Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 191 Awakening

Nianyao thought of how An Liangchen would even swindle a hundred taels of silver: "Indeed, even royalty are human. Who would complain about having too much money?"

Qin Jiu said, "The Jing family has once again gone bankrupt to support Nan Yue. It's hard to say whether they can make a comeback. If Nan Yue falls, the Jing family is finished. Now, wealth and future are uncertain. Chief, if you were in this situation, what would you choose?"

Nianyao asked, "Then why doesn't Nan Yue take action against the Jing family?"

Qin Jiu said, "He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. The Jing family is the leader of the Chamber of Commerce. If Nan Yue were to seize and plunder at this time, it would force the merchants to seek refuge in Dongyang. The Jing family has had a long-standing good relationship with the royal family. If we were to take action against the Jing family at this time, it would also chill the hearts of the people."

Nianyao said "Oh," and then asked, "If you had no plans, why did you come back?"

Qin Jiuqi asked, "Chief, didn't you order me to come back?"

Nianyao said, "You didn't even struggle a little bit?"

Qin Jiu said, "Since you and the young general are both here, why should I make a futile struggle?"

Nianyao said, "Isn't it because Ninth Brother doesn't want to struggle?"

Qin Jiu's eyes flickered: "Although I'm not at Jingzhao Manor, I still hope Jingzhao Manor prospers. You're plotting to seize Jingzhao Manor's wealth, so why shouldn't I want to fight back?"

Nianyao leaned forward slightly, staring at Qin Jiu: "Because you're insecure!"

Qin Jiu immediately retorted, "I'm insecure? Many people have called me arrogant, but this is the first time I've heard someone say I'm insecure..."

“You’re just insecure.” Nianyao said firmly, “You knew there was something wrong with the dowry people, so you sent them back, right? You think that farming on Chongming Island is not good enough for the princess, and that the head of the number one manor in the world is a good match for the princess of Dongyang.”

Come to think of it, your father must be quite old. He's long lost his former ambitions and now only wants to preserve his current wealth and status. Since Xu Sheng and Xue Yunting have designs on the Jing family, it must be with the permission of the King of Nanyue.

Therefore, you don't believe your father can protect Jingzhao Manor at all. You have no connection with those twenty-odd brothers and sisters. What difference does it make whether they succeed as the head of Jingzhao Manor or you do?

Qin Jiu stared at Nian Yao, who returned his gaze with equal composure. A breeze blew between them, gently lifting strands of hair. The two were locked in a fierce, head-on confrontation, neither willing to yield.

Qin Jiu couldn't understand why Nian Yao, who was clearly maintaining the neutrality of Chongming Island and only wanted to settle the brothers of Chongming Island, had also started to get involved in the chaos of the world.

Moreover, since Nianyao favors Nanyue, why did she hand over Chongming Island to Xu Lai? Was it because Xue Yunting persuaded her, or was she threatened?

"Husband."

Liang Qingcheng's voice broke the silence. Qin Jiu turned around abruptly and saw Liang Qingcheng leading Bu Zhi towards them.

Nianyao stood up and yawned: "Sister-in-law, you two can chat anytime. I'm sleepy and going to bed."

Liang Qingcheng walked up to Qin Jiu and said, "Husband, I didn't know you wanted to eat candied hawthorns. I wonder if there's a market town nearby?"

Liang Qingcheng's expression was as if nothing had happened. But judging from her appearance, it didn't seem like she was faking it.

Qin Jiu suppressed his surging emotions, bent down and picked up Buzhi: "Buzhi, we'll stay in the city tonight. Dad will take you to the market. You can buy whatever you want, okay?"

"Okay." She obediently replied, then looked at Liang Qingcheng and suddenly asked, "Mother, can we go to the market together?"

Qin Jiu pinched his little cheek: "Of course."

Xue Yunting didn't wake up until noon. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Duan Mingzhu's tears falling.

Xue Yunting weakly reached out his hand, his voice still very weak: "Don't cry."

