Jade Pendant
Despite her cunning, Jiang Yufan still couldn't figure out how to fight her father. She thought about it for several days and still felt something was wrong. She felt something was missing until Gu Sidu came to her door and gently knocked. Only then did she break free from those resentful thoughts.
Jiang Yufan looked up and saw Gu Sidu standing by the door, dressed in court robes, looking like a handsome young man. Gu Sidu said, "Bodhisattva, I am going to a banquet today, and meals will not be served at home on time. If you are hungry, you can ask the kitchen to prepare some food for you."
“Since you said it’s okay to break the rules, then don’t just eat vegetarian food, try some meat occasionally.” Gu Sidu thought of Jiang Yufan’s thin, snow-white body, which seemed so fragile. He wished his Bodhisattva was healthy.
Jiang Yufan didn't reply. She continued to look Gu Sidu up and down. Suddenly, she spoke up: "Are you going there to befriend Jiang Yaoguang?"
"Yes." Gu Sidu nodded.
“I said I would help you, and I will not go back on my word,” Jiang Yufan already had a rough plan in mind. She had just noticed that Gu Sidu was not wearing a jade pendant at his waist. “If you go there rashly today, it would be impolite. If you want to befriend Jiang Yaoguang, you can’t go empty-handed.”
"Then how do I get there?" Gu Sidu suddenly realized, "The Bodhisattva is so thoughtful; I hadn't even thought of this myself."
Should I take some money with him?
Gu Sidu's family also has some money. Since he couldn't give it to the head of the household, he still had to give it away once. Giving it to Jiang Yaoguang would be fine too.
"Are you going to give him the money in front of all the officials, so everyone will know that you, Gu Sidu, are good at bribing officials?" Jiang Yufan shook her head. "Then all those beatings you received would have been for nothing."
Wasn't all that pain caused by Gu Sidu's refusal to give in and his refusal to offer gifts?
Gu Sidu pondered for a moment and nodded: "That's how it is. Thank you for your teachings, Bodhisattva. Please continue to guide me."
"The Grand Secretary has naturally seen many good things and is not concerned with money; what matters is the sentiment. One advantage you have is that you have made a name for yourself among the people by writing poems. Jiang Yaoguang will definitely see you differently from others and will certainly take a second look at you."
"You need to surrender to him, show your sincerity, and also offer up your gentlemanly virtues so that he feels you are a useful talent. So what can make someone have gentlemanly virtues?" Jiang Yufan asked Gu Sidu.
“It’s jade, of course.”
Jiang Yufan had been waiting for Gu Sidu to say those words. With a smile, she lowered her head and took off a jade pendant that she always carried with her, and gave it to Gu Sidu.
"This is a jade pendant that I've carried with me since I was a child. It's been blessed, and it's been with me at Chenxiang Temple for the past few years, so it's also absorbed a lot of Buddhist energy and lotus essence. You can take it and give it to the Grand Secretary."
Gu Sidu looked down at the jade pendant. At first glance, the jade was of excellent quality, and it was carved with a lotus pattern. It was indeed elegant and untainted by worldly affairs. More importantly, it was a personal jade pendant of a Bodhisattva.
What does "close to the body" mean? It means it's worn close to the Bodhisattva's snow-white skin and soft bones, it's worn with the Bodhisattva from dawn till dusk, it's slowly moistened by the Bodhisattva's own fragrant sweat. At this moment, Gu Sidu is holding this jade pendant in his palm.
Gu Sidu's gaze lingered on the jade pendant. Such a fine pendant—the Bodhisattva had actually given it to him for his future! Why waste such a precious piece on such trivial matters? A pang of reluctance struck Gu Sidu, and he said to Jiang Yufan, "Bodhisattva, could we exchange it for another one?"
"Why would I exchange it? I won't." Jiang Yufan had her own considerations. It was just a jade pendant; what was there to regret?
But Gu Sidu said, "This belongs to the Bodhisattva. For me to ask the Bodhisattva to give up his personal possession just for my future, that would be a sin for me."
"May I keep this for myself and give Lord Jiang an ordinary jade pendant instead?"
Jiang Yufan looked at Gu Sidu in silence. She began to ponder whether Daoyun's words were really reasonable. Gu Sidu's behavior always made things difficult for her.
Gu Sidu understood; he had no choice but to give away the jade pendant.
"It really can't be..."
“If you don’t send this jade pendant over, I’m going back to Chenxiang Temple.”
"No, no, no..." Although Gu Sidu was reluctant, he understood the importance of the matter. He could only hand over the jade pendant to Jiang Yaoguang with regret. A jade pendant was important, but protecting the Bodhisattva was more important.
Before leaving, he held the jade pendant close to his heart and carefully put it away.
Jiang Yufan watched Gu Sidu's actions quietly. Only after Gu Sidu left did she sigh helplessly. She knew Gu Sidu's thoughts, but she also knew that there was absolutely no possibility between her and Gu Sidu.
In her heart, Gu Sidu didn't hold much weight.
