Going home
Whether or not to accept Gu Sidu's invitation, that is the question.
Jiang Yufan hesitated, unsure whether to reach out or not.
If she reached out, there was nothing Jiang Yufan could do about what earth-shattering things Gu Sidu might do. But if she didn't reach out, walking back in this hot summer weather would be really tiring.
Before Jiang Yufan could think any further, Gu Sidu had already raised his hand and pulled her onto the horse. This earth-shattering spin caused Jiang Yufan to grab onto something at random. Only when she realized she was sitting in a safe spot did she slowly relax; she had been pulled onto the horse by Gu Sidu.
She looked down and saw that her hand was holding Gu Sidu's hand. Warmth entered Jiang Yufan's palm, and Jiang Yufan immediately withdrew her hand.
This slight pull caused the horse to take two steps forward, and Jiang Yufan leaned even closer to Gu Sidu's chest.
Jiang Yufan silently straightened up and sat upright on the horse.
The scent of sandalwood lingered between the two, a common fragrance among those who worship Buddha. Gu Sidu sniffed it and couldn't help but move closer to Jiang Yufan.
"Gu Sidu, you are very bold."
Jiang Yufan's cold words brought Gu Sidu back to his senses. He looked at Jiang Yufan, whose cheeks were already red, as if she had been harassed.
"Please forgive me, Bodhisattva," Gu Sidu said with a smile. "I was captivated by your divine countenance and the fragrance of your body, so I couldn't help but want to get closer."
"You mean you blame me?" Jiang Yufan raised an eyebrow and looked at him coldly.
“No, no, no, the Bodhisattva is innocent,” Gu Sidu shook his head. “If you want to blame someone, blame that horse. It was its misbehavior that caused me to bump into the Bodhisattva. I gave it a couple of slaps.”
"If you keep looking around like that, I'll gouge your eyes out," Jiang Yufan said, ignoring Gu Sidu's nonsense. She then asked Daoyun, "How are you going to get back?"
“There’s another horse behind us. If Daoyun knows how to ride, he can ride it. If he doesn’t want to ride, he can walk back with us slowly, how about that?” Gu Sidu pointed to the horse behind them.
"I don't want to leave," Daoyun said proudly upon hearing that there was still a horse. "I can ride a horse. Lord Gu, please take good care of the Buddha Maiden. I'll ride back."
"Alright, then be careful," Jiang Yufan instructed Daoyun.
Jiang Yufan is kind to everyone and considerate, but she is somewhat cold towards Gu Sidu. It's no wonder that Jiang Yufan is indifferent to Gu Sidu; Gu Sidu becomes overly cheerful after receiving some sunshine, and it's not easy to speak softly to him.
Even now, facing the threat of having his eyes gouged out, on his way home, Gu Sidu still had to ask Jiang Yufan, "Why did you decide to go out today, Bodhisattva?"
"Are you in a good mood today?" Jiang Yufan felt that Gu Sidu was a little different today. After not seeing him for a few days, he had become much more talkative. The Gu Sidu who fainted from heatstroke had turned into the Gu Sidu who teased cats and dogs.
"Yes, I did something incredibly satisfying today."
Gu Sidu controlled the horse, leading Jiang Yufan home at a leisurely pace. Jiang Yufan didn't say anything, but Gu Sidu noticed the sweat beading on Jiang Yufan's forehead. He quietly walked into the shade without making a sound.
"What is it?"
"Today, for some reason, His Majesty suddenly came to the Hanlin Academy. I had just finished my leave and ran into His Majesty as soon as I arrived. His Majesty asked me why I had only arrived at this time, and I explained clearly how the head of the department valued me and how he had made me stay in the Hanlin Academy, treating it as my home, which had taken a toll on my health."
"The person in charge turned green with rage."
"What did the Emperor say about you?" Jiang Yufan frowned.
"His Majesty didn't say anything, but he understood everything. This year is the imperial examination, and preparations for the examination need to be made. His Majesty bypassed the person in charge and asked me to take charge of this matter. Bodhisattva, do you know that this is the first serious matter I have done in the Hanlin Academy in the past two or three years?"
"May the Bodhisattva bless me!"
Since the Emperor appointed him, the person in charge couldn't say anything. Gu Sidu was safe for the time being, and since he was safe, Jiang Yufan didn't need to worry about him anymore.
Gu Sidu's official career is going smoothly, so he won't bother her anymore, and she can finally have some peace and quiet. Jiang Yufan looked up at Gu Sidu again. She saw Gu Sidu's radiant spirit, and his peach blossom eyes were as dazzling as peach blossoms in spring, as if they were about to scatter petals and cover the entire sky.
At this moment, Gu Sidu seemed like a child.
Some of them seemed to have gone mad with joy.
Otherwise, why would he just smile foolishly at her, and why would he secretly reach out to hook one of Jiang Yufan's fingers?
Jiang Yufan lowered her head, and Gu Sidu quietly withdrew his hand. But when Jiang Yufan looked away, his hand quietly reached up again.
After several attempts, Gu Sidu remained tireless, making many more attempts before reaching his doorstep. Jiang Yufan suddenly felt playful. At this crucial moment when Gu Sidu was about to succeed, she quietly lowered her head and watched Gu Sidu collapse behind her. She then secretly watched Gu Sidu relentlessly try again.
On the way home, this back and forth was quite amusing. Jiang Yufan's lips curled up, but she didn't say it out loud. She and Gu Sidu were both thinking their own thoughts as they headed home.
