“Outrageous! Such a grand banquet is not a place where he can come and go as he pleases!” The Emperor suddenly felt a surge of irritation for no apparent reason, and his expression darkened at once.
Yu’er had no choice but to stop what he was doing and stand in the center of the banquet, watching the Emperor cautiously.
After a while, someone suddenly said, “Your Majesty, this humble official is also feeling somewhat unwell.”
The next moment, the man collapsed to the ground, blood spilling from his mouth. Everyone’s expressions changed drastically upon seeing it, and the entire banquet instantly fell into a deathly silence.
The Emperor’s hands trembled slightly as he addressed the civil and military officials below. “No one is permitted to use this opportunity to sneak away. What you saw just now was merely an illusion. It would be best if you put it out of your minds. If anyone dares to discuss this matter again in the future and stir unrest among the people, I will not spare them lightly.”
“We respectfully obey Your Majesty’s instruction,” everyone shouted in unison.
The Emperor sighed, waved a hand toward them, and said in a deep voice, “Today’s banquet ends here. All of you will remain here and reflect upon yourselves. As for the Third Prince, when court convenes tomorrow morning, I shall punish him severely.”
With that, the Emperor flicked his sleeve, rose from his seat with a grave expression, and, supported by a eunuch, headed toward his sleeping quarters.
The people left behind exchanged bewildered glances. Looking at the official lying lifeless on the ground, they still could not quite process what had happened. Why had the Emperor killed him? And why, for the first time ever, had he declared that he would punish the Third Prince? Hadn’t things like this long since become commonplace where the Third Prince was concerned?
…
No one expected that after the Emperor departed, the first person to leave would be Yu’er. Although the Emperor had not ordered the “gift” to remain and reflect as well, aside from Yu’er, all the others remained seated where they were, not daring to move.
Halfway to his quarters, the Emperor heard a soft voice call out, “Your Majesty.” Slightly surprised, he turned around.
Yu’er stood behind him. Despite having hurried over, he showed no sign of being out of breath. Standing before the Emperor now, his complexion was still rosy and radiant, as moving and delicate as before.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and examined him. “Why did you follow me?”
Yu’er smiled faintly. “Has Your Majesty forgotten? Yu’er is the gift Chancellor sent to you.”
Hearing those words, the Emperor looked at Yu’er with surprise. People said that Qilin folk possessed both male and female traits. Not only were they more intelligent than ordinary people, but they also combined the strengths of both sexes—gentle and charming without lacking masculine bearing. Now that he had seen one himself, the rumors seemed true enough.
“I recall the Chancellor presenting me with four gifts. Why did your companions not come along?”
“I imagine they were frightened by Your Majesty.”
“Frightened?” The Emperor frowned.
Yu’er replied carefully, “Your Majesty’s anger just now truly frightened those officials. They’re all still there reflecting on their actions. Not a single one dares move.”
The Emperor nodded thoughtfully. “And you are not afraid?”
“Yu’er prepared himself long ago. An emperor is still a person. People feel joy and anger alike. When someone becomes angry, who does not wish to find someone to confide in? If venting your frustrations upon Yu’er would make Your Majesty feel better, Yu’er would be honored to serve.”
Hearing such bold and unabashed words, the fire in the Emperor’s heart not only failed to subside but instead gave rise to another wave of heat. It was a feeling he had not experienced in a very long time. Ever since Grand Tutor Mu’s death, his heart had remained buried beneath sand and stone, overgrown with weeds. Yet today, for some unknown reason, a strange emotion had awakened within him. And at the very moment he had nowhere to release it, this person had appeared before him…
“Then I shall trouble Yu’er.”
“To ease Your Majesty’s worries is Yu’er’s blessing…”
…
After leaving the Imperial Garden, Mu Xueshi encountered Eunuch Shangde again by the pond. Eunuch Shangde was still standing there in a daze, almost unchanged from the posture he had maintained when Mu Xueshi left.
“Hey, Eunuch Shangde.”
Mu Xueshi gave him a hard slap on the shoulder.
Shangde turned his head. The moment he saw Mu Xueshi’s face, his eyes widened dramatically. His lips moved, but no words came out.
Mu Xueshi was in too foul a mood to joke around. “Help me prepare a horse,” he said directly. “The fastest horse available. I’m leaving the palace.”
