Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 262 Disappointment

Nianyao went to the northern desert alone to find An Jingchen.

Nianyao originally planned to go to Dongyang to find Luo An, and then go to the northern desert with Luo An. However, she changed her mind halfway there.

She thought that since she knew where An Jingchen was, Luo An would be very surprised and even excited if she brought An Jingchen back.

Luo An's emotions were too stable. Even when Nian Yao went to see him in the northern desert, Luo An seemed very calm. Nian Yao didn't think she had ever seen Luo An excited.

Nianyao was excited and full of anticipation. She traveled day and night and soon left Fengzhou.

But alas, nothing in this world goes so smoothly as people wish.

Nianyao found the place according to her memory, only to see a scorched earth, with no sign of human habitation for miles around.

Nianyao inquired around and learned that Baal, who had succeeded to the Khanate, had issued a bounty of one hundred taels of gold to appease the people and capture An Jingchen and Qiqige. He even boasted: "I would rather kill a thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free."

Even though they both changed their names, even though they lived in seclusion, even though one was disfigured and the other blind, they ultimately couldn't escape the hefty reward and the widespread manhunt.

About two weeks ago, in the dead of night, a large army surrounded them. The people inside were still asleep when the soldiers rushed in like wolves, hacking and slashing indiscriminately before finally setting the place on fire and leaving.

The next day, when the herders discovered the scene, only ashes remained. They then realized that the raging fire in the middle of the night was a fire used to destroy evidence.

The local herders were frightened and fled the area.

The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

Nianyao didn't know how she got back. She stood outside Bianjing City, looking at the city tower, feeling lost and heartbroken. She recalled the embarrassing incident when she first returned to Bianjing.

Nianyao stayed from morning till night, finally bypassing Bianjing and returning to Chongming Island.

She couldn't bring herself to say to Luo An, "I'm sorry. I know where An Jingchen is, but I didn't tell you. Now he, his wife, and his in-laws are all dead."

So many lives were lost, and Luo An cared so much about An Jingchen; how could a simple apology suffice?

In that instant, Nianyao understood Su Wuming. Su Wuming must also feel that he was the one who killed Xue Yunting, and dared not tell the Xue family.

When the brothers from Chongming Island saw Nianyao return alone with a pale face, they all assumed she had quarreled with Luo An, and none of them dared to provoke her.

Nianyao supported herself as she walked back to Yaochi, locking the door behind her. She felt exhausted after returning from Oulu Mountain. Returning from the Northern Desert, she felt as if every last bit of strength had been drained away.

She lay sprawled on the bed, closed her eyes tightly, wishing she could fall asleep and never wake up again.

A loud bang startled Nianyao, forcing her to open her eyes. She didn't curse; she just stared silently at the ceiling.

Tiger poked his head in: "Boss, you're really in the room? Then why is the door locked?"

The prince knocked for ages but no one answered. I told him he wasn't in his room, but the prince didn't believe me. The prince is truly amazing!

Xu Sheng knocks on the door? When did he become so polite? He didn't answer the knock, so he just brazenly broke down her door?

Nianyao closed her eyes, too lazy to say a word.

When the two approached the bed, Hu Zi noticed something was wrong: Nian Yao's face was flushed, and she was breathing weakly.

Xu Sheng sat by the bed and placed his hand on Nian Yao's forehead, feeling an astonishing temperature. His palm was cool, and Nian Yao sighed involuntarily in comfort.

In her dazed state, Nianyao felt that Xu Sheng's voice was not as arrogant and annoying as usual, but rather as melodious as the clear, tinkling sound of a mountain spring: "You have a fever!"

Uncle Liu often said she was as strong as an ox, but now she's lying in bed, not moving at all. If Uncle Liu were still alive, he would definitely say to her with a mix of heartache and amusement: "Sickly little calf!"

Xu Sheng helped Nian Yao up, took off her coat, and pulled the blanket over her. Nian Yao's eyes were half-open and half-closed; she was so weak that she had no strength left and let him do as he pleased.

Tiger brought Song Yuan over: "Brother Song, the gang leader didn't say a word when she got sick. She locked herself in her room. We thought she had gone out."

Song Yuan examined it carefully and confirmed, "It's just a cold and fever, nothing serious. A couple of days of medicine will do the trick. It's not a bad thing for people to have minor illnesses from time to time."

"Tiger, go to the kitchen and bring over a bowl of hot porridge for the leader to eat and warm up. I'll go brew the medicine."

Xu Sheng brought over a basin of cold water, soaked a towel in it, and placed it on Nian Yao's forehead.

Nianyao stared at Xu Sheng in a daze, unable to believe that he would be so considerate.

Xu Sheng said nonchalantly, "Sister-in-law, you don't need to be moved. As the eldest brother, I am like a father to you. This is what I should do."

Did something go wrong with your ears just now? How could you think Xu Sheng's voice was pleasant? At most, it wasn't as annoying as usual.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Xu Sheng thought for a moment and asked, "You two are divorced?"

Nianyao closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly inward.

Xu Sheng sighed, his voice filled with righteous indignation: "It's alright, I'll marry you. Once you recover, we'll send troops to conquer Dongyang and unify the world. At that time, we'll make Luo An bow down to you."

Nianyao suddenly grabbed the towel from her forehead and threw it at Xu Sheng: "Get out!"

Xu Sheng grabbed a towel, soaked it in the basin to cool it down, and sat back down on the edge of the bed. He pressed down on Nian Yao's shoulder with one hand and put the towel back on with the other: "Sister-in-law, don't get agitated. I was just joking with you. Your voice is hoarse, save your energy and don't talk, just listen to me."

The joke was completely unfounded. Nianyao pulled the blanket over her head, pretending not to hear.

Xu Sheng remained silent, staring at the blanket as if deep in thought.

Tiger brought over the porridge, and Xu Sheng pulled down the blanket: "It's time to eat. Do you want me to feed you?"

Nianyao sat up abruptly and said in a hoarse voice, "I can do it myself."

With a smile, Xu Sheng took the bowl from the tray, scooped out more than half a bowl of porridge from the clay pot, and handed it to her: "Be careful, it's hot."

Nianyao looked up at Xu Sheng, hesitated slightly, and then said, "Thank you."

"I can't thank you enough." Xu Sheng smiled and said, "It was quite scary to see you not moving at all just now, but it seems there's no need to worry now."

Nianyao was indeed exhausted, and her hands trembled slightly as she held the bowl.

Xu Sheng quickly took the bowl and held it up, saying, "Girls don't need to be so strong. You should be proud that someone is willing to help you; there's nothing shameful about it."

Nianyao's eyes welled up with tears, but she didn't insist any further. The two of them, one with a spoon and the other with a bowl, ate two bowls of porridge and drank a bowl of medicine.

Xu Sheng put down the bowl: "I'll have Hu Zi fetch some water so you can take a bath and feel better."

After days of running around outside, I was covered in sweat, and the sticky feeling was indeed uncomfortable. Nianyao naturally didn't refuse.

Nianyao was comfortably soaking in the water when she inexplicably felt an urge to cry.

Xu Sheng sat in the small hall, pondering for quite some time, before knocking on the door and asking, "Are you alright?"

Nianyao cleared her throat: "I...I'm fine, I'll be right away."

Xu Sheng said through the door, "It's good that you're alright. Take your time washing, and get some rest after you're done. I'm leaving now."

When Nianyao came out after changing her clothes, Xu Sheng was really gone.

Nianyao stood in the small hall, lost in thought. Xu Sheng had been on Chongming Island for some time now; what was his purpose?