Step

"Your Highness, there is a letter from the palace."

Gu Yihan sat at the desk, his eyes never leaving the book in his hand: "Put it here."

After the guards left, he slowly unfolded the letter.

The words in the letter appeared before his eyes one by one, and every line seemed to carry a hint of bone-chilling coldness.

The more he read, the coldness between his brows became more intense.

After a while, he slammed the letter on the table and couldn't help but sneer, which slightly disturbed the wound on his abdomen, but he pressed it down.

He shouldn't be surprised that his father only cared about himself.

In the ruthless imperial family since ancient times, emotions and blood ties are the least worth mentioning.

In the abyss of power and interests, even a trace of warmth can hardly take root.

Since the emperor condoned the empress's murder of his mother, he would one day kill him without mercy.

He could no longer sit and wait for death.

*

Mu Wan'er looked at the man and woman in front of her, smiling until her eyes narrowed into a thin slit: "Sister, I'm going to go over there to appreciate the flowers, you two can chat first."

Mu An Ning nodded and watched Mu Wan'er's back helplessly as she jumped away, because Mu Wan'er's voice was still echoing in her ears.

[Hehehe, this Tan Wenhuai is really awesome. ]

[We've only met a few times, and they're already wearing couple outfits. 】

[I will give you this one chance to be alone with my daughter. It is up to you whether you can make good use of it.]

Mu An Ning handed the brocade box in her hand to Tan Wenhuai without changing her expression: "Mr. Tan, congratulations on your move to a new home. This is a gift prepared for you by my daughter and my sister."

Tan Wenhuai was still in a daze at first, but when he heard the girl speak, he quickly reached out to take it, but inadvertently touched the girl's slightly cool fingertips.

Feeling the strange touch, his heartstrings trembled slightly.

He swallowed unconsciously, looked at the exquisite brocade box in his hand at a loss, and said with a trembling voice: "Thank you very much, Miss Mu, for your trouble."

After he finished speaking, he did not dare to look at the girl in front of him again, as if he had already spent a lot of courage.

Mu An Ning smiled and shook her head. Realizing that he couldn't see her movements, she could only say gently, "You're welcome, Mr. Tan."

When Tan Wenhuai heard the girl's gentle voice, a blush immediately appeared on his fair face: "Ms. Mu, actually...actually, Tan also has a gift that he wants to give to you."

He has been looking for an opportunity these days, but he couldn't even see her. Today he finally has this rare opportunity, and he must seize it.

Mu An Ning's eyebrows twitched, but he didn't respond for a while.

Tan Wenhuai hosted a banquet for Qiao Qian, so why did he give her a gift instead?

Tan Wenhuai hesitated for a moment, holding the brocade box in one hand, and took out a box of powder from his sleeve with the other hand, and handed it to her carefully.

He had hinted to his aunt and cousin that the things women loved were nothing more than rouge, powder, gold and silver jewelry.

Mu An Ning recognized the purple round box and asked in surprise, "The cosmetics from Huayan Pavilion?"

She was not unfamiliar with this shop because Su Nianzhi had given her a box of the same cosmetics on her birthday last year.

The rouge and powder sold by Huayan Pavilion are extremely expensive. Not only that, but they are also limited in quantity, and each person can only buy one box per month.

But even so, most people still find it difficult to buy even if they start queuing at the early morning.

Seeing Tan Wenhuai nodded nervously, she hesitated for a while, then said seriously, "Mr. Tan, this cosmetic is too expensive. I can't accept it."

Tan Wenhuai probably just wanted to return her kindness.

But she shouldn't accept it for no reason.

Tan Wenhuai's eyes, which were originally shining with expectation, dimmed. He withdrew his hand in frustration, but then took out another thing from his sleeve.

Mu An Ning looked carefully and blinked several times unconsciously.

It is a Begonia Jade Bouquet, emerald green all over and shaped like a Begonia.

She seldom liked any kind of jewelry in the past, and she hadn't bought new jewelry in a long time, but this step was eye-opening.

