Chapter 110: Breaking the Stalemate

Gu Huaizhi got off the carriage and stood by the window, and saw her staring at the mountain peak in a daze. “What are you thinking about?”

Su Wan snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Gu Huaizhi, as if trying to discern something from his face.

“It’s time to get off the carriage. If we head up the mountain early, we can enjoy peony lettuce and yellow bean rolls,” Gu Huaizhi said as he lifted the curtain and extended his hand to Su Wan.

Su Wan was stunned. A Taoist temple?

Not Guo Temple?

She quickly got out of the carriage, placed her hand in Gu Huaizhi’s palm and used his strength to jump down. “Aren’t we going to Guo Temple?”

Gu Huaizhi asked back, “Do you not want to go to Guo Temple?”

“I’m a very petty person. Master Huiren cured my father, but he didn’t treat me kindly when he saw me that day. Although he is nominally my master, if I went to Guo Temple, I would have to pay my respects to him.”

Su Wan spread her hands and said, “I don’t want to go.”

“Then we won’t go,” Gu Huaizhi replied, walking alongside her.

Su Wan started to question him, “You seem quite familiar with this Taoist temple. Have you been here before?”

“I have,” Gu Huaizhi replied straightforwardly. “I’ve visited many places seeking medical treatments and remedies.”

Su Wan plucked a blade of grass and walked ahead of him, her curiosity piqued as she walked backward. “Have you been to Jiangnan? Is the scenery there as beautiful as they say?”

“The mountains and rivers are beautiful, and the climate is pleasant,” Gu Huaizhi said with a gentle expression. “Next March, when the willow catkins are like smoke and the qiong flowers are in full bloom, I’ll take you to Jiangnan.”

Next year?

Su Wan’s heart skipped a beat. Was he planning a special trip for her?

“I’m afraid that’s not possible.” Su Wan noticed his smile fade slightly, and she continued cheerfully, “You have the provincial exam in August. If you pass and become a juren, you’ll have the metropolitan exam in February next year. After passing that, you’ll have to take the palace exam, which won’t be finished until March.

The journey from the capital to Jiangnan is long, taking at least a month. If you’re appointed to the Hanlin Academy, you won’t be able to leave the capital freely during your tenure. How will you have time to go to Jiangnan?”

Gu Huaizhi smiled, “We can go later when we have time.”

Later, huh?

Su Wan’s eyes sparkled as she turned around. “Let’s talk about it later then.”

Gu Huaizhi watched her with a light step, dressed in a silver-red long skirt, she stood out vividly against the layers of fresh green in the forest.

Su Wan stood at a fork in the road. To the left was a path leading to a Taoist temple halfway up the mountain, and to the right was a path to Guo Temple at the top of the mountain.

In the middle stood a tall stone stele with a partially solved Go game engraved on it. The weathered stone conveyed a sense of antiquity and hardship.

“Wow…” Su Wan observed closely and found the puzzle intriguing. It was the same one her maternal grandfather and grandfather had cracked. “Who put this here?”

Gu Huaizhi explained, “The only son of the Eldest Princess was a prodigy and obsessed with Go. By the age of seven, he rarely met his match. After defeating Abbot Huiming, he became a monk, residing in Guo Temple. This puzzle was created by him, and if someone can solve it, he will come down from the mountain.”

He turned to Su Wan with a meaningful look. “The Eldest Princess has been waiting for someone to solve the puzzle.”

Su Wan understood. Whoever solved it would become the Eldest Princess’s benefactor.

“Can you solve it?”

Su Wan picked up a Go piece, tossing it in her palm. She had a feeling that Gu Huaizhi could definitely solve it.

Gu Huaizhi replied nonchalantly, “No, I can’t.”

He headed left on the path.

Su Wan pouted, casually tossing the piece onto the board, then hurried to catch up with Gu Huaizhi.

