Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Yuan Feng sat kneeling before her parents' graves, staring blankly at the tombstone. Eighth Sister knelt beside her, not daring to utter a sound.

How have we gotten through these years? Training troops and patrolling the border in the vast desert, studying terrain and formations, hoping day after day, waiting year after year.

Did her father make her wait? No, she made herself wait! Did her father forbid her from sending the divorce papers? No, she couldn't bear to!

No matter how proud she was, she couldn't be as proud as Nanfei. If she didn't go looking for him, Nanfei would probably never come back on his own.

Only those who care will avoid it. They don't mention Duoyi, but Duoyi is always there.

One wrong step leads to another, and Yuan Feng finds herself at a dead end, unsure of what to do next. Perhaps dying on the battlefield like her mother is the final and only fate for the daughters of the Yuan family.

Eighth Sister, her knees numb from kneeling, moved her legs slightly, making a soft sound.

Yuan Feng said, "Why are you kneeling? Get up."

Eighth Sister said, "It's alright, I..."

Yuan Feng reached out and pulled, but it seemed like she wasn't using much force, and Eighth Sister fell to the ground.

Yuan Feng said, "Sit down, my parents don't care about these things."

Eighth Sister thought to herself: The general looks dignified, but he is kind at heart.

The eighth sister grew bolder: "That princess is shameless, why doesn't the general kick her out?"

Yuan Feng's smile was so bitter that Eighth Sister dared not utter a sound.

After a long pause, Yuan Feng finally asked, "What do you think of the son-in-law?"

Eighth Sister immediately said, "Of course the son-in-law is very good. He comes from a good family, is good-looking, smart and eloquent... Since ancient times, wealthy families have often had spoiled brats. The son-in-law is completely different from the playboys who wander around in Bianjing City."

Yuan Feng asked, "What do you think of me?"

Eighth Sister proudly said, "...The General is also very good. He is famous for protecting our country. In our Dongyang, who hasn't heard of the General's reputation? I'm so happy to be a servant in the General's mansion."

Yuan Feng asked, "What do you think of Princess Duoyi?"

Eighth Sister, filled with righteous indignation, exclaimed: "Her? She brazenly snatched a son-in-law from someone else's house... I've heard that the people of the Northern Desert are barbaric, vulgar, and unreasonable, and it's true... General, please don't bother with someone like her, and don't take it to heart. You and the son-in-law are a perfect match... A hero and a handsome man, a match made in heaven!"

Yuan Feng twirled a blade of grass between her fingers and asked, "Really? Do you think my son-in-law loves me?"

Eighth Sister nodded emphatically: "Yes. The son-in-law must love the general very much."

Yuan Feng hesitated for a long time: "How did you figure that out?"

Eighth Sister said, "...It's just a feeling...a feeling."

Yuan Feng shook her head: "You're mistaken. It wasn't Duoyi who blatantly went to someone else's house to steal their son-in-law; it was me who secretly stole her fiancé."

Eighth Sister stared wide-eyed in utter astonishment.

Like old grains buried at the bottom of a granary, Yuan Feng decided to shake them out and air them. The accumulated dust over the years entered her eyes and throat, making her vision blurry and her voice tremble.

After defeating Batu, the border was at peace. Yuan Feng returned to Bianjing to meet the emperor, and after court, he went to see Nan Hua. At that time, Nan Hua was a lady-in-waiting to the empress.

Nan Hua pulled Yuan Feng aside and talked about Nan Fei and Duo Yi. The Empress happened to overhear and suggested, "General Yuan is of marriageable age. If he doesn't have someone he likes, why not betroth Nan Fei to him?"

Nan Hua and Yuan Feng looked at each other in bewilderment.

Nan Hua first came to his senses: "Your Majesty, marriage is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. My younger brother is still young and studying; his age is not suitable..."

The Empress said, "I am older than His Majesty, and Nanhua also thinks that His Majesty and I are not suitable for each other?"

Nan Hua dared not respond.

The Empress said, "Young men can be engaged first. The young master of the Nan family spends all his time with the princess of Mobei, and Lord Nan lets it go unchecked, causing much discussion among the court officials."

