Futile Devices Scans

When the Third Prince arrived beside Mu Xueshi, Mu Xueshi was in the middle of playing with Su Ying. Su Ying’s hands had already left several marks on Mu Xueshi’s face, yet he continued his relentless assault on Mu Xueshi’s eyes. At that moment, Mu Xueshi was incredibly grateful for the mask covering his face. Not only could it block dust and impurities, it could also lessen the pain.

However, to the Third Prince, these two “children” having such a good time together were an eyesore. Su Ying was nestled in Mu Xueshi’s arms, and regardless of what they were doing, he had stolen the exclusive privilege that belonged only to the Third Prince—the right to be close to Mu Xueshi.

Only when the Third Prince sat beside him with a dark expression did Mu Xueshi realize that the person at the banquet table next to his was actually the Third Prince. Looking around, every other banquet table had at least two or three people seated together, while he and the Third Prince each occupied a table alone. Wasn’t that a waste?

“Uncle, why did you stop talking?” Su Ying tugged hard on Mu Xueshi’s ear. His rosy little lips pouted in dissatisfaction at being ignored.

Mu Xueshi stared blankly at the Third Prince, feeling aggrieved. Ever since the Third Prince sat down, he had not said a single word to him, nor even glanced at him. Even friends should at least acknowledge each other.

The Third Prince calmly sipped the wine from his golden goblet, his cool demeanor seeming intent on keeping everyone at arm’s length.

Mu Xueshi snorted inwardly and turned back to Su Ying. Su Ying’s little head drooped, and he looked completely listless and pitiful.

“What’s wrong, little sweetheart?” Mu Xueshi deliberately called out loudly.

Su Ying shook his head, pressed his face against Mu Xueshi’s chest, and softly murmured, “Uncle.”

Thinking Su Ying felt unwell, Mu Xueshi tried to send him back to the Second Prince. Su Ying absolutely refused and clung tightly to Mu Xueshi’s neck.

Mu Xueshi gently stroked Su Ying’s back and sighed inwardly. Looks like we’re both kindred spirits, oppressed by the masters of our households, which is why we’re huddled together like this.

Su Ying, however, did not have such complicated thoughts. Listening to Mu Xueshi’s muttering by his ear, he soon burrowed into Mu Xueshi’s arms and fell asleep sweetly.

After Su Ying fell asleep, the entire imperial garden became much quieter. The Emperor had also taken his seat at the largest banquet table, flanked by the Empress and another favored consort.

At a rare banquet like this, it was naturally the perfect opportunity for officials to curry favor with the Emperor. Not long after the feast began, the ministers were pulling out all the stops just to earn a smile from His Majesty.

Having spent so much time around the Third Prince, Mu Xueshi had never truly felt how imposing the Emperor was. It was only now, seeing the flattering expressions on the officials’ faces, that he understood just how exalted the Emperor’s status was.

“Your Majesty, this humble official also has a small gift. It is nothing worthy of mention, but I hope Your Majesty will graciously accept it.”

A smiling official stood upon the banquet lawn. He wore a blue-green robe, had long brows and narrow eyes, and in Mu Xueshi’s opinion looked exactly like the embodiment of a scheming minister.

As soon as he finished speaking, music rose all around them. A beautiful and graceful young woman slowly approached. After bowing to the Emperor and assembled officials, she seated herself before an ancient zither and began to play and sing. Her colorful robes resembled rosy clouds at sunset, and together with the elegant instrument, she seemed like a peony glistening with dew.

The moment the zither sounded, the surroundings fell silent. The lingering melody seemed to transport everyone to a lakeside dreamscape, with flowing water, drifting smoke from cooking fires, and a woman standing among blossoms, every movement displaying rare charm. Whenever she occasionally lifted her eyes, she resembled a delicate flower reflected upon water, stirring endless tenderness.

Even the Emperor paused what he was doing and narrowed his eyes as he watched the young musician, clearly very pleased with the gift.

Suddenly, the rhythm quickened, accompanied by the jingling of jade ornaments. The woman smiled enchantingly, and dozens of handsome young men in colorful robes emerged behind her. Dressed in garments of varying colors, with jade pendants hanging at their waists and jade flutes lightly held in their hands, their slightly curved lips and seductive movements were utterly captivating.

Even in the Yunxi Imperial Palace, where beautiful people were everywhere, such exceptional young men were rare. Yet dozens of them appeared at once, each elegant and distinguished, creating a true feast for the eyes.

