Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 115 Invitation

Amidst the chaos of war, the Great River Gang appears outwardly calm, but in reality, their hearts are restless. Each serves their own master and their own country—a principle that has remained unchanged since ancient times.

Nianyao changed her route to Xuzhou and headed south to Jiangxinzhou.

Zhou Yan personally went to the dock to pick them up, and they looked to be in good spirits. Zhou Yan joked, "I thought the gang leader was used to the luxury of Bianjing and had forgotten about us."

Nianyao laughed: "Uncle Zhou, a son doesn't despise his mother for being ugly, and a dog doesn't despise his home for being poor... The prosperity of Bianjing belongs to them, but the Dahe Gang belongs to us."

"Doesn't a child find his mother ugly?" Zhou Yan, seeing her dressed in men's clothing, advised, "The boss needs to get used to women's clothing... You're going to be a mother now, and when your belly gets bigger, men's clothing will look awkward, and the child won't be able to tell the difference between father and mother after birth..."

Nianyao exclaimed, "Uncle Zhou, do you know who spread the rumors?"

Zhou Yan asked, "What rumor?"

Nianyao said, "I don't know who spread the rumor that I'm pregnant, and they've made it known to the whole world. I don't know what their intentions are. If I find out who spread it, I'll chop them into mincemeat..."

Zhou Yan was stunned, stopped and asked, "Chief, you're not pregnant?"

Nianyao shook her head: "No."

Zhou Yan looked at her, then at Luo An, and asked in confusion, "Dr. Luo?"

Luo An shook his head.

Before Zhou Yan could react, Eighth Sister exclaimed, "Madam, you're not pregnant? The young master said that the 'Calming and Tranquilizing Drink' is for pregnant women to calm their minds..."

Nianyao got angry when this was mentioned: "I told you he's unreliable, don't you understand? If Luo An doesn't come back, do you know what the consequences will be..."

What will be the consequences? Eighth Sister shrank behind Tiger, not daring to answer.

Tiger said, "Luckily, Madam isn't pregnant, otherwise her temper would be even worse..."

Nianyao coldly said, "Tiger, if you say that again, I'll throw Eighth Sister into the Jingjiang River to feed the fish..."

Tiger shrank behind Luo An, not daring to utter a sound.

Zhou Yan snapped out of his daze, realizing there must be some misunderstanding, and quickly changed the subject: "Did Tiger pick up a wife when he returned to Bianjing?"

Tiger and Eighth Sister said in unison, "No."

Nianyao was both amused and annoyed. Just as she was about to speak, Yan Zeyi approached: "Brother Zhou, the gang leader, Doctor Luo... Young Master Xu and General Xue are waiting in the council hall..."

Nianyao and Luo An both looked at Zhou Yan. Zhou Yan explained, "Young Master Xu and Young General Xue were passing by Jiangxin Island. Knowing that the Chief was coming, they specially stayed to discuss something..."

Xu Sheng and Xue Yunting were talking in the council chamber when they saw them stand up.

As shameless as ever, Xu Sheng said, "It's been a long time since I last saw you. My brother and sister-in-law have such lovely eyes and are practically blushing. It seems you had a very enjoyable trip to Bianjing."

Xue Yunting paused for a moment: "Sister, brother-in-law..."

Luo An stood at the door, his expression slightly cold: "What is it?"

Xu Sheng patted his folding fan in his hand: "Want to go on a trip to Hengshan with me?"

Nianyao asked curiously, "Is Hengshan fun?"

Xu Sheng laughed: "It's similar to Xianzhou Academy, shrouded in mist, like a fairyland..."

That laugh was truly chilling. Nianyao said, "Your Highness, why didn't you invite me? He doesn't understand military strategy."

Xu Sheng said, "We don't lack generals, we lack good doctors."

Nianyao asked, "Are there no good doctors in Nanyue, or have all the good doctors died?"

When a scholar encounters a soldier, reason is useless! Xu Sheng turned to Xue Yunting: "You speak."

Xue Yunting looked at Nianyao, who touched her nose and said, "Young General, I'm not well-educated and don't know how to speak properly, please don't take it to heart."

