Futile Devices Scans

Night had already deepened. Mu Xueshi lay bored by the window, his eyes fixed blankly on the gold-trimmed edge of the window covering, staring at it for nearly half an hour. It was unbearably dull—no one had come in, and he couldn’t leave the room even a single step. And in this place, people’s forms of entertainment were so monotonous. Aside from going outside, there was almost nothing that could stir any excitement.

Mu Xueshi dipped his finger into the teacup, then pressed it against the window covering. The surface only became damp, with none of the expected feeling that it could be easily poked through. He jabbed at it harder, but even as the surface bulged outward, it didn’t break.

He touched it again and realized it wasn’t paper at all—it was some kind of fabric. It looked like paper, but was far more durable.

Mu Xueshi sighed and began wandering around the room again. When he reached the table, he noticed the neatly spread-out painting and couldn’t help but stop and examine it closely.

This Hao Lin may not be a great person, but his painting skills are really something… Looking at the figure in the painting, it wasn’t as exaggerated as looking into a mirror, but the expression and spirit truly felt like another version of himself. Mu Xueshi picked it up and admired it again, thinking to himself:

If I ever leave this palace and live like a wandering poet, I could pawn this painting for some silver when I’m desperate. Even a famous person’s signature can sell—let alone a painting by an emperor.

Mu Xueshi chuckled softly and tucked the painting into his sleeve. He quite liked the clothing people wore here—especially the sleeves, which could hide quite a lot.

Thinking of clothing, Mu Xueshi looked down at himself. This didn’t seem to be the same outfit he had been wearing earlier. Before, he had been in a sky-blue robe, but now it was a darker blue with trimmed edges. Even the belt was different—before it had no ornament, but now there was a bright, shining gem in the center.

Who changed my clothes?

After thinking it over, only Hao Lin came to mind. But changing clothes wasn’t a big deal—his previous outfit had been rolled in dirt and soaked through. It made sense someone would dislike it.

Since Hao Lin had left, he hadn’t come back. Sitting here alone, Mu Xueshi felt increasingly restless. He didn’t even find Hao Lin as annoying anymore. In fact, he somewhat hoped Hao Lin would come talk to him. After all, he was very confident in his now “infected” face—there was no need to worry about Hao Lin having any improper intentions.

His stomach began to growl. Mu Xueshi swallowed and walked toward the door.

The moment he opened it, two tall figures immediately blocked the entrance, standing with their backs to him. One reason was they didn’t want to look at him; the other was they didn’t dare let him leave.

“I’m hungry… do you provide food here?” Mu Xueshi asked timidly.

The guard quickly signaled several maids waiting nearby to fetch some dishes. Then, without even turning around, he reached back and slammed the door shut again.

Mu Xueshi didn’t mind at all. He strolled back to the table, poured himself a bowl of tea, and drank leisurely.

Before long, the door opened again. Mu Xueshi jumped up excitedly and saw someone carrying a tray with four or five exquisite dishes. The person holding the tray with elegant poise was none other than the Hao Lin he had just been thinking about.

“Your Majesty, you’re here! Hehe, sorry to trouble you,” Mu Xueshi hurried forward, taking the tray himself with a flattering smile.

At this moment, Mu Xueshi’s darkened face glistened faintly with oil, and combined with his deferential manner, he looked like a little old man. Yet Hao Lin felt no disgust—instead, he almost wanted to laugh. It felt like discovering a stray circus monkey wandering into the quiet palace.

And this monkey just happened to be dyed black.

“Why are you suddenly being so polite? Weren’t you calling me a petty person this afternoon?” Hao Lin teased.

Mu Xueshi had just picked up his chopsticks but immediately paused, turning to smile. “That was because I failed to recognize greatness.”

“Greatness?”

“Uh…” Mu Xueshi thought for a moment. “It means you’re amazing.”

“Amazing?”

“Not like an animal,” Mu Xueshi quickly added. “It means you’re powerful, respected by all, a true dragon among men…” He wiped sweat from his brow.

Hao Lin found himself increasingly intrigued. He had once thought Mu Xueshi’s charm lay mainly in his appearance, but now that the beauty was gone, he realized what truly drew people in was his unguarded expressions and movements.

Mu Xueshi, however, had no idea what Hao Lin was thinking. He still felt uneasy. Now that his face looked like this, Hao Lin surely wouldn’t be interested in him anymore. So why wasn’t he being released?

Right… revenge. He must be holding me here to get back at me—for disrespecting him, talking carelessly, and not treating him like an emperor.

The thought sent a chill down Mu Xueshi’s spine.

