Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Yuan Feng was self-disciplined and strict in managing her troops, always rising at dawn without fail for years. This day, she woke up to find it already broad daylight; it was late. She sat on the bed, wrapped in her blankets, her mind still somewhat foggy.

Last night's events came crashing down on her, and she dreamt of Nanfei, though she knew it wasn't him. Yuan Feng thought: It's finally come to this.

Have they lost all sense of shame? Why aren't they panicked? Not even apologetic? Have they given up completely? Giving up on flying south and giving up on themselves?

Yuan Feng was dressing blankly when she accidentally touched the amulet. She had taken it off yesterday, deciding never to wear it again, but it was back around her neck. Did she put it back on herself? Or did Ouyang put it on for her?

Yuan Feng hesitated, touching the amulet, and didn't take it off. Standing in the tent, she felt something was wrong, and touched around: the military tally was gone.

Yuan Feng was shocked. She shook out all the pillows and blankets and searched every corner, confirming that the military tally was missing.

Ouyang wouldn't touch her military tally; someone must have been here. A mix of panic over the lost tally and secret anticipation swirled within Yuan Feng, and she saw the hand lifting the tent flap tremble slightly.

Yuan Feng asked the standing guard, "Xiaoman, who has come by?"

Yuan Feng's voice was hurried and unsteady, and Xiao Man stared at her, slightly taken aback. Before he could reply, Yuan Feng turned to look for Yin Jing, when she saw Nan Fei approaching.

Nan Fei was dressed in bright red, even redder than the fire in her dream. Was she still dreaming or hallucinating? Yuan Feng stared blankly at Nan Fei, her breath catching in her throat.

Xiaoman then said from the side, "The son-in-law arrived last night."

Son-in-law? Yuan Feng was startled. Nan Fei was already in front of her, tilting his head slightly to look at her with his usual teasing smile.

Last night was Nanfei?! Yuan Feng began to come back to her senses, a smile unconsciously creeping onto her lips, her eyes gradually brightening, but what she uttered was: "You stole my military seal?"

Nanfei was slightly taken aback: "...Ah Feng, could you use a more romantic welcome?"

Yuan Feng changed his tune: "You took my military tally?"

Nanfei flicked her forehead with his finger: "Say it again."

Yuan Feng rubbed her forehead, looking aggrieved, and said, "You want to lend me your military tally?"

"Are you going after the military tally?" Xiaoman chuckled.

Nanfei said to Xiaoman, "Teach the general how to say it."

Xiaoman stammered twice: "Is the son-in-law stealing the military tally to usurp the throne?"

A strong general has no weak soldiers. Nanfei gave up and said to Xiaoman, "Give the general some food."

Nanfei naturally led Yuan Feng into the main tent. Yuan Feng recalled the excruciating pain of yesterday, but it vanished the moment she saw Nanfei.

A preordained calamity. Nan Fei heard Yuan Feng sigh softly, "What, are you unhappy that I'm here?"

Yuan Feng frowned: "What do you mean?"

Nanfei was just joking, but Yuan Feng overreacted. Nanfei, quick-witted, spoke with a dangerous undertone: "General Yuan, who did you think you were having a passionate night with last night?"

Yuan Feng was speechless; she neither knew nor cared about the insincerity of officialdom. Nan Fei's smile immediately turned cold. Just then, Xiao Man brought in the food, breaking the awkward silence.

Nanfei fiddled with the military tally, watching Yuan Feng casually eat a few bites and put down his chopsticks: "Eat more, you finally managed to gain a few pounds back, and in less than a month you've lost even more weight."

Yuan Feng picked up her chopsticks again but didn't touch them. Nan Fei, unable to bear it any longer, tossed her the military tally: "What, do you want me to feed you?"

Yuan Feng put the military tally back into his pocket, and on a whim, said, "Hmm."

Nanfei beckoned in surprise: "Come here."

Yuan Feng then realized what she had said. This was in the military, unlike Chongming Island. She shook her head: "I'm full."

Nanfei walked over and half-squatted down next to her: "You used to cling to me and want me to hug you, but now you're so serious. Are you afraid someone will see us?"

