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

Chapter 486 Follow your instincts, Heading North

Han Xin'er and Yun Suxin were both stunned when they saw the six tall horses in front of them.

They never expected that they would go there on horseback.

There were no carriages, no sedan chairs, only horses.

Han Xin'er's gaze shifted from the horse to Qin Mu's face, then to Jiang Zhaoyue, Yun Luan, and Xu Fenghua.

They were already standing beside the horse, clearly having known all along.

Yun Suxin was also stunned, and a thought flashed through her mind.

Riding a horse? Her cultivation hasn't recovered yet; how can her body handle riding such a long distance?

But she dared not speak, nor dared she ask.

Yunluan stepped forward, placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, and swept her gaze across the faces of the crowd, her voice clear and steady.

"From now on, you shall not address His Majesty as 'Your Majesty,' but only as 'Young Master.' This is the rule, and anyone who makes a mistake will bear the consequences."

Han Xin'er felt a chill and quickly lowered her head.

"Yes, I understand."

Yun Suxin nodded, her voice very soft.

"Yes, I understand."

The group began to mount their horses.

Jiang Zhaoyue mounted her horse with clean, swift movements. Her skirt fluttered gently in the morning breeze before settling steadily on the horse's back.

Yunluan effortlessly lifted herself up with a light touch of her toes, like a weightless leaf.

Xu Fenghua slightly lifted her skirt, stepped into the stirrups, and sat down steadily.

Although she had lived a secluded life for a long time, she still retained her northern roots, and riding a horse was not a difficult task for her.

The only thing to worry about is the baby in her belly.

But it's still early, so there shouldn't be any major problems.

Xu Fenghua touched her stomach discreetly, then put it down.

Han Xin'er stood beside her horse, her hands on the saddle, her feet on the stirrups, she tried it out, then put them down.

Her face was slightly flushed, making her look exceptionally beautiful in the morning light.

She bit her lip and tried again, but still couldn't get up.

Her movements were clumsy, clearly indicating she had never ridden a horse before.

Yun Suxin stood beside her horse without moving.

Her brows furrowed slightly, her gaze fixed on the saddle, her mind racing with calculations.

Of course she can ride a horse. How could the leader of the Moon Goddess Cult not be able to ride a horse?

But at this moment, she has lost all her cultivation and her physical strength is much weaker than before. She doesn't know if she can ride such a long distance on horseback.

But she had no other choice but to bite the bullet and go for it.

She stepped into the stirrups, pushed off with all her might, and flipped herself onto the horse's back.

The movements weren't exactly fluid, but they weren't bad either.

Yun Suxin sat on the horse's back and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Qin Mu stood at the very front, hands behind his back, watching everyone mount their horses.

His gaze swept over Han Xin'er, noticing her flushed face and how she had tried to mount the horse twice without success, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"I forgot about that."

His voice was soft, with a hint of a smile.

He turned around, faced Han Xin'er, and extended his hand.

"I will give up one horse and ride with you."

Han Xin'er's eyes widened suddenly, her pupils filled with disbelief and shock.

Her mouth opened slightly, and a "hoarse" sound came from her throat, as if someone had grabbed her by the neck.

She almost instinctively knelt down, her knees hitting the ground with a dull thud, her forehead touching the ground, her voice sharp with tension.

"Your Majesty—Young Master, I dare not! What virtue or ability do I possess to ride alongside you?"

She spoke with trepidation, each word seeming to be forced out of her throat.

Her heart was in turmoil, and she was at a loss.

She was merely the daughter of a disgraced official.

What right did she have to ride alongside His Majesty? She dared not.

As Qin Mu watched her kneeling figure, the smile on his lips deepened.

"If you can't ride a horse, you can't just walk there, can you?"

Han Xin'er raised her head, her eyes slightly red, her lips trembling violently.

"Young master, I can learn. I can learn slowly."

Qin Mu shook his head, his tone casual.

"There's no time. Get on. Don't keep me waiting."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

Han Xin'er bit her lip, her eyes filled with struggle and hesitation.

She didn't dare go, but she knew she had no right to refuse.

Jiang Zhaoyue sat on horseback, watching this scene, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

Her gaze lingered on Han Xin'er's face for a moment, then on Qin Mu's face for a moment.