The Nan family of Youzhou resides on the border. Nan Fei secretly brought the princess of the northern desert into the pass and helped her cheat her way into the Imperial Academy. Rumors circulated among court officials that Nan Fei was suspected of treason. The Imperial Academy teachers had also spoken to the Emperor about this several times.

Nan Hua and Yuan Feng quickly knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

The Empress said, "General Yuan has served the country and, according to custom, he should marry into the Yuan family. Nanfei has an elder brother, so marrying into the Yuan family will not have much of an impact. Go back and discuss this with your parents. If Lord Nan and his wife have no objections, I will act as matchmaker for General Yuan."

What was said without malice was taken to heart by the listener. Something never considered before became perfectly natural after the Empress's suggestion. Yuan Feng felt a hidden sense of anticipation and joy.

As soon as Yuan Feng and Nan Hua arrived at the gate of the Nan residence, they saw Nan Fei and Duo Yi returning, laughing and joking.

Nanfei is the youngest son in his family, doted on by everyone. He's quick-witted and knows how to charm girls with ease. Duoyi is intelligent, outgoing, and unpretentious. They seem like a perfect match.

Yuan Feng stopped and bid farewell to Nan Hua.

Duo Yi, acting like the hostess, urged her to stay: "Sister Yuan, it's been a long time since you've been here. Why don't you come to our residence for a while?"

Yuan Feng naturally didn't go.

The next day, Nanshan was summoned back from Jiyang County by Master Nan. The Nan family held a family meeting, and Master Nan, who was already serious, looked even more stern.

Master Nan recounted the Empress's decree, the arrangements made by the court officials, and the rumors circulating in the streets. The more he spoke, the more serious the matter became, the more serious it seemed.

Madam Nan was the Empress's distant cousin. Although they were distant relatives, the Empress was willing to call her cousin, so their relationship was considered closer.

Nan Hua was a lady-in-waiting in the palace and had a close relationship with the crown prince.

Nanshan was granted the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and married the eldest daughter of the Jun family. He was appointed as the assistant magistrate of Jiyang County. Nanshan was a steady and reliable person, with the demeanor of his father. Although his official rank was not high, he had the support of his own family and his wife's family, so his career prospects were promising.

Nanfei is lively and unrestrained, capable of driving people crazy or making them laugh. The emperor once joked that if he became the top scholar in the imperial examination, he would choose a son-in-law in the grand hall.

Master Nan was in charge of criminal cases, a job that could offend many people. Because of his caution and prudence, he had escaped unscathed for many years.

Although Lord Nan's official rank wasn't the highest, his children were exceptionally beautiful, and the Emperor and Empress favored them.

With fame comes trouble, and with the Crown Princess still undecided, many people were eyeing her. During the months that Lord Nan was demoted, some ministers embellished unfounded rumors, making them increasingly offensive.

To say that Nan Hua secretly went to Fengzhou with Yuan Feng and instigated Yuan Feng to send troops to the northern desert is truly malicious.

It is said that Nanfei, who was captured for more than a month, returned safely without any injury. He secretly surrendered to Batu and came back to act as an inside agent.

It is said that Duoyi secretly learned advanced knowledge from Dongyang at the Imperial Academy, and then used it after returning to the northern desert, which would be of great harm to Dongyang.

……

Court officials frequently remarked that His Majesty's expression towards Lord Nan was growing increasingly grim. The Ministry of Personnel recommended a batch of officials, but surprisingly, Nanshan was not among them.

People would point and whisper when Nanfei and Duoyi walked down the street. Nanfei was young and unrestrained at the time, and he paid no attention to the gossip.

Master Nan and Nan Hua could not withstand the dual pressures of the common people and the imperial court. Even though they were upright, they were afraid of being seen as guilty, and they lived in constant fear.

The words "treason" coming from the Empress's mouth were as powerful as a landmine exploding.

If the emperor wants to convict someone, he can do so regardless of whether the charges are true or false; fabricated charges have existed since ancient times. If the empress wants to arrange a marriage, it must be done, whether it succeeds or not.

Duo Yi, who was hiding under the window, heard everything clearly. She immediately jumped in through the window and told everyone that Nan Fei had promised to marry her.

Nan Fei told his family that Duo Yi was his savior, and the Nan family, grateful for his kindness, treated Duo Yi as their fourth young lady. However, marrying a princess who had run away from the northern desert was something the Nan family never even dared to dream of.