“You may all leave. I’m about to sleep,” Mu Xueshi said to the maids with a pale face.
The maids looked at one another. One of them gently reminded him, “Young Master Xue, you haven’t taken your medicine yet. It has already been prepared for you.”
Mu Xueshi’s big eyes opened, his eyelids fluttering twice before slowly closing again.
“I’m not drinking it.”
“But…”
“It’s fine. Right now, my worst illness is sleepiness. Sleeping is more effective than medicine.”
Mu Xueshi used up nearly all his strength to say those words. He was truly exhausted—not just physically, but mentally as well.
After all the servants had left, Mu Xueshi took out that silver coin again and stared at it for a long time.
If he wanted to escape this pain, all it would take was reciting a spell, and this person would disappear from the world. But he couldn’t let go of the Third Prince. If enduring this torment could ease the Prince’s heart even a little, Mu Xueshi would rather continue living like this in sorrow.
The door creaked open.
Mu Xueshi frowned slightly and said in a muffled voice, “No need to bring the medicine. I won’t drink it.”
“How can you not take medicine?” a stern voice suddenly sounded from outside.
Mu Xueshi turned his head abruptly and saw the familiar face of Su Ruhan.
“Master!” Mu Xueshi called out with deep emotion.
Seeing that Su Ruhan didn’t react much, Mu Xueshi suddenly remembered—Su Ruhan now knew he wasn’t the original Mu Xueshi. Would he, like the Third Prince, also come to mock or torment him?
As the light in Mu Xueshi’s eyes quickly dimmed, Su Ruhan understood what he was thinking.
“Before you came here, I had no contact with Mu Xueshi,” Su Ruhan said calmly.
“Huh?” Mu Xueshi stared at him blankly, then quickly understood.
That meant Su Ruhan had been sincere toward him from the very beginning. To him, there was no difference in identity.
Realizing this, Mu Xueshi was almost moved to tears. Even though Su Ruhan often frowned at his foolish behavior, to Mu Xueshi, he still felt incredibly kind.
“So… I can still call you Master?” Mu Xueshi asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Su Ruhan nodded. Though his face remained composed, he felt pleased—after all these days, Mu Xueshi finally resembled the person from his memories again.
“Master!!” Mu Xueshi almost cried out as he threw himself off the bed. If not for Su Ruhan’s quick reaction, he would have crashed straight onto the ground.
Held in Su Ruhan’s arms, Mu Xueshi felt embarrassed but couldn’t care less in his excitement. He had thought Su Ruhan would reject him like the Third Prince, but instead, this acceptance felt like salvation.
“Master… Master…” Mu Xueshi kept calling, gripping Su Ruhan’s shoulders tightly.
Even Su Ruhan’s hardened heart softened at this. He sighed and said, “Take care of your health these next few days.”
“I know…” Mu Xueshi replied, still sounding tearful.
After venting his emotions, Mu Xueshi gradually calmed down. With reddened eyes, he looked at Su Ruhan and softly asked, “Where did the real Mu Xueshi lose his soul…?”
“By the grave near Linhan Palace,” Su Ruhan replied.
Guilt filled Mu Xueshi’s eyes. “I’ll go there tomorrow to pay respects. I’ll go every day, burn incense, and kowtow, so he can be reborn into a wealthy family. If I ever get the chance, I’ll find the real murderer of that case, so he and his father can rest in peace…”
Seeing tears still lingering in his eyes, Su Ruhan softened his tone. “Don’t blame yourself too much. Perhaps, for him, this was a kind of release.”
“Why do you say that?” Mu Xueshi asked in surprise.
Su Ruhan fell silent. Seeing he wouldn’t elaborate, Mu Xueshi assumed he was just comforting him.
They remained silent for a while before Mu Xueshi realized he was still clinging to Su Ruhan like a koala. Embarrassed, he quickly smiled awkwardly and asked to be put down.
At that moment, his gaze shifted—and he saw the Third Prince standing at the doorway.
The Prince’s expression was icy. Just one glance made Mu Xueshi feel a chill down his spine.
Su Ruhan had already sensed the Prince’s presence earlier. If not, he would have returned Mu Xueshi to the bed sooner. This was a small act of defiance—since the Third Prince refused to let him protect Mu Xueshi, why shouldn’t he provoke him a little?
After a moment of tense silence among the three, Su Ruhan bowed and took his leave. As he passed by, he felt the sharp gaze of the Third Prince like blades, but he simply smiled inwardly and walked out calmly.
Now only Mu Xueshi and the Third Prince remained.
Mu Xueshi even glanced around—Princess Wenyang was not here. Shouldn’t the Prince be with her instead?
Before he could think further, pain shot through his chin. The Third Prince was already seated beside him, gripping his chin tightly, his expression dark.
“Why are you here?” Mu Xueshi blurted out without thinking.
“Did I ruin your fun?” the Third Prince asked softly.
Mu Xueshi shook his head frantically. “No… I was just… we were only joking…”
Before he could finish, he was pushed onto the bed.
“After toying with my feelings, you move on to my guards. How playful,” the Third Prince said coldly.
“How is that toying? Is that how you see me?”
Instead of answering, the Third Prince stared at the silver coin by Mu Xueshi’s pillow, his expression darkening further.
“If it’s not toying, then what is this?” He held the coin before Mu Xueshi. “When do you plan to leave?”
“I didn’t—”
Before he could finish, the coin was gone. The Third Prince kept it instead of destroying it.
“When I decide to let you go, you won’t be able to stay even if you want to.”
Mu Xueshi stared at the Prince’s cold, unfamiliar face, his heart aching unbearably.
“What’s your name?” the Third Prince suddenly asked.
Mu Xueshi hesitated, then said, “Chen Youzai.”
The Third Prince sneered. “How carefree you are—coming and going as you please. No one has ever dared deceive me like this.”
“I had no choice…” Mu Xueshi finally broke down. “I was afraid you’d stop caring about me… just like now…”
Seeing him about to cry, the Third Prince’s heart softened despite himself. Gripping his face, he asked, “Do you know why I treat you this way?”
“I do!” Mu Xueshi said, clenching his fists, looking pained.
“Why?” the Third Prince pressed.
Taking a deep breath, Mu Xueshi forced himself to answer, “Because I caused the real Mu Xueshi to die… because I took his body and deceived your feelings… I’m shameless…”
The last words were emphasized heavily—not just for the Prince, but for himself.
The Third Prince’s expression turned completely cold.
He tore open Mu Xueshi’s clothes, exposing him completely. His pale skin, perfect form, and striking beauty stirred the Prince’s desire.
“What are you doing?” Mu Xueshi instinctively tried to cover himself.
He didn’t think the Prince wanted intimacy—he felt more like he was about to be carved apart.
Seeing his flushed eyes and innocent expression only intensified the Prince’s reaction.
“Even if you hate me… don’t defile this body,” Mu Xueshi said.
“That’s my decision. It has nothing to do with you,” the Third Prince replied coldly.
Mu Xueshi’s breathing grew uneven, his body reacting despite his thoughts. Shame filled his face.
“You see? Your body tells the truth,” the Third Prince said mockingly.
Mu Xueshi turned his head away, but the Prince forced him to look—using candlelight to illuminate everything.
Under that light, Mu Xueshi was made to confront his own helpless state.
Futile Devices Scans 
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