But the game was interrupted when they were only halfway through.
Someone blocked the horses' path and knelt before Jiang Yufan and Gu Sidu.
"Who is this person?" Gu Sidu asked.
"Lord Gu, do you still remember me?"
"He's an acquaintance," Jiang Yufan asked Gu Sidu. "Do you know him?"
Gu Sidu looked closely and realized he did recognize the man. He leaned forward, still carefully observing the person beneath his horse while leaning against Jiang Yufan's back.
"Hey, I actually know him!"
Gu Sidu dismounted, told Jiang Yufan to stay on the horse, and then pulled on the reins himself, speaking to the person below: "Get up quickly, there's no need to give me such a grand salute."
"You're the one who got bitten by the dog last time, you're all better now!"
"Yes, yes, it's me! It's wonderful that you still remember me, Lord Gu. I won't thank you for what happened that day, but I've come here today to express my gratitude and thank you for giving me so much money."
Jiang Yufan watched as the person got up. Only then did Jiang Yufan realize that the person's gait was not as smooth as that of ordinary people. He walked with a limp, presumably because he had just gotten out of bed and was about to come to thank Gu Sidu.
"What's the big deal? If I didn't give it to you, I wouldn't be able to keep that money anyway. Giving it to you will make your life easier." Gu Sidu grasped the man's hand and gave him a hearty smile.
“My lord, you mustn’t say that. No one else is as kind as Lord Gu. I even brought you some things, which I left at the Gu family’s gate. Lord Gu will have to take them in later. I thought I would never see Lord Gu again today, but thank God, I can see you one last time and fulfill my wish.”
"Lord Gu, you must accept those small gifts. Compared to the life-saving grace you have shown me, those things are nothing."
Good deeds are rewarded, and this is Gu Sidu's good fortune. Jiang Yufan's lips curled up, and she had a different opinion of Gu Sidu. In Jiang Yufan's heart, Gu Sidu was a good person.
Although some of these ideas are far-fetched, they have genuinely done good things for ordinary people.
That silver, given to the person in front of you, would have been better than given to the person in charge. This is a truly kind-hearted person. Such a person, talented enough to serve the emperor, can also care for ordinary people when living among them. This is the rarest of all.
Many high-ranking officials have failed to do what Gu Sidu did.
Fortunately, Gu Sidu's hardship came to an end, his career improved, and he accumulated a lot of merit and good fortune.
Perhaps it was divine intervention, or the gods had opened their eyes, Jiang Yufan thought. But as soon as she thought this, a cold sweat broke out on her back. She wasn't that kind of person; she clearly didn't believe in these things. So why were these thoughts constantly on her mind now?
She's been immersed in this for too long; she's bound to pick up some of these things.
Just as Jiang Yufan was pondering this, a jolt came from behind her. Gu Sidu had already remounted his horse and was preparing to return home.
Gu Sidu looked at Jiang Yufan, who remained silent and only stared at him, and cleared his throat: "How was it, Bodhisattva? Did you think I was quite handsome, dashing, and debonair just now?"
"Is the Bodhisattva bewitched by me?"
Well, Jiang Yufan quickly tempered her earlier approval of Gu Sidu, realizing that this was the Gu Sidu she knew.
Jiang Yufan elbowed Gu Sidu.
The elbow startled the horse, causing it to rear up and neigh. Jiang Yufan was shocked and panicked. She regretted arguing with Gu Sidu on horseback; she was unfamiliar with the horse's behavior and dared not move again.
Fortunately, Gu Sidu reacted quickly, stopping the horse just as Jiang Yufan cried out in alarm, thus protecting her safety.
“Be careful, Bodhisattva,” Gu Sidu’s voice gave Jiang Yufan great comfort. “I’m here, don’t be afraid.”
Once she felt secure, they inevitably touched hands. Jiang Yufan calmed down and looked down at her hand, which was being held firmly in Gu Sidu's palm.
Gu Sidu was still talking incoherently, saying things like it's okay, nothing will happen.
Jiang Yufan is fine, but Gu Sidu seems to be in some trouble.
Gu Sidu didn't want to suffer any loss, so at this moment he pretended to comfort Jiang Yufan and also to get to know the delicate texture of Jiang Yufan's palm.
Jiang Yufan sighed: "Gu Sidu, have you touched him enough?"
"Let go of me."
"Does the Bodhisattva really want me to let go?" Gu Sidu, realizing he had been seen through, decided to play dumb. "I behaved so well just now, doesn't the Bodhisattva have any reward for me? Perhaps if I touch the Bodhisattva and absorb some of the Buddha's spiritual energy, I'll have even better luck."
What a convenient excuse! Anyone else would have shut up, but Jiang Yufan is no ordinary person.
Jiang Yufan wanted to have a serious discussion with Gu Sidu.
"Gu Sidu, have you ever heard of this saying?"
"Oh, what did you say?" Gu Sidu was in a very good mood.
"All beings are equal, and Buddha loves people, so he will naturally use his heart to embrace anyone and anything they do."
"There is such a saying." Gu Sidu nodded in agreement.
“Gods and Buddhas don’t care about these things; that’s out of their compassion,” Jiang Yufan paused before continuing, “Buddhas don’t care, but I do.”
Gu Sidu's hand was knocked off.
Whether it was Gu Sidu's careless words that came true or whether touching Jiang Yufan's hand really brought good luck, Gu Sidu's hand, which was knocked off, did not receive this good luck, and not long after, Gu Sidu got into trouble.
Something terrible has happened!
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