If someone could cut open her heart, they would see the devastation within, the bleeding, and all sorts of emotions that gods and bodhisattvas shouldn't possess. It's just a pity that a person's heart cannot be cut open, no one can believe her words, and no one can see her heart. And so she harbored these dark emotions, lying dormant in Chenxiang Temple. She thought she had no chance left, but then things took a turn for the better.
She had another chance to give herself a good time.
-
Autumn is the perfect season for chrysanthemum appreciation and crab feasting. Gu Sidu remembers only experiencing such a grand occasion once, right after passing the exam. Three years later, Gu Sidu feels somewhat dazed. Everything is just like it was when he first passed the exam, except he has lost much of his former ambition.
Where have all those people who once shared a drink with him, believing they would achieve great things in the future, gone? Gu Sidu was feeling melancholy when he saw many people holding up their wine glasses to toast him. They began by saying, "This must be the Lord Gu who is famous for his poetry on the streets. He is truly a promising young man, full of vigor and ambition, just the right age for him."
Gu Sidu used to think that was a compliment, but today when he looked up and saw the mockery in their eyes, he felt like a monkey being watched, with everyone throwing food at him to make him look bad.
His place seemed to be constantly bustling with visitors, but all the people he tried to befriend were turned away with various excuses.
These drinks weren't for enjoyment, but for despair; one glass after another was consumed.
Gu Sidu was somewhat drunk, and he didn't even have the courage to walk up to Jiang Yaoguang.
Stepping out of the Hanlin Academy, I discovered that there was an even wider world within the imperial court.
But just then, a voice calling him "Lord Gu" jolted him awake from his drunken stupor. He looked up and saw a face he could hardly believe.
Once he was mostly sober, Gu Sidu quickly sat up and bowed to the man, saying, "Lord Jiang."
Who says opportunity didn't come to Gu Sidu? Things took an unexpected turn, and Gu Sidu regained his spirits.
"Lord Gu has drunk quite a bit of wine just now, I wonder if he can drink this cup of mine?" Jiang Yaoguang's face was full of smiles, and his eyes were full of approval.
“Of course I must drink Lord Jiang’s wine,” Gu Sidu said, tilting his head back to drink the wine in his cup without leaving a drop. “I have long heard of Lord Jiang’s character, but today I only dare to look up to him and not dare to bother him, for fear that Lord Jiang will find my dullness unworthy.”
"What are you saying? I have long heard of Lord Gu's charisma and have always wanted to meet him. With young men like you in the court, the future is truly limitless."
These words were a bit harsh, but it was precisely because Lord Jiang valued talent that he could say such things.
Gu Sidu was filled with gratitude. All the wines he had drunk before were insignificant; his life would begin to shine because of this glass of wine.
Such glory was bestowed upon only Gu Sidu at the banquet, naturally arousing resentment among others. All of this was observed by the head of the Hanlin Academy, who sat beside him. This person, who had also participated in the imperial examination but had not been praised, was indignant about the matter. He had clearly done something worthwhile, but had not received the emperor's favor and had thus faded into obscurity. The world was indeed unfair.
He harbored ulterior motives and secretly said to the head of the Hanlin Academy, "Head, look at Gu Sidu. Is he really going to leave you for a better position? How can we possibly get our revenge?"
"Ha, he's not even worthy of speaking a word to Lord Jiang. If he's so eager, I won't let him leave easily once he signs the papers here." The head of the Hanlin Academy had been holding back his anger for a long time, and he clenched his fists.
What angered the official even more was that he witnessed Gu Sidu taking a jade pendant from his pocket and handing it to Lord Jiang.
"Oh no, what should we do? Master, please take a look!"
He saw it all. The official in charge was furious. Gu Sidu was something else. He had hinted to Gu Sidu countless times. In the past two years, he had put a lot of effort into getting Gu Sidu to work for him. He said that as long as Gu Sidu spent some money and gave him gifts, he could entrust Gu Sidu with important matters of the Hanlin Academy. But Gu Sidu didn't care at all and didn't understand.
He thought Gu Sidu was inherently upright and extraordinary, but now it seems that he just didn't want to curry favor with him.
Isn't this a pretty complete gift-giving tradition? Aren't you good at giving gifts?
She just didn't want to send it to him.
A fist clenched in jealousy takes root, and gossip spreads, secretly breeding all sorts of hatred.
This feud is not limited to these; it has bred and become deeply entrenched, making it difficult to discern its origins.
Gu Sidu was in high spirits and didn't notice the gloomy and uneasy look that appeared on Jiang Yaoguang's face when he took out the jade pendant.
Jiang Yaoguang accepted the jade pendant. He wasn't as delighted as Gu Sidu had expected, nor did he consider Gu Sidu's gentlemanly conduct. Jiang Yaoguang simply gripped the jade pendant tightly, frowning as he looked at Gu Sidu: "Where did you get this jade pendant?"
"I obtained this jade pendant from the Chenxiang Temple. It can protect Lord Jiang and bring him peace and good fortune."
"What, does Lord Jiang not like it?"
Gu Sidu looked at Jiang Yaoguang with a puzzled expression.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
