Futile Devices Scans

“Do you want revenge?” Yi Yu suddenly asked.

Revenge?

Tao Mo’s entire body trembled.

His memories seemed to return to the time when his father met with disaster. Back then, his heart and mind had been filled entirely with hatred. From murder and arson to traveling to the capital to submit an imperial complaint, every conceivable method and means had occupied his entire life. It had seemed that he could not go on living unless he thought about revenge.

Had Old Tao not slapped him awake and reminded him of his father’s final words and regrets, perhaps he truly would have acted upon those thoughts.

Revenge!

Tao Mo’s hands clenched the quilt tightly, the veins standing out along their backs. Though he did not wish to admit it, there remained a corner of his heart devoted to vengeance. Within that corner lived another Tao Mo who gnawed upon Huang Guangde’s flesh and blood day and night, who longed day and night to grind his bones to dust and scatter his ashes. It was a corner he had never been willing to touch, one he did not even dare think about.

Now, Yi Yu’s question had unearthed that deeply buried corner once more, causing the fury and hatred Tao Mo had believed forgotten to surge back into his heart.

“I can help you.” Yi Yu held out the bundle resting on his knees.

Tao Mo raised his head. His bloodshot eyes gleamed with a coldness utterly unlike his usual self.

Yi Yu said, “The truth is, I redeemed myself from Qunxiang Tower because I was fleeing for my life. Wan Feng died because of me. The person Huang Guangde truly wanted to kill was me!”

Tao Mo’s breath caught.

“Meeting you at the Liang residence was an accident.” Yi Yu stared fixedly at his own fingers, his voice so low it sounded as though he were speaking to himself. “The steward of the Liang residence and I had some friendship. I originally intended only to drink a cup of wedding wine, then find some remote place to settle down and live out the remainder of my life. Who would have thought I would encounter you?”

He leaned against the chair, his entire body limp, without the slightest trace of the elegant bearing Young Master Yi Yu had once possessed at Qunxiang Tower, standing tall and graceful like a slender green bamboo. Yet neither of the two people present noticed.

“After causing you such misery back then, I originally had no face to see you again. But it is laughable—when a person is driven to the very end, dignity no longer matters.” Yi Yu’s fingers pinched his thigh intermittently. “I never expected Huang Guangde to refuse to spare even Wan Feng. But perhaps that is for the best. The more frantic he becomes, the more important this object must be.” He raised his wrist and shook the bundle, then lowered it again. “You… cough… open it.”

Tao Mo’s head felt somewhat dizzy. With trembling hands, he untied the bundle, revealing a sandalwood box. Seeing that Yi Yu did not stop him, he gently released the latch and lifted the lid.

Inside the box lay a piece of dark-red brocade, wrapped around a polished jade horse of vivid crimson.

“This is…”

“I took it from Huang Guangde’s study.” Yi Yu raised his head slightly. From Tao Mo’s angle, only his smooth forehead was visible. “He was drunk and brought it out to boast, saying it was a treasure rarely seen even within the imperial palace. Later, after he fell asleep, I was helping him back to his room when, as though possessed, I slipped it into my robes. By the time I came back to myself, I had already brought it back to Qunxiang Tower.” At this point, he began coughing violently.

“Stop talking and rest first,” Tao Mo said.

Still coughing, Yi Yu waved his hand, desperately forcing himself to continue as though afraid he would never have another chance to speak. “I could tell… cough… that Huang Guangde cared deeply about this horse. He would absolutely investigate. Sure enough, the following evening, he began indirectly asking about it. At the time, I was both frightened and regretful. How could I dare admit anything? I could only insist that I had never touched it. He did have some affection for me, cough, so although he was suspicious, he did not force me. Later, I deliberately and indirectly made inquiries about the horse’s origins and learned that this kind of red jade was used only for tribute… I do not know how Huang Guangde obtained it, cough, cough, but I doubt the means were honorable. The more I thought about it, the more frightened I became, while Huang Guangde grew increasingly impatient. In the end, I had no choice but to… cough… secretly bribe Zhang Bao and redeem both Peng Xiang and myself before fleeing. What happened afterward… you already know.”

Yi Yu’s entire account amounted to barely a hundred words, yet Tao Mo listened with his heart pounding in terror.

He had witnessed Huang Guangde’s methods firsthand. One needed only to consider the fates of his father and Wan Feng to understand how ruthless Huang Guangde was. Yet even while suspecting Yi Yu, Huang Guangde had spared him long enough for him to find an opportunity to escape. Tao Mo did not know whether Huang Guangde had truly developed feelings for Yi Yu or whether Yi Yu had simply been extraordinarily fortunate.

“This horse… may be the best way to bring Huang Guangde down. The best… cough… the best oppor—cough, cough, cough…” Yi Yu began coughing violently.