Even Mu Xueshi, who claimed never to be fascinated by handsome men, watched the beauties in the center with great interest. As he looked, he marveled inwardly. What kind of place is Yunxi? Whether men or women, everyone is unbelievably attractive. And somehow they keep producing more and more beauties, as though the supply will never run dry.

He finally understood why the Emperor had included beauties among his rewards. Apparently, the thing Yunxi lacked least was beautiful people.

The people at the banquet wore all sorts of expressions. Most were entranced by the stunning spectacle, staring lustfully toward the center while imagining taking one of the beauties home and enjoying themselves for several days. Of course, some remained indifferent. Having long since grown accustomed to beauty, they found nothing remarkable about the scene. The most expressive faces belonged to the Emperor’s favored consorts. Each wore a smile, but their eyes were filled with hostility.

When the performance ended, the Emperor was the first to praise it. Cheers immediately erupted throughout the banquet, including from Mu Xueshi. Watching the consorts silently battling one another, he could not help feeling a little amused.

The beautiful young woman was naturally summoned to the Emperor’s side. As for the handsome young men, they were assigned to various nobles and high-ranking officials. These youths had all been selected from counties and villages as the finest beauties available. Not only were they attractive, but they also possessed refined temperaments. With luck, they might someday become favored attendants to powerful ministers or even the Emperor himself, enjoying endless wealth and privilege.

Seeing such a lavish gift, the officials all knew how much effort this man—whom Mu Xueshi had immediately labeled a scheming minister—had invested. Although their own gifts seemed uninspired by comparison, they still benefited greatly from his offering, so their moods remained pleasant.

It was obvious that when the beautiful men and women withdrew from the stage, the first person they looked at was not the Emperor but the Third Prince. Yet the Third Prince was simply too cold. Sitting there, radiantly beautiful and imposing, with noble bearing and striking features, he left first-time viewers deeply shaken. No matter how much their hearts stirred, they did not dare move a single step closer to him.

The Third Prince showed no interest in any of them. Throughout the entire performance, he did not even raise his eyelids, maintaining an expression as though he were completely detached from the proceedings.

“Chancellor, hasn’t Grand Tutor Hu stolen all the attention from us? Who leaked the idea of presenting beauties? They’ve completely upstaged us, haven’t they?”

The Chancellor’s expression changed slightly, but he remained calm and composed. “What’s the hurry? The real show is yet to come. Do you really think a few rustic commoners can win favor through flattery? That would be far too crude.”

“But the woman playing the zither was summoned to His Majesty’s side, and she seems to have pleased the Emperor greatly!”

The Chancellor smiled faintly. “You’re too shortsighted. Our goal isn’t merely to make the Emperor happy. After everything that has happened recently, can’t you see the current situation?”

After hearing the Chancellor’s words, the man’s gaze unconsciously shifted to a conspicuous corner not far away. There sat someone who had not spoken a single word from beginning to end, as silent as air itself, yet constantly exuding an oppressive presence.

The performances that followed left Mu Xueshi utterly stunned. A group of performers emerged, partially veiled and suggestively dressed. Once they reached the crystal-paved stage, they began removing their clothing piece by piece before openly performing dances that mimicked acts of lovemaking. All of them were young men, their movements bold and uninhibited, their expressions alluring and seductive. Later performances even included scenes resembling the training and discipline of sex slaves, drawing continuous cheers from the audience.

Mu Xueshi, however, felt a chill run through his body despite the bright daylight. There were both men and women present—didn’t anyone feel the need for propriety? Looking around, he saw that the consorts and princesses merely blushed slightly. None of them appeared shocked or flustered. Mu Xueshi guessed that such spectacles were probably commonplace here.

He secretly glanced at the Third Prince. Afterward, his admiration only deepened. Even while the performers moaned seductively in broad daylight, the Third Prince could still calmly eat his food without changing expression.

Su Ying seemed to have been disturbed by the noise. He stirred in Mu Xueshi’s arms and struggled to open his eyes. Mu Xueshi quickly covered his eyes and softly coaxed him to go back to sleep.

Apparently, Mu Xueshi’s scent had a soothing effect on Su Ying. After sniffing him a few times, the child settled down and drifted back to sleep.

As one performance followed another, the atmosphere of the banquet grew increasingly lively. On the stage, the performers displayed every manner of seduction, while below the stage, guests openly flirted and touched one another. Having received so many gifts, the Emperor was naturally in high spirits. Not only did he tacitly approve of everything, but after drinking several cups of wine, even he seemed to surrender himself to indulgence and pleasure.

At that moment, the Chancellor stepped forward and respectfully addressed the Emperor. “Has Your Majesty become intoxicated?”

