Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 135 Reward

The decree of reward has been issued; it doesn't matter if the reward is delayed a little. If there's a real rush, someone can be sent to deliver it; why must the commander-in-chief personally escort it?

Yuan Feng's gaze fell on the candied fruit box. Nan Fei had bought her two boxes of candied fruit before; the boxes were exquisite, and she had taken them to the army as decorations.

Yuan Feng felt something was off. Then Yin Jing came to her: "General, did you and your son-in-law... have a fight?"

Yuan Feng shook her head: "No."

Yin Jing hesitated slightly, then advised, "General, we shouldn't interfere in the affairs of a young couple. You weren't in a good mood when you were discussing the list. Your son-in-law's delayed arrival must be due to military matters; you mustn't take it to heart..."

Yuan Feng quickly explained, "Uncle Yin, I'm not upset or angry. I didn't say anything when we didn't see each other for several years, but now that the war is urgent, how could I put my mind on personal feelings?"

Yuan Feng proved his innocence and handed the box to Yin Jing: "He only gave the Crown Prince's rewards to the two generals, Zhao Wang. This is ours, Uncle Yin and the generals can share it."

Yin Jing took the box, half believing and half doubting: "You really didn't have a fight? When I was patrolling the camp, I saw the young master give the things to Dongzhi, and he went to the stream. He seemed a little unhappy."

Dongzhi was originally a bodyguard of the Crown Princess, and among the twenty-four, her martial arts skills were among the best. Nanhua was afraid that the soldiers in the army who were parachuted in by Nanfei would not be obedient, so he asked Nanfei to take Dongzhi with him.

Nanfei sat by the stream for a while before opening the letter.

Construction has begun! Delivery has been made! The inscription is by Nanhua, and the style is indeed that of An Liangchen. "Construction has begun" likely refers to the reconstruction of the Yuan Mansion.

Nanfei soaked and crumpled the letter in water, just like washing clothes. The soaked paper ball got smaller and smaller with each crumpling, until it finally disappeared in his palm.

Nanfei stared blankly at the receding stream until nightfall before getting up.

Yuan Feng stood two zhang away, watching him, just like she had on Xiting Bridge. This time, he didn't notice anything amiss. Was it because he was too insensitive, or because Yuan Feng made him feel too safe?

Nanfei walked up to Yuan Feng, hugged her, and rested his head on her shoulder: "Ah Feng!"

Yuan Feng couldn't detect any hint of unease, relief, or relaxation in his expression. She simply felt that Nan Fei had been hiding many things, which made her uncomfortable.

Yuan Feng gently pushed him away: "Is Fengyuan going to launch a full-scale attack? This year is expected to be a mild winter, which is favorable for the war."

Nanfei didn't force her, and led her back: "The king of Beirou has fled, their morale is low, it's a good time for us to launch a strong attack. Afeng, you take the lead in the attack."

Zhao Sheng and Wang Du pacified the area surrounding Fengyuan, preventing them from sending reinforcements. Local garrison commanders were killed in some cases and persuaded to surrender in others. Due to the difficulty of transporting grain in winter, we controlled the local garrison commanders to requisition grain locally.

Fengyuan is an isolated city without reinforcements, its morale is low, and its supplies are insufficient; it cannot hold out for long. If we capture Fengyuan and Xifu before March next year, we can ensure that the farming season is not disrupted. We have neither to worry about supplies nor about the peasants going hungry and rebelling.

Yuan Feng remained half a step behind him without making a sound.

Nanfei stopped: "What's wrong? Something on your mind?"

Yuan Feng looked at him and said, "If you don't tell me, I won't know. If you don't want to tell me, I can't guess. There must be few couples like us who don't have any tacit understanding."

Nanfei paused for a moment: "What do you want to ask?"

Yuan Feng asked, "What did you ask the Crown Prince to send?"

Yuan Feng asked casually the first time, and Nan Fei quickly changed the subject. The second time, she asked more seriously, and Nan Fei had no choice but to answer, "It's nothing important."

"The Crown Prince is cautious; he's afraid his letters will be opened without permission, which is why he's so sparing with his words. He wouldn't write anything unimportant." Yuan Feng, holding her breath, didn't mince words with Nan Fei: "Does this have anything to do with the burning of the Yuan residence?"

