Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Nan Fei looked at Luo An, who whispered something in his ear: "Ask!"

Of course we should ask, but before asking, let's first seek clarification.

Nanfei casually asked, "Chief Xue, you just said it was a pity I got married too early... So what if I got married early?"

Nianyao said, "Confucius said, 'At fifteen, I set my heart on learning; at thirty, I stood firm...'"

Nanfei immediately praised, "Chief Xue is cultured."

Nianyao immediately said proudly, "I've been to school and read the classics."

Nanfei nodded seriously: "I can see that."

Nianyao continued, "You should do what you're supposed to do at your age. At fifteen, you should be studying properly, but you went off to get married, and at eighteen you're still a medical apprentice. Others become medical apprentices at seven or eight, and by eighteen they're doctors..."

Nianyao pointed at Luo An and then at herself: "He was a divine doctor at eighteen, and I was a gang leader at eighteen. If you continue like this, you won't be able to establish yourself by thirty. Isn't that a pity?"

Nanfei glared at her: "You two are following in your father's footsteps..."

Nianyao said, "Are we incapable of anything?"

Nanfei said, "You two are capable. It's me who's incapable..."

Nanfei let out a long sigh: What the hell do you want innocence for?

Before Nianyao could say anything more, Nanfei raised his hand to stop her: "Chief Xue, let's change the subject, or we won't talk."

Did you take my kindness for granted? Nianyao said, "You asked first, that's why I'm explaining to you."

Nanfei sincerely apologized: "I'm sorry, I was wrong."

Why are you being so easy to talk to? Nianyao saw him put his hand on his chest: "You're not feeling well."

Nanfei nodded: "I feel tightness in my chest and shortness of breath."

"What's going on lately?" Nianyao said, "This is a serious matter. If someone can't catch their breath, they could die. Let the young master take a look at you."

Nanfei placed his hand horizontally in front of Luo An, looking weak and listless.

Luo An took her pulse, his fingertips suddenly pressing down. A sharp pain shot through her arm to her forehead, and Nan Fei screamed in agony. Nian Yao shuddered at the sound.

Luo An asked, "Is it ready?"

Nan Fei quickly withdrew his hand, wiped away his sweat, straightened his back, and said with renewed vigor, "Alright, young master, you are truly a divine doctor."

Nianyao's gaze swept between the two of them, her face full of suspicion.

Nanfei quickly got to the point: "Chief Xue, you just said your father is dead, but your mother is still alive?"

Nianyao nodded: "Mm."

Nanfei asked, "Where is she? I've never seen her before?"

Nianyao pointed upwards.

Nanfei was startled and quickly looked up, rubbing his eyes and searching carefully: "No...nobody's here."

Nianyao retorted angrily, "I said in the sky, where do you see? Can she hang from the ceiling?"

Nanfei quickly reassured him, "Don't be angry, Chief Xue. I'm just naturally dull and incompetent."

Nianyao glanced at him sideways: "He still has self-awareness, so he's not too stupid."

Nanfei gritted his teeth and took a deep breath.

Luo An opened the small dried fruit box, and it was empty.

Nanfei said, "Huzi ate them all, not a single one was left. He took the whole big box."

Luo An picked up a few chess pieces and played with them in his hand.

Nianyao asked in surprise, "So you really were itching to do it?"

Nanfei said, "Don't interrupt, what's your mother doing up in the sky?"

Nianyao said, "My mother is a fairy from Yaochi, so of course she's in heaven."

Nanfei asked, "What?"

"You don't believe me?" Nianyao leaned forward, her tone becoming mysterious. "Don't you believe me? This is what my father said himself, I heard it with my own ears, it's absolutely true. An epic love story between a mortal and an immortal, do you want to hear it?"

Nanfei nodded.

Nianyao spread her hand on the table and smiled: "Two hundred taels."

"What?" Nanfei leaned back: "Chief Xue, I'll tell you a legendary love story between a mortal and an immortal, for only one hundred taels."

Nianyao said, "The story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl is fake, but my parents' story is real."

