was beside him. Pain and panic stripped away his reason. He fought desperately with the ribbon and clawed at the Third Prince’s arm until it was covered in bloody scratches.
The Third Prince remained unmoved. The stimulation continued, Mu Xueshi’s consciousness scattered, his throat grew hoarse, and he fainted more and more often until he felt he had reached the edge of death.
Just as Mu Xueshi was about to give up completely, the Third Prince abruptly loosened the ribbon. Mu Xueshi’s body arched as the long-delayed release overtook him, and after one hoarse cry he collapsed completely onto the bedding, drenched in cold sweat and pale as death.
As awareness gradually returned, Mu Xueshi threw himself against the Third Prince’s chest. “I won’t dare again… truly, never again. Xi… I can’t bear this. Don’t torment me like this…”
The Third Prince looked at Mu Xueshi’s bruised body, tangled hair, and eyes swollen from crying, and felt as though his own heart had been crushed. Once he could watch Mu Xueshi suffer without reaction. Now that he had personally inflicted the pain, his own chest felt torn open.
Why am I being restrained by him like this?
Why have I begun to fear losing someone too?
The Third Prince suddenly shoved Mu Xueshi away, rose with a dark expression, and walked out of the bedchamber.
The aphrodisiac had worn off. Mu Xueshi lay collapsed on the bed, badly sore and unable to bear even a light touch.
He could not move. Watching the Third Prince’s figure recede filled him with a bleak feeling, as though the next moment would bring a final separation.
Xi… I found the evidence that can clear my name. I may really be going home.
Xi… I think I saw that silver coin again. It may be coming back to stay with you.
Xi… just this once. Forgive me.
Mu Xueshi slowly closed his eyes and did not move again.