Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 220 Bounty

The girl quickly shook her head, very frankly: "No, no, no, people die in war. I don't like people like you with a full beard and a burly build..."

The older brother nudged her with his elbow, and the girl turned to look at him without saying a word.

Manduo glanced at the bow and arrow on Du Dada's back: "How good is your brother at archery?"

The girl proudly said, "My brother is the best archer within a hundred miles, the kind who can hit a target from a hundred miles away."

Du Dada whispered a reminder: "One hundred steps."

The girl retorted, "Pretty much, just an exaggeration. Some people even say the Yellow River's water comes from the sky."

Manduo pointed to the pine tree at the temple gate: "If your brother can shoot the bird's nest in that tree, I'll reward you with another hundred taels of silver."

Du Dada aimed at the bird's nest, moving left, right, up, and down for a long time before finally settling down, then drew his bow and shot the bird's nest.

The girl immediately clapped her hands: "Isn't that amazing?"

Manduo took the bow and arrow, casually bent the bow and shot an arrow, directly knocking down the arrow that Du Dada had shot at the edge of the bird's nest.

Manduo said, "If your brother really finds the snow deer, by the time he's looked around for half a day, the deer will have already run eight hundred miles away."

The girl was a little unhappy, pouting and remaining silent.

Manduo found her adorable and reached out to pinch her cheek. Du Dada pulled her back a step, and Manduo's hand missed.

Mando raised an eyebrow, and a soldier beside him shouted, "The general has taken a liking to your sister, which is an honor for you. Don't be ungrateful."

The girl frowned and shouted, "I just said I don't like him!"

The soldiers charged forward menacingly, and the girl covered her head with her hands, screaming, "They're hitting people! The soldiers are hitting people..."

Mando held the soldier's hand: "We're here to find medicine, not to seek revenge. Don't let a little anger delay the Khan's important business. You two help them carry this box down."

Du Da stepped forward, took out gold ingots and bars from inside, and handed them to Man Duo and the soldiers: "Soldiers, you've worked hard. My sister is ignorant, please forgive her."

Many refused to accept the offer, and naturally, the soldiers dared not accept it either.

Du Dada took out half a box of gold ingots and bars and placed them on the table, then called to the girl, "Xiaoxiao, we'll carry it ourselves, no need to trouble the soldier."

Du Da moved the box towards himself. The girl, not being coquettish, shouldered the carrying pole and helped her brother carry it down.

After arriving home, the girl opened the box, took out a gold ingot and tossed it a couple of times: "Brother Dashu, how about we take the money and run away?"

Da Shu continued, "Madam, there is still a thousand taels of reward money. We should collect it and then take the young master with us on our escape."

Du Dada and Du Xiaoxiao were actually Nianyao and Dashu, disguised as mountain dwellers. They rode quickly to Baishan and found an uninhabited, dilapidated thatched hut that they repaired.

The hut was extremely simple, with bare walls and no bed. The ground on both sides was temporarily covered with thatch to serve as a bed.

The quilt was originally new. Nianyao was afraid of being exposed, so she took the new quilt to a market town a hundred miles away and exchanged it for an old one. As a result, she was scolded for being crazy. So Nianyao stole two old quilts, washed them, and laid them out, leaving the new quilt at someone else's house.

The two of them were sleeping side by side, and Nianyao didn't think there was anything wrong with it, since she had slept like that with her brothers on Chongming Island before.

Da Shu insisted on adding a curtain in the middle. Nian Yao couldn't persuade Da Shu otherwise, so she did the same, using a stolen bed sheet instead of a new one as a curtain.

After spending time together, Da Shu developed a strong liking for Nian Yao: she was truly a swindler... no, she was quick-witted and capable of anything.

Most importantly, she's not spoiled at all and can make herself happy in any environment. Most girls wouldn't be able to adapt to a thatched hut like this, but Nianyao has no problem at all.

There were no chairs in the room, so two cushions made of thatch were used for the Great Heat.

Nianyao sat cross-legged on the futon: "Brother Dashu, are there really snow deer in Baishan?"

Da Shu said, "If the young master says it exists, then it certainly does."

Nianyao pressed further, "Has this happened in all these days?"

Da Shu said, "I've never seen it before."

Nianyao said, "Then there isn't one."

Da Shu asked curiously, "Why?"

Nianyao analyzed, "Who is Batu? He's someone even Nanfei and Yuan Feng are wary of. With Batu around, Dongyang faces a formidable enemy. I've talked to many herders in the northern desert and heard a lot about Batu."

Batu has twelve sons, and since ancient times, the more sons a family has, the more family conflicts it has. If my father had twelve sons, how could I possibly become the leader of the Great River Gang? According to the rules, the eldest son succeeds, and if the eldest son is deceased, his grandson's eldest son succeeds.

Batu's eldest son died young, and his third son was not only capable but also ambitious. If Batu were to pass the position to his eldest grandson, his third son would certainly object. If he were to pass it to his third son, the other sons would object, and the eldest grandson would object even more.

The most important thing for shadow guards is to protect their master's safety. The rule they usually follow is to be cautious in their words and deeds. They have no idea about these things.

Da Shu asked in confusion, "What does this have to do with you, young master?"

Nianyao was somewhat exasperated: "Of course it's related. Batu harmed Jingchen and is a major enemy of Dongyang. Luo An can't save him, either personally or publicly."

If Batu dies, it will be personal revenge for Jingchen. Officially, Batu's sons and grandsons will fight for power, naturally causing internal division, and the northern desert will no longer be a threat.

Nianyao concluded definitively: "Therefore, Luo An couldn't possibly be genuinely trying to save Batu. It's two or three thousand miles from Tumote to Baishan. He's just using this as an excuse to get away from Batu and bring another batch of treasure to Dongyang. It only takes a day to get back to Dongyang from Baishan, but it's a much longer journey from Tumote."

Da Shu suddenly realized and gave a thumbs up, saying, "Madam is right."

Nianyao said, "But I don't understand. He came looking for Jingchen. Based on what I know of him, he definitely wants to see him alive or dead. He can't just go back to Dongyang like this. Why would he have to come all this way? Jingchen wouldn't come to this remote mountain forest, would he?"

Da Shu said, "Anyway, there must be a reason why the young master has made this arrangement."

A divine infatuation? Nianyao looked at the Great Heat and suddenly asked, "In your hearts, who is more trustworthy, Luo An or An Liangchen?"

Da Shu thought for a moment and said, "Young Master is probably more reassuring!"

Nianyao pouted: "Just say that Luo An is more trustworthy, and why?"

Da Shu hesitated for a moment: "His Highness the Crown Prince governs Dongyang. Above him are the Emperor and Empress, and below him are his subjects and common people. He has to deal with all sorts of people and is quite thoughtful. You, young master, are a doctor who spends your days studying medical books and treating patients. The two of you are inherently different."

Nianyao said, "So, Luo An isn't thinking much about anything?"

While pondering, Da Shu said, "Sometimes, it can't be said that the young master isn't thoughtful. It's just that he doesn't need to. He's just a doctor, and a willful person at that..."

Nianyao exclaimed in surprise, "Willful? He's such a grown man...willful?"

Da Shu explained with difficulty: "It's just... well, you can't say he's willful... anyway... he does whatever he wants... it's just... it's just..."

Seeing that Da Shu couldn't continue, Nian Yao continued, "Acting arbitrarily? Acting recklessly?"

They were just shadow guards, acting on orders. Who would bother comparing His Highness the Crown Prince and Luo An?

Da Shu shook his head and then nodded: "They're pretty much the same. Madam, what would you like to eat tonight?"