Take advantage of the opportunity

When Mu An Ning walked into Jishiditang, old doctor Lu was sitting quietly on a wooden chair mixing medicine.

The girl couldn't help but wrinkle her nose. The smell of this medicinal material was much more bitter than ordinary herbs.

But she had been working in Jishidiang for quite some time and had never smelled such pungent medicinal herbs.

Hearing the sound of someone coming in, Dr. Lu finally looked up, with a flash of surprise in his tired eyes: "Miss Mu is here."

He deliberately did not pass on the government's news to Mu An Ning in order to allow her to avoid the limelight for a few more days. Now, he didn't know where she got the news from, but she came here on her own.

This girl is more hardworking than any of the disciples he had taught in the past.

"What are you mixing?" Mu An Ning slowly approached the old man and asked with a smile, "Do you need help?"

The old man was alone and looked very lonely at the moment.

Just now in the carriage, she guessed that there would not be many patients today, but she didn't expect that there was not even a single person, while the Hanging Kettle Hall on the other street was packed with people.

I don’t know whether it is a good thing or a bad thing.

Seeing the girl's smile, Dr. Lu put down the medicine jar and the wrinkles between his brows relaxed: "I am developing a new herbal medicine. I will tell you when it is ready."

The implication was obvious: he didn't need her help.

Hearing these mysterious words, Mu An Ning's worries gradually dissipated and he smiled and said "OK".

I don’t know whether Dr. Lu knows the results of the autopsy conducted by the government.

Although the girl's death had nothing to do with her, she still wanted to know.

Old Doctor Lu sighed imperceptibly, and then he started to prepare the medicine again, his eyes full of love: "Girl Mu, you should go back home. There are not many people in Jishitang today, and it is enough for me to see you alone."

It would be better to say that there are no people at all rather than that there are not many people.

He has been sitting here for the entire morning, but no one seems to come to see a doctor. Mu An Ning has nothing to do here, so he might as well go back home and rest.

Mu An Ning did not take this to heart, but sat to one side and said with a smile: "You mix your medicine, and I'll read my medical book."

She could see that Dr. Lu was thinking of her, but even though Jishitang was so idle now, she still took her salary.

Moreover, although she had stayed in the mansion every day before, she just felt particularly bored these days and it would be more comfortable for her to stay in the clinic.

Seeing that the girl was so determined, Doctor Lu had no choice but to let her do what she wanted.

"Oh, right." Doctor Lu suddenly said thoughtfully, "You told me before that you would get married on the 15th of next month?"

Mu An Ning was a little surprised that the old man would suddenly mention this matter. After a while, he took his eyes off the medical book and nodded and said "yes".

Doctor Lu was quite famous in Shangjing, and he also had a lot of connections with the Su family, so naturally he was among the guests at the banquet.

Mu An Ning had learned a lot from the old man and considered him half a master, so he mentioned it verbally in advance out of courtesy.

Old Doctor Lu nodded, staring at the medicine jar in his hand with a slightly gloomy expression, thinking of what his only son had said.

If the news about my son is true, the capital will be in chaos soon.

It may not be easy for Miss Mu to get married at this time.

Just as Dr. Lu was thinking about whether he should reveal more information to the girl, Jishitang welcomed its first patient of the day.

They both raised their eyes at the same time, and saw a woman of unknown age walking in.

She walked straight towards Doctor Lu and snorted, "Old Lu, you seem to be free today. Come and take my pulse."

Hearing this extremely intimate address, Mu An Ning raised his eyes and glanced at the two of them calmly, feeling a little curious.

The woman was obviously familiar with Dr. Lu, but she had probably never seen this woman in this Jishitang.

But strangely, Dr. Lu didn't even look at the woman, and said coldly: "You are in good health, no need to take a pulse."

The corner of the woman's mouth twitched, but she ignored him and turned to look at the girl who lowered her eyes and continued to read the medical book. She pointed at the door with a smile and said jokingly, "Little girl, there is a young man outside. Is he your lover?"

Mu An Ning raised his eyes and looked in the direction she pointed with a little surprise, but he only caught a glimpse of a light green corner of clothes.

Mu An Ning retracted her gaze, suppressed her guess, shook her head and said with a smile: "You are joking, my daughter does not have any lover."

As she spoke, the tips of her ears felt hot.

Could it be...Tan Wenhuai?

"You are already an old man, so please don't ruin the girl's reputation." Old Doctor Lu suddenly spoke, his tone was rarely unfriendly.

Mu An Ning came back to his senses, the corners of his lips twitched, he looked at Dr. Lu, then at the beautiful woman, feeling a little at a loss.

Doctor Lu was usually quite serious about medical matters, but he was not serious either. This was the first time she saw the old man get angry.

But the woman was not angry, and even seemed quite used to it.

The woman looked Mu An Ning up and down and said slowly, "Girl, you should go out and take a look. The young master has been waiting outside for more than half an hour. He must be waiting for you."

She gave Doctor Lu a look and said with a smile, "I'm always very good at judging people. That young master can't be waiting for this old man."

Mu An Ning couldn't help but feel puzzled when she heard the woman utter the word "old lady" in a calm tone. She secretly wondered if this woman was the wife of Dr. Lu.

But their ages don't seem to match.

The woman looked much younger than old Doctor Lu.

"What are you standing there for?" The woman smiled coaxingly, "I'm not lying to you."

