Futile Devices Scans

After hurriedly getting dressed, Tao Mo stood in the outer room, watching Gu Xiaojia bustle in and out carrying basins while attending to Gu She’s morning wash. He was still hesitating over how to go in and bid Gu She farewell when he heard a servant softly calling for Gu Xiaojia from outside.

Almost all affairs, large and small, within the Gu residence were handled solely by Gu Xiaojia. Gu She concerned himself only with the things he wished to do. As such, both Gu She and Gu Xiaojia considered this behavior—which outsiders might regard as overstepping—to be perfectly ordinary.

Gu Xiaojia carried a basin out and asked, “What is it?”

The servant replied, “Someone has come seeking an audience.”

“So early in the morning?” Gu Xiaojia frowned. People who came knocking at this hour were usually bringing matters of utmost urgency, and he had never been fond of urgent matters. “Who is it?”

“Someone from the county yamen.”

“…I understand.” Gu Xiaojia dismissed the servant and immediately rushed inside. At that moment, only one thought occupied his mind: who said two men could not set a honey trap? Wasn’t this the follow-up right here? No wonder something had felt off when he saw Tao Mo yesterday. Sure enough, he had dug a pit and was trying to lure Young Master into it!

After hearing the report, Gu She was completely unfazed. “Invite them in,” he said lightly.

Gu Xiaojia exclaimed, “I’m afraid they’ve come with ill intentions!”

Gu She raised his eyes. “Afraid?”

Gu Xiaojia froze, then said in annoyance, “That’s true. What is there to be afraid of? I’ll go bring them in right away!”

“Wait.” Having heard everything clearly from the outer room, Tao Mo finally could not help stepping forward. “They’re probably here looking for me. It would be best if I personally explained the situation.”

Gu Xiaojia said, “Personally explain it? How exactly are you planning to explain why you came to the Gu residence?”

Tao Mo was instantly speechless.

Gu Xiaojia refused to let up. “And how do you plan to explain why you spent the night here?”

Tao Mo said, “Well… the Gu residence was simply being hospitable, so…”

“Our Young Master has never allowed guests to stay overnight. If you put it that way, it sounds as though we deliberately curry favor with the county magistrate.” Gu Xiaojia’s words were merciless, and within a few sentences he had completely silenced Tao Mo.

Feeling that he had vented his frustrations, Gu Xiaojia strode toward the entrance with noticeably lighter steps. He very much wanted to see what exactly that Mu Chun was trying to accomplish.

Tao Mo remained where he was, his gaze drifting toward Gu She, who sat by the bed adjusting his sleeves.

“Thank you for taking me in last night. And for the clothes as well.” Tao Mo looked away as he spoke.

“Why didn’t you refute him?” Gu She asked.

Tao Mo blinked. “Refute? Who?”

Gu She did not answer.

After a moment’s thought, Tao Mo ventured, “You mean Gu Xiaojia?”

Gu She said, “Weren’t you quite eloquent in court?”

Tao Mo could not tell whether that was praise or criticism, so he simply answered honestly. “What he said wasn’t unreasonable. I really did barge in here for no apparent reason and cause trouble for all of you.”

Gu She rose to his feet. “In that case, let us go and see exactly what sort of trouble it is.”

Though puzzled, Tao Mo followed two steps behind him.

Gu She suddenly stopped and turned around.

The moment Tao Mo lifted his head, Gu She’s face was right before him.

“There’s leftover tea on the tea table from yesterday. Go rinse your mouth.” Having said that, Gu She walked away without another word.

Tao Mo paused, then understood. He quickly went into the inner room, rinsed his mouth with two cups of cold tea, and hurried after him.

By the time he had finished, Gu She was nowhere to be seen.

Tao Mo had no choice but to make his way through the residence on his own. He had intended to ask someone for directions, but Gu She preferred quiet, and there were not many servants in the household. It took him nearly the time it took to burn a stick of incense before he finally encountered anyone.

When he eventually reached the main hall, he found it wrapped in silence.

Mu Chun and Gu She sat opposite one another. One was warm, the other cold, yet both were equally remarkable.

Standing behind them, Hao Guozi and Gu Xiaojia glared at each other with equal intensity, neither side gaining an advantage.

