Elio’s Notes: Hello everyone reading this story. We’d like to inform you that we made an error with Shang Chuanhong’s title. We initially thought that prime ministers and state preceptors are the same so we used prime minister. We just found out from the one translating ‘DL’ that the two roles are different. In this novel, the actual title is state preceptor. We’ll update Shang Chuanhong’s title in the previous chapters and we’ll be calling him this moving forward. Thanks for understanding! m(__)m
Mu Xueshi ran until his throat went dry. Only when the view ahead suddenly opened up and the number of people increased did he finally slow down.
I should have escaped… Mu Xueshi thought to himself while catching his breath. It had been far too thrilling—like breaking out of prison. Even now, his heart was still pounding.
There were people everywhere, and many were dressed just like him. Now Mu Xueshi no longer had to worry about being dragged back. But standing in the crowd, he found himself at a loss again—where should he go? The imperial palace was enormous, and he barely recognized any of the paths. He could even get lost in the Third Prince’s small courtyard, let alone this far more complex palace.
Just as he was about to ask for directions, Mu Xueshi suddenly felt someone cover his mouth and nose. He tried to shout, tried to struggle, but it was useless. Very quickly, he was dragged and pulled into a deserted corner.
Mu Xueshi was on the verge of collapse. Don’t tell me it’s Hao Lin again? Has he turned into a vengeful spirit? Wherever I go, he drags me back…
Only when he was set down and his breathing returned to normal did he see clearly who it was.
Mu Xueshi immediately became so excited he didn’t know what to do. He grabbed the person in front of him and shook him twice, then pressed his head against his shoulder.
“Master, Master! I missed you so much, I was going to die from it, wuwuwu…”
Su Ruhan had thought Mu Xueshi was just fooling around, but when he felt his shoulder becoming damp, he quickly lifted Mu Xueshi’s head. His eyes were already red. Aside from those large eyes that could still identify him as Mu Xueshi, the rest of his face was smeared into a complete mess.
Su Ruhan had intended to scold him, but seeing him like this, he couldn’t bring himself to. His tone softened as he asked, “What’s wrong? Did you suffer some grievance?”
Mu Xueshi nodded like a pecking chick, sobbing as he said, “That Hao Lin is way too hard to deal with. I barely managed to escape. If I hadn’t, I would’ve died in there.”
Is it really that serious? Su Ruhan couldn’t help but find it a bit amusing. Mu Xueshi even seemed slightly plumper than before—his once sharp chin now looked a bit rounded. Surely Hao Lin wouldn’t truly make things difficult for him; at most, he was just scaring him. His real methods probably hadn’t even been used yet.
“Alright, stop crying.” Su Ruhan patted Mu Xueshi’s head.
Mu Xueshi had been afraid Su Ruhan would blame him. Hearing his gentle tone and reassurance, he immediately retracted his exaggerated tears.
“Oh right, Master, why are you here? Aren’t you usually guarding the courtyard and unable to leave?”
Su Ruhan’s expression returned to its usual seriousness.
“I came to take you away.”
Mu Xueshi’s eyes lit up. “That’s perfect!” After saying it, he suddenly frowned a little. “Then why didn’t you come get me earlier?”
“I had urgent matters to deal with these past two days. Everything had to be settled before the third day.”
“Why does it have to be before the third day? What day is it today?”
Su Ruhan suddenly realized that the person before him didn’t even know it was the Third Prince’s birthday and wedding day. Perhaps no one had told him—or perhaps he had been deliberately avoiding it.
Su Ruhan decided to avoid the topic and instead asked seriously, “Xueshi, do you want to leave the palace?”
At the mention of leaving, Mu Xueshi’s eyes immediately lit up. “Yes! I’ve always wanted to go out and have fun. This palace is too suffocating—I’ve wanted to leave for a long time.”
“What I mean is leaving permanently—leaving this palace for good and living outside.”
Mu Xueshi’s expression changed slightly. He didn’t answer right away. Why am I hesitating? He didn’t even know why. He had wanted to leave all along. There was nothing here worth staying for anymore. Leaving forever… maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.
“Xueshi, there’s something I must tell you,” Su Ruhan said.
Mu Xueshi nodded. “Go ahead, Master.”
Su Ruhan paused, then looked at him and said, “The Third Prince… wants you to make your own choice. If you want to leave the palace, he will send people to escort you. Of course, I will stay by your side as well. Right now, the palace is in chaos—even the capital city isn’t safe. If we leave, we may have to go somewhere very far away and not return for at least a couple of years. But if you’re not afraid of danger and want to stay in the palace with him… the prince said… he will treat you the same as before.”
Just as Su Ruhan finished speaking, a series of firecrackers suddenly exploded around them. The deafening noise filled every corner of the palace.
