Futile Devices Scans

After being interrupted by Lu Zhenxue like this, Tao Mo’s thoughts became slightly disordered. He lowered his head and sorted them out again before saying, “Sang Xiaotu, do you know your wrong?”

Sang Xiaotu kowtowed three more times with loud thuds. “This lowly one knows his wrong, knows his wrong.”

Tao Mo looked toward Gu Xiaojia and said, “May I ask what Gu… Young Master Gu thinks?” Unable to think of how to address him, he simply used “Young Master Gu” to refer to Gu Xiaojia.

But when this form of address fell into Gu Xiaojia’s ears, he thought Tao Mo wanted to know Gu She’s attitude, so he said, “Since Young Master has entrusted this case to Lord Tao, it naturally ought to be handled entirely at Lord Tao’s discretion.” He paused, then thought of how Tao Mo had shed tears after hearing the matter just now. Afraid that Tao Mo might simply release Sang Xiaotu and turn the case of the Gu residence’s stolen carriage into a farce, he added, “I believe that with Your Excellency’s wisdom, you would certainly not go so far as to condone evil, nor would you leave yourself open to criticism.”

What he had set before Tao Mo was a difficult dilemma.

Obviously, the man could not simply be released. But if he was not released, then what? A flogging? If Tao Mo punished Sang Xiaotu today, he feared that tomorrow, Tao Mo would be branded with the charge of being unfilial.

Tao Mo glanced at Adviser Jin.

Adviser Jin stood and quietly leaned closer.

It was common for advisers to offer plans and suggestions to county officials, and the people had seen it many times before, so they found nothing strange about it.

Tao Mo said in a low voice, “Adviser, how do you think this case should be judged?”

Adviser Jin said, “Of all virtues, filial piety comes first. The current Emperor also esteems filial piety most highly. Although Sang Xiaotu was indeed wrong to steal the carriage, in the end, it came from a heart full of filial devotion. Our master cannot fail to take this feeling into consideration.”

Tao Mo repeatedly said yes.

“But theft is theft, and it violates the laws of our dynasty. Though his circumstances may be pitiable, punishment cannot be avoided.”

Tao Mo nodded again and again.

“Therefore,” Adviser Jin drew in a deep breath, looked at Tao Mo, who was staring eagerly at him, and said, “why doesn’t Your Excellency decide as you see fit?”

Tao Mo: “…”

Adviser Jin withdrew leisurely to his original place.

Everyone else looked at Tao Mo curiously.

Tao Mo nervously touched the judge’s block.

At this moment, Lu Zhenxue could not help feeling a little pleased at Tao Mo’s predicament. If Tao Mo had allowed him to argue on Sang Xiaotu’s behalf earlier, then he would naturally have offered plans and strategies, and Tao Mo would not have fallen into such an awkward situation.

Gu Xiaojia could not help glancing toward the entrance of the yamen. In his heart, he thought that with how much Young Master cared about Tao Mo, perhaps he might step in to help.

Tao Mo was also looking toward the entrance of the yamen. But his gaze was unfocused; what he was thinking about was how to decide the punishment.

He delayed opening his mouth for so long that the onlooking commoners grew slightly impatient, and whispers rose on all sides.

Adviser Jin said, “Your Excellency.”

Tao Mo’s spirits lifted, thinking he had some suggestion.

“Strike the judge’s block,” Adviser Jin said.

Without hesitation, Tao Mo picked up the judge’s block and struck it once.

Below the court, all was silent. Every gaze fell upon Tao Mo.

Tao Mo continued looking at Adviser Jin.

Adviser Jin said, “Your Excellency may give judgment now.”

…

Tao Mo took a deep breath, then said, “Of all virtues, filial piety comes first. The current Emperor also esteems filial piety most highly. Although Sang Xiaotu was indeed wrong to steal the carriage, in the end, it came from a heart full of filial devotion. This feeling cannot be ignored…” He repeated Adviser Jin’s two sentences almost word for word.

Gu Xiaojia listened and secretly nodded.

“Therefore, this official has decided to sentence Sang Xiaotu…” Tao Mo paused, and the court became utterly silent. “To serve in the Gu residence as a servant, repaying his crime through labor until Young Master Gu is satisfied.”

Sang Xiaotu let out a great breath of relief and kowtowed again and again. “Many thanks, Your Excellency. Many thanks, blue-sky great lord.”

Who did not know that the Gu residence was a great household in the city? Being able to enter the Gu residence as a servant was less a punishment than a reward.

Lu Zhenxue popped out and said, “Your Excellency, I fear this may be unfair to Young Master Gu.”

Gu Xiaojia was unmoved. “It is rare for Sang Xiaotu to have such filial devotion. He is a rare sort of person. I believe that in the future, he will surely be loyal and devoted to my young master as well. To obtain such a servant for nothing, my young master will surely be very satisfied. There is no need for Young Master Lu to trouble himself.”

Lu Zhenxue said indifferently, “Since that is so, then I have spoken too much.”

