Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 170 Climb high

Nanfei planned to leave on the third day of the lunar new year. On the second day, the winter solstice, he received an imperial edict from the crown prince, ordering him to go to the northern desert with Luo An.

Dongzhi immediately came to find Nanfei with a package and asked him to give it to Xiaoman.

Nanfei opened the package and inspected it. There were all kinds of candied fruits, as well as tea, yam cake, cloud cake, clear dew, and rose dew. It was very thoughtful.

Dongzhi said, "When we used to train at Heaven and Earth, we would always climb over the back mountain to Hefang Street to buy snacks at night."

Nanfei said "Oh," and then added, "Then the young master found out and mixed the laxative into the snacks..."

Winter Solstice vividly remembers: "So it was Young Master. We were exhausted from training the next day and were beaten so badly by Senior Sister that we couldn't get out of bed for three days and almost got expelled. We thought there was something wrong with the snacks, so we beat up the owner too."

Nanfei remembered that he had bought candied fruit for Yuan Feng before, and she had even kept the empty box: "Okay, I'll buy some for you, and you can give me half."

"Plucking feathers from a passing goose." Dongzhi rolled her eyes and whispered in his ear, "The Crown Prince bestowed Xiande Pavilion upon Consort Yu, made Qingming Consort Yu's shadow guard, and even accompanied Consort Yu to Prince Ming's residence to pay New Year's respects this morning."

Nanfei, who was packing a package, paused: "Any more news?"

Dongzhi said, "The imperial physician said that the Crown Princess may give birth at any time, so Fanghua Tower has increased its guards and maids."

The Crown Princess resides in Fanghua Tower, while the Consort stays in Shangxiande Pavilion? Rumors circulate that Consort Yu is favored and stays overnight every night; it seems to be true.

As Nanfei was thinking, a servant came to report: "Young master, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have arrived."

Just as Dongzhi was about to leave through the back door, Nanfei grabbed him and said, "I'll take care of things between you and Xiaoman when I get back."

Dongzhi was overjoyed: "Thank you, Young Master Nan."

The Crown Prince went to the Prince Ming's residence in the morning and only came to the Southern Residence in the afternoon. Consort Yu is giving him so much face, she doesn't even care about etiquette?

Master Nan and Nan Shan kept the Crown Prince company while Nan Fei helped Nan Hua take a walk in the garden.

The woman from Nanhua wasn't fat, but she had a large belly, as if all the fat was concentrated in her stomach. She looked unwell and seemed to be in a bad mood.

Nanfei said, "It must be very tiring, right?"

Nan Hua said, "Women all give birth. If a woman can't even endure this little bit of suffering, she is not worthy of being called a woman."

Nanfei raised an eyebrow: "Just because all women in the world give birth doesn't mean it's not hard. You won't tell me, but you won't let me ask?"

Nan Hua said, "...With the Crown Prince here and your parents here, why do you need to worry? Yuan Feng has nothing but you. You've been back for so long, have you written to her?"

Nanfei asked, puzzled, "It hasn't been that long, has it? I used to not come back for years, why didn't you say that?"

Nan Hua said, "Don't try to talk your way out of this. Do you think things are the same now as before? You're leaving tomorrow, right? I won't see you off. Take care."

Nanfei said, "I'm not leaving tomorrow."

Nan Hua was surprised: "The Crown Prince said tomorrow, did I hear you wrong?"

Nanfei said, "Mother said it wouldn't be over until after fifteen years, and she wants me to stay until after fifteen. I'm just a nominal general; it doesn't matter whether I'm here or not. I'm not some important person who absolutely has to be here..."

Nan Hua frowned: "You always speak so perfunctorily to me?"

Nanfei didn't care: "That's how it is."

Nan Hua rubbed his stomach and thought for a moment: "Is someone gossiping about you?"

Nanfei was indeed angry: "You don't know the gossip in Bianjing? The Crown Prince was reviewing memorials in the Imperial Study, and Consort Yu was dancing in the Imperial Study? It's so absurd, why do people still need to gossip about it?"

