The seductive princess is no longer being pursued; the aloof prime minister is facing a crematorium.

When Pei Du realized this, he was playing chess with Zhao Yungui in the pavilion of the Zen temple.

The pavilion is shaded by green trees, their shadows swaying in the breeze.

Under the pavilion, two exceptionally handsome men, one playing black and the other white, sat facing each other at the chessboard, not uttering a word, simply playing chess with their eyes lowered.

The dappled light and shadow reflected on their faces, highlighting their sharp features and smooth contours.

Pei Du is playing a fast chess game.

Without thinking, he calculates three steps ahead.

In fact, playing fast chess also creates a sense of urgency for the opponent. Whenever Jiang Jinshuang plays fast chess with others, the opponent will become nervous because of her increased speed and make mistakes in the rush.

On the other side, Zhao Yun returned slowly and deliberately, seemingly unconcerned about someone's relentless pressure.

From afar, it presents a magnificent and beautiful scene.

Xiao Zhengze went to prepare the meal.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and strode towards the pavilion.

She didn't say anything, but simply stood naturally next to Zhao Yungui to watch the game.

Whether it was Jiang Jinshuang's imagination or not, Pei Du's chess style seemed to intensify when she stood next to Zhao Yungui.

Both of them have a steady and reliable playing style, but compared to Zhao Yungui, Pei Du has inherited her true skills and his playing style is more unpredictable and varied.

Judging from the current situation, it seems that Zhao Yungui has the advantage.

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow and bent down slightly to take a look at Zhao Yungui's move.

She curled her lips into a smile.

It was Zhao Yun's turn to return to his seat.

"Zhao Yun returned."

Jiang Jinshuang spoke softly, looking at him with a smile.

The player paused slightly during the chess game.

The hand holding the chess piece paused in mid-air, and he slightly raised his eyes to look at her.

—She was advising him to think it over.

Pei Du lowered his eyes, looking only at the chess pieces in his hand, without looking up at the two of them.

Zhao Yungui paused for a moment, then spoke softly, "Your Highness, one should observe the game without speaking."

Jiang Jinshuang shrugged and gave up.

No regrets for making a move.

Seeing the piece Zhao Yungui placed, Jiang Jinshuang knew that Zhao Yungui's situation was beyond saving.

Although he still held the advantage in the game, his overly conservative opening strategy left him unable to anticipate any changes.

You will suffer a loss.

Sure enough, in less than half an incense stick's time, the situation reversed.

After Pei Du placed his last piece, Zhao Yungui glanced at the chessboard, picked up two pieces, and placed them on the table.

The outcome is decided.

Jiang Jinshuang then spoke, smiling as she said to Zhao Yungui, "See, I was the one who advised you."

Zhao Yungui said in a clear and calm tone: "Your Highness has not eaten this morning. If you are hungry, you can have some snacks first."

Jiang Jinshuang wasn't hungry. She sat on the chair between the two of them without saying a word.

Pei Du silently tidied up the chessboard, and Zhao Yungui also reached out and put the chess pieces back in their places.

"Do you two have something to talk about?" Jiang Jinshuang asked with a smile. "I'm going to go play with Xiao Zhengze first. You two can talk."

With that, Jiang Jinshuang stood up and left the pavilion.

—From beginning to end, he didn't give Pei Du a second glance.

Pei Du lowered his eyes, the black chess pieces reflecting against his fair finger bones, revealing a cold and crystalline quality.

Zhao Yungui sat up straight and spoke in a cool tone: "Why have you been playing fast chess all these years?"

If it were his old style of play, the game might have ended much sooner.

Ever since Zhao Yun returned to the past and played a game of chess with Jiang Jinshuang, he hasn't enjoyed playing chess much.

Therefore, he had rarely played chess with Pei Du in the past three years. Today, seeing his playing style, it was quite different from that of previous years.

Pei Du paused slightly as he picked up the chess piece, and said calmly, "I'm used to it."

Just like the difficulties he faced when he changed to rapid chess, if he actually succeeded, he would find that it had already become a habit.

