Exotic Fragrance

"Miss, are you still going to deliver medicine to the prince?" Baoqin, who was taking care of Chunlan, looked at Mu Anning who had just returned to the house, her tone half joking and half helpless.

She had just told her young lady to take a good rest and leave the matter of decocting the medicine to her.

However, once it comes to the prince, the young lady is always busy and insists on doing it herself.

Seeing Mu An Ning standing by the door for a long time without responding, Bao Qin felt something was wrong and called softly, "Miss?" She hurried over and asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

She had been caught in a light rain before, and hadn't even had the cold-relieving soup yet, so she went straight to boil medicine for the prince.

Mu An Ning seemed not to have heard it, his eyes were blank, and he said bitterly and self-deprecatingly: "Baoqin, do you think I am stupid?"

Baoqin looked at her young lady's fragile appearance, stunned for a moment, and hurriedly helped her to the couch: "Young lady, why do you say that?"

She didn't know what had happened to her young lady, so she could only coax her softly, "Young lady, among the ladies in the capital, everyone knows that you are gentle and virtuous, and proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting." She paused and said soothingly, "If even you, the young lady, say you are stupid, then what about us?"

She stroked Mu An Ning's back gently as she did when she was a child and could feel her slight trembling.

Mu An Ning lowered her head and stood motionless, with strands of black hair falling from her shoulders, making her frail body look soft and desolate.

After a long silence, she spoke softly, her voice tactful but with a hint of hoarseness: "Baoqin, let me be alone for a while."

Baoqin paused in her movements, feeling worried, and secretly wondered if the prince had said something to the young lady again.

In the past, the prince often said some unpleasant things. The worst time was when he said that a lady like the young lady, who came from a wealthy family, was very boring and was no better than any farm girl.

After hearing this, the young lady did not show any expression on her face, but every time she returned to her room, she was always sad and miserable for several days.

Baoqin opened her mouth, knowing that nothing she said would help. Maybe she should let the young lady be alone for a while.

She stood up and said softly, "Then Miss, take a good rest. If you need anything, remember to call me."

After seeing her nod slowly, Baoqin left quietly.

Hearing the door being closed quietly, Mu An Ning suddenly stood up, without even putting on her embroidered shoes, and walked straight to the closet, pulling out a gold-painted wooden carved eight-treasure box.

She has always regarded this box as a treasure, just because...it contains the first gift that Gu Huaizhi gave her.

She slowly opened the lid of the box, and what came into view was a jade bracelet and a white jade hairpin with a peach blossom pattern.

The first one was handed to her by the princess herself three years ago when her marriage to Gu Huaizhi was finalized.

She said that she had already decided on her daughter-in-law, so she gave her the bracelet that had been passed down from generation to generation in her family.

And the second thing... was given to her by Gu Huaizhi when he went to the Marquis's residence in person to apologize for refusing the marriage proposal.

Although she knew that the boy did not do it willingly, she was still very happy when she received it.

She couldn't help holding it all day, reluctant to put it down, nor to wear it.

She treated it as a token of love and had not worn it for three years, hoping to keep it for when she got married.

Her eyelashes trembled, and she could not help but slowly stretch out her slender hand to touch it gently, but for some reason the warm touch of the past became extremely cold now.

She lowered her bright almond-shaped eyes, wondering what she was thinking.

The next moment, she suddenly picked up the jade peach blossom hairpin, sat down in front of the dressing table, and slowly inserted it into her hair.

The girl in the mirror has flawless and delicate skin, as crystal clear as pearls.

Her jet-black hair fell neatly on her shoulders, her long eyebrows swayed like willow leaves, her nose was slightly tilted upwards, and her lips were light red even without lip balm.

Apart from a pair of pearl earrings worn on her delicate earlobes, she did not wear any other jewelry.

This peach blossom jade hairpin seemed to make her already gorgeous face even more radiant.

