Who would have expected that this celebration banquet would gradually turn into a banquet of beauties? Everyone had initially come to see Mu Xueshi. Then they were treated to an unexpected dance by a group of beauties. Finally, the long-vanished Qilin people appeared once more, igniting the crowd’s emotions into an uncontrollable frenzy.
Mu Xueshi was ignited as well. The only difference was that what burned inside him was not lust, but anger. This was clearly a provocation! Out of so many men, this person had chosen to set his sights on the Third Prince. Didn’t he know the Third Prince belonged to him? Mu Xueshi nearly wanted to chop the person beside him into pieces and distribute them onto everyone’s plates.
The moment that thought crossed his mind, even Mu Xueshi startled himself. Since when had he become so vicious? Just because someone sat beside the Third Prince, he wanted to kill them.
As the newly appointed Judicial Affairs Minister, Mu Xueshi calmed himself somewhat and decided to drive the man away in a more tactful manner.
“Third Prince, this servant’s name is Yu’er. I have admired Your Highness for a long time. To see you with my own eyes today leaves me without regrets in this lifetime.”
Yu’er? Bah!
Without regrets in this lifetime? Don’t disgust me!
Mu Xueshi spat viciously in his heart, so angry his eyes nearly went straight. He deliberately shoved his body toward the so-called Qilin beauty, hoping the man would get the hint and move away. Instead, the shove sent Yu’er’s body tumbling directly into the Third Prince’s arms.
Even falling into the Third Prince’s embrace, Yu’er appeared exceptionally beautiful. Although the movement was somewhat exaggerated, it did not seem affected or artificial in the slightest. The surrounding guests watched with envy, wishing that they were the ones catching him.
“Your Highness, Yu’er did not do it on purpose.”
The Qilin beauty did not take the opportunity to remain nestled in the Third Prince’s arms. He quickly rose and apologized to the Third Prince, appearing humble and agreeable.
Mu Xueshi clenched his teeth tightly and screamed inwardly at the Third Prince:
If you dare respond to him, I’ll make you regret it immediately.
The Third Prince turned his head. On the surface, his gaze seemed directed at the Qilin beauty, but in reality it remained fixed on Mu Xueshi. Mu Xueshi was staring stubbornly in their direction. His lips were bitten inward, his cheeks puffed out, making him look exactly like a little frog holding its breath. The utterly adorable expression put the Third Prince in an excellent mood. He had no interest whatsoever in Yu’er. His mind was filled only with thoughts of how to make Mu Xueshi display this possessive concern for him a little more often.
“Do not concern yourself with it,” the Third Prince replied to the Qilin beauty.
The Third Prince’s response filled the eyes of the assembled guests with delight. They would much rather see this beauty end up in the Third Prince’s arms than watch him remain devoted to the utterly unremarkable Mu Xueshi. If the Third Prince were to become ruler one day, having such a beauty at his side would bring honor to his ministers. Furthermore, a Qilin beauty possessed the possibility of bearing children. In every respect, he surpassed Mu Xueshi by a considerable margin.
Bang!
Mu Xueshi suddenly slammed his hand onto the banquet table. The dishes rattled loudly, and everything hidden within his sleeves spilled onto the ground. The area around him immediately became a mess. Combined with his expression, he looked exactly like a neglected consort who had fallen out of favor.
The commotion startled Su Ying awake. Upon waking, his eyes swept across the surroundings. At first he failed to recognize Mu Xueshi, and when he saw no familiar faces, he immediately burst into tears.
Even while fuming, Mu Xueshi still had to patiently comfort Su Ying.
Before long, the Second Prince arrived after hearing the crying. Seeing Su Ying’s little face flushed red from weeping, he immediately snatched him into his arms. When he noticed the debris scattered all over the ground, his expression changed at once. He hurriedly examined Su Ying from head to toe. Only after confirming that the child was not injured and had likely only been frightened did he relax.
Before leaving, the Second Prince cast Mu Xueshi a meaningful look. The message was clearly a warning for Mu Xueshi to keep his distance from Su Ying in the future.
The Second Prince carried Su Ying away around the flowerbeds and headed toward his own palace. He could not bear to remain here any longer. Everywhere he looked were vulgar faces filled with lust. He had no intention of allowing Su Ying to be exposed to any of these unclean things.
After being angered by what had happened and then receiving a cold look from the Second Prince, Mu Xueshi naturally felt miserable. But this was a banquet, and the Emperor sat above them. He had only just been appointed Judicial Affairs Minister. One impulsive act could ruin everything.
Fortunately, everyone else was too busy enjoying themselves to pay much attention to him. Mu Xueshi took a deep breath and told himself to endure it.
His sleeves contained floral dew, wound medicine, and various odds and ends. Most of them had shattered and scattered around him, exposing the extent of his anger. The floral dew and medicines mixed together into a unique fragrance that gradually spread outward from where he sat.
Before long, the Qilin beauty beside him began discussing poetry and classical texts with the Third Prince. To everyone’s surprise, this Qilin beauty possessed not only extraordinary looks but remarkable learning as well. The moment one of the officials beside him posed a topic, Yu’er immediately recited several lines of poetry, earning repeated applause and praise from those present.
Meanwhile, Mu Xueshi became even more miserable. He did not know whether he had eaten something wrong or whether he was simply too angry. His face began to feel hot and swollen, as though it were on fire.
