Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

In the tea room, Xu Sheng and Yuan Feng sat facing each other, chatting leisurely. Xu Sheng sat upright, brewing tea with elegant movements. Yuan Feng held her cup and sipped slowly, a smile on her face.

It looks really... an eyesore!

Nan Fei strode in, put one hand on Yuan Feng's shoulder, took the tea from Yuan Feng's hand with the other, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Drinking like a whale? So undignified." Nianyao seized the opportunity to retaliate: "Young Master Nan, that's Biluochun tea."

Nanfei said, "I've also had some Biluoqiu tea, so what?"

Yuan Feng realized: "This is my cup."

Xu Sheng placed a cup in front of Yuan Feng: "There are plenty of cups. Young Master Nan likes General Yuan's cup, so give it to him."

Xu Sheng poured tea for Nan Fei and smiled, "Bi Luo Qiu is a top-grade tea. It strengthens the heart, relieves dryness, clears heat, reduces fire, and promotes urination. Young Master Nan, please drink more."

Nianyao asked, "What? Young Master Nan wets the bed again?"

Nan Fei pretended not to hear and sat down next to Yuan Feng: "What are you chatting about? You seem to be having a lot of fun?"

Yuan Feng coughed lightly: "Let's talk to the Prince about destroying Xiling and Beirou."

Nanfei paused slightly: "Have you finished talking?"

Yuan Feng nodded.

Nanfei stared at her, then turned to Xu Sheng: "Have you two finished talking?"

Xu Sheng said, "General Yuan is renowned and has come here on his own initiative. He must be confident that he will succeed. Young Master Nan doesn't know his wife very well."

Nanfei replied humbly, "Your Highness is right."

Yuan Feng and Xu Sheng made an unexpected eye contact. Yuan Feng tentatively asked, "That's it?"

"Flirting?" Nan Fei finished his drink and placed the cup in front of Xu Sheng, gesturing for him to pour tea. "Yes, what else can I do? You came on the emperor's orders, so how could I disobey?"

Yuan Feng remained silent.

Xu Sheng placed the teapot in front of Nan Fei: "Pour it yourself. Do you think I'm a servant? Serving you tea?"

Nanfei said, "Didn't it just fall down perfectly fine?"

Xu Sheng smiled and said, "I'd be happy to serve General Yuan tea. Does Young Master Nan have any objections?"

Nan Fei was about to slam his fist on the table when Yuan Feng quickly stopped him, saying, "I'll take care of you, I'll serve you."

Nan Fei snorted, his expression arrogant.

Nianyao said: "Childish ghost."

Nanfei said, "You scoundrel."

Can she argue with anyone? Yuan Feng sighed, "Alright, alright."

Nianyao asked, "Where is Luo An? Where did he go?"

Xu Sheng said, "They should have gone to the riverbank by now. What's in your hand? Let me see."

Before Nianyao could react, the box was in Xu Sheng's hands.

Nianyao said, "Hey, didn't you ever go to school? Don't you know the saying 'Don't touch improprieties'?"

Xu Sheng simply replied, "I've never been to school, so I don't understand."

The willow-leaf hairpin is entirely black; it makes a clear, ringing sound when lightly tapped with a finger, and has a faint fragrance.

Xu Sheng said, "Top-quality ebony is worth a lot of money. Yours?"

Nianyao shook her head: "Uncle Liu's."

Xu Sheng said, "I didn't realize Uncle Liu had something like this. Today I came here to think of it, the willows swaying... Liu Yiyi, does that name sound familiar?"

Nianyao said, "Is this a name? Or a line of poetry?"

Xu Sheng said, "Men don't use willow-leaf hairpins, so it must be that Uncle Liu gave it away but couldn't give it back. Gifts are usually engraved with names, otherwise how would we know who it was given to?"

Nianyao said, "You can't just give away hairpins. Uncle Liu's surname is Liu, and this person's surname is also Liu? Both of them have the surname Liu?"

Xu Sheng nodded: "It's probably because of the illicit relationship, so they didn't send it out."

Nianyao snatched the hairpin away: "What nonsense! There are plenty of people in the world with the surname Liu. Besides, couldn't it be a coming-of-age gift for a sister?"

Xu Sheng said, "You never went to school? You want to carve love poems on your adult gift?"

