As the head of a county, Tao Mo was kept busy receiving gifts. Some were gifts of courtesy, while others were congratulatory New Year gifts.
Old Tao accepted them all.
Tao Mo originally had objections, but Old Tao recorded each gift in the account book one by one, then returned gifts of roughly equal value in exchange. After about three or four days, all the various entries in the account book had been balanced out.
Hao Guozi flipped through the account book several times, depressed. “There really isn’t anything left?”
Old Tao said, “Not a thing.”
Hao Guozi said, “Then accepting these gifts was a real loss.”
Old Tao only smiled without speaking.
Tao Mo said, “This is better. These favors cannot be owed.”
Old Tao said, “As an official appointed by the court, Young Master should not be exchanging gifts with them at all. But this is a bad habit of officialdom. If you blindly refuse everything, it will instead push people a thousand li away and leave them dissatisfied. That is why we can only resort to this method.”
Hao Guozi asked, “Then will those people feel comfortable with it?”
“Whether they feel comfortable inside or not, at least outwardly, the matter has been handled properly,” Old Tao said. “At the very least, they will not bear resentment.”
Tao Mo’s heart stirred. “Then why not prepare two more gifts and send them to Master One-Hammer and Master Lin?”
Old Tao asked, “And Young Master Gu She?”
Tao Mo widened his eyes. “He helped me. Naturally, I should send him one too.”
Old Tao shook his head.
Tao Mo frowned. “Why?”
“Although I agree that Young Master should maintain good relations with them, that friendship must be built on equality. If Young Master only tries to please them one-sidedly, it will instead make them look down on you.”
“Look down on me? Will they?” Tao Mo remembered that Hao Guozi had also said before that if he obeyed Gu She too much, Gu She would find him boring. Now Old Tao had added that Gu She might look down on him, so Tao Mo could not help feeling both nervous and confused.
Seeing him distracted, Old Tao knew he was thinking of Gu She again and could not help sighing. “Young Master, officialdom is treacherous. Who knows when someone may hide a knife behind a smile or kick you while you are down? You must proceed carefully at every step and never easily leave others with something they can use against you.”
Tao Mo said, “I will be careful.”
“I heard that Gu She has not been in Tanyang County for long. For him to surpass so many litigation masters in Tanyang County in such a short time and become Master One-Hammer’s favored disciple, he must be no ordinary person. I also heard that he is extremely particular about his daily food, clothing, residence, and transportation. Even if he is not from a famous aristocratic clan, he must surely come from a scholarly household. If Young Master becomes too deeply involved with someone like that, I fear it may bring trouble upon you.” Old Tao’s words were earnest and heartfelt.
How could Tao Mo not know these things? But where feelings led, he could not control himself.
Seeing his dejected expression, Old Tao finally softened. “If Young Master truly only favors men, it is not entirely impossible.”
Hao Guozi stared at him with wide eyes.
“However, continuing the family line is still necessary. After taking a wife, you may find two male concubines from clean family backgrounds and keep them quietly at home. As long as you do not flaunt it, that will do.” Old Tao sighed.
Tao Mo’s lips moved. Only after a long while did he say, “I have not thought that far ahead yet.”
Old Tao nodded. “Indeed, now is not the time to rush. The most important thing is to first establish yourself firmly in Tanyang County.”
Tao Mo lowered his head, but his heart was still thinking of Gu She.
For someone like Gu She, forget becoming his male concubine—even if Tao Mo delivered himself to Gu She’s door to become one, Gu She probably would not want him.
Seeing his expression, Old Tao was about to say more when Hao Guozi secretly gave him a look.
The two quietly left the room.
Old Tao asked, “What is it?”
Hao Guozi said, “Old Tao, you don’t understand Young Master’s temperament as thoroughly as I do.”
“Oh?”
