Chapter 10: Fairy Shengle (2)
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We were meant to be together for life, but fate has not fulfilled our wish, and I am filled with resentment. I offer my eyes to the world, only asking to sleep with you.
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Li Yuanying's eyes flashed with this doggerel, and then the words turned to ash and disappeared into thin air. She guessed that this was a memory from the past of Shengle Immortal.
The woman in front of me and the man she possessed should be a couple. Because of some reasons, they cannot be together, so the woman offered her eyes, just to be with the man for the rest of his life.
Although Li Yuanying possessed the man, she was unable to influence his behavior. From the man's memories, Li Yuanying learned that his name was Jiao Chun, a poor student who, despite his considerable talent, had no background and had failed the imperial examinations three times.
The woman in front of him is the daughter of the Chai family, Jiao Chun's childhood sweetheart, and she is a businessman in Shengle Township. Because of her low status as a businessman, the Chai family has always supported Jiao Chun, hoping that he will pass the imperial examination.
Unfortunately, Jiao Chun is in poor health and has contracted tuberculosis. Despite seeking medical help from many doctors, nothing can save him. Miss Chai is extremely worried as she sees Jiao Chun's condition deteriorating. At this time, Master Chai returns from Chang'an with a strange folk remedy, but he refuses to tell Miss Chai what it is.
Jiao Chun's coughs became more and more frequent. One day, he coughed up blood and was halfway into his coffin. Jiao Lang and Miss Chai had been childhood sweethearts, deeply in love and in perfect harmony. Miss Chai didn't want Jiao Lang to die, so she stole Master Chai's secret recipe and understood why her father had hidden it.
This method is really weird. It actually says that if you dig out the eyes of the patient's most beloved person, burn incense in the middle of the night, and recite the following scriptures, you will be able to turn danger into safety.
Miss Chai no longer cared about anything else at this moment. If she could only sacrifice her eyes in exchange for Jiao Chun's life, she felt that it was a worthwhile decision.
So, at midnight the next day, she quietly made her way to Shengle Temple, far from the city. When no one was around, she took out a sharp dagger and stabbed it into both eyes, causing a chorus of screams. Miss Chai grudgingly cut off her second eye and ordered her maid to burn it in a basin, reciting the scriptures she had memorized.
Sure enough, the folk remedy worked. The next day, Jiao Chun recovered from his illness and was as healthy as before. Miss Chai had her eyes gouged out, and the wounds should have taken a long time to heal, but the next day, Miss Chai's wounds were healed. There was no more bleeding or pain, only two holes to the touch.
After Jiao Chun knew about this, he did not abandon the woman as described in the storybooks. He immediately proposed to the Chai family, which led to their wedding night today.
Li Yuanying saw Jiao Chun caressing Miss Chai's cheeks with heartache and tears streaming down his face. He choked up and promised Miss Chai that he would let her see the light again.
Li Yuanying originally thought that these were just words of comfort and did not take them to heart. Even when things had developed to this point, she still could not see how this matter was related to Fairy Shengle.
After getting married, Jiao Chun worked even harder, studying for another three years. He was finally admitted to the imperial examination and was able to serve as an official in Chang'an. Jiao Chun promised his wife that he would come back to pick her up after he settled down in Chang'an.
Li Yuanying arrived in Chang'an along with Jiao Chun's body. After becoming an official, he worked diligently to govern the country, and just as he said, he always maintained a pure heart. However, Jiao Chun never forgot to heal his wife's eyes.
One day, Jiao Chun, having contributed greatly to flood control, was promoted and given wealth by the Emperor. The Emperor granted him a house and fertile fields, and Jiao Chun seized the opportunity to ask the Emperor if he could grant him a meeting with Fu Yu, the Imperial Preceptor who served the Crown Prince. Jiao Chun told the Emperor about his wife's eye disease, and the Emperor, grateful for the couple's shared vision, agreed.
Li Yuanying never expected that she would meet the National Master Fu Yu mentioned by her father in this way.
