“Why has the carriage stopped?”
A delicate, charming little face leaned out from the small window. She was just about to lash out in anger when her gaze fell upon the figure ahead. Her parted lips immediately closed, replaced by a knowing, shy smile.
All the guards dismounted and saluted the Third Prince. From within the carriage, Princess Wenyang also called out respectfully. The Third Prince’s face revealed nothing—neither joy nor displeasure—as his cold gaze swept over the entourage.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Reporting to Your Highness—we are headed to the Chun Nuan Pavilion,” one of the mounted soldiers replied.
The Third Prince’s eyes darkened, and when he looked toward Princess Wenyang, there was a faint pressure in his gaze.
“Why go to Chun Nuan Pavilion?”
Sensing his displeasure, Princess Wenyang felt a surge of grievance rise in her chest. She had thought that once the Third Prince brought her into his residence, he would no longer visit that place. Yet when Mu Xueshi fell ill, it was indeed the Third Prince who had ordered Sun Ye to summon the imperial physician. When she had been sick, the Third Prince had not even come to see her.
“I merely wished to pay Young Master Xue a visit. Is it not said that he has fallen ill? If he is sick, Your Highness would surely be concerned—I only feared for Your Highness’s worry.”
The air grew thick with jealousy.
The Third Prince’s gaze turned disdainful as he spoke coldly, “I am not concerned. Nor need you be.”
At first, Princess Wenyang thought that his chilling gaze had been directed at her. But after hearing his words, she naturally redirected that disdain toward Mu Xueshi. Even his earlier displeasure, she interpreted as his unwillingness for her to have any further dealings with Mu Xueshi—after all, she had once promised not to mention him again.
“Your Highness speaks truly. I simply care too much for others. My elder brother often scolds me—saying my eyes are always on others, never on myself.” As her words fell, she let out a tinkling laugh, her expression tinged with bashful embarrassment.
A faint smile tugged at the Third Prince’s lips. Suddenly, he recalled how Mu Xueshi had once spoken in much the same way—words so transparently insincere they could be seen through at a glance. Yet over time, that reckless candor had faded… and the simple joy once found in his eyes had vanished as well.
A faint ache stirred in his chest. His grip tightened on the reins as he spoke with sudden solemnity:
“I will not go to the Chun Nuan Pavilion again. And I hope that you, too, will forget this person.”
To Princess Wenyang, this assurance was as though she had gained the entirety of the Third Prince himself. Joy surged within her almost to madness—her fingers trembled against the gauze curtain, her eyes shimmering like rippling water. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, at a loss for words.
“Come. Return to the residence with me,” the Third Prince said, before riding past her carriage and disappearing from her sight.
Her heart pounded wildly as she stammered to the driver, “Quick—turn around! Follow His Highness’s horse!”
Once all of His Highness’s attention rests on me, dealing with Mu Xueshi will be effortless. For now, I must remain patient… once the marriage is settled, removing that thorn in my side will be no difficult task.
At the thought of marriage, her heart fluttered like a trapped rabbit. Both anxious and eager, she realized that she had already been here for nearly a month. According to Hao Lin, they would remain at most a month before returning to Lubei. Time was running short—did that not mean her wedding day was drawing near?
Taihe Hall:
“Eunuch Li, how goes the matter I instructed you to handle last time?”
Seated upon the Dragon Throne, the Emperor’s expression was steady and composed. Yet Eunuch Li could not help but sigh inwardly, his face betraying a trace of difficulty.
“Could it be… that Emperor Lin insists that Yunxi gather several hundred kept men from among the common folk?”
Eunuch Li shook his head. “It is not that he insists. Emperor Lin has proposed a condition—but it is… rather difficult to fulfill.”
A sharp glint flashed through the Emperor’s eyes. “Explain.”
“The day I met with Emperor Lin, he said… if those several hundred kept men are not provided, then one person must take their place.”
“Absolutely not!” The Emperor’s expression darkened instantly, fury surging forth uncontrollably.
Eunuch Li frowned, bowing slightly with clasped hands, his face filled with concern.
“Does Your Majesty know whom Emperor Lin has chosen?”
“Of course I do. From the moment he stepped into Taihe Hall, I already knew his intentions.”
Eunuch Li had negotiated with Hao Lin multiple times before being summoned. He found Hao Lin’s reasoning not without merit—yet he could not understand why the Emperor remained so obstinate. From what he knew, the Emperor had never been particularly fond of Mu Xueshi remaining by the Third Prince’s side.
“Has Your Majesty truly considered this through? In this servant’s view, sacrificing one person to win the trust of the people would be far more worthwhile.”
