Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Nanfei waved away the guards: "Come and take a look."

Nan Hua frowned: "Compassion cannot lead an army, righteousness cannot build wealth, kindness cannot make one an official, sentiment cannot establish affairs, benevolence cannot lead to politics... How can you, with all these qualities, still dream of becoming an official and prime minister?"

Nanfei said, "For politics, Shang Yang moved a log to establish trust; for friendship, Fan Shi traveled a thousand miles to keep an appointment; for family, Zeng Shen slaughtered a pig to raise his son... Sister, a gentleman's promise is as heavy as a thousand pounds..."

Nan Hua said, "Have you gone mad from reading too much? A gentleman never tires of loyalty and trustworthiness, even amidst elaborate rituals; and in battle, one never tires of deception and trickery..."

Nanfei said, "Sister..."

Nan Hua pushed him: "Go back and rest..."

They flew south without moving.

Nan Hua was exasperated: "What exactly do you want? Do you really want to marry her?"

Nanfei said, "She and I are siblings, so there's no question of marriage between us. But sending her back to the northern desert is like sending her to her death."

Nan Hua said, "No, the Duoyan tribe has a lot of influence in the northern desert. Her parents will protect her."

Nanfei would not be so easily dismissed.

Nan Hua's voice was gentle and warm: "When you brought her back, I felt it wasn't right. If you don't marry her, she's a ticking time bomb. If you marry her, you're putting the Nan family in danger."

Little brother, let your sister handle this. Don't worry about it, okay? You're still young and don't know how treacherous the world can be. You'll understand when you're older..."

Nanfei hesitated, but still asked, "General Yuan, why don't you send Batu back to the Keru River again... that way Duoyi won't have to go back..."

"You're so stubborn," Nan Hua said. "You're not a pedantic person, so why can't you understand?"

Nanfei persisted in asking, "Is it related to General Yuan? Duoyi has been here for two years, why is she suddenly being asked to return?"

Nan Hua said with a stern face: "No, the matters of Mobei and Dongyang are not for the general to decide."

Nanfei seemed not to believe it.

Nan Hua said impatiently, "Soldiers listen to generals, but who do generals listen to? If a general's talent is used for intrigue and backstabbing, how can he defend the border? Yuan Feng is wise and disdains to waste his time on personal feelings."

Nanfei asked, "Then why didn't she hit him?"

Nan Hua retorted, "Blood flows like the sea on the frontier, one general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand... Is war a fun thing? Yuan Feng was severely wounded after defeating Batu, but luckily she was young and survived. If war breaks out again, will she definitely live? Will she definitely win? What if she can't win?"

Yes, the general deserved to die on horseback. But what if Batu had marched straight in? Have you considered the consequences? The imperial treasury would have been burned to ashes, and the streets would have been trampled with the bones of officials. What could you, a pampered young master, possibly use to resist? Now Batu intends to make alliances; peace on the border is beneficial to the people and Dongyang. Why provoke trouble?

Are you blinded by praise, truly believing yourself to be the most talented person in the world? Aren't the Emperor and the Crown Prince more thoughtful than you? Indecisive and unclear about your own affairs? And yet you dare to question the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the General?

Nan Hua rarely treated him seriously.

Nanfei remained silent for a while before turning around and walking back. Suddenly, he heard the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground in the room.

Nan Hua kicked the door first and, by the light of the courtyard lamp, saw Duo Yi lying on the ground with a white silk ribbon hanging from the roof beam.

Nan Hua was surprised and unsure whether Duo Yi had really hanged herself or was just putting on an act. Seeing Nan Fei running over, he helped Duo Yi sit up.

Duo Yi coughed violently, and after catching her breath, she said to Nan Fei, "Could you take me to Fengzhou?"

Nan Hua refused: "The doctor said he needs to rest. It's freezing cold, do you want him to die?"

Nanfei said, "Okay. I'll take you back."

"That stubborn fool." Nan Hua flung his sleeves and walked to the door, then turned back angrily: "One day, you will die because of your own womanly compassion."