From afar, a wedding procession slowly approached. Red silk ribbons fluttered in the wind, music from flutes, pipes, drums, and gongs filled the air. Everyone wore bright smiles. At the very front was a lion dance troupe, followed by musicians, and then attendants in exotic attire carrying dowry items. The procession was long—hundreds of people followed behind, wearing floral crowns and holding ceremonial banners. The spectacle rivaled that of an emperor taking a consort.
Since morning, the procession had circled half the capital. Commoners had poured out into the streets to watch. Many had dreamed of seeing the Third Prince—those who had glimpsed him before now pushed forward again, eager for another look.
Now that the procession had returned to the palace, it meant they would soon proceed to Wenyang Palace to fetch the bride, followed by the wedding ceremony. Aside from officials leading the procession, all nobles and ministers had gathered at Qinyi Courtyard. Guests filled the place, and gifts piled up like mountains as officials seized the chance to flatter the emperor.
Su Ruhan tried to pull Mu Xueshi away to avoid the procession, but Mu Xueshi insisted on moving closer, craning his neck to look inside. The guards stood in rows, and since he wasn’t tall enough, he squeezed forward.
Finally reaching a good spot—and dressed like a guard—no one paid him any attention.
When the procession reached the middle-rear section, Mu Xueshi saw the Third Prince.
He rode a red imperial horse, dressed in red robes and red boots. There seemed to be light makeup on his face, making his cold, striking features even more heroic. Yet Mu Xueshi felt that red didn’t suit him. His temperament was too cold—wearing red didn’t make him festive, but instead gave off a bloodthirsty aura.
Am I… jealous? Mu Xueshi asked himself. Probably not. I don’t feel upset. I just wanted to confirm it was him… and then congratulate him. After all, a wedding should be a happy occasion.
The Third Prince had been riding with a cold expression, his heart unmoved. But as he reached this point, he suddenly sensed a familiar presence. Turning his head, he saw Mu Xueshi’s face—completely smeared and unrecognizable—standing among the crowd, his gaze following him.
The Third Prince’s eyes met Mu Xueshi’s. Only then did Mu Xueshi realize he had been noticed.
The Third Prince felt that Mu Xueshi’s gaze had softened again—it was no longer the coldness and finality from the other day. His horse slowed unconsciously. In that moment, he suddenly wanted to look at Mu Xueshi a little longer, as if searching for something he had lost. Without it, he felt he no longer had the courage to move forward.
Mu Xueshi suddenly grinned, waving at him as if greeting him. Amid the noisy crowd and thunderous music, the Third Prince clearly heard what Mu Xueshi said.
“Congratulations, Your Highness.”
There was no jealousy or sorrow in his eyes—only sincere well-wishes.
Mu Xueshi wanted to leave behind a good impression before he left.
The Third Prince felt as if his heart had been crushed beneath a wheel. On his usually calm and unruffled face, an unmistakable pain surfaced. He didn’t understand why he was so unsettled at this moment. He clearly knew this was only temporary—perhaps before long, they would return to living together as they once had…
The Third Prince’s procession had already passed out of Mu Xueshi’s line of sight, yet as if possessed, Mu Xueshi suddenly ran forward a few steps, catching up until he was once again level with him. This time, the Third Prince forced himself not to turn his head, afraid he would lose control. Mu Xueshi followed step by step, for an unknown distance, before finally coming to a stop.
Su Ruhan had been following behind Mu Xueshi the entire time. Watching him tilt his face upward, gazing intently at the Third Prince, Su Ruhan felt a trace of bitterness in his heart.
“Have you decided?” Su Ruhan concealed his emotions, as though he had seen nothing, and continued waiting for Mu Xueshi’s answer.
Mu Xueshi turned his head and looked at Su Ruhan, then nodded quietly.
“Master, take me away. I’m not afraid of danger—but I don’t want to stay here.”
Su Ruhan fully understood what Mu Xueshi was thinking, so whatever he chose, he would respect it completely. After a moment’s thought, Su Ruhan decided to first take Mu Xueshi back to Chun Nuan Pavilion.
The small courtyard was naturally bustling with excitement, but Su Ruhan used lightness skills to bring Mu Xueshi in through a quieter route. He then quickly pulled him inside, moving like the wind. In the blink of an eye, they arrived at Chun Nuan Pavilion, shutting out all the noise and festivity outside.
Compared to the outside, Chun Nuan Pavilion felt desolate. Aside from a few guards at the entrance, there was no one inside.
Forgetting the earlier episode, Mu Xueshi eagerly ran inside. He had wanted to surprise Qingya and Qingzhu, and then say a few kind words to Sun Ye so he would forgive him for sneaking out that day.
But after running up to the second floor and searching every room, he didn’t find them.
“Where did everyone go?” Mu Xueshi asked Su Ruhan.
Su Ruhan didn’t want to tell him that all the servants had been summoned to Wenyang Palace by Princess Wenyang. The emperor had already intended to send some attendants with her for the marriage, and she had chosen all the servants from here, saying she was used to being served by them during her time at Chun Nuan Pavilion. The emperor, unaware of the details, simply agreed.
