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Those who help others may do so unintentionally, while those who are grateful may do so intentionally. However, if the opportunity is missed, one cannot simply come with a sincere heart and leave satisfied. Qin Zhiyi arrived at Gu Sidu's house carrying the things her family had prepared, but the servant told her that no one was home.
"Where did Lord Gu and his wife go?" Qin Zhiyi asked.
"There's nothing to do at the county office, so the magistrate has taken his wife out for a sightseeing trip," the servant said.
"The county government?" Qin Zhiyi was surprised to learn that he was unaware of this information.
"Yes, our Lord Gu is a newly appointed magistrate. However, the county magistrate is unwilling to relinquish power, so our Lord Gu has only borne the reputation and is left with a leisurely life. To this day, the county magistrate has not held a welcome banquet for Lord Gu. The day he went to rescue you, he couldn't find anyone to allocate manpower in the county government, so he had to go to you in person."
Qin Zhiyi stood there stunned. In the end, he still didn't see anyone, so he carried his things back home.
How could Lord Gu be a county magistrate? Don't those officials care about their lives? Would they personally go and save an ordinary citizen? This must be a lie! Qin Zhiyi decided to investigate herself and see what kind of person this Lord Gu Sidu really was.
Unbeknownst to Gu Sidu, he was currently leading Jiang Yufan to the Deyi Pavilion, overlooking Chang Le City.
Gu Sidu stumbled upon this place by chance. He overheard people in the county government saying that Chang Le City has mountains and rivers, but what truly makes people feel comfortable and happy is to climb up this Deyi Pavilion, overlook the world, and feel their hearts open up and their joy come naturally.
This Deyi Pavilion wasn't built by the county magistrate; it was a legacy left by the previous magistrate. Later generations found the scenery beautiful and made it a popular tourist destination. Indeed, it must be a remarkable place, a place frequented by people from the county government, and Gu Sidu wanted to go too.
Upon reaching the top of the building, a cool breeze indeed swept in, filling one's clothes, yet it did not cause chills. Instead, it made one feel as if they had entered a fairyland, where the wind could nurture immortal bones and lead to immortality.
Gu Sidu spread his arms wide, looking at the Chang Le City beneath his feet. He closed his eyes, as if riding the wind and soaring freely in the air. A triumphant person who arrives here will surely have the expectation of making great achievements. Every inch of the land under heaven is below him. Who wouldn't have ambition and aspirations to dedicate their talent and strength to this land?
No wonder this tall building is named Deyi (meaning "successful"). People who are successful and have everything going smoothly come here, which is a time of great success and prosperity for them.
However, Gu Sidu's arrival here was somewhat inappropriate.
Gu Sidu is no longer someone who can display his talents; his future is bleak. Only the wind and the mountains and rivers can bring him a sense of pleasure when he closes his eyes, and that is all he needs.
When Gu Sidu opened his eyes again, what he saw was not that landscape, but Jiang Yufan.
Jiang Yufan stood in front of her, smiling slightly at him.
"What did you see that makes you so happy?" Jiang Yufan asked.
"It's nothing, I just feel that the twists and turns of this world are a bit subtle, perhaps this is fate. I believe that when I was riding high, I didn't know that I could not be as proud as others when I climbed this tall building today. I only have this beautiful scenery and this gentle breeze, and apart from these, there is nothing else to be proud of."
“But others cannot enjoy such a wonderful scene before them. They would all be burdened by worldly affairs. Lord Gu is carefree and at ease,” Jiang Yufan said.
"Yes, I used to not understand it. Giving up those future prospects was the same as giving up everything. How could I be happy if I had nothing? But now that I've given up everything, I'm truly empty-handed, and I feel free and happy. Losing is gaining. Not getting involved in things I don't want to do is another kind of satisfaction."
"Besides, I'm not without anything. I still have you." Gu Sidu looked at Jiang Yufan. With beautiful scenery and his beloved, he could roam freely in this world. Wasn't this more joyful than ever before?
What worldly people worry about is nothing but empty fame; if they are bound by it for even a day, they cannot gain freedom.
In life's choices, by sheer chance, Gu Sidu ended up getting what he wanted.
"That's good. Without those obsessions, we can all be happy." Jiang Yufan also raised her hand, letting the breeze caress her palm, her wrist, and her body.
"By the way, a reply came from Chenxiang Temple. The abbot said that everything is fine at Chenxiang Temple, all the hardships have passed, and everything is peaceful as usual." Gu Sidu had just received the letter, and he immediately wanted to reassure Jiang Yufan.
“Bodhisattva, Jiang Yaoguang can’t touch Chenxiang Temple. I heard that he hasn’t been able to take the position I vacated these days, and he’s also thinking about whether he can climb back to his original position. He’s busy with these things and doesn’t have time to care about our lives. But Bodhisattva, he disrupted our wedding that was supposed to happen. Are you really going to let it go?”
"Yeah, I'm so tired." Jiang Yufan nodded, looked at Gu Sidu, slowly leaned over, and rested her head on Gu Sidu's shoulder.
This leaning over was initiated by Gu Sidu, who immediately took Jiang Yufan's hand and pulled her into his arms. At that moment, he was the happiest person in the world!
