Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 179 Life Score

Nan Fei stood outside Yuan Feng's door, his heart heavy. He didn't know how to face Yuan Feng.

Ouyang Jin brought out a half-bowl of porridge and saw Nan Fei lingering outside the door. He said kindly, "She's asleep. You can go in."

Nanfei couldn't help but ask, "Brother Ouyang, you don't blame me?"

Ouyang Jin seemed amused: "You two are a married couple bound by the strict rites of marriage. No matter how good our relationship with the General is, we are still outsiders. The General hasn't said anything, so how dare an outsider like us criticize him?"

Nanfei was both touched and surprised: "Brother Ouyang, to be honest, Ah Feng has really bad taste. Brother Ouyang is so patient and gentle, how could she have chosen someone as unreliable as me?"

Ouyang Jin thought for a moment and said sincerely, "I've thought about this countless times over the years: why doesn't she like me? I've also been resentful. What do I lack compared to you? Is it just because you saved her?"

At first, I could only console myself. Liking someone is a personal matter and has nothing to do with others. My liking for the general is my own business, and her not liking me doesn't mean she's wrong. Just like her liking you is her own business; if you like her, I'm happy for her. If you don't like her, you're not wrong either.

The Battle of Xifu was extremely difficult for us. If it weren't for the General's support for Tang Bing, which spurred the troops, the casualties would have been twice as high. Therefore, I'm actually inferior to you in every way; it's right that she likes you.

Nanfei was somewhat shocked. It must take a great deal of magnanimity to speak so frankly and openly.

Ouyang Jin took two steps and then turned back: "She has never had the will to live. She also ordered that this injury be kept secret. Only a few of us know the inside story. I guess losing the child was the last straw that broke the camel's back. It certainly wasn't because you went too far."

The military doctor prescribed her sedatives and sleep aids, which finally helped her fall asleep. She keeps everything to herself, and we worry but feel helpless. Brother Nan, I only ask that you understand her, because only you can make her feel happy and relaxed.

In the years that he was away from Yuan Feng, was it these kind and respectable uncles and brothers who supported her through it all?

When Xiaoman saw Nanfei push the door open and come in, she turned cold and walked out. As she passed him, she said, "You can't pretend to be a good person for long."

Yuan Feng lay quietly, her breathing weak, her face as white as paper.

Nanfei sat by the bed and tucked the blanket around her, a sense of injustice slowly rising within him.

If word gets out today, he'll never be able to clear his name, no matter what. There are many fools in the world, but people like Yue Chunqiu and Ouyang Jin are a minority.

Nanfei had a bad reputation, but it was all just gossip; he didn't care about such things being a man. He wasn't a good husband, but he was unwilling to bear the stigma of driving his wife to her death.

Hua Xuan prescribed a very strong dose of medicine. Yuan Feng slept soundly until midnight, and when she moved slightly, Nan Fei, who was lying by the bedside, woke up.

Nanfei rubbed his eyes and, seeing that she was awake, asked anxiously, "How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"

Yuan Feng propped herself up to sit up: "I need to... relieve myself..."

Nanfei said, "Wait a moment, I'll bring the bucket over."

Nanfei hurriedly carried the chamber pot to the bedside, helped her out of bed, and was about to help her take off her pants.

Yuan Feng held his hand to stop him: "I'll do it myself."

Nanfei said, "We are husband and wife, why should we care?"

Yuan Feng insisted, "I can do it myself."

Nan Fei paused slightly, but did not argue. He restrained himself and said, "Then I'll stay outside the curtain. Call me if you have any trouble."

Yuan Feng stared blankly at Nan Fei's hazy figure outside the curtain: Was Nan Fei so easily persuaded?

Nanfei waited a while but heard no sound, then tentatively asked, "Is it ready?"

Yuan Feng said, "No, could you go a little further away?"

Nanfei instinctively thought there was no need to be so distant, but then he remembered that the two of them had a disagreement about going back to recuperate, which led to Yuan Feng's suicide, so he left in silence.