Duan Mingzhu grabbed his hand and cried, "You scared me to death!"

Nianyao leaned against the door, about to come over when she heard the noise, but stopped when she saw Duan Mingzhu crying. Duan Mingzhu acted as if nothing was wrong when Xue Yunting was asleep, but now that she's awake, why is she crying?

If this had happened to anyone else, Nianyao would have laughed at her for being pretentious. But Duan Mingzhu's crying was so genuine that she couldn't say anything and could only stand by the door and watch.

Duan Mingzhu bent over and buried her face in the quilt. Xue Yunting gently stroked her disheveled hair: "If you keep crying, your child will also be a crybaby."

Duan Mingzhu wiped her tears away under the covers, straightened up, and glared at him: "Anyway, I don't need to comfort you."

Xue Yunting licked his chapped lips, his voice a little hoarse: "Yes, yes, I'll coax you, I'll coax you..."

Duan Mingzhu helped him up and turned her head to say, "Sister, could you please pour me a glass of water?"

Nianyao snapped out of her daze and quickly brought over a glass of water. Duan Mingzhu took it and tried to feed Xue Yunting.

Xue Yunting said, "I'll do it myself."

Duan Mingzhu objected: "This water is already full, you might spill it if your hand shakes. I'm not an outsider, what are you being shy about?"

Nianyao quickly said, "I'll go prepare the carriage first."

Nianyao was almost at the door when she realized what was happening and asked without turning around, "Mingzhu, are we leaving? If so, I'll go prepare the carriage."

Xue Yunting quickly said, "Let's go."

Nianyao stood still without turning around: "What does sister-in-law mean?"

Duan Mingzhu appeared very virtuous: "Of course, Yun Ting has the final say."

Nianyao closed the door behind her as she left the room. Xue Yunting looked at Duan Mingzhu and obediently opened his mouth.

After finishing her glass of water, Duan Mingzhu snorted and placed the glass on the low cabinet next to her: "Pretentious."

Xue Yunting didn't utter a sound. Duan Mingzhu took out a pill and put it in his mouth: "Cultivate your energy for the time it takes to burn an incense stick."

Xue Yunting sat up cross-legged. At first, he couldn't condense any internal energy, but gradually it flowed more and more smoothly. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xue Yunting thought he had fully recovered and jumped off the bed. When he landed on the ground, he almost fell.

Xue Yunting steadied himself and looked at Duan Mingzhu.

Duan Mingzhu said, "This is just a Qi-boosting pill, not a rejuvenation pill. Don't fight for seven days and rest well. Now come and help me comb my hair."

Nianyao brought in the food, unfazed: "Dinner's ready. You two must be hungry. I've prepared the carriage; we can leave anytime."

When Xue Yunting and Duan Mingzhu came out, Qin Jiu was teaching a game of chess in the courtyard, while Liang Qingcheng and Duan Mingzhu were watching. It all seemed quite harmonious.

Upon seeing the two of them, Liang Qingcheng stood up first and asked with concern, "Young General, you don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"

Xue Yunting looked at Liang Qingcheng, and Qin Jiu and Nianyao also looked at Liang Qingcheng.

Seeing their strange expressions, Liang Qingcheng thought she had asked the wrong question, so she joked to ease the tension: "They're young and impetuous, unlike us who are older."

The air seemed to freeze at those words. Liang Qingcheng finally realized something was amiss and looked at Qin Jiu questioningly.

Duan Mingzhu smiled and said, "Sister-in-law Jiu is joking. Yunting was injured yesterday while catching thieves."

Liang Qingcheng exclaimed in surprise, "You're injured? Is it serious? When did this happen yesterday?"

Qin Jiu said, "Let's go, or we won't make it to Suzhou by tonight."

Qin Jiu picked up the package from the ground, carrying Bu Zhi, and walked ahead first. Liang Qingcheng quickly followed, tugging at his clothes: "Husband, I heard that Suzhou is just as prosperous as Bianjing, is that true?"