My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

"Since neither of you is willing to give in, then neither of you should eat! Give it all to Sizi!"

When the little boy saw that there was a big piece of meat in his bowl, he clapped his hands excitedly.

"Thank you, Mother! Father and Sixteenth Brother are so stupid, they couldn't get any meat!" The little girl said sarcastically as she chewed on tripe.

Li Chen and Li Shimin looked at the empty chopsticks, exchanged a glance, snorted coldly at the same time, turned their heads away, and each picked up their teacups to drink water to cover up their embarrassment.

In this lively and cheerful atmosphere.

Cheng Yaojin, who had been sitting in the corner and hadn't said much, seemed to be preoccupied.

He stared at the bubbling hot pot in front of him, hesitating several times as if he wanted to say something, his expression extremely conflicted.

"Old Cheng, what's wrong with you today?"

Li Chen put down his teacup and keenly noticed Cheng Yaojin's unusual behavior.

"You're usually the biggest meat eater, but today you brought this beef and you haven't touched it at all. Just say what you want to say, don't be so hesitant like a woman."

Hearing Li Chen call out his name.

Cheng Yaojin gritted his teeth suddenly, as if he had made some enormous decision.

"thump!"

This tough guy, who wouldn't even flinch when a knife was held to his neck, suddenly left his seat without warning and knelt down on both knees in front of Li Chen!

"Duke Lu, what are you doing?!" Empress Zhangsun was startled and quickly tried to help him up.

Cheng Yaojin knelt firmly on the ground, his eyes instantly reddening.

That usually rough and unrestrained troublemaker was now in tears.

"Immortal Master! Your Highness!"

Cheng Yaojin's voice choked with emotion as he kowtowed heavily on the bluestone slab.

"I, Old Cheng, am a rough man, not good with words. But today I dare to beg the immortals to have mercy and save my old brother, Qin Qiong!"

Upon hearing the name "Qin Qiong".

The smile on Li Shimin's face vanished instantly, replaced by an extremely solemn expression. Empress Zhangsun also sighed softly, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes.

"What's wrong with Qin Qiong?" Li Chen frowned slightly.

Cheng Yaojin raised his head, his face full of sorrow and heartache.

"Immortal, you may not know this. My old brother followed His Majesty in his early years, fighting in countless battles. He was always at the forefront, and the wounds he sustained were so numerous that there wasn't even a single piece of good flesh the size of a palm to be found!"

"He has lost too much blood! Now that he is old, all those old injuries and chronic poisons from his early years have erupted and penetrated deep into his bones. Now he is deficient in both qi and blood, and he doesn't even have the strength to get out of bed. He coughs up blood every day and is bedridden year-round."

Cheng Yaojin wiped away his tears with his rough, calloused hands.

"The imperial physician said he was on his last legs and might not survive the winter! I, Old Cheng, simply cannot bear to see that once mighty and unparalleled general, so renowned throughout the land, tormented to death by illness!"

Speaking of it.

Li Shimin also put down his chopsticks.

The Khan's eyes were slightly red. He stood up, walked to Li Chen's side, patted him on the shoulder, and spoke with a hint of pleading in his voice.

"Chen'er".

Li Shimin's voice was deep and resonant: "Shubao has rendered great service to the Tang Dynasty and can be considered my right-hand man. If you truly have a way, then please help him. The Tang Dynasty cannot lose such a loyal and capable minister."

The atmosphere in the pavilion instantly turned somber from the previous merriment.

Li Chen looked at Cheng Yaojin kneeling on the ground, and then at Li Shimin, whose expression was somber.

Although he usually likes to tease people, he also has great respect for Qin Qiong, the door god who left a great name in history and was known for his loyalty and courage.

"Get up, everyone. It's the Lunar New Year, don't kneel down so easily."

Li Chen unleashed a gentle burst of spiritual energy, lifting Cheng Yaojin up from the ground.

"The ailments of mortals are nothing to me. Since you are a meritorious official who shed blood for the Tang Dynasty, I will help you."

Li Chen said calmly, "Bring him to the Prince's residence first thing tomorrow morning. I'll examine his condition first and then decide on a treatment plan."

Hearing the immortal finally agree.

Cheng Yaojin was so excited that he trembled all over and jumped three feet high.

"Thank you so much, Immortal Master! Thank you so much for saving my life!"

Li Shimin was overjoyed, and his earlier gloom vanished.

He grabbed Cheng Yaojin's arm and said urgently, "Zhijie, there's no time to lose! Let's go to the Duke of Yi's mansion now and tell Shubao this good news so he can prepare in advance!"

The two of them left without hesitation, turning around and running out of the pavilion in such a hurry that they forgot to put on their coats.

"Hey hey hey!"

Li Chen watched their hurried backs, holding a pair of chopsticks in his hand, and shouted loudly.

"Aren't you going to eat? There's only half the beef in the pot!"

Li Shimin and Cheng Yaojin rushed into the snowstorm without looking back, and two sentences drifted back from afar.

"I'm full! I'm full!"

"Your Highness, please enjoy your meal. I, Old Cheng, will be right back!"

Li Chen watched their figures disappear into the night and shook his head helplessly.

He turned his head and looked at the mostly-left plate of premium beef on the table.

Old Deng, who was just fighting fiercely with him, is now running faster than a rabbit.

"It's best if they run away."

A smug, wicked smile curled at the corner of Li Chen's lips.

Without any hesitation, he picked up the plate of beef and poured it all into the hot pot of chili oil.

"Nobody's going to take it from me, so all the rest of the beef is mine!"