“I haven’t…” Princess Wenyang answered softly, then stole another sideways glance at the Third Prince.
The Emperor turned toward the Third Prince and asked loudly, “What do you think, my third son?”
He deliberately raised his voice so that everyone in the hall could hear, putting pressure on the Third Prince and hoping he would consider the larger situation.
“This son obeys.” The Third Prince answered at once.
The Emperor had not expected him to be so accommodating this time. Seeing his obedient expression left the Emperor both pleased and uneasy: pleased that the Third Prince might actually be interested in Princess Wenyang, and uneasy that something else might be hidden beneath it.
Once they left Taihe Hall, the Third Prince looked at Wenyang and said in a tone that allowed no negotiation, “Would the princess come back to my courtyard with me for a while?”
Wenyang had long heard that the Third Prince’s courtyard was full of treasures and that ordinary people were not allowed inside. Even the Emperor would not disturb him there without permission. Being invited directly by the Third Prince naturally delighted her.
The moment Wenyang agreed, the Third Prince suddenly caught her and leapt into the air, carrying her toward his residence. Wind roared past her ears. Wenyang found the speed thrilling, though also a little frightening.
The Third Prince’s face was close enough to touch. That cold, handsome face drew her gaze like a magnet. By the time Wenyang realized she had been staring, her cheeks had already warmed. The Third Prince never looked sideways, his arms strong around her. She shifted a little closer, feeling the heat from his chest.
The next moment, Wenyang’s eyelids became heavy. She fought to keep her eyes open, but her gaze rapidly lost focus. Her own Lubei guards followed behind, all powerful warriors, yet the Third Prince carried the princess into the courtyard directly in front of them.
The guards could go no farther and remained outside. Not long after entering, the Third Prince tossed the unconscious Wenyang into the arms of someone waiting inside almost like a sack, then strode quickly toward the inner chamber.
Poor Princess Wenyang still wore a blissful smile as she lost consciousness. If she had known how she was actually being treated, there was no telling how furious she would have been.
Qing Zhu stood at the entrance and naturally saw everything. The Third Prince had brought a woman into the courtyard and had even carried her in. Apart from Young Master Xue, he never allowed anyone close to him. Could this woman be…
When the Third Prince reached her, Qing Zhu hurriedly cut off the thought and bowed.
“How long has he been unconscious?”
“About one shichen. Qing Ya and I were only gone long enough to bring over some pastries. Somehow Young Master Xue had already collapsed by the time we returned.”
“Imperial Physician Li, what do you say?” The Third Prince turned toward the physician, whose expression was grave.
“Reporting to Your Highness, I have examined Young Master Xue carefully. There is not a single wound on his body, his pulse is steady, and there appears to be nothing physically wrong… so…”
“If nothing is wrong, why is he unconscious?” A trace of coldness entered the Third Prince’s voice.
Imperial Physician Li knelt, sweat running down his face. He trembled inwardly. Ever since Mu Xueshi came to this courtyard, strange illnesses had appeared one after another. Is heaven trying to destroy me?
The Third Prince held his breath and carefully lifted Mu Xueshi into his arms. Sweat still marked Mu Xueshi’s face, proof that he had struggled before collapsing. Seeing him completely unresponsive now sent pain through the prince’s chest.
“Everyone leave.” The Third Prince sighed.
Qing Ya suddenly dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face. “Your Highness, it’s all this servant’s fault. Earlier I mentioned that Your Highness would be welcoming distinguished guests today, and I also mentioned the princess. Young Master Xue must have been upset after hearing that and fainted because of it… waaah…”
The moment Qing Ya finished, Qing Zhu’s face changed as well. Trembling, she knelt beside her.
The room filled with crying. The Third Prince’s expression grew colder and colder. He gently touched Mu Xueshi’s pale cheek, pain flickering through his eyes. Whether or not the maids were right, Mu Xueshi had clearly suffered.
I’m not dead. Why are they crying like this? Mu Xueshi suddenly felt as though he had awakened and could see everything in the room clearly, but his body barely responded.
He wanted to squeeze the Third Prince’s hand to tease him, only to realize that his mind was functioning while his hand did not move at all. His heart dropped. He tried speaking to the Third Prince next, but his tightly closed lips did not open even a fraction.
No… not again… Mu Xueshi could hear the crying around him with perfect clarity, yet could not feel the warmth of the Third Prince’s touch. His heart contracted sharply as a terrifying thought struck him. If his eyes had really opened, the Third Prince would certainly have noticed. Yet nothing around him had changed.