“Oh…”
With a vacant look, Eunuch Shangde started walking away. A moment later, he suddenly turned back and asked, “Lord Judicial Affairs Minister… have you informed His Highness the Third Prince?”
The moment Mu Xueshi heard the words “Third Prince,” it was as though he had been struck by lightning. His hair nearly stood on end.
“Why should I report to him? I’m Judicial Affairs Minister now. Do I have to notify him before doing anything? If I want to leave, I’ll leave. If I want to come back, I’ll come back. He has no authority over me!”
Mu Xueshi shouted several times in succession, as though trying to scream his lungs out. He had endured too much these past days. First came the Third Prince’s cold indifference. Then a stunning beauty appeared out of nowhere. And after that, the Third Prince had actually begun helping that beauty bully him. Whenever Mu Xueshi thought of the sarcastic remark the Third Prince had made, his heart felt as though it had been soaked in vinegar. Mere “sourness” could hardly describe it.
“Why does he get to treat me like that? Do you know how far I came to get here? If he doesn’t like me anymore, he should just say it! I’ll go back! My mom is still waiting for me at home!”
Mu Xueshi shouted several more times.
Drawn by the noise, the Third Prince arrived. By the time he was nearly beside Mu Xueshi, he could still hear him muttering curses under his breath.
“Fine, go then. Go recite poetry and compose verses. Just stop thinking about humiliating me. I won’t ever sit with you people again.”
Mu Xueshi was venting his anger without the slightest concern for appearances, completely unaware of how pleasing a sight he was in the eyes of others. Even the angry words he blurted out and his unconscious, rough little gestures appeared beautiful to anyone watching.
Eunuch Shangde led over a horse. Mu Xueshi strode toward it, but someone else seized the reins first.
Looking at that distinctively elegant hand with its well-defined knuckles, Mu Xueshi knew who had taken the reins without even needing to raise his head.
“Let go of my horse,” Mu Xueshi said irritably.
The Third Prince stared at Mu Xueshi and asked stiffly, “Where are you going?”
Mu Xueshi let out a snort and shot him a sharp look. “Didn’t you say you weren’t going to control me anymore? Didn’t you say you’d never interfere in my affairs again? Then why are you asking now? Go compose poetry with that Yu’er of yours—”
Before he could finish speaking, he felt a powerful force clamp around his neck. The next moment, he was lifted off the ground.
The Third Prince had already been in an awful mood. Especially after seeing those officials, princes, and even the Emperor staring unabashedly at Mu Xueshi’s face, he had wanted nothing more than to slaughter every last one of them. Now he had lowered his pride to show concern for Mu Xueshi, only to receive the same words and the same attitude in return, as though his concession meant nothing at all.
When had he, the Third Prince, ever yielded like this? And when had he ever cared so deeply about anyone?
“Are you testing my patience,” the Third Prince asked darkly, “or testing your own abilities?”
Mu Xueshi had not expected him to become this angry, nor did he understand where the anger was coming from. He wanted to argue back, to have a huge fight and vent all the frustration he had bottled up over the past several days, but he lacked the courage.
“I’m going to find my master. Let me go.” He reached up and tried to pry the Third Prince’s hand away.
Not only did the Third Prince refuse to release him, he tightened his grip instead, distorting Mu Xueshi’s exquisitely beautiful face.
The people nearby all sucked in breaths of air, secretly breaking out in cold sweat for Mu Xueshi. At the same time, they were utterly shocked by the Third Prince’s behavior. Was this really how the Third Prince usually treated Mu Xueshi? How could he bear to be so rough with him?
…
“Why won’t you let me go? You said you wouldn’t control me anymore! From now on, you’re you and I’m me!”
Mu Xueshi’s temper finally flared as well. He had his pride too. The Third Prince had openly sided with someone else earlier, and now he was trying to dictate what Mu Xueshi could and couldn’t do.
The Third Prince had to admit that he had spoiled Mu Xueshi far too much. Once this storm had passed, he would definitely lock Mu Xueshi in a room and give him a proper lesson.
Their gazes clashed, both brimming with killing intent. One possessed it naturally; the other was merely putting on an act. Judging from the immediate result, however, Mu Xueshi emerged victorious.
With a snort, he ignored the Third Prince’s icy stare and allowed someone to help him onto the horse. Then he charged recklessly toward the palace gates.
