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

Chapter 80 Her Favoritism
That's a bit too absolute.

Even Jingmo was taken aback for a moment.

It seems that the adults always have a knack for trusting the princess.

That trust, reinforced by time, has become indispensable and cannot be changed.

However, people change.

Jingmo opened his mouth, wanting to say those words, but in the end, he didn't say them.

"Then I shall take my leave."

He cupped his hands in greeting, turned, and withdrew.

The candlelight in the study flickered a few times, and the shadows of the people reflected on the screen were blurred into shadows of varying shades by the flickering candlelight.

Pei Du's daily routine was very regular.

After glancing at the water clock, Pei Du put down his brush.

He would also copy scriptures in his spare time.

For him, copying scriptures was like meditating.

However, now that it's her handwriting, copying it only stirs up a mix of emotions and doesn't bring peace.

In a daze, he would recall the days when he would often help her copy scriptures as punishment.

In the imperial court, many people avoided her like the plague, but there were always one or two who were not afraid of death and, having nowhere else to turn, wanted to climb up her tree.

Back then, when she was punished by the Grand Tutor to copy scriptures, the eldest son of an official of low rank personally delivered a thick stack of copied scriptures to the princess's residence.

It was clear that the person had put a lot of thought into it; every stroke and character, every aspect of her handwriting and habits, was copied perfectly.

Without a second thought, she threw away the scriptures and went back to bothering him.

"Pei Du, Pei Du, the Grand Tutor punished me severely this time. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to finish writing."

—She could actually finish writing it.

It doesn't matter if her handwriting is messy, if someone else helps her copy it, or even if she uses the punishment copy that the man has already written.

She finished writing it.

He lowered his eyes, his tone slightly cold: "This is a one-time exception."

She was overjoyed and said he was the best.

Of all the options available to her, she would choose him.

No exceptions.
-
Jiang Jinshuang is so annoyed!
Later, at the ancestral hall, Jingmo came again to deliver scriptures.

However, it was still a continuation of the previous Buddhist scripture, and the content written by Zhao Yungui was exactly the same.

—You can only choose one; the other one will be wasted.

This idea made Jiang Jinshuang, who already wanted to slack off, even angrier!

For several days in a row, Xiao Zhengze would come to supervise her copying whenever he had nothing else to do.

As the young master Zhengze said, although his Grand Preceptor was good-tempered and easy to talk to, it was absolutely not a reason for Jiang Jinshuang to be lazy!

He wanted to make sure she did more copying as punishment, so that the adults in the family would have to do less.

The touching bond between master and servant almost brought Jiang Jinshuang to tears.

That day, Xiao Zhengze came to supervise her again.

He wasn't that annoying child. Outside the ancestral hall was a sizable courtyard, where Xiao Zhengze was practicing his swordsmanship, holding a cold sword.

The sword blade sliced ​​through the wind, producing a series of melodious sword cries.

Several very old sycamore trees were planted in the courtyard. The huge sycamore leaves fluttered in the air, and the cold sword carried the fragrance of the sycamore flowers, its sword energy stretching like a rainbow.

Jiang Jinshuang was never one to be able to calm down, but now, seeing the sword practice in Xiaozheng Courtyard, she rested her chin on her hand and watched.

The sword techniques of Xiao Zhengze differ from those of Yan Jue.

She taught him the Inkstone Technique, a style designed solely for killing and defeating enemies, imbued with a fierce and malevolent aura.

Xiao Zhengze's swordsmanship was taught to him by Zhao Yun.

Selflessly help others, influence all living beings, and refrain from committing acts of killing.

Therefore, Xiaozhengze's sword emphasizes intention and spirit.

If you count on your fingers, Jiang Jinshuang actually met Xiao Zhengze far more often than Zhao Yungui over the years.

Xiao Zheng was a child Zhao Yun picked up from the street after Zhao Yun returned to become the national advisor.

Well... that's not entirely accurate either.

To be precise, it was actually Jiang Jinshuang who saw Zhengze, who was on the verge of death and about to starve to death.

At that time, she was surrounded by danger and constantly faced assassination attempts.

It's really inconvenient to raise another child. Just then, Zhao Yungui happened to pass by.

Jiang Jinshuang, carrying Xiao Zhengze, walked to Zhao Yungui's sedan chair.