She said nothing, but lowered her eyes, tugged on the reins, and turned the horse's head to one side.

Yunluan's gaze swept over Han Xin'er, then looked away, her face expressionless, like a lifeless statue.

Xu Fenghua looked at Han Xin'er, a hint of something indescribable flashing in her eyes.

She recalled how Qin Mu had gradually drawn her closer, from resistance to compliance, and from compliance to…

She dismissed the thought, looked away, and stopped looking.

Han Xin'er knelt on the ground, head down, looking at the pair of moon-white boots in front of her.

She was torn between two conflicting voices within her.

One said, "Go, you have no choice," while the other said, "You can't go, you're not qualified."

Han Xin'er closed her eyes, took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and stood up.

Her legs felt weak, and she staggered, only managing to steady herself by holding onto the saddle.

She lowered her head, not daring to look at Qin Mu, and walked step by step to him.

Qin Mu stretched out his hand, his slender fingers stopping in front of her.

Han Xin'er looked at the hand; its knuckles were distinct, and it gleamed like jade in the morning light.

Her hands were trembling as she slowly raised them and placed them in his palm.

The warmth of his palm enveloped her icy hand.

Qin Mu took her hand and gently pulled her onto the horse.

Han Xin'er sat in front of him, her back ramrod straight, her whole body taut like a fully drawn bow.

She dared not lean against him, dared not move, and dared not even breathe heavily.

Qin Mu put one arm around her waist and held the reins with the other, keeping her firmly in his arms.

Han Xin'er's body stiffened abruptly, her delicate oval face burning hot, so red it looked like it was about to bleed, even her ears were burning.

She kept her head down, not daring to look at anyone, including Qin Mu.

Qin Mu lowered his head and looked at her ear tips, which were so red they looked like they were about to bleed. The smile on his lips deepened.

He didn't speak, but gently squeezed the horse's belly.

The horse neighed loudly, reared up, and galloped forward.

A morning breeze blew by, lifting his moon-white robes and also lifting Han Xin'er's scattered hair.

Jiang Zhaoyue pulled on the reins and followed.

Yunluan followed closely behind.

Xu Fenghua withdrew her gaze and followed.

Yun Suxin lagged behind, watching Han Xin'er's back as she sat in Qin Mu's arms, a complex feeling welling up inside her.

She pulled on the reins and followed.

Five horses and six people galloped toward the vast northern horizon.

The morning light shone on them, casting their shadows on the ground, which stretched very long.

........

After riding out of the imperial city, Qin Mu reined in his horse and stopped on a mountain path.

The mountain path was narrow, with jagged rocks and sparse pines on both sides. The morning breeze blew in from the valley, making clothes flutter.

He sat on horseback, gazing at the magnificent imperial city below the mountain, his eyes filled with emotion.

That was his Qin imperial city, his home, and his empire.

The morning light shone on the city walls, bathing the entire city in a pale golden glow. The rows of palace roofs gleamed with a cold light in the morning light, like a giant beast lying on the ground, silent and majestic.

The others followed on horseback, reining in their horses and looking down the mountain in the direction of his gaze.

Jiang Zhaoyue looked at the city, a complex feeling welling up inside her.

She was once a prisoner in this city, but now she can ride away and go see the outside world with the man beside her.

A slight smile played at the corners of her lips, and a faint hint of amusement flashed in her eyes.

Yunluan's gaze swept across the imperial city without any ripples.

For her, wherever His Majesty is, that is where she belongs.

Whether it's the imperial city or the wilderness, it's all the same.

Looking at the city below the mountain, Xu Fenghua felt a mix of emotions.

She had lived there for so long, thinking about leaving every day, but when she finally left, she felt a strange sense of loss.

Han Xin'er sat in front of Qin Mu, her back straight, her gaze fixed on the majestic imperial city, a complex feeling welling up in her heart.

That was where she grew up, but now she had to leave.

Although I'll probably be back soon, I still feel a little reluctant to leave.

Yun Suxin lagged behind, her gaze sweeping over the imperial city, her heart filled with icy coldness.

She finally left that cage, but she knew that she had only moved to an even bigger one.

Qin Mu didn't turn his head; his voice drifted over from ahead.

"Do you know why we have to ride horses there?"

