When he reached a dark corner, Mu Xueshi thought it over carefully and felt that he could not simply turn around and leave like this.
He had said so many stirring words just now. If Yu’er woke up later and the Third Prince treated him the same way he had treated Mu Xueshi just now, wouldn’t he have paved the road for someone else…?
That Yu’er did not look like someone with good intentions at all! He had to show him a little color and dampen his arrogance, so he would stop harboring improper thoughts all day long.
With that thought, Mu Xueshi took out the silver coin from his sleeve and began muttering in a jumble.
Wow… This was the first time he had switched into the Third Prince’s body.
Mu Xueshi could not hide his excitement. He strode over to the bronze mirror and looked himself up and down. Such a handsome face, such a pair of intimidating eyes, and that kingly aura radiating from his entire body.
Mu Xueshi could not help curving his lips at himself in the mirror. That bewitching gaze almost made even him fall for himself.
So cool! Mu Xueshi casually imitated a few of the gestures the Third Prince usually made, constantly comforting himself inwardly: it wasn’t that he lacked presence; he simply hadn’t been born with a face like this. If he had crossed into this body back then, he would already be aweing the entire world by now.
Yu’er felt a wave of dizziness. When he came back to himself, he was the only person left in the courtyard. The fallen flowers covering the ground were just like his current state of mind—utterly disordered.
What exactly happened to me just now? Has the Third Prince already gone back? Why does it feel as though I can’t remember anything…
“Eunuch Liu.”
“This servant is here.”
Seeing Eunuch Liu walk over to him, Yu’er sighed softly and asked, “When did the Third Prince leave?”
“Leave?” Eunuch Liu was completely confused. “The Third Prince has been in the room this entire time and has never left.”
In the room…? Yu’er looked toward his own chambers in disbelief. Sure enough, under the glow of candlelight, that tall, handsome figure was reflected on the window.
“You may withdraw.”
“Yes.”
Yu’er walked into the room uneasily. Besides nervousness, there was also a faint stir of excitement in his heart.
Mu Xueshi was in the room, gesturing grandly in front of the mirror, when he heard the sound of the door. He immediately shook out his sleeves and walked toward the entrance.
“Noble Consort Yu, you have returned.”
Hearing the Third Prince actually take the initiative to speak to him, Yu’er felt overwhelmed by favor.
“Yes, Yu’er has returned.”
Mu Xueshi raised his hand with considerable authority and said to Yu’er, “Then Noble Consort Yu, please take a seat.”
In his own chambers, he was being invited to sit down… Yu’er found this even more incomprehensible. Gathering his courage, he lifted his eyes to glance at the Third Prince, only to meet those same cold eyes as always, which made him feel even more uneasy.
“Your Highness, may Yu’er ask a question?”
Mu Xueshi had originally wanted to say no, but when he saw Yu’er’s sincere expression, he could not quite harden his heart.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
Yu’er paused, then smiled faintly and said to the Third Prince, “Yu’er’s memory is becoming worse and worse. Just now, while crossing swords with Your Highness, I lost focus for a moment and somehow did not notice when Your Highness entered the room.”
It would be strange if you knew… Mu Xueshi mocked him inwardly, and a disdainful expression appeared on his face as well.
“Just now, while you were sword dancing, you said you urgently needed to relieve yourself. A perfectly fine mood was ruined by you. If I come to see you again in the future, do not bring up today’s events. It truly spoiled my pleasure.”
Yu’er’s face flushed red at the Third Prince’s words, and he quickly replied, “Your Highness’s lesson is correct. Yu’er lost composure today.”
“Stop saying Yu’er this, Yu’er that. You are already a noble consort taken in by His Majesty. If you keep calling yourself Yu’er in front of me, won’t others think improper thoughts?” Mu Xueshi said to Yu’er in a stiff tone.
The words Yu’er had been about to say were blocked back in his throat. Continuing to apologize would damage his status as a noble consort and make the Third Prince angry; talking back to the Third Prince would be even more inappropriate. Even if he had the status, he did not have the courage.
Seeing Yu’er fall silent, Mu Xueshi felt extremely pleased. Weren’t you supposed to be clever? How come you can’t even outtalk me?
“Also, if you need to see me in the future, it had best be during the day. What propriety is there in asking me to come to your chambers at night? Moreover, the one I love is by my side day and night. Hearing of this matter would inevitably make him overthink. You should consider others more as well.”
Listening to the Third Prince’s reprimand, Yu’er naturally felt miserable. Even his tone grew more and more unstable.
“Yu’er… I did send for Your Highness in the afternoon, but at the time, Your Highness was at the Grand Tutor’s Manor and could not come over. Actually, if Your Highness did not come tonight, tomorrow would have been fine too. Yu… I did not expect Your Highness to come over at this hour.”
Seeing Yu’er anxiously explain himself, the pleasure Mu Xueshi had felt from taking revenge gradually weakened, and he began to regret having said those words just now. Thinking about it carefully, nothing Yu’er said was wrong. He had not forced the Third Prince to come. It was the Third Prince who had taken the initiative to agree to come tonight…
“Besides, Your Highness previously told me that Young Master Xue has an open heart and a simple nature, and would not care about this matter at all. That was why I dared to rashly invite Your Highness over. If Young Master Xue truly minds this matter, then tomorrow I will personally go over and apologize…”
“No need.” Mu Xueshi interrupted guiltily.
So Yu’er was not as the servants had described at all. He was clearly an understanding and proper person. Instead, he himself… When Mu Xueshi thought of what he had done earlier, his face instantly grew hot. Seeing the redness at the corners of Yu’er’s eyes made him feel even more ashamed, as if there were nowhere for him to hide.
“This time… just… let it pass.” Mu Xueshi worked hard to steady his tone and said to Yu’er, “In a moment, we will continue discussing the matter of the cannons. As for what happened just now, let us not mention it again for the time being.”
“Yes.”