“Your Highness, should we send someone to protect Young Master Xue in secret?” Eunuch Shangde asked worriedly as he watched Mu Xueshi’s retreating figure.
The Third Prince was so furious that Mu Xueshi had nearly driven him senseless. He coldly replied that it wasn’t necessary before turning around and heading back toward his residence.
Mu Xueshi’s riding skills were abysmal. Even on the smooth roads inside the palace, he nearly fell off his horse several times. By the time he was approaching the palace gates, he hastily yanked on the reins and exhausted every ounce of strength he had before finally bringing the horse to a stop.
“Open the gate.”
While trying to catch his breath with one hand pressed to his chest, he called out to the Imperial Guards at the entrance.
More than a dozen spearheads instantly pointed at his neck.
The moment Mu Xueshi looked up, he nearly fell off the horse from fright. So the palace gates weren’t a place where one could simply come and go as they pleased. Did becoming an official not help at all?
“I’m the Judicial Affairs Minister, a third-rank official of the court! Who dares refuse me passage?”
Gathering his courage, he shouted at them.
Not a single person answered. All of them merely stared at him in a daze. The spearheads in their hands did not advance another inch.
Mu Xueshi cautiously backed up a little. When he saw that the spears did not follow him, he finally relaxed.
Looks like I really did intimidate them.
Seizing the opportunity, he straightened his robes and continued, “See this? His Majesty bestowed it upon me. I wore it today at the investiture ceremony. Well? Shouldn’t you open the gate now? Or do I have to do it myself? Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
His confidence continued to grow. After successfully “subduing” the Third Prince earlier, he felt invincible. He dared say anything and make any expression, even though none of it suited him in the slightest.
When he noticed that the guards had lowered their weapons and still hadn’t moved, he secretly felt pleased with himself.
Looks like this trick really works. Who says I need someone by my side to protect me? I can handle things myself. In the past, I just didn’t have any status. If I’d become a third-rank official earlier, who would’ve dared bully me? Not a chance!
Mu Xueshi flicked the whip, intending to urge the horse forward a few steps.
Instead, the horse nearly launched itself straight off the gate tower.
Fortunately, the guards opening the gate reacted quickly. Otherwise, both Mu Xueshi and the horse would have slammed directly into the city gate.
“It really is… Young Master Xue from the rumors…”
“I saw it too… It’s unbelievable…”
The normally stern Imperial Guards were all wearing excited expressions now, discussing what they had just seen among themselves. None of them noticed that Mu Xueshi’s horse had already bolted away without a trace.
This time Mu Xueshi truly panicked.
The horse beneath him seemed completely insane. After charging through the city gate, it tore across an entire street, knocking over who knew how many pedestrians.
All thoughts of pride vanished instantly. This was his first time leaving on his own. He had originally planned to boast a little when he reached his master’s place. Instead, he didn’t even know where he was anymore.
Clinging desperately to the reins, Mu Xueshi practically flattened himself against the horse’s back. He knew that if he fell from a horse moving this fast, the outcome would not be pleasant. Before figuring out any other solution, he had to stabilize the horse first.
Soon enough, the horse carried him into a forest.
Trees and weeds were everywhere. The weeds stood taller than a person and looked thick and soft.
A thought suddenly occurred to Mu Xueshi.
If I jump off now and land in the grass, I probably won’t get hurt, right? At this rate, the horse isn’t going to tire itself out anytime soon. I still need to find my master. If I stay on this horse for several more hours, who knows where I’ll end up?
Making up his mind, Mu Xueshi squeezed his eyes shut, gritted his teeth, and let out a shout as he released the reins.
…
Boom!
Mu Xueshi felt himself crash into something before bouncing away from it. The tremendous impact gave him no chance to see what it was. The next moment, he plunged headfirst into a pile of grass and landed in a dizzy heap.
The tree trunk he had collided with swayed for quite some time before finally settling down. Leaves cascaded from above like rain.
The person sleeping atop that tree trunk, snoring away peacefully, was abruptly awakened by the disturbance. His massive body shifted slightly, and the branch beneath him immediately emitted a cracking sound.
His eyes swept the surroundings like those of a hunting leopard searching for prey. A moment later, they landed on the small wriggling lump in the grass.
The culprit who had awakened him…
It was probably that one.
Futile Devices Scans 
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