Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Nianyao said, "Then tell me the truth. What is the relationship between Consort Ning and Uncle Liu? Why did she disregard her reputation and elope with Prince Ning?"

Luo An asked, "Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Nianyao took out a willow-leaf hairpin: "This was found in Uncle Liu's room. Old Prince Ning stole Uncle Liu's lover, so this hairpin couldn't be given away, right?"

Luo An took the hairpin and examined it closely, but did not reply.

Nianyao said, "After we return to Bianjing, can you come with me to see Consort Ning? I want to give her this hairpin to relieve Uncle Liu's worries."

Luo An said, "Okay."

Nianyao leaned on his shoulder and nestled beside him, and Luo An felt as if time was passing peacefully and life was at peace.

He had traveled far and wide practicing medicine, witnessing countless hardships and a thousand kinds of pain, leaving his heart desolate and empty. Yet Nianyao, like a tenacious little wildflower, grew in the desolation, peeking out from the emptiness and smiling towards the sunlight.

Xu Lai returned from Shadong Island with Xue Yunting and his group. Luo An pulled Nian Yao up and walked back, seeing Xu Sheng standing by the Xianzhou Courtyard.

Remembering the previous misunderstanding, Nianyao generously apologized: "Your Highness, I misunderstood the longevity lock and the marriage agreement. I'm sorry."

Xu Sheng looked at Luo An with a question in his eyes, but Luo An walked past him and continued inside.

Xu Sheng followed and sat down in the tea room. Trying to figure out Nian Yao's meaning, he generously said, "A gentleman doesn't hold a grudge against a petty person. As the older brother, I can't hold it against you. You're all married now, I wouldn't stole my brother's wife."

Nianyao asked in confusion, "Didn't your mother...mother arrange the marriage between me and Luo An?"

Luo An looked at Xu Sheng, who then said, "I misunderstood. I thought Mother had arranged this marriage for me. It seems that adopted children can never compare to biological children."

His tone was full of regret and sorrow. Nianyao comforted him, "Your Highness is so dashing and charming, you're sure to find a virtuous, gentle, and generous woman to match you with."

Xu Sheng nodded: "It's really a pity that I haven't met anyone who is good enough for me."

Seeing that she was about to make a sarcastic remark, Xu Sheng preemptively said, "Sister-in-law, you should call me brother instead."

Nianyao asked, "Is there a fee for changing the way you address someone?"

Xu Sheng pulled out a translucent jade zodiac pendant: "Gold has a price, but jade is priceless. Is this enough?"

Luo An tightened his grip on her hand slightly.

Nianyao said, "How can I accept your zodiac sign?"

Xu Sheng asked, "What do you want?"

Nianyao said, "You were adopted, no one knows your origins or birth date, so how can you be older than Luo An? Don't you know the saying 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'? You've taken over someone else's place and you still want to be the older brother? Call me sister-in-law."

Who is the host and who is the guest? Who is the dove and who is the magpie?

Xu Sheng said to Luo An, "Tell her to read more books. She doesn't even know how to use idioms. How will you teach the children in the future?"

Luo An said, "I'll teach you."

Nianyao immediately said proudly, "Did you hear that? He'll teach us."

Xu Sheng said, "You don't understand? He thinks you're uneducated and won't let you teach him."

Nianyao wrapped her arm around Luo An's, acting intimately: "This is called a partnership between husband and wife, where each person contributes their strengths. Someone like you who can't find a wife would never understand."

Luo An smiled. Xu Sheng looked at him and sighed, "When I last came here, you were still so otherworldly. How long has it been since you fell from grace? Chief Xue, you've got some impressive skills."

Nianyao retorted, "What clever tricks? I'm just naturally charming."

Xu Sheng, fanning himself with a folding fan, sighed as he walked, "Beauty is a curse, a vixen can ruin even the gods..."

Nianyao threw a pebble at him, but Xu Sheng seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, and he swayed twice to avoid it.

The pebbles flew out of the tea room, but Xue Yunting caught them all with a flick of his sleeve and walked to the edge of the tea room: "Sister, brother-in-law, please go to the council hall to discuss the war."

