Blind Date

Baoqin came in with a tray in her hand. Her eyes fell on the book in Mu Anning's hand. She said helplessly, "Miss, please have breakfast first. It's not good for your eyes to keep reading so early in the morning."

Mu An Ning gently closed the medical book in his hand, smiled and blinked, then slowly walked down from the couch.

She originally wanted to find some books related to Xu's disease, but she didn't find any examples. Instead, she became fascinated by reading about difficult and complicated diseases.

It's a pity that apart from following the book and grinding self-defense powder, which she occasionally succeeded in making, she only had a vague understanding of other things.

Medical knowledge is so extensive that it is almost impossible to learn it by oneself. At least she claims that she does not have such talent.

When she was a child, she would have longed to learn from a master, but now she was no longer a child, and even if she was lucky enough to find a good teacher who was willing to teach her, it would be useless.

After Baoqin placed the breakfast on the table, she leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Miss, I heard that Madam even accidentally injured Madam Liu today."

Mu An Ning's eyebrows twitched slightly as he gently stirred the porridge in the bowl.

Nanny Liu was Xu's wet nurse. She had been by Xu's side since she was a baby, following her everywhere like a shadow, and raised Xu to adulthood.

Logically speaking, no matter how crazy Mrs. Xu was or how she didn't recognize anyone, she should still remember her wet nurse.

The reason for her illness is really strange and puzzling.

Mu An Ning drank a few mouthfuls of porridge, and after some thought, he said to Bao Qin: "Bao Qin, go ask the maidservant beside your mother where she went and who she met on the day she contracted the disease."

Baoqin sighed. Although she still wanted to persuade her young lady not to meddle in the madam's affairs, she had no choice but to nod in agreement.

The young lady is too stubborn. If she is determined to do something, she will not change her mind easily.

Mu An Ning ate a few bites of snacks absentmindedly, feeling vaguely in his heart that if Mu Wan'er could still predict the future, she should not be unaware of the causes and consequences of Xu's illness.

But what surprised her was that Mu Wan'er didn't even mention Xu in her heart, as if she didn't care at all.

Or maybe... he was certain that nothing would happen to the Xu family.

Suddenly there was a slight noise outside the door, as if someone had accidentally touched it.

Mu An Ning glanced sideways at Baoqin and motioned for her to go over and check.

If any little maid heard that Xu had a strange disease and spread the news, she would definitely be blamed by her adoptive father.

Baoqin walked forward cautiously, opened the door and looked inside, then smiled with relief, "Miss, it's Yuandong."

Yuandong walked in with her head down, making it impossible to see the expression on her face.

Her voice was a little unsteady, but she calmly explained, "Miss, I wanted to see if you had finished your meal. Seeing that Sister Baoqin had not come out yet, I waited outside the door."

Mu An Ning glanced at the basin in her hand, nodded slightly, but did not say anything.

Did this girl hear anything just now?

Just as she was thinking, the maidservant beside Madam Mu knocked on the door and said respectfully after bowing, "Miss, the old lady wants you to go to the front hall."

*

Madam Mu was in the main seat, looking at her granddaughter in a lotus-colored silk dress with a gentle gaze, and said in a gentle tone, "An Ning is here."

Mu An Ning bowed, then walked slowly to the side and sat down.

In fact, when she returned home, she found that after all the changes she had gone through, she and her grandmother were no longer as close as before.

I’m afraid that in the future, we will never be able to go back to the way it was before.

Madam Mu smiled and asked, "An Ning, do you like the spring clothes I made a few days ago?"

Mu An Ning was stunned for a moment, then he remembered that what his grandmother was talking about should be the clothes that Yuandong brought back to the room before going out that day.

She had been busy these past two days and hadn't had time to try it on, or even see it, but she still smiled and replied, "My granddaughter likes it very much. Thank you, grandma."

Madam Mu nodded with satisfaction, took a sip of tea, and said, "As long as you like it."

