Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

As soon as Yuan Feng left, Duo Yi moved to the Yuan residence, and the news spread like wildfire. The Nan family in the palace gave the same answer: the siblings were very close, and since the palace had not yet chosen a suitable residence for the hostage, they were temporarily staying at the Yuan residence.

Nanfei simply stayed indoors, hanging a hammock in the woods behind the swing, and leisurely reading with his legs crossed.

Duo Yi occasionally takes Ji Xiang Ru Yi out for a stroll and shopping, but spends most of her time sitting on the swing eating.

To onlookers and servants, Duoyi appeared to be the mistress of the Yuan family.

The two were carefree and the days passed quickly. News arrived that Xu Lai had evacuated all the ships and personnel of the Great River Gang to the east of Yuezhou. Xiling and Nanyue were fighting in Yuezhou, and the battle was evenly matched.

Yuan Feng led Xing Tian's cavalry to attack the pass, while Han Mu, the non-royal king of Bei Rou, took charge of the defense. Han Mu was enfeoffed as a king for his military achievements, so Yuan Feng's direct attack naturally failed, and a stalemate immediately formed between him and Bei Rou.

Upon hearing the news, Nanfei sighed: "If you're going to die, you should die a worthy death. Why throw your life away like this?"

Nan Fei unconsciously pulled out a butterfly-shaped letter. He used to think that Yuan Feng didn't understand him, but now he felt that he didn't understand Yuan Feng.

They were getting along perfectly well, and then suddenly they want a divorce. If they really intend to die on the battlefield, wouldn't a divorce be pointless?

Seeing him lost in thought, Duoyi jumped from the swing to the hammock and snatched the letter from his hand. Nanfei flipped the letter over and put it in his pocket. Duoyi leaned over and tried to pull off his clothes, but Nanfei was nestled in the hammock and couldn't exert any force against her, so he used one hand to protect his chest and the other to stop Duoyi.

The two of them were playfully fighting and blocking each other, which looked like flirting to onlookers.

"Oh, a son-in-law who can't even support his own son is openly keeping a mistress in the General's Mansion?" Nianyao's sarcastic voice rang out.

The two turned around and saw Nian Yao, Luo An'an, and Qi Le in front of them, followed by a group of guards and servants.

Nanfei quickly sat up and moved Duoyi's hand away from his chest. Duoyi suddenly hugged his waist and leaned in to kiss him.

Nan Fei turned his face slightly and kissed Duo Yi on the cheek.

Eighth Sister muttered under her breath, "Shameless."

Duoyi let go of Nanfei, put her hands behind her back, and walked forward with her head held high. As she passed by Ba Mei, she suddenly reached out and grabbed Ba Mei's hand.

Tiger noticed something was wrong and pushed Eight Sister from behind, causing her to stumble forward a few steps and almost fall.

Eighth Sister steadied herself and turned around, but Duoyi was already gone. Eighth Sister didn't understand the mystery, and suppressed the angry curse that was about to escape her lips, gritting her teeth in frustration.

Several people sat in the pavilion, their gazes toward Nanfei filled with a hint of mockery.

Nanfei wiped his face, heartbroken: "What kind of eyes do you have? The Emperor and the Crown Prince should shut down the gossip in Bianjing... They're spreading rumors about such trivial matters as if they were something else..."

Nianyao scoffed, "If you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear. Why doesn't Luo An have any gossip?"

Nanfei glanced at him sideways: "Just because you don't know doesn't mean it doesn't exist?"

Nianyao scoffed: "Then tell me..."

Nan Fei said with righteous indignation: "Like the prince and his son, I keep my mouth shut and act honestly. How could I spread gossip?"

Nianyao took out a silver ingot and slapped it in front of Nanfei.

Nan Fei raised his chin slightly: "...How can a person bow down for twenty taels of silver?"

Nianyao was furious: "You don't know what's good for you, do you? Speak up..."

Nanfei said, "Twenty taels of gold."

An Qile slapped a piece of gold in front of him: "I want to hear it."

Nanfei chuckled as he put the gold away and asked Nianyao, "Did the Princess and her family attend the family banquet?"

Nianyao nodded.

