Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Nan Fei paused, looking at An Liangchen.

An Liangchen's smile concealed a smugness: "Rumor has it she brought 70,000 Xingtian cavalry, but in reality she only had 20,000. Even you suspect she's been a garrison commander for too long and isn't good at offense; Han Mu will probably have the same suspicions, and suspicion leads to underestimating the enemy..."

Nan Fei lowered his eyes and held the token in his hand: "Brother-in-law, if you were a general, you would be better than all of us..."

An Liangchen said, "My grandfather was crippled after conquering Zhongzhou. My father was revered as a war god by the people of Dongyang when he was the crown prince, but now he's old and riddled with illness. I don't need to..."

Nan Fei nodded silently, a rare hint of apprehension in his voice: "Brother-in-law, I've never led troops before..."

An Liangchen said, "The Xingtian Cavalry will have a general and a deputy general for every 10,000 men. The people will be selected by Generals Yuan Feng and Yin Jing, and my father and I will decide on the selection. We will also transfer Zhao Sheng and Wang Du from the Northern Army to be your deputies."

An Liangchen beckoned, and Fu Man stepped forward and placed the red cloth wrapping on the table. An Liangchen opened it, revealing a set of gold-threaded soft armor inside.

An Liangchen said, "This is tailor-made for you. Fifty thousand Xingtian cavalry are at the North Camp. You will set off first thing tomorrow morning. The military tally is with Yuan Feng. The imperial edict of appointment was read out at the North Camp yesterday. Zhao Sheng and Wang Du are waiting at the North Camp. You can mobilize troops with the General's token."

Everything was arranged; what else could be said? Nan Fei silently tied up his package, and An Liangchen saw him out.

After walking for a while, Nanfei said, "Brother-in-law, please wait. I can go back by myself."

An Liangchen looked at him and thought for a moment: "You two be careful, I'll wait for you to come back and throw a celebration banquet."

Nanfei walked a distance of about ten feet and then turned back, tilting his head: "Brother-in-law, did you... have something else to say just now?"

He merely changed his mind, and yet it was noticed? An Liangchen was quite surprised: "I was thinking of your sister... Nanhua..."

Nanfei said, "You don't need to tell me about your family matters..."

An Liangchen grabbed his shoulder, preventing him from moving: "You may not know my style: I think things through carefully before making a decision, and I may hesitate for a long time. Once I make a decision, I will stick to it and will not change it easily. For me, easily changing a well-thought-out decision is a betrayal of myself."

Nanfei responded with an "oh".

An Liangchen released him, frank and open: "It's the same with marrying Nanhua. I wasted many years of her life. But from the moment I decided to marry her, she has been my wife for life, now the Crown Princess of Dongyang, and in the future the Empress of Dongyang."

An Liangchen is the Crown Prince; there's no need to explain to him, nor to make promises to his brother-in-law… Explaining is a favor, and making a statement is a guarantee…

Nanfei felt obligated to accept this. He asked bluntly, "If my sister weren't pregnant, would you have married her?"

An Liangchen smiled slyly: "If I hadn't decided to marry her, she wouldn't have gotten pregnant."

Fortune or misfortune lies in a single thought. Nanhua was An Liangchen's choice after much hesitation and comparison, thus it was unfortunate. Nanhua was An Liangchen's firm decision after careful consideration, thus it was fortunate.

What about him and Yuan Feng? He was Yuan Feng's unwavering choice, but what was Yuan Feng to him?

Nanfei was lost in thought the whole way, but when he reached the gate of the Yuan residence, he realized he had made a foolish mistake: Yuan Feng was his wife! There was no doubt about it!

The main gate is gone? Nanfei strode to the front yard, where red lacquered wooden planks were scattered.

The Yuan residence was already quite dilapidated, and now it's... a scene of utter devastation? No, "scene of utter devastation" doesn't even begin to describe it.

The tables and chairs have all been replaced with wooden planks and slats. And the gazebo? The gazebo is gone!

