Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 271 Relief

"I need her, I need someone to manage the harem... Nanhua is someone I've been choosing for a long time..."

"Since I've employed her, I have to give her power... otherwise it might tempt her to commit murder..."

As expected of someone who has mastered the art of rulership, he has a firm grasp on people's hearts and a clear understanding of the pros and cons.

She did indeed intend to kill when she arrived at Jingming Palace that day. But when Yu Shuxian cried, she suddenly softened.

But she broke down in tears and even fell seriously ill back then. An Liangchen merely asked Luo An to treat her, but he never truly softened his heart. After years of comparison, his conclusion was that he needed her, he needed to use her…

Nan Hua thought that after they got married, they were more than just lovers. Now it seems that in An Liangchen's heart, they were never just lovers from the beginning, and even more so, they were not lovers at all.

If even she felt this way, what about Yu Shuxian? And yet, Yu Shuxian still believed she was truly favored.

What was last night all about? Was it punishment or appeasement?

Nan Hua sat on the swing chair in the garden, finding it funnier and funnier, and eventually burst out laughing.

The two newly appointed personal maids behind him looked surprised and suspicious. When they saw An Liangchen coming over, they knelt down and bowed in unison: "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Nan Hua glanced at An Liangchen, then turned and said, "You may leave."

The palace maids glanced at An Liangchen furtively, and no one dared to move.

An Liangchen sat down next to Nan Hua: "You are the Crown Princess's maids, so naturally you should obey her orders and follow her instructions."

The two palace maids bowed and retreated. Nanhua said, "What will you do if you run into your father and mother like this?"

An Liangchen laughed and said, "Given your style, even if you were to encounter Father and Mother, you wouldn't give them orders without permission. The way you're looking at me, do you think I'm wrong?"

That's so true, so true that it frightens Nanhua. Nanhua looked away, her tone indifferent: "You really understand me."

An Liangchen slid down and rested his head on Nan Hua's lap. The swing chair wasn't long enough, so he bent his legs and said, "Nan Hua, we've been together for many years."

Nan Hua gazed ahead for a long time before finally humming in agreement. Suddenly, she said, "Actually, you've been quite good to me. You're tolerant and indulgent, requiring no formalities, no need for etiquette, and no need for flattery..."

It doesn't sound like a compliment, so what does it mean?

The sky was high and the light shone down directly, making An Liangchen squint. He stared at Nanhua's chin, then suddenly reached out and pulled out her hairpin.

Her long, black hair cascaded down like silk, some strands falling across An Liangchen's face. An Liangchen twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, brought it to her nose, and inhaled the faint scent of lilies.

Nan Hua was in low spirits. It seemed that the deaths of Nan Fei and Yuan Feng had hit Nan Hua harder than he had imagined.

The silence was heavy with tension. An Liangchen broke the silence: "Nanhua, why don't you move back?"

Nan Hua asked, "Where to move to?"

An Liangchen tugged at her sash: "Chang Le Palace, all your clothes and belongings are still here..."

"How could that be!" Nan Hua shook his head slightly.

An Liangchen further advised, "It is improper for a concubine to reside in Jingming Palace and for the Crown Princess to reside in Fanghua Tower..."

Nan Hua still refused: "Then let's just change it to Fanghua Palace. It's just a name, no need to worry about it too much. Aren't you busy today?"

An Liangchen said, "I'm busy, but the Crown Princess is in a bad mood. No matter how busy you are, you have to make time for her. How about this, this afternoon we go hunting, go boating, and go to the market..."

Speaking of going to the market, An Liangchen stood up and pulled her along: "Don't you love the lily and pear cake on Hefang Street? Let's go."

An Liangchen was in high spirits, and Nanhua simply couldn't refuse. Only after leaving the palace did Nanhua realize that An Liangchen was wearing casual clothes, indicating that she had planned this all along.

An Liangchen, dressed in black, couldn't hide his noble air, while Nan Hua, dressed in light purple, exuded charm. The two of them walked on Hefang Street, attracting a lot of attention.

In the past, when Nanhua was unhappy, she liked to eat, as if she wanted to chew up and swallow her unhappiness to digest it.

An Liangchen accompanied her all the way, buying her a portion of everything regardless of whether she could eat it or not.

Unable to put it down, he bought a small basket. Seeing the elegant young gentleman carrying a small food basket, Nanhua couldn't bear it any longer and took it from him, carrying it on his arm.

As usual, we ordered a candied hawthorn berry, its sweet and sour taste mirroring life itself. Nanhua took a bite and held it to An Liangchen's lips. Enticed by Nanhua's puffed-out cheeks, An Liangchen ate one, his brows furrowing slightly from the sourness.

Nan Hua couldn't help but burst into laughter, and An Liangchen, seeing her long-lost smile, also felt happy. The two strolled along Hefang East Street, released lanterns on the Lover's River, and then went for a boat ride…

When they returned, Nan Hua leaned lazily against An Liangchen's chest, her arms wrapped around him. Neither of them wanted to speak, not wanting to break the warm and cozy atmosphere in the car.

As the carriage stopped, Nan Hua tilted his head slightly, about to say that they had arrived, when he saw An Liangchen asleep against the carriage. His angular face softened as he slept.

This is An Liangchen, the object of her youthful heart, the husband who brought her to his wedding with a grand procession, the towering father of her children, and the revered Crown Prince...

He did nothing wrong, so what is she still demanding?

Nan Hua stared at An Liangchen's sleeping face and suddenly thought of the phrase "I might as well work myself to death." All her unhappiness and frustration suddenly dissipated, as quickly as a snowball being thrown into boiling water.

Fuxi and Dexi paced back and forth in front of the palace gates. When they saw them return, it was as if they had seen saviors, and tears were almost in their eyes: "Your Highness, a letter has arrived from Chongming Island!"

Xu Lai has passed away!

An Liangchen lit the letter over the candle flame, and with a slight movement of his hand, the ashes vanished without a trace. Just like even the most vibrant life, once it dies, the mark of its existence gradually fades away until it disappears completely without a trace.

Xu Lai's cause of death wasn't mentioned, and of course, it wasn't important. Judging by the time, Luo An should be arriving at Chongming Island soon.

Seeing An Liangchen standing motionless in front of the candlestick, Nan Hua suddenly hugged him from behind.

An Liangchen froze for a moment, but quickly recovered: "You're tired, go and rest first."

Nan Hua shook his head: "I'll stay with you."

An Liangchen turned around and patted her head: "Get a good night's sleep tonight and get plenty of rest. Go back to the Nan family tomorrow and spend time with your parents. I'll pick you up when I'm done with my work."

After a day of playing, Nan Hua almost forgot the important matter: "I came to see you yesterday because I had something to discuss with you. Who knew I'd only get back after I took a nap..."

She woke up refreshed and suddenly had the idea to spar with An Liangchen. She used to be able to exchange thirty to fifty moves with An Liangchen, but she hadn't practiced in a long time and felt like she had almost forgotten how.

An Liangchen smiled meaningfully: "If you really have something to discuss with me, shouldn't you go to the Imperial Study?"

Nan Hua said, "I don't know when you'll finish your business, so you just came over... Hey, what do you mean?"

An Liangchen's smile didn't fade as she quickly reassured him, "What is it? Tell me?"

Nan Hua paused for a moment, then frankly stated, "Even if I came specifically to see you, it's nothing. But I really have something to discuss. I've promised Qiu Yue to General Tang and asked the Ministry of Rites for help..."

An Liangchen said, "You can arrange this."

Nan Hua said, "There is one more thing. I need to send Duo Yi to Laoshan."