Nan Fei helped Duo Yi lie down on the bed and pulled the blanket over her, saying, "Rest well and don't make a fuss. We're leaving the day after tomorrow."

Duo Yi said, "Nan Hua will kill me."

Nanfei said, "No, she just sounds heartless, but she's actually a very nice person."

Duo Yi thought to herself: No, none of you are good people.

Seeing that she was worried, Nanfei comforted her, "You sleep, I'll watch over you here, be good..."

Duo Yi liked it when Nan Fei said she was obedient. She obediently replied, "Okay."

Nanfei sat in the room all night. The next morning, Nanhua came to check on him and found Nanfei asleep on the table, his face flushed with fever.

Nan Hua was so angry that he kicked the chair.

Nanfei fell to the ground, groggily saying, "Eat..."

Duo Yi jumped off the bed and helped him up: "She kicked you."

Nanfei looked at Nanhua: "Sister, what are you doing?"

Nan Hua was so angry her liver hurt: "You're sick and you're still staying by her side? What are you staying for? To protect yourself from me? Do you think I'd kill her? You two, a man and a woman alone together, will be hard to explain to others..."

Nanfei's illness worsened, leaving him weak and his voice feeble: "Sister..."

Nan Hua retorted angrily, "Don't call me sister, I don't have a brother like you."

Nan Hua pulled Nan Fei outside, and Nan Fei stumbled and almost fell. A maidservant couldn't bear to see him like that and came over to help him.

Duo Yi tried to follow, but the guards stopped her.

Nan Hua showed no mercy: "If you force your way in, I'll call in the Imperial Guards to guard the gate."

Nan Hua thought Duo Yi would throw a tantrum, but she didn't. Duo Yi sat quietly at the entrance of Yi Jing Garden, sending her maid over every hour to inquire about the situation.

By evening, Nanfei's high fever had turned into a low fever, and the entire Nan family breathed a sigh of relief.

Yuan Feng, having heard the news from somewhere, came to the Nan residence to see him. Nan Fei's room was crowded with people, so she didn't go in but stood outside the window looking out.

The doctor said Nanfei was fine, and Yuan Fengcai breathed a sigh of relief and went home. She hadn't gone far when a maid came over and said that Duoyi was inviting her to stay.

Yuan Feng and Duo Yi stood facing each other, one inside the gate of Yijing Garden and the other outside.

Yuan Feng, honed through military experience, possessed a dignified and taciturn demeanor that commanded respect. In comparison, Duo Yi appeared as a spoiled young lady, looking rather inferior.

Duo Yi retorted sarcastically, "Didn't you say the engagement was just a temporary measure? Didn't you say you were going to break it off? It's been two years, why haven't you broken it off yet?"

Yuan Feng turned and left.

Duo Yi chased after her and blocked her way: "Why are you leaving? Feeling guilty? Don't think everyone doesn't know about your filthy thoughts. Don't you know how old you are? 'Old cow eating young grass' is too mild a word; you're just taking advantage of someone's misfortune and shameless..."

Yuan Feng was extremely annoyed: "Get out of the way."

Duo Yi said, "You think you can just give it up like that? This is your land? Let me tell you, Nanfei likes me. He would never like an old woman like you..."

Don't hit someone in the face, don't expose someone's shortcomings. Yuan Feng was angry, her eyebrows raised, and Duo Yi retreated in fear.

Duo Yi was no match for Yuan Feng. Yuan Feng grabbed her wrist and swiftly threw her over her shoulder, leaving Duo Yi lying on the ground seeing stars.

By the time Duoyi got up from the ground, Yuan Feng had already disappeared.

The next day, the envoy's carriage arrived at the gate of the Southern Mansion to welcome Yuan Feng for a feast. Yuan Feng, dressed in military attire and holding a long spear, stood there, exuding an air of dashing elegance that stunned the onlookers.

Nan Hua accompanied Duo Yi out. Duo Yi glared fiercely at Yuan Feng, reluctantly getting into the carriage.

Yuan Feng was about to give the order to set off.

Nanfei appeared at the door and called out, "Enjoy!"