Futile Devices Scans

When Old Tao learned that Tao Mo had returned from Gu She’s place, he immediately came to ask about it.

Tao Mo then recounted everything that had happened that day.

After listening, Old Tao let out a long breath and said, “This outcome is not too bad.”

Tao Mo widened his eyes. “Two lives were lost, and that is still not too bad? Master Tong and Madam Tong had to send off their child before them. Nothing could be more tragic.”

Old Tao gave a dry laugh. “Young Master is right.”

After thinking for a moment, Tao Mo said, “But Gu She’s view was quite similar to yours.”

Old Tao said, “Is Young Master praising me?”

Tao Mo looked puzzled. “How so?”

“Gu She is Master One-Hammer’s prized disciple and enjoys great renown in Tanyang County. If my view is similar to his, am I not basking in his reflected glory?”

“In my heart, Old Tao is very remarkable too,” Tao Mo said sincerely. Old Tao had quietly done many things. Even though he never spoke of them, that did not mean Tao Mo knew nothing. He knew even better how much effort lay behind those things.

Old Tao’s face showed gratification. “These two cases are neither light nor truly grave. Even if the truth has come to light, Young Master must still be cautious when passing judgment. Remember to take the Tong family’s dignity into consideration.”

“Dignity?” Tao Mo froze, then immediately understood. “Do not worry. I definitely will not let the matter between Miss Tong and Cai Fengyuan spread outside.” This had never been anyone else’s business to begin with, so why let others wag their tongues over it? Merely because he had visited Master One-Hammer’s residence once, rumors had already spread everywhere. If this matter truly got out, would it not disturb Miss Tong even beneath the earth?

He pondered for a long while. Perhaps he could handle the two cases separately? After all, outsiders did not know the relationship between Cai Fengyuan and Miss Tong, and the Tong family would naturally cover the matter tightly and never let it spread.

He looked at Old Tao and was just about to voice his thought when he remembered his appointment with Gu She tomorrow. He immediately swallowed the words back down and said vaguely, “I still need to consider this matter further.”

Old Tao smiled. “That is only natural. Young Master may think it over slowly. I will go check the kitchen first.”

“Alright.” After Old Tao left, Tao Mo secretly breathed a sigh of relief. There were already so few things he could say to Gu She. Perhaps this matter would let them exchange a few more words.

A night and half a day passed in waiting.

After noon, Hao Guozi began going back and forth between the main gate and the study.

By the Shen hour, Tao Mo could no longer sit still. He personally stood in the courtyard, staring in the direction of the main gate.

Seeing him simply standing there, Hao Guozi worried he would tire himself out and said, “Who knows when Young Master Gu will come? Young Master, why not sit in the courtyard, brew a pot of tea, and wait slowly?”

“Wait slowly? My heart is so anxious it might die. How can I be slow?” Tao Mo scratched his head.

At this sight, Hao Guozi shook his head repeatedly. “Young Master, you cannot go on like this. In the future, Young Master Gu will have you completely in his grasp, and you will never be able to turn things around.”

Tao Mo muttered, “He is already smarter than I am.”

“Even if that is true, you cannot make it so obvious.” Seeing that Tao Mo was not listening, Hao Guozi changed his approach. “If Young Master obeys Young Master Gu in everything, Young Master Gu will find you boring.”

“Boring? Will he?” Tao Mo immediately grew worried.

Seeing that he had managed to persuade him, Hao Guozi nodded repeatedly. “Young Master Gu is very hard to predict.”

“But last time, when I contradicted him, he did not seem pleased either.”

Hao Guozi’s eyes widened. “Young Master contradicted him?”

Tao Mo was deeply vexed. “I did not mean to.”

“Haha…” Hao Guozi rubbed his palms together. “Young Master did well. Do not worry. Young Master Gu has always kept his emotions hidden. Even if he is pleased, it is hard to tell.”

Tao Mo hesitated. “So he was pleased?”

“He was pleased, he was pleased,” Hao Guozi said. “So Young Master must not be overly polite with him.”

Although Tao Mo felt something was not quite right, he could not say exactly what.

Hao Guozi turned and bounced toward the main gate again. “I’ll go see whether he has arrived.”

Tao Mo pondered alone for a while, then suddenly muttered to himself, “He did not see Gu She’s expression at the time. How would he know whether Gu She was pleased?”

A moment later, Hao Guozi slowly walked back in.

Tao Mo asked in disappointment, “He still has not arrived?”

“No, he has already arrived.” Hao Guozi still acted extremely leisurely.

Tao Mo froze for a moment, then immediately ran toward the outside, only for Hao Guozi to stop him with one hand.

“What are you doing?” Tao Mo asked in astonishment.

