Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

After dinner, Yuan Feng picked out a stack of books for Nan Fei from the study, and then went to the guest room to sleep without lingering.

Nanfei sat on the bed reading, but the more he read, the more agitated and irritable he became, unable to calm down. His forehead was hot and sweaty.

Nanfei touched his forehead and muttered to himself, "Fever? Doesn't seem like it."

A fever should make one feel weak all over, but he was very energetic and even a little excited.

Could it be that the book is wrong? Nanfei tossed the "Great Strategies of Heaven and Earth" onto the cabinet, fiddled with the stack of books, and saw the "Heart-Cleansing Mantra".

He tossed the Heart-Cleansing Mantra into a corner: "Heart-cleansing...abstaining from desires...Young master, I hate you..."

He continued fiddling with the strings and came across the Great Compassion Mantra. Nanfei sighed, "Ah Feng is so fitting for the occasion!"

Unable to sleep or calm his mind, Nanfei recited the Great Compassion Mantra from beginning to end: Namo Ratna Trayaya. Namo Arya. Avalokiteshvara. Bodhisattva...Bodhiya...Bodhiya. Buddhaya...Buddhaya. Maitreya...Svaha. Om Siddham. Mantra. Bhadraya. Svaha.

The more I carry it, the hotter it gets; it has absolutely no calming or soothing effect.

Nanfei wiped his sweat and asked suspiciously, "Young master, what kind of medicine did you prescribe?"

All was quiet. Yuan Feng woke up feeling uneasy and opened the window to see that Nan Fei's room light was still on.

Yuan Feng flew across the rooftops and landed on the roof of Nan Fei's room, where he heard Nan Fei chanting Buddhist scriptures.

Reciting Buddhist scriptures in the middle of the night? She chose the right book? Has Nanfei really reached such a state of detachment from worldly desires?

Unable to contain her curiosity, Yuan Feng lifted two glazed tiles and looked down, immediately stunned.

Nan Fei's face was flushed, and he was shirtless, chanting incantations: "...Bodhi Night, Bodhi Night. Bodhi Night, Bodhi Night. Maitreya Night..."

Yuan Feng sat on the rooftop gazing at the moon, listening to Nan Fei repeat over and over: Namo Ratna Trayaya. Namo Arya. Avalokiteshvara. Bodhisattva...

Mantra. Bhadra. Svaha. Namo Ratna Trayaya...

Namo Ratna Trayaya…

Yuan Feng doesn't believe in Buddhism or read Buddhist scriptures, but she managed to memorize the Great Compassion Mantra by following Nan Fei's lead, and she could even recite it at the same speed as Nan Fei.

Nanfei, his mouth steaming from reciting, mumbled, "Water, I want to drink water."

The water was on the table, visible but out of reach. That night, Nanfei dared not speak too loudly: "Xiao Chai, I want some water..."

The faint sound of Xiao Chai snoring drifted over. Nan Fei cried out in despair, "A single drop of water could kill this young master...who?"

Someone entered through the window, but no one answered. Nan Fei secretly gathered his strength and saw Yuan Feng walk to the table to pour water.

The anger suppressed by the Great Compassion Mantra instantly burst through the sky, and the Buddha consciously retreated and disappeared without a trace.

Nanfei wondered if he was hallucinating: "...Ah Feng..."

Yuan Feng carried the water to the bedside and handed him the cup. Nan Fei knocked the cup away and pulled her away...

"So hot?" Yuan Feng asked anxiously, "You're sick..."

Nanfei said with difficulty, "Young Master scared me...it was an aphrodisiac..."

Ordinary acacia powder is neither strong nor harmful. If they had gotten together at the beginning, their relationship would have been long and steady. But Nanfei waited too long, and it felt like being burned by a raging fire.

When Yuan Feng was powerless...

Southbound flight turns the tide...

In her dazed state, Yuan Feng realized that Nan Fei's legs... could move again?

Nianyao dreamed of lots of food, but she couldn't reach it no matter how hard she tried, and then she woke up. When she woke up, she saw the moon smiling and the stars twinkling.

Luo An wasn't there; the room was lit with lamps and incense, and he was covered with a small blanket.

