Futile Devices Scans

Gu Xiaojia chased after Tao Mo for two whole streets before finally catching up to him. “Y-You… how are you walking so fast?”

Tao Mo looked puzzled. “Not really. I only have two legs too.”

Gu Xiaojia nearly choked on his own breath.

Seeing him speechless, Tao Mo turned to leave again. Gu Xiaojia hurriedly jumped in front of him to block his path. “Where are you going?”

“Back to the county yamen.”

Gu Xiaojia was alarmed. “Why are you already going back to the county yamen so soon?”

Tao Mo said shyly, “I want Adviser Jin to write me a calling card.”

“Well… actually, the calling card isn’t that important.” Gu Xiaojia hesitated for a while, then grabbed Tao Mo’s hand and pulled him back. “Come with me. I’ll announce you for you.”

“That won’t do, that won’t do.” Tao Mo quickly shook off his hand. “Etiquette must not be neglected. If I offend Gu She, that would be terrible.”

Gu Xiaojia thought to himself: If you keep dawdling like this and refuse to come, that’s what will anger Young Master. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, Young Master definitely won’t say anything.”

“That still isn’t appropriate,” Tao Mo insisted. “If others were to find out, it might make them dissatisfied with Young Master.”

Who would become dissatisfied with Young Master over such a trivial matter?

Gu Xiaojia was practically speechless.

Tao Mo said, “How about this—I’ll return to the county yamen first. Once Adviser Jin has time to write me a proper calling card, I’ll come pay a formal visit.”

Gu Xiaojia asked suspiciously, “Why wait until Adviser Jin has time?”

Blushing, Tao Mo replied, “Adviser Jin is currently handling official duties. Something private like writing a calling card really shouldn’t trouble him. Naturally, I should wait until he has free time.”

At this rate, who knew what year or month that would be. Gu Xiaojia glared at him. “You’re planning to make my young master wait like this?”

Tao Mo looked baffled. “I haven’t even submitted a calling card yet. Why would your young master be waiting for me?”

Gu Xiaojia choked.

Grinding his teeth, he finally said, “Fine, fine! I’ll write the calling card for you.”

“That… doesn’t seem very appropriate.” Tao Mo was still hesitant.

Gu Xiaojia was so angry his hair nearly stood on end. “What’s inappropriate about it now?”

Tao Mo said, “If your young master recognizes your handwriting, he may think I’m not sincere enough.”

“You’re overthinking things.” Gu Xiaojia stamped his foot fiercely. “Don’t worry. I absolutely won’t let Young Master recognize my handwriting!”

Since he had boasted so confidently, he could only force himself to follow through.

As Tao Mo happily ground the ink beside him, Gu Xiaojia felt nothing but the misery of having brought this upon himself.

“Why are you writing with your left hand?” Tao Mo asked.

Gu Xiaojia replied irritably, “Young Master’s eyesight is extraordinary. If I used my right hand, no matter how I wrote, he would recognize it at a glance.”

Tao Mo exclaimed in surprise, “So you can actually write with both hands.”

“No. I can only write with my right.” As he spoke, another crooked stroke landed on the paper.

Tao Mo: “……”

It took an entire quarter of an hour before the calling card was finally completed.

“This…” Tao Mo looked troubled. “I wonder whether Gu She will even be able to read it.”

Looking at the calling card himself, Gu Xiaojia also lacked confidence. “Probably… maybe?”

The two stared at each other.

Gu Xiaojia said, “How about we just forget the calling card altogether?”

“It’s still better to have one.” Tao Mo quickly snatched it back. “After all, I’m illiterate. Writing something like this is perfectly understandable.”

Illiterate?

Understandable?

Gu Xiaojia viciously bit down on the penholder.

⸻

The calling card was presented.

What sat before Gu She now was no longer porridge, but tea.

Gu Xiaojia carefully observed Gu She’s expression.

“Invite him in.” Gu She set the calling card aside and spoke indifferently.

“Yes.” Gu Xiaojia let out a sigh of relief and immediately turned to summon Tao Mo, who had been waiting outside the gate.

Tao Mo entered nervously, his first glance going to Gu She’s expression, his second to the calling card lying beside the teacup.

“You wrote this?” Gu She asked.

Tao Mo wanted to nod, but shame overwhelmed him. His face flushed red as he stood there awkwardly, unable to advance or retreat.

Gu She said, “Using my household’s brush, ink, paper, and inkstone?”

Tao Mo stammered, “I-I left in a hurry and didn’t have time to prepare anything. Fortunately… fortunately this young fellow helped me.”

Since they were now in the same boat, Gu Xiaojia tried to help him out. “Magistrate Tao was worried about breaking etiquette, so he insisted on personally writing a calling card for Young Master.”

“Personally?” Gu She’s gaze sharpened like lightning as it swept over Gu Xiaojia’s hands.

Gu Xiaojia lowered his head and saw the ink stains clearly smeared across them.