“What is Young Master Xue afraid of?” Hao Lin’s voice sounded softly.

Mu Xueshi forced a laugh and glanced at him, feeling as if Hao Lin might draw a sword at any moment and strike him down.

“I’m not afraid! I haven’t done anything wrong—why would I be afraid?” Mu Xueshi raised his voice deliberately, though it trembled slightly.

Hao Lin broke into a smile. “Strange… weren’t you fearless before?”

Mu Xueshi nodded stiffly. I’m just afraid of being locked up here by you…

“Then eat. Don’t let yourself go hungry,” Hao Lin said gently.

But hearing this only made Mu Xueshi hesitate. He eyed the dishes cautiously. What if it’s poisoned…?He wished his eyes could act like a testing needle—just one glance, and any poison would reveal itself.

Hao Lin immediately saw through his thoughts. Picking up chopsticks, he took a bite himself.

Only then did Mu Xueshi notice there were two sets of bowls and chopsticks—Hao Lin intended to eat with him. Suddenly remembering his own tricks from earlier, Mu Xueshi grew wary. He grabbed the bowl Hao Lin had placed in front of him and switched it, making Hao Lin use the other one. To be extra cautious, he even picked up food with his own chopsticks and placed it into Hao Lin’s bowl, watching to see if he would eat it.

Hao Lin almost laughed out loud. What an interesting person…

He didn’t expose Mu Xueshi, instead cooperating by eating the food and even thanking him.

Only then did Mu Xueshi relax and begin eating heartily. To cover his earlier suspicion, he continued enthusiastically serving Hao Lin, calling him “Your Majesty” again and again, acting almost like the host himself.

For Hao Lin, this was the most enjoyable meal he had had since arriving at the palace.

After the meal, Hao Lin showed no intention of leaving. Sitting beside him, Mu Xueshi felt awkward, trying to think of a way to ease the situation. After all, his goal now was to please Hao Lin—so he might be released, or at least lower his guard.

“Your Majesty, after eating… won’t you return to your quarters to rest?” Mu Xueshi finally asked.

Hao Lin chuckled softly, his gaze shifting to Mu Xueshi. “This is my room.”

Mu Xueshi’s face changed—though with how dark it was, it wasn’t very noticeable. Still, Hao Lin could tell that Mu Xueshi very much wanted him to leave.

“In that case, I won’t disturb you further. I’ll take my leave first,” Mu Xueshi said, bowing slightly as he moved toward the door.

“Stop. Did I give you permission to leave?”

Mu Xueshi froze in place.

Hao Lin softened his tone, almost playfully. “Stay here with me tonight.”

“Um… Your Majesty, that wouldn’t be appropriate!” Mu Xueshi suddenly switched to a sorrowful tone. “This commoner is of lowly status—how could I dare to share a bed with Your Majesty? If Your Majesty insists on keeping me here, I would rather dash my head against the wall than disgrace your exalted position.”

“Alright.” Hao Lin replied lightly.

Mu Xueshi froze. He hadn’t expected Hao Lin to actually agree, and now he didn’t know how to back out. He shrank his neck slightly and forced a smile. “Then I can only obey respectfully. Since Your Majesty is willing to let me stay, I will stay.”

That night, Mu Xueshi didn’t sleep at all. Hao Lin lay beside him without making any move or touching him, sleeping peacefully. Mu Xueshi, on the other hand, lay on the inner side, turning over dozens of times—afraid of waking Hao Lin, yet unable to stay still.

Finally, Mu Xueshi had a sudden idea. This should be the best chance to escape, right? It was already the latter half of the night. Though it was a clear evening with a few lanterns hanging, it wasn’t pitch dark, yet visibility was still limited. The guards were drowsy—if he disguised himself, it would be easy to fool them.

Mu Xueshi’s “disguise” meant putting on Hao Lin’s clothes and walking out. The guards had seen Hao Lin enter and not leave. If Mu Xueshi went out wearing his clothes, combined with the darkness and their fatigue, they would likely mistake him for Hao Lin.

This is a perfect opportunity! Mu Xueshi clenched his fist to encourage himself.

Turning over once more, he faced Hao Lin. Hao Lin was sleeping soundly. This was his own room, so naturally he had no restraint—aside from his inner garment, his outer robes were neatly placed on a couch nearby.

Perfect… I thought I’d have to struggle to take off his clothes. Now I just need to step over him. If he wakes up, I’ll just say I need to relieve myself.

