Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 154 Pay

Nanfei was half-lying on the armchair, half-asleep, when he suddenly felt a hand reach out to his chest and grope him.

Nanfei was startled. He swung his arm, and the girl massaging his shoulders flew towards the door, screaming in terror.

A man darted out of the door; it was Qin Jiu. He lifted the girl and placed her on the ground. The girl immediately knelt down, trembling, and cried, "Young master, spare me! I only wanted to please you..."

Nanfei sat up straight, exuding a fierce aura, and the girls singing and dancing slowly stopped.

Nanfei sneered: "Do what you're told. Who gave you the right to make decisions on your own? You get what you pay for. The girls at Wenxianglou don't know any manners."

The young man, who had been all smiles and laughter, now spoke sharply and intimidatingly.

The girl said, "I meant no harm... I was just so captivated by you, young master, that I lost my temper... Please, young master, spare my life..."

Qin Jiu handed the wine pot on the table to Nan Fei, who took it, tilted his head back, and drank several large mouthfuls from the rim. He then stood up and said, "Everyone, step back."

The girls hurriedly left, leaving no trace. Nanfei walked to the table and sat down, his tone still unfriendly: "What are you doing here?"

Qin Jiu was about to sit down when he heard this and stood up straight: "Young Master Nan, I didn't touch you."

Nanfei looked up at him: "You and the princess have such a big secret from us, are you just making a fool of us?"

Was he holding back his anger and wanted to vent? Qin Jiu retreated to the window and leaned against it. His face was unreadable as he stood with his back to the light. "Young Master Nan, this is my private matter."

Nanfei said, "Private matters? Private matters between Princess Dongyang and Marquis Nanyue? When did Ninth Brother become so childish..."

Qin Jiu's tone also turned cold: "That's my private matter."

"The marriage didn't happen, but rumors are flying everywhere. I heard the wedding procession was all about it, with flags flying high and drums beating all the way..." Nanfei went to his side, opened the window, and looked down: "Ninth Brother, what are you so ashamed of?"

Qin Jiu: "I just..."

Nanfei interrupted him: "You've only been bitten once, so you're afraid of ropes for ten years. Ninth Brother, I've heard that Master Jing is handsome, refined, and has a large harem. How come you haven't inherited even a fraction of his good looks..."

Qin Jiu sighed: "Maybe it's because my surname isn't Jing. The married young masters of the Jing family also have many wives and concubines..."

Nanfei turned around: "Ninth Brother, are you really planning to go back to Nanyue to become a marquis?"

Qin Jiu shook his head: "Xue Yunting asked me to return to Chongming Island. Miss Duan is not in good health and needs to be taken care of."

Nan Fei said, "His wife is his sister. How could she not take good care of her brother's wife?"

Qin Jiu said, "Xue Yunting is afraid that the madam is too careless and will not be able to take good care of her."

Nanfei smiled enigmatically: "Is that so?"

Qin Jiu glanced at him: "Has Crown Prince An agreed to let us return to Chongming Island?"

“Ninth Brother, how would I know about the Crown Prince’s affairs?” Nanfei said, “Ninth Brother, I can’t owe you my monthly wages now that I’m gone. You can pay me the full month’s wages in July, the half month’s wages in August, and the year-end bonuses for the rest of the year. Give me the young master’s wages as well.”

Qin Jiu glanced at him sideways: "I forgot how much it was; I'll have to go back and calculate it. The young master's money has already been advanced, and he's even giving it to the madam..."

Nanfei said, "...Then just give me fifty taels, and we'll settle the accounts later, refunding any overpayment and making up any underpayment."

"Just give me fifty taels?" Qin Jiu said matter-of-factly, "You've been receiving the young master's monthly salary for the past few years on Chongming Island. He got an advance of a year's salary, which was deducted from yours. The young master's monthly salary is twice yours, and he's just been promoted two ranks, so his total annual salary... is probably worth about three times yours..."

Nan Fei caught a glimpse of Xue Yunting out of the corner of his eye and quickly jumped over: "Young General, you're so fast, could it be... that the girl is impotent..."

