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

Chapter 119 Lord Pei is quite the romantic.

Seeing this, Jiang Jinshuang pressed her advantage: "Young Master Zhengze, how about we try something different?"

Upon hearing this, Zhengze finally snorted coldly, "Fine, then I'll reluctantly go with you."

Jiang Jinshuang then raised her eyebrows and smiled, completely satisfied.

After agreeing to Xiao Zhengze's suggestion, Jiang Jinshuang didn't really want to eat the vegetarian lunch.

She told Zhengze that she needed to go back and change into something more presentable, and then she didn't follow him back to Zhao Yungui's residence.

There's no need to go back.

On the way back to the meditation room, Jiang Jinshuang saw Xia Yurong, who was preparing to go to the meditation room on the back mountain.

Upon seeing Jiang Jinshuang, a flicker of evasion crossed Xia Yurong's eyes.

"I have met His Highness."

Xia Yurong bowed her head in a curtsy.

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow at her leisurely: "What is Miss Xia going to do at the back mountain?"

Xia Yurong bit her lip slightly, lowered her head and murmured, "Yurong... Yurong heard that Brother Pei was talking with the Grand Preceptor in the back mountain, so I want to go and see."

Jiang Jinshuang was incredibly clever.

With just one sentence, he understood the unspoken meaning behind Xia Yurong's words.

"I heard?" Jiang Jinshuang chuckled, her eyes narrowing. "Wasn't Miss Xia waiting outside the temple all morning? Judging from your tone, it seems you haven't seen Lord Pei at all?"

Xia Yurong lowered her eyelashes, concealing the panicked and evasive look in her eyes.

“Brother Pei... he came in a hurry and didn’t really want to make our relationship public.”

That's what I said.

Now, who in the entire capital doesn't know that Xia Yurong and Lord Pei are about to have a happy marriage?
Now you're saying you don't want to make a fuss?
So hypocritical.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled, too lazy to expose her.

She nodded slightly, but said with a half-smile, "Don't blame me for not reminding Miss Xia, the Grand Preceptor's meditation room is not a place that just anyone can enter."

Upon hearing this, Xia Yurong straightened her back slightly: "Thank you for reminding me, Your Highness. However, Brother Pei is in the back mountain. The Grand Preceptor should not be so heartless, considering Brother Pei's feelings."

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled and nodded: "Alright, then Miss Xia, please do as you please."

After saying that, Jiang Jinshuang didn't look at her again and walked away.

Xia Yurong glanced at Jiang Jinshuang's departing figure with an ambiguous expression, took a deep breath, and walked towards Zhao Yungui's residence.

But before she could even step into the Zen temple...

A bluish-green sword hilt blocked her way.

Xia Yurong was so frightened that she took two steps back before she could see who was blocking her way.

— He was a young boy who looked quite young, dressed in a neat and tidy blue and white robe.

Xia Yurong recalled that it was this little boy who had gone to the main hall of the temple to deliver a message to the Grand Preceptor.

Thinking of this, Xia Yurong bowed respectfully and said, "Yurong greets Lord Zhengze."

Xiao Zhengze had just delivered the food to the two adults inside.

—I was just about to go find Jiang Jinshuang and take her hunting in the back mountains.

Looking at the woman before him, Zheng Ze frowned slightly, his tone indifferent: "I don't know you. Who are you?"

He inexplicably disliked the woman in front of him.

Seeing this, Xia Yurong paused for a moment, then forced a smile: "I...I serve the Empress Dowager..."

"Oh, a maid."

Before Xia Yurong could finish speaking, Xiao Zhengze drew a conclusion.

"Lord Zhengze has misunderstood."

Xia Yurong smiled somewhat awkwardly, but did not want to discuss the matter with him any further. Instead, she changed the subject: "Ah, Lord Zhengze, may I go in? I have something to say to Brother Pei... Lord Pei Du."

Zhengze took the longsword, twirled it in his hand, and then put it back at his waist.

He sized Xia Yurong up and down, his tone cold: "You're here to see Lord Pei?"

"Yes, please be lenient, Lord Zhengze."

Zhengze said lazily, "Please wait a moment, young lady. I need to go and report back."

"Thank you for your help, Your Excellency."

Zhengze turned around and walked towards the Zen temple.

Xia Yurong watched the boy's departing figure with a smile on her lips.

She lowered her head, recalling what the Empress Dowager had told her yesterday about going to the Temple of the Old Man Under the Moon to pray for blessings.

