Writing poetry
Jiang Yufan wasn't joking; she knew what she was doing. She didn't say much and left with Daoyun. Gu Sidu's injuries lasted for almost ten days, and during this time, Gu Sidu didn't send any servants to ask Jiang Yufan to apply medicine.
Jiang Yufan asked Daoyun to check on Gu Sidu. Daoyun said that Gu Sidu had been applying the medicine to herself these past few days, and if there were any places that the medicine couldn't reach, she just left them alone. In the summer, wounds are prone to festering and don't heal quickly, so in the end, the little maid held the bottle opening tightly to apply the medicine without touching Gu Sidu's body.
Gu Sidu was not lying; apart from Jiang Yufan, he did not like anyone else touching his body.
However, Jiang Yufan then recalled Gu Sidu's comfortable moans.
Dao Yun repeatedly confirmed whether Gu Sidu had truly disrespected Jiang Yufan. Jiang Yufan shook her head, saying they were merely applying medicine in the room. Dao Yun's gaze betrayed his suspicion. Jiang Yufan then spoke:
"They're really applying medicine, otherwise what else could we be doing?"
Upon hearing this, Dao Yun sighed and stepped forward, whispering words that only a young woman could hear in Jiang Yu Fan's ear. Jiang Yu Fan's cheeks flushed red; she finally understood why Dao Yun had rushed in so hastily, pointing a sword at Gu Si Du.
“Buddha, although the abbot said you can break the precepts and not abide by the rules, and you have only practiced with your hair intact at Chenxiang Temple for so many years, you cannot be treated like this by a prodigal son like Gu Sidu.”
"If you want to get married in the future, you will have to go through the three letters and six rites and be carried in a sedan chair by eight people before you can get married."
Jiang Yufan glanced at Daoyun and said, "Don't talk nonsense. What do you mean by getting married? Let's leave those things aside and never bring this up again."
Neither she nor Gu Sidu did such a thing.
Half a month has passed, and although the cicadas still sing loudly in the summer, they are not as loud as before. The lingering warmth of summer still climbs onto her forehead. Jiang Yufan gently waves her fan. The tea has just been brewed when Daoyun says, "Buddha, Lord Gu has arrived."
Jiang Yufan looked up and saw that the handsome young man, Gu Sidu, was already standing at the door, staring at her with his captivating eyes. If it weren't for the paleness at the corners of Gu Sidu's mouth, Jiang Yufan wouldn't have been able to tell that Gu Sidu had been punished. Jiang Yufan smiled gently at Gu Sidu.
"Bodhisattva, I have come to keep my appointment."
"Daoyun, bring more teacups and invite Lord Gu in."
"I don't know why the Bodhisattva sent me here." Gu Sidu had just sat down when he looked at Jiang Yufan. His face was pale, and Jiang Yufan could only see Gu Sidu's haggard appearance when he looked closely.
Jiang Yufan poured tea for Gu Sidu.
“Lord Gu once rode his horse back to my residence on the long street. He knew I was in a bad mood at the time and tried to cheer me up. I know that.”
Gu Sidu didn't expect Jiang Yufan to bring up the old matter again and touch his heart. He said, "These are all small things. I would do anything for the Bodhisattva, and I didn't take them to heart."
"Your happiness is the most important thing."
“You helped me, so I’ll help you back this time.” Jiang Yufan took a sip of tea to moisten her throat. She had a lot to say to Gu Sidu.
"You were beaten this time on purpose. Firstly, it was to punish you for not giving gifts, and secondly, it was to make things easier for yourself."
“I know it means being in charge, and I also understand gift-giving, but what does ‘favor’ mean?” Gu Sidu frowned, becoming serious as he listened carefully to every word the Bodhisattva spoke.
"Are you sure you didn't miss anyone's name and submitted the complete list?"
"Of course I'm certain. I've looked at them carefully many times. Those people are all learned individuals I selected from the Hanlin Academy. They are all fair in their approach to the autumn examination and will surely be able to select the most outstanding talents for the Emperor."
"So, among them, has anyone given gifts to the person in charge?" Jiang Yufan asked patiently, having already seen through the true nature of the matter.
"I don't know if I've given gifts to everyone," Gu Sidu pondered carefully. "Many people in the Hanlin Academy may have given gifts, but I know of only one person."
It was that same person who persuaded Gu Sidu to also deliver the gift, but Gu Sidu was delayed because he was saving someone.
Is that person on the list?
"No, although that person has held several important positions in the Hanlin Academy, he has always made mistakes in handling matters. I was not at ease with him, so I did not put his name on the list."
Jiang Yufan stopped there.
Gu Sidu suddenly realized what was going on after this suggestion. He slapped his forehead and said, "Bodhisattva, are you saying that among the people I selected, none of them gave gifts to the person in charge, so the person in charge is not satisfied with the list and wants to find a way to change it?"
"Let me think. There's a missing name. That person is from the same department as the one who gave the gift, doing the same job. Since his name is missing, we naturally need to find someone to fill the gap. The person who gave the gift is the best candidate."
