Shijian (simplified: 侍剑, traditional: 侍劍, pinyin: Shìjiàn, jyutping: si6 gim3) was Shi Zhongyu’s servant in the Changle Guild. She was raised by Bei Haishi after her parents died and helped Shi Qing and Min Rou escape when they were captured.
Biography
Early life
Shijian’s parents died when she was young, and she was taken in by Bei Haishi, who raised her as his own daughter. She served as a servant in the Changle Guild and was assigned to serve Shi Zhongyu when he became the guild leader.
Serving Shi Potian
When Shi Potian (mistaken for Shi Zhongyu) was brought to the guild headquarters, Shijian was assigned to serve him. She was confused by Shi Potian’s honest and virtuous nature, which was completely different from Shi Zhongyu’s cunning and manipulative personality.
Shijian was initially suspicious of Shi Potian’s true identity, as his behavior was so different from what she expected. However, as she spent more time with him, she began to see his true character and developed respect for him.
Helping Shi Qing and Min Rou
When Shi Qing and Min Rou came to the guild headquarters looking for their son, Bei Haishi captured them and imprisoned them, hoping to use them as leverage to force Shi Zhongyu to return.
Shijian, moved by Shi Qing and Min Rou’s plight, stole Bei Haishi’s fan and used it to order their release. She then helped them escape from the guild headquarters, providing them with horses and directions to safety.
Confrontation with Bei Haishi
When Bei Haishi discovered what Shijian had done, he was deeply disappointed. He confronted her, saying that he had raised her for over ten years and treated her like a daughter, yet she had betrayed him.
Shijian explained that she had acted out of concern for Bei Haishi, fearing that if something happened to Shi Qing and Min Rou, the guild leader would be angry when he returned. However, Bei Haishi was not convinced and decided to expel her from the guild.
Final fate
In the revised edition of the novel, Shijian was saved by Shi Potian when Ding Dang attempted to kill her. In earlier editions, she was killed by Ding Dang, but this was changed to reflect Shi Potian’s kind nature.
Personality and characteristics
Kindness and compassion
Shijian was a kind and compassionate person who was willing to help others, even at great risk to herself. Her decision to help Shi Qing and Min Rou escape demonstrated her moral courage and her ability to see through Bei Haishi’s deception.
Loyalty and gratitude
Despite Bei Haishi’s villainous nature, Shijian remained grateful to him for raising her. However, her sense of justice and compassion led her to act against his wishes when she saw innocent people being harmed.
Wisdom and insight
Shijian was able to see through the confusion surrounding Shi Potian’s identity and recognize his true character. Her insight and wisdom helped her make difficult decisions in complex situations.
Behind the scenes
Shijian represents the theme of compassion and moral courage in Ode to Gallantry. Her character demonstrates that even those who are raised in difficult circumstances can maintain their sense of right and wrong and act with courage and compassion.
The character’s name, “Shijian” (侍劍), combines “Shi” (侍), meaning “to serve” or “to attend,” with “Jian” (劍), meaning “sword,” suggesting a character who serves others with the sharpness and clarity of a sword, cutting through deception and revealing the truth.