Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 185 Suspicion

Nianyao raised her hand to cover her eyes: "Last time you asked me if I wanted to be the empress?"

Xue Yunting was surprised, but showed no sign of it on her face, and asked in a calm tone, "Sister, have you decided to become Empress?"

Nianyao let go of his hand, threw off the covers and sat up: "Of course not. I believe Luo An has no interest in the position of a king, and I don't want to remarry. I think it's fine for him to be a doctor and for me to farm. I just simply don't like An Liangchen."

Xue Yunting said, "Sister, are you suggesting that your attack in the cellar was related to An Liangchen?"

Nianyao said, "You think it has nothing to do with him? War requires money. Doesn't Dongyang lack money? An Liangchen might not be unwilling to part with the money from Chongming Island. He even sent Luo An to the northern desert. He has ulterior motives."

Duan Mingzhu wore no makeup, and Eighth Sister was covered in soot. I heard that Liang Qingcheng, a young lady from a wealthy family, didn't practice martial arts, but her maid seemed quite skilled. If she hadn't been instructed by someone, she wouldn't have dared to lay a hand on me, even if she had the courage of heaven.

An Liangchen didn't let Luo An go to the Northern Desert; it was Luo An's own decision to go. Xue Yunting naturally didn't remind him, nor did he object to Nian Yao's request, and the room was quiet for a moment.

Nianyao said, "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Xue Yunting said, "Sister, Prince Rui plans to unify the world and push your husband to be the emperor."

Speaking of Xu Sheng, Nianyao got angry: "Do you think he's sick? Why doesn't he become emperor himself? Why does he have to drag Luo An into this?"

Xue Yunting said, "It is easy to conquer the world but difficult to govern it; it is easy to sit on the dragon throne but difficult to sit firmly on it. Your Highness is a wise man."

Nianyao said, "Luo An is just a doctor, how can he sit on the throne? It's just because his mother was the former emperor of Nan Yue. The former emperor has been dead for so many years, who in Nan Yue recognizes him?"

Xue Yunting said earnestly, "I admit it."

Nianyao looked at Xue Yunting for a long time before saying, "Is it Xu Sheng who wants to push him to the throne, or you and your father?"

Xue Yunting stood up, opened the back window, took a deep breath, and turned his back: "Sister, there is no difference."

Nianyao jumped off the bed and slammed the window shut: "How can there be no difference? You want to usurp the throne and find a puppet to be the emperor?"

“Brother-in-law is not a puppet.” Xue Yunting shook his head, then thought for a moment and added, “We do not want to usurp the throne.”

Nianyao sensed something was wrong. She turned around in the room and stopped in front of Xue Yunting: "Are the King of Nanyue and the Empress really that bad?"

Xue Yunting said, "He is an excellent emperor, more trustworthy than An Liangchen."

Nianyao glared at him: "Then why..."

Xue Yunting said, "We are simply tired of the long-standing conflicts in the world and want to elect a ruler for all. My brother-in-law is the perfect candidate. Sister, you don't need to worry about no one obeying him."

Putting aside his status as the son of the late emperor, the Heavenly Abode has bestowed its grace upon all under heaven, saving people from emperors and generals to ordinary peddlers and laborers over the years. To put it simply, as long as my brother-in-law reveals his identity as the owner of the Heavenly Abode, he can travel freely throughout the land.

Nianyao said, "But how could he possibly seize An Liangchen's throne?"

Xue Yunting said, "What if An Liangchen dies?"

Nianyao stared blankly at Xue Yunting, just then Duan Mingzhu knocked on the door: "Yunting, Ninth Brother is looking for you."

Xue Yunting said, "Sister, please rest first. I'll have someone bring some food over."

Duan Mingzhu waited for Xue Yunting to come out before whispering, "Ninth Brother said he's waiting for you by the river."

Xue Yunting nodded and patted Duan Mingzhu's head: "Rest if you're tired, don't worry about me."

Duan Mingzhu smiled and said, "Yes, I'm not worried."

Xue Yunting instructed his eighth sister to deliver food to Nianyao before heading out of Xianzhou Courtyard.