Mu An Ning blinked. She seemed to realize that the woman felt that she was a hindrance to the two of them.

When Doctor Lu saw the girl stand up, he was about to open his mouth to stop her, but the woman slammed the table and choked him back.

*

"Ahuai, what did father talk to you about yesterday?" Gu Yihan looked at his cousin gently.

Gu Huaizhi leaned back in his chair lazily: "Uncle Huang said all this just to make sure that if there is a war with Liang in the future, I will do my part."

It was because of this incident that his conversation with Mu An Ning was interrupted yesterday.

But strangely enough, the emperor has mentioned this matter more frequently in recent days, and none of his mentions seem like a joke.

Naturally, he would not hesitate at all in serving the country, and he didn't know what the emperor was thinking about.

The deepness in Gu Yihan's eyes became even deeper: "Didn't you say anything else?"

Gu Huaizhi said no, but his thoughts uncontrollably drifted back to yesterday.

The emperor actually told him to get married soon, and mentioned the recent rumors in the capital, that is, the young lady of the Liu family was in love with him.

As soon as he returned home, he sent someone to deal with it, but what bothered him most was that it was already the end of May.

Gu Huaizhi cleared his throat thoughtfully and said, "Cousin, how do you think a woman can be disgusted with a man?"

If he could find a way to make Mu An Ning dislike Tan Wenhuai, then the two of them should be able to break off the engagement.

However, even if they really got married, he would not be completely without a chance...

With Tan Wenhuai's physique, he might die at any time, but his Aning will definitely live to be a hundred years old.

Why couldn't he take advantage of the situation then?

No, even so, he still couldn't let them get married.

The worry in Gu Yihan's eyes gradually disappeared, and he smiled gently, "Ah Huai, are you still happy with Miss Mu?"

His cousin's little thoughts were almost written all over his face, but he still couldn't understand why his cousin was so obsessed with a woman.

"Haha, cousin, your East Palace is really boring." Gu Huaizhi avoided the question, fanned himself twice with his folding fan, and rubbed his eyebrows impatiently.

So what if he likes her?

She doesn't like him at all.

Saying this now would only make him feel more depressed.

This was not the first time that his cousin had said this. Gu Yihan looked around and laughed, "Then I'll have someone change the layout of the East Palace. What do you think, Ah Huai?"

Gu Huaizhi raised his chin, and Gu Yihan said, "Since Ah Huai feels that the East Palace is boring, why don't you go to the wine shop with me tomorrow?"

drink wine?

Gu Yihan has never liked drinking, but he acted strangely today. Could it be that he felt sorry for him and was sympathizing with him?

Thinking of this, Gu Huaizhi laughed disdainfully and confessed, "Cousin, don't you think your cousin is the kind of person who drowns his sorrows in alcohol?"

Drinking to drown your sorrows is enough just once; he won't do it a second time.

It's really not worth it for a pale-faced scholar like Tan Wenhuai.

Gu Yihan smiled, his eyes revealing deep meaning: "I didn't say anything, Ah Huai, you said this yourself."

Seeing Gu Huaizhi's expression stiffen, Gu Yihan smiled and said, "If we don't want to go to the wine shop, how about going to the tea house?"

He happens to be leaving the palace tomorrow, and perhaps Gu Huaizhi can help him.

Gu Huaizhi had no excuse to refuse this time, so he pretended that he hadn't said anything before and said calmly, "Okay."

*

"Brother Qiao?" Mu An Ning's eyes were filled with surprise as he looked at the green robe on the young man.

I thought it was just an excuse made by the woman, but I didn't expect that the man outside was actually someone she knew.

Qiao Qingsheng turned around a little awkwardly and met the girl's almond-shaped eyes that were almost identical to her mother's.

His expression became more complicated, and he called out with his hands behind his back, "An Ning."

No wonder An Ning never talked to them about her family before. It turned out that she went to Wutong City because of her mediocre status.

Originally, they could have been reunited a long time ago.

Mu An Ning smiled and said, "Brother Qiao, are you here to see me today?"

Qiao Qingsheng nodded with a heavy face, his eyes unconsciously a little sour, and he forced a smile and said, "Aunt and Ziweng miss you very much."

Mu An Ning was stunned for a moment. Although she had never been to the Qiao Mansion, she would occasionally communicate with Fang Ziweng and Aunt Fang.

She blinked, feeling something unspeakably wrong.

Brother Qiao looked like he was about to cry.

Mu An Ning was about to speak when Qiao Qingsheng said, "Would you like to come to Qiao's residence tomorrow to have lunch together?"

Mu An Ning thought about it and nodded in agreement.

She had just wanted to invite the whole family to a restaurant for a gathering, which was almost the same idea as Brother Qiao's.

However, Brother Qiao came to Jishidiang to find her just for this matter?

Mu An Ning was confused, but suddenly remembered something and said with difficulty: "Brother Qiao, I was able to do it just now, but I suddenly remembered that I may not be able to do it tomorrow."

She also made an appointment with Tan Wenhuai to go to the teahouse tomorrow to return the wedding dress design to him.

This matter cannot be delayed any longer.

Seeing that Qiao Qingsheng was emitting a strange sadness, Mu Anning hurriedly asked, "The day after tomorrow, what do you think, Brother Qiao?"

Qiao Qingsheng smiled brightly: "Okay, then the day after tomorrow."