Futile Devices Scans

So when Hao Guozi received word from the gatekeeper that Gu She himself was waiting outside, he nearly fell off his chair in shock.

“Gu She? Are you certain it’s really Gu She?” His eyes widened dramatically.

The gatekeeper trembled at his reaction, mistakenly thinking their magistrate must have somehow offended Gu She. Shrinking back nervously, he said, “This humble one has worked as a gatekeeper for decades. I am absolutely certain it is Gu She.” After a pause, he thought that since he had accepted the family’s wages, he should help resolve their troubles as well, so he added, “The county yamen has a back gate. Go out through there and turn into the alley, and you’ll reach West Main Street. You can let the magistrate leave from there.”

Hao Guozi stared blankly. “Go where?”

“Anywhere he likes,” the gatekeeper replied. “I know what kind of person Gu She is. He would never cling stubbornly or cause a scene. If the magistrate is absent, he will most likely just leave.”

Though the gatekeeper had misunderstood the situation entirely, his suggestion somehow achieved the same effect.

Hao Guozi’s heart stirred for a moment, but then he reconsidered. Tao Mo valued Gu She so highly that if he discovered Hao Guozi had turned him away at the door, he would surely be unhappy. Though Tao Mo would not necessarily punish him, Young Master had only recently recovered from a serious illness. If this matter weighed heavily on his heart and worsened his condition, Hao Guozi would never forgive himself.

As he remained undecided, he suddenly saw a richly dressed young man stroll calmly through the moon gate and head directly toward them.

“Who are you?” Hao Guozi jumped out in front of him.

The elegantly dressed youth raised a brow. “Gu She.”

“You are Gu She?” Hao Guozi gasped in shock and immediately began scrutinizing him carefully.

Sure enough, he was extraordinarily handsome—even more graceful and charming than the top courtesans of Qunxiang Tower. Instantly, Hao Guozi grew even more worried for his young master. Back then, merely because of Young Master Yiyu, Tao Mo had already ended up in his current miserable state. Who knew what kind of trouble this Gu She, who clearly surpassed Young Master Yiyu a hundredfold, might bring?

Gu She had long since grown accustomed to being stared at and found nothing unusual about it. His gaze swept lightly around the surroundings before he asked, “Where is Tao Mo?”

“He’s currently listening to Adviser Jin read to him,” Hao Guozi answered reflexively.

“Where?”

Hao Guozi nearly answered again before suddenly becoming alert. “Why should I tell you?”

Gu She narrowed his eyes.

Instantly, Hao Guozi felt a chill run straight through his heart. Stiffening his resolve, he forced himself to say, “Young Master never allows anyone to disturb him while studying. If you have business with him, you may tell me and I will pass it along.”

“Studying?” Gu She’s gaze drifted into the distance, seemingly lost in thought.

Hao Guozi felt secretly annoyed. He was a whole living person standing right there, yet Gu She dismissed him as though he did not exist. They had literally been speaking moments ago!

“Bring him here.” As he spoke, Gu She stepped directly into the study where Hao Guozi had been sitting moments earlier. Finding a spot warmed by sunlight, he leisurely seated himself.

Hao Guozi stared at him in disbelief. From childhood until now, he had never seen someone so brazenly proactive, entering another person’s residence as though it were his own backyard.

“Serve tea.” Gu She lightly tapped a finger against the table.

“Yes, sir,” the gatekeeper answered immediately before turning and running off.

Hao Guozi wanted to stop him, but after reconsidering, he felt doing so would seem petty. Thus he simply said, “Wait here. I’ll go inform my young master.”

Gu She ignored him entirely, sitting motionless like a meditating monk.

The moment Hao Guozi turned around, he ran off—but not to find Tao Mo as promised. Instead, he went to find Old Tao.

Old Tao was equally astonished upon hearing that Gu She had personally come to visit.

Over the past few days, he had intentionally gathered information about Tanyang County and already developed a rough understanding of Master One-Hammer’s final disciple. He knew that Gu She ordinarily disliked interacting with others and only occasionally socialized with fellow disciples. He also knew the young man was proud, exceptionally talented, and had inherited Master One-Hammer’s true teachings. Though Gu She himself never entered official circles, whenever one of his fellow disciples encountered an especially difficult lawsuit, they all liked seeking his advice—and none ever returned empty-handed.

How could someone like that suddenly appear at their doorstep of his own accord without leaving Old Tao utterly baffled?

“Did he say anything?” Old Tao asked.

“He said he came looking for Young Master.” After hesitating briefly, Hao Guozi still ended up confessing how Tao Mo had previously instructed him to deliver a calling card to Gu She’s residence.

Old Tao frowned. “So Young Master truly wishes to become acquainted with him.”

Quietly, Hao Guozi added, “That Gu She really is very handsome.”

Old Tao shot him a glare. “Do not speak nonsense!”

“Yes.”

“Go report the matter to Young Master.”

“…Yes.” Hao Guozi was about to leave when Old Tao suddenly stopped him again.

