Anger

The first person to react was the lady standing on the stage. Facing this sudden situation, she laughed dryly twice and tried to smooth things over by saying, "The prince has taken a fancy to this peony?"

Her attention was just focused on the noble ladies, and she didn't notice that Gu Huaizhi was also among the young men.

She couldn't help but shake her head secretly. This Prince Gu had embarrassed Miss Mu in public. She didn't know what kind of dissatisfaction he had with her that he still kept harping on her after canceling the engagement.

Gu Huaizhi did not raise his eyes to look at the lady on the stage, nor did he answer. He just stared at the slightly frowning girl in front of him with his peach blossom eyes, still holding her arm.

Mu An Ning no longer cared about other people's eyes, and at this moment she couldn't help but lower her eyes slightly.

She shook her arm, which was pinched so hard that it hurt, and tried to calm her tone: "Let me go."

Seeing that Gu Huaizhi remained unmoved and the strength in his hands had not slackened at all, the tips of her ears were stained with a suspicious red, perhaps out of shame or anger.

Her eyes glanced at the peony twisting in his other hand, and her voice couldn't help but grow louder: "Gu Huaizhi, you hurt me."

What on earth is he going through in front of so many people?

Hearing the girl's voice with a hint of anger, the boy's breathing seemed to pause, and he finally loosened his hand slowly. His eyes fell on the red mark on her wrist, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

Mu An Ning gently turned her aching wrist, took a deep breath, stared at the peony and said, "Give it back to me."

Gu Huaizhi came back to his senses and said with a smile: "This prince also wants to vote." He looked calm, his fingertips touched the softness of the petals, and his eyebrows raised slightly: "Miss Mu's flower, why don't I vote for you, what do you think?"

Although he was asking for her opinion, his actions were as swift as lightning. In the blink of an eye, the moon-white peony had flown into the tube that said "changing partner".

The corners of Mu An Ning's lips twitched slightly. He was speechless, with a complicated emotion welling up in his heart.

When did this man become so shameless?

Feeling the stagnation in the air around her, mixed with the sound of whispers, the lady on the stage had to bite the bullet and speak again, trying to ease the situation: "Haha, it's nothing, the prince's vote won't have much impact."

She noticed that Mu An Ning looked a little unhappy, and winked at the little maid holding the basket to let her go over, smiling slightly: "Miss Mu, how about throwing another peony?"

Doing so is undoubtedly the wisest choice, as it will not offend Prince Gu, nor will it offend the Chongde Marquisate.

Mu Anning nodded with a smile, and without hesitation took another flower from the basket. Under Gu Huaizhi's deep gaze, she turned around and put it into another tube.

There was a slight gasp from the crowd, the curve of Gu Huaizhi's mouth gradually flattened, and the fingers at his side tightened slightly inadvertently.

An indescribable feeling gradually spread in his heart, and a faint flame burned in his heart.

She...really wants to be with that man so much?

*

However, fate did not seem to favor Muraning's wishes.

The majority of people wanted to change their partners, so they drew lots again.

God's will is unpredictable, and it made her write poetry with Gu Huaizhi.

Gu Huaizhi propped up his head and leaned against the table, his bony hands twirling the brush in his hand boredly.

Mu An Ning pursed her lips and concentrated on writing on the rice paper. Her brush strokes were soft yet firm, and she danced on the paper like a dragon.

The theme of this poetry gathering is: There is fate but no destiny.

I don't know who asked this question, but it seems a bit inappropriate.

Today's blind date was clearly intended for young men and women to find a good match, but such an unexpected topic came up.

After a breath, Mu An Ning finally put down the pen gently.

She glanced at the blank paper in front of Gu Huaizhi calmly, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes.

Gu Huaizhi did not like studying since childhood, but he was quite good at martial arts, just like his father, Prince Anqing.

In today's poetry competition, the two of them are destined not to get any good ranking.

However, she is not a very competitive person, so she doesn't have to strive to be the first in such a small matter.

Gu Huaizhi glanced at the few words she wrote, his eyes moved slightly, and he read out the poem word by word: "I originally turned my heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon only shines on the ditch."

Mu An Ning was slightly startled when he heard this, as he had never heard him recite poetry before.

The boy's voice is not deep, but the ending tone is slightly rising. At first glance, it sounds like sand and gravel grinding gently in his heart, with a unique flavor.

She looked at Gu Huaizhi's slightly lowered eyes, a little dazed, and the throbbing in her heart seemed to begin to spread again.

She has always admired people with literary talent, and now Gu Huaizhi actually looks a bit like a person who is well-read in poetry.

But in the next moment, she came to her senses.

Gu Huaizhi is still the same Gu Huaizhi, who knows nothing about poetry or songwriting.

He turned to look at her, his beautiful peach blossom eyes full of confusion: "What are you writing?"

Mu An Ning shifted her gaze from his face to the rice paper, shook her head and chuckled, "Your Highness, you don't need to know."

He didn't understand, and she didn't force him.

She suddenly felt confused. Why did she like Gu Huaizhi in the past?

She clearly liked men of letters more than warriors.

Gu Huaizhi looked at the girl's profile, and it seemed as if a string was plucked in his heart, but what followed was a sense of emptiness.

It was a different feeling from before.

His expression suddenly became a little strange, he turned his head and said, "I don't want to know."

He didn't want to know the meaning of these obscure things, nor was he interested.

When the maids came to collect the poems, they couldn't help but smile at each other.

