War

"Baoqin, what happened?" Mu An Ning sat up from the couch and asked the maid who had just opened the door.

On normal days, these little maids would never chat idly outside the door.

Baoqin closed the door gently and shrugged, "Miss, Madam Yun is sick today, but the old man refused to call a doctor for her no matter what."

Mu An Ning couldn't help but look surprised and asked, "Why didn't father call a doctor for her?"

She could see that her adoptive father loved this concubine who had given birth to twins for him very much, and he would not be so unwilling to hire a doctor.

Baoqin was changing her young lady's clothes while shaking her head, also with a look of surprise on her face: "Who would have known that the third young lady would be crying outside the master and the mistress's room so early in the morning."

The old man had just left the house, and even though the lady felt sorry for Mu Jingyue, she did not dare to disobey the old man's wishes.

The mansion hasn't been so lively for some time, and now the maids are discussing this matter secretly.

Mu An Ning frowned slightly, thinking that she should go and take a look, after all, she knew a little about pharmacology.

If Aunt Yun was really seriously ill, she could at least prescribe some medicine for her and send someone to catch her.

Baoqin said "eh" and pointed at the sign on Mu Anning's waist: "Miss, did you sleep with this sign on last night?"

Mu An Ning's eyes flashed, and he subconsciously wanted to reach out and take it off, but his hands suddenly stopped.

In an instant, she recalled the boy's instructions last night.

She wore it to bed last night and really just forgot to take it off.

But she found that this thing seemed to have a miraculous calming effect. Last night, she did not wake up in the middle of the night for the first time and slept quite soundly.

However, why did Gu Huaizhi give her such an amulet? Last night he repeatedly warned her not to take it off.

He also said that if she took it off, he would be able to sense it, but he didn't know whether it was true or not.

Just when Mu An Ning was hesitating, there was a crisp knock on the door.

The master and servant turned around and saw Yuandong with his head lowered.

"Miss, the third lady is here to see you." Yuandong bowed and said respectfully.

Mu An Ning and Bao Qin looked at each other, unconsciously loosened their hands on the wooden sign, then nodded, and asked Yuan Dong to go and entertain her first.

After washing her face, Baoqin began to dress up her young lady.

While combing the girl's hair, Baoqin happened to catch a glimpse of the peach-shaped birthmark on the back of her neck. She couldn't help but ask curiously, "By the way, Miss, I seemed to smell a scent of peach blossoms on the clothes you changed yesterday. Did you use any spices?"

The lady seldom uses perfume, but there is always a faint orchid scent on her body.

But now, the strong scent of peach blossoms completely covered up the original fragrance of the young lady.

Thinking of what happened last night, Mu An Ning's expression tensed up, and his fingers unconsciously touched the wooden sign at his waist again.

After a while, the confused girl shook her head and replied with a chuckle: "You must have smelled it wrong. How come I don't know that there is also a peach blossom scent on me?"

Baoqin looked suspicious, she felt that the young lady was hiding something, but as her personal maid, she had not seen the young lady use any perfume. Baoqin sniffed, could it be that she really smelled something wrong?

*

Seeing the girl approaching slowly, Mu Jingyue, who had been sitting quietly, brightened up. He suddenly stood up and bowed: "Big sister."

Mu An Ning nodded, sat down beside her, and scanned his half-sister's face without moving his eyes.

There were still some tear marks on Mu Jingyue's face and her eyes were a little swollen, as if she had indeed cried a lot.

Mu An Ning took a sip of tea and asked, "Third sister, is Madam Yun seriously ill?"

Mu Jingyue was stunned, as if he had not expected the girl to take the initiative to ask about her aunt's illness. The words that had already reached his throat were choked back.

"Thank you for your concern, elder sister. I came here today for my aunt." Mu Jingyue took out a handkerchief at the right time and wiped away the tears that had not yet fallen from her eyes: "My aunt can't get out of bed today, and I want to get some medicine for her. Can you take me to the clinic?"

She had always known that Mu An Ning was prominent in the Su family's clinic and had gained some fame because of it.

After listening to his half sister's request, Mu An Ning slowly put down the teacup and thought for a while.

Her brother had previously said that it would be best not to leave the house in the next few days, but she didn't know what had happened and had not yet decided whether to go to Jishitang today.

