Emperor Hao Lin quietly gazed at the face of the person in his arms without making the slightest movement. It was already night outside now, and who knew how many hours had passed, yet Mu Xueshi was still asleep, showing no sign whatsoever of waking.
A hoarse voice sounded from outside.
“Your Majesty, the evening meal has been prepared. Shall this subordinate bring it in for you?”
Feeling the person in his arms tremble slightly, Emperor Hao Lin’s tone turned somewhat cold.
“There’s no need. I’ll call for you when I want it brought in. Until then, do not let any sound enter this carriage.”
“Yes…”
The guard slowed his horse and deliberately put more distance between himself and Emperor Hao Lin’s carriage.
This time, after setting out, the occupant of Emperor Hao Lin’s carriage had changed. During the previous days it had always been Shangchuan Hong, because his injuries were severe and Emperor Hao Lin had needed to keep watch over him at all times. But this time Shangchuan Hong had voluntarily requested to ride in another carriage, and Emperor Hao Lin naturally had no intention of forcing him to stay. In fact, he was rather pleased by the decision.
Now there were only Emperor Hao Lin and Mu Xueshi inside the carriage, and things had remained this way for the past two or three hours. Not a single sound had come from inside the carriage, and Emperor Hao Lin had enough patience not to wake Mu Xueshi.
Finally, after the guard’s abrupt interruption just now, Mu Xueshi began to stir. Out of habit, he reached out and groped around beside him. Once he caught hold of Emperor Hao Lin’s thumb, he stopped moving.
This was one of Mu Xueshi’s sleeping habits—he had to hold onto something. When the Third Prince was absent, he clutched the blankets. When the Third Prince was around, he clung to the Third Prince instead. No matter what he grabbed, as long as he could hold something in his hand, he would stop tossing about.
Feeling the soft, smooth warmth transmitted through Mu Xueshi’s fingers, surprise flickered through Emperor Hao Lin’s eyes. Had Mu Xueshi mistaken him for the Third Prince? Even though Emperor Hao Lin knew perfectly well that was the case, a smile still unconsciously appeared at the corners of his lips. It did not matter who Mu Xueshi mistook him for now. Sooner or later, this person would belong to him.
Mu Xueshi seemed to sense that something felt off in his hand. After rubbing and kneading it for a while, he began to grow agitated. His rosy lips pouted slightly, and dissatisfied little murmurs escaped his mouth. Like an unweaned infant, he looked so pitiful that Emperor Hao Lin felt a wave of tenderness.
Suddenly, Mu Xueshi’s eyes snapped open without warning, wide and round.
Even though Emperor Hao Lin had prepared himself beforehand, when those dazzling eyes, sparkling like gemstones, suddenly shone directly at him, he still froze for a moment.
Mu Xueshi froze as well.
But Mu Xueshi reacted even slower than Emperor Hao Lin. By the time Emperor Hao Lin’s hand had already caressed his cheek, Mu Xueshi finally realized something was wrong. He let out two shrill cries and scrambled away like a terrified little mouse trying desperately to escape.
Naturally, Emperor Hao Lin would not allow him to flee. His large hands wrapped around Mu Xueshi’s waist and pulled him right back into his arms.
“Let go of me! Why the hell am I here?!” Mu Xueshi glared at Emperor Hao Lin, furious and frightened.
Emperor Hao Lin looked at him meaningfully. “Young Master Xue came looking for me of his own accord. Why ask me why you’re here?”
Mu Xueshi quickly remembered what had happened earlier and immediately shuddered. He struggled fiercely to lift the curtain covering the carriage window and craned his neck outside.
“Where are you taking me? I need to go back! I don’t want to talk to you anymore!” Mu Xueshi ran toward the carriage door.
This time Emperor Hao Lin did not stop him. He allowed Mu Xueshi to rush toward the exit. But the instant Mu Xueshi lifted the front curtain, he froze.
These horses are running a little too fast… Mu Xueshi felt cold sweat forming on his forehead. When he looked up, he realized there were four horses pulling the carriage at once. Looking farther back, he saw long lines of cavalry following behind them, all moving at terrifying speed. Apart from the horses themselves, all he could see was a haze of dust and smoke.
If I jump down now, I’ll get trampled to death…
Mu Xueshi swallowed hard and turned to glance at Emperor Hao Lin. Emperor Hao Lin was watching him with an amused expression, as though enjoying a show. Mu Xueshi suddenly felt humiliated. Gritting his teeth, murderous determination flashed through his eyes as he lowered his head and jumped downward.
Yet when Mu Xueshi opened his eyes again, his feet had not even left the carriage floor. Worse still, not only had the distance between him and the carriage door not shortened, it had actually grown farther.
Did I just jump backward?
Mu Xueshi’s handsome face flushed red. He instinctively whipped his head around to see whether Emperor Hao Lin was laughing at him.