The Prince of Anqing was arrogant and vain, but he was only good at martial arts, not literature. This was well known in the capital.

But despite this, the number of his girls is no less than the number of those who admire His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

As expected, they did not rank very high, and first place went to Tan Wenhuai and a pretty girl.

The lady called the two men to the stage and read the poems they had composed.

At this moment, Mu An Ning heard the two girls sitting near her whispering to each other.

"Whose family is that young man from? He is so talented and handsome."

"This year's third place winner must have literary talent, right?"

Tanhualang?

Mu An Ning couldn't help but feel a little surprised, and cast his gaze at the young man in white who was standing on the stage, looking a little uneasy, with his eyes flickering.

With such looks and literary talent, it would not be surprising if he really was this year's third place winner. It would only make people more curious about him.

Gu Huaizhi looked at the girl's watery almond eyes, staring at the man without blinking, and immediately felt a breath in his heart that could neither go up nor down.

There's that inexplicable feeling of irritability again.

He was about to say something when he suddenly felt a strong breath approaching from behind.

His expression changed, an idea flashed through his mind, and he reached for the hidden weapon at his waist.

Could it be that person?

But in the next moment, the man bowed and said, "Sir."

Hearing the familiar voice, Gu Huaizhi's tense jaw relaxed. He suddenly patted Gu Ji's arm and said in surprise, "Boy, didn't I tell you to wait outside?"

Mu An Ning heard the noise and turned around to look at the two of them, then nodded slightly to Gu Ji without any surprise.

But a hint of surprise flashed across Gu Ji's face. He kept looking back and forth at the two of them, but the words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat.

He clearly remembered that the young master had specifically instructed that the news of his participation in this blind date should be spread, with the purpose of letting Miss Mu know.

But at this moment...why did Miss Mu appear at this blind date and sit next to the young master?

However, this is not the time to think about this issue.

Gu Ji's expression became solemn, and he leaned over to whisper a few words in Gu Huaizhi's ear.

Gu Huaizhi hesitated for a moment, frowned, and asked, "When did it happen?"

Gu Ji replied: "This morning."

Gu Huaizhi glanced at the girl beside him who was ignoring their conversation, then he patted his sleeves and stood up, calling her awkwardly, "Mu Anning."

Seeing her looking back at him in confusion, he coughed and said, "This prince has something important to do, so I'll leave first."

Upon hearing this, Mu An Ning nodded slightly, not too surprised.

Gu Ji's inexplicable appearance must have caused something to happen.

However, she was surprised that Gu Huaizhi would say hello to her before leaving.

She looked at the boy's back as he left, and for some reason, she felt completely worthless for her past self.

At that time, he never spoke more than one word to her, but now he spoke more and more inexplicably.

But she no longer felt any joy, and instead felt a little uncomfortable.

*

The sky gradually darkened and the banquet ended successfully.

Mu An Ning sat in the carriage, waiting boredly for her half sister who had not returned yet, but in her heart she was thinking about how to explain to her grandmother after returning home.

She originally thought that if Mu Jingyue and that man were in love, then she would have no trouble, but she didn't expect that man to be Gu Huaizhi.

So, who was the young man that her grandmother had arranged for her?

While she was thinking, the curtain was blown up by the breeze, allowing her to see the woman walking out slowly.

Her eyes lit up immediately and she called out softly, trying to attract the visitor's attention: "Sister Su!"

When Su Nianci heard the girl's voice, she stopped and her originally tired expression was instantly filled with a smile.

She walked slowly towards the Mu family's carriage and chuckled, "Ning'er, why haven't you returned home yet?" She looked around and asked, "Are you waiting for someone?"

Mu An Ning got off the carriage and nodded slightly. She did not say who she was waiting for. Instead, she asked, "Sister Su, did you have a good time just now?"

Su Nianci had a faint smile on her lips and shook her head gently: "You know my body is not suitable for those strenuous activities."

Mu An Ning noticed her disappointment, and hurriedly held her hand and said a few words of comfort.

At this moment, a clear male voice suddenly came: "Cousin."

Su Nianci saw the person coming and turned around with a smile to introduce him to Mu Anning: "Ning'er, this is my cousin, Wen Huai."

Having said that, she turned her gaze to Tan Wenhuai again, but saw him standing there stupidly.

Although Mu An Ning was a little surprised, she chuckled and said, "Sister Su, I have met Mr. Tan before."

She really didn't expect that he was Su Nianci's cousin, and she had never heard Su Nianci mention him before.

Tan Wenhuai also reacted, pursed his lips and said: "Yes... yes, I have met with Miss Mu."

The breeze brought a chill, but when he saw the clear eyes and gentle smile of the girl in front of him, he felt a hint of warmth in his heart.

Su Nianci's eyebrows moved slightly, and she looked at them both meaningfully: "You two are destined to be together."

Mu An Ning was stunned for a moment, covered her lips and smiled, without commenting.

She used to believe in fate, but after breaking off her engagement with Gu Huaizhi, she believed even more that man can conquer nature.

When Tan Wenhuai heard what his cousin said, his face turned red involuntarily.

Originally, a few people wanted to continue chatting, but it was already late and it was not suitable, so they agreed to meet at Su Mansion in a few days.

Not far away, Mu Jingyue took everything in calmly.

After the two left, she finally got on the carriage and apologized to Mur An Ning with a smile.

Mu An Ning and the third place winner seemed to be in love with each other, so she might as well find a way to help them get married, or give them some drastic measures.