The group exchanged glances; some shook their heads, some lowered their heads, and some remained silent.

Jiang Zhaoyue said softly, "I cannot fathom your thoughts, young master."

Yunluan didn't speak, but sat quietly on the horse, her hand on the hilt of her sword.

Xu Fenghua shook her head, her voice soft. "I don't know."

Yun Suxin shook her head and remained silent.

Han Xin'er sat in Qin Mu's lap, head down, face flushed, and said nothing.

Qin Mu smiled, lowered his head, and looked at Han Xin'er in his arms.

"Do you know?"

Han Xin'er's body trembled slightly, and her face flushed slightly.

She bit her lip, her voice very soft.

"Young master, would you perhaps like to... experience horseback riding and then appreciate the scenery and culture of the Qin Dynasty?"

Qin Mu smiled and nodded.

"Indeed intelligent. Indeed, that's exactly what I was thinking."

He paused, his gaze falling on the vast horizon in the distance, a hint of emotion in his voice.

"But it's just a passing fancy. I'll probably get tired of it after a few days and then switch to a horse-drawn carriage. But I don't know exactly how many days."

He withdrew his gaze, glanced at the women behind him, and the smile on his lips deepened.

"The destination of this journey is clear, but the process is unknown. Don't you think that's interesting?"

The women exchanged glances, each with a different expression.

To be honest, they didn't find it particularly interesting.

After all, many of them had gone through similar experiences before.

For example, Xu Fenghua grew up in the northern border region, and riding horses was a common occurrence for her.

Take Yun Suxin for example. She's been in the martial arts world for so many years. What kind of path hasn't she walked?

Even Jiang Zhaoyue had traveled in the Northern Territory before, although that was before she was sent to the palace.

They thought that perhaps the young master had been confined to the palace for too long and had never experienced the world of martial arts, which was why he pursued these things and found them interesting.

But none of them dared to say it out loud.

Jiang Zhaoyue nodded, a gentle smile on her lips.

"What you say is right, young master. It's very interesting. I'm willing to accompany you on this trip."

Yunluan did not speak, but simply nodded slightly.

Wherever His Majesty goes, she goes; no reason is needed.

Xu Fenghua was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Having stayed in the deep palace for so long, she longed to come out and breathe some fresh air.

Whatever the purpose of this journey, at least she can leave that magnificent cage, see the sky outside, and feel the wind outside.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"I also find it very interesting."

Yun Suxin lagged behind, watching the other women echo her sentiments, her heart at peace.

It doesn't matter to her where she is; she's a caged bird anyway, she can't escape.

She simply nodded without saying a word.

Han Xin'er sat in Qin Mu's lap, head down, face flushed, her voice very soft.

"Young master, I find it... very interesting. I have never traveled like this before."

Qin Mu smiled, lowered his head, and looked at her rosy face.

"So, which route do you think we should take?"

Han Xin'er paused for a moment, then looked up at the vast expanse of sky and earth in front of her.

The official road meandered like a snake, gleaming with a grayish-white light in the morning glow.

On both sides are continuous mountain ranges, with a thin layer of mist covering the mountain peaks.

She was silent for a moment, then shook her head, her voice very soft.

"This humble woman...does not know."

Qin Mu smiled and said softly:

"There's no specific route. Just go with the flow, follow your instincts, and head north."

The women seemed to be deep in thought.

Jiang Zhaoyue's eyes flickered, and she secretly memorized those words.

Yunluan remained expressionless. To her, whichever path His Majesty took, she would follow.

Yun Suxin's eyes flickered slightly, but she remained silent.

Xu Fenghua's expression changed slightly.

She hadn't expected that Qin Mu didn't have any specific plans and was just going with his gut feeling.

In that case, how should she send a message?

She didn't even know where her next stop was, when she would stop, or whether she would have a chance to meet anyone outside.

It seems that she can only adapt to the situation, wait for an opportunity, and gamble.

Her lips were slightly pursed, and she sighed inwardly.

Qin Mu tugged on the reins and gently squeezed the horse's belly.

"Let's go. Heading north."

The horse neighed loudly, raised its four hooves, and galloped northward along the mountain path.

A morning breeze blew by, lifting his moon-white robes and also lifting Han Xin'er's scattered hair.

The women followed closely behind.