The moment Mu Xueshi had made that dramatic little leap, Emperor Hao Lin had almost burst out laughing. Now, seeing Mu Xueshi’s expression, he found him even more amusing. During the days Mu Xueshi had been confined in the Yunxi palace, Emperor Hao Lin had already experienced a kind of joy unlike anything before. The thought that Mu Xueshi would once again remain by his side for some time to come unconsciously brightened his mood.
With one swift movement, Emperor Hao Lin dragged Mu Xueshi back into his embrace.
Mu Xueshi flailed wildly like a small carp tossed onto dry land.
“Hurry up and send me back! Otherwise, when the Third Prince returns and realizes I’m gone, you’re going to suffer for it!” Mu Xueshi threatened him, though inwardly he felt terribly guilty. Most likely, the one who would truly suffer would not be Emperor Hao Lin, but himself.
Seeing the guilty look in Mu Xueshi’s eyes, Emperor Hao Lin could not resist teasing him.
“Even if I sent you back now, the Third Prince would have already left the palace. If he truly cared about you, he would have caught up long ago. Why else would you still be sitting in my carriage now?”
Mu Xueshi’s face changed instantly. Forgetting his struggles, he immediately retorted, “Don’t try to drive a wedge between us! Holding me hostage won’t threaten the Third Prince anymore. He’s not afraid of you at all.”
“Then are you afraid?” Emperor Hao Lin asked with a smile.
Seeing the hidden blade beneath that smile, Mu Xueshi inhaled deeply and shouted, “Why would I be afraid of you? I—just send me back already!…”
Emperor Hao Lin burst into hearty laughter and could not resist pinching Mu Xueshi’s soft cheeks.
“You’re so adorable. How could I bear to send you back? To tell you the truth, I didn’t bring you here to threaten the Third Prince. I intend to take you back to Lubei. From now on, you’ll live with me there. What do you think?”
Mu Xueshi’s face instantly turned deathly pale. Emperor Hao Lin could feel him trembling.
“That’s impossible. The Third Prince will definitely come looking for me…” Mu Xueshi muttered blankly while staring outside.
Emperor Hao Lin’s gaze darkened. In an extremely certain tone, he said, “The Third Prince will not come for you anymore. I already told you earlier—if he truly intended to rescue you, he would have caught up long ago. Why else have I still not seen even a trace of him?”
“If you keep spewing nonsense, I’ll fight you to the death!” Mu Xueshi threatened him, but his voice was already tinged with tears.
Emperor Hao Lin raised an eyebrow and replied calmly, “Whether I’m deceiving you or not, you should know very well in your own heart.”
Mu Xueshi suddenly gasped violently for breath before bursting into loud sobs. His cries were so intense that even the carriage seemed to shake. Even Emperor Hao Lin was startled.
Why is he suddenly crying like this? Emperor Hao Lin asked himself. Based on what he knew of Mu Xueshi, he was not someone who would so easily cry after being bullied a little.
“Wuuuu…”
Mu Xueshi truly was crying heartbreakingly hard. It did not seem like he was trying to gain Emperor Hao Lin’s sympathy, nor did it look like simple anger.
Watching Mu Xueshi rub his eyes while looking utterly pitiful, Emperor Hao Lin’s tone softened involuntarily.
“You’re crying so miserably that even I feel heartache watching you.” As he spoke, Emperor Hao Lin reached out to wipe away Mu Xueshi’s tears.
Mu Xueshi fiercely slapped his hand away, turned his head aside, and continued sobbing at the passing scenery outside.
Looking at Mu Xueshi like this, Emperor Hao Lin felt both amused and helpless. This was the first time another person’s emotions had affected him so deeply. Back in the Lubei imperial palace, he had spent countless nights bedding different beauties, yet never once had he become attached to anyone. Who would have thought he would spend so much time and effort on Mu Xueshi?
“You don’t need to be afraid. I’ll treat you much more gently than the Third Prince ever did. And once you arrive at the Lubei imperial palace, your status will be incomparably noble. Aside from myself and the State Preceptor, everyone else will have to show you respect.”
But Mu Xueshi seemed not to hear a word. While sobbing, he choked out between tears:
“A few days ago when I secretly ran off… he didn’t punish me… I hid my injured ankle from him… and he… he didn’t scold me either… he treated me even better… and now I tricked him again… broke my promise… he’s sick of me now!! He must be! Otherwise he would’ve come after me… he’s disappointed in me… wuuu…”
As he reached the end, Mu Xueshi cried even harder, like a child cruelly abandoned, unable to hear anyone else anymore.
Emperor Hao Lin unexpectedly felt a trace of jealousy. Even now, the reason Mu Xueshi cried so miserably was still because of his little quarrel with the Third Prince. Emperor Hao Lin had threatened and tempted Mu Xueshi countless times before, yet never had he seen him this helpless. There might be hundreds waiting for Emperor Hao Lin’s favor in the imperial palace, but not one of them had ever cared so deeply about his thoughts. Even those who did care only feared losing their lives.
What virtue or ability did the Third Prince possess to obtain someone so beautiful and have him love so deeply?
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