For a long while, the Third Prince said nothing.
Mu Xueshi could clearly see a trace of helplessness flash through his eyes. He rarely saw that look from the Third Prince. Usually, no matter how much he angered him, the man would not stoop to arguing with him. So why was this time different?
Uneasiness welled up inside Mu Xueshi. Thinking back over what he had just said, even he felt he had gone a bit too far.
After all, they came from different worlds. Their cultures, customs, ways of thinking, and perspectives were not the same.
“Actually, I…”
“There is no need to explain,” the Third Prince interrupted. “I will no longer interfere in the matter of you becoming an official.”
Then he turned and walked back.
Mu Xueshi hurried after him, gathering up the clothes scattered along the ground as he went. His face carried a cautious expression.
“You’re not angry, are you? Were those words just now serious, or were you speaking in anger?”
The Third Prince replied calmly, “Since you desire freedom, I will no longer restrain you. Just remember to exercise proper judgment yourself.”
“Really? You won’t keep controlling me anymore?”
A trace of delight appeared on Mu Xueshi’s face.
For some reason, seeing that expression made the Third Prince’s chest ache faintly.
He had never been someone who endured in silence. This time, he could have remained as domineering as ever and ignored Mu Xueshi’s simple desires. Yet after seeing him cry so quietly, then brighten instantly because of a single sentence, everything he had insisted upon collapsed.
It turned out he did not truly understand Mu Xueshi.
He had always assumed that because Mu Xueshi liked clinging to him, it meant he wanted even more attention and protection.
Perhaps Su Ruhuan had once been right.
When something remains hidden, people endlessly long to see its true form. Once they finally see it and realize it is unattainable, they quietly distance themselves and give up.
Mu Xueshi was much the same.
The more tightly he was restrained, the more curious he became about the world outside. Perhaps one day, once he had truly grown tired of everything out there, he would willingly return to the embrace that waited for him.
The only question was whether he could endure everything that might happen in the meantime.
On the way back, the Third Prince remained silent.
Mu Xueshi repeatedly checked his expression. Only after confirming that the Third Prince looked normal and his mood seemed stable did he finally relax and happily follow alongside him.
He truly had not expected the Third Prince to listen to him.
Now whenever he turned to look at the Third Prince’s face, it seemed especially familiar and lovable.
The Third Prince was no longer gripping him tightly as he had when chasing after him earlier. Instead, Mu Xueshi took the initiative to grab his hand and shower him with praise, complimenting him on being wise and considerate.
Qingya and Qingzhu stood at the entrance, craning their necks toward the courtyard.
When they saw Mu Xueshi and the Third Prince returning together, joy immediately lit up their faces.
“I told you Young Master Xue would come back. There’s no way he could out-stubborn His Highness,” Qingzhu declared proudly to Qingya.
Qingya snorted.
“I already knew that. Who would dare refuse our prince?”
“No,” Qingzhu corrected, “you should say, who could bear to let our Young Master Xue leave?”
Qingya looked surprised.
She had not expected such a sweet line to come from Qingzhu.
Seeing Qingya’s expression, Qingzhu assumed she disagreed and hurriedly explained,
“It’s true! Everyone outside the courtyard is talking about Young Master Xue now. The other day when I went to Consort Wen’s residence to fetch something, even she asked me about him. And whenever I walk around, people keep staring at me. Some even come up and start conversations!”
Qingya pinched her ear.
“They’re looking at you and talking to you because of Young Master Xue, not because they genuinely care about you. What’s there to be proud of?”
“Of course there is!” Qingzhu replied excitedly. “They know I serve in this courtyard. I get to see Young Master Xue every day and even attend to him personally. They must be insanely jealous! You should’ve seen their eyes—they were shining brighter than the stars!”
“Ahem. Ahem.”
At the two clear coughs, Qingzhu immediately fell silent.
Her gaze shifted toward the approaching pair.
The coughs definitely had not come from the Third Prince. He never needed to warn them.
Could it have been Young Master Xue?
That seemed even less likely.
Noticing Mu Xueshi staring intently at her, Qingya returned the look with equal confusion.
Mu Xueshi suddenly straightened his expression and barked,
“Why haven’t you knelt upon seeing this official?”
Qingya and Qingzhu exchanged glances, both utterly bewildered.
Since the Third Prince stood beside him without saying anything, they assumed Mu Xueshi was simply fooling around.
“Impudent!”
Mu Xueshi’s shout sounded surprisingly official.
Suppressing their laughter, the two maids obediently knelt and chimed together,
“Greetings, Lord Mu.”
“Be serious! Who is Lord Mu?”
Mu Xueshi snorted.
“I am the Court-Appointed Chief Judicial Officer, a third-rank official personally appointed by His Majesty! How dare you laugh and joke in my presence!”
The two maids froze.
They genuinely looked startled.
Only then did Mu Xueshi relax his shoulders and break into laughter.
“I’m just kidding. Get up, get up.”
“Young Master Xue is so mischievous!”
Only after the Third Prince disappeared into the building did Qingzhu dare complain.
Mu Xueshi laughed loudly.
