Decide
The rain, which had been pent up for several days, suddenly arrived and washed over the earth.
In the woods outside Zhengyang Gate, the cicadas chirped in varying pitches, as if complaining that the heavy rain had come too suddenly and blocked their way home.
In the muddy path, a dilapidated earth god temple stood alone. Its gate, barely able to keep out the wind and rain, creaked and groaned from the ravages of time.
Suddenly, the door opened, and a young man in black robes entered, carrying an umbrella.
Who's looking for me?
He closed his umbrella and spoke, revealing an unremarkable face. He then waved his hand lightly, and the door behind him closed by itself, plunging the temple into darkness.
One candlestick was lit, then two more were placed side by side on either side of the earth god statue, illuminating most of the temple.
The boy strolled over with practiced ease and sat down on the chair in front of the statue of the earth god. It was prepared especially for him.
A person emerged from behind the curtain; it was the boy who had lit the lamp earlier, about seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, with a cool and handsome appearance.
The boy on the chair greeted him, "Bai Sheng, long time no see."
Bai Sheng nodded in response and pulled a scholar out from behind the pillar.
He was timid and hesitant, trembling with fear, and kept his head down, not daring to look at the people in front of the earth statue.
Bai Sheng said, "This man is named Zhou Bing. He has been inquiring about the whereabouts of the 'Ever-Changing Young Master' repeatedly lately, and he has almost gone mad. So I brought him here."
The boy asked, "What grudge?"
Bai Sheng replied, "I have no grudge against you, I only wanted to save a life."
The boy scoffed, "Didn't you tell him I charge high prices? Can a mere scholar like him afford that?"
Zhou Bing snapped out of his fear and knelt down, saying, "As long as you are willing to save me, young hero, I will pay any reward."
Judging from his poor appearance, the young man knew he couldn't possibly afford to pay. However, scholars were always devoted to their writings and never engaged in violence, so his audacity in seeking out such a black market transaction indicated the urgency of the situation.
The boy asked with great interest, "Tell me, who should we save?"
Zhou Bing replied: "Zuo Wenzhong, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince."
"who?"
Gu Jinning jumped up from the chair, nearly getting her legs caught. She cleared her throat and feigned anger, scolding, "You pale-faced scholar, how dare you play tricks on me!"
Zhou Bing cupped his hands and said urgently, "I'm telling the truth. I want to save the Crown Prince's tutor, Zuo Wenzhong."
Gu Jinning said, "He will be executed soon. He's currently imprisoned in the imperial prison. How do you expect me to save him?"
Zhou Bing kowtowed, "It is precisely because I have no other choice that I have taken this risk. Please help me."
Gu Jinning sneered, "You're not related to him at all, why did you save him?"
Zhou Binghui said, “It’s not that I want to save him, but the scholars of the world can’t bear to lose this great scholar and don’t want to see him die unjustly and with his reputation ruined. They are working together to save him. If you can save him, we will give you every penny of the reward.”
Seeing his sincerity, Gu Jinning sat back down in her chair and said, "My asking price is not low. If you want me to defy the imperial decree and break out of prison, that's an astronomical price. Besides, the prison is heavily guarded, and the execution ground is heavily fortified. Even if I risk my life, I might not be able to save them. I won't do a deal that isn't worth it."
"Young hero," Zhou Bing kowtowed three times, pleading earnestly, "we all know this is an impossible task. But we are unwilling to give up without saving him. The Crown Prince's tutor has lived a life of poverty, nurtured countless talents, and has never uttered any radical remarks. How could he possibly plot against the emperor?"
"The court is just taking advantage of his old age and lack of offspring, using him as a warning to others."
“Since you already know this, you shouldn’t have come here. Instead, you should have gone back to await the body’s burial, so that he wouldn’t be a wandering ghost.”
Gu Jinning left after saying that. Even if she pitied the old man, she couldn't shake the emperor's authority, nor would she risk her life.
Zhou Bing suddenly burst into laughter, mocking, "I've heard that you, young hero, are known for your chivalry and righteousness, your hatred of evil, and your dedication to righting wrongs. But seeing you today, you're nothing more than a coward who fears death. How are you any different from those who amass wealth and murder?"