Gu Xiaojia pretended to be surprised. “Oh? Young Master Lu actually noticed? I thought Young Master Lu would never realize it in this lifetime.”

Lu Zhenxue’s expression changed slightly. He bowed to Tao Mo, flung his sleeves, and withdrew from the court.

Tao Mo said, “Since everyone has no objections, this case shall be decided as such!” He struck the judge’s block, fully imitating the imposing air of the blue-sky great lords in the novels, and declared in a loud voice, “Court dismissed.”

After coming down from the court, Tao Mo changed his clothes and prepared to go to the Gu residence.

Although the case had already been decided and Gu Xiaojia had already led the man away, Tao Mo had not seen Gu She, nor had he heard Gu She personally say what he thought of the judgment. In his heart, he still could not feel at ease.

When he arrived at the Gu residence, the atmosphere was no different from usual, allowing him to relax slightly. But after asking and learning that Gu She was waiting for him in the study, his heart rose into his throat again.

He hesitantly made his way to the study door. The door was half-open. Looking inside through the crack, he could only see one corner of the desk.

“Come in,” Gu She suddenly said.

Tao Mo was startled. Only then did he notice that his shadow had long since betrayed his whereabouts. He could not help scratching his head before stepping through the door.

Gu She was writing.

Seeing his brush move like a spirit, Tao Mo did not dare interrupt and silently stood to the side.

After a little while, Gu She set down his brush. “Take it.”

Tao Mo froze for a moment, then stepped forward and looked, only to find that it was a copybook.

Gu She said, “These characters are not difficult. Learn them first. If there is anything you do not understand, you may ask me.”

Tao Mo looked it over from top to bottom several times and said, “I only recognize three characters.”

A faint smile appeared in Gu She’s eyes. “Which three?”

Tao Mo pointed to one at the beginning. “Zhi.” Then he pointed to one in the middle. “Xian. This one is Gu.”

Gu She said, “Then learn these three first.”

Ripples of a smile spread across Tao Mo’s lips. “Mm.”

“How was today’s case decided?” Gu She asked carelessly.

Tao Mo, who was just about to take the copybook, trembled with both hands. He asked cautiously, “You still do not know?”

Gu She said blandly, “What should I know?”

“I sentenced Sang Xiaotu to be your servant,” Tao Mo said in a low voice.

Gu She said, “Are you lacking servants to order about in the Gu residence?”

Tao Mo was startled by the question and hurriedly waved his hands. “Of course not. I only pitied his filial devotion. Besides, since he is so filial to his father, in the future, he will surely also be… loyal and devoted to you.” He learned and applied it on the spot, rephrasing Gu Xiaojia’s words and repeating them.

Gu She said, “Then what if my residence is not lacking people?”

Tao Mo froze. He truly had not thought of that. If the Gu residence did not lack people, then by forcing Sang Xiaotu upon them, not only had he brought the Gu residence no benefit, he had also made the Gu residence feed him every day for nothing. That was clearly greatly inappropriate.

He thought for a moment and said, “If that is so, then I will redeem him.” That way, he could also compensate the Gu residence for its loss.

Gu She said, “What use would you have for redeeming him?”

Tao Mo said, “He could serve as a pageboy.”

“If that is the case, then let him stay,” Gu She said.

Tao Mo was somewhat uncertain of his meaning. Since Sang Xiaotu was of no use, why keep him? He probed, “Was my judgment poor?”

Gu She said, “Do you think your judgment was poor?”

Tao Mo lowered his head and pondered for a moment before saying, “Even if you asked me to think about it again right now, I still would not be able to come up with another method.”

Gu She said, “Method?”

“A method that is good for… good for both sides.”

Gu She’s gaze fixed directly upon him.

Tao Mo’s heart grew flustered under that stare. There was a scorching heat in those eyes, as though it could burn someone at any moment.

The heat in Gu She’s eyes soon faded, returning to their usual cool clarity. “If, in this county, there was a person who killed someone because he wished to save another, how should he be judged?”

Tao Mo was greatly shocked and hurriedly asked, “Who?”

“I am only making an analogy.”

Tao Mo said, “How did he save the person? Who did he save? Who did he kill? Why did he have to kill?”

“He saved a young woman who was being harassed, and killed the tyrannical bully who harassed her. The killing was accidental,” Gu She answered in a low voice.

Tao Mo pondered. “Killing is wrong.”

Gu She silently watched him.

“But,” Tao Mo’s tone changed, “he was acting bravely for a righteous cause. That was a good deed. As for the accidental killing… perhaps that too was Heaven’s will. This person absolutely cannot be released, but he also cannot be heavily sentenced.” He lowered his head and thought for a long time, his face wrinkling into a knot from the effort before he suddenly said, “Why not sentence him to military exile? If he is sent to the army, then he can… make up for his crime through merit?”

Gu She smiled faintly. If his uncle had been sentenced to military exile at the border to defend the country back then, perhaps he would have been very willing indeed. A tiger son from a family of generals.

Perhaps Mother would have been happier too.

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