Yuan Feng grew impatient with the suspicion implied in her words and put down her chopsticks: "Let's go for a walk."

Yuan Feng was the first to leave the tent, and Nan Fei, standing inside, pondered for a moment before following him out. The two sat atop Xiangzi Mountain, gazing at the dark clouds on the horizon. Was it going to rain?

Yuan Feng's expression was desolate, a stark contrast to the disbelief and secret excitement she had shown when they first met: "I thought it was General Ouyang last night."

Honesty and generosity are good qualities, but being frank about this kind of thing is even more so. Nanfei was unusually stunned, unable to fathom her mind. He plucked a blade of grass and played with it between his fingers for a while before saying, "I was just joking with you, and you actually took it seriously?"

Yuan Feng said earnestly, "Even the most unbearable facts are better than covering up suspicions."

Nanfei nodded: "Ah Feng is right. My reputation is much worse than yours, so it's already considerate of you not to hold me accountable."

There are all sorts of rumors about Bian Jingdu. But when Yuan Feng is mentioned, it's always in praise.

She's already openly admitted it, so why doesn't Nanfei intend to be honest? Yuan Feng waited a while, then stood up to leave: "Let's go back."

Nanfei reached out and pressed her shoulder: "I left after lunch. I borrowed you from Uncle Yin for the whole morning."

Yuan Feng was slightly taken aback: "Where to?"

Nanfei said, "The Crown Prince has ordered us to take the pass within a month. We've divided our forces into three routes, and you'll be the one leading the charge from the center. I discussed this with several generals this morning, and Ouyang was there too. They'll explain everything to you in detail later..."

Yuan Feng said, "No need to elaborate, with you here, I'm dispensable..."

Nanfei looked her over carefully: "Are you angry? I saw you slept well this morning, so I didn't have the heart to wake you up..."

Yuan Feng shook her head: "I'm not angry. I believe you, and I'm also glad that I'm dispensable."

Yuan Feng wasn't lying, so she was tired of being a general? Nan Fei reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her temple: "Soon, after we win, you can stay home and take care of your husband and children."

Yuan Feng showed no joy and asked listlessly, "Where is my home?"

Was the burning of the Yuan residence a big blow to her? Nan Fei said, "The Crown Prince will rebuild the Yuan residence. Let's go back to the Nan family home from now on. The Nan family is large and lively with many servants. When you get pregnant, your sister-in-law will be experienced, and it will be convenient for your mother to take care of you."

Yuan Feng took the straw from his hand: "What if I can't get pregnant?"

Nanfei thought quickly and agreed just as fast: "That's perfect, let's roam the world together like immortals..."

Yuan Feng stared at him, and Nan Fei met her gaze without flinching.

After a while, Yuan Feng said, "My father once told me that there is a type of man who would make any woman happy as his wife."

Nanfei joked, "If I were that kind of man, you wouldn't be crying in your dreams."

Yuan Feng shook her head: "No, you're fine..."

He was fine when they were together, and he would have been fine with whoever was his wife. He wasn't any special because of her.

Nanfei praised her, saying, "It's all thanks to Ah Feng's magnanimity and lack of pettiness. If it were any other woman, she wouldn't be satisfied even if she stabbed me a hundred or eighty times..."

Yuan Feng said, "What if I want to argue? Why did you burn down the Yuan residence?"

Nanfei was wronged: "Thieves broke into the mansion, committed murder and arson... The Ministry of Justice has already closed the case..."

Yuan Feng scoffed: "There are bandits on Yangshan Mountain who kidnapped Princess Duoyi and are extorting one million taels of silver? The Imperial Guards' training ground is at the foot of Yangshan Mountain. Are the bandits the Imperial Guards?"

Nanfei placed his hand on her shoulder and gently pulled her close to his chest, saying, "Ah Feng, don't be so clever."

"What?!" Yuan Feng turned around in shock, her eyes just brushing against his lips. Nan Fei pressed down on her and kissed her. Yuan Feng forgot to breathe, and when Nan Fei released her, she was panting like a fish out of water.