Chapter 131: Opportunity

Zhao Zhen cast his gaze toward her, giving Cao Jinhua a sudden start. Her brother-in-law was a genuinely good man, but being human, he inevitably drew distinctions between the close and the distant.

She was well aware of the matter concerning Zhao Zongyong.

Could His Majesty possibly trick horses into the imperial stables and simply claim them as his own?

Such behavior was utterly lacking in class. Yet the very thought instantly popped into Cao Jinhua's head.

"Your Maj... No, brother-in-law, you should just issue an imperial decree for this matter. How am I supposed to smuggle people in?" Subconsciously, Cao Jinhua wanted no part of this scheme.

Zhao Zhen pondered for a moment and said, "How about this? You can just tell them there is a horse farm in Bianjing, built by a... a private friend of mine. You can all go there to play."

Hiss—she had never witnessed anyone so utterly shameless!

That made Cao Jinhua even more reluctant to agree. But at that moment, Zhao Zhen radiated the imposing aura of an emperor... Well! Reluctant as they were to comply, they lacked the sheer audacity to refuse.

Cao Jinhua was furious, but anger was entirely useless.

Within moments, Shen Shi rode up on horseback. Dismounting, the group walked into the pavilion. Shen Shi did not display even a trace of... well, excitement upon seeing the emperor?

None at all. Not the slightest bit. Shen Shi even closed his eyes, because he perceived something extraordinary emanating from Zhao Zhen—a high-level celestial awareness and divine thought.

It was fortunate that the teachings of the Church of Man were profound; otherwise, even upon seeing it, he would not have recognized what it was.

Shen Shi instantly recalled a legend from later generations: the story of Emperor Renzong and the Barefoot Immortal.

Legend has it that Emperor Zhenzong of Song, Zhao Heng, was over forty years old and still without a male heir. Deeply anxious, he sought deities and prayed everywhere, begging the heavens to bestow a son upon him. His sincere devotion moved the Jade Emperor in the heavens. One day, the Jade Emperor held a gathering of immortals in the heavenly court, asking which deity was willing to descend to the mortal realm to become Zhenzong's son. At the time, all the immortals remained silent, except for the Barefoot Immortal nearby, who smiled faintly. The Jade Emperor hurriedly asked, "Does the Immortal intend to go?" The Immortal replied, "No, no, I am merely laughing at how pitiful that emperor is." The Jade Emperor said, "The fortunes of the Song dynasty are not yet exhausted; the Immortal may go." The Barefoot Immortal waved his hand hurriedly and said, "No, no. Although the dynasty's fortunes are not exhausted, there are internal troubles and external invasions, and the people live in misery. My emperor would not sit peacefully either." The Jade Emperor replied, "This time, the Immortal may rest assured. Someone will protect you and allow you to sit securely upon the imperial throne." After his descent to the mortal realm, the Barefoot Immortal became Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen. When the crown prince Zhao Zhen was born, no one knew who was protecting him, so he wept day and night without stopping. Countless renowned physicians were summoned, but all were helpless. In desperation, Emperor Zhenzong posted notices across the country, offering a bounty to any talented person who could cure the crown prince. At that time, in the Chengtian Temple of Lianshui, there was a monk of profound spiritual attainment known as the Reclining Buddha, Lou Shoujian. Hearing the news, he tore down the notice and rushed to the capital to treat the crown prince. Entering the imperial palace, he took the prince in his arms, raised a hand, and patted his buttocks while chanting incantations: "Weep no more, weep no more, blame it only on that single smile; cry no more, cry no more, the Literary Star has descended, the Military Star has descended." This meant: Whatever you are crying for, blame it on the smile you gave back then. Cry no more; now the Literary Star Bao Zheng and the Military Star Di Qing have descended to the mortal realm to protect you, and you can securely occupy the throne.

Later, Wang Mingqing of the Song dynasty recorded in Volume 1 of *Records after Dust-brushing*: "Emperor Renzong's mother, Empress Li, once dreamed of a Daoist in feathered robes walking barefoot down from the empty air, saying, 'I come to be your son.' The Empress was summoned to the imperial chambers, conceived, and gave birth to Renzong. In Renzong's early childhood, whenever he wore shoes and socks, he would immediately order them to be removed, often walking barefoot through the forbidden palace. Everyone in the palace called him the Barefoot Immortal."