“My young master may be infatuated, but he is not single-minded. If you truly intend to take male concubines for him, then just go ahead and look. If he really finds someone pleasing, then once Young Master and the newcomer are newly wedded and inseparable, he will naturally grow distant from Young Master Gu.” Hao Guozi smiled.
Old Tao frowned.
“If you don’t believe me, think of Young Master Yiyu,” Hao Guozi reminded him.
Old Tao said, “Young Master Yiyu is a different matter.”
Hao Guozi said, “In any case, this will be much more effective than forcing him to forget Gu She.”
Old Tao pondered. “I understand. I will consider the matter.”
Hao Guozi did not know how Old Tao intended to consider it. His own attention was quickly occupied by the approaching Lantern Festival. The lantern fair would be full of all kinds of people, and Tao Mo originally did not wish to go. But he could not withstand Hao Guozi’s repeated pestering and finally agreed.
The two wore felt hats and long padded jackets as they went out. Mixed into the crowd, they did not stand out.
Tanyang’s greatest distinguishing feature was its abundance of litigation masters. Therefore, one of the special features of Tanyang’s lantern fair was debates between litigation masters.
After Tao Mo and Hao Guozi admired the lanterns for a while, they were drawn toward a huge lantern surrounded by a dense crowd.
Hao Guozi was small and thin, so he slipped into the crowd in only a few moves.
Tao Mo could only wait outside.
After a while, Hao Guozi squeezed back out and said excitedly, “They’re arguing inside.”
“Arguing?” Tao Mo asked urgently. “What are they arguing about? Is it serious?”
“Heh heh, it’s only a war of words. Nothing serious. They’re all the sort of people who talk in full of classical phrases.” Hao Guozi grabbed his hand. “Young Master, come with me.” After having done it once, he squeezed through even faster the second time.
Tao Mo was not as nimble as he was. He stumbled and staggered his way inside, his wrist nearly bruised from being gripped. After finally reaching the very center, before he could even speak, the figure standing in the middle of the scene stole all his attention.
“Huh, Gu She?” Hao Guozi frowned. If he had known Gu She was here too, he would not have brought Young Master over.
Tao Mo’s state of mind was completely opposite to his. His gaze remained fixed, unblinking, upon that indifferent figure who seemed to regard everything beneath Heaven as beneath notice.
“Young Master Gu, why not serve as the arbiter and see whether Young Master Wang spoke better, or whether Young Master Chen argued more correctly?” The speaker was a middle-aged man, his face full of ingratiating smiles.
Young Master Wang and Young Master Chen, whose names had been called, looked toward Gu She at the same time, both with expressions of certain victory.
Gu She slowly said, “Each has its merits.”
The middle-aged man smiled. “That truly makes things difficult for me. You see, there is only one Lantern King, and it cannot be divided between two families.” As he spoke, he pointed toward the largest lantern in the center of the scene.
Young Master Wang smiled. “Young Master Chen’s theory on remarriage left me in awe. The Lantern King should naturally be taken by Young Master Chen.”
Young Master Chen replied with a smile that did not reach his eyes, “Young Master Wang’s theory on multiple husbands was even more brilliant and extraordinary. The Lantern King should still go to Young Master Wang.”
Young Master Wang’s smile vanished. “How has Young Master Chen taken my words out of context? When did I ever speak of multiple husbands?”
“Then was the core of my argument truly remarriage?”
The two looked at each other, gradually growing heated.
At the middle-aged man’s hint, Gu She finally spoke. “You are evenly matched. There is no need to determine a winner.”
Young Master Wang and Young Master Chen, who had originally been glaring at one another, turned their anger toward Gu She at the same time. “What does Young Master Gu mean by that?”
Gu She said, “The matters you are arguing over are already governed by imperial law. The detailed clauses are as dense as ox hair, and every possible circumstance has its official judgment. The topic you discussed was nothing more than empty generalities, without evidence, without basis, without regard for cause and consequence. Whether one side is higher or lower, it is all merely a heap of useless words. Why bother deciding victory or defeat?”
