The Third Prince listened to Mu Xueshi’s words for a long time without speaking. Only when Mu Xueshi began laughing without restraint did he finally turn his gaze toward him.
“Hungry?” The Third Prince’s voice was completely flat.
Mu Xueshi withdrew his smile, frowned slightly, and replied, “A little…”
“Eunuch Tai’an, have the kitchen prepare some food,” the Third Prince instructed toward the doorway.
The two of them sat facing each other at a square redwood table in the main hall. The table was filled with all kinds of delicate pastries and fruits.
The Third Prince pushed a plate of plum blossom pastries toward Mu Xueshi without saying a word.
Mu Xueshi glanced at them. “Your Highness, I don’t like sweets.”
The Third Prince looked at the table full of desserts and let out a soft chuckle. “For the sake of taking revenge on me, you’re even forcing yourself to eat things you dislike. That must be quite difficult for you.”
“These little acts of endurance are nothing compared to the hatred in my heart,” Mu Xueshi said, picking up a piece of osmanthus cake and actually eating it with relish.
The Third Prince didn’t touch anything. He simply watched Mu Xueshi quietly, his mind drifting back to the time Mu Xueshi had snuck into the kitchen to steal food. Strangely, there was no pain in his heart anymore—perhaps it had hurt too much already, leaving his nerves numb.
Only after the food on the table had been completely cleared did Mu Xueshi lift his head. Their eyes met. There was no hatred in the Third Prince’s gaze—only a sense of release.
“Su Ruhan,” the Third Prince called softly.
It took a while before Su Ruhan pushed the door open and entered. He first bowed to the Third Prince, then raised his head, his gaze shifting between the two men.
“Open the tomb at Linhan Palace. Let Mu Xueshi go in my place to apologize to my mother.”
The words struck like a bolt from the blue, turning Su Ruhan’s face pale. He stared fixedly at the Third Prince, his breathing becoming unsteady.
“Your Highness… do you mean… to bury Xueshi alive…?”
Before the Third Prince could respond, Mu Xueshi had already dropped to his knees, banging his head heavily against the ground several times. When he lifted it again, his forehead was bruised.
“Thank you, Your Highness…”
Su Ruhan also knelt, for the first time showing clear urgency. “Your Highness, you promised me—you said no matter what, you wouldn’t use force. If Xueshi is truly—”
“Take him away,” the Third Prince said expressionlessly.
Mu Xueshi kept his head lowered, but his eyes were fixed on Su Ruhan, filled with a chilling coldness.
“Don’t forget what I said last night.”
Tell me what the Third Prince wants me to remember… or let me die…
Su Ruhan remembered it clearly. From last night until now, Mu Xueshi had repeated that sentence countless times. He knew all too well that Mu Xueshi was living a fate worse than death—but he still couldn’t bring himself to grant him release.
“Take him away,” the Third Prince repeated, the last trace of patience in his tone.
The door slowly closed. What had just been a room of three was now left with only the Third Prince.
He slowly supported himself onto the nearby table and sat down, staring blankly at the spot where Mu Xueshi had knelt. A single tear slid down his cheek.
Mu Xueshi, you’ve won. All my scheming amounts to nothing compared to a single cold sentence from you. Fine… I’ll grant you death. Let this be my complete defeat.
The tear reached his lips—bitter beyond words.
The Third Prince remembered he had only ever shed two tears in his life. One was for Lin Yue. The other… he didn’t even know for whom it was shed.
When Lin Yue left, he had learned the taste of hatred too early. But that was only hatred. For over a decade, he had lived with loss as a constant—drifting through the world, neither loving nor hating.
If not for Mu Xueshi recklessly swallowing that Soapberry Horn meant for him…
If not for Mu Xueshi clutching Su Ruhan’s leg in Linhan Palace, begging him to save the Third Prince…
If not for Mu Xueshi dozing in the grass, waiting…
If not for Mu Xueshi mischievously burying his head into his embrace…
If not for Mu Xueshi daring to say what others wouldn’t, to do what others couldn’t…
How could the Third Prince have abandoned the cold pride he had always held onto?
A life filled with hatred was bleak—but without love, without pain… even exhaustion brought no true weariness.
He could not accept that the pure, radiant smile that had made him fall… was nothing but a lie.
If that’s the case… you might as well die.
At least then, after enough time had passed, he could stubbornly convince himself that Mu Xueshi had only been too ashamed to admit the truth upon waking.
Xueshi… I forgot to make you call my name before you left…
Thinking of that small figure who had once nestled in his arms now about to be buried beneath cold earth, his heart sank into an endless abyss.
“Third Prince, please don’t!”
Suddenly, three figures burst through the door. Qingyun was the first to kneel.
“Your Highness, no matter what has happened, Young Master Xue doesn’t deserve death! Have you forgotten how good he was? Ever since I was reassigned to the embroidery room, he would often bring me food… If Your Highness truly intends to execute him… then Qingyun will follow him in death!”
With that, she collapsed to the ground, sobbing.
“Leave,” the Third Prince said quietly.
