Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

The shopkeeper said, "Young lady, you're too young. Mundane life is just the way of the world, the inevitable journey..."

Nianyao glanced at Luo An and wrote: "In life and death, we made a vow."

The boss gave a thumbs-up and praised, "Young lady, you're a cultured person..."

Nianyao handed the pen to the shopkeeper, but Luo Qing snatched it away. He wrote on the other side of the sky lantern: "Holding your hand, we will grow old together."

The shopkeeper lit the sky lantern, and the two people, holding it tightly, let go at the same time. The sky lantern rose higher and higher, transforming into a star in the sky.

Luo An pulled Nian Yao's hand and they intertwined their fingers, gazing up at the brilliant starry sky together.

Nianyao asked, "Luo An, I've heard that people turn into stars after they die, is that true?"

Luo An said, "Really."

Nianyao said, "That's great."

Luo An gently pulled her into his arms. Nianyao rested her chin on his chest, still tilting her head back: "Will Father and Mother see our sky lanterns?"

Luo An said, "They will. They... definitely will."

Luo An wasn't good at comforting people, so he lowered his head and kissed her lips.

She was his everyday warmth, and he was her ultimate destination in this world. They eventually became an ordinary couple in the mundane world.

After leaving the Imperial Study where she had discussed matters with the Crown Prince, Yuan Feng decided to have a talk with Nan Hua. As she walked towards the Imperial Garden, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure behind the artificial hill on her right.

Nanfei asked her in the morning if she could go to Wenxianglou to listen to music.

Yuan Feng replied, "Sure, and I'll also have a few girls massage your necks. I'll pay for it."

Nanfei was taken aback.

Yuan Feng trusted him completely: "I'm serious."

Nanfei said, "Ah Feng is so generous."

Yuan Fengzheng fastened his jade belt: "Nanfei, you can't take the medicine anymore... I... I'm getting old..."

Nanfei asked, "...Could we ask a few girls to lighten Afeng's burden?"

Yuan Feng stopped, her eyes narrowing slightly: "How many?"

Nanfei pondered, "...Ah Feng, which ones do you think would be more suitable?"

Yuan Feng said, "Eight."

Nanfei was shocked: "Too many! They'll die from exhaustion... Four... Two, two will do..."

Yuan Feng swung the jade belt in her hand. Nan Fei rolled to the inside, shouting, "I'm not going anymore, I'm going to sleep..."

Yuan Feng stopped and retreated, hiding behind a pavilion pillar before daring to look forward.

Chrysanthemums are in full bloom. A girl is dancing among the flowers.

She wore a hat with a turned-up brim and tassels, and an agate and jade pendant that reached all the way to her chest. Her dress was red with embroidered flowers, transitioning to a gradient blue hem, and adorned with auspicious cloud patterns at the bottom.

Twisting and turning in circles, swaying and tilting, the grassland dance is unrestrained and passionate. The pendants spin with the girl's movements, the bells on her hands and feet ringing out crisply and melodiously. The palace maids are all mesmerized.

After the dance, Nanhua clapped and cheered, "Well done... Duoyi is getting more and more beautiful..."

As if sensing someone, Duoyi turned around and looked over.

Nanfei immediately ducked and hid behind the artificial hill. He crouched for a while, then crouched down and moved about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) behind a tree before straightening up and walking away, avoiding people.

Yuan Feng slowly loosened her fist, her palms sweaty, seemingly nervous about something. Seeing Duo Yi and Nan Hua so close, Yuan Feng lost her desire to chat and turned to leave.

Yuan Feng wandered the street, looking lost and dejected. Someone bumped into her from behind, and Yuan Feng took two steps forward, almost knocking over a child.

Yuan Feng quickly apologized: "I'm sorry."

The child's mother glared at her and led the child away. Yuan Fengwei composed herself and decided to return home, but after taking only a few steps, she suddenly realized something was wrong—her purse was gone.

There were all sorts of people around her; who was the thief who bumped into her?

Yuan Feng lifted the curtain and, as expected, saw Nan Fei sleeping soundly. For so long, neither of them had mentioned Duo Yi, a testament to their tacit understanding as a couple.

Yuan Feng stood and watched for a while before the curtains were drawn. Then she retreated to the table, sat down, and poured herself some wine. The wine pot clinked against a cup.

