An Ning crossed her arms and glanced at him: "Wow, you jumped pretty high!"

"Your Highness?" He Yuzi looked at him with some confusion and called out in a low voice.

Yaohua Pool was bathed in a halo of light. Mu Ange leaned lazily against the door frame, his eyes sweeping over He Yuzi with a hint of mockery.

Even with his renowned reputation, his unparalleled beauty was still undeniable.

"Your Highness must be drunk. Let me help you," He Yuzi said, her eyes filled with admiration as she looked at Mu Ange, who was bathed in light and shadow.

Upon seeing this scene, An Ning tactfully said, "This servant will take his leave," and prepared to depart.

Mu Ange's cool gaze swept over her departing figure, and he parted his thin lips slightly, saying languidly, "Stop."

He Yuzi never expected that she would say this to a eunuch, so she looked at him with innocent eyes and said, "Your Highness, I will not leave. I will stay here."

An Ning turned around, looked at He Yuzi, then at Mu Ange, and was about to speak when he saw him shamelessly extend a finger and say:

“Little Ningzi, look.”

This finger pointed directly at the young woman, making her blush and feel terrified.

"I think she's not even as good-looking as you, a mere eunuch."

An Ning frowned: Mu Ange, you really are a scoundrel!

He Yuzi's eyes immediately reddened: "Your Highness... what does Your Highness mean by this?"

Mu Ange frowned: "Can't you tell I'm ugly?"

An Ning couldn't stand it anymore. No matter how scoundrel he was, he wouldn't treat a girl like that.

"Your Highness, Miss He is beautiful and dignified. You must be overwhelmed by the many beautiful concubines around you, so you can't choose the right one, can you?"

An Ning stared at He Yuzi's expression, wishing she could whisper in her ear: "Mu Ange already has three thousand beauties at home, don't jump into this fire pit, okay?"

He Yuzi suppressed a sob and leaned close to Mu Ange, saying, "Your Highness, I have long been in love with you. If Your Highness would be so kind as to take pity on me, I would be willing to be your concubine!"

An Ning stood to the side, wishing she could crack open He Yuzi's head to see if all that was left inside were the wild vegetables that Wang Baochuan had dug up.

"You're ugly, I don't want you."

He Yuzi looked at him with teary eyes, her lips trembling slightly, and she looked like she was about to cry.

"You good-for-nothing."

He Shuhong strode over from Yaohua Pond, grabbed He Yuzi's arm without saying a word, and tried to leave.

But He Yuzi stared at Mu Ange with her bright red eyes, without moving an inch.

"Mu Ange is heartless and cruel! How blind must you be to like him?" Lord He cursed angrily at his daughter's worthless appearance.

An Ning, standing to the side, couldn't help but clap and cheer: "Well done! Well done! Lord He is truly worthy of being my mouth double!"

Mu Ange ignored Lord He's insults and stood there with his thick skin.

"Old man, you've been using the same few words to curse all these years. Didn't you write poetry? With such a limited vocabulary, you didn't plagiarize, did you?"

He Shuhong's face turned red with anger. He pointed at Mu Ange's nose and cursed, "I won't argue with you, you scoundrel. I'm telling you this: even if I die, I will never marry my daughter to you."

Mu Ange stretched and yawned, saying, "So ugly, who would want it?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzi cried even harder.

"Go, don't cry."

As He Shuhong took He Yuzi away, Mu Ange didn't even glance at the girl.

An Ning turned to look at him, only to meet his teasing gaze.

An Ning glared at him, annoyed.

"What are you looking at me for? You scumbag!"

Watching An Ning turn and leave, Mu Ange asked疑惑地问道: 'Scumbag? What kind of scumbag?'

Returning to Yaohua Pond, when she saw Sister Yunyan, the Crown Prince had already sat back down. Just thinking about the scene in the artificial hill earlier made Anning feel a churning in her stomach.

She stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, Consort Meng requests your presence." An Ning couldn't directly ask Su Yunyan to speak privately, so she had to bring up Sister Yun.

"good."

"Little Ningzi, does Consort Zhao have something important to discuss with me?"

"Sister Yunyan." When they reached a secluded spot, Anning stopped and spoke in a low voice.

Perhaps it was because Su Yunyan was too sensitive since childhood, but judging from Xiao Ningzi's tone, she intuitively felt that something big was going to happen.

An Ning bit her lower lip lightly and said solemnly, "Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince... he... you know, men in the Great Qi have always had three wives and four concubines. If he takes you as a concubine in the future..."

Seeing An Ning's hesitant manner, Su Yunyan wasn't angry. She simply patted her shoulder gently and asked, "Is he seeing someone else?"

A hint of surprise flashed in An Ning's eyes, then she nodded blankly: "Yes, Sister Yunyan, you knew all along?"

Su Yunyan looked at him and was surprised to find that this little eunuch was so kind. He had been hesitant just now, probably because he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to accept what she said if he said it all at once.

“Xiao Ningzi, I don’t love him, and I don’t care who’s by his side. As long as my family can live a better life, it doesn’t really matter who I marry.”

Anning had never heard such words before. In her mind, marriage should be based on mutual love, but Sister Yunyan said that it didn't matter who she married.

"Sister Yunyan..."

Su Yunyan smiled helplessly: "Xiao Ningzi, you don't need to be sad or worried about me. Everyone's definition of happiness is different. As for me, I am content as long as my family is doing well and my younger brother is healthy every year. If I can meet a kind person who treats me with respect, that would be good. If not, I will not force it. I will just be more tolerant."

Looking at the girl in front of her, An Ning felt a sense of powerlessness that almost overwhelmed all her senses.

She received this kind of education from a young age, like a candle burning itself to illuminate others.

She never longed for love; she only knew it was a transaction, a transaction that involved sacrificing herself.

She forgot to resist, forgot herself.

"Sister Yunyan, whatever choice you make, remember to be good to yourself."

An Ning took out a jade pendant from her bosom and held it out to Yunyan's eyes: "Little Ning doesn't have anything valuable, if Sister Yunyan doesn't mind..."

Su Yunyan's eyes reddened slightly as she held the jade pendant in her hand, choking back tears as she said, "Thank you."

Even though the cool breeze was blowing fiercely from Yaohua Pond, Su Yunyan felt exceptionally warm inside.

Anning watched her departing figure; though frail, it was all the more resolute.

During the meal.

"What did Meng Yun say when he summoned you over?"

The Crown Prince looked at Su Yunyan and said in a displeased tone.

Su Yunyan's eyes flickered slightly, and she said, "It's just some casual conversation."

The Crown Prince said coldly, "From now on, have less contact with her."

"yes."

The banquet ended half an hour later.

Anning found a time to remind Jin Yinhua, but to her surprise, Jin Yinhua smiled and said, "I believe him, he wouldn't lie to me."

Although Mu Ange appears carefree and irresponsible on the surface, Anning chose to believe him in this matter. However, Jin Yinhua is currently blinded by her own imagined happiness, and she won't believe anything others say. Perhaps, she will only fully understand when she discovers it herself.

The flowers have faded, leaving behind only loneliness.

The once bustling Yaohua Pond was now eerily quiet and deserted.

Anning rubbed her neck and walked towards her little house.

But unexpectedly...

A gust of cold wind blew by, and a large hand covered An Ning's mouth:

"Shh~"