Hao Guozi said, “Last time I went in Young Master’s place to see him, he put on airs for ages. This time he has delivered himself to our door, so Young Master cannot appear too eager either.”

“But I really am very eager.” Tao Mo pried his fingers away and vanished in a flash.

Hao Guozi sighed, turned around, and slowly chased after him. When he reached the entrance, he saw Gu She’s carriage casting a shadow as its wheels rolled away.

“Young Master!” he shouted.

A head suddenly popped out from the carriage shaft. Gu Xiaojia made a pig nose at him.

Hao Guozi stamped his foot in anger.

Sitting inside the carriage, Tao Mo was absentmindedly thinking over what Hao Guozi had said earlier. Since meeting Gu She, he had heard Gu She speak very little. Could it truly be because Gu She found him too boring that he was so quiet?

“What are you thinking about?” Gu She asked casually.

“You,” Tao Mo answered honestly.

Gu She raised a brow. “Thinking what?”

Tao Mo said, “Thinking… thinking about what I should say so I will not seem boring.”

The corner of Gu She’s mouth lifted slightly. “When have I ever said you were boring?”

Tao Mo’s eyes brightened.

Gu She continued blandly, “However, I have never said you were interesting either.”

Tao Mo looked bewildered. “Then am I interesting or boring?”

“Perhaps,” Gu She said with a faint smile that was not quite a smile, “somewhere between the two.”

Tao Mo seemed even more confused.

Gu She changed the topic. “How do you intend to conclude Cai Fengyuan’s case?”

Tao Mo said, “Regardless of whether or not he died for love, he threw himself into the river and killed himself. No one else can be blamed.”

Gu She said, “He died where he ought to have died.”

Tao Mo’s heart wavered at once. He did not know whether he should “interestingly” refute him or “boringly” remain silent. He lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside. Seeing that the street looked more and more familiar, he could not help asking, “Are we going to the Tong residence?”

Gu She said, “Correct.”

Tao Mo tested cautiously, “For Cai Fengyuan’s case?”

“No.”

“Then… Miss Tong’s case?”

“You could say that.”

Tao Mo was about to ask more, but Gu She cut him off. “Are you thirsty?”

“A little.” Tao Mo looked at him expectantly.

But Gu She did not brew tea for him as he had expected. “In that case, conserve some water.”

Conserve some water?

Tao Mo spent the entire journey pondering this sentence. Only when the carriage reached the Tong residence did inspiration strike, and he realized Gu She’s “conserve some water” was the same as telling him to “shut up.” His face immediately flushed red.

Seeing Tao Mo climb down from the carriage with a red face, Gu Xiaojia looked at Gu She suspiciously. “Young Master, did you…”

Gu She looked back at him calmly.

“…Nothing.” Gu Xiaojia turned his head and went to knock on the door.

The gatekeeper of the Tong residence was already used to their frequent visits every few days. After hurrying in to report, he led them through the gate.

As they approached the main hall, they could see that seated together with Master Tong and Madam Tong was a young married woman.

Although the three sat facing one another, the atmosphere was completely silent.

Gu She stepped over the threshold first.

When the young woman saw him, the solemnity on her face eased slightly, and she nodded. “Senior Brother Gu.”

Master Tong came back to himself as though waking from a dream and stood up. “Young Master Gu, Magistrate Tao.”

The young woman looked toward Tao Mo in surprise. “Could this be the newly appointed county magistrate?”

Tao Mo said, “That is correct.”

The young woman said, “I am Yang Chuiliu. My father is Yang Chuiyi.”

Seeing that Tao Mo showed no reaction at all, Gu She explained, “My teacher’s daughter.”

Tao Mo asked in surprise, “You have another famous teacher besides Master One-Hammer?”

The young woman froze, and laughter immediately gathered in her eyes. “My father’s surname is Yang and his given name is Chuiyi. His sobriquet is Master One-Hammer.”

Tao Mo was so embarrassed he wished he could disappear into the floor.

Gu She asked the young woman, “Why have you come here?”

The young woman looked toward Madam Tong. “I was just about to ask Aunt for clarification on two matters.”

Madam Tong’s face turned pale.

Master Tong waved his hand. “We can speak of this later.”

The young woman said, “It is rare for Senior Brother and Magistrate Tao to be present. Some matters are easier to explain clearly with them here. Do you not agree, Aunt?”

Madam Tong said nothing.

Master Tong’s expression darkened. “I will naturally give an explanation for this matter later.”

The young woman narrowed her eyes. “Tanyang County has always had a custom. When there is a dispute that cannot be clearly judged, it may be handed over to litigation masters for judgment. Failing that, it may be submitted to the authorities according to the laws of our dynasty.”

Hearing the word “authorities,” Tao Mo’s spirits lifted slightly.

Previous

Main

Next