"..."
"Right, Uncle, can you tell me your name? You saved me today and treated me to such delicious pastries. Another day, I'll bring you pastries made by my mother as a return gift."
Little Yi Hao leaned in front of Luo Mu Chen, stretching his small head, waiting for Luo Mu Chen to tell him his name.
"Luo Mu Chen."
"What???"
Little Yi Hao thought he had misheard.
He asked again uncertainly, "Uncle, who did you say you were?"
"Luo Mu Chen."
His voice was still as gentle as a warm breeze, and a faint smile graced his face.
But Little Yi Hao was completely flustered. He bristled.
"What! You are Luo Mu Chen???"
In his shock, Little Yi Hao jumped up. He backed away, his small stature stumbling, and he lost his footing. His body tilted backward, and his small head peeked out of the carriage through the curtains.
"Be careful!"
Luo Mu Chen's eyes were sharp and his hands were quick. He reached out and firmly grabbed Little Yi Hao's arm, pulling him back.
Little Yi Hao sat on Luo Mu Chen's lap, looking up at him blankly.
Luo Mu Chen lowered his gaze to meet Little Yi Hao's.
They stared at each other.
Little Yi Hao timidly spoke, "Uncle Luo, my mother is kind and beautiful. How about you consider her? What do you say?"
"..."
"Not only that, my mother likes you a lot. Although she hasn't met you, she has heard of your deeds, and therefore, she admires you immensely. Every night before she sleeps, she holds your medical books and reads them over and over. Sometimes, she even sleeps with them."
Little Yi Hao said this, but in his heart, he was praying.
Mother, your son is unfilial for using you as a shield. However, your son is striving to bring home an advantageous father.
"..."
Luo Mu Chen didn't know what to say.
What kind of woman was this?
Little Yi Hao saw Luo Mu Chen frown. He wrapped his small arms around Luo Mu Chen's arm and quickly added, "Uncle Luo, don't misunderstand. My mother's medical skills are very advanced, and she is very intelligent. She reads your medical books simply because she likes you as a person and your beautiful handwriting. If it comes to medical skills, my mother is much more capable than you."
When speaking of his mother, Little Yi Hao's face was full of admiration.
Luo Mu Chen raised an eyebrow.
Why did he feel that this little bun in front of him, while speaking of his mother's character in a less than favorable light, would have his eyes light up when discussing medical skills?
It was as if he truly understood medicine.
"Do you know the medicinal effects of the herb Codonopsis pilosula?"
Luo Mu Chen playfully tugged at Little Yi Hao's ear, asking casually.
In his opinion, this little bun in front of him was just a mischievous young boy.
Perhaps he knew a little about herbs?
"Replenishes the middle and benefits Qi, strengthens the spleen and benefits the lungs, nourishes blood and generates fluids, sweet in taste."
Little Yi Hao sat in front of Luo Mu Chen, his small face very serious.
It was only when discussing the field of medicine that he would treat it with seriousness.
This was the principle his mother had taught him: physicians must be rigorous, even when mentioning a single medicinal herb, they must treat it with respect.
Seeing this, Luo Mu Chen's eyes widened in surprise. He looked up at Little Yi Hao and asked again, "What are the effects of the herb Atractylodes macrocephala?"
"Strengthens the spleen and benefits Qi, dries dampness and promotes urination, stops sweating, and calms the fetus..."
After saying this, Little Yi Hao paused. Before Luo Mu Chen could speak, he continued, "When Atractylodes macrocephala and Poria cocos are used together, they can enhance the effect of removing dampness. Atractylodes macrocephala and Saposhnikovia divaricata, when used together, can benefit Qi and consolidate the exterior, treating spontaneous sweating from the inside out. Atractylodes macrocephala and pork bone..."
After a series of explanations, Little Yi Hao correctly answered all questions on traditional Chinese medicine, from simple to complex, without any errors.
A moment later, Luo Mu Chen's gaze towards Little Yi Hao changed.
"I never expected that you, at such a young age, would have such high medical skills. You are a prodigy!"
Luo Mu Chen praised him repeatedly.
Little Yi Hao tilted his small head, very proud.
"Who taught you all this? Your mother?"
Luo Mu Chen tried to guess.
"Of course, it was my mother. Uncle Luo, didn't I just say? My mother is very capable, and you can't even compare to her!"
"In that case, could I invite your mother to have a competition with this young master another day?"
He was naturally willing to befriend someone with excellent medical skills.
"Okay!"
Little Yi Hao suddenly walked over and leaned in front of Luo Mu Chen, a smile on his face. "Uncle Luo, if my mother wins, will you be willing to marry her?"
"???"
Luo Mu Chen did not speak.
He didn't know what to say.
Medical skills were noble; how could they be linked to personal marriage?
Seeing Luo Mu Chen remain silent, Little Yi Hao took it as his tacit consent. He puckered his small mouth and kissed Luo Mu Chen on the cheek.
Luo Mu Chen was stunned.
"Uncle Luo, your silence means you agree. So it's settled. The day my mother wins against you will be the day you marry her! I'm leaving now."
Luo Mu Chen: "..."
The carriage stopped. The Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall had arrived.
Little Yi Hao jumped out of the carriage and disappeared in a flash.
The young pageboy waiting outside the carriage stared, dumbfounded, at Little Yi Hao running off like a monkey.
He had heard everything his young master and this little monkey had said in the carriage.