Yuan Feng carried the bucket to the corner and put it away. She then walked around the room twice, sat on the bed and waited for a while, but Nan Fei still hadn't returned.

Looking at the roof beam, Yuan Feng belatedly realized how inappropriate it was to hang herself: she was a general, how could she be so cowardly as to hang herself? What difference was there between that and cowering and fleeing on the battlefield?

If she were to die like that, it would be a stain that Nanfei could never wash away for the rest of his life. If she didn't die, it would be a shadow that would haunt Nanfei for the rest of his life.

Nanfei has suffered enough because of her, and now there's another one to add to the burden. She's always like this, needlessly adding so much to Nanfei's burden.

Nanfei brought in hot water: "Washing yourself will make you more comfortable to sleep. Should I do it or will you do it yourself?"

Yuan Feng felt a tightness in her chest: "I'll do it myself."

Nanfei then asked, "Would you like rice or porridge later? Both are available in the kitchen..."

Yuan Feng initially wanted to say she wasn't hungry, but looking at Nan Fei, she changed her mind and said, "Let's eat. I'm tired of eating porridge."

After Yuan Feng finished cleaning herself and putting on her clothes, Nan Fei lifted the curtain and came in. The water in the basin was still red, and Nan Fei frowned slightly, but didn't say anything.

Nanfei handed the basin and his dirty clothes to the person outside the door, and then someone brought in the food.

Three dishes, a soup, a bowl of rice, and a pair of chopsticks, steaming with a faint medicinal aroma. Nan Fei stood by the window, holding a golden cup with three fingers, slowly drinking the wine.

Yuan Feng asked, "Aren't you going to eat?"

Nanfei said, "I'm not hungry."

Are you not hungry because you've already eaten?

The atmosphere was somewhat somber. Yuan Feng, holding her chopsticks, found it difficult to eat and struggled to find a topic of conversation: "My coat cost a lot of money?"

Nanfei said, "My junior sister gave it to me."

Junior sister? It took Yuan Feng a while to react: "Nanhua? She's about to give birth, isn't she?"

Nanfei remained noncommittal.

The two were silent for a while, then Yuan Feng said, "I thought you would wait until she gave birth before coming?"

Nanfei looked at her but didn't say anything.

Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, Yuan Feng started eating. She picked and chose, eating a few shredded bamboo shoots, two pieces of tofu, and two pieces of fish.

Yuan Feng was about to put down her chopsticks when she saw Nan Fei staring at her and raising an eyebrow slightly. She picked up her chopsticks again, looking somewhat aggrieved: "I'm full."

Nan Fei remained silent, and Yuan Feng couldn't put down her chopsticks; the two remained locked in a stalemate for a while.

Nanfei sighed almost inaudibly: "Do you want me to feed you?"

Yuan Feng shook her head.

Nanfei didn't insist: "Drink the goose soup. It's a medicinal dish. I didn't learn medicine from you, young master, but I've memorized a lot of recipes. It shouldn't be wrong."

The goose soup was just one bowl, with a few pieces of goose meat and two pieces of yam in it. It smelled a bit medicinal, but after stirring it with my chopsticks, I couldn't find anything. It seemed like it was specially prepared.

Yuan Feng's eyes welled up slightly. She silently finished her bowl of food and drink, then looked up at Nan Fei as if to say: Is this enough?

Nanfei couldn't help but smile. He sat down next to her, put down his cup, took the chopsticks from her hand, and then picked up her bowl to eat.

Yuan Feng instinctively wanted to stop her, but she opened her mouth and then closed it again, her hand instead picking up the golden cup instead of stopping her.

Nanfei's domineering nature coexisted with his affection, and his respect was tempered with his politeness. She was not used to Nanfei's silence, nor to the dull atmosphere, so she preferred to let him be.

Yuan Feng thought: Nan Fei is right. They are husband and wife, so why should they care or be distant?