Night gradually deepened.
Qinyi Courtyard once again fell into a silence as lifeless as a grave.
The Third Prince’s tall, slender shadow stretched along the long corridor. The waning moon hung like a hooked blade in the sky, and the cold night wind was so biting that even the flowers and grass in the courtyard seemed to shrink away from it.
The Third Prince had already been standing here for quite some time.
From the moment the imperial physician entered the room… to when Qingya hurried out to fetch medicine from the pharmacy before returning again…
Until now—
there had been no sound at all from inside.
After the time it took to burn half an incense stick, Eunuch Tai’an hurried toward the Third Prince with quick, shuffling steps. A faint trace of joy appeared on his face.
The moment the Third Prince saw that expression, he already knew that Mu Xueshi had awakened.
Thus before Tai’an could even report, the prince raised a hand and dismissed him.
Before leaving, however, Tai’an hesitated several times as if wanting to speak. Yet seeing the expression on the Third Prince’s face, he swallowed his words and hurried silently toward the side chambers.
He did not know what had happened between the Third Prince and Young Master Xue.
He only knew that ever since the prince had carried him back, the expression on the Third Prince’s face had been dark and ruthless beyond compare.
Although that cold ferocity had now faded into indifference, a trace of the calm composure he usually possessed was still missing.
Ever since Mu Xueshi had arrived in this small courtyard, everything here had begun to change little by little.
In the past, the flowers within the courtyard had all been dull shades of cold color.
Now, brighter hues had begun to appear here and there among the garden beds.
Once, the slightest noise near the Third Prince could cost someone their life.
Now he could even tolerate servants whispering softly beside him.
The Third Prince rarely revealed his emotions.
Yet today, everyone in the courtyard had clearly seen the cold cruelty upon his face.
For the first time, Tai’an began to worry.
Before, he had never truly considered such things. Only now—after experiencing these past days of unfamiliar warmth—did he realize how lifeless his previous existence had been.
And because of that realization, he feared more than anything that the courtyard might return to its former deathly stillness.
Thinking of this, Tai’an suddenly turned around and walked back toward the Third Prince.
Reaching him, he slowly knelt on the ground.
His lips trembled as he spoke.
“Your Highness… Young Master Xue has indeed awakened. But he is still burning with a high fever.”
“His emotions are extremely agitated. When Physician Li attempted to examine him… Young Master Xue refused and would not cooperate…”
“Withdraw.”
The Third Prince spoke without expression.
Tai’an’s face dimmed with disappointment. Hearing the command, he could only bow deeply before retreating.
The Third Prince stepped forward and walked toward the courtyard gate.
Just as he reached it, he saw Eunuch Li’s sedan chair arriving outside.
After stepping down from the chair, Eunuch Li hurried forward and bowed respectfully.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Third Prince.”
“His Majesty has commanded this servant to personally summon Your Highness to Taihe Hall. The Emperor wishes to discuss certain matters with you.”
The Third Prince nodded silently and boarded another sedan chair.
It began to move slowly toward Taihe Hall.
By now the sky had grown completely dark.
Within the vast and secluded imperial palace, the crescent moon peeked faintly through the willow branches, casting scattered points of pale light upon the towering walls.
The immense palace stood serene beneath the beautiful night sky.
Rows of imposing imperial guards stood like statues along the pathways.
Graceful palace maids waited quietly at the entrances of halls and courtyards.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Tranquil.
The Third Prince drew in a long breath.
Yet his heart felt suffocatingly heavy.
Behind the gauze curtains of the sedan chair, the prince’s face lost some of its usual cold severity. The chill in his gaze slowly faded.
For the brief journey, hidden within the unobserved sedan chair, the Third Prince closed his eyes.
A faint trace of exhaustion appeared upon his features.
Inside Taihe Hall, the Emperor had already changed out of his dragon robe.
Clad instead in a deep imperial-purple robe, he sat upon the golden throne carved with coiling dragons. In his hands he held a Tianmu tea bowl, his expression calm and composed.
The moment the Third Prince stepped into the hall, the Emperor’s expression shifted slightly.
He set the tea bowl aside and looked toward him.
The Third Prince knelt respectfully.
His thin lips parted as he spoke.
“Your son greets Father Emperor.”
“Rise, my son.”
The Third Prince stood and faced the Emperor with an impassive expression.
Although the Emperor’s face remained outwardly peaceful, the cold severity hidden beneath it was impossible for the Third Prince not to see.
He knew very well why he had been summoned.
And he also knew that the mistake he had committed this time had already crossed the boundary where it could be easily overlooked.
“I have heard that you visited Changxin Courtyard today.”
“And that blood was shed there.”
“Yes.”
The Third Prince answered without any attempt at explanation.
The Emperor sighed faintly and stepped down from the throne, walking to stand beside him.
“Do you understand that you represent the dignity of the future ruler of Yunxi?”
“How can you appear in such a filthy place—simply for the sake of someone carrying the stigma of crime?”
“Where has that calm and steady temperament of yours gone?”
The Third Prince remained silent.
Even though he wished to say that Mu Xueshi was not the true culprit—
without conclusive evidence, he held his tongue.
“The Eight Homage Festival will conclude tomorrow.”
“You will represent all the princes in offering worship to our ancestors at Sacred Peak.”
“Once tomorrow passes, the case of Grand Tutor Mu’s wrongful death will be personally reviewed by me.”
“After the festival ends, Mu Xueshi will immediately be returned to prison to await judgment.”
Returned to prison?
At those words, Mu Xueshi’s mischievous face suddenly flashed through the Third Prince’s mind.
That gluttonous, lazy boy who loved to sleep—
who would flop onto the bed and begin snoring within moments.
Whatever he did, he always seemed half a beat slower than others.
Carefree all day long.
Even speaking without bothering to think first.
When had Mu Xueshi become such a presence in his life?
When had he grown accustomed to indulging him?
The mere thought of Mu Xueshi suffering imprisonment again suddenly felt unbearable.
The Emperor’s intentions were obvious.
The Third Prince understood clearly: his actions at Changxin Courtyard had only turned Mu Xueshi into a thorn in the Emperor’s eye.
If he pleaded for mercy now, the Emperor would certainly show leniency.
But the final outcome would not change.
In the end, the Emperor would still remove the offending thorn.
Too much concession now would only make matters worse.
“Your son obeys.”
The Third Prince answered calmly.
Hearing this reply, the Emperor’s dark expression finally softened slightly.
“In a few days, the ruler of Lubei will arrive on a state visit.”
“The reception arrangements will be entrusted entirely to you, Jue’er.”
“As for the matter of the marriage alliance I mentioned before… I hope you will consider it carefully.”
Hearing this, the Third Prince replied faintly:
“Everything will be arranged according to Father Emperor’s wishes.”
Futile Devices Scans 
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