Qingyun responded while driving the carriage, "Just a few fast horses passing by just now, Young Master, it’s nothing."
"Hmm."
The carriage continued to move swiftly without any impact, as if it was just a small incident on the road not worth mentioning.
However, Mu Houchu, who had just rushed past on his horse, suddenly pulled his reins, the horse neighed, its front hooves raising high before stopping and turning around.
The two fast horses following Mu Houchu also stopped immediately.
Ling Feng asked, "What’s the matter, Master?"
Mu Houchu’s deep gaze fell on the gradually receding carriage. He did not know why, but he felt that something was not quite right, yet he couldn’t pinpoint the problem.
"That carriage just now..." Mu Houchu narrowed his eyes slightly, as if weighing something in his mind.
Ling Feng saluted, "I saw the emblem on the carriage that passed by just now. It belonged to the Duan Family."
"The Duan Family’s?"
"Exactly, the Duan Family has a young master studying abroad. Perhaps it is his carriage. Master, do you think there’s a problem? I can catch up and stop the carriage." Ling Feng said.
Mu Houchu watched the nearly invisible carriage in the distance, pursed his lips, and said in a quiet voice, "It’s okay."
Then, he tugged on the reins, turned his horse back around, and continued on his journey.
"We’re nearly out of Jingzhou, aren’t we?" Mu Houchu asked.
"Yes, at our current speed, we should reach Lian’an Town in two or three days." Ling Feng replied.
Mu Houchu’s face became solemn, he spurred his horse, "Push on! We must arrive within two days."
"Yes!"
The horses were set in a gallop, the dark robes fluttering in the wind, moving so quickly it was hard to make out his figure.
Mu Houchu’s face was slightly grim. It had been less than a month since he had left her and his unease grew with each passing day. He hurried back to the capital to quell Gongsun Yi’s rebellion, trying his best to resolve the chaos in the capital as quickly as possible. These days, he hardly slept, only wanting to take care of everything and get back to see her as quickly as possible.
But at this moment, he suddenly felt that something was wrong. Something he hadn’t anticipated happened. This intuition just made his anxiety worse.
Where this unease came from, he did not know.
Perhaps it started the day when he overheard a storyteller enthusiastically describing his heroic rescue of Chen Yining.
As he was busy with imperial court affairs in the capital, the city was in chaos, stained with fresh blood. A new emperor had just ascended the throne. No one in the court could be trusted. In order to prevent a second Gongsun Yi from emerging, he had to be careful about everything. He didn’t sleep for days, only thinking about finishing up as soon as possible and rushing back. He didn’t notice when the rumors outside the palace began to spread.
He was always calm and composed, even when surrounded and hunted down, he had never panicked. But now, he was filled with fear because of an unrealistic assumption. He just wanted to return as quickly as possible, to be by her side. He was afraid that if he were a step slower, he might lose her.
Hence, he quelled the rebellion in the capital, stabilizing the bloody chaos within the city, including the investigation of the leaked defense layout map, all within seven days. But the distance between the capital and Lian’an Town was long, even riding nonstop, it would still take nine days - the time was just too long.
Too long indeed, each day filled with longing and anxiety, the pressure was making it hard for him to breathe.
Mu Houchu’s gaze became sharper, he spurred his horse, and commanded, "Go!"
——
Two days later.
Ji Dong was busy in the shop. The business of Qinghe Shop was booming, the customers never ceased. Ji Dong was even considering hiring an assistant to help serve the customers.
"Your canned food, it’s two coins and thirty wen in total."
Ji Dong was busy collecting money, when he lifted his head, he saw a tall figure in dark clothes appear in the shop. He was so taken aback that he forgot to collect the money.
"You..." Ji Dong’s expression quickly turned from shock to anger, "What are you doing here?!"
Mu Houchu, dusty from travel, slightly lowered his gaze, moistened his lips, and said, "Ji Dong, where is Xin He?"
"You dare to ask about her? If you don’t want to marry her, don’t propose. Why did you leave her on the wedding day and make her the laughingstock?" Ji Dong felt angry every time he thought about Xin He’s clearly low spirits.
Mu Houchu said, "Everything was my fault. There was an urgent matter that day. I’ll explain in detail later. Ji Dong, you understand my feelings for Xin He. If I really didn’t want to marry her, I naturally wouldn’t have proposed. It was really unavoidable that day. Now, I just want to see Xin He."
Seeing the exhaustion written all over his face and his dusty figure, Ji Dong knew he had probably rushed back as well. Feeling a bit sympathetic, he said, "Xin He left a few days ago."
Mu Houchu’s heart sank, "She left?"
Ji Dong sighed, "She’s gone to the capital. She has some business related to grape wine and plans to open a winery in the capital and expand the Qinghe Shop."
Mu Houchu’s face stiffened, and he quickly said, "Then I’ll take my leave."
Ji Dong immediately stopped him, clenched his teeth, and said the truth, "Xin He has already moved on from the past."
The phrase "moved on" was like a thunderbolt, exploding in his mind. Mu Houchu’s face gradually darkened, coldness emanating from him, "Moved on?"
Ji Dong helplessly said, "I don’t know what she’s thinking. I only heard her say that she wants to completely let go of the past, as if it never happened. Since things have come to this, it might be better if you don’t go find her."
Xin He was not an unreasonable person. Her despair must have been due to something else. He hadn’t asked her about it at the time, didn’t dare to ask because it was painful for her. After all, he didn’t want to force her to talk about something she didn’t want to, and certainly didn’t want to upset her.
Mu Houchu’s face was dark as ink, he bowed and said, "I’ll take my leave."
"Hey!" Ji Dong wanted to say something else.
But Mu Houchu had already turned and walked out of the door, swiftly mounted his horse and rode off.
Ling Feng, who was waiting outside, felt the chill radiating from Mu Houchu and couldn’t help but shiver. He hurriedly asked, "Master, are we going to Yangluo Bay now?"
"To the capital!" Mu Houchu’s gaze was grim, he spurred his horse and galloped away.
"Ah?" Ling Feng was stunned. They had just arrived to Lian’an Town and hadn’t even seen Miss Ji yet. Why were they rushing back to the capital?!
Ling Feng didn’t have time to think too much, he quickly reacted and followed.
Mu Houchu kicked his horse’s flank and it bolted like an arrow shot from a bow. His hand clutching the reins was veined, his eyes emitted a terrifying chill. The words "moved on?" echoed in his mind. He spat out through gritted teeth, "Moved on? I haven’t said let go. You’re not getting off in this lifetime!"
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