Since the founding of the Dagan Empire, the position of Imperial Preceptor was originally reserved for the Crown Prince. However, after the first year of Yongning, when demons became rampant, Imperial Preceptor Fu Yu demonstrated a deep understanding of feng shui and was subsequently appointed to consult on the ways of gods, demons, and spirits.
The Imperial Preceptor lives with the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace, assisting him day and night, which is the highest honor.
The East Palace, with its crimson walls and emerald willows, was a resplendent spectacle. It was said that every pillar was made of golden nanmu wood, and every desk inlaid with gold and jade. Imperial Preceptor Fu Yu was in the hall, wearing a jade mask and a golden robe. The shimmering gold was adorned with pearls, a display of sheer luxury.
"Good morning, Master Imperial Master." Jiao Chun bowed to the ground, feeling uneasy.
After all, Jiao Chun came from a poor family and had never seen the world. Although he had been in Chang'an for a year, it was not enough to quell his inner inferiority.
"Please stand up, Lord Jiao." The Imperial Master's voice was low and flat, as if he was indifferent to the common people.
"Thank you, Master Imperial Master." Jiao Chun stood up, but kept his head down, not daring to look up.
"Excuse me, Lord Jiao, what brings you here?" The Imperial Master fiddled with the incense burner, and a strange fragrance came out. Li Yuanying felt it was somewhat familiar, as if she had smelled it on Qilang.
Jiao Chun immediately knelt on the ground, kowtowed three times, and told the whole story. Finally, he begged, "Master Imperial Master, as long as my wife can see the light of day again, I will do anything!"
"Oh? I'll do anything for you." Under the white jade mask, the expression on that face was unreadable, but only his voice was filled with doubt. "Are you really willing to do anything?"
"Yes! I will definitely not let you down."
"If I have to exchange your life for it, are you willing to do it?" The national teacher's voice was dim, and there seemed to be a chill coming from it.
Jiao Chun didn't hesitate: "Before coming to see the Master, I have already considered many costs. As long as I can help my wife see the light again, I will not fear death."
"What a 'fearless death,'" the Imperial Master laughed. Then he added, "Actually, there is a way. You don't have to die. It just requires you to sacrifice the most precious thing in your body."
"Master Imperial Master, Jiao Chun has no money on him. You can take anything you like." Jiao Chun kowtowed three more times.
"Let me be frank. Now that your wife has had her eyes gouged out, there's no way to permanently resolve the issue. If you want to see the light of day again, you'll have to borrow someone else's eyes."
"Borrow?" Jiao Chun was shocked.
"Yes. So, seeing the light of day again is just 'seeing' again, but it won't be 'seeing' forever. If that's the case, are you still willing?"
"Excuse me, Imperial Master, how long can you keep my wife alive?"
"At least three days, at most a month."
Jiao Chun thought for a moment, then said, "I am willing. Even if it's only for a short time, it will be considered that I have done my best for her."
"Okay, in that case, I will teach you this method. The price is the most precious thing in your body."
"I have nothing of value, and I am indeed poor. I don't have anything to show off. As long as you don't mind, please feel free to ask."
The Imperial Preceptor stood up and walked towards Jiao Chun, his steps graceful and elegant, looking down at Jiao Chun. Li Yuanying looked through the white jade mask and saw that his eyes looked a bit like Qilang's!
"The most precious thing about you is not gold, silver, or jewelry, but your sincerity. From now on, you will no longer be sincere." After the national teacher finished speaking, he raised his hand, and a red flame burned in his hand. After the fire went out, a piece of gold foil appeared, with lines of small words engraved on it. He handed the gold foil to Jiao Chun.
After Jiao Chun finished reading it carefully, his face turned pale and he murmured, "Isn't this an insult to the gods..."
"What? Do you regret it?"
Jiao Chunyi gritted his teeth and said, "No, I will never regret it."
"Okay, within three days of your return, melt this gold foil and, under the pretext of gilding your body, plate it on the heart of the Shengle Fairy, who is worshipped in Shengle Township. Then, follow the instructions on the gold foil."
Li Yuanying also saw the words on the gold foil through Jiao Chun's eyes. It read: "Poisoning the gods to ruin springtime, false feelings to deceive the eyes."
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