“Greetings, Imperial Father.”
The Third Prince said it lightly, as if it were nothing more than a formality.
The Emperor nodded in acknowledgment and shifted his gaze to Mu Xueshi.
Mu Xueshi felt uneasy inside, wondering whether Emperor Hao Lin had started causing trouble again after the Third Prince brought him back. Moreover, the Emperor had sent him to persuade Emperor Hao Lin, yet from the moment he met him, he had not said a single word about the mountain-tunneling water diversion project.
“Xueshi, this time, Lubei’s withdrawal of troops was largely due to your contribution. I have decided to reward you generously. Is there anything in particular that you like?”
“Huh?”
Mu Xueshi looked at the Emperor in surprise, feeling both honored and bewildered.
The Emperor smiled faintly and said gently, “What? Are you unwilling to accept my reward?”
Mu Xueshi hurriedly shook his head.
“No, that’s not it. Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward. I just… find it a little hard to believe. Emperor Hao Lin really hasn’t come looking for trouble again?”
He certainly did not dare mention that he had never actually said anything meaningful to Emperor Hao Lin. Nor did he dare admit that during those days investigating the border region, he had not really accomplished anything important.
“How would Emperor Hao Lin dare cause trouble for us?” the Emperor replied. “He has already dispatched several hundred craftsmen to the border region to excavate tunnels. He is likely occupied with that matter now. Once the tunnels are completed, Lubei’s drought problem will be resolved. Not only will Lubei be rid of a major concern, but Yunxi will finally be able to relax as well. And all of that is thanks to you, Xueshi.”
As he spoke, the Emperor slowly moved closer to Mu Xueshi.
He was curious whether the rumors were true—whether Mu Xueshi had truly been concealing his real appearance. He had seen Grand Preceptor Mu’s extraordinary handsomeness before; one glance was enough to leave a lifelong impression. He wondered whether Mu Xueshi’s true face carried traces of his father’s features.
The Third Prince noticed immediately and casually drew Mu Xueshi a little closer to himself.
“Ah! Could it really work?” Mu Xueshi asked, eyes widening. “I haven’t even finished surveying the mountains. What if they accidentally trigger a landslide or a mudslide? Wouldn’t the losses be enormous?”
The Emperor laughed heartily.
“That is no longer something you need to worry about. Whether it becomes a blessing or a disaster is their concern. Right now, you should focus on resting for a few days and deciding what reward you want. As long as it is within my power to grant, I will not be stingy.”
Mu Xueshi’s heart pounded wildly.
A reward! This was the first time in his life he was actually receiving one. Although he had no idea what he wanted, he could not suppress his excitement.
“Your Majesty, could you give this commoner a little time? I can’t think of anything right now…”
Seeing Mu Xueshi’s nervous expression, the Emperor said kindly, “There’s no need to rush. I won’t pressure you. I’ve been occupied with state affairs these past few days, and today I finally have some free time, so I came specifically to visit your little courtyard.”
Mu Xueshi’s obsidian-like eyes darted around before he said, “Your Majesty, then please come inside for some tea. We can sit down and chat.”
The Emperor smiled.
“That is precisely what I had in mind.”
The three of them headed toward the main hall of Qingyun Palace.
The Third Prince initially looked displeased, but after seeing the look Mu Xueshi gave him, he reluctantly followed them inside.
Mu Xueshi pretended to warn the Third Prince not to be rude, though in reality he simply wanted an excuse to get back indoors.
The Third Prince saw right through him but did not expose the act. Watching the smug grin that appeared on Mu Xueshi’s face after entering the room improved his mood considerably.
Only Mu Xueshi could be frightened by such a tiny trick. How could he possibly bear to leave him outside for half a year? He could barely tolerate being apart from him for a short while.
After entering the room, the Emperor and the Third Prince sat down while Mu Xueshi stood beside the Third Prince.
Now that Mu Xueshi was no longer the focus, the Emperor’s attention naturally shifted to the Third Prince. He still wore the same cold expression as always, making it difficult to discern any emotion.
The Emperor spoke first.
“Lü Jue, when you pursued them into Lubei, did Emperor Hao Lin make things difficult for you?”
“Thank you for your concern, Imperial Father. Everything went smoothly.”
The Third Prince’s answer was perfunctory.
Seeing that the Third Prince was at least willing to speak, the Emperor assumed much of his anger had subsided.
Who could have imagined that one day his own son would raise a hand against him? Even more unimaginable was that after being struck, not only had he chosen not to pursue the matter, he had personally come here to check on him.
Was this karma from a previous life?
Ever since the Third Prince was born, the Emperor’s feelings toward him had always been special, far surpassing the affection he showed his other sons. He had granted him countless privileges, broken rules for him repeatedly, and indulged him to an unbelievable extent.
Even the Emperor himself could not explain why. Whenever conflict arose between them, he was always the one who ultimately yielded.
Meanwhile, Mu Xueshi had completely stopped listening to their conversation.
He stood beside the Third Prince with a distant stare, clearly plotting something.
What should he ask for?