“In the future, there is no need to come ask me about matters like this. Report directly to Young Master instead.” He paused meaningfully before looking straight at Hao Guozi. “Do not forget—Young Master is the true master of this household.”

Hao Guozi jolted. Old Tao’s gaze felt like a basin of icy water dumped over his head, and he hurriedly ran off.

Meanwhile, Tao Mo was already dizzy from listening to Adviser Jin read aloud. The moment he heard Gu She had arrived at the residence, he immediately sprang up and rushed outside.

After charging forward five or six steps, however, he suddenly realized how disgracefully overeager he looked. He hurried back and addressed Adviser Jin, who was calmly closing his book.

“Adviser truly explained things wonderfully. This student has benefited greatly.” As he spoke, Tao Mo sincerely bowed deeply before immediately darting away again.

Poor Adviser Jin, startled by the unexpected bow and just about to return the courtesy, froze awkwardly in place.

Trying to smooth things over, Hao Guozi explained, “Please don’t mind it, Adviser. Young Master never liked studying before, but he has always respected teachers properly.”

Adviser Jin quickly waved his hands. “I would not dare. I am merely an adviser hired by the magistrate, occasionally reading aloud from books. I am unworthy of terms such as ‘teacher’ and ‘guidance.’”

Still, Tao Mo’s respectful bow genuinely did slightly alter Adviser Jin’s previous opinion of him. He realized that Tao Mo was not pretending to be foolish—he truly was simple-minded. As a result, Adviser Jin became even less willing to involve himself deeply in county affairs. Collecting a salary, recording proceedings, and quietly growing old would suffice.

But whatever Adviser Jin thought was irrelevant to Tao Mo.

At present, Tao Mo’s entire mind revolved around Gu She.

His legs moved so quickly that even after rushing into the study, he could not stop himself immediately, overshooting by another four or five steps before finally halting awkwardly and turning to look at Gu She, who sat beside the window.

“Y-Young Master Gu… you came?” Tao Mo greeted him breathlessly, smiling so brightly his entire face lit up.

Gu She pointed toward the teacup resting upon the tea table, his tone filled with disdain. “Inferior tea.”

Tao Mo instantly flushed red and hurried over to move the cup elsewhere. “Shall I pour you another?”

“Pour?”

That single lightly spoken word made Tao Mo blush even harder. “Brew? …Boil?”

Gu She remained silent.

Completely ignorant about the art of tea, Tao Mo could only ask helplessly, “Then… what tea do you like to drink? I can go buy it for you.”

“Why did you break our appointment?” Gu She abruptly changed the subject.

“Yesterday there was a court case, and I had to preside over trial.” Beneath Gu She’s gaze, Tao Mo’s confidence immediately weakened considerably, yet he still insisted, “As the parent-official of this county, I naturally must prioritize the affairs of the common people.”

Gu She stared at him directly.

Under that unwavering gaze, Tao Mo’s entire body grew hot, and sweat began forming in his palms.

“Was the matter you wished to consult me about related to yesterday’s case?” Gu She asked.

In truth, Tao Mo had never properly decided what he wanted to ask about. But hearing Gu She say this, he immediately nodded eagerly.

“Then afterward, who guided you through it?”

“No one guided me.” Tao Mo grew increasingly uneasy. “Did I judge the case badly?”

Gu She pressed his lips together slightly.

Tao Mo’s heart immediately began pounding wildly. “I know I’m illiterate, and my understanding of the law is shallow. But I truly do want to become a good official. If you think I judged poorly, I can summon Madam Liao and Wang Pengcheng back and retry the case.”

Gu She remained silent, making Tao Mo even more anxious. “Was I not supposed to have him beaten? I just couldn’t hold back. How about this—I’ll summon him back and let him beat me in return?”

Watching Tao Mo scratch at his head in panic, something flickered through Gu She’s eyes.

“This was merely an ordinary minor case,” he said at last. “If you encounter difficult matters again in the future, you may come ask me.”

Only then did Tao Mo finally breathe in relief, hope unconsciously appearing within his eyes.

Yet just as he relaxed, he saw Gu She stand and begin walking toward the door.

“You’re leaving already?” Tao Mo hurriedly asked.

Gu She turned back, expression cold and detached. “Is there something else?”

“If you do not mind… would you stay and have a meal together?” Tao Mo asked shyly.

Gu She’s gaze drifted toward that thoroughly rejected cup of tea.

Tao Mo immediately wilted.

From the county yamen, Gu She returned directly to his residence and went straight into the study.

Gu Xiaojia was tidying the room. Seeing him enter, he picked up a slip of paper and asked, “Young Master, should this be kept?”

Gu She reached out to take it.

Written neatly upon the paper in proper regular script were four characters:

“Deep Affection Between Mother and Son.”

Gu Xiaojia saw Gu She staring thoughtfully at the slip and obediently remained silent nearby.

After a while, Gu She slowly tore the paper apart and tossed it toward him.

Curious, Gu Xiaojia asked, “Which litigation master was this originally written for? I know Young Master often advises your fellow disciples.”

Gu She lazily glanced at him.

Gu Xiaojia stuck out his tongue and immediately stopped asking further questions.

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