Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

In the middle of the night, the main gate of Nanyuan was suddenly kicked open. Nan Fei sat up in surprise as someone kicked open the door.

Nan Fei quickly grabbed the soft sword from under his pillow and gathered his strength, just then he heard Nian Yao's voice: "Where's Luo An?"

Nanfei lit the lamp, and Nianyao, dressed in her undergarments with her hair disheveled, said: "Chief Xue, barging into a man's bedroom in the middle of the night, don't you have any shame?"

Nianyao said slowly and deliberately, "Luo An is gone. He's not in the room, and he's not in the tea room either."

Nanfei pointed to the doorway: "Isn't that it?"

Luo An, wearing a coat, stood in the small hall watching them.

Nianyao rushed up to him: "You scared me to death! I thought you were gone! What are you doing here today? I even gave you my bed, what are you still complaining about? You're making things very difficult for me! If Uncle Liu finds out you're staying in Nanyuan tomorrow, he'll definitely think I bullied you and give me thirty lashes! I've been through that before, it hurt so much, I couldn't get out of bed for a whole two weeks..."

*Bang bang bang bang...* Luo An pressed his right temple with his right hand.

Nianyao said, "Was my sleeping posture bad yesterday? Did I take your bed? If so, I apologize. If you really don't want to, can I sleep on the floor? I promise I'll never fight with you for a bed again. I'll agree to any conditions you set. Nanfei said your monthly salary is too low, so I'll give you twenty taels of silver every month... give you... give you thirty percent, okay..."

*Bang bang bang bang...* Luo An pressed his left temple with his left hand.

Nianyao said, "Does your head hurt? A doctor can't treat himself, right? Let Nanfei take a look at you. If you don't trust him, I'll go with you to Wudong County to see a doctor tomorrow. I heard that headaches should be treated promptly, otherwise they can easily become chronic..."

Nianyao reached out to pull him, but Luo An took a step back.

Nan Fei leaned against the door and listened for a long time before finally speaking: "Chief Xue, give him half."

Nianyao said, "Why should we give him half?"

Nanfei said, "Give him half of your monthly salary."

Nianyao said, "Deal."

Luo An looked at Nan Fei.

Nanfei said, "Young master, it's only for a few days anyway, just bear with it. Uncle Liu injured her and you'll have to treat her. He might even ask you to take care of her. There's no need to cause trouble."

Nianyao sensed something was wrong: "What do you mean 'just these few days'? Is he going to die?"

Nanfei said, "How long have you been married before the young master dies? Are you a jinx? If the young master dies, you'll be a widow."

Luo An walked outside.

Nanfei said, "We plan to go back to Bianjing next month. We've been on the island for three years, and we should go back to visit our families. Uncle Liu, won't you even allow that?"

Nianyao snorted coldly.

Nanfei, gauging that Luo An had walked away, said, "You're sleeping in the same bed with him? Let me tell you beforehand, don't even think about taking advantage of the young master. He's going to marry a lady from a prestigious family; he can't let you ruin her... Hey..."

Nianyao slammed the South Garden gate shut, completely forgetting that everyone was sound asleep in the dead of night.

Nianyao reached out and pulled the curtain open a little, seeing that Luo An had his eyes closed: "I know you're not asleep, let's chat."

What are you chatting about in the middle of the night?

Nianyao said, "Wasn't I great at the tea room today? They all tried to trick me, but no way."

Are you going to sleep or not?

Nianyao said, "Let me tell you, I'm very smart. When I was little, my dad always praised me as the smartest girl on the island."

You're the only girl on Chongming Island.

Nianyao said, "Uncle Liu hit me once in front of my father, but my father still trusts him the most. My father used to be a palace guard in Dongyang, and it is said that Uncle Liu used to be a general in Nanyue. How did these two people, who are completely unrelated, end up together?"

Are you going to let me sleep?

Nianyao said, "Tell me about your parents. I've heard their legendary story for a long time. The illegitimate son of the late Emperor of Dongyang fell in love with the princess of the fallen Southern Yue Kingdom, and after their marriage they had one son, no, two sons..."

Luo An suddenly opened his eyes, tilting his head slightly to stare at her. His eyes were like cold pools, sharp as ice blades. Nian Yao's voice grew softer and softer, her eyes darting around, and she slowly pulled the curtain to the top, completely separating the two of them.

Nianyao whispered from behind the curtain, "I'm asleep."

Then came the soft sound of snoring. Luo An listened to the sound, looked at the curtain, slowly reached up to touch the corner of his mouth, and slightly curled it up, showing that he wasn't really angry.

Luo An hadn't slept well for two nights in a row, and when Nian Yao woke up the next day, he was still fast asleep.

He looks so handsome when he's asleep, so sweet and innocent. All that aloofness and unapproachability just vanishes. Nianyao props herself up on the pillow with one hand, leaning forward slightly.

When Luo An opened his eyes, he saw a disheveled face above him, smiling in a very... eerie way.

Without a second thought, Luo An rolled over to avoid it, fell off the bed with a thud, and lay on the floor for a long time without moving.

Nianyao peeked out from under the bed and reached out to pull him: "Are you alright?"

Luo An rolled twice to avoid her hands, straightened his back slightly, stood up, grabbed his coat, and went out. The sound of Luo An closing the door was loud, making the bed shake slightly.

Nianyao lay on the bed and laughed out loud: So even gods get angry just like ordinary people, childish and cute.

Luo An sat by the Fairy Joy Lake, its waters crystal clear, a gentle breeze caressing his face. He reached out and plucked a willow twig, playing with it in his hand until he wove it into a ring.

"Young Master!" Nan Fei jogged over. "What are you doing here? I've been looking for you everywhere. I've already told everyone that I'm going home to visit my family next month, and no one has objected."

Luo An nodded, picked a few small flowers from the side, pinned them to the willow branch ring, and handed them to Nan Fei.

Nanfei took the wreath and put it on her head without thinking.

Qin Jiu happened to come over and saw it: "Young master, you have such skillful hands. Nanfei looks good wearing it too."

Nanfei was very proud: "With my stunning beauty, I look good in anything."

Qin Jiu said, "General Yuan certainly has a good eye."

Qin Jiu felt something was off about his gaze, and Nan Fei subconsciously took off the flower wreath and held it in his hand.

Qin Jiu said, "Wear it, it looks good."

Nanfei forced a smile and changed the subject: "Did Ninth Brother come to see us about something?"

Qin Jiu said, "You just said you'd leave after the free clinic ends next month. Are you really going to abandon the Great River Gang?"

Nanfei asked, bewildered, "Ninth Brother, when did the Great River Gang become our responsibility?"

Qin Jiu said, "Uncle Liu will naturally follow the gang leader's wishes. If there's really no other way, he can send the gang leader to Qinzhou. If you don't take care of it, the Great River Gang might really end up with Ji Kongming. With Jin Hu around, Ji Kongming's position as gang leader is unstable, and the Great River Gang will belong to Xiling."

Qin Jiu turned to Luo An: "Young Master, have you thought it through?"

So what if the Great River Gang is from Xiling? What business is it of his? Luo An stood with his hands behind his back facing Xianyue Lake, his expression unmoving, as if a transparent barrier separated him from it.

Nanfei said, "The old gang leader used you to help Xue Nianyao become the gang leader, and Ninth Brother wants to use you to secure her position? When did you become a sucker?"

Qin Jiu said, "Nanfei, saying you're using them is an overstatement. The Dahe Gang is related to the balance of power among the four kingdoms; if one part is moved, the whole situation will be affected. If Xiling gains the Dahe Gang, it will threaten Dongyang and Xiling, which is not good for anyone."