Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Duo Yi raised her hand as if to stroke Nan Fei, but it fell limply halfway down.

Nanfei took her hand and pressed it against his face.

Duo Yi smiled and closed her eyes: "Nan Fei... I'm so happy to die in your arms... In the next life... you must love me... okay..."

Duo Yi tilted her head slightly, as if asleep in his arms, peaceful and serene.

When Nanfei saw Duoyi's earrings, his eyes welled up with tears, blurring the girl's beautiful yet weathered face.

Someone once asked Duoyi why she only had one earring.

With a smile, the girl from the northern desert replied that she only wore one earring, symbolizing single-mindedness. After marriage, she would get another earring, symbolizing that their hearts were one.

Nanfei took the silver gourd-shaped sword pendant, pried it open slightly, and inside was a gold filigree gourd earring. Nanfei put the earring on Duoyi's feet.

Duo Yi's earlobes were warm, and her breathing was light and continuous.

Nanfei held Duoyi in his arms, pressing her against his chest, and rested his head on top of Duoyi's head.

Time flies by in the northern desert.

When Nanfei was thrown back into the brothel, he was unsure whether the girl would be seduced by him, so he had to persevere in saving himself.

Nanfei tried to pick the lock with all sorts of things: grass roots, leaves, branches, hair—anything he could reach…

One night, when no one was around, he curled up and unlocked the door with a finely rubbed birch branch that had been soaked in lamp oil.

Over the next few days, Nanfei practiced relentlessly. Practice makes perfect; he could pick locks by twisting a few strands of hair together, and if he could pick locks, he could walk…

As Nanfei was planning and looking for the right opportunity, he overheard the soldiers talking about Duoyi's wedding the next day...

Nanfei sneered, thinking to herself: After all, she's just a girl, she doesn't have much guts.

The following evening, everyone in the tent except those on duty went to attend the wedding celebrations...

Nanfei, huddled in the corner, was about to unlock the door when he heard a girl's haughty voice from outside: "The princess is getting married, so let the boys from Dongyang dance..."

Today is the wedding day of the prince and princess, who dares to be negligent? Nanfei looked up and saw Duoyi, slightly surprised: Shouldn't she be sitting in the bridal chamber waiting for the veil to be lifted?

Disguised as a maid, Duoyi said, "How can he dance like this? Quickly, unlock the chains..."

The guard was in a dilemma: "The Khan locked it himself, and threw the key away immediately..."

Duo Yi frowned and urged, "I'm taking him to see the Khan. Hey, hurry up, the Khan is waiting..."

Nanfei followed Duoyi toward the main hall, the heavy sound of their anklets dragging on the ground.

Once they were alone, Duoyi suddenly squatted down in front of him and said, "I'll carry you on my back."

At that time, Duoyi was taller than him, and it was still difficult for her to carry a boy of the same age. She struggled to carry Nanfei to the small room, made him sit on a chair, and then drew her sword to cut the iron chain lock.

Batu's iron chains could not be cut by a little girl; too much force would make a loud noise.

Duo Yi gritted her teeth, her face covered in sweat, extremely anxious. This woman, who should have been a bride, had schemed and plotted for the sake of the Dongyang slave.

Nanfei suddenly grabbed her hand; her palms were sweaty...

Nanfei asked, "Tell me, what are your plans? What about the bride? How are you going to escape?"

Perhaps it was Nanfei's hand holding hers that gave her strength, or perhaps it was Nanfei's calm tone that reassured her.

Duo Yi composed herself, her voice urgent yet clear: "He's been drinking, and he'll probably be drunk by the time we get back. I've had a maid dress up as the bride and sit in the bridal chamber. A fine steed is prepared at the back door. I know a cave near Wolf Mountain. I'll take you back to Dongyang once things have calmed down..."

Duo Yi squatted down in front of him, touching the iron chains with a worried expression: "What should I do..."