“You…” Young Master Wang and Young Master Chen flushed crimson from his words, then both flicked their sleeves and left.
The middle-aged man hurriedly took down the large lantern and brought it before Gu She, smiling obsequiously. “It seems this year’s Lantern King belongs to Young Master Gu again.”
Gu Xiaojia jumped out and said, “You give it every year, and every year my young master refuses it. Why bother?”
The middle-aged man smiled. “Yesterday cannot be kept, and today brings something new. He refused it yesterday, but today may not be the same.”
Gu Xiaojia was just about to retort when he heard Gu She say blandly, “In that case, give it to him.”
The middle-aged man followed the direction of his finger and happened to meet Tao Mo’s blank stare. “This person is Young Master Gu’s…”
The corner of Gu She’s mouth lifted slightly, and he turned to leave.
Tao Mo’s heart stirred. He was just about to chase after him when the middle-aged man blocked him and forcefully took down the large lantern hanging up high, stuffing it into his hands. “Congratulations, young master.”
Hao Guozi awkwardly held the lantern with all his limbs, afraid of poking it, afraid of knocking something off, unable to hold it too lightly or too heavily. He was extremely troubled. “What is this?”
The middle-aged man froze. “Are the two of you not from Tanyang?”
Hao Guozi said, “After living here a few more years, we will be.”
The middle-aged man smiled. “This is the Lantern King. There is only one every year, and it is given only to the winner of the debate contest. In fact, although Young Master Gu refuses to take it every year, he comes every year as well. Up to now, I have never seen anyone take the Lantern King from his hands.”
Hao Guozi muttered, “He does not want it himself, yet he will not let anyone else have it either. How domineering.”
The middle-aged man said, “Although Young Master Gu does not appear in court, he studied under Master One-Hammer, so speaking of it, he can be considered a famous litigation master as well. It is understandable that he cannot bear to see anyone else take away the Lantern King.”
Tao Mo suddenly asked, “Who came up with the rules for this Lantern King?”
The middle-aged man said proudly, “I did.”
Hao Guozi asked, “Who are you?”
The middle-aged man puffed out his chest. “I am the owner of Jade Rabbit Lantern Workshop.”
“……”
Hao Guozi nodded. “I finally understand why, aside from Gu She, there are no familiar faces participating in this so-called Lantern King contest. Winning is boring, and losing is embarrassing.”
The middle-aged man: “……”
Hao Guozi originally wanted to throw the lantern away, but Tao Mo firmly refused. In Tao Mo’s heart, this lantern was a gift from Gu She. Even treasuring it seemed insufficient, so how could he possibly discard it? Seeing Hao Guozi hold the lantern carelessly, afraid it might be damaged, Tao Mo simply took it himself.
Such a large lantern was extremely eye-catching when carried through the streets. Passersby kept turning their heads to look.
Tao Mo did not notice at all. As he walked, he asked, “Did you see where Gu She went?”
Hao Guozi casually pointed. “I think he went that way.”
Tao Mo quickened his pace. When he reached the bend, a figure suddenly appeared. Unable to stop in time, he nearly crashed into the person, only for the other party to catch him by the waist and guide him past.
“Forgive me.” The other person’s voice was elegant and clear, like flowing spring water.
Tao Mo moved the lantern aside, and his eyes immediately lit up.
The person before him was handsome and refined, otherworldly as snow and moonlight. His bearing and elegance were not the slightest bit inferior to Gu She’s.
“I was rude just now. Please forgive me, Brother. May I ask how to get to the county yamen?”
Hao Guozi darted out from behind Tao Mo. “You want to go to the county yamen? What for? To file a complaint?”
“No, to find someone,” the young man replied calmly.
Hao Guozi looked at him suspiciously. “Who?”
The young man smiled. “Old Tao.”
Futile Devices Scans 
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