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

Chapter 240 Peach Blossoms Misled Him
"Hero?"

Xiao Zhengze paused, and the spoon in his hand stopped moving.

"Yes, I remember when I was your age, I always wanted to be the chivalrous hero in the stories who could take on a hundred men single-handedly. So, do you have any heroes you admire?"

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and gestured.

Zhengze rarely reads storybooks and often practices swordsmanship in the courtyard, so his master would never talk to him about these things.

So when Jiang Jinshuang said this now, it didn't seem surprising: "I've never seen any great heroes."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang looked at Zhao Yungui with some displeasure: "I say, Grand Preceptor, how do you usually teach your children?"

Zhao Yungui put down his bowl and chopsticks, his expression calm and serious: "Servants in the palace would bring him some storybooks, but Zhengze rarely reads them."

After hearing this, Jiang Jinshuang looked at Zhengze again.

Zhengze blushed: "Because...because the storybook that Granny gave me was full of words, and I couldn't read it..."

Oh dear, they even misunderstood Zhao Yun's return.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled sheepishly, then patiently explained to Zhengze, "If you like them, I'll have someone send you some another day!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yungui pursed his lips slightly and said slowly, "Your Highness, the storybook you are reading... it's best not to let Zhengze see it."

Jiang Jinshuang was indignant and retorted, "What do you mean! The stories I read also contain serious content, you know!"

Zhao Yungui did not refute, but simply picked up some green vegetables and put them into Xiao Zhengze's bowl.

Suddenly intrigued, Jiang Jinshuang smiled and looked at Zhao Yungui: "My lord, do you have any heroes you admire?"

After listening, Zhao Yungui pondered for a moment and slowly said, "I have never admired chivalrous people, but I greatly admire General Wenzheng."

Jiang Jinshuang blinked: "Are you talking about General Wenzheng, who guarded the country's borders alone decades ago, only to be trampled to pieces by enemy horses and never returned home?"

Zhao Yungui nodded: "My master once met that General Wenzheng. My master said that he was a very upright and honest old general."

Jiang Jinshuang thought for a moment, and unconsciously curled the corners of her lips.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhao Yun asked in a clear voice.

Jiang Jinshuang shook her head and smiled, "I just suddenly remembered that when Pei Du first came to the capital, he sat down to discuss philosophy with other literati, and one of the young scholars mentioned this General Wenzheng."

After a pause, Jiang Jinshuang said, "He said that General Wenzheng overestimated himself. He was already old, but he didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. He actually dared to think that he could withstand a thousand troops by himself. In the end, he was crushed to pieces by the iron cavalry and his flesh was a bloody mess."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yungui frowned in disapproval and said slowly, "In the past, General Wenzheng led his army to fight until all the civilians behind him had retreated and all the soldiers and troops had been sacrificed, but he himself did not retreat an inch. Heroes should not be described with such light words."

Jiang Jinshuang smiled and looked at Zhao Yungui, nodding: "Yes, that's what Pei Du said back then too."

Zhao Yungui's expression softened slightly.

"However, I am quite curious. When General Wenzheng was defending against foreign enemies, His Majesty had not yet ascended the throne. It must have been during the late Emperor's lifetime, right?"

Jiang Jinshuang continued, "General Wenzheng has led the army to resist foreign enemies for so long, was the late emperor completely unaware? Or did the late emperor deliberately want General Wenzheng to die?"

“Your Highness, please be careful with your words,” Zhao Yungui said in a clear and crisp tone.

Although it was meant as a warning, it wasn't really meant as a reprimand.

Jiang Jinshuang shrugged knowingly and said nothing more.

After lunch, Jiang Jinshuang felt refreshed and relaxed, stretching lazily.

Zhao Yungui looked at Jiang Jinshuang and slowly said, "I heard that Your Highness is going to hold a Qixi Festival palace banquet?"

Jiang Jinshuang nodded: "Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince is unwell, so this task will be entrusted to me."

Zhao Yungui casually cast a divination.

He then said calmly, "Don't worry, there are no major problems with the process, so there's no need to be overly concerned."

Seeing this, Jiang Jinshuang looked on with envy: "Your Excellency the Imperial Advisor is so good at divination, why don't you just tell me whether I will be able to find a lover at the Qixi Festival banquet?"

Zhao Yun withdrew his hand.

Looking at Jiang Jinshuang: "You went boating on Furi Lake with Lin Qingyan yesterday?"

Jiang Jinshuang nodded: "Yes, what does the Imperial Advisor think of his character?"

“Anyone who can become the top scholar must have good character and virtue,” Zhao Yungui said calmly, “but you and he are not meant to be.” Jiang Jinshuang pouted unhappily upon hearing this: “Grand Preceptor, how can you curse someone like that?”

Zhao Yungui remained calm, showing no particular emotion: "I'm just telling the truth."

Jiang Jinshuang waved her hand dismissively: "Never mind, I don't believe in these things anyway."

Whether it works out or not depends on her, not on fate.

Zhao Yungui knew he couldn't persuade Jiang Jinshuang, and he didn't intend to.

He simply said, "Drink less alcohol at palace banquets; it's bad for your health."

Jiang Jinshuang sometimes felt that Zhao Yungui was indeed a bit eccentric.

"Zhao Yungui, and you?"

Zhao Yungui looked at her with clear eyes: "What?"

"The Daoist teachings don't restrict marriage, do they? Will you get married in the future?"

A breeze blew through the courtyard, lifting the man's wide, snow-white robe.

“My master said I have good talent and that if I dedicate my life to the Tao, I may become an immortal.”

Jiang Jinshuang didn't believe in these things, but she was still surprised to hear Zhao Yungui say this: "Become an immortal? Is it the kind of immortal in the stories who can fly and escape into the earth and live forever?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yungui smiled helplessly: "It's not about flying through the sky or living forever to be called an immortal."

"One who has seen through the illusions of the world, has mastered the Daoist arts, and whose mind and spirit are clear and free from all attachments can also be called an immortal."

"Completely free from all attachments?" Jiang Jinshuang murmured, scratching his head. "Then wouldn't you become a god who doesn't care about anything?"

Zhao Yun returned in silence.

Jiang Jinshuang said with some regret, "With your personality like this, it seems that being carefree is quite good."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yungui's eyes flickered, and he explained with a hint of helplessness, "I also have Zhengze."

Jiang Jinshuang's eyes lit up: "That's right! You adopted Xiao Zhengze, so wouldn't it be very difficult for you to become an immortal?"

Zhao Yungui then remained silent.

She's actually right.

With attachments and ties, it's very difficult to become an immortal.

Zhao Yungui knew this a long time ago.

Therefore, he lived a widowed life and rarely went out. Even in the palace, he saw very few people.

Perhaps those who are exceptionally gifted must endure some loneliness.

But for him, there was really nothing worth clinging to in those mundane affairs and worldly matters.

until one day.

The girl in the red dress lifted the curtain of his carriage.

His laughter was flamboyant and enthusiastic.

"Your Excellency, do you want a child?"

The peach blossoms brushed against her silver hairpin, and along with their fragrance, filled his desolate carriage.

"Your Highness is quite adept at winning favors."

"Just consider it something you picked up; I won't try to steal your merit."

Actually, at that time, Zhao Yungui really wanted to tell her that Taoism doesn't emphasize merit, and what she was talking about was Buddhism.

He opened his mouth, but heard himself speak.

"Stay, for you have a karmic connection."

That year, the fragrance of flowers led him astray from becoming an immortal.

He kept the child by his side, nurturing a bond that would become his own.