Jiang Yufan nodded: "I think this important matter was given to you by the Emperor. The person in charge cannot overstep the Emperor, so it is naturally not appropriate for him to interfere. However, the gifts have already been sent to the person in charge's home, and the person in charge cannot let the gifts go to waste. Beating you may seem like making a mountain out of a molehill, but since you are going back to your residence to recuperate, this matter will be left vacant, so the person in charge will take care of it. Once you have recovered and returned home, you will have to continue to take on this task."
What a cunning scheme! Gu Sidu's eyes were filled with anger as he listened. He sneered, "I've already endured all this without even giving a gift. Why should I?"
"I studied hard for years, and my parents supported my education. Now they are no longer with me. Before they died, they held my hands and told me that I must pass the imperial examinations, that I must live up to the expectations of the people, and that I must become a useful person. In the end, who could have imagined that the officialdom would be so corrupt and decadent?"
Everyone says it's good to be an official, but in the end, who gets honor and glory depends not on their knowledge and achievements, but on who gives away more or less money. Isn't that absurd? Gu Sidu remained silent for a long time, his head bowed, as if he had suffered a great setback.
In the past, even when Gu Sidu was sad, she could always cheer herself up. But today seemed different. Today, Gu Sidu suffered more than just those beatings.
Jiang Yufan also lowered her head and remained silent. She didn't try to persuade Gu Sidu, but she stayed quietly by his side, keeping him company. She guessed that when Gu Sidu looked up later, his expression would change, and he would smile at her.
Sure enough, Gu Sidu raised his head again, took a sip of tea to soothe his throat. He looked at Jiang Yufan: "What the Bodhisattva said makes a lot of sense. I feel much more enlightened now. But how do you know about all the intrigue and backstabbing in officialdom?"
At Chenxiang Temple, one should not, in principle, encounter such sordid matters.
Do such things really happen in temples?
"No, before I entered Chenxiang Temple, when I was still a young lady from an official family, I saw many people carrying many things or carrying many silver notes, walking up to my father."
Jiang Yufan had seen many of these things when she was young.
"How infuriating! Bodhisattva, do you have any paper or pen here?" Gu Sidu gritted his teeth.
“Yes, what do you need paper and pen for?” Jiang Yufan asked.
"If you have pent-up frustrations in your heart and can't express them, are you just going to keep them bottled up inside? Of course, you should speak them out and vent them; that's the only way to feel good!" Gu Sidu said bitterly.
Jiang Yufan winked at Daoyun, signaling him to bring paper and pen.
The brush was a fine sheep hair brush; the tip only needed to lick the ink to concentrate all the black ink, and once it landed on the cool paper, it seemed to be able to write down countless sorrows and indignations.
Jiang Yufan personally took off her prayer beads, rolled up her sleeves, and ground ink for Gu Sidu. She watched as Gu Sidu unfolded the paper, and almost without thinking, as if divinely inspired, he wrote down the poem.
Gu Sidu's calligraphy reflects his personality; it is unrestrained and elegant, yet subtly refined. However, Gu Sidu is a man of deep emotions, and his calligraphy, in various sizes, fully expresses his innermost thoughts, grievances, and resentment.
After Gu Sidu finished writing, he showed it to Jiang Yufan. Jiang Yufan looked at it carefully, and when she read the last two lines, she couldn't help but murmur and repeat them:
Unintentionally, yet with desires, I wander with wine; the hardest thing in the world is fame and fortune.
The poem was quite good; it resonated with Gu Sidu's heart, expressing many truths and revealing his own sorrow.
Perhaps it's good to vent like this. Jiang Yufan didn't say anything and returned the paper to Gu Sidu.
“Bodhisattva, I have learned a great deal from you today. I apologize for disturbing you and will take my leave now. I will take this poem with me and not leave it here to cause you any worry or distress.”
Jiang Yufan nodded. She watched as Gu Sidu swayed as he got up, as if the poem he had just written had exhausted all his strength. But Gu Sidu insisted that he could go out, laughed loudly, and stormed out the door.
Jiang Yufan remained seated, looking at Gu Sidu's figure, and discerned in him a gentleman's magnanimity and an arrogance unlike that of ordinary people.
Gu Sidu has always been this kind of person. It's just that he's used to being gentle and loves to joke with people, which almost makes people forget that Gu Sidu was originally a very talented person. He could have fulfilled his family's wishes by passing the imperial examination at a young age, but in the past two years, his temperament has been worn down and he has suffered such a blow.
Even now, Gu Sidu hasn't been driven crazy. On the contrary, he can still joke with people and lend a helping hand, which is truly remarkable.
Gu Sidu still thinks about other people.
Even Dao Yun was stunned by Gu Sidu's behavior just now. She gripped the sword in her hand and called out to the Buddha.
“Buddha, Gu Sidu is acting strangely today.”
"Yes, I think I finally understand now why Gu Sidu came to Chenxiang Temple to ask a deity or Buddha to take him home and bless him with a smooth official career."
"Why?" Daoyun asked.
"A person driven mad by officialdom, with no answers in their heart, if they don't pray to gods and Buddhas, how else can they seek liberation?"
That was Gu Sidu's plea for help, and Gu Sidu ended up in front of Jiang Yufan by sheer coincidence.
It's such a pity that Gu Sidu sought help from the wrong person; Jiang Yufan lacked wisdom and couldn't help him at all.
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