Going out

Mu An Ning subconsciously took a few steps to the side until his view was no longer blocked by Qiao Qingsheng's back.

She clenched the amulet in her hand, and saw the young man she once admired sitting upright on the horse. His former flamboyance and unruliness were replaced by a dignified manner that was totally inconsistent with him.

He was dressed in silver-white armor, almost identical to the general next to him.

The difference is that he didn't wear a helmet, which made him look even more handsome, with bright eyes and thin eyebrows.

The young man was still some distance away from her, and Mu An Ning couldn't see the expression on his face, but the wooden sign in his hand seemed to have become hot due to the sun.

As the girl lowered her head to look, the deafening sound of horse hooves was getting closer and closer to her.

The young man passing by the gate of Jishitang seemed to sense something and slightly tilted his eyes.

Gu Huaizhi's breathing stagnated and he tightened the reins. The horse also slowed down slowly with his movements, and the soldiers behind him all slowed down without knowing why.

Mu An Ning's eyelashes trembled, and she slowly raised her eyes, looking straight into Gu Huaizhi's eyes.

For a moment, there seemed to be only a faint sound of wind in my ears.

She had never seen him like this before.

Just like the generals in the novels.

It turns out that, unknowingly, they are no longer children.

The girl suddenly realized that the moment of staring at each other seemed to be stretched infinitely.

But no one around noticed that the boy and girl's eyes were meeting.

Mu An Ning actually saw a hint of imperceptible light in the boy's peach blossom eyes.

Under the sunlight, the boy's eyes looked red and a little scary.

It was as if he hadn't slept all night, or...

Mu An Ning moved her lips, wanting to say something to Gu Huaizhi, but the noise around her and the attention of the crowd reminded her that there was no way he would stop.

It turns out that he is going to war today.

No wonder he was so abnormal last night and said so many confusing words to her, like the last words of a dying person.

But why didn't he tell her directly?

What are the chances of Chu winning this battle?

While the girl was thinking, Gu Huaizhi pursed his thin lips tightly, not wanting to reveal even a little bit of his emotions.

From the very beginning, his eyes unconsciously turned to Jishitang, but he only saw Qiao Qingsheng.

While feeling disappointed, I also feel a little relieved.

He deliberately said something different to her.

He was afraid that she would come, but also afraid that she would not come.

He originally thought that last night was the last time they saw each other.

At this moment, he really wanted to jump off the horse and talk to the girl.

But he can't.

For the first time in his life, the boy hated his identity and the mission he had promised himself.

It has always been his wish to be loyal to Da Chu and work for Da Chu.

He didn't know why he was wavering now.

Anyway, it was only because of what happened today that Aning was able to come and see him.

She was wearing a light pink gauze dress. Although her face looked grim, her mood was not bad. After all, the matter of Qiao Qingsheng was finally resolved.

Gu Huaizhi's expression paused, his eyes fell on the thing the girl was holding, his throat immediately became a little dry, and ripples appeared in his heart.

She actually listened to him and wore the amulet he gave her.

Gu Huaizhi took one last deep look at the girl, then rode away without hesitation.

The moment he turned his head, he seemed to feel a slight chill on his face.

The girl who had been standing there staring at the back, felt the wooden sign in her hand getting hotter.

The sound of horse hooves gradually faded away.

With a shout of "Close the city gate!", the people came back to their senses from their trance.

A woman sighed and said with regret: "Prince Gu is such a dignified man, why did he suddenly go to war?"

This Prince Gu is still young and has not yet arranged a marriage, but given the current situation, I don’t know if he can return safely.

"Oh, don't worry about it. No matter how good-looking she is, we can't get her." The woman's husband held her arm helplessly and said, "Let's finish our things quickly and go home. This is really a trouble."

Another man on the street thought of the fight just now, spat on the ground, and said in a low voice with disdain: "I don't know why the emperor let a young boy lead the army..."

Given the fragile bodies of these royal relatives and nobles, instead of staying at home to squander their money, they insist on leading troops to fight, which is just a show for the common people.

"Hush, stop talking nonsense." The man standing next to him hurriedly stopped him from talking, and casually glanced at Mu Anning and Qiao Qingsheng standing in front of the Jishitang gate: "In my opinion, our Great Chu will win, no matter who we send."

In the past, it was always the Great Chu that crushed the Liang State. This time, with the sudden war, it will probably be no exception.

What's more, the father of Prince Gu, Prince Anqing, won many battles in his past, so his legitimate son must not be that bad.

"Of course." The man was stopped by his companions, but he was not angry. He walked away on his own, and it was obvious that he was very confident in the State of Chu.

In their eyes, the people of Liang had become increasingly extravagant in recent years, apart from being able to play with some strange and bizarre gadgets. There was nothing redeeming about them at all.

Qiao Qingsheng, who had listened to the entire conversation between the two, frowned unconsciously.

He had heard some things in the government office these days, and he was afraid that this war was not as simple as the people thought.

Mu An Ning was brought back to her senses by a burst of undisguised sobbing.

She stared at the amulet on her waist, then slightly turned her head and looked around, and then she saw Luo Zhiyan in a light green dress not far from her.

Luo Zhiyan was being supported by two maids. She was crying with tears in her eyes and kept murmuring "Brother Huai".