“But in a few days, His Majesty will officially grant me the position. Then your Young Master Xue will become self-sufficient, with his own residence and servants.”
Instead of looking happy, both maids suddenly appeared distressed.
They even looked close to tears.
“H-How did we get to that?”
Mu Xueshi immediately reverted to his usual nervous expression.
“If Young Master Xue gets his own residence, doesn’t that mean you’ll move out? Then how will we ever see you again?” Qingya asked miserably.
“Exactly!” Qingzhu nodded. “And if Young Master Xue gets sick or hurt, we won’t be there to take care of you.”
Her face looked so pitiful that someone pinched her waist, causing her to yelp and appear even more tragic.
“How could I move out?” Mu Xueshi protested loudly. “Even if I become a second-rank official, I’ll still stay in this courtyard!”
“But earlier you packed your things and prepared to leave,” Qingya said. “We thought it was because of His Highness. Who knew it was because you were becoming an official and had no choice but to leave? You were just making excuses to comfort us…”
“What are you talking about?!”
Mu Xueshi nearly jumped.
“I haven’t even taken office yet! Where would I go?”
“So you are becoming an official,” Qingzhu huffed. “Now this little courtyard isn’t good enough for you.”
“That’s not true! How can you think that of me? Do I look like some snobbish opportunist? And no matter what position I get, I could never look down on this courtyard. This is the Third Prince’s residence!”
His face turned bright red with urgency.
The two maids immediately covered their mouths and giggled.
Several nearby servants also laughed quietly.
All of them secretly found Young Master Xue unbearably adorable.
“So you were just trying to scare me! You little troublemakers!”
Mu Xueshi immediately chased after them around the courtyard.
While running, Qingzhu gasped,
“You’re so easy to fool, Young Master Xue! How are you supposed to be an official? High officials need schemes and calculations. Someone like you would probably get tricked by your own servants every day!”
“Utter nonsense!”
Mu Xueshi shouted in mock authority.
Unfortunately, nobody was intimidated.
Even after he caught both Qingya and Qingzhu, they remained grinning shamelessly.
Mu Xueshi felt deeply wronged.
Why was this always the image people had of him?
Whenever the Third Prince walked by, everyone lowered their heads and barely dared breathe.
Meanwhile, Mu Xueshi could shout directly into someone’s ear, and they still would not be afraid.
Only then did he remember the Third Prince.
To his surprise, the man had vanished.
Mu Xueshi immediately dashed into the room.
Only after seeing the Third Prince sitting peacefully in a chair did he finally relax.
“I thought you’d gone out without taking me with you,” he said breathlessly.
“Hm?”
The Third Prince looked puzzled.
Mu Xueshi grinned sheepishly.
“I was fooling around in the courtyard just now. Since you didn’t scold me, I thought maybe you’d already left.”
“Why would I scold you?” the Third Prince asked. “Did I not already promise to stop restricting you?”
Mu Xueshi’s expression turned awkward.
“I forgot about that.”
“And if I choose to go out, that would be perfectly normal. Why are you so nervous about it?”
“Because I’m afraid you won’t take me with you!”
The words slipped out before Mu Xueshi could stop them.
The Third Prince asked in a strangely calm tone,
“And why should I take you with me? You’ve regained your freedom. If I keep you by my side, wouldn’t that simply repeat the same mistake?”
Mu Xueshi swallowed hard.
“Well… that’s different. I’d be willing. It wouldn’t count as you controlling me. That’s fine.”
The Third Prince smiled faintly.
“You wish to do things independently. Likewise, I do as well. Since I’ve agreed not to restrict you, shouldn’t you stop interfering in my affairs? I won’t hold the past against you, but surely you understand how things should be from now on.”
“How can that be the same thing? It’s completely different!”
Mu Xueshi nearly shouted.
The Third Prince raised an eyebrow.
“How is it different?”
“I… Every time you go somewhere, I worry about your safety. That’s why I want to stay by your side. Besides, I always discuss it with you first. I never force you to take me…”
The more he spoke, the weaker his argument sounded.
Suddenly he remembered that every time the Third Prince had gone out on official business, he had always found ways to pressure him into bringing him along.
“Even if you’re willing, it still feels restrictive to me. Just like I’m willing to do certain things for you, but you still dislike it.”
Mu Xueshi was instantly speechless.
He stood frozen like a stone statue.
After a long pause, he blinked.
“No, that’s not right. You must have confused me somehow. I’m obviously supposed to go with you…”
The Third Prince lowered his head and resumed reading the documents in his hands, paying no attention to anything Mu Xueshi said afterward.
Mu Xueshi wanted to sneak closer and peek at them.
But after taking one step, he stopped.
Doing that would be far too spineless.
Whatever he’s reading has nothing to do with me!
As he shuffled toward the door, he kept secretly glancing back while muttering under his breath,
“What’s so impressive about that? Once I become an official, I’ll have mountains of work too. I’ll be so busy I won’t even have time to spare you a glance.”
The moment Mu Xueshi stepped outside, a loud, commanding shout rang through the courtyard:
“This official has arrived! Hear my command! Anyone who fails to look directly at me or ignores me shall be dragged out and executed!”
…
Futile Devices Scans 
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