Butler Su was leading the servants to clean the courtyard when he saw him approaching. Tears streamed down his face as he said, "Young Master, the pavilion has collapsed, and even the pillars were chopped into firewood by Madam Luo with her sword. The two of them fought all the way from the backyard to the frontyard, smashing and destroying everything they could... You can't judge a book by its cover, these refined scoundrels..."

The aloof young master and the refined young lady are so brutal when they fight.

Nanfei smiled and said, "It's good."

Butler Su thought he had gone mad with anger, and cautiously said, "Young Master..."

Nanfei said, "There's no need to buy firewood for the second half of the year. Send the repair costs to the palace for the Crown Prince..."

Butler Su let out a sound of surprise.

Nanfei said, "If the Crown Prince doesn't come out, go to the yamen and beat the drum to appeal for justice, saying that the owner and his wife of the Heaven and Earth Manor have trespassed on a private residence and damaged property..."

Nanfei turned around, took two steps, and then turned back: "Where's Eighth Sister?"

Butler Su couldn't keep up with Nanfei's train of thought: "Eighth Sister... Ah, Young Master Luo said that Madam needs a personal maid, so he took Eighth Sister away... Young Master, are you going to beat the drum to appeal for justice?"

Nan Fei said from afar, "No need."

Nan Fei returned to the Nan residence and chatted with Old Madam Nan for a while. Old Madam Nan was very pleased to see him walking so briskly.

After chatting, Nanfei went to see Xiaomutou. Junxinyue was teaching Xiaomutou to write big characters.

Little Wood saw him first and excitedly exclaimed, "Uncle, I can write my name..."

Nan Ichiki.

Nanfei squatted down, his expression serious: "Little Wood's writing is really beautiful."

Little Wood was proud of the praise and handed the pen to Nanfei: "Uncle, let me write this for you..."

Nanfei added a line below Nan Yimu. Little Wood read aloud, "Yimu Yi..."

The little piece of wood got stuck; he didn't recognize the things behind it.

Nanfei patiently taught: "Fusheng, Yimu Yifusheng. Little Wood's name is Yimu, and his courtesy name is Fusheng!"

Jun Xinyue said, "Wood, your name was given to you by your uncle."

Little Wood said, "Thank you, Uncle."

Nanfei smiled, put down his pen, and picked up Xiaomutou: "Sister-in-law, I'm taking Xiaomutou out to play for a while."

Jun Xinyue accompanied him as they walked out: "Is there something you need, little brother?"

Nanfei said, "I'm going to the army tomorrow and won't be back for a long time. Sister-in-law, thank you and my elder brother for taking care of our parents."

Jun Xinyue sensed something amiss and replied softly, "We're family, little brother, no need to stand on ceremony. The battlefield is dangerous, please be careful in everything you do, and when you see your wife, please give her our regards..."

Nanfei felt a warmth in his heart: "Sister-in-law, if Mother asks, just say I've been away for a while."

Jun Xinyue nodded, stood at the entrance of the Nan Mansion and watched Nan Fei carry the little wooden figure away into the distance, and sighed softly.

Nanfei carried the little wooden figure around the market, going from Hefang East Street to Hefang West Street and back.

Little Wood was very polite and didn't buy much. After looking around, he chose a cloth tiger that looked majestic to him.

Looking at the adorable red lucky tiger, Nanfei said, "How about we pick out a little tiger for Xiaozhitou too?"

The little piece of wood asked, "A small twig?"

Nanfei said, "Little sister, your name is Little Wood, and my name is Little Branch..."

Little Wood corrected him: "Uncle, Mom said my sister's name is Little Branch..."

Nanfei gently pinched his fair and rosy cheeks: "How about you help Xiaozhiya pick out a little tiger?"

Little Wood said, "The little sister hasn't been born yet."

Nanfei said, "You buy it for your sister first, and you can give it to her as soon as she gives birth. She will definitely be very happy."

Little Wood thought it made a lot of sense: "Uncle, pick this peony tiger one. Mom said girls all like flowers."

Nanfei carried Little Wooden Head back, still some distance from the main gate of the Nan residence. Nanfei put him down: "Little Wooden Head, let's go back."