Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Nianyao tried to talk to Yuan Feng, hoping to find out more about Uncle Liu's death, but Yuan Feng's mouth remained tightly shut.

Nianyao said, "It's fortunate that Nanfei is so lively; most people couldn't stand her being such a quiet person."

Luo An thought for a moment: "Maybe she really doesn't know?"

Nianyao rolled her eyes at him: "How could that be?"

Luo An said, "Why is it impossible?"

Nianyao, feeling rather disheartened, sprinkled some fish food into the pond: "It's impossible. She's the most suspicious, yet she's the most composed. She doesn't say anything because she doesn't want the Great River Gang to have internal strife at this time, and also because the person who killed Uncle Liu must be related to Dongyang. I even suspect Uncle Xu Lai. After Uncle Liu's death, Xu Lai has the most influence."

Luo An shook his head: "From a broader perspective, if Xu Lai really wants to take action, he should wait until Nan Yue's stance is clear. Unless it's a personal grudge... their personal relationship is alright..."

Who does Uncle Liu have a personal grudge against?

The night before Yuan Feng set off, she rested her head on Nan Fei's chest and heard their heartbeats mingling together. Suddenly, tears streamed down her face.

Nanfei felt the dampness and was slightly startled. Yuan Feng wasn't the type to wallow in melancholy; why was she crying so suddenly?

Nanfei helped her sit up, patted her back and coaxed, "Why are you crying? Did you not perform well today because you didn't take your medicine? Is Ah Feng not satisfied?"

Yuan Feng laughed again before she could even stop crying.

Nanfei took the handkerchief from beside her pillow and gently wiped away her tears, asking softly, "What's wrong?"

Yuan Feng hugged his firm, slender waist, her voice muffled: "If other girls cried, would you comfort them like this?"

Nanfei objectively analyzed: "As a son-in-law who cannot take concubines or have mistresses, the possibility of him sitting on the bed embracing and coaxing another girl is zero."

Yuan Feng said, "You know... that's not what I meant?"

Nanfei asked, "Then what do you mean?"

Yuan Feng looked up and said, "What I mean is... I love you... Nan Fei, I love you..."

In the quiet night, the faint light seemed exceptionally bright.

Yuan Feng looked up, her eyes filled with adoration. The beautiful child had grown into an exceptionally handsome young man, and then into a stunningly beautiful man. They had known each other for many years, their relationship had been entangled for many years, but the time they had truly spent together was very limited. Just like now, they had only just met, and now they had to part.

Nanfei kissed her nose: "Silly girl, we mustn't let anyone see General Yuan like this."

Nanfei snapped his fingers to turn off the light, then lay down with her in his arms.

Yuan Feng opened her eyes and, after a long, long time, asked softly, "Do you love me?"

The sound drifted into the darkness, unanswered. Nanfei, breathing heavily, had fallen asleep.

The next morning, Yuan Feng set off. Nan Fei wanted to see her off to the city gate, but Yuan Feng stopped him at the gate: "They are waiting for me at the city gate, so you don't need to see me off."

Yuan Feng traveled between the border and Bianjing, regarding reunions as rare and separations as the norm. She was a capable general, not a resentful woman confined to her chambers. Last night's outburst seemed like a dream, and she awoke this morning calm and composed.

Yuan Feng handed him the neatly folded letter: "Open it after I leave."

The letter was folded into a butterfly shape, very delicate. Nanfei praised, "Ah Feng has such skillful hands."

Yuan Feng's smile was forced, and it quickly faded, like a tiny flower bud that hadn't yet bloomed but was already being battered by wind and rain.

Nanfei watched the man and horse disappear at the end of the road, then turned and went back to his residence. With one foot inside and one foot outside the door, he felt something was amiss.

Yuan Feng spurred her horse forward without looking back. She knew he was watching at the door, and she knew the journey was dangerous, but she didn't turn back.

Nanfei carefully unfolded the letter and saw the three words at the top: Divorce Agreement. He stared at the letter for a long time without moving, a sharp pain spreading from his heart.

It's better to talk things out face to face. What does it mean to have a divorce that's unclear and ambiguous?