More than anything, Mu Xueshi wanted to obtain something from the Emperor that would make the Third Prince afraid of him—or perhaps a secret weakness he could use against him. But if no such thing existed, he would be wasting this rare opportunity.
Such an opportunity was far too precious to squander.
The Emperor and the Third Prince both fell silent.
Qingya entered with a bright smile, carrying two cups of tea and several plates of pastries. Mu Xueshi made a face at her, but she did not dare react and quickly withdrew.
Mu Xueshi resumed pondering his reward.
The Third Prince examined the steaming assorted pastries on the plate before selecting one.
The Emperor was somewhat surprised. The Third Prince had never shown interest in such things.
Then he watched as the Third Prince handed the pastry to Mu Xueshi and immediately understood.
Mu Xueshi accepted it without hesitation and took a bite. A blissful expression appeared on his face before he awkwardly asked,
“Are you still going to kick me out?”
The Third Prince looked at him indulgently.
“When have I ever driven you away?”
Mu Xueshi pouted.
Unfortunately, he happened to meet the Emperor’s gaze at that moment. Embarrassed, he immediately shoved the half-eaten pastry back into the Third Prince’s hand.
The Emperor had felt a faint surge of jealousy after witnessing the previous scene, but seeing Mu Xueshi’s flustered expression softened him considerably.
“If you want to eat, then eat. There are no outsiders here. There’s no need to be restrained.”
Only then did Mu Xueshi take the pastry back.
His opinion of the Emperor rose another notch.
He had never blamed the Emperor for sending him to Emperor Hao Lin. In his mind, Emperor Hao Lin had simply used tricks to abduct him, something the Emperor could never have anticipated. Besides, the Emperor’s earlier words had inspired him greatly, which was why he had become interested in learning martial arts.
“In a few days, there will be a banquet in the palace,” the Emperor said. “All the civil and military officials will attend. Remember to come, and don’t forget to bring Xueshi with you. He has rendered considerable service this time, and I intend to reward him publicly.”
With rumors about Mu Xueshi’s true appearance spreading wildly everywhere, attending such a banquet was practically inviting trouble.
The Third Prince was about to refuse when Mu Xueshi grabbed his hand.
“You have to agree,” he pleaded quietly. “I want to see it. I’ve never attended a banquet before.”
Seeing the eager look on Mu Xueshi’s face, the Third Prince wavered.
It was never a matter of necessity. Since Mu Xueshi wanted it so badly, he could not bring himself to refuse.
When Mu Xueshi noticed his hesitation, he muttered softly,
“If you refuse, I’ll ask His Majesty to force you to go. I’ll use that as my reward.”
Without changing expression, the Third Prince replied,
“This son will certainly attend and will bring Xueshi with me.”
Satisfied, the Emperor turned back to Mu Xueshi.
“Have you decided what you want now? Speak freely. There is no need to hesitate.”
Mu Xueshi immediately found himself in a dilemma.
He had narrowed it down to two wishes.
The first was to ask the Emperor to help persuade the Third Prince to allow him to study martial arts, provided the Third Prince would not get angry and throw him out.
The second was to obtain permission to thoroughly investigate the Grand Preceptor Mu case.
Mu Xueshi had always felt indebted to the original owner of this body. Finding the murderer of his father had become a lingering burden on his heart.
After wrestling with the decision, he finally chose the case.
Martial arts training could wait, but the longer the case remained unsolved, the harder it would become.
“Your Majesty, I have decided. Grand Preceptor Mu’s case has remained unresolved for far too long. I wish to thoroughly investigate it and uncover the true culprit, so that he may finally rest in peace.”
He spoke solemnly.
Only after finishing did he notice the Emperor’s surprised expression and realize his mistake.
Grand Preceptor Mu! Grand Preceptor Mu!
Shouldn’t he have said my father?!
Mu Xueshi instantly panicked.
It was too late to correct himself now. Would the Emperor think he was terribly unfilial?
“Of course,” the Emperor replied. “This matter has also weighed heavily on my heart. Too many other affairs delayed the investigation. Now that things have calmed down, it is indeed time to uncover the truth. Your desire to seek justice for your father is a mark of filial devotion, and I am deeply moved.”
The Emperor’s surprise had merely stemmed from not expecting this request.
He had assumed Mu Xueshi would ask for a title or status. Instead, Mu Xueshi’s answer made him realize he had underestimated him.
“In that case, I shall create a special position for you—Minister of Judicial Affairs. It will temporarily carry the rank of Third Grade Official, and you will be responsible for investigating your father’s case. On the day of the banquet, I will personally hold an appointment ceremony. What do you think, Xueshi?”
Mu Xueshi was completely stunned.
He had actually been granted an official position.
He was going to become an official!
He had no idea how important a Third Grade Official was, but it was still an official rank—and one personally bestowed by the Emperor.
It was unbelievable.
Mu Xueshi had never considered himself someone obsessed with official status, yet now he was trembling with excitement.
From now on, people would no longer call him Young Master Xue.
They would call him Minister Mu.
And when standing beside the Third Prince, he would no longer feel so insecure.
Futile Devices Scans 
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