Mu Xueshi moved with extreme caution. First, he extended one foot toward the edge of the bed. After steadying himself, he brought the other foot over. His arms braced on either side of Hao Lin’s head to avoid touching him. His arms trembled slightly, his heart pounding wildly as he repeatedly told himself to stay calm.

Finally, his feet landed safely. He carefully picked up Hao Lin’s clothes and tiptoed away, planning to change farther from the bed to avoid waking him.

Everything’s ready—just one step left! Mu Xueshi took a deep breath and headed for the door. He didn’t dare relax. Before stepping out, he thought about Hao Lin’s usual demeanor—steady steps, an air of imperial authority. When he went out, no matter how the guards looked at him, he had to remain composed and act without guilt.

Gently closing the door, Mu Xueshi walked out with his head held high—but in his nervousness, he forgot to shut the door completely. After just two steps, he nearly cheered aloud—fog had rolled in, and there were fewer guards, most of them dozing.

As he passed one guard, the man suddenly jolted awake. Mu Xueshi raised his sleeve, pretending to rub his forehead, covering his face.

The guard, already nervous, caught sight of the gold-trimmed dragon pattern on the sleeve and immediately straightened, trembling as he addressed him, “Emperor Lin.”

Mu Xueshi didn’t respond. His legs were barely under control, his heart pounding in his throat, as if he might collapse from it at any second.

Everything went smoothly—so smoothly it felt unreal. Just as he was about to turn a corner, he saw someone standing there.

His first instinct was Hao Lin—but he refused to believe it. He can’t be that omnipotent, can he? Appearing every time at the crucial moment? And he doesn’t even have his outer clothes—how could he come out dressed like that?

Yet before Mu Xueshi could approach, a familiar voice sounded.

“Young Master Xue, do you enjoy strolling around at midnight wearing someone else’s clothes?”

Mu Xueshi suddenly felt that Hao Lin wasn’t a person at all—but the King of Hell himself. And he was just a doomed spirit—no matter how he tried to escape, he would always be dragged back.

“I just came out to relieve myself.”

Hao Lin understood what he meant, though the phrasing sounded rather amusing.

“Have you finished?”

Mu Xueshi almost said no, but then hesitated. What if he says he’ll accompany me? If I can’t actually do it, that’ll be even worse…

“I’m done.”

Mu Xueshi lowered his head like a deflated balloon. Wearing Hao Lin’s oversized clothes, the shoulders had slipped down his arms, and the hem dragged on the ground—he looked both ridiculous and oddly cute.

If it weren’t for the poison the Third Prince left on him, I would’ve already thrown him onto the bed and taught him a proper lesson… Hao Lin thought. What a pity—such a ruthless move, leaving me only able to look and not act… truly frustrating…

Two more days passed, and Mu Xueshi was completely on the verge of collapse. Hao Lin stayed indoors almost constantly, like a shut-in. Even when he stepped out, he returned quickly, leaving Mu Xueshi no chance to escape.

Meanwhile, Mu Xueshi tried every method he could think of. First, he tried pleasing Hao Lin, hoping to gain his trust and find an excuse to leave—but that only made Hao Lin keep an even closer watch on him. Then he tried to disgust him—saying inappropriate things and behaving annoyingly, hoping Hao Lin would throw him out—but Hao Lin remained calm, even seeming to enjoy it more.

Finally, the third day arrived.

The palace suddenly became lively. Early in the morning, Mu Xueshi was awakened by the noise. Out of habit, he glanced beside him—and surprisingly, the bed was empty.

He opened the door slightly and peeked outside. The noise had moved farther away, and the area was gradually quieting down again. He thought for a moment. Someone must have come to visit Hao Lin. He wouldn’t let them know I’m here, so he must’ve gone elsewhere to receive them.

But the number of guards hadn’t decreased—if anything, there were more than usual. Each of them wore new uniforms: long robes with red bases and yellow trim, bright yellow belts, and black boots. They looked energetic and spirited.

Unfortunately, their energy did nothing for Mu Xueshi. He would’ve preferred them half-asleep—that would make escaping easier.

Out of habit, he knocked on the door and called out, “Bring me some snacks.”

Soon, a maid approached carrying a tray. But when she reached the door, she hesitated and refused to go inside.

One of the guards couldn’t help asking, “Why aren’t you going in?”

The maid bit her lip, looking frightened. “I’m scared of that dark face inside.”

Hearing this, Mu Xueshi rolled his eyes. He almost rushed out to scare her on purpose—but then he reconsidered. I’m bored anyway… might as well have some fun.

He slipped into the inner room, scooped up a handful of dirt from a flower pot, and smeared it across his face. Then he glanced at Hao Lin’s robe from yesterday—there was soft fuzz along the front. He pulled off a handful and stuck it onto himself.