When Nanfei went to the palace, Nanhua was playing chess with Duoyi. Duoyi was very well-behaved in front of Nanhua, and after seeing Nanfei, she called him "Third Brother" and then consciously avoided him.

Nanfei sat opposite Nanhua, continuing the unfinished game of chess: "Sister, why keep Duoyi in the palace? Wouldn't it be better to just set up a house outside as a hostage residence?"

Nan Hua said, "She said she's alone in the palace, keeping me company."

Nanfei placed his piece: "So you'll go with her?"

Nan Hua pointed to the attendants: "They are trained assassins, disguised as guards and palace maids, following me."

Nanfei protested, "Why do you have to put yourself in danger? Was it your brother-in-law's idea?"

Nan Hua simply said, "I'm fine, don't worry. Why didn't you go with Yuan Feng?"

Nan Fei said, "If the Crown Prince doesn't appoint officials, how can I mobilize a single soldier? How am I supposed to go?"

Nan Hua smiled and said, "I'll go with you to find him."

Nanfei refused: "No need. He's very shrewd, it's not worth your worrying about him. Taking care of yourself is more important than anything else. Yuan Feng isn't in the mansion, let Duoyi move in with him."

The chess pieces in Nanhua were in disarray, and one might wonder if he had gone mad.

An Liangchen stepped in and sat down next to Nanhua: "I agree. I thought you wouldn't go to the palace on your own initiative? What happened?"

Nanfei shook his head: "No, I came to see my sister."

An Liangchen said, "Shall I have a disciple from the Pear Garden come and sing you a song to cheer you up? Or shall we go to Wenxiang Pavilion?"

Nanfei was flattered: "Brother-in-law, you've gone to so much trouble. Sister, would you like to come along?"

An Liangchen glared at him.

Nanfei suddenly asked, "Brother-in-law, why don't you take Duoyi as a concubine?"

Nan Hua's hand trembled slightly, and tea splashed onto his hand.

Nanfei then asked, "Brother-in-law, if my sister gives birth to a daughter, will you take a concubine to have a son?"

Nan Hua spilled a bowl of tea onto her dress.

An Liangchen grabbed Nan Fei by the collar and dragged him outside, only releasing him when they reached the courtyard. An Liangchen's eyes narrowed slightly: "Are you tired of living?"

Nanfei straightened his collar: "Brother-in-law, Ah Feng and I will take down Bei Rou. Keep the 50,000 Imperial Guards, just in case."

Nanfei always seemed to understand what he was thinking. An Liangchen, impressed, handed him a purse. Nanfei assumed it was a military tally, but upon opening it, he found a bag of gold beans.

Nan Fei beamed and flattered, "Brother-in-law, my sister is pregnant and it's inconvenient for her to take care of you. How about we go to Wenxiang Pavilion? I'll order two girls for you, and you won't have to go back to the palace tonight."

An Liangchen sized him up: "You bent over pretty quickly?"

Nanfei earnestly corrected him: "Brother-in-law, children don't have waists."

An Liangchen smiled: "When Duoyi arrives at the Yuan residence, you should appease her and extract some useful information. If Jingchen can kill Batu, his sons will definitely fight for power, causing an internal split, which would pose no threat to us."

Nanfei returned the purse to him, shaking his head: "Duoyi hates our family. She's not safe with my sister in the palace."

An Liangchen didn't insist: "Take it. Why make yourself look so shabby?"

Duoyi brought two palace maids with her and moved into the Yuan residence after a simple settling-in. Eighth Sister pouted as she tidied the room, her eyes filled with disdain as she looked at Nanfei.

When the news reached the Zhenbei Army, Yuan Feng was stationed at the foot of Xiangzi Mountain before Chongguan Pass. Entering Beirou required fighting for Chongguan Pass, and leaving Dongyang required fighting for Chongguan Pass as well. This battle was a matter of life and death, and would undoubtedly be extremely difficult.

What is so terrible about death? Dying on the battlefield is commonplace for soldiers. Her loved ones are all gone, and she has little to hold onto in this world.