Nan Hua suppressed his temper and said, "I'm telling you this one last time: the Crown Prince's affairs are none of your business, and my affairs are none of your business. Father and elder brother are both here. As a son-in-law who married into the family, you are an outsider to the Nan family. What business is it of yours to meddle?"

Nanfei's tone wasn't harsh, but he sounded angry: "You're right, I'm an outsider. You shouldn't interfere with me and Yuan Feng."

Nanfei rarely got angry with her, so it seemed he had spoken too harshly. Nanhua softened her tone: "The Crown Prince is different from you; don't judge him by your own standards."

Nanfei said, "What's the difference? He's still a man. I've never seen a normal man who doesn't care about women."

Nan Hua said, "Aren't you and the young master doing quite well?"

Nanfei said, "That's because the two of us are abnormal."

"To injure the enemy by a thousand while losing two thousand of your own?" Nan Hua laughed and said, "What's wrong with that? He's incredibly handsome, exceptionally intelligent, and has a great personality. There's no better man in the world than my brother."

"Come on, you're kidding me." Nan Fei said with a sullen face, touching her coat: "Why aren't you wearing more?"

Nan Hua touched his hand: "Pregnant women aren't afraid of the cold. Look, my hands are warm."

His hands were indeed warm. Nan Fei heard footsteps, turned around, and saw Master Nan and the Crown Prince coming over.

Nanfei seemed to remember something and whispered, "Sister, tell me the truth, did the Crown Prince really send Duoyi to Laoshan Village?"

Nan Hua was slightly taken aback, then said, "I personally watched them leave the city gate, what are you doubting?"

That day, Luo An asked why Duo Yi was sent to Laoshan Village, but didn't ask again. Based on Luo An's understanding of An Liangchen, he seemed to have suspicions.

Nanfei said, "Sigh, I just feel that living a life of indulgence... is ultimately not a good thing."

“You’re only realizing this now? Back then you…” Nan Hua said, then realized something was wrong and said with a stern face, “You were testing me? Whether this is true or not, don’t hold it against me anymore.”

"No, that's really what I think." Nan Fei smiled as he saw An Liangchen approaching. "Brother-in-law, my sister's health is important. Let's save on these gifts. The thought is what counts. My family is very open-minded."

Nanshan just couldn't understand it. The Nan family wasn't short of money, and Yuan Feng was very generous to Nanfei. Nanfei had always lived a life of luxury, so how could he be so obsessed with money?

Old Master Nan said angrily, "If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."

Master Nan was very proud of Nan Fei when he was a child. However, after Nan Fei ran away from his arranged marriage and didn't return for several years, Master Nan grew increasingly displeased with him. The Nan family had strict family rules, and in recent years, Nan Fei had learned to be disrespectful and outspoken.

Nanfei made a sewing motion.

An Liangchen said, "I really didn't plan to come. It was Nanhua who insisted on coming on a whim."

Nan Hua must have seen that An Liangchen had visited the Ming Prince's Mansion that morning and decided to come to the Nan Mansion on a whim, so An Liangchen naturally went along with it.

In this way, Prince Ming felt very reassured by Yu Shuxian's favor. Many of Prince Ming's former subordinates joined Yuan Feng's army, which further stabilized morale.

Nanfei remarked, "Women are outwardly inclined, but devoted to their husbands. The Crown Princess is magnanimous and truly embodies the virtues of a mother."

An Liangchen handed Nanfei a letter: "A letter of persuasion to surrender written personally by Prince Ming."

Nanfei took the letter and praised, "Your Highness is indeed a man of great talent and ambition."

An Liangchen said, "Does great talent and ambition match the magnanimity of a great man?"

Nanfei quickly replied, "We're too kind...we're the ones who are too kind..."

An Liangchen said, "If you want to leave, then leave without worry. I am in good health and capable of taking care of my wife and children, so there is no need for my brother-in-law to worry."

Nanfei, with a fawning expression, said, "Yes, yes, brother-in-law is right. I have been really bored lately."