The hairpin is carved from fine jade, and each petal is lifelike, as if you can smell the elegant fragrance of peach blossoms from them.

The hairpin is inlaid with crystal clear gemstones, just like morning dewdrops sliding across flower petals, shimmering with light.

The gradual change of the jade's color is like peach blossoms, from light pink to bright red, which adds a lot of color to the entire jade hairpin.

But she felt that this thing that she once treasured was no longer as beautiful as when she first saw it.

She just stared blankly at herself in the mirror for a long time without looking away, and countless times she had looked foolishly flashed through her mind.

Two years ago, he invited her to a teahouse on the orders of the princess, but because he said "I forgot", she waited from noon to evening but he still didn't show up. She even made excuses for him in front of the princess.

Last year during the Lantern Festival, because he asked her to “wait for me”, she waited for a long time in the heavy snow. Even when the servants of the mansion went to look for her, he had not returned yet.

And three months ago during a winter hunt, he told his best friend that he didn't like women who couldn't ride horses. And she, his fiancée, happened to be ridiculed because she had never been on the hunt due to her poor horsemanship.

Thoughts raced through her mind until her eyes felt a little sore and her long eyelashes trembled gently like wings, and she gradually came out of her memories.

Suddenly, she took a deep breath, slowly took off the hairpin in her hair, put it back into the box, and never looked at it again.

*

The next day.

Baoqin gently opened the door and asked softly, "Miss?"

She saw that Mu An Ning had stood up and was sitting quietly in front of the dressing table. She was a little surprised but slightly relieved.

She had already guessed half of it, but she still went to ask Gu Ji last night, and it was just as she thought.

Although the young lady usually doesn't care much about what others say, she pays special attention to what the prince says.

If he said something was wrong with her, she would have trouble sleeping for days.

She stood behind the thin girl and said in a gentle voice, pretending to be nonchalant, "Miss, Miss Wan'er wants to see you for something."

Her eyes swept across the eight-treasure box on the table, and she felt sorry for her young lady.

The young lady has been following the prince's wishes in everything over the years, but he really doesn't care about her at all.

She was thinking of finding something to distract the young lady today, and then she remembered that she seemed to be quite interested in the Zuiyuelou case.

Thinking of Mu Wan'er who followed Mu Guiling yesterday, she went to Yuelai Inn early in the morning and tentatively asked the eldest master whether he could bring the young lady to work on the case together.

Unexpectedly, before the eldest master said anything, Miss Wan'er had already agreed on his behalf.

After Baoqin finished speaking, she carefully watched Mu Anning's reaction. She finally raised her eyes and asked in confusion, "Wan'er?"

Mu Wan'er is now Mu Guiling's servant, so he shouldn't look for her for any problem.

Could it be that she had something to say to her as a sister?

Baoqin saw that she seemed to be interested and there was no trace of sadness on her face. She couldn't help but say with a little joy: "Yes, Miss, Baoqin will do your makeup for you?"

Mu An Ning nodded calmly and let Baoqin take her black hair.

Baoqin was very skilled in combing and dressing, and she had dressed her up in less than a quarter of an hour.

Baoqin looked at the gorgeous girl in the mirror with satisfaction, and couldn't help but sigh that she deserved the best man in the world, and didn't have to waste her emotions on the prince alone.

The two walked slowly to the hall, one in front and one behind.

When Mu An Ning saw Mu Wan'er walking around in circles seemingly out of boredom, his eyes moved.

She thought Mu Wan'er would go back to dressing like a woman, but she didn't expect that she would still look like a servant.

Mu Wan'er turned around and saw her, her eyes lit up immediately, and before she opened her mouth, she heard her voice:

[This is the first time I saw my sister with her hair braided. I really love it! 】

[But she doesn't look that sad.]

Mu Wan'er's heart was filled with emotion, but she looked very respectful and competent: "Miss, Lord Mu would like to invite you to work with us on the case." She paused, her eyes full of expectation: "I wonder if you are willing?"

