Yao Zhen frowned. Gu Yun must not be able to see his own face now. They all described young people as ‘overflowing with vigor’. A person’s spirit was all on their face. Whether they were healthy or not, one could tell by looking at their cheeks and lips.

Yao Zhen said, "Marshal should come to my place today. My wife has no other hobbies, she only loves cooking. Let me ask her to prepare some porridge and vegetable dishes for you. There are no luxurious delicacies, but home-cooked meals that are hot and delicious, we don't lack any."

If Gu Yun heard this before, he would have instantly followed along for a free meal, but he did not know what problems he had recently — the more tired he was, the more he could not eat, only wanting to find a place to fall asleep. He replied, "Thank you. How about another day, it's already very late now. It's not appropriate to trouble Madam."

It was not convenient for Yao Zhen to persuade more, he accompanied Gu Yun all the way back to the tent, not feeling reassured. In the end, he said: "Preserving the green hill, there will be no fear of lacking firewood. Marshal should take care of yourself more."

"Enough to pass the winter, don't worry." Gu Yun waved his hand, raised his head, and moved his stiff neck. Suddenly, he caught sight of the river of stars in the sky flowing like satin. He said with emotion, "I remember that year, although Brother Chong Ze was brilliant, you were not ambitious, not wanting to take credit for even such great merit as settling Wei Wang’s uprising. You preferred to live a stable life in this one acre of your own house — but now you have also been pushed to this point, fate truly toys with people."

Yao Zhen said with a bitter laugh: "There are too many factions fighting among each other in the court. I am only a scholar with no power and influence. Why should I follow along with them to add more fuel to the chaos? How much benefit can there be from plotting and calculating? It's better to stay in this place far away from the Emperor, where my entire family young and old are all around, not having to worry about food and drink, even my words are worth something in the local area, is it not good luck?"

Yao Chong Ze was too smart, he was even more excellent in pursuing profits and avoiding disadvantages. As early as when Wei Wang rebelled, he had soon recognized the declining path hiding behind the false pretense of prosperity of the Great Liang Dynasty, he was not willing to sell his life for the ruined court, only carrying with him an official position that was neither big nor small, waiting to die with a full belly.