Su Mixue and her entourage happened to be coming down the mountain. Her face was pale; on the way back to the capital, she had heard that her position as Crown Princess had been revoked, and her reputation in the capital was ruined. Furious, Su Mixue fell ill and went straight to Guo Temple, sending someone to the capital to gather information, to have a better grasp of the situation and respond accordingly.

Feeling much better today, Su Mixue received a letter from her father and specifically came down the mountain to return to the Su residence to discuss countermeasures.

She glanced instinctively at the stone stele. This puzzle was a beacon of hope and a source of despair.

Despite knowing that solving it would bring immense rewards, no one had been able to crack it.

Every time Su Mixue visited Guo Temple, she would try several times.

Her gaze swept over it, and suddenly, she looked again. Her feet moved involuntarily towards it, and she placed her finger on the board.

“It’s solved!”

Su Mixue stared at the board in shock, double-checking it to be sure. It was truly solved.

But no news had spread. Did the person who solved the puzzle not know about the immense hidden benefits it carried?

Qingyu stared down the path leading to the Taoist temple, uncertainly saying, “Young lady… I think I saw the eldest miss. She went to the Taoist temple with a man.”

Su Mixue’s face darkened as she looked at the empty mountain road, then her gaze fell back on the board. A sudden absurd thought struck her: had Su Wan solved the puzzle?

She let out a cold laugh. Su Wan didn’t enjoy playing Go; they had played before, and Su Wan wasn’t skilled.

Then she thought of Gu Huaizhi.

Could it have been him who solved it?

If so…

Su Mixue’s eyes sparkled, feeling that fate was favoring her.

“Qingyu, who solved this puzzle?”

Qingyu was taken aback but quickly caught on and said, “Young lady, you’re truly amazing for solving the puzzle!”

The others, unaware of the true circumstances, followed suit with their congratulations.

Su Mixue, keeping a sharp mind, discreetly pried out the Go piece that had solved the puzzle. If Su Wan didn’t come forward to claim the credit for solving the puzzle, she would seek out Xie Wuya and solve it in his presence.

That way, it wouldn’t be considered stealing Su Wan’s credit, right?

“Let’s go,” she said.

A look of determination flashed in Su Mixue’s eyes.

By solving this puzzle and bringing Xie Wuya down from the mountain, the Eldest Princess would owe her a favor.

—

Su Wan, who was unaware of the subsequent developments, arrived at the Taoist temple with Gu Huaizhi.

Several large stone-carved characters read: Zhimao Temple

A young Taoist monk approached them and asked, “Are you here for a vegetarian meal?”

“Indeed,” Gu Huaizhi replied, familiar with the place, and led Su Wan into the temple.

Su Wan followed him through several twists and turns, arriving at a place called ‘Immortal Spring’.

Gu Huaizhi picked up a clean bamboo tube nearby, filled it halfway with water, and handed it to Su Wan. “The spring water here is very sweet.”

Feeling thirsty, Su Wan took it and drank a sip. The water was exceptionally clear and sweet, prompting her to drink a few more gulps.

Gu Huaizhi took the bamboo tube, which still had a bit of water left. He poured it into his palm and flicked it onto Su Wan’s face.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Su Wan wiped her face and glared at Gu Huaizhi. “Are you being childish?”

Gu Huaizhi laughed, “There’s a legend that those who drink from the Immortal Spring can live to a hundred. Sprinkling the water on yourself can dispel bad luck and bring good fortune.”

“Superstitions,” Su Wan muttered, and grabbed the bamboo tube from him. She wet her fingers with the water and flicked it onto him. “May the Immortals bless you with top exam results.”

She handed the bamboo tube back to him. “You should drink some too.”

Gu Huaizhi brushed his sleeves, “It’s only effective for the birthday person.”

Su Wan: “…” So he really was here to celebrate her birthday?

Gu Huaizhi led her to the dining hall, and they encountered a Taoist priest coming their way. His eyes narrowed slightly, and recognized the man as the Taoist who concocted elixirs for Emperor Jing.