Then… are my eyes not actually open? If not, how can I see any of this? Fear flooded Mu Xueshi. He could clearly see the Third Prince’s hand resting against his cheek, yet feel absolutely nothing.
“Get out…” the Third Prince said quietly, the cold in his voice enough to freeze bone.
Qing Ya and Qing Zhu walked toward the door in a daze, their bodies swaying as though they no longer quite controlled them.
When the Third Prince looked back at Mu Xueshi, he saw moisture gathered at the corner of his eye. He bent down and gently kissed away the single bitter tear.
“If you’re angry with me, wake up and curse me. Don’t do this… don’t frighten me…” he whispered beside Mu Xueshi’s ear. The softness in his voice seemed to drive the last chill from the room.
I’m not angry. I’m not that greedy… Mu Xueshi felt his heart tearing. Why was he not being allowed to speak a few more words to the Third Prince? Even if he had to die or leave, he should at least be given the chance to say goodbye.
A moment later, the Third Prince carefully laid Mu Xueshi back on the bed, opened the door, and walked out. His figure receded farther and farther from Mu Xueshi’s view.
Don’t go… Darkness and clarity alternated before Mu Xueshi’s eyes as terror swallowed him. When the last edge of the Third Prince’s robe vanished from sight, a tearing pain ripped through him. His head lowered involuntarily, and he saw that breathtakingly beautiful face below him.
His heart plunged into an abyss. The moment had finally come.
Mu Xueshi remained unconscious for the entire afternoon. Spirit masters, wandering experts, anyone difficult to summon was brought in, yet nothing helped. The Third Prince’s heart felt trapped in ice. Mu Xueshi had suffered many strange episodes before, but never had the prince felt this uneasy.
It was as though he sensed something invisible approaching, something he could neither seize nor stop. For the first time he felt truly powerless. Not because every remedy had failed, but because from the very beginning he had somehow known they would.
“Open your eyes and look at me…” the Third Prince repeated again and again. Memories of the time before Mu Xueshi came to him played across his mind: the grasshopper toy, the little cloth doll, the bone soup…
The pain of losing someone precious struck the Third Prince awake all over again. He crushed the person in his arms against his chest as though protecting the only treasure he possessed, his gaze clear enough to reveal nothing but vulnerability.
“Silver coin… give me the silver coin in your sleeve… the silver coin…”
The repeated murmuring jolted the Third Prince. Mu Xueshi had begun sweating heavily. His breathing sped up and slowed unpredictably, his face alternated between pale and flushed, and his body convulsed.
Mu Xueshi did not know how he had struggled awake. Silver light filled his vision, almost as though calling to him. He knew he could no longer hesitate. Every moment of consciousness was precious. Even if his soul scattered completely, he had to return the real Mu Xueshi to the Third Prince.
“…The silver coin… can save me…” Mu Xueshi whispered while despair swallowed him piece by piece.
The silver coin? Mu Xueshi had mentioned it more than once. The Third Prince suddenly remembered that Mu Xueshi had once claimed the coin was in his sleeve. The only person who had entered this room that day was the impostor who had disguised himself as the Third Prince.
Whatever the coin was, the Third Prince would seize it at any cost. Nothing else mattered now. The only thing he could do was create every possible chance for Mu Xueshi to recover.
Mu Xueshi struggled briefly, then returned to his earlier stillness, as though everything that had just happened were only the Third Prince’s illusion.
Realizing he would have to leave for a short time, the Third Prince arranged mechanisms around Mu Xueshi’s bed to prevent anyone from taking advantage of his absence. After one last look at Mu Xueshi, who seemed merely asleep, the Third Prince hardened his heart, strode to the door, and left wearing an entirely different expression.
Night gradually deepened. Princess Wenyang still slept heavily on a large bed. The Third Prince lifted the curtain and pressed lightly beneath her face. Her beautiful eyes trembled, then slowly opened.
At first there was fear in her gaze. Once she clearly saw the person above her, surprise turned into delight. Wenyang rubbed her eyes, sat up, and asked, “Where is this?”
“My bedchamber,” the Third Prince said calmly.
“This…” Wenyang looked down at herself in alarm. Her clothing was intact and nothing felt wrong, but why had she ended up on a bed?
The Third Prince read the question in her eyes and explained indifferently, “The princess has traveled a long distance and must be tired. Before we even reached the courtyard, you fell asleep in my arms.”
In his arms? Wenyang’s face turned red. She looked away. “Your Highness really is bold…”
She had barely said it when her heart jolted. The Third Prince had taken her hand. Flustered, she allowed him to lead her out of the courtyard.