Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

A discus fell from the sky and hit a group of people. The maids all looked away, and Nanfei's face twitched.

Luo An tapped the table lightly with his finger: "Gu Yu, take Hu Zi to pick out a room you like."

Gu Yu bowed and replied, "Yes, young master."

Gu Yu, dressed in blue, was the servant who had been pushed three steps away by her while trying to break up the fight at the city gate. He had said, "Madam, this is in public... let's talk about it when we get back..."

The autumn breeze was refreshing, but it made Nianyao feel a chill.

Tiger said modestly, "Young master, you're too kind. I'm not picky about where I stay; anything will do, even the woodshed."

Nianyao's heart sank even further. If it weren't for the table separating them, she would have kicked Huzi off the pavilion.

Luo An said, "Please bring the medicine box to my room."

Tiger picked up the medicine box and left, but after taking only two steps, he turned back, took one of each kind of pastry, put them on a plate, and carried them away.

Nianyao was utterly ashamed and stammered, "...It was his apprentice...it has nothing to do with me..."

Luo An admitted, "It was my apprentice doctor, it has nothing to do with her."

Yuan Feng pushed the dragon beard candy in front of Nian Yao, trying to ease her embarrassment: "Madam, the dragon beard candy was designed by His Majesty and made by the head chef. It is sweet but not greasy and melts in your mouth. Please try it."

Nianyao picked one up, took a small bite, and said very ladylike, "Delicious."

An Qile said, "Xiao An used to dislike being close to people, he would even avoid being touched on the shoulder, and my second brother was always worried about his marriage. After being away for a few years, he changed his personality, got married, and even had twins. It seems that children can't be kept at the forefront of our minds, we still need to go out and gain experience..."

Twins again? Is it impossible to escape them no matter where you go? The melt-in-your-mouth dragon beard candy made her choke. Luo An handed her the cup and gently patted her back to help her catch her breath.

An Qile sighed even more, "Xiao An's willingness to speak, his desire to be close to people, and his ability to take care of others are all thanks to Nianyao. If it weren't for Nianyao, our family would have another mute bachelor..."

Praise her? Nianyao finished her tea, patted her chest to catch her breath, straightened her back, and said humbly, "Uncle, you flatter me. As the Buddhist saying goes, saving someone from being a bachelor is better than building a seven-story pagoda... After all, if I don't go to hell, who will?"

No! Nianyao forced herself to finish: "Anyway, I don't mind him... and he doesn't mind me... we're great... we're a good match... a handsome man and a beautiful woman... uh... the woman is rich and the man is handsome... I'm rich..."

Nianyao couldn't continue, so she nudged Luo An with her elbow: "You're right, aren't you?"

Luo An twirled the glass in his hand and said seriously, "Yes, that's right. A match made in heaven."

Nianyao nodded emphatically, emphasizing, "Yes, that's it."

An Qile was speechless, and the maid stared in disbelief. Nan Fei wanted to laugh, but Luo An's eyes were full of pressure. He could only support Yuan Fengwei, his shoulders trembling.

Nan Hua suppressed a laugh and said, "Chongming Island is quite fun, isn't it? Xiao An and his younger brother have been having so much fun these past few years that they don't want to leave."

When it came to Chongming Island, Nianyao had so much to say. Once they started talking, they couldn't stop, from the desolate wilderness to the bustling capital, from daily meals to gossip and legends. Time flew by, and by noon, Nianyao was completely relaxed, considering herself one of them.

After lunch, An Liangchen asked Nanhua to take Yuan Feng and Nianyao shopping in Bianjing City, and to buy some women's clothing and jewelry. Tomorrow is the family banquet to meet the elders, so it has to be a bit formal.

Luo An and the others sat back down in the pavilion to discuss serious matters.

An Liangchen said to Nan Fei, "You know that Duoyi is in the palace, right?"

Nanfei said, "Brother-in-law, there is no precedent for a woman to be taken hostage since ancient times."

An Liangchen thought for a moment and said, "It's not impossible. The Yue Jue Shu records that Helu took the daughter of the King of Qi as a hostage."