Tan Wenhuai stared at the girl's inky black hair and said with determination, "Ms. Mu, this shawl was...given to you by my cousin."

He had learned that he had to keep something in reserve for everything.

It's understandable that a girl would have some concerns after he gave her a gift so brazenly.

But if I act in the name of my cousin, perhaps I can alleviate her concerns and send the gift smoothly.

Mu An Ning glanced at Bu Yao, then at Tan Wenhuai's blushing face, and said nothing.

Even if she was slow, she should have understood what he was thinking.

If Su Nianci wanted to give her a gift, given the relationship between them, she wouldn't need the help of anyone else.

Although the step-shake is not as meaningful as the hairpin, if she accepts it, it means that she is willing to take the next step with him...

Seeing that she was slow to respond, Tan Wenhuai felt frustrated again. He said dejectedly, "Miss Mu doesn't... like it?"

It looked like his first attempt to give a gift to a girl would end in failure.

Mu An Ning shook her head quickly, and after thinking for a while, she said, "Mr. Tan's shaking is very beautiful. I don't dislike it, but..."

However, she was interrupted by a lazy voice before she could finish her sentence.

Gu Huaizhi's eyes fell on the brocade box and the swing in Tan Wenhuai's hands, and he said slowly, "What are you two talking about so happily? Why don't you tell me about it?"

He raised his eyebrows, his eyes first falling on the frowning Mu An Ning, and then turned to Tan Wenhuai who was embarrassedly retracting his steps.

After taking a look, he turned to look at the girl standing quietly beside him and sneered: "Don't you dare to say?"

They were both wearing green clothes, and the brocade handshake in Tan Wenhuai's hand was also emerald green.

He didn't believe such a coincidence if he said that the two people hadn't made an appointment in advance.

Mu An Ning was speechless for a while. Gu Huaizhi's words sounded as if the two of them were talking about something shameful.

She and Tan Wenhuai were innocent, so there was nothing they were afraid to say.

But...what are they talking about and what does it have to do with Huaizhi?

She was about to open her mouth to refute, but Tan Wenhuai got there before she could.

The embarrassment on his face had already faded, and his expression became serious: "Sir, Miss Mu and I were just chatting about some trivial matters."

He was slightly shorter than Gu Huaizhi, but surprisingly, his aura was just as great as his.

Gu Huaizhi's gaze paused for a moment on the swing in Tan Wenhuai's hand, which was gleaming in the sunlight.

He laughed in an ambiguous tone: "Really?"

Where on earth did Tan Wenhuai get the courage to give Bu Sha to Mu An Ning right under his nose?

If he had been a step later, would she have accepted it?

Just as the two were at a stalemate, Luo Zhiyan, panting, trotted behind Gu Huai and said unhappily, "Brother Huai, why are you walking so fast?"

As Luo Zhiyan was talking, she raised her head and suddenly noticed two other people standing beside her.

She said, "Oh, so my cousin's wife is here too?" She said, and quickly covered her mouth, as if she just realized that she had said something wrong: "Yan'er forgot that Sister Mu has broken off the engagement with Brother Huai, and is no longer my cousin's wife."

Mu An Ning saw through her little thoughts, but did not react much. He just nodded slightly as a greeting.

She didn't like Gu Huaizhi's cousin, but she couldn't dislike her either.

She had met Luo Zhiyan a few times in childhood, but they were not very familiar with each other.

However, since her marriage to Gu Huaizhi was decided, Luo Zhiyan has appeared in the Anqing Palace more and more frequently.

She could see that Luo Zhiyan must have some romantic feelings for Gu Huaizhi.

If she and Gu Huaizhi had not suddenly gotten engaged, they might have already become relatives.

Gu Huaizhi, who was already in a state of confusion, felt as if his heart was struck hard by Luo Zhiyan's words, as if pierced by a sharp blade.

Yes, they have broken off the engagement.

He couldn't help but side-glance and glared at his cousin impatiently: "Luo Zhiyan, shut up."

