Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Nianyao slammed the book down and hit him: "I fell for your trick! You did it on purpose that day, didn't you? Why weren't you dressed properly..."

Luo An reached out to block it, and heard a snapping sound. Luo An cried out, "My finger is broken! It hurts..."

Nianyao dropped her book, grabbed his hand, and said nervously, "Let me see...which finger..."

Luo An said, "The longest one..."

Nianyao touched his middle finger: "I couldn't tell..."

Luo An said, "Internal injuries cannot be seen with the naked eye."

Nianyao gave an "oh," and pinched slightly harder with her fingertips. Luo An cried out genuinely, "It hurts..."

Nianyao glanced at him sideways: "Does it hurt? There's something even more painful."

Luo An quickly said, "Wife, I was wrong."

Nianyao touched the pinch marks on his fingers and sighed with heartache, "It was a self-inflicted injury scheme; you deserve to be in pain."

Luo An pulled her into his arms and pressed her down: "Let's use the honey trap..."

Nianyao blocked him and said urgently, "I have something to discuss with you."

Luo An pulled her hand down: "We'll discuss it later."

Nianyao struggled violently, panting, "No, it's very important."

Luo An pestered her, saying maliciously, "Hmm, it's even more important than that..."

Nianyao blushed and pushed him, saying, "Luo An, the navy only obeys the gang leader and those who carry the gang leader's orders..."

Luo An said, "Give it to Xu Lai..."

Nianyao was stunned: "You know what I'm going to say?"

Luo An steadied his breathing: "You'll come back to Bianjing with me tomorrow. Give the gang leader's order to Xu Lai, and the navy will be at his command. Xue Yunting said that the Great River Gang Leader will defend and not attack. With everyone here, Xu Lai won't dare to make decisions on his own."

Nianyao asked, "How do you know all this?"

Luo An said, "My father-in-law told me everything when he entrusted you to me."

It turned out that her father had already arranged a way out for her—Luo An.

Nianyao began to drift off into a daze: "After my father passed away, I still had Uncle Liu to rely on. But after Uncle Liu left, I was always filled with fear and anxiety. I didn't know who the murderer was. I didn't know who I could trust?"

I feel like everyone I see will betray me. When they smile at me, I can no longer feel any sincerity, only a chill down my spine, including Uncle Xu and Qin Jiu... I can't find anyone I can trust wholeheartedly anymore.

When Father was alive, they thought of me as a child. After he passed away, they all treated me like an adult. I haven't adapted to being an adult yet. There's no one behind me, and I'm all alone ahead. So many people are waiting to see me fail, waiting to betray me, even waiting for an opportunity to kill me..."

Tears welled up in her eyes, shimmering like pearls. Nianyao laid bare her weakness and fragility, her sorrow and helplessness, her fear and confusion before Luo An.

Luo An gently kissed the corner of her eye, the sour and salty taste traveling through his tongue to his heart.

Luo An pressed her head against his chest, gently stroking her back, his voice soft yet firm: "Nianyao, you can trust me and rely on me. You are not alone. You have me, I am behind you, I am in your path, I am by your side, I am there for you in everything..."

A man as ethereal as a god descended to earth for her, telling her, "I'll take care of everything." It was as reassuring as a father telling her, "It's alright now."

From then on, Nianyao had a new faith.

Xu Sheng and his party left before dawn. Yuan Feng woke up at the end of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), and it was now by the time she finished washing up and eating.

The boat sailed smoothly. Nanfei and Luo An sat facing each other playing chess, while Yuan Feng dozed off next to Nanfei.

Nanfei, dressed in bright red, looked even more stunning than the red lotus against her fair face.

Yuan Feng was dressed in an earth-toned embroidered men's suit, which belonged to Nan Fei. Her eyes and brows were full of spring-like charm, her spiritedness tinged with allure. Compared to her pale and haggard appearance when they first met, she was a completely different person.

Nianyao's gaze lingered on them, as if she could peel their skin off.

Yuan Feng couldn't keep up the act any longer: "Chief Xue, is something the matter?"

Nianyao waited for her to speak and immediately asked, "Sister Yuan, have you settled things with Nanfei?"

Yuan Feng was extremely embarrassed.

Nanfei couldn't help but say, "Young master, you should do something about her. What kind of woman talks like that?"

Nianyao feigned innocence: "Sister Yuan, did I ask the wrong question?"

Nanfei said, "You call her sister, but you can't call me brother-in-law?"

Nianyao scoffed, "Dream on."

Nanfei said, "I was born in March, so I'm older than you."

Nianyao said, "You should call me Young Master Luo An, not Madam."

Nanfei readily replied, "Yes, Madam."

Luo An smiled.

Nanfei looked at him, and Luo An asked, "What's wrong?"

Nanfei sighed with emotion: "Young master, I never thought you would become like this one day."

Luo An said, "Isn't it good?"

Nanfei smiled and said, "You're doing great, much happier than before. If His Majesty and the Crown Prince saw you like this, they would be overjoyed."

Nianyao boasted, "I'm amazing, aren't I?"

Nan Fei said, "I've been with the young master for so long, and no matter how hard I try, I can't change him. The madam is indeed formidable."

Luo An said, "It's so convenient and reassuring to be with you. Thank you for your hard work these past few years."

Nanfei was flattered: "Young master, a scholar should die for one who understands him; it is only right."

Nianyao said, "A woman dresses up for the one who appreciates her. You are dressed in bright red to please Sister Yuan."

Who's the woman? Nanfei glanced at her sideways: "Just call her Afeng, it sounds more friendly."

Yuan Feng glanced at Nan Fei: "It's okay, you can call me whatever you want."

Nianyao said, "Then I'll call you Afeng. Afeng, how did you and Nanfei meet? Why did you get married so early?"

Yuan Feng asked Nanfei, "Can I say that?"

Nianyao said, "If you want to say it, just say it. Why ask him?"

Nanfei said, "She respects me, do you have a problem with that?"

Nianyao moved next to Luo An, grabbed his arm, and said aggrievedly, "Luo An, he bullied me."

Nanfei threw down the chess piece and said, "I'm not playing anymore."

Nianyao said, "Afeng, what are you afraid of him for? Can he beat you? Is his official rank higher than yours? Does he earn more money than you? He's been a medical apprentice for three years and doesn't even know how to treat patients... What are you afraid of him for?"

Yuan Feng said, "No, he... is very powerful."

Nianyao asked, "What's so great about him?"

Yuan Feng thought for a moment and said, "That's impressive."

Nianyao pulled her out of the cabin: "Let's talk outside. Don't be afraid, I'll protect you."

It's cloudy today, with a gentle breeze blowing across the river, making it very cool.

Nanfei leaned back and put his hands behind his head: "Say what you want to say, there's nothing shameful about it."

Yuan Feng smiled and slowly recalled, "His sister Nanhua and I were fellow students at Songyang Academy."

Nianyao asked, "Which of you two is the senior sister?"

Yuan Feng said, "I am the senior sister."

Nianyao exclaimed.

Yuan Feng said, "Nanhua is a month older than me. We entered the sect at the same time and were ranked according to our grades. I am better than Nanhua in both the written test and martial arts, so I am the senior sister."

Nianyao exclaimed again, "Wow! You're so amazing!"

Yuan Feng said, "Nan Hua talks about him to me every day, a hundred times a day, describing him as someone rare in heaven and unparalleled in the world. He says he is the most outstanding person in the Nan family and will surely bring glory to the family in the future."

Nianyao said, "Really? I can't tell."