Nanfei said, "...No."

Yuan Feng bluntly stated: "You hesitated!"

Nan Fei said, "...I asked the Crown Prince to send a message to the young master, asking him to keep an eye on Xu Sheng and Xue Yunting's movements."

This matter should be An Liangchen's concern, but Nan Fei is the Crown Prince's brother-in-law and has some connection with Luo An, so it's not surprising that this happened.

Even though the explanation made sense, Yuan Feng still felt uneasy, with a voice inside her screaming: Don't believe him, he's lying.

Yuan Feng was silent for a moment: "Are there memorial tablets for my parents in the Yuan family ancestral hall? Were they also burned?"

Nanfei said, "I've placed the memorial tablet in the Nan family ancestral hall. Please ask my brother and sister-in-law to help us with the worship."

Yuan Feng said, "If it was premeditated, why can't you tell me why you burned down the Yuan residence? You're unwilling to tell me even after I've asked you once or twice. What is it that you have to keep from me?"

Nan Fei released her hand: "I said it was the Crown Prince who burned it, I was just cooperating. You can ask the Crown Prince yourself when you see him in the future. He is very cunning, how could I possibly guess his intentions?"

If they continued, they would start arguing. Yuan Feng's eyes welled up with tears, and she quickened her pace forward.

Nanfei stood still, gazing at the horizon.

As Yuan Feng walked, she suddenly realized she should give up. Nan Fei would never pursue her, not in the past, not now, and not in the future.

Nanfei returned to the main tent very late, reeking of alcohol. He sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to nudge her: "Afeng, are you angry?"

Yuan Feng lay on her side, motionless and silent, as if she were asleep.

Nanfei began to apologize: "I'm sorry, it was my fault. Sister, please don't hold it against me, okay?"

Despite reeking of alcohol, her mind was clear. Yuan Feng sat up abruptly, her voice icy: "Who's your sister?"

Seeing that Yuan Feng was willing to pay attention to him, Nan Fei grinned and moved closer: "I just took a bath with osmanthus bath beans. Do you smell how fragrant they are?"

Yuan Feng was annoyed by his certainty and playfulness, and also regretted her own impatience. She lay back down, still facing inwards, and said, "I'm sleepy."

Nan Fei took off his clothes and crawled into the bed, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. The scents of wine and osmanthus filled Yuan Feng's mouth and nose: "Let's go to sleep."

Yuan Feng gritted her teeth and forced herself to remain still and silent, but her body was tense and she couldn't relax.

Nanfei gently and slowly bit her neck, a sensation that was both itchy and numb, and even carried an electric current.

Yuan Feng hunched her neck and tried to pry Nan Fei's hand away.

Nanfei clasped his hands tightly, refusing to loosen them, and his tone became aggrieved: "You didn't reward me after winning the battle, and you even talk to me like this..."

Yuan Feng couldn't pry his hands off, nor could she move her body. She instinctively retorted, "General, I am your subordinate now. If anything, you should be the one rewarding me."

As soon as she finished speaking, Yuan Feng knew she had been tricked.

Sure enough, Nanfei immediately rolled over and pinned her down: "This is a treat for you!"

Yuan Feng's body slowly softened, his eyes gradually reddened, and he began to nitpick: "As a general, you lead the way in violating military regulations. If this sets a bad example for your subordinates, how am I supposed to manage the army in the future?"

Nanfei pulled off her clothes: "Ah Feng, Uncle Yin has been secretly keeping fine wine and hosting banquets for the general, repeatedly violating military regulations. You must punish him according to military law to uphold the military's prestige."

Yuan Feng grabbed his clothes, preventing him from succeeding: "Aren't you enjoying your drink?"

Nanfei simply bit her through her clothes: "I was coerced. Being coerced into fraud is exempt from punishment."

Yuan Feng glared at him: "You scoundrel."

Nanfei pulled her hand down, saying, "Feel it, it's not small at all."

"You scoundrel!" Yuan Feng's eyes welled up with tears, and she suddenly sighed softly, "Nan Fei, I really have no way to deal with you."