Mu An Ning blinked, pretending not to see it, and wanted to walk directly back to Jishidiang, but the girl on the other side obviously didn't think so.

Luo Zhiyan had noticed the girl a long time ago, but there were too many people around and it was inconvenient for her to walk.

Now, she suddenly shook off the maids' hands, lifted her skirt, and ran towards Mu An Ning.

"Wuwuwu, Sister Mu!" As soon as Luo Zhiyan opened her mouth, tears started to fall down.

Mu Anning didn't expect Luo Zhiyan to cry as soon as she saw her. She glanced at Qiao Qingsheng who looked uncomfortable beside her and said at a loss: "Miss Luo."

Luo Zhiyan held Mu Anning's arm and sobbed a few times before she spoke: "Sister Mu, are you here to see Brother Huai off today as well?"

Mu An Ning moved her lips, not knowing whether to admit or deny it.

She didn't know that such a big thing would happen today, but if Gu Huaizhi had told her last night, would she still come here today?

While Mu An Ning was thinking, Qiao Qingsheng seemed to see his sister's embarrassment and suddenly asked, "Who is this girl?"

Luo Zhiyan was attracted by his gentle voice and met Qiao Qingsheng's probing gaze without fear: "I, I am Luo Zhiyan."

Mu An Ning raised the corners of his lips helplessly: "Brother Qiao, this is Master Gu's cousin."

Qiao Qingsheng thought for a moment and nodded, as if he had some impression of her. Luo Zhiyan sniffed her red nose and widened her eyes: "You, you are the number one scholar?"

Qiao Qingsheng felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by the girl, but he still replied "yes" without changing his expression.

Apart from his two younger sisters, he had never been around other young girls, so he naturally felt very uncomfortable when facing women.

Luo Zhiyan wiped her tears, glanced at the two of them, and subconsciously said, "Sister Mu, you won't reject the third place winner and choose the first place winner, right?"

Qiao Qingsheng and Mu Anning were both stunned, but Mu Anning spoke helplessly: "Miss Luo has misunderstood, Brother Qiao and I are just friends."

Luo Zhiyan said "Oh" without thinking too much, and said bluntly: "This young master is better looking than that Tang, oh no, Mr. Tan, but he is not as good-looking as Brother Huai."

Mu An Ning choked, and saw Luo Zhiyan crying again: "Wuwuwu, sister Mu, do you think Brother Huai, Brother Huai can come back alive?"

The young man just now flashed through Mu An Ning's mind, and she pinched the hem of her clothes unconsciously: "Good luck will come to you, Miss Luo, please don't cry anymore."

Luo Zhiyan's shoulders twitched twice. In fact, she was not so worried at first, but she felt something was wrong when she saw her aunt crying quietly in the house this morning.

Brother Huai’s situation isn’t going to be really serious, is it?

Luo Zhiyan's eyelashes were still dangling tears: "Wuwuwu, but most of the Liang people are extremely cunning..."

Although she could be considered half Liang, her brother died in Liang, and she grew up in Chu, so naturally she didn't have much good feelings towards Liang.

Seeing this, Qiao Qingsheng also whispered to comfort her: "An Ning is right. Now that the prince has gone to war, Miss Luo should not cry herself to death."

Looking at the gentle and concerned gaze of the man, Luo Zhiyan was stunned for a moment and slowly stopped sobbing, but the sound of sniffling came from behind her again.

The three turned around in surprise, only to see old Doctor Lu with tears in his eyes standing behind them.

Mu An Ning hesitated to speak, seeing the old man's sadness: "Doctor Lu, are you... okay?"

Doctor Lu came back to his senses, shook his head, and said with a far-sighted look: "I'm afraid..."

...I'm afraid it's time for the old to send the young off.

Mu An Ning's eyes narrowed slightly, and he saw Doctor Lu touching the corner of his eyes and then walking into Jishidi Hall.

*

"Why are you here again!" Baoqin looked helpless when she was called out of the house. She looked at the timid servant in front of her.

Last time, he was hesitant and unclear in his words, which made her think that the box was given by Mr. Tan, causing a big misunderstanding.

It’s already this late, and I don’t know what this boy wants.

Xiao Fuzi handed the box in her hand to the pretty woman in front of her without knowing why. "My master asked me to hand this box over to the eldest lady of the Mu family."

Baoqin's eyes fell on the thing and she was stunned for a while: "Why did Master Gu send the thing back again?"

Her young lady should have made it very clear, but why is Prince Gu so stubborn?

Seeing Xiao Fuzi shook her head, indicating that she knew nothing, Baoqin sighed and said, "You should take the box back. My lady doesn't need it."

Xiao Fuzi stammered and lowered her head: "Master said that it must be delivered to Miss Mu, otherwise, otherwise..."

"What else?" Baoqin raised her eyebrows.

"Otherwise, deduct my monthly salary." Xiao Fuzi looked aggrieved.

*

Seeing someone lingering outside the door, Mu An Ning helplessly put down the medical book in his hand that he couldn't read no matter how hard he tried: "Baoqin, come in."

Baoqin hesitated for a while before entering the room with the box in his hand: "Miss, this box..."

Mu An Ning's eyes fell on the box, and his heart tightened.