"Helu attacked Qi and won a great victory, taking the Qi king's daughter as a hostage. This was Yue winning the war and forcibly marrying the princess of a defeated country..." Nanfei glanced at Luo An: "...That's not called a hostage."

An Qile praised, "Nanfei, you truly deserve your reputation for talent... We all know about your argument with General Yuan on Chongming Island."

Nanfei instantly became furious: "How could you do such a thing? She's just a little girl, her father just died and you're making her sign a pledge. If Dongyang really has no one else, then don't fight, just surrender and admit defeat."

An Qile said, "It was General Yuan who brought it up."

An Liangchen said, "Nanfei, among all the countries in the world, only Dongyang is bordered by the sea on one side and surrounded by enemies on three sides, making its terrain the most unfavorable. However, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Precisely because of this disadvantage, Dongyang has known to be prepared for danger in times of peace since its founding, and has taken one step at a time, which is why it has achieved its current prosperity."

Nanfei asked, "Is uniting with Nanyue to destroy Xiling and Beirou considered taking one step at a time?"

An Liangchen countered, "Is there a necessary connection between Ji Kongming's betrayal and Xiling's dispatch of troops?"

No! These are completely different things.

Nanfei was awakened by those words and cleared his mind again. An Liangchen slowly sipped his tea, and the pavilion fell silent.

Luo An, losing interest, put down his cup and said, "I'm going to rest. You two can continue your conversation."

Nanfei grabbed him: "Young Master..."

Luo An said, "I don't understand military strategy."

Nanfei said, "Young Master, this matter concerns the life of the Second Prince."

Luo An brushed his hand away, his expression indifferent, just as they used to know each other.

The legitimate prince and the adopted princess were hostages to each other, which was inherently unequal. Duoyi had lived in Bianjing before, and having experienced marriage and the loss of her husband, she was essentially an abandoned pawn.

Things were more serious than Luo An had imagined. Luo An's voice was filled with grief and indignation: "Jing Chen didn't plan to come back, did he? You didn't plan for Jing Chen to come back either? How could Second Uncle and Second Aunt bear to agree to this?"

An Liangchen said, "He will come back."

Luo An stared at An Liangchen for a while, wanting to say something but holding back. He turned his head and saw the swimming fish: no matter how happy they were, they were still just fish kept in a pond.

An Qile said, "This is not my brother and sister-in-law's fault; it was simply a matter of necessity."

Luo An said, "Is it really come to this? What can Jing Chen change by going there? Just to die in vain?"

Luo An doesn't discriminate when it comes to criticizing people; even the emperor and empress are exceptionally polite and careful when speaking to him.

Nanfei broke the silence: "Southern Vietnam has defected, the Tatars have invaded the south, and the Northern Routes are clashing... Are you prepared?"

An Liangchen said, "Let's start from the beginning. How many years has it been since there was any conflict in this world? Xiling has been supporting the restoration of Nanyue for almost twenty years now. In these twenty years, who hasn't been holding back their ambitions and ready to make a move? Even a volcano can erupt one day."

The world is in turmoil, a matter of life and death. If Xiling seizes the opportunity to rise up, can Dongyang remain unscathed by indifference? Can it expect to die peacefully in this chaotic world? Rather than waiting to die, it's better to take a gamble; there might still be a glimmer of hope.

Luo An asked Nan Fei, "Will the northern deserts definitely take this opportunity to invade the border?"

Nanfei replied without hesitation, "Most likely. Batu has followed his wife in battles since childhood, sweeping across the northern deserts in recent years. He's an ambitious man. He was driven to the Kelu River by Afeng before, but has gradually moved south in recent years. At the very least, he's offering food as hostage, showing no sincerity whatsoever."

Luo An asked, "Why didn't you say so when you were on Chongming Island?"

Nanfei sighed: "Young master, a military pledge is not a game; it's a pledge made with one's life on the line. Besides, the matter is settled, saying more will only encourage Nan Yue's ambitions."