Tao Mo was about to call for someone outside, but Yi Yu suddenly seized his hand. “Put the object away first!”

Tao Mo was startled. Seeing Yi Yu’s unfocused pupils, as though he were supporting himself entirely through sheer willpower, Tao Mo finally realized that Yi Yu had seemingly kept his head lowered all this time.

“Put it away.” Yi Yu’s five fingers tightened.

Pain shot through Tao Mo’s hand. Without saying anything, he put the horse away. “It is put away.”

Yi Yu nodded. “Call Peng Xiang inside for me.”

Tao Mo loudly called Peng Xiang’s name.

Peng Xiang entered almost immediately, clearly having remained outside the door the entire time.

Tao Mo did not know whether it was merely his imagination, but Peng Xiang’s gaze seemed to contain profound hostility toward him.

“Help me back,” Yi Yu said, raising one hand.

Peng Xiang did not move immediately. Instead, he first swept his gaze around Tao Mo’s bed.

“Peng Xiang.” Yi Yu’s breathing was rapid.

Without saying a word, Peng Xiang supported him to his feet.

Even heavy makeup could not conceal Yi Yu’s ashen complexion. Tao Mo could not help trying to throw off the quilt and stand, but Yi Yu stopped him. “There is no need to see me out. You… you only need to remember to visit me when you have time.”

“All right.” Seeing his complexion, Tao Mo could no longer bring himself to refuse. He raised a hand and gently clasped Yi Yu’s. “Once I recover, I will come see you.”

“Mm.” Yi Yu smiled. “I like dates.”

Although Tao Mo found the remark somewhat strange, he still replied, “I will bring some the next time I visit.”

“Mm.”

Yi Yu closed his eyes briefly and allowed Peng Xiang to support his hand as he walked slowly outside, one step at a time.

“Yi Yu!” Tao Mo suddenly called out.

Yi Yu stopped but did not turn around.

Tao Mo did not know why he had called him. Looking at his departing back, he suddenly felt an intense desire to make him stay. “I… once I recover, I will come see you.”

“All right.”

Whether it was a sigh or a promise, the words scattered upon the wind blowing through the doorway.

After Yi Yu left, Tao Mo felt persistently uneasy, though he could not explain why. His previously muddled head had instead grown somewhat clearer. He took out the wooden box, and the red jade horse seemed to stab his eyes like a needle.

If this truly was an object from the imperial palace, did it mean Huang Guangde had some secret connection with the palace? Or had the emperor bestowed it upon him?

Holding the box, Tao Mo felt a heavy weight in both his hands and his heart.

A cool breeze entered the room.

Tao Mo’s shoulders trembled. He looked toward the door and happened to see Gu She’s back as he closed it.

“Gu… you came?”

Gu She silently walked to the bedside and gently pressed his hand against Tao Mo’s forehead.

Tao Mo’s face instantly flushed red, his hands nervously gripping the box.

“Only by resting properly will your illness stop recurring.” Gu She withdrew his hand and glanced at the chair beside the bed. After hesitating briefly, he sat down on the edge of the bed instead.

Tao Mo drew his legs back, afraid Gu She would not have enough room. “Young…” He had only spoken one word when Gu She’s cool gaze swept toward him. The words Younger Master Gu immediately lodged in his throat and changed midway into, “Xianzhi.”

The corner of Gu She’s mouth lifted approvingly.

“Would you… like some tea?” Only then did Tao Mo remember that neither Hao Guozi nor Old Tao was present. He immediately prepared to jump out of bed, but Gu She pressed him back down.

“Do you have any good tea here?”

Tao Mo smiled awkwardly. “Only the same tea as before.”

Gu She’s gaze fell upon the box in Tao Mo’s hands.

After hesitating, Tao Mo said honestly, “Yi Yu gave this to me. He said he took it from Huang Guangde’s study.”

“Stole it?” Gu She frowned slightly.

Only then did Tao Mo realize how improper it sounded. Already nervous, he became even more flustered. “He… he only acted too quickly in the heat of the moment…”

Gu She did not answer. He reached into the box and took out the horse. “A tribute item.”

“Yi Yu also said it was tribute. He said we might be able to use this to bring Huang Guangde down.” Seeing Gu She remain silent, Tao Mo assumed Yi Yu had been indulging in wishful thinking, and disappointment swept through him. “Perhaps the emperor bestowed it upon Huang Guangde.”

“Li…”

“Hmm?”

Gu She said blandly, “I heard the emperor suffered from scald-head when he was young.”

Tao Mo stared at him in astonishment. Only after a moment did he understand. “So this truly was bestowed by His Majesty?”

“The emperor’s mark should use the character la, the first character in lali tou. This one is li, the second character,” Gu She said. “If I am not mistaken, it was bestowed upon Prince Lingyang by the late emperor.” Although he said if I am not mistaken, his tone was entirely certain.

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