The Emperor lazily replied, “I am perfectly clear-headed.”

“Excellent.” The Chancellor smiled faintly. “I have a small gift for Your Majesty. If Your Majesty were drunk and unable to appreciate it properly, that would truly be a pity.”

“Oh?” The Emperor looked at him with interest.

At the Chancellor’s words, the other high-ranking officials temporarily released the companions in their arms and turned their attention toward him, eager to see what he had prepared.

The Chancellor clapped his hands. Everyone’s eyes followed the sound. Moments later, more than a dozen sturdy guards approached carrying four exquisite chests. The exteriors were plated with gilded metal that gleamed enticingly beneath the sunlight.

People immediately began whispering among themselves, wondering what treasures could be inside such luxurious containers.

The Chancellor seemed highly satisfied with their reactions. After noticing that even the Third Prince had finally lifted his head, he gestured for the guards to unlock the silver clasps.

Everyone held their breath.

The chests opened.

Four people stepped out.

All four looked identical. Three stood in front while the fourth remained slightly behind. The man at the rear kept his face obscured, but as soon as the three in front emerged, an uproar swept through the banquet.

One flushed-faced junior official stared so intensely that he could barely speak. “My heavens… those bodies are simply… too… too…”

From the Emperor down to the lowest official, everyone wore expressions of astonished delight. The figures standing before them were indeed the rare Qilin people. Beneath their thin layers of white gauze were androgynous bodies possessing both male and female characteristics. Their skin was flawless, luminous, and pale as jade, so delicate and smooth that it almost seemed to glow beneath the sunlight.

Aside from their impossibly fine skin and enchanting features, they possessed deep blue eyes that shone like precious gemstones. Legend claimed that spending a single night with one of them allowed a person to experience the ultimate pleasure imaginable. Unfortunately, their race was exceedingly rare. Their lifespans were short, they reproduced with great difficulty, and in recent years they had all but vanished from sight.

Yet now four Qilin beauties—quadruplets no less—stood before the assembly.

How could the gathered officials not lose their minds?

Moments earlier they had been drooling over handsome men and beautiful women. Now they scarcely spared them a glance. Beauty, no matter how precious, could never withstand comparison. The moment something more beautiful appeared, everything else instantly lost its value.

The Emperor straightened slightly in his seat and gazed at the four figures, undisguised enthusiasm visible in his eyes. Borrowing courage from his wine, he laughed loudly. “The Chancellor has truly presented me with a magnificent gift today! Hahaha!”

The moment those words left his mouth, the three Qilin beauties at the front approached the Emperor and knelt beside him to attend him. They showed no fear whatsoever, as though such privilege belonged to them by right. Those who had previously been nestled at the Emperor’s side reluctantly withdrew. After seeing the newcomers’ beauty, they knew better than to compete.

The remaining Qilin beauty stood motionless. Once the others moved aside, his flawless appearance was fully revealed. He was the most beautiful of the four. His face possessed a painterly perfection. Had he displayed a little more masculine vigor, he might even have rivaled the Third Prince in appearance.

And his gaze was fixed boldly upon the Third Prince.

He had come specifically for the Third Prince. He had also come to see the legendary Mu Xueshi, whose beauty was said to surpass all others. But after seeing Mu Xueshi, he realized he had chosen the wrong rival. Compared to someone as ordinary as Mu Xueshi appeared to be, merely comparing himself to him felt like lowering his own worth.

Mu Xueshi immediately sensed that something was wrong. At first he had simply wanted to join the crowd and enjoy the excitement, but he kept receiving hostile looks from the newcomer. Furthermore, the man’s gaze repeatedly drifted toward the Third Prince.

Could it be…

The development of events soon confirmed Mu Xueshi’s suspicion. The man actually walked straight toward them. After giving Mu Xueshi a disdainful smile, he sat directly between Mu Xueshi and the Third Prince. More precisely, he sat beside the Third Prince, completely blocking Mu Xueshi’s view.

Just moments earlier, Mu Xueshi had been secretly amused by the jealousy and rivalry among the imperial consorts.

Now he felt as though karma had immediately come back around.

Sitting beside Mu Xueshi, the Qilin beauty created a striking contrast. Viewed alone, Mu Xueshi looked perfectly fine. But once he and the beauty appeared within the same line of sight, Mu Xueshi seemed utterly insignificant by comparison.

And when the Qilin beauty leaned slightly closer toward the Third Prince, the sight created the impression of a perfectly matched pair, as though they had been destined for one another by heaven itself.

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