I never saw her calling her cousin in the past, but now she does so happily.

Luo Zhiyan was yelled at and pouted her lips in grievance, but it didn't go as he wished.

Her eyes turned and she looked at Tan Wenhuai who was beside Mu Anning: "Who is this gentleman?"

Tan Wenhuai came back to his senses, and he no longer had the momentum he had when talking to Gu Huaizhi just now: "I am Tan Wenhuai."

Luo Zhiyan nodded thoughtfully. It turned out that this person was the host of today's banquet.

She stared at the hairpin in his hand, and suddenly said, "Wow, this step is so beautiful." Her eyes sparkled, "Mr. Tan, are you going to give it to Sister Mu?"

When his worries were brought up, Tan Wenhuai nodded in disappointment, but Gu Huaizhi suddenly said in disdain: "Oh, you can actually give away such an ugly piece of jewelry?"

This green thing is not beautiful at all. It cannot even compare to the hairpin he carved with his own hands.

When Tan Wenhuai heard this, his face instantly turned red all the way to his neck.

It turns out that Miss Mu refused to accept it because the swing didn't look good.

He pursed his lips and stuttered, "Ms. Mu...Ms. Mu, I'm sorry. I don't know what kind of style you like..."

His words came to an abrupt halt as he suddenly realized that he had let something slip.

He had previously said that it was given to him by Su Nianci, but now he said that he chose it himself.

Seeing Tan Wenhuai's bewildered look, and then looking at Gu Huaizhi's face full of disgust, Mu Anning suddenly felt motivated and took a step forward, gently taking the shaking stick from his hand.

While Tan Wenhuai was stunned, she smiled and said, "Mr. Tan, why are you apologizing? This swing is very beautiful, so I will accept it."

What she said was true, she really thought the step was beautiful, and Tan Wenhuai had good taste.

The tips of Tan Wenhuai's ears turned red again, and he murmured, "Miss Mu likes...as long as she likes it."

Gu Huaizhi's anger, which he couldn't either get out or relieve, would finally be completely gone.

His voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, and he spoke word by word: "Mu An Ning, you can't take it back."

Seeing the girl's indifferent eyes looking at him, his tone could not help but weaken a little, as if begging: "Give it back to him."

How could she accept jewelry from another man?

Does she know what this means?

Mu An Ning had never heard him sound weak, and was stunned for a moment before he stopped smiling: "Sir, Mr. Tan's move is very beautiful, I like it very much, why can't you accept it?"

Since she has decided to say goodbye to her past relationship, it is not a bad idea to start a new one.

Moreover, she had a vague feeling that even though she was not yet ready, her grandmother seemed to have already made arrangements.

As these words fell, a light drizzle suddenly fell from the sky.

The guests around were leaving, but Gu Huaizhi just stared into her clear eyes without saying a word. For the first time, he felt the feeling of helplessness in his heart.

Tan Wenhuai quickly reached out his hand to Mu Anning's head, trying to shield her from the rain: "Miss Mu, let's go inside quickly."

Mu An Ning glanced at the hand above his head that could barely block a few drops of rain, smiled and nodded, then followed him into the house.

Gu Huaizhi stared at the two people's backs as they left, and tightened his fingers hanging by his sides.

He wanted to immediately go up and separate the two dazzling figures, but what could he do?

He had expected that what he would get in return was her indifferent or even accusatory look.

The cold raindrops fell mercilessly on him, piercing his heart one by one.

Seeing the rain getting heavier, Luo Zhiyan covered her head and asked hurriedly: "Brother Huai, why are you standing there like an idiot?"

Seeing that Gu Huaizhi still ignored her, she really didn't want to care about him this time, so she started to trot away.

She is wearing new clothes today and cannot stand the rain.

On the other side, Mu An Ning, who was also jogging, didn't think about the young man who was still in the rain behind him at all. Instead, he noticed a figure walking towards the outside of the mansion.

The more I look at him, the more he looks like Qiao Qingsheng who went to Beijing to take the imperial examination?