“I’m not drinking the medicine. If the Third Prince doesn’t come back, I won’t drink it.”
“Qingya, tell Eunuch Tai’an that no matter what, I refuse to take it. It’s not your fault. If he wants to make things difficult for someone, he can come find me himself.”
After saying this, Mu Xueshi angrily buried his head back under the blanket, panting heavily inside.
If you’re unhappy, just say so! Why disappear without even a word?
Clearly it was the Third Prince who refused to listen to his explanation and punished him so ruthlessly. And now—he couldn’t even spare the most basic concern?
The more Mu Xueshi tossed and turned, the worse his headache became.
Time passed little by little.
Yet no one came into the room.
He was supposed to practice martial arts in the morning, but when Mu Xueshi leaned out the window to look, he didn’t see Su Ruhan anywhere.
That bowl of medicine still sat beside him.
Mu Xueshi stared blankly at the dark herbal broth, his mind completely empty.
Just then, Eunuch Tai’an walked in.
The moment Mu Xueshi heard the door open, a flicker of hope flashed across his face.
But when he turned and saw who it was, his heart instantly sank.
“Young Master Xue,” Tai’an said earnestly, “no matter how upset you feel, you shouldn’t joke with your own health.”
“If something were to happen to you, and His Highness the Third Prince later holds us responsible, how could servants like us possibly bear it?”
“Who said I’m upset?” Mu Xueshi replied, deliberately pretending to be carefree.
“I’m perfectly happy.”
“If the Third Prince never comes back, then I’ll finally have my freedom.”
Tai’an’s expression stiffened slightly.
Seeing Mu Xueshi’s relaxed demeanor, he forced a small smile to match.
“Then please, Young Master Xue… drink this bowl of medicine.”
“No.”
Mu Xueshi shook his head like a rattling drum.
Tai’an was completely helpless.
He ordered the servants to heat the medicine again while he stayed in the room to continue persuading Mu Xueshi.
But Mu Xueshi hardly listened to half of what he said.
After Tai’an nagged for quite a while, Mu Xueshi suddenly interrupted him.
“Where did the Third Prince go last night?”
“This servant does not know,” Tai’an replied. “Last night Eunuch Li summoned His Highness away, saying the Emperor had important matters to discuss.”
“Sun Ye accompanied His Highness. As for where the prince went afterward… Sun Ye should know.”
“Important matters…” Mu Xueshi murmured to himself.
The last time the Emperor had summoned the Third Prince for “important matters,” it had been about arranging a consort for him. Some foreign ruler was bringing his younger sister for a marriage alliance…
“Um… I heard a ruler from another country will be visiting soon. Do you know when he’ll arrive?”
“I’ve heard from the palace rumors that it should be within the next few days,” Tai’an said.
“The Third Prince will be responsible for receiving them. He likely won’t be as idle as before.”
“Good… good… that’s wonderful…”
Mu Xueshi laughed twice.
Then suddenly he began treating everything on the bed as a target for venting his anger.
Whatever could be thrown was hurled aside.
Whatever couldn’t be thrown was torn apart.
Tai’an stared in shock.
Meanwhile Mu Xueshi gritted his teeth and climbed out of bed, his legs trembling slightly as he stood.
“If he doesn’t want to see me, then there’s no need for him to force himself to live somewhere else.”
“I’ll leave.”
“I don’t care about staying here anyway!”
Tai’an’s face turned pale with fright.
“Y-Young Master Xue, please don’t act rashly!”
“The imperial palace is vast, but sooner or later it will all belong to the Third Prince. Where could you possibly go?”
“Relax,” Mu Xueshi replied irritably.
“I’m not leaving the palace. I just don’t want to shamelessly occupy this bedchamber by myself.”
With that, he angrily pushed the door open.
After taking only a few steps, he suddenly walked straight into someone’s chest.
Looking up, he saw the sharp, chiseled features of Su Ruhan.
“Master!”
Mu Xueshi looked at him like a drowning man spotting a lifeline.
Su Ruhan nodded lightly and stood there silently, waiting for Mu Xueshi to speak first.
“I want to stay at your place!”
Su Ruhan did not react strongly to the request.
Only a faint trace of puzzlement appeared in his clear, cold eyes.
“Why?”
Being asked so directly, Mu Xueshi suddenly felt embarrassed to explain.
He took the sword from Su Ruhan’s hand, idly rubbing the blade while mumbling,
“It’s nothing… I just don’t want to keep occupying someone else’s place.”
Normally distant and unsympathetic, Su Ruhan unexpectedly nodded in agreement this time.
Seeing that Su Ruhan had no objections, Mu Xueshi strangely felt a slight hint of disappointment.
The sunlight suddenly felt hot against his face.
Only then did Mu Xueshi realize it was already noon.
He looked at Su Ruhan with surprise.
“Master, weren’t you supposed to teach me martial arts this morning? Why did you come so late?”
“I came today for another matter.”
Mu Xueshi’s curiosity immediately sparked.
He stepped closer, nudging Su Ruhan with his elbow and blinking eagerly.
“Tell me!”
“It concerns you.”
“Huh?”
Mu Xueshi froze.
Su Ruhan said calmly,
“The Third Prince ordered me to bring you to stay at Linhan Palace for a few days.”
The smile on Mu Xueshi’s face instantly froze.
For a long moment he stood there stunned before finally reacting.
So he had at least known his place.
The Third Prince was already sending him away, making room for the future princess.
And all those things he had once said—
that he would dress him for a lifetime…
that he would never sleep with anyone else…
All of it had just been sweet lies.
Mu Xueshi laughed bitterly.
Suddenly he felt incredibly foolish—like an abandoned wife.
In the past, he would never have imagined himself becoming so spineless over a man.
Laughing for him.
Grieving for him.
Abandoning his carefree life because of him, becoming moody and unpredictable.
In the end, he would leave.
Everything good or bad about him would belong to someone else.
Even if that person never remembered—
no one would ever credit these sacrifices to a wandering soul like him.
What meaning did all this heart-piercing devotion have?
Mu Xueshi bit his lip.
A sharp glint appeared in his eyes.
Fine.
So be it.
Don’t act like a woman about it.
If he was leaving, he would leave with dignity.
At least that way he could pretend he wasn’t being driven out.
From now on, it would be best if they became enemies.
That way, when he finally left, he wouldn’t miss him too much…
and wouldn’t feel cheated when everything he had given ended up belonging to someone else.
Carrying the small bundle a maid had packed for him, Mu Xueshi took a deep breath.
Then, chatting and laughing with Su Ruhan as if nothing had happened—
he walked toward Linhan Palace.
Futile Devices Scans 
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