[Sister, please agree quickly! ]

[Although I don’t know how that dandy prince came to Wutong City, but this bastard is not worth it!!!]

[There are thousands of men, if they don’t work, we can change them! ]

Why would her be brought along on a case by her brother?

Mu An Ning understood what was going on almost immediately and glanced at Bao Qin calmly. The latter indeed looked away with a guilty look on his face.

A smile gradually appeared in her eyes, and she said "hmm" softly, which was both agreeing to Mu Wan'er's request and... in line with her last thought.

Indeed, he is not the only good man in the world.

*

The four of them stepped into the Minghua Pavilion from yesterday again. As soon as they sat down in the private room, they saw a graceful woman approaching them.

There was a glimmer of surprise in Mu An Ning's eyes, and he almost immediately remembered her identity.

"Master Mu..." The woman's voice, which seemed to be able to seduce people, rang out slowly and softly: "You are still talking about me, but there are many beautiful ladies around you."

Her charming foxy eyes moved back and forth between Mu An Ning and his servant, and Mu Wan'er, who was obviously a girl, and finally stopped on Mu An Ning's face.

Mu Guiling glanced at Mu Anning who was sitting obediently in front of him and said coldly, "This is my sister."

This woman is still so outspoken. She knows clearly that he only loves one person in his life.

Qiu Yueying smiled softly, then she moved to Mu Anning's side and asked angrily, "Sister?"

The young lady was extremely beautiful, but she was nothing like Mu Guiling, who was as cold as an ice cube.

Even though Mu An Ning tried his best to ignore the beautiful woman's gaze, the tips of his ears gradually turned red.

Qiu Yueying was amused by her reaction, leaned down, and gently lifted her chin with her right hand: "Little girl, are you really his sister?"

Mu An Ning only felt a strange fragrance coming from the tip of his nose, and he swallowed lightly involuntarily.

She raised her eyes to meet Qiu Yueying's playful gaze and nodded seriously.

Mu Guiling looked at his lover teasing his sister with cold eyes, and there was a hint of resentment in his cold tone: "If you don't believe it, then don't believe it."

She really is like this to everyone, regardless of gender.

[Wow! Is my brother jealous?! They have to be a couple that has done it before! !]

【I raise the banner for "Return to the Moon"!!】

Degree? What does this mean?

Mu An Ning glanced at Mu Wan'er, who was so excited that her beard was about to fall off, and then calmly glanced to the side at Mu Guiling, who had an unnatural expression.

Could it be that brother knows the shopkeeper Qiu?

Qiu Yueying didn't care. Her smile widened as she walked to Mu Guiling's side and made a gesture to sit down.

Feeling Mu Guiling's body tense for a moment, she achieved her goal and turned to sit on Mu Anning's left side.

Mu Guiling pursed his lips into a straight line and stiffly brought up business: "I came to you this time because I found this thing in the backyard of Zuiyue Tower." He took out a bag of powder from his arms, his expression gradually becoming serious: "Do you know what this is?"

Qiu Yueying still had a smile on her face. She reached out to take it, and her warm fingertips seemed to accidentally touch the man's cold palm.

Mu Guiling's eyes narrowed and he withdrew his hand instantly.

Since she didn't want to talk about the past, why did she continue to provoke him?

【Sister Fox is so good at teasing! 】

[I'll bring the bed here right now, and you guys can fuck me hard for a whole day and night! ! ! ]

Qiu Yueying put the powder to her nose and sniffed it gently, and her bright fox eyes suddenly dimmed.

Mu An Ning frowned slightly, obviously she also smelled the scent that was like rose and rose, but with a bit of bitterness.

A strange poison suddenly flashed through her mind, and she murmured, "Red is crazy."

*

At the same time.

An arrow made a "whoosh" sound and firmly stuck into the door of the west room.