Seeing that the girl didn't answer, Mu Jingyue's eyes flashed with a barely visible hatred, and then he curled his lips weakly, with a look of pity: "If big sister doesn't help me, I really don't know what to do, my aunt..."

In fact, my aunt just caught a cold.

It wasn't a big deal originally, but my aunt said that she had to take this opportunity to go out of the house today.

She had originally thought that this matter would be settled naturally, but today, no matter how much she begged, the Lord Chongde was unwilling to give in and just told her to stay at home. As for Yunniang, he just told her to endure it for the time being.

Mu An Ning observed her half-sister's worried expression for a while before slowly nodding: "I can take you with me, but Third Sister should go talk to Mother first."

Although he didn't know why his adoptive father was acting so abnormally today, it was just a piece of cake for him to take Mu Jingyue to get some medicine.

As for my brother's previous suggestion not to go out these days...

It's better to take a look at the situation on the street first. At worst, we can bring more guards.

Mu Jingyue's face lit up instantly, and she quickly assured him, "Don't worry, big sister. I've already told mother about it."

Mu An Ning nodded. She had no doubts about this. After all, Xu now treated Mu Jingyue like her own daughter and would not prevent her from leaving the house.

After a simple breakfast, the two of them left the yard together.

But just as Mu An Ning was about to reach the door, Mu Jingyue looked around calmly, then took the girl's arm affectionately and said, "Big sister, let's go out from the back door."

Mu An Ning raised her eyebrows slightly, paused, and looked at Mu Jingyue inquiringly: "Why?"

Mu Jingyue still maintained a decent smile and whispered in the girl's ear, "I heard there are a lot of beggars on the street today. I'm afraid I'll be stuck and can't get out."

"Beggar?" Mu An Ning frowned and glanced at Baoqin. No one knew where Mu Jingyue got the news from.

But before she had time to think about it, she was pulled away by Mu Jingyue.

*

Doctor Lu was startled at first when he saw the two girls coming in one after the other. Then he slowly put down the medical book in his hand and said with a smile, "Ms. Mu, why did you bring a girl here today?"

Before Mu An Ning opened her mouth, Mu Jingyue took the lead and smiled: "You must be Dr. Lu, I have heard about you from my sister."

The wrinkles on Doctor Lu's face relaxed slightly. He glanced at the quiet girl beside him and smiled, "So what did your sister say about me?"

"My sister said you were quite strict with her..." Mu Jingyue smiled, no longer showing any worry. "But I heard that you are a great doctor, so I want to learn from you."

"Oh?" Doctor Lu glanced at the two sisters.

Mu Yatou's sister has a dagger hidden behind her smile.

Mu An Ning had never mentioned Doctor Lu to her, but she was too lazy to argue and just reminded her softly, "Third sister, you'd better get the medicine and go home as soon as possible."

No matter how she asked about Aunt Yun's illness in the carriage before, Mu Jingyue refused to tell her. It was obvious that she didn't trust her, so she simply ignored it.

Mu Jingyue's smile froze, and he glanced at Doctor Lu quietly. Seeing that he looked normal, he said, "Sister is still thoughtful."

"Sorry to trouble you, Doctor Lu." Mu An Ning smiled at Doctor Lu, and under his inquiring gaze, walked to his usual chair and sat down.

Mu Jingyue didn't want her to hear it, and she was not curious either. She just wanted Mu Jingyue to return home earlier to avoid delaying Dr. Lu from seeing other patients.

But today...

Mu An Ning glanced at Mu Jingyue who was talking incessantly with Doctor Lu, and then turned his gaze towards the door.

There are surprisingly few patients today, no wonder Dr. Lu was reading medical books and mixing medicine just now.

After thinking for a while, Mu An Ning suppressed his doubts and concentrated on reading the medical book.

It is a good thing that there are fewer diseases in the world.

After a while, Mu Jingyue took the medicine bag and moved to the girl's side with lotus steps: "Big sister, I see that there are not many people in this clinic, why don't we go out..."

Before Mu Jingyue finished speaking, Mu Anning raised her curtains and smiled, "After the third sister has finished getting the medicine, she will go back home first."