Xue Yunting stood tall and proud, looking quite energetic, and was about to greet Qin Jiu.

Nan Fei put his arm around Xue Yunting's shoulder, speaking very enthusiastically: "Ninth Brother said you've put in a lot of effort for his marriage, so he came all the way here to treat us. I had no choice but to do as the saying goes. Come on, come on..."

Nan Fei pushed Xue Yunting downstairs and said to the madam, "The guard behind me, please settle the bill for me."

Nan Fei appeared to be a playboy, while Xue Yunting exuded a cold and aloof aura. The madam bowed and smiled as she saw them off, saying, "Take care, young masters."

As Nanfei and Xue Yunting arrived at the entrance of Wenxianglou, they saw Nianyao approaching from afar, holding a long sword.

Nan Fei took off running, and Xue Yunting quickly turned around and hid behind Qin Jiu: "Ninth Brother..."

Qin Jiu sighed, "These two young masters are really extravagant. In less than an afternoon, they spent 104 taels at Wenxiang Pavilion. The madam is kind and gave them a discount of 100 taels."

Xue Yunting was also astonished: "So many?"

Qin Jiu said, "Young General, this is Bian Jing..."

Xue Yunxu quickly pulled out a piece of gold: "Is this enough for two hundred taels?"

Qin Jiu glanced at the item and put it away. He then pulled Xue Yunting back to Wenxiang Tower and exited through the back door.

Nianyao chased after them to the back door, but Qin Jiu and Xue Yunting were nowhere to be seen. She stomped her feet angrily and shouted, "If you're so capable, don't come back!"

Qin Jiu and Xue Yunting practically toured the entire Bianjing City.

In the dead of night, with the moon and stars shining brightly, Xue Yunting was too tired to walk any further and leaned on Qin Jiu: "Brother Jiu, carry me back."

Qin Jiu said, "Let's find an inn to stay in and not go back tonight."

Xue Yunting shook his head: "No, Mingzhu is still waiting for me."

Qin Jiu asked, "Are you sure she'll wait for you?"

Xue Yunting stood up straight: "Ninth Brother, what do you mean?"

Qin Jiu said, "I think Miss Duan... is content with her lot... and unperturbed by favor or disgrace..."

Xue Yunting said after a long while, "Ninth Brother has a really sharp eye."

Qin Jiu said, "Just coax the young girl a little, don't let her get herself into trouble. You're still young and have a bright future ahead of you."

Xue Yunting took a step forward, his expression somewhat dazed in the moonlight.

Qin Jiu followed beside him at a leisurely pace, her tone sincere: "Yun Ting, how long have you known her..."

Xue Yunting said, "Ninth Brother, you're only meeting the Princess once?"

Qin Jiu said, "That's different, we have children."

Xue Yunting said, "We also have children."

Qin Jiu sighed: "It's still different... Yun Ting, you might as well tell Madam the truth, so that she won't misunderstand you."

Xue Yunting laughed and said, "My sister looks fierce and tough, but she has a soft heart. Even if she misunderstands, she'll only beat me up at most; she won't really kill me. Ninth Brother, can you get the antidote from your brother-in-law?"

Qin Jiu said, "It's difficult."

“That’s true, even my sister wouldn’t dare, let alone you? But An Liangchen wouldn’t dare touch me now, and my brother-in-law won’t either.” Xue Yunting said, “Ninth Brother, you shouldn’t have come out. The streets are bustling in December, and many people will see you. It will be difficult to explain later.”

Qin Jiu didn't care: "Anyway, it's already like this, why bother explaining? I don't care, and the princess should be willing to go all out now."

Xue Yunting said, "Ninth Brother knows the Princess quite well."

Qin Jiu shook his head: "It's not that I understand her, it's that she's being forced into a corner by the Eldest Princess."

Xue Yunting said, "So, Princess Minghui was afraid you would run away, so she specially sent the princess to connect with you."

Qin Jiu smiled: "...It should be...about the same."