I am invincible, that's why I lie down. You're using your entire clan to rebel?

Chapter 531 Zhenbei City

Qin Mu smiled, leaned back in his chair, and looked at Jian Lai's face.

"No need. Your face is far more famous than mine."

"Who in the martial world doesn't know Jian Lai?"

"If you walk with me, the entire Zhenbei City will know who I am in less than half a day."

Jian Lai was slightly taken aback, then lowered his head.

"You're right, young master. My face is indeed too eye-catching."

Qin Mu waved his hand, his tone as casual as if he were asking what to eat for breakfast.

"So you don't need to worry about me anymore."

"Just do what you're supposed to do."

"Whether it's a martial arts tournament or visiting friends, it's up to you."

"If you need anything, I will have someone contact you."

Jian Lai paused for a moment, then clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his voice steady.

"Yes."

"Understood."

"If you need anything, young master, just send someone to Qingfeng Teahouse in the east of the city. I will be staying there for the next few days."

He straightened up, glanced at Qin Mu again, said nothing more, turned around, pushed open the door, and walked out.

The footsteps faded into the distance at the end of the corridor and then disappeared.

Qin Mu sat in the private room for a while longer, finished his cup of tea which had gone cold, stood up, patted off non-existent dust from his robes, and went downstairs.

When they returned to the inn, the women were sitting in the lobby.

Jiang Zhaoyue sat by the window, holding a book in her hands.

Xu Fenghua sat in the corner with a cup of tea in front of her, but she didn't drink it.

Yun Suxin was standing by the counter, talking to the shopkeeper.

Han Xin'er and Su Wan sat at a table, chatting quietly.

Chen Wanqing stood at the door, gazing absently at the pedestrians on the street.

Mingyue crouched in the shadows under the eaves, hugging her knees, her long, slightly curly hair cascading over her shoulders.

Qin Mu walked into the hall, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his voice not loud but clear.

"Who wants to go for a walk with me?"

Jiang Zhaoyue was the first to close the book, her eyes crinkling slightly.

"I wish to go."

Han Xin'er almost jumped up, unable to suppress the smile on her face.

"Me! Me! Me!"

"Young master, take me with you!"

Su Wan stood up, clasped her hands in front of her, and spoke softly.

"I also want to see what Zhenbei City looks like."

Chen Wanqing turned around, pursed her lips and nodded. Although she didn't speak, her eyes said it all.

Mingyue raised her head, her amber eyes flickered, and her voice was very soft.

"May I...go too?"

Yun Suxin stood by the counter, put down the account book in her hand, and did not say whether she wanted to go or not, but she had already taken a step.

Qin Mu looked at them and chuckled.

"Then let's all go."

His gaze finally settled on Xu Fenghua.

Xu Fenghua sat in the corner, head down, her fingers gently stroking the edge of the table, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she were struggling with something.

When she heard Qin Mu say "Go," her lips moved slightly, but she didn't make a sound.

Qin Mu walked up to her and stopped.

"What's wrong?"

"Don't you want to go?"

Xu Fenghua raised her head, a thin layer of worry in her eyes.

"This concubine...this concubine is afraid of causing trouble for the young master."

Her voice was very low, as if she was afraid of being overheard.

"Many people in Zhenbei City know me."

"I have traveled between Huaiyuan City and Zhenbei City many times before. I have visited the Xu family's shops, military camps, and official residences."

"If we are recognized... it might affect your plans, young master."

Qin Mu looked down at her, a faint smile playing on his lips, yet it gave her a strange sense of peace.

Don't worry.

"No one will recognize you."

His voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable certainty.

"If I say no one recognizes me, then no one recognizes me."

"If you're still not comfortable with this, then do it this way—"

He took out a light blue gauze handkerchief from his sleeve, folded it twice, and handed it to her.

"Put it on."

"Just say it's because the winds are strong in the North, and it's used to block the sand."

Xu Fenghua took the gauze scarf, her fingertips touching the thin fabric, and paused slightly.

She lowered her head, tied the scarf behind her neck, and let the light gauze hang down, covering the lower half of her face, leaving only her eyes visible.

Those eyes were still her own, but the veil softened their contours, adding a touch of unfamiliarity.

