Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 142 Stealing Money

Xiaoman thought Nanfei might not be anything special, but his taste was truly first-rate: "General, it looks great."

Nanfei reached out and put his arm around Xiaoman's shoulder with a little force, forcing Xiaoman to take two steps forward and stand in front of the display stand.

Nanfei said, "Xiaoman, pick whatever you like, we'll buy it together."

The shopkeeper thought he was about to have a big sale. He glanced at Xiaoman, picked up a jade bracelet, and recommended, "This bracelet is from the Western Regions, it's especially suitable for..."

"Wait..." Xiaoman interrupted the shopkeeper, bent her knees and jumped out the door, saying in a panic, "No, no, I don't like it, I don't like it..."

Nanfei asked, "How much is the bracelet?"

The shopkeeper said, "This originally cost twenty taels, but times are tough, so I'm giving you a discount. It'll only cost ten taels."

Nanfei took out twenty taels of silver from his purse and handed it over, saying generously, "Thank you, shopkeeper."

With all the officials and nobles of Beirou imprisoned, their good goods couldn't be sold, and they finally managed to welcome a large customer. The shopkeeper happily saw them off.

Nanfei handed the gong to Dongzhi: "Here you go."

Yuan Feng took the purse; it was embroidered with forsythia and magpies on a bright red background, cute and festive, and looked very familiar.

Yuan Feng frowned slightly: "Which young lady gave it to me..."

Xiaoman's eyes widened, she touched her whole body, snatched the purse and complained, "General, he stole my money!"

Nanfei was full of questions: "Is your son-in-law a despicable thief?"

Xiaoman asked, "Then how did my purse end up in your hands?"

Nanfei said, "I picked it up. Didn't you see me just bend down?"

Xiaoman pulled Yuan Feng, "I didn't see him. General, did you see him bend over?"

After all, one is bound to be swayed by favors received, so Yuan Feng hesitated slightly: "...I saw it."

Is this his upright general? Xiaoman turned to Dongzhi: "Did you see him bending over?"

Nanfei's gaze swept over seemingly unintentionally. Dongzhi, slightly chilled, straightened up, clutching the jade bracelet: "I saw it."

What kind of world is this? Just as Xiaoman was in despair, she heard Nanfei say, "Ah Feng, Xiaoman has framed the General. What should her punishment be?"

Yuan Feng paused for a moment, then replied, "According to military regulations, those who falsely accuse others receive twenty strokes of the cane, and those who falsely accuse their elders receive forty strokes of the cane..."

Xiaoman couldn't believe it. Could years of friendship be worth less than a phoenix hairpin flying south?

Nanfei was very forgiving: "Xiaoman has been with Afeng for several years. Even if she hasn't made any great contributions, she has certainly worked hard. I'm too magnanimous to hold a grudge against her."

The group continued walking. Nanfei was in high spirits, while Yuan Feng felt somewhat guilty.

Xiaoman gritted her teeth and punched Nanfei's retreating figure.

Just then, Nanfei turned around, and the punch landed right in front of his nose.

Nanfei immediately covered his nose and screamed, "Ah Feng, my nose is broken... Xiaoman has committed insubordination and deliberately injured the General. What is her punishment?"

What a monster Nan Fei is! Xiao Man ran off before Yuan Feng could speak, shouting as he ran, "General, from now on, it's either him or me, it's either him or me..."

Yuan Feng sat in the tent watching Nan Fei pack his things, and suddenly said, "I'll go back to Bianjing with you."

Nanfei straightened up and looked at her: "What's wrong?"

Yuan Feng said, "Bei Rou doesn't dare to take the initiative to attack right now. Yan Zeyu and Ouyang are leading the troops. I should be able to get back before the three armies meet."

Nanfei thought for a moment: "...What if we can't make it back in time? From here to Xifu is near, but from here to Bianjing is far."

Yuan Feng said, “We’ll ride at full speed, taking the official road at ten times the speed of a march. If we really run out of time, our rear is stable, and the combined forces of the three armies are strong, so there’s nothing to worry about. The scholar and the nobles of Beirou will be escorted by Tang Bing. Tang Bing is very grateful to you, so you can rest assured.”