Zhao Yungui lowered his eyes: "I cannot give Your Majesty the answer you desire."

Pei Du was not surprised by Zhao Yungui's answer: "I will inform His Majesty."

Zhao Yungui: "It is true that a white rainbow pierces the sun and a calamity star strikes the moon, but I have not yet calculated where the calamity star is. I cannot marry the wrong person."

Zhao Yungui and Pei Du both knew who His Majesty considered a jinx, or who he wanted to frame.

“I understand,” Pei Du said calmly.

Zhao Yungui held three white pieces in his hand.

Flip it around in your palm a few times, then spread your fingers to examine it.

Her long eyelashes trembled slightly.

“I just cast a divination for myself,” Zhao Yun said in a clear voice. “The divination says that if I make the wrong choice today, I may suffer a bloody disaster.”

As he spoke, Zhao Yungui slightly raised his eyes and looked directly at the handsome man in front of him, who appeared aloof and distant.

"Your Excellency, if I had just said that she is the jinx, would you have killed me?"

Pei Du stopped picking up the chess pieces.

He put all the black pieces back into the chess set, then looked up and met Zhao Yungui's gaze.

"Your Excellency, you misunderstand. I would never do such a thing," Pei Du paused, then continued, "Moreover, I know that Your Excellency would not speak nonsense or make up lies."

Zhao Yungui remained expressionless, still looking at him.

Pei Du's gaze followed his eyes and slowly fell on the three white chess pieces in his palm that he had just used for divination.

"I have heard that the imperial advisors of all dynasties were not allowed to divine for themselves."

Zhao Yungui fiddled with the three white chess pieces in his hand: "Yes, so this divination is for Lord Pei."

In terms of closeness, Zhao Yungui and Pei Du were both pillars of the Wan Jin court. Both were upright gentlemen and could be considered "good friends".

For some reason, the two seemed to carry a hint of hostility when they met today.

Zhao Yungui stared intently: "I just presumptuously calculated a marriage for you, sir."

Pei Du didn't speak, but continued to look at him.

Zhao Yungui replied calmly and indifferently: "The person destined for you, my lord, does not possess the air of royalty or nobility."

……

As soon as Jiang Jinshuang entered the kitchen, she smelled the aroma of food.

Even through the steam rising from the pot, Jiang Jinshuang could spot Xiao Zhengze cooking in front of the stove.

"Young Master Zhengze, you still use such a big stove?"

It doesn't look much taller than the stove.

Zhengze frowned: "What are you doing here?"

He's going to stir-fry chili peppers, it'll be pungent.

They just wanted to kick people out.

Jiang Jinshuang blinked, looking aggrieved: "Young Master Zhengze, I haven't eaten meat for two days in this Huguo Temple."

Upon hearing this, Zhengze put his hands on his hips and reprimanded, "Killing is forbidden in Huguo Temple. Do you want me to break the precept?"

"No, no," Jiang Jinshuang waved her hand with a smile, "What I meant was, since you're such a good cook, after lunch, could you accompany me to the back mountain to hunt some game?"

Before Zhengze could glare at her, Jiang Jinshuang hurriedly swore and promised, "We'll just set up a fire on the back mountain and eat it, I'll never bring it to Huguo Temple!"

—She was drawn to Zhengze's cooking skills, so she took him to the back mountain to catch some wild game, which she was sure he could cook very well!
Zhengze followed the Grand Preceptor since childhood. Zhao Yun returned to cultivate Taoist magic. Although he did not abstain from meat, he did not eat much on a daily basis.

However, he wouldn't impose his own diet on Zhengze. Children need to grow, and they can't do without meat.

Therefore, Xiao Zheng also ate quite a lot of meat.

He arrived at Huguo Temple earlier than Jiang Jinshuang, so he abstained from meat much more often than she did.

He wouldn't have cared if he hadn't wanted to, but now, after Jiang Jinshuang's enticement, Xiao Zhengze looked at the glistening green vegetables in the pot and suddenly felt less hungry. (End of Chapter)