Qin Mu looked at her and nodded.

"Alright."

"Let's go."

The tension in Xu Fenghua's heart suddenly eased, like a string that had been stretched for a long time being gently plucked, trembling for a moment, and then returning to calm.

She stood up and followed behind him.

She walked with a lighter step than before, though she probably didn't even realize it herself.

The group left the inn and joined the flow of people in Zhenbei Town.

The streets were even more bustling than in the morning, with the sun high in the sky, illuminating the entire street.

The roadside stalls were lined up one after another. An old man selling sugar figurines would take a lump of warm sugar syrup and quickly sculpt a lifelike little rabbit, stick it on a wooden stick, and walk around calling out to sell it.

The iron buckets selling roasted sweet potatoes were emitting white smoke, and the sweet, caramelized aroma wafted on the wind, directly into people's noses.

An elderly woman selling hair accessories had a whole stall full of silk flowers, red and green, which shimmered in the sunlight.

Han Xin'er was first drawn to the candy stall, slowing her pace and her eyes glued to the little rabbit.

Qin Mu glanced at her, walked to the stall, and took out a few coins to put on the stall.

"Give me one."

The old man chuckled and handed over a freshly shaped little rabbit, the syrup still slightly warm.

Han Xin'er took it, held it up to her eyes and looked at it again and again, reluctant to bite it. She held it in her hand and looked at it over and over, with the corners of her mouth turned up high.

Su Wan's eyes were drawn to a stall selling sachets. She picked up a light purple sachet embroidered with orchids, brought it to her nose, smelled it, and her eyebrows and eyes relaxed slightly.

Chen Wanqing stood beside her, picked up a light green one, looked at it without saying a word, but held it tightly in her hand.

Mingyue squatted in front of a stall selling small stone carvings and took a fancy to a stone fox the size of a palm. The fox's tail was sticking up, its ears were round, and it looked adorable.

She looked at it over and over, like a child, her eyes sparkling.

She didn't ask for it; she just looked at it.

Yun Suxin walked at the back of the group, arms crossed, not looking at the stalls, but her gaze would occasionally fall on Xu Fenghua.

She noticed that Xu Fenghua's walking posture was different from before.

The steps were no longer as hurried as before, as if they were always ready to retreat.

Her shoulders weren't tense; they were slightly relaxed, as if she had finally caught her breath.

They passed by a small shop selling rice cakes. A large pot at the entrance was steaming, and the sweet aroma of soft, sticky rice cakes wafted out.

Qin Mu stopped and turned to ask a question.

Are you hungry?

Before the other women could speak, Han Xin'er had already nodded vigorously.

Qin Mu smiled and said to the shop owner, "Give me a few pieces."

The shopkeeper lifted the lid of the steamer, revealing snow-white, piping hot rice cakes cut into neat squares, wrapped in oil paper, and handed them over.

Han Xin'er took a packet, which was so hot that she kept switching hands, but she couldn't bear to put it down. She took a bite, gasped for breath from the heat, but couldn't bear to spit it out. She mumbled, "It's so hot, so delicious."

Jiang Zhaoyue chuckled, reached out to take it from her, blew on it to cool it down, and then handed it back.

Han Xin'er took the slightly cooled rice cake, lowered her head and took a bite, her cheeks puffed out and her eyes curved into two crescent moons.

Qin Mu handed another package to Xu Fenghua.

She didn't answer, and paused slightly.

"I...won't eat."

Qin Mu didn't take it back; he simply stuffed the oil paper package into her hand.

"Take it, it'll warm your hands."

"Autumn in the North is chilly."

Xu Fenghua looked down at the bag of rice cakes. The paper wrapping was still hot, and the warmth seeped through the oil paper into her cold fingertips.

She didn't refuse again, and held it in both hands, walking slowly beside Qin Mu.

She suddenly remembered that she had walked this street countless times.

She used to be the eldest daughter of the Xu family, always accompanied by servants, and greeted by people wherever she went.

Back then, this road belonged to her, to the Xu family, and to the North.

But she had never walked like this before, holding a bag of freshly steamed rice cakes in her hands, her face covered with a veil, without having to greet anyone or put on any airs.

