Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

The tables had turned. Nian Yao was in tears, Luo An's face was slightly pale, and the onlookers looked at each other in bewilderment: who was right and who was wrong?

Nan Hua comforted her, "Sister-in-law..."

Nianyao cried harder and harder: "You're always like this... You never say anything... You keep everything bottled up inside... You're suffocating me... And then you hit me... I can't live like this anymore... You hit me... I want to go back..."

Tiger quickly came over to clarify the facts: "Boss, the young master didn't hit you, you hit him..."

Nianyao wiped away her tears with her sleeve: "When did I hit him? Was he hurt?"

Tiger thought for a moment and honestly replied, "No."

Nianyao lowered her sleeve: "I just got injured, I have a huge bump on my head, it hurts so much..."

Nan Hua quickly patted her head: "Oh dear, you've really got a bump. Go back and rest, the carriage is here."

The clatter of hooves sounded, and another carriage approached. Nan Hua helped her into the carriage, saying, "Be careful."

Nanfei nudged Yuan Feng, who hesitated before getting into the carriage, which then drove away.

Luo An rubbed her temples: "Headache." This was the second time she had cried in public. How had she become so prone to tears?

Nan Fei followed An Liangchen over, and when he saw the gleaming light in Luo An's eyes, he shrank back behind An Liangchen.

An Liangchen patted Luo An on the shoulder first, and seeing that he didn't refuse, gave him a hug: "You're finally back."

Luo An did not avoid it. An Liangchen said with satisfaction, "He has changed a lot. He is more willing to get close to people now, and his kung fu has also improved a lot."

Nanfei flattered, "We have nothing to do on Chongming Island, so we have plenty of time to study martial arts techniques. Young Master's skills are now top-notch."

An Liangchen said, "Let's have a competition sometime. Let's go back to Xizhai today. Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, so you can take your younger brother and sister-in-law to the palace for a family banquet."

Nan Fei said, "Then I'll go back to the Nan residence first?"

An Liangchen said, "Let's go back to Xizhai together. Your uncle is waiting for us there. After lunch, your sister will go back to the Nan Mansion with you. I'll pick her up tonight."

Nanfei and Luo An exchanged glances, as if they had something important to discuss.

Nan Hua gently brushed the hair that was stuck to Nian Yao's face away and wiped her face clean with a handkerchief.

Nianyao stretched out her legs and discovered that the carriage was spacious enough for people to sleep in, with gold-threaded cushions and dragon and phoenix carvings on the walls and roof.

Before her stood the woman from Nanhua, her eyebrows lightly drawn, her face adorned with a thin layer of powder, her beautiful eyes sparkling, her lips a vibrant red, her skin fair and delicate, her smile radiant. She wore a pinkish-purple palace gown embroidered with gold crape myrtle, and a jade pendant adorned her waist. Her dark blue hair was styled in a flowing, ethereal bun, adorned with a white jade and pearl hairpin.

Nianyao felt that the person looked familiar, but after thinking about it carefully, she realized that she had never seen such an elegant, noble, and refined person before.

What was she called before? Sister-in-law? Nianyao felt uneasy and asked nervously, "You...who are you?"

Nan Hua said, "Nan Hua."

Nianyao said "Oh," then, coming back to her senses, raised her voice slightly: "Who?"

Nan Hua's smile deepened: "Nan Hua."

Nianyao asked cautiously, "The 'Nan' in 'There are tall trees in the south,' and the 'Hua' in 'Bright and beautiful'?"

Nan Hua was surprised: "Indeed, my sister-in-law is quite talented in literature."

She happened to have read the Book of Songs several times, which came in handy now, allowing her to salvage some face.

Nianyao pushed open the rear window of the car, pointed at the young nobleman standing in front of Luo An, and asked in a trembling voice, "Who is he?"

Nan Hua said, "An Liangchen."

Yuan Feng added: "Prince An."

Several people seemed to sense something and looked over. Nianyao slammed the car window shut, covered her face with her hands, and murmured, "I don't want to live anymore."