In later generations, Shen Shi had also heard this story. However, once he truly embarked on the path of cultivation, Shen Shi understood the vast difference between the mortal and celestial realms. Mortals wishing to conceive an immortal?

At the very least, one had to emulate Lingzhuzi, also known as Nezha, whose mother, Lady Yin, was pregnant for three years and six months.

This was a difference in the hierarchy of power and the very essence of life.

Viewed now, Zhao Zhen was by no means the reincarnation of the Barefoot Immortal. To be precise, the Barefoot Immortal had cast a sliver of immortal thought into the mortal world. This sliver of thought had facilitated Zhao Zhen's birth. To put it bluntly, the aging emperor suffered from a lack of viable essence, making conception difficult, and the Barefoot Immortal had simply lent a helping hand. The immortal thought was not Zhao Zhen, nor was Zhao Zhen the immortal thought.

This method was exceedingly brilliant. Zhao Zhen ruled with merit and possessed extraordinary national fortune, allowing the Barefoot Immortal to share in that fortune. Should Zhao Zhen court disaster and become entangled in bad karma, all the Barefoot Immortal would lose was a mere sliver of immortal thought.

They always said immortals were unchanging, yet facts proved otherwise after the God-Conferencing of the Three Teachings. The imperial court was clearly a forbidden zone in the eyes of the Dao of Immortals.

Of course, this had nothing to do with Shen Shi. He had not yet reached that lofty realm and was incapable of dividing his consciousness for reincarnation to share in national fortune.

Moreover, karma also represented opportunity.

For instance, the divine figures Shen Shi knew of: Bao Zheng represented the coordinates of the underworld, while Uncle-Imperial Cao was one of the Eight Immortals. And the immortal thought residing within Zhao Zhen would return to the heavenly court upon Zhao Zhen's death, representing the coordinates of heaven.

With these coordinates, once Shen Shi's cultivation reached the appropriate level, he would be able to travel there himself even without a guide.

"A new horse farm has recently opened outside Bianjing city, and it is said the horsemen there are generations of herdsmen. Since young master appears to be someone who appreciates fine horses, why not go together and take a look? There are quite a few exceptional horses there."

Shen Shi walked in. Cao Jinhua remained silent, and Zhao Zongqing was equally unwilling to speak. Being naturally stubborn, he had finally encountered someone standing on his side, and he had not the slightest desire to deceive Shen Shi.

Zhao Zhen took one look and thought: Very well, since none of you will speak, I shall just speak for myself.

The failure of his command to take effect did not particularly anger Zhao Zhen. On the contrary, he was rather pleased by their refusal to pander to the powerful and wealthy.

Good people were generally like this, always managing to spot the shining qualities in others.

As long as they did not expose him, he would simply play the game himself.

"I have also heard of that horse farm. The grooms there come from generations of hereditary horsemen. It is said their horsemanship is passed down from the Xiongnu and is truly remarkable." Since the emperor himself had taken the field, how could Cao Jinhua and the others remain silent? They first showed excitement, then abruptly turned gloomy-faced. "However, that place is not easy to enter. I've heard it is guarded by the imperial army."

"That's right, that's right! I know it too. The imperial army there won't grant anyone favors."

Cao Jinhua first praised and then disparaged; she went along with Zhao Zhen's intentions at first, only to turn around and sell him out the next moment.

Zhao Zongqing was an even more stubborn blockhead. He was this close to blurting out "We're not going."

While he wanted Zhao Zhen to issue an imperial decree, he would never betray a friend to achieve it.

Zhao Zhen looked at the two of them. He had already made arrangements, yet they were still trying to undermine him. But would it do them any good?

Unfazed, Zhao Zhen said, "Others may not be able to get in. But I can, and I can take you right in with me."

With that, he sat upright and motionless, wearing a deadpan, serious expression.

What more could Cao Jinhua and Zhao Zongqing say? Causing a little mischief was one thing, but to truly defy Zhao Zhen and expose his identity—

Alas! Their humble concubine simply lacked the ability to do so!

They could only cast hopeful glances toward Shen Shi, praying with all their might that he would not fall for the trick!

Fall for a trick?

Under normal circumstances, anyone else would undoubtedly have been conned. But these were not normal circumstances.

As for Shen Shi? His eyes were practically cheating.