The moment Tao Mo stepped over the threshold and everyone turned to look at him, a strange feeling suddenly washed over him. The thought quickly vanished beneath Mu Chun’s warm smile, however.

Mu Chun smiled. “Where did Master go last night? We searched for you all night.”

Tao Mo replied, “I don’t know how I ended up at the Gu residence either. I’m sorry for making all of you worry.”

Before Mu Chun could respond, Hao Guozi walked over looking thoroughly aggrieved and complained in a very soft voice, “Young Master, the neighboring county is dozens of li away from Tanyang County. How could you possibly have wandered back without realizing it?” The implication was obvious: he did not believe Tao Mo’s explanation.

Tao Mo gave a bitter smile. He truly did not know how to explain it. Yet he genuinely could not remember how he had arrived at the Gu residence.

“I really don’t know how I got here,” he explained helplessly.

Before arriving, Hao Guozi had already convinced himself that Tao Mo had deliberately used drunkenness as an excuse to get close to Gu She. As a result, everything Tao Mo said sounded like an excuse. Furthermore, his explanation was undeniably suspicious. After all, who in the world would go to the trouble of transporting one man over such a great distance only to leave him at another man’s residence?

The very person who had done exactly that smiled pleasantly and spoke up. “The clothes Master is wearing seem different from the ones he had on yesterday.”

Hao Guozi looked carefully and discovered that they were indeed different. Countless theories immediately sprang into his mind, and the way he looked at Gu She changed drastically.

The more Gu Xiaojia listened, the more alarmed he became at the direction things were heading. He quickly interrupted, “His clothes yesterday smelled awful. I took them away to be washed.”

Looking at Gu She, Mu Chun smiled meaningfully. “Smelled awful, did they?”

Gu She replied blandly, “There certainly was a smell. I suspect even the scent on the roof hasn’t fully dispersed yet.”

Pretending not to understand, Mu Chun said, “Oh? The smell reached all the way to the roof? That really is quite a strong smell.”

Tao Mo muttered, “I’ll never drink alcohol again.”

Mu Chun smiled. “Why burden yourself unnecessarily, Master? Drinking is one of life’s great pleasures. Have you not heard of the celestial nectar and jade wine of the heavenly palace? Even immortals, after abandoning the seven emotions and six desires, cannot give up what lies within a cup.”

Tao Mo said, “But drinking has many drawbacks as well. For example, alcohol can… can lead to misconduct?” Uncertain whether he was using the phrase correctly, he spoke the final word very softly.

Mu Chun said, “Why would Master say such a thing? Could it be that you did something… last night?” Though the words were directed at Tao Mo, his eyes remained fixed on Gu She.

Gu Xiaojia’s heart skipped a beat. Here it comes, he thought. It really is a honey trap!

Gu She looked completely composed. “In Brother Mu’s opinion, what exactly could he have done?”

Knowing when to stop, Mu Chun smiled. “If nothing happened, then all is well.”

Tao Mo could not make sense of the exchange, so he changed the subject. “How did you know I was at the Gu residence?”

Without the slightest change in expression, Mu Chun replied, “We searched for Master all night and nearly turned both counties upside down. In the end, it was Hao Guozi who remembered that Master and Young Master Gu were acquainted, which led us here.”

Tao Mo was overwhelmed with guilt. “It’s all my fault. I made you spend the entire night searching.”

Even Gu Xiaojia, who usually found him irritating, felt a little sympathy at that moment. If ever there were a person who could be sold and still help count the money afterward, it was probably Tao Mo.

Mu Chun gave a light cough. “Actually, there is another reason we came today. We have a favor to ask of Young Master Gu.”

Gu She said, “Go on.”

“The county yamen is preparing for repairs…”

Mu Chun had barely gotten halfway through the sentence when Tao Mo interrupted. “Why would it need repairs for no reason?”

At the mention of this, Hao Guozi immediately launched into a litany of grievances. “Young Master, your room collapsed for no reason this morning.”

“What?” Tao Mo’s eyes widened into perfect circles.

Gu Xiaojia stared at Mu Chun. Although he had absolutely no evidence, he simply felt that this matter could not possibly be unrelated to Mu Chun.

Hao Guozi continued, “Not only did your room collapse, but Old Tao’s room and several guest rooms also developed leaks in their roofs.”

Tao Mo stood there dumbfounded. “How could that happen?”