Nan Hua and Yuan Feng smiled at each other.

The carriage stopped, the driver opened the door, and a maid came to help Nanhua out of the carriage.

Seeing Nianyao sitting motionless in the corner with lifeless eyes, Yuan Feng reminded her, "Madam, we've arrived."

Nianyao, feeling utterly hopeless, shook her head: "I...I won't go down..."

Yuan Feng jumped off the carriage and said to Luo An, who was riding behind her, "Young master, the madam is not getting off the carriage."

"You still know how to be embarrassed?" Luo An stood in front of the car and peeked out: "Did you hurt yourself? Do you want me to carry you?"

Nianyao shook her head vigorously, "No, no... no need, no need..."

Luo An said, "Come down yourself."

Nianyao climbed out of the car and stood in front of Luo An with her head down, looking like a cautious and timid little wife.

Looking at her fair and slender neck, Luo An felt a surge of warmth in his heart, quickly looked away, and reached out to touch the back of her head.

Nianyao whispered, "It hurts."

Luo An said, "It's a little bump, but it's not serious. It'll be fine in a couple of days."

Nianyao obediently replied, "Mmm."

Two lines of people greeted them at the entrance, making quite a show of it. The person in the very center was about thirty years old, and he looked somewhat like An Liangchen, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a high nose. He wore a purple and gold belt, exuding an air of royalty.

Luo An said, "Call him Uncle."

Nianyao bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Uncle."

An Qile was very kind and praised, "Nianyao, right? She's beautiful and well-mannered. An Qile has good taste. No need to stand on ceremony at home, come in."

Nianyao was extremely embarrassed. The group of people behind her were trying not to laugh.

An Qile led the way, and as they passed the screen wall, Nianyao's eyes lit up. The carved railings and painted beams, the waterside pavilions and terraces, were exquisite and beautiful.

Nianyao said in a low voice, "This house looks ordinary and a bit old from the outside, but it's a hidden gem inside."

Luo An said, "The old house wasn't this big before; it was renovated later."

The pavilion was built by the water, which was crystal clear and teeming with fish that swam freely without being startled by people. Nianyao was admiring the view when she stumbled and nearly fell down the steps.

Luo An pulled her firmly to steady her. Nian Yao was embarrassed, and Luo An helplessly reminded her, "Be careful."

Nanfei said from behind, "It's understandable that you feel nervous about returning home, and that your wife is excited."

The maids had already set out tea and snacks in the pavilion and stood waiting. Chongming Island was full of strong men, and this was the first time Nianyao had seen so many beautiful women.

Nianyao stared wide-eyed: "Are all the girls in Bianjing this beautiful?"

Nanfei said, "Of course, girls from Bianjing are not only beautiful, but also gentle, virtuous, considerate, and generous..."

Nianyao gritted her teeth: You wait! Just wait and see how I deal with you later.

There were two tables in the pavilion, presumably separate for men and women. Nianyao pretended not to notice and sat down next to Luo An. She wasn't afraid of trouble and still felt safe with Luo An, just like she used to cling to her father.

Yuan Feng and Nan Hua naturally sat next to Nan Fei and An Liangchen. An Qile's teeth ached: "If I had known this would happen, I should have brought Xiao Dong with me."

Tiger looked at the pastries on the table and drooled. Upon hearing this, he immediately sat down next to An Qile: "Uncle, I'll sit with you."

Tiger reached out and took the steamed chestnut flour cake with osmanthus sugar, stuffing it into his mouth in one bite: "Delicious. Food from the palace is just so delicious."

An Qile looked at Luo An with a questioning expression.

Luo An gave a brief introduction: "Tiger."

As his name suggests, he was quite fierce and bold. An Qile simply placed the pastries in front of him.

"You good-for-nothing!" Nianyao spat out through gritted teeth, "Tiger, you're already so fat, and you're still eating?"

Tiger said as he ate, "A man should be as strong as me. Young Master is weak and lacks manliness, and Nanfei is as thin as a woman... Boss, they're all staring at me, which means I'm popular and haven't embarrassed you..."