"What's not to like? You go in and check for us. That way," Gu Yan smiled, "when the General returns, we'll have an explanation."
"If there's any explaining to do, it's for them to do, what has it got to do with us?" Mu Anxiao retorted, glancing at the woman and the big man before turning back to Gu Yan.
"They're all frightened. Right now," Gu Yan said, "you're the only one here who can truly speak to the General. Besides, you're just taking a look, not going in to chat with that madman. Just tell us what you see when you come out."
"I'll pass. Do you have a solution?" Mu Anxiao asked deliberately.
Gu Yan's expression visibly shifted upon hearing Mu Anxiao's words. "If you come out and tell me, perhaps I can think of a way," she said, worried Mu Anxiao might be evading her. She emphasized, "Remember, I need you to tell me everything about his actions, his demeanor. Do you understand?"
"This..." Mu Anxiao feigned a submissive look, wanting Gu Yan to believe she was just an ordinary person.
Seeing this, Gu Yan immediately frowned. "It's alright, aren't they all tied up?" she said, pointing inside. "Go take a look."
"This..." Mu Anxiao looked hesitant. After a moment's thought, she turned to the woman and the others. "Is that person fierce?" She was eager to go in and investigate, but to earn more trust from Gu Yan, she deliberately played the part of someone timid.
The woman replied, "We've all tied him up. Honestly," she crossed her arms, her face etched with fear, "none of us got a good look at him. And I think the cart driver was right. If the General comes back, we'll have to report truthfully. But none of us dared to examine him closely, so please, we beg you." She clasped her hands together.
"Aren't you afraid I'll be killed?" Mu Anxiao said, deliberately displaying a look of wanting to be stopped.
Seeing Mu Anxiao like this, the woman thought for a moment and looked at the cart driver, Gu Yan. "Perhaps we should just forget it. If something really happens to her, it will be troublesome," she said, her expression contorting.
Gu Yan became serious. "Everything requires evidence. You all just insist that the man is mad. Honestly," she said sternly, "I'm finding it hard to believe. Think about it, how can someone go mad for no reason? If no one dares to go in now, I can say that you will all be implicated." She deliberately made her words sound grave.
Hearing Gu Yan's words, the woman looked at Mu Anxiao again with a pleading expression.
Mu Anxiao, seeing the woman like this, felt a touch of speechlessness. She then glanced at the big men who were also casting 'pleas for help' her way. She relented. "Alright, I'll go."
Gu Yan let out a sigh of relief upon hearing Mu Anxiao agree. "I knew you were a man of responsibility," she said, patting Mu Anxiao's shoulder.
"Thank you for the compliment," Mu Anxiao replied perfunctorily, thinking to herself why Gu Yan didn't go herself. However, with everyone present, she had to put that thought aside for the moment.
Gu Yan smiled. "You're welcome." Then, she gestured to Mu Anxiao's hand. "Here, give me your hand."
Mu Anxiao looked confused. "What do you need my hand for?"
"Just give it to me," Gu Yan said mysteriously.
Seeing that Gu Yan wasn't joking, Mu Anxiao complied and offered her hand. "What are you doing?" Mu Anxiao deliberately asked again.
This time, Gu Yan didn't speak. Instead, she suddenly took Mu Anxiao's hand. Mu Anxiao stiffened, and quietly asked, "What are you doing?"
Gu Yan remained silent, staring directly into Mu Anxiao's eyes, and began to communicate with her mentally, "Don't speak."
Mu Anxiao frowned, thinking she had misheard. She then used her free hand to touch her ear.
Gu Yan looked at Mu Anxiao's startled expression and continued mentally, "When you go inside, if anything happens, touch your left ear and speak to me. I will come in to rescue you. Also," she frowned, "you must be quick. This has a time limit."
Hearing Gu Yan's words, Mu Anxiao glanced at the people around them, then tentatively raised her hand and covered her left ear, frowning. She mentally asked, "How long?" After asking, she feigned surprise and widened her eyes.
Seeing Mu Anxiao like this, Gu Yan's lips curved upwards slightly. She said mentally, "Half an hour. Within this half an hour, you need to tell me everything about that person's reactions, understand?"
"Understood," Mu Anxiao nodded slightly and lowered her hand.
Gu Yan, likewise, released her hand and said, "When I went on long journeys, my parents used to hold my hand. They said it gave them confidence. And you, now," she said lightly, "how do you feel?"
"I feel invigorated. I'm going," Mu Anxiao said. She glanced at the woman and the big men, then turned and walked towards the kitchen.
The big men watched Mu Anxiao's 'heroic' retreating back. Thinking about the condition of the procurement servant, they all held their breath for her. But they dared not go in themselves, so they could only pray for Mu Anxiao in their hearts.
Immediately after, Mu Anxiao crossed the threshold. The moment she looked into the courtyard, her heart skipped a beat. She then blurted out four words, "A complete mess." Fearing any special circumstances might arise, she turned and closed the main door.
Those outside were startled by Mu Anxiao's action.
Only Gu Yan, however, understood.
A moment later, Mu Anxiao walked to the center of the courtyard. Looking down, she saw that the ground was covered in broken objects, including all the potted plants, which were shattered and strewn across the ground. Looking at the scene before her, she became even more certain that the situation in the kitchen must be worse. With this thought, she walked towards the kitchen.
At the same time, shouts came from inside the kitchen.
Mu Anxiao was startled, but thinking of the procurement servant's condition, she suppressed the fear that welled up from her heart and continued to approach the kitchen.
Outside.
Gu Yan looked up at the sky, attempting to communicate mentally, "How is it?"
In response, Mu Anxiao did not reply. Instead, she stopped at the kitchen door, then looked directly at the procurement servant, who was tied to a pillar. She muttered, "No way, what has he been through?" As she looked closely, she saw that the procurement servant's face was completely devoid of color, and his eye sockets were pitch black. In short, he looked like a ghost, leaning forward, still making ghostly noises at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao, bracing herself, stepped over the threshold and entered. She asked, "Do you still recognize me?" She knew that her actions were suicidal, but even so, she had to first ascertain if his sanity was intact! Because only then could she know what to do next!