“Well…” Hao Guozi glanced at Mu Chun. “Master Mu said perhaps someone came to case the county yamen in the middle of the night and unfortunately damaged the roofs.”

Gu Xiaojia burst out laughing.

Hao Guozi glared at him furiously. To think he could still take pleasure in their misfortune at a time like this.

Realizing he had overreacted, Gu Xiaojia hurriedly tried to recover. “I was just thinking that the thief must have been as fat as a pig. Otherwise, how could he possibly have damaged the roof?” As he spoke, he cast sidelong glances at Mu Chun.

Mu Chun remained perfectly composed. Such a trivial task as casing a roof was hardly something he needed to do personally. As for whether the person who carried it out was as fat as a pig or not, what concern was that of his? All he needed was for that person to obey orders.

Tao Mo asked, “Are the damages serious? How long will the repairs take?”

Mu Chun replied, “That will depend on what the craftsmen say.”

A look of distress spread across Tao Mo’s face. The county yamen was not his private residence. Now that something had happened under his watch, whether it was an act of nature or otherwise, he could hardly escape responsibility.

Having finished the explanation, Mu Chun turned back to Gu She. “The county yamen has suffered a misfortune, and we would like to ask Young Master Gu for some assistance.”

Gu Xiaojia stared in shock. “Surely you’re not here soliciting donations?” Such things were common elsewhere. Local officials could always devise some pretext to extract contributions from wealthy residents and line their own pockets. But this was Tanyang County, a place where the combined spittle of its litigation masters could drown a magistrate and then give him a sea burial. Anyone whose brains were not clogged by copper coins would never dare attempt such a thing. Those litigation masters might not excel at much else, but when it came to filing complaints against officials, they were frighteningly effective.

Mu Chun smiled. “Of course not. Even if the county yamen needs repairs, that is Master’s concern. What does it have to do with Young Master Gu?”

Gu Xiaojia asked, “Then what exactly do you want Young Master to help with?”

“I would like to ask Young Master Gu to take Master in for a while,” Mu Chun said leisurely.

“What?” Gu Xiaojia was the first to jump up.

“No!” Hao Guozi was the second.

Ironically, the two people directly concerned—Gu She and Tao Mo—remained remarkably calm.

Gu She was deep in thought, while Tao Mo… merely appeared calm. In reality, his emotions were already in complete turmoil. Excitement, anticipation, shyness, anxiety—all manner of conflicting feelings collided within him, leaving his face strangely expressionless.

Hao Guozi looked at Mu Chun with extreme reluctance. “Wouldn’t it be better to rent a house temporarily? Or, if necessary, squeeze into an inn? It doesn’t seem appropriate to trouble Young Master Gu…”

For once, Gu Xiaojia found himself in complete agreement. “Exactly, exactly. Tanyang County has plenty of inns. I can help find one for you.”

Mu Chun looked at Gu She and said with a smile, “Surely Young Master Gu understands what I’m really thinking.”

Gu She replied, “I do not know what you are thinking.”

Mu Chun looked slightly surprised.

“But I do know your excuse,” Gu She continued slowly.

Mu Chun raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Gu She said, “You do not want news of the county yamen being damaged to spread far and wide.”

Mu Chun nodded. “Master has not been in office long. If word of this gets out, it will inevitably damage his reputation.”

Gu She said, “But I still cannot think of a reason to agree.”

Lowering his voice, Mu Chun said, “Has Young Master Gu considered why you took Master in last night?” If Gu She had not unexpectedly offered Tao Mo shelter, he would never have come up with this solution of tossing the hot potato elsewhere.

Gu She cast him a sideways glance, his gaze turning icy.

“I always thought Gu Xianzhi was the sort of person who could never resist solving a mystery,” Mu Chun murmured, almost under his breath.

Because their voices had grown so quiet, Tao Mo and the others found themselves craning their necks farther and farther forward.

Gu She said, “That reason is not enough.”

Mu Chun asked, “Then what would be enough for Young Master Gu?”

“Who are you?” Gu She asked directly.

After a moment’s thought, Mu Chun dipped a finger into his teacup and wrote two characters on the table: Duanmu.

Gu She asked, “Your purpose?”

“Visiting a friend.” Without waiting for further questions, Mu Chun continued, “Old Tao.”