"Your Excellency, do you want a child?"

At that moment, Zhao Yungui lifted the carriage curtain and glanced indifferently at the thin, frowning little boy in her arms.

Then the carriage curtain was lowered again.

"Your Highness is quite adept at winning favors."

Jiang Jinshuang pursed her lips indifferently: "Just consider it as something you picked up. I won't steal your merit."

Those who cultivate the Tao should be quite concerned about accumulating virtue and doing good deeds.

for a long time.

"Stay, for you have a karmic connection."

Therefore, Zhao Yungui named him "Zhengze" and kept him by his side as his personal sword attendant.

When Jiang Jinshuang encountered Xiao Zhengze, he was already unconscious and disoriented.

She never mentioned what happened back then to Zhengze.

There's really nothing to mention.

To be fair, Zhao Yungui is indeed quite good at raising children.

In just a few years, the once thin and frail little boy has transformed into a round-faced boy with bright, round eyes, as beautiful as a New Year's picture doll from a book.

Later, Jiang Jinshuang also met Xiao Zhengze several times in the palace.

Zhao Yun rarely appeared in public. He usually stayed at the Imperial Observatory or the Star Observatory. If there were any celestial phenomena or orders, he would send Xiao Zhengze to convey them.

In Xiao Zhengze's opinion, although Jiang Jinshuang was not a universally hated and heinous "demon", she was a "bad woman" who always bullied him and opposed him!
Every time Jiang Jinshuang rolled her eyes, trying to tease him, Xiao Zhengze would look as if he were facing a formidable enemy, like a kitten with its fur standing on end, which was extremely cute.

Jiang Jinshuang really likes Xiaozhengze.

In the courtyard, Xiao Zhengze finished a set of sword techniques.

He turned around and saw Jiang Jinshuang looking at him calmly, with not a single word written on the paper!
In an instant, Xiao Zhengze's beautiful, sword-like eyebrows furrowed together.

"bad--"

"Ok?"

"Princess! You're slacking off again!" Xiao Zhengze said indignantly.

Jiang Jinshuang rested her chin on her hand, looking at the boy in blue and white robes in the courtyard, and said dismissively, "Young Master Zhengze, who taught you this sword technique?"

Xiao Zhengze then raised his chin, looking proud: "My master taught me personally."

Jiang Jinshuang shook her head and clicked her tongue: "Your master's teaching ability is really terrible."

Xiao Zhengze couldn't stand anyone speaking ill of his Imperial Advisor, so he frowned and shouted, "You're talking nonsense! The Imperial Advisor's swordsmanship ranks among the top three in Wan Jin. He's incredibly skilled!"

“I didn’t say he wasn’t good,” Jiang Jinshuang smiled. “I just said he didn’t know how to teach disciples. He messed up promising students.”

Xiao Zhengze was even more displeased. He raised his hand and threw the cold sword in his hand straight into Jiang Jinshuang's hand.

"You're so good, you do it!"

Jiang Jinshuang weighed the longsword in her hand.

—It is a fine sword.

She raised her eyebrows and smiled at the young boy in the courtyard, "Then watch closely!"

Blink again.

The girl who had been sitting casually on the futon vanished instantly, and then silently reappeared in the courtyard, following the falling sycamore leaves.

If that cold sword in Xiao Zhengze's hands was an incomparably sharp cold weapon...

So at this moment, in Jiang Jinshuang's hands, it was more like... a bunch of flowers.

As she danced, the cold sword cut through the wind, and the fragrance of the surrounding flowers seemed to come to life, flying like petals.

In the courtyard, the fragrance of flowers attracted butterflies from the mountain stream, which danced along with Jiang Jinshuang's sword energy.

The sword energy appeared to be incredibly powerful, yet it guided the swarm of butterflies so gently, like trembling flower branches, without disturbing the beauty of spring.

Xiao Zhengze, who had initially looked quite unconvinced, widened his eyes and froze on the spot when he saw Jiang Jinshuang's sword aura.

With the final move, Jiang Jinshuang slightly curled her lips, the tip of her sword pointing directly at someone who appeared in the courtyard.

"Zheng——"

Like the sound of a zither, the butterflies that followed flew over the person's shoulder along with the tip of the sword, carrying with them waves of floral fragrance.

—It was Zhao Yun who returned.

(End of this chapter)