Nanfei looked wary.

Nianyao said, "You can negotiate the price."

Nanfei held up one finger.

Nianyao asked, "One hundred taels?"

Nanfei shook his head.

Nianyao asked, "Ten taels?"

Nanfei shook his head: "One ounce."

Nianyao said, "The minimum is one hundred taels, not a penny less."

The two were locked in a stalemate. Luo An reached behind the chair into the pillow, pulled out a money pouch, and threw it on the table.

Nanfei and Nianyao grabbed each other at the same time and glared at each other.

Luo An reached in and pulled out another money pouch.

Nan Fei immediately let go, snatched the money pouch from Luo An's hand, and stuffed it into his pocket: "You can guard against anything, but it's hard to guard against a thief within your own family. Young Master is truly..."

Nan Fei looked up and met Luo An's gaze, then immediately changed his tune: "...Generous."

Nianyao clutched the money pouch with great pride: "Even if he's heartless, he's not as ruthless as you. You're heartless and stingy too."

Nanfei said, "Tell me in more detail, be serious, it should be worth one hundred taels."

Nianyao said, "This all started when my father was young..."

"Love and marriage are for when you're young," Nan Fei said. "Chief Xue, enough with the nonsense..."

Didn't you want me to be detailed and thorough? Now you're complaining about nonsense? Nianyao's expression changed: "Are you listening or not? If not, I'm leaving. Once the money is taken, it's non-refundable."

Nanfei, shut up.

Nianyao snorted: "When you met my father, he was old and sick, and he didn't look so good. He was very handsome when he was young, the most handsome person I've ever seen."

Nanfei said, "More handsome than the young master?"

Nianyao said, "They're handsome in different ways. My dad is handsome in a very masculine way, he's..."

Nianyao looked at Luo An, tilted her head slightly, and couldn't find a suitable way to describe it.

Nanfei came to her rescue: "...The kind of beauty that's very feminine?"

After Nanfei finished speaking, he nimbly flipped over the table, barely avoiding several chess pieces.

Nanfei smiled and sat down on the platform: "Chief Xue, please continue. I'll sit here and listen."

Nianyao said solemnly, "You are the kind of beautiful that is very feminine, while he is the kind of beautiful that is very divine."

Nan Fei's expression stiffened slightly, while Luo An smiled and picked up a few more chess pieces.

Nianyao said, "My father was a palace guard in Dongyang back then, the kind who carried a sword in front of the emperor, a very high-ranking one. When the wife of a high-ranking official in the court became pregnant, he was sent by the late emperor of Dongyang to the official's residence as the wife's guard. Ostensibly, it was to protect her, but secretly it was to monitor and assassinate her."

Nanfei, with his extremely sharp ears, heard the sound of breaking; had the young master crushed the chess piece?

Nanfei asked, "Why are you monitoring the assassination plot against the lady?"

Nianyao said, "My father didn't say that. But in all the storybooks, it's written that a powerful minister holds immense influence in the court, and the emperor, fearing he might usurp the throne, kills his wife and children to ensure he has no descendants..."

Luo An reached for the cup, only to find it empty when he brought it to his lips. He simply twirled the cup in his hand and played with it.

Nianyao said, "...My father is steady and reliable, and is highly trusted. He quickly rose from being the lady's bodyguard to the steward of the mansion. On the third day of the third lunar month, the Shangsi Festival, the lady went to Lover's River to watch the festivities, and my father accompanied her to protect her."

My mother, disguised as a young girl, also went to Lover's River to join the fun. She took a liking to my father at first sight and insisted on marrying him. The high-ranking official and his wife, finding my mother lively and adorable, and realizing my father was indeed of marriageable age in his twenties, arranged the marriage. Later, I was born.

Nianyao said she was thirsty, so she reached out and poured herself a cup of tea, which she drank in one gulp.

Nanfei exclaimed incredulously, "This is only one hundred taels?"

No business is without its tricks; they're so unscrupulous!

Nianyao said, "There are still fifty taels left to tell."