Lost in thought, the little boy returned shortly afterward and stood in front of her.

Xia Yurong smiled and said, "Lord Zhengze, may I go in now?"

Zhengze said coldly, "Please forgive me, young lady, but Lord Pei said that the meditation room in the back mountain is the place where the Grand Preceptor rests, and it is not appropriate for others to disturb him." Xia Yurong's smile froze on the spot.

She hurriedly asked, "Then, then, Lord Zhengze, could you please summon Lord Pei?"

Zhengze said calmly, "The Grand Secretary means that if the Empress Dowager sends you to see him, he will pay his respects at an appropriate time, so you don't need to make this trouble."

What does it mean?
Is there nothing else between the two of them besides the Empress Dowager's decree?
Xia Yurong bit her lip slightly, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.

Zhengze looked up at the sun.

—I'm going to find Jiang Jinshuang to go hunting in the back mountains.

"If you have nothing else to do, young lady, please leave now."

He has something urgent to attend to.

Xia Yurong stood there, still unwilling to give up, and looked up: "Lord Zhengze, please go and inform him again. Yurong can wait here."

Regular expressions can be a bit of a hassle.

Actually, apart from Jiang Jinshuang, Xiao Zhengze's patience with others is not very good either.

—Especially the woman in front of me.

Zhengze himself didn't understand why he disliked her so much after only meeting her a few times.

“Young lady, if you don’t leave soon, I will have no choice but to have someone escort you away.”

As he spoke, Zhengze pressed on the hilt of his sword.

Upon seeing this, Xia Yurong frowned slightly, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

After a long while, she bowed slightly and said, "Then Yu Rong will take her leave."

After Xia Yurong left, Zhengze composed himself and headed towards Jiang Jinshuang's residence.

……

In the Zen temple, Zhao Yun returned and sat facing Pei Du.

“I remember this young lady from the Xia family; it seems that Your Highness also picked her up back then.”

Pei Du took a sip of tea, his expression unchanging: "Mm."

Zhao Yungui poured himself a cup of tea and said calmly, "I haven't heard the rumors circulating in the streets for a long time. It was something I overheard other officials discussing a while ago."

After a pause, Zhao Yungui continued, "Rumors are circulating that the Grand Secretary and this young lady from the Xia family are about to get married."

The cup of tea was then placed on the table.

He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze devoid of any emotion, only his brows furrowing slightly: "Where did this message come from?"

Zhao Yungui shook his head: "I don't know. It seems that it has been getting worse ever since His Highness returned to the capital."

With a slight, emotionless smile, Zhao Yungui said in a low voice, "Lord Pei is quite the romantic."

Pei Du lowered his eyes, looking at the tea leaves floating in the teacup.

"I'll take care of this matter."
-
After Jiang Jinshuang and Xiao Zhengze reunited, the two of them, like thieves, avoided the novice monks in Huguo Temple and climbed over the wall to the back mountain.

"What are we fighting?" Xiao Zhengze asked.

Jiang Jinshuang, with two pebbles tossed in her hand, strolled along slowly: "Wild rabbit, mountain bird, wild deer, what does Xiao Zhengze want to eat?"

Although Xiao Zhengze loves to eat meat, when it comes to making decisions, he himself can't say for sure.

Just wanted to say something.

Suddenly, Jiang Jinshuang put a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet.

The next second, the pebble in his hand was thrown, cutting through the air, and heading straight for something!
A noise came from the woods.

Jiang Jinshuang and Zhengze exchanged a glance and ran forward.

—It was a wild rabbit.

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "We'll have rabbit meat tonight."

The pebble had hit the rabbit's hind leg. Zhengze looked at the struggling rabbit and frowned slightly: "I...I don't want to eat rabbit. Let's eat something else."

Jiang Jinshuang scratched her cheek.

She could tell that Xiao Zheng had taken pity on her.

Although the rabbit was just game to her, Jiang Jinshuang still didn't want to spoil Xiao Zhengze's compassion.

He could only shrug helplessly: "Fine, I'll listen to Master Zhengze."

Zhengze seemed to feel a little guilty himself, and said in a low voice, "I'll treat you to something delicious after we get down the mountain."

This little guy, even when he apologizes, it's so awkward.

Jiang Jinshuang was both amused and exasperated: "I won't spare you just because you're a child."

Zhengze blushed and scratched the back of his head.

Jiang Jinshuang continued walking forward in search of prey. Zhengze watched her back and couldn't help but say, "Sometimes you remind me of my mother."