Mu Jingyue squeezed the medicine bag in her hand and said angrily, "My younger sister finally managed to leave the house, but you, elder sister, are so impatient to chase me away."

Mu An Ning stood up slowly, her brows and eyes calm, "It's not impossible for Third Sister to stay here, but...I'm afraid Aunt Yun can't wait any longer."

"You..." Mu Jingyue bit her lip. She didn't expect that this adopted daughter who always spoke softly and gently would dare to scold her.

Mu An Ning ignored her and took the medical book and walked up to Dr. Lu, ready to ask some questions that confused him.

Mu Jingyue was so angry at her ignoring him that he gritted his teeth, but he could only smile and say goodbye to the two people who were like master and disciple: "Then Jingyue will go back home first."

I don't know why my aunt insisted that she leave the house, even though my father had clearly ordered her not to leave the house today.

Mu Jingyue had just walked to the door when he unexpectedly ran into a man in official uniform.

The man was stunned for a moment before he apologized to her in a low voice.

Mu Jingyue stopped in his tracks and secretly looked at the handsome man in front of him who was obviously an official. Then he asked with concern, "Sir, why are you so anxious? What happened?"

The man shook his head and then turned aside to let Mu Jingyue go out.

Mu Jingyue narrowed his eyes and didn't ask any more questions. However, before leaving, he still took a look inside Jishidiang.

This man was obviously here to seek An Ning.

"Peace."

Mu An Ning, who had been concentrating on listening to Dr. Lu's explanation of the medical book, raised his head and asked in surprise: "Brother Qiao?"

There was an obvious smile in Qiao Qingsheng's tired eyes: "An Ning, I have something to tell you, can you come out for a while?"

He finished speaking and bowed respectfully towards the old man.

Old Doctor Lu closed the medical book, looked at the two of them meaningfully, and shook his head: "My dear Mu, I think you are very lucky."

Even though he was well-informed, he had never seen a little girl being courted by so many men in such a short period of time.

Old Doctor Lu looked at the two people who left the room, secretly counted on his fingers, and counted the men he had seen in Jishidiang in the past few days.

One, two, three...

No, including the one today, there should be four.

However, Miss Mu has a stable personality and beautiful looks, so it is not surprising that some people still covet her even after she is engaged.

If his son could be more aggressive and not just fight and kill every day, he would like to have his son marry Mu An Ning.

*

Qiao Qingsheng smiled sincerely and said, "An Ning, thank you very much, otherwise I would have to stay in the government office for a few more days."

In fact, the collusion with the people of Liang was just a misunderstanding, and it could be solved by sending some silver to the government.

However, you still need some status before the government will accept you.

I think it was only because my sister begged the Chongde Marquis' Mansion that he was released.

"Actually, I didn't help much." Although Mu An Ning was confused, he still smiled and shook his head: "But it's good that Brother Qiao came out."

She only asked the servants in the mansion to investigate, and also tried to send some silver to the government office as a bribe, but the people there still refused to release the person.

It was surprising that he suddenly released the person, as she was originally thinking of other ways.

Qiao Qingsheng sighed in his heart. After he returned home, he learned that his aunt did not have the time to tell him the whole story of An Ning's life that day.

Just when Qiao Qingsheng was thinking about how to ask his sister to come to the Qiao Mansion for another reunion, the sound of horse hooves came one after another.

Qiao Qingsheng quickly protected his sister behind him, and heard the people around him whispering, "Why are there so many soldiers?"

"Can't you see this? We are going to go to war with the Liang State." A man said with his hands behind his back.

A fat vendor asked in surprise, "Why did a war suddenly break out?"

"This is not sudden." Another man with shrewd eyes spoke slowly: "Haven't you noticed that those wealthy families have stayed indoors recently?"

Mu An Ning touched the hot amulet in his hand, and a bad thought flashed through his mind. He muttered to himself: "Is there going to be a war?"

The deafening sound of horse hooves instantly drowned out the voices of everyone else.

Mu An Ning, who was standing behind Qiao Qingsheng, turned sideways and saw a crowd of people and horses, stretching as far as the eye could see, heading towards the city gate.

"Prince Gu..." Someone in the crowd seemed to shout, but was quickly swallowed up.

Mu An Ning's heart skipped a beat and his eyes fell on the young man in the lead.