Inquiry
Jiang Yufan was uninterested and had no ideas. News came from Gu Sidu that he had written a letter to Jiang Yaoguang, filled with sorrowful words, saying that his virtue was unworthy and that he could not be trusted by Jiang Yaoguang.
He explained his incompetence, but every word of that incompetence was an accusation of his own excessive talent, a lament about the hearts of people in officialdom. He longed for the bright moon hanging high in the sky, but alas, the moon was unattainable, and he had no heart to see the true radiance of the world.
Besides all that, Gu Sidu also wanted Jiang Yaoguang to return that jade pendant.
This was to prove his innocence and subtly point out that someone was sabotaging him. Gu Sidu's way of making amends for giving away the jade pendant was to take it back, and also to return the promotion he should have been entitled to.
The city's renowned scholar wrote such a letter, frankly admitting his delusional fantasies, which is truly admirable and admirable. However, some people also wanted to urge Gu Sidu to reveal who among them had committed improper acts.
Gu Sidu didn't say anything; from beginning to end, Gu Sidu still preserved the last bit of dignity.
This matter should have ended there; it was just a bunch of rumors. But the Emperor actually ordered a thorough investigation. He said these things should not be tolerated. The court needs people who care about the people, not people who take advantage of the situation to make money.
Jiang Yaoguang did not return the jade pendant. He had long forgotten where it was, and he had never worn it. Some even said that Jiang Yaoguang had never worn the jade pendant, and perhaps he had never accepted it or had already returned it.
Gu Sidu was uneasy because he did not get the jade pendant; Jiang Yaoguang and the others were also uneasy because they did not understand why the emperor was suddenly taking the matter so seriously.
Only Jiang Yufan calmly drank her tea, as if these things had nothing to do with her.
Daoyun told Jiang Yufan about all the commotion outside. She was curious and didn't know how to end this matter. She said, "Buddha, you said that you didn't bring down Jiang Yaoguang. Will Jiang Yaoguang also be implicated because of Gu Sidu's letter?"
"If it could be involved, that would be a good way to punish Jiang Yaoguang."
"Speaking of which, why did His Majesty start investigating? This kind of thing is just hearsay and hard to conclude."
"The autumn examinations have just been held, and the spring examinations next year will be used to select talented individuals. There will be new candidates entering the court, and among them, there may be more forces that are easy to support. These cunning people in the court are difficult to control, but we can suppress them because of this."
Jiang Yufan glanced at Daoyun and then served him a cup of tea.
"Oh," Daoyun suddenly realized, "So the Emperor is determined to find out who took the bribes and punish them severely to deter them from being so presumptuous."
Gu Sidu simply happened to touch upon the Emperor's secret, giving the Emperor a convenient excuse to launch his attack. Gu Sidu unintentionally delivered a knife to the Emperor, playing right into his hands. Or perhaps the Emperor's visit to the Hanlin Academy and his encounter with Gu Sidu was also part of his scheme.
Everything has come to this point through these small connections.
"Then what should we do? I guess Jiang Yaoguang will definitely leave room for maneuver in his actions. He may not be pushed to the front, or he may drag someone else down to take the blame and become the scapegoat."
"If something is vague and unreal, then we must make it grounded in reality." Jiang Yufan only said these words. She smiled and looked at Daoyun. She already had a plan. She had said it before, she couldn't let go. Over the years, she had finally waited for this opportunity, and she would make Jiang Yaoguang pay the price.
"Daoyun, there are some things I want you to handle personally; I don't trust anyone else to do them."
“Buddha, I will definitely complete the mission.”
-
As the autumn winds turned chilly, so too did people's hearts grow cold. The Emperor was investigating the corruption in the court, trying to find out who had accepted bribes. People were filled with unease, and no one knew who the unfortunate one would be.
After serving as an official for many years, there will inevitably be things that are unclear and inexplicable. Who is truly innocent? And what are the standards by which the emperor measures things?
Nobody knows, and these concerns can be put to rest quickly if only one person takes the lead. It's that simple, but who will be that person?
It's definitely not Jiang Yaoguang; the ones who always get unlucky are always those low-ranking officials.
Everyone was terrified, especially the head of the Hanlin Academy. He thought Gu Sidu had really gone mad. Why did he have to drag others down with him when he wanted to clear his name? He wanted to be a pure lotus flower and be carefree, but what about everyone else?
Such complaints are just complaints; no one can step aside to dwell on them at this moment. The important thing right now is to protect oneself.
This period of panic quickly came to an end. The armed guards stormed into the Jiang family compound, dragged Jiang Yaoguang out, and threw him into prison.
No one expected things to develop this way. No one thought Jiang Yaoguang would fall from power. Everyone thought they were wrong. How could such a thing happen? Who was so bold and audacious? How could they possibly survive in the court?
What they cared more about was whether Jiang Yaoguang would fall from power, and they were also waiting to see if the position of Grand Secretary would become vacant.
