Futile Devices Scans

Liang Wenwu sat in his wheelchair while Qiu Wan’e, led by the wedding matron, entered the wedding hall.

The two elders of the Liang and Qiu families sat at the head of the hall. One was beaming with joy, while the other wore a face as dark as storm clouds. However, amid the sea of festive red decorations, neither expression drew much attention.

After the bride and groom entered the hall, they first knelt to offer incense and kowtowed three times before rising to pay their respects to Heaven, Earth, and their elders.

When it came time for the couple to bow to one another, Old Master Qiu looked at Liang Wenwu, who sat visibly shorter in his wheelchair, and let out a heavy sigh. No matter how angry he was about Qiu Wan’e’s schemes and deception, that anger could only last so long. The daughter being married off was still his daughter. Now that matters had reached the point of no return, he had little choice but to resign himself to fate.

Old Master Liang, on the other hand, grew happier the more he watched, and eventually burst into hearty laughter.

The bride was soon escorted to the bridal chamber, while Liang Wenwu, accompanied by the same young Liang family member from before, began making rounds to each table to offer toasts.

He started with the main table. When he reached Tao Mo, he deliberately filled a cup to the brim and said with complete sincerity, “Had Your Excellency not delivered that judgment in court and awakened me that day, Wan’e and I would never have what we have today. I will remember this kindness and favor for the rest of my life.” As he spoke, he tilted his head back and drained the cup in a single gulp, then inverted it to show that not a single drop remained.

After offering a few words of congratulations, Tao Mo also emptied his cup in one go.

“Excellent!” the entire table cheered.

Liang Wenwu smiled at him before moving on to the next guest.

Holding a wine cup in one hand and a wine jug in the other, Tao Mo began pouring and drinking for himself.

Although Hao Guozi was seated far away, his gaze never strayed from Tao Mo for even a moment. Seeing him drink one cup after another, Hao Guozi grew both alarmed and worried. Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was busy eating, he quietly slipped over to Mu Chun’s side. Just as he was about to speak, however, he caught sight of Young Master Yiyu looking over as well and froze on the spot.

Mu Chun gently tugged at his sleeve.

Coming back to his senses, Hao Guozi blurted out, “What are you doing here?”

Embarrassed, Yiyu replied, “Liang Wenwu and I are old acquaintances, so I came to share a celebratory drink.”

“Your old acquaintance? Then Liang Wenwu can’t be much of a person either.” Hao Guozi spat disdainfully.

Seeing that everyone at the table had perked up their ears to listen, Yiyu hurriedly lowered his head and said nothing.

Hao Guozi was about to press the attack when he saw Mu Chun looking at him disapprovingly and reluctantly shut his mouth.

“What is it?” Mu Chun asked.

Still fuming, Hao Guozi shot Yiyu another glare before lowering his voice. “I was wondering why Young Master, who hasn’t touched alcohol in so long, suddenly started drinking again today. Turns out there’s a demon here!” He deliberately emphasized the word “demon,” immediately drawing puzzled looks from the surrounding guests.

Yiyu lowered his head even further.

Turning to Mu Chun, Hao Guozi said, “Please talk some sense into Young Master. Don’t let him keep drinking.”

Mu Chun blinked. “Why don’t you do it yourself?”

“Well…” Hao Guozi hesitated before whispering, “Because you’re better-looking than I am.”

Mu Chun: “…”

Tao Mo was already thoroughly tipsy when he felt a hand reach over from the side and press down on his wine cup.

“Master, that’s enough.” Mu Chun had no desire to involve himself in such matters, but first there had been Old Tao’s earnest request, and then Hao Guozi’s burning stare. Between the two, he found himself forced to make at least a token effort.

Tao Mo’s cheeks were as red as rouge. His eyes could barely stay open, and he squinted through a narrow slit at Mu Chun. “You are…”

“Mu Chun.”

“Mu Chun?” Tao Mo lowered his head.

Just as Mu Chun began wondering whether he had fallen asleep, Tao Mo suddenly looked up. “Never heard of you.”

“…I’ll take you back.” Mu Chun reached out to help him up.

Without warning, Tao Mo threw himself forward and wrapped himself around him.

Mu Chun frowned. The overwhelming smell of alcohol made him seriously consider throwing the man out the window.

“Do you really like… spring?” Tao Mo murmured.

Nodding politely to the guests who were openly enjoying the spectacle, Mu Chun said, “I’ll escort my master back first.”

Old Master Liang stepped forward. “I don’t think Magistrate Tao is in any condition to travel. Why not let him stay in a guest room here for the night?”

The thought of spending hours inside a carriage saturated with alcohol fumes made Mu Chun’s brow furrow deeply, so he accepted with only token reluctance.

Seeing that Mu Chun appeared refined and scholarly and was struggling to support such a large burden, Liang Wenwu called over two servants to help.

But Tao Mo seemed to have decided that Mu Chun was the only person he recognized. No matter how others tugged and pulled, he refused to let go.

Mu Chun was just preparing to use his internal energy to shake him loose when Hao Guozi suggested from the side, “Why not carry him just like that? If Adviser Mu thinks he’s too heavy, we can help by carrying his legs.”

…

Imagining the resulting scene, Mu Chun’s mouth twitched slightly. Maintaining a calm expression, he said, “No need. I can manage.” Without any regard for the fact that they were in public, under countless watchful eyes, and potentially behaving in a manner others might find shocking, he simply scooped Tao Mo up into his arms and followed the Liang family servants toward the guest quarters.