Qingya and Qingzhu also began crying, their eyes swollen like buns. Ever since Mu Xueshi had been dragged away, they had been crying nonstop.
The Third Prince no longer had the strength to repeat himself. He simply waved his hand, signaling Sun Ye to close the door.
Sun Ye’s hand paused slightly on the door before he spoke.
“Your Highness… some things, once lost, can never be regained.”
The door shut. The cries outside gradually faded.
The Third Prince leaned silently against the bench, darkness filling his vision.
Princess Wenyang stretched lazily, yawning. “I woke up early today.”
The two maids glanced at the glaring sunlight outside, inwardly stunned. This princess really had a talent for jokes.
One maid stepped forward carefully to help her up, dressing her in prepared clothes. Another wrung out a cloth from a basin and wiped her face.
“Be gentler! Do you think my face is like yours?” Princess Wenyang snapped, full of energy despite the early hour.
The maids secretly rolled their eyes but softened their movements.
After finishing her grooming, Princess Wenyang examined herself in the mirror, repeatedly picking at her flaws. Despite already looking radiant, she still felt uneasy—because today, she was going to see the Third Prince.
“How do I look?” she asked, smiling at the maids.
“It’s… good, Princess,” one maid replied hesitantly.
Slap!
A sharp slap landed on the maid’s face. Princess Wenyang shook her stinging hand, glaring. “What do you mean ‘good’? Say ‘very good’! Only then will I dare go see the Third Prince!”
The maid muttered an acknowledgment, falling silent.
Princess Wenyang turned to the other maid. “Do you think the Third Prince will be captivated by me?”
In this courtyard, the Third Prince was like a god—untouchable, unmatched. No matter how beautiful the princess was, none believed she could truly captivate him.
But under her piercing gaze, the maid swallowed nervously. “He will… I think His Highness will…”
“What do you mean ‘I think’?! He definitely will! Look at that unwilling face of yours!” Princess Wenyang shouted. “Guards! Drag her out and give her fifty lashes!”
Two guards rushed in and dragged the maid away. As she left, the maid even made a face at the other, as if celebrating not having to accompany the princess.
Soon after, Princess Wenyang grabbed another maid and, supported by two attendants, slowly descended from the second floor. Before long, she left Chun Nuan Pavilion and headed toward the Third Prince’s courtyard.
On the way, she passed Linhan Palace and stopped.
Curious about how construction of her future residence was progressing, she couldn’t resist stepping inside.
When she pushed open the door, her eyes widened.
It was still barren land.
She stomped her foot in fury. At this rate, how long would it take before she could marry the Third Prince?
“Who goes there?”
Just as she stormed toward the Third Prince to question him, she was stopped at the corridor entrance by two stern Imperial Guards.
“How dare you! I’m entering His Highness’s residence—do I need to report to you?” she snapped, attempting to push through.
The guards blocked her with their spears.
“If the Third Prince finds out you treated me like this, you won’t die well!”
But these guards were unmoved.
Finally, furious, she ordered a maid, “Tell them who I am.”
“You are… the future Third Princess Consort…”
The guards exchanged glances briefly.
“Afraid now?” she sneered, attempting to enter again.
“We don’t recognize any ‘Third Princess Consort,’” one guard replied coldly. “We only follow the Third Prince’s orders. In this courtyard, only Young Master Xue may come and go freely. Everyone else needs permission.”
“Who does that ‘Young Master Xue’ think he is? I’m the future consort!”
The guard scoffed. “Consort or not—until that day comes, the one residing in the Third Prince’s chambers is still Young Master Xue.”
Princess Wenyang froze as if struck by lightning.
So… there was someone else living in his chambers…
Her mind spun wildly.
In the end, red-eyed, she said, “Fine. Since you won’t let me in, go report for me. Tell him Princess Wenyang came—and that she knows someone else lives in his chambers.”
“Apologies, Princess. His Highness has ordered that he will see no one today. Even if the Emperor comes, he will be turned away.”
No matter what she said afterward, the guards remained unmoved.
Furious and humiliated, she burst into tears. “Take me out of here! I’m going to find my brother! No one has ever treated me like this!”
As she left, she cried and cursed nonstop.
“Who the hell does that Young Master Xue think he is…?! Why does he get to live there…?!”
A maid cautiously explained, “Princess… he’s been living here for quite some time. His Highness takes him everywhere…”
“So you all knew from the beginning?” she demanded.
“Princess… don’t be upset. He’s only been here less than two months…”
“Shut up!” she kicked the maid. “You all deserve to die for hiding this from me! I’ll tell my brother…!”
By the time she reached the courtyard gate, she was still raging—only to be stopped again.
“No one may enter or leave today,” the guards declared.
“What?!”
She nearly fainted from anger.
“Attack! Break through!” she ordered.
But her own guards refused. “We cannot go against Imperial Guards.”
The gate guard sneered. “You’d better behave today.”
Princess Wenyang gasped for breath—and collapsed into her maid’s arms, her face pale.
Futile Devices Scans 
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