When Mu An Ning saw her grandmother's kind face, she looked a little dazed and nostalgic, as if she had returned to the past, when she had not yet discovered that she was not the daughter of a marquis.

At that time, every early March, her grandmother would personally choose new clothes for her, saying that she wanted to dress her only granddaughter beautifully.

But the fact is that she is not her grandmother's biological granddaughter.

Madam Mu seemed to remember something and frowned, "I haven't seen your mother in the past two days. Is she sick again?"

In the past, Xu would visit her every morning and evening, but in the past two days, he had not asked her how she was.

Mu An Ning's eyes moved slightly, but seeing her grandmother's expression, she probably didn't know the truth yet, so she replied calmly, using the words her adoptive father had told her: "Grandma, mother has caught a cold."

Madam Mu sighed softly and said, "You, the children, should also pay more attention to her."

After giving birth to the child, Mrs. Xu often fell ill, but she had long been accustomed to it and did not find it surprising.

Seeing her granddaughter nod in agreement, Madam Mu stopped paying attention to Xu. She cast a gentle gaze on her granddaughter and said with a smile, "An Ning, Grandmother called you here today because she has something important to tell you."

Important matter?

Mu An Ning's eyebrows twitched slightly, and she looked at her grandmother in confusion, only to hear her continue meaningfully: "Today at noon, several ladies in the capital will hold a blind date event."

Seeing that her grandmother just looked at her and didn't continue talking, she frowned slightly and read out this unfamiliar word: "Blind date?"

Madam Mu smiled, with wrinkles on the corners of her eyes, and explained, "This blind date event is specially designed for unmarried men and women like you to find a good match."

In the past, in their Chu State, holding such a banquet was a common practice.

However, in recent years, people's customs are no longer so open, the number of blind date parties has gradually decreased, and some people have even gradually forgotten about it.

Now, Mrs. Xie's move has brought the State of Chu back to its past. Many people find it quite novel and are willing to try to get involved.

Mu An Ning's eyes moved slightly. Her grandmother told her this. Could it be that she wanted her to participate as well?

While she was thinking, Madam Mu spoke slowly: "You and Prince Gu have broken off the engagement for quite some time, and you have also reached the age of marriage." She took a sip of tea and said with a gentle smile: "Grandmother has already chosen a husband for you. You can go and have a look today. There will be many other boys by then. If you like someone, you don't have to hide it."

She knew that her granddaughter was infatuated with Prince Gu, but as a girl, it was absolutely unacceptable for her to remain unmarried when she reached marriageable age.

She could never tolerate the Mu family's descendants remaining single for the sake of one man.

In addition to Mu An Ning, Mu Guiling has also reached the age to get married and have children.

This year, no matter how reluctant he was, she would find a marriage for her grandson.

Upon hearing this, Mu An Ning lowered his eyes slightly, and the smile on his face gradually faded.

She no longer had feelings for Gu Huaizhi, but she also didn't want to discuss marriage with anyone else. However, her grandmother's words clearly left her no room for refusal.

The banquet was to be held at noon, but her grandmother had waited until today to tell her about it. The meaning was self-evident.

Thinking of this, she suppressed the fleeting bitterness in her heart and followed Madam Mu's words and asked, "Grandma, which young master is this?"

The previous marriage with Gu Huaizhi was arranged by the parents and the matchmaker, but a forced marriage will never be sweet.

She originally thought that the Marquis' Mansion would not be in a hurry to arrange a marriage for her, but she forgot that she still had the title of a daughter of the Marquis' Mansion and could not decide her own marriage.

Madam Mu just smiled and didn't answer directly: "You will know when the time comes." She looked at her granddaughter's fair face and nodded, "There are still two or three hours left. You should get ready and put on the new clothes I made for you yesterday."

Mu An Ning felt a little powerless, but nodded obediently.