Nanfei nudged Yuan Feng with his elbow: "I'm familiar with that name too, have you heard of it before?"

Yuan Feng thought for a while and said, "The Empress Dowager Ning's surname is Liu. I think I've heard the old Prince Ning call her Yiyi."

Xu Sheng and Nan Fei both said "Oh" at the same time.

Nan Fei said, "I remember now, the old Princess Ning's name was Liu Yiyi."

Nianyao said, "Tell me quickly, what happened to her? What's going on between her and Uncle Liu?"

Nanfei said, "Twenty taels."

Nianyao said to Yuan Feng, "Aren't you going to do anything about him? All he thinks about all day is money."

Yuan Feng smiled.

Nanfei immediately replied, "I don't know either."

Nianyao slammed the silver on the table with a snap: "You stingy person. Hurry up and tell me."

Nan Fei stretched out his hand and said, "This all started when Prince Ning was young. It's said that he was a handsome and dashing young man who didn't do any proper work and spent his days in brothels..."

Nianyao said, "Just like you."

Nan Fei said, "...Thank you for your praise, Chief Xue. The late Emperor of Dongyang wanted to bring his younger brother back to the right path, so he sent him as an envoy to Nanyue to negotiate trade between the two countries, as well as the exchange of knowledge between the Imperial Academy and medicine. But the old Prince Ning never returned; he eloped with someone..."

Yuan Feng reached for the cup, her hand seemingly unintentionally curving to lightly tap the back of his hand.

Nanfei suddenly realized something.

Nianyao said, "Elope? Is he crazy? He can just propose to whichever girl he likes. It's a good thing that the two countries are on good terms."

Nanfei said, "Uh... Chief Xue is right."

Nianyao asked, "And then?"

Nanfei said, "Then... Prince Ning and Princess Ning lived in seclusion for more than ten years before returning to Bianjing."

Nianyao asked, "What does this have to do with Uncle Liu?"

Nanfei said, "I suppose... Uncle Liu was a former servant of Princess Ning?"

Nianyao asked in confusion, "That's it?"

Nanfei nodded.

Nianyao said, "No?"

Nanfei nodded.

Nianyao reached out and grabbed the silver back: "That's too perfunctory."

Nanfei stared at the silver, seemingly heartbroken, but didn't try to take it from her.

Nianyao guessed, "If Uncle Liu is a servant... then he must have a crush on the young lady. The young lady eloped with someone and went into seclusion. Uncle Liu searched everywhere but couldn't find her. Heartbroken, he joined the army to serve his country and eventually ended up on Chongming Island..."

Nanfei praised, "Chief Xue is clever."

Nianyao said, "There are many people in the world with the same name and surname. It's not necessarily true that Liu Yiyi is only Consort Ning. Besides, it's not necessarily Liu Yiyi. It could be Jin Laisi, Laisi, Yangliu, Yangliuyi... right?"

Xu Sheng praised, "Chief Xue is wise."

Nianyao scoffed, "Nanfei, who else is in Prince Ning's household?"

Nanfei said, "Prince Ning passed away two years ago. Only Consort Ning and Prince Le remain in the family."

Nianyao thought for a moment, then got up and left. She hadn't gone two steps when she turned back and saw several people staring at her.

Nianyao said, "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

Xu Sheng said, "Look at Chief Xue, her figure is slender and her steps are light..."

Nianyao spat and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Nanfei, what is my relationship with Uncle Liu? Does he treat me better than his own daughter? If you tell me, the twenty taels of silver are yours."

Nanfei sighed: "To be honest..."

Nianyao waited a moment and then said, "Go ahead and say it."

Nanfei said, "...I don't know."

Nianyao flew into a rage and threw a punch. Yuan Feng kicked him and his chair away.

Nianyao said to Yuan Feng, "How could you possibly like someone as shabby as him?"

Nanfei scoffed, "Your shabby appearance, didn't the young master still take a liking to you?"

Nianyao turned and left.

Nan Fei moved the chair back and said to Xu Sheng, "Your Highness, you also know about the matter of the Dowager Consort Ning?"

Xu Sheng said, "Such earth-shattering gossip must have been passed down for at least a thousand years."

Nanfei asked, "Why didn't you let General Xue finish speaking yesterday?"