Gu She nodded and rose to his feet. “Gu Xiaojia, see the guests out.”

“…”

Negotiations had broken down?

Gu Xiaojia and Hao Guozi both looked delighted.

Tao Mo, however, could not conceal his disappointment.

Gu She walked straight toward the door without stopping, even as he passed Tao Mo.

Unable to help himself, Tao Mo turned and hurried after him a few steps. “Thank you for taking me in last night.”

Without slowing down, Gu She’s distant voice drifted back. “Only last night?”

“…”

Tao Mo turned around in confusion and looked at Hao Guozi and the others. “What does that mean?”

Gu Xiaojia looked as though he had suffered a devastating blow. “Impossible. Absolutely impossible,” he muttered to himself.

Even Hao Guozi stared at him in disbelief. “Your Young Master… what happened to him?”

The only person who remained entirely unruffled was Mu Chun. Rising leisurely to his feet, he said to Tao Mo, “Master, let us return home and pack your things.”

On the journey back to the county yamen, Hao Guozi spent the entire ride grumbling about Tao Mo’s disappearance in the neighboring county. Listening to his account, Tao Mo finally realized how much of a commotion he had caused. Since the neighboring county magistrate had also been present at the banquet, he had dispatched all the county runners that very night to search every corner of the county.

Tao Mo felt deeply ashamed.

Toward the end, Hao Guozi said in a tone that was half resentful and half aggrieved, “Young Master, if you really wanted to see Gu She, you could have just told us. Why sneak around and make such a huge fuss?”

Tao Mo had no defense whatsoever.

The only person in the carriage who knew the truth, Mu Chun, finally could not bear listening any longer. “Now that Master has returned safely, let us put the matter to rest.”

Unfortunately, that only reminded Hao Guozi of Tao Mo’s impending move to the Gu residence, instantly reigniting his anger. “Master Mu! Why are you making Young Master stay at the Gu residence?”

Mu Chun replied, “The county yamen is under repair. Master has nowhere else to stay.”

Hao Guozi protested, “How does he have nowhere to stay? He can simply squeeze into a room with me.”

Mu Chun said, “Master is the county magistrate. If he shares a room with a servant, people will gossip.”

Hao Guozi’s eyes widened. “What gossip could there possibly be?”

Mu Chun merely smiled without answering.

Remembering his preference for men, Tao Mo quietly tugged at Hao Guozi’s sleeve.

Still unwilling to concede, Hao Guozi demanded, “If staying with me invites gossip, then how is staying with Gu She any better?”

Mu Chun replied, “Gu She is Master One-Hammer’s foremost disciple. Strengthening ties with him will only benefit Master in the future.”

Hao Guozi said, “But… but I don’t think that Gu She is a good person.”

Mu Chun shot Tao Mo a meaningful glance.

Tao Mo immediately said, “Don’t slander him without cause. If Gu She weren’t a good person, why would he agree to take me in?”

“Who knows what medicine he’s really selling in that gourd?” Hao Guozi snapped in exasperation. “That man barely speaks and keeps everything bottled up inside. If anyone had to live with him, he’d be dull as dishwater! How could someone like that possibly make a suitable young mistress?”

…

Mu Chun stared at him in astonishment.

Tao Mo nearly buried his head inside his sleeve.

The moment they reached the county yamen, he leapt from the carriage as though fleeing for his life and rushed inside without looking back.

After hesitating for quite some time, Hao Guozi finally turned to Mu Chun and said, “Although my Young Master prefers the company of men, he is by no means frivolous in love. You… you mustn’t misunderstand.”

Mu Chun replied, “Whether it is love between a man and a woman or affection between two men, it is all perfectly natural.” In this regard, he could be considered exceptionally well-informed.

Seeing no trace of disdain on Mu Chun’s face, Hao Guozi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “My Young Master is a good person.”

“I know,” Mu Chun replied. If Tao Mo were not a good person, how could Elder Lu have become so utterly devoted to him?

Hao Guozi suddenly sighed. “Sometimes I really wish the person my Young Master liked was you.”

Mu Chun’s body stiffened slightly. After a long moment, he smiled calmly. “Yes. What a pity.” It seemed he truly had been farsighted. Handing Tao Mo over to Gu She really was the most permanent solution.

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