Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 336 Jingze

When Luo An returned to his room, he saw Nian Yao engrossed in reading. Luo An suddenly remembered how, on Chongming Island, Nian Yao would draw design drafts for hours on end, full of energy and tireless.

Nianyao looked up and saw Luo An: "What's wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?"

Luo An took the book from Nian Yao's hand and flipped through it: "The Eight Trigrams Formation and Its Variations"? She reads such a difficult book so carefully; it must be out of interest.

Nianyao said, "I found it in the library. I thought the library was full of medical books, but it has everything. It has more books than the Imperial Library. Besides medical books, the I Ching and Five Elements books are the most numerous."

Luo Andao said, "Taoism and medicine are inseparable. Taoism emphasizes Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. Medicine emphasizes conforming to the balance of Yin and Yang and the mutual generation and restraint of the Five Elements within the human body."

For example, the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic is a medical book and also a Taoist classic. The theories of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, pulse diagnosis, Zang-Xiang (visceral manifestation), and meridians are all based on Taoist theories.

For example, pulse diagnosis. The highest level of pulse diagnosis doesn't rely on the pulse itself, but rather on assessing the body's condition through the pulse's energy. Furthermore, the ultimate goal of acupuncture is to harmonize Qi and blood, and balance Yin and Yang…

Nianyao's eyes lit up as she stared intently at Luo An.

Luo An thought Nian Yao had suddenly become interested in medicine: "If you want to learn, I can teach you slowly. With your intelligence, I guarantee you'll reach the ninth level of doctor."

Nianyao was simply captivated by Luo An's eloquent manner, and upon hearing this, she repeatedly said, "I don't want to learn, I don't want to learn, I don't want to learn..."

As expected, they were talking past each other. Luo An asked, "Didn't you say you'd catch fish for me to eat? Where's the fish?"

Nianyao jumped up and down: "Those are medicine fish that the Crown Prince ordered to be raised. I heard that Senior Sister raised them for a long time and even cursed the fish thief to be reborn as a toad in his next life."

"Then I'll be a swan in my next life." Luo An walked to the table, picked up the Chongxu True Scripture, and said, "You can study this book when you have time."

Nianyao took the book blankly, not reacting for a moment.

Luo An smiled and patted her head: "It's just a few fish, don't worry about it. We'll go down the mountain to the palace on the second day of the Lunar New Year, so you can prepare in advance."

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Nianyao dressed up in her finest clothes and went to the palace with Luo An. She met the Duke of Liang and the Eldest Princess, but did not see Liang Qingcheng or Qin Jiu.

The eldest princess explained that Qingcheng was in poor health and always felt tired, and Qin Jiu was at home taking care of her and couldn't spare the time. She also said that Liang Qingcheng was not young anymore, and her pregnancy couldn't be like it was when she was younger.

Nianyao subconsciously turned to look at Luo An: She's not young anymore!

Luo An was putting a pure gold bell bracelet on An Yuxuan's wrist, his eyes showing a gentle tenderness, completely unlike his aloof demeanor in front of others.

But Luo An never gave Xue Chenxi any gifts, even though he said Xue Chenxi was their biological daughter.

The brightly lit palace, the vibrant dances, the luxurious gold and silver cups… In other places, Nianyao could barely convince herself otherwise. But in the palace, Nianyao always felt as if she were being crushed by a stone.

Nianyao stared at the song and dance performance before her, her mind wandering. She kept reminding herself that the princess definitely didn't mean anything by it; it was just that she had taken it to heart.

But how could he not take it to heart? Even if Luo An didn't have such a status, even if he was just an ordinary person, he should still have a child of his own.

Even after leaving the palace, Nianyao's mood hadn't improved. She took Luo An's arm and slowly walked forward. Red lanterns were hung everywhere in Bianjing City, and the streets were filled with vendors and entertainers.

The hustle and bustle only amplified her loneliness. Nianyao turned to look at Luo An, only to meet his gaze.

Nianyao was inwardly turbulent: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Luo An stopped and adjusted the hair ornament on her head: "What's wrong? Why are you unhappy?"

Is it that obvious? So obvious that even Luo An noticed? But how could he say it out loud, since Luo An's attitude had already been made clear.

Luo An said, "If you don't like the palace, you can just not go there in the future."

Nianyao said softly, "I don't dislike them, they're all very nice. I used to read stories about wealthy and powerful families with many rules, even about how to speak, eat, and walk. I told my father back then that I was glad I wasn't born into such a family."

As you saw today, my uncle, aunt, and Prince Nanhua have all treated me very well. They haven't neglected me just because I'm from the martial arts world. I'm actually quite touched.

Luo An said very seriously, "It doesn't matter whether they treat you well or not, what matters is that you're unhappy. If you're unhappy and don't want to go, you can choose not to go in the future, and no one can force you."

Nianyao finally smiled, her voice slightly raised: "Look at what you're saying, I just miss Chenxi."

Luo An breathed a slight sigh of relief: "I'll send a message to Xu Sheng and ask him to bring Chenxi to Penglai."

Nianyao rubbed her face against Luo An's shoulder, her tone somewhat coquettish: "Let's wait a little longer. None of us can take care of Xiaobao. We have to wait until she can walk and eat on her own."

The weight on Nianyao's heart was easily lifted by Luo An, and she felt an inexplicable sense of ease. As the two strolled along, Nianyao heard a familiar yet childlike voice.

"Uncle, I want to eat candied hawthorn."

Nianyao turned her head and saw a young man holding Buzhi. The young man said, "Your mother won't let you eat candy."

He pouted and said, "I won't eat it, I'll buy it for my sister."

The young man smiled and bought two candied hawthorn skewers: "You can only eat one skewer; this one is for your mother."

Holding a string of candied hawthorns in one hand, he turned around and saw Luo An and Nian Yao. He looked them over carefully to make sure they were right before politely greeting them, "Hello, Uncle and Aunt."

Nianyao wasn't particular about how she addressed her child; she just called him whatever he was called. She pinched his soft, tender cheek and asked, "Where's your dad?"

I don't know: "Dad needs to stay with Mom, because Mom has a little sister in her belly."

Nianyao pointed at the young man: "Then who is he?"

I don't know: "He's my uncle, his name is Jingze."

uncle? Jingze?

Nianyao was shocked: "Young Master Jing?"

Jingze was clearly a little uncomfortable: "Master Luo, Madam Luo."

Nianyao was even more shocked: "You know us?"

Jing Ze said, "The reputations of Master Luo and Chief Xue are known throughout the land."

Nianyao asked in confusion, "Can the Third Young Master recognize a person just by their name?"

Jingze quickly explained, "Ninth Brother described it to me in detail, and with your elegant demeanor, you are easily recognizable. Master Luo and Madam Luo, it's getting late, we must go back now, so please take your leave."

Seeing Jingze leave in a hurry, Nianyao thought for a moment and pulled Luo An to follow. Jingze walked for a while but couldn't shake them off, so he simply stopped: "Is there something you two need?"

Nianyao said, "We brought gifts for Ninth Brother, and we're delivering them to him on our way."

Jingze clearly didn't want them to come along: "Mrs. Luo, I can deliver it on your behalf."

Luo An said with slight impatience, "Tell Qin Jiu that Luo An has invited him to play chess, and tell him to go to Xi Zhai immediately."

Jingze slightly curtsied and respectfully replied, "Yes."

After Jingze walked away, Nianyao sighed, "He doesn't even want to talk to me. You're the one who gets the most attention."

Luo An said calmly, "Speak your mind directly, there's no need to beat around the bush. Not to mention the whole world, at least in Bianjing, no one dares to offend Madam Luo."