Walking beside him, Hao Guozi stared at his composed expression in disbelief and kept asking, “Are you sure you’re okay? Isn’t he too heavy? Do you need help? …Maybe you should take a break… You really don’t need help? Absolutely don’t need help…”

“We’re here,” Mu Chun interrupted, striding quickly to the bed and depositing Tao Mo onto it.

But Tao Mo still refused to let go. His arms remained tightly wrapped around Mu Chun’s neck, so when Mu Chun dropped him onto the bed, he ended up being dragged down along with him.

Hao Guozi stared in astonishment. Only after Mu Chun managed to disentangle himself and stand up awkwardly did Hao Guozi finally remember to dismiss the Liang family servants who had stayed behind to watch.

“Out,” Mu Chun said.

Rubbing his hands together, Hao Guozi replied, “Perhaps you’ll need someone to fetch water.”

Mu Chun stared at him and slowly smiled.

Understanding the warning perfectly, Hao Guozi hurried outside and thoughtfully shut the door behind him.

“So in the end, the future young mistress turns out to be… Mu Chun.” He muttered to himself all the way down the corridor.

Inside the room, having heard every word clearly, Mu Chun closed his eyes briefly. Then he extended two fingers and swiftly tapped Tao Mo’s Jianjing acupoints. Tao Mo’s arms immediately fell limp, allowing Mu Chun to stand up quickly. He crossed to the window, pushed it open, and took a long breath of fresh air.

Elio’s Notes: The Jianjing acupoint 肩井穴 is a well-known acupuncture point located on the top of the shoulder.

“Mu Chun.” Tao Mo seemed to feel an emptiness and shifted restlessly.

Thinking he had awakened, Mu Chun quickly composed his expression and turned back, only to hear him ask, “Do you really like spring?”

“…”

“Mu Chun… admiring spring…” Tao Mo’s voice gradually faded.

Mu Chun was preparing to leave when the man on the bed suddenly exclaimed, “Ah, lovesick!”

…

His steps toward the door halted. Turning around, he walked directly back toward the bed…

Ever since Gu She canceled his long-planned departure overseas, Gu Xiaojia had felt that something about him had changed. For example, he seemed to spend more time staring blankly while reading. In the past, such moments came when he was reflecting on something he had gained from a book. Now, however, it looked more like his soul had wandered off somewhere far away.

The more Gu Xiaojia thought about it, the more convinced he became that Tao Mo had something to do with it.

All these changes had begun after Gu She returned from the county yamen. Could something have happened there?

The more he thought about it, the more he tried to probe indirectly. Gu She never answered. Eventually, after too many questions, Gu She sent him to help in the kitchen.

…

For the personal attendant of a young master to be reduced to helping in the kitchen… Granted, the help consisted mostly of eating, but it was still a severe blow to his dignity. As a result, his spirits had been quite poor lately.

So when Mu Chun leapt down from the roof carrying Tao Mo in his arms and disappeared through the crescent-shaped moon gate in the blink of an eye, only one thought crossed Gu Xiaojia’s mind: hallucination.

The layout of the Gu residence was simple. It took Mu Chun very little time to locate Gu She’s bedroom.

He pushed open the door and entered.

A faint fragrance of orchids lingered in the room.

Mu Chun placed Tao Mo on the bed and casually pulled the blanket over him.

With his sleeping acupoint sealed, Tao Mo slept soundly with his mouth half-open.

Smiling faintly, Mu Chun turned and left.

A bamboo raft drifted out to sea.

Gu She held a brush in hand, slowly sketching the ocean.

His paintings had always been spontaneous. When inspiration struck, his brush moved as though guided by the gods themselves, following wherever his thoughts wandered. Sometimes the painting succeeded; sometimes it did not. The world praised Gu Xianzhi’s paintings and calligraphy as unrivaled, but in truth, the number of failed paintings he produced far exceeded those that survived to be seen by others.

As he painted, his brush suddenly stopped.

Before he began, the sea in his mind had been calm and peaceful. Yet now it surged with towering waves. Wind whipped the tide into a frenzy, and monstrous waves crashed toward a lonely bamboo raft drifting helplessly upon the water.

Slowly, he set down his brush. A trace of contemplation appeared upon his ordinarily calm face.

Could it be that he no longer wished to sail overseas?

Ever since childhood, his father had placed immense expectations upon him, to the point of forcing his growth unnaturally. By the time his father realized that his son’s temperament was fundamentally different from that of other children, it was already too late. In those days, Gu She had been withdrawn and preferred the company of books and paintings to that of people. Later, Gu Huankun sent him to Yulin Academy, the finest academy in the land. There, talented scholars gathered in great numbers, and the instructors were all renowned literary masters. Only then did he gradually begin to open himself up. The longer he remained at the academy, the more he discovered that he enjoyed solving problems. Whenever someone faced a difficult question, whether friend or stranger, near or far, he was willing to help. Others believed he was naturally generous and righteous. In reality, he simply enjoyed the act of unraveling mysteries.

He had come to Tanyang County because of its reputation as the homeland of litigation masters. Yet not long after becoming Master One-Hammer’s disciple, he had already begun to grow bored. So-called litigation masters were, in the end, nothing more than people who manipulated right and wrong with their tongues. It was then that he first began contemplating a voyage overseas. Such an undertaking required enormous preparation—ships, routes, sailors, supplies, and countless other details. Never once had he imagined that after spending two years preparing, he would suddenly abandon the idea.

Lowering his gaze, he looked at the painting.

The bamboo raft rose and fell upon the waves, always one step away from being swallowed by the sea.

His eyes darkened.

With a casual motion, he tossed the painting into the nearby brazier and consigned it to the flames.

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