The door swung open, and wind and rain poured in. Gu Jinning opened her umbrella, turned around, and said sternly, "You don't need to provoke me. I always do things according to my own will."
The figure resolutely departed, the black umbrella disappearing into the rainy night, with no possibility of returning.
Zhou Bing collapsed to the ground and wailed, “In this world, there is not a single brave man.”
He hated that he was unarmed and lacked the strength of a brute; otherwise, he would have surely stormed into the imperial prison and died without regret.
Bai Sheng stood to the side, his expression indifferent, revealing no emotion.
Zhou Bing grabbed his sleeve and asked, unwilling to give up, "Young hero, is there really no hope?"
Bai Sheng said, "You have done your best."
He pulled at the corner of his robe and took a few steps, then said with reluctance, "If you are determined, wait here for now. If the master changes his mind, he will come looking for you. If he doesn't come in two days, then give up."
Summer rain comes and goes quickly. After Gu Jinning returned to her chambers, the rain stopped. Qinglian had already prepared bathwater.
Gu Jinning lay motionless in the bathtub, lost in thought. It wasn't until Qinglian called her, saying the water was cold, that she snapped out of her reverie and asked, "What time is it?"
Qinglian said, "It's just past the hour of Xu (7-9 PM)."
Gu Jinning thought it was still early and the old man might not be asleep yet, so she hurriedly got dressed and rushed to Gu Weiju's courtyard.
The study in the main courtyard was lit up. Gu Weiju was playing chess with Gu Wende, while Gu Xueshu sat to one side watching the game.
Gu Weiju said, "Once Old Zuo's matter is settled, it will be our family's turn. Has His Majesty inquired about you?"
Gu Wende replied, "His Majesty seems to be intentionally distancing himself from me today."
Gu Weiju said, "He has confined Yi'er to his quarters, so naturally he doesn't like you. It's good that you've become estranged, so he won't cause you trouble too soon. Now I only hope that Jin Ning can get married peacefully."
Gu Xueshu wanted to speak several times, but didn't dare to interrupt, and remained indignant with a stern face.
Gu Weiju glanced at him and said, "Who are you giving me that sour look for? Speak up if you have something to say."
Gu Xueshu said, "I just feel sorry for Elder Zuo. He assisted three emperors and can be considered a national treasure. How could he end up like this? At worst, he can be demoted and sent back to his hometown to retire."
Gu Wende rebuked, "How could you or I possibly fathom the Emperor's thoughts?"
Gu Xueshu disagreed, "But he has made great contributions and has raised His Highness the Crown Prince very well. Moreover, he is also my uncle's teacher."
"Shut up," Gu Wende quickly stopped him. "Don't mention this again. Go back now."
Gu Xueshu rose, bowed, and withdrew in silence.
As soon as the door opened, Gu Jinning was seen standing on the porch, dumbfounded.
"sister……"
Gu Xueshu was about to speak when Gu Jinning covered his mouth and pulled him far outside the courtyard before he could catch his breath.
"Little sister, why are you in such a panic?"
Gu Jinning ignored him and pulled him into Wangning Pavilion, signaling Qinglian to go out and guard the door.
"Today, you must tell me everything without reservation," Gu Jinning commanded forcefully, hands on her hips.
Gu Xueshu was completely confused. "What's wrong? I didn't hide anything from you."
Gu Jinning asked, "My father was a student of the Crown Prince's tutor?"
Gu Xueshu was puzzled. "Yes, that's common knowledge. It's just that since my uncle is gone, few people mention it."
Gu Xueshu realized what was happening and laughed, "You dragged me all this way here just for this? Think about it, why did Old Master Zuo, who had only met you a few times, always criticize you severely and still recommend you to study at the academy?"
Gu Jinning used to wonder why the old man always picked on her, but now she knows it's because he's disappointed in her and doesn't get as much anger from her as he does from her father.
Zuo Wenzhong had been taught by his father and the Crown Prince's tutor, and had excelled in his studies, which was enough to make the Gu family extremely grateful. Why was the grandfather unwilling to help Zuo Wenzhong?