When she had discussed marriage with Gu Huaizhi, she at least knew what kind of person her future husband was. She never expected that now she didn't even know his name.

Whatever. She had no intention of dealing with anyone anyway, so she could just go through the motions.

If her grandmother blamed her, she would find another excuse.

Just as Mu An Ning was about to get up and leave, Mu Jingyue, wearing a light pink embroidered skirt with floral patterns, walked in.

Her voice was clear and pleasant, with a hint of innocence and tenderness: "Grandma, big sister."

Madam Mu was quite surprised to see the newcomer, but she nodded slightly, motioned for her to sit down on the other side, and then glanced at her two granddaughters calmly.

Mu An Ning had a bright and bold face, but her calm personality was completely contrary to her appearance, and she was not very likable.

In comparison, although Mu Jingyue was not as gorgeous as her eldest granddaughter, she was just pretty and charming, but her mouth was extremely sweet, completely outshining her two sisters.

Madam Mu suddenly had an idea and said, "Jingyue, your elder sister is going to a blind date today. If you are interested, you can go with her." She took a sip of tea and said in a friendly manner, "Just treat it as making friends."

It's not a bad idea for a bastard's daughter to take this opportunity to show her face a little.

If she happens to be favored by a noble young man, it will be of great benefit to the Marquis's Mansion.

The joy in Mu Jingyue's eyes almost overflowed, but she kept the smile on her face just right: "Grandma, of course my granddaughter is happy to do so." She paused for a moment, then turned to Mu Anning who was silent on the side, and said with some embarrassment: "It's just that my granddaughter has never been involved in such an occasion, and I'm afraid it will cause trouble for my elder sister..."

In fact, she had heard that today's blind date party had invited almost all the young ladies and gentlemen from the big and small families in the capital, but Madam Mu had not told her about it yet.

So she dressed up more elegantly to test the waters.

Unexpectedly, her grandmother agreed to let her go without her having to talk too much, which was a great surprise.

Mu An Ning's eyebrows moved slightly when he heard this. Even if he was slow, he should have realized that there was something thorny in his half-sister's words.

Fortunately, the grandmother did not seem to take Mu Jingyue's words seriously. She just smiled and said that if the two sisters participated together, they could take care of each other.

*

The blind date party has already begun, and one can feel the excitement from the outside.

Xie Yunting looked listless, and although he couldn't lift his spirits, his eyes were full of emotion: "Brother Gu, I'm counting on you." He clasped his fists, handed a note to the young man, and explained: "This is the small boat my mother gave me and that girl to open. The first activity is boating on the lake. Brother Gu, just get on the boat corresponding to this note."

Seeing how many people came today, his mother probably has no time to take care of him, but the problem is that he can't ignore that girl for no reason.

He really doesn't have the heart to meet other girls right now, fortunately Brother Gu is willing to help him.

Gu Huaizhi took it expressionlessly, but did not open it immediately. Instead, for some reason, a trace of regret welled up in his heart.

If she really still cared about him, she would completely ignore him after finding out he was seeing other women.

So what should he do?

Xie Yunting looked at the sun above his head and said, "Brother Gu, judging by the time, the other lots should have been drawn." He urged, "Go in quickly, I will deliver the fine wine to your house tomorrow."

Gu Huaizhi nodded slightly, but unconsciously pinched the paper in his hand.

Gu Ji looked at the young man who was still wearing red clothes but looked much more low-key today, and asked hesitantly: "Young man, are you really going?" He looked at the young man who seemed to have not made up his mind yet, and advised him kindly: "If you join, there will be no room for maneuver."

He saw that his own young master actually didn't want to help Young Master Xie at all, otherwise why did he look so indifferent today?

He seemed to have guessed why the young master was doing such strange things.

Gu Huaizhi's expression suddenly became strange, and he glanced at Gu Ji: "Why can't this prince go?"

Having said that, he flicked his sleeves and walked straight forward.