Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Nanfei and Duoyi sat on the riverbank, the water splashing against the bank with a gurgling sound. Willow branches drooped beside them, their leaves slightly yellow.

Nanfei looked down at the river, while Duoyi looked up at the horizon. Both seemed lost in their memories.

Their happy childhood came to an abrupt end. From then on, they were reborn, emerging from their cocoons like butterflies, transforming from children into adults.

The days in the northern desert were unbearable to recall, a nightmare Nanfei desperately wanted to avoid. Duoyi's few words plunged Nanfei into hell, the humiliation still vivid in his mind.

Nan Fei's face turned pale, and his body began to tremble.

The fear of returning to the northern desert overwhelmed Duoyi, and she paid no attention to Nanfei, pouring out her grievances all at once: "If the Emperor knew, he would not have chosen you as his consort. If Yuan Feng knew, he would have broken off the engagement immediately. The entire Nan family is ashamed of you, and the entire Dongyang is ashamed of the Nan family."

"Doesn't the Crown Prince like your sister? The royal family won't allow the Crown Princess to be the sister of a courtesan; otherwise, Dongyang will become a laughingstock throughout the land..."

Nanfei vaguely realized that Duoyi didn't believe the Emperor would allow him to annul the engagement, much less that the Yuan family would take the initiative to annul it. Duoyi seemed to accept the fact that he was engaged, and didn't seem worried that Yuan Feng would request permission to marry him.

It all hinges on the fact that Duoyi holds leverage over him and is prepared to fight to the death. If the Yuan family doesn't call off the engagement, and if Nanfei doesn't marry her, Duoyi will ruin his reputation.

Nanfei was still just a child. He had worked tirelessly and exhausted himself to provide Duoyi with food, so he couldn't withstand such stimulation from Duoyi.

Nanfei felt his blood rush to his head, and he became dizzy. He clutched his head and collapsed to the ground, feeling nauseous but unable to vomit.

Just then, Nan Hua, worried, returned to the manor to check on him and overheard Duo Yi's entire conversation outside the door.

Nan Hua waited until the retching sounds from the room stopped and there was no further noise before gently knocking on the door: "Little brother, are you there?"

Nanfei was limp and drenched in sweat, as if he had been pulled out of the water, and couldn't move at all. Duoyi felt a pang of heartache seeing Nanfei's condition, but the thought of Nanfei sending her back to the northern desert stirred a ruthless glint in her eyes, and she stood still.

Nan Hua muttered to himself outside the door, "Where have you run off to again?"

Nanfei only managed to stand up after hearing Nanhua's footsteps fade into the distance. He moved to the door with his feet together, and as he stepped out, he leaned forward, only managing to grab the door frame in time to avoid falling.

Duo Yi came over to help him.

Nanfei straightened up against the door and pushed her hand away: "Don't touch me, I'm dirty, I'll soil your hands..."

Nan Hua brought Jun Xinyue over, complaining as they walked: "What time is it? My little brother is still running around everywhere. The servants have no manners and can't even keep an eye on the young master."

Several maids and servants, having been reprimanded by Nan Hua, all followed to find Nan Fei, only to find him standing by the door.

The maid said aggrievedly, "I just said the young master was at home and hadn't gone out..."

Nan Hua raised her hand and slapped you across the face, angrily saying, "You get all worked up and talk back after I say a few words to you. If you're so capable, why aren't you being treated like a pampered princess at home? Why are you being a servant..."

Seeing Nan Fei's pale face, Jun Xinyue quickly asked, "Are you feeling unwell, little brother?"

Nan Hua helped Nan Fei to bed and yelled at the maid, "What are you standing there for? Go and fetch a doctor! Sister-in-law, replace all the clueless people in the manor. They can't even serve the young master properly, what's the point of keeping them?"

The maid dared not utter a sound and ran to fetch a doctor.

Duo Yi's expression shifted between light and shadow. Jun Xin Yue, a smooth-talking person, saw Duo Yi standing at the door and greeted her, "Little sister, don't worry, the doctor will be here soon."