Xue Yunting said, "We'll stay here for the night. Brother-in-law, there's no need to rush to make a decision."

Luo An refused decisively: "I'm not going."

After speaking, Luo An left. He hesitated in front of the door, then turned and walked towards the garden. He sat on the swing chair and heard the sound of people cracking sunflower seeds: crunch... crunch... crunch...

Tiger sat by the flower bed three zhang away, holding a box of sunflower seeds. Some people can live such a simple life: as long as they have food, that's enough!

It looks delicious! It even made him drool. Luo An asked, "Tiger?"

Tiger saw Luo An beckoning and came over carrying a box of sunflower seeds. Luo An reached out and grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds.

Tiger was very righteous: "Young master, you don't need to peel it for me. I'm not Nanfei, who needs to be served like a woman..."

Luo An held the melon seeds in his hand, unsure whether to peel them or not.

Xu Sheng walked over like a persistent ghost: "I don't mind being waited on."

Luo An peeled a melon seed and popped it into his mouth, completely ignoring him.

Xu Sheng stood there for a while, then suddenly asked, "Do you want to be the ruler of the world...?"

Luo An stopped, looked up at Xu Sheng, and after understanding what Xu Sheng meant, said: "You're crazy..."

Xu Sheng said, "The world has been in chaos for hundreds of years... Your identity is the most suitable. If you want to vie for the throne, An Liangchen and your uncle will have to give way to you..."

Luo An said, "Why don't you argue?"

Xu Sheng lamented, "My name is not legitimate, and my words are not in accordance with the truth..."

Luo An sneered: "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?"

Xu Sheng laughed and said, "General Xue would be the first to disagree with my claim to the throne... If you want to claim the throne, do you think General Xue would help you... If you have the surname Xu, the crown prince position won't even be yours..."

Luo An didn't want to listen: "Shut up."

Xu Sheng called out, "I'm a coward, don't be mean to me... Are you really not going to the Battle of Hengshan? If I die in Hengshan, won't you collect my body?"

Luo An said coldly, "What does your death have to do with me?"

Xu Sheng said, "My parents are both gone, and I haven't married or had children. You're my brother, aren't you going to collect my body?"

Luo An stood up and left: "Good people don't live long, bastards live a thousand years, you won't die..."

Just as Xu Sheng was about to chase after him, Luo An threw a handful of melon seeds at him. Xu Sheng leaned back to dodge, and the seeds landed densely on the swing chair.

Xu Sheng felt a bit scared. These needles were leaving bloody holes in his body: were they not going to show him any mercy, or were they sure he could dodge them?

After they all left, Nianyao put her arm around Xue Yunting's shoulder and asked, "Yunting? How old are you?"

Xue Yunting turned his head to look at her: "Eighteen."

Nianyao said, "We're both eighteen, why are you calling me 'sister'?"

Xue Yunting said, "Sister, since your birthday has passed, you're nineteen. Since my birthday hasn't passed, I'm only eighteen."

Nianyao hooked the silver chain around his neck and slowly pulled out a silver longevity lock: the front was engraved with longevity and wealth, and the back was engraved with the character Xue, exactly the same as hers.

Nianyao asked, "You also have eighteen gold longevity locks? You're not eighteen yet, so you should have seventeen?"

Xue Yunting smiled and said, "No."

Nianyao asked, "Why do I have it?"

Xue Yunting thought for a moment: "I once heard my father say that your mother extorted money from my father?"

Nianyao asked, "Who is my mother to you?"

Xue Yunting said, "Sister, you should ask me who my father is to you?"

Nianyao snorted: "What's the difference?"

Xue Yunting pulled her hand down and faced her directly: "Sister, do you want to be the Empress?"

Nianyao was slightly taken aback, then blinked: "I have no intention of remarrying."

Xue Yunting laughed loudly, then lowered his voice when he saw Luo An approaching: "Sister, attacking a city is difficult enough, but Furong City is easy to defend and difficult to attack, making it even more difficult. Qi Yang is leading troops up from Yuezhou to cut off Jin Hu's reinforcements. We're coming down from Hengshan, but the battle at Hengshan is dangerous. Please have your brother-in-law lend us a hand..."