Case solved

Hearing this, Baoqin was about to step forward to argue, but was gently stopped by Mu Anning.

She looked at the old man in Taoist robes and asked, "What do you mean?"

Ever since she could hear Mu Wan'er's inner voice that day, she wanted to find an opportunity to go to the temple to ask for a divination.

Although she didn't believe in ghosts and gods before, she now feels that she still needs to be more careful.

The old Taoist stroked his long white beard and said in a melodious voice: "Young lady, do you often hear the strange voice of the charming mind?"

Mu An Ning's pupils trembled violently. Apart from Mu Wan'er's inner voice, she could indeed hear the ethereal voice that seemed to be able to control her mind.

Seeing her nod solemnly, the old Taoist's eyes revealed a mysterious look, and he smiled and said: "The old Taoist and the young lady have a good rapport, so I will teach you how to break it." He took out an old parchment scroll from his sleeve and said: "Don't forget your original intention, and you will achieve the end. Don't be obsessed with it."

Mu An Ning's fingers hanging at her side curled up slightly.

Apart from the marriage contract, she should have no other obsessions.

The old man smiled in an unfathomable way and continued, "This is the 'Mysterious Heart Sutra'. I will give it to you today."

Mu An Ning stared at the thing for a long time but did not accept it.

This old Taoist seemed to be well prepared.

The old Taoist still had a smile on his face: "Young lady, please keep it. If you want to thank me in the future, you can go to Huiming Temple to burn some incense."

Hearing the name of the temple, Mu An Ning couldn't help but frown.

She remembered that it was a small Buddhist temple in Shangjing because Gu Huaizhi had lived there for a whole year when he was twelve years old.

Not long after that, they got engaged.

She pursed her lips, not knowing what she was thinking. After a few breaths, she finally reached out to take it.

This old Taoist has a kind face and shouldn't harm anyone for no reason.

She was about to open the parchment scroll, but the old Taoist stopped her and said, "Wait a minute, young lady." He laughed and continued, "The Mysterious Heart Sutra must be opened in a quiet place, otherwise the spiritual energy will dissipate."

Baoqin, who was sitting beside Mu Anning, couldn't help but mutter, "Is it really that mysterious?"

Like her own daughter, she never believed in these mysterious Taoist priests.

The old Taoist flicked the dust whisk in his hand lightly, left a sentence "Believe it, it exists; don't believe it, it doesn't exist", and walked away slowly.

Although Mu An Ning still had doubts in his heart, he still carefully put the parchment scroll into his sleeve.

Just believe it this time.

*

When Aunt Fang saw the master and servant, her eyes lit up instantly: "An Ning is here, come in quickly."

The woman affectionately called her by her name without adding the word "girl".

Mu An Ning felt warm in his heart and followed her into the inner courtyard.

She always felt that Aunt Fang looked at her with particularly eager eyes today, and there seemed to be a hint of... emotion?

Fang Ziweng heard the noise and hurried over to greet them on his short legs: "Sister An Ning! Sister Bao Qin!"

He was only happy for a moment, then he said with a tearful face: "Are you here today to urge me to study?"

He had just finished school and he was already studying hard again. It was all his cousin's fault.

Aunt Fang smiled and touched his head, her eyes slightly moist: "Zi Weng, you must learn well from your sister An Ning."

The Marquis's Mansion was truly too heartless, kicking out the girl they had raised for more than ten years without giving her any news.

Looking at An Ning's appearance, it seems that he is unaware that there are still family members alive.

Fortunately, she learned from her sister-in-law that An Ning had a peach-shaped light pink birthmark on the back of her neck. Otherwise, even if An Ning looked so much like her biological parents, she would never have thought that God would let them meet in Wutong City.

The Fang family only had one study room, which was being used by Qiao Qingsheng at the time, so they came to the main hall.

Aunt Fang held Mu An Ning's hand and said with a smile: "An Ning, from now on, you should treat this place as your own home. Don't be restrained."

She only regretted that she couldn't tell the truth immediately, but she had to wait a few more days until Qiao Qingsheng finished his exams.

After seeing Mu An Ning accept with a smile, Aunt Fang went to prepare dinner with peace of mind, and Baoqin followed to help.

Fang Ziweng knew he couldn't escape, so he obediently took out the homework assigned by the teacher and handed it to her.

While Mu An Ning was flipping through the documents, he looked around and suddenly whispered, "Sister An Ning, my cousin will be taking the exam in three days, so you don't have to come anymore."

Mu An Ning couldn't help laughing at his mischievous appearance and said, "Are you studying for your cousin?"

Fang Ziweng choked and complained in a low voice: "But I'm not cut out for studying!"

Mu An Ning did not comment, but just smiled faintly, indicating that he should write a page first and then let her check it.

Fang Ziweng had no choice but to lower his head and start writing.

About a quarter of an hour later, he handed the homework to Mu An Ning who was drinking tea, and said loudly: "I'm done!"

Mu An Ning took the paper but frowned slightly.

After a while, she pulled the corners of her mouth slightly, as if she was having some difficulty saying: "Can you tell me again what this sentence 'winter comes and summer goes, autumn harvests and winter stores' means?"

Fang Ziweng frowned and said seriously, "It means that during the winter and summer holidays, you can play hide-and-seek with your friends."

Mu An Ning put down the paper and laughed out loud: "Is this what the Master taught?"

She vaguely remembered that she had learned the Thousand Character Classic when she was four years old and had memorized it by heart.

Fang Ziweng said in embarrassment: "I don't remember..."

After Mu An Ning explained the real meaning to him, he nodded in sudden enlightenment, but then said distressedly: "But I will forget it again tomorrow."

Mu An Ning saw his frustration and pulled him closer: "If you can't remember it in one day, then spend two or three days trying to remember it. One day you will succeed."

Fang Ziweng seemed to remember something and said in an aggrieved tone: "But my cousin has a photographic memory and can remember it after just one look..."

But he had to spend many hours and still couldn't remember those densely packed words.

Mu An Ning was stunned.

She finally realized that the child was not disinterested in studying. It was obvious that he had the idea of ​​backing off because of the presence of his young and meritorious cousin Qiao Qingsheng.

In a trance, she seemed to see herself back then.

She is not a genius like Qiao Qingsheng, she just relies on her perseverance.

If there was anyone who pushed her the hardest, it was the ruler her adoptive father used on her when she did poorly on the exams.

She came back to her senses and chuckled, "Remember, everyone is unique. Some things won't yield results just by working hard, but if you don't even try, you'll probably blame yourself in the future."

In life, not everything can go as planned, just like...her engagement with Gu Huaizhi.

She had tried her best, so she had no right to complain.

Fang Ziweng nodded as if he understood, then returned to the table, looking much more serious than before.

After that, the two of them kept asking and answering each other until Aunt Fang called them for dinner.

At the dinner table, Aunt Fang kept serving dishes to Mu An Ning until the bowl was piled high. Even Qiao Qingsheng couldn't stand it anymore and stopped her with a smile: "Aunt, I'm afraid Miss An Ning can't eat so much."

"Oh..." Aunt Fang sighed and put away her chopsticks, still looking at her niece's frail body with pity.

An Ning clearly grew up in the Marquis' Mansion, so why doesn't her complexion look as rosy and healthy as Wan'er's?

Aunt Fang's eyes wrinkled with worry. "It's a pity that Zuiyuelou will reopen the day after tomorrow. I won't be able to come back early to prepare dinner then."

Mu An Ning was slightly surprised and raised her eyebrows slightly: "Has the case been solved?"

My brother had said before that he would take her back to Beijing after the case was solved.