Yuan Feng thought it over and it seemed more and more feasible: "I'll go and explain to them right away."

Yuan Feng had only taken a few steps out of the main tent when she suddenly sensed something was wrong. She said she would return with Nan Fei, but Nan Fei wasn't excited; instead, he hesitated, as if he wanted to stop her.

What is the Crown Prince conspiring with him about? Is it something he can't let her know? Yuan Feng was thinking when she saw Xiao Man coming over angrily carrying a package.

Yuan Fengcheng sincerely apologized: "I'm sorry."

Xiaoman hesitated, trying to save face: "If... if the young master returns the ten taels of silver to me, then this matter can be considered settled..."

Yuan Feng touched the phoenix hairpin: "Just consider it a gift to me."

Xiaoman said, "No, only the son-in-law can give the general's hairpin."

Nanfei came out and laughed, "Deduct it from my military pay, pay him two times the amount, give him twenty taels."

Xiaoman walked away with her head held high.

Nanfei smiled and shook his head: "When did he start following you?"

Yuan Feng said, "It's been two years."

Nanfei asked, "Doesn't the Crown Prince trust you?"

“It’s because your father is worried about you.” Yuan Feng sighed softly. “Your father told the emperor that everyone has headaches and fevers sometimes. I’m a married man, and you’re proud, so it would be best to send a woman to my side to take care of you and avoid any misunderstandings.”

When her father was mentioned, Yuan Feng became somewhat downcast. She slowly walked back to the main tent and stood there, looking somewhat lost.

Nanfei pulled her into his arms and sat down: "Father is so thoughtful. Xiaoman is very good, she's just like you."

Yuan Feng hummed in agreement: "I won't reply."

Nanfei asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"

Yuan Feng said, "I have signed a military pledge. If I am unable to return in time, and the generals cannot reach an agreement, and none of them will obey, thus missing the opportunity to fight, that would be bad."

Nanfei didn't reply, but there was a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Yuan Feng met his gaze frankly and openly: "General, your return to the capital requires the permission of the Emperor and the Crown Prince. If I were to return rashly, I would have to trouble you to deal with the Emperor and the Crown Prince."

You have to deal with Prince Ming and Zhao Xiuwen, and you also have your own affairs to attend to. I can't help, but I certainly won't hold you back. Even as the Crown Princess, Nan Hua can't afford to be misled by favors.

Nanfei thought for a moment and said, "I will come back as soon as possible."

Nanfei's reaction was as she expected. Yuan Fengxin sank to the bottom, but a smile appeared on her face: "I won't see you off tomorrow morning."

Nan Feitian got up at dawn. Before leaving, he sat by the bed for a while, then leaned down and kissed Yuan Feng: "Take care of yourself. I'll be back as soon as possible."

After Nan Fei left, Yuan Feng slowly sat up. She had a bad feeling, as if something terrible was about to happen.

Nanfei flew south back to Bianjing. Yuan Feng led his troops west. The claim that the Western Prefecture had not surrendered and had killed 30,000 men was a ruse by the Ming Prince. Nanfei ordered the northern and southern armies to return to the Western Prefecture to regroup. If she could capture the Western Prefecture first, the three armies could meet at Shanggui.

The battle in Dongyang was raging, and the northern desert had heard about it. Taking advantage of the opportunity to visit Duoyi, they came to find out the true situation of Dongyang.

Nanfei went to the palace immediately and saw from afar Nanhua Duoyi and the two envoys from Mobei chatting in the garden.

An eunuch came and led Nanfei to the Imperial Study.

Nanfei was puzzled: "Do I need to entertain envoys from the northern desert?"

An Liangchen put down his pen: "Jingchen has secretly reported that an army of 100,000 has been assembled in the northern desert. Once the envoy has ascertained the situation, they will likely send troops..."

Nanfei asked, "Isn't Prince Yue in Fengzhou?"

An Liangchen said, "Consort Ning is critically ill and on her way back."

Nanfei thought for a moment: "Young Master and Chief Xue are coming back too?"

An Liangchen said, "I'll arrive tonight."