At this moment, didn't they feel that their young master had fallen into this little monkey's trap?
On the other side.
Little Yi Hao, seeing no one behind him, ran several streets with his short legs and turned towards the Number One Restaurant in the World.
He went to the back courtyard, went upstairs, and pushed open the door to the private room.
Inside.
Duan Xi Feng was studying a recipe. Seeing him turn around, he threw down the recipe and picked up a stick, ready to chase Little Yi Hao.
Little Yi Hao darted around the room.
"Little Uncle, stop hitting me. Do you know what a big thing I did today?"
"I don't care what happened to you! Today, I told you to apologize to your mother, and you ran off again. I had to stand in a horse stance for an hour for you. You brat, you've completely set me up. Stop, or I'll beat you to death!"
Little Yi Hao jumped onto the table, hands on his hips. When Duan Xi Feng swung the stick at him, his small body dodged with extreme speed.
His mouth, however, did not stop for a moment. "Little Uncle, these are minor matters, minor matters!" He waved his hand dismissively. "Little Uncle, your nephew met Luo Mu Chen today!"
"Who? Luo Mu Chen!"
In his astonishment, the stick in his hand dropped, hitting his own foot.
Duan Xi Feng let out a howl and hopped around the room on one foot, clutching his foot.
"Hahaha..."
After laughing for a while, Little Yi Hao picked up the teapot on the table and took a big gulp.
"Little Uncle, with my silver tongue, I have successfully made Luo Mu Chen my soon-to-be husband. Next, I just need my mother to participate in the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall medical competition for me. The day my mother wins against Luo Mu Chen will be the day she marries Luo Mu Chen!"
Upon hearing this.
Duan Xi Feng put down his foot and stopped hopping. He walked over and stared at Little Yi Hao in disbelief. "Brat, you really have a way! How did you do it?"
"That... is a secret."
Little Yi Hao feigned a "deep" expression.
Duan Xi Feng slapped him.
"Stop showing off and tell me quickly!"
Little Yi Hao pouted, rubbed his arm, sat on the table, and dangled his legs.
He recounted everything he had said to Luo Hao Chen.
After he finished, Duan Xi Feng kissed Little Yi Hao on the cheek. "Little Yi Hao, you are too smart. You did a great job with this matter."
Six years ago, after Nangong Mo left a letter and returned to the Yi Jing Pavilion with Meng Qing Hua, Du Chun, Nangong Qing Lin, and others, he had stayed behind to take care of Gu Qian Ying.
His sister, Gu Qian Ying, also knew about their relationship.
Since Little Yi Hao was born, his sister Gu Qian Ying had developed a stomach ailment and had a poor appetite.
To help his sister regain her health and eat and sleep well, he had started learning to cook himself four years ago.
Since they came to the capital, people said that the food at the Number One Restaurant in the Capital tasted good, so he came to learn the craft.
After mastering the skills, to make his sister more comfortable, he spent a large sum of money to buy this Number One Restaurant.
However, as an elder brother, he could not replace a husband.
He could remain unmarried his entire life to take care of his sister, but his sister could not spend her life alone.
Nangong Mo had been gone for six years, and he didn't know when he would return. Making his younger sister wait like this was unbearable.
He felt great pity for her, and he absolutely could not allow it!
Furthermore, Nangong Mo had sealed the memories of Qian Ying and himself, thus giving Qian Ying the opportunity to choose someone else.
Why shouldn't Qian Ying choose someone else!
"What did he do again?"
The door was pushed open.
Gu Qian Ying entered with her maid Wu Zi.
She was still wearing men's robes, the bright red robe accentuating her fair skin.
The maid Wu Zi also wore men's robes.
Upon seeing Gu Qian Ying, Duan Xi Feng and Little Yi Hao exchanged glances. Then, Little Yi Hao quickly rolled off the table and ran to Gu Qian Ying, kneeling at her feet. "Mother, I was wrong."
Duan Xi Feng quickly took out the pastries he had made and placed them in front of Gu Qian Ying, smiling at her. "Sister, these are your favorite pastries. Come, try them."
Gu Qian Ying took the pastries from Duan Xi Feng, walked around Little Yi Hao, and sat down at the table. "Speak, what trouble have you two gotten into now?"
Duan Xi Feng kept his mouth shut.
Little Yi Hao put on his acting skills and, with his clumsy acting, recounted the agreement between him and Luo Mu Chen.
"Mother, I looked for you. Luo Mu Chen has both a good physique and a handsome appearance. You marrying him would not be a loss."
Gu Qian Ying: "..."
That day.
Little Yi Hao was spanked by Gu Qian Ying.
On the same day, Gu Qian Ying had originally wanted Little Yi Hao to participate in the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall medical competition. However, because Little Yi Hao had already met Luo Mu Chen.
Moreover, he had already informed Luo Mu Chen of his name, so the next day, she had to substitute for Little Yi Hao and enter the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall medical competition under the name Duan Xi Feng.
The red robe she wore was replaced with a black robe, and she wore a human skin mask on her face.
The medical competition venue was set up in the backyard of the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall.
There were many participants.
Gu Qian Ying stood in the crowd, not very conspicuous.
"Look quickly! The Medical God Luo Mu Chen... he's out!"
Among the people present, there were many young ladies disguised as men.
As soon as they saw Luo Mu Chen, they could not control their screams.