Mu Xueshi’s heart pounded wildly. Combined with the fact that all the eunuchs and maids around him were acting extremely cautious and nervous, he became even more anxious. Dressed in layers of heavy ceremonial clothing, he soon broke out in sweat. No matter how often he wiped his forehead, more beads of perspiration appeared. Clenching both fists, he stared upward at the ceiling, his mind completely blank.
After a while, a childish voice sounded in the room.
“Uncle Mu, do you need to use the toilet?”
It took Mu Xueshi a moment to realize that “Uncle Mu” referred to him. Lowering his head, he saw Su Ying looking at him seriously, his face full of concern. The sentiment was touching, but the question itself left Mu Xueshi thoroughly embarrassed. Swallowing hard, he asked, “How did you know Uncle wanted to use the toilet?”
“Because every time Su Ying needs to use the toilet, he looks exactly like that.”
Mu Xueshi chuckled twice, and a mischievous thought immediately came to him. “Then show Uncle what you look like when you need to use the toilet. Uncle wants to see if it looks the same as he did just now.”
Su Ying shook his head, clearly unwilling.
Mu Xueshi put on a stern face. “Why aren’t you listening to Uncle anymore?”
Su Ying walked forward and suddenly smacked Mu Xueshi on the forehead. “Because Uncle wants to use the toilet himself, but is trying to blame it on Su Ying!”
The slap left Mu Xueshi completely bewildered. He had no idea where Su Ying’s anger had come from, nor could he follow the logic behind what he had just said.
“Uncle does want to use the toilet, but Uncle doesn’t have time right now. So Uncle wants Su Ying to go in his place. Would Su Ying be willing to help?”
The moment he heard that, Su Ying immediately stretched out his small fair hand, palm upward. “That depends on what reward Uncle gives Su Ying.”
Mu Xueshi burst out laughing. Sure enough, there was no point trying to use normal logic when talking to Su Ying.
Curling his finger, Mu Xueshi beckoned him closer and said mysteriously, “Uncle has a very good reward. Does Su Ying want it?”
At first, Su Ying looked at him skeptically, afraid he was being tricked. But Mu Xueshi’s performance was simply too convincing. With one hand hidden inside his sleeve, it genuinely looked as if he were concealing some priceless treasure. Su Ying immediately trotted over. Once beside Mu Xueshi, he tilted his head up and looked at him with bright, watery eyes.
Mu Xueshi leaned down and kissed Su Ying on the cheek, intending it as the reward. Unexpectedly, Su Ying kissed him back. Not only that, he kissed Mu Xueshi directly on the lips. And before Mu Xueshi could react, Su Ying took advantage of his startled, open mouth and actually pushed his tongue inside, rubbing it against Mu Xueshi’s for a moment.
Mu Xueshi’s brain completely short-circuited.
Then he heard Su Ying’s perfectly justified voice.
“Uncle, where’s my reward?”
“Just now…”
Mu Xueshi simply could not continue. If he mentioned the kiss he had just given, Su Ying might very well demand an equivalent return for the kiss he had received.
“Uncle, Su Ying wants a reward! A reward!”
Growing unhappy, Su Ying tugged forcefully on Mu Xueshi’s robes, wrinkling the official garments that had just been straightened.
Mu Xueshi was at a loss. With a miserable expression, he asked, “Uncle doesn’t have anything. What reward do you want?”
“Uncle does. Uncle does. Uncle has the best thing in the world. Even Father Emperor doesn’t have it.”
“Huh?”
Blinking, Mu Xueshi stared at him.
Su Ying pointed directly at Mu Xueshi’s eyes. “The magic balls. Uncle should take them out and give them to Su Ying.”
Mu Xueshi shuddered. “T-That’s impossible. If Uncle takes them out, he’ll go blind.”
Su Ying had no idea what blindness meant. All he understood was that Mu Xueshi was refusing. His mouth immediately drooped, and he began wailing. The tears poured out like a flood breaking through a dam, becoming impossible to stop once they started.
No matter how much Mu Xueshi coaxed or reasoned with him, the crying continued. Finally, in despair, he muttered, “Even your Third Imperial Uncle isn’t this hard to deal with…”
The moment Su Ying heard the words “Third Imperial Uncle,” his crying stopped instantly. His eyes darted around nervously.
Seeing that the tactic had worked, Mu Xueshi hurriedly changed the subject. “Su Ying, tell Uncle something. Why did you kiss Uncle on the mouth just now?”
With red eyes and a thick nasal voice, Su Ying replied, “Because every time Father wants to reward Su Ying, that’s how Father kisses Su Ying.”
Mu Xueshi was stunned. The Second Prince was actually that open-minded? Kissing his son directly on the lips? If his own father were standing here right now and he had kissed Su Ying like that, the punches coming afterward would probably be even more numerous than Su Ying’s tears. Mrs. Chen’s kitchen cleaver might even come flying at him.
