"Back to Xiliang..."
Murong Jinyun repeated, her face full of shock. She immediately sensed something was wrong, "Baili Xi, what exactly do you want to do? Going back to Xiliang now, are you crazy? The wedding is imminent. If I go back to Xiliang with you, won't Xiliang openly break the treaty and cause conflict between the two nations? Do you know how many common people will lose their lives if a war breaks out!"
The current Baili Xi was too unfamiliar, so unfamiliar she was terrified, as if she didn't know him at all.
For his own selfish desires, he could disregard the lives of thousands of Xiliang citizens.
"Princess, you can rest assured. Once we return to Xiliang, as long as the princess does not show herself, we can blame Dongchu for losing the princess. At that time, Xiliang will still hold the upper hand, and Dongchu will be in the wrong!"
Baili Xi said hysterically. He had planned everything. This war was on the verge of breaking out, and the humiliation his Baili family had endured for years could finally be repaid with interest. This time, he was determined to kill Ling Mohan and destroy Dongchu.
Murong Jinyun was terrified by his dreadful plan. Her legs felt weak, and she took a step back, finally collapsing onto the chair powerlessly.
"You are truly insane... you are insane..."
"Princess, everything I do is for you, for the sake of all of Xiliang. Princess, you just need to stay here with peace of mind and return to Xiliang with your humble servant."
As soon as Baili Xi finished speaking, he got up and went out, ordering the guards stationed outside to watch carefully and not let Murong Jinyun escape.
"General, are you really going to take the princess back with you? I am worried that His Majesty will blame you for acting without authorization."
"No... our Emperor absolutely will not. As long as the princess returns to court, His Majesty will be placed in a precarious situation and can only do as this general advises."
He understood His Majesty too well. As long as the princess returned, His Majesty would be filled with anxiety, fearing invasion from Dongchu. And Xiliang had relied on the Baili family for so many years; naturally, he would act according to his wishes.
"Go and prepare the carriage. Tonight, we will send a group of people to feign an attack and lure them away. Then, this general will take the princess away."
"Yes, General."
Baili Xi stood with his hands behind his back, a smug smile curling the corners of his lips. Once they returned to Xiliang, everything would be under his control.
...
"Young General, Baili Xi has sent people to prepare two carriages."
Ling Mohan played with the dagger in his hand, his wrist turning slightly, and the dagger flew out, skimming past Gu Beichen and embedding itself firmly in the door frame.
"Are you crazy!"
Watching the dagger fly past him, missing him by a hair's breadth, he couldn't help but suspect Ling Mohan had done it on purpose.
"I was momentarily shortsighted and didn't see Lord Gu was still here."
"You..."
Gu Beichen almost spat out a mouthful of blood. He didn't believe that with a living person standing right there, Ling Mohan could have failed to see him.
"Go and lead people to keep an eye on Baili Xi. I suspect he plans to move Murong Jinyun tonight."
"Move..."
Gu Beichen paused for a moment, then quickly said, "Judging by your words, you knew all along that Murong Jinyun was taken by Baili Xi. Since you knew, why didn't you say so earlier? Why did you have to watch me worry so much!"
Wasn't this just playing with him? Seeing him so worried, Ling Mohan must have been laughing his heart out with joy.
"I just found out."
He had indeed just found out, but Gu Beichen didn't believe Ling Mohan's words.
"Nonsense, you did it on purpose!"
"Believe it or not, if you don't go now, Baili Xi will really leave. Then, it will be too late to catch up."
Dallying for even a minute meant letting Baili Xi escape. Once he crossed the border into Xiliang territory, they would truly never be able to catch up.
Afterward, a figure flashed before his eyes, and Gu Beichen was gone.
He ran fast enough. It was rare to see Gu Beichen so flustered; it was truly a rare sight.
"You can let him go. Can Gu Beichen really be Baili Xi's opponent? What if he gets beaten and loses his life?"
Feng Jin said with some concern. Although she hadn't seen Baili Xi's skills, being able to fight Ling Mohan meant his strength was not to be underestimated.
With Gu Beichen's flashy but ineffective moves, a mere show of strength with no real substance, how could he be Baili Xi's opponent?
If she sent him to chase Baili Xi, it would be a disaster if he never returned, truly losing both the bride and the soldiers, a total disgrace.
"Don't worry, I've already sent Lu Shi to follow him."
He wouldn't have been at ease letting Gu Beichen go alone; he had already arranged for Lu Shi to accompany him.
"Aren't you going?"
Feng Jin's gaze fell on Ling Mohan. She felt that Ling Mohan's reaction was too calm. Why wasn't he showing any signs of urgency?
"It's not necessary."
The development of events was all within his grasp. Baili Xi could not possibly leave Dongchu. The reason he spoke so gravely was merely to see how much Gu Beichen truly valued Murong Jinyun.
"Why do I feel like your smile means no good intentions?"
The more she looked, the more she felt Ling Mohan's smile was rather sinister, as if he were plotting something.
The man remained silent, picked up his teacup, and took a sip, his expression one of confident planning.
...
By the time Gu Beichen arrived, the place was already deserted. In the empty courtyard, there was no sign of anyone.
"Where did they go?"
"They've all left."
Lu Shi replied indifferently. They had been gone for quite some time, and this Lord still returned so leisurely.
"Which way did they go? Hurry and chase!"
Gu Beichen was clearly getting anxious, and even his tone of voice involuntarily became much heavier.
"Let's go, Lord. If we're any slower, we really won't be able to catch up."
Lu Shi said helplessly. Why did all this unlucky business fall on him? The Young General was truly treating him like a mule, and he would be worked to death sooner or later.
Inside the carriage, Murong Jinyun was bound tightly. She struggled a few times, but the ropes on her body did not loosen in the slightest.
"Baili Xi... Baili Xi, let me go... let go!"
Knowing that Baili Xi was outside, Murong Jinyun shouted loudly.
As expected, after a moment, Baili Xi's figure appeared, "Princess, we can discuss anything once we return to Xiliang."
Xiliang... It seemed Baili Xi was really going to take her back to Xiliang. Had Gu Beichen and the others not received the news yet? Why hadn't they chased after her for so long? If it was any later, she would truly have to return to Xiliang.
"Where are we now?"