After all this preparation, the people outside were still hesitating. Mu Xueshi quickly hid, waiting to scare the maid when she entered.

But the one who came in wasn’t the maid—it was a shorter, delicate-looking guard. Since the two guards at the door didn’t want to deliver the tray themselves, they had forced the most timid one to do it instead.

Mu Xueshi let out a loud “Ah!” and jumped out, landing right in front of the guard. He had intended to bare his teeth and claws to scare him, but when he realized it was a different person, he froze for a moment and bluntly asked, “Who are you?”

There had been no real force behind that shout, but when the guard saw Mu Xueshi’s face—pitted and uneven, covered with hair like some kind of monster—and then heard that “Who are you,” it instantly took on a terrifying, ghostly tone.

“Uh…”

Mu Xueshi hadn’t expected that this tall, sturdy man would actually faint on the spot from being frightened. The pastries he was holding scattered all over the ground.

Mu Xueshi was stunned. He himself had been startled too. He quickly crouched down and patted the guard’s face, but there was no sign of him waking up.

He really fainted…

Mu Xueshi ran back to the bronze mirror again. Since he was mentally prepared this time, he wasn’t as frightened. He hurriedly wiped the stuff off his face, but as he wiped, he suddenly felt his heart begin to contract and expand rapidly, as if pumped full of adrenaline. The blood in his entire body seemed to boil.

There’s a way!!!

Suppressing his excitement, Mu Xueshi quickly searched the dressing box beneath the mirror for rouge and powder. Realizing Hao Lin wouldn’t keep cosmetics, he stood up anxiously. Then he remembered Hao Lin liked painting, so he ran to the large desk with paper and ink, trembling as he picked up the palette of paints.

This time, Mu Xueshi didn’t make himself uglier—he tried to make himself look relatively normal. The colors on the palette were the ones Hao Lin had mixed earlier to paint his portrait, and they closely matched skin tone. Mu Xueshi quickly smeared them onto his face.

After everything was prepared, he stripped the unconscious guard’s clothes and put them on himself.

Then he paused. It wouldn’t be right to leave this guard naked… Mu Xueshi rummaged through the cabinet and found many brand-new clothes, clearly meant for someone of high status. Finally, he found a relatively plain outfit similar in color to the guard’s uniform and painstakingly dressed the guard in it.

That should do it…

Mu Xueshi walked to a window that opened inward and carefully pushed it open. The guards outside were gathered together chatting about something and didn’t notice the window behind them opening.

He scanned the room again—the wardrobe was the safest place, and it faced the direction of the window.

Taking a deep breath, Mu Xueshi grabbed a thin garment and pinched the guard’s philtrum. Seeing his eyelashes twitch, he quickly covered the guard’s head with the cloth, then dashed to the open wardrobe, slipped inside, and gently closed the doors, trying not to make a sound.

The guard groggily pulled the cloth off his head and thought he saw a figure dart past toward the window. When he struggled to sit up and looked around in confusion, he noticed the open window. And when he finally realized what had happened, he saw that he was alone in the room.

“Young Master Xue… is gone…”

That thought hit him first. His face turned pale, and he staggered toward the door. Throwing it open, he nearly fell down the steps outside as he shouted to the guards, “Quick! Young Master Xue… Young Master Xue… escaped… escaped!”

The guards were stunned. No one paid attention to the guard’s clothing—some rushed into the room, others scattered to search. Someone suddenly shouted, “The window’s open—Young Master Xue escaped through the window!”

They instantly realized that the window faced a small path, and many of them rushed in that direction. One calmer guard said to the others, “He can’t have gone far, or he might still be hiding in the room. Don’t all scatter—leave one or two people to check inside.”

But by the time he said this, Mu Xueshi had already slipped into the crowd during the chaos, running along the path with them while pinching his throat to shout along, “Young Master Xue! Young Master Xue!”

The commotion was huge—and Hao Lin happened to be on his way back. He deliberately didn’t stop Mu Xueshi. Instead, he stood at a distance, watching with a smile as Mu Xueshi pretended to search while escaping. Who would’ve thought this seemingly simple and naive person had so many tricks?

Others might not recognize him, but Hao Lin saw through him instantly. No matter how Mu Xueshi disguised himself, his unique tone and mannerisms were already carved deeply into Hao Lin’s mind.

The smile in Hao Lin’s eyes deepened.

Mu Xueshi… I’ll let you go this time. Once you’ve returned and cured the poison, I’ll bring you back in grand fashion.

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