While he was still lost in these ridiculous thoughts, a young eunuch walked over. Addressing Mu Xueshi and the servants, he announced, “All the officials have arrived, and His Majesty will soon be here as well. This servant has been ordered to escort Young Master Xue to Taihe Hall to await the ceremony.”
Mu Xueshi panicked and nearly fell off his chair. The attendants became flustered too. After Su Ying’s earlier disturbance, Mu Xueshi’s appearance was even messier than before they had started. His ceremonial crown was practically hanging off the back of his head. Unfortunately, the eunuch kept urging them to hurry, so they could only straighten things out as best they could.
Su Ying walked beside Mu Xueshi this time. He was much better behaved now, silently holding Mu Xueshi’s hand as they headed toward Taihe Hall. He did not ask to be carried anymore.
Led by the eunuch, Mu Xueshi passed through the side halls rather than making a direct appearance in the main hall.
The Second Prince was waiting outside the side chamber. The moment Su Ying saw him, he started shedding tears again. The Second Prince immediately picked him up and questioned him gently and carefully. Su Ying refused to say a word, burying his face in the Second Prince’s chest as though he had suffered some tremendous injustice.
Feeling the unfriendly look directed at him by the Second Prince, Mu Xueshi inwardly cried out that he was innocent. Unfortunately, the eunuch beside him continued urging him forward, leaving him no time to explain. All he could do was follow nervously.
After passing through the side chambers and arriving at the entrance of Taihe Hall, Mu Xueshi finally realized he was meant to wait there for the imperial decree. So his earlier assumption had been correct. He really would have to walk through the ranks of hundreds of officials to receive the Emperor’s edict.
Closing his eyes, Mu Xueshi took several deep breaths, trying his best to make himself appear calm.
Only after the eunuch called his name several times did he dazedly open his eyes.
To his surprise, everyone around him had vanished.
Uh… When had he already arrived in front of the Emperor?
Mu Xueshi was horrified. Someone had definitely been guiding him, but he hadn’t even felt his feet moving!
Immediately, whispers began spreading throughout the hall. As more and more people joined in, the entire Taihe Hall seemed ready to erupt.
The Emperor coughed lightly a few times.
The noise subsided at once.
Yet countless eyes remained fixed on Mu Xueshi, as though they intended to inspect every pore on his body.
Seated upon the Dragon Throne, the Emperor looked down at Mu Xueshi kneeling before him, his expression somewhat complicated. He had already confirmed that Mu Xueshi’s face was disguised. What he had not expected was that Mu Xueshi would still be concealing his appearance on such an important occasion.
Originally, the Emperor had hoped to use this opportunity to reveal Mu Xueshi’s true face, satisfy the curiosity of the assembled officials, and allow everyone to feast their eyes upon it. Instead, despite Mu Xueshi’s generally carefree personality, he seemed unusually protective of his appearance. Although the ceremonial robes specially prepared by the Emperor added much splendor to Mu Xueshi’s image, they did not provide the surprise the Emperor had been hoping for.
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
Mu Xueshi has rendered great service to Yunxi and deserves generous reward. Considering his filial devotion toward his father and his continued concern over the unresolved case of Grand Tutor Mu, whose spirit cannot rest until the truth is uncovered, We hereby appoint Mu Xueshi as Judicial Affairs Minister, temporarily responsible for investigating the Grand Tutor Mu case. The rank shall provisionally be Third Rank.
Respect this decree.”
Once the eunuch finished reading, Mu Xueshi hurriedly kowtowed to receive the honor. He then struggled to his feet, accepted the imperial edict with trembling hands, and returned to his place to await further decrees.
There had originally been many additional ceremonial procedures. However, the Emperor simplified matters considerably and had the eunuch directly announce the rewards bestowed upon Mu Xueshi: a residence, silver, servants—and even beautiful male companions.
The moment Mu Xueshi heard the words “beautiful companions,” his eyes lit up.
Being an official comes with this many benefits?
The Third Prince sat not far from the Emperor. The instant he noticed the delighted expression on Mu Xueshi’s face, he gave a cold snort inwardly.
I never realized he had so many improper thoughts in that head of his.
After rewarding Mu Xueshi, the Emperor also bestowed rewards upon several other officials. Following General Xiao’s death, Zheng Qingcang was officially appointed as his successor.
Only after the eunuch finished reading all of the Emperor’s decrees did the investiture ceremony finally conclude.
The banquet was about to begin.
The Emperor had arranged the feast in the imperial rear garden. Dozens of banquet tables and hundreds of dishes had been prepared, making it the grandest banquet Yunxi had hosted in many years.
Futile Devices Scans 
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