Just as his irritation reached its limit, the Qilin beauty continued chatting enthusiastically with the Third Prince. Unable to endure it any longer, Mu Xueshi angrily warned him,
“Keep your voice down. You’re disturbing my rest.”
Yu’er immediately apologized several times, but a trace of smugness appeared in his eyes. He could see that Mu Xueshi’s face had turned as red as a pig’s liver and that a layer of dry skin had begun to form.
Could it be that someone had secretly forced poisoned wine on him and deliberately intended to ruin his appearance? But even if that appearance were not ruined, it was hardly worth looking at. Could there really be people jealous of him?
“The poem we were discussing just now has another interpretation as well. Has Your Highness ever heard it?” the Qilin beauty asked softly.
The Third Prince did not answer immediately, because he had also noticed that something unusual was happening to Mu Xueshi’s face. That layer of dry skin had not grown there—it was peeling away. With a light movement of his foot, the Third Prince spotted a small bottle lying in the grass. Inside was an antidote made from the water of Lingzi Lake and the pollen of the Rouzhi Flower, capable of removing the mask from Mu Xueshi’s face.
Earlier, several floral fragrances had been mixed together, making them extremely difficult to distinguish. Now, seeing the state of Mu Xueshi’s face, the Third Prince understood exactly what had caused it. Because the antidote had not come into direct contact with the skin and had instead gradually evaporated onto Mu Xueshi’s face, the mask was coming off more slowly. Nevertheless, his true appearance would eventually be revealed.
For the first time, a trace of panic appeared in the Third Prince’s usually calm heart. He wanted to take Mu Xueshi and leave, but when he remembered the things he had said before, he found himself unable to move.
The Qilin beauty was still waiting for the Third Prince’s reply. Admiration shone in his blue eyes. The Third Prince glanced at him and suddenly said, “You should ask Xueshi that question. He is exceptionally talented.”
“Oh?”
The Qilin beauty wore an appreciative expression, but inwardly he resolved to make Mu Xueshi embarrass himself.
“Lord Judicial Affairs Minister, I recited a few lines of poetry for the Third Prince just now. Did you happen to hear them?”
“I didn’t hear them!” Mu Xueshi replied bluntly, then lowered his head and scratched his face.
The beauty always attracted attention when he spoke. The people nearby immediately joined in, urging the beauty to recite the poem and demanding that Mu Xueshi provide the alternate interpretation. The story of Mu Xueshi devising a strategy for the Emperor and saving Yunxi from crisis had already spread throughout the streets and alleys, and everyone was curious to see just how capable he really was.
Mu Xueshi helplessly raised his head. Before he even heard the Qilin beauty recite the poem, laughter erupted all around him.
There was no need to guess. It had to be because of his face again. He remembered how the Third Prince had deliberately helped the Qilin beauty make things difficult for him just now, and now he was sitting there doing nothing while everyone laughed at him. Rage exploded inside him, and he immediately turned around and left.
Mu Xueshi’s departure sparked even more criticism. Leaving a banquet without permission was practically an act of disrespect toward the Emperor. Eunuch Shangde had been standing on a small bridge not far away. When he saw Mu Xueshi storming off, he immediately sensed trouble and hurried after him.
Mu Xueshi no longer cared about any of that. What had just happened had deeply hurt him. Back then, if his classmates had not mocked and picked on him, he would not have impulsively gotten lost and eventually ended up transmigrating here. This time it was the same—humiliation and ridicule from a crowd of people—and there was an additional reason that angered him even more.
The Third Prince had actually helped someone else bully him!!!
Mu Xueshi shouted twice, finally feeling a little better. Then he ran to a clear pond and repeatedly splashed water onto his face and head, trying to wash away the burning sensation.
Only then did Eunuch Shangde finally catch up to him, panting heavily.
“Lord Judicial Affairs Minister, you cannot simply leave whenever you wish. His Majesty is still at the banquet. Anyone who wishes to leave must first seek His Majesty’s permission.”
Mu Xueshi did not even lift his head. He just kept washing his face, trying to remove the sticky layer completely.
“Lord Judicial Affairs Minister, please return. This is no joking matter. If you go back now, you can still explain it to His Majesty. You can say that you suddenly needed to relieve yourself and did not have time to ask permission first.”
“Forget it. That would be even more embarrassing,” Mu Xueshi mumbled while washing his face. “Didn’t the Second Prince leave too? His Majesty probably didn’t even notice.”
“But, my lord, you are the central figure of today’s banquet! As far as this servant can remember, His Majesty has never created a special office for anyone else, nor held a formal appointment ceremony like this. That alone shows how highly His Majesty values you. If you leave so casually, aren’t you wasting His Majesty’s goodwill?”
Those few words finally caused Mu Xueshi to stop.
Seeing that Mu Xueshi was listening, Eunuch Shangde quickly pressed on.
“My lord, please go back and speak to His Majesty. Even if you simply say that you are unwell and wish to return and rest, I believe His Majesty will understand.”
Seeing an older man constantly lowering himself and patiently persuading him, Mu Xueshi felt somewhat guilty. He straightened his clothes and decided to put aside his pride and return to ask permission properly. Let them laugh if they wanted to laugh. He no longer cared.
When Mu Xueshi turned around to leave, Eunuch Shangde finally got a clear look at his freshly washed face.
He froze on the spot, unable to move, as though he had turned into a fool.
Futile Devices Scans 
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