“Insolence!” The Emperor slammed his hand against the arm of the Dragon Throne, the teacup beside him trembling.
Eunuch Li hurried forward and knelt. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This servant merely offered a suggestion. If Your Majesty disagrees, I shall not mention it again—please do not harm your health.”
The Emperor’s breathing gradually steadied, though his expression remained grim.
“Eunuch Li, I do not understand why you would support such a notion. Though I now rule Yunxi, I am still young—it is too early to consider succession. But to sacrifice my most outstanding prince—how could I ever agree?!”
Eunuch Li’s eyes flickered with surprise. In that instant, he realized the Emperor had misunderstood.
Hao Lin wanted Mu Xueshi.
But the Emperor had thought he meant the Third Prince.
“You may withdraw. I wish to be alone,” the Emperor said, waving his hand.
Seeing the situation, Eunuch Li quickly added, “Your Majesty, please wait—allow this servant to speak one final sentence.”
“I am unwell. Leave.”
“The person Emperor Lin refers to… is not the Third Prince.”
The Emperor froze. The gloom on his face eased slightly. Realizing his earlier overreaction, he felt a trace of embarrassment, though he masked it, asking instead:
“Then is there truly another who can replace those hundreds of kept men?”
Eunuch Li smiled faintly. “Yes. And this person is of no use to Yunxi—indeed, somewhat of an eyesore.”
“Oh?”
The Emperor pondered, yet could not guess. Hao Lin had met few people during his stay, and from observation, he seemed interested only in the Third Prince. No one else had caught his eye.
Eunuch Li raised his head and spoke softly:
“It is Mu Xueshi—the male consort kept by the Third Prince at Qinyi Courtyard.”
At the mention of Mu Xueshi, the Emperor naturally thought of Grand Tutor Mu. Though Mu Xueshi had once cleared his own name, the Emperor’s impression of him had never been favorable. Moreover, because of him, the Third Prince had once clashed with the Emperor in the interrogation chamber—an incident the Emperor had not forgotten.
“Has Hao Lin even seen this person?” the Emperor asked doubtfully.
Eunuch Li hesitated. Indeed, Hao Lin had no opportunity to meet Mu Xueshi. Since his arrival, he had never visited the Third Prince’s private residence.
Then how did he set his sights on Mu Xueshi?
Even Eunuch Li, who had been certain before, now found himself uncertain.
“Even if he has seen him—though Mu Xueshi may be of above-average looks, compared to Grand Tutor Mu, or even Lu Jue, he hardly stands out. Let alone hundreds of male consorts—even a handful of beauties could replace him. If you ask me—does he not have another motive?”
Eunuch Li responded, “Does Your Majesty still believe that Emperor Lin seeks Mu Xueshi merely to contend with the Third Prince? After all, everyone in the palace knows that the Third Prince is deeply attached to him. Of late, His Highness rarely leaves his quarters—and it is said that something occurred in the small courtyard not long ago…”
At the mention of the Third Prince’s prolonged absence from Taihe Hall, the Emperor felt both anger and chill in his heart. He had thought his son avoided him because of Hao Lin—but there was more beneath the surface.
Eunuch Li then relayed portions of what Hao Lin had told him.
“For some time, the small courtyard was sealed—no one permitted entry. Later, it was said Mu Xueshi fell ill with some strange condition, leaving the Third Prince with no mind for anything else. During that period, he left Princess Wenyang at the Chun Nuan Pavilion, spending his days accompanying Mu Xueshi—taking him out by day, returning late at night, neglecting all other affairs.”
Hearing this, the Emperor grew increasingly irritated. “Another strange illness? Last time it was amnesia—what is it this time?”
“This… it is said he again lost his memory—though only of recent events…”
Knowing the Emperor would be angered, Eunuch Li quickly moved to soothe him.
“This Mu Xueshi—he has far too many tricks. His father’s uprightness and integrity—he has learned none of it. Not only does his appearance fail to uphold his father’s name, even his conduct is infuriating.”
“Your Majesty… regarding this matter…”
After a long sigh, the Emperor forced himself to calm down. Indeed, keeping such a person by the Third Prince’s side did not put him at ease. And though he had only seen Mu Xueshi once, that impression had been neither particularly good nor particularly bad.
How is it that such a person could make one man guard him so fiercely, and another strive to seize him?
Yet if he handed Mu Xueshi over to Hao Lin—how would he answer to the Third Prince?
Just as the Emperor wrestled with his thoughts, a voice from outside interrupted:
“Emperor Lin has arrived—”
“Quickly, invite him in.”
The Emperor rose and walked toward the entrance, Eunuch Li following closely behind.
Futile Devices Scans 
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