Gu Jinning asked, "Grandfather is highly respected in the court. If he speaks up for Elder Zuo, he might be able to save Elder Zuo's life, which would be better than Elder Zuo having to meet my father in such a humiliating way."
Gu Xueshu frowned and said, "Grandfather may be able to rely on his age, but what about afterwards? The case was tried by the Dali Temple, and the evidence is conclusive. The person who vouched for the defendant must produce new evidence to overturn the existing evidence in order to overturn the case. Not to mention the difficulty, if the case cannot be overturned, the person who pleaded for the defendant will also be punished."
Gu Jinning insisted, "If it is a wrongful conviction, it can be overturned."
Gu Xueshu shook his head repeatedly, "Sister, you're thinking too simply. Let me tell you frankly, those whom the Emperor wants to protect can commit the most heinous crimes and get away scot-free. Those whom he doesn't want to keep, even if they are as innocent as a lake, are guilty of a heinous crime."
Gu Jinning knew perfectly well that the Emperor's mind was unfathomable and that imperial decrees were more powerful than Heaven itself. Whoever challenged the Emperor's authority would ultimately face utter destruction.
Unable to compromise, Gu Jinning waved her hand and said, "Forget it, I was just venting. It's nothing. The Gu family is struggling to survive, how can we have time to care about others?"
Gu Xueshu breathed a sigh of relief and before leaving, he specifically instructed, "Just pretend you don't know anything about this and don't think too much about it. Also, don't mention it in front of your grandfather, as he will feel bad about it."
As night deepened, a full moon quietly appeared, exceptionally bright after being washed by the heavy rain.
Gu Jinning stared blankly at the sky, lost in thought she had never experienced before.
What is the purpose of human life?
They toil their whole lives for fame and fortune, scheming and flattering, only to end up bowing and scraping their heads and being manipulated by others.
Under the emperor's feet, all living beings are but ants.
Zuo Wenzhong was one, as were her parents.
For the first time, Gu Jinning felt that her parents' deaths were not worth it.
The weather turned suddenly cool after the rain. The dilapidated temple outside the city, washed by the heavy rain, was greeted by the wind.
The old, dilapidated wooden planks had fallen off, and the wind slipped into the temple, making a whistling sound.
Zhou Bing huddled in a corner behind a pillar to avoid the wind, holding a biography in his hands.
Bai Sheng pushed open the door and entered, looking in the direction of the swaying curtains, leaving behind the words, "You can go back now. Master will not come again."
Zhou Bing closed the book, listened quietly to the receding footsteps, and closed his eyes in despair.
The wind howled, as if lamenting all the injustices.
In the Lotus Pond, Ji Lin closed the doors and windows that were rattling in the wind. When she turned around, a dagger was pressed against her neck.
"Miss Ji, we meet again."
A mocking voice came from the front, and a young man's face appeared before Ji Lin.
Ji Lin froze, feeling guilty and afraid, and said, "You...you..."
Gu Jinning maintained a male voice and said, "You tricked me last time, making me hide for a long time. What are you planning to do to me today?"
Ji Lin's face turned pale, and she explained in a trembling voice, "Young...Young hero, it was a misunderstanding last time. My wet nurse suddenly went back to get something and accidentally bumped into her. She's timid, that's why she was shouting and yelling."
"I'm so glad you're alright, young hero. I was worried sick about you for a while." Ji Lin said with tears in her eyes, her voice full of sincerity.
Gu Jinning snorted, "Fine, where's the money?"
Ji Lin turned her eyes to the side and stammered, "I've put the money in a safe place. I didn't know you were coming today, so I wasn't prepared."
"Oh, I see. Then I'll have to pay overdue compensation."
Gu Jinning didn't give her a chance to explain. She knocked her unconscious with a karate chop, caught her steadily with her other hand, carried her into the inner room, tied her hands and feet behind her back, gagged her, and then pushed her under the bed, stuffing a note under her arm.
"Miss, you can sleep here. I'll borrow your face for a moment."
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