Nianyao's stomach rumbled; the aroma of the food from her dream still lingered. She sat up and called out weakly, "Is anyone there? I'm so hungry..."

Luo An brought the food in from the outer room and jumped onto the stone bed: "Eat."

Nianyao wolfed down her food, then put down her bowl and let out a satisfied burp: "So full."

Luo An smiled at her, his expression gentle yet slightly strange.

Nianyao joked, "Am I that good-looking?"

Luo An looked down and said, "Yes, it looks just like that."

Nianyao followed his gaze and looked down, quickly picking up the small blanket that had fallen to her waist: "What are you looking at? You pervert."

Luo An laughed: "What are you hiding? You've seen it all."

Nianyao was both ashamed and annoyed, and she rolled over and fell into the water. She swam to the edge of the pool, lay down, and picked up the floating flowers: the chrysanthemums were vibrant, the osmanthus blossoms were fragrant…

"Extravagant!" Nianyao said, "Is this the kind of life you've been living? These past few years on Chongming Island have really been a hardship for you."

Luo An took the tray to the outer room and handed it to a servant, then turned back and said, "It is indeed a grievance."

Lustful and arrogant! Nianyao flicked water like arrows, splashing it all over him: "...I must be blind to have mistaken you for a god."

Luo An took off his clothes and sank into the water, pulling her into his arms: "I usually stay at Heaven and Earth, and rarely come here. The Crown Prince hosts many banquets here, since it's not convenient in the palace."

Nianyao asked, "Is the house his?"

Luo An shook his head: "Mine is his too."

Nianyao said, "Xi Zhai? You didn't mispronounce it, did you? It's Xi Zhai, isn't it?"

Once bitten by a snake? Luo An scooped up some flowers and sprinkled them on her: "That's right, Xi Zhai. Everyone has their own expertise. You can steer, navigate, fish, and dive. You're better than all of us."

Nianyao turned around and kissed him: "You're so good with words, here's a reward for you."

Instead of returning the kiss, Luo An massaged her lower back. Luo An was usually quiet, so chatting like this was nice. There was still plenty of time in the night; he couldn't hurt her a second time.

Nianyao asked, "Why is it called Xizhai? Did Emperor Shun compose the Song of the West Wind?"

Luo An laughed: "You're really funny. Grandma's surname is Xi, and Grandpa built the house for her."

Nianyao felt something was off: "Grandpa's surname is An, Grandma's surname is Xi, so why is your surname Luo? And why is your name based on the imperial surname?"

"Grandma's name is Xi Luoqin, and Luoqin means 'impatient'..." Luo An changed the subject: "It means 'upper garment and lower garment'..."

Nianyao said, "The silk quilt can't withstand the chill of the early morning, and I'm not illiterate..."

Luo An smiled: "My father was born out of wedlock. He was taken to Guigu by my grandmother to study when he was young. My grandmother passed away before he finished his studies. My father took my grandmother's name as his surname, Luo Qing."

Nianyao said, "The king's decree is clear and bright, and the ministers are appointed by the king."

Luo An said with approval, "That's right!"

Nianyao said proudly, "Let me tell you, I can memorize all three books."

Luo An kissed her neck: "You're amazing. It took my mother three days and three nights to give birth to me, and my grandfather named me Luo Ansheng. People think it's to commemorate my difficult birth, but actually, my grandfather hoped that I would be recognized as part of his family."

My father brought a child to the Luo family mansion, and my mother renamed him Xu Sheng. My father then called me Luo An.

Nianyao said, "Did Mother know from the beginning that Xu Sheng wasn't you?"

Luo An said, "I was taken to the palace to be raised by the Empress after I was born. My mother has never seen me, yet she knows that the child in the mansion is not her biological child. Isn't that amazing?"

Nianyao casually explained, "A mother and child are connected at heart. Maybe she's dreamed of you many times, imagined what you look like countless times. Xu Sheng isn't what she dreamed of, nor is he what she imagined..."

Luo An remained silent for a long time, and his hand slowly stopped. Nian Yao cautiously turned her head and saw that his head was slightly tilted back...