As for Sun Ye, since Su Ruhan had taken Mu Xueshi away, Sun Ye would naturally be busy assisting the Third Prince, so he wasn’t here either.
“They probably went to watch the festivities,” Su Ruhan said with a faint smile.
A trace of loneliness that Mu Xueshi couldn’t hide flickered in his eyes. Su Ruhan urged him to pack his things, but Mu Xueshi wanted to say goodbye to Qingya and Qingzhu first. Su Ruhan glanced at the sky—it was still midday, and the palace was heavily guarded. There were ambushes set specifically to prevent Mu Xueshi from escaping, and the number of soldiers had doubled. Breaking out now would be nearly impossible. Only after the wedding ceremony ended and the troops withdrew would there be a chance.
So Su Ruhan allowed Mu Xueshi to wait. He sat beside him as if waiting as well, though in truth, he was quietly planning for the night.
To avoid dwelling on the sadness of leaving and parting, Mu Xueshi asked Su Ruhan about interesting things outside the palace. Su Ruhan, who often went out, was very familiar with the outside world. He told Mu Xueshi all kinds of strange tales and folk stories in great detail. Mu Xueshi listened with great interest, and before they knew it, the afternoon passed.
As night fell, Su Ruhan realized it was getting late. If they didn’t leave soon and something happened tomorrow, Mu Xueshi might become a pawn or a target.
“We have to prepare to leave now. Xueshi, change into this.” Su Ruhan handed him a fitted black robe, suitable for movement and harder to notice in the dark.
Mu Xueshi was still reluctant and wanted to wait for Qingya and Qingzhu, but seeing Su Ruhan’s firm expression, he had no choice but to obediently change.
Su Ruhan and Mu Xueshi rode the same horse and headed toward Wenyang Palace. Su Ruhan didn’t want to pass through there again, but he had something to take care of. Since he couldn’t leave Mu Xueshi alone, he had no choice but to bring him along.
When they arrived, Sun Ye was guarding the entrance. Su Ruhan dismounted and asked Sun Ye to watch Mu Xueshi while he went inside to handle some matters.
Mu Xueshi apologized to Sun Ye, but Sun Ye didn’t seem angry at all. Instead, he reminded Mu Xueshi to be careful on the journey and said that if there was a chance in the future, he would go see him.
While talking to Sun Ye, Mu Xueshi kept glancing inside, hoping to spot Qingya and Qingzhu. Wenyang Palace was brightly lit like daylight, and it didn’t take long for him to notice Qingzhu’s lively figure. Just as he was about to call out excitedly, he saw Qingzhu carefully carrying a tray into a room.
“Sun Ye…” Mu Xueshi quickly turned his head and asked, “Weren’t Qingya and Qingzhu just here to watch the festivities? Why are they…”
Sun Ye immediately realized that Su Ruhan hadn’t told Mu Xueshi the truth—likely to prevent him from worrying and refusing to leave. If he revealed it now, it would ruin everything.
“You don’t need to worry. Anyone who comes here has to help out—there are so many guests,” Sun Ye explained.
“Don’t lie to me.” Mu Xueshi suddenly raised his voice. He was unusually clear-headed now. Qingzhu was definitely not just helping out. Otherwise, why hadn’t Su Ruhan explained it from the beginning?
Sun Ye was about to continue explaining when Mu Xueshi started demanding to get off the horse. At that moment, Su Ruhan returned. Sun Ye quickly urged him to take Mu Xueshi away. Su Ruhan leapt onto the horse, grabbed Mu Xueshi—who was already slipping down—with one hand, and whipped the reins, galloping out at full speed.
“Master, you lied to me! Let me down—I have to get Qingya and Qingzhu out of there. Princess Wenyang will definitely torment them… Master…!”
Mu Xueshi shouted anxiously, struggling with all his might, trying desperately to jump off. He knew clearly that if he left like this, no one would protect them. Their fate would either be death—or worse than death.
Su Ruhan held Mu Xueshi tightly while trying to comfort him. He absolutely couldn’t let him go back now. Outside, officials were dispersing, and the palace gates were in chaos—it was the perfect chance to escape.
“Master, please…” Mu Xueshi cried out hoarsely. The wind howled past his ears, but his desperate pleas were still clear.
With a hardened heart, Su Ruhan struck Mu Xueshi’s acupoints, including his mute point. Instantly, Mu Xueshi could neither struggle nor speak. Su Ruhan pulled him into his chest and gently touched his face, only to find it soaked with tears.
“Xueshi… I’m sorry…” Su Ruhan whispered by his ear.
Ahead of them, fireworks suddenly shot into the sky, bursting into brilliant colors against the dark night. Following each dazzling bloom came waves of cheers, echoing endlessly through the vast, lonely palace…
Futile Devices Scans 
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