Nanfei was exhausted and had difficulty breathing. He lay in bed unable to speak and let them do as they pleased.

The doctor arrived quickly and diagnosed the patient with poor blood circulation and malnourishment of the meridians. He prescribed medicine to warm the Yang, invigorate blood, promote Qi circulation, and relieve pain, and specifically instructed the patient to keep a calm mind and avoid agitation.

Nan Hua wanted to take Duo Yi to the palace to meet the envoy, but Duo Yi refused and ran back to her room, sitting with her back to the door and ignoring her.

Nan Hua dismissed the servants and stood at the door to block out the light: "According to custom, male prisoners are used to build border fortifications, while female prisoners are used for the soldiers' entertainment. Back then, Yuan Feng defeated Batu and massacred 30,000 people, including Batu's three sons and daughters-in-law. Guess who ordered that?"

Duo Yi turned to look at her.

Nan Hua, backlit, smiled enigmatically: "It's me. If you had married Batu's son back then, wouldn't you have become Yuan Feng's target for assassination? After all, only the dead can keep secrets forever."

Duo Yi's expression changed slightly.

Nan Hua continued, "Your rescue of Nan Fei from the northern desert is not a reason for you to threaten him. Given his situation at the time, he couldn't threaten you; it was your own choice. You feel he owes you something, but I've never thought so."

All's fair in war, the victor is king, the loser is villain; using cunning is only natural. I think everyone in the northern desert deserves to die, including you. Back when we returned to Bianjing from Fengzhou, I told Nanfei you couldn't stay."

Duo Yi suddenly stood up: "My horse is dead, did you do it?"

Nan Hua said, "Yes, it was me. Nan Fei is kind-hearted and grateful, so he insisted on keeping you here and went to great lengths to protect you. If you don't cause trouble or harm him, I have no objection..."

Duo Yi said in a panic, "...I didn't mean to hurt him...It was him...it was you who wanted to hurt me. As long as he's good to me, of course I'll be good to him..."

Nan Hua said, "He is no longer able to protect you. His Majesty does not want to start a war with the Northern Desert, so the Northern Desert dares not move south for the time being. We should just maintain peace."

Duo Yi shook her head in fear: "I can't go back..."

Nan Hua said, "Whether you return alive or dead, it's your choice. But... if you dare to speak out of turn, I'll cut your tongue out. I'll make you experience what Nan Fei went through back then..."

Duo Yi's eyes welled up with tears, but she dared not let them fall: "How could you be so vicious..."

Nan Hua remained unmoved: "I will watch you until you leave Bianjing. Yuan Feng will escort the envoy and you out of Dongyang..."

Duo Yi said, "Was it Yuan Feng's idea? She deliberately avoided fighting with Mobei and had Batu take me back. How shameless of her! Doesn't she know how old she is, coveting a child at her age..."

Nan Hua, too lazy to waste any more words, said: "Princess, being careful with your words and actions is the way to save your life!"

Duo Yi compromised: "I won't go to the palace; I'll set off from the Southern Prefecture."

Nanfei was in a daze, half-dreaming and half-awake, only feeling people coming and going, and the chaos of war...

Something was pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe; it was the feeling of being on the verge of death. Nan Fei struggled desperately and suddenly opened his eyes. The room was pitch black and empty; he had been having a nightmare.

Nanfei wiped away his sweat, regulated his breathing, and got out of bed in the dark to open the door and go out.

In the middle of the night, only a few lanterns lit up under the eaves, creating a dim, eerie, and eerily quiet atmosphere.

Nanfei walked along the corridor to the back, crossed the pavilion bridge and passed through the moon gate, and saw guards standing at the entrance of Yijing Garden.

The guard, who was dozing off, became alert upon hearing the noise: "Young Master?"

Nan Fei pushed open the door and went in, followed by a guard: "The Second Miss instructed us to keep watch..."

Before the guard could finish speaking, the door to the room next to Duoyi opened, and Nanhua came out: "...Why aren't you lying down? What are you doing here?"