Luo An said to Hu Zi, "Call Nan Fei over."

When Yuan Feng and Nan Fei arrived at the council hall, they saw a waterway map and a topographical map of the world hanging on the wall.

Nanfei said, "General Xue is truly generous."

Xue Yunting said, "Young Master Nan, since it's an alliance, we must be sincere. Neither Nan Yue nor Dong Yang can gain an advantage, so why not be more generous and consult with each other?"

Nan Fei praised, "The young general has great vision."

Xue Yunting said, "Sister, the Prince and I will be in charge of the land battles with the Wind Dragon Soldiers. The navy will be under your command, and we will try our best to prevent Xiling from passing through Yuezhou by water. If there are any difficulties, we will do our best to defend Jiangxinzhou."

Xue Yunting had striking features, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and a composed and dignified demeanor. Nianyao liked him more and more as she looked at him, and simply replied, "Okay."

Yuan Feng said, "Young General, you cannot allow Xiling to cross the Xiang River to Dongyang."

Xue Yunting asked Xu Sheng, "Your Highness?"

Xu Sheng pointed to the topographical map and said, "We will go from east to west, cross Hengshan, take Furong City directly, and then head north. Xing Tian's cavalry from Dongyang will come from north to south. We will meet at Canglong Pass. Xu Lai will lead the navy to guard the Xiang River and prevent them from crossing eastward. If Jin Hu insists on attacking Dongyang, we will have to trouble Dongyang to send soldiers to defend it. Chief Xue, the navy should focus on defense and not launch a strong attack."

Yuan Feng asked Nan Fei in a low voice, "What's your opinion?"

Nanfei said, "Is this equivalent to Dongyang sending someone to contain the Xiling Army? Is cooperation beneficial to Nanyue?"

Xu Sheng said, "The biggest advantage and disadvantage of the alliance between Nan Yue and Dong Yang is that it deters Mo Bei. Mo Bei dares not act rashly but is also afraid. How they will choose and what actions they will take depends on the fate of Dong Yang. Dong Yang only needs to defend the Xiang River area and does not need to attack. They can just wait for us. If Jin Hu comes south to rescue the emperor, you will be fine."

Xu Lai said, "General Yuan, I am willing to lead troops to defend the Xiang River."

Xue Yunting said, "General Yuan has already announced the news of the alliance between Dongyang and Nanyue, and there is no better option now. If you change your mind, Xiling will not believe it."

Yuan Feng asked, "Young Master, what is your opinion?"

Luo An said, "Jing Chen is in the northern desert and there are troops stationed there, so there should be no need to worry about the northern desert."

Yuan Feng said, "Okay, I agree."

Once the matter was settled, the group emerged from the council chamber.

Xu Sheng suddenly asked Yuan Feng, "General Yuan, we're each fighting our own battles, no need for formal documents. You can just spread the word to mislead people, why did you make a special trip to Chongming Island?"

Yuan Feng said, "We must make the charade convincing, otherwise it will easily arouse suspicion. Only after discussing it with the Prince on Chongming Island will the world believe it."

Xu Sheng said, "Is that so?"

Yuan Feng countered, "What does Your Highness suspect?"

Xu Sheng said, “The battlefield is ruthless, and swords have no eyes. You said that day that you were mainly going to your death, and you wanted to see Nanfei as well. You came to Chongming Island because you were prepared to die fighting Bei Rou, and you were afraid that you would never see Nanfei again. You just happened to run into me and told me about it. If I hadn’t been here, you would have gone back like this.”

Nanfei looked at Yuan Feng in shock.

Yuan Feng's throat itched: "Don't laugh at me lying drunk on the battlefield. How many have returned from ancient battles? Your Highness, as a general, I have always been prepared to be buried on the battlefield."

Xu Sheng seemed not to hear: "General Yuan's affection is profound, which I greatly admire. Young Master Nan is quite fortunate. Tomorrow we will all go our separate ways, and we should have a good drink together. However, since Uncle Liu got into trouble after drinking, let's not cause any more trouble."