Futile Devices Scans

“Where did I commit adultery? What nonsense are you spouting?” Mu Xueshi asked the old man before him with a mournful expression.

When the old man saw Mu Xueshi’s embarrassed expression, he laughed even more merrily. As he laughed, he lunged toward Mu Xueshi, shouting loudly, “You committed adultery! The one who committed adultery is you!”

Mu Xueshi took a step back and looked at the Third Prince with an aggrieved expression. “I didn’t commit adultery.”

The Third Prince rubbed Mu Xueshi’s head and said calmly, “I know.”

“It’s you, it’s you!” The man beside them began shouting at the top of his lungs, as if he were going to tear his throat open. His body kept lunging forward, but because he was restrained by iron chains, every time he reached the point where he could go no farther, he would fall to the ground.

Mu Xueshi looked at the man before him in fear and murmured, “Is this really Wu Cai?”

“He is Wu Cai. You can tell by looking at his arm.”

Mu Xueshi froze and looked toward this “old man,” only to discover that his left arm was indeed somewhat stiff and even looked out of place compared with the rest of his body. Mu Xueshi clearly remembered that Wu Cai’s arm had been injured back then by the Third Prince in order to avenge him.

“It really is Wu Cai,” Mu Xueshi murmured. “How did he become like this?”

If it were only illness, he should not have become like this… Mu Xueshi recalled that the last time he had seen Wu Cai was in the interrogation hall. His condition then had also been terrible, but he had still been conscious, and the injuries on him at the time had all been caused by the Third Prince…

The Third Prince took Mu Xueshi’s hand and led him outside. Mu Xueshi’s heart kept beating uneasily. Only when they reached the open space in the courtyard did he cautiously ask the Third Prince, “Wu Cai… did you make him like this?”

The Third Prince had not expected Mu Xueshi to suspect him. A trace of displeasure rose in his heart, though none of it showed on his face.

“No.”

Mu Xueshi gave an “oh,” then asked, “Then did you send someone to—”

“No,” the Third Prince interrupted.

Mu Xueshi looked at the Third Prince with slight distrust. The Third Prince’s gaze was calm and open, without the slightest sign of concealment. Besides, the Third Prince had no need to deceive him. Even if he admitted it, Mu Xueshi would not be able to do anything to him.

“Your Highness.”

A loud call came from not far away. Mu Xueshi followed the sound and saw that the person approaching wore the uniform of an imperial palace guard. His appearance was also somewhat familiar, as if he were someone from the Emperor’s side.

The man first looked at the Third Prince and bowed. Then he looked toward Mu Xueshi. Although Mu Xueshi’s hat veil covered his face, his bearing still appeared extraordinary. Besides, apart from Mu Xueshi, who else could stand together with the Third Prince?

“Greetings, Judicial Affairs Minister.”

Mu Xueshi pretended to be proper and responded with a “dispense with ceremony,” then stood beside the Third Prince and quietly waited for the man to speak.

The guard looked at Mu Xueshi, then at the Third Prince, appearing rather troubled and hesitant to speak.

“Well, speak!” Mu Xueshi finally couldn’t stand watching anymore and spoke first.

The guard hurriedly bowed to Mu Xueshi and said apologetically, “Judicial Affairs Minister, this subordinate wishes to speak privately with His Highness about this matter.”

Mu Xueshi instantly filled with anger. What matter was this? He actually had to avoid him and speak privately with the Third Prince! He and the Third Prince were already so close they were practically one person. Could there still be something he was not allowed to know?

In order to maintain his bearing, Mu Xueshi waved his hand very gracefully and said to the Third Prince and the guard, “Chat as you please. I’ll go admire the flowers over there.”

Though he said that, Mu Xueshi couldn’t help pricking up his ears the moment he turned around.

As soon as Mu Xueshi left, the expression on the Third Prince’s face immediately became far colder.

“What is it?”

“Replying to Your Highness, Noble Consort Yu instructed this subordinate to tell Your Highness that Noble Consort Yu has already secretly sent people to inquire into the process for developing cannons. If Your Highness is not busy today, Noble Consort Yu would like to invite Your Highness over to take a look personally…”

“You may withdraw. I understand.”

The guard looked up at the Third Prince and cautiously asked, “Noble Consort Yu instructed this subordinate to ask clearly whether Your Highness will go or not.”

The Third Prince paused, then answered coldly, “I’ll go.”

When the guard heard this, joy appeared on his face, and he quickly bowed before taking his leave.

Mu Xueshi was admiring the flowers at the side, but he had plucked them until branches and leaves were missing. His mouth kept muttering sour words. Although he had not heard clearly what that man had said to the Third Prince, he had heard the final word “go” from the Third Prince, and it was definitely not somewhere good.

When the Third Prince walked toward Mu Xueshi, what he saw was an oddly comical face. His eyes were like two grape beads glowing with a bluish-purple light, his nose was wrinkled upward, and his lips were pressed together tightly, like an old cat watching a mouse at its mouth run away.

“What’s wrong?” The Third Prince lovingly rubbed Mu Xueshi’s face.

Mu Xueshi immediately returned to a carefree and relaxed expression, shook his head, and said, “Nothing. Do I look like something’s wrong?”

The Third Prince only smiled without speaking.

Mu Xueshi waited for the Third Prince to tell him what the conversation had been about, but after waiting for a long time, he still saw no sign that the Third Prince intended to mention it. Suspicion immediately rose in his heart, and he grew more and more convinced that the Third Prince had done something behind his back…

“You committed adultery! You’re the one who committed adultery…”

Even after Mu Xueshi and the Third Prince had mounted their horses, Wu Cai’s roars could still faintly be heard from the woodshed. Mu Xueshi had just gotten on his horse, and the moment he heard those words, cold sweat broke out down his back.

Could Wu Cai… be talking about the Third Prince…? No, I mustn’t think that way. I have to trust him.

Mu Xueshi secretly glanced at the Third Prince and finally could not hold himself back. Forcing himself to put on a relaxed expression, he asked the Third Prince, “Um, what did that guard talk to you about just now? He made it sound so mysterious. It’s not like I’d care.”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of the Third Prince’s lips. “Nothing. Noble Consort Yu wants me to go over. There is an important matter to discuss.”

“What important matter?” Mu Xueshi’s nerves instantly tightened.

“A matter of palace governance. Not a private matter.”

Mu Xueshi laughed awkwardly after hearing this, then said jokingly to the Third Prince, “Of course I know it isn’t a private matter. You don’t need to explain it to me at all. Besides, even if it were private… even if it were private… he still wouldn’t have any place in it.”

If it wasn’t a private matter, why couldn’t he say it in front of me? He’s clearly trying to hide something, Mu Xueshi snorted inwardly.

Seeing Mu Xueshi’s adorable expression, the Third Prince could no longer restrain himself. He leaped onto Mu Xueshi’s horse and embraced him from behind.

“Of course. Private matters exist only between you and me.” The Third Prince indulgently kissed Mu Xueshi on the face.

Although Mu Xueshi was temporarily dazed by the Third Prince’s rare tenderness, an alarm bell kept ringing in his mind: no matter whether it was a man or a woman, people only acted this abnormally when they were guilty. Hmph! When they return, he absolutely had to raise his guard…

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