Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Luo An stepped forward, placed his hand on Yuan Feng's pulse point, and released it after a while: "General Yuan, Nanfei..."

Yuan Feng said, "I'm not here to see Nan Fei."

Nianyao asked, "Then who are you looking for?"

Yuan Feng said, "Chief Xue, I'm looking for you."

Nianyao asked, "What do you want with me? What are these?"

Boxes and jars were scattered all over the ground.

Yuan Feng said, "His Majesty heard that Chief Xue is pregnant with twins, so he sent some congratulatory gifts in advance."

Once Nianyao recognized the truth, she politely replied, "Your Majesty is too kind."

"Boss, General Yuan said this is a tribute wine that's intoxicatingly delicious. Take a sniff." Tiger opened a jar, and the aroma filled the air—elegant, mellow, and subtle, with a lingering, delightful aftertaste…

Tiger's mouth was practically watering: "Young Master's things are really good."

Luo An said, "Tonight we'll entertain General Yuan and Captain Yan. Hu Zi will come along too."

Tiger was overjoyed: "Thank you, young master. I'll leave a few jars in the small dining room, and move the rest to the storeroom."

Tiger hadn't taken two steps when Luo An seemed to remember something and smiled, "Tiger, since it's a gift for twins, it's naturally for the gang leader. Send it to Yaochi."

"Alright!" Tiger praised, "Young Master has thought of everything."

Nianyao asked, "What are you laughing at?"

A deity descended to earth and became a demon? Its smile is like a fox's, it's chilling.

In the tea room, Yuan Feng briefly explained his purpose: to unite the Dahe Gang and Nanyue to resist Xiling.

Nianyao asked, "General Yuan is usually stationed in the southern desert, why did he suddenly come to Jiangnan?"

Yuan Feng said, "As a subject, I am only to obey the emperor's orders."

Nianyao said, "If Dongyang wants to unite with Nanyue, it should send an envoy to Qinzhou."

Yuan Feng looked at Luo An. Luo An was turning his cup, as if he hadn't heard her.

Nianyao said, "Why are you looking at him? He doesn't understand military strategy, and he can't represent Nanyue."

Yuan Feng nodded: "Chief Xue is right. If I'm not mistaken, Nan Yue will send people to Chongming Island in the next two days."

"Is Chongming Island a bridge between Dongyang and Nanyue?" Nianyao thought for a moment: "Unite the Dahe Gang with Nanyue to fight against Xiling? Your two countries can unite. The Dahe Gang is a Jianghu gang, they don't have private dealings with the government, and they don't get involved in national wars."

Yuan Feng smiled: "Chief Xue may not have a choice."

Nianyao laughed and said, "It is said that General Yuan's reputation is known throughout the northern deserts. We must be in the Jiangnan region here."

Yuan Feng asked, "What is your staple food?"

Nianyao was slightly taken aback, then replied, "Rice and flour."

Yuan Feng asked, "Where are you from?"

Nianyao said, "Brothers can bring their own food or buy it when they go home. The Dahe Gang will pay more than the market price and it won't be deducted from their monthly wages. We never lack food."

Yuan Feng said, "In other words, the Great River Gang doesn't produce grain. If various countries blockade the riverbanks and prevent the Great River Gang from landing, how many months can your surplus grain last? Once the surplus grain is gone, will you just keep eating fish?"

Yuan Feng appears calm on the surface, but is actually sharp-witted; her phoenix eyes gleam with a powerful aura.

Yuan Feng continued, "Xu Lai comes from the Imperial Palace in Dongyang, and Liu Lin and Zhou Yan are generals from Nanyue. Are you sure they will remain neutral? If they advocate war, can you sway them? Can you control the Dahe Gang?"

She had just gone blind and mistook Yuan Feng for a haggard and weak young woman. Nian Yao glanced at Liu Lin and Xu Lai: "You're very familiar with the Dahe Gang?"

Yuan Feng said, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

The tea room quieted down, and Luo An put down his cup: "General Yuan has come from afar, you must be tired. Go and rest for a while. We'll have a welcome dinner for you tonight."