Her gaze swept over the shops along the roadside. She recognized the signs, knew which shops sold good products, and which shops had changed owners.

But looking at them today, those familiar signs have faded, as if viewed through a thin layer of fog.

She lowered her head, took a bite of the rice cake in her hand, which was soft and sweet, and melted on her tongue.

Her pace slowed down without her realizing it, and she fell behind the group.

But the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, a very shallow curve, as shallow as a ripple on the surface of water in the wind, yet it was there in a real way.

She had lived in Zhenbeicheng for so many years, but it seemed she had never actually walked this road like this before.

No one recognized her, no one needed her to think about anything; she was just an ordinary woman, holding a bag of rice cakes, walking beside a man.

The feeling was light and airy, like walking on clouds. Every step felt weightless, yet so comfortable that I didn't want to step back onto the ground.

She quietly told herself, "So this is what it's like not having to hold back."

After walking for a while, we passed an arched bridge.

Under the bridge is a narrow river with clear water, where you can see the smooth pebbles on the bottom.

Willow trees are planted along the bank, their branches mostly yellowed and drooping over the water, creating ripples when the wind blows.

People were coming and going on the bridge. At the bridgehead, an old woman was selling lotus pods. The pods were neatly stacked in her bamboo basket and still covered in water droplets.

Qin Mu walked to the middle of the bridge, stopped, and looked into the river while holding onto the stone railing.

The river reflected the sunlight, and the shadows of willow branches swayed on the water's surface.

He turned his head and looked at the people following behind him, his smile deepening.

"How is it?"

"Isn't it more interesting than living in the capital?"

Han Xin'er was the first to speak.

"Much more interesting!"

"There aren't that many fun things to do in the capital!"

She took another bite of the rice cake as she spoke.

Su Wan stood by the bridge, looking at her blurry reflection on the river, a smile on her lips. She didn't say anything, but the expression on her face said it all.

Mingyue squatted down next to the stone lion at the bridgehead, still holding the little stone fox in her hand, and gently touched the tip of the stone fox's ear with her finger.

Xu Fenghua stood not far from Qin Mu, a corner of her scarf was blown up by the wind and then fell back down.

She gazed at the flowing water beneath the bridge, a feeling she couldn't quite describe welling up inside her.

She remembered walking across this bridge before, in winter when the river was frozen, wearing a heavy fox fur coat, followed by a group of maids and guards.

At that time, she didn't feel cold or warm; she just felt that this was the life she was meant to live.

But now, she was wearing a thin dress, her face covered with a veil, holding a bag of rice cakes in her hands, with fallen willow leaves and polished stones on the bridge at her feet.

She suddenly felt that those days seemed to belong to someone else, while the days she was living now were truly her own.

Qin Mu did not urge them to leave.

He leaned against the bridge railing, looking at the river and the drooping willow branches, like a person with nothing better to do, just whiling away a sunny afternoon.

The noise from the street drifted over from afar, as if through a layer of water, indistinct and blurry, which only made the quiet on the bridge seem even more pleasing.

Sunlight streamed down from overhead, casting the shadows of willow branches onto the water's surface and the bridge railings onto the bluestone slabs.

Qin Mu looked at the lotus pods, took out a few coins to buy one, peeled off a lotus seed and handed it to Xu Fenghua.

"Try it."

Xu Fenghua was stunned for a moment, then looked down at the lotus seed he handed her. It was white and tender, with a slightly green core.

She reached out and took it, put it in her mouth, and gently bit it. It was sweet and slightly astringent, melting on her tongue.

"How is it?"

Qin Mu asked.

Xu Fenghua swallowed the lotus seed and blinked.

"...Sweet."

Her voice came through a veil, muffled, but those two words carried a hint of laughter that she herself didn't realize.

Qin Mu stuffed the remaining lotus pods into her hand, turned around, and walked towards the bridge.

"Let's go."

"There's still plenty of time to explore ahead."

Xu Fenghua looked down at the lotus pod in her hand. The half-peeled shell was crookedly open, revealing the plump lotus seeds inside.

She clutched the lotus seedpod tightly and followed in his footsteps.

She felt that this must be the best lotus seed she had ever eaten in her life.