Nanfei casually took her willow orchid earring, straightened the silver hook, and fiddled with it in the keyhole a couple of times. The lock opened with a click.

Duo Yi was momentarily stunned, instinctively gripping the sword tightly, her heart pounding in her throat. If she changed her mind now, it wouldn't be too late.

Nanfei didn't notice Duoyi's hesitation. He stretched his limbs and smiled at Duoyi: "Let's go."

That smile calmed her heart, which was pounding in her throat. The situation was urgent; she had no time to think things through. She pulled Nanfei along, making a series of turns, and led them out the back door.

They dared not light torches, and traveled by starlight and moonlight.

The bride was replaced, the dead slave was taken away, and Batu was furious, ordering a manhunt.

Perhaps it was divine intervention, for a strong wind arose that night, and the sandstorm covered the hoofprints. They abandoned the horse in front of Wolf Mountain and hid in a cave on the cliff edge of the mountain.

The interior was well-furnished and well-stocked. This was Duoyi's secret hideout, a place where she could relax and daydream, unknown even to her maids.

Duo Yi stood in the cave, her back to Nan Fei, biting her lip as she struggled internally.

A careless remark from a boy from Dongyang stayed with her, and her impulsive and rebellious actions led her down a path of no return...

Nanfei had no intention of being saved by her; he would unlock the secret himself, he was simply lying in wait for the right opportunity...

She was suddenly overcome with a fear of the unknown, a fear of the boy in front of her: Should she really go to Dongyang with him? What would happen after they went to Dongyang?

If she regrets it now, it's not too late...

Nanfei looked around the cave, then turned to face her. Seeing her tired and confused expression, he said softly, "You're tired, go to sleep for a while..."

Boys from Dongyang are gentle and considerate, something boys from the northern deserts can't compare to.

Duo Yi shook his head.

Nanfei lifted his sleeve to wipe her sweat, thinking the little girl was frightened, and smiled to comfort her: "Shall I tell you a bedtime story?"

Duo Yi naturally agreed: "I've heard that the stories of Dongyang are very interesting..."

They sat side by side, and Nanfei began to tell a story:

I've heard of Chang'e flying to the moon; I've heard of Jingwei filling the sea; I've heard of Houyi shooting down the suns; I've heard of Yu the Great controlling the floods...

Duo Yi looked at Nan Fei with an innocent expression: "I've read a lot of storybooks..."

The girl's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Nanfei naturally wanted to take on the challenge. He told the story of the late Emperor of Dongyang and the goddess of Penglai. These court secrets were considered capital offenses to be told in Dongyang.

Nanfei, relying on rumors from the streets and his own reasoning, recounted the story in great detail.

Duo Yi listened intently, her head growing heavier and heavier until she slowly leaned against his shoulder and fell asleep.

Duoyi's dream was a jumbled mess: Batu, Borrent, her parents, and Nanfei...

When Duoyi woke up, it was already bright outside. After regaining her senses, she realized that she was the only one in the cave. She was covered with a tiger skin, so she wasn't cold.

Duo Yi lifted the tiger skin, revealing she wasn't wearing a coat. She looked around; her coat was gone.

Duo Yi hurriedly got up and checked herself from head to toe: her silver, hairpin, earrings, waist token, sword... all gone...

The people of Dongyang are deceitful and cannot be trusted. This boy injured Batu, saved Yuan Feng, and untied the chains... he was just using her...

Duoyi dared not go out, dared not go home, and could only pace back and forth in the cave. Until it grew dark in the cave, Duoyi sat at the entrance and cried…

Duo Yi didn't even dare to cry loudly, burying her head in her arms and sobbing, crying out truly, "Liar...liar...liar..."

As she cried, she smelled the aroma of meat. Duoyi looked up and saw Nanfei dressed in a herdsman's girl's clothes, wearing a tassel hat, carrying a package in one hand and a roasted lamb leg in the other.