Luo An brought Yuan Feng to Nanyuan.

Yuan Feng said, "Young Master has not returned for several years, and His Majesty misses him dearly. He hopes that Young Master will take some time to bring Chief Xue back to Bianjing."

Luo An simply said, "General Yuan, please rest well and take good care of yourself. There are brothers patrolling outside; just call out if you need anything."

Luo An left Nanyuan and pondered for a while in the backyard. When he returned to the tea room, he only saw Nianyao.

I finally remembered the things I'd forgotten on the beach that day.

Nianyao asked, "My father is a loyal and trustworthy man. Why did he give up his good job as a guard in the Dongyang Imperial Palace and take me to drift on the river? Xu Lai and my father both came from the Dongyang Imperial Palace, but my father trusts the General of Nanyue the most?"

Luo An looked at her.

Nianyao continued, "The official banks in Qinzhou are all controlled by the Dahe Gang. My father's close relationship with Nanyue is tantamount to betraying Dongyang. What has Dongyang done for my father? Between my father and your mother, who has truly been kind to whom?"

Luo An remained silent.

Nianyao couldn't understand, and scoffed, "I thought the Great River Gang was the emperor of the rivers, but in reality, they're just pawns that can be manipulated at will. Do you think we can win if we unite with Dongyang and Nanyue to resist Xiling?"

Luo An said, "Yes, it will."

Nianyao asked, "What happens after we win? What will the Dahe Gang do? Will they discard us once the rabbit is caught?"

Luo An said, "No."

Nianyao asked, "Why?"

Luo An seemed to be considering it.

Nianyao walked up to him: "I have never killed anyone. If you don't want to get involved in national conflicts, how about we disband the Great River Gang now and let everyone go home?"

Luo An was surprised.

Nianyao sighed: "I know it won't work. If we disband now, all the ambitious boat captains in the Great River Gang will do what Ji Kongming did and find a backer to seize control of the river. If the Great River Gang falls apart and kills each other, it won't just be two boat captains and hundreds of brothers who die."

Nianyao looked up at the sky slightly: "My father said that the Great River Gang should have three years to transition smoothly. Either I will remain in my position as gang leader, or he will find a capable person to replace me, or he will gradually reduce the size of the Great River Gang until it is disbanded. My father has only been gone for a short time. Three years is a long time, isn't it?"

Nianyao's expression was solemn and slightly bewildered. At eighteen, most people were either waiting to be married or raising children in their husband's family. She, at eighteen, was already in the position of gang leader, and the weighing of options and scheming was truly no easy feat.

Luo An said, "Wife..."

Huh? Nianyao turned her head: "What did you say?"

Luo An said, "I told you, wife, don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

Nianyao snapped out of her daze and feigned anger, saying, "Who's your wife?"

Luo An said, "Didn't you say that I can't steer, navigate, fish, or dive, but my wife is the leader of the boat guild?"

Nonsense. She clearly said: "Your wife is the leader of a boat guild. Do you know how to steer a boat, fish, or dive?"

No, that's not right. Nianyao looked at Luo An, her face slowly turning red, all the way to the back of her ears.

Even though it was the season when the sweltering heat was fading and autumn was just beginning, Luo An's gentle smile was like a spring breeze.

Nianyao said, "I have something to do, I'll be going now."

Nianyao ran to Anshuntang and slammed the door shut with a loud bang. The sound made her heart race, and she couldn't calm down. Her heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest, and she couldn't hold it down with her hands.

What did Luo An just say? — Don't worry, wife, I'll take care of everything.

Nianyao spat and said, "You talk like you're so great."

But I'm so happy. I haven't been this happy in a long time. It's like a flower blooming in a barren land.

She can be shy too. Luo An smiled as he watched her flee.

Yan Zeyu came aboard the boat and saw Luo An leaning against the pillar, smiling gently. He was stunned for a long time.

Who spread the rumor that the Jade-Faced Divine Doctor is aloof and cold? Or did he only become like this after becoming a father?