Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 229 Cousin

Luo An stood up to leave, and An Liangchen and Nan Hua followed suit. The atmosphere immediately turned sour, and the Empress's smile froze on her face.

Nianyao quickly pulled Luo An away, saying, "Auntie hasn't finished speaking yet, there's no rush."

An Liangchen said, "Mother just wants you to be careful on your journey and come back soon."

"We'll be careful," Nianyao said sincerely. "Don't worry, Auntie, we'll be back soon. Auntie, may I go see the little prince?"

Nan Hua immediately said, "Mother, I'll take Nian Yao to see Xiao Bao."

The Empress's expression softened slightly, and she nodded almost imperceptibly in agreement. Nan Hua then pulled Nian Yao away.

Inside the Xiefang Pavilion, a baby sits on a low couch made of golden nanmu wood, and a girl is playing with the baby by rattling a bell.

The little prince had a round head and chubby face, with skin so delicate one wanted to pinch it, and bright, clear eyes. Upon seeing Nanhua, he immediately stretched out his hands and babbled incoherently.

Nan Hua picked him up: "Xiao Bao, this is your aunt."

Nianyao pinched Xiaobao's cheek: "Your little grandson nephew is so adorable. Sister Nanhua, has he been named yet?"

The girl next to her said, "Mingde, the way of the Great Learning, lies in manifesting the bright virtue. Sister Nianyao, right? I've heard my aunt talk about you before. You are indeed radiating heroic spirit, suitable for both men and women."

"Auntie?" Nianyao sized up the girl. She looked about sixteen or seventeen years old, with bright, sparkling eyes, a slender figure, and snow-white skin. She was delicate and graceful. She wore a jade-green blouse and a light green embroidered skirt, with a gold ribbon tied around her waist. Her pearl hairpin glittered in her hair, indicating that she was not dressed as a palace maid.

Nan Hua introduced, "This is Wang Yaru's younger sister, her cousin from her aunt's side."

Wang Yaru's gaze at Nianyao wasn't friendly, but Nianyao didn't seem to mind. People from the martial world always face various scrutiny and gossip in the palace.

Nianyao said, "Nanfei is absolutely right. The girls in Bianjing are not only beautiful, but also very gentle, unlike me, who is rude and vulgar."

Nan Hua quickly replied, "Everyone is different, and each has their own beauty. Nian Yao is beautiful with a touch of handsomeness, and has a free and easy personality. Everyone likes her very much."

Wang Yaru casually asked, "Sister, you and Xiao An have been married for so long, when are you planning to have children?"

Was calling him "Brother Xiao An" a little too affectionate? Nian Yao looked at Nan Hua, who was kissing Xiao Bao's face and playing with him, seemingly unaware of what was happening.

Nianyao hesitated for a moment, then readily admitted, "I can't have children."

Wang Yaru exclaimed in surprise, "Why?"

Nan Hua quickly said, "Nian Yao is still young..."

"I'm not young anymore, my aunt says I'm twenty." Nianyao suddenly understood as she spoke. The Empress specifically mentioned her age, and Luo An interrupted her. An Liangchen saw the situation and smoothed things over. Was this the reason?

Before she went to find Luo An, she thought: if Luo An wanted children, as long as he returned safely, she would let Luo An take ten or eight concubines and have a lot of children.

Now that Luo An is back, and he's not young anymore, it's time for him to have children. If the girl in front of her is willing, and the Empress is also interested, she might as well grant her wish.

Nianyao leaned over and kissed An Mingde, who, without any shyness, returned the kiss.

Nianyao was overjoyed: "Sister Nanhua, if Luo An has a child, will he be as cute as Mingde?"

Wang Yaru interjected, "The baby that Sister Nianyao gives birth to will definitely be very cute."

Nan Hua said, "Of course. Nian Yao, you and Xiao An need to go back to Chongming Island. We can't delay, so I won't keep you. We'll talk again next time you come back."

“Sister Nanhua, it’s alright, there’s nothing to hide.” Nianyao said, “It has nothing to do with age, it’s just that I can’t have children. I’m thinking of finding a suitable girl for him to take as a concubine.”

Wang Yaru's eyes widened: "Sister Nianyao, isn't Brother Xiao'an a doctor? If you are..."

"Nianyao," Luo An said, stepping out of the doorway. "Let's go."

Nianyao said "okay" and took out a string of glass beads to hang around An Mingde's neck: "This is a gift for meeting you. I don't have anything good to give my nephew."

Nan Hua said, "We're family, no need to be so polite."

An Liangchen came with Luo An. Knowing their tight schedule, he didn't try to stop them: "I'll see you off."

Luo An never looked at Wang Yaru. Wang Yaru followed them for a few steps, then slowly stopped, seemingly very disappointed.

Nan Hua focused on playing with the child, a faint smile on her face, but her eyes were serene. Luo An was not An Liangchen; she didn't need to calculate or weigh matters of marriage, much less force anything.

Nianyao didn't say a word the whole way. When they arrived at the post station that night, she quickly washed up and went straight to sleep.

Luo An sat on the edge of the bed with a wine jug in his hand: "Want a couple of drinks?"

Nianyao didn't even open her eyes: "Sleepy."

Logically, returning to Dongyang should be a cause for celebration, especially given the safe and smooth journey. However, Nianyao's mood has been low ever since leaving Baishan. Now that she's back on Chongming Island, why isn't she in a good mood?

As Luo An drank, he sized her up: "Speak your mind, don't keep it bottled up. I'm not like other girls who know how to coax girls. And don't be as pretentious and petty as other girls. If you consider yourself a chivalrous person, don't be so narrow-minded."

Nianyao didn't open her eyes for a long time, staring at the top of the tent: "Who's being petty? I'm just tired."

Luo An hit the nail on the head: "You used to travel in a hurry, and I never saw you need two days and one night of rest to recover."

Nianyao did not argue as Luo An had expected, and said in a desolate tone, "I'm older now, not like before."

Is something really wrong? Luo An first touched Nian Yao's forehead, then took her pulse and carefully examined her: "She's not sick."

Nianyao thought for a moment, then sat up and leaned against the headboard. She grabbed the wine pot and took a big gulp: "You're a doctor, do you think your cousin is good at having children?"

Luo An asked, "Which cousin?"

Nianyao glanced at him: "If you want to chat, then chat properly, don't pretend."

Luo An said, "You mean Miss Wang? She seems a bit too thin."

Nianyao asked, "Are you very familiar with her?"

Luo An said, "We met for the first time last night."

Nianyao was slightly annoyed: "We met for the first time last night, why did she call you so affectionately?"

Luo An said, "Some people are very outgoing, and there are others I've never met before, but they all say they've met me before."

Considering Luo An's aloofness in front of outsiders, it's understandable. Nianyao clutched the blanket: "I know what Auntie means. Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is having no offspring. You're twenty-two this year..."

Luo An said, "Twenty-one."

Nianyao asked, "Then I'm nineteen?"

Luo An said, "Yes."

Nianyao couldn't help but lose her temper and said, "What do you mean 'right'? My aunt also said I'm twenty."

Luo An's expression was calm, his eyes were calm, and his voice was even calmer: "What others say is not important; what matters is what you think yourself."

Nianyao said, "You are you, and I am me. I can't learn your level of understanding. Besides, you have such a noble status, what am I?"

Luo An's tone remained calm: "You are my wife! Since ancient times, a woman's honor has come from her husband's. I don't consider myself noble. If you think I am noble, then my wife is just as noble as I am."