Qin Jiu sat on a rock by the river, not turning around even when he heard footsteps: "The gang leader doesn't actually have any grand ambitions; she just wants to settle the brothers in the gang."

Xue Yunting sat down next to him: "What about Ninth Brother? Ninth Brother used to be able to eat his fill without worrying about his family, but now he has a family to support. Even if he doesn't think about himself, he should at least think about Young Master Bu Zhi. He can't just stay on Chongming Island farming and let the Princess suffer with him."

Qin Jiu said, "Don't change the subject. We're talking about the gang leader, why are you bringing me up again?"

Xue Yunting said, "Prince Rui specifically instructed me to take good care of Ninth Brother, who is his cousin."

Qin Jiu smirked: "Young General, tell the truth. Did you do the attack on the gang leader last night?"

Xue Yunting chuckled: "How could Ninth Brother think that way?"

Qin Jiu grabbed a handful of sand and threw it into the river: "I originally thought it was Xu Lai who did it, but thinking about it carefully, Xu Lai wouldn't make things difficult for the gang leader at this time if he wasn't acting out of personal vendetta. Now the gang leader mistakenly believes that An Liangchen instigated it and is hostile towards him, so naturally his heart is with Nan Yue."

Otherwise, if the gang leader takes his naval forces to the Jinhe Gang, who knows what might happen? Perhaps Zhou Yan will stop them, or perhaps Jin Hu, seeing the situation is unfavorable, will defect to the Dahe Gang…”

Xue Yunting responded cleverly: "Sister isn't stupid. She knows exactly who hurt her. There's no reason she wouldn't understand."

Qin Jiu's words were somewhat of a test, but Xue Yunting didn't take the bait at all. Qin Jiu said with a hint of helplessness, "Young General, although I have no feelings for Jingzhao Manor, I am still a descendant of the Jing family. I beg you to show mercy to the descendants of Jingzhao Manor."

Xue Yunting laughed and said, "Ninth Brother, what are you saying? Jingzhao Manor has a deep relationship with the Southern Yue Imperial Palace. If anyone touches Jingzhao Manor, they will be disrespecting the former emperor of Southern Yue."

Qin Jiu stood up: "I thought Su Wuming was cunning, but you're just as cunning as I thought."

Xue Yunting looked up and said, "Ninth Brother, Wuming asked me to tell you that those who know when to yield are the heroes. Ninth Brother is intelligent, so you should know what the best choice is."

Qin Jiu said, "Young General, please thank Lord Su for his guidance."

Xue Yunting said, "I don't need to do it for you. You will see him soon."

Duan Mingzhu stood by the Xianzhou Courtyard and greeted Qin Jiu as he approached, "Brother Jiu."

Qin Jiu hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "Mingzhu, you two are really a perfect match."

Duan Mingzhu smiled so hard her eyes narrowed: "I'll take it as Ninth Brother praising us."

Xue Yunting sat alone by the river, bent down and picked up two small colorful seashells, examining them closely in his palm.

Duan Mingzhu slowly walked over, leaned against his back, and wrapped her arms around his neck: "What are you thinking about?"

Xue Yunting said, "This conch shell is quite pretty; it can be used to make earrings."

Duan Mingzhu tightened her grip: "I'm really looking forward to the earrings made by Yunting."

Xue Yunting picked her up and carried her back, saying, "You're using so much force, you're going to strangle me."

Duan Mingzhu loosened her grip slightly and smiled, "How could I bear to part with the best Yunting in the world?"

Xue Yunting didn't laugh; Duan Mingzhu was on his back, so she couldn't see his expression. The brothers on Chongming Island, seeing Yunting carrying Duan Mingzhu over, all laughed and joked.

Duan Mingzhu was very open and unpretentious: "Yun Ting, I like it here, thank you."

Xue Yunting said, "Why are you being so polite as a married couple?"

Duan Mingzhu said, "Yun Ting, I suddenly want to go to Qinzhou to see my parents and younger siblings."

Xue Yunting seemed to stiffen for a moment, and before he could speak, Duan Mingzhu laughed and said, "I was just saying, don't take it seriously. You don't have to kneel down and serve tea to your parents-in-law, so forget it."