Nanfei sat up in bed, pulled back the bed curtains, and asked in a lazy, hoarse voice, "You're back?"

Yuan Feng sat with her back to the bed, drinking without responding.

Nan Fei asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

Yuan Feng said, "I will depart in three days."

Nan Fei was slightly taken aback: "So fast? Was it the Crown Prince's decision?"

Yuan Feng did not respond.

Nanfei got out of bed and sat opposite her: "Dongyang is at a disadvantage. If we act too hastily, it will make us appear ambitious and easily become the target of everyone's criticism. General Yin and the others are all here, so your absence for a short time will not have any impact. In case Xiling and Beirou do not form an alliance, it would be more prudent for us to divide Xiling with Nanyue and govern it along the river."

Yuan Feng was somewhat impatient: "This was agreed upon by the Emperor and the Crown Prince long ago, how can it be changed so easily?"

Nan Fei said, "This is not an agreement, this is a gamble with the fate of the nation."

Yuan Feng said, "The victor is king, the loser is villain; isn't it all a gamble? I only obey the emperor's orders to fight, not the nation's fate."

"Did the Crown Prince scold you? Why are you so angry?" Nanfei reached out and patted her head: "Ah Feng, don't be angry..."

Yuan Feng turned her head away, and Nan Fei slowly withdrew his hand. The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat tense.

Yuan Feng lowered her head and after a long while said, "My purse was stolen."

That's it? What's the big deal?

Yuan Feng was indignant: "Under the Emperor's nose, a dignified general, how could Xiao Xiao have succeeded?"

Nanfei immediately relaxed: "I'll compensate you for whatever you stole."

Yuan Feng said, "Two hundred and sixty-three taels."

Nanfei got up and took the money bag: "Ah Feng really remembers things, she even remembers the odd amount clearly."

Nanfei poured the silver onto the table and counted it: one money bag contained 188 taels, and another 75 taels. It added up to exactly 188 taels.

Nanfei put the silver back into his money bag and placed it in front of her: "Here, this is to compensate you."

So generous? Yuan Feng asked, "Aren't you worried about the cost?"

Nanfei said, "If material possessions can make Ah Feng happy, why should I feel sorry for her?"

Yuan Feng smiled, her tone becoming more enthusiastic: "Shall we go to Wenxiang Tower to listen to music this afternoon?"

Nanfei's eyes lit up: "Can I ask a few girls to massage your neck? They can massage it for you too."

Yuan Feng said, "Okay."

Nanfei asked, "You'll pay?"

Yuan Feng stood up and tossed his coat to him: "I'll pay."

Nanfei praised, "Ah Feng is the best."

After lunch, Yuan Feng pushed Nan Fei in a wheelchair to listen to music. As soon as they arrived at the front yard, they heard a commotion at the gate.

Yuan Feng said in a deep voice, "What's all the noise about?"

The noise immediately stopped.

Eighth Sister rushed over in a panic: "General, someone claiming to be Princess Duoyi is forcibly breaking in, and Steward Su and the others are trying to stop her..."

Duo Yi rushed in while everyone was still stunned, and Yuan Feng and Nan Fei were both taken aback.

“Nanfei…” Duoyi squatted down and pinched Nanfei’s leg: “Nanfei, aren’t you supposed to be very careful? How did you get yourself into this state…”

Seeing that Yuan Feng's expression was off, Eighth Sister quickly said, "Miss, men and women shouldn't touch each other. How can you touch and pinch my son-in-law like that?"

Duo Yi rebuked, "The master hasn't even given a word, yet this lowly servant dares to shout? Does the Yuan family have no manners at all?"

Yuan Feng coldly said, "The princess forcibly broke into a private residence and groped the son-in-law of the Yuan family. Does she have both manners and upbringing?"

Duo Yi stood up: "Sister Yuan, I was just disciplining your servants. Nan Fei loves beauty the most, and the servants in your mansion are dark and ugly. Aren't you afraid they'll scare Nan Fei?"

Tensions.

Nanfei quickly smoothed things over: "Judging by appearances is to miss out on Ziyu. A person should live by virtue, how can one be so superficial? Eighth Sister has a dignified appearance and a graceful figure, I like her very much."