Lin Xihe slowly rose, took light steps, and returned to Mu Ruoyan's side.
Unexpectedly, Mu Ruoyan immediately ordered his men to untie the shackles binding Gu Qinghuai.
Lin Xihe originally thought that Mu Ruoyan would wait until the time of parting to do this, but she really didn't expect him to take action right now.
Noticing the questioning look from Lin Xihe, Mu Ruoyan explained, "He can only ride a horse if the shackles are removed. If he were to take a carriage, he probably wouldn't reach his destination before dark. Given his current condition, riding a horse is no problem."
Upon hearing this, Xu Qi instantly understood that his master intended to let Gu Qinghuai leave.
He was startled and blurted out, "Master..."
However, before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Mu Ruoyan's cold gaze.
"Shut up." Mu Ruo's voice was icy.
Xu Qi opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He could only swallow the words he was about to say, lower his head, and step aside.
However, Mu Ruoyan's confident demeanor only fueled Lin Xihe's growing anxiety.
The more certain he was, the more uneasy she became.
Although she knew in her heart that Gu Qinghuai would not act rashly and expose his plans here, her heart still involuntarily jumped into her throat.
The three of them arrived at the gate, and Mu Ruoyan lifted Lin Xihe onto his horse.
Gu Qinghuai, however, remained calm, deftly leading a fine horse and mounting it.
"My lord, I humbly request to accompany you so that I may protect you." Xu Qi was truly worried and mustered his courage to ask again.
"No need. Bring me your sword. Anyone who dares to follow without permission will be killed without exception." Mu Ruoyan's expression was cold and his eyes were like knives as he reached out to ask for his sword.
Seeing this, Xu Qi had no choice but to respectfully present the sword.
Mu Ruoyan took the gleaming longsword, handed it to Lin Xihe, then lightly shook the reins. The horse neighed and galloped away.
Without hesitation, Gu Qinghuai gently squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs and urged it to follow closely.
Throughout the journey, Mu Ruoyan held Lin Xihe tightly in his arms, letting her lean on him.
After all, riding a horse is not as safe and comfortable as riding in a carriage; it is quite tiring.
He would also ask Lin Xihe with concern from time to time if she could still hold on.
Around noon, the three of them stopped at a tea stall as they passed by.
Mu Ruoyan raised her eyes and said loudly to the tea stall owner, "Shopkeeper, please bring some food."
The shopkeeper readily agreed and quickly got to work.
After dismounting, Gu Qinghuai remained calm, showing no particular expression, and sat down opposite Mu Ruoyan in a natural and unpretentious manner.
Mu Ruoyan took out a key from her waist and casually tossed it on the table.
"Open it, General Gu."
He was referring to the layers of iron chains binding Gu Qinghuai's hands.
Seeing this, Lin Xihe felt a strong urge to help.
After all, Gu Qinghuai's hands and feet had been bound for a long time, and it would be quite inconvenient for him to untie those shackles on his own.
However, she subconsciously glanced at Mu Ruoyan beside her, and instantly weighed the pros and cons in her mind.
At this moment, they were still halfway through their journey and within the territory of Nanzhao. A slight misstep could provoke Mu Ruoyan's displeasure and ruin the entire plan.
With this in mind, she forced herself to resist the urge to offer help.
Gu Qinghuai didn't hesitate. He picked up the key, and although his movements were a little awkward, he managed to untie the shackles binding his hands.
"It seems this Gu poison is nothing special after all. It's quite surprising that General Gu, who has been poisoned by Gu for so long, can still cling to life." Mu Ruoyan's lips curled up, revealing a mocking smile, her eyes full of amusement.
Gu Qinghuai casually tossed the unlocked chain and key aside, then rotated his wrist. Faced with Mu Ruoyan's blatant provocation, Gu Qinghuai chose to remain silent.
He knew that although he hadn't noticed anyone following him along the way, this seemingly ordinary tea stall might already be full of Mu Ruoyan's spies.
He absolutely could not, in a moment of impulse, ruin the life that Lin Xihe had worked so hard to achieve.
"I always said that a person's temper needs to be tempered before it can become docile. General Gu's current appearance is just like an obedient dog, very docile."
Mu Ruoyan went even further, her insults becoming increasingly unrestrained, as if she wanted to trample Gu Qinghuai's dignity underfoot.
Lin Xihe was both angry and anxious. Her hands, hidden under the table, clenched tightly without her noticing. Her tone was filled with reproach: "Mu Ruoyan, why are you being so aggressive?"
Upon seeing this, Mu Ruoyan immediately dropped his arrogant demeanor and replaced his expression with a doting one, as if the sharp-tongued person from just moments before was not him at all.
"Don't be angry, I won't say anything."
Just then, the steaming hot noodle soup and the fragrant braised meat were served on the table by the restaurant owner.
Mu Ruoyan picked up the chopsticks and handed them to Lin Xihe, saying softly, "Just eat something to fill your stomach. If you eat too much, you might feel uncomfortable riding the horse later."
Lin Xihe nodded slightly, responded softly, and took the chopsticks.
To an uninformed person, Mu Ruoyan's series of natural and smooth actions really looked just like a doting husband who cared deeply for his wife.
On the other hand, Gu Qinghuai, witnessing this scene, felt as if a huge rock was blocking his chest, making him feel suffocated and uncomfortable.
He stared intently at Mu Ruoyan, his eyes burning with fury, yet he had to forcefully suppress it.
"What, General Gu, are you expecting me to personally serve you?"
Mu Ruoyan deliberately provoked Gu Qinghuai, and then handed the chopsticks in her hand to him with an extremely arrogant attitude.
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