Amidst all this turmoil, Gu Sidu was the most clear-headed person. He came to Jiang Yufan's courtyard gate, hoping to see her.
Seeing him was no easy task. Daoyun stood in the doorway and said to Gu Sidu, "Lord Gu, please go back. We Buddhist nuns do not see anyone."
"Why won't the Bodhisattva see me?" Gu Sidu looked at Daoyun. "Is the Bodhisattva angry with me and resentful that I haven't visited these past few days?"
"Lord Gu, you are overthinking it. We Buddhist nuns are not like that. We Buddhist nuns do not care about worldly affairs. If we Buddhist nuns were to say that, we would be asking for trouble."
"Why doesn't the Bodhisattva see me?" Gu Sidu frowned.
"Lord Gu, you and the Buddhist nun have different ideals and beliefs. Your desires are different from ours. Since that's the case, it's pointless for you to meet. What do you want to see the Buddhist nun for? Do you want to go in and argue with her?"
Gu Sidu didn't speak; he just watched the movements inside the room.
The room was quiet and still, as if no one lived there. If it weren't for the incense burning during Buddhist worship, it would have truly fooled everyone. Gu Sidu could tell from the scent that the incense Jiang Yufan lit wasn't a gift from Gu Sidu.
She said she wasn't angry, but she was still bothered by it.
Gu Sidu softened his tone and said to Daoyun, "I didn't mean that. I won't argue with the Bodhisattva. I just have some doubts in my heart and want to ask the Bodhisattva for guidance."
Gu Sidu's clasped hands together softened Dao Yun's heart. Dao Yun leaned against the door, lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said to Gu Sidu, "Then wait a moment."
Thank you.
A short while later, Daoyun came out of the door and tossed a tortoise shell to Gu Sidu.
......
"I don't know these things," Gu Sidu said with an apologetic smile.
"That's easy. Lord Gu can go to the street and find a book about these things and study it himself. If that doesn't work, you can go to Chenxiang Temple and ask someone for advice."
“As you know, our Buddhist nun is also a fake Bodhisattva, so it won’t work for you to seek her out.”
"So, the Bodhisattva is determined not to see me?" Gu Sidu smiled at Daoyun. "Is this her intention?"
“Of course, I will not betray the Buddha Maiden or do anything to displease her.” Dao Yun tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at Gu Sidu.
However, she was completely unprepared for Gu Sidu's sudden movement. Taking advantage of Daoyun's inattention, Gu Sidu stepped directly into the house.
He wanted to go to the Bodhisattva in person. Since it was the Bodhisattva's will and intention, he still wanted to ask the Bodhisattva for his opinion. He wanted to see the Bodhisattva with his own eyes and hear these words from his own mouth before he would believe it.
Dao Yun, who had been completely unprepared for this, felt her world collapse when she saw Gu Sidu enter the house. She rushed after him, wanting to stop Gu Sidu, but when she got inside, Gu Sidu was already in front of Jiang Yufan, with his hands clasped together, kneeling before her.
It was already too late, but Gu Sidu was still allowed to stand guard in front of the Buddhist nun.
Jiang Yufan lowered her eyes. Gu Sidu stood before her, and when she looked up, she saw Daoyun helplessly spreading his hands. Daoyun said in sign language: "I couldn't stop her. I'm sorry, Buddha Maiden."
The day has finally come.
Jiang Yufan looked down at Gu Sidu: "Lord Gu, what are you doing here? You want a successful official career, but I can't help you with that. I've already told you that."
“I have not come here today to seek an official position. I just want to see you, Bodhisattva,” Gu Sidu said, looking up at Jiang Yufan. “Bodhisattva, I have done what I wanted to do these days, but I have some questions that I would like to ask you.”
"you say."
What do you want?
Gu Sidu couldn't understand why Jiang Yufan was helping him. Jiang Yufan wouldn't care about Gu Sidu's official career, so what was it that made Jiang Yufan so concerned? He wanted to understand why a single letter from him could lead to Jiang Yaoguang being used as a scapegoat by the Emperor.
He knew he didn't have that much ability. If Jiang Yaoguang was imprisoned, there must be solid evidence. But who could understand Jiang Yaoguang so well? Who could know Jiang Yaoguang so well?
Gu Sidu wanted to ask, "Bodhisattva, you went out a few days ago. Where did you go and what did you do?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yufan paused in her hand, which was holding Buddhist prayer beads.
She raised her head, her eyes slowly filling with Gu Sidu's image. The fact that Gu Sidu had come before her told her that Gu Sidu must feel these things were related to her, and that this suspicion was why Gu Sidu insisted on seeing her.
She showed no signs of the anxiety one would expect from someone who was suspected. Instead, she raised her lips and gave Gu Sidu a faint smile.
Jiang Yufan placed the prayer beads on the table and said to Gu Sidu, "What if it's me, and what if it's not me?"
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