Tao Mo noticed too and hurriedly said, “Don’t blame him. I forced him.”

“Forced?” Gu She smiled faintly. “You forced someone from my residence?”

Gu Xiaojia felt like smashing his head against a pillar.

Why did every explanation somehow make things worse?

Tao Mo finally realized what he had said and hurriedly corrected himself. “N-No, I mean requested.”

Gu She lightly tapped the calling card with his finger. “Let’s set that matter aside for now. Why have you come to my residence?”

Tao Mo cupped his hands. “I have a favor to ask.”

Gu She’s lips curved slightly upward. He leisurely picked up his teacup and took a slow sip before asking, “What favor?”

Tao Mo said, “I would like to ask you to accompany me to the Tong residence.”

Gu She asked, “For what?”

“To examine a corpse.”

Gu She’s fingers stiffened. A trace of disbelief flashed quickly through his eyes. “What did you say?”

Thinking he had not spoken clearly enough, Tao Mo carefully enunciated each word. “Ex-am-ine… the corpse.”

Gu Xiaojia abruptly leaped to his feet. “What do you think my young master is? You actually want him to accompany you to examine a corpse?”

Tao Mo hesitated. “I don’t understand corpse examination at all, so I thought Young Master Gu might perhaps know something about it.”

Gu Xiaojia sneered. “Doesn’t your county yamen already have a coroner? Instead of inviting a proper coroner, you insist on dragging my young master to examine a corpse. You’re obviously making fun of him!”

“No, no, no.” Tao Mo frantically waved his hands. “I only thought that since everyone asks Young Master Gu for help, he must surely have his own methods. That’s why I shamelessly came to ask. It’s alright if he doesn’t know after all. I-I’ll just leave.”

He quickly turned around and had barely taken a step when Gu She said coolly, “Wait.”

Tao Mo froze in place and slowly turned back, looking at him uneasily.

“I remember Miss Tong’s body has already been examined,” Gu She said. “Why examine it again?”

Tao Mo replied, “Someone beat the grievance drum for Miss Tong this morning. I thought perhaps something had been overlooked. Just as Adviser Jin said—the only person in this world who truly knows the truth is Miss Tong herself.”

Gu She asked, “Adviser Jin was the one who advised you to perform a second examination?”

Tao Mo nodded.

“In that case, I’ll accompany you there.” Gu She stood up.

Gu Xiaojia cried anxiously, “Young Master mustn’t go! Young Master’s noble personage cannot possibly do something so… so filthy!”

“Filthy?” Gu She cast him a cold glance.

Gu Xiaojia lowered his head. “I misspoke.”

“Let’s go.” Gu She gestured to Tao Mo.

Tao Mo was overjoyed, practically dancing with excitement.

⸻

Since Tao Mo had run to the Gu residence on foot, the only way to reach the Tong residence now was by riding in Gu She’s carriage.

Only after climbing aboard did Tao Mo realize what kind of luxury Gu She normally enjoyed.

Fox-fur blankets, sable-fur cushions, jade pillows, and a purple-gold hand warmer. A small huanghuali tea table was fixed to the carriage itself, upon which rested a full set of white jade tea ware. No matter how the carriage moved, not a single piece trembled.

Tao Mo asked curiously, “Why don’t they move?”

Gu She slowly brewed tea. “Magnetic stone.”

Tao Mo widened his eyes. “You mean they’re embedded inside the table?”

Gu She placed one teacup before him. “How do you intend to solve this case?”

Tao Mo said softly, “Take it one step at a time.”

Gu She turned his head and gave him a meaningful glance. “That works too.”

⸻

When they arrived at the Tong residence, Gu Xiaojia went ahead to present the calling card.

The gatekeeper said, “Today is the young lady’s funeral procession. Master and Madam have both gone.”

The carriage door was abruptly flung open as Tao Mo jumped down in alarm. “How long ago did they leave?”

The gatekeeper replied, “Before dawn.”

Tao Mo climbed right back into the carriage and waved at Gu Xiaojia. “Quick, let’s chase after them!”

Gu Xiaojia stared at him in shock. “Chase after what?”

Tao Mo said, “If they bury her, we won’t be able to examine the corpse anymore.”

Gu Xiaojia stamped his foot. “Once the funeral procession begins, the coffin is already nailed shut. How could there still be a corpse examination?”

The gatekeeper became even more astonished upon hearing their exchange. “Why are you examining the corpse again?”

Tao Mo said, “Never mind that for now. Quickly tell us where they’re burying her.”

The gatekeeper lowered his head. “This humble one doesn’t know.”

Tao Mo collapsed onto the carriage seat, clutching his head. “What are we supposed to do now?”

Gu She said, “How about having some tea instead?”

Tao Mo looked up and met Gu She’s clear black-and-white eyes. His heart instantly stirred, and all his frustration and agitation melted away. In his eyes and in his heart, there was nothing left except the way Gu She was looking at him.

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