She was truly exhausted. Jiang Yufan closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Gu Sidu's waist. She recalled everything from the past. She had endured eight painful years filled with resentment. She had forgotten how she survived those eight years. She was always unhappy. Then she met Gu Sidu and took her revenge, only to be met with constant harassment from the Jiang family.
Winning once always means being targeted again, and this cycle repeats itself. No one wants it to end or bow down, which only makes them more miserable. Jiang Yufan died once, and it truly took away the person who lived only in hatred. The Jiang Yufan who remains now is like the skin on her wrist that has healed after the wounds disappeared. She is a new Jiang Yufan who can reconcile with herself without carrying those hatred.
Letting go of the past, making peace with it, and moving forward are the only ways to see new hope and rediscover oneself. Jiang Yufan doesn't want to live those days anymore; she wants to live each day well, together with Gu Sidu.
“Jiang Yufan,” Gu Sidu began, this being the first time he had called out the name of the Bodhisattva, “we will both be fine, I promise you, you will only be happy with me.”
"Okay, then I believe you." Jiang Yufan opened her eyes and smiled at Gu Sidu. The scenery in front of them had changed again. Jiang Yufan leaned against Gu Sidu's chest, looking at the scenery before her, and suddenly she thought of something.
“Gu Sidu, Chang Le City has mountains and rivers, and the peaks are steep. If someone comes to fight in the future, we can defend it. If we can also have elite troops, no one will be able to break through here.”
"What does the Bodhisattva mean?"
"Although Chang Le City seems safe and secure now, we should be mindful of potential dangers. If one day foreign enemies invade, and the soldiers patrolling and guarding the city are more capable, the people here will enjoy peace and prosperity for a long time."
“Yes, that’s a good idea. Otherwise, I’ll talk to the magistrate about this another day. I won’t ask for credit, but let him do it so that the people can praise him. That way, he might agree.”
After finishing speaking, Gu Sidu slapped his forehead again: "Oh dear, there's one more thing I forgot."
"What is it?" Jiang Yufan couldn't remember what she had forgotten.
"I made a promise with those people who set up chess stalls to play chess, but I forgot about it." Gu Sidu had also made a vow to dominate the chessboard.
Thinking it was something serious, Jiang Yufan released Gu Sidu and said, "Then go now."
"I'm not going now," Gu Sidu said, grasping Jiang Yufan's hand and placing it on his heart. "No, I'm not going. For me, the Bodhisattva always comes first. I want to be with the Bodhisattva first, and then I'll be with those people."
Jiang Yufan had gotten used to Gu Sidu's glib tongue.
Upon returning from Deyige, Gu Sidu was told by a servant that the Qin family had sent someone with gifts, but since they weren't home, they left disappointed. The gifts were then carried back untouched.
Jiang Yufan asked the servant, "Did they say they would come again?"
"have no idea."
"If they come again, just tell them we know their good intentions and appreciate them, and that they don't need to send anything anymore." After giving these instructions, Gu Sidu went inside.
Jiang Yufan's suggestion was very useful. He would write a letter and send it to the county magistrate so that Chang Le City could be peaceful and happy forever.
The letter took a long time to write; Gu Sidu wrote out all the arrangements in great detail, requiring only a nod from the county magistrate to get things started immediately. Such a convenient and hassle-free method would be readily accepted by anyone.
Gu Sidu was full of confidence, but when he submitted the document to the magistrate, the magistrate simply remained silent and told him to go back first.
This meant no, which Gu Sidu understood. He could back down on everything, but why not implement such a good measure? It was truly incomprehensible. He stepped forward to argue, hoping that his own reasons would not delay a great plan.
But the magistrate just drank tea and said, "I did not show favoritism. What kind of person do you take me for? But I also have my own difficulties. You can't just think of yourself and not understand me."
Ultimately, it was still a matter of unwillingness; those difficulties were just excuses. Leaving the county government office, Gu Sidu lowered his head, his initial high spirits gone. But he hadn't gone far before he was stopped. He looked up and saw the familiar fourteen-year-old boy.
It is Qin Zhiyi.
Qin Zhiyi smiled when she saw him: "Lord Gu, it's you! You really are a lord!"
Gu Sidu was amused by this: "I am an adult, why are you here?"
“Your servants say you are the county magistrate, but I don’t think you are. I’ve been keeping watch here for the past few days, just to see if you can really get into the county government.”
"You're amazing! You really are the county magistrate."
Hearing Qin Zhiyi's words, Gu Sidu pinched his nose and said, "What are you saying? How do I not look like a county magistrate?"
That's not how it is. How could a county magistrate be someone who can share joy with the people?
Gu Sidu didn't let Qin Zhiyi explain why they didn't look alike. He affectionately put his arm around Qin Zhiyi's shoulder and said, "Since you're here, would you like to come to my house for a visit? I'll make you something delicious."
"Can I?" Qin Zhiyi asked happily. "Will I still be able to see Sister Daoyun? Can I become Sister Daoyun's disciple? I want to learn martial arts!"
"Yes!" Gu Sidu patted his chest confidently, but then hesitated, "Maybe I can, go ask me yourself."
He didn't dare to offend Daoyun either.
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