Nanfei asked, "Did you see two beautiful princesses?"

Nianyao glanced at Luo An: "I saw him!"

Nanfei asked, "Does the eldest princess have a cousin who is about three years old?"

Nianyao thought for a moment and said, "Yes."

Nanfei continued, "Didn't you see your cousin's father?"

Nianyao followed up, "What? Could it be that Luo An is that cousin's father?"

Nanfei replied decisively, "Exactly!"

An Qile's hand slipped, knocking the cup to the ground. Luo An stared at Nan Fei, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

Nianyao praised, "Your gossip skills are quite good."

Nanfei said, "Back then, the eldest princess was fond of the young master, so she pretended to be sick and went to Heaven and Earth to recuperate, and even drugged him. The prince knows about this. Don't you believe me? Ask him."

Nianyao asked, "Uncle, really?"

An Qile nodded blankly.

Nanfei said, "Later, the young master went down the mountain to become a traveling doctor. Ten months after he left, the princess gave birth to a son. If you don't believe me, ask the prince."

Nianyao asked, "Uncle?"

An Qile was speechless.

Nianyao pressed, "Uncle, is it true?"

An Qile stammered, "No...no way?"

"No way?!" Nianyao turned to Luo An, her tone sinister: "What happened?"

Luo An's tone was equally sinister: "Nan Fei, explain yourself clearly?"

Nanfei asked An Qile, "Your Highness, after the young master was drugged, did he go down the mountain to become a traveling doctor? Ten months after the young master left, did the princess give birth to a son...?"

“Nanfei, the Crown Prince wants you to go to the palace. I have to go now…” An Qile practically jumped up and left.

An Qile is going to the northern desert, Luo An and Nian Yao are returning to Chongming Island, and Nan Fei is probably leaving as well. They heard the gossip and decided to come over to see what was going on and say goodbye.

An Qile thought, wasting a piece of gold is a small matter, but getting into trouble is a big deal! Of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is the best.

Nian Yao pulled at An Qile but missed. Her temper flared up, turning into a raging fire in an instant, and she threw the cup at Luo An.

Luo An stumbled backward, chair and all, nearly falling. With a flick of his sleeve, he sent all the cups, plates, and pastries on the table flying south.

Nanfei jumped behind Nianyao and cried out pitifully, "Madam, the young master wants to kill someone to silence them."

Nianyao kicked a chair over: "Luo An, if you don't explain yourself clearly today, I'll divorce you right now."

Nanfei laughed and left. As soon as he reached the front yard, he saw Ba Mei chasing Hu Zi with a fire poker.

"Pig head..." "Black girl..." "Pig head..." "Black girl..."

Nanfei called out, "Eighth Sister."

Eighth Sister stopped, reluctantly: "Young Master!"

Nanfei said, "I'm leaving in the next couple of days. Pack your things and go back with Madam later."

Eighth Sister asked, "Where did the son-in-law go?"

Nanfei said, "Let's go to war!"

Eighth Sister asked, "Are you going with the General?"

Nanfei smiled, whispered a few words to her, and Ba Mei nodded and went to pack up.

After chatting with Nan Hua, Nan Fei was led by a palace servant to see An Liangchen. An Liangchen was sitting at his desk, playing with a pure gold token. When Nan Fei approached, he placed the token face up in front of him.

Nanfei stared at the token for a long time without saying a word.

An Liangchen said, "I dare not?"

Nanfei nodded: "Mm!"

An Liangchen laughed and said, "Even Young Master Nan has times when he dares not."

Nanfei said, "Your Highness is too kind to this humble subject. Before His Majesty and His Highness, all people are but ants."

An Liangchen raised an eyebrow: "Is that how you think of me?"

Nanfei said, "To be honest, the Crown Prince will be the ruler of the country in the future, and he should be tolerant of others."

An Liangchen stared at him: "You have a lot of opinions about me?"

Nan Fei fiddled with the token, then changed the subject: "Brother-in-law, charging straight through is the worst possible strategy. Has Yuan